Age-Related Cognitive Bias in the Assessment of Lateral Pinch Modulation by Occupational Therapists.

Background: Cognitive bias may appear in occupational therapists' interpretation of physical examinations. Since different strategies for decision making have been shown to reduce bias, its quantification is an essential first step towards awareness and bias reduction. Our aims: (1) quantify cognitive bias by testing the differences in occupational therapists' assessment of lateral pinch force modulation between young and older adults, and between women and men; and (2) to test for a correlation between the tendency to bypass an intuitive response and the degree of cognitive bias.

Cushioned Footwear Effect on Pain and Gait Characteristics of Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blinded 3 Month Intervention Study.

One of the recommendations for individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the use of specific footwear, such as sturdy or cushioned shoes. However, the long-term use effects of using cushioned shoes on the pain and spatiotemporal gait parameters in individuals with knee OA are yet to be reported. We therefore aimed to compare the efficacy of cushioned sport footwear versus sham shoes on motor functions, pain and gait characteristics of individuals with knee OA who used the shoes for 3 months.

Upper Limb Kinematics of Handwriting among Children with and without Developmental Coordination Disorder.

Background: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) often experience difficulties with handwriting legibility and speed. This study investigates the relationship between handwriting and upper limb kinematics to characterize movement patterns of children with DCD and typically developing (TD) children. Methods: 30 children with and without DCD matched for age, gender, and parent education were compared across handwriting abilities using a standardized handwriting assessment of both copied and dictated tasks (A-A Handwriting).

Positive Effect of Manipulated Virtual Kinematic Intervention in Individuals with Traumatic Stiff Shoulder: A Pilot Study.

Virtual reality enables the manipulation of a patient's perception, providing additional motivation to real-time biofeedback exercises. We aimed to test the effect of manipulated virtual kinematic intervention on measures of active and passive range of motion (ROM), pain, and disability level in individuals with traumatic stiff shoulder. In a double-blinded study, patients with stiff shoulder following proximal humerus fracture and non-operative treatment were randomly divided into a non-manipulated feedback group (NM-group; = 6) and a manipulated feedback group (M-group; = 7).

Establishing the Validity of the Internet-Based Bill-Paying Task to Assess Executive Function Deficits Among Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance: Executive function (EF) deficits are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). During rehabilitation, it is important to identify EF deficits and understand their impact on daily function. The internet-based Bill-Paying Task, modified from the Executive Function Performance Test, has not yet been validated for use with people with TBI.

Correlations between Electro-Diagnostic Findings, the Severity of Initial Infection, and the Rehabilitation Outcomes among COVID-19 Patients.

Patients with Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) manifest many neuromuscular complications. We evaluated the correlations between electromyography and nerve conduction measurements among COVID-19 patients and the severity of the initial infection, as well as the rehabilitation outcomes, and searched for the factors which best predict the rehabilitation outcomes. A total of 19 COVID-19 patients (16 men; mean ± SD age 59.

Correlations between body postures and musculoskeletal pain in guitar players.

Background: The guitar-playing community is the largest group at risk of developing playing related musculoskeletal disorders. A thorough investigation of the relationships between the various risk factors and players' report on musculoskeletal pain using objective and accurate means of assessment has yet to be reported.

Purpose: (a) to explore the correlations between demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, playing habits, and personal habits of guitar player and their complaints of musculoskeletal pain, (b) explore the correlations between the upper body kinematics of guitar players during playing the guitar and their complaints of musculoskeletal pain, and (c) compare the upper body kinematics of guitar players during playing the guitar while sitting versus standing.

Evaluating Lower Limb Kinematics Using Microsoft's Kinect: A Simple, Novel Method.

Our aim was to evaluate the Microsoft Kinect sensor (MKS) as a markerless system for motion capture and analysis of lower limb motion, compare it with a state-of-the-art marker-based system (MBS), and investigate its accuracy in simultaneously capturing several lower limb joint movements on several planes while participants walked freely. Participants were asked to walk while gait data were simultaneously recorded by both the MKS and the MBS. Software for analysing the Kinect data stream was developed using Microsoft Visual Studio and Kinect for Windows software development kits.

Falls in Post-Polio Patients: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

Unlabelled: Individuals with post-polio syndrome (PPS) suffer from falls and secondary damage.

Aim: To (i) analyze the correlation between spatio-temporal gait data and fall measures (fear and frequency of falls) and to (ii) test whether the gait parameters are predictors of fall measures in PPS patients.

Methods: Spatio-temporal gait data of 50 individuals with PPS (25 males; age 65.

Muscle activity while ambulating on stairs and slopes: A comparison between individuals scheduled and not scheduled for knee arthroplasty and healthy controls.

Objective: To examine muscle activity patterns of the lower limbs while ascending and descending stairs and slope in adults with knee Osteoarthritis (knee-OA), who were scheduled or not scheduled for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and healthy controls.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included three groups: knee-OA subjects scheduled for TKR (TKR group; N = 15) and not scheduled for TKR (NTKR group; N = 15) and age-matched controls (N = 11). Outcome measures included: joint range of motion (ROM), Timed Up and Go (TUG), joint pain levels, and functional disability (Oxford) score.

Kinematics following gait perturbation in adults with knee osteoarthritis: Scheduled versus not scheduled for knee arthroplasty.

Objective: To compare recovery kinematics following trip-simulated perturbation during gait between three groups: adults without knee Osteoarthritis (OA) and adults with OA, scheduled and not scheduled for Total Knee Replacement (TKR).

Methods: People with OA scheduled for TKR (TKR group; N = 19) and not scheduled (NTKR group; N = 17) were age-matched with People without OA (N = 19). Outcome measures included: joint range of motion (ROM), Timed Up and Go (TUG), joint pain levels, Oxford score, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire, and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale.

