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Lee H, Lee TL, Kang N. Effects of visual feedback and force level on bilateral ankle-dorsiflexion force control. Neurosci Lett 2024; 824:137671. [PMID: 38346532 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the potential effects of visual feedback and force level on bilateral force control capabilities in the lower limbs. Thirty-nine healthy young adults performed bilateral ankle-dorsiflexion isometric force control tasks for different visual feedback conditions, including continuous visual feedback (CVF) and withdrawal of visual feedback (WVF), indicating the removal of visual feedback on force outputs during the task and force level conditions (i.e., 10 % and 40 % of the maximum voluntary contraction). Bilateral force control capabilities were estimated using force accuracy, variability, regularity, and absolute power in 0-4 Hz and interlimb coordination by cross-correlation with time lag and uncontrolled manifold (UCM) variables. Correlation analyses determined the relationship between changes in bilateral force control capabilities and interlimb coordination from the CVF to WVF conditions. The findings revealed better bilateral force control capabilities in the CVF condition as indicated by less force error, variability, regularity, absolute power in 0-4 Hz, and advanced interlimb force coordination. From CVF to WVF conditions, increased bad variability correlated with greater force control deficits. These findings suggest that visuomotor processing is an important resource for successful fine motor control in the lower limbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajun Lee
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Tae Lee Lee
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
| | - Nyeonju Kang
- Department of Human Movement Science, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea; Division of Sport Science, Sport Science Institute & Health Promotion Center, Incheon National University, Incheon, South Korea.
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2
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Wiles TM, Mangalam M, Sommerfeld JH, Kim SK, Brink KJ, Charles AE, Grunkemeyer A, Kalaitzi Manifrenti M, Mastorakis S, Stergiou N, Likens AD. NONAN GaitPrint: An IMU gait database of healthy young adults. Sci Data 2023; 10:867. [PMID: 38052819 PMCID: PMC10698035 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02704-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An ongoing thrust of research focused on human gait pertains to identifying individuals based on gait patterns. However, no existing gait database supports modeling efforts to assess gait patterns unique to individuals. Hence, we introduce the Nonlinear Analysis Core (NONAN) GaitPrint database containing whole body kinematics and foot placement during self-paced overground walking on a 200-meter looping indoor track. Noraxon Ultium MotionTM inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors sampled the motion of 35 healthy young adults (19-35 years old; 18 men and 17 women; mean ± 1 s.d. age: 24.6 ± 2.7 years; height: 1.73 ± 0.78 m; body mass: 72.44 ± 15.04 kg) over 18 4-min trials across two days. Continuous variables include acceleration, velocity, position, and the acceleration, velocity, position, orientation, and rotational velocity of each corresponding body segment, and the angle of each respective joint. The discrete variables include an exhaustive set of gait parameters derived from the spatiotemporal dynamics of foot placement. We technically validate our data using continuous relative phase, Lyapunov exponent, and Hurst exponent-nonlinear metrics quantifying different aspects of healthy human gait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler M Wiles
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Madhur Mangalam
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Joel H Sommerfeld
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Seung Kyeom Kim
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Kolby J Brink
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Anaelle Emeline Charles
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Alli Grunkemeyer
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Marilena Kalaitzi Manifrenti
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Spyridon Mastorakis
- College of Information Science and Technology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
| | - Nick Stergiou
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Aaron D Likens
- Division of Biomechanics and Research Development, Department of Biomechanics, and Center for Research in Human Movement Variability, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
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De Keersmaecker E, Van Bladel A, Zaccardi S, Lefeber N, Rodriguez-Guerrero C, Kerckhofs E, Jansen B, Swinnen E. Virtual reality-enhanced walking in people post-stroke: effect of optic flow speed and level of immersion on the gait biomechanics. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2023; 20:124. [PMID: 37749566 PMCID: PMC10518929 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-023-01254-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optic flow-the apparent visual motion experienced while moving-is absent during treadmill walking. With virtual reality (VR), optic flow can be controlled to mediate alterations in human walking. The aim of this study was to investigate (1) the effects of fully immersive VR and optic flow speed manipulation on gait biomechanics, simulator sickness, and enjoyment in people post-stroke and healthy people, and (2) the effects of the level of immersion on optic flow speed and sense of presence. METHODS Sixteen people post-stroke and 16 healthy controls performed two VR-enhanced treadmill walking sessions: the semi-immersive GRAIL session and fully immersive head-mounted display (HMD) session. Both consisted of five walking trials. After two habituation trials (without and with VR), participants walked three more trials under the following conditions: matched, slow, and fast optic flow. Primary outcome measures were spatiotemporal parameters and lower limb kinematics. Secondary outcomes (simulator sickness, enjoyment, and sense of presence) were assessed with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scales, and Igroup Presence Questionnaire. RESULTS When walking with the immersive HMD, the stroke group walked with a significantly slower cadence (-3.69strides/min, p = 0.006), longer stride time (+ 0.10 s, p = 0.017) and stance time for the unaffected leg (+ 1.47%, p = 0.001) and reduced swing time for the unaffected leg (- 1.47%, p = 0.001). Both groups responded to the optic flow speed manipulation such that people accelerated with a slow optic flow and decelerated with a fast optic flow. Compared to the semi-immersive GRAIL session, manipulating the optic flow speed with the fully immersive HMD had a greater effect on gait biomechanics whilst also eliciting a higher sense of presence. CONCLUSION Adding fully immersive VR while walking on a self-paced treadmill led to a more cautious gait pattern in people post-stroke. However, walking with the HMD was well tolerated and enjoyable. People post-stroke altered their gait parameters when optic flow speed was manipulated and showed greater alterations with the fully-immersive HMD. Further work is needed to determine the most effective type of optic flow speed manipulation as well as which other principles need to be implemented to positively influence the gait pattern of people post-stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER The study was pre-registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04521829).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma De Keersmaecker
- Rehabilitation Research, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- Brussels Human Robotic Research Center (BruBotics), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
- Alliance research group REBI (Rehabilitation technology for people with a brain injury), Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Anke Van Bladel
- Alliance research group REBI (Rehabilitation technology for people with a brain injury), Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department Rehabilitation Sciences, Campus UZ Gent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Silvia Zaccardi
- Rehabilitation Research, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels Human Robotic Research Center (BruBotics), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Informatics, Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nina Lefeber
- Rehabilitation Research, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Eric Kerckhofs
- Rehabilitation Research, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bart Jansen
- Brussels Human Robotic Research Center (BruBotics), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Electronics and Informatics, Engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Imec, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Swinnen
- Rehabilitation Research, Department of Physiotherapy, Human Physiology and Anatomy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Brussels Human Robotic Research Center (BruBotics), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
- Alliance research group REBI (Rehabilitation technology for people with a brain injury), Vrije Universiteit Brussel & Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium
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Souchet AD, Lourdeaux D, Burkhardt JM, Hancock PA. Design guidelines for limiting and eliminating virtual reality-induced symptoms and effects at work: a comprehensive, factor-oriented review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1161932. [PMID: 37359863 PMCID: PMC10288216 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1161932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) can induce side effects known as virtual reality-induced symptoms and effects (VRISE). To address this concern, we identify a literature-based listing of these factors thought to influence VRISE with a focus on office work use. Using those, we recommend guidelines for VRISE amelioration intended for virtual environment creators and users. We identify five VRISE risks, focusing on short-term symptoms with their short-term effects. Three overall factor categories are considered: individual, hardware, and software. Over 90 factors may influence VRISE frequency and severity. We identify guidelines for each factor to help reduce VR side effects. To better reflect our confidence in those guidelines, we graded each with a level of evidence rating. Common factors occasionally influence different forms of VRISE. This can lead to confusion in the literature. General guidelines for using VR at work involve worker adaptation, such as limiting immersion times to between 20 and 30 min. These regimens involve taking regular breaks. Extra care is required for workers with special needs, neurodiversity, and gerontechnological concerns. In addition to following our guidelines, stakeholders should be aware that current head-mounted displays and virtual environments can continue to induce VRISE. While no single existing method fully alleviates VRISE, workers' health and safety must be monitored and safeguarded when VR is used at work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis D. Souchet
