Effects of different tools and working height on physical workload in vertical cleaning tasks applying ambient control techniques.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different tools and working heights on physical workloads in vertical cleaning tasks. Thirty healthy adults were recruited to use a rag and a long-handle tool (LHT) to simulate cleaning operations on the Wii Fit board surfaces of 3 different heights, respectively. Participants used a lower 50th percentile force but were required to spend a longer time to finish the task while using an LHT than using a rag.

Effects of compression garment on muscular efficacy, proprioception, and recovery after exercise-induced muscle fatigue onset for people who exercise regularly.

Fatigue is a major cause of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Compression garments (CGs) can aid post-exercise recovery, therefore, this study explored the effects of CGs on muscular efficacy, proprioception, and recovery after exercise-induced muscle fatigue in people who exercise regularly. Twelve healthy participants who exercised regularly were enrolled in this study.

Features of trunk muscle weakness in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that manifested with sacroiliitis at its early stage and developed extensive inflammation with syndesmophytes of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical spines at its later stage. In the present study, we characterized the trunk isometric strength in patients with AS with different disease severity, defined by the radiological images.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study conducted in a university-affiliated hospital, thirty-eight male AS patients (23 in the early AS group whose radiological findings showed no syndesmophyte, Modified Stoke Ankylosing Spinal Score (m-SASSS <3); and 15 in the syndesmophyte group, m-SASSS ≥24), and 22 healthy controls were recruited.

Evaluation of a proposed chair with an arm support for wiring terminal blocks on a vertical plane.

To reduce the muscular exertion of an operator wiring terminal blocks on a vertical plane, a chair with a unique back that can be used as a back support or arm support is proposed in this study. A digital version of the chair was first developed based on anthropometric data and tested with a digital anthropometric subject using the Jack software before the physical chair was developed. To evaluate the effects of the physical chair, an experiment of wiring terminal blocks was conducted with 12 subjects to test whether the use of the arm support can reduce muscular exertion.

The effects of total contact insole with forefoot medial posting on rearfoot movement and foot pressure distributions in patients with flexible flatfoot.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effect of total contact insole with forefoot medial posting (TCIFMP) orthosis in patients with flexible flatfoot. The TCIFMP insole was custom- mode, made from semi-rigid plastazote and PPT. Using the gait analysis and the plantar-pressure measure systems, we investigate rearfoot motion and plantar pressure redistribution in these patients.

The effects of heel-elevated total contact insole on rearfoot pressure reduction in heel injury patients who had neurosensory impairment after receiving reconstructive flap operations.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a custom-molded heel-elevated total contact insole (TCI) on rearfoot pressure reduction and heel cushion for patients with heel-reconstruction.

Methods: Eleven patients with unilateral heel-reconstruction were recruited in this study. Maximal force and plantar pressures (peak pressure and pressure-time integral) at three different areas (heel Midfoot and forefoot) were measured under 3 randomized conditions (shoe-only flat insole and heel- elevated TCI) after wearing a heel-elevated TCI for 3 months.

Kinetics features changes before and after intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To examine the kinetic features in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) after intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) injections in different time periods.

Design: A single group repeated measures study.

Setting: Gait laboratory in a tertiary hospital.

Intra-articular intervention by hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis can modify locomotor pattern of muscle activity.

Objective: To evaluate the muscle activation pattern of lower extremities can be modified by intraarticular injection of hyaluronic acid( IAHA).

Material And Method: Twenty-three subjects with knee OA and 14 age-matched non-knee OA control subjects were recruited from an outpatient clinic. Three-dimensional gait analysis with using the MA- 100 EMG system was applied to measure the muscles activities.

Improvement of upper extremity motor control and function after home-based constraint induced therapy in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: immediate and long-term effects.

Objective: To investigate the long-term effects of home-based constraint induced therapy (CIT) on motor control underlying functional change in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Home based.

Effect of shoe heel height and total-contact insert on muscle loading and foot stability while walking.

Background: Women wearing high-heeled shoes often complain of foot instability and low-back pain. Previous studies have demonstrated that using total-contact inserts (TCIs) in running shoes reduces impact on leg muscles and alters rearfoot motion. This study investigated how shoe heel height and use of TCIs in high-heeled shoes affect the wearer's rearfoot complex, muscle loading, and subjective comfort.

Effect of therapist-based constraint-induced therapy at home on motor control, motor performance and daily function in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study.

Objective: To determine the effect of therapist-based constraint-induced therapy at home on motor performance, daily function and reaching control for children with cerebral palsy.

Design: A single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Subjects: Forty-seven children (23 boys; 24 girls) with unilateral cerebral palsy, aged 6-12 years, were randomized to constraint-induced therapy (n = 24) or traditional rehabilitation (n = 23).

Knee muscle strength at varying angular velocities and associations with gross motor function in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships of muscle strength at different angular velocities and gross motor functions in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study included 33 ambulatory children with spastic CP aged 6-15 years and 15 children with normal development. Children with CP were categorized into level I (n=17) or level II (n=16) according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels.

Muscle strength enhancement following home-based virtual cycling training in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

This study is the first well-designed randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of a novel home-based virtual cycling training (hVCT) program for improving muscle strength in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Twenty-eight ambulatory children with spastic CP aged 6-12 years were randomly assigned to an hVCT group (n=13) or a control group (n=15). Outcome measures, including gross motor function of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOTMP) and muscle strength (isokinetic torque of knee extensor and flexor muscle), were administered before and immediately after the 12-week intervention.