An Instrumented Assessment of a Rhythmic Finger Task among Children with Motor Coordination Difficulties.

Background: Coordination is crucial for motor function, yet objective clinical evaluations are limited. We therefore developed and tested the reliability and validity of a low-cost sensorized evaluation of a rhythmic finger task.

Methods: Children with coordination difficulties ( = 24) and typically developing children ( = 24) aged from 5 to 7 years performed the Sensorized Finger Sequencing Test (SFST), a finger sequencing test that records the correct sequence, total time, and the standard deviation (SD) of touch time.

Home exercise in the dart-throwing motion plane after distal radius fractures: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: During daily functions, our wrist moves through an oblique plane, named the dart-throwing motion (DTM) plane. This plane is considered a more stable plane because the proximal carpal row remains relatively immobile. However, rehabilitation programs that incorporate exercising in the DTM plane have yet to be explored.

Automated 3D-printed finger orthosis versus manual orthosis preparation by occupational therapy students: Preparation time, product weight, and user satisfaction.

Study Design: Intra-subject cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Upper limb injuries often require wearing an orthosis. Today, orthoses are custom-made by the clinician or purchased as an off-shelf product.

Variability of Coordination in Typically Developing Children Versus Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with and without Rhythmic Signal.

Motor coordination deficit is a cardinal feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Theevaluation of coordination of children with ASD is either lengthy, subjective (via observationalanalysis), or requires cumbersome post analysis. We therefore aimed to use tri-axial accelerometersto compare inter-limb coordination measures between typically developed (TD) children and childrenASD, while jumping with and without a rhythmic signal.

Does Object Height Affect the Dart Throwing Motion Angle during Seated Activities of Daily Living?

Complex wrist motions are needed to complete various daily activities. Analyzing the multidimensional motion of the wrist is crucial for understanding our functional movement. Several studies have shown that numerous activities of daily livings (ADLs) are performed using an oblique plane of wrist motion from radial-extension to ulnar-flexion, named the Dart Throwing Motion (DTM) plane.

Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback.

The application of incongruent sensory signals that involves disrupted tactile feedback is rarely explored, specifically with the presence of vibrotactile feedback (VTF). This protocol aims to test the effect of VTF on the response to incongruent visual-tactile stimuli. The tactile feedback is acquired by grasping a block and moving it across a partition.

Differences in muscle activity and fatigue of the upper limb between Task-Specific training and robot assisted training among individuals post stroke.

Objective: To compare the activity and fatigue of upper extremity muscles, pain levels, subject satisfaction levels, perceived exertion, and number of repetitions in Task-Specific Training (TST) compared with Robot-Assisted Training (RAT) in individuals post-stroke.

Methods: Twenty sub-acute post stroke subjects (16 men; median (interquartile range) age 64.0 (71.

Functional electrical stimulation compared with ankle-foot orthosis in subacute post stroke patients with foot drop: A pilot study.

: The conventional treatment for foot drop includes an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or functional electrical stimulation (FES). : To compare gait parameters in patients following a subacute post stroke with foot drop treated with AFO or FES. : Twenty one subacute patients with stroke with foot drop were fitted with FES ( = 10) or AFO ( = 11).

Design and Implementation of a Novel Subject-Specific Neurofeedback Evaluation and Treatment System.

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based neurofeedback (NF) is a safe, non-invasive, non-painful method for treating various conditions. Current NF systems enable the selection of only one NF parameter, so that two parameters cannot be feedback simultaneously. Consequently, the ability to individually-tailor the treatment to a patient is limited, and treatment efficiency may therefore be compromised.

Wrist Plane of Motion and Range During Daily Activities.

Objective: The dart-throwing motion (DTM) is a multiplane wrist motion that is needed for many daily occupations. Mobilization along the DTM plane may be essential for rehabilitation after wrist injury, but DTM angles are reported for the dominant hand alone, so their relevance to injury in the nondominant hand cannot be surmised. The aim of this study was to quantify the DTM plane angles for both hands during different activities of daily living (ADLs).

Graphical Product Quality and Muscle Activity in Children With Mild Disabilities Drawing on a Horizontally or Vertically Oriented Tablet.

Objective: We compared performance level and muscle activity patterns during shape copying and tracing in two positions, while sitting at a desk and while standing in front of a wall, between typically developing (TD) preschool children and children with mild disabilities (MD).

Method: Twenty-two TD children (8 boys, 14 girls; mean [M] age = 5.2 yr, standard deviation [SD] = 0.

The correlation between upper extremity musculoskeletal symptoms and joint kinematics, playing habits and hand span during playing among piano students.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the correlations between Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Symptoms (MSD) and joint kinematics while playing the piano, as well as correlations between MSD and psychosocial, professional and personal habits, and bio-demographic risk factors of piano students.

Method: This cross-sectional study included 15 piano students. The research tools included 3D motion capture, anthropometric measurements, and questionnaires for obtaining data about MSD, psychological, and personal factors.

Myoelectric Prosthesis Users Improve Performance Time and Accuracy Using Vibrotactile Feedback When Visual Feedback Is Disturbed.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of adding vibrotactile feedback (VTF) in myoelectric prosthesis users during performance of a functional task when visual feedback is disturbed.

Design: A repeated-measures design with a counter-balanced order of 3 conditions.

Setting: Laboratory setting.

Evaluation of the effects of adding vibrotactile feedback to myoelectric prosthesis users on performance and visual attention in a dual-task paradigm.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of adding vibrotactile feedback to myoelectric prosthesis users on the performance time and visual attention in a dual-task paradigm.

Design: A repeated-measures design with a counterbalanced order of two conditions.

Setting: Laboratory setting.