A Novel Privacy Preservation and Quantification Methodology for Implementing Home-Care-Oriented Movement Analysis Systems.

Human movement is generally evaluated through both observations and clinical assessment scales to identify the state and deterioration of a patient's motor control. Lately, technological systems for human motion analysis have been used in clinics to identify abnormal movement states, while they generally suffer from privacy challenges and concerns especially at home or in remote places. This paper presents a novel privacy preservation and quantification methodology that imitates the forgetting process of human memory to protect privacy in patient-centric healthcare. The privacy preservation principle of this methodology is to change the traditional data analytic routines into a distributed and disposable form (i.e., DnD) so as to naturally minimise the disclosure of patients' health data. To help judge the efficacy of DnD-based privacy preservation, the researchers further developed a risk-driven privacy quantification framework to supplement the existing privacy quantification techniques. To facilitate validating the methodology, this research also involves a home-care-oriented movement analysis system that comprises a single inertial measurement sensor and a mobile application. The system can acquire personal information, raw data of movements and indexes to evaluate the risk of falls and gait at homes. Moreover, the researchers conducted a technological appreciation survey of 16 health professionals to help understand the perception of this research. The survey obtains positive feedback regarding the movement analysis system and the proposed methodology as suitable for home-care scenarios.

Why Is the Grass the Best Surface to Prevent Lameness? Integrative Analysis of Functional Ranges as a Key for Dairy Cows' Welfare.

Lameness is a painful clinical condition of the bovine locomotor system that results in alterations of movement. Together with mastitis and infertility, lameness is the main welfare, health, and production problem found in intensive dairy farms worldwide. The clinical assessment of lameness results in an imprecise diagnosis and delayed intervention. Hence, the current approach to the problem is palliative rather than preventive. The five main surfaces used in free housing systems in dairy farms are two natural (grass and sand) and three artificial (rubber, asphalt, and concrete). Each surface presents a different risk potential for lameness, with grass carrying the lowest threat. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the flooring type influences on cows' movement capabilities, using all the available information relating to kinematics, kinetics, behavior, and posture in free-housed dairy cows. Inspired by a refurbished movement ecology concept, we conducted a literature review, taking into account kinematics, kinetics, behavior, and posture parameters by reference to the main surfaces used in free housing systems for dairy cows. We built an integrative analysis of functional ranges (IAFuR), which provides a combined welfare status diagram for the optimal (i.e., within the upper and lower limit) functional ranges for movement (i.e., posture, kinematics, and kinetics), navigation (i.e., behavior), and recovery capacities (i.e., metabolic cost). Our analysis confirms grass' outstanding clinical performance, as well as for all of the movement parameters measured. Grass boosts pedal joint homeostasis; provides reliable, safe, and costless locomotion; promotes longer resting times. Sand is the best natural alternative surface, but it presents an elevated metabolic cost. Rubber is an acceptable artificial alternative surface, but it is important to consider the mechanical and design properties. Asphalt and concrete surfaces are the most harmful because of the high traffic abrasiveness and loading impact. Furthermore, IAFuR can be used to consider other qualitative and quantitative parameters and to provide recommendations on material properties and the design of any surface, so as to move towards a more grass-like feel. We also suggest the implementation of a decision-making pathway to facilitate the interpretation of movement data in a more comprehensive way, in order to promote consistent, adaptable, timely, and adequate management decisions.

Tracking and Classification of Head Movement for Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems.

The use of assistive technologies can mitigate or reduce the challenges faced by individuals with motor disabilities to use computer systems. However, those who feature severe involuntary movements often have fewer options at hand. This work describes an application that can recognize the user's head using a conventional webcam, track its motion, model the desired functional movement, and recognize it to enable the use of a virtual keyboard. The proposed classifier features a flexible structure and may be personalized for different user need. Experimental results obtained with participants with no neurological disorders have shown that classifiers based on Hidden Markov Models provided similar or better performance than a classifier based on position threshold. However, motion segmentation and interpretation modules were sensitive to involuntary movements featured by participants with cerebral palsy that took part in the study.

Patellofemoral pain over time: Protocol for a prospective, longitudinal study investigating physical and non-physical features.

