Thesis (M.S.)--University of British Columbia, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-81).

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Bibliography: leaves 216-231. Examines the sliding capability of external fixators under load and describes the development and testing of an external fixator capable of providing axial cyclic motion to a fracture site while a patient is walking.

Orientador: Sandro Caramaschi / Banca: Fausto Orsi Medola / Banca: Sergio Tosi Rodrigues / Resumo: A postura corporal é um dos indícios mais relevantes que a comunicação não verbal exerce no ser humano, podendo revelar até mesmo estados emocionais. As posturas abertas ou expansivas, com cabeça erguida e membros em extensão sugerem dominância, autoridades e poder sobre uma situação; e as posturas fechadas ou retraídas, com cabeça baixa e membros em flexão suscitam sentimentos mais depressivos, inseguros e negativos. Esta pesquisa tem objetivo tem o objetivo de verificar a influência das posturas abertas e fechadas sobre o equilíbrio estático, a autoestima, a frequência cardíaca e a saturação de oxigênio. Participaram 40 universitários, média de idade 21,25 anos, que realizaram as posturas abertas (dois minutos), aferiram a frequência cardíaca e a saturação de oxigênio, subiram na plataforma de força para verificar o equilíbrio estático, e responderam o escala de autoestima de Rosenberg, depois permaneciam em posturas fechadas (dois minutos) e realizaram as mesmas tarefas descritas. Os resultados mostraram que as posturas abertas e fechadas afetaram significatiamente a autoestima, a frequência cardíaca e o equilíbrio estático, sendo que, os participantes realizando as posturas abertas tiveram maior escore na autoestima, na frequência cardíaca e também melhoraram a estabilidade postural nas variáveis, área de deslocamento total do centro de pressão. Realizando-se as posturas fechadas diminuíram o escore da autoestima, da frequência cardíaca e menor estabilidade postural / Abstract: The body posture is one of the most important evidence that non-communication exercises is humans may reveal even emotional states. Open or expansive postures, with raised head and limbs in extension suggests dominance, authority and power over a situation; and postures closed or retracted, with head and limbs in flexion raise more derpressive, insecure and negative feelings. This research aims to investigate the influence of the open and closed position on the static balance, self-esteem, heart rate and oxygen saturation. Attendent by 40 students, average age 21 25 years, who underwent open positions (two minutes), measured that heart rate and oxygen saturation, they were up on the force platform to check the static equibilibrium, and responded to the sef-esteem scale Rosenberg. then remained in closed postions (two minutes) and performed the same tasks describes. The results showed that the open and closed positions significantly affected the self-esteem, heart rate and static balance, with the participants holdings open positions had higher scores on self-esteem, heart rate and also improve postural stability in variable area and total displacement of the center of pressure. By performing the closed postures decreased the score of self-esteem, heart rate and less postural stability / Mestre

Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurological disorder affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans. The current best practice for assessment of this disease is a clinical examination and subjective rating using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Such ratings are coarse scaled, subject to rater bias, and costly. Instruments which provide objective measurements of disease state can eliminate rater bias, provide repeatable data, and increase the frequency and responsiveness of subject assessments, expediting the validation of new therapies and treatments. This thesis describes the design and implementation of a battery of bio-mechanical devices suitable for clinical and in home use, including descriptions of the instruments and the functionality of the data acquisition software, as well as the overall system used for data collection. A data analysis algorithm is fully described, and descriptive statistics of pilot data from twenty two subjects are reported. These statistics show promising correlations of time duration metrics with the motor subsection of the UPDRS, as well as good responsiveness to dopaminergic intervention. Data also suggests that these devices have an advantage over previously described devices in the ability to record the full range of motion in standard assessment tasks, thereby providing additional metrics related to hesitations and halts in prescribed movements.

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