Moving the head-neck freely is an everyday task that a healthy person takes for granted. Such a simple movement, however, may be very challenging for individuals with neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These individuals often do not have enough neck muscle strength to stabilize the head at the upright neutral or to move it in a controlled manner. Static braces are commonly prescribed to these patients. However, these braces often fix the head at a single configuration, which makes them uncomfortable to wear for an extended period of time. In this thesis, a robotic neck brace is developed. It accommodates three rotations and covers roughly 70% range of motion of the head-neck of a typical able-bodied adult. The hardware is lightweight (1.5 kilogram) and wearable, with a pair of pads and a soft band attached to the shoulders and the forehead, respectively. A parallel mechanism connecting the shoulder pads and the headband was designed to meet the empirical human movement data. This design choice is novel where the parasitic motion (translation of the head) was parameterized and optimized to address misalignment between the robot and the user's head. A user can control this neck brace to assist intended head-neck movement through input devices, including hand-held joysticks, keyboards, and eye-trackers. This provides a potential solution to remediate head drop. Additionally, this robotic brace is developed into a versatile platform to train and study head-neck movements. The robot was designed to be highly transparent to the user and features different force controllers. Therefore, it can be used to assess the free movement of the head-neck and mimic different interactions between a therapist and a patient. The modalities of this neck brace have been validated with different users. To the best of our knowledge, this robotic neck brace is the first in the literature to assist, train, and study head-neck movements.

Objective: To determine the effects of head position and of different postural control demands on head tremor measures in participants with essential tremor. Methods: Seventeen participants with essential tremor (ET) of the head and 17 control participants took part. Individuals held their heads in varying degrees of rotation, flexion, and extension. Subsequently, individuals sat and stood in different postures, incorporating different foot placements (feet apart and together), surfaces (solid and foam), and vision conditions (eyes open and closed). Neck muscle activity was recorded from three muscles bilaterally (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis). Three-dimensional head and thorax positions were recorded using an Optotrak system, and head angular velocity with respect to thorax was calculated by differentiating tilt-twist angles. Fourier analysis was used to determine tremor power. Results: ET participants showed sharp peaks at their tremor frequency in spectral plots of kinematic data, whereas CN participants did not. Electromyography data was too noisy for frequency analysis. ET participants displayed increased tremor power in head positions 25° from neutral compared to neutral and positions 50° from neutral. Tremor power increased with increasing difficulty of posture for both participant groups. Removal of vision resulted in decreased tremor power in ET participants; power was significantly decreased in the easier postures, and progressively less so with increasing difficulty of posture. Interestingly, tremor direction was inconsistent in both groups, and two ET participants displayed multiple tremor peaks. Conclusions: The tilt-twist method is a feasible way of measuring head kinematics. Changing stiffness of the neck likely mediates the effect of head position on head tremor power, with the resultant interplay of the central driver and the mechanical resonance driving the amplitude changes. Decreasing stability of posture increases head tremor, likely due to the associated increase in postural sway and stress on the postural control system. Vision appears to exacerbate head tremor through the addition of tremor-related visual noise and an implicit task to stabilize vision; this is possible evidence of a visuomotor deficit. However, stabilizing vision becomes less important with increasing difficulty of posture, resulting in a narrowing gap in tremor power between vision and no vision conditions. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2011-03-31 18:16:59.927

