DEVELOPMENT OF A SEATED DEVICE FOR MEASURING DIURNAL VARIABILITY IN SPINAL COMPRESSION

2003 ◽  
Vol 07 (01) ◽  
pp. 49-60
Author(s):  
Donna Haiduven ◽  
Andrea Baptiste ◽  
Stephen Luther ◽  
John D. Lloyd ◽  
Stuart Wilkinson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Back Pain ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Specific Exercise ◽  
Diurnal Variability ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
Spinal Compression ◽  
The Relationship

Research on external spinal compression has consisted mainly of laboratory-based evaluations of specific exercise interventions on spinal compression in athletes and industrial employees. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the reliability of a seated stadiometry device for measuring external spinal compression in a sample of nurses and non-nurses. This research will be used to study nurses in future studies. Twenty-three subjects were marked externally at the C7 spinal process. Two investigators collected measures of seated spinal length. Six measurements were taken within a five-minute period on the morning of day one, repeated four hours later, and one week later. Comparisons were made using ANOVA between (1) three sets of repeated measures; (2) inhalation and exhalation; (3) morning and afternoon sessions; and (4) weeks one to two. A statistically significant differece was found in mean measures of displacement (-2.29 mm to -4.07 mm) between morning and afternoon but not between inhalation and exhalation or in successive weeks. Inter-rater reliability between two investigators was excellent. The stadiometer proved highly reliable. It will be used to investigate the relationship between spinal compression and back pain in nurses in the workplace.

scholarly journals Disco Time: The Relationship Between Perceived Duration and Tempo in Music

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 205920432098638
Author(s):  
David Hammerschmidt ◽  
Clemens Wöllner ◽  
Justin London ◽  
Birgitta Burger
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Musical Experience ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
The Absolute ◽  
Musical Tempo ◽  
Duration Measure ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Absolute Duration ◽  
Perceived Duration

Our perception of the duration of a piece of music is related to its tempo. When listening to music, absolute durations may seem longer as the tempo—the rate of an underlying pulse or beat—increases. Yet, the perception of tempo itself is not absolute. In a study on perceived tempo, participants were able to distinguish between different tempo-shifted versions of the same song (± 5 beats per minute (BPM)), yet their tempo ratings did not match the actual BPM rates; this finding was called tempo anchoring effect (TAE). In order to gain further insights into the relation between duration and tempo perception in music, the present study investigated the effect of musical tempo on two different duration measures, to see if there is an analog to the TAE in duration perception. Using a repeated-measures design, 32 participants (16 musicians) were randomly presented with instrumental excerpts of Disco songs at the original tempi and in tempo-shifted versions. The tasks were (a) to reproduce the absolute duration of each stimulus (14–20 s), (b) to estimate the absolute duration of the stimuli in seconds, and (c) to rate the perceived tempo. Results show that duration reproductions were longer with faster tempi, yet no such effect was found for duration estimations. Thus, lower-level reproductions were affected by the tempo, but higher-level estimations were not. The tempo-shifted versions showed no effect on both duration measures, suggesting that the tempo difference for the duration-lengthening effect requires a difference of at least 20 BPM, depending on the duration measure. Results of perceived tempo replicated the typical rating pattern of the TAE, but this was not found in duration measures. The roles of spontaneous motor tempo and musical experience are discussed, and implications for future studies are given.

scholarly journals Psychosocial Moderators and Mediators of Sensorimotor Exercise in Low Back Pain: A Randomized Multicenter Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pia-Maria Wippert ◽  
Daniel Niederer ◽  
David Drießlein ◽  
Heidrun Beck ◽  
Winfried Banzer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Psychosocial Characteristics ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Exercise Effect ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
The Relationship

