ABSTRACT
The elderly show a loss of both the intellectual functions and of motion ability. This happens also without particular pathologies; possible tests to highlight this loss are the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and the Functional Reach (FR)-test. During 2004-2005 winter 50 healthy subjects were analyzed; the subjects were divided into three age-groups: from 55 to 64 years; from 65 to 74 years; over 75 years of age. The test results showed a significant decline of MMSE and FR from the first group to the other two groups, a same behavior of male and female subjects, a greater decline of physical characteristics compared to psychic characteristics. During 2008-2009 winter several subjects (34 of 50) were again analyzed, and a more accurate facility was used to measure the FR. The aim of the new test has been the exam of the cognitive conditions and of the physical performances after the 4 year follow-up. The results of the new tests confirm the previous results, both with regard to the decline of the psychophysical characteristics from the first age-group to the others but the decrease is not as significant as the previous, and with regard to the greater physical decline. What is surprising is that the decline of both the psychic and the physical characteristics concerns only the first age-group, not the other two. Maybe healthy subjects, without particular pathologies reach a stabilization of the above-mentioned characteristics; some hypothesis is given to explain what happens.
Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/diagnosis , Health Status , Motor Skills , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cognition Disorders/psychology , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological TestsABSTRACT
In this paper we present the results of research on the role of slip and force sensors in the control of grasp by means of functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) when applied to plegic subjects. From our study, it emerged that a reliable control strategy can be more efficiently based on the slip signal than on the signal related to the force exerted by the fingers. A prototype system involving both slip detectors, realized by means, of inductive transducers, and force sensors has been designed.
Subject(s)
Biofeedback, Psychology/instrumentation , Electric Stimulation/instrumentation , Hand Strength/physiology , Touch/physiology , Equipment Design , Feasibility Studies , Feedback/physiology , Humans , Neuromuscular Junction/physiology , Paraplegia/rehabilitation , Reference Values , TransducersABSTRACT
Measurement methods of cross-sectional area of collagen tissues and structures, so far chosen, are critically reviewed. A new optical method, founded on section outline plotting, by which it is easy to compute the cross-sectional area, is suggested and shown in particular. Experimental results, achieved by applying the method to the measurement of bovine knee ligament sections, are reported; these results are compared with those taken from samples coming from the same ligaments.
Subject(s)
Collagen/physiology , Ligaments, Articular/physiology , Animals , Biomechanical Phenomena , Cattle , Ligaments, Articular/anatomy & histology , Methods , TechnologyABSTRACT
The authors carried out mechanical tests on the collateral and cruciate ligaments of the human knee, using two different types of apparatus. They report and discuss the results of these tests relative to loads, stiffness and deformations. They also describe the electron microscopic findings in samples taken from above and below the macroscopic rupture. These observations are compared with those made in samples from unstressed ligaments.
