CoolMoves

Current Virtual Reality (VR) systems are bereft of stylization and embellishment of the user's motion - concepts that have been well explored in animations for games and movies. We present CooIMoves, a system for expressive and accentuated full-body motion synthesis of a user's virtual avatar in real-time, from the limited input cues afforded by current consumer-grade VR systems, specifically headset and hand positions. We make use of existing motion capture databases as a template motion repository to draw from. We match similar spatio-temporal motions present in the database and then interpolate between them using a weighted distance metric. Joint prediction probability is then used to temporally smooth the synthesized motion, using human motion dynamics as a prior. This allows our system to work well even with very sparse motion databases (e.g., with only 3-5 motions per action). We validate our system with four experiments: a technical evaluation of our quantitative pose reconstruction and three additional user studies to evaluate the motion quality, embodiment and agency.

Connected Skiing: Motion Quality Quantification in Alpine Skiing

Recent developments in sensing technology have made wearable computing smaller and cheaper. While many wearable technologies aim to quantify motion, there are few which aim to qualify motion. (2) To develop a wearable system to quantify motion quality during alpine skiing, IMUs were affixed to the ski boots of nineteen expert alpine skiers while they completed a set protocol of skiing styles, included carving and drifting in long, medium, and short radii. The IMU data were processed according to the previously published skiing activity recognition chain algorithms for turn segmentation, enrichment, and turn style classification Principal component models were learned on the time series variables edge angle, symmetry, radial force, and speed to identify the sources of variability in a subset of reference skiers. The remaining data were scored by comparing the PC score distributions of variables to the reference dataset. (3) The algorithm was able to differentiate between an expert and beginner skier, but not between an expert and a ski instructor, or a ski instructor and a beginner. (4) The scoring algorithm is a novel concept to quantify motion quality but is limited by the accuracy and relevance of the input data.

Exercise Interventions for Adults with Burn Injuries

The purpose of this critically appraised topic (CAT) is to provide the highest quality of evidence available on the implementation of exercise interventions in the early burn rehabilitation phase in adult burn victims. This portfolio contains four peer-reviewed research articles from national and international journals. The study designs include one systematic review and meta analyses, one retrospective cohort study and two randomized control trials. These articles covered three types of exercise interventions including resistance training, mobility training, and physiotherapy. Overall, the clinical bottom line of this CAT is that exercise interventions in early burn rehabilitation may be effective in improving upper extremity function, muscle strength, range of motion, quality of life, and decreasing length of stay and inf lammation. Further research is needed to determine the effects of early exercise interventions in adults in the burn ICU.

Development of foot length in children with congenital clubfoot up to 7 years of age: a prospective follow-up study

Background Clubfeet are typically shorter than normal feet. This study aimed first to describe the development of foot length in a consecutive series of children with congenital clubfoot and second to relate foot length to development of relapse and motion quality. Methods Foot length was measured every 6 months in 72 consecutive children with congenital clubfoot (29 bilateral) aged from 2 to 7 years. The initial treatment was nonsurgical followed by standardized orthotic treatment. Foot length growth rate was calculated every half year. In children with unilateral clubfeet, the difference in foot length between the clubfoot and the contralateral foot was calculated. Motion quality was evaluated by the Clubfoot Assessment Protocol (CAP). Student’s t test, the Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation were used for group comparisons. Bonferroni correction was used when multiple comparisons were performed. Results Clubfeet were smaller (P < 0.001) than reference feet at all ages but had a similar growth rate up to age 7. Unilateral clubfeet with greater difference in size compared with the contralateral foot at the first measurement, relapsed more frequently (P = 0.016) and correlated with poorer motion quality (r = 0.4; P = 0.011). Conclusions As previously reported, clubfeet were smaller than reference feet at all ages. The growth rate, however, was similar between clubfeet and reference feet. Children with unilateral clubfeet and greater foot length difference at 2 years of age had a higher tendency to relapse and poorer motion quality at 7 years of age, indicating that foot length could be used as a prognostic tool.

Development of Foot Length in Children with Congenital Clubfoot up to 7 Years of Age: A Prospective Follow-Up Study

Background: Clubfeet are typically shorter than normal feet. This study aimed to describe the development of foot length in a consecutive series of children with congenital clubfoot and to relate foot length to development of relapse and motion quality.Methods: Foot length was measured every 6 months in 72 consecutive children with congenital clubfoot (29 bilateral) aged from 2 to 7 years. The initial treatment was nonsurgical followed by standardized orthotic treatment. Foot length growth rate was calculated every half year. In children with unilateral clubfeet, the difference in foot length between the clubfoot and the contralateral foot was calculated. Motion quality was evaluated by the Clubfoot Assessment Protocol (CAP). Student’s t test, the Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman’s correlation were used for group comparisons. Bonferroni correction was used when multiple comparisons were performed.Results: Clubfeet were smaller (P < 0.001) than reference feet at all ages but had a similar growth rate up to age 7. Unilateral clubfeet with greater difference in size compared with the contralateral foot at the first measurement, relapsed more frequently (P = 0.016) and correlated with poorer motion quality (r = 0.4; P = 0.011).Conclusions: Clubfeet were smaller than reference feet at all ages but had a similar growth rate. Children with unilateral clubfeet and greater foot length difference at 2 years of age had a higher tendency to relapse and poorer motion quality at 7 years of age.

Vibroarthrographic analysis of patellofemoral joint arthrokinematics during squats with increasing external loads

Background: The patellofemoral joint (PFJ) provides extremely low kinetic friction, which results in optimal arthrokinematic motion quality. Previous research showed that these friction-reducing properties may be diminished due to the increase in articular contact forces. However, this phenomenon has not been analyzed in vivo during functional daily-living activities. The aim of this study was the vibroarthrographic assessment of changes in PFJ arthrokinematics during squats with variated loads.Methods: 114 knees from 57 asymptomatic subjects (23 females and 34 males) whose ages ranged from 19 to 26 years were enrolled in this study. Participants were asked to perform 3 trials: 4 repetitions of bodyweight squats (L0), 4 repetitions of 10 kg barbell back loaded squats (L10), 4 repetitions of 20 kg barbell back loaded squats (L20). During the unloaded and loaded (L10, L20) squats, vibroarthrographic signals were collected using an accelerometer placed on the patella and were described by the following parameters: variation of mean square (VMS), mean range (R4), and power spectral density for frequency of 50-250 Hz (P1) and 250-450 Hz (P2).Results: Obtained results showed that the lowest values were noted in the unloaded condition and that the increased applied loads had a significant concomitant increase in all the aforementioned parameters bilaterally (p<0.05).Conclusion: This phenomenon indicates that the application of increasing knee loads during squats corresponds to higher intensity of vibroacoustic emission, which might be related to higher contact stress and kinetic friction as well as diminished arthrokinematic motion quality.