Search

To identify demographics and personal motivation types that predict dropping out of eHealth interventions among older adults. We conducted an observational cohort study. Participants completed a pre-test questionnaire and got access to an eHealth intervention, called Stranded, for 4 weeks. With survival and Cox-regression analyses, demographics and types of personal motivation were identified that affect drop-out. Ninety older adults started using Stranded. 45.6% participants continued their use for 4 weeks. 32.2% dropped out in the first week and 22.2% dropped out in the second or third week. The final multivariate Cox-regression model which predicts drop-out, consisted of the variables: perceived computer skills and level of external regulation. Predicting the chance of dropping out of an eHealth intervention is possible by using level of self-perceived computer skills and level of external regulation (externally controlled rewards or punishments direct behaviour). Anticipating to these factors can improve eHealth adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adherence to a healthy diet and regular physical activity are two important factors in sufficient type 2 diabetes mellitus management. It is recognized that the traditional treatment of outpatients does not meet the requirements for sufficient lifestyle management. It is hypothesised that a personalized diabetes management mHealth application can help. Such an application ideally measures food intake, physical activity, glucose values, and medication use, and then integrates this to provide patients and healthcare professionals insight in these factors, as well as the effect of lifestyle on glucose values in daily life. The lifestyle data can be used to give tailored coaching to improve adherence to lifestyle recommendations and medication use. This study describes the requirements for such an application: the Diameter. An iterative mixed method design approach is used that consists of a cohort study, pilot studies, literature search, and expert meetings. The requirements are defined according to the Function and events, Interactions and usability, Content and structure and Style and aesthetics (FICS) framework. This resulted in 81 requirements for the dietary (n = 37), activity and sedentary (n = 15), glycaemic (n = 12), and general (n = 17) parts. Although many applications are currently available, many of these requirements are not implemented. This stresses the need for the Diameter as a new personalized diabetes application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated whether there is an anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) prior to the onset of predictable perturbation generated by a releasing in the archery performance task. Eighteen volunteers were divided into two groups (expert vs. novice) depending on skill levels. Participants stood on a force plate holding a bow with a laser pointer and took a full drawing motion aiming the laser pointer to the center of target, placed 10 m away from the force plate, then released motion was performed based on the individual's preferred timing. Motion capture system measured the bow motion in 3D, two force plates estimated center of pressure (COP) displacements, and electromyographic (EMG) recorded eight lower limb muscles during the anticipatory and compensatory phases of postural control. The results revealed that, compared to the novice group, (1) the expert group showed smaller variability of bow motion, (2) the APA patterns of the COP and muscle activities before the onset of perturbation (releasing), and (3) shorter time interval between the perturbation onset and the COP peak displacement. The findings suggest that a long‐term practice results in the experts could be adopted to use APA generating mechanical benefit to compensate for predictable perturbation. This would be able to lead to a more stable subsequent postural control to realize the task goal. Highlights: Skill level generates anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) to compensate for a predictable perturbation in the archery performance.The expert showed smaller bow motions in the vertical direction from APA to CPA2 phase.The expert showed the center of pressure (COP) and electromyographic (EMG) activities before the perturbation onset.The expert showed a shorter time interval between the perturbation onset and the COP peak displacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When work-related physical stress is assessed using non-weighted integration, it is assumed that different loading conditions have a sufficiently comparable effect on the human body as long as the area under the loading curve is the same. Growing evidence cast doubt on whether this simple calculation can adequately estimate physical work-related strain. This study investigates in vivo, focussing on the lower back, whether the non-weighted method adequately reflects work-related physical strain of the lower back. Strain data resulting from lifting/lowering tasks performed in a laboratory study with an identical area under the loading curve but different load intensities were compared. Results showed that the non-weighted method does not sufficiently reflect the resulting muscular, cardiovascular and