scholarly journals The Validity of an Oculus Rift to Assess Postural Changes During Balance Tasks

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (8) ◽  
pp. 1340-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Marchetto ◽  
W. Geoffrey Wright
Keyword(s):  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Head Position ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
Postural Changes

Objective: To investigate whether shifts in head position, measured via an Oculus Rift head-mounted display (HMD), is a valid measure of whole-body postural stability. Background: The inverted single-link pendulum model of balance suggests shifts in whole-body center of mass can be estimated from individual body segments. However, whether head position describes postural stability such as center-of-pressure (COP) remains unclear. Method: Participants ( N = 10) performed six conditions while wearing an HMD and performing a previously validated virtual reality (VR)-based balance assessment. COP was recorded with a Wii Balance Board force plate (WBB), while an HMD recorded linear and angular head displacement. Visual input was presented in the HMD (stable scene, dark scene, or dynamic scene) and somatosensory information (with or without foam) was varied across each condition. The HMD time series data were compared with the criterion-measure WBB. Results: Significant correlations were found between COP measures (standard deviation, range, sway area, velocity) and head-centered angular and linear displacements (roll, pitch, mediolateral and anteroposterior directions). Conclusions: The Oculus Rift HMD shows promise as a measure of postural stability without additional posturography equipment. These findings support the application of VR HMD technology for assessment of postural stability across a variety of challenging conditions. Application: The human factors and ergonomic benefit of such an approach is in its portability, low cost, and widespread availability for clinic and home-based investigation of postural disturbances. Fall injury affects millions of people annually, so assessment of fall risk and treatment of the underlying causes has enormous public health benefit.

Emotional State Impacts Center of Pressure Displacement Before Forward Gait Initiation

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Fawver ◽  
Garrett F. Beatty ◽  
Kelly M. Naugle ◽  
Chris J. Hass ◽  
Christopher M. Janelle
Keyword(s):  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Quiet Standing ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Gait Initiation ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Body Movements ◽  
Planning Period ◽  
Postural Changes ◽  
The Impact

Emotional states influence whole-body movements during quiet standing, gait initiation, and steady state gait. A notable gap exists, however, in understanding how emotions affect postural changes during the period preceding the execution of planned whole-body movements. The impact of emotion-induced postural reactions on forthcoming posturomotor movements remains unknown. We sought to determine the influence of emotional reactions on center of pressure (COP) displacement before the initiation of forward gait. Participants (N = 23, 14 females) stood on a force plate and initiated forward gait at the offset of an emotional image (representing five discrete categories: attack, sad faces, erotica, happy faces, and neutral objects). COP displacement in the anteroposterior direction was quantified for a 2 second period during image presentation. Following picture onset, participants produced a posterior postural response to all image types. The greatest posterior displacement was occasioned in response to attack or threat stimuli compared with happy faces and erotica images. Results suggest the impact of emotional states on gait behavior begins during the motor planning period before the preparatory phase of gait initiation, and manifests in center of pressure displacement alterations.

scholarly journals The Effect of Short-Time Pre-Season Intensive, Neuromuscular Training on Postural Stability on Elite Football Players

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (11_suppl3) ◽  
pp. 2325967114S0020
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Kowalczyk ◽  
Natalia Łoboda ◽  
Robert Śmigielski ◽  
Marcin Popieluch
Keyword(s):  
Postural Balance ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Sport Performance ◽  
Neuromuscular Training ◽  
Football Players ◽  
Professional Football ◽  
Professional Soccer ◽  
Somatosensory Information ◽  
Short Time

Objectives: Adequate neuromuscular training is proven to be of enormous importance in the prevention of injuries. It enhances the ability to use somatosensory information, which improves postural capabilities, reduces injury ratios and improves player’s sport performance. We hypothesized that a short-time (3 week) intensive neuromuscular training would significantly improve postural balance of professional football players. We also hypothesized that the non-dominant leg of football players would show a better level of stability than the dominant leg (kicking leg). Methods: Sixteen professional soccer players participated in the study. They were tested before and after the 3-week training period. The controlled grup consisted of 20 players that were tested twice in 3-week period. The study was performed with a use of stabliographic platform, which is based on the measurement and analysis of center of pressure movement (COP). Players were tested during one leg stance with eyes opened and closed. Results: After a period of neuromuscular training football players show statistically better postural control (p <0.05) for both the dominant and non-dominant leg for the test with eyes open and also comparing to the controlled group. The non-dominant leg did not show a better level of stability than the dominant leg. Conclusion: The postural stability of professional football players was better after the 3-week intensive neuromuscular training. A combination of balance, coordination, agility, core and trunk control appears to be a successful training schedule to improve postural balance and reduce injury in football.