The effects of exercise interventions on unspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP) have been investigated in many studies, but the results are inconclusive regarding exercise types, efficiency, and sustainability. This may be because the influence of psychosocial factors on exercise induced adaptation regarding CLBP is neglected. Therefore, this study assessed psychosocial characteristics, which moderate and mediate the effects of sensorimotor exercise on LBP. A single-blind 3-arm multicenter randomized controlled trial was conducted for 12-weeks. Three exercise groups, sensorimotor exercise (SMT), sensorimotor and behavioral training (SMT-BT), and regular routines (CG) were randomly assigned to 662 volunteers. Primary outcomes (pain intensity and disability) and psychosocial characteristics were assessed at baseline (M1) and follow-up (3/6/12/24 weeks, M2-M5). Multiple regression models were used to analyze whether psychosocial characteristics are moderators of the relationship between exercise and pain, meaning that psychosocial factors and exercise interact. Causal mediation analysis were conducted to analyze, whether psychosocial characteristics mediate the exercise effect on pain. A total of 453 participants with intermittent pain (mean age = 39.5 ± 12.2 years, f = 62%) completed the training. It was shown, that depressive symptomatology (at M4, M5), vital exhaustion (at M4), and perceived social support (at M5) are significant moderators of the relationship between exercise and the reduction of pain intensity. Further depressive mood (at M4), social-satisfaction (at M4), and anxiety (at M5 SMT) significantly moderate the exercise effect on pain disability. The amount of moderation was of clinical relevance. In contrast, there were no psychosocial variables which mediated exercise effects on pain. In conclusion it was shown, that psychosocial variables can be moderators in the relationship between sensorimotor exercise induced adaptation on CLBP which may explain conflicting results in the past regarding the merit of exercise interventions in CLBP. Results suggest further an early identification of psychosocial risk factors by diagnostic tools, which may essential support the planning of personalized exercise therapy.Level of Evidence: Level I.Clinical Trial Registration: DRKS00004977, LOE: I, MiSpEx: grant-number: 080102A/11-14. https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00004977.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between Submaximal Activity of the Lumbar Extensor Muscles and Lumbar Posteroanterior Stiffnesss

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Shirley ◽  
Michael Lee ◽  
Elizabeth Ellis
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Spinous Process ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Increased Activity

Abstract Background and Purpose. Some patients with low back pain are thought to have increased lumbar posteroanterior (PA) stiffness. Increased activity of the lumbar extensors could contribute to this stiffness. This activity may be seen when a PA force is applied and is thought to represent much less force than occurs with a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Although MVCs of the lumbar extensors are known to increase lumbar PA stiffness, the effect of small amounts of voluntary contraction is not known. In this study, the effect of varying amounts of voluntary isometric muscle activity of the lumbar extensors on lumbar PA stiffness was examined. Subjects. Twenty subjects without low back pain, aged 26 to 45 years (X̄=34, SD=5.6), participated in the study. Methods. Subjects were asked to perform an isometric MVC of their lumbar extensor muscles with their pelvis fixed by exerting a force against a steel plate located over their T4 spinous process. They were then asked to perform contractions generating force equivalent to 0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100% of that obtained with an MVC. Posteroanterior stiffness at L4 was measured during these contractions. Results. A Friedman one-way analysis of variance for repeated measures demonstrated a difference in PA stiffness among all levels of muscle activity. Conclusion and Discussion. Voluntary contraction of the lumbar extensor muscles will result in an increase in lumbar PA stiffness even at low levels of activity.

scholarly journals Spinal movement variability associated with low back pain: A scoping review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0252141
Author(s):  
Hiroki Saito ◽  
Yoshiteru Watanabe ◽  
Toshiki Kutsuna ◽  
Toshihiro Futohashi ◽  
Yasuaki Kusumoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Statistical Tools ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Spinal Movement ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Scoping Reviews

Objective To identify suggestions for future research on spinal movement variability (SMV) in individuals with low back pain (LBP) by investigating (1) the methodologies and statistical tools used to assess SMV; (2) characteristics that influence the direction of change in SMV; (3) the methodological quality and potential biases in the published studies; and (4) strategies for optimizing SMV in LBP patients. Methods We searched literature databases (CENTRAL, Medline, PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL) and comprehensively reviewed the relevant papers up to 5 May 2020. Eligibility criteria included studies investigating SMV in LBP subjects by measuring trunk angle using motion capture devices during voluntary repeated trunk movements in any plane. The Newcastle-Ottawa risk of bias tool was used for data quality assessment. Results were reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Results Eighteen studies were included: 14 cross-sectional and 4 prospective studies. Seven linear and non-linear statistical tools were used. Common movement tasks included trunk forward bending and backward return, and object lifting. Study results on SMV changes associated with LBP were inconsistent. Two of the three interventional studies reported changes in SMV, one of which was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving neuromuscular exercise interventions. Many studies did not account for the potential risk of selection bias in the LBP population. Conclusion Designers of future studies should recognize that each of the two types of statistical tools assesses functionally different aspects of SMV. Future studies should also consider dividing participants into subgroups according to LBP characteristics, as three potential subgroups with different SMV characteristics were proposed in our study. Different task demands also produced different effects. We found preliminary evidence in a RCT that neuromuscular exercises could modify SMV, suggesting a rationale for well-designed RCTs involving neuromuscular exercise interventions in future studies.

