scholarly journals Sitting Posture during Prolonged Computer Typing with and without a Wearable Biofeedback Sensor

Author(s):  
Yi-Liang Kuo ◽  
Kuo-Yuan Huang ◽  
Chieh-Yu Kao ◽  
Yi-Ju Tsai

Prolonged sitting combined with an awkward posture might contribute to the increased risks of developing spinal pain. Maintaining an upright sitting posture is thus often suggested, especially nowadays when people spend longer periods in the sitting posture for occupational or leisure activities. Many types of assistive devices are commercially available to help computer users maintain an upright sitting posture. As the technology advances, wearable sensors that use microelectromechanical technology are designed to provide real-time biofeedback and promote adjusting posture actively. However, whether such wearable biofeedback sensors could assist adjusting sitting posture in computer users during prolonged typing remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a wearable biofeedback sensor on maintaining an upright sitting posture. Twenty-one healthy young adults were recruited and performed a 1-h computer typing task twice, with and without using the active biofeedback device. The sagittal spinal posture during computer typing was measured using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Using the wearable biofeedback sensor significantly decreased the neck flexion (p < 0.001), thoracic kyphotic (p = 0.033), and pelvic plane (p = 0.021) angles compared with not using the sensor. Computer users and sedentary workers may benefit from using wearable biofeedback sensors to actively maintain an upright sitting posture during prolonged deskwork.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1242
Author(s):  
Georg Haider ◽  
Ursula Schulz ◽  
Nikola Katic ◽  
Christian Peham ◽  
Gilles Dupré

Single-port access systems (SPASs) are currently used in human and veterinary surgeries. However, they pose technical challenges, such as instrument crowding, intra- and extracorporeal instrument collision, and reduced maneuverability. Studies comparing the maneuverability of the scopes and instruments in different SPASs are lacking. This study aimed to compare the maneuverability of three different SPASs: the Covidien SILS-port, Storz Endocone, and glove port. A clear acrylic box with artificial skin placed at the bottom was used to mimic the abdominal wall and cavity. The three SPASs were placed from below, and a 10-mm endoscope and 5-mm instrument were introduced. A motion analysis system consisting of 18 cameras and motion analysis software were used to track the movement of the endoscope and instrument, to determine the volume of the cone-shaped, three-dimensional figures over which movement was possible, with higher values indicating greater maneuverability. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for the analysis. The maneuverability of the endoscope alone was significantly higher in the glove port system than in the other two SPASs. When inserting an additional instrument, the maneuverability significantly decreased in the SILS-port and Endocone, but not in the glove port. The highest maneuverability overall was found in the glove port.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2619
Author(s):  
Yoshiaki Kataoka ◽  
Ryo Takeda ◽  
Shigeru Tadano ◽  
Tomoya Ishida ◽  
Yuki Saito ◽  
...  

Recently, treadmills equipped with a lower-body positive-pressure (LBPP) device have been developed to provide precise body weight support (BWS) during walking. Since lower limbs are covered in a waist-high chamber of an LBPP treadmill, a conventional motion analysis using an optical method is impossible to evaluate gait kinematics on LBPP. We have developed a wearable-sensor-based three-dimensional motion analysis system, H-Gait. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of BWS by a LBPP treadmill on gait kinematics using an H-Gait system. Twenty-five healthy subjects walked at 2.5 km/h on a LBPP treadmill under the following three conditions: (1) 0%BWS, (2) 25%BWS and (3) 50%BWS conditions. Acceleration and angular velocity from seven wearable sensors were used to analyze lower limb kinematics during walking. BWS significantly decreased peak angles of hip adduction, knee adduction and ankle dorsiflexion. In particular, the peak knee adduction angle at the 50%BWS significantly decreased compared to at the 25%BWS (p = 0.012) or 0%BWS (p < 0.001). The present study showed that H-Gait system can detect the changes in gait kinematics in response to BWS by a LBPP treadmill and provided a useful clinical application of the H-Gait system to walking exercises.


