Computer modeling in training Bachelor of Electromechanics

У публікації наведені дисципліни у яких відбувається цілеспрямоване формування навичок моделювання бакалаврів електромеханіки, розглянуті компетенції, які ці дисципліни охоплюють. Визначено, що блок моделювання забезпечує теоретичне та практичне наповнення фундаментальної, загально та спеціалізовано-професійної підготовки бакалавра електромеханіки, надаючи можливість сформувати компетентність бакалавра електромеханіки в моделюванні.The publication given discipline which is focused Bachelor modeling the skills eleсtromechanics, reviewed competencies that these disciplines cover. Determined that the simulation unit provides theoretical and practical content of basic, general and specialized professional training Bachelor Electromechanics, providing the ability to create competence Bachelor of Electromechanics in simulation

Sensorimotor impairments of paretic upper limb correlates with activities of daily living in subjects with chronic stroke

The  main objective  of  this  study  was  to  investigate  the correlations  between sensorimotor  impairments  of  paretic  upper  limb  and the  hand  functions of  activities of daily  living  (ADLs)  scores  in  persons  with chronic stroke.This is a cross-sectional  study  with  19  chronic  stroke  survivors.  Hand function was measured by the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT). Impairments in upper extremity motor function were measured by upper limb items  of  Fugl-Meyer  Assessment  (FMA-UE).  Forearm  muscles  strength, handgrip  and  pinch  grip  power  were  assessed  using  handheld  dynamo-meters. Tactile sensation threshold was measured by monofilaments.Significant differences were found between the affected and unaffected side in the total JTHFT scores, forearm muscle strength, handgrip and pinch grip (p≤0.017), but not the tactile sensa-tion threshold.  The total JTHFT scores were found to be correlated with total score of FMA-UE (rs = -0.789), hand-grip  power  (rs = -0.588) and pinch grip power (rs = -0.657) on the affected side, but not the tactile sensation. The total JTHFT scores were correlated with FMA-UE scores, handgrip and pinch grip of the affected side.  This is the first study in documenting the correlation between the sensorimotor impairments and JTHFT scores in persons with  chronic stroke. Our findings highlights the importance of including upper limb and grip strength training in stroke rehabilitation program in order to improve hand functions in activities of daily living in patients with chronic stroke

Effects of Tai Chi on joint proprioception and stability limits in elderly subjects

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to examine whether elderly Tai Chi practitioners have developed better knee joint proprioception and standing balance control than control subjects. Methods: Tai Chi and control subjects (N = 21 each, aged 69.4 ± SD 5.5 and 72.3 ± 6.1 yr, respectively) were matched with respect to age, sex, and physical activity level. Passive knee joint repositioning was used to test joint proprioceptive acuity. Control of body sway during static standing and subjects' intentional weight shifting to eight different spatial limits of stability within their base of support were conducted using force platform measurements. Result: Tai Chi practitioners were found to have better knee joint proprioceptive acuity, in that they made less absolute angle error (2.1 ± 1.2°) than control subjects (4.0 + 3.4°, with P = 0.023) in passive knee joint repositioning. No significant difference was found in the anteroposterior and mediolateral body sway during static standing (P > 0.05). However, Tai Chi practitioners initiated voluntary weight shifting in the limits of stability test more quickly (reaction time: 0.8 ± 0.2 s for Tai Chi practitioners) than control subjects (1.1 ± 0.3 s; P = 0.008). Moreover, they could lean further without losing stability (maximum excursion: 5.2 ± 0.6% for Tai Chi practitioners and 4.6 ± 0.5% for control subjects; P = 0.001) and showed better control of their leaning trajectory (directional control: 75.9 ± 10.0% for Tai Chi practitioners and 68.5 ± 6.9% for control subjects; P = 0.008). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that long-term Tai Chi practitioners had improved kneejoint proprioception and expanded their limits of stability during weight shifting in stance.Department of Rehabilitation Science

Effects of exercise on joint sense and balance in elderly men: tai chi versus golf

Purpose: Our previous studies showed that experienced Tai Chi practitioners had better joint proprioception and balance control during weight shifting. The objective of the present study was to examine whether experienced golfers had attained similar improvement when compared with the Tai Chi practitioners, as well as healthy elderly subjects and young university students. Methods: We compared 12 experienced elderly Tai Chi practitioners, with 11 experienced elderly golfers, 12 healthy elderly subjects, and 12 young university students, who were all males, using: 1) passive knee joint repositioning test to assess their joint proprioceptive acuity and 2) limits of stability test to assess their ability to voluntarily weight shift within their base of support. Results: Both Tai Chi practitioners and golfers had better knee joint proprioceptive acuity than did the elderly control subjects (P Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journa