The Effects of Acute and Long-Term Whole-Body Vibration Training on the Postural Control During Cognitive Task in Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Seyed Abolfazl Tohidast ◽  
Rasool Bagheri ◽  
Ziaeddin Safavi-Farokhi ◽  
Mohammad Khaleghi Hashemian ◽  
Cyrus Taghizadeh Delkhosh
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Ankle Instability ◽  
Lateral Displacement ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Chronic Ankle Instability ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
The Mean

Context: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common problem associated with impaired postural stability. Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been developed to improve muscle function and reportedly improves postural stability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12 sessions of WBV on postural control during standing postural task in participants with CAI. Design: A controlled clinical trial study. Methods: Sixteen participants with CAI and 16 healthy participants aged between 20 and 40 years included in this study. They received WBV (30-Hz frequency, 3 series of four 45-s exercises with a 45-s rest) for a total of 12 sessions, 2 session per week for 6 weeks. Postural control was assessed by center of pressure (COP) parameters, including mean and SD in the anterior–posterior and medial–lateral displacement during single-leg standing. Assessments were done before and immediately after the first session and after the 12th session of WBV, with opened and closed eyes associated with easy and difficult cognitive tasks. Results: The results showed that the SD of COP displacement in the x-axis was significant in eyes opened and SD of COP displacement in the x- and y-axes were significant between groups in the eyes-opened, and eyes-closed conditions (P < .05). Analysis of variance indicated that the effect of WBV training was significant for the mean of COP displacement in the y-axis. Post hoc indicated that the effect of 12 sessions of WBV on the mean of COP displacement was significant in the CAI group (P < .05). However, the acute effect of WBV was not significant on the COP displacement in all axes (P > .05). Conclusion: Higher postural sway associated with postural cognitive interactions might be considered in the rehabilitation of CAI. Twelve sessions of WBV might induce some improvement in postural control with the method of WBV used in this study.

scholarly journals Wavelet Decomposition in Analysis of Impact of Virtual Reality Head Mounted Display Systems on Postural Stability

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 7138
Author(s):  
Piotr Wodarski ◽  
Jacek Jurkojć ◽  
Marek Gzik
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Wavelet Decomposition ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Low Frequencies ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Intermediate Value ◽  
Display Systems

This study investigated how spatial projection systems influences body balance including postural stability. Analyzing precisely defined frequency bands of movements of the center of pressure makes it possible to determine the effectiveness of the balance system’s response to disruptions and disorders and may be used as an indicator in the diagnosis of motor dysfunction. The study involved 28 participants for whom the center of pressure was assessed in a test with open eyes, closed eyes and with virtual reality projection. Percent distributions of energy during wavelet decomposition were calculated. Changes in body stability were determined for the virtual reality tests and these changes were classified as an intermediate value between the open-eyes test and the closed-eyes test. The results indicate the importance of using safety support systems in therapies involving Virtual Reality. The results also show the necessity of measurements times in stabilographic evaluations in order to conduct a more thorough analysis of very low frequencies of the center of pressure signal.

scholarly journals Minimal shoes improve stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Cudejko ◽  
James Gardiner ◽  
Asangaedem Akpan ◽  
Kristiaan D’Août
Keyword(s):  
Fall Prevention ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Stability Margin ◽  
Timed Up And Go ◽  
Balance Test ◽  
Margin Of Stability ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
History Of ◽  
Falls In Older Adults

AbstractPostural and walking instabilities contribute to falls in older adults. Given that shoes affect human locomotor stability and that visual, cognitive and somatosensory systems deteriorate during aging, we aimed to: (1) compare the effects of footwear type on stability and mobility in persons with a history of falls, and (2) determine whether the effect of footwear type on stability is altered by the absence of visual input or by an additional cognitive load. Thirty participants performed standing and walking trials in three footwear conditions, i.e. conventional shoes, minimal shoes, and barefoot. The outcomes were: (1) postural stability (movement of the center of pressure during eyes open/closed), (2) walking stability (Margin of Stability during normal/dual-task walking), (3) mobility (the Timed Up and Go test and the Star Excursion Balance test), and (4) perceptions of the shoes (Monitor Orthopaedic Shoes questionnaire). Participants were more stable during standing and walking in minimal shoes than in conventional shoes, independent of visual or walking condition. Minimal shoes were more beneficial for mobility than conventional shoes and barefoot. This study supports the need for longitudinal studies investigating whether minimal footwear is more beneficial for fall prevention in older people than conventional footwear.

scholarly journals Comparison of superficial wound documentation using 2D forensic photography, 3D photogrammetry, Botscan© and VR with real-life examination