Background: This is a protocol for a prospective longitudinal study that aims to investigate: (1) group-by-time changes over a minimum of 15 months follow-up in patellofemoral pain (PFP) symptoms, biomechanical, muscle function, pain processing, and psychological features; (2) the extent to which changes in biomechanical, muscle function, pain processing, and psychological features are associated with changes in self-reported pain, physical performance measures, self-reported function, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and physical activity level. Methods: Individuals with PFP (n = 144) and control individuals (n = 85) without PFP were assessed at baseline. Outcomes assessed included: 3D kinematics and kinetics during single leg squat, step-down and single leg hop; maximal torque and rate of torque development of hip abductors and knee extensors/flexors; force steadiness of hip abductors and knee extensors; anterior and lateral trunk endurance; pressure pain thresholds at the center of patella and contralateral shoulder; kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia); pain catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale); worst self-reported pain (Visual Analogue Scale); physical performance measures (Single Leg Hop Test and Forward Step-Down Test); self-reported function (Anterior Knee Pain Scale); HRQOL (Medical Outcome Short-Form 36), and physical activity level (Baecke's Questionnaire). Follow-up assessments will be identical to the baseline and will be performed after a minimum of 15 months. Generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) will be used to investigate group-by-time differences. Linear regression models will be used to determine the extent to which changes in biomechanical, muscle function, pain processing, and psychological features are associated with changes in self-reported pain, physical performance measures, self-reported function, HRQOL, and physical activity level. Discussion: Physical and non-physical features have been previously associated with PFP. However, the present study will be the first to investigate their integrated evolution as part of the natural history of PFP and its progression. In doing so, we will be able to determine their behavior in the long-term, as well as how they prospectively associate with each other and with clinical outcomes. Ultimately, this will provide a greater understanding of predictors of long-term outcome and possible targets for interventions.

The use of Horizon graphs to visualize bilateral biomechanical time-series of multiple joints.

Movement analysis provides a vast amount of data, which, frequently, are not used in the clinical decision-making process. For example, traditional gait data visualization is based on a time-based display of joint angles, but part of the information is lost when these time-series are averaged across different gait strides. Horizon graph is a data display method that increases the density of time-series data by horizontally dividing and layering multiple filled line graphs. This higher data density increases the amount of information displayed in the same graph and, consequently, enables visual data comparisons between multiple time series. Horizon graph of kinematic data allows displaying several cycles of different joints and their respective continuous symmetry ratio between sides. The aim of this work is to introduce the Horizon graph as a method to analyze kinematic gait data and help to characterize its symmetry. Examples of Horizon graph application to running is offered. Horizon graph may prove to be a useful clinical tool to visualize kinematic time-series and facilitate their clinical interpretation.•Continuous gait time series is a powerful tool for clinical analysis.•Horizon graph, higher data density graph, increases the information displayed.•Horizon graph is a clinical tool to visualize kinematic curves.

Analysis of Cluster and Unrest Behaviors of Laying Hens Housed under Different Thermal Conditions and Light Wave Length.

Laying hens are affected by the intensity, wavelength, and duration of light, and the behavioral patterns of these animals are important indicators of stress. The objective of the present study was to evaluate cluster and unrest behaviors of lying hens submitted to three environments with different treatments of monochromatic lighting (blue, green, and red). For 29 weeks, 60 laying hens from the Lohmann variety were divided into three groups and monitored by surveillance cameras installed on each shed ceiling and directed to the floor. Each group was housed in a small-scale shed and maintained under a monochromatic lighting treatment. The recordings were made at two times of the day, 15 min in the morning and 15 min in the afternoon, and the videos were processed, segmented, and analyzed computationally. From the analysis of the images, the cluster and unrest indexes were calculated. The results showed the influence of lighting on these behaviors, displaying that the birds were more agitated in the treatments with shorter wavelengths. Cluster behavior was higher in birds housed under red light. There was an interaction between the lighting treatments and the thermal environment, indicating that more studies should be carried out in this area to better understand these behavioral changes.

The Actuation System of the Ankle Exoskeleton T-FLEX: First Use Experimental Validation in People with Stroke.

