Análise do Controle Motor com Interações usando Dispositivos Convencionais e Realidade Aumentada

Este trabalho apresenta um software para auxílio ao diagnóstico dos problemas do controle motor fino em humanos, denominado MOSKA (MOtor SKill Analyser), usando técnicas de interação com dispositivos convencionais (baseadas em dispositivos como mouse, mesa digitalizadora - tablet) e, Realidade Aumentada (RA) (baseada em dispositivos de baixo custo como webcam). Ambas as técnicas de interação, com RA e sem RA, foram implementadas com o objetivo de capturar métricas, já validadas em pesquisas anteriores, relativas ao tempo de duração e precisão de desenhos produzidos pelos pacientes. O desenvolvimento levou a um sistema que dispõe de métricas novas e mais significantes, um sistema de Bando de Dados e permitiu efetuar uma comparação as técnicas de interação para este tipo de diagnóstico. As implementações foram feitas em Java e, para RA, foi usada a biblioteca jARToolKit por ser popular, livre e de código aberto mas que implica no uso de marcadores, o que levou a identificar algumas limitações deste tipo de RA. Apesar de certo entusiasmo por ser uma tecnologia mais moderna, descobriu-se que certas técnicas específicas de RA não são apropriadas para aplicações que necessitem de precisão e coordenação visual-motora como a análise do controle motor fin

VALIDITY OF SOFTWARE FOR MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL REACTION TIME WITH SIMPLE STIMULUS -TRT_S 2012

Objective: Determine the validity of the TRT_S2012 software in to assess the total reaction time (TRT) with a simple visual stimulus (TRTSimple) and mental fatigue from TRT (TRTFatigue). Methods: Three types of validation were applied: a) concurrent, for determining the correlation between the TRT_S2012 Software and Vienna Test System (VTS), b) content of a sample of adults, and c)mechanical, using a robot that performs a mechanic motion to respond to a light stimulus.The study included 216 young adults, college students aged 17 – 45 years (x = 24.0 ± 6.0) and a robot. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for performance on TRT obtained by young adults and robot in two software. Results: The intra-class correlation in the adults TRT showed strong correlation between VTS and TRTSimple (R = .72). Identification of the proposed initial stimulus in TRTFatigue presented intermediate correlation with VTS (R = .56) and the final stimulus presented low correlation with VTS (R=.35).The robot TRT showed standard deviation ranging .5 ms (on average) between the highest and lowest.The standard error of the mean ranged from .23 to .28 and the distributions were homogeneous between 8.2 to 9.7%. Conclusion: The results confirmed the validity of the software TRT_S2012 2012. It is a reliable cognitive test that can be applied to young adults for measuring the TRT with simple visual stimuli and for evaluating the influence of mental fatigue from the TRT. however, the delays caused by the computer resources used should be considered and measured with a resource like the robot. We conclude that the TRT_S2012 software is valid for assessing the TRT and cognitive fatigue in healthy adults

REVIEW OF “OXFORD TEXTBOOK OF PUBLIC HEALTH”

The fifth edition of the “ Oxford textbook of public health” , edited by Roger Detels, Robert Beaglehole, Mary Ann Lansang and Martin Gulliford, consists of 12 sections grouped into three volumes: scope, methods, and practices of public health. This edition deals with the development and application of science of disease prevention, increased longevity and health promotion by community action, to promote the physical, psychological and mental well-being of subjects, involving technology, social sciences, and politics. Each chapter describes public health problems, how to avoid them by early identification, suggestions, presentation of strategies for solving these problems, and evaluations of actions’ effectiveness. The entire book addresses public health in developed, emerging, and developing countries. Volume I presents the history of public health, determinants of health and disease, policies, laws and their ethics. In the first section, public health actions are described in different countries

Motivação e tempo de reação de universitários praticantes e não praticantes de exercícios físicos

