Title: The effect of airway control on stance dynamic stability Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to find out whether and how will the influence of vocal cords modulation be manifested on the dynamic stabilization of the standing body during translational shifts of the supporting surface of different intensities and A-P directions. Thus, building on the findings of Massery et al (2013). Methods: The thesis has the character of qualitative research. The experiment was attended by 23 healthy probands, of which 7 men and 16 women aged 20-40 years. Spirometry was used to test the objectivity of airway airflow during breathing / phoning maneuvers with different vocal cords positioning and dynamic computer posturography using the Neurocom Smart Equi Test System and its Motor Control Test, which evaluated the effectiveness of automatic postural responses. We connected the posturograph with the spirometer using the Kistler accelerometer (type 8766A100BB). The course of the experiment was simultaneously recorded by a camera (GoPro Hero 7). The Smart EquiTest System generated three postural perturbations of different intensity (S - sub treshold, M - threshold, L - saturating) in two directions (anterior translation / posterior translation). The measured data were then processed in the program Neurocom...

Goal The goal of our pilot study was to evaluate the effect of short-term home based sensomotoric Training program (six weeks) in healthy adults on dynamic postural stability. We used the SOT at baseline and post the training program to evaluate the effect. Methodology The number of participants in this experiment was 10 healthy students, the number of males was 8 and 2 females, they were all between the age of 23 and 40 (mean 29.5 and ± S.D = 5.1 years). The sensory organization test was conducted at baseline and post the home based sensomotoric training program by using the dynamic posturography SMART Balance Master System (NeuroCom). The somatosensory (SOM), visual (VIS), vestibular (VEST), preference (PREF) and composite equilibrium outcome measures of the sensory organization test were evaluated. Results The VIS sensory system has significantly improved also the VEST sensory system with p-value < 0.05. The SOM sensory system had no significant improvement also the PREF sensory system with p-value > 0.05, while the overall composite equilibrium had a significant improvement with p-value > 0.05. Conclusion According to our findings the short-term home based sensomotoric training program has a positive effect in terms of improving the overall dynamic balance in healthy adults. Keywords Dynamic...

Title: Rating postural stability in synchronized swimming Objectives: The aim of the diploma thesis is to detect, with a use of the system Gaitview ® AFA - 50 systém (Foot Scanner), if synchronized swimming has effect on postural stability of synchronized swimmers. Methods: Therotical part of diploma thesis is about synchronized swimming, influence of the aquatic environment, postural stability, stabilization and balance. A sample of 113 female athletes aged 6-35, who were long term synchronized swimmers at competition level, was chosen for this survey. Postural stability of athletes was tested while standing still with open and closed eyes by Gaitview ® AFA-50 system (Foot Scanner). Measured data were processed through Gaitview software, Microsoft Excel 2010 and anaylzed by statistical methods (average percentage, ratio, linear trend). Results: Results confirmed the effect of synchronized swimming on athletes postural stability. The longer are athletes dedicated to synchronized swimming the better is postural stability. From the age of 15 years and after 9 years of experience in synchronized swimming postural stability was shown to be better without access to visual information than with it. In the youngest category there is the biggest difference in postural stability while standing still with...

Title: Evaluation of postural stability of athletes - a literature review Objectives: Thesis will address retrieval processing rating Dynamic Postural Stability of athletes . Compares analysis or results of research or investigations of different laborers working with this theme. It also mentions tests and machines used in clinical practice. It also investigates in what sports was postural stability tested and how or with what results. The most advanced, currently the most recognized dynamic posturography with impartial value is EquiTest device from NeuroCom. Therefore, the practical part focuses primarily on the results of examination of this device and make statistics about that. Methods: The diploma thesis has descriptive and analytical character. It is elaborate as a literary review . Results: The study includes 142 studies, of which only 11 concern the assessment of postural stability of athletes. Sports disciplines include tennis, football, baseball, tai-chi, taekwondo, gymnastics, basketball, softball. Entire EquiTest testing battery (which contains 7 test in total - Sensory Organization Test, Motor Coordination and Control Test, Adaptation Test, Unilateral Stance Test, Limits Of Stability Test, Rhytmics Weight Shift, Weight Bearing Squat) is almost never used in assessments although it's a...

