Use of kinematic algorithms to distinguish people with chronic non-specific low back pain from asymptomatic subjects: A validation study

Objective: To determine whether kinematic algorithms can distinguish subjects with chronic non-specific low back pain from asymptomatic subjects and subjects simulating low back pain, during trunk motion tasks.Design: Comparative cohort study.Subjects: A total of 90 subjects composed 3 groups; 45 chronic non-specific low back pain patients in the CLBP group; 45 asymptomatic controls people in the asymptomatic controls group. 20/45 subjects from the asymptomatic controls group composed the CLBP simulators group as well. Method: During performance of 7 standardized trunk motion tasks 6 spinal segments from the kinematic spine model were recorded by 8 infrared cameras. Two logit scores, for range of motion and speed, were used to investigate differences between the groups. Group allocation based on logit scores was also calculated, allowing the assessment of sensitivity and specificity of the algorithms. Results: For the 90 subjects (pooled data), the logit scores for range of motion and speed demonstrated highly significant differences between groups (p<0.001). The logit score means and standard deviation (SD) values in the asymptomatic group (n = 45) and chronic non-specific low back pain group (n = 45), respectively, were -1.6 (SD 2.6) and 2.8 (SD 2.8) for range of motion and -2.6 (SD 2.5) and 1.2 (SD 1.9) for speed. The sensitivity and specificity (n = 90) for logit score for range of motion were 0.80/0.82 and for logit score for speed were 0.80/0.87, respectively. Conclusion: These results support the validity of using 2 movement algorithms, range of motion and speed, to discriminate asymptomatic subjects from those with low back pain. However, people simulating low back pain cannot be distinguished from those with real low back pain using this method

Uncleaned crop seed sowing as a tool to conserve bromus grossus and restore species-rich arable-dependent plant communities

peer reviewedSegetal plants, which grow preferentially or exclusively in cereal fields, experienced a strong decline during the last century. Among them, Bromus grossus received particular attention, as it is highly threatened in Europe. Its decline is thought to be due to crop seed cleaning among other causes. Re-establishing the sowing of uncleaned crop seeds should therefore be considered as a tool for the conservation of this species. In this study, we aimed to evaluate (i) how the conservation of B. grossus relies on transfer in uncleaned crop seed, (ii) how this practice may help to restore new populations of this species, and (iii) the contribution of this practice to the dispersal of other segetal plants. From 2012 to 2016, we monitored eight fields from three farms in Southern Belgium where uncleaned spelt seed containing B. grossus was sown. We found that B. grossus grew in the year following seed sowing, but disappeared in the second year in most cases. This highlights the extreme dependence of B. grossus upon uncleaned spelt-seed sowing. We also showed that, through associated management practices, B. grossus acted as an ‘umbrella species’ to other arable-dependent plants. Transfer of uncleaned seed led to an increase in species richness in an experimental field from 12 species in 2015 to 43 species in 2017. Based on the germination of uncleaned seeds in a greenhouse, we concluded that it was likely to account for the dispersal of at least nine species, and possibly 15 others. © 2018, University of Cambridge. All rights reserved

A case report of a rare cause of hypophosphatemic rickets--cystinosis

Bowed legs and failure to thrive in children must be thoroughly investigated. Rickets results from deficient mineralization at the growth plate and can lead to bone deformation. The leading cause is vitamin D deficiency, but in rare cases, rickets can be caused by abnormalities of phospho-calcic metabolism, either primary (inherited) or secondary

A systematic review of supervised comprehensive functional physiotherapy after radical prostatectomy

International audienceRadical prostatectomy (RP) can generate multidimensional physiological changes, like decrease in physical and emotional functioning, as well as Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). However, only pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is commonly recommended as conservative treatment after RP. More comprehensive interventions than only PFMT, such as physiotherapy promoting general coordination, flexibility, strength, endurance, fitness and functional capacity may seem more relevant and patient-centered

Impact des modifications des courbures vertébrales sagittales liées à l’âge sur les prolapsus des organes pelviens. Une revue systématique de la littérature

International audienceThe aim of this review was to specify the potential association between age-related changes in sagittal spinal curvature and risk of pelvic organ prolapse in women

Engineers speak to therapists: Development of rehabilitation robotics

Initially developed for industrial applications, in particular to assist or replace humans in dangerous, strenuous or repetitive, robots today have applications in many other fields, including in healthcare [1]. In the specific context of the rehabilitation of brain-injured patients, the robots have the advantage of being able to repeat the movements with high intensity and frequency, and in an attractive environment for the patient [2]. They also provide assistance to therapists by relieving them physically, but also by providing a quantitative and objective assessment of the patient's performance. First robots for upper limb rehabilitation were industrial manipulators diverted from their original use [1]. Since then, these robots have evolved and can be classified in two categories: end-effector robots which mobilize the arm through the hand or the forearm, and exoskeletons placed parallel to the osteological chain which drive independently all upper limb joints. The technical development of rehabilitation robots has gone hand in hand with an intensification of the collaboration between engineers and therapists. This led to the development of solutions always better addressing the clinical needs but also to the identification of the pros and cons specific to each of the two categories of robots. Such multidisciplinary collaboration is established since 2006 at the Université catholique de Louvain between the Center for Research in Mechatronics and the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc and has led to the development of two robotic devices. The first one, REAplan, is an end-effector robot which has undergone numerous evolutions after several clinical trials to fit at best to the clinical environment. The second one, AFREXOS, is an exoskeleton robot for the shoulder complex whose innovative mechanical structure results from taking into account the clinical needs during the early stages of the design process