A MECHANICAL MODEL FOR HIP REDUCTION VIA PAVLIK HARNESS IN NEWBORNS

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) refers to an abnormal hip condition in infants characterized by anomalous development of the hip joint, in which hip joint dislocation, misalignment, and musculoskeletal instability are present. Clinical reports and previous research show very low success rates for the Pavlik Harness for severe grades of hip dislocation. Statistically, it has been shown that for reduction rate for the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) Grades I-III is 92% while only 2% for grade IV. DDH is found responsible for 29% of primary hip replacements in people up to 60 years of age. The primary goal of this project is to assist in the improvement of the success rate on non-surgical interventions for patients with DDH, as well as the ensuing consequences in adulthood. In order to experimentally verify the computational model of the hip reduction and abduction in severe cases of DDH, a mechanical bench-top model is to be designed, built and tested for the four grades of dislocation. This approach will be repeated for three patient-specific infant\u27s musculoskeletal models, as to corroborate the use of this experimental bench-top design in the validation of the patient-specific computational model

An Experimental Verification of Computational Models Demonstrating Hip Reductions via Pavlik Harness in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH) refers to an abnormal hip condition in neonates characterized by anomalous development of the hip joint – in which hip joint dislocation, misalignment, and musculoskeletal instability are present in newborn infants. In infants, the Pavlik Harness is the preferred standard orthopedic device used worldwide to non-surgically correct DDH in infants.We propose to use engineering fundamentals to determine the mechanics governing the operation of these devices in order to determine conclusive mechanisms of action for the device, and to devise case-specific methods to actively vector the femoral head to its proper concentric position in the acetabulum, thereby decreasing the incidence of disability due to the unsuccessful treatment of severe hip dysplasia. In order to experimentally verify the computational model of hip reduction and abduction via the Pavlik Harness in severe cases of DDH, a mechanical bench-top model of DDH dislocation will be designed, constructed, and implemented into the experiment. This bench-top design will include a readily interchangeable partition for patient-specific 3D-printed hip musculoskeletal hip structures, used to validate the patient-specific computational models obtained from computer models generated from CT and MRI scans obtained from patients used in previous research. The primary impact of this project on society will be to assist in the improvement of the success rate non-surgical interventions for patients with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip, as well as its consequences in adulthood, as DDH is found to be responsible for 29% of primary hip replacements in people up to sixty (60) years of age

Relationships between External, Wearable Sensor-Based, and Internal Parameters: A Systematic Review

Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are used to record training and match play of intermittent team sport athletes. Paired with estimates of internal responses or adaptations to exercise, practitioners gain insight into players’ dose–response relationship which facilitates the prescription of the training stimuli to optimize performance, prevent injuries, and to guide rehabilitation processes. A systematic review on the relationship between external, wearable-based, and internal parameters in team sport athletes, compliant with the PRISMA guidelines, was conducted. The literature research was performed from earliest record to 1 September 2020 using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SportDISCUS. A total of 66 full-text articles were reviewed encompassing 1541 athletes. About 109 different relationships between variables have been reviewed. The most investigated relationship across sports was found between (session) rating of perceived exertion ((session-)RPE) and PlayerLoad™ (PL) with, predominantly, moderate to strong associations (r = 0.49–0.84). Relationships between internal parameters and highly dynamic, anaerobic movements were heterogenous. Relationships between average heart rate (HR), Edward’s and Banister’s training impulse (TRIMP) seem to be reflected in parameters of overall activity such as PL and TD for running-intensive team sports. PL may further be suitable to estimate the overall subjective perception. To identify high fine-structured loading—relative to a certain type of sport—more specific measures and devices are needed. Individualization of parameters could be helpful to enhance practicality

Development of a Plantar Pressure Postural Analysis and Biofeedback Suite regarding Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder Corrective Therapy for Modular Mobile Devices

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), work­-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) account for nearly 70 million physician office visits in the United States. The Institute of Medicine estimates the annual economic cost of WMSDs to between $45 and$54 billion annually. Work­-related musculoskeletal disorders affect workers’ health for the duration of their working lives and following retirement. Consequently, our team shall research and develop a bioinstrumentation system consisting of pressure sensors attached to the bottom sole (plantar region) of the feet, and inertial measurement unit sensors at the shoulders, hips, and knees; all of which are connected to an Arduino microcontroller that algorithmically calculates the individual’s deviation from healthy standing posture. The system acts as a corrective behavioral treatment in prevention or therapy for work-­related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) relating to posture. Using applied knowledge of engineering fundamentals, human factors design principles, ergonomics, and physiology. This biomedical system shall be demonstrated to be at least minimally viable by the end of the 2015/­2016 academic year, with further development to continue throughout the following year to create a commercial product