- Heudiasyc UMR 7253, Alliance Sorbonne Université, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, CNRS, Compiègne, France
- Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Domitile Lourdeaux
- Heudiasyc UMR 7253, Alliance Sorbonne Université, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, CNRS, Compiègne, France
| | | | - Peter A. Hancock
- Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
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5
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Wang L, Huang M, Yang R, Liang HN, Han J, Sun Y. Survey of Movement Reproduction in Immersive Virtual Rehabilitation. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON VISUALIZATION AND COMPUTER GRAPHICS 2023; 29:2184-2202. [PMID: 35015645 DOI: 10.1109/tvcg.2022.3142198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a powerful tool for rehabilitation. Many effective VR applications have been developed to support motor rehabilitation of people affected by motor issues. Movement reproduction, which transfers users' movements from the physical world to the virtual environment, is commonly used in VR rehabilitation applications. Three major components are required for movement reproduction in VR: (1) movement input, (2) movement representation, and (3) movement modulation. Until now, movement reproduction in virtual rehabilitation has not yet been systematically studied. This article aims to provide a state-of-the-art review on this subject by focusing on existing literature on immersive motor rehabilitation using VR. In this review, we provided in-depth discussions on the rehabilitation goals and outcomes, technology issues behind virtual rehabilitation, and user experience regarding movement reproduction. Similarly, we present good practices and highlight challenges and opportunities that can form constructive suggestions for the design and development of fit-for-purpose VR rehabilitation applications and can help frame future research directions for this emerging area that combines VR and health.
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Raffi M, Trofè A, Meoni A, Gallelli L, Piras A. Optic Flow Speed and Retinal Stimulation Influence Microsaccades. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116765. [PMID: 35682346 PMCID: PMC9180672 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Microsaccades are linked with extraretinal mechanisms that significantly alter spatial perception before the onset of eye movements. We sought to investigate whether microsaccadic activity is modulated by the speed of radial optic flow stimuli. Experiments were performed in the dark on 19 subjects who stood in front of a screen covering 135 × 107° of the visual field. Subjects were instructed to fixate on a central fixation point while optic flow stimuli were presented in full field, in the foveal, and in the peripheral visual field at different dot speeds (8, 11, 14, 17, and 20°/s). Fixation in the dark was used as a control stimulus. For almost all tested speeds, the stimulation of the peripheral retina evoked the highest microsaccade rate. We also found combined effects of optic flow speed and the stimulated retinal region (foveal, peripheral, and full field) for microsaccade latency. These results show that optic flow speed modulates microsaccadic activity when presented in specific retinal portions, suggesting that eye movement generation is strictly dependent on the stimulated retinal regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Raffi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.M.); (A.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Aurelio Trofè
- Department of Quality of Life, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Andrea Meoni
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit, Mater Domini Hospital Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Alessandro Piras
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (A.M.); (A.P.)
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7
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Boerger TF, Hyngstrom AS, Furlan JC, Kalsi-Ryan S, Curt A, Kwon BK, Kurpad SN, Fehlings MG, Harrop JS, Aarabi B, Rahimi-Movaghar V, Guest JD, Wilson JR, Davies BM, Kotter MRN, Koljonen PA. Developing Peri-Operative Rehabilitation in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy [AO Spine RECODE-DCM Research Priority Number 6]: An Unexplored Opportunity? Global Spine J 2022; 12:97S-108S. [PMID: 35174735 PMCID: PMC8859699 DOI: 10.1177/21925682211050925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Narrative review. OBJECTIVE Degenerative cervical myelopathy is one of the most frequent impairments of the spinal cord encountered internationally in adults. Currently, surgical decompression is the recommended treatment for people with DCM (PwCM) presenting with moderate to severe symptoms or neurological deficits. However, despite surgical intervention, not all patients make a complete recovery due to the irreversible tissue damage within the spinal cord. The objective of this review is to describe the state and gaps in the current literature on rehabilitation for PwCM and possible innovative rehabilitation strategies. METHODS Literature search. RESULTS In other neurological disorders such as stroke and acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), timely and strategic rehabilitation has been shown to be indispensable for maximizing functional outcomes, and it is imperative that appropriate perioperative rehabilitative interventions accompany surgical approaches in order to enable the best outcomes. In this review, the current state of knowledge regarding rehabilitation for PwCM is described. Additionally, various therapies that have shown to improve outcomes in comparable neurological conditions such as stroke and SCI which may be translated to DCM will be reviewed. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that locomotor training and arm/hand therapy may benefit PwCM. Further, we conclude that body weight support, robotic assistance, and virtual/augmented reality therapies may be beneficial therapeutic analogs to locomotor and hand therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy F. Boerger
