scholarly journals A Practical Sensor-Based Methodology for the Quantitative Assessment and Classification of Chronic Non Specific Low Back Patients (NSLBP) in Clinical Settings

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehrdad Davoudi ◽  
Seyyed Mohammadreza Shokouhyan ◽  
Mohsen Abedi ◽  
Narges Meftahi ◽  
Atefeh Rahimi ◽  
...  

The successful clinical application of patient-specific personalized medicine for the management of low back patients remains elusive. This study aimed to classify chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) patients using our previously developed and validated wearable inertial sensor (SHARIF-HMIS) for the assessment of trunk kinematic parameters. One hundred NSLBP patients consented to perform repetitive flexural movements in five different planes of motion (PLM): 0° in the sagittal plane, as well as 15° and 30° lateral rotation to the right and left, respectively. They were divided into three subgroups based on the STarT Back Screening Tool. The sensor was placed on the trunk of each patient. An ANOVA mixed model was conducted on the maximum and average angular velocity, linear acceleration and maximum jerk, respectively. The effect of the three-way interaction of Subgroup by direction by PLM on the mean trunk acceleration was significant. Subgrouping by STarT had no main effect on the kinematic indices in the sagittal plane, although significant effects were observed in the asymmetric directions. A significant difference was also identified during pre-rotation in the transverse plane, where the velocity and acceleration decreased while the jerk increased with increasing asymmetry. The acceleration during trunk flexion was significantly higher than that during extension, in contrast to the velocity, which was higher in extension. A Linear Discriminant Analysis, utilized for classification purposes, demonstrated that 51% of the total performance classifying the three STarT subgroups (65% for high risk) occurred at a position of 15° of rotation to the right during extension. Greater discrimination (67%) was obtained in the classification of the high risk vs. low-medium risk. This study provided a smart “sensor-based” practical methodology for quantitatively assessing and classifying NSLBP patients in clinical settings. The outcomes may also be utilized by leveraging cost-effective inertial sensors, already available in today’s smartphones, as objective tools for various health applications towards personalized precision medicine.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elnaz Shokrollahi

The aim of this study is to determine if some of the characteristics of reconstructed unipolar electrograms from the noncontact mapping system can be used to detect epicardial and to differentiate it from endocardial electrical activation in a canine heart. This would help the electrophysiologist know where exactly the origin of ventricular tachycardia or the critical point in tissue is located. Following this, arrhythmia can be successfully treated by ablating that part of the tissue of the heart. Virtual electrograms were recorded while pacing the right ventricle of an open-chest dog at multiple endocardial and epicardial sites using the commercially available noncontact mapping system (EnSite Array™ Catheter 3000). The endocardial and epicardial paced virtual electrograms from the juxtaposing sites allow for analyzing systematically the differences in their morphologies. Maximal dV / dt, area under the depolarization curve and latency extracted from unipolar electrograms demonstrated significant difference between epicardial and endocardial pacing sites with a p-value of less than 0.01 in all three cases. The above features were fed to a linear discriminant analysis based classifier and high classification accuracy was achieved. Therefore, reliable criteria can be proposed to allow for discrimination of an endocardial versus epicardial origin of electrical activation. And also the endocardial and epicardial paced virtual electrograms from the juxtaposing sites allows for an estimate of the transfer function of the myocardium in different positions of the right ventricles of a canine heart. The transfer function estimation will aid in better mathematical modeling of myocardium and could be a sensitive measure of myocardial homogeneity and arrhythmic foci localization.Another study was done on a human heart. This study was to evaluate the ability of virtual electrograms to predict abnormal bipolar electrograms. We tested the hypothesis of maxdV/dt, filtering and optimized DSM threshold. This allows better identification of abnormal myocardial substrate traditionally defined by contact bipolar mapping in human RVOT.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv18-iv27
Author(s):  
Apinkarn Jaroenlarp ◽  
Pitsinee Fuengjit ◽  
Jirapat Sukeeyuti ◽  
Parichart Sophap ◽  
Chadarat Chirasaengthong

