Search

Context: A simulated horseback riding (SHR) exercise is effective for improvement of pain and functional disability, but its comparative effectiveness with the other is unknown. Objective: The authors aimed to demonstrate the effect of a SHR exercise in people with chronic low back pain. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Settings: Community and university campus. Participants: A total of 48 participants with chronic low back pain were divided into 2 groups, and SHR exercises (n = 24) or stabilization (STB) exercises (n = 24) were performed. Interventions: The exercises were performed for 30 minutes, 2 days per week for 8 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Numeric rating scale, functional disabilities (Oswestry disability index and Roland–Morris disability), and fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire (FABQ) scores were measured at baseline and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 months. Results: A 2-way repeated analysis of variance identified that between-group comparisons showed significant differences in the FABQ related to work scale (F = 21.422; P =.01). There were no significant differences in the numeric rating scale (F = 1.696; P =.21), Oswestry disability index (F = 1.848; P =.20), Roland–Morris disability (F = 0.069; P =.80), and FABQ related to physical scale (F = 1.579; P =.24). In within-group comparisons, both groups presented significant differences in numeric rating scale (both SHR and STB after 4 wk), Oswestry disability index (both SHR and STB after 6 mo), and Roland–Morris disability (SHR after 6 mo and STB after 8 wk) compared with baseline values. In FABQ-related physical (SHR after 4 wk) and work scales (SHR after 6 mo), there were only significant differences in the SHR compared with baseline values. Conclusions: SHR exercise for 8 weeks had a greater effect than STB exercise for reducing work-related FABQ. The SHR exercise performed in a seated position could substantially decrease pain-related fear disability in young adults with chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents an 11 b 200 MS/s 28 nm CMOS 2b/cycle successive‐approximation register (SAR) analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC). The offset calibration technique is proposed to reduce the comparator offset mismatch that degrades the linearity of the high‐resolution 2b/cycle SAR ADC. The offset mismatch is reduced to within 0.25 least significant bit (LSB) by generating a compensation voltage from capacitor‐resistor (C‐R) hybrid digital‐to‐analogue converters (DACs). The prototype ADC implemented in a 28‐nm CMOS process demonstrates measured differential and integral non‐linearities within 0.6 LSB and 1.73 LSB at 11 b resolution, respectively. The measured signal‐to‐noise‐and‐distortion ratio (SNDR) and spurious‐free dynamic range (SFDR) are 50.9 dB and 66.2 dB at Nyquist, respectively. The prototype ADC occupies an active die area of 0.115 mm2 and consumes 3.98 mW at a 1.1‐V supply voltage.This letter presents an 11 b 200 MS/s 28‐nm CMOS 2b/cycle successive‐approximation register (SAR) analogue‐to‐digital converter (ADC). The proposed calibration technique reduces the comparator offset mismatch to within 0.25 LSB at 11 b resolution, enabling the implementation of high‐resolution 2b/cycle SAR ADC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) has been demonstrated to modulate the motor performance of both healthy individuals and patients with neuromuscular disorders. However, the effect of tDCS on motor control of multiple muscles, which is a prerequisite to change in motor performance, is currently unknown. Using dimensionality reduction analysis, we investigated whether bilateral tDCS over M1 modulates the coordinated activity of 12 muscles. Fifteen healthy men participated in this randomized, double-blind crossover study. Each participant received a 20-min sham and 2-mA stimulation bilaterally over M1 (anode on the right M1 and cathode on the left M1), with a minimum washout period of 4 days. Muscle activation and end-point kinematics were evaluated during a task where participants reached out to a marked target with non-dominant hand as fast as possible, before and immediately after tDCS application. We found decreased similarity in motor modularity and significant changes in muscle activation in a specific motor module, particularly when reaching out to a target placed within arm's length and improved smoothness index of movement only following 2-mA stimulation. These findings indicate that clinicians and researchers need to consider the simultaneous effect of bilateral tDCS over M1 on multiple muscles when they establish tDCS protocol to change in motor performance of patients with neuromuscular deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]