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Esta pesquisa avaliou o sistema estomatognático de crianças saudáveis com ou sem necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico por meio do desempenho mastigatório, contato de forças oclusais e mobilidade mandibular. Noventa crianças foram selecionadas e distribuídas em três grupos: GSN (Grau 1, sem necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico, 8,00 ± 0,43 anos de idade, n = 26), GPN (Grau 2, pequena necessidade de tratamento, 8,89 ± 0,43 anos de idade, n = 28) e GMN (Grau 3, moderada necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico, 8,44 ± 0,22 anos de idade, n = 36). A necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico foi classificada pelo Índice de Necessidade de Tratamento Ortodôntico - Componentes de Saúde Dental (IOTN-DHC). O desempenho mastigatório foi avaliado pelo integral da envoltória do sinal eletromiográfico durante os ciclos mastigatórios do músculo masseter, temporal, orbicular da boca (segmento direito e segmento esquerdo) e supra-hioideo na mastigação habitual com alimentos macios e consistentes. Foi utilizado o sistema Trigno EMG com eletrodos sem fio para captação e análise do sinal eletromiográfico (µV). O sistema T-Scan® III Occlusal Analysis foi utilizado para analisar o contato de forças oclusais (%) entre as hemiarcadas superior e inferior (lado direito e esquerdo). A amplitude (mm) de abertura normal e abertura máxima voluntária e movimentos bordejantes mandibulares (lateralidade direita, lateralidade esquerda e protrusão) foi mensurada com régua milimetrada. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e submetidos à análise estatística (SPSS 22.0, ANOVA, teste post-hoc de Bonferroni, p ≤0,05). Verificou-se que GMN apresentou menor desempenho mastigatório e desequilíbrio de forças oclusais na maxila/mandíbula em relação GPN e GSN, sem diferença significativa, e maior amplitude de abertura da boca e movimentos excursivos mandibulares com diferença significativa na abertura normal (p=0,02). Portanto, crianças com moderada necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico apresentaram alterações funcionais no sistema estomatognático, em especial no desempenho mastigatório, força oclusal e mobilidade mandibular. / This research evaluated the stomatognathic system of healthy children with or without orthodontic treatment need through masticatory performance, occlusal strength and mandibular mobility. Ninety children were selected and distributed into three groups: GSN (Grade 1, no orthodontic treatment need, 8.00 ± 0.43 years old, n = 26), GPN (Grade 2, small orthodontic treatment need, 8.89 ± 0.43 years old, n = 28) and GMN (Grade 3, moderate orthodontic treatment need, 8.44 ± 0.22 years old, n = 36). The orthodontic treatment need was classified by the Orthodontic Treatment Need - Dental Health Components Index (IOTN-DHC). The masticatory performance was evaluated by the full linear envelope of the electromyographic signal during the masticatory cycles of masseter, temporal, mouth orbicularis (left and right segments) and suprahyoids muscles in the habitual chewing with soft and consistent foods. The Trigno EMG system was used with wireless electrodes to capture and analyze the electromyographic signal (µV). The T-Scan® III Occlusal Analysis system was used to analyze occlusal forces (%) between the upper and lower dental arch (right and left sides). The normal and maximum opening width (mm) and mandibular movements (right laterality, left laterality and protrusion) were measured with a millimeter ruler. Data were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis (SPSS 22.0, ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test, p≤0.05). It was verified that GMN presented lower masticatory performance and imbalance of the occlusal forces in maxila/ mandible to GPN and GSN, with no significant difference, and greater mouth opening amplitude and mandibular excursive movements, with significant difference, in normal opening mouth (p=0.02). Therefore, children with moderate orthodontic treatment need presented functional alterations in the stomatognathic system, especially in the masticatory performance, occlusal force and mandibular mobility.