perceived strain but underestimates the influence of higher load intensity even in the range of medium physical exposure. Further research is needed regarding the determination of weighting factors and limit values. Practitioner Summary Given the dynamic nature of most physical work activities, the assessment of time-varying loading of the lower back is of particular interest in practice. Results show that the widely used non-weighted calculation method does not accurately reflect the resulting physical strain but underestimates the influence of higher load intensity. Abbreviations: MSD: musculoskeletal disorders; WMSD: work-related musculoskeletal disorders; KIM-LHC: Key Indicator Method Lifting, Holding, Carrying; RES: right erector spinae longissimus; LES: left erector spinae longissimus; HR: heart rate; RPE: rating of perceived exertion; EMG: surface electromyography; ECG: electrocardiography; SENIAM: Surface ElectroMyoGraphy for the Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles; MVC: maximum voluntary contraction; ANOVA: analysis of variance; Std. error: standard error Results of this empirical investigation suggest that the widely used non-weighted calculation method is not fully suitable for calculating cumulative loading of the lower back. Even in the range of medium physical exposure the non-weighted calculation method does not accurately reflect the resulting strain on the human body but tends to underestimate the influence of higher load intensity due to higher external weight. Despite the same cumulative loading value obtained when using the non-weighted method, the resulting physical strain values are generally about 20–25% higher. The results may be used to further develop ergonomic assessment methods in order to avoid a misclassification of loading conditions and to prevent the risk of overexertion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classification of athletes' performance in vertical jump (VJ) tests is a recommended practice at various stages of athlete fitness development and performance enhancement. The practice is, however, currently conducted subjectively and mainly based on measures of the vertical jump height (VJH) attained in standardized VJ tests. The current study presents an intelligent integrated classification framework (IICF) for classification of athlete performance in single-leg (SL) and double-leg (DL) standing VJ tests based on lower extremity (LE) biomechanical data. Biomechanical data consisted of three-dimensional (3D) kinematics and electromyography (EMG) features generated from ankle–knee joints and eight LE muscles of 13 healthy female national netball players (subjects) obtained during six trials of SL-left leg (SLLL), SL-right leg (SLRL), and DL VJ tests. Each participating subject had prior VJ classification by the trainer as either excellent or very good in each of the three VJ tests. IICF introduced in this work utilizes an integration of the scalable and interoperable relational database management system (MySQLDB) and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Integrated pattern sets containing the extracted features (EF) obtained from first three VJ trials data were randomly partitioned into design and test data sets and ANN implemented using fully connected multilayer perceptron feedforward neural networks (MLP-FFNN) with three different training algorithms. Subjects' prior VJ classifications were used as MLP-FFNN target outputs. A second classifier is trained using support vector machine (SVM) using three different kernel mapping functions and performances between MPL-FFNN and SVM classifiers compared on both training and independent test pattern sets. The test pattern sets comprise of EF generated from the latter three VJ trials data stored in MySQLDB. The average classification accuracy (F-measure) achieved by the optimally trained MLP-FFNN classifier on independent test pattern sets across all the three VJ activities was 93.33% (86.67–96.77%), whereas SVM classifier's was 82.5% (73.33–87.5%). Through a custom-made web-based interface having backend integration of MySQLDB and the optimally trained MLP-FFNN, classification of individual subjects' pattern sets from either VJ activities is also enabled. Individual subjects' classification results can then be compared with prior classifications by the trainer, and differences were highlighted. IICF introduced in this work has demonstrated its feasibility as an objective complementary assessment tool for trainers during conducting of SL and DL vertical jump tests for netball players and athletes in general. Descriptive statistics for the entire experimental data sets' features used in this study are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe medical condition affecting the hand and locomotor function. New medical technologies, including various wearable devices, as well as rehabilitation treatments are being developed to enhance hand function in patients with SCI. As three-dimensional (3D) printing has the advantage of being able to produce low-cost personalized devices, there is a growing appeal to apply this technology to rehabilitation equipment in conjunction with scientific advances. In this study, we proposed a novel 3D-printed hand orthosis that is controlled by electromyography (EMG) signals. The orthosis was designed to aid the grasping function for patients with cervical SCI. We applied this hand exoskeleton system to individuals with tetraplegia due to SCI and validated its effectiveness.Methods: The 3D architecture of the device was designed using computer-aided design software and printed with a polylactic acid filament. The dynamic hand orthosis enhanced the tenodesis grip to provide sufficient grasping function. The root mean square of the EMG signal was used as the input for controlling the device. Ten subjects with hand weakness due to chronic cervical SCI were enrolled in this study, and their hand function was assessed before and after wearing the orthosis. The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Hand Function Test (TRI-HFT) was used as the primary outcome measure. Furthermore, improvements in functional independence in daily living and device usability were evaluated.Results: The newly developed orthosis improved hand function of subjects, as determined using the TRI-HFT (p < 0.05). Furthermore, participants obtained immediate functionality on eating after wearing the orthosis. Moreover, most participants were satisfied with the device as determined by the usability test. There were no side effects associated with the experiment.Conclusions: The 3D-printed myoelectric hand orthosis was intuitive, easy to use, and showed positive effects in its ability to handle objects encountered in daily life. This study proved that combining simple EMG-based control strategies and 3D printing techniques was feasible and promising in rehabilitation engineering.Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service (CRiS), Republic of Korea. KCT0003995. Registered 2 May 2019 - Retrospectively registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate timing and characteristics of electrocortical activity during stretch reflex evocation of the quadriceps femoris at different body postures.Methods: Twenty athletes were subjected to reflex hammer percussions on patellar tendon, in a random time sequence, in seated and supine decubitus postures. 745 ms of acquisition were evaluated for data analysis: 200 ms of pre-stimulation, 45 ms relative to the elapsed time from stimulation to the end of the muscular contraction, and 500 ms of post-stimulation. First, a scalp-map analysis, considering channels data, was performed; second, independent component analysis decomposition was applied to all 16 channels. To highlight the differences among two conditions (pre- and post-stimulation) and two sessions (seated and supine decubitus postures), a two-way analysis of variance was used. Time-frequency analysis has been applied to identify the density of the frequencies as a function of the time, instant by instant.Results: Fast alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands showed a greater electroencephalographic activity after the stimulation. Seated posture showed a greater activation than the decubitus supine posture. Time frequency analysis highlighted an higher electrocortical activation for 160 ms as well as from about 250-300 ms at all frequency bands after the stimulation.Conclusions: Our findings improve the understanding of the neurophysiological dynamics following the stretch reflex after concussion of the patellar tendon, executed in different postures, considering scalp-map, power spectra, and timing of activation. The use of scalp-map and power spectra analysis techniques represents a sophisticated use of advanced signal processing methodologies to analyze brain activity during movement and in specificity in sport science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vast majority of patient fall events in hospitals involve the elderly. In inpatient care settings, despite the risk of fall, patients are encouraged to leave their bed, move around their room, and sit on their chair to progress in their healing. Despite the vital role of patient chair design in improving recovery, few studies have examined the ergonomic requirements of safe patient chairs. This study examined the impact of manipulating horizontal and vertical positions of armrests in a test chair on required physical effort during Stand-to-Sit-to-Stand (St-Si-St) transitions among 15 elderly women. Physical effort was measured using: (1) surface electromyography (sEMG); (2) force measurement by load cells; (3) video recording. Findings showed non-linear patterns of change in required physical effort due to changes in armrests’ height and distance. It was also found that minimum effort is associated with armrests higher and farther apart than those in typical patient chairs. Practitioner Summary: Safe chairs are essential for inpatient recovery, yet their ergonomic features are not investigated. Impact of changes in chair armrests on required physical effort was examined using electromyography, force measurement and video recording. Armrests higher and farther apart than those in typical patient chairs may be safer for elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The structure and function of the hamstring and quadriceps can contribute to the development and process of patellofemoral pain syndrome. As open and closed kinetic chain exercises have different effects on the