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Julio C. Furlan
- KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sukhvinder Kalsi-Ryan
- KITE Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Armin Curt
- University Spine Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Brian K. Kwon
- Department of Orthopedics, Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shekar N. Kurpad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Michael G. Fehlings
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James S. Harrop
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bizhan Aarabi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - James D. Guest
- Department of Neurosurgery and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, The Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jefferson R. Wilson
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Paul A. Koljonen
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Matthis JS, Muller KS, Bonnen KL, Hayhoe MM. Retinal optic flow during natural locomotion. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1009575. [PMID: 35192614 PMCID: PMC8896712 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We examine the structure of the visual motion projected on the retina during natural locomotion in real world environments. Bipedal gait generates a complex, rhythmic pattern of head translation and rotation in space, so without gaze stabilization mechanisms such as the vestibular-ocular-reflex (VOR) a walker's visually specified heading would vary dramatically throughout the gait cycle. The act of fixation on stable points in the environment nulls image motion at the fovea, resulting in stable patterns of outflow on the retinae centered on the point of fixation. These outflowing patterns retain a higher order structure that is informative about the stabilized trajectory of the eye through space. We measure this structure by applying the curl and divergence operations on the retinal flow velocity vector fields and found features that may be valuable for the control of locomotion. In particular, the sign and magnitude of foveal curl in retinal flow specifies the body's trajectory relative to the gaze point, while the point of maximum divergence in the retinal flow field specifies the walker's instantaneous overground velocity/momentum vector in retinotopic coordinates. Assuming that walkers can determine the body position relative to gaze direction, these time-varying retinotopic cues for the body's momentum could provide a visual control signal for locomotion over complex terrain. In contrast, the temporal variation of the eye-movement-free, head-centered flow fields is large enough to be problematic for use in steering towards a goal. Consideration of optic flow in the context of real-world locomotion therefore suggests a re-evaluation of the role of optic flow in the control of action during natural behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Samir Matthis
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Karl S. Muller
- Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kathryn L. Bonnen
- School of Optometry, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Mary M. Hayhoe
- Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States of America
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Koren Y, Mairon R, Sofer I, Parmet Y, Ben-Shahar O, Bar-Haim S. Gazing down increases standing and walking postural steadiness. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2021; 8:201556. [PMID: 33959324 PMCID: PMC8074885 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.201556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
When walking on an uneven surface or complex terrain, humans tend to gaze downward. This behaviour is usually interpreted as an attempt to acquire useful information to guide locomotion. Visual information, however, is not used exclusively for guiding locomotion; it is also useful for postural control. Both locomotive and postural control have been shown to be sensitive to the visual flow arising from the respective motion of the individual and the three-dimensional environment. This flow changes when a person gazes downward and may present information that is more appropriate for postural control. To investigate whether downward gazing can be used for postural control, rather than exclusively for guiding locomotion, we quantified the dynamics of standing and walking posture in healthy adults, under several visual conditions. Through these experiments we were able to demonstrate that gazing downward, just a few steps ahead, resulted in a steadier standing and walking posture. These experiments indicate that gazing downward may serve more than one purpose and provide sufficient evidence of the possible interplay between the visual information used for guiding locomotion and that used for postural control. These findings contribute to our understanding of the control mechanism/s underlying gait and posture and have possible clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogev Koren
- Physical Therapy Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Rotem Mairon
- Computer Science Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ilay Sofer