Abstract Objective This study was to comparison of level of lumbar stability and postural sway in sagittal plane and coronal plane between exercise with ball and sling in the patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP). Methodology Twenty participants with NCLBP aged 20 to 55 years were randomly divided into exercise with ball group (BG) and exercise with sling group (SG). Both groups performed 8 exercise sessions; two times per week for four weeks. The visual analog scale (VAS), modified oswestry disability questionnaire (MODQ), modified isometric stability test (MIST) were used to measure at baseline, week 2 and week 4 after exercise. Moreover, the sway area and sway velocity were evaluated at before and after training. Both group performed exercise 15 repetitions per set for 3 sets with 1-minute resting between set. A repeated two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the difference variables between both groups. Results The results showed significant difference between pre and post treatment of pain intensity, functional disability, MIST and postural sway in both groups (p<.001). When compared between both groups, the reduction in all parameters for the BG group was significantly higher than the SG group (p<.05). Moreover, the findings represented that the postural sway in both sagittal and coronal plane showed no significant difference between both groups after complete treatment. Conclusion The core stabilization exercise with ball and with sling can provided reduction of pain and functional disability. Moreover, the BG group is more effective for decreasing of pain, disability and improving of lumbar stability may described by greater perturbation of the ball. During perform exercise on ball bring to unstable and increasing of neuromuscular control. These results can applied to clinical practice for choosing the appropriate exercise program in the patients with NCLBP.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edyta Mikołajczyk ◽  
Zofia Kaleta ◽  
Mariusz Janusz

Aim of the study: To assess prevalence and risk factors of low back pain (LBP) in emergency room nurses in Krakow. Materials and methods: The study comprised 30 randomly selected full time emergency nurses aged 25-58. Their BMI was calculated and measurements of linear segmental lumbar spine flexion-extension motion were performed. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the subjective LBP degree. The self-estimated physical disability caused by LBP was assessed by means of the Roland- Morris Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), whereas physical activity by means of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine a linear association between variables involved in the research. Results: Statistically significant correlations between BMI, LBP and the level of disability as well as between the pain intensity and the time spent in a sitting position were revealed by RMDQ. Significant correlations between the self-estimated LBP and spinal flexion in the sagittal plane, lateral flexion to the right in the frontal plane and twist to the right in the transverse plane were found. Conclusions: Moderate LBP in emergency ward nurses, which is commonly observed, slightly decreased their quality of life. A high level of physical activity and limited range of flexion were discovered in the sagittal plane. Due to the existing correlations between BMI and LBP, between the degree of disability and the intensity of pain and the range of motion, it seems appropriate to include this occupational group in the back pain prevention programme.


Author(s):  
Bárbara Cordeiro Santos ◽  
Karoleen Oswald Scharan ◽  
Mariane Benicio Fontana ◽  
Auristela Duarte de Lima Moser

Introduction: The use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical settings has been emphasized with the objective of establishing a standardized language among professionals, as well as to collect and interpret related results to health and states related to it in different cultures from a biopsychosocial perspective. Objective: To define the functional profile of from patients with chronic low back pain based on the International Classification of functioning, disabilities and health (ICF). Method: During February-March of 2014 a functional questionnaire based on the ICF was applied for 42 adults. Results: The mean age was 47.8 (± 16.9) years, with predominance of women (69%). Two categories and one subcategory represented higher percentage of difficulty: Using transport (54.8%), Household tasks (62.5%) and Bending (69.1%). In Environmental Factors, 50% of the sample reported having difficulty accessing public environments. The categories of self-care domain did not show high percentage of difficulty. Conclusion: The use of the functional questionnaire was able to determine the functional profile of the subjects, contributing to subsidize interventions in a program of Back School. Approaches may be more targeted based on codes where there were greater difficulties and may be more specific to participants daily life.


Biomedicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-829
Author(s):  
P Manikandan ◽  
G Mohan Kumar ◽  
V Rajalaxmi ◽  
C Priya ◽  
G Yuvarani ◽  
...  

Introduction and Aim: Low back discomfort is one of the commonest musculoskeletal problems. The Pilates exercises are an approach to stretching and strengthening techniques and specifically train all the core muscles. The intend of the current study was to verify the influences of the Pilates exercises among pain and disability among patients with Non-specific Low Back Pain (NSLBP).     Materials and Methods: A 100 non-specific low back pain subjects were randomly selected for this experimental study. The study includes of non-specific LBP age group between 25 to 40 years, both male and female patients with pain and disability and this study excludes spinal fractures and Pregnant Women. The estimations were taken utilizing Visual Analogue scale (VAS), Patient Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) and Modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (MODQ). Subjects are allotted in two groups, Group A (Pilates group) receives Pilate’s exercise and Group B (conventional group) receives conventional exercise. Exercises were given for 3 times a week for 12 weeks and a regular follow up was done for every 4 weeks.   Results: Group A (Pilates group) were found to be more effective than Group B (conventional group). It shows a highly significant difference in mean values at P ? 0.001. This implies that Pilates exercise is more beneficial in decreasing pain and functional disability.   Conclusion: On comparing the mean values, Group A (Pilates group) showed significant improvement at the end of the study when compared with Group B (conventional group).