knee joint, the aim of the current study was to investigate motor control of knee joint in both kinetic chains according to voluntary response index aspect. Materials and Methods: 12 healthy knees and 12 injured knees (6 females in each group) were examined. Surface electromyography were performed in knee muscles including vastus medialis oblique, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and biceps femoris while the subjects were doing flexion-extension of knee joint by isokinetic dynamometer system and one leg semi-squat movement. Then voluntary response index was calculated. Results: There were no significant difference between the patients and healthy groups (p>0.05). In the patient group, correlation between similarity index and magnitude was seen. Conclusion: Probably in the low intensity patellofemoral syndromes, voluntary response index could not differentiate between healthy and the patient groups. In the patients with patellofemoral syndrome group, correlation between similarity index and magnitude may represent co-contraction in their muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in myoelectric responses to fatigue development between cases with chronic neck-shoulder pain (n =10) and healthy controls (n =10) during a low force level sustained contraction. Subjects performed a 15-min isometric shoulder elevation at a force level of 40N (sustained contraction), preceded and followed by a step contraction, consisting of five force levels from 20 to 100N. EMG recordings were made with a two-dimensional electrode array on the upper trapezius of the dominant side. Root-mean-square (RMSG), median power frequency (FMEDG), conduction velocity (CV), number of motor unit action potentials per second (MUAP Rate) and MUAP shape properties were estimated. Changes over time and differences between the groups were statistically evaluated with a linear mixed model. During the sustained contraction, cases showed less increase in RMSG than controls (controls: 58.5%, cases: 33.0%). FMEDG and CV decreased in controls (FMEDG: −6.3%, CV: −5.3%) and stayed constant (FMEDG) or slightly increased (CV, 3.15%) in cases. Overall, cases showed a less pronounced myoelectric response to the fatiguing task than controls, which may be related to additional recruitment of higher-threshold MUs. A possible explanation might be that cases were already (chronically) fatigued before the experiment started. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aging audiences and the shift of news consumption to an online paradigm have led to the need of finding strategies to engage aging readers with online news by assessing their news consumption habits and identifying the potential for digital platforms to assist the reader's journey, i.e., the activities performed from access to the information to the relatedness and shareability of the news content. It is well established that the use of game elements and game thinking within the context of a community can capture the user's attention and lead to behavioral engagement toward repetitive tasks. However, information about the design implications of socially gamified news to the aging reader's experience is still lacking. Using a development research approach, we implemented a prototype that socially gamifies news to support the aging reader experience based on a pre-assessment survey with 248 participants about their news consumption habits and motivations. We then validated the prototype with six market-oriented representatives of Portuguese newspapers and eleven adults aged 50 and over. A model for onboarding a reader's 6-step journey (read, react, discuss, share, relate and experience) within the context of a Senior Online Community using gamification is proposed. The game elements used can inform the design of a much more personalized experience of consuming news and news behavioral engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents a general overview of the healthcare facility system of the Slovak Republic, especially in a field of the innovation process of the management information system, with a purpose of analysing the consistency and a unity of the system. The data applied in this analysis is collected as a part of the Gesiti research project. This project is developed for mapping out the management of an information system and information technology in healthcare facilities around the whole world. The main goal of the project is to identify the needs and the demands of the healthcare facilities and to create an integrated research report with a focus on a report research roadmap. The information and communication technologies that are applied are partially unsuitable in the healthcare facilities in the Slovak Republic. Information systems are used without exact plans of their future development. This makes it almost impossible to develop them according to the modern needs and to join them with the other systems that are currently used. The big issues also lie in financing these systems and the personnel responsible for them. The outcome of the analysis should create a direction for financial decision making support and for better management of the healthcare facilities, both in the public and the private sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]