Study of Religious Philosophy on Tapa Brata (Javanese Asceticism Practice) to Overcome the Social Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic Era

<p><span lang="EN-US">The COVID-19 pandemic, which is global disaster, has an impact on all aspects of human life. Indonesia is one of the countries that has</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">a high rate of COVID-19</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">transmission,</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">this has an effect on various</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">policies</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">in suppressing transmission rates by limiting social mobility.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">In the midst of this pandemic, people are faced with uncertain conditions that result in levels boredom, fear and even public anxiety increased.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">The author is interested in exploring the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic by seeing that there is a relationship between public anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic and awareness of the need for spirituality in facing the various changes that have occurred.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Using the philosophical hermeneutic method, this qualitative research was conducted by trying to discuss one of the spiritual practices of Javanese society, namely Tapa Brata, and to relate it to public anxiety that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">The results of the discussion</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">carried out are: (1)</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">anxiety in the people during the pandemic period is caused by awareness of an uncertain and constantly changing reality.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">(2)</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Tapa brata is the mental practice of forming a self that is calm and wise in accepting all changes.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">(3)</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">Tapa brata is an inner practice that is personal and</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US">can overcome public anxiety during a pandemic and has a physiological effect in increasing immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic.</span></p>

Redefining Surgical Skill Acquisition

There have been reduced opportunities for surgical skill acquisition due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the regulated training hours. Despite these challenges, self-regulated learning allows trainees to learn continuously, and motor skills development can be augmented through mental practice and motor imagery. The aim of this chapter is to introduce the theoretical concepts in skill acquisition and the role of mental and deliberate practice as an alternative for skill training. A case study is presented using a design and development framework for producing an online basic micro suturing training resource based on self-regulated learning. This case study demonstrates the use of the ADDIE instructional design model and Mayer’s multimedia theory guidelines, for creating online instructional resources. The methodological approach of a design and developmental framework to create an educationally sound online training module for micro suturing which has significant utility in hand surgery is discussed in this chapter. The tools described in this chapter are translatable to any psychomotor skills development in medical education.

Comparison of the Psychological Profile of Ankle Sprain Between Coper and Chronic Ankle Instability Individuals: Cross-sectional Study

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the psychological parameters in Coper individuals and people with chronic ankle instability (CAI).Methods: This study was a cross-sectional and comparative study. Sixty elite athletes, from multiple athletic disciplines, who have suffered from lateral ankle sprains at least once in the last two years, were selected as research subjects and were divided into two groups: Copers (n = 30) and CAI (n = 30). Classification of CAI, and coper groups were done by AJFAT, CAIT and FAAM self-report questionnaires. Athletes' psychological characteristics were measured using the Ottawa Mental Skills Assessment Tool (OMSAT-3). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and independent t-test were used to evaluate the differences between groups at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The results showed there was a significant difference between the two groups in Goal setting, Self-confidence, Commitment, Relaxation, Fear control and Coping with stress, Focusing, Refocusing, and Mental practice (P <0.05). And Coper athletes scored higher than ankle instability athletes. But there were no significant differences between the two groups in the following parameters: Inactivation, Imagery, and Competition planning skills (P <0.05).Conclusion: The findings showed that athletes with CAI scored lower than Coper athletes on psychological exams. Given the importance of prioritizing the mental components of goal setting, imagery, relaxation, activation, and self-confidence, the design of the competition should be a priority for rehabilitation. Therefore, coaches and sports experts are recommended to focus and improve mental skills in athletes who suffer from sports injuries, to reduce the occurrence of repetitive sports injuries.

Pedagogical Potential of Mental Practice in Teaching Brass Instruments at University

At any level of musical education, it is very important to improve one’s musicianship skills, which can only be achieved through consistent training and playing their musical instrument. Physical training is a very important part of the learning process; however, its combination with mental practice has been proved to be much more effective. Although such an approach is important at all levels of musical education, the paper addresses it in the context of higher education. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the pedagogical potential of mental practice in the process of teaching music in higher education. The research was implemented in two stages. First, a survey was conducted to gather information about the respondents’ habits when learning musical pieces. At this stage, the study involved 68 brass students from different universities around the world between the ages of 19 and 25. The second stage of the research comprised the development of the program of mental practice (PMP) with structured observation as a method and 7 participants from Latvian and Norwegian higher music education institutions. The obtained results allow to conclude that the inclusion of mental practice in the practicing routine significantly improves the overall level of concentration and stability both in the process of training and during performances. Mental practice also provides an opportunity to increase the duration of training as well as enhances the overall effectiveness of practicing and concentration during performances.

Multimodal Mental Practice Versus Repetitive Task Practice Only to Treat Chronic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Importance: Occupational therapists are the primary clinicians tasked with management of the more affected upper extremity (UE) after stroke. However, there is a paucity of efficacious, easy-to-use, inexpensive interventions to increase poststroke UE function. Objective: To compare the effect of a multimodal mental practice (MMMP) regimen with a repetitive task practice (RTP)–only regimen on paretic UE functional limitation. Design: Secondary analysis of randomized controlled pilot study data. Setting: Outpatient clinical rehabilitation laboratory. Participants: Eighteen chronic stroke survivors exhibiting moderate, stable UE impairment. Intervention: Participants administered RTP only participated in 45-min, one-on-one occupational therapy sessions 3 times per week for 10 wk; participants administered MMMP completed time-matched UE training sessions consisting of action observation, RTP, and mental practice, delivered in 15-min increments. Outcomes and Measures: The Action Research Arm Test, the UE section of the Fugl-Meyer Scale, and the Hand subscale of the Stroke Impact Scale (Version 3.0) were administered 1 wk before and 1 wk after intervention. Results: The MMMP group exhibited significantly larger (p &lt; .01) increases on all three outcome measures compared with the RTP group and surpassed minimal clinically important difference standards for all three UE outcome measures. Conclusions and Relevance: Because of the time-matched duration of MMMP and RTP, findings suggest that MMMP may be just as feasible as RTP to implement in clinical settings. Efforts to replicate results of this study in a large-scale trial are warranted. What This Article Adds: This study shows the efficacy of an easy-to-use protocol that significantly increased affected arm function even years after stroke.

The Code Silver Exercise: a low-cost simulation alternative to prepare hospitals for an active shooter event

Mass-shooting incidents have been increasing in recent years and Code Silver—the hospital response to a person with a weapon such as an active shooter in many Provinces or States in North America—is quickly shifting from a theoretical safety measure to a realistic scenario for which hospitals must prepare their staff. A Code Silver Exercise (CSE) involving an independent mental practice exercise with written responses to scenarios and questions, followed by a facilitated debrief with all participants, was conceptualized and trialled for feasibility and efficacy. The CSE was piloted as a quality improvement and emergency preparedness initiative in three different settings including in situ within a hospital Emergency Department or Intensive Care Unit, offsite in a large conference room workshop, and online via virtual platform. These sessions took place in 4 different cities in Canada and included 3 academic teaching hospitals. Participants of the in situ and virtual CSE completed pre- and post-simulation surveys which showed improved understanding of Code Silver protocols following participation.The CSE is a reproducible simulation alternative, designed to operationalize a Code Silver policy at a large healthcare institution in a sustainable way. This training model can be administered in multiple settings in-person (in situ or offsite), and virtually, making it versatile and easily accessible for participants. This exercise enables participants to mentally rehearse practical responses to an active shooter in their unique work environments and to discuss ethical and medical-legal implications of their responses during a facilitated debrief with fellow healthcare providers. Implementation of a CSE for training in hospitals may help staff to create a mental schema prior to an active shooter event, and thus indirectly improve the chances of survivability in the event of a real active shooter situation.

