Technology and Health Care - Volume 30, issue 1

Authors: Bliudzius, Antanas | Puronaite, Roma | Trinkunas, Justas | Jakaitiene, Audrone | Kasiulevicius, Vytautas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Monitoring physical activity with consumers wearables is one of the possibilities to control a patient’s self-care and adherence to recommendations. However, clinically approved methods, software, and data analysis technologies to collect data and make it suitable for practical use for patient care are still lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyze the potential of patient physical activity monitoring using Fitbit physical activity trackers and find solutions for possible implementation in the health care routine. METHODS: Thirty patients with impaired fasting glycemia were randomly selected and participated for 6 months. Physical activity variability …was evaluated and parameters were calculated using data from Fitbit Inspire devices. RESULTS: Changes in parameters were found and correlation between clinical data (HbA1c, lipids) and physical activity variability were assessed. Better correlation with variability than with body composition changes shows the potential to include nonlinear variability parameters analysing physical activity using mobile devices. Less expressed variability shows better relationship with control of prediabetic and lipid parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluation of physical activity variability is essential for patient health, and these methods used to calculate it is an effective way to analyze big data from wearable devices in future trials. Show more

Keywords: Fitbit, Poincaré plot, variability, physical activity monitoring, pre-diabetes

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219006

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 231-242, 2022

Authors: Aleknaite-Dambrauskiene, Ieva | Domeika, Aurelijus | Zvironas, Arunas

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Balance control is a leading component of human motor activities and its impairment is associated with an increased risk of falling, lower back pain due to impaired motor control mechanism. Prolonged sitting position at workplace is one of the risk factors of reduced postural control and lower back pain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate theta and alpha waves cortical activity, trunk muscles activity and kinematics in static sitting, dynamic sitting on different platforms: simple wobble board (WB) and wobble board on bearing surface (WBB). METHODS: The kinematics of body segments, electromyography of five trunk …muscles, electroencephalography of 32 scalp electrodes were measured during balance tasks in sitting position for 17 subjects with continuous seated position at workplace. RESULTS: Cortical power on WBB1 increase in fronto – central (p < 0.05) region while on WBB2 increase in centro – parietal region (p < 0.05). WBB2 increase more muscles compared with WB2. The amplitude of movement of ASIS, Th10 can be seen lower on WBB compared with WB (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that WBB can increase personalized sitting and improve trunk motor control during hours of prolonged sitting. Show more

Keywords: Electromyography, electroencephalography, occupational sitting, trunk control, wobble board

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219007

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 243-255, 2022

Authors: Zdrodowska, Małgorzata | Dardzińska-Głȩbocka, Agnieszka

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Disability, especially in children, is a very important and current problem. Lack of proper diagnosis and care increases the difficulty for children to adapt to disabilities. Disabled children have many problems with basic activities of daily living. Therefore, it is very important to support diagnosticians and physiotherapists in recognizing self-care problems in children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to extract classification and action rules, useful for those who work with children with disabilities. METHODS: First, features and their impact on the accuracy of classification are determined. Then, two models are …built: one with all features and one with selected ones. For these models the classification rules are extracted. Finally, action rules are mined and the next step in treatment process is predicted. RESULTS: Seventeen features with the greatest impact on classifying a child into a particular group of self-care problems were identified. Based on the implemented algorithms, decision and action rules were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained model, selected attributes and extracted classification and action rules can support the work of therapists and direct their work to those areas of disability where even a minimal reduction of features would be of great benefit to the children. Show more

Keywords: Disability, ICF-CY, self-care problem, classification rules, action rules, feature selection, classification, data mining

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219008

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 257-269, 2022

Authors: Ziziene, Jurgita | Daunoraviciene, Kristina | Juskeniene, Giedre | Pauk, Jolanta

Article Type: Case Report

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), the most common motor dysfunction is pathological gait. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of measures for an individual CP case. METHODS: The case of one spastic diplegia child has been analyzed. Both lower extremities and spine were examined under three gait conditions: 1) barefoot, 2) with ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) and thoracolumbosacral spinal orthosis (TLSO), and 3) with TLSO only. Spatiotemporal gait and kinematic parameters of the pelvic, hip, knee, ankle joints, and spine were obtained using Vicon Plug-in-Gait model. The difference (Δ ) between …the measured values and normative ranges was calculated to determine the efficiency of the orthoses. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in kinematic and spatiotemporal parameters comparing results between conditions and body sides. The effectiveness of the measures was confirmed by the smallest Δ values in the double and single support time with the AFOs/TLSO and in the stride and stance time with TLSO. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, the best stability of the spine, ankle plantarflexion, and knee hyperextension is achieved with the AFOs/TLSO; therefore, this combination of measures was considered the most effective. However, not only quantitative parameters should be taken into account, but also the child’s willingness and comfort. Show more

Keywords: Cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia, children’s gait, kinematics, ankle-foot orthosis, thoracolumbar spinal orthosis, effectiveness

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219009

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 271-281, 2022

Authors: Stelzer, Vera | Krenkel, Lars

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to their corrugated profile, dragonfly wings have special aerodynamic characteristics during flying and gliding. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to create a realistic 3D model of a dragonfly wing captured with a high-resolution micro-CT. To represent geometry changes in span and chord length and their aerodynamic effects, numerical investigations are carried out at different wing positions. METHODS: The forewing of a Camacinia gigantea was captured using a micro-CT. After the wing was adapted an error-free 3D model resulted. The wing was cut every 5 mm and 2D numerical analyses …were conducted in Fluent ® 2020 R2 (ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA, USA). RESULTS: The highest lift coefficient, as well as the highest lift-to-drag ratio, resulted at 0 mm and an angle of attack (AOA) of 5 ∘ . At AOAs of 10 ∘ or 15 ∘ , the flow around the wing stalled and a Kármán vortex street behind the wing becomes visible. CONCLUSIONS: The velocity is higher on the upper side of the wing compared to the lower side. The pressure acts vice versa. Due to the recirculation zones that are formed in valleys of the corrugation pattern the wing resembles the form of an airfoil. Show more

Keywords: Dragonfly wing, gliding flight, insect flight, computational fluid dynamics, aerodynamics

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219010

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 283-289, 2022

Authors: Gudziunas, Vaidotas | Domeika, Aurelijus | Puodžiukynas, Linas | Gustiene, Renata

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Balance training on unstable surfaces is widely used in medicine and sports. The main disadvantage of balance platforms is weakly definable assessment of the level of instability (IL) they create. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical characteristics of a suspended single-plane instability balance platform which determines quantitative instability characteristics. METHODS: Three criteria influencing the IL were evaluated: 1. The displacement of the platform board by changing the position of the object on the board; 2. Amount of force required for board displacement; 3. The vibration damping of the platform. RESULTS: …1. 1IL the displacement of the object on the board affected 0.66 cm. the displacement of the board relative to the platform frame; 2IL – 0.79 cm; 3IL – 0.91 cm.; 2. A force of 2.64 is required for a board displacement of 1IL compared to 2IL and 5.76 times that of 3IL. 3. Damping factor 1IL – 0.015, 2IL – 0.006, 3IL – 0.003. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The longer the suspension, the change in the position of the object on the board affects the greater movement of the board relative to the platform. 2. Different IL can be compared with each other depending on how different the force required to cause the board to move. 3. The platform dampens vibrations weakly, but the damping between 1 and 3 IL differs about 5 times. Show more

Keywords: Balance assessment, suspended single-plane instability balance platform, level of instability

DOI: 10.3233/THC-219011

Citation: Technology and Health Care, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 291-307, 2022