Robotic devices can provide physical assistance to people who have suffered neurological impairments such as stroke. Neurological disorders related to this condition induce abnormal gait patterns, which impede the independence to execute different Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). From the fundamental role of the ankle in walking, Powered Ankle-Foot Orthoses (PAFOs) have been developed to enhance the users' gait patterns, and hence their quality of life. Ten patients who suffered a stroke used the actuation system of the T-FLEX exoskeleton triggered by an inertial sensor on the foot tip. The VICONmotion capture system recorded the users' kinematics for unassisted and assisted gait modalities. Biomechanical analysis and usability assessment measured the performance of the system actuation for the participants in overground walking. The biomechanical assessment exhibited changes in the lower joints' range of motion for 70% of the subjects. Moreover, the ankle kinematics showed a correlation with the variation of other movements analyzed. This variation had positive effects on 70% of the participants in at least one joint. The Gait Deviation Index (GDI) presented significant changes for 30% of the paretic limbs and 40% of the non-paretic, where the tendency was to decrease. The spatiotemporal parameters did not show significant variations between modalities, although users' cadence had a decrease of 70% of the volunteers. Lastly, the satisfaction with the device was positive, the comfort being the most user-selected aspect. This article presents the assessment of the T-FLEX actuation system in people who suffered a stroke. Biomechanical results show improvement in the ankle kinematics and variations in the other joints. In general terms, GDI does not exhibit significant increases, and the Movement Analysis Profile (MAP) registers alterations for the assisted gait with the device. Future works should focus on assessing the full T-FLEX orthosis in a larger sample of patients, including a stage of training.

Virtual reality in the rehabilitation process for individuals with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Childhood neurological diseases result in neuromotor impairment, which affects selective motor control, compromising the acquisition of motor skills and functional independence. The positive results achieved with virtual reality are believed to be related to training in an interactive environment that provides a broad range of activities and scenarios with multiple sensory channels, enabling the creation of exercises at an intensity based on individual need. Therefore, a review was conducted to answer the following question: What are the possible effects of virtual reality for the pediatric population, specifically children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome? OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to determine the possible effects of virtual reality therapy in children with cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome. METHODS: The PubMed, Bireme, Scielo and PEDro electronic databases were searched in the period from January to March 2016 using the following keywords: Down syndrome and virtual reality, virtual reality and cerebral palsy, virtual reality and neuropediatrics, and Down's syndrome and virtual reality. Only randomized controlled trials published in English in the previous 10 years (2007-2016) that addressed the specific purpose of this review and achieved a score of at least 4 points on the PEDro methodological quality scale were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: The initial research led to the retrieval of 214 articles, which were analyzed considering the inclusion criteria. Eighteen articles were submitted to an appraisal of methodological quality using the PEDro scale, only five of which received a score of four or more points and were described in the present review. Three of the studies selected analyzed children with cerebral palsy and two analyzed children with Down syndrome. Despite the different physiopathological characteristics of the two conditions, the authors employed similar therapeutic methods and evaluations. The results of the studies demonstrated that virtual reality training either alone or combined with motor training leads to improvements in sensory-motor functions and can be used as a complement to other successful rehabilitation interventions in the two populations. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the studies included in the present systematic review, despite differences in the characteristics of each population, the objectives and methods proposed by the authors were similar and virtual reality demonstrated promising effects for individuals with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.

Paths of the cervical instantaneous axis of rotation during active movements-patterns and reliability.

The instantaneous helical axis (IHA) is a characteristic of neck movement that is very sensitive to changes in coordination and that has potential in the assessment of functional alterations. For its application in the clinical setting, normative patterns must be available, and its reliability must be established. The purpose of this work is to describe the continuous paths of the IHA during cyclic movements of flexion-extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR) and to quantify their reliability. Fifteen healthy volunteers participated in the study; two repetitions were made on the same day (by different operators) and over an 8-day interval (by the same operator) to evaluate the inter-operator and inter-session reliability, respectively. The paths described by the IHA suggest a sequential movement of the vertebrae in the FE movement, with a large vertical displacement (mean, 10 cm). The IHA displacement in LB and AR movements are smaller. The paths described by the IHAs have a very high reliability for FE movement, although it is somewhat lower for LB and RA movements. The standard error of measurement (SEM) is less than 0.5 cm. These results show that the paths of the IHA are reliable enough to evaluate changes in the coordination of intervertebral movement. Graphical abstract A video photogrammetry system is used to record the cyclic movements of the neck, from which the continuous trajectories of the associated instantaneous helical axis (IHA) are calculated. We have analyzed the movements of flexion-extension (FE), lateral flexion (LB), and axial rotation (AR) for a sample of 15 healthy subjects. The measurements have been repeated with two different operators (in the same session) and in two separate sessions (same operator). IHA displacement patterns have been obtained in each movement, and the reliability of the measurement of such IHA trajectories has been estimated.

