Purpose: Intravaginal probes used for recording electromyography (EMG) from the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) likely record activity from nearby muscles (crosstalk), and move during functional tasks, causing motion artifact data contamination, threatening the validity of results obtained. This study investigated the test-retest reliability and validity of surface EMG recordings from the PFMs using a novel, theoretically superior electrode in comparison to a commercially available intravaginal probe, the FemiscanTM. Methods: Healthy subjects (n=20) performed tasks with each vaginal electrode in situ: i) PFM maximal voluntary contractions (MVC), ii) coughs, iii) unilateral hip adductor/external rotator contractions at 25%MVC, 50%MVC, and MVC while keeping the PFMs relaxed or maximally contracted, and iv) transversus abdominis contractions (TrA; recorded using fine-wires) at 25%MVC, 50%MVC, MVC. Analyses: i) Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), ii) t-tests of proportions (α=0.05), iii) repeated measures ANOVAs and Tukey’s post-hoc testing (α=0.05) and iv) cross-correlation functions between peaks of transversus abdominis and PFM activity were used to determine the between-trial and between-day reliability of each vaginal electrode, a difference in prevalence of motion artifact contamination between electrodes, and the presence of crosstalk from the hip and TrA, respectively. Results: Between-trial reliability of both vaginal electrodes was excellent (ICC(3,1)=0.943-0.974). Between-day reliability was less consistent (ICC(3,1)=0.788-0.924 and 0.648-0.715 for the FemiscanTM and novel electrode, respectively). No significant difference in the proportion of files contaminated with motion artifact using each electrode existed. At submaximal intensities of hip muscle contractions, the FemiscanTM recorded significantly higher EMG amplitudes compared to what it recorded when the hip was relaxed, whereas the novel electrode did not, indicating that the FemiscanTM recorded crosstalk from the hip musculature. Low cross-correlation coefficients (<0.90) and large time delays (≥ 0.5 milliseconds) between peaks of PFM and TrA activity indicated that neither vaginal electrode recorded crosstalk from the TrA. Conclusion: The novel electrode is a promising tool to record EMG from the PFMs, as it records less crosstalk from the hip musculature than current technology while maintaining a high degree of reliability when comparing results collected within the same session; however, this electrode should not be used to compare one’s muscle activity between days. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2011-02-07 14:46:30.811

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of five track athletes (three men and two women, aged 18-33 yrs) during a season-long PST-Biofeedback training program designed to help them learn how to self-regulate physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally. Three key psychological skills were emphasized: focus (Janelle, 2002; Nideffer & Sagal, 2006), arousal control through biofeedback training (e.g., Bar-Eli, Dreshman, Blumenstein, & Weinstein, 2002), and debriefing (Hogg, 2002; McArdle, Martin, Lennon, & Moore, 2010). The program, which consisted of one-on-one initial and final semi-structured interviews with PST-biofeedback sessions in between, was individualized to meet each athlete’s needs and progress during the study. Results indicated that the athletes found the program helpful; they perceived an improvement in their ability to focus, debrief, and control arousal in the lab; and, to varying degrees, they transferred those skills into training and competition. The athletes also perceived an improvement in their sport performances.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1986.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1986.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, August, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, August, 2008. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

abstract: Advances in miniaturized sensors and wireless technologies have enabled mobile health systems for efficient healthcare. A mobile health system assists the physician to monitor the patient's progress remotely and provide quick feedbacks and suggestions in case of emergencies, which reduces the cost of healthcare without the expense of hospitalization. This work involves development of an innovative mobile health system with adaptive biofeedback mechanism and demonstrates the importance of biofeedback in accurate measurements of physiological parameters to facilitate the diagnosis in mobile health systems. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) assessment, a key aspect in the treatment of diet related health problems is considered as a model to demonstrate the importance of adaptive biofeedback in mobile health. A breathing biofeedback mechanism has been implemented with digital signal processing techniques for real-time visual and musical guidance to accurately measure the RMR. The effects of adaptive biofeedback with musical and visual guidance were assessed on 22 healthy subjects (12 men, 10 women). Eight RMR measurements were taken for each subject on different days under same conditions. It was observed the subjects unconsciously followed breathing biofeedback, yielding consistent and accurate measurements for the diagnosis. The coefficient of variation of the measured metabolic parameters decreased significantly (p < 0.05) for 20 subjects out of 22 subjects. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Electrical Engineering 2012

