Postural effects of symmetrical and asymmetrical loads on the spines of schoolchildren

The school backpack constitutes a daily load for schoolchildren: we set out to analyse the postural effects of this load, considering trunk rotation, shoulder asymmetry, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sagittal and frontal decompensation from the plumbline. A group of 43 subjects (mean age = 12.5 ± 0.5 years) were considered: average backpack loads and average time spent getting to/from home/school (7 min) had been determined in a previous study conducted on this population. Children were evaluated by means of an optoelectronic device in different conditions corresponding to their usual everyday school backpack activities: without load; bearing 12 (week maximum) and 8 (week average) kg symmetrical loads; bearing an 8 kg asymmetrical load; after fatigue due to backpack carrying (a 7-minute treadmill walking session bearing an 8 kg symmetrical load). Both types of load induce changes in posture: the symmetrical one in the sagittal plane, without statistical significant differences between 8 and 12 kg, and the asymmetrical one in all anatomical planes. Usual fatigue accentuates sagittal effects, but recovery of all parameters (except lumbar lordosis) follows removal of the load. The backpack load effect on schoolchildren posture should be more carefully evaluated in the future, even if we must bear in mind that laws protect workers to carry heavy loads but not children, and results in the literature support the hypothesis that back pain in youngsters is correlated with back pain in adulthoo

Con-vivere-con l'autismo. Contributi psicodinamici e strategie educative

Questo libro nasce da quell’inevitabile desiderio di capire e di fare che attraversa inevitabilmente chiunque, per qualche ragione, incontri nel suo cammino una persona autistica. La disabilità fisica e/o psichica impone spesso violentemente la propria mancanza e solleva interrogativi che non sempre trovano risposte soddisfacenti, talvolta “disturbando” i nostri bei progetti psico-pedagocici, nonché i progetti di vita di tante famiglie. Il nostro percorso di ricerca ha quindi a che fare con domande del tipo: cosa si fa con un bambino così? Come si possono sviluppare alcune sue autonomia nell’ottica di migliorare la sua qualità di vita? Come si possono incontrare quei genitori su un piano umano e professionale? Lo scopo centrale di questo libro è raccogliere criticamente i contributi delle tante discipline che, negli ultimi anni, concentrano i loro sforzi attorno al tema della sindrome autistica per rinvenirne possibili ipotesi causali, descriverne sempre più accuratamente manifestazioni comportamentali, compromissioni e potenzialità evolutive, per delineare possibilità di trattamento che si basino sull’educazione del soggetto autistico e sulla presa in carico psicoeducativa dei genitori

Multisensor piezoelectric polymer insole for pedobarography

Analysis of the pressure distribution under the foot in walking and standing patients (pedobarography) can be used to detect orthopaedic as well as neurological defects. Sensorized insoles are increasingly used, at least for research purposes, because of the inherent advantages they offer compared to the force platforms presently available. We have developed and evaluated a piezoelectric polymer insole for pedobarography, using a 200 μm thick polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film which had been uniaxially stretched and poled in selected areas. Sixteen circular aluminium disks, 6 mm diameter each, deposited onto the film by vacuum evaporation, served as the electrodes for the pressure sensors and were located so as to optimize the response of the five metatarsal transducers, which are particularly critical for a correct gait analysis. The 16 sensors were disposed on the ideal loading surface, the response of which identified incorrect foot conformation on loading. Sixteen conductive tracks, one for each transducer, converged toward a side of the insole, where 16 contact pads were provided to bond connecting wires, leading to an electronic unit conveniently attached to the leg of the patient. A system was designed to allow data acquisition and processing by a Digital MINC 11 minicomputer. This sensorized insole is currently evaluated for gait analysis, and tests on a normal subject are reported