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Different forearm postures can modulate corticospinal excitability. However, there is no consensus on whether handedness plays a role in such a mechanism. This study investigated the effects of 3 forearm postures (pronation, neutral, and supination) on the corticospinal excitability of muscles from the dominant and nondominant upper limbs. Surface electromyography was recorded from the abductor digiti minimi, flexor pollicis brevis, and flexor carpi radialis from both sides of 12 right-handed volunteers. Transcranial magnetic stimulation pulses were applied to each muscle's hotspot in both cerebral hemispheres. Motor-evoked potential peak-to-peak amplitude and latency and resting motor threshold were measured. The data were evaluated by analysis of variance. The level of significance was set at 5%. The resting motor threshold was similar for the 3 muscles and both sides. Motor-evoked potential peak-to-peak amplitude from flexor pollicis brevis was lower during supination, and the dominant upper limb latency was longer. The flexor carpi radialis presented lower motor-evoked potential peak-to-peak amplitudes for neutral and shorter latencies during supination. Abductor digiti minimi seemed not to be affected by posture or side. Different muscles from dominant and nondominant sides may undergo corticospinal modulation, even distally localized from a particular joint and under rest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal modeling, typically implemented using marker-based systems in laboratory environments, is commonly used for noninvasive estimations of loads. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) have become an alternative for the evaluation of kinematics. However, estimates of spine joint contact forces using IMUs have yet to be thoroughly evaluated. Dynamics tasks and static postures from activities of daily living were captured on 11 healthy subjects using both systems simultaneously. Spine kinematics obtained from IMU- and marker-based systems and L4–L5 joint contact forces were compared. Lateral bending resulted in a weak agreement with significant differences between the 2 systems (P =.02, average root mean-squared error = 4.81), whereas flexion–extension and axial rotation exhibited the highest agreement with no significant differences (P <.05, average root mean-squared error = 5.51 and P <.31, average root mean-squared error = 5.08, respectively). All tasks showed excellent correlations (R2 =.76–.99) in estimated loads between systems. Differences in predicted loads at the L4–L5 were only observed during flexion–extension (1041 N vs 947 N, P =.0004) and walking with weights (814 N vs 727 N, P =.004). Different joint reaction force outcomes were obtained in 2 of the 8 tasks between systems, suggesting that IMUs can be robust tools allowing for convenient and less expensive evaluations and for longitudinal assessments inside and outside the laboratory setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this phenomenological, qualitative, temporal study was to examine the effects of a semester-long physical theater class on body schema (body posture, awareness, confidence, expression) among eight college students. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted twice to qualitatively collect the study's data. Two themes emerged from the qualitative/phenomenological data analysis, showcasing how the participants' body schema improved. Based on the first theme, the students emphasized the importance of physical theater in improving body posture, awareness, confidence and comfort during physical theater and their daily functions. Practically learning the body schema of their character was key to excellence in performance. According to the second theme, the participants learned how to express emotions using their whole body and not only their face. They also managed to switch emotions naturally and corporeally. Experts in Kinesiology and Performing Arts should promote embodied, holistic, playful, and physically demanding movement programs for improved body schema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimated the contribution of the midfoot joint complex (MJC) kinematics to the pelvis anterior–posterior positions during the stance phase of walking and investigated whether the MJC is functionally coordinated with the lower limb joints to maintain similar pelvic positions across steps. Hip, knee, ankle, and MJC sagittal angles were measured in 11 nondisabled participants during walking. The joints' contributions to pelvic positions were computed through equations derived from a link-segment model. Functional coordination across steps was identified when the MJC contribution to pelvic position varied and the summed contributions of other joints varied in the opposite direction (strong negative covariations [r ≤ −.7] in stance phase instants). We observed that the MJC plantarflexion (arch raising) during the midstance and late stance leads the pelvis backward, avoiding excessive forward displacement. The MJC was the second joint that contributed most to the pelvis positions (around 18% of all joints' contributions), after the ankle joint. The MJC and ankle were the joints that were most frequently coordinated with the other joints (≅70% of the stance phase duration). The findings suggest that the MJC is part of the kinematic chain that determines pelvis positions during walking and is functionally coordinated with the lower limb joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postural assessments of the lumbar spine lack valuable information about its properties. The purpose of this study was to assess neutral zone (NZ) characteristics via in vivo lumbar spine passive stiffness and relate NZ characteristics to standing lumbar lordosis. A comparison was made between those that develop low back pain during prolonged standing (pain developers) and those that do not (nonpain developers). Twenty-two participants with known pain status stood on level ground, and median lumbar lordosis angle was calculated. Participants were then placed in a near-frictionless jig to characterize their passive stiffness curve and location of their NZ. Overall, both pain developers and nonpain developers stood with a lumbar lordosis angle that was more extended than their NZ boundary. Pain developers stood slightly more extended (in comparison to nonpain developers) and had a lower moment corresponding to the location of their extension NZ boundary. Overall, in comparison to nonpain developers, pain developers displayed a lower moment corresponding to the location of their extension NZ boundary which could correspond to greater laxity in the lumbar spine. This may indicate why pain developers have a tendency to stand further beyond their NZ with greater muscle co-contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Decreased trunk neuromuscular control is a risk factor for both upper- and lower-extremity injuries, yet there are few reliable and valid clinical tests to identify deficits. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and known-groups validity of a novel clinical test, the seated trunk control test (STCT). Design: Cross-sectional reliability and known-groups validity study. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 89 unique participants: 34 were 3 months postoperative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and 55 healthy controls. Methods: For the STCT, participants sat on a balance board with their eyes closed for three 30-second trials while investigators counted balance errors. Intraclass correlations (ICCs) were used to assess interrater reliability (N = 20) and test–retest reliability (N = 40). To assess known-groups validity, independent t tests were used to compare STCT errors at 3 months post-ACLR with healthy matched controls (N = 34/group). Area under a receiver operating characteristic curve identified an optimal cutoff for distinguishing between groups. Results: The STCT had perfect interrater reliability (ICC2,3 = 1.00) and good test–retest reliability (ICC3,3 =.79; 95% confidence interval =.61–.89). The ACLR group made significantly more errors on the STCT (mean [SD] = 15.5 [5.4]) than controls (mean [SD] = 8.2 [4.1]; P <.001, Cohen d = 1.52). The STCT's ability to distinguish between groups was excellent (area under a ROC curve = 0.86). A cutoff of 12 errors maximized sensitivity (76%) and specificity (85%). Conclusions: The STCT is reliable between raters and across days. It also has excellent ability to distinguish between individuals with a recent ACLR and healthy matched controls, which provides initial evidence to suggest that the STCT may be clinically useful for identifying deficits in trunk neuromuscular control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptations to resistance training and subsequent performance can be undermined by inadequate interset recovery. Methods typically used to monitor recovery were developed for longitudinal use, making them time-inefficient within singular exercise bouts. If valid, perceptual recovery status (PRS) may be used as an efficient and inexpensive assessment tool to monitor individual recovery. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the validity of PRS on monitoring recovery during a high-intensity back-squat session. Methods: Ten healthy men participated in the 2-session study (separated by at least 48 h). Session 1 included anthropometrics, PRS familiarization, and a 1-repetition-maximum back squat. Session 2 included a high-intensity protocol (5 sets of 5 repetitions; 5-min interset recovery; 85% of 1-repetition maximum). PRS was obtained before the first set and during the last 30 seconds of each 5-minute recovery; rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was also collected. A linear position transducer collected mean barbell velocity (MBV). Repeated-measures correlations assessed the common intraindividual relationships of PRS scores to intraset MBV and RPE, respectively. Results: A very large, positive correlation appeared between PRS and MBV (r [95% CI] =.778 [.613 to.878]; P <.0001). A large, negative correlation emerged between PRS and RPE (r [95% CI] = −.549 [−.737 to −.282]; P <.001). Conclusions: Results indicate that PRS can be a means for practitioners to monitor individualized recovery. PRS tracked well with RPE, strengthening its utility in a practitioner-based setting. Findings provide insight into the practicality of PRS for recovery monitoring. It could be used alongside other measures (eg, MBV and countermovement jump) to individually program and maintain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable activity sensors typically count movement quantity, such as the number of steps taken or the number of upper extremity (UE) counts achieved. However, for some applications, such as neurologic rehabilitation, it may be of interest to quantify the quality of the movement experience (QOME), defined, for example, as how diverse or how complex movement epochs are. We previously found that individuals with UE impairment after stroke exhibited differences in their distributions of forearm postures across the day and that these differences could be quantified with kurtosis-an established statistical measure of the peakedness of distributions. In this paper, we describe further progress toward the goal of providing real-time feedback to try to help people learn to modulate their movement diversity. We first asked the following: to what extent do different movement activities induce different values of kurtosis? We recruited seven unimpaired individuals and evaluated a set of 12 therapeutic activities for their forearm postural diversity using kurtosis. We found that the different activities produced a wide range of kurtosis values, with conventional rehabilitation therapy exercises creating the most spread-out distribution and cup stacking the most peaked. Thus, asking people to attempt different activities can vary movement diversity, as measured with kurtosis. Next, since kurtosis is a computationally expensive calculation, we derived a novel recursive algorithm that enables the real-time calculation of kurtosis. We show that the algorithm reduces computation time by a factor of 200 compared to an optimized kurtosis calculation available in SciPy, across window sizes. Finally, we embedded the kurtosis algorithm on a commercial smartwatch and validated its accuracy using a robotic simulator that wore the smartwatch, emulating movement activities with known kurtosis. This work verifies that different movement tasks produce different values of kurtosis and provides a validated algorithm for the real-time calculation of kurtosis on a smartwatch. These are needed steps toward testing QOME-focused, wearable rehabilitation.

Driving posture can lead to musculoskeletal pain. Most work focuses on the lower back; therefore, we know little about automobile seat design and neck posture. This study evaluated an automobile driver seat that individualized upper back support to improve head and neck posture. Specifically, we examined the system's impact on anterior head translation with secondary outcomes of spine posture and perceptions of comfort/well-being compared with a control. Forty participants were block randomized to experience either the activated or deactivated version of the same seating system first. Participants completed two 30-minute simulated driving trials, separated by washout, with continuous measures of anterior head translation, spine posture, and pelvis orientation. Perceptions of comfort/well-being were assessed by survey and open-ended questions immediately following each condition. Small, but statistically significant decreases in anterior head translation and posterior pelvic tilt occurred with the activated seat system. Participants reported lower satisfaction with the activated seat system. Order of the 2 seat conditions affected differences in pelvis orientation and participant perceptions of comfort/well-being. An anthropometric-based seat system targeting upper back support can significantly affect head and pelvic posture but not satisfaction during simulated driving. Future work should examine long-term impacts of these posture changes on health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot stance and club type's relationship with lead knee joint biomechanics and possible involvement with injury incidences in amateur golfers have not been evaluated. This study included 16 male right-handed amateur golfers who performed golf swings with 2 different foot stances (straight and open) using 4 different club types (driver, 3 iron, 6 iron, and 9 iron) while standing on 2 force plates in a motion capture laboratory. A custom program calculated the kinematics and kinetics of the lead knee. Overall, the open stance reduced most translations, rotations, forces, and torques of the lead knee in all 4 club types when compared with the straight stance. The open stance reduced the rotation motion (−28%), compressive force (−5%), and rotation torque (−9%) when compared with the straight stance, which are the highest contributors to grinding of cartilage. The driver club had significantly larger values in most translations, rotations, forces, and torques when compared among the 4 club types. The open stance reduced the rotation motion, compressive force, and rotation torque in the lead knee joint compared with the straight stance. Lead knee joint biomechanics should be monitored to reduce injury in amateur golfers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work assessing the effect of additive noise on the postural control system has found a positive effect of additive white noise on postural dynamics. This study covers two separate experiments that were run sequentially to better understand how the structure of the additive noise signal affects postural dynamics, while also furthering our knowledge of how the intensity of auditory stimulation of noise may elicit this phenomenon. Across the two experiments, we introduced three auditory noise stimulations of varying structure (white, pink, and brown noise). Experiment 1 presented the stimuli at 35 dB while Experiment 2 was presented at 75 dB. Our findings demonstrate a decrease in variability of the postural control system regardless of the structure of the noise signal presented, but only for high intensity auditory stimulation.

Postural instability is a detrimental and often treatment-refractory symptom of Parkinsons disease. While many existing studies quantify the biomechanical deficits among various postural domains (static, anticipatory, and reactive) in this population, less is known regarding the neural network dysfunctions underlying these phenomena. This review will summarize current studies on the cortical and subcortical neural activities during postural responses in healthy subjects and those with Parkinsons disease. We will also review the effects of current therapies, including neuromodulation and feedback-based wearable devices, on postural instability symptoms. With recent advances in implantable devices that allow chronic, ambulatory neural data collection from patients with Parkinsons disease, combined with sensors that can quantify biomechanical measurements of postural responses, future work using these devices will enable better understanding of the neural mechanisms of postural control. Bridging this knowledge gap will be the critical first step towards developing novel neuromodulatory interventions to enhance the treatment of postural instability in Parkinsons disease.