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:16:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AnaCALB_DISSERT.pdf: 2829672 bytes, checksum: 12218816c25fed1c7a44d00efc445843 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / BACKGROUND: Treadmill training with partial body weight support (BWS) has shown many benefits for patients after a stroke. But their findings are not well known when combined with biofeedback. OBJETIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of biofeedback, visual and auditory, combined with treadmill training with BWS on on walking functions of hemiplegic subjects. METHODS: We conducted a clinical trial, randomized controlled trial with 30 subjects in the chronic stage of stroke, underwent treadmill training with BWS (control), combined with visual biofeedback, given by the monitor of the treadmill through the symbolic appearance of feet as the subject gave the step; or auditory biofeedback, using a metronome with a frequency of 115% of the cadence of the individual. The subjects were evaluated by kinematics, and the data obtained by the Motion Analysis System Qualisys. To assess differences between groups and within each group after training was applied to ANOVA 3 x 2 repeated measures. RESULTS: There were no statistical differences between groups in any variable spatio-temporal and angular motion, but within each group there was an increase in walking speed and stride length after the training. The group of visual biofeedback increased the stance period and reduced the swing period and reason of symmetry, and the group auditory biofeedback reduced the double stance period. The range of motion of the knee and ankle and the plantar flexion increased in the visual biofeedback group. CONCLUSION: There are no differences between the immediate effects of gait training on a treadmill with BWS performed with and without visual or auditory biofeedback. However, the visual biofeedback can promote changes in a larger number of variables spatiotemporal and angular gait / INTRODU??O: O treino de marcha em esteira com suporte parcial de peso (SPP) tem mostrado diversos benef?cios para o paciente ap?s um acidente vascular encef?lico (AVE), tendo-se, no entanto, pouco conhecimento dos seus resultados associados ao est?mulo por biofeedback. OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos imediatos do biofeedback, visual e auditivo, associado ao treino de marcha em esteira com SPP sobre a marcha de sujeitos hemipar?ticos. M?TODOS: Foi realizado um ensaio cl?nico, randomizado e controlado com 30 sujeitos no est?gio cr?nico do AVE, submetidos ao treino de marcha em esteira com SPP (controle), podendo ser associado ao biofeedback visual (experimental I), dado pelo monitor da esteira por meio do aparecimento de p?s simb?licos ? medida que o sujeito dava o passo, ou ao biofeedback auditivo (experimental II), usando-se um metr?nomo em uma frequ?ncia de 115% da cad?ncia do indiv?duo. Os sujeitos foram avaliados por cinemetria, sendo os dados obtidos pelo Sistema de An?lise de Movimento Qualisys. Para avaliar as diferen?as entre os grupos e dentro de cada grupo ap?s o treinamento, foi aplicada o teste param?trico ANOVA 3 x 2 de medidas repetidas. RESULTADOS: N?o houve diferen?as estat?sticas entre os grupos em nenhuma das vari?veis espa?o-temporais e angulares da marcha, mas dentro de cada grupo houve um aumento da velocidade da marcha e do comprimento do passo ap?s o treinamento. O grupo do biofeedback visual aumentou o tempo de apoio e reduziu o tempo de balan?o e sua raz?o de simetria; e o grupo do biofeedback auditivo reduziu o tempo de duplo suporte. Houve um aumento da ADM do joelho e tornozelo e da flex?o plantar no grupo biofeedback visual. CONCLUS?O: N?o h? diferen?as entre os efeitos imediatos do treino de marcha em esteira com SPP realizado sem e com biofeedback visual ou auditivo. No entanto, o biofeedback visual pode promover altera??es em um maior n?mero de vari?veis espa?o-temporais e angulares da marcha

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T23:13:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo942_1.pdf: 1311031 bytes, checksum: ab10866066b6138c127fd728faf0a779 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Universidade Estadual do Ceará / Introdução: A Unidade de Biofeedback Pressórico (UBP) é, frequentemente, usada por clínicos e pesquisadores para avaliar a atividade muscular do transverso abdominal (TrA) em pacientes com dor lombar crônica inespecífica, entretanto pouco se sabe sobre suas propriedades clinimétricas. Objetivos: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade e a validade da UBP na atividade do músculo TrA em pacientes com dor lombar crônica inespecífica. Métodos: A amostra foi composta por cinquenta participantes. Para testar a reprodutibilidade interexaminador as medidas foram realizadas por dois fisioterapeutas e para testar a reprodutibilidade intra-examinador, um deles realizou duas medidas em ocasiões diferentes com um intervalo de sete dias entre os testes. Para testar a validade foram correlacionadas as medidas da UBP (teste índice) e da eletromiografia de superfície (teste padrão-referência). Resultados: Foram observados valores do coeficiente de correlação intraclasse de 0,74 e 0,76 para a reprodutibilidade intra e inter-examinador, respectivamente. A concordância intraexaminador e inter-examinador estiveram dentro dos limites de concordância em 95% das ocasiões. Foi observado fraco valor do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r=0,2; p<0,20) para a validade. Os testes diagnósticos mostraram baixa sensibilidade (60%) e especificidade (40%) da UBP. O valor preditivo positivo foi igual a 0,8 e o valor preditivo negativo igual a 0,2. Conclusões: A reprodutibilidade da UBP variou de satisfatória a excelente e a validade apresentou baixa correlação entre os dados pressóricos e eletromiográficos. Conclui-se que um paciente com dor lombar crônica inespecífica pode ser avaliado por um único fisioterapeuta em momentos distintos, assim como, esse mesmo paciente pode ser avaliado por fisioterapeutas diferentes e obter o mesmo diagnóstico cinesiológico. Entretanto, os achados eletromiográficos sugerem que a aplicabilidade clínica da UBP em pacientes com dor lombar crônica inespecífica não é indicada

This investigation focused on two major areas of investigation, (a) the differentiation of functions between the two cerebral hemispheres and (b) the effectiveness of electromyographic biofeedback versus relaxation tape input as methods of lowering levels of arousal. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the differential effects of EMG biofeedback and relaxation tape input to the right ear only, to the left ear only and to both ears in a strongly lateralized population. Subjects were 56 students recruited from undergraduate psychology classes. To be included in the study, subjects had to score at minimum, and Edinburgh Handedness Inventory Laterality Quotient of 68, Declie = Right 3, and had to demonstrate a right ear advantage on the Dichotic Listening Task for Words.