scholarly journals Repurposing an EMG Biofeedback Device for Gait Rehabilitation: Development, Validity and Reliability

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6460
Author(s):  
Reza Koiler ◽  
Elham Bakhshipour ◽  
Joseph Glutting ◽  
Amy Lalime ◽  
Dexter Kofa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emg Biofeedback ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Gait Impairment ◽  
Technical Requirements ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Biofeedback Device ◽  
All Speeds

Gait impairment often limits physical activity and negatively impacts quality of life. EMG-Biofeedback (EMG-BFB), one of the more effective interventions for improving gait impairment, has been limited to laboratory use due to system costs and technical requirements, and has therefore not been tested on a larger scale. In our research, we aimed to develop and validate a cost-effective, commercially available EMG-BFB device for home- and community-based use. We began by repurposing mTrigger® (TJM Electronics, Warminster, PA, USA), a cost-effective, portable EMG-BFB device, for gait application. This included developing features in the cellphone app such as step feedback, success rate, muscle activity calibration, and cloud integration. Next, we tested the validity and reliability of the mTrigger device in healthy adults by comparing it to a laboratory-grade EMG system. While wearing both devices, 32 adults walked overground and on a treadmill at four speeds (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2 m/s). Statistical analysis revealed good to excellent test–retest reliability (r > 0.89) and good to excellent agreement in the detection of steps (ICC > 0.85) at all speeds between two systems for treadmill walking. Our results indicated that mTrigger compared favorably to a laboratory-grade EMG system in the ability to assess muscular activity and to provide biofeedback during walking in healthy adults.

scholarly journals Deployment and Dynamics of a Biofeedback System for Anxiety Awareness during Online Examination Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 756
Author(s):  
Hippokratis Apostolidis ◽  
Georgia Papantoniou ◽  
Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Convergent Validity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Postgraduate Students ◽  
Biofeedback System ◽  
Online Examination ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Biofeedback Device

The presented paper examines the deployment of a cost-effective biofeedback system that provides anxiety awareness during online examination activities. Human anxiety is classified by evaluating biosignals related to skin conductance, skin temperature, and heart rate. The first aim of this study is to check the presented system performance. Thus, we test the convergent validity of the system regarding self-report measures of anxiety. Moreover, the system is validated against a commercial tool of anxiety detection. Fifteen (15) postgraduate students took part in the relevant psychometric test. The convergent validity of the system is found to be satisfactory. The second aim of this study is to identify the participant’s personality dimensions according to Technology Readiness Index (TRI) which affects their academic performance and their real-time anxiety, as provided by the biofeedback device, during academic examinations. Thirty-five (35) postgraduate students, who were taking examinations in the form of synchronous online tests in the classroom for one of their lessons, took part in this stage of the research. The examined relationships are presented via a path model showing mainly that insecurity causes academic performance to decline, which in turn has a significant negative effect with increasing anxiety.

scholarly journals Predicting employee absenteeism for cost effective interventions

2021 ◽  
pp. 113539
Author(s):  
Natalie Lawrance ◽  
George Petrides ◽  
Marie-Anne Guerry
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Employee Absenteeism

Platelet Inhibitors and Hydroxyethyl Starch: Safe and Cost-Effective Interventions in Coronary Artery Surgery

1985 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 422-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
George L. Hicks ◽  
Lynne A. Jensen ◽  
Lisa H. Norsen ◽  
Jill R. Quinn ◽  
Scott S. Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Hydroxyethyl Starch ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Platelet Inhibitors ◽  
Coronary Artery Surgery ◽  
Effective Interventions

Cultivating Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Socioecological Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Shujuan Yang ◽  
Peng Jia
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Predicting Factors ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Interdisciplinary Framework ◽  
The Individual

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses wide-ranging impacts on the physical and mental health of people around the world, increasing attention from both researchers and practitioners on the topic of resilience. In this article, we review previous research on resilience from the past several decades, focusing on how to cultivate resilience during emerging situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual, organizational, community, and national levels from a socioecological perspective. Although previous research has greatly enriched our understanding of the conceptualization, predicting factors, processes, and consequences of resilience from a variety of disciplines and levels, future research is needed to gain a deeper and comprehensive understanding of resilience, including developing an integrative and interdisciplinary framework for cultivating resilience, developing an understanding of resilience from a life span perspective, and developing scalable and cost-effective interventions for enhancing resilience and improving pandemic preparedness. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Psychology, Volume 73 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

How Efficient Are Emotional Intelligence Trainings: A Meta-Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Hodzic ◽  
Jana Scharfen ◽  
Pilar Ripoll ◽  
Heinz Holling ◽  
Franck Zenasni
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Training Effects ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Branch Model ◽  
Main Effect

This multilevel meta-analysis examines whether emotional intelligence (EI) can be enhanced through training and identifies training effects’ determinants. We identified 24 studies containing 28 samples aiming at increasing individual-level EI among healthy adults. The results revealed a significant moderate standardized mean change between pre- and post-measurement for the main effect of EI training, and a stable pre- to follow-up effect. Additionally, the type of EI model, dimensions of the four branch model, length, and type of publication turned out to be significant moderators. The results suggest that EI trainings should be considered effective interventions.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Relationship with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Fibromyalgia: a Systematic Review of the Literature

2022 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar M. E. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Vitamin D Deficiency ◽  
Patient Flow ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Vitamin D Supplementation ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
And Control

Abstract Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic condition which poses a therapeutic challenge to the clinician. With a large backlog in patient flow subsequent to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising numbers of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) presenting with fibromyalgia-like clinical features, there is an increasingly pressing need to identify broad cost-effective interventions. Low levels of vitamin D have previously been reported in patients with fibromyalgia, though any causative link has been difficult to establish. A systematic literature review on the association between vitamin D deficiency and fibromyalgia was performed examining retrospective evidence both for and against an association between vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and fibromyalgia and evaluating the therapeutic benefit from supplementation. A group of six studies were selected based on relevance, use of controls, quality of research and citations. Four primary studies assessing the prevalence of VDD in fibromyalgia patients versus controls were evaluated with a total 3,496 subjects. Three included females only and one larger study assessed males. Two (n = 313) concluded the presence of a statistically significant association, and two (n = 161) found none. Two randomised controlled trials assessing the effect of vitamin D supplementation in a total of 80 subjects found conflicting results, with pain reduction in one and none in the other. It is likely there exists an association between VDD deficiency and fibromyalgia in a large subset of patients, although establishing primary causation is difficult. There is a need for larger randomised controlled trial designs with more effective comparison with healthy subjects and control for confounding factors. Given VDD is a major problem in the general population, we recommend supplementation be recommended by healthcare professionals to fibromyalgia patients for the purpose of maintaining bone health given their potentially increased susceptibility to developing deficiency and its sequelae.

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