2006 ◽  
Vol 03 (04) ◽  
pp. 445-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
HIDEYUKI SAKURAI

Element-free methods (EFreeMs) are expected to eliminate the mesh generation task. However, a computer aided engineering (CAE) system by EFreeM for complex three-dimensional (3D) objects has not yet been developed. This paper discusses the obstacles to the CAE and way to solve them. A 3D groundwater flow analysis system with an EFreeM is presented as a practical CAE. In the system, instead of pursuing mesh-less CAE, a unique mesh is employed to achieve the practical CAE. Some 3D examples show the performance and usefulness of the system. Two serious drawbacks of the EFreeM are also discussed from the viewpoint of the practical CAE.


Author(s):  
Rola Khamisy-Farah ◽  
Leonardo B. Furstenau ◽  
Jude Dzevela Kong ◽  
Jianhong Wu ◽  
Nicola Luigi Bragazzi

Tremendous scientific and technological achievements have been revolutionizing the current medical era, changing the way in which physicians practice their profession and deliver healthcare provisions. This is due to the convergence of various advancements related to digitalization and the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs)—ranging from the internet of things (IoT) and the internet of medical things (IoMT) to the fields of robotics, virtual and augmented reality, and massively parallel and cloud computing. Further progress has been made in the fields of addictive manufacturing and three-dimensional (3D) printing, sophisticated statistical tools such as big data visualization and analytics (BDVA) and artificial intelligence (AI), the use of mobile and smartphone applications (apps), remote monitoring and wearable sensors, and e-learning, among others. Within this new conceptual framework, big data represents a massive set of data characterized by different properties and features. These can be categorized both from a quantitative and qualitative standpoint, and include data generated from wet-lab and microarrays (molecular big data), databases and registries (clinical/computational big data), imaging techniques (such as radiomics, imaging big data) and web searches (the so-called infodemiology, digital big data). The present review aims to show how big and smart data can revolutionize gynecology by shedding light on female reproductive health, both in terms of physiology and pathophysiology. More specifically, they appear to have potential uses in the field of gynecology to increase its accuracy and precision, stratify patients, provide opportunities for personalized treatment options rather than delivering a package of “one-size-fits-it-all” healthcare management provisions, and enhance its effectiveness at each stage (health promotion, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics).


Author(s):  
Bill Trevillion

Abstract Radian Corporation has developed extensive data display capabilities to analyze vibration and acoustic data from structures and rotating equipment. The Machinery Interactive Display and Analysis System (MIDAS) displays data collected through the acquisition functions of MIDAS. The graphics capabilities include displaying spectra in three-dimensional waterfall and in X-Y formats. Both types of plots can relate vibrations to time, equipment speed, or process parameters. Using menu-driven parameter selection, data can be displayed in formats that are the most useful for analysis. The system runs on a popular mini-computer, and it can be used with a great variety of graphics terminals, workstations, and printer/plotters. The software was designed and written for interactive display and plotting. Automatic plotting of large data files is facilitated by a batch plotting mode. The user can define display formats for the analysis of noise and vibration problems in the electric utility, chemical processing, paper, and automotive industries. This paper describes the history and development of graphics capabilities of the MIDAS system. The system, as illustrated in the examples, has proven efficient and economical for displaying large quantities of data.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (23) ◽  
pp. 8742
Author(s):  
Akihiro Tamura ◽  
Kiyokazu Akasaka ◽  
Takahiro Otsudo

Landing with the knee in a valgus position may alter energy absorption strategies in the lower extremities and increase mechanical stress on the knee joint. We compared the energy absorption strategies in the lower extremities during valgus and varus landings. Seventeen females were divided into valgus and varus groups. Lower extremity kinetic data were obtained during drop jumps, using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Negative mechanical work in the lower extremities were calculated during landing. The valgus group exhibited significantly more negative mechanical work at the knee, and less negative mechanical work at the hip, compared with the varus group. However, there was no difference in the negative mechanical work at the ankle between the two groups. Findings suggest that an increased valgus landing reduces the contribution of the hip to energy absorption and is associated with a reciprocal increased contribution by the knee. Hence a knee valgus landing position may be a key biomechanical factor that increases energy absorption in the knee, thereby increasing the risk of injury. Results further indicate that this can be prevented by adopting a knee varus position on landing, which facilitates absorption of the mechanical load at the hip, rather than at the knee.


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