Post-COVID-19 rehabilitation (PCR-SIRIO 8) study. A rationale and protocol of the study

A substantial proportion of the COVID-19 survivors require the physical and mental support due to the post COVID-19 syndrome. In response to this demand a comprehensive rehabilitation program tailored to the individual needs has been developed. The program is linked with a Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation (PCR-SIRIO 8) study that aims to objectively evaluate the outcomes of the post-COVID-19 rehabilitation. The study was designed as a prospective, single-center, observational study involving patients suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria are invited for an initial visit including medical and physiotherapeutic examination. Rehabilitation program includes physical training, therapeutic education, and psychotherapeutic workshops. Individual psychotherapeutic, educational and medical visits are carried out additionally depending on the patient’s needs. Closing visit evaluates individual effects of the rehabilitation program. We believe that our observational study will provide knowledge necessary to optimize post-COVID-19 rehabilitation

Control of triceps surae stimulation based on shank orientation using a uniaxial gyroscope during gait

This article presents a stimulation control method using a uniaxial gyroscope measuring angular velocity of the shank in the sagittal plane, to control functional electrical stimulation of the triceps surae to improve push-off of stroke subjects during gait. The algorithm is triggered during each swing phase of gait when the angular velocity of the shank is relatively high. Subsequently, the start of the stance phase is detected by a change of sign of the gyroscope signal at approximately the same time as heel strike. Stimulation is triggered when the shank angle reaches a preset value since the beginning of stance. The change of angle is determined by integrating angular velocity from the moment of change of sign. The results show that the real-time reliability of stimulation control was at least 95% for four of the five stroke subjects tested, two of which were 100% reliable. For the remaining subject, the reliability was increased from 50% found during the experiment, to 99% during offline processing. Our conclusion is that a uniaxial gyroscope on the shank is a simple, more reliable alternative to the heel switch for the purpose of restoring push-off of stroke subjects during gait

Experimental testing of MEMS pressure sensor using laser vibrometer

W artykule przedstawiono problematykę doświadczalnych badań dynamicznych mikroukładów elektromechanicznych (MEMS) na przykładzie czujnika ciśnienia. Zaprezentowano stanowisko badawcze wykorzystujące wibrometr laserowy. W związku z trudnościami wymuszania dynamicznego MEMS zaproponowano metodę wzbudzania układu za pomocą przetwornika piezoelektrycznego a następnie porównano i omówiono wyniki badań uzyskanych przy zastosowaniu różnych sygnałów wymuszających.The growth of technological capabilities in the field of manufacturing and machining of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) results in the trend toward devices miniaturization. In many applications it is necessary to carry out experiments of MEMS (e.g. dynamic parameters identification), which in conjunction with miniature dimensions, turns out difficult [1]. Problematic is both a dynamic excitation of such structures vibrations recording. The paper presents the process and results of dynamic testing of MEMS structure using laser vibrometer. Section 2 presents test object, the pressure sensor, which was chosen due to the presence of a flexible diaphragm having a distinct form of vibration. In Section 3 the test stand, consisting of laser vibrometer, microscope, a PC with dedicated Polytec software and Signal Generator is described [3]. Due to impossibility of application of standard dynamic excitation (e.g. impact test or shaker) the piezoelectric transducer was proposed as an alternative [6]. The software enables generating both deterministic signals (e.g. Sine wave, Sweep, Square) as well as non-deterministic (Pseudo Random, Random Burst) by a signal generator coupled to the power supply. Section 4 includes the course of research and in Section 5 the comparison of test results for all applied excitation signals is presented. The summary and conclusions can be found in Section 6

Structural and biomechanical aspects of equine sacroiliac joint function and their relationship to clinical disease

Pain originating from the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) in horses has long been associated with poor performance, yet specific diagnosis of sacroiliac dysfunction (SID) has been difficult to achieve. Clinical presentation of SID appears to fall into two categories. The first, presenting as pain and poor performance, is responsive to local analgesia of periarticular structures with poorly defined pathology. The second presents primarily as poor performance with bony pathological changes as a result of chronic instability. Diagnostic tests based on biomechanics as well as manual provocation for SIJ pain have formed the basis of tests currently used to diagnose SIJ dysfunction in humans. This review summarises the anatomy and biomechanics of the equine SIJ and current biomechanical, innervation and motor control concepts in human SID. The relationship between abnormal SIJ motion and altered neuromotor control with clinical disease of the equine SIJ are discussed. Future utilisation of these principles to develop new diagnostic and management tools for the equine SID is promising