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (08) ◽  
pp. 630-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa Smyers Evanson ◽  
Joseph Myrer ◽  
Dennis Eggett ◽  
Ulrike Mitchell ◽  
A. Johnson

AbstractThe incidence of low back pain (LBP) among elite ballroom dancers is high and understanding associations between muscle morphology and pain may provide insight into treatment or training options. Research has linked multifidus muscle atrophy to LBP in the general and some athletic populations; however, this has not been examined in ballroom dancers. We compared the lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) at rest in 57 elite level ballroom dancers (age 23±2.4 years; height, 174±11 cm; mass, 64±10 kg) divided into one of three pain groups, according to their self-reported symptoms, 1) LBP group (n=19), 2) minimal LBP (n=17), and 3) no LBP (n=21). There were no significant difference in demographics between the groups (P>0.05). The LBP group demonstrated significant differences in reported pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores compared to the other two groups. There was no significant difference between groups in multifidus cross-sectional area (P=0.49). Asymmetry was found in all groups with the overall left side being significantly larger than the right (P<0.002). Pain associated with segmental decrease in multifidus CSA was not observed in ballroom dancers with LBP, suggesting other reasons for persistent LBP in ballroom dancers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arezoo Eshraghi ◽  
Nader Maroufi ◽  
Mohammad Ali Sanjari ◽  
Hassan Saeedi ◽  
Mohammad Reza Keyhani ◽  
...  

Background: Biomechanical factors, such as spinal deformities can result in balance control disorders. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of bracing on static and dynamic balance control of hyperkyphotic female adolescents. Study Design: Clinical trial. Methods: A force platform was employed to record center of pressure (COP) parameters. Ten adolescents undergoing Milwaukee brace for hyperkyphosis and 14 normal subjects participated in the study. The COP data were collected with and without brace immediately on first day and after 120 days of continuous brace wear. Results: No significant difference was found in dynamic and static balance tests with and without brace on the first day ( P > 0.05). After 120 days, the values of COP displacement in functional reach to the right and left for the hyperkyphotic adolescents when performing without brace enhanced significantly compared to the first day. The forward reach distance was not significantly different between the normal and hyperkyphotic subjects ( P = 0.361); however, hyperkyphotic participants had significantly smaller reach distance in the functional reach to the right (21.88 vs. 25.56cm) and left (17.04 vs. 21.25cm). Conclusion: It might be concluded that bracing had a possible effect on improvement of dynamic balance performance, because the subjects could reach the target in dynamic reach tests with higher displacement in sagittal plane without losing their balance control. Clinical relevance Little is known about the biomechanical aspects of brace wear in individuals with hyperkyphosis. This study investigated balance differences between the healthy and hyperkyphotic individuals, and outcomes of Milwaukee brace wear. It might provide some new insight into the conservative treatment of hyperkyphosis for clinicians and researchers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rayssa Dias Faleiro ◽  
Daniel De Almeida Balthazar ◽  
Isabela Pessôa Barbieri Bastos ◽  
Andrea Kuner ◽  
Francis Arthur Seco Prando ◽  
...  

Background: Ocular biometrics is an easy to perform, safe, non-invasive and low-cost exam that provides immediate results with excellent definition. Brachycephalic dogs have a high risk of developing eye problems, and the early appearance is frequent due to factors linked to anatomical conformation. The aim of the present study was to perform eye biometrics in French Bulldog dogs through ultrasound, correlating with body and head size.Materials, Methods & Results: Clinical examination, ophthalmic examination and ocular biometrics were performed using B-mode ultrasonography, using a 10 megahertz frequency transducer in 30 French Bulldog dogs, aged 1-6 years old, male and females from the Br Lord's Staff kennel and the Radiovet - Rio de Janeiro veterinary clinic. A drop of anesthetic eye drops containing 1% tetracaine hydrochloride and 0.1% phenylephrine hydrochloride was instilled and the direct contact technique was performed with the cornea with the help of sterile water-soluble lubricating acoustic gel between the transducer and the examined eye. These measurements were correlated with cephalic measurements (frontal-occipital distance, skull circumference, distance between the zygomatic arches and frontal-nasal distance) and with body measurements (length of the dog from the cranial end of the sternum to the ischial tuberosity and height of the withers from the cranial angle of the scapula to the ground). No chemical restraint was necessary. Dogs were positioned seated or in sternal decubitus, with slight physical restraint. All measurements were performed by the same examiner. There was no significant difference between the parameters of male and female eye biometrics and there was no difference between the measurements of the right and left eyes. The mean value of axial bulb length was 19.51 ± 0.58 mm, for the thickness of the lens, 6.71 ± 0.66 mm, for depth of the anterior chamber, 2.36 ± 0.89 mm and for the depth of the vitreous chamber, 10.44 ± 1.32 mm, showing the same pattern as other studies with brachycephalic dogs. The size of the dog or skull did not interfere with the measurements of eye biometrics.Discussion: The French Bulldog breed was selected for this study due to the scarcity of publications on ocular biometrics in brachycephalic breeds.The knowledge of ocular biometrics is extremely important for the understanding and early diagnosis of some anomalies related to the growth of ocular structures. It is an essential method of exploration and diagnosis of diseases of the eye bulb and orbit, being indicated to evaluate variations in size, shape and position of the eye bulb. The casuistry of these dogs with eye diseases in the ophthalmological clinical routine is large, since they have a high risk of developing eye problems. Ultrasonography is an easy to access and safe, non-invasive exam and the direct corneal contact technique allows clearer images. As there was no significant difference in measurements of intraocular structures between the right and left eyes, the normal eye can be a reliable parameter to establish the prosthetic eye bulb for the injured or enucleated eye. In the present study, there were 21 females and 9 males, which may have generated interference in these values since there was no sex ratio. The measurements of axial length, lenticular thickness, depth of the anterior chamber and the vitreous chamber had values similar to other studies with brachycephalic dogs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-322
Author(s):  
Allan James de Castro Bussmann ◽  
Márcia Greguol ◽  
Emanuel Messias Oliveira de Carvalho ◽  
Felipe Arruda Moura

