Neurologic dance training and home exercise improve motor-cognitive dual-task function similarly, but through potentially different mechanisms, among breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: Initial results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Background: Dual-task function is compromised among individuals with prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) and others at risk of developing AD. While exercise has been studied as a therapeutic candidate, the activity of social dance might promote dual-task rehabilitation as well or better than conventional exercise.

Objective: Compare effects of social dance versus home exercise on dual-task function and intervention adherence among individuals with increased risk of developing AD: survivors of breast cancer (BC) with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN).

Partnered dance evokes greater intrinsic motivation than home exercise as therapeutic activity for chemotherapy-induced deficits: secondary results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Dance has been proposed to support superior intrinsic motivation over non-dance forms of therapeutic physical activity. However, this hypothesis has yet to be evaluated empirically, particularly among populations living with neuropathology such as survivors of cancer with neurologic complications from chemotherapy treatment. Questions about motivation are relevant to clinical outcomes because motivation mediates neuroplasticity.

Structured, Creative Dance Classes for Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Pilot Study of Feasibility and Preliminary Effect on Motor Function.

Introduction: Promoting physical wellness for preschool-aged children with developmental disorders (DD) is a known challenge. Interventions are more likely to succeed when physical activity opportunities are available to children within the context of their typical environments. We evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effect of 1 potential solution: structured creative dance classes delivered within a preschool environment.

Biomechanical effect of neurologic dance training (NDT) for breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and preliminary baseline data.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is among the most common forms of cancer experienced by women. Up to 80% of BC survivors treated with chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN), which degrades motor control, sensory function, and quality of life. CIN symptoms include numbness, tingling, and/or burning sensations in the extremities; deficits in neuromotor control; and increased fall risk.

Biomechanical effect of neurologic dance training (NDT) for breast cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trail and preliminary baseline data.

Background Breast cancer (BC) is among the most common forms of cancer experienced by women. Up to 80% of BC survivors treated with chemotherapy experience chemotherapy-induced neuropathy (CIN), which degrades motor control, sensory function, and quality of life. CIN symptoms include numbness, tingling, and/or burning sensations in the extremities; deficits in neuromotor control; and increased fall risk.

Updates in the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common toxicity associated with treatment with platinum-based agents, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, and other specific agents. The long-term consequences of this condition can result in decreased patient quality of life and can lead to reduced dose intensity, which can negatively impact disease outcomes. There are currently no evidence-based preventative strategies for CIPN and only limited options for treatment.

A new perspective on transient characteristics of quiet stance postural control.

Postural control provides insight into health concerns such as fall risk but remains relatively untapped as a vital sign of health. One understudied aspect of postural control involves transient responses within center of pressure (CoP) data to events such as vision occlusion. Such responses are masked by common whole-trial analyses.

In-home neurogaming: Demonstrating the impact of valid gesture recognition method on high volume kinematic outcomes.

The process of cleaning motion capture data of aberrant points has been described as "the bane of motion capture operators". Yet, managing the high volume kinematic data generated through in-home neurogames requires data quality control that, executed insufficiently, jeopardizes accuracy of outcomes. To begin to address this issue at the intersection of biomechanics and "big data", we performed a secondary analysis of a neurogame, evaluating gesture count as well as shoulder and elbow joint angle outcomes calculated from kinematic data in which valid gestures were identified through 3 methods: visual review of regions of interest by an expert (BP); manufacturer-recommended data smoothing (MS); and automated methods (AI).

Partnered, adapted argentine tango dance for cancer survivors: A feasibility study and pilot study of efficacy.

Background: Neurotoxic cancer treatments can cause chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and postural control deficits that cancer survivors report as a concern. Exercise-based sensorimotor training has emerged as a promising treatment for symptoms including balance deficits, however, more study is needed to optimize engagement and participation. We evaluated feasibility, satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy of a novel balance training program for cancer survivors: partnered, Adapted Argentine Tango dance (Tango).

Characterizing within-subject variability in quantified measures of balance control: A cohort study.

Background: To longitudinally assess individuals using quantified measures, we must characterize within-subject variability (WSV) of the measures.