- Physical Therapy Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Yisrael Parmet
- Industrial Engineering and Management Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ohad Ben-Shahar
- Computer Science Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Simona Bar-Haim
- Physical Therapy Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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10
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Raffi M, Trofè A, Perazzolo M, Meoni A, Piras A. Sensory Input Modulates Microsaccades during Heading Perception. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:2865. [PMID: 33799672 PMCID: PMC8000400 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18062865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Microsaccades are small eye movements produced during attempted fixation. During locomotion, the eyes scan the environment; the gaze is not always directed to the focus of expansion of the optic flow field. We sought to investigate whether the microsaccadic activity was modulated by eye position during the view of radial optic flow stimuli, and if the presence or lack of a proprioceptive input signal may influence the microsaccade characteristics during self-motion perception. We recorded the oculomotor activity when subjects were either standing or sitting in front of a screen during the view of optic flow stimuli that simulated specific heading directions with different gaze positions. We recorded five trials of each stimulus. Results showed that microsaccade duration, peak velocity, and rate were significantly modulated by optic flow stimuli and trial sequence. We found that the microsaccade rate increased in each condition from trial 1 to trial 5. Microsaccade peak velocity and duration were significantly different across trials. The analysis of the microsaccade directions showed that the different combinations of optic flow and eye position evoked non-uniform directions of microsaccades in standing condition with mean vectors in the upper-left quadrant of the visual field, uncorrelated with optic flow directions and eye positions. In sitting conditions, all stimuli evoked uniform directions of microsaccades. Present results indicate that the proprioceptive signals when the subjects stand up creates a different input that could alter the eye-movement characteristics during heading perceptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Raffi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (A.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Aurelio Trofè
- Department of Quality of Life, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy;
| | - Monica Perazzolo
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (A.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Andrea Meoni
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (A.M.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandro Piras
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (M.P.); (A.M.); (A.P.)
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11
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Keshner EA, Lamontagne A. The Untapped Potential of Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation of Balance and Gait in Neurological Disorders. FRONTIERS IN VIRTUAL REALITY 2021; 2:641650. [PMID: 33860281 PMCID: PMC8046008 DOI: 10.3389/frvir.2021.641650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic systems theory transformed our understanding of motor control by recognizing the continual interaction between the organism and the environment. Movement could no longer be visualized simply as a response to a pattern of stimuli or as a demonstration of prior intent; movement is context dependent and is continuously reshaped by the ongoing dynamics of the world around us. Virtual reality is one methodological variable that allows us to control and manipulate that environmental context. A large body of literature exists to support the impact of visual flow, visual conditions, and visual perception on the planning and execution of movement. In rehabilitative practice, however, this technology has been employed mostly as a tool for motivation and enjoyment of physical exercise. The opportunity to modulate motor behavior through the parameters of the virtual world is often ignored in practice. In this article we present the results of experiments from our laboratories and from others demonstrating that presenting particular characteristics of the virtual world through different sensory modalities will modify balance and locomotor behavior. We will discuss how movement in the virtual world opens a window into the motor planning processes and informs us about the relative weighting of visual and somatosensory signals. Finally, we discuss how these findings should influence future treatment design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Keshner
- Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Correspondence: Emily A. Keshner,
| | - Anouk Lamontagne
- School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Virtual Reality and Mobility Laboratory, CISSS Laval—Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital Site of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Laval, QC, Canada
