Technological progress have gradually affected all aspects of human life, and it hit also the forestry sector. Newly introduced methods and technologies have brought a reduction of onerous, increasing productivity and entirely new risks arising from the operation of innovative forestry techniques. This work deals with just one of a number of risks arising from work in the forest and it's subject is a noise that is inherent in the use of technology. Short and also a long term noise exposure negative effects the human body and it can cause irreversible damage or even death. This work is focused on the effect of exposure to noise in the cabin of a harvester with emphasis on the physiology and human psychology with regard to occupational safety and health. The thesis also analyzes the stress in the workplace, stress, emerging and potential physiological and mental reactions to it. The work results during physiological functions of the persons who attended the measuring apparatus using Biofeedback 2000 x-pert for exposure to two different acoustic stimuli. In this work, inter alia the results of a test of attention and self probands obtained by subjective scales, which refine the findings of their current state of mind before and after exposure to the selected sounds.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-29T15:34:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_9877_Dissertação de Mestrado Vivianne F Cardoso.pdf: 4713541 bytes, checksum: 05c3f17fd24e3fd2872659a12d7a62bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / A função motora prejudicada aparece como um dos sintomas mais comuns após o Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC). Quando os membros superiores são afetados, a realização de atividades da vida diária fica comprometida. Um desenvolvimento recente no campo da reabilitação são exercícios em ambiente de realidade virtual (RV). Outro método utilizado para a reabilitação dos membros superiores de pacientes pós-AVC é o biofeedback EMG. Através deste biofeedback, os sinais mioelétricos são convertidos em informações visuais e sonoras permitindo ao paciente controlar a atividade muscular. O objetivo deste trabalho é conceber e avaliar uma nova forma de reabilitação por biofeedback usando RV e eletromiografia de superfície (sEMG) para complementar terapia convencional dos membros superiores pacientes pós-AVC. O sistema foi desenvolvido em base nos requisitos levantados na fase de concepção e projeto considerando as limitações funcionais do paciente, habilidades residuais, um ambiente motivador e facilidade de uso. Ele é capaz de fornecer feedback de sEMG, o resultado (através da pontuação no jogo) e o ângulo descrito. Os três jogos desenvolvidos, baseados nos princípios da aprendizagem motora, têm o objetivo de motivar o paciente para realizar movimentos de extensão do cotovelo. Para desenvolver e avaliar o sistema foram realizados experimentos com indivíduos sem comprometimento motor ou neurológico. Analisando o gráfico obtido pelo sinal mioelétrico filtrado e retificado é possível observar uma co-contracção de Bícpes braquial (BB) e Tríceps braquial (TB). Quando analisamos os resultados de feedback, os dados mostram que não foram encontradas diferenças significativas (p = 0,9216) quando se joga com o braço dominante (BD) versus não-dominante (BND). No entanto, uma diferença significativa (p = 0,0003) é observada quando se compara os dois braços (BD / BND) vs BD e BND BD vs BND ( p = 0,0018). Os resultados das avaliações por meio da System Usability Scale (SUS), na etapa 2 (E2) foi ± 81,4; SD ± 3,4 e na etapa 3 para os participantes (E3 / P) ± 82,5; SD ± 14,3 e profissionais de reabilitação (E3 / PR) ± 81,1; DP ± 7,4). Na Goal Attainment Scale (GAS), E2 foi ± 73,3; SD ± 2,7; E3 / P ± 72,2; SD ± 6.1 e E3 / PR ± 73,5; SD ± 2.7. Os resultados mostram uma boa aceitação do sistema por parte dos participantes e que os objetivos esperados durante o uso do sistema foram alcançados.

