Livio AI & Thrive: The World's First Hearing Aid with Integrated Sensors and A.I.

Hearing care can be the gateway to better over health. Starkey's Livio AI takes the best hearing technology and combines it with the first integrated sensors and AI for body and brain tracking. This course will provide an overview of the Livio product family.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2PO7hBB
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Livio AI & Thrive: The World's First Hearing Aid with Integrated Sensors and A.I.

Hearing care can be the gateway to better over health. Starkey's Livio AI takes the best hearing technology and combines it with the first integrated sensors and AI for body and brain tracking. This course will provide an overview of the Livio product family.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2PO7hBB
via IFTTT

External Feedback during Walking Improves Measures of Plantar Pressure in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Danielle M. Torp, Abbey C. Thomas, Luke Donovan

Abstract

Background

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) commonly present with an altered walking gait which favors the lateral aspect of their foot. Current rehabilitative protocols are unable to address these gait modifications which are potentially hindering improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Protocols for gait retraining are scarce, thus there is a need to develop intervention strategies and instruments to specifically target foot motion to address gait deficits in individuals with CAI.

Research Question

To determine the ability of a novel laser device providing external visual feedback (ExFB) during real-time to cause alterations in plantar pressure measures in individuals with CAI.

Methods

Twenty-six participants with CAI walked on a treadmill while real-time plantar pressure measures were being recorded during a baseline and feedback condition. Baseline trials were compared with ExFB trials within each subject.

Results

The ExFB condition was able to significantly reduce plantar pressures on the lateral midfoot and forefoot compared to baseline. A statistically significant medial shift in center of pressure trajectory was also observed in the ExFB condition compared to baseline.

Significance

Real-time external feedback provided by a novel laser device has the ability to reduce lateral column plantar pressures during walking in individuals with CAI.

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Locomotor circumvention strategies in response to static pedestrians in a virtual and physical environment

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Marco A. Bühler, Anouk Lamontagne

Abstract

Background

Circumvention of pedestrians is an essential requirement of community ambulation and can be challenging to reproduce in laboratory or clinical settings. Virtual reality (VR) is a powerful tool that allows investigations, assessments or training of such tasks under ecological but controlled conditions. The extent to which current VR technologies can elicit responses similar to those observed in the physical world, however, remains to be determined.

Research questions

(1) To what extent does the circumvention of static pedestrians in VR differ from that observed in the physical environment (PE)? and; (2) To what extent does the inter-trial variability of obstacle circumvention outcomes differ in VR vs. the PE?

Methods

Healthy young participants (n = 13) were assessed while walking and avoiding a collision with an interferer that stood either at 3.0 and 3.5 m from the participant's starting position (experimental trials) or that exited to the side (catch trials). The task was performed in the PE and VE, in a random order. A female collaborator acted as interferer in the PE and her kinematics was used to create the avatar used in the VE.

Results

Compared to the PE, the circumvention of a static pedestrian in VR was characterized by larger obstacle clearances and slower walking speeds. Characteristics of circumvention strategy such as the preferred side of circumvention, response to obstacle position and pattern of speed adaptation were similar between VR and the PE. Inter-trial variability for the different outcomes were also similar between the two environments.

Significance

Differences in obstacle clearance and speed indicate the use of “safer” circumvention strategies in VR. However, the patterns of locomotor adaptation that were largely similar between the two environments which suggests that VR is a valuable tool to study, assess and possibly train complex locomotor tasks such as obstacle avoidance.

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Self-rated walking disability and dynamic ankle joint stiffness in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis receiving intraarticular corticosteroid joint injections of the foot

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Maura D. Iversen, Eva Weidenhielm-Broström, Ruoli Wang, Anna-Clara Esbjörnsson, Stefan Hagelberg, Per Åstrand

Abstract

Background

Children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) exhibit deviations in ankle dynamic joint stiffness (DJS, or moment-angle relationship) compared to healthy peers, but the relationship between ankle DJS and self-reported walking impairments has not been studied. This secondary analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle DJS and self-reported walking disability in juveniles with JIA, and to determine whether intraarticular corticosteroid foot injections (IACI) were associated with long term changes in ankle DJS.

Research questions

Is ankle DJS altered in children with JIA reporting walking difficulties compared to children with JIA reporting no walking difficulties? Are IACIs associated with persistent alterations in ankle DJS?