Comparison of muscle torque, balance, and confidence in older tai chi and healthy adults

Part of the study was presented at the Third Pan-Pacific Conference on Rehabilitation, Hong Kong (SAR), China, August 23–25, 2002.TSANG, W. W. N., and C. W. Y. HUI-CHAN. Comparison of Muscle Torque, Balance, and Confidence in Older Tai Chi and Healthy Adults. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 37, No. 2, pp. 280-289, 2005. Purpose: The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to examine whether older Tai Chi practitioners had better knee muscle strength, less body sway in perturbed single-leg stance, and greater balance confidence than healthy older adults. Methods: Tai Chi and control subjects (N = 24 each, aged 69.3 +/- 5.0 and 71.6 +/- 6.1 yr, respectively) were matched with respect to age, gender, height, weight, and physical activity level. Concentric and eccentric isokinetic tests of the subjects' dominant knee extensors and flexors were conducted at an angular velocity of 30degrees(.)s(-1). Control of body sway was assessed in static double-leg stance and in single-leg stance perturbed by forward or backward platform perturbations. The Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale was used to investigate subjects' balance confidence in daily activities. Results: Tai Chi practitioners had higher peak torque-to-body weight ratios in concentric and eccentric isokinetic contractions of their knee extensors and flexors (P = 0.044). They manifested less anteroposterior body sway angles in perturbed single-leg but not static double-leg stance than did control subjects (P < 0.001). Tai Chi practitioners also reported significantly higher balance confidence score ratios (P = 0.001). Older adults' knee muscle strengths showed negative correlations with body sway angles in perturbed single-leg stance and positive correlations with ABC score ratios. Moreover, their body sway angles in perturbed single-leg stance were negatively correlated with their ABC score ratios (all P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that long-term Tai Chi practitioners had better knee muscle strength, less body sway in perturbed single-leg stance, and greater balance confidence. Significant correlations among these three measures uncover the importance of knee muscle strength and balance control during perturbed single-leg stance in older adults' balance confidence in their daily activities.Department of Rehabilitation Science

Reliability of dynamic sitting balance tests and their correlations with functional mobility for wheelchair users with chronic spinal cord injury

The purpose of this study is to develop a reliable and valid tool for measuring the dynamic sitting balance of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. The balance tests were performed in nine patients with chronic spinal cord injury (average of 17.2 years postinjury) between levels C6 and L1, while they were sitting in their wheelchairs and on a standardized stool (unsupported sitting), twice, 7 days apart. Limits of stability (LOS) and sequential weight shifting (SWS) were designed in this study. The balance tests measured participants' volitional weight shifting in multiple directions within their base of support. Their mobility scores on the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III were correlated with the balance test results. The LOS results showed moderate to excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.673 to 0.990) for both the wheelchair and the unsupported sitting. The SWS results showed moderate to excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.688 to 0.952). The LOS results correlated significantly with the Spinal Cord Independence Measure III mobility scores only in case of unsupported sitting, but the SWS test results showed significant correlations in both sitting conditions. To sum up, the sitting LOS and SWS tests are reliable and valid tools for assessing the dynamic sitting balance control of patients with spinal cord injury

Tai Chi practitioners have better postural control and selective attention in stepping down with and without a concurrent auditory response task

To compare the performance of older experienced Tai Chi practitioners and healthy controls in dual-task versus single-task paradigms, namely stepping down with and without performing an auditory response task, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the Center for East-meets-West in Rehabilitation Sciences at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. Twenty-eight Tai Chi practitioners (73.6 ± 4.2 years) and 30 healthy control subjects (72.4 ± 6.1 years) were recruited. Participants were asked to step down from a 19-cm-high platform and maintain a single-leg stance for 10 s with and without a concurrent cognitive task. The cognitive task was an auditory Stroop test in which the participants were required to respond to different tones of voices regardless of their word meanings. Postural stability after stepping down under single- and dual-task paradigms, in terms of excursion of the subject's center of pressure (COP) and cognitive performance, was measured for comparison between the two groups. Our findings demonstrated significant between-group differences in more outcome measures during dual-task than single-task performance. Thus, the auditory Stroop test showed that Tai Chi practitioners achieved not only significantly less error rate in single-task, but also significantly faster reaction time in dual-task, when compared with healthy controls similar in age and other relevant demographics. Similarly, the stepping-down task showed that Tai Chi practitioners not only displayed significantly less COP sway area in single-task, but also significantly less COP sway path than healthy controls in dual-task. These results showed that Tai Chi practitioners achieved better postural stability after stepping down as well as better performance in auditory response task than healthy controls. The improved performance that was magnified by dual motor-cognitive task performance may point to the benefits of Tai Chi being a mind-and-body exercise