The objective of this study was to evaluate the propulsion technique of wheelchairs basketball athletes. The group of study was formed for 11 athletes practicing, the modality studied, with an average age of 30.27 ± 6.51 years. The sample was divided in two groups (faster, slowest) according to the performance in the agility and speed tests. To analyze the angular kinematics of the upper limbs, each person performed threeattempts to “round trip” in a distance of 5 meters. The results indicate a strong positive association between the results obtained in the speed and agility tests (r = 0.83; p = 0.002) and negative between speed test time and sports practice time (r = −0.68; p = 0.02). For the analysis of angular behavior significant difference was observed (p = 0.02), only in the variable maximum angle of the left elbow and the faster group presentedthe highest values. The angular behavior analyzes during all the movement, present significant difference at some point of the cycle, for the variables abduction angle on the left shoulder, absolute angle of the right and left forearm, absolute angles of the shoulder in the sagittal plane left and right, maximum angle of the right and left elbow. The results indicate that the athletes present specific characteristics of propulsion, andthat some angular movement characteristics, as a smaller angle of shoulder abduction during early stages of the propulsion, influence the performance in the speed test.


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10706
Author(s):  
Vignesh Bhat P ◽  
Vivek Dineshbhai Patel ◽  
Charu Eapen ◽  
Manisha Shenoy ◽  
Steve Milanese

Background Myofascial release (MFR) and Mulligan Sustained Natural Apophyseal Glides (SNAGs) are manual therapy techniques routinely practiced in the management of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP). As a solo intervention or along with other therapies, both methods have reported positive results for individuals with NSLBP. However, which technique improves NSLBP-related pain, restricted range of motion (ROM) and disability, warrants further research. Objective To study the comparative effects of MFR and SNAGs on pain, disability, functional ability, and lumbar ROM in NSLBP. Method A parallel-group study was conducted at tertiary care hospitals. Sixty-five Sub-acute or chronic NSLBP patients were allocated to receive strengthening exercises along with either MFR (n = 33) or SNAGs (n = 32) for six treatment sessions over one week. An independent assessor evaluated outcome measures such as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Patient-Specific Function Scale (PSFS), and ROM at baseline, immediate (after 1st treatment), and short-term (post-sixth day of the intervention). The Modified Oswestry disability index (MODI) was assessed at baseline and short-term. Results Within-group analysis found clinically and statistically significant (p < 0.05) changes for VAS and PSFS at immediate and short-term for both the groups. The lumbar extension also showed improvement immediately and in the short-term. Improvement in Lumbar flexion was seen only in the SNAGs group over the short-term. A statistically significant improvement was seen for MODI in both the groups but was not clinically significant in the MFR group. The analysis observed no statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the groups at both the immediate and short-term. Conclusions Pain and restricted function associated with NSLBP can be improved using SNAGs or MFR, along with strengthening exercises. For limited lumbar flexion ROM, Mulligan SNAGs have a better outcome than MFR over the short-term. Hence, both manual therapy techniques can be incorporated along with exercises for immediate and short-term management of sub-acute to chronic NSLBP. Clinical Trial Registration. CTRI/2018/12/016787 (http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/).


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