Research Question: What is the natural within-subject variability (WSV) that can be expected in postural control over 3+ days?

Methods: Thirteen individuals without orthopedic or neurologic impairment (mean(SD) = 55 (9) years; 76 (18) kg; 11 females/2 males) were recruited from a community workplace and consented to participate. Participants stood quietly with eyes closed (QEC) on a force platform (5 x 1 min x 6 days) in two stances: comfortable and narrow.

In-Home Delivery of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy via Virtual Reality Gaming.

Purpose: People with chronic hemiparesis are frequently dissatisfied with the recovery of their hand and arm, yet many lack access to effective treatments. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CI therapy) effectively increases arm function and spontaneous use in persons with chronic hemiparesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and measure safety and outcomes of an in-home model of delivering CI therapy using a custom, avatar-based virtual reality game.

Reducing concussion symptoms among teenage youth: Evaluation of a mobile health app.

Objective: To evaluate whether a mobile health application that employs elements of social game design could compliment medical care for unresolved concussion symptoms.

Design: Phase I and Phase II (open-label, non-randomized, ecological momentary assessment methodology).

Setting: Outpatient concussion clinic.

Training conditions that best reproduce the joint powers of unsupported walking.

Objective: To identify the clinically relevant combinations of body weight support and speed that best reproduce the joint powers of unsupported walking.

Methods: Timing and magnitude of lower extremity joint powers were calculated for 8 neurologically intact volunteers (4M/4F) walking with 0%, 30% and 50% body weight support at three speeds (slow, comfortable, and fast). Lower extremity joint power absorption was analyzed during weight acceptance and forward propulsion.

A new look at an old problem: defining weight acceptance in human walking.

Background: Weight acceptance (WA) is an important phase of bipedal gait that has received relatively little study to date. This study tested the hypothesis that the first peak knee flexion would better demarcate the end of WA power absorption activity across varying gait speeds than would the more commonly used event of contralateral toe off (CTO) or the peak hip adduction angle.

Methods: Eight control subjects (4F/4M) walked on a treadmill at slow, self-selected, and fast speeds.

A feasibility study using interactive graphic art feedback to augment acute neurorehabilitation therapy.

Background: Interactive arts technologies, designed to augment the acute neurorehabilitation provided by expert therapists, may overcome existing barriers of access for patients with low motor and cognitive function.

Objectives: Develop an application prototype to present movement feedback interactively and creatively. Evaluate feasibility of use within acute neurorehabilitation.

Proof of concept of the ability of the kinect to quantify upper extremity function in dystrophinopathy.

Introduction: Individuals with dystrophinopathy lose upper extremity strength in proximal muscles followed by those more distal. Current upper extremity evaluation tools fail to fully capture changes in upper extremity strength and function across the disease spectrum as they tend to focus solely on distal ability. The Kinect by Microsoft is a gaming interface that can gather positional information about an individual's upper extremity movement which can be used to determine functional reaching volume, velocity of movement, and rate of fatigue while playing an engaging video game.

A split-crank bicycle ergometer uses servomotors to provide programmable pedal forces for studies in human biomechanics.

This paper presents a novel computer-controlled bicycle ergometer, the TiltCycle, for use in human biomechanics studies of locomotion. The TiltCycle has a tilting (reclining) seat and backboard, a split pedal crankshaft to isolate the left and right loads to the feet of the pedaler, and two belt-driven, computer-controlled motors to provide assistance or resistance loads independently to each crank. Sensors measure the kinematics and force production of the legs to calculate work performed, and the system allows for goniometric and electromyography signals to be recorded.

Poststroke upper extremity rehabilitation: a review of robotic systems and clinical results.

Although the use of robotic devices to address neuromuscular rehabilitative goals represents a promising technological advance in medical care, the large number of systems being developed and varying levels of clinical study of the devices make it difficult to follow and interpret the results in this new field. This article is a review of the current state-of-the-art in robotic applications in poststroke therapy for the upper extremity, written specifically to help clinicians determine the differences between various systems. We concentrate primarily on systems that have been tested clinically.