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar as relações entre as motivações intrínsecas e extrínsecas para a prática auto relatada de exercício físico (EF) de estudantes universitários e seu desempenho no tempo de reação total com estímulo simples visual. Participaram do estudo 212 universitários matriculados em uma instituição de ensino superior de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, sendo 98 (46,2%) do sexo masculino e 114 (53,8%) feminino, na faixa etária entre 18 e 45 anos, sendo 147 praticantes de EF e 65 não praticantes. A motivação para prática de EF foi avaliada através do Questionário de Regulação de Comportamento no Exercício Físico-2 (Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2) BREQ-2, medindo cinco construtos baseados na Teoria da Autodeterminação. Para medir o tempo de reação total (TRT) foi utilizado o Software TRT_S2012. Os dados foram tratados por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial (teste “U” de Mann-Whitney e correlação de Spearman). Os universitários praticantes de EF apresentaram melhor TRT, menor amotivação e regulação externa, maior regulação identificada, motivação intrínseca e índice de autodeterminação quando comparados aos não praticantes de EF. O TRT esteve relacionado positivamente à regulação externa e negativamente ao índice de autodeterminação, indicando que quanto maior a regulação externa para a prática de EF, maior também é o TRT. Universitários mais autodeterminadospara a prática de exercícios físicos foram os que praticam exercício físico e apresentam melhor tempo de reação do que os universitários que não praticam

Analysis of different device interactions in a virtual reality task in individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A randomized controlled trial

There is a need to support individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) to achieve optimal functionality in everyday life and with meaningful tasks and activities, throughout stages of the disease progression. Thus, technological developments have created an exciting opportunity for the use of affordable virtual reality (VR) systems with different kinds of interaction devices, providing an efficient and fun tool for enabling improvement in motor performance. Objective. To compare performance on a virtual task using interfaces with and without physical contact in order to identify functionality by using different devices in individuals with DMD. Methods. One hundred and twenty male individuals took part on this study: 60 with DMD with a mean age of 16 ± 5 (range 9–34 years old) and 60 without DMD in the control group (CG) matched by age. Participants were divided into three groups of 20 individuals each which performed a virtual task in three different interfaces: Kinect®, computer Touch Screen and Leap Motion®, in a cross over design in which all participants used all devices. Motor impairment in the DMD group was measured by using the Motor Function Measurement and Vignos scales. Results. All participants improved performance through practice, regardless of the interface used, although the DMD group had a continuous lower performance compared to the CG. In addition, the DMD group obtained a significant better performance with Leap Motion interface compared to the other interfaces, while the CG presented better performance on Touch Screen interface. Conclusion. Leap Motion provided better performance for individuals with DMD due to enablement of distal muscle function and ease of instrument adjustment using the virtual interface. Therefore, this type of interface should be encouraged for promoting functionality on general tasks using computer systems. Clinical Trial register number: NCT02891434

Motor learning and transfer between real and virtual environments in young people with autism spectrum disorder: a prospective randomized cross over controlled trial

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction, including impaired multisensory integration which might negatively impact cognitive and motor skill performance, and hence negatively affect learning of tasks. Considering that tasks in virtual environment may provide an engaging tool as adjuncts to conventional therapies, we set out to compare motor performance between young people with ASD and a typically developing (TD) control group that underwent coincident timing tasks based on Kinect (no physical contact) and on Keyboard (with physical contact) environments. Using a randomized repeated cross-over controlled trial design, fifty young people with ASD and fifty with TD, matched by age and sex were divided into subgroups of 25 people that performed the two first phases of the study (acquisition and retention) on the same device – real or virtual – and then switched to the other device to repeat acquisition and retention phases and finally switched on to a touch screen (transfer phase). Results showed that practice in the virtual task was more difficult (producing more errors), but led to a better performance in the subsequent practice in the real task, with more pronounced improvement in the ASD as compared to the TD group. It can be concluded that the ASD group managed to transfer the practice from a virtual to a real environment, indicating that virtual methods may enhance learning of motor and cognitive skills. A need for further exploration of its effect across a number of tasks and activities is warranted.

