Strength and functional correlates of reachable workspace in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Patients with FSHD can develop scapular winging and loss of ability to raise arm. Reachable workspace (RWS) is able to describe upper extremity (UE) reaching ability. We analyzed data from 175 clinically affected and genetically confirmed adults with FSHD enrolled in the Clinical Trial Readiness to Solve Barriers to Drug Development in FSHD (ReSolve) study.

Sensor-Acquired Reachable Workspace (RWS) Correlates with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Function in Stroke as Measured by Functional Independence Measure (FIM) Self-Care.

Optimal upper extremity motor control and range of motion are necessary to achieve even the basic activities of daily living (ADL) function. Stroke, with resulting hemiparesis, can significantly and negatively impact an individual's ADL function. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) self-care score can provide an assessment of what aspects and to what degree ADL functions are impaired.

Use of the Kinect sensor measured three-dimensional reachable workspace to assess the upper extremity function in older adults.

Background: We explored the utility of Kinect sensor-based upper extremity reachable workspace measure in healthy adults aged over 65 years.

Methods: Forty-three healthy older subjects (19 men and 24 women) aged over 65 years and 22 healthy young subjects (11 men and 11 women) were included. All participants were ambulatory and perform the activities of daily living independently.

Sensor acquired reachable workspace in the elderly population: A cross-sectional observational study.

The elderly population experiences a decline in upper extremity range of motion (ROM), impairing activities of daily living. The primary mode of quantification is by goniometer measurement. In this cross-sectional observation study, we investigate a sensor-acquired reachable workspace for assessing shoulder ROM decline in an elderly population in comparison to traditional measurements.

Quantitative Muscle Analysis in FSHD Using Whole-Body Fat-Referenced MRI: Composite Scores for Longitudinal and Cross-sectional Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a rare, debilitating disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness. MRI is a sensitive assessment of disease severity and progression. We developed a quantitative whole-body (WB) musculoskeletal MRI (WB-MSK-MRI) protocol analyzing muscles in their entirety.

The Black Box of Technological Outcome Measures: An Example in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: Outcome measures for non-ambulant Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients are limited, with only the Performance of the Upper Limb (PUL) approved as endpoint for clinical trials.

Objective: We assessed four outcome measures based on devices developed for the gaming industry, aiming to overcome disadvantages of observer-dependency and motivation.

Methods: Twenty-two non-ambulant DMD patients (range 8.

High Rates of Vitamin D Deficiency in Acute Rehabilitation Patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of low vitamin D (<30 ng/mL), including vitamin D insufficiency (20-29.9 ng/mL) and deficiency (<20 ng/mL), in an acute rehabilitation setting.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study.

Patient Sleep Quality in Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation.

Background: Sleep is an important component of neurorehabilitation. This study evaluates sleep quality in the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting and is the first to compare sleep quality in acute rehabilitation versus the acute care hospital and home settings.

Objective: To assess patient sleep quality in the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting.

Motion sensor-acquired reachable workspace correlates with patient-reported upper extremity activities of daily living (ADL) function in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy.

Background: This study examines the correlation, and clinical meaningfulness, between reachable workspace outcome and reported activities of daily living (ADL) function of individuals with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD).

Methods: Twenty-one FSHD subjects with various disease severity (clinical severity scores 1-4) underwent reachable workspace evaluation and completed the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders (NeuroQoL) upper extremity questionnaire. Spearman and receiver operator curve analyses were performed.

Reachable Workspace and Proximal Function Measures for Quantifying Upper Limb Motion.

There are a lack of quantitative measures for clinically assessing upper limb function. Conventional biomechanical performance measures are restricted to specialist labs due to hardware cost and complexity, while the resulting measurements require specialists for analysis. Depth cameras are low cost and portable systems that can track surrogate joint positions.

Upper Limb Three-Dimensional Reachable Workspace Analysis Using the Kinect Sensor in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Objective: A reachable workspace evaluation using the Kinect sensor was previously introduced as a novel upper limb outcome measure in neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. This study investigated its usefulness in hemiplegic stroke patients.

Design: Forty-one patients with hemiplegic stroke were included.

Longitudinal study of upper extremity reachable workspace in fascioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy (FSHD) results in slowly progressive strength impairment, especially the upper extremities. Recent discoveries regarding pathophysiology have led to exciting novel therapeutic strategies. To further facilitate drug development, improved FSHD outcome measures that are functionally-relevant and sensitive to longitudinal change will be critical.

Usefulness of Kinect sensor-based reachable workspace system for assessing upper extremity dysfunction in breast cancer patients.

Purpose: Recently, the utility of the Kinect sensor-based reachable workspace analysis system for measuring upper extremity outcomes of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal diseases has been demonstrated. Here, we investigated its usefulness for assessing upper extremity dysfunction in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Twenty unilateral breast cancer patients were enrolled.

