Evaluation of physiological response and synchronisation errors during synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation trials

Rhythm perception and synchronisation is musical ability with neural basis defined as the ability to perceive rhythm in music and synchronise body movements with it. The study aimed to check the errors of synchronisation and physiological response as a reaction of the subjects to metrorhythmic stimuli of synchronous and pseudosynchronous stimulation (synchronisation with an externally controlled rhythm, but in reality controlled or produced tone by tapping) Nineteen subjects without diagnosed motor disorders participated in the study. Two tests were performed, where the electromyography signal and reaction time were recorded using the NORAXON system. In addition, physiological signals such as electrodermal activity and blood volume pulse were measured using the Empatica E4. Study 1 consisted of adapting the finger tapping test in pseudosynchrony with a given metrorhythmic stimulus with a selection of preferred, choices of decreasing and increasing tempo. Study 2 consisted of metrorhythmic synchronisation during the heel stomping test. Numerous correlations and statistically significant parameters were found between the response of the subjects with respect to their musical education, musical and sports activities. Most of the differentiating characteristics shown evidence of some group division in the undertaking of musical activities. The use of detailed analyses of synchronisation errors can contribute to the development of methods to improve the rehabilitation process of subjects with motor dysfunction, and this will contribute to the development of an expert system that considers personalised musical preferences.

Assessment of the functional state of the back muscles in girls with C-shaped low-grade scoliosis in a tensiomyographic image: An observational cross-sectional study

PURPOSE

The study aimed to test the feasibility of using tensiomyography to assess the functional status of the latissimus dorsi and erector spinae muscles in girls with C-shaped low back scoliosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-five girls aged 13-15 took part in an observational (cross-sectional) study. The examination involved measurements using the tensiomyography method (TMG). Two groups of muscles were tested: latissimus dorsi and erector spinae on the concave and convex side of low-grade scoliosis. The following indicators were analyzed: Td-delay time, Tc-contraction time, and Dm-maximal muscle displacement.

RESULTS

The analysis of Td revealed that values of this variable on the concave side were slightly lower compared to the convex side in both tested groups of muscles. Similarly, Tc values on the concave side were slightly lower than on the convex side of the curvature in both groups of muscles. In the case of Dm, lower displacement values and, consequently, greater muscle rigidity were observed on the concave side of the latissimus dorsi and the convex side of the erector spinae.

CONCLUSIONS

The TMG method can be potentially used to diagnose the functional condition of muscles in patients with low-grade scoliosis. There were differences between the functional condition of the muscles on the concave and convex sides of the curvature.

Asymmetry of the pelvis in Polish young adults

Introduction

Symmetry is one of the criteria of correct body posture in upright position. The spatial positioning of the pelvic girdle is crucial to it. Functional and structural asymmetries within the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex can have a significant influence on the structure and functions of many human body organs and systems. The aim of the study was to present the results of inclinometer measurements of selected landmarks of the pelvic girdle in young adults aged 19-29.

Methods

The analysis of occurrence of spatial pelvic asymmetry was based on the authors' original, clinical classification and the significance of the body mass and height for the analyzed asymmetries. The inclinometer measurements of the selected landmarks of the pelvic girdle were performed in a sample consisting of 300 young individuals. Then, the occurrences of the spatial asymmetry of the pelvis were analyzed based on the authors' own clinical classification using alignment symmetry of the iliac crests, the anterior superior iliac spines and the trochanters major as a criterion. All study subjects with asymmetry <1 degree were treated as those with a symmetrical pelvis.

Results

The significance of gender, body mass and height for the analyzed asymmetries was assessed. Symmetric positioning of the iliac crests was observed in only 32% of the respondents. The iliac crest depression on the left side was more frequently observed - in 41% of the respondents. This occurred more often in women (44%) than in men (38%). In the group of women, the rotated pelvis was the most often observed (39.4%) asymmetry, while for men, it was the oblique pelvis (40%). More detailed analysis by pelvic asymmetry subtypes showed their statistical differentiation between women and men (p    <     0.0001). Analysis of moderate rotation of the pelvis for men, were reported slightly higher values but these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.253). Women, in turn, showed slightly higher mean values but here too, the differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.245).