Responsiveness, minimal detectable change, and minimal clinically important difference of the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living Scale in patients with improved performance after stroke rehabilitation.

Objectives: To determine the responsiveness, minimal detectable change (MDC), and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) of the Nottingham Extended Activities of Daily Living (NEADL) scale and to assess percentages of patients' change scores exceeding the MDC and MCID after stroke rehabilitation.

Design: Secondary analyses of patients who received stroke rehabilitation therapy.

Setting: Medical centers.

Speech-associated labiomandibular movement in Mandarin-speaking children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy: a kinematic study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the speech-associated labiomandibular movement during articulation production in Mandarin-speaking children with spastic quadriplegic (SQ) cerebral palsy (CP). Twelve children with SQ CP (aged 7-11 years) and 12 age-matched healthy children as controls were enrolled for the study. All children underwent analysis of percentage of consonants correct (PCC) and kinematic analysis of speech tasks using the Vicon Motion 370 system.

Kinematic features of rear-foot motion using anterior and posterior ankle-foot orthoses in stroke patients with hemiplegic gait.

Objective: To evaluate the kinematic features of rear-foot motion during gait in hemiplegic stroke patients, using anterior ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs), posterior AFOs, and no orthotic assistance.

Design: Crossover design with randomization for the interventions.

Setting: A rehabilitation center for adults with neurologic disorders.

Oromotor variability in children with mild spastic cerebral palsy: a kinematic study of speech motor control.

Background: Treating motor speech dysfunction in children with CP requires an understanding of the mechanism underlying speech motor control. However, there is a lack of literature in quantitative measures of motor control, which may potentially characterize the nature of the speech impairments in these children. This study investigated speech motor control in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using kinematic analysis.

Does different exercise have the same effect of health promotion for the elderly? Comparison of training-specific effect of Tai Chi and swimming on motor control.

It remains unclear whether Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) instead of swimming yields a training-specific effect on dynamic balance. The objective of the present study is to test if the practice of TCC provides a distinctive benefit of balance in the elderly. The participants in TCC (n = 32) and swimming groups (n = 20) practiced regular swimming and TCC respectively for at least 3 years before the recruitment.

Perceived job stress and health complaints at a bank call center: comparison between inbound and outbound services.

This study investigated how perceived job stress and health status differ, as well as the relationships to inbound (incoming calls) versus outbound (outgoing calls) calling activities, for call center workers in a bank in Taiwan. The sample bank employed 289 call center workers at the time of the survey, ranging in age from 19 to 54 yr old. Data were obtained on individual factors, health complaints, perceived level job stress, and major job stressors.

Acoustic study in Mandarin-speaking children: developmental changes in vowel production.

Background: Acoustic analysis had been well incorporated into clinical evaluation and management of children with speech disorders for many years. The aim of this study is to investigate developmental changes in vowel production in Mandarin-speaking children using acoustic study analysis.

Methods: A total of 22 children from 5-12 years old were analyzed in this study.

Effects of an anterior ankle-foot orthosis on postural stability in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of an anterior leaflet ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) on postural stability in stroke patients with hemiplegia.

Design: Twenty-one stroke patients with hemiplegia resulting from new-onset stroke and ten normal subjects were included in this study. The SMART balance master system was used to assess the postural stability by measuring the ankle strategy, maximal stability, and velocity of center-of-gravity (COG) movement under the following six conditions: (1) eyes open and fixed support (EOFS), (2) eyes closed and fixed support (ECFS), (3) sway-referenced vision and fixed support (SVFS), (4) eyes open and sway-referenced support (EOSS), (5) eyes closed and sway-referenced support (ECSS), and (6) sway-referenced vision and support (SVSS).

Effectiveness of goosestep training or its modification on treating patellar malalignment syndrome: clinical, radiographic, and electromyographic studies.

Introduction: Imbalanced soft tissue tension between medial and lateral para-patellar structures is the most common pathogenic cause of patellar malalignment syndrome. Despite the fact that an effective technique has not been developed, this disorder is usually treated conservatively. This prospective study tried to identify an effective alternative treatment for patellar malalignment syndrome.

Effects of object use on reaching and postural balance: a comparison of patients with unilateral stroke and healthy controls.

Objective: To evaluate whether the functional use of certain task objects while standing influences reaching performance and postural balance in persons with left or right cerebral vascular accidents, and also in healthy individuals.

Design: Thirty-five stroke patients (20 patients with left and 15 patients with right cerebral vascular accidents) and 31 healthy controls (15 using the left and 16 the right arm) performed two experimental reaching tasks (task object present vs. absent) using the less affected arm while standing.

Effects of modified constraint-induced movement therapy on movement kinematics and daily function in patients with stroke: a kinematic study of motor control mechanisms.

Background And Objective: Motor control of the upper extremity during unilateral and bimanual functional tasks and functional change during daily activities were evaluated in patients with stroke treated with modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT).

Methods: In a pre-post randomized, controlled trial, 30 stroke patients received 2 hours of mCIMT or traditional rehabilitation (TR) for 3 weeks. Motor control of the upper extremity was evaluated using kinematic analysis in unilateral and bilateral tasks.