Analysis of temporal gait parameters during walking on sand using inertial wearable sensors
Introduction: Walking on sand (WOS) was demonstrated to increase the amount of burned calories in healthy subjects [1], lower limb flexion during swing in patients with multiple sclerosis [2] and to provide different loading conditions. [3] Most of the studies assessing WOS were performed in natural beach environment, investigating energy consumption [1]. The quantitative analysis of joint kinematics and mechanical work has been performed using stereophotogrammetry and force platform, respectively, only in controlled laboratory conditions [2,4], with difficulties in the replication of the sand surface and far from an ecolo...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: G. Pacini Panebianco, M.C. Bisi, A.L. Mangia, R. Stagni, S. Fantozzi Source Type: research
Effects of short pulse-width stimulation on gait ataxia of Essential Tremor patients implanted with thalamic Deep Brain Stimulation
In this study we investigated the effect of stimulation pulse- width on gait ataxia of ET patients. We envisioned that short pulse-width (30 μs) could prevent gait disturbances in ET patients by selective neurostimulation only of fast conducting dentate-thalamic myelinated fibers, thus ensuring tremor suppression but without ataxia symptoms. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: C. Palmisano, M. Reich, J. Volkmann, C.A. Frigo, I.U. Isaias Source Type: research
Can be a subjective qualitative evaluation reliable to assess the perceived physical status and the level of the performance in élite sprinters with Intellectual Impairments?
Introduction: Training programs for athletes are usually based on quantitative objective performance measures and qualitative subjective feedback coming from the athletes. However, it is difficult to have reliable qualitative feedback when the athletes are affected by Intellectual Impairments (II). The current practice is to perform a functional evaluation to assess quantitative performance measures. Previous studies suggested the use of wearable devices to evaluate and correlate physical and mental functions in II subjects [1]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: A. Palomba, T. Caporaso, S. Grazioso, G. Di Gironimo, A. Lanzotti, G. Iolascon, R. Gimigliano, F. Gimigliano Source Type: research
Preliminary comparison between actigraphic measures and sleep diary reports in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment
This study is a preliminary investigation on subjective-actigraphic sleep discrepancy in people with MCI. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: S. Pancani, L. Fabbri, L. Martini, I. Mosca, F. Gerli, F. Vannetti Source Type: research
Robotic rehabilitation effect on upper limb recovery in post-acute stroke
Introduction: In the last decade, neurorehabilitation robotic technologies have become widely spread and scientific evidence of their clinical effectiveness has increased [1]. Functional recovery of the upper limb is one of the main rehabilitation goals for post stroke hemiplegic patients and the use of robotic technologies is recommended in stroke guidelines [2]. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the robotic training effect on the upper limb neuromotor outcome after stroke. In addition, another aim is to evaluate the potential effect on motor recovery speed during the hospitalization time. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: D. Quaglia, M. Gasperi, R. Coser, G. Grisenti, M. Scartozzi, E. Girardi, N. Mazzini Source Type: research
Mechanical stability of IMUs on body segments during locomotor functions
Introduction: The wide-spread application of inertial measurement units (IMU) to the analysis of motor and locomotor functions is based on some aspects: operative ease, low-cost, possibility to drive real-time analysis and feedbacks. The basic hypothesis for an effective IMU-based movement analysis is that the IMU reference frame can be assumed rigidly associated with the anatomical segment. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: M. Rabuffetti, G.M. Scalera, A. Marzegan, M. Ferrarin Source Type: research
Effects of a wearable proprioceptive stabilizer on kinematics and spatio-temporal gait parameters in young with genetic ataxias
Introduction: Genetic ataxias are a degenerative disease of cerebellum, brain stem, and spinal cord, in which gait and limb ataxia are key clinical features [1]. Focal mechanical vibration was found effective in improve limb and gait ataxia in adults with hereditary ataxias [2]. Equistasi ® is a medical wearable device composed by nanotechnology fibers that transform body temperature into mechanical vibration ( (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: A. Romano, M. Favetta, T. Schirinzi, G. Vasco, S. Summa, S. Minosse, E. Castelli, M. Petrarca Source Type: research
How different movement references influence cortical potentials related to step initiation? A comparative methods ’ assessment
Introduction: Increased activity of premotor and motor areas of the brain, well-known as movement-related cortical potentials (MRCPs), reflects the obligatory processes underlying the preparation of any voluntary movement [1]. To become apparent, MRCPs require the segmentation of the electroencephalographic (EEG) signal around a movement-related trigger [2]. Several techniques have been applied for the identification of movement initiation [3,4], mostly in fine and simple movements (e.g. finger flexion), but recently also in complex movements (e.g. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Y. Russo, M. Berchicci, F. Di Russo, G. Vannozzi Source Type: research