Upper extremity (UE) impairment is common after stroke resulting in reduced arm use in daily life. A few studies have examined the use of wearable feedback of the quantity of arm movement to promote recovery, but with limited success. We posit that it may be more effective to encourage an increase in beneficial patterns of movement practice - i.e. the overall quality of the movement experience - rather than simply the overall amount of movement. As a first step toward testing this idea, here we sought to identify statistical features of the distributions of daily arm movements that become more prominent as arm impairment decreases, based on data obtained from a wrist IMU worn by 22 chronic stroke participants during their day. We identified several measures that increased as UE Fugl-Meyer (UEFM) score increased: the fraction of movements achieved at a higher speed, forearm postural diversity (quantified by kurtosis of the tilt-angle), and forearm postural complexity (quantified by sample entropy of tilt angle). Dividing participants into severe, moderate, and mild impairment groups, we found that forearm postural diversity and complexity were best able to distinguish the groups (Cohens D =1.1, and 0.99, respectively) and were also the best subset of predictors for UEFM score. Based on these findings coupled with theories of motor learning that emphasize the importance of variety and challenge in practice, we suggest that using these measures of diversity and complexity in wearable rehabilitation could provide a basis to test whether the quality of the daily movement experience is therapeutic.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among nursing professionals and require effective management strategies. Implementing targeted training programs for nurses is a vital approach to reduce these problems. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate problem‐based learning (PBL) effectiveness in reducing work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) among nurses. Methods: Fifty Iranian nurses participated in this interventional study. Some data were collected by a demographic/occupational questionnaire and a Persian version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (P‐NMQ). Some other was gathered by Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) and PBL method. Results: The prevalence of WMSs during the last 12 months in the subjects was related to the lower back (76%), wrists/hands (70%), neck (64%), and knee (64%), respectively. The results showed that the prevalence of WMSs decreased significantly only in the subjects' elbow region in the postintervention (p = 0.031). Although the prevalence decreased in the postintervention stage in other regions, this decrease was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the implementation of PBL could reduce the WMSs prevalence and the level of nurses' exposure to risk factors for MSDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine skiing poses significant risks for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at both recreational and professional levels, which is compounded by high rates of re-injury. Despite the existence of return to sport (RTS) and return to snow protocols, the frequency of ACL re-injury has not been mitigated, raising doubts about protocol effectiveness. Current RTS protocols primarily focus on biomechanical and neuromuscular factors in isolation, neglecting the important perceptual-motor-cognitive changes associated with ACL injuries and the high cognitive demands of skiing. The purpose of this clinical commentary is to address the perceptual-motor-cognitive demands specific to alpine skiing, evaluate RTS testing for skiers, and propose updated standards for testing and return to snow progressions that incorporate these considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower limb oedema is a common condition in clinical practice, frequently affecting the distal lower limbs. Whereas benign causes such as prolonged sitting or standing are typical, oedema can also indicate serious systemic diseases such as cardiac failure, liver disease, or renal impairment. Identifying the cause is crucial to prevent irreversible skin and tissue changes. This clinical review aims to increase the knowledge of advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and generalist practitioners, including practice and community nurses, by providing an overview of how to approach patients with lower limb oedema, encompassing history-taking, examinations, investigations, and management plans. The main focus is on lymphoedema, which can be primary or secondary. Primary lymphoedema results from genetic abnormalities, while secondary lymphoedema arises from acquired defects due to factors such as obesity, infections, neoplasms, and trauma. Effective management includes addressing the underlying cause, ensuring proper skin care, recommending appropriate exercises, and the use of compression garments. Referral to a lymphoedema specialist is recommended for patient education on managing and treating the condition when required. Additionally, the article discusses the importance of regular skin inspections, minor injury management, environmental considerations, and the critical role of compression garments in lymphoedema management. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance patient outcomes and provide a thorough strategy for ACPs and generalist practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human body will show very complex and diversified posture changes in the process of falling, including body posture, limb position, angle and movement trajectory, etc. The coordinates of the key points of the model are mapped to the three-dimensional space to form a three-dimensional model and obtain the three-dimensional coordinates of the key points; The construction decomposition method is used to calculate the rotation matrix of each key point, and the rotation matrix is solved to obtain the angular displacement data of the key points on different degrees of freedom. The method of curve fitting combined with the weight distribution kernel function based on self-organizing mapping theory is used to obtain the motion trajectory prediction equation of the human body falling in different degrees of freedom at random positions in three-dimensional space, determine the key point trajectory of human random fall behaviour. The experimental results show that the mapped 3D model is consistent with the real human body structure. This method can accurately determine whether the human body falls or squats randomly, and the prediction results of the key points of the human fall are consistent with the actions of the human body after the fall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect of any social interaction involves inferring other people's mental states, intentions, and their likely next actions, by way of facial expression, body posture, eye gaze, and limb movements. An actor's production of actions during social interactions and the observer's perception of these actions are thus closely linked. In this review, we outline an action-observation methodology, which not only allows for separate analyses of production and perception, but also promotes the study of the dynamic interaction between these two sides of every social exchange. We review two lines of research that have benefited from its application. The first line focuses on individuals performing tasks alone and the observation of their actions by other individuals in order to make inferences about their attentional states. The second line of study focused on pairs of individuals performing collaborative tasks in naturalistic settings and the observation of these performances by other individuals. We offer several suggestions for how this methodology can be extended to improve on the limitations of the present studies, as well as some suggestions of how to use this methodology to venture into new territory. Our aim is to inspire future research applications of this methodology in order to advance our understanding of social action production and perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundPurposeMethodsResultsConclusionNon-specific low back pain (LBP) is a major health concern associated with a sedentary lifestyle. Understanding the multifactorial risk factors is essential for developing effective management and prevention strategies.This study aims to evaluate how posture, muscle activity and strength imbalances, pain levels, and emotional awareness collectively contribute to the subjective functional status of young office workers with chronic nonspecific LBP, in order to assess the need for a holistic, biopsychosocial approach to managing this condition.A cross-sectional study, involving 102 office workers, including 64 females and 38 males, both healthy and suffering from chronic nonspecific LBP, was conducted. The average age of subjects was 31 years (standard deviation = 6.6). The study combined objective assessments, such as posture evaluation, muscle electrical activity, and strength imbalances with patient-reported outcomes (PRO) to investigate their correlations with subjective functional status.Significant correlations and subsequent inclusion in the multivariate linear regression model identified vertebral rotation, muscle activity and strength disparities as key predictors. PRO, including pain levels and emotional awareness also significantly influenced the Spine Functional Index. Collectively, these factors explained 46.8% of the variance in the subjective functional status among