Esta pesquisa avaliou o sistema estomatognático de crianças saudáveis com ou sem necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico por meio do desempenho mastigatório, contato de forças oclusais e mobilidade mandibular. Noventa crianças foram selecionadas e distribuídas em três grupos: GSN (Grau 1, sem necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico, 8,00 ± 0,43 anos de idade, n = 26), GPN (Grau 2, pequena necessidade de tratamento, 8,89 ± 0,43 anos de idade, n = 28) e GMN (Grau 3, moderada necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico, 8,44 ± 0,22 anos de idade, n = 36). A necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico foi classificada pelo Índice de Necessidade de Tratamento Ortodôntico - Componentes de Saúde Dental (IOTN-DHC). O desempenho mastigatório foi avaliado pelo integral da envoltória do sinal eletromiográfico durante os ciclos mastigatórios do músculo masseter, temporal, orbicular da boca (segmento direito e segmento esquerdo) e supra-hioideo na mastigação habitual com alimentos macios e consistentes. Foi utilizado o sistema Trigno EMG com eletrodos sem fio para captação e análise do sinal eletromiográfico (µV). O sistema T-Scan® III Occlusal Analysis foi utilizado para analisar o contato de forças oclusais (%) entre as hemiarcadas superior e inferior (lado direito e esquerdo). A amplitude (mm) de abertura normal e abertura máxima voluntária e movimentos bordejantes mandibulares (lateralidade direita, lateralidade esquerda e protrusão) foi mensurada com régua milimetrada. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados e submetidos à análise estatística (SPSS 22.0, ANOVA, teste post-hoc de Bonferroni, p ≤0,05). Verificou-se que GMN apresentou menor desempenho mastigatório e desequilíbrio de forças oclusais na maxila/mandíbula em relação GPN e GSN, sem diferença significativa, e maior amplitude de abertura da boca e movimentos excursivos mandibulares com diferença significativa na abertura normal (p=0,02). Portanto, crianças com moderada necessidade de tratamento ortodôntico apresentaram alterações funcionais no sistema estomatognático, em especial no desempenho mastigatório, força oclusal e mobilidade mandibular. / This research evaluated the stomatognathic system of healthy children with or without orthodontic treatment need through masticatory performance, occlusal strength and mandibular mobility. Ninety children were selected and distributed into three groups: GSN (Grade 1, no orthodontic treatment need, 8.00 ± 0.43 years old, n = 26), GPN (Grade 2, small orthodontic treatment need, 8.89 ± 0.43 years old, n = 28) and GMN (Grade 3, moderate orthodontic treatment need, 8.44 ± 0.22 years old, n = 36). The orthodontic treatment need was classified by the Orthodontic Treatment Need - Dental Health Components Index (IOTN-DHC). The masticatory performance was evaluated by the full linear envelope of the electromyographic signal during the masticatory cycles of masseter, temporal, mouth orbicularis (left and right segments) and suprahyoids muscles in the habitual chewing with soft and consistent foods. The Trigno EMG system was used with wireless electrodes to capture and analyze the electromyographic signal (µV). The T-Scan® III Occlusal Analysis system was used to analyze occlusal forces (%) between the upper and lower dental arch (right and left sides). The normal and maximum opening width (mm) and mandibular movements (right laterality, left laterality and protrusion) were measured with a millimeter ruler. Data were tabulated and submitted to statistical analysis (SPSS 22.0, ANOVA, Bonferroni post-hoc test, p≤0.05). It was verified that GMN presented lower masticatory performance and imbalance of the occlusal forces in maxila/ mandible to GPN and GSN, with no significant difference, and greater mouth opening amplitude and mandibular excursive movements, with significant difference, in normal opening mouth (p=0.02). Therefore, children with moderate orthodontic treatment need presented functional alterations in the stomatognathic system, especially in the masticatory performance, occlusal force and mandibular mobility.