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Hirjaková Z, Bizovská L, Bzdúšková D, Hlavačka F, Janura M. Postural stability after treadmill and overground walking in young and elderly. Gait Posture 2020; 80:84-89. [PMID: 32497980 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ageing commonly disrupts the balance control and compensatory postural responses that contribute to maintaining balance and preventing falls during perturbation of posture. Improvement of compensatory postural responses during walking is one of the main goals in fall prevention programs which often include treadmill walking training. However, during treadmill walking, there is a sensory (visualsomatosensory and vestibular-somatosensory) conflict that can evoke aftereffects of self-motion sensation and could alter postural stability after training. RESEARCH QUESTION The aim of this study was to compare the effect of overground and treadmill walking on postural stability in healthy young and elderly subjects. METHODS Postural responses of 31 Young and 19 healthy Elderly before and after overground and treadmill walking were assessed by a force platform in four stance conditions: firm and foam surface with eyes open and eyes closed. RESULTS In Elderly group, velocity parameters significantly increased after treadmill walking but not after overground walking. This increase was found particularly in the conditions with eyes open in both types of surfaces (firm, foam). The velocity parameters values (expect Vx) were significantly increased in Elderly compared to Young almost in all four conditions after treadmill and overground walking. SIGNIFICANCE Our study suggests that Elderly become more unstable after treadmill walking and have greater difficulties to adapt to new balance circumstances caused by sensory conflict associated with treadmill walking. It seems that during treadmill walking and subsequent stance, vision is the major factor contributing to posture stabilization. Thus, the suitability of treadmill walking as a part of training programs for elderly adults with higher fall risk should be seriously considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Hirjaková
- Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, třída Míru 117, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic; Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Lucia Bizovská
- Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, třída Míru 117, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Diana Bzdúšková
- Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - František Hlavačka
- Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Sienkiewiczova 1, 813 71, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Miroslav Janura
- Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, třída Míru 117, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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The Effect Of Visual Dual-Tasking Interference On Walking In Healthy Young Adults. Gait Posture 2020; 79:80-85. [PMID: 32361657 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2020.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visual dual-task skills are essential for stable ambulation in everyday life such as walking while reading text. Gait analysis in a virtual environment can provide insight into altered walking performance while visual dual-tasking. RESEARCH QUESTION How visual dual-tasking including cognitive load of reading text and altered optical flow influences walking speed and stability in healthy adults? Also, is there a relationship between the mediolateral centre of mass(CoM) displacement and mediolateral trunk movement? METHODS Nineteen able-bodied young adults performed self-selected walking on a treadmill in a virtual environment under the following three conditions; single-task walking, walking while viewing scrolling lines, and walking while reading text scrolling on the screen. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to measure the effect of dual-tasking on gait velocity, step length, mediolateral CoM displacement, and mediolateral thorax inclination. RESULTS The effect of visual dual-tasking showed significantly increased walking speed and longer step length compared to single-tasking. The cognitive load of reading text while walking had a significant impact on reduced step length variability and greater mediolateral CoM displacement. This was related to the mediolateral thorax inclination. SIGNIFICANCE A visual dual-task influences gait through altered optical flow and a cognitive load effect. Altered optical flow increased walking speed whilst the visual attention to read text affected foot placement and upright trunk posture, together with greater mediolateral CoM displacement. Thus, dual-tasking of reading text in a virtual environment substantially affected walking stability in healthy young people. This paradigm is therefore useful for assessment of walking stability in daily life and in the clinical setting.
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Selgrade BP, Meyer D, Sosnoff JJ, Franz JR. Can optical flow perturbations detect walking balance impairment in people with multiple sclerosis? PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230202. [PMID: 32155225 PMCID: PMC7064213 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
People with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) who exhibit minimal to no disability are still over twice as likely to fall as the general population and many of these falls occur during walking. There is a need for more effective ways to detect preclinical walking balance deficits in PwMS. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of optical flow perturbations applied using virtual reality on walking balance in PwMS compared to age-matched controls. We hypothesized that susceptibility to perturbations–especially those in the mediolateral direction–would be larger in PwMS compared to controls. Fourteen PwMS and fourteen age-matched controls walked on a treadmill while viewing a virtual hallway with and without optical flow perturbations in the mediolateral or anterior-posterior directions. We quantified foot placement kinematics, gait variability, lateral margin of stability and, in a separate session, performance on the standing sensory organization test (SOT). We found only modest differences between groups during normal, unperturbed walking. These differences were larger and more pervasive in the presence of mediolateral perturbations, evidenced by higher variability in step width, sacrum position, and margin of stability at heel-strike in PwMS than controls. PwMS also performed worse than controls on the SOT, and there was a modest correlation between step width variability during perturbed gait and SOT visual score. In conclusion, mediolateral optical flow perturbations revealed differences in walking balance in PwMS that went undetected during normal, unperturbed walking. Targeting this difference may be a promising approach to more effectively detect preclinical walking balance deficits in PwMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian P. Selgrade
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Diane Meyer
- UNC Healthcare, UNC Center for Rehabilitation Care, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jacob J. Sosnoff
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, United States of America
| | - Jason R. Franz
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Kazanski ME, Cusumano JP, Dingwell JB. How healthy older adults regulate lateral foot placement while walking in laterally destabilizing environments. J Biomech 2020; 104:109714. [PMID: 32139095 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2020.109714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Gait variability is generally associated with falls, but specific connections remain disputed. To reduce falls, we must first understand how older adults maintain lateral balance while walking, particularly when their stability is challenged. We recently developed computational models of lateral stepping, based on Goal Equivalent Manifolds, that separate effects of step-to-step regulation from variability. These show walking humans seek to strongly maintain step width, but also lateral position on their path. Here, 17 healthy older (ages 60+) and 17 healthy young (ages 18-31) adults walked in a virtual environment with no perturbations and with laterally destabilizing perturbations of either the visual field or treadmill platform. For step-to-step time series of step widths and lateral positions, we computed variability, statistical persistence and how much participants directly corrected deviations at each step. All participants exhibited significantly increased variability, decreased persistence and tighter direct control when perturbed. Simulations from our stepping regulation models indicate people responded to the increased variability imposed by these perturbations by either maintaining or tightening control of both step width and lateral position. Thus, while people strive to maintain lateral balance, they also actively strive to stay on their path. Healthy older participants exhibited slightly increased variability, but no differences from young in stepping regulation and no evidence of greater reliance on visual feedback, even when subjected to substantially destabilizing perturbations. Thus, age alone need not degrade lateral stepping control. This may help explain why directly connecting gait variability to fall risk has proven difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E Kazanski
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Joseph P Cusumano
- Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jonathan B Dingwell
- Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Kinesiology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. http://biomechanics.psu.edu/
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De Keersmaecker E, Lefeber N, Serrien B, Jansen B, Rodriguez-Guerrero C, Niazi N, Kerckhofs E, Swinnen E. The Effect of Optic Flow Speed on Active Participation During Robot-Assisted Treadmill Walking in Healthy Adults. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2019; 28:221-227. [PMID: 31765315 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2019.2955804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate: 1) the effect of optic flow speed manipulation on active participation during robot-assisted treadmill walking (RATW), 2) the influence of the type of virtual environment, and 3) the level of motion sickness and enjoyment. Twenty-eight healthy older adults were randomized in two groups: "stimulus rich" Park group (50% male, 61± 6 year) and "stimulus poor" Hallway group (43% male, 62± 5 year). Subjects walked in the Lokomat with immersive virtual reality (VR) with a matched, slow and fast optic flow speed, each lasting 7 minutes. Active participation was measured by continuously assessing the human-machine interaction torques at the hip and knee joints and muscle activity of the Vastus Medialis and Biceps Femoris. Motion sickness and enjoyment were assessed with the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ) and Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) respectively. In both groups optic flow speed manipulation in both directions led to a decrease in bilateral hip interaction torques towards flexion at the end of the stance phase compared to matched speed. In the Hallway group, walking with slow optic flow elicited 32% more muscle activity of the Vastus Medialis. There were no significant differences between both groups for the SSQ and PACES. Optic flow speed manipulation appears to have only a small effect on the active participation of healthy people during RATW. The type of virtual environment did not affect their activity, motion sickness or enjoyment. However, the addition of immersive VR during RATW was well tolerated and enjoyable. Further research with patients is necessary.
