scholarly journals Vision affects gait speed but not patterns of muscle activation during inclined walking – a virtual reality study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Benady ◽  
Sean Zadik ◽  
Oran Ben-Gal ◽  
Desiderio Cano-Porras ◽  
Atalia Wenkert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Real Surface ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Intensity Changes ◽  
Surface Inclination ◽  
Downhill Walking

AbstractWhile walking, our locomotion is affected by and adapts to the environment based on vision-based and body-based (vestibular and proprioception) cues, all contributing to an “Internal Model of Gravity”. During surface inclination transitions, we modulate gait to counteract gravitational forces by braking during downhill walking to avoid uncontrolled acceleration or by exerting effort to avoid deceleration while walking uphill. In this study, we investigated the role of vision in gait modulation during surface inclination transitions by using an immersive large-scale Virtual Reality (VR) system equipped with a self-paced treadmill and projected visual scenes that allowed us to modulate physical-visual inclinations congruence parametrically. Gait speed and leg muscle electromyography (EMG) were measured in 12 healthy young adults. In addition, the magnitude of subjective visual misperception of verticality was measured by the rod and frame test. During virtual (non-veridical) inclination transitions, vision modulated gait speed after transitions by (i) slowing down to counteract the excepted gravitational ‘boost’ in virtual downhill inclinations and by (ii) speeding up to counteract the expected gravity resistance in virtual uphill inclinations. These gait speed modulations were reflected in muscle activation intensity changes and associated with subjective visual verticality misperception. However, temporal patterns of muscle activation, which are significantly affected by real gravitational inclination transitions, were not affected by virtual (visual) inclination transitions. Our results delineate the contribution of vision to functional locomotion on uneven surfaces and may lead to enhanced rehabilitation strategies for neurological disorders affecting movement.Significance statementA crucial component of successful locomotion is maintaining balance and speed while walking on uneven surfaces. In order to reach successful locomotion, an individual must utilize multisensory integration of visual, gravitational, and proprioception cues. The contribution of vision to this process is still unclear, thus we used a fully immersive virtual reality treadmill setup allowing us to manipulate visual (virtual) and gravitational (real) surface inclinations independently during locomotion of healthy adults. While vision modulated gait speed for a short period after inclination transitions and this was predictive of individual’s visual dependency, muscle activation patterns were only affected by gravitational surface inclinations, not by vision. Understanding the vision’s contribution to successful locomotion may lead to improved rehabilitation for movement disorders.

scholarly journals Vision Affects Gait Speed but not Patterns of Muscle Activation During Inclined Walking—A Virtual Reality Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Benady ◽  
Sean Zadik ◽  
Oran Ben-Gal ◽  
Desiderio Cano Porras ◽  
Atalia Wenkert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Slowing Down ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Visual Inputs ◽  
Intensity Changes ◽  
Downhill Walking

While walking, our locomotion is affected by and adapts to the environment based on vision- and body-based (vestibular and proprioception) cues. When transitioning to downhill walking, we modulate gait by braking to avoid uncontrolled acceleration, and when transitioning to uphill walking, we exert effort to avoid deceleration. In this study, we aimed to measure the influence of visual inputs on this behavior and on muscle activation. Specifically, we aimed to explore whether the gait speed modulations triggered by mere visual cues after transitioning to virtually inclined surface walking are accompanied by changes in muscle activation patterns typical to those triggered by veridical (gravitational) surface inclination transitions. We used an immersive virtual reality system equipped with a self-paced treadmill and projected visual scenes that allowed us to modulate physical–visual inclination congruence parametrically. Gait speed and leg muscle electromyography were measured in 12 healthy young adults. In addition, the magnitude of subjective visual verticality misperception (SVV) was measured by the rod and frame test. During virtual (non-veridical) inclination transitions, vision modulated gait speed by (i) slowing down to counteract the excepted gravitational “boost” in virtual downhill inclinations and (ii) speeding up to counteract the expected gravity resistance in virtual uphill inclinations. These gait speed modulations were reflected in muscle activation intensity changes and associated with SVV misperception. However, temporal patterns of muscle activation were not affected by virtual (visual) inclination transitions. Our results delineate the contribution of vision to locomotion and may lead to enhanced rehabilitation strategies for neurological disorders affecting movement.