<p>Uvod - Etiologija sindroma gornjeg otvora grudnog ko&scaron;a (thoracic outlet syndrome- TOS) je udruženost vi&scaron;e faktora koji su posledica naru&scaron;avanja anatomsko-topografskih odnosa u nivou gornjeg otvora grudnog ko&scaron;a: kostoklavikularnog prostora, prednjeg skalenskog otvora, kao i same mehanike rebarnih zglobova i hrskavica, koji dovode do suženja prostora kroz koje prolaze neurovaskularne strukture, njihove kompresije, a samim tim i iritacije neurovaskularnih struktura. Sindrom gornjeg otvora grudnog ko&scaron;a je kompleks simptoma uzrokovanih kompresijom brahijalnog spleta, vene subklavije, arterije subklavije i simpatičkih vlakana, koji karakteri&scaron;u bol, parestezije, mi&scaron;ićna slabost i osećaj nelagodnosti u ruci/rukama koji se pojačava podizanjem ruke/ruku ili prekomernim pokretima glave i vrata, te dovode do smanjenja funkcionalne sposobnosti ruke/ruku i pote&scaron;koća u obavljanju svakodnevnih aktivnosti. Pored toga imaju često izraženu tahikardiju, osećaj stezanja u grudima, glavobolju, vrtoglavicu, zujanje u u&scaron;ima. Navedene tegobe su izraženije ponekad noću i dovode do poremećaja spavanja (problemi usnivanja, hrkanje, ka&scaron;ljanje, osećaj toplo/hladno, apnea, poremećaj dnevno/noćnog ritma- hronotipizacija, itd). Kao posledica lo&scaron;eg spavanja moguća je pojava depresivnih simptoma. U raspoloživoj literaturi, spavanje i kvalitet spavanja se uglavnom posmatraju kroz prizmu drugih bolesti i stanja. Materijal i metode - Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno ukupno 181 (sto osam deset jedna) osoba. Od tog broja 53 mu&scaron;karca i 128 žena. Test grupu sačinjavalo je 82 ispitanika sa dijagnostikovanim TOS, a 99 zdravih osoba/osoba oba pola koji nemaju simptomatologiju TOS, je predstavljalo kontrolnu grupu. Grupe su bile ujednačene po polu i starosti (od 18 do 65). Tokom studije ispitanici su podvrgnuti kliničkom pregledu &ndash; fizikalnom i neurolo&scaron;kom pregledu. Pregled je podrazumevao pregled posture obolelog (posmatranje mi&scaron;ića regije vrata, ramena i ruku- trofika, tonus, konzistencija, mobilnost i kontraktilnost), posmatranje promena na koži (sa posebnim osvrtom na promene boje kože, trofičkih promena kože i noktiju i temperature kože ruku - &scaron;aka), testiranje refleksa, ispitivanje senzibiliteta u regijama inervacije odgovarajućih spinalnih korenova brahijalnog spleta. Takođe vr&scaron;ena je analiza stanja uhranjenosti (telesna visina, telesna masa, indeks telesne mase) i izvođenje provokativnih testova (Adson manevar, Rus test, Halsted test, Elvi test i Kostoklavikularni test). Kao deo ispitivanja obavljeno je i radiolo&scaron;ko snimanje vratne kičme kao i pregled oscilografom. Ispitanici su imali za zadatak da ispune sledeće upitnike: Upitnik o nesposobnosti ruke, ramena i &scaron;ake (DASH), Pitsbur&scaron;ki indeks kvaliteta spavanja (PSQI), Upitnik o hronotipizaciji (MEQ), Bekov upitnik o depresiji (BDI II). Na kraju ispitanici su davali odgovore na pitanja iz vodiča za istraživača sastavljenog sa ciljem evaluacije različitih aspekata spavanja. Rezultati - Rezultati su pokazali da su upotrebljene skale dale zadovoljavajuću pouzdanost. Pokazalo se da osobe sa dijagnozom TOS pored bogate simptomatologije imaju jo&scaron; i probleme sa spavanjem. Analizom rezultata do&scaron;lo se do zaključka da osobe sa dijagnozom TOS su starije, imaju vi&scaron;e problema sa spavanjem i veću nesposobnost ruke, ramena i &scaron;ake. Nije se pokazala razlika u hronotipizaciji kod osoba sa TOS u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Takođe može se zaključiti da osobe koje imaju izraženu nesposobnost ruku, ramena i &scaron;ake imaju značajno veću &scaron;ansu da imaju sindrom gornjeg otvora grudnog ko&scaron;a. Ove osobe pri tom imaju i veću &scaron;ansu da razviju depresiju i poremećaj spavanja, te se zaključuje da ova dva parametra svoj uticaj na TOS ostvaruju preko problema sa funkcionisanjem ruke, ramena i &scaron;ake. Dobar prediktor za postavljanje dijagnoze TOS može biti testiranje osoba DASH skalom. Zaključak - Rezultati studije mogu biti putokaz daljim istraživanjima, koja bi otvorila vrata formiranju protokola i opservaciji kvaliteta života osoba sa sindroma gornjeg otvora grudnog ko&scaron;a, sa posebnim osvrtom na poremećaje spavanja.</p> / <p>Etiology of thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is an association of several factors which are the result of disruption in the anatomical-topographical relations, in the level of superior thoracic aperture: costoclavicular space, anterior scalene aperture, as well as the mechanics of rib joints and cartilage, causing narrowing of space through which the neurovascular structures pass, their compression, and thus the irritation of neurovascular structures. Thoracic outlet syndrome is a complex of symptoms caused by the compression of the brachial plexus, subclavian vein, subclavian artery and sympathetic fibres, which is characterized by pain, parasthesias, muscle weakness and a feeling of discomfort in the arm / arms, which increases with raising the arm/arms or by excessive head and neck movements leading to a reduction of functional capabilities of the hands / arms and difficulties in everyday activities. In addition, patients often have expressed tachycardia, feeling of tightness in the chest, headache, dizziness, tinnitus. These problems are more pronounced at night and sometimes lead to sleep disorders (difficulty in falling asleep, snoring, coughing, feeling hot/cold, apnea, day/night rhythm disorder - Morningness/Eveningness disorder, etc.). As a result of poor sleeping depressive symptoms may occur. In the available bibliography, sleep and quality of sleep are mainly viewed through other diseases and conditions. The study included a total number of 181 (one hundred eighty one) people. Out of that 53 men and 128 women. The test group consisted of 82 patients diagnosed with TOS, and 99 healthy persons of both genders who had no symptoms of TOS, and constitute the control group. Groups were equalled by gender and age (18 to 65). Throughout the study subjects underwent clinical examination - both physical and neurological. This included an assessment of posture of the patient (observation of muscles in region of the neck, shoulders and arms - trophic, muscle tone, consistency, mobility and contractility), observation of changes on the skin (with a special emphasis on skin colour changes, trophic changes of the skin, nails and skin temperature of arms - hands), reflex testing, sensitivity testing in regions of innervations which correspond to spinal roots of the brachial plexus. Moreover, an analysis was conducted on the body composition analysis (body height, body weight, body mass index) as well as provocative tests (Adson manoeuvre, the Roos test, Halstead test, Elvy test and Costoclavicular test). Radiology scan of the cervical spine as well as oscillograph testing was conducted as a part of the test. The subjects were asked to fulfil the following questionnaires: Questionnaire on Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), The Morningness / Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), Beck Questionnaire on Depression (BDI II). Finally the subjects answered questions that researcher had drawn up in order to evaluate different aspects of sleep. The results showed that the scales used were reliable. It proved that persons diagnosed with TOS in addition to numerous symptoms also had problems with sleep. By analyzing the results it was concluded that people diagnosed with TOS are older, have more problems with sleep and greater disability of arms, shoulders and hands. There was no difference in Morningness/Eveningness type in patients with TOS in comparison to the control group. It can also be concluded that people who have pronounced disability of arms, shoulders and hands have a significantly greater chance of having thoracic outlet syndrome. These persons are more likely to develop depression and sleep disorders therefore those two entities impact TOS through the problems with the functioning of the arms, shoulders and hands. A good predictor in diagnosis of TOS may be testing people with DASH scale. The study findings can serve as a guideline for further research, opening the door into forming protocols and observation of the quality of life of people with the thoracic outlet syndrome, with special emphasis on sleep disorders.</p>

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2002. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.