Performance Analysis of a Lower Limb Multi Joint Angle Sensor Using CYTOP Fiber: Influence of Light Source Wavelength and Angular Velocity Compensation.

This paper presents the analysis of an intensity variation polymer optical fiber (POF)-based angle sensor performance, i.e., sensitivity, hysteresis and determination coefficient ( R 2 ), using cyclic transparent optical polymer (CYTOP) fiber. The analysis consisted of two approaches: influence of different light source central wavelengths (430 nm, 530 nm, 660 nm, 870 nm and 950 nm) and influence of different angular velocities ( 0.70 rad/s, 0.87 rad/s, 1.16 rad/s, 1.75 rad/s and 3.49 rad/s). The first approach aimed to select the source which resulted in the most suitable performance regarding highest sensitivity and linearity while maintaining lowest hysteresis, through the figure of merit. Thereafter, the analysis of different angular velocities was performed to evaluate the influence of velocity in the curvature sensor performance. Then, a discrete angular velocity compensation was proposed in order to reduce the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of responses for different angular velocities. Ten tests for each analysis were performed with angular range of 0 ∘ to 50 ∘ , based on knee and ankle angle range during the gait. The curvature sensor was applied in patterns simulating the knee and ankle during the gait. Results show repeatability and the best sensor performance for λ = 950 nm in the first analysis and show high errors for high angular velocities ( w = 3.49 rad/s) in the second analysis, which presented up to 50 % angular error. The uncompensated RMSE was high for all velocities ( 6.45 ∘ to 12.41 ∘ ), whereas the compensated RMSE decreased up to 74 % ( 1.67 ∘ to 3.62 ∘ ). The compensated responses of application tests showed maximum error of 5.52 ∘ and minimum of 1.06 ∘ , presenting a decrease of mean angular error up to 30 ∘ when compared with uncompensated responses.

Fugl-Meyer Assessment Scores Are Related With Kinematic Measures in People with Chronic Hemiparesis after Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Stroke often results in motor impairment and limited functional capacity. This study aimed to verify the relationship between widely used clinical scales and instrumented measurements to evaluate poststroke individuals with mild, moderate, and severe motor impairment. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 34 participants with chronic hemiparesis after stroke. Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Modified Ashworth Scale were used to quantify upper and lower limb motor impairment and the resistance to passive movement (i.e., spasticity), respectively. Upper limb Motor performance (movement time and velocities) and movement quality (range of motion, smoothness and trunk displacement) were analyzed during a reaching forward task using an optoelectronic system (instrumented measurement). Lower limb motor performance (gait and functional mobility parameters) was assessed by using an inertial measurement unit system. FINDINGS: Fugl-Meyer Assessment correlated with motor performance (upper and lower limbs) and with movement quality (upper limb). Modified Ashworth scale correlated with movement quality (upper limb). Cutoff values of 9.0 cm in trunk anterior displacement and .57 m/s in gait velocity were estimated to differentiate participants with mild/moderate and severe compromise according to the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Fugl-Meyer Assessment can be used to infer about motor performance and movement quality in chronic poststroke individuals with different levels of impairment.

Neural decoding of expressive human movement from scalp electroencephalography (EEG).