Acceptability of Assisted Suicide in Patients With Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

GeroPsych ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sophie Gloeckler ◽  
Manuel Trachsel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Shared Values ◽  
Psychiatric Nurses ◽  
Attitudes And Beliefs ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Persistent Mental Illness ◽  
Moral Attitudes

Abstract. In Switzerland, assisted suicide (AS) may be granted on the basis of a psychiatric diagnosis. This pilot study explored the moral attitudes and beliefs of nurses regarding these practices through a quantitative survey of 38 psychiatric nurses. The pilot study, which serves to inform hypothesis development and future studies, showed that participating nurses supported AS and valued the reduction of suffering in patients with severe persistent mental illness. Findings were compared with those from a previously published study presenting the same questions to psychiatrists. The key differences between nurses’ responses and psychiatrists’ may reflect differences in the burden of responsibility, while similarities might capture shared values worth considering when determining treatment efforts. More information is needed to determine whether these initial findings represent nurses’ views more broadly.

Inducing Unconscious Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-201
Author(s):  
Melanie M. van der Ploeg ◽  
Jos F. Brosschot ◽  
Markus Quirin ◽  
Richard D. Lane ◽  
Bart Verkuil
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Implicit Measures ◽  
Prime Word ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Priming Task ◽  
Subject Design ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Stress And Health

Abstract. Stress-related stimuli may be presented outside of awareness and may ultimately influence health by causing repetitive increases in physiological parameters, such as blood pressure (BP). In this study, we aimed to corroborate previous studies that demonstrated BP effects of subliminally presented stress-related stimuli. This would add evidence to the hypothesis that unconscious manifestations of stress can affect somatic health. Additionally, we suggest that these findings may be extended by measuring affective changes relating to these physiological changes, using measures for self-reported and implicit positive and negative affectivity. Using a repeated measures between-subject design, we presented either the prime word “angry” ( n = 26) or “relax” ( n = 28) subliminally (17 ms) for 100 trials to a student sample and measured systolic and diastolic BP, heart rate (HR), and affect. The “angry” prime, compared to the “relax” prime, did not affect any of the outcome variables. During the priming task, a higher level of implicit negative affect (INA) was associated with a lower systolic BP and diastolic BP. No association was found with HR. Self-reported affect and implicit positive affect were not related to the cardiovascular (CV) activity. In sum, anger and relax primes elicited similar CV activity patterns, but implicit measures of affect may provide a new method to examine the relationship between (unconscious) stress and health.

Correction of Posture Deviations in the Sagittal Plane Using the Pilates Method

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-13
Author(s):  
Alexandru Cîtea ◽  
George-Sebastian Iacob
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Pilates Method ◽  
The Relationship

Posture is commonly perceived as the relationship between the segments of the human body upright. Certain parts of the body such as the cephalic extremity, neck, torso, upper and lower limbs are involved in the final posture of the body. Musculoskeletal instabilities and reduced postural control lead to the installation of nonstructural posture deviations in all 3 anatomical planes. When we talk about the sagittal plane, it was concluded that there are 4 main types of posture deviation: hyperlordotic posture, kyphotic posture, rectitude and "sway-back" posture.Pilates method has become in the last decade a much more popular formof exercise used in rehabilitation. The Pilates method is frequently prescribed to people with low back pain due to their orientation on the stabilizing muscles of the pelvis. Pilates exercise is thus theorized to help reactivate the muscles and, by doingso, increases lumbar support, reduces pain, and improves body alignment.

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