Balance and motor skills differences between children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypically developing.

This study examined the differences between children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypically developing (NTD) in terms of balance, postural control, and motor skills. It also examined which motor skills are most affected and whether scores on different assessment tests in ASD children are correlated. A cross-sectional observational study with two research groups was conducted.

The efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation on upper extremity motor function after stroke: A systematic review and comparative meta-analysis of different stimulation polarities.

Background: The efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been studied extensively. The cathodic (c-tDCS), anodic (a-tDCS), and bihemispheric stimulation have demonstrated efficacy in the management of the paretic upper extremity (UE) after stroke, but it has not been determined which stimulation polarity has, so far, shown the best results.

Objective: To evaluate the available evidence to determine which tDCS polarity has the best results in improving UE motor function after stroke.

A Novel Active Device for Shoulder Rotation Based on Force Control.

This article describes a one-degree-of-freedom haptic device that can be applied to perform three different exercises for shoulder rehabilitation. The device is based on a force control architecture and an adaptive speed PI controller. It is a portable equipment that is easy to use for any patient, and was optimized for rehabilitating external rotation movements of the shoulder in patients in whom this was limited by muscle-skeletal injuries.

Reliability and agreement of the timed up and go test in children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder.

ASD patients include a variety of motor deficits; however, these issues have received less scientific attention than other ASD symptoms. Due to understanding and behavioral difficulties, it might be difficult to administer motor assessment measures to children and adolescents with ASD. To evaluate motor challenges in this population, including gait and dynamic balance issues, the timed up and go test (TUG) may be a simple, easy to apply, quick, and inexpensive tool.

Reliability and Validity of the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) in Adolescents and Young Adults with Down Syndrome.

People with Down syndrome (DS) have gait deficits because motor milestones are usually reached later. Decreased gait speed or reduced stride length are some of the main deficits. The main objective of the present work was to assess the reliability of the 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT) in adolescents and young adults with DS.

The influence between gestational age and postural control, a systematic review.

The central nervous system (CNS) of preterm infants might have some peculiarities which distinguish it from that of full term infants. The difficulties associated with prematurity are the main cause of deaths all over the world during the new-born period after community-acquired pneumonia, and the second cause of deaths worldwide in children under five years old. Early recognition of signs indicating fragile postural control in premature infants can support understanding and help prevent and early intervention on possible future neuromotor dysfunctions in these subjects.

Arm-swing kinematics in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) causes postural instability and gait abnormalities that may be associated with an arm swing reduction.

Objective: To conduct systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the kinematic patterns of arm-swing during gait in people with PD METHODS: A computer literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE, WOS, PEDro, SCOPUS and SciELO databases was conducted. Terms related to PD and arm-swing were combined to find studies that performed a free walking evaluation of the arm-swing of PD patients on or off medication compared to healthy controls.

Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons' Infrared Motion Camera Sensor for Training Manual Dexterity in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The Nintendo Switch (NS) is the ninth video game console developed by Nintendo. Joy-Cons are the primary game controllers for the NS video game console, and they have an infrared motion camera sensor that allows capturing the patient's hands without the need to place sensors or devices on the body. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the NS, combined with a conventional intervention, for improving upper limb (UL) grip muscle strength, coordination, speed of movements, fine and gross dexterity, functionality, quality of life, and executive function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Feasibility and Efficacy of a Virtual Reality Game-Based Upper Extremity Motor Function Rehabilitation Therapy in Patients with Chronic Stroke: A Pilot Study.

The objective of the present study was to develop a virtual reality protocol based on activities of daily living and conventional rehabilitation, using Leap Motion Controller to improve motor function in upper extremity rehabilitation in stroke patients. At the same time, the purpose was to explore its efficacy in the recovery of upper extremity motor function in chronic stroke survivors, and to determine feasibility, satisfaction and attendance rate; Methods: A prospective pilot experimental clinical trial was conducted. The outcome measures used were the grip strength, the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), the Block and Box Test (BBT), the Short Form Health Survey-36 Questionnaire, a satisfaction questionnaire and attendance rate; Results: Our results showed statistically significant changes in the variables grip strength, BBT and ARAT as well as high levels of satisfaction and attendance; Conclusions: This virtual reality platform represents an effective tool in aspects of upper extremity functionality rehabilitation in patients with chronic stroke, demonstrating feasibility and high levels of attendance and satisfaction.

