Motion sickness and visual impairment.

Motion sickness (MS) is caused by exposure to unfamiliar movements. The theory is that MS is due to a conflict between information perceived by the vestibular, visual, and somatosensory systems. This study examines the role of vision in MS by comparing MS susceptibility among individuals with varying degrees of visual impairments to sighted individuals.

Sex of an Observer Effects on Adults' Motor, Cognitive, and Affective Dart-Shooting Performance.

Men and women are characterized by specific physiological, cerebral and emotional characteristics, as well as by the differing nature of their gestures and behaviors. Here, we examined the effects of an observer's sex on motor, cognitive and affective behaviors during dart-shooting. We compared men and women's kinematic and affective parameters when perfoming alone or when performing in the presence of an observer of a different sex.

Temporal adaptation of the postural control following a prolonged fin swimming.

Purpose: Postural control deteriorates following a transition between two environments, highlighting a sensory conflict when returning to natural conditions. Aquatic immersion offers new perspectives for studying postural control adaptation in transitional situations. Our aim is to study immediate and post-task static postural control adaptation on land after a prolonged fin swimming exercise in total immersion.

Effects of dynamic visual feedback system on seasickness.

Motion sickness (MS) poses challenges for individuals affected, hindering their activities and travel. This study investigates the effect of a visual dynamic device, forming an artificial horizon plane, on symptoms and physiological changes induced by MS. This device consists of vertical light-emitting diodes whose illumination varies according to the boat's movements.

Perception of Emotion and Postural Stability Control at Different Distances.

The effect of emotion on postural control has been widely demonstrated in the literature. Postural control also depends on the distance that separates the subject from the observed stimulus. This work examines (i) the effect of distance on the perception of emotional stimuli and (ii) its effect on postural control.

Upper limb cranking asymmetry during a Wingate anaerobic test in wheelchair basketball players.

Introduction: Interlimb asymmetry of strength and/or motor coordination could limit the performance of wheelchair athletes or increase their risk of injury. Studies of interlimb asymmetry in the lower limbs have shown high between-subject variability that does not depend on the side of dominance and that does not change with fatigue. Upper limb asymmetry is particularly large in manual wheelchair athletes with a lower degree of impairment.

Sprint performance and force application of tennis players during manual wheelchair propulsion with and without holding a tennis racket.

The objective of this exploratory research is to study the impact of holding a tennis racket while propelling a wheelchair on kinetic and temporal parameters in a field-based environment. 13 experienced wheelchair tennis players with disabilities (36.1 ± 8.

How Does the Central Nervous System Control Forthcoming Movement with Different Emotional Stimuli?

Maintaining postural balance is a key factor in human motor skills, based in part on emotional stimuli. Our objective in this study was to measure the effect of emotion on postural control as influenced by the direction of forthcoming movement. Eighteen right-handed women initiated a step forward or backward or remained in a static position after visualizing an emotional stimulus (positive, negative, or neutral).

Physical Activity during Weekdays and Weekends in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis.

The assessment of the functional performance status of persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is a useful tool to optimize healthcare. This concept does not seem to be extensively explored in this population. This study aimed to determine the level of activity of PwMS during weekdays and weekends, and to establish associations between clinical parameters.

Predicting manual wheelchair initiation movement with EMG activity during over ground propulsion.

This is a preliminary study of movement finalities prediction in manual wheelchairs (MWCs) from electromyography (EMG) data. MWC users suffer from musculoskeletal disorders and need assistance while moving. The purpose of this work is to predict the direction and speed of movement in MWCs from EMG data prior to movement initiation.

Handrim forces during wheelies performance in able-bodied and SCI subjects.

Manual wheelchair users must be able to carry out wheelies in order to tackle obstacles in the outdoor environment. To date, no studies have compared balance variables and forces exerted on the handrim during a stationary wheelie between able bodied and spinal cord injury subjects. To compare the distribution of forces applied to the handrim and the center of pressure displacement during a stationary wheelie between able-bodied (AB) subjects and manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Sarcopenia negatively affects hip structure analysis variables in a group of Lebanese postmenopausal women.