Although efforts to characterize human movement through electroencephalography (EEG) have revealed neural activities unique to limb control that can be used to infer movement kinematics, it is still unknown the extent to which EEG can be used to discern the expressive qualities that influence such movements. In this study we used EEG and inertial sensors to record brain activity and movement of five skilled and certified Laban Movement Analysis (LMA) dancers. Each dancer performed whole body movements of three Action types: movements devoid of expressive qualities ("Neutral"), non-expressive movements while thinking about specific expressive qualities ("Think"), and enacted expressive movements ("Do"). The expressive movement qualities that were used in the "Think" and "Do" actions consisted of a sequence of eight Laban Effort qualities as defined by LMA-a notation system and language for describing, visualizing, interpreting and documenting all varieties of human movement. We used delta band (0.2-4 Hz) EEG as input to a machine learning algorithm that computed locality-preserving Fisher's discriminant analysis (LFDA) for dimensionality reduction followed by Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) to decode the type of Action. We also trained our LFDA-GMM models to classify all the possible combinations of Action Type and Laban Effort quality (giving a total of 17 classes). Classification accuracy rates were 59.4 ± 0.6% for Action Type and 88.2 ± 0.7% for Laban Effort quality Type. Ancillary analyses of the potential relations between the EEG and movement kinematics of the dancer's body, indicated that motion-related artifacts did not significantly influence our classification results. In summary, this research demonstrates that EEG has valuable information about the expressive qualities of movement. These results may have applications for advancing the understanding of the neural basis of expressive movements and for the development of neuroprosthetics to restore movements.

Análise do movimento em rituais umbandistas / Movement analysis in umbanda rituals

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo fazer a análise do movimento em rituais umbandistas e, dessa forma, contribuir para o conhecimento da sua linguagem corporal, assim como fornecer subsídios para o desenvolvimento de uma etnopsicologia brasileira. Para efeito de análise, foi utilizado o método Laban, que visa analisar, segundo elementos de esforço, a movimentação corporal, assim como a tonicidade muscular, em relação ao peso, tempo, espaço e fluência. Foram examinados registros em vídeo de diversas classes de 'espíritos' do panteão umbandista. A análise dos movimentos peculiares às diversas classes de 'espíritos' mostrou que elas diferenciam-se umas das outras por padrões que as caracterizam em relação aos elementos de esforço analisados. Concluiu-se ser possível utilizar o método Laban para discriminar categorias do panteão umbandista e, dessa forma, acrescer o conhecimento a respeito da linguagem corporal nesse culto.

The purpose of this research is analyzing the movement in umbanda rituals in order to contribute for the knowledge of its corporal language, as well as supplying subsidies for the development of a Brazilian ethnopsychology. For the effect analysis, Laban method was used, which aims to analyze the effort elements of the corporal movement, as well as the muscles tonicities, in relation to the weight, time, space and fluency. Registers in video of many classes of 'umbanda spirits' had been examined. The analysis of the peculiar movements of many 'spirits' classes showed that they differentiate ones of the others for standards that characterize them in relation to the analyzed elements of effort. It was concluded that it is possible to use Laban method to discriminate categories of umbanda's 'spirits' classes and in such way to increase the knowledge regarding the corporal language in this cult.

ANÁLISIS BIOMECÁNICO DE LA ESGRIMA MEDIANTE SISTEMAS OPTOELECTRÓNICOS DE ANÁLISIS DE MOVIMIENTO: ESTUDIO DE CASO: DEPORTISTA DE ALTO RENDIMIENTO

En este artículo se presenta el estudio de la técnica deportiva para esgrima por medio de un análisis biomecánico, realizado con ayuda de sistemas optoelectrónicos que capturan en tiempo real los dos gestos más destacados, el paso adelante y el fondo, con el objetivo de caracterizar digitalmente la biomecánica para su posterior análisis cinemático y de esta manera describir la técnica que tiene el deportista en la ejecución del movimiento. Con este estudio se lograron caracterizar de una forma cuantitativa las curvas de posición, ángulos articulares, velocidades y aceleraciones de cada uno de los marcadores situados en el cuerpo del deportista. Este estudio se realizó en un deportista de alto rendimiento, destacado en la modalidad de espada.

This article presents the study of fencing techniques through biomechanical analysis, using optoelectronic systems that capture in real time two main gestures: advance and lunge, with the objective to digitally characterize the biomechanics, for its further kinematical analysis to describe the fencer's technique in the movement execution. This study was made to characterize position curves, joint angles, velocity and acceleration of each of the markers located on the athlete's body, in a quantitative manner. This study was developed on a high performance athlete in sword modality.