Early functional factors for predicting outcome of independence in daily living after stroke: a decision tree analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive functional factors influencing the acquisition of basic activities of daily living performance abilities during the early stages of stroke rehabilitation using classification and regression analysis trees.

Methods: The clinical data of 289 stroke patients who underwent rehabilitation during hospitalization (164 males; mean age: 62.2 ± 13.

Comparison of biomechanical parameters in lower limb joints of stroke patients according to conventional evaluation scores during level walking.

Patients with chronic stroke capable of independent gait were classified into functional ambulation category (FAC) 4 or 5, and the kinetic and kinematic data on their lower limb joints on the affected and unaffected sides were compared with that of healthy individuals. Finally, the qualitative changes in the gait of patients with stroke were investigated based on the differences in FAC scores. Twelve healthy participants and 19 patients with stroke capable of independent gait were included.

Energy absorption at lower limb joints in different foot contact strategies while descending stairs.

Background: Joint loads in different walking strategies during stair descent have been investigated in terms of the joint moment in association with the risk of osteoarthritis. However, the absorption mechanisms of the potential energy loss are not known.

Objective: This study aims to compare the mechanical energy absorptions in lower limb joints in different initial foot contact strategies.

Influence of the initial foot contact strategy on knee joint moments during stair and ramp descent.

Gait modification strategies are effective in reducing knee joint loads, which are associated with the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the effect of modification of the initial foot contact method in high-loading descending task was not investigated. Here, we show that the initial foot contact strategy significantly alters knee joint moments during descending tasks.

3D Microlithography Using an Integrated System of 5-mm UV-LEDs with a Tilt-Rotational Sample Holder.

This paper demonstrates a 3D microlithography system where an array of 5 mm Ultra Violet-Light Emitting Diode (UV-LED) acts as a light source. The unit of the light source is a UV-LED, which comes with a length of about 8.9 mm and a diameter of 5 mm.

The effect of sitting posture on the loads at cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral joints.

Background: The sitting in an awkward posture for a prolonged time may lead to spinal or musculoskeletal disease. It is important to investigate the joint loads at spine while sitting.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint moment and antero-posterior (AP) reaction force at cervico-thoracic and lumbosacral joint for various sitting postures.

A practical method for the detection of freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Purpose: Freezing of gait (FOG), increasing the fall risk and limiting the quality of life, is common at the advanced stage of Parkinson's disease, typically in old ages. A simple and unobtrusive FOG detection system with a small calculation load would make a fast presentation of on-demand cueing possible. The purpose of this study was to find a practical FOG detection system.

Age-gender differences in the postural sway during squat and stand-up movement.

Incidence of falling among elderly female has been reported to be much higher than that of elderly male. Although the gender differences in the elderly were reported for the static postural sway, there has been no investigation of the gender difference for the dynamic postural sway. This study investigates how age and gender affect the postural sway during dynamic squat and stand-up movement.

Analysis of antagonistic co-contractions with motorized passive movement device in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from an increased resistance to passive movement of a joint, called as rigidity. Stretch reflex and shortening reaction were suggested to be associated to the rigidity, however, the mechanism is still poorly understood. We hypothesized that the co-contraction of antagonistic muscle pairs is enhanced in patients with PD and this induces resistance persisting throughout its range of motion.

Quantitative evaluation of parkinsonian rigidity during intra-operative deep brain stimulation.

This study aims at the quantification of fine change in parkinsonian rigidity at the wrist during deep brain stimulation (DBS) using a portable measurement system and objective mechanical measures. The rigidity of fourteen limbs was evaluated during DBS surgery. The resistive torque to imposed movement was measured for every setting where a reduction in rigidity was perceived by a neurologist.

Soft tissue changes after posterior impaction and setback of the maxilla with Le Fort I osteotomy in skeletal class III patients.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the changes in the upper lip (UL) by posterior impaction and setback (PI-SB) of the maxilla. The samples consisted of 29 skeletal Class III patients (10 men and 19 women) who received bimaxillary surgery including PI-SB of the maxilla after Le Fort I osteotomy. Lateral cephalograms were taken at 1 week before surgery (T0) and 6 months after surgery (T1).