A multi-parametric wearable system to monitor neck movements and respiratory frequency of computer workers

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common form of occupational ill-health. Neck pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders experienced by computer workers. Wrong postural habits and non-compliance of the workstation to ergonomics guidelines are the leading causes of neck pain. These factors may also alter respiratory functions. Health and safety interventions can reduce neck pain and, more generally, the symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders and reduce the consequent economic burden. In this work, a multi-parametric wearable system based on two fiber Bragg grating sensors is proposed for monitoring neck movements and breathing activity of computer workers. The sensing elements were positioned on the neck, in the frontal and sagittal planes, to monitor: (i) flexion-extension and axial rotation repetitions, and (ii) respiratory frequency. In this pilot study, five volunteers were enrolled and performed five repetitions of both flexion-extension and axial rotation, and ten breaths of both quite breathing and tachypnea. Results showed the good performances of the proposed system in monitoring the aforementioned parameters when compared to optical reference systems. The wearable system is able to well-match the trend in time of the neck movements (both flexion-extension and axial rotation) and to estimate mean and breath-by-breath respiratory frequency values with percentage errors ≤6.09% and ≤1.90%, during quiet breathing and tachypnea, respectively

Effects of robotic upper limb treatment after stroke on cognitive patterns: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Robotic therapy (RT) has been internationally recognized for the motor rehabilitation of the upper limb. Although it seems that RT can stimulate and promote neuroplasticity, the effectiveness of robotics in restoring cognitive deficits has been considered only in a few recent studies. OBJECTIVE: To verify whether, in the current state of the literature, cognitive measures are used as inclusion or exclusion criteria and/or outcomes measures in robotic upper limb rehabilitation in stroke patients. METHODS: The systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies eligible were identified through PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science from inception to March 2021. RESULTS: Eighty-one studies were considered in this systematic review. Seventy-three studies have at least a cognitive inclusion or exclusion criteria, while only seven studies assessed cognitive outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite the high presence of cognitive instruments used for inclusion/exclusion criteria their heterogeneity did not allow the identification of a guideline for the evaluation of patients in different stroke stages. Therefore, although the heterogeneity and the low percentage of studies that included cognitive outcomes, seemed that the latter were positively influenced by RT in post-stroke rehabilitation. Future larger RCTs are needed to outline which cognitive scales are most suitable and their cut-off, as well as what cognitive outcome measures to use in the various stages of post-stroke rehabilitation

Functional genome-wide siRNA screen identifies KIAA0586 as mutated in Joubert syndrome

Defective primary ciliogenesis or cilium stability forms the basis of human ciliopathies, including Joubert syndrome (JS), with defective cerebellar vermis development. We performed a high-content genome wide siRNA screen to identify genes regulating ciliogenesis as candidates for JS. We analyzed results with a supervised learning approach, using SYSCILIA gold standard, Cildb3.0, a centriole siRNA screen and the GTex project, identifying 591 likely candidates. Intersection of this data with whole exome results from 145 individuals with unexplained JS identified six families with predominantly compound heterozygous mutations in KIAA0586. A c.428del base deletion in 0.1% of the general population was found in trans with a second mutation in an additional set of 9 of 163 unexplained JS patients. KIAA0586 is an orthologue of chick Talpid3, required for ciliogenesis and sonic hedgehog signaling. Our results uncover a relatively high frequency cause for JS and contribute a list of candidates for future gene discoveries in ciliopathies

Validation and assessment of a posture measurement system with magneto-inertial measurement units

Inappropriate posture and the presence of spinal disorders require specific monitoring systems. In clinical settings, posture evaluation is commonly performed with visual observation, electrogoniometers or motion capture systems (MoCaps). Developing a measurement system that can be easily used also in non-structured environments would be highly beneficial for accurate posture monitoring. This work proposes a system based on three magneto-inertial measurement units (MIMU), placed on the backs of seventeen volunteers on the T3, T12 and S1 vertebrae. The reference system used for validation is a stereophotogrammetric motion capture system. The volunteers performed forward bending and sit-to-stand tests. The measured variables for identifying the posture were the kyphosis and the lordosis angles, as well as the range of movement (ROM) of the body segments. The comparison between MIMU and MoCap provided a maximum RMSE of 5.6° for the kyphosis and the lordosis angles. The average lumbo-pelvic contribution during forward bending (41.8 ± 8.6%) and the average lumbar ROM during sit-to-stand (31.8 ± 9.8° for sitting down, 29.6 ± 7.6° for standing up) obtained with the MIMU system agree with the literature. In conclusion, the MIMU system, which is wearable, inexpensive and easy to set up in non-structured environments, has been demonstrated to be effective in posture evaluation