scholarly journals Gait Speed Modulations Are Proportional to Grades of Virtual Visual Slopes—A Virtual Reality Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Benady ◽  
Sean Zadik ◽  
Gabriel Zeilig ◽  
Sharon Gilaie-Dotan ◽  
Meir Plotnik
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Speed Increase ◽  
Actual Surface ◽  
Gravitational Forces ◽  
Speed Modulation ◽  
Wide Range

Gait is a complex mechanism relying on integration of several sensory inputs such as vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual cues to maintain stability while walking. Often humans adapt their gait to changes in surface inclinations, and this is typically achieved by modulating walking speed according to the inclination in order to counteract the gravitational forces, either uphill (exertion effect) or downhill (braking effect). The contribution of vision to these speed modulations is not fully understood. Here we assessed gait speed effects by parametrically manipulating the discrepancy between virtual visual inclination and the actual surface inclination (aka visual incongruence). Fifteen healthy participants walked in a large-scale virtual reality (VR) system on a self-paced treadmill synchronized with projected visual scenes. During walking they were randomly exposed to varying degrees of physical-visual incongruence inclinations (e.g., treadmill leveled & visual scene uphill) in a wide range of inclinations (−15° to +15°). We observed an approximately linear relation between the relative change in gait speed and the anticipated gravitational forces associated with the virtual inclinations. Mean relative gait speed increase of ~7%, ~11%, and ~17% were measured for virtual inclinations of +5°, +10°, and +15°, respectively (anticipated decelerating forces were proportional to sin[5°], sin[10°], sin[15°]). The same pattern was seen for downhill virtual inclinations with relative gait speed modulations of ~-10%, ~-16%, and ~-24% for inclinations of −5°, −10°, and −15°, respectively (in anticipation of accelerating forces). Furthermore, we observed that the magnitude of speed modulation following virtual inclination at ±10° was associated with subjective visual verticality misperception. In conclusion, visual cues modulate gait speed when surface inclinations change proportional to the anticipated effect of the gravitational force associated the inclinations. Our results emphasize the contribution of vision to locomotion in a dynamic environment and may enhance personalized rehabilitation strategies for gait speed modulations in neurological patients with gait impairments.

Remote care nearby

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 294-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam MR Vollenbroek-Hutten ◽  
Hermie J Hermens
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Outcome Evaluation ◽  
Technical Performance ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Feedback Strategies ◽  
Clinical Content ◽  
General Physical

A telemedicine application has a better chance of being accepted if the users can easily handle it and if the application fulfils the clinical needs of both patients and professionals. This requires a methodology for development in which three key matters need to be dealt with: (1) clinical content; (2) design; and (3) outcome. Concerning the clinical content, telemedicine services for patients with chronic disorders that aim to increase their level of functioning need to monitor aspects of the patient's functioning and provide adequate feedback about this. Promising parameters of functioning are related to general physical activity and muscle activation patterns. Providing adequate feedback requires choices about the content of the information, the modality of the feedback and its timing. Unfortunately, research into effective feedback strategies is still in its infancy. Concerning the design it appears that the different stakeholders involved speak different languages, that there is a lack of knowledge about aspects related to acceptance and a lack of good methods to define user requirements. Scenario-based requirements analysis is a promising technique to overcome these barriers. Concerning the outcome, evaluation of telemedicine services in everyday clinical practice has been mainly directed at measurement of technical performance and user satisfaction. Large scale clinical evaluation studies with multiple end points are needed. This development methodology with its three aspects was used for a myofeedback-based teletreatment service. This showed that telemedicine applications can be developed that have the potential to make health care more effective, efficient and accessible.

scholarly journals A new integrated behavioural intervention for knee osteoarthritis: development and pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Preece ◽  
Nathan Brookes ◽  
Anita E. Williams ◽  
Richard K. Jones ◽  
Chelsea Starbuck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Biofeedback Training ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Motivation To Change ◽  
Muscle Strengthening ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Knee Muscle

