Effect of test duration and sensor location on the reliability of standing balance parameters derived using body-mounted accelerometers.

Background: Balance parameters derived from wearable sensor measurements during postural sway have been shown to be sensitive to experimental variables such as test duration, sensor number, and sensor location that influence the magnitude and frequency-related properties of measured center-of-mass (COM) and center-of-pressure (COP) excursions. In this study, we investigated the effects of test duration, the number of sensors, and sensor location on the reliability of standing balance parameters derived using body-mounted accelerometers.

Methods: Twelve volunteers without any prior history of balance disorders were enrolled in the study.

Investigating the effects of conventional thermoplastic ankle-foot and the neoprene ankle-foot orthoses on the kinetics and kinematics of gait in people with foot drop following traumatic injury of the peroneal nerve: A pilot study.

Background: Adopting compensatory walking mechanisms by people with foot drop due to traumatic injury of the peroneal nerve costs altered gait kinetics and kinematics. Therefore, orthoses are generally recommended to minimize the deployment of compensatory gait mechanisms.

Objectives: To investigate the immediate effects of a low-cost, Neoprene Ankle-Foot Orthosis (NAFO) and the thermoplastic ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) with the shoe-only condition on kinematics and kinetics of gait of people with foot drop following peroneal nerve traumatic injury.

Use of machine learning to select texture features in investigating the effects of axial loading on T-maps from magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar discs.

Background: Recent advances in texture analysis and machine learning offer new opportunities to improve the application of imaging to intervertebral disc biomechanics. This study employed texture analysis and machine learning on MRIs to investigate the lumbar disc's response to loading.

Methods: Thirty-five volunteers (30 (SD 11) yrs.

Investigating the validity of a single tri-axial accelerometer mounted on the head for monitoring the activities of daily living and the timed-up and go test.

Background: Quantitative assessments of activities of daily living (ADL) play an essential role in evaluating the impact of disease and interventions on people's quality of life. Motion capture systems traditionally used for quantitative assessments of postural transitions and movement associated with ADL are limited to the laboratory setting. Wearable accelerometers can remove these limitations and enable easier-to-use, longer-term, and remote functional evaluations.

Timing and dosage of FES cycling early after acute spinal cord injury: A case series report.

Objective: To understand the progression in parameters of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling dosage (including duration, velocity, stimulation amplitudes, power output), and the resulting changes in muscle mass early after acute spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Three participants, 24-38 years old, with neurological injury level C4-T4, severity AIS (American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale) A-C, started FES cycling 16-20 days post injury while admitted at a level-1 trauma center in Canada, and continued for 8-13 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital. They performed three sessions/week of 15-45 min FES cycling, supine or sitting.

Immediate effect of prefabricated and UCBL foot orthoses on alignment of midfoot and forefoot in young people with symptomatic flexible flatfoot: A radiographic evaluation.

Background: Radiographic imaging has been considered the gold standard in evaluating the skeletal alignment of the foot in static weightbearing. The effects of foot orthoses on the alignment of foot bones have been mostly evaluated using lateral view x-rays. The posterior-anterior view has not been investigated extensively.

The effects of axial loading on the morphometric and T characteristics of lumbar discs in relation to disc degeneration.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration affects the morphology, biomechanics and biochemistry of the disc. The study aimed to compare the effects of compression and traction on lumbar discs measurements in relation to degeneration.

Methods: Thirty-five volunteers (30 (SD 11) yrs.

Comparing the effectiveness of group-based exercise to other non-pharmacological interventions for chronic low back pain: A systematic review.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading cause of disability worldwide with a substantial financial burden on individuals and health care systems. To address this, clinical practice guidelines often recommend non-pharmacological, non-invasive management approaches. One management approach that has been recommended and widely implemented for chronic LBP is group-based exercise programs, however, their clinical value compared with other non-pharmacological interventions has not been investigated systematically.

Texture analysis in the classification of T -weighted magnetic resonance images in persons with and without low back pain.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings often do not distinguish between people with and without low back pain (LBP). However, there are still a large number of people who undergo magnetic resonance imaging to help determine the etiology of their back pain. Texture analysis shows promise for the classification of tissues that look similar, and machine learning can minimize the number of comparisons.

Could compression and traction loading improve the ability of magnetic resonance imaging to identify findings related to low back pain?

Background: Diagnostic imaging is routinely used to depict structural abnormalities in people with low back pain (LBP), but most findings are prevalent in people with and without LBP. It has been suggested that LBP is related to changes induced in the spine due to loading. Therefore, new imaging measurements are needed to improve our ability to identify structures relating to LBP.

Reliability and validity of lumbar disc height quantification methods using magnetic resonance images.

Disc height has been a focus of research on disc degeneration and low back pain (LBP). However, choosing an appropriate method to quantify disc height remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the reliability and construct validity of disc height quantification methods.

MRI evaluation of the effects of extension exercises on the disc fluid content and location of the centroid of the fluid distribution.

Background: McKenzie prone press-up exercises have been hypothesised to reduce intradiscal pressure, allowing fluid to be reabsorbed into the disc, which could improve the internal stability and local chemical milieu of the disc, potentially reducing symptoms.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effects of prone press-up exercises on lumbar disc fluid content and movement.

Design: Quantification of MRI changes before and after a single exercise session.

Is the location of the signal intensity weighted centroid a reliable measurement of fluid displacement within the disc?

Degenerated discs have shorter T2-relaxation time and lower MR signal. The location of the signal-intensity-weighted-centroid reflects the water distribution within a region-of-interest (ROI). This study compared the reliability of the location of the signal-intensity-weighted-centroid to mean signal intensity and area measurements.

Comparing the immediate effects of UCBL and modified foot orthoses on postural sway in people with flexible flatfoot.

Background: Different types of foot orthoses have been prescribed for patients with flatfoot. Results of several studies have shown that orthoses were able to change balance parameters in people with flatfoot. However, the possible effect of orthosis flexibility on balance has not yet been investigated.

The effects of a prophylactic knee brace and two neoprene knee sleeves on the performance of healthy athletes: a crossover randomized controlled trial.

Knee injury is one of the major problems in sports medicine, and the use of prophylactic knee braces is an attempt to reduce the occurrence and/or severity of injuries to the knee joint ligament(s) without inhibiting knee mobility. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of one recently designed prophylactic knee brace and two neoprene knee sleeves upon performance of healthy athletes. Thirty-one healthy male athletes (age = 21.