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 422-430
Author(s):  
Federico Massini ◽  
Lars Ebert ◽  
Garyfalia Ampanozi ◽  
Sabine Franckenberg ◽  
Lena Benz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Standard ◽  
3D Visualization ◽  
Real Life ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Technical Documentation ◽  
Forensic Photography ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractEvidence acquisition, interpretation and preservation are essential parts of forensic case work that make a standardized documentation process fundamental. The most commonly used method for the documentation and interpretation of superficial wounds is a combination of two modalities: two-dimensional (2D) photography for evidence preservation and real-life examination for wound analysis. As technologies continue to develop, 2D photography is being enhanced with three-dimensional (3D) documentation technology. In our study, we compared the real-life examination of superficial wounds using four different technical documentation and visualization methods.To test the different methods, a mannequin was equipped with several injury stickers, and then the different methods were applied. A total of 42 artificial injury stickers were documented in regard to orientation, form, color, size, wound borders, wound corners and suspected mechanism of injury for the injury mechanism. As the gold standard, superficial wounds were visually examined by two board-certified forensic pathologists directly on the mannequin. These results were compared to an examination using standard 2D forensic photography; 2D photography using the multicamera system Botscan©, which included predefined viewing positions all around the body; and 3D photogrammetric reconstruction based on images visualized both on screen and in a virtual reality (VR) using a head-mounted display (HMD).The results of the gold standard examination showed that the two forensic pathologists had an inter-reader agreement ranging from 69% for the orientation and 11% for the size of the wounds. A substantial portion of the direct visual documentation showed only a partial overlap, especially for the items of size and color, thereby prohibiting the statistical comparison of these two items. A forest plot analysis of the remaining six items showed no significant difference between the methods. We found that among the forensic pathologists, there was high variability regarding the vocabulary used for the description of wound morphology, which complicated the exact comparison of the two documentations of the same wound.There were no significant differences for any of the four methods compared to the gold standard, thereby challenging the role of real-life examination and 2D photography as the most reliable documentation approaches. Further studies with real injuries are necessary to support our evaluation that technical examination methods involving multicamera systems and 3D visualization for whole-body examination might be a valid alternative in future forensic documentation.

Stance- and Locomotion-Dependent Processing of Vibration-Induced Proprioceptive Inflow From Multiple Muscles in Humans

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 772-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grégoire Courtine ◽  
Alessandro Marco De Nunzio ◽  
Micaela Schmid ◽  
Maria Vittoria Beretta ◽  
Marco Schieppati
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
The Body ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Muscle Vibration ◽  
Mapping Study ◽  
Body Mapping ◽  
Neck Muscle Vibration ◽  
Postural Changes ◽  
Postural Orientation

We performed a whole-body mapping study of the effect of unilateral muscle vibration, eliciting spindle Ia firing, on the control of standing and walking in humans. During quiet stance, vibration applied to various muscles of the trunk-neck system and of the lower limb elicited a significant tilt in whole body postural orientation. The direction of vibration-induced postural tilt was consistent with a response compensatory for the illusory lengthening of the stimulated muscles. During walking, trunk-neck muscle vibration induced ample deviations of the locomotor trajectory toward the side opposite to the stimulation site. In contrast, no significant modifications of the locomotor trajectory could be detected when vibrating various muscles of the lower as well as upper limb. The absence of correlation between the effects of muscle vibration during walking and standing dismisses the possibility that vibration-induced postural changes can account for the observed deviations of the locomotor trajectory during walking. We conclude that the dissimilar effects of trunk-neck and lower limb muscle vibration during walking and standing reflect a general sensory-motor plan, whereby muscle Ia input is processed according to both the performed task and the body segment from which the sensory inflow arises.

Utilization of the Oculus Rift HMD in Mobile Robot Teleoperation

2014 ◽  
Vol 555 ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Kot ◽  
Petr Novák
Keyword(s):  
User Interface ◽  
Remote Control ◽  
Mobile Robots ◽  
Graphical User Interface ◽  
Additional Data ◽  
Mobile Robotics ◽  
3D Display ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
In The Beginning

This paper mentions some problems related to utilization of a head-mounted display (HMD) for remote control of mobile robots by a human operator and also presents a possible solution. Considered is specifically the new HMD device called Oculus Rift, which is a very interesting device because of its great parameters and low price. The device is described in the beginning, together with some of the specific principles of the Oculus 3D display. Then follows the design of a new graphical user interface for teleoperation, with main focus on visualization of stereoscopic images from robot cameras. Demonstrated is also a way how to display additional data and information to the operator. The overall aim is to create a comfortable and highly effective interface suitable both for exploration and manipulation tasks in mobile robotics.

Who is in the Room? Notification for Intrusions While in Virtual Reality

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 521-525
Author(s):  
Aaron Crowson ◽  
Zachary H. Pugh ◽  
Michael Wilkinson ◽  
Christopher B. Mayhorn
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Visual Field ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Visual Modality ◽  
Auditory Modality ◽  
Oculus Rift ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Orientation Type

The development of head-mounted display virtual reality systems (e.g., Oculus Rift, HTC Vive) has resulted in an increasing need to represent the physical world while immersed in the virtual. Current research has focused on representing static objects in the physical room, but there has been little research into notifying VR users of changes in the environment. This study investigates how different sensory modalities affect noticeability and comprehension of notifications designed to alert head-mounted display users when a person enters his/her area of use. In addition, this study investigates how the use of an orientation type notification aids in perception of alerts that manifest outside a virtual reality users’ visual field. Results of a survey indicated that participants perceived the auditory modality as more effective regardless of notification type. An experiment corroborated these findings for the person notifications; however, the visual modality was in practice more effective for orientation notifications.

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