subjects.This study underscores the importance of a holistic approach in understanding nonspecific LBP, integrating objective measures with PRO to reveal the intricate relationship between functional status and diverse influencing factors. Our findings advocate for the adoption of the biopsychosocial model, demonstrating how the interplay of health conditions, body structures, and social factors impacts chronic nonspecific LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of virtual reality (VR) technology in replicating real-life environments for the adoption of appropriate human postures and forces. Despite the widespread implementation of VR in various applications, there is a lack of research evaluating the accuracy of human postures and sensory aspects in the VR environment compared to real-life scenarios. A total of twenty-two student participants were recruited for this study, which involved a common lifting task. Two specific poses were identified as having potentially excessive forces exerted on the lower back. By comparing the angles of seven anatomical joints in both the real environment and the VR environment at each pose, we observed that depth perception may influence posture adoption in the VR setting. Moreover, the presence of a physical load applied to both hands significantly influenced the postures adopted by participants compared to those in the VR environment. These deviations in postures directly led to significant differences in predicted spinal forces exerted on the lower back, which in turn could result in inaccurate assessments of injury risks and the design of injury prevention programs. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the accuracy of VR technology as a substitute for real-life environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigates predictors influencing the growth of untreated vestibular schwannomas, a common benign brain tumor. We aim to identify predictors of tumor growth, which is crucial for making informed treatment decisions. We reviewed numerous studies and analyzed variables such as age, gender, tumor size, location, symptoms, and MRI signal characteristics. The findings reveal that larger tumor size, extra-canalicular location, cystic components, and vestibular symptoms are associated with tumor growth. These insights can guide clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from more aggressive monitoring or intervention, potentially improving outcomes for individuals with this condition. This research contributes to better understanding the variability in vestibular schwannoma (VS) growth and emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment strategies. The growth rate of sporadic VS varies considerably, posing challenges for consistent clinical management. This systematic review examines data on factors associated with VS growth, following a protocol registered in the PROSPERO database. The analysis reveals that key predictors of tumor growth include tumor location, initial size, and specific clinical symptoms such as hearing loss and imbalance. Additionally, several studies suggest that growth observed within the first year may serve as an indicator of subsequent progression, enabling the earlier identification of high-risk cases. Emerging factors such as the posture swing test and MRI signal intensity have also been identified as novel predictors that could further refine growth assessments. Our meta-analysis confirms that tumor location, initial size, cystic components, and vestibular symptoms are closely linked to the likelihood of VS growth. This review provides valuable guidance for clinicians in identifying patients who may require closer monitoring or early intervention. By integrating these predictive factors into clinical practice, this review supports more personalized treatment and contributes to the development of more accurate prognostic models for managing untreated sporadic VS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object handover is one of the fundamental tasks of service robots. This paper focuses on a robot-to-human object handover controller applied to a domestic service robot. People in need often have manual operation constraints caused by different body postures or declined physical functions. The preplanned handover strategy used in previous studies potentially increases their cognitive burden and makes it difficult to meet their needs for flexible real-time control and intuitive interaction. It also remains challenging to deal with sensing and prediction errors, motion planning and coordination. The robot no longer provides assistance after an object is delivered to a preplanned handover location, and the receiver needs to make extra efforts to get the object released. Therefore, inspired by a human study, a handover controller is designed based on a manually guided handover strategy that solve problems from grasp adjustment to object release in dynamic retraction motion. Flexible control and intuitive interaction are enabled through motion with continuous support from the robot. Without additional sensors or modeling learning, changes in motion and energy consumption are taken into account to explore an appropriate release timing. The results of robot-to-human handover experiments and the user studies indicate that the receiver can freely pull an object to a suitable location as desired and smoothly obtain the object's control to complete a subsequent task using the proposed controller with proper release timing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For patients receiving one lung ventilation in thoracic surgery, numerous studies have proved the superiority of lung protective ventilation of low tidal volume combined with recruitment maneuvers (RM) and individualized PEEP. However, RM may lead to overinflation which aggravates lung injury and intrapulmonary shunt. According to CT results, atelectasis usually forms in gravity dependent lung regions, regardless of body position. So, during anesthesia induction in supine position, atelectasis usually forms in the dorsal parts of lungs, however, when patients are turned into lateral decubitus position, collapsed lung tissue in the dorsal parts would reexpand, while atelectasis would slowly reappear in the lower flank of the lung. We hypothesize that applying sufficient PEEP without RM before the formation of atelectasis in the lower flank of the lung may beas effective to prevent atelectasis and thus improve oxygenation as applying PEEP with RM. Methods: A total of 84 patients scheduled for elective pulmonary lobe resection necessitating one lung ventilation will be recruited and randomized totwo parallel groups. For all patients, one lung ventilation is initiated the right after patients are turned into lateral decubitus position. For patients in the study group, individualized PEEP titration is started the moment one lung ventilation is started, while patients in the control group will receive a recruitment maneuver followed by individualized PEEP titration after initiation of one lung ventilation. The primary endpoint will be oxygenation index measured at T4. Secondary endpoints will include intrapulmonary shunt, respiratory mechanics, PPCs, and hemodynamic indicators. Discussion: Numerous previous studies compared the effects of individualized PEEP applied alone with that applied in combination with RM on oxygenation index, PPCs, intrapulmonary shunt and respiratory mechanics after atelectasis was formed in patients receiving one lung ventilation during thoracoscopic surgery. In this study, we will apply individualized PEEP before the formation of atelectasis while not performing RM in patients allocated to the study group, and then we're going to observe its effects on the aspects mentioned above. The results of this trial will provide a ventilation strategy that may be conductive to improving intraoperative oxygenation and avoiding the detrimental effects of RM for patients receiving one lung ventilation. Trial registration: www.Chictr.org.cn ChiCTR2400080682. Registered on February 5, 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral hemodynamics have been quantified during exercise via transcranial Doppler ultrasound, as it has high-sensitivity to movement artifacts and displays temporal superiority. Currently, limited research exists regarding how different exercise modalities and postural changes impact the cerebrovasculature across the cardiac cycle. Ten participants (4 females and 6 males) ages 20–29 completed three exercise tests (treadmill, supine, and upright cycling) to volitional fatigue. Physiological data collected included middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and respiratory parameters. Normalized data were analyzed for variance and effect sizes were calculated to examine differences between physiological measures across the three exercise modalities. Systolic MCAv was greater during treadmill compared to supine and upright cycling (p < 0.001, (large) effect size), and greater during upright versus supine cycling (p < 0.017, (large)). Diastolic