scholarly journals Development of New Soft Wearable Balance Exercise Device Using Pneumatic Gel Muscles

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (15) ◽  
pp. 3108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masataka Yamamoto ◽  
Yusuke Kishishita ◽  
Koji Shimatani ◽  
Yuichi Kurita
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Lightweight Design ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Peak Acceleration ◽  
Small Perturbations ◽  
Balance Exercise

Decreased ability to control posture is correlated with the risk of falls among older individuals. In particular, reactive postural control ability response to even small perturbations is important for fall prevention of older individuals. The current study sought to design a new wearable assistive device for improving balance function by generating small perturbations using pneumatic gel muscle (PGM). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of using the proposed device for balance training. The proposed wearable balance exercise device utilized PGMs possessing various features, such as a lightweight design and the ability to generate small perturbations with a small power source. We investigated the effects of the device on reactive postural control exercises. Seven healthy participants participated in this study. Three-dimensional acceleration data (Ax, Ay, and Az) were measured from participants during a single leg stance in each session. The peak Ax value generated by perturbations and responses significantly differed from baseline peak acceleration. The peak Ay value caused by perturbations was significantly decreased compared with baseline peak acceleration. In addition, the root mean square Ax value of the post-test significantly decreased compared with the pre-test value. Our results revealed that the proposed wearable balance exercise device was able to create small perturbations for assessing reactive postural balance control. Furthermore, the device was able to improve users’ stability.

scholarly journals An Engineering Model of Human Balance Control—Part I: Biomechanical Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Barton ◽  
Anindo Roy ◽  
John D. Sorkin ◽  
Mark W. Rogers ◽  
Richard Macko
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Dynamics ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Dimensional Space ◽  
Young Subject ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Biomechanical Model ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Inverse Dynamics Analysis

We developed a balance measurement tool (the balanced reach test (BRT)) to assess standing balance while reaching and pointing to a target moving in three-dimensional space according to a sum-of-sines function. We also developed a three-dimensional, 13-segment biomechanical model to analyze performance in this task. Using kinematic and ground reaction force (GRF) data from the BRT, we performed an inverse dynamics analysis to compute the forces and torques applied at each of the joints during the course of a 90 s test. We also performed spectral analyses of each joint's force activations. We found that the joints act in a different but highly coordinated manner to accomplish the tracking task—with individual joints responding congruently to different portions of the target disk's frequency spectrum. The test and the model also identified clear differences between a young healthy subject (YHS), an older high fall risk (HFR) subject before participating in a balance training intervention; and in the older subject's performance after training (which improved to the point that his performance approached that of the young subject). This is the first phase of an effort to model the balance control system with sufficient physiological detail and complexity to accurately simulate the multisegmental control of balance during functional reach across the spectra of aging, medical, and neurological conditions that affect performance. Such a model would provide insight into the function and interaction of the biomechanical and neurophysiological elements making up this system; and system adaptations to changes in these elements' performance and capabilities.

scholarly journals The Effect of Training Experience on Postural Control in Competitive Wrestlers

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marian Rzepko ◽  
Sławomir Drozd ◽  
Patrycja Żegleń ◽  
Paweł Król ◽  
Wojciech Bajorek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Force Plate ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trajectory Data ◽  
Training Experience

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of training experience in wrestling on postural control. Fourteen elite athletes with at least 8 years of wrestling training and competition experience participated in the study. The control group consisted of fifteen healthy adults who were not competitive athletes. The center of pressure (COP) trajectories were recorded with the use of an AMTI force plate at a sampling frequency of 50 Hz. The rambling-trembling decomposition method was used to analyze the COP trajectory data. The main finding was a significant effect of training experience on postural control in only the sagittal plane. Interestingly, significant differences in velocity were observed for the trembling component of the COP. All described variables were significantly higher in wrestlers. We hypothesized that balance training may lead to task-specific neural adaptations at the spinal and supraspinal levels. It was concluded that further research of high methodological quality is needed to determine the effect of training experience on balance control in elite athletes. Additionally, this effect should be observed in youth athletes, as it may be treated as a selection criteria in the training process.

scholarly journals Kinematic and Kinetic Analysis of Horticultural Activities for Postural Control and Balance Training

HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1541-1552
Author(s):  
A-Young Lee ◽  
Sin-Ae Park ◽  
Young-Jin Moon ◽  
Ki-Cheol Son
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Kinetic Characteristics ◽  
3D Motion Analysis