Efficacy of different interaction devices using non-immersive virtual tasks in individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a cross-sectional randomized trial

Background. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapid progressive neurodegenerative disease, characterized by a selective loss of motor neurons, brain stem and spinal cord which leads to deterioration of motor abilities. Devices that promote interaction with tasks on computers can enhance performance and lead to greater independence and utilization of technology. Objective. To evaluate performance on a computer task in individuals with ALS using three different commonly used non-immersive devices. Method. Thirty individuals with ALS (18 men and 12 women, mean age 59 years, range 44–74 years) with a mean score of 26, (minimum score of 14 and maximum 41) on the Revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and 30 healthy controls matched for age and gender, participated. All participants were randomly divided into three groups, each using a different device system (motion tracking, finger motion control or touchscreen) to perform three task phases (acquisition, retention and transfer). Results. Both the ALS and control group (CG) showed better performance on the computer task when using the touchscreen device, but there was limited transfer of performance onto the task performed on the Finger Motion control or motion tracking. However, we found that using the motion tracking device led to transfer of performance to the touchscreen. Conclusion. This study presents novel and important findings when selecting interaction devices for individuals with ALS to access technology by demonstrating immediate performance benefits of using a touchscreen device, such as improvement of motor skills. There were possible transferable skills obtained when using virtual systems which may allow flexibility and enable individuals to maintain performance overtime

Analysis of Different Device Interactions in a Virtual Reality Task in Individuals With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—A Randomized Controlled Trial

There is a need to support individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) to achieve optimal functionality in everyday life and with meaningful tasks and activities, throughout stages of the disease progression. Thus, technological developments have created an exciting opportunity for the use of affordable virtual reality (VR) systems with different kinds of interaction devices, providing an efficient and fun tool for enabling improvement in motor performance.Objective: To compare performance on a virtual task using interfaces with and without physical contact in order to identify functionality by using different devices in individuals with DMD.Methods: One hundred and twenty male individuals took part on this study: 60 with DMD with a mean age of 16 ± 5 (range 9–34 years old) and 60 without DMD in the control group (CG) matched by age. Participants were divided into three groups of 20 individuals each which performed a virtual task in three different interfaces: Kinect®, computer Touch Screen and Leap Motion®, in a cross over design in which all participants used all devices. Motor impairment in the DMD group was measured by using the Motor Function Measurement and Vignos scales.Results: All participants improved performance through practice, regardless of the interface used, although the DMD group had a continuous lower performance compared to the CG. In addition, the DMD group obtained a significant better performance with Leap Motion interface compared to the other interfaces, while the CG presented better performance on Touch Screen interface.Conclusion: Leap Motion provided better performance for individuals with DMD due to enablement of distal muscle function and ease of instrument adjustment using the virtual interface. Therefore, this type of interface should be encouraged for promoting functionality on general tasks using computer systems. Clinical Trial register number: NCT02891434

Influence of different types of corticosteroids on heart rate variability of individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A pilot cross sectional study

Individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) have an impairment of cardiac autonomic function categorized by parasympathetic reduction and sympathetic predominance. The objective of this study was to assess the cardiac autonomic modulation of individuals with DMD undergoing therapy with Prednisone/Prednisolone and Deflazacort and compare with individuals with DMD without the use of these medications and a typically developed control group. Methods: A cross-sectional study was completed, wherein 40 boys were evaluated. The four treatment groups were: Deflazacort; Prednisone/Prednisolone; no corticoid use; and typical development. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) was investigated via linear indices (Time Domain and Frequency Domain) and non-linear indices Results: The results of this study revealed that individuals with DMD undertaking pharmacotherapies with Prednisolone demonstrated HRV comparable to the Control Typically Developed (CTD) group. In contrast, individuals with DMD undergoing pharmacotherapies with Deflazacort achieved lower HRV, akin to individuals with DMD without any medications, as demonstrated in the metrics: RMSSD; LF (n.u.), HF (n.u.), LF/HF; SD1, α1, and α1/α2, and a significant effect for SD1/SD2; %DET and Ratio; Shannon Entropy, 0 V%, 2 LV% and 2 ULV%. Conclusions: Corticosteroids have the potential to affect the cardiac autonomic modulation in adolescents with DMD. The use of Prednisone/Prednisolone appears to promote improved responses in terms of sympathovagal activity as opposed to Deflazacort