Background: The current study's purpose is to compare hip structural analysis variables in a group of postmenopausal women with sarcopenia and another group of postmenopausal women with normal skeletal muscle mass index. To do so, the current study included 8 postmenopausal women (whose ages ranged between 65 and 84 years) with sarcopenia and 60 age-matched controls (with normal skeletal muscle mass index (SMI)). Body composition and bone parameters were evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Arm-trunk coordination in wheelchair initiation displacement: A study of anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments during different speeds and directions of propulsion.

Arm-trunk coordination during the initiation of displacement in manual wheelchair is a complex task. The objective of this work is to study the arm-trunk coordination by measuring anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments. Nine healthy subjects participated in the study after being trained in manual wheelchair.

Benefits of physical activities centered on the trunk for pregnant women.

Objective: To examine the effect of a trunk exercise program on pain, quality of life (QoL) and physical health (PH) in the late pregnancy and post-partum periods as well as baby weight and size and delivery.

Methods: 90 nulliparous women were allocated based on voluntarism to a training group (TG) or to a control group (CG). TG carried out a structured program with exercises for flexibility, balance and strengthening for the majority of skeletal muscles specifically for the spinal ones, between the 24th and 36th week of pregnancy.

Physical Performance Variables and Bone Mineral Density in a Group of Young Overweight and Obese Men.

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between performances obtained in different physical tests and bone parameters (bone mineral density [BMD], bone mineral content, hip geometry indices, and trabecular bone score [TBS]) in a group of young Lebanese overweight and obese adult men. Fifty-two overweight and/or obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m) young men whose ages range from 18 to 35 yr participated in this study. Weight and height were measured, and body mass index was calculated.

Adaptability and Prediction of Anticipatory Muscular Activity Parameters to Different Movements in the Sitting Position.

Voluntary movement often causes postural perturbation that requires an anticipatory postural adjustment to minimize perturbation and increase the efficiency and coordination during execution. This systematic review focuses specifically on the relationship between the parameters of anticipatory muscular activities and movement finality in sitting position among adults, to study the adaptability and predictability of anticipatory muscular activities parameters to different movements and conditions in sitting position in adults. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer-Link, Engineering Village, and EbscoHost.

Effects of synchronous versus asynchronous mode of propulsion on wheelchair basketball sprinting.

Purpose: This study aimed to first investigate synchronous (SYN) versus asynchronous (ASY) mode of propulsion and, second, investigate the wheel camber effects on sprinting performance as well as temporal parameters.

Method: Seven wheelchair basketball players performed four maximal eight-second sprints on a wheelchair ergometer. They repeated the test according to two modes of propulsion (SYN and ASY) and two wheel cambers (9° and 15°).

Are clinical measurements linked to the gait deviation index in cerebral palsy patients?

Objective: From a dataset of clinical assessments and gait analysis, this study was designed to determine which of the assessments or their combinations would most influence a low gait index (i.e., severe gait deviations) for individuals with cerebral palsy.

Biomechanics and physiological parameters during gait in lower-limb amputees: a systematic review.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify which biomechanical and physiological parameters are the most relevant, commonly used, able to discriminate and/or have specific clinical relevance for the gait analysis of lower-limb amputees (LLA).

Methods: We performed an electronic search via the PubMed, EMBASE and ISI Web of Knowledge databases from 1979 to May 2009. Two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstract of each identified study.

Effects of wheelchair mass on the physiologic responses, perception of exertion, and performance during various simulated daily tasks.

Objective: To verify whether additional manual wheelchair mass above a critical level would produce, during many daily tasks, an increase in physiologic parameters, an increase in the perceived exertion, and a decrease in performance.

Design: A repeated-measurement design.

Setting: Six standardized tests thought to mimic daily activities.

A biomechanical analysis of handcycling: a case study.

The aim of this study was to investigate muscle activity, kinematic, and handgrip-force pattern generation during handcycling. One able-bodied participant performed a 1-min exercise test on a handcycle at 70 revolutions per minute. This article proposes an original data collection and analysis methodology that gathers synchronized kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography.