RESUMO
Aging-related neuromuscular and neurocognitive decline induces unsmooth movements in daily functional mobility. Here, we used a robust analysis of linear and angular spectral arc length (SPARC) in the single and dual task instrumented timed up-and-go (iTUG) test to compare functional mobility smoothness in fallers and non-fallers aged 85 and older. 64 participants aged 85 and older took part in this case control study. The case group (fallers, n = 32) had experienced falls to the ground in the 6 months prior to the assessment. SPARC analyses were conducted in all phases of the single and dual task iTUGs. We also performed correlation mapping to test the relation of socio-demographic and clinical features on SPARC metrics. The magnitude of between-group differences was calculated using D-Cohen effect size (ES). SPARC was able to distinguish fallers during the single iTUG (ES ≈ 4.18). Turning while walking in the iTUG induced pronounced unsmooth movements in the fallers (SPARC ≈ -13; ES = 3.52) and was associated with the ability to maintain balance in the functional reach task. This information is of importance in the study of functional mobility in the oldest-old and to assess the efficacy of fall-prevention programs.
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It has been argued that the central nervous system relies on combining simple movement elements (i.e. motor primitives) to generate complex motor outputs. However, how movement elements are generated and combined during the acquisition of new motor skills is still a source of debate. Herein, we present results providing new insights into the role of movement elements in the acquisition of motor skills that we obtained by analysing kinematic data collected while healthy subjects learned a new motor task. The task consisted of playing an interactive game using a platform with embedded sensors whose aggregate output was used to control a virtual object in the game. Subjects learned the task over multiple blocks. The analysis of the kinematic data was carried out using a recently developed technique referred to as "movement element decomposition." The technique entails the decomposition of complex multi-dimensional movements in one-dimensional elements marked by a bell-shaped velocity profile. We computed the number of movement elements during each block and measured how closely they matched a theoretical velocity profile derived by minimizing a cost function accounting for the smoothness of movement and the cost of time. The results showed that, in the early stage of motor skill acquisition, two mechanisms underlie the improvement in motor performance: 1) a decrease in the number of movement elements composing the motor output and 2) a gradual change in the movement elements that resulted in a shape matching the velocity profile derived by using the above-mentioned theoretical model.
Assuntos
Destreza Motora , Movimento , Fenômenos Biomecânicos , AprendizagemRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: After a stroke, upper limb (UL) motor impairments interfere with functional activities and quality of life. Even though a range of assessment tools has been developed to assess UL, few studies explore the interfaces between different levels of functioning after stroke. OBJECTIVES: (a) verify the correlation between movement smoothness and other measures of body function/structure [UL - Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), and handgrip strength]; (b) verify which body function/structure [UL-FMA and/or handgrip strength] could predict UL movement smoothness; and (c) verify if movement smoothness could predict levels of activity, as assessed by the Box and Block Test (BBT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Thirty-four individuals with chronic hemiparesis after stroke were enrolled. Measurements of body function/structure included FMA, handgrip strength and kinematic measure of movement smoothness. Levels of activity were measured using the Box and Block Test (BBT). RESULTS: Movement smoothness showed strong correlation with FMA (râ¯=â¯0.70, pâ¯<â¯.001) and moderate correlation with handgrip strength (râ¯=â¯0.63, pâ¯<â¯.001). FMA explained 46.4% of the variation in movement smoothness. Movement smoothness was moderately correlated with BBT (râ¯=â¯-0.560, pâ¯<â¯.005) and predicted 31% of the variation in BBT. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of UL-FMA to predict movement smoothness in chronic post-stroke subjects. This study also showed that movement smoothness influences the level of activity. Then, movement smoothness may be emphasized during stroke rehabilitation to enhance the UL level of activity in chronic post-stroke subjects.
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Força da Mão/fisiologia , Movimento/fisiologia , Paresia/fisiopatologia , Recuperação de Função Fisiológica/fisiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/fisiopatologia , Extremidade Superior/fisiopatologia , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paresia/diagnóstico , Paresia/etiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/complicações , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/diagnóstico , Reabilitação do Acidente Vascular Cerebral/métodosRESUMO
Resumen: La Parálisis Cerebral (PC) es un grupo de trastornos pre, post y perinatales permanentes del desarrollo, movimiento y postura debidos a alteraciones no progresivas ocurridas durante el desarrollo cerebral, producto de lesiones del Sistema Nervioso Central. Debido a la importancia del uso del miembro superior en las actividades de la vida diaria, es importante considerar formas eficientes de medir el desempeño motor de este miembro en los pacientes con PC. Una forma de obtener la evaluación del miembro torácico es grabando movimientos definidos y calculando la suavidad de los mismos, utilizando un tablero seleccionador de figuras instrumentado. Nuestro objetivo es desarrollar un protocolo de valoración para el miembro superior, que a su vez sea objetivo, eficiente y que otorgue una medición cuantitativa del grado de afectación motora de los niños con PC en un entorno clínico.
Abstract: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of permanent pre, post and perinatal disorders of the motor and posture development due to non-progressive alterations in brain's natural development caused by injuries in the Central Nervous System. Due to the importance of the daily use of the upper limb members, it's important to consider more efficient ways to evaluate the performance in patients diagnosed with CP. One way to obtain an evaluation of the performance of the thoracic member is recording defined movements and calculating the smoothness, using an instrumented sorting block box. Our objective is to create a protocol of valuation for the upper member that is objective, efficient and that gives a quantitative feedback of the grade of the motor affectation of child with PC in a clinical environment.