The development of sit-to-stand in typically developing children aged 4 to 12 years: Movement time, trunk and lower extremity joint angles, and joint moments

Biomechanics of sit-to-stand with dual tasks in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

The decline in cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may contribute to a change in movement pattern during sit-to-stand transitions (STS). However, when comparing older adults with MCI to older adults without MCI, there is a lack of evidence of kinematic and kinetic data during STS. Furthermore, while significant cognitive dual-task interference has been demonstrated in older adults with MCI, studies on the effects of dual motor tasks in MCI, particularly during STS, have not been reported.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Are there any differences in the movement time, joint angles, and maximum joint moments while performing STS under single- and dual-task conditions in older adults with and without MCI?

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 70 participants were divided into two groups: older adults with MCI and without MCI. Motion analysis and a force plate system were used to collect and analyze the STS movement. All participants were asked to do the STS movement alone and the STS with a dual motor task with the self-selected pattern on an adjustable bench.

RESULTS

Older adults with MCI had greater maximum trunk flexion during STS with a dual task than older adults without MCI and greater than STS alone. Furthermore, older adults with MCI had a greater ankle plantar flexion moment during STS with a dual task than during STS alone.

SIGNIFICANCE

Even though the STS task is one of the simplest functional activities, different strategies to achieve the STS action with dual tasks were found among older adults with and without MCI in terms of joint angle and joint moments.

Estimation of lower limb joint moments based on the inverse dynamics approach: a comparison of machine learning algorithms for rapid estimation

The aim of this study is to estimate the joint moments of the ankle, knee, and hip joints during walking. A sit-to-stand (STS) movement analysis was first performed on 20 participants with different anthropometric characteristics. Then, analysis of the dynamics of the STS motion was used to develop a biomechanical model. Decision tree (DT), linear regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and three deep learning (DL) algorithms and deep neural network (DNN), long-short-term memory (LSTM), and convolutional neural network (CNN) are examined in this work to estimate three joint moments: ankle, knee, and hip. The results of the seven algorithms were evaluated using four statistical benchmarks: MSR, RMSE, correlation coefficient (R), and MAE to find the most accurate one. The results show that the most successful algorithms were LSTM in estimating knee, hip, and ankle joint moments using 19 and 7 inputs. The R value was 0.9990 using 19 inputs and 0.9972 using 7 inputs. The other algorithms have a correlation coefficient (R) success of 0.9902, 0.9770, 0.9884, 0.9577, 0.9786, and 0.9022 for RF, CNN, DT, DNN, SVM, and LR, respectively. The prediction of joint moments plays a crucial role in the design of the biomechanical system with the desired mechanical properties. Especially, the need has arisen to predict joint moments in a shorter time to utilize in real-time active prosthesis/orthosis controllers.

Effect of Photobiomodulation Combined with Physiotherapy on Functional Performance in Children with Myelomeningo-Cele-Randomized, Blind, Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the electrical activity of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles during the sit-to-stand task and functional mobility after a neurofunctional physiotherapy protocol associated with PBM.

METHODS

Twenty-five children were randomly allocated to either Active PBM + physiotherapy (n = 13) or PBM sham + physiotherapy (n = 12). PBM was carried out with a LED device (850 nm, 25 J, 50 s per point and 200 mW) at four points over the area with absence of a spiny process. Both groups completed a twelve-week supervised program with two weekly 45-60 min sessions. Pre-training and post-training assessments involved the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Muscle activity was assessed using portable electromyography (BTS Engineering) and the electrodes were positioned on the lateral gastrocnemius, anterior tibialis, and rectus femoris muscles. The RMS data were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

After 24 sessions of the treatment protocol, improvements were found in the PEDI score. The participants presented greater independence in performing the tasks, requiring less assistance from their caregivers. More significant electrical activity was found in the three muscles evaluated between the rest period and execution of the sit-to-stand tasks, both in the more compromised or less compromised lower limbs.

CONCLUSION

Neurofunctional physiotherapy with or without PBM improved functional mobility and electrical muscle activity in children with myelomeningocele.