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Reimann H, Fettrow T, Thompson ED, Jeka JJ. Neural Control of Balance During Walking. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1271. [PMID: 30271354 PMCID: PMC6146212 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural control of standing balance has been extensively studied. However, most falls occur during walking rather than standing, and findings from standing balance research do not necessarily carry over to walking. This is primarily due to the constraints of the gait cycle: Body configuration changes dramatically over the gait cycle, necessitating different responses as this configuration changes. Notably, certain responses can only be initiated at specific points in the gait cycle, leading to onset times ranging from 350 to 600 ms, much longer than what is observed during standing (50-200 ms). Here, we investigated the neural control of upright balance during walking. Specifically, how the brain transforms sensory information related to upright balance into corrective motor responses. We used visual disturbances of 20 healthy young subjects walking in a virtual reality cave to induce the perception of a fall to the side and analyzed the muscular responses, changes in ground reaction forces and body kinematics. Our results showed changes in swing leg foot placement and stance leg ankle roll that accelerate the body in the direction opposite of the visually induced fall stimulus, consistent with previous results. Surprisingly, ankle musculature activity changed rapidly in response to the stimulus, suggesting the presence of a direct reflexive pathway from the visual system to the spinal cord, similar to the vestibulospinal pathway. We also observed systematic modulation of the ankle push-off, indicating the discovery of a previously unobserved balance mechanism. Such modulation has implications not only for balance but plays a role in modulation of step width and length as well as cadence. These results indicated a temporally-coordinated series of balance responses over the gait cycle that insures flexible control of upright balance during walking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Reimann
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Tyler Fettrow
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - John J. Jeka
- Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
- Department of Kinesiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Thomas NM, Donovan T, Dewhurst S, Bampouras TM. Visually fixating or tracking another person decreases balance control in young and older females walking in a real-world scenario. Neurosci Lett 2018; 677:78-83. [PMID: 29689345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Balance control during overground walking was assessed in 10 young (23.6 ± 3.4) and 10 older (71.0 ± 5.5 years) healthy females during free gaze, and when fixating or tracking another person in an everyday use waiting room. Balance control was characterised by medial/lateral sacrum acceleration dispersion, and gaze fixations were simultaneously assessed with eye tracking equipment. The results showed decreased balance control when fixating a stationary (p = 0.003, gav = 0.19) and tracking a walking (p = 0.027, gav = 0.16) person compared to free gaze. The older adults exhibited reduced baseline stability throughout, but the decrease caused by the visual tasks was not more profound than the younger adults. The decreased balance control when fixating on or tracking the observed person was likely due to more challenging conditions for interpreting retinal flow, which facilitated less reliable estimates of self-motion through vision. The older adults either processed retinal flow during the tasks as effectively as the young adults, or they adopted a more rigid posture to facilitate visual stability, which masked any ageing effect of the visual tasks. The decrease in balance control, the first to be shown in this context, may warrant further investigation in those with ocular or vestibular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil M Thomas
- Department of Medical and Sport Sciences, Active Ageing Research Group, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, LA1 4DH, UK; Research Institute for Sports and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK.
| | - Tim Donovan
- Department of Medical and Sport Sciences, Active Ageing Research Group, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, LA1 4DH, UK
| | - Susan Dewhurst
- Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Bournemouth University, Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK
| | - Theodoros M Bampouras
- Department of Medical and Sport Sciences, Active Ageing Research Group, University of Cumbria, Lancaster, LA1 4DH, UK
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Sedighi A, Ulman SM, Nussbaum MA. Information presentation through a head-worn display ("smart glasses") has a smaller influence on the temporal structure of gait variability during dual-task gait compared to handheld displays (paper-based system and smartphone). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195106. [PMID: 29630614 PMCID: PMC5891005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The need to complete multiple tasks concurrently is a common occurrence both daily life and in occupational activities, which can often include simultaneous cognitive and physical demands. As one example, there is increasing availability of head-worn display technologies that can be employed when a user is mobile (e.g., while walking). This new method of information presentation may, however, introduce risks of adverse outcomes such as a decrement to gait performance. The goal of this study was thus to quantify the effects of a head-worn display (i.e., smart glasses) on motor variability during gait and to compare these effects with those of other common information displays (i.e., smartphone and paper-based system). Twenty participants completed four walking conditions, as a single task and in three dual-task conditions (three information displays). In the dual-task conditions, the information display was used to present several cognitive tasks. Three different measures were used to quantify variability in gait parameters for each walking condition (using the cycle-to-cycle standard deviation, sample entropy, and the “goal-equivalent manifold” approach). Our results indicated that participants used less adaptable gait strategies in dual-task walking using the paper-based system and smartphone conditions compared with single-task walking. Gait performance, however, was less affected during dual-task walking with the smart glasses. We conclude that the risk of an adverse gait event (e.g., a fall) in head-down walking conditions (i.e., the paper-based system and smartphone conditions) were higher than in single-task walking, and that head-worn displays might help reduce the risk of such events during dual-task gait conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Sedighi
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sophia M. Ulman
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Maury A. Nussbaum
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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