Search results for "BALANCE"
showing 10 items of 1379 documents
Daily modulation of the speed–accuracy trade-off
2017
International audience; Goal-oriented arm movements are characterized by a balance between speed and accuracy. The relation between speed and accuracy has been formalized by Fitts’ law and predicts a linear increase in movement duration with task constraints. Up to now this relation has been investigated on a short-time scale only, that is during a single experimental session, although chronobiological studies report that the motor system is shaped by circadian rhythms. Here, we examine whether the speed–accuracy trade-off could vary during the day. Healthy adults carried out arm-pointing movements as accurately and fast as possible toward targets of different sizes at various hours of the …
Analyzing gastrocnemius EMG-activity and sway data from quiet and perturbed standing.
2007
In an experiment, we combined force plate measurements and surface EMG in studying quiet and perturbed standing, involving MS (Multiple sclerosis) and controls. The aim of this paper is to report the results thus obtained on the relation between filtered gastrocnemius (GA) EMG and the anterior-posterior center-of-pressure (A/P COP) coordinate. The main finding is the good correspondence between A/P COP and the filtered GA EMG in the low frequency range. The EMG envelope was calculated using a zero-lag filter. Combining this with time shifts around 250-350 ms produced a high correlation (85.5+/-8.4%) between the GA-EMG envelope and the A/P COP. This EMG-COP relation was closest when using a …
Performance, balance and posture variations with Occlusal Splint and Taopatch® devices: a retrospettive cross-over study
2021
Background The aim of the study was to evaluate how muscular performances, balance and posture were influenced applying Occlusal Splints and Taopatch® 8 (Tao Technologies Srls, Cittadella, Padua, Italy) devices in athletes. Methods Eighteen athletes, 7 females and 11 males, with an average age of 23.8 years, were included. Two devices were used: 1) a customized soft occlusal splint to be applied to the lower ach; 2) nanotechnological devices based on carbon nanotubules and quantum dots (Taopatch®) positioned on C7 and xiphoid process. Four functional tests were performed: surface electromyography (sEMG), kinesiography, the squat jump and counter movement jump and handgrip test. The tests we…
Interoceptive and multimodal functions of the operculo-insular cortex: tactile, nociceptive and vestibular representations.
2013
The operculo-insular cortex has been termed the 'homeostatic control center' or 'general magnitude estimator' of the human mind. In this study, somatosensory, nociceptive and caloric vestibular stimuli were applied to reveal, whether there are mainly common, or possibly specific regions activated by one modality alone and whether lateralization effects, time pattern differences or influences of the aversive nature of the stimuli could be observed. Activation of the dorsal posterior insula was caused by all stimuli alike thus terming this area multimodal. Early phases of the noxious heat and caloric vestibular stimulation led to responses in the anterior insula. Using conjunction analyses we…
The value of the short-term fetal heart rate variation for timing the delivery of growth-retarded fetuses.
2008
OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical value of the short-term fetal heart rate variation (STV) for timing the delivery of severely growth-retarded fetuses, many associated with pre-eclampsia. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: John Radcliffe Maternity Hospital, Oxford, UK. POPULATION: Two hundred and fifty-seven fetuses with a birthweight less than third percentile and a last computerised cardiotocography performed within 24 h of delivery. METHODS: Analysis of the relationship between antepartum STV and the perinatal outcome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stillbirth rate and the acid-base status at birth. RESULTS: There were no stillbirths or neonatal deaths (NNDs) within 24 h in the study p…
Whole body frontal plane mechanics across walking, running, and sprinting in young and older adults
2016
This study investigated the whole body frontal plane mechanics among young (26 ± 6 years), early old (61 ± 5 years), and old (78 ± 4 years) adults during walking, running, and sprinting. The age-groups had similar walking (1.6 m/s) and running (4.0 m/s) speeds, but different maximal sprinting speed (young 9.3 m/s, early old 7.9 m/s, and old 6.6 m/s). Surprisingly, although the old group exerted much lower vertical ground reaction force during running and sprinting, the hip frontal plane moment did not differ between the age-groups. Kinematic analysis demonstrated increased hip adduction and pelvis drop, as well as reduced trunk lateral flexion among old adults, especially during sprinting. …
Bipedal distribution of human vestibular‐evoked postural responses during asymmetrical standing
2002
Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) evokes responses in muscles of both legs when bilateral stimuli are applied during normal stance. We have used this technique to assess whether asymmetrical standing alters the distribution of responses in the two legs. Subjects stood either asymmetrically with 75% of their body weight on one leg or symmetrically with each leg taking 50% of their body weight. The net response in each leg was taken from changes in ground reaction force measured from separate force plates under each foot. The net force profile consisted of a small initial force change that peaked at approximately 200 ms followed by an oppositely directed larger component that peaked at ap…
Influence of dental occlusion conditions on plantar pressure distribution during standing and walking – A gender perspective
2021
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate gender-specific influences of different symmetric and asymmetric occlusion conditions on postural control during standing and walking. The study involved 59 healthy adult volunteers (41 f/19 m) aged between 22 and 53 years (30.2 ± 6.3 years). Postural control measurements were carried out using a pressure plate by measuring plantar pressure distribution during standing and walking test conditions. Seven different occlusion conditions were tested. Prior to a MANOVA model analysis, the relationship between the two test conditions were checked using a factor analysis with a varying number of factors (between 2 and 10). The plantar pressure dist…
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS): effects on the vestibular system
2010
SUMMARY Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) on the peripheral and central vestibular system, by means of a case series prospective study at the University referral centre of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; 45 consecutive patients suffering from OSAS were compared with a control group of 30 volunteer subjects selected from among the department employees. Severity of the disease was evaluated by means of cardio-respiratory function monitoring during sleep; the apnoea-hypopnoea index was calculated. Both groups underwent: 1) head and neck examination; 2) fibre-optic examination; 3) pure tone audiometry; 4) evaluation of eye mov…
Interventions for improving psychological detachment from work: A meta-analysis.
2021
Psychological detachment from work during off-job time is crucial to sustaining employee health and well-being. However, this can be difficult to achieve, particularly when job stress is high and recovery is most needed. Boosting detachment from work is therefore of interest to many employees and organizations, and over the last decade numerous interventions have been developed and evaluated. The aim of this meta-analysis was to review and statistically synthesize the state of research on interventions designed to improve detachment both at work and outside of it. After a systematic search (covering the period 1998-2020) of the published and unpublished literature, 30 studies with 34 interv…