MCAv was lower during treadmill versus cycling exercise only at 60% maximal effort (p < 0.005, (moderate)) and no differences were observed between upright and supine cycling. No main effect was found for mean and diastolic BP (p > 0.05, (negligible)). Systolic BP was lower during treadmill versus supine cycling at 40% and 60% intensity (p < 0.05, (moderate–large)) and greater during supine versus upright at only 60% intensity (p < 0.003, (moderate)). The above differences were not explained by partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide levels (main effect: p = 0.432). The current study demonstrates the cerebrovascular and cardiovascular systems respond heterogeneously to different exercise modalities and aspects of the cardiac cycle. As physiological data were largely similar between tests, differences associated with posture and modality are likely contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Body lateropulsion (BL) is an active lateral tilt of the body during standing or walking that is thought to be affected by a lesion of the vestibulospinal tract (VST) and the subjective visual vertical (SVV) tilt. Interventions for BL have not been established. Objective: We examined the effects of postural-control training with different sensory reweighting on standing postural control in a patient with BL. Methods: The patient had BL to the left when standing or walking due to a left-side medullary and cerebellar infarct. This study was a single-subject A-B design with follow-up: Phase A was postural-control training with visual feedback; phase B provided reweighting plantar somatosensory information. Postural control, VST excitability, and SVV were measured. Results: At baseline and phase A, the patient could not stand with eyes-closed on a rubber mat, but became able to stand in phase B. The mediolateral center of pressure (COP) position did not change significantly, but the COP velocity decreased significantly during phase B and the follow-up on the firm surface. VST excitability was lower on the BL versus the non-BL side, and the SVV deviated to the right throughout the study. Conclusion: Postural-control training with reweighting somatosensory information might improve postural control in a patient with BL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the nasal cycle (NC) during sleep in healthy individuals without nasal obstruction or obstructive sleep apnoea via a flexible wearable respiratory monitoring system in a continuous and real-time manner. Methods: NC during sleep was continuously measured in 30 healthy individuals (15 women, 15 men) via long-term sleep respiratory monitoring system, while sleep stage and body position were simultaneously recorded via polysomnography (PSG). The number of NC transitions and positional changes were documented each night. Additionally, time intervals between NC transitions and their closest positional changes during sleep were meticulously recorded to investigate potential correlations between them. Results: A total of 86.7% of the participants displayed the classic NC, with a mean duration of 6.43 ± 2.33 h. Nightly observations revealed an average occurrence of 2.19 ± 0.40 NC transitions, predominantly occurring during REM stage (68.4%), and 9.15 ± 7.77 postural changes. Analysis of the intervals between NC transitions and positional changes revealed an average absolute value of 27.72 ± 10.85 min, with a substantial 56.4% exceeding 30 min, indicating a non-obvious sequence order among them. Conclusion: NC can be measured in a continuous and real-time manner, the transitions occur mainly during the REM stage. However, we have not identified a clear correlation between NC transition and positional change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An integral component of comprehensive temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment involves what is commonly referred to in literature as patient counselling or patient education. Despite its importance, a clear definition of the concept is lacking. Objectives: To describe the concept of counselling (i.e. what is it, what should it consist of, and when should it be given) through a concept analysis of the literature. Eligibility Criteria: All papers that include a description of counselling or education for TMD are included. Sources of Evidence: Literature searches were performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Cinahl, and PsycInfo. Charting Methods: A qualitative analysis was done using the principle‐based concept analysis approach, where descriptions of counselling from the included papers were analysed by the researchers. Results: A total of 71 articles were included. Based on the qualitative analysis of the included articles and descriptions of counselling, the following content themes were identified: (1) general information on TMD; (2) overuse of the masticatory system; (3) posture education; (4) lifestyle and psychosocial factors; (5) exercise‐ and thermotherapy; and (6) additional information and therapies. Conclusions: A definition and framework of counselling for TMD has been provided, which can be used in the clinic, research, and educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research suggested that exposure to long‐lasting or repeated laboratory stressors may lead to rearrangement of cardiovascular control, with a shift of regulation mechanisms from dominant cardiac to dominant vascular influences between the early and late response phases, respectively. This study investigated whether similar rearrangement occurs during life stress accompanying chronic disease by analyzing also associations between cortisol level and cardiovascular variables in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). In 47 women with FM and 36 healthy women (HW), cardiovascular recordings were taken during active body posture changes (sitting, lying down, and standing). Moreover, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was obtained. During standing, which involved orthostatic challenge, FM patients showed higher total peripheral resistance (TPR) but lower stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and baroreflex sensitivity than HW. During sitting and lying down, TPR was more closely associated with blood pressure (BP) than CO in FM patients; in contrast, CO was more closely associated with BP than TPR in HW. HCC correlated positively with TPR and BP in FM patients, but negatively with TPR and BP and positively with SV and CO in HW. Results suggest that chronic disease‐related stress is associated with alterations in cardiovascular regulation toward greater involvement of vascular than cardiac mechanisms in BP control. Stress‐related cortisol release may contribute to the long‐term rearrangement of autonomic regulation. At the behavioral level, the dominance of vascular over cardiovascular control may relate to reduced somatic mobilization during an active fight‐flight response in favor of passive and behaviorally immobile coping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily involves the axial skeleton but may also present with peripheral joint involvement and extra-articular involvement. The present study aims to quantitatively analyze posture, balance, and gait parameters in patients with axSpA and and assess associated factors. This cross-sectional case-control study included 51 axSpA patients (30 males, 21 females; mean age 40.94 ± 10.48 years) and 51 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In patients with axSpA, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score CRP, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), the Maastrich Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), and the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) scale were used. For postural analysis, DIERS formetric (Diers GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany) videoraster- stereography device was utilized. HUR SmartBalance BTG4 (HUR-labs Oy, Kokkola, Finland) balance platform was used for postural balance and limit of stability (LOS) measurement. Participants were evaluated using Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Functional Reach Test (FRT) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). The Zebris FDM type 3 (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) walking platform was used to measure the spatiotemporal parameters of the participants. Comparison of postural parameters showed that sagittal imbalance and cervical depth distance were increased in the axSpA group than in the healthy participants (p < 0.004). Comparison of functional balance parameters showed that BBS and FRT scores were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in the axSpA group than in the control group, while TUG scores were significantly higher (p < 0.001). The LOS values, which evaluate dynamic balance were significantly lower, indicating impairment, in the axSpA group. In the measurement of postural sway, which indicates static balance, all 23 subparameters were found to be similar. When analyzing the spatiotemporal gait parameters, in the axSpA group compared with those in the control group; Foot angles (p= 0.028) and stride width (p = 0.004) were increased, whereas step lengths (p = 0.004) and stride lengths (P = 0.004) were decreased. In the axSpA group the gait speed was decreased (p = 0.004). When axSpA was analyzed separately as radiographic and nonradiographic axSpA, similar findings were observed in posture, balance, and gait parameters. No significant difference was observed. We found that the clinical assessments most closely associated with posture, balance, and gait analyses were BBS, FRT, TUG, and BASFI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used for evaluating upper airway anatomy and determining airway obstruction patterns. It is typically performed with the patient in the supine position. Airway collapse severity is influenced by body position and level of consciousness; the resultant dynamic changes may vary across patients. In this study, we evaluated the severity of upper airway collapse through awake endoscopy and DISE and identified factors affecting the pattern of airway collapse severity. This study included 66 patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The patients underwent type 1 polysomnography, tongue strength assessment, awake endoscopy in the sitting and supine positions, and DISE. Group-based trajectory modeling was performed to identify patients with different collapse severity patterns in different body positions and at different levels of consciousness. Patient with similar severity trajectory were assigned to the same group. Two different severity trajectories (group 1 and group 2) were identified at the tongue base level. Tongue depression strength varied significantly between groups 1 and 2 (47.00 vs. 35.00 kPa; P =.047). During awake endoscopy, collapse severity was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1. Group 1 had lower rapid eye movement/nonrapid eye movement apnea–hypopnea index ratios and higher tongue depression strength than did group 2. In patients with obstructive sleep apnea, tongue strength may vary depending on body position. Our results should be interpreted with caution because of the limited sample size. Future studies should investigate the effect of oropharyngeal rehabilitation on tongue strength and collapse severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between lap belt tension and force measured at the iliac wing and the effects of model type and torso posture on this relationship. From this analysis, preliminary transfer functions were developed to predict loads applied to the iliac wing as a function of lap belt tension at magnitudes typically measured in sled and vehicle crash tests. Methods: A DOE study was conducted to provide a robust assessment of the lap belt-pelvis load relationship under various conditions. The GHBMC, THUMS, and THOR FE models were positioned in upright and reclined postures with several other intrinsic and extrinsic parameters varied for a total of 360 simulations. For the HBMs, instrumentation was developed to measure ASIS load at each iliac wing. Simulations that resulted in submarining were identified and removed from the subsequent development of lap belt-ASIS force transfer functions. Results: The GHBMC exhibited submarining more frequently than the THUMS and THOR models. In addition to submarining, there were several cases in which the lap belt remained below the ASIS instrumentation or roped during the model's forward excursion. These phenomena, particularly prevalent in the THUMS model, also influenced how the lap belt engaged the ASIS instrumentation and were thus eliminated from the transfer function development. Transfer functions relating peak lap belt tension and corresponding ASIS force magnitudes were developed for the GHBMC and THOR models in upright and reclined postures. In the upright posture, the THOR showed a higher level of ASIS load measured for a given level of lap belt tension than the GHBMC; however, in recline the lap belt-pelvis load relationship was similar between the two models. Conclusions: The lap belt-pelvis load relationship was found to be affected by model type, posture, the area in which the ASIS instrumentation was defined, and occupant kinematics. This study showed it was possible to minimize the ASIS force by having the lap belt engage low on the pelvis and upper thighs, though further study is needed to determine if this loading mechanism is truly protective from an injury standpoint or an artifact of bypassing the ASIS instrumentation. The transfer function that showed the highest ASIS force measured for a given level of lap belt tension is recommended for future use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the elderly, the motor function of walking is significant for the maintenance and improvement of their quality of life (QOL). Walking patterns have been postulated to be associated with a decline in walking ability. The objective of this study was to develop a wearable sensor that can capture changes in walking ability in daily life. To this end, motion capture was employed to measure the lower limb joint angles and the trajectories of the lower limbs and knees for each subject while walking at a normal walking speed and to compare the results between elderly and young patients. The differences in walking patterns between the elderly and young patients were analyzed in terms of elevation angles, and an index was calculated to capture changes during walking based on elevation angles and trajectories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study critically examines the impact of urination posture on bladder health and overall urinary function, focusing on three primary postures: standing, sitting, and squatting. Each posture is analyzed for its physiological implications, including bladder emptying efficiency, post-void residual volume, and pelvic muscle strain. The merits and demerits of each posture are discussed in relation to gender, age, and specific health conditions, such as prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Scientific evidence highlights the sitting posture as the most beneficial overall, promoting complete bladder emptying, reducing residual urine, and supporting pelvic health. While standing offers convenience, particularly for men, it can contribute to incomplete bladder emptying and increase the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other complications. Squatting, although highly effective in promoting urinary and bowel function, may not be practical or accessible for all individuals. The findings suggest that sitting, particularly for individuals with bladder or prostate conditions, is the optimal posture for long-term urinary health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Methods: This cross‐sectional study included 45 individuals diagnosed with DMD between the ages of 5 and 18 years. LUTS were evaluated with the Dysfunctional Voiding and Incontinence Scoring System, functional levels with the Brooke Upper Extremity Functional Classification and the Vignos Scale, lumbar lordosis angle with a bubble inclinometer, pelvic inclination angles with a digital inclinometer, and muscle strength with a hand‐held dynamometer. Results: The mean age of the children was calculated as 9.00 ± 3.32 years, body weight as 31.10 ± 12.59 kg, and height as 125.87 ± 18.46 cm. LUTD was detected in 20 children (44.44%). There was an association between high LUTD severity and low strength of the following muscles: bilateral hip flexor (Dominant: r = −0.338, p = 0.023; nondominant: r = −0.411, p = 0.005), quadriceps femoris (Dominant: r = −0.445, p = 0.002; nondominant: r = −0.504, p < 0.001), elbow flexor (Dominant: r = −0.461, p = 0.001; nondominant: r = −0.455, p = 0.002), and elbow extensor (Dominant: r = −0.442, p = 0.002; nondominant: r = −0.450, p = 0.002). Upper extremity functionality level was significantly higher in the LUTD‐negative group (p = 0.004). There was no relationship between lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination angles and LUTS symptoms (p > 0.05). Conclusion: To provide the adequate care for bladder health in children with DMD, it is essential to focus on parameters that will increase functionality and independence in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Upper limb exoskeletons are recommended to alleviate muscle fatigue, particularly in working conditions inducing musculoskeletal discomfort like overhead work. However, wearing an exoskeleton might introduce cognitive-motor interference, affecting performance. Understanding its neural impact and potential gender differences in design effects is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine exoskeleton effects addressing cross-gender comparisons, and exploring the impact on cognitive and physical workload in real-world scenarios. The research questions address the impact of exoskeleton use on muscle synergies, upper body posture, cognitive resources, comfort/ discomfort, acceptance and usability. Methods: The cross-sectional study integrates a multifactorial mixed-measure design. Participants are grouped by gender (female vs. male) and working condition (with vs. without exoskeleton). Motor performance and underlying neuronal correlates (fNIRS) will be analyzed. Based on an a priori sample size calculation, 80 participants (40 female/40 male) will be recruited. Working performance will be assessed by 1. Physical Performance Task (PILE task) and 2. Precision Task (following the Fitts paradigm), while body postures will be monitored with an Xsens motion capture system. Brain activation will be captured with an fNIRS system comprising 32 active optodes. Postural comfort/discomfort, acceptance, and usability will be reported via standardized questionnaires. Discussion: The study will gain insights into potential gender differences in exoskeleton use and will contribute to designing and optimizing the implementation of exoskeletons by considering muscle synergies, movement variability and cognitive resource allocation. Additionally, the study also highlights user discomfort, a crucial factor that could impede widespread adoption, particularly among females, in real-world scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prolonged periods of sitting have been linked to negative health outcomes. Implementation of sit-stand desks in the workplace has been one strategy to reduce prolonged sitting. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of sit-stand workstations on reducing sitting time and improving other health outcomes of office-based workers. METHODS: 39 Portuguese office workers were randomized into a 6-month parallel-group cluster RCT consisting by the implementation of sit-stand desks in the workplace. The primary outcome of sitting time was assessed using ActivPAL. Secondary outcomes included biometric, psychological, and diet-related variables. All outcomes were assessed at baseline and 6 months for the whole sample and at 3 months for a sub-sample of the intervention group (n = 11). RESULTS: No significant time*group interaction was found for the primary or secondary outcomes, apart from waist circumference favoring the control group (Δ–1.81 cm, pinteraction = 0.04). There were significant changes within the intervention group for sitting time (–44.0 min/day), prolonged sitting (>30 min) (–45.3 min/day) and standing time (51.7 min/day) at 3 months in the sub-sample and in prolonged sitting (>30 min) (–26 min/day) in the full intervention group (p < 0.05). Changes were also observed within the intervention group for percent body fat (Δ–3.7%) and ratings of quality of life (Δ2.2), musculoskeletal discomfort (Δ–4.9), overall fatigue (Δ–2.2), and the need for recovery after work (Δ–1.7) at 6-month follow-up (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although not being effective for reducing sitting time, the implementation of sit-stand desks in the Portuguese workspace was shown to be feasible over the long term, received well by users, and may offer other health benefits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: OSF Registration, OSF.IO/JHGPW. Registered 15 November 2022. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/JHGPW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People all around the world suffer from low back pain (LBP), which frequently results in disability and a lower quality of life. Myths and misconceptions around LBP are still prevalent in both the general public and hospital settings, despite its ubiquitous prevalence. Through dispelling these myths and advocating for evidence-based knowledge, medical professionals can enhance patient education, lessen stigma, and anxiety related to life with post-traumatic stress disorder and enable more successful management techniques. Furthermore, dispelling myths regarding low back pain in the broader public can enable people to actively participate in their own care and support improved outcomes for those who have this crippling illness. The purpose of this evaluation of the literature is to identify and dispel prevalent misconceptions about LBP by examining the available data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sitting is known to be bad for your cardiovascular health. We furthermore hypothesized that sitting posture will reduce perfusion of the foot and increase edema, possibly predisposing to disease like osteochondritis. Methods: We included 27 healthy volunteers and performed MRI measurements including arterial spin labelling (ASL) and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) perfusion as well as short tau inversion recovery (STIR) edema measurement and 3D volumetry. After randomization, the elevation of one foot during the day was used as an intervention. Results: Intra- and interrater variability was 1–6%. ASL perfusion measurement was hindered by artifacts. IVIM perfusion showed no significant changes during supine measurements. Volumetry could demonstrate a highly significant (p = 0.00005) volume increase, while the intervention led to a significant (p = 0.0076) volume decrease during the day. However, the water content in STIR remained unchanged and the normalized (quotient bone/muscle) edema was reduced on the control side (p = 0.006) and increased on the intervention side (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Sitting all day leads to swelling of the healthy foot. Compensation in healthy subjects seems to prevent lasting perfusion changes or edema evolution in the bone despite an increase of muscle signal and volume increase. Thus, the etiology of osteochondritis needs further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent findings on chimpanzee infants' gestural development show that they use some gesture types flexibly and adjust them depending on their interaction partner and social context, suggesting that gestural communication is partly learnt and partly genetically determined. However, how gesture types are shaped by social and demographic factors remains unclear. We addressed this question by focusing on gesture type morphology and conducted a fined-grained analysis of gestural form during intraspecific social-play interactions in two captive groups of Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). We focused on the most frequent gesture types (beat chest, slap body, slap ground and touch body) produced by subadults (infants, juveniles and adolescents). We considered twelve morphological gesture characteristics (e.g., horizontal and vertical hand trajectories, fingers flexion and spread). Our multifactorial investigation shows that morphological characteristics of distinct gesture types can be shaped by social factors, namely signaller's sociodemographic characteristics (group and kinship), signaller's behavioural characteristics (body posture) and context-related characteristics (recipient's sex, attentional state and position in the signaller's visual field). We nurtured the lively debate concerning gesture origins by revealing the existence of "accents" in non-verbal communication and the highly variable adjustment of gestural form to different conspecifics and interactional characteristics, which supports the revised social negotiation hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions The effects of Kinesio‐taping (KT) and rigid‐taping (RT) on vertical jump performance have been investigated; however, remain unclear. The study was designed to compare the effects of KT and RT on vertical jump in individuals with pes planus.A total of 74 participants were diagnosed with pes planus. The foot posture index (FPI) was used to determine pes planus. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. Before taping, the vertical jump height and power were measured using a VertiMetric device as baseline data. Jump measurement was repeated after Kinesio‐taping (KT) and rigid taping (RT) application to group 1 and group 2 respectively in the first period and after crossing in the second period following a 1‐week washout. Crossover and equivalence analyses were used for data analysis.KT and RT showed a statistically significant increase in jump height and power. However, the effect of the RT was higher compared to KT (p < 0.05).While both taping techniques increased jump height and power, RT was more effective than KT in improving jumping performance in individuals with pes planus, possibly because of its direct supporting function on the MLA. RT may also improve performance in various sports or clinical settings to accelerate recovery after injury or lower the risk of injury caused by poor foot posture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In MRT carriages, more passengers are watching videos on their smartphones during daily commutes, yet the impact of these viewing conditions on visual strain remains unexplored. This study examined eyestrain in 24 male and 24 female participants while watching videos on smartphones in two postures (sitting and standing) and over two durations (15 min and 30 min) in Taipei MRT carriages. We measured critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) reduction, visual