The objective of this study was to analyze the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of eight horticultural activities (HAs): digging, raking, sowing seeds, transplanting plants, near-distance weeding, far-distance weeding, low-height harvesting, and high-height harvesting. Twenty-four male university students (average age, 23.4 ± 2.9 years) participated in this study. Balance and postural stability factors [e.g., center of mass (CoM), ground reaction force (GRF), and center of pressure (CoP)] and postural control strategy factors (e.g., joint angles, joint moment, and muscle activation of the trunk and lower limbs) were assessed using a three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system, force platform, and surface electromyography. A total of eight HAs were distinguished in three motions: stepping, squatting, and stooping. In performing the eight HAs, CoM shifting occurred and balance of the subjects became unstable. These forced compensatory motor strategies to maintain balance by exertion of GRF from the two feet, movement of the CoP, and a combination of musculoskeletal system exercises of the lower limbs and trunk occurred. The kinematic and kinetic characteristics of lower limb motions were significantly different across the HAs (P = 0.05). The kinematic and kinetic characteristics of HAs were similar to those of the functional tasks during balance improvement training motions and activities of daily living. The current study provides useful reference data for developing a horticultural therapy program for balance improvement in patients who need physical rehabilitation.

“Going Backward”: Effects of age and fatigue on posterior-directed falls in Parkinson disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Evan V. Papa ◽  
Rita M. Patterson ◽  
Nicoleta Bugnariu
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Parkinson Disease ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Angular Displacement ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fatiguing Exercise

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of persons with Parkinson disease (PD) report fatigue as a factor in their fall history. However, it is unknown whether these self-reported falls are caused by a sensation of fatigue or performance fatigue. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the influences of performance fatigue and age on postural control in persons with PD. METHODS: Individuals with PD (n = 14) underwent postural control assessments before (T0) and immediately after (T1) fatiguing exercise. Biomechanical data were gathered on participants completing a treadmill-induced, posterior-directed fall. Performance fatigue was produced using lower extremity resistance exercise on an isokinetic ergometer. Repeated measures ANCOVAs were used with age as a covariate to determine the effects of performance fatigue on biomechanical variables. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, there was a statistically significant difference in peak center of pressure (COP) latency during the support phase of recovery. Pairwise comparisons demonstrated a decrease in peak ankle displacement from T0 to T1. Age was also found to be significantly related to reaction time and peak knee displacement while participants were fatigued. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased peak COP latency, along with decreased ankle angular displacement, suggest that persons with PD adopt a stiffening strategy in response to backward directed falls. Postural stiffening is not uncommon in persons with PD and could be a risk factor for falls. Older individuals with PD demonstrate slower mobility scores and decreased reaction times in the setting of fatigue, suggesting a combined effect of the aging and fatigue processes.

scholarly journals Balance and motion coordination parameters can be improved in patients with type 2 diabetes with physical balance training: non-randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Artur Stolarczyk ◽  
Igor Jarzemski ◽  
Bartosz M. Maciąg ◽  
Kuba Radzimowski ◽  
Maciej Świercz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Muscle Coordination ◽  
Risk Of Falling ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a cause of multiple complications, including retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy. These complications are well understood and believed to contribute to gait instability. Poor balance control and increased falling risk have also been reported in people with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Patients with DPN have increased risk of falling due to decreased proprioceptive feedback. Effective balance training should improve postural control in patients with DPN. For this purpose further evaluation was conducted and balance training was designed. Methods The goal of our study was to determine values of proprioception, balance, muscle coordination and strength in patients with T2D and analyze whether biofeedback balance training with use of the Biodex Balance System could improve these parameters. To assess the fall risk the general stability index (GSI), the index of frontal-posterior (FPI) and medial–lateral (MLI) stability were evaluated. 37 patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited to this study. Their results were compared with control group consisting of 41 healthy participants who were homogenic to the study group in terms of age and body mass index (BMI). Results There were statistically significant differences between patients with diabetes compared to healthy subjects in GSI (2.79 vs 1.1), FPI (1.66 vs 0.7), MLI (0.88 vs 0.52) and risk of falling (5.18 vs 2.72) p < 0.05. There were also statistically significant changes before and after training in all stability indices (GSI: 2.79 vs 1.26, FPI: 1.66 vs 0.77, MLI: 0.88 vs 0.54 accordingly) p < 0.05 and risk of falling (5.18 vs 3.87) p < 0.05 in the study group who had undergone training with biofeedback. Conclusions This study found that there is a decreased balance and motor coordination and an increased risk of falling in patients with type 2 diabetes. These parameters improved in patients who have undergone training programme with biofeedback. Furthermore, an age-dependent deprivation of static balance was observed along with an increased risk of falling as a result of increasing BMI.

STEADY FLOWS OF VISCOUS COMPRESSIBLE FLUIDS IN EXTERIOR DOMAINS UNDER SMALL PERTURBATIONS OF GREAT POTENTIAL FORCES

1993 ◽  
Vol 03 (06) ◽  
pp. 725-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANTONÍN NOVOTNÝ
Keyword(s):  
Existence And Uniqueness ◽  
Compressible Flows ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Compressible Fluids ◽  
Steady Flows ◽  
Exterior Domains ◽  
Uniqueness Of Solutions ◽  
Small Perturbations ◽  
Zero Velocity ◽  
Potential Forces

We investigate the steady compressible flows in three-dimensional exterior domains, in R3 and [Formula: see text], under the action of small perturbations of large potential forces and zero velocity at infinity. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions in L2-spaces, and study their regularity as well as the decay at infinity.

The Contribution of Hearing and Hearing Loss to Balance Control

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Vitkovic ◽  
Carmen Le ◽  
Su-Ling Lee ◽  
Ross A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Balance Control ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Centre Of Pressure ◽  
Auditory Cues ◽  
Sensory Weighting ◽  
Acoustic Environments ◽  
Pressure Analysis

This study investigated the hypothesis that a hearing ‘map' of our surroundings is used to maintain balance control. We investigated the effects of sound on postural sway using centre of pressure analysis in 50 subjects with normal hearing, 28 with hearing loss and 19 with vestibular dysfunction. The acoustic environments utilized sound cues that were either present or absent. It was found that auditory cues are utilized by subjects with normal hearing to improve postural sway. The ability to utilize sound for postural control is diminished when there is a hearing loss, but this appears to be overcome by the use of a hearing aid. Patients with additional vestibular deficits exploit auditory cues to a greater degree, suggesting that sensory weighting to enhance the use of auditory cues may be applied when there is diminished sensory redundancy.

Static and dynamic postural control in long-term microgravity: evidence of a dual adaptation

2001 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Baroni ◽  
Alessandra Pedrocchi ◽  
Giancarlo Ferrigno ◽  
Jean Massion ◽  
Antonio Pedotti
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Center Of Mass ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Movement Analysis ◽  
Trunk Flexion ◽  
Dynamic Movement ◽  
Static Body

The adaptation of dynamic movement-posture coordination during forward trunk bending was investigated in long-term weightlessness. Three-dimensional movement analysis was carried out in two astronauts during a 4-mo microgravity exposure. The principal component analysis was applied to joint-angle kinematics for the assessment of angular synergies. The anteroposterior center of mass (CM) displacement accompanying trunk flexion was also quantified. The results reveal that subjects kept typically terrestrial strategies of movement-posture coordination. The temporary disruption of joint-angular synergies observed at subjects' first in-flight session was promptly recovered when repetitive sessions in flight were analyzed. The CM anteroposterior shift was consistently <3–4 cm, suggesting that subjects could dynamically control the CM position throughout the whole flight. This is in contrast to the observed profound microgravity-induced disruption of the quasi-static body orientation and initial CM positioning. Although this study was based on only two subjects, evidence is provided that static and dynamic postural control might be under two separate mechanisms, adapting with their specific time course to the constraints of microgravity.

Postural control using a vibratory feedback system for balance training in the elderly

2008 ◽  
pp. 263-270
Author(s):  
T Ifukube ◽  
Y Oyama ◽  
S Shirogane ◽  
T Izumi ◽  
Y Maeda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postural Control ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Feedback System ◽  
The Elderly

scholarly journals Postural control learning dynamics in Parkinson’s disease: early ‎improvement with plateau in stability, and continuous progression in ‎flexibility and mobility

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Rahmati ◽  
Saeed Behzadipour ◽  
Alfred C. Schouten ◽  
Ghorban Taghizadeh ◽  
Keikhosrow Firoozbakhsh
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Postural Control ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Center Of Pressure ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Learning Dynamics ◽  
Early Improvement ◽  
Model Based

Abstract Background: Balance training improves postural control in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, a systematic approach for the development of individualized, optimal training programs is still lacking, as the learning dynamics of the postural control in PD, over a training program are poorly understood. Objectives: We investigated the learning dynamics of the postural control in PD, during a balance-training program, in terms of the clinical, posturographic, and novel model-based measures. Methods: Twenty patients with PD participated in a balance-training program, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. Clinical tests assessed functional balance and mobility pre-training, mid-training, and post-training. Center-of-pressure (COP) was recorded at four time-points during the training (pre-, week 2, week 4, and post-training). COP was used to calculate the sway measures and to identify the parameters of a patient-specific postural control model, at each time-point. The posturographic and model-based measures constituted the two sets of stability- and flexibility-related measures. Results: Mobility- and flexibility-related measures showed a continuous improvement during the balance-training program. In particular, mobility improved at mid-training and continued to improve to the end of the training, whereas flexibility-related measures reached significance only at the end. The progression in the balance- and stability-related measures was characterized by early improvements over the first three to four weeks of training, and reached a plateau for the rest of the training. Conclusions: The progression in balance and postural stability is achieved earlier and susceptible to plateau out, while mobility and flexibility continues to improve during the balance training.

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