Abstract Background Exercise-based approaches have been a cornerstone of physiotherapy management of knee osteoarthritis for many years. However, clinical effects are considered small to modest and the need for continued adherence identified as a barrier to clinical efficacy. While exercise-based approaches focus on muscle strengthening, biomechanical research has identified that people with knee osteoarthritis over activate their muscles during functional tasks. Therefore, we aimed to create a new behavioural intervention, which integrated psychologically informed practice with biofeedback training to reduce muscle overactivity, and which was suitable for delivery by a physiotherapist. Methods Through literature review, we created a framework linking theory from pain science with emerging biomechanical concepts related to overactivity of the knee muscles. Using recognised behaviour change theory, we then mapped a set of intervention components which were iteratively developed through ongoing testing and consultation with patients and physiotherapists. Results The underlying framework incorporated ideas related to central sensitisation, motor responses to pain and also focused on the idea that increased knee muscle overactivity could result from postural compensation. Building on these ideas, we created an intervention with five components: making sense of pain, general relaxation, postural deconstruction, responding differently to pain and functional muscle retraining. The intervention incorporated a range of animated instructional videos to communicate concepts related to pain and biomechanical theory and also used EMG biofeedback to facilitate visualization of muscle patterns. User feedback was positive with patients describing the intervention as enabling them to “create a new normal” and to be “in control of their own treatment.” Furthermore, large reductions in pain were observed from 11 patients who received a prototype version of the intervention. Conclusion We have created a new intervention for knee osteoarthritis, designed to empower individuals with capability and motivation to change muscle activation patterns and beliefs associated with pain. We refer to this intervention as Cognitive Muscular Therapy. Preliminary feedback and clinical indications are positive, motivating future large-scale trials to understand potential efficacy. It is possible that this new approach could bring about improvements in the pain associated with knee osteoarthritis without the need for continued adherence to muscle strengthening programmes. Trial registration ISRCTN51913166 (Registered 24-02-2020, Retrospectively registered).

Some comments about observations and image processing of comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 243-248
Author(s):  
D. Kubáček ◽  
A. Galád ◽  
A. Pravda
Keyword(s):  
Image Processing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Harvard College ◽  
Oak Ridge ◽  
Large Scale Structures ◽  
Short Period Comet ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Scale Structures ◽  
Harvard College Observatory ◽  
Period Comet

AbstractUnusual short-period comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 inspired many observers to explain its unpredictable outbursts. In this paper large scale structures and features from the inner part of the coma in time periods around outbursts are studied. CCD images were taken at Whipple Observatory, Mt. Hopkins, in 1989 and at Astronomical Observatory, Modra, from 1995 to 1998. Photographic plates of the comet were taken at Harvard College Observatory, Oak Ridge, from 1974 to 1982. The latter were digitized at first to apply the same techniques of image processing for optimizing the visibility of features in the coma during outbursts. Outbursts and coma structures show various shapes.

scholarly journals Rapid, large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa using 1D MinION sequencing

BMC Biology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amrita Srivathsan ◽  
Emily Hartop ◽  
Jayanthi Puniamoorthy ◽  
Wan Ting Lee ◽  
Sujatha Narayanan Kutty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Small Subset ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Species Discovery ◽  
Short Period

Abstract Background More than 80% of all animal species remain unknown to science. Most of these species live in the tropics and belong to animal taxa that combine small body size with high specimen abundance and large species richness. For such clades, using morphology for species discovery is slow because large numbers of specimens must be sorted based on detailed microscopic investigations. Fortunately, species discovery could be greatly accelerated if DNA sequences could be used for sorting specimens to species. Morphological verification of such “molecular operational taxonomic units” (mOTUs) could then be based on dissection of a small subset of specimens. However, this approach requires cost-effective and low-tech DNA barcoding techniques because well-equipped, well-funded molecular laboratories are not readily available in many biodiverse countries. Results We here document how MinION sequencing can be used for large-scale species discovery in a specimen- and species-rich taxon like the hyperdiverse fly family Phoridae (Diptera). We sequenced 7059 specimens collected in a single Malaise trap in Kibale National Park, Uganda, over the short period of 8 weeks. We discovered > 650 species which exceeds the number of phorid species currently described for the entire Afrotropical region. The barcodes were obtained using an improved low-cost MinION pipeline that increased the barcoding capacity sevenfold from 500 to 3500 barcodes per flowcell. This was achieved by adopting 1D sequencing, resequencing weak amplicons on a used flowcell, and improving demultiplexing. Comparison with Illumina data revealed that the MinION barcodes were very accurate (99.99% accuracy, 0.46% Ns) and thus yielded very similar species units (match ratio 0.991). Morphological examination of 100 mOTUs also confirmed good congruence with morphology (93% of mOTUs; > 99% of specimens) and revealed that 90% of the putative species belong to the neglected, megadiverse genus Megaselia. We demonstrate for one Megaselia species how the molecular data can guide the description of a new species (Megaselia sepsioides sp. nov.). Conclusions We document that one field site in Africa can be home to an estimated 1000 species of phorids and speculate that the Afrotropical diversity could exceed 200,000 species. We furthermore conclude that low-cost MinION sequencers are very suitable for reliable, rapid, and large-scale species discovery in hyperdiverse taxa. MinION sequencing could quickly reveal the extent of the unknown diversity and is especially suitable for biodiverse countries with limited access to capital-intensive sequencing facilities.

