FLEXOR: A support tool for efficient and seamless experiment data processing to evaluate musculo-articular stiffness.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The evaluation of musculo-articular stiffness (MAS) is an increasingly demanded procedure with applications in different fields, such as sports performance and lower limbs injury prevention. However, this task is non-automated, time-consuming and error-prone due to manual handling of data streams and files across several software applications. Despite the fact that process automation of validated procedures helps to prevent errors, there is still a lack of easy-to-use tools for analysis, management and visualization of MAS trials. METHODS: In the present work a tool called FLEXOR has been developed which applies mathematical methods and novel algorithms to automatically adjust curves of data streams for MAS analysis decreasing substantially time employed and errors. This tool permits to define different adjustment parameters, detect curve peaks and valleys, and display the results on the fly. FLEXOR has been implemented through a component-based software development (CBSD) process. All physiological fundamentals for the biomechanical measurement have been included in the tool developed. To describe the integration of all required components a 4 + 1 view model architecture has been used. The installation guide, the FLEXOR software and some data samples can be found on its GitHub repository (https://github.com/FlexorSoftware/flexor). RESULTS: A multiplatform software tool to simplify traditional complex and manual procedures for MAS analysis is obtained. The tool turns them into a simple all-in-one procedure, reducing processing times from hours to a few minutes. The methodology was tested on multiple datasets generated by previous tools in former procedures as well as on real-time trials in the laboratory, showing identical results. CONCLUSION: The results show that the developed tool can accomplish an unfilled essential task in the analysis, management and visualization of MAS measurement. The presented software tool empowers analysts to handle the different studies, investigate different parameters related to each experiment and even test with different output parameters in each experiment, enabling real-time trials and shared studies between different analysts.

La efectividad de los materiales de amortiguación usados en las ortesis plantares para el tratamiento de las sobrecargas metatarsales / Eficácia dos materiais de amortecimento usado em ortopedia plantar para o tratamento da sobrecarga metatarsal / The effectiveness of the damping materials used in plantar orthosis to the metatarsal overload treatment

Objetivo. Para el tratamiento de la dolencia metatarsal por sobrecarga, se emplean soportes plantares de distintos materiales con el fin de amortiguar las presiones plantares que se producen en esta región durante el periodo propulsivo de la marcha. El propósito de este estudio consistió en determinar las modificaciones de las presiones plantares en las cabezas metatarsales usando como amortiguación metatarsal palmillas de los siguientes materiales: Pedilastik(R), Poron Medical(R), Jogtene(R) y Confortene(R), habitualmente usados en el tratamiento ortopodológico conservador de las sobrecargas metatarsales. Método. Los valores de presión máxima de los metatarsianos se midieron en dinámica, usando el sistema de Rs-Scan Insole System(R) dentro del calzado, con los sujetos sin palmilla, y usando palmillas de diferentes materiales. La muestra de este estudio fueron 16 pies. Resultados. La mayoría de los valores de presión plantar experimentaron un ligero incremento en sus valores con la aplicación de diferentes palmillas, con todos los materiales usados en el presente estudio. Así, aunque no se obtuvieron diferencias significativas (p>0.05) en las diferentes mediciones, ni los resultados de la máxima presión plantar en cada cabeza metatarsal (excepto en el 5.o) ni los resultados de la máxima presión plantar en la zona de antepié, mostraron un decrecimiento en sus valores con el uso de diferentes materiales ensayados en este estudio. Conclusiones. El uso de almohadillas con materiales tradicionalmente usados seleccionados en este estudio tiene un ligero efecto negativo en la presión máxima plantar en la cabezas metatarsales y la presión máxima plantar en la zona de antepié durante la fase propulsiva (AU)

Objetivo. tratar a sobrecarga de doença metatarso, órteses de diferentes materiais, a fim de atenuar as pressões plantares que ocorrem nesta região durante o período de propulsão da marcha. O objetivo deste estudo é determinar as mudanças de pressões plantares na cabeça dos metatarsos utilizando palmilhas de amortecimento nos metatarsos com as seguintes órteses utilizadas no tratamento conservador da sobrecarga no metatarso: Pedilastik(R), Poron Medical(R), Jogtene(R) e Confortene(R). Método. Os valores máximos de pressão metatarso foram medidos de forma dinâmica, utilizando o sistema de Rs-Scan Palmilha System(R) dentro do sapato, com indivíduos sem palmilla, e usando diferentes palmilhas. A amostra deste estudo foram 16 pés. Resultados. A maioria dos valores de pressão plantar sofreram um ligeiro aumento nos seus valores com a aplicação de diferentes palmilhas, com todos os materiais utilizados no presente estudo. Assim, apesar de não haver diferenças significativas (p>0.05) foram obtidos em medições diferentes, ou os resultados da pressão máxima plantar em cada cabeça do metatarso (exceto quinto) ou os resultados da pressão máxima plantar no antepé mostrou uma diminuição dos seus valores com o uso de diferentes materiais testados neste estudo. Conclusões. O uso de almofadas com materiais selecionados tradicionalmente utilizada neste estudo tem um efeito negativo ligeiro na máxima pressão sobre as cabeças dos metatarsos plantares e na área do antepé máxima pressão plantar durante a fase de propulsão (AU)

Objective. For treatment of the metatarsal overload condition, plantar supports of different materials in order to reduce plantar pressures which occur in this region during the gait period propulsive are used. The purpose of this study has to determine the changes of plantar pressure under the metatarsal heads using as metatarsal cushioning soles of the following materials: Pedilastik(R), Poron Medical(R), Jogtene(R) y Confortene(R), habitually in the conservative treatment orthopodiatric of the metatarsal overload. Method. The values of maximum pressure of the metatarsal heads were obtained in dynamics conditions, using the Rs-Scan Insole System(R) inside the shoe. Measurements were taken without any cushioning insole, and using insoles of different materials. The sample used for this study was a set of 16 feet. Results. The majority of the variables of plantar pressure experienced a slight increase in their values with the application of different insoles, with all the materials used in the present study. Thus, although no significant differences (P>.05) during the propulsive phase were found with respect to the control group, neither in the maximum pressure at each metatarsal head (except for 5th) nor in the maximum plantar pressure at forefoot area, the results found have shown that no decrease in the values of the plantar pressures was reached with the use of the different materials tested in this study. Conclusions. The use of pads with the traditional materials used in the present study has a slight negative effect on the Maximum plantar pressure at the metatarsal heads and the maximum plantar pressure at the forefoot area during the propulsive phase (AU)