Machine Learning to Improve Energy Expenditure Estimation in Children With Disabilities: A Pilot Study in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Background: Children with physical impairments are at a greater risk for obesity and decreased physical activity. A better understanding of physical activity pattern and energy expenditure (EE) would lead to a more targeted approach to intervention.

Objective: This study focuses on studying the use of machine-learning algorithms for EE estimation in children with disabilities.

Longitudinal evaluation of upper extremity reachable workspace in ALS by Kinect sensor.

Our objective was to evaluate longitudinal changes in Microsoft Kinect measured upper extremity reachable workspace relative surface area (RSA) versus the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), ALSFRS-R upper extremity sub-scale and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in a cohort of patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ten patients diagnosed with ALS (ages 52-76 years, ALSFRS-R: 8-41 at entry) were tested using single 3D depth sensor, Microsoft Kinect, to measure reachable workspace RSA across five visits spanning one year. Changes in RSA, ALSFRS-R, ALSFRS-R upper extremity sub-scale, and FVC were assessed using a linear mixed model.

Personalized Telehealth in the Future: A Global Research Agenda.

As telehealth plays an even greater role in global health care delivery, it will be increasingly important to develop a strong evidence base of successful, innovative telehealth solutions that can lead to scalable and sustainable telehealth programs. This paper has two aims: (1) to describe the challenges of promoting telehealth implementation to advance adoption and (2) to present a global research agenda for personalized telehealth within chronic disease management. Using evidence from the United States and the European Union, this paper provides a global overview of the current state of telehealth services and benefits, presents fundamental principles that must be addressed to advance the status quo, and provides a framework for current and future research initiatives within telehealth for personalized care, treatment, and prevention.

Tracking Health Data Is Not Enough: A Qualitative Exploration of the Role of Healthcare Partnerships and mHealth Technology to Promote Physical Activity and to Sustain Behavior Change.

Background: Despite the recent explosion of the mobile health (mHealth) industry and consumer acquisition of mHealth tools such as wearable sensors and applications (apps), limited information is known about how this technology can sustain health behavior change and be integrated into health care.

Objective: The objective of the study was to understand potential users' views of mHealth technology, the role this technology may have in promoting individual activity goals aimed at improving health, and the value of integrating mHealth technology with traditional health care.

Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with adults interested in sharing their views on how mHealth technology could support wellness programs and improve health.

Reliability Assessment of Various Sonographic Techniques for Evaluating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Objectives-The aim of this study was to determine the intra- and inter-rater reliability of sonographic measurements of the median nerve cross-sectional area in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy control participants.Methods-The median nerve cross-sectional area was evaluated by sonography in 18 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome (18 upper extremities) and 9 control participants (18 upper extremities) at 2 visits 1 week apart. Two examiners, both blinded to the presence or absence of carpal tunnel syndrome, captured independent sonograms of the median nerve at the levels of the carpal tunnel inlet, pronator quadratus, and mid-forearm.

Reachable workspace and performance of upper limb (PUL) in duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: The Kinect-based reachable workspace relative surface area (RSA) is compared with the performance of upper limb (PUL) assessment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: 29 individuals with DMD (ages: 7-23; Brooke: 1-5) underwent both Kinect-based reachable workspace RSA and PUL assessments. RSAs were also collected from 24 age-matched controls.

Upper extremity 3-dimensional reachable workspace assessment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by Kinect sensor.

Introduction: Reachable workspace is a measure that provides clinically meaningful information regarding arm function. In this study, a Kinect sensor was used to determine the spectrum of 3-dimensional reachable workspace encountered in a cross-sectional cohort of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods: Bilateral 3D reachable workspace was recorded from 10 subjects with ALS and 17 healthy controls.

Validity and reliability of smartphone magnetometer-based goniometer evaluation of shoulder abduction--A pilot study.

Background: Goniometers are commonly used by physical therapists to measure range-of-motion (ROM) in the musculoskeletal system. These measurements are used to assist in diagnosis and to help monitor treatment efficacy. With newly emerging technologies, smartphone-based applications are being explored for measuring joint angles and movement.

Reachable workspace reflects dynamometer-measured upper extremity strength in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

Introduction: It is not known whether a reduction in reachable workspace closely reflects loss of upper extremity strength in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). In this study we aimed to determine the relationship between reachable workspace and quantitative upper extremity strength measures.

Methods: Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) testing of bilateral elbow flexion and shoulder abduction by hand-held dynamometry was performed on 26 FSHD and 27 control subjects.

Upper extremity 3-dimensional reachable workspace analysis in dystrophinopathy using Kinect.

Introduction: An innovative upper extremity 3-dimensional (3D) reachable workspace outcome measure acquired using the Kinect sensor is applied toward Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). The validity, sensitivity, and clinical meaningfulness of this novel outcome measure are examined.

Methods: Upper extremity function assessment (Brooke scale and NeuroQOL questionnaire) and Kinect-based reachable workspace analyses were conducted in 43 individuals with dystrophinopathy (30 DMD and 13 BMD, aged 7-60 years) and 46 controls (aged 6-68 years).