Diabetiker entwickeln nach durchschnittlich 10 Jahren Folgeschäden. Die Polyneuropathie mit nachfolgender Osteoarthropathie des Fußes ist eine meist zu spät erkannte und suboptimal versorgte Komplikation. Nicht rechtzeitig erkannte Schäden führen zu Ulcera, sekundären Infektionen, Osteomyelitiden und Amputationen. Fragestellung: Ist eine Ganganalyse incl. Posturographie in der Lage, eine evtl. bestehende Polyneuropathie zu verifizieren, um eine frühzeitige orthopädische Schuhversorgung vornehmen zu können? Material und Methoden: Es wurden Diabetiker (n = 73) mit (mittels Messung der Nervenleitgeschwindigkeit NLG) nachgewiesener Neuropathie und eine gesunde Vergleichsgruppe (n = 38) ohne Neuropathie am Ganganalysesystem GANGAS untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die Allgemeinparameter relative Geschwindigkeit, Schrittlänge und Kadenz, sowie die Belastungsparameter Fersen-, Mittelfuß-, Vorfußbelastung und Belastung beim Auftritt und Abstoß zeigten keine wesentlich signifikanten Unterschiede im Gruppenvergleich. Dagegen zeigte die Posturographie (apparative Untersuchung der Schwankung des Druckschwerpunktes beim Romberg-Test, welche durch die Länge und Geschwindigkeit beschrieben wurde) signifikante Unterschiede zwischen beiden Patientengruppen. So lag z.B. der Median der Weglänge des Druckschwerpunktes beim Test mit geschlossenen Augen bei den Diabetikern bei 21,27 cm und in der Vergleichsgruppe bei 15,4 cm (p = 0,007). Die Bewegungsgeschwindigkeit des Druckschwerpunktes beim Test mit geschlossenen Augen betrug im Median 1,33 cm/sec bei den Diabetikern und 0,96 cm/sec in der gesunden Vergleichsgruppe (p = 0,006). Beim Test mit offenen Augen ergab sich kein signifikanter Unterschied im Gruppenvergleich. Klinische Relevanz: Eine Instabilität des Ganges der Patienten mit diabetischer Neuropathie und entsprechenden Folgeschäden des Fußes läßt sich durch die Ganganalyse mit Standardparametern nach vorliegendem Datenmaterial nicht nachweisen. Die Posturographie ist eine einfache, zeitlich mit geringem Aufwand verbundene Methode, die mit statistischer Signifikanz die subjektiven Kriterien der klinisch-orthopädischen Frühdiagnostik sinnvoll ergänzen und damit die Verdachtsdiagnose eine diabetischen Fußes objektiv nachweisen kann, bevor bleibende Schäden am Fuß entstanden sind. / Every diabetic patient after about ten years develops secondary changes in different tissues. Polyneuropathy with consecutive osteoarthropathy of the foot often is recognized too late and suboptimal treated. Diabetic disorders recognized too late may lead to ulcera, secondery infections and even amputations. Question: Is standard gait analysis including posturography able to verify diabetic neuropathy in order to supply the patient with adapted orthopadic shoeware in time? Materials and methods: A group of diabetics (n=73) with proved neuropathy by measuring nerve conduction velocity and a healthy control group (n=38) without neuropathy were examined by the gait-analysis-system GANGAS. Results: The general parameters: relative speed, length of step and cadence as well as the loading parameters of the heel, middle foot and forefoot during treading and repulsion show no significant differences between both groups. Posturography however (apparative examination of the elongation of focal point of pressure (FPP) according to the Romberg test, described by length and speed) shows significant differences between both groups. For diabetics making the test with closed eyes the mean value of walking length of the FPP was 21,27 cm, for the healthy control persons it was only 15,4 cm (p = 0,007). Asimulary results were found for the speed of movement of FPP during the test with closed eyes: mean value in diabetics 1,33 cm/s and for the healthy control persons 0,96 cm/s (p = 0,006). During this test with open eyes there was no significant difference between both groups. Clinical Relevance: Walking instability of patients with diabetic neuropathy and corresponding sequential damage of the foot could not be proved by the current data with standard parameters. Posturography however is able to give additional information with statistical significance to the subjective criteria of the clinical-orthopedic early diagnosis and verify the diagnosis of a beginning diabetic foot before severe disorders have occured.

[ES] Los desórdenes del equilibrio y la marcha se encuentran entre los déficits motores más frecuentes entre aquellos individuos que han sufrido un ictus. En la clínica, estas habilidades son comúnmente evaluadas mediante herramientas clínicas que, pese a ser generalmente fáciles y rápidas de administrar, adolecen de poca precisión y estar sesgadas. Los sistemas instrumentados de laboratorio existentes para valorar la postura y la marcha resuelven potencialmente estas limitaciones a costa de requerir una preparación previa por parte de los evaluadores, un amplio espacio reservado en la clínica, un elevado tiempo de realización, y tener un coste muy elevado. El desarrollo tecnológico del sector del entretenimiento ha dado lugar en la última década a periféricos, como plataformas de presión y sensores de profundidad, que permiten la interacción mediante movimientos corporales manteniendo un bajo coste y una gran portabilidad y accesibilidad. Estudios iniciales han mostrado un rendimiento de estos dispositivos muy prometedor, y a veces comparable al de sistemas de laboratorio. Sin embargo, la falta de acceso a los sistemas desarrollados, la escasa investigación en personas con ictus y el desconocimiento de las propiedades psicométricas de las pruebas basadas en estos dispositivos en esta población comprometen la relevancia clínica que podrían tener estos sistemas. La hipótesis principal de este trabajo es que plataformas de fuerzas y sensores de profundidad de bajo coste, como la Nintendo Wii Balance Board y la Microsoft Kinect v2, respectivamente, pueden proporcionar información válida para cuantificar y evaluar la postura y la marcha de sujetos que han sufrido un ictus. Durante la presente tesis doctoral, por tanto, se ha llevado a cabo el desarrollo de herramientas de valoración de la postura y la marcha mediante los dispositivos nombrados, se ha posibilitado su acceso libre, se han determinado los valores normativos de las pruebas incluidas en las herramientas desarrolladas, y, finalmente, se ha investigado su sensibilidad, su validez convergente con herramientas clínicas estandarizadas y su fiabilidad inter e intraevaluador. Los resultados obtenidos de la participación de un total de 544 sujetos sanos y 173 sujetos con ictus en los cinco estudios que comprenden este trabajo evidencian que las herramientas desarrolladas permiten caracterizar satisfactoriamente la postura y la marcha de sujetos con ictus con respecto a la de sujetos sanos, poseen una validez convergente con instrumentos variables y coherente, y tienen una fiabilidad inter e intraevaluador excelente para casi todas las pruebas incluidas. Estos hallazgos sugieren que, pese a las limitaciones existentes, las herramientas desarrolladas podrían ser potencialmente usadas como una alternativa de bajo coste a los sistemas de laboratorio existentes para complementar la valoración de la postura y la marcha de sujetos con ictus. / [CA] Els desordres de l'equilibri i la marxa es troben entre els dèficits motors més freqüents entre aquells individus que han patit un ictus. A la clínica, aquestes habilitats són comunament avaluades mitjançant instruments clínics que, tot i ser generalment fàcils i ràpids d'administrar, poden tindre poca precisió i solen estar esbiaixades. Els sistemes instrumentats de laboratori existents per avaluar la postura i la marxa permeten resoldre aquestes limitacions, però requereixen una preparació prèvia per part dels avaluadors, un ampli espai reservat a la clínica, un elevat temps per realitzar cada prova i tenen un cost molt elevat. El desenvolupament tecnològic del sector de l'entreteniment ha donat lloc a plataformes de pressió i sensors de profunditat de baix cost, gran portabilitat i accessibilitat, que permeten la interacció amb entorns virtuals mitjançant moviments corporals. Estudis preliminars han mostrat un rendiment d'aquests dispositius molt prometedor i, de vegades, comparable al de sistemes de laboratori. No obstant això, la falta d'accés a les aplicacions desenvolupades, l'escassa investigació en persones amb ictus i el desconeixement de les propietats psicomètriques de les proves basades en aquests dispositius en aquesta població comprometen la rellevància clínica dels resultats obtinguts. La hipòtesi principal d'aquest treball és que plataformes de forces i sensors de profunditat de baix cost, com la Nintendo Wii Balance Board i la Microsoft Kinect v2, respectivament, poden proporcionar informació vàlida per quantificar i avaluar la postura i la marxa de subjectes amb ictus. Durant la present tesi doctoral, per tant, s'han desenvolupat eines de valoració de la postura i la marxa mitjançant els dispositius anomenats, s'ha possibilitat el seu accés lliure, s'han determinat els valors normatius de les proves incloses en les eines desenvolupades, i, finalment, s'ha investigat la seva sensibilitat, la seva validesa convergent amb instruments clínics estandarditzats i la seua fiabilitat inter i intraavaluador. Els resultats obtinguts de la participació d'un total de 544 subjectes sans i 173 subjectes amb ictus en els cinc estudis que comprenen aquest treball evidencien que les eines desenvolupades permeten caracteritzar satisfactòriament la postura i la marxa de subjectes amb ictus respecte a la de subjectes sans, tenen una validesa convergent amb instruments variable i coherent, i tenen una fiabilitat inter i intraavaluador excel·lent en gairebé totes les proves incloses. Aquestes troballes suggereixen que, tot i les limitacions existents, les aplicacions desenvolupades podrien ser potencialment usades com una alternativa de baix cost als sistemes de laboratori existents per complementar la valoració de la postura i la marxa de subjectes amb ictus. / [EN] Balance and gait disorders are common after stroke. In the clinical setting, these skills are usually assessed using clinical instruments that, despite being generally quick and easy to administer, may have limited accuracy and be biased. Instrumented laboratory-grade systems aimed at assessing posture and gait can potentially overcome these limitations. However, they require specific training to be operated and a long time to perform the assessments, and are usually bulky and expensive. In the last decade, the technological advances in the gaming industry have given rise to low-cost, portable and off-the-shelf devices, such as pressure platforms and depth sensors, which enable interaction with videogames through body movements. Previous research on the performance of these devices has shown promising results, and suggests that some measures could have comparable accuracy to those estimated by laboratory-grade systems. However, the lack of access to the software used in the experiments, the limited research in stroke patients, and the absence of knowledge about the psychometric properties of the assemment tests based on these devices, could limit the clinical relevance of the preliminary findings. The main hypothesis of this thesis is that low-cost force platforms and depth sensors, such as the Nintendo Wii Balance Board and the Microsoft Kinect v2, can provide sensitive, valid and reliable information to quantify and asses the postural control and gait of individuals with stroke, respectively. This work describes the development of two customized applications to assess posture and gait using the devices mentioned above, their publication on a dedicated website, the exploration of the normative values of tests included in the assessment, and, finally, the investigation of the sensitivity, convergent validity with standardized clinical instruments, and their inter- and intra-rater reliability. A total of 544 healthy subjects and 173 individuals with stroke have participated in the five studies that encompass this thesis. The results of these studies showed good sensitivity to motor impairment, variable and consistent convergent validity with clinical instruments, and excellent inter- and intra-rater reliability for almost all the tests examined. All these findings suggest that, despite their limitations, the developed applications interfaced with low-cost force platforms and depth sensors, could be potentially used as a low-cost alternative to instrumented laboratory-grade systems to complement the clinical assessment of the posture and gait of individuals with stroke. / Latorre Grau, J. (2022). Valoración del equilibrio y la marcha mediante sistemas de bajo coste en sujetos con ictus [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/181339 / TESIS