Discussion

Asymmetries in the pelvis area are common; they were observed in less than three-quarters of the examined population. Oblique pelvis was found in less than a quarter of women and in more than one-third men with the predominant structural asymmetries. Rotated pelvis was observed in more than one-third of women and men with dominating functional asymmetries. There were no linear correlations between the body mass and height, and the angle of asymmetries.

Tilt and mobility of the hip girdle in the sagittal and frontal planes in healthy subjects aged 19-30 years

BACKGROUND

Disturbances in pelvic girdle tilt can cause compensatory changes affecting postural dysfunctions, and can lead to hip and groin strain changes and back pain. However, we still have no clear information on the normative values of pelvic girdle tilt and mobility.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to (1) evaluate the position and mobility of the pelvic girdle in the sagittal and frontal planes in asymptomatic adults aged 19-30, (2) evaluate the possible variation of results according to gender and to develop a proposal for normative values, and (3) evaluate whether body mass, height and BMI are related to the magnitude of hip girdle position and mobility.

METHODS

The research was conducted in a sample group consisting of 346 men and women using the scaled form of the anthropometric level of the Duometr® The values of position and mobility of the pelvic girdle in the sagittal and frontal planes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Differences were noted in the values of the pelvic tilt (p= 0.033) between the men and women. The women showed slightly higher values of posterior range of motion (p= 0.0002) and total range of motion (p= 0.002). The other parameters did not show any significant variation. There was no clear association between body weight, height and BMI and the study variables, except for a small, significant correlation between BMI and posterior pelvic tilt in women (r= 0.175, p= 0.005). In the frontal plane there were no differences in the analyzed variables in terms of gender or side of the body measured.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no association between the anthropometric variables and the pelvic girdle tilt and mobility. No size variation by gender was observed in the frontal plane. Slight differences were observed in the sagittal plane. Normative values are proposed.

Assessment of changes in the sagittal plane of the spine in girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using the moire method

BACKGROUND

The gold standard in the clinical assessment of the extent of scoliosis is the Cobb method but the analysis also covers the changes that occur within the spine and trunk in relation to the transverse and sagittal planes.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to estimate changes in the sagittal plane of the spine in girls with right-sided thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

METHODS

The study involved 29 girls with scoliosis (13.6 ± 0.6 years) and 36 healthy girls as the comparison group. The tests included an interview, clinical examination (with the use of Adam's test and the Cobb angle), and examination of shape of the spine surface with the use of the photogrammetric method and the projection moire effect.

RESULTS

Lower values of the thoracic kyphosis parameters were found in the scoliosis group. Significant differences were noted for the parameters of the lumbosacral section α (p= 0.02), thoracolumbar section β (p< 0.001), the upper thoracic section γ (p< 0.001), thoracolumbar and upper thoracic section β+γ (p< 0.001) and the total size of α+β+γ (p< 0.001) curvatures.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed that with an increase in the angular value of the thoracic curvature, the thoracic kyphosis decreased.

Real-Time Back Surface Landmark Determination Using a Time-of-Flight Camera

Postural disorders, their prevention, and therapies are still growing modern problems. The currently used diagnostic methods are questionable due to the exposure to side effects (radiological methods) as well as being time-consuming and subjective (manual methods). Although the computer-aided diagnosis of posture disorders is well developed, there is still the need to improve existing solutions, search for new measurement methods, and create new algorithms for data processing. Based on point clouds from a Time-of-Flight camera, the presented method allows a non-contact, real-time detection of anatomical landmarks on the subject’s back and, thus, an objective determination of trunk surface metrics. Based on a comparison of the obtained results with the evaluation of three independent experts, the accuracy of the obtained results was confirmed. The average distance between the expert indications and method results for all landmarks was 27.73 mm. A direct comparison showed that the compared differences were statically significantly different; however, the effect was negligible. Compared with other automatic anatomical landmark detection methods, ours has a similar accuracy with the possibility of real-time analysis. The advantages of the presented method are non-invasiveness, non-contact, and the possibility of continuous observation, also during exercise. The proposed solution is another step in the general trend of objectivization in physiotherapeutic diagnostics.