Optoelectronic plethysmography to evaluate the effect of posture on breathing kinematics in spinal cord injury: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injured patients often suffer from respiratory muscles impairment. Spirometry studies showed that in supine position vital capacity increases in such patients since diaphragm increases its inspiratory excursion. To our opinion, however, respiratory kinematics in spinal cord injured patients is disadvantaged in supine position. AIM: To evaluate the effect of posture (sitting and supine) on respiratory kinematics in chronic spinal cord injured patients using optoelectronic plethysmography. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatients referring to the Movement Analysis Laboratory of a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Unit. POPULATION: Twenty chronic spinal cord injured patients (9 tetraplegics, with lesional level ranging from C3 to C7 and 11 paraplegics with lesional level ranging from T1 to T8) and twenty healthy subjects matched for gender, age and smoking habits. METHODS: All subjects underwent optoelectronic evaluation in sitting and supine position during quiet breathing and hyperventilation. Additional trials were performed to derive respiratory functional parameters (vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second) in sitting and in supine position. Compartmental volumes and respiratory functional parameters were analyzed by means of analysis of variance. Post-hoc comparisons by means of t-tests were performed to analyze differences within and between study groups (spinal cord injured patients and healthy subjects, paraplegics and tetraplegics). Phase angle analysis and Konno and Mead diagrams were performed to evaluate if thoracic and abdominal compartments were moving in synchrony during breathing and the results were compared by paired t-tests. RESULTS: Supine position increases vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second. This could be due to the more favorable length of the diaphragm in supine than in sitting position. However in such posture the phase shift between thorax and abdomen during breathing increases. CONCLUSION: Optoelectronic plethysmography measurements showed that even if in supine position there is an improvement in respiratory functional parameters, the respiratory kinematics of the chest wall is disadvantaged. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Our study suggests that the use of abdominal binders could reproduce in sitting position the positive effect of supine position on diaphragm, that could work at a more favorable point of its length tension curve

Use of wearable systems for the detection of chest-abdominal wall movement aimed at respiratory monitoring in sport: a scoping review on available data

There is a significant request for wearable systems for vital signs and athletic performance monitoring during sport practice, both in professional and non-professional fields. Respiratory rate is a rather neglected parameter in this field, but several studies show that it is a strong marker of physical exertion. The aim of the present scoping review is to evaluate the number and kind of existing studies on wearable technologies for the analysis of the chest wall movement for respiratory monitoring in sport and fitness. The review included studies investigating the use of contact-based wearable techniques for the detection of chest wall movement for respiratory monitoring during professional or amateur sport, during fitness and physical activity. The search was conducted on PubMed/Medline, Scopus and Google Scholar electronic databases using keywords. Data extracted were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet by the leading author and then double-checked by the second author. A total of 25 descriptive studies met the inclusion criteria. Few studies on small number of athletes were found, technologies were often evaluated without a reference system, data on participants are sometimes missing. To date, we are not able to draw conclusions on which is the best and most reliable device to use during sport practice

Concurrent validity and inter trial reliability of a single inertial measurement unit for spatial-temporal gait parameter analysis in patients with recent total hip or total knee arthroplasty

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of disability and its frequent hip and knee joint localization requires surgical joint replacement treatment. Patients after total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty often show gait abnormalities, whose comprehension is crucial in order to plan an appropriate rehabilitative treatment. Wearable sensor devices can be a valid tool for gait assessment in clinical practice, being relatively inexpensive and easy to use

Smart textile based on piezoresistive sensing elements for respiratory monitoring

Wearable systems are gaining large interest in applications related to the monitoring of physiological parameters. Piezoresistive strain sensors are a valid option to develop wearables for several medical applications. Among them, respiratory monitoring can be performed by recording chest movements. The aim of this paper is threefold: 1) the experimental assessment of elastic piezoresistive textile; 2) the influence of length and width on piezoresistive response; and 3) the use of these elements to develop a smart textile (ST) for respiratory monitoring. The ST consists of six piezoresistive elements. The static calibration and the hysteresis analysis were carried out to assess the characteristics of the piezoresistive elements. The feasibility assessment of the ST for respiratory monitoring was performed on four healthy volunteers under two conditions (i.e., quiet breathing and tachypnea). Respiratory frequency values were estimated by the ST and compared with the ones gathered by means of a reference system (i.e., a motion capture system). Length and width influence both the sensitivity and hysteresis of the piezoresistive element. Regarding the ST performance, good agreement with data provided by the reference system was found. Indeed, results obtained by considering the output of single sensing elements and their sum were promising: The difference between the average respiratory frequency was always lower than 1% and 4% during quiet breathing and tachypnea, respectively. The proposed ST seems to be suitable for respiratory frequency monitoring in a wide range of values, where unobtrusiveness is of great value