BCI-Based Control for Ankle Exoskeleton T-FLEX: Comparison of Visual and Haptic Stimuli with Stroke Survivors

Brain–computer interface (BCI) remains an emerging tool that seeks to improve the patient interaction with the therapeutic mechanisms and to generate neuroplasticity progressively through neuromotor abilities. Motor imagery (MI) analysis is the most used paradigm based on the motor cortex’s electrical activity to detect movement intention. It has been shown that motor imagery mental practice with movement-associated stimuli may offer an effective strategy to facilitate motor recovery in brain injury patients. In this sense, this study aims to present the BCI associated with visual and haptic stimuli to facilitate MI generation and control the T-FLEX ankle exoskeleton. To achieve this, five post-stroke patients (55–63 years) were subjected to three different strategies using T-FLEX: stationary therapy (ST) without motor imagination, motor imagination with visual stimulation (MIV), and motor imagination with visual-haptic inducement (MIVH). The quantitative characterization of both BCI stimuli strategies was made through the motor imagery accuracy rate, the electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis during the MI active periods, the statistical analysis, and a subjective patient’s perception. The preliminary results demonstrated the viability of the BCI-controlled ankle exoskeleton system with the beta rebound, in terms of patient’s performance during MI active periods and satisfaction outcomes. Accuracy differences employing haptic stimulus were detected with an average of 68% compared with the 50.7% over only visual stimulus. However, the power spectral density (PSD) did not present changes in prominent activation of the MI band but presented significant variations in terms of laterality. In this way, visual and haptic stimuli improved the subject’s MI accuracy but did not generate differential brain activity over the affected hemisphere. Hence, long-term sessions with a more extensive sample and a more robust algorithm should be carried out to evaluate the impact of the proposed system on neuronal and motor evolution after stroke.

Is mental practice effective for treating upper extremity deficits in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke? A cochrane review summary with commentary

BACKGROUND: Mental practice, which is proposed for the rehabilitative training of people post-stroke, is a training method based on the repetition of the internal representation of a movement or a task with the aim of improving the performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this commentary is to discuss Cochrane evidence on the efficacy of mental practice in improving upper extremity functioning in people with hemiparesis after stroke. METHODS: To summarize and discuss from a rehabilitation perspective the published Cochrane Review “Mental practice for treating upper extremity deficits in individuals with hemiparesis after stroke” by Barclay et al. RESULTS: This Cochrane Review included 25 studies involving 676 people with hemiparesis after stroke. The authors analysed the following two comparisons: mental practice versus conventional therapy and mental practice in addition to other treatment versus other treatment (±placebo). CONCLUSIONS: Mental practice in addition to other treatment, compared with other treatment, probably improves upper extremity activity and function in people with hemiparesis after stroke.

TELAAH FILOSOFIS TERHADAP TAPA BRATA: PRAKTIK SPIRITUAL MENANGGULANGI KECEMASAN DALAM PANDEMI COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic, which is a global disaster, has an impact on all aspects of human life. Indonesia is one of the countries that have a high rate of COVID-19 incidences, which naturally has led to various policies intended to suppress further transmission by limiting social mobility. During this pandemic, people are faced with uncertain conditions that result in an increasing level of boredom, fear, and even public anxiety. The author was interested in exploring the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the possible relationship between public anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic and an awareness of the need for spirituality which may be achieved by means of performing a Javanese spiritual practice called <em>tapa brata</em>. This practice was then examined in relation to public anxiety that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analysis has generated several main results. Firstly, anxiety among the people during the pandemic is caused by a common awareness of the uncertain and constantly changing reality. Secondly, <em>tapa brata</em> is a mental practice of forming a calmer and wiser self which can adapt to all changes. Thirdly,<em> tapa brata</em> is an esoteric, personal practice that can overcomepublic anxiety during a pandemic and has a positive physiological effect on people’s immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic.