Comparison between two mobile applications measuring shoulder elevation angle - A validity and feasibility study

Attempts to optimize monitoring of brace adherence prescribed to adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) have generally relied on sensors. Sensors, however, are intrusive and do not allow the assessment of psychological and physical consequences of brace use that might underlie poor adherence. Mobile applications have emerged as alternatives to monitor brace compliance. However, the feasibility and utility of these app-based systems to assess key psychological and physical domains associated with non-adherence remain unexplored. This feasibility study aims to test the usability, acceptability, and clinical utility of an app-based system that monitors brace use and related psychological and physical factors. Forty adolescents with IS daily respond to the app for 90 days. The patient responses may generate clinical alarms (e.g., brace non-adherence, discomfort, or distress) that will be sent daily to the medical team. Primary outcomes will be app usability, acceptability, and response rates. Secondary outcomes will include brace adherence, the number of side effects reported, number and type of clinical alarms, stress, quality of life, perceived health status, and mood. If accepted by patients and clinicians, apps may allow rapid detection and response to undesired events in adolescents undergoing brace treatment.

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Biomechanical analysis of the right elevated glenohumeral joint in violinists during legato-playing

Technology and Health Care ◽

10.3233/thc-219001 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Anne-Sophie Saffert ◽

Maximilian Melzner ◽

Sebastian Dendorfer

Keyword(s):

Potential Problem ◽

Glenohumeral Joint ◽

Elevation Angle ◽

Biomechanical Analysis ◽

Repetitive Movements ◽

The Right ◽

Violin Playing ◽

The Relationship ◽

Shoulder Elevation

BACKGROUND: Many statistics reveal that violin players suffer most often from musculoskeletal disorders compared to musicians of other instrument groups. A common phenomenon, especially observed in violin beginners, is the tendency to elevate the right shoulder during playing the violin. This can probably lead to serious disorders in long-term practice with repetitive movements. OBJECTIVE: For this reason, this study investigated the relationship between the right shoulder elevation and the force in the right glenohumeral joint during violin playing. It was hypothesized that the forces in the right glenohumeral joint are higher during playing with the right shoulder raised compared to playing in normal posture. METHODS: Motion capture data from four experienced violinists was recorded and processed by means of musculoskeletal simulation to get the force and elevation angle while playing with raised shoulder and in normal position. RESULTS: The results indicate that the absolute values of the resulting force, as well as the forces in the mediolateral, inferosuperior, and anteroposterior directions, are higher in playing the violin with the shoulder raised than in a normal posture. CONCLUSIONS: Elevating the right shoulder while playing the violin may pose a potential problem.

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Erratum to: Excitability of the infraspinatus, but not the middle deltoid, is affected by shoulder elevation angle

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-015-4354-1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 233 (11) ◽

pp. 3333-3333

Author(s):

Yin-Liang Lin ◽

Anita Christie ◽

Andrew Karduna

Keyword(s):

Elevation Angle ◽

Shoulder Elevation

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Excitability of the infraspinatus, but not the middle deltoid, is affected by shoulder elevation angle

Experimental Brain Research ◽

10.1007/s00221-015-4255-3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 233 (6) ◽

pp. 1837-1843 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yin-Liang Lin ◽

Anita Christie ◽

Andrew Karduna

Keyword(s):

Elevation Angle ◽

Shoulder Elevation

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MyPal-Child study protocol: an observational prospective clinical feasibility study of the MyPal ePRO-based early palliative care digital system in paediatric oncology patients

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045226 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. e045226

Author(s):

Marcel Meyerheim ◽

Christina Karamanidou ◽

Sheila Payne ◽

Tina Garani-Papadatos ◽

Annette Sander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Palliative Care ◽

Feasibility Study ◽

Mobile Applications ◽

Digital Health ◽

Ethics Committee ◽

Paediatric Oncology ◽

Oncology Patients ◽

Link Type ◽

Child Study ◽

The University

IntroductionElectronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) have tremendous potential to optimise palliative and supportive care for children with cancer, their families and healthcare providers. Particularly, these children and their families are subjected to multiple strains caused by the disease and its treatment. The MyPal digital health platform is designed to address these complex demands by offering pursuant ePRO-based functionalities via two mobile applications, one developed for children and the other for their parents.Methods and analysisIn this observational prospective feasibility study, 100 paediatric oncology patients aged between 6 and 17 years and at least one of their parents/legal guardians will be recruited at three clinical sites in two European countries (Germany and Czech Republic). They will use the mobile applications which are part of the novel digital health platform. During a 6-month study period, participants will complete various ePROs via the applications addressing quality of life, satisfaction with care and impact of the disease on the family at monthly intervals. Additionally, priority-based symptom reporting is integrated into a serious game for children. Outcomes that will be assessed concern the feasibility and the evaluation of the newly designed digital health platform to contribute to the evidence base of clinical ePRO use in paediatric oncology and palliative care process.Ethics and disseminationThe MyPal-Child study obtained ethical approval from the Ethics Committee responsible for the University of Saarland, that is, the Ärztekammer des Saarlandes, the Ethics Committee of the Medical School Hannover and the Ethics Committee of the University of Brno. Study results will be disseminated through scientific publications, presentations at international conferences, congresses and a final report to the European Commission. General publicly accessible information can be found on the project website (www.mypal-project.eu) and social media.Trial registration numbersU1111-1251-0043, DRKS00021458, NCT04381221.

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