Prediction of Communicative Disorders Linked to Autistic Spectrum Disorder Based on Early Psychomotor Analysis.

This systematic review evaluated psychomotor differences between children with and without siblings who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as the most reliable psychomotor skills that can help predict ASD and its associated language disorders. Literature from 2005 to 2020 was searched using the following databases: PubMed, Trip Medical Database, Cochrane, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Brain. A total 11 papers were included.

Reliability and agreement of the Nine Hole Peg Test in patients with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Upper extremity involvement is one of the most common motor impairments in children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (CP). One tool for the assessment of manual function in CP is the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). However, the reliability of the NHPT in patients with unilateral CP is unknown.

Reflex Locomotion Therapy for Balance, Gait, and Fatigue Rehabilitation in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis.

This study evaluates the effects of a rehabilitation program based on reflex locomotion therapy (RLT) on balance, gait, and fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-three patients diagnosed with MS participated in this study. Reversal design was carried out.

Use of the Leap Motion Controller® System in the Rehabilitation of the Upper Limb in Stroke. A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Upper limb impairment is the most common motor impairment in stroke survivors. The use of new technologies in the field of rehabilitation aims to reduce the impact of functional problems. Our objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of using the Leap Motion Controller® virtual reality system in the treatment of upper limb functionality in people with stroke.

Validation of a Hybrid Exoskeleton for Upper Limb Rehabilitation. A Preliminary Study.

Recovery of therapeutic or functional ambulatory capacity in patients with rotator cuff injury is a primary goal of rehabilitation. Wearable powered exoskeletons allow patients to perform repetitive practice with large movements to maximize recovery, even immediately after the acute event. The aim of this paper is to describe the usability, acceptability and acceptance of a hybrid exoskeleton for upper-limb passive rehabilitation using the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire.

The Long-Term Maintenance of Upper Limb Motor Improvements Following Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined with Rehabilitation in People with Stroke: A Systematic Review of Randomized Sham-Controlled Trials.

Background: The effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in the upper limb (UL) motor rehabilitation of stroke has been widely studied. However, the long-term maintenance of its improvements has not yet been proven.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE/Pubmed, Web of Science, PEDRo, and Scopus databases from inception to April 2021.

Gait Pattern in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review.

The aim of the present systematic review was to describe the gait pattern in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) by compiling the main findings obtained from studies using three-dimensional capture systems of human movement. The search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL) databases. Studies that used three-dimensional gait analysis systems and that analyzed spatiotemporal, kinematic, kinetic, or electromyographic parameters, were included.

Lower limb muscle activation during outdoor running: differences between sprinters, middle-distance and long-distance runners.

Running is one of the most popular sport practices in the world. However, to our knowledge, none of the previous research about the characteristics of outdoor running makes a distinction between the different modalities of runners. Sixty-five healthy runners classified in sprinters, middle distance and long-distance runners performed five series of 100 metres on the synthetic outdoor track at competition pace.

Test-Retest Reliability of a Conventional Gait Model for Registering Joint Angles during Initial Contact and Toe-Off in Healthy Subjects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of a conventional gait model (CGM), the Plug-in Gait model, to calculate the angles of the hip, knee, and ankle during initial contact (IC) and toe-off (TO). Gait analysis was performed using the Vicon Motion System (Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK). The study group consisted of 50 healthy subjects.

Ankle muscle activation during the limits of stability test in subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Objective: To study postural control and muscle activity during the limit of stability test (LOS) in subjects with chronic ankle instability.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: University laboratory.

Effects of Virtual Reality on Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial.

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a virtual reality (VR) program, as a complementary tool to a conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in phase II of patients with ischemic heart disease compared to a conventional treatment group. (2) Methods: A single blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted. The patients were randomized to a control group (CG) or an experimental group (EG).