Does advanced footwear technology improve track and road racing performance? An explorative analysis based on the 100 best yearly performances in the world between 2010 and 2022

High-tech running shoes and spikes ("super-footwear") are currently being debated in sports. There is direct evidence that distance running super shoes improve running economy; however, it is not well established to which extent world-class performances are affected over the range of track and road running events. This study examined publicly available performance datasets of annual best track and road performances for evidence of potential systematic performance effects following the introduction of super footwear. The analysis was based on the 100 best performances per year for men and women in outdoor events from 2010 to 2022, provided by the world governing body of athletics (World Athletics). We found evidence of progressing improvements in track and road running performances after the introduction of super distance running shoes in 2016 and super spike technology in 2019. This evidence is more pronounced for distances longer than 1500 m in women and longer than 5000 m in men. Women seem to benefit more from super footwear in distance running events than men. While the observational study design limits causal inference, this study provides a database on potential systematic performance effects following the introduction of super shoes/spikes in track and road running events in world-class athletes. Further research is needed to examine the underlying mechanisms and, in particular, potential sex differences in the performance effects of super footwear

MOCK FLOW LOOP (MFL) FOR SELF-POWERED FONTAN CIRCULATION

We propose an innovative way to “assist” the Fontan circulation by creating a novel bifurcating graft (IJS) .A benchtop dynamically scaled mock flow loop (MFL) will be configured to validate the optimized IJS .The MFL will be based on a reduced Fontan lumped-parameter model (LPM) and will be comprised of an upper body and lower body RLC compartments as well as a left and right lung RLC compartments. A patient-specific 3D model of the Fontan junction is produced via 3D printing and is the centerpiece of the MFL. A steady flow pump maintains the mean flow, matching the target cardiac output, for the baseline “sick” Fontan circulation, and, with the IJS, a Harvard Medical pulsatile pump provides the targeted flow rate through the IJS. Flow and pressure sensor data at critical points in the MFL are acquired via a National Instruments multichannel data acquisition board and processed using LabView

Motion analysis of dyadic talk during joint search and decision-making – A replication study

Human interaction frequently includes decision-making processes during which interactants call on verbal and non-verbal resources to manage the flow of interaction. In 2017, Stevanovic et al. carried out pioneering work, analyzing the unfolding of moment-by-moment dynamics by investigating the behavioral matching during search and decision-making phases. By studying the similarities in the participant's body sway during a conversation task in Finnish, the authors showed higher behavioral matching during decision phases than during search phases. The purpose of this research was to investigate the whole-body sway and its coordination during joint search and decision-making phases as a replication of the study by Stevanovic et al. (2017) but based on a German population. Overall, 12 dyads participated in this study and were asked to decide on 8 adjectives, starting with a pre-defined letter, to describe a fictional character. During this joint-decision task (duration: 206.46 ± 116.08 s), body sway of both interactants was measured using a 3D motion capture system and center of mass (COM) accelerations were computed. Matching of body sway was calculated using a windowed cross correlation (WCC) of the COM accelerations. A total of 101 search and 101 decision phases were identified for the 12 dyads. Significant higher COM accelerations (5.4*10−3 vs. 3.7*10−3 mm/s2, p < 0.001) and WCC coefficients (0.47 vs. 0.45, p = 0.043) were found during decision-making phases than during search phases. The results suggest that body sway is one of the resources humans use to communicate the arrival at a joint decision. These findings contribute to a better understanding of interpersonal coordination from a human movement science perspective

Relationships between External, Wearable Sensor-Based, and Internal Parameters: A Systematic Review

Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) are used to record training and match play of intermittent team sport athletes. Paired with estimates of internal responses or adaptations to exercise, practitioners gain insight into players’ dose–response relationship which facilitates the prescription of the training stimuli to optimize performance, prevent injuries, and to guide rehabilitation processes. A systematic review on the relationship between external, wearable-based, and internal parameters in team sport athletes, compliant with the PRISMA guidelines, was conducted. The literature research was performed from earliest record to 1 September 2020 using the databases PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SportDISCUS. A total of 66 full-text articles were reviewed encompassing 1541 athletes. About 109 different relationships between variables have been reviewed. The most investigated relationship across sports was found between (session) rating of perceived exertion ((session-)RPE) and PlayerLoad™ (PL) with, predominantly, moderate to strong associations (r = 0.49–0.84). Relationships between internal parameters and highly dynamic, anaerobic movements were heterogenous. Relationships between average heart rate (HR), Edward’s and Banister’s training impulse (TRIMP) seem to be reflected in parameters of overall activity such as PL and TD for running-intensive team sports. PL may further be suitable to estimate the overall subjective perception. To identify high fine-structured loading—relative to a certain type of sport—more specific measures and devices are needed. Individualization of parameters could be helpful to enhance practicality