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Stress is the feeling of emotional strain in response to a perceived threat that disturbs the homeostasis and affects our health and well-being. Short-term stress has some beneficial effects such as improving alertness and performance and boosting memory, but prolonged stress responses can have deleterious effects on human health, including tissue damage and disease. Thus regulating stress levels is important for dealing with difficult situations to mitigate negative impacts. Prevailing approaches to treating stress have some limitations and drawbacks. Slow breathing/Resonant frequency breathing or HRV biofeedback and Music Therapy are some of the widely used methods for dealing with stress and anxiety. These methods are thought to stimulate the vagus nerve that promotes autonomic balance and hence reduce symptoms of stress. The current study investigated the effects of relaxing music and Slow breathing/Resonance frequency breathing on heart rate variability and respiration as well as on subjective measures of perceived stress. Although relaxing techniques are often administered in group classes, research studies in groups are rare. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of music listening and slow breathing in reducing stress evoked by watching a stressful movie in a group setting. The study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the aforementioned interventions in reducing stress, measured by psychophysiological and self-report measures. Thirty-two participants were recruited and randomly assigned to two groups (Music, Breathing). We hypothesized that after watching the stressful movie, the Breathing group would show greater physiological and self-report changes marking greater stress reduction compared to the Music group. Results indicated that slow Breathing affected perceived stress as well as HRV, whereas Music affected perceived stress, but had no significant effect on HRV. Also, results indicated that Slow Breathing and not Music reduced the complexity of heart and respiration signals. Moreover, the study found that respiration and heart rhythm synchronized maximally during slow breathing. The results suggest that the interventions studied in this research can be used as an effective stress reduction tool in a group setting. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a computer program on the training and maintenance of diaphragmatic breathing. The biofeedback portion was visual computer training and the results were displayed concurrently with participants' breathing responses to monitor display. The verbal feedback portion was praise that was given and recorded when participants responded with predominantly diaphragmatic breathing at the scheduled moment and response instruction that was given when participants responded with predominantly thoracic breathing. The results of this study indicate the computer program's effectiveness needs to be increased by supplementation with verbal feedback.

The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of utilizing an avoidance conditioning paradigm in EMG biofeedback training and to compare this method to the standard biofeedback training paradigm. Frontalis EMG levels of 20 college students were monitored during non-stress and stress conditions. Half then received standard EMG biofeedback training. The other half received biofeedback with contingent aversive stimulation. Both groups received training to a relaxation criterion of 3 microvolts for 100 seconds or, for a maximum of two 20 minute sessions. Subjects were then monitored again during non-stress and stress conditions. Both groups obtained significant EMG reductions due to training with no significant differences between them. Standard biofeedback training required less time for subjects to achieve the relaxation criterion than did biofeedback with a shock-avoidance contingency. Possible applications of avoidance contingent biofeedback were suggested.

In order to test Eysenck's hypothesis that introverts would condition faster than extroverts, twenty undergraduates were given muscle tensing and muscle relaxing trials using a feedback myograph to obtain electrical activity levels of the frontalis muscle. The subjects were divided into two groups of ten each. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was used to select ten students classified as introverts and ten classified as extroverts. .Both groups were given forty thirty-second trials to learn muscle relaxing and tensing. Analysis of covariance indicated a significant within trials effect for both the relaxation and tensing trials. No significant differences were found, however, between the introverts and the extroverts in either the muscle relaxing or muscle tensing training.

This study investigated the value of headache presence during elecromyographic (EMG) feedback relaxation training and the contribution made by home relaxation practice in the elimination of tension headache. Eighteen participants, mainly coeds in their twenties, recorded headache and medication data for two baseline weeks, and were assigned to one of three training groups. Group A received EMG feedback training with headache presence during the session and home relaxation practice. Group B received EMG feedback without headache Presence and home practice. Group C received only home relaxation practice. Statistically significant treatment differences were not found, but declining trends of headache activity and medication use tend to support the efficacy of EMG training with headache presence.

