Evaluation of the accuracy of a UWB tracker for in-home positioning for older adults.

The population of older adults is rapidly growing. In-home monitoring systems have been used to support aging-in-place. Ambient sensors or wearable localizers can be used but may be too low resolution, while camera systems are invasive to privacy.

Differences in angular kinematics when using thigh, implant, or medial knee markers in osseointegrated transfemoral prosthetic gait.

Background: The Helen Hayes anatomical model is commonly used in clinical gait analysis with standard medial/lateral knee and thigh markers.

Methods: To quantify soft-tissue artifacts associated with the thigh marker following osseointegration surgery, we added an "implant marker" on the implant extending from the femur, with the objective of identifying the differences in the angular kinematics when using the standard versus implant marker. One female adult with an osseointegrated transfemoral prosthesis walked overground for three trials, and common kinematic measures were calculated from motion capture data.

Functional characterization of plantar pressure patterns in gait of typically developing children using dynamic pedobarography.

Background: Abnormal foot posture is a common complaint presented in pediatric and pediatric orthopedic clinics. Functional, objective assessment of foot posture, with the potential for early identification of pathologic foot deformities, has, however, been lacking to date. While quantifying functional and regional impulses via dynamic pedobarography can improve the clinical assessment of children's feet, normative values have not yet been reported or characterized.

Spatial and temporal relation of kinematics and muscle activity during unstable sitting.

Recent work suggests that kinematics-based electrical stimulation may restore dynamic trunk stability following spinal cord injury. However, to ensure fatigue-resistant control, knowledge of the relation between body motion and the activity of relevant muscles during non-impaired, unstable sitting may be beneficial. Therefore, our objective was to quantify the spatial and temporal relationships between (1) characteristic angular kinematics (i.

Contributions of Voice and Nonverbal Communication to Perceived Masculinity-Femininity for Cisgender and Transgender Communicators.

Purpose The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to identify a set of communication-based predictors (including both acoustic and gestural variables) of masculinity-femininity ratings and (b) to explore differences in ratings between audio and audiovisual presentation modes for transgender and cisgender communicators. Method The voices and gestures of a group of cisgender men and women ( = 10 of each) and transgender women ( = 20) communicators were recorded while they recounted the story of a cartoon using acoustic and motion capture recording systems. A total of 17 acoustic and gestural variables were measured from these recordings.

Validity of using wearable inertial sensors for assessing the dynamics of standing balance.

Observational balance tests (e.g., Berg Balance Scale) are used to evaluate fall-risk.

The utility of normative foot floor angle data in assessing toe-walking.

Initial heel contact is an important attribute of gait, and failure to complete the heel rocker reduces gait stability. One common goal in treating toe-walking is to restore heel strike and prevent or reduce early heel rise. Foot floor angle (FFA) is a measure of toe-walking that is valuable for quantifying foot orientation at initial contact when using ankle dorsiflexion angle alone is misleading.

Functional, impulse-based quantification of plantar pressure patterns in typical adult gait.

Background: Dynamic pedobarography is used to measure the change in plantar pressure distribution during gait. Clinical methods of pedobarographic analysis lack, however, a standardized, functional segmentation or require costly motion capture technology and expertise. Furthermore, while commonly used pedobarographic measures are mostly based on peak pressures, progressive foot deformities also depend on the duration the pressure is applied, which can be quantified via impulse measures.

Normative data for modified Box and Blocks test measuring upper-limb function via motion capture.

Motion analysis is an important tool for examining upper-limb function. Based on previous work demonstrating a modified Box and Blocks (BB) test with motion capture to assess prosthetic performance, we collected data in 16 nondisabled participants to establish normative kinematics for this test. Four motions of the modified BB test were analyzed to establish kinematic data for upper-limb and trunk motion.

Leg dominance may not be a predictor of asymmetry in peak joint moments and ground reaction forces during sit-to-stand movements.

Sit-to-stand transfer is a common prerequisite for many daily tasks. Literature often assumes symmetric behavior across the left and right side. Although this assumption of bilateral symmetry is prominent, few studies have validated this supposition.

Characterizing asymmetry across the whole sit to stand movement in healthy participants.

Sit-to-stand transfer (STS) is a common yet critical prerequisite for many daily tasks. Literature conducted on healthy STS often assume the body to behave symmetrically across the left and right side; yet only a few studies have been conducted to investigate this supposition. These studies have focused on a single numerical indicator such as peak joint moment (JM) values to describe symmetricity; however, STS is a dynamic and time dependent movement.

Case report of modified Box and Blocks test with motion capture to measure prosthetic function.

This case study report demonstrates the use of motion analysis with a modification of the Box and Blocks test. The goal was to quantify observed improvements in compensatory movements and simultaneous control in a subject using different prostheses before and after targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery. This is a single case study with data collection using a body-powered prosthesis pre-TMR surgery and 6 mo postfitting with a TMR myoelectric prosthesis.