fatigue scale (VFS) scores, and viewing distance (VD) for each trial. Results revealed significant effects of sex, posture, and viewing duration on visual strain, with notable two-way interactions (sex × posture and posture × time) influencing most outcomes. Women showed greater CFF reduction while sitting compared to standing (3.47 Hz vs. 1.90 Hz, p < 0.001) and maintained shorter VDs while seated (25.5 cm vs. 34.3 cm, p < 0.001). However, they reported higher VFS scores when standing (8.94 vs. 4.60, p < 0.001), indicating increased discomfort while standing in the moving MRT carriage. Men exhibited higher CFF reduction (2.81 Hz) than women while standing (1.90 Hz) (p < 0.01), but this difference was not observed while sitting. Eyestrain indicators significantly worsened after 30 min of viewing compared to 15 min, with stronger effects on VFS scores and VDs. This finding supports the recommendation to take breaks after 20 min of smartphone use, even in MRT carriages. Although subjective eyestrain is not always recognized, watching videos on smartphones while seated can result in unexpectedly high levels of objective visual fatigue, indicated by CFF reduction. Our findings suggest that eyestrain patterns in MRT carriages differ from those reported in previous studies. Seated passengers, particularly females with shorter VD, may experience unrecognized eyestrain that could impact eye health, while standing passengers may face greater discomfort. These results highlight the need for increased awareness and preventive measures to mitigate eyestrain in digital public transportation environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of excessive body mass (BMI) is increasing in pediatric population. Accordingly, the number of musculoskeletal problems in this population is also likely to increase. The quadriceps angle (Q-angle) is a clinical measure used to measure knee alignment in relation to the hip, femur, and tibia, as well as evaluating alignment of the patella. Tibial torsion (T.T) is an important morphological feature of human tibia. The aim of that study was to study the relationship between the Q-angle and TT in children 8 to 12 years old, the effect of BMI on Q-angle and T.T, and the difference in Q-angle and TT between dominant and non-dominant side. Results: "Seventy-five children from primary schools" were enrolled in the study and allocated into 3 groups (25 subjects in each group), according to BMI: group I (normal weight = 25), group II (overweight = 25), and group III (obese = 25). The mean value of age of groups I, II, and III was 10.35 ± 1, 10.74 ± 1.2, and 10.17 ± 1.18 years respectively; the mean value of weight was 29.88 ± 3.94, 43.68 ± 6.55, and 50.06 ± 10.44 kg respectively; the mean value of height was 135.28 ± 7.63, 143.2 ± 8.85, and 140.72 ± 9.3 cm respectively; and the mean value of BMI was 16.22 ± 1, 21.18 ± 1.4, and 25.17 ± 2.67 kg/m2. The number (%) of boys in groups I, II, and III was 15 (60%), 18 (72%), and 17 (68%) respectively and of girls was 10 (40%), 7 (28%), and 8 (32%) respectively. The significant values were Q-angle and TT. Data were expressed as mean ± SD. ANOVA was used to compare between subjects' characteristics of the groups. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for testing normality of data distribution. One-way MANOVA was used to compare parametric variables (Q-angle and TT) between the two groups. Compared with normal weight children, there was statistically significant increase in Q-angle and TT angle in overweight and obese children. Conclusion: Any change in BMI would eventually lead to change in both Q-angle and TT angle. The greater the BMI values, the greater the values of Q-angle and TT angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intensive care units (ICUs) are one of the high-risk working areas in terms of musculoskeletal disability and ergonomic risks including the environment and posture factors. Correct posture technique is often ignored by nurses working in these units. This study was conducted to determine the effect of posture regulation training on work-related musculoskeletal disorders, fatigue level and job performance in nurses working in ICUs. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with one-group pretest-posttest design included 64 intensive care nurses. The nurses received posture regulation training in three different sessions. The post-test was administered four months after the posture regulation training. Results: The nurses reported to frequently have aches, pains and discomfort in the neck, upper back and lumbar regions. After the posture regulation training, their level of pain, ache and discomfort in the neck, right and left shoulder, upper back, lower back and right/left foot areas decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The posture regulation training reduced the levels of behavior/severity and affect, which are sub-dimensions of fatigue, and increased the level of contribution to work, which is a sub-dimension of job performance (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The posture regulation training decreased the level of symptoms in the neck, shoulder, upper back, lower back and foot regions of intensive care nurses and partially improved their fatigue level and job performance. Therefore, posture regulation training should be added to in-service training programs and permanent measures should be taken for ergonomic risks in ICUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Objective Methods Results Conclusion Temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMDs) have the potential to cause changes in cervical muscle strength, muscle endurance and position sense by changing muscle activation patterns, especially as a result of forward head posture. The effects of TMDs on cervical joint position sense (CJPS) and head posture remain controversial.The aim of this study was to evaluate the head posture and CJPS of individuals with TMDs and compare them with healthy individuals.This research, which was designed as a case‐control study, was concluded with the inclusion of total of 84 participants (42 individuals diagnosed with myogenic TMDs, 42 controls). The assessment of participants included pain severity, neck and jaw functionality and disability, CJPS, head posture and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) range of motion (ROM).Individuals with TMDs exhibited higher angular deviation in CJPS during flexion and extension (p < 0.001). Additionally, individuals with TMDs demonstrated higher TMJ pain, limitation and dysfunction severity, as well as a more limited TMJ ROM (p < 0.001). Head posture was similar between groups (p > 0.05). There is a significant relationship between VAS‐TMJ with VAS‐cervical, FAI, NDI, JFLS‐8 and TMJ ROM (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between NDI with FAI and TMJ ROM (p < 0.05).These results indicate that in addition to higher pain severity, disability and lower jaw ROM, CJPS of individuals with TMDs is also negatively affected. Also, parameters related to disability and functionality of cervical and TMJ were significantly correlated. Further studies are needed to determine the factors contributing to these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sagittal balance, commonly impaired in lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients, is typically assessed using the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) with EOS imaging. However, to limit X-ray exposure and medical costs, it could be interesting to evaluate the capacity of quantified motion analysis to estimate the 3D modeling of SVA in patients with symptomatic LSS. Methods: An estimation of the SVA in patients with LSS was performed with 3D motion analysis. SVA and "C7_PSI" (orthogonal horizontal distance between the vertical lines through the markers of the C7 vertebra and the middle of the posterosuperior iliac spine) were measured on 37 LSS patients using EOS radiography and postural and 3D motion analysis, respectively. Multiple stepwise linear regressions were performed with EOS SVA according to age, body mass index, C7_PSI and/or postural variables. Results: A highly significant relationship was found between SVA and C7_PSI, mediolateral amplitude of CoP displacements and age (adjusted R²=0.69, p < 0.0001). While the postural analysis did not reveal significant relationships, the model using 3D parameters revealed significant relationships between radiographic SVA and C7_PSI and age (adjusted R²=0.65, p < 0.0001). 3D motion parameters with or without postural parameters may explain more than 65% of the variance seen in EOS imaging performed on LSS patients. Conclusions: These promising results in LSS patients suggest that the estimation of SVA with 3D motion analysis offers an alternative to EOS. In addition, SVA could be assessed at rest and during dynamic tasks. Trial registration: This study has been published in Clinical Trial registration (reference NCT03194607). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]