Einleitung: Die anale Inkontinenz ist ein häufiges, gravierendes Leiden mit einer Prävalenz zwischen 0,3% bis 1,5% für die Gesamtbevölkerung, wobei die zusätzliche Dunkelziffer sehr hoch geschätzt wird. Biofeedback stellt ein Hilfssystem dar, welches biologische Reaktionen außerhalb des Körpers widerspiegelt und somit lehrt physiologische, unbewusste Körperfunktionen willentlich zu kontrollieren. Biofeedback dient bei der analen Inkontinenz zur besseren Wahrnehmung von Dehnungsreizen im Rektum und stärkt die Sphinktermuskulatur. Patienten und Methoden: In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden retrospektiv die Krankengeschichten aller Patienten der Chirurgischen Klinik der Universität Würzburg untersucht, bei denen in den Jahren 1993 bis 2003 eine Biofeedback-Therapie bei analer Inkontinenz eingeleitet wurde. Hauptaugenmerk lag dabei auf den prä- und posttherapeutischen Untersuchungsergebnissen der Durchzugsmanometrie und des Kontinenzscores sowie auf der Messung der aktuellen - mit speziellen Fragebögen (GLQI, FIQL) erhobenen - Lebensqualität. Ergebnisse: Die Datenauswertung ergab für die 78 Patienten eine Geschlechtsverteilung von 73% Frauen und 27% Männer. Das durchschnittliche Alter lag bei 49 Jahren, die stärkste Gruppe bildeten die 40- bis 59-Jährigen mit 37%. Die durchschnittliche Therapiedauer betrug 8,5 Monate. Die Indikationen für das Biofeedback-Training waren bei 77% der Betroffenen eine idiopathische Inkontinenz und bei 23% eine postoperative Inkontinenz. Die Erwachsenen wurden mit einem mittleren BMI-Wert von 27 als übergewichtig eingestuft. Die Zunahme des Kontinenzscores von durchschnittlich 21,5 Punkten auf 26,6 Punkte (Grob- zu Feinverschmutzung) war mit p<0,05 signifikant. Bei der Manometrie-Untersuchung fielen prä- und posttherapeutisch keine signifikanten Verbesserungen auf. Die posttherapeutische Lebensqualität der Patienten wies lediglich befriedigende Ergebnisse (GLQI: 98,3 von 144 Punkten) auf. Die Betroffenen waren mit dem Ergebnis des Trainings nur mäßig zufrieden. Schlussfolgerung: Die häufigste Indikation für ein mehrmonatiges Biofeedback-Training stellt die idiopathische Form der Stuhlinkontinenz dar. Betroffen sind vor allem Frauen zwischen dem 40. und 80. Lebensjahr, ursächlich werden Geburtstraumata diskutiert. Das signifikante Ansteigen der Werte der Kontinenzscores spiegelt die subjektiv empfundene Verbesserung der Beschwerden der Betroffenen wider. Gleichbleibende Manometriedaten bedeuten keine posttherapeutische Änderung der objektiv messbaren Parameter. Die Lebensqualität wird durch Biofeedback kaum positiv beeinflusst und korreliert damit nicht mit den steigenden Kontinenzscores. Persönliche Einstellung und Motivation der Patienten sind wichtige Faktoren, die zum Erfolg dieser Therapieform beitragen. Kinder stellen eine positive Ausnahme dar, sie profitieren durchweg vom Biofeedback-Training. / Background: Fecal incontinence is a frequent, serious disease with prevalence between 0.3 and 1.5% and the additional estimated number of unknown cases is supposed to be high. Biofeedback represents an aid to reflect biological reactions outside the body and teaches to control unconscious body functions deliberately. Biofeedback therapy of fecal incontinence improves the perception of rectal distension and boosts the anal sphincter. Study design: Those patients (n=78) receiving a biofeedback therapy at the surgical outpatient clinic of the university of Würzburg between 1993 and 2003 were studied retrospectively. The special attention was given to the symptom questionnaire to determine continence score and anal manometry before and after the treatment. Quality of life was assessed with validated questionnaires (GLQI, FIQL). Results: The study concluded 78 patients with 73% women and 27% men. The average age was 49 years, the major group formed the 40- until 59-years old with 37%. The average duration of therapy was 8.5 months. The indications for biofeedback therapy were in 77% idiopathic incontinence and in 23% postoperative incontinence. The average BMI of 27 classified adults to have overweight. The increase of the continence score (21.5 points: high soiling up to 26.6 points: low soiling) was significant, while the anal manometry showed no significant improvements. Quality of life reached just satisfactory results. The patients were only moderate pleased with the results. Conclusions: The most frequent indication for biofeedback therapy represents the idiopathic form of incontinence. The persons concerned are above all women between 40 and 80 years old, causally discussed are traumata of birth. The significant increase of the continence score reflects the subjectively felt relief of complaints of the patients. Manometry results staying the same after the treatment mean no change of the objective measurable parameters. Quality of life isn’t really positive influenced by biofeedback and doesn’t walk along with the increasing continence score. The personal attitude and motivation of the patients are important factors contributing to the success of this therapy. Children reflect a positive exception, they always profit from biofeedback therapy.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1975.