scholarly journals Combining tDCS With a Motor-Cognitive Task to Reduce the Negative Impact of Dual-Tasking on the Gait of Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 287-288
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Hausdorff ◽  
Nofar Schneider ◽  
Marina Brozgol ◽  
Pablo Cornejo Thumm ◽  
Nir Giladi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Gait Speed ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Virtual Reality Environment ◽  
Dual Tasking ◽  
Concurrent Performance ◽  
Dual Task Cost

Abstract The simultaneous performance of a secondary task while walking (i.e., dual tasking) increases motor-cognitive interference and fall risk in older adults. Combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with the concurrent performance of a task that putatively involves the same brain networks targeted by the tDCS may reduce the negative impact of dual-tasking on walking. We examined whether tDCS applied while walking reduces the dual-task costs to gait and whether this combination is better than tDCS alone or walking alone (with sham stimulation). In 25 healthy older adults (aged 75.7±10.5yrs), a double-blind, within-subject, cross-over pilot study evaluated the acute after-effects of 20 minutes of tDCS targeting the primary motor cortex and the dorsal lateral pre frontal cortex during three separate sessions:1) tDCS while walking on a treadmill in a virtual-reality environment (tDCS+walking), 2) tDCS while seated (tDCS+seated), and 3) walking in the virtual-reality environment with sham tDCS (sham+walking). The complex walking condition taxed motor and cognitive abilities. During each session, single- and dual-task walking and cognitive function were assessed before and immediately after stimulation. Compared to pre-tDCS performance, tDCS+walking reduced the dual-task cost to gait speed (p=0.004) and other gait features (e.g., variability p=0.02), and improved (p<0.001) executive function (Stroop interference score). tDCS+seated and sham+walking did not affect the dual-task cost to gait speed (p>0.17). These initial findings demonstrate that tDCS delivered during challenging walking ameliorates dual-task gait and executive function in older adults, suggesting that the concurrent performance of related tasks enhances the efficacy of the neural stimulation and mobility.

scholarly journals Is the Occurrence of the Sticking Region in Maximum Smith Machine Squats the Result of Diminishing Potentiation and Co-Contraction of the Prime Movers among Recreationally Resistance Trained Males?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1366
Author(s):  
Roland van den Tillaar ◽  
Eirik Lindset Kristiansen ◽  
Stian Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Gluteus Maximus ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Force Output ◽  
Activation Patterns ◽  
Muscle Activation Patterns ◽  
Prime Movers ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Height Data

This study compared the kinetics, barbell, and joint kinematics and muscle activation patterns between a one-repetition maximum (1-RM) Smith machine squat and isometric squats performed at 10 different heights from the lowest barbell height. The aim was to investigate if force output is lowest in the sticking region, indicating that this is a poor biomechanical region. Twelve resistance trained males (age: 22 ± 5 years, mass: 83.5 ± 39 kg, height: 1.81 ± 0.20 m) were tested. A repeated two-way analysis of variance showed that Force output decreased in the sticking region for the 1-RM trial, while for the isometric trials, force output was lowest between 0–15 cm from the lowest barbell height, data that support the sticking region is a poor biomechanical region. Almost all muscles showed higher activity at 1-RM compared with isometric attempts (p < 0.05). The quadriceps activity decreased, and the gluteus maximus and shank muscle activity increased with increasing height (p ≤ 0.024). Moreover, the vastus muscles decreased only for the 1-RM trial while remaining stable at the same positions in the isometric trials (p = 0.04), indicating that potentiation occurs. Our findings suggest that a co-contraction between the hip and knee extensors, together with potentiation from the vastus muscles during ascent, creates a poor biomechanical region for force output, and thereby the sticking region among recreationally resistance trained males during 1-RM Smith machine squats.