Body balance analysis of children and youth with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND

Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (IDs) are an identified group with postural disturbances resulting from a lack of integration among the visual, vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The insufficient level of maturity of the sensory systems is at least partly responsible for disturbances in maintaining body balance. More sway can increase the risk of falls and body injuries. The aims of the study were (1) to compare the ability to maintain the body balance of children and youth with a varying degree of ID, both with the eyes open and closed, and (2) to determine to what extent factors such as sex, level of ID, visual stimulus and body height independently affect the ability to maintain body balance in children and adolescents with ID.

METHOD

The study involved 131 people aged 13-21 years (65 girls and 66 boys). The participants were classified as (1) with mild disability (42 girls and 47 boys) and (2) with moderate disability (23 girls and 19 boys), based on IQ test results. Sway measures were collected with the Zebris platform, with the eyes open and closed. Sway path, sway path in anterio-posterior and medio-lateral directions and sway area were analysed.

RESULTS

Boys with moderate ID were characterised by a significantly more sway indicating their worse postural balance ability than boys with mild ID, both in the trials with open eyes and closed ones. The type of test (eyes open/eyes closed) to a small extent had influenced the body balance of the examined children with ID. Results of analyses of covariance had showed that all analysed factors (sex, level of ID, type of the test performance and body height), irrespectively from direction of sway (sway path in anterio-posterior and medio-lateral directions), worked independently influencing body balance.

CONCLUSIONS

It could be assumed that lower height, moderate disability and male sex are factors significantly reducing ability of maintenance of balance of children and youth with ID.

Quality of body posture and postural stability in people with intellectual disability playing volleyball

PURPOSE

The quality of body posture and its balance depends on the efficiency of the receptors, the good work of the central nervous system integrating and coordinating the postural system and the effective musculoskeletal system. Physical activity of people with intellectual disability can stimulate the processes of improving the posture and its postural stability, improving the quality of life.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 2017. 20 randomly selected volleyball players with intellectual disabilities and 10 healthy players took part in it. Body posture was recorded using a photogrammetric system. To evaluate the use of the Frohner Posture Index and the Dolphens classification, stability of the posture was assessed on the Zebris FDM power plate, analyzing the basic stabilographic parameters sway path and sway area.

RESULTS

Athletes with intellectual disabilities had significantly poorer posture and body balance than healthy players. There were no differences in postural stability between the groups studied. Some linear correlations were found between the quality of posture and balance and stabilographic variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorrect postural patterns, observed in people with intellectual disabilities, require the development of special recovery programs. Qualified physical activity can help them improve their balance systems, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. The lack of the possibility of an unequivocal relationship between the quality of body posture and its stability requires research on a larger research material. New evaluation methods used (Frohner Posture index and Dolphens classification) confirmed their usefulness and gave new possibilities of application in postural research.

Application of Zebris dynamometric platform and Arch Index in assessment of the longitudinal arch of the foot

BACKGROUND

Assessment of the foot arch is an important element of posture examination. In clinical practice, different methods are used. Reliability and repeatability of the techniques raises many doubts.

OBJECTIVE

Development and verification of our own, automated diagnostic algorithm for evaluation of the longitudinal arch of the foot with the use of the Zebris FDM-S dynamometric platform.

METHODS

This paper presents selected footprints assessment methods and Zebris dynamometric platform to assess the longitudinal arch of the foot.

RESULTS

The results were compared to standard plantography examination. The outcomes show high correlation of the investigated parameters methods used. The ambiguity of classification criteria of foot arch was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

1/Examination confirmed strong linear correlation between the Arch Index results obtained during examinations on a stabilometric platform and plantography examination. 2/The proposed algorithm for AI evaluation using the Zebris FDM-S dynamometric platform enables simultaneous analysis of stabilometric and pedobarometric variables as well classifying the type of disorder arch longitudinal arch of the foot. 3/Qualitative analysis of the arch, based on plantography results and the Arch Index, shows inconsistency in results obtained with different methods. 4/The obtained results show further necessity to conduct more studies to develop methods of standardization of foot arch assessment.