Search results for "Physical Medicine"

Influence of infrared camera model and evaluator reproducibility in the assessment of skin temperature responses to physical exercise.

2021

Infrared thermography (IRT) has been gaining in popularity in clinical and scientific research due to the increasing availability of affordable infrared cameras. This study aims to determine the similarity of measurement performance between three models of IRT camera during assessment of skin temperature before and after physical exercise. Three models of FLIR thermographic cameras (E60bx, Flir-One Pro LT, and C2) were tested. Thermal images were taken of the foot sole, anterior leg, and anterior thigh from 12 well-trained men, before and after a 30-min run on a treadmill. Image files were blinded and processed by three evaluators to extract the mean, maximum, and standard deviation of skin…

A preliminary investigation about the observation of regional skin temperatures following cumulative training loads in triathletes during training ca…

2019

There are controversial results in the literature concerning the concept that cumulative training load could affect basal skin temperature in the days following training sessions. The objective was to measure skin temperature in triathletes during a training camp with cumulative training load. Ten male recreational triathletes involved in a training camp underwent measurements of perception of pain and fatigue (visual analogue scale), skin temperature (infrared thermography), and jump performance (counter movement jump test) before, one day, and two days after the beginning of the training camp. All measurements were performed before the breakfast. Jump height did not differ between the day…

Overview of the Development of Hydraulic Above Knee Prosthesis

2017

This paper presents research and development of hydraulically powered above-knee prosthesis (HAKP) and novel prosthetic foot, in order to enable transfemoral (TF) amputees perform stair ascent and other daily activities in as much as possible natural manner. Functions that need exertion of large forces and moments during locomotion such as walking up stairs and slopes cannot be naturally accomplished by commercially available microprocessor-controlled above-knee (AK) prostheses. Also, such prosthetic devices are expensive and unaffordable for major part of amputee population, so mostly used commercial prostheses are energetically passive devices. Deficiency of passive prosthetic devices is …

Non-linear active disturbance rejection control for upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton

2020

Trajectory tracking in upper limb rehabilitation exercises is utilized for repeatability of joint movement to improve the patient’s recovery in the early stages of rehabilitation. In this article, non-linear active disturbance rejection control as a combination of non-linear extended-state observer and non-linear state error feedback is used for the sinusoidal trajectory tracking control of the two-link model of an upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton. The two links represent movements like flexion/extension for both the shoulder joint and the elbow joint in the sagittal plane. The Euler–Lagrange method was employed to acquire a dynamic model of an upper limb rehabilitation exoskeleton. T…

2020

A soldier’s occupational physical task requirements are diverse and varied. However, the type of physical training that most effectively improves soldiers’ occupational task requirements has not been studied previously. The purpose of this study was to determine the important strength characteristics for soldiers during a repeated simulated military task course, and the type of training that may be effective to improve these abilities during a specialized military training period. Forty-two (n = 42) soldiers participated in the study. They were divided into three training groups; a soldier task-specific training group (TSG, n = 17), a strength training group (STG, n = 15), and a control gro…

Breathing and its stimulatory responses in parkinsonism: repercussions for physiotherapy

2020

This study addresses respiratory and motor impairments in an experimental reserpine-induced model of parkinsonism in rats. The role of chronic hypoxia due to diminished ventilation in the development and course of neurodegeneration is addressed. An attempt was made to distinguish between central and peripheral dopamine pathways in the mechanisms of neurodegeneration. A dissociation of putative mechanisms of respiratory and motor impairments is tackled as well. Although this purely experimental study cannot be directly extrapolated to human pathophysiology, the corollaries have been drawn concerning the potential repercussions of the respiratory and motor impairments for the physiotherapeuti…

Cortical network fingerprints predict deep brain stimulation outcome in dystonia.

2018

AbstractBackgroundDeep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective evidence-based therapy for dystonia. However, no unequivocal predictors of therapy responses exist. We investigate whether patients optimally responding to DBS present distinct brain network organization and structural patterns.MethodsBased on a German multicentre cohort of eighty-two dystonia patients with segmental and generalized dystonia, who received DBS implantation in the globus pallidus internus patients were classified based on the clinical response 36 months after DBS, as superior-outcome group or moderate-outcome group, as above or below 70% motor improvement, respectively. Fifty-one patients met MRI-quality and treat…

Effects of a 20-week high-intensity strength and sprint training program on tibial bone structure and strength in middle-aged and older male sprint a…

2017

This randomized, controlled, high-intensity strength and sprint training trial in middle-aged and older male sprint athletes showed significant improvements in mid-tibial structure and strength. The study reveals the adaptability of aging bone, suggesting that through a novel, intensive training stimulus it is possible to strengthen bones during aging. High-load, high-speed and impact-type exercise may be an efficient way of improving bone strength even in old age. We evaluated the effects of combined strength and sprint training on indices of bone health in competitive masters athletes, who serve as a group of older people who are likely to be able to participate in vigorous exercise of th…

High-definition transcranial direct current stimulation to both primary motor cortices improves unimanual and bimanual dexterity.

2017

While most research on brain stimulation with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targets unimanual motor tasks, little is known about its effects on bimanual motor performance. This study aims to investigate the effects of tDCS on unimanual as well as bimanual motor dexterity. We examined the effects of bihemispheric anodal high-definition tDCS (HD-atDCS) on both primary motor cortices (M1) applied concurrent with unimanual and bimanual motor training. We then measured the effects with the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and compared them to a sham stimulation. Between a pretest and posttest, 31 healthy, right-handed participants practiced the PPT on three consecutive days and receiv…

The Early Indicators of Functional Decrease in Mild Cognitive Impairment

2016

OBJECTIVES: Motor deficiency is associated with cognitive frailty in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairments (MCI). In this study we aimed to test the integrity of the muscle synergy involved in an arm-pointing movement in MCI patients, non-impaired functionally. Thus, we were able to test the hypothesis that early motor indicators exist in this population at a preclinical level. METHODS: The electromyographic signals were collected for 11 muscles in 3 groups: Young Adults (YA), Aged Adults (AA), and MCI patients. The AA and MCI groups presented the same functional status. Each subject performed twenty arm-pointing movements from a standing position. RESULTS: The main differences were (1) …