scholarly journals LARGE SCALE CITY MAPPING USING SATELLITE IMAGERY / KOSMINIŲ NUOTRAUKŲ IŠ GOOGLE EARTH, TAIKOMŲ MIESTAMS KARTOGRAFUOTI STAMBIUOJU MASTELIU, REKTIFIKAVIMAS / РЕКТИФИКАЦИЯ КОСМИЧЕСКИХ СНИМКОВ ИЗ GOOGLE EARTH ДЛЯ КРУПНОМАСШТАБНОГО КАРТОГРАФИРОВАНИЯ ГОРОДОВ

2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 168-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birutė Ruzgienė ◽  
Qian Yi Xiang ◽  
Silvija Gečytė
Keyword(s):  
Satellite Imagery ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Control Points ◽  
Image Rectification ◽  
Image Deformation ◽  
Map Construction ◽  
Short Period

The rectification of high resolution digital aerial images or satellite imagery employed for large scale city mapping is modern technology that needs well distributed and accurately defined control points. Digital satellite imagery, obtained using widely known software Google Earth, can be applied for accurate city map construction. The method of five control points is suggested for imagery rectification introducing the algorithm offered by Prof. Ruan Wei (tong ji University, Shanghai). Image rectification software created on the basis of the above suggested algorithm can correct image deformation with required accuracy, is reliable and keeps advantages in flexibility. Experimental research on testing the applied technology has been executed using GeoEye imagery with Google Earth builder over the city of Vilnius. Orthophoto maps at the scales of 1:1000 and 1:500 are generated referring to the methodology of five control points. Reference data and rectification results are checked comparing with those received from processing digital aerial images using a digital photogrammetry approach. The image rectification process applying the investigated method takes a short period of time (about 4-5 minutes) and uses only five control points. The accuracy of the created models satisfies requirements for large scale mapping. Santrauka Didelės skiriamosios gebos skaitmeninių nuotraukų ir kosminių nuotraukų rektifikavimas miestams kartografuoti stambiuoju masteliu yra nauja technologija. Tai atliekant būtini tikslūs ir aiškiai matomi kontroliniai taškai. Skaitmeninės kosminės nuotraukos, gautos taikant plačiai žinomą programinį paketą Google Earth, gali būti naudojamos miestams kartografuoti dideliu tikslumu. Siūloma nuotraukas rektifikuoti Penkių kontrolinių taskų metodu pagal prof. Ruan Wei (Tong Ji universitetas, Šanchajus) algoritmą. Moksliniam eksperimentui pasirinkta Vilniaus GeoEye nuotrauka iš Google Earth. 1:1000 ir 1:500 mastelio ortofotografiniai žemėlapiai sudaromi Penkių kontrolinių taškų metodu. Rektifikavimo duomenys lyginami su skaitmeninių nuotraukų apdorojimo rezultatais, gautais skaitmeninės fotogrametrijos metodu. Nuotraukų rektifikavimas Penkių kontrolinių taskų metodu atitinka kartografavimo stambiuoju masteliu reikalavimus, sumažėja laiko sąnaudos. Резюме Ректификация цифровых и космических снимков высокой резолюции для крупномасштабного картографирования является новой технологией, требующей точных и четких контрольных точек. Цифровые космические снимки, полученные с использованием широкоизвестного программного пакета Google Earth, могут применяться для точного картографирования городов. Для ректификации снимков предложен метод пяти контрольных точек с применением алгоритма проф. Ruan Wei (Университет Tong Ji, Шанхай). Для научного эксперимента использован снимок города Вильнюса GeoEye из Google Earth. Ортофотографические карты в масштабе 1:1000 и 1:500 генерируются с применением метода пяти контрольных точек. Полученные результаты и данные ректификации сравниваются с результатами цифровых снимков, полученных с применением метода цифровой фотограмметрии. Ректификация снимков с применением метода пяти контрольных точек уменьшает временные расходы и удовлетворяет требования, предъявляемые к крупномасштабному картографированию.

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