Integrated Measurement System of Postural Angle and Electromyography Signal for Manual Materials Handling Assessment

Improper design of manual materials handling (MMH) tasks at workplace can cause musculoskeletal disorders such as muscle strain to industrial workers. To avoid these disorders, ergonomists and engineers require an integrated measurement system which allows them to study the interaction of body posture and muscle effort during performing MMH tasks. However, far too little attention has been paid to develop an integrated measurement system of body posture and muscle activity for assessing MMH tasks. The aim of this study was to develop and test a prototype of integrated system for measuring postural angles and electromyography (EMG) signals of a worker who doing MMH tasks. The Microsoft Visual Studio software, a 3D camera (Microsoft Kinect), Advancer Technologies muscle sensors and a microcontroller (NI DAQ USB-6000) were applied to develop the integrated postural angle and EMG signal measurement system. Additionally, a graphical user interface was created in the system to enable users to perform body posture and muscle effort assessment simultaneously. Based on the testing results, this study concluded that the patterns of EMG signals are depending on the postural angles which consistent with the findings of established works. Further study is required to enhance the validity, reliability and usability of the prototype so that it may facilitate ergonomists and engineers to assess work posture and muscle activity during MMH task.

Prediction of falls in elderly: Correlation of Berg’s balance scale with turn 180 test

Falls are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly population. In an already overburdened health care system, quick assessment tools can save much time and effort. Assessment of balance is a vital part of geriatric assessment. Due to time constraints in busy clinical settings, there is a need for a rapid balance assessment test. This can be used to screen all elderly patients, following which the detailed Bergs Balance Scale can be used. The study was aimed to correlate the findings of the Bergs Balance Scale with Turn 180 test. A cross-sectional study was conducted consisting of a sample size of 30 subjects in the age group between 60 to 80 years who visited the out-patient department of Alva’s college of physiotherapy. The researcher conducted an interview followed by administration of the Bergs Balance Scale and the Turn 180 test. The scores were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical analysis using the Pearson coefficient of correlation revealed that there is a statistically significant correlation between Bergs Balance Scale and turn 180 test. Thus turn 180 test can be used for a quick assessment of balance, and those who score low should be subjected to the Berg's Balance Scale. Fear of falls significantly contributes to falls in the elderly, especially in the high-risk category apart from other causes.

Motor Abilities: Peculiarities of Strength Effort Assessment in Boys Aged 11-13

Thepurposeofthestudyistodetermine the peculiarities of strength effort assessmentin boys aged 11-13. Materials and methods.The study participants were boys aged 11 years (n=22), 12 years (n=31), 13 years (n=33). The children and their parents were fully informed about all the features of the study and gave their consent to participate in the experiment. The paper used methods of scientific literature analysis, testing, methods of mathematical statistics. The study assessedthe right hand effort at 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 of the maximum. The assessment error was analyzed. To determine the peculiarities of strength effort assessment, the study used a t-test for paired observations and a t-test for independent samples. Results. The analysis of the ability for strength effort assessment in the boys aged 11 and 13 showed that there are no statistically significant differences between the boys of this age. The boysdemonstrate the best assessment ofeffortat2/3 of the maximum. There areno statistically significant differences in the levels of development of the hand maximum strength (p > 0.05). Thestudy has not found statistically significant differences in the levels of development of the ability for strength effort assessment in the boys aged 11-13(p > 0.05). The boys of this age demonstrate the best assessment ofeffortat2/3 of the maximum. A comparative analysis of the ability for strength effort assessment in the boys aged 12 and 13 did not reveal statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). The boys of this age demonstrate the best assessment ofeffortat2/3 of the maximum. The boys aged 11–13 show the best assessment of effort reproduction at2/3 of the maximum (p < 0.05). There is no statistically significant age-related dynamics in strength effortassessment in the boys aged 11-13. The correlationbetween the effort reproductionsat1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 of the maximum is not statistically significant. Conclusions.In the process of physical education of boys aged 11–13,special attention should be paid to the development of motor control ability as the component of coordination training of schoolchildren.

Movement Coordination: Peculiarities of Strength Effort Assessment in Girls Aged 11-13

The purpose of the study is to determine the peculiarities of strength effort assessment in girls aged 11-13. Materials and methods. The study participants were girls aged 11 (n=25), 12 (n=27), 13 (n=18). The children and their parents were fully informed about all the features of the study and agreed to participate in the experiment. The paper used methods of scientific literature analysis, testing, methods of mathematical statistics. To determine the peculiarities of strength effort assessment, the study used a t-test for paired observations and a t-test for independent samples. Results. The girls aged 11-13 demonstrate the best assessment of effort reproduction at 2/3 of maximum strength. There is no statistically significant age-related dynamics in strength effort assessment in girls aged 11-13. The correlation between the effort reproductions at 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 of maximum strength is not statistically significant. Conclusions. In the process of physical education of girls aged 11-13, special attention should be paid to the development of motor control ability as the component of coordination training of schoolchildren.

Listening effort and working memory capacity in hearing impaired individuals: an integrative literature review

ABSTRACT Purpose: to review the literature on the behavioral methods of listening effort assessment and the working memory capacity recommended for the hearing impaired. Methods: this review was developed through the search of articles in national and international journals, in English and Portuguese, available in Pubmed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Biblioteca Vitual em Saúde - Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS) and Scientific Electronic Library Online, between 2007 and 2017. The articles were selected based on the inclusion criteria: articles that used behavioral methods to assess listening effort in hearing-impaired adults, involving the measurement of working memory and its relationship with the listening effort, published in the last 10 years. Results: Twelve articles in which behavioral measures were used to measure listening effort and working memory capacity in the hearing-impaired individuals were reviewed. Their main findings refer to the purpose(s) of the research, participants, behavioral method composed of a primary task (speech perception) and a secondary task (memorization) and results of the studies. Conclusion:the findings of this review allow us to infer that this paradigm is sensitive to measure the listening effort, considering the different instruments used and the population assessed.