Gait analysis in children with fragile syndrome: a pilot study
Introduction: Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the leading form of inherited intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder, caused by a tri-nucleotide CGG repeat expansion in the promoter region of the FMR1 gene [1]. The cognitive profile in FXS includes deficits in executive control and in visuospatial abilities, as well as in language and severe behavioural alterations with hyperactivity, impulsivity, anxiety: the condition often is associated with medical comorbidities among which epilepsy [1]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Z. Sawacha, F. Spolaor, D. Pavan, A. Guiotto, R. Polli, A. Murgia Source Type: research
Development and preliminary testing of an EMG-based control strategy for a hand exoskeleton
Introduction: Assistive robotic devices, specifically designed to share the environment with human users even physically interacting with them for long periods of time, demand to tackle the problem of a safe and dependable human-robot interaction [1], [2]. The proposed work, which focused on the peculiar aspect of the interaction between people with hand disabilities and robotic assistive devices, describes how a hand exoskeleton system, developed by the Department of Industrial Engineering (DIEF) of the University of Florence (UNIFI) to assist people with deficiencies in hand opening, has been used as a test-bench for a c...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: N. Secciani, M. Bianchi, A. Ridolfi, B. Allotta, F. Gerli, F. Vannetti Source Type: research
Wearable sensor use for assessing walking dynamic balance in gait ataxia: comparisons between different stability indexes
The objective assessment of the gait stability is essential in this disease in order to follow the gait decline as well as to evaluate the response to the rehabilitation. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: M. Serrao, G. Chini, A. Ranavolo, T. Varrecchia, C. Conte, C. Casali, F. Pierelli, Draicchio Source Type: research
Time-course of running treadmill adaptation –pilot study
Introduction: Studies on running kinematics and energetics usually take place on a treadmill, because it offers many advantages in studying the running gait compared to overground. Treadmill running, however, can be considered equal to overground running only when runners are expert in the use of the device [1]. There are several aspects of running, both related to kinematics and energetics, that seem to be modified by repeated treadmill practice, but timing and mechanisms of adaptation have not been yet widely studied in literature [2]. (Source: Gait and Posture)
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: L. Simoni, G. Pasquini, S. Pancani, F. Vannetti, C. Macchi, S. Pogliaghi Source Type: research
HR-index, a simple way to quantify exercise “dose” in Diabetic type II patients
Introduction: Exercise training provides health benefits and is a key element in the treatment of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (Boul è,2001). Current guidelines for prescription of physical exercise in T2DM recommend performing aerobic/endurance training (40–60% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2MAX)) in combination with isotonic/strength training (50 to 70% of 1RM). Accurate quantification and monitoring of exercise “dose” , as described by VO2, is necessary for appropriate and individualised prescription of aerobic exercise and for the interpretation of exercise-induced health benefits (Gaber, 2011). (S...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: G. Spigolon, A.L. Colosio, P. Moghetti, S. Pogliaghi Source Type: research
The neurorehabilitation device Equistasi ® impacts positively on the gait of Parkinson's disease subjects
Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition, characterized by a dopamine deficiency causing tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and gait problems mainly arising from dopamine deficiency [1]. Gait disturbance is a key component of motor disability in PD patients, particularly, the gait cycle is influenced by rigidity, postural instability and camptocormic posture; in parkinsonians the stride and speed of the gait are decreased[2]. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Equistasi ®, a wearable device based on focal mechanical vibration proposed as an innovative rehabilitative s...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: F. Spolaor, A. Guiotto, D. Pavan, L. Arab Yaghoubi, A. Peppe, P. Paone, Z. Sawacha, D. Volpe Source Type: research
Bilateral assessment of the timing and degree of leg muscles ’ activation during indoor rowing
Introduction: Despite the documented health benefits of combining functional electrical stimulation with indoor rowing (FES Rowing) in paraplegia [1], crucial issues seem to exist. A pivotal concern is the determination of which, when and how to stimulate the leg muscles during FES rowing. FES-Rowing system have been focused on the stimulation of quadriceps and hamstrings with current pulses of constant amplitude and duration [2]. Here we sample surface electromyograms (EMGs) from multiple muscles in both right and left leg to assess when and to which extent each muscle contributes to the lower limb movements observed duri...
Source: Gait and Posture - October 1, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: C. Stocchi, M. Lalli, GL. Cerone, M. Gazzoni, T. Vieira Source Type: research