Comparison of the lower extremity kinematics and center of mass variations in sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements of non-faller and faller elderly

Objective

To compare the differences in sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements of older nonfalling males and older male fallers (also referred to herein as fallers) to contribute to the development of posture transfer–assisting devices or interventional therapies to prevent falls.

Design

Controlled study.

Setting

University research laboratory.

Participants

Ten older men (mean age, 75.9±5.4 years) who had fallen or been unstable at least once in the past year and 10 nonfalling older men (mean age, 70.0±5.0 years) participated in this study.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures

Movement duration; sagittal trunk, hip, knee, and ankle joint range of motion (ROM); anteroposterior and mediolateral (ML) center of mass (COM) total trajectory.

Results

During the sit-to-stand transition, fallers exhibited greater trunk joint ROM in the flexion and extension phase and smaller hip joint ROM in the extension phase as well as greater ML COM total trajectory. During stand-to-sit, older fallers exhibited greater trunk joint ROM in the flexion phase and smaller hip and knee joint ROM in the flexion phase as well as greater ML COM total trajectory. Older fallers took more time to perform the stand-to-sit and had greater ML COM total trajectory during the movement; additionally, they exhibited different proportional distributions of ROM for each joint compared with nonfaller.

Conclusion

Older fallers had more difficulty performing stand-to-sit than sit-to-stand; they exhibited more body sway in COM motion and, in particular, were unable to control ML motion y. Older fallers were more likely to adopt trunk, hip, and knee joint flexion strategies to maintain balance during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit than nonfaller participants were.

Effect of photobiomodulation combined with physical therapy on functional performance in children with myelomeningocele: A protocol randomized clinical blind study

INTRODUCTION

Myelomeningocele is a severe type of spina bifida, resulting from improper closure of the neural tube. This condition drastically affects the structures of the spinal cord resulting in deficiencies. The combination of these deficiencies results in an overall decrease in mobility and functional participation amongst this population. Physiotherapy plays an essential role in rehabilitating people with MMC. The current literature shows that resources such as photobiomodulation (PBM) may support the rehabilitation of neurological conditions. The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) combined with physical therapy on functional performance in children with low lumbosacral myelomeningocele.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a protocol randomized clinical blind study, that will include 30 individuals of both sexes, aged between 5 to 8 years, diagnosed with low and sacral lumbar myelomeningocele and capable of performing the sit-to-stand task. The participants will be randomly assigned into two treatment groups: PBM + physiotherapeutic exercises and sham PBM + physiotherapeutic exercises. Irradiation will be carried out with light emitting diode (LED) at a wavelength of 850 nm, energy of 25 J per point, 50 seconds per point and a power of 200 mW. The same device will be used in the placebo group but will not emit light. Muscle activity will be assessed using a portable electromyograph (BTS Engineering) and the sit-to-stand task will be performed as a measure of functioning. Electrodes will be positioned on the lateral gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and rectus femoris muscles. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory will be used to assess functional independence. Quality of life will be assessed using the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50. Changes in participation will be assessed using the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. The data will be analyzed with the aid of GraphPad PRISM.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study can contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of PBM on functioning and quality of life in children with myelomeningocele.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04425330.

Technology-based methods for the assessment of fine and gross motor skill in children: A systematic overview of available solutions and future steps for effective in-field use

The present review aims at providing researchers and practitioners with a holistic overview of technology-based methods for the assessment of fine and gross motor skill in children. We conducted a search of electronic databases using Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, including studies published up to March 2020, that assessed fine and/or gross motor skills, and utilized technological assessment of varying study design. A total of 739 papers were initially retrieved, and after title/abstract screening, removal of duplicates, and full-text screening, 47 were included. Results suggest that motor skills can be quantitatively estimated using objective methods based on a wearable- and/or laboratory-based technology, for typically developing (TD) and non-TD children. Fine motor skill assessment solutions were; force transducers, instrumented tablets and pens, surface electromyography, and optoelectronic systems. Gross motor skill assessment solutions were; inertial measurements units, optoelectronic systems, baropodometric mats, and force platforms. This review provides a guide in identifying and evaluating the plethora of available technological solutions to motor skill assessment. Although promising, there is still a need for large-scale studies to validate these approaches in terms of accuracy, repeatability, and usability, where interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers and practitioners and transparent reporting practices should be advocated.