Methods

Gait dynamics (DJS), foot pain, and foot-related disability were assessed in 33 children with JIA before intraarticular corticoid foot injection (IACI), and three months after IACI. Using self-reported walking capacity scores, children were classified as either having no walking difficulties (ND) or having walking difficulties (WD). Inferential statistics were used to compare demographics, pain, impairment scores, and ankle DJS between the groups.

Results

Before treatment, in the WD group, ankle DJS was significantly decreased both in the early rising phase (ERP = 0.03+0.02 vs. 0.05+0.02 Nm(kg*deg)^{- 1}) and late rising phase (LRP = 0.11+0.06 vs. 0.24+0.22 Nm(kg*deg)^-1) compared to the ND group. At three months, the ERP was still significantly decreased in the WD group (ERP = 0.03+0.01 vs. 0.05+0.03 Nm(kg*deg)^-1).

Significance

Among children and adolescents with JIA who reported walking difficulties prior to IACIs, alterations in DJS in early stance phase (decreased ERP) remained three months after IACI suggesting persistent gait adaptations, possibly related to pain. Pre-treatment gait analysis may aid in identifying children who will not benefit from IACIs and therefore, may be spared the risk of side effects associated with this treatment.

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The transition between turning and sitting in patients with Parkinson's disease: a wearable device detects an unexpected sequence of events

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Aner Weiss, Talia Herman, Anat Mirelman, Shirley Shema Shiratzky, Nir Giladi, Lisa L. Barnes, David A. Bennett, Aron S. Buchman, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff

Abstract

Background

When older adults turn to sit, about 80% of the subjects complete the turn before starting to sit i.e., a distinct-strategy, while in about 20%, part of the turning and sitting take place concurrently, i.e., an overlapping-strategy. A prolonged duration of the separation between tasks in the distinct-strategy (D-interval) and a prolonged duration of the overlap interval in overlapping-strategy (O-interval) are related to worse motor symptoms and poorer cognition. In the present study, we evaluated what strategy is employed by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) when they transition from turning to sitting.

Methods

96 participants with PD performed turn to sit as part of the Timed Up and Go test, both with and without medications, while wearing a body-fixed sensor. We quantified the turn-to-sit transition and determined which strategy (distinct or overlapping) was employed. We then stratified the cases and used regression models adjusted for age, gender, height, and weight to examine the associations of the D-interval or O-interval with parkinsonian features and cognition.

Results

Most patients (66%) employed the overlapping-strategy, both off and on anti-parkinsonian medications. Longer O-intervals were associated with longer duration of PD, more severe PD motor symptoms, a higher postural-instability-gait-disturbance (PIGD) score, and worse freezing of gait. Longer D-intervals were not associated with disease duration or PD motor symptoms. Neither the D- nor O-intervals were related to cognitive function. Individuals who employed the overlapping-strategy had more severe postural instability (i.e., higher PIGD scores), as compared to those who used the distinct-strategy.

Significance

In contrast to older adults without PD, most patients with PD utilize the overlapping strategy. Poorer postural and gait control are associated with the strategy choice and with the duration of concurrent performance of turning and sitting. Additional work is needed to further explicate the mechanisms underlying these strategies and their clinical implications.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2R4EeKi
via IFTTT

External Feedback during Walking Improves Measures of Plantar Pressure in Individuals with Chronic Ankle Instability

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Danielle M. Torp, Abbey C. Thomas, Luke Donovan

Abstract

Background

Individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) commonly present with an altered walking gait which favors the lateral aspect of their foot. Current rehabilitative protocols are unable to address these gait modifications which are potentially hindering improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Protocols for gait retraining are scarce, thus there is a need to develop intervention strategies and instruments to specifically target foot motion to address gait deficits in individuals with CAI.

Research Question

To determine the ability of a novel laser device providing external visual feedback (ExFB) during real-time to cause alterations in plantar pressure measures in individuals with CAI.

Methods

Twenty-six participants with CAI walked on a treadmill while real-time plantar pressure measures were being recorded during a baseline and feedback condition. Baseline trials were compared with ExFB trials within each subject.

Results

The ExFB condition was able to significantly reduce plantar pressures on the lateral midfoot and forefoot compared to baseline. A statistically significant medial shift in center of pressure trajectory was also observed in the ExFB condition compared to baseline.

Significance

Real-time external feedback provided by a novel laser device has the ability to reduce lateral column plantar pressures during walking in individuals with CAI.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2q5j1EK
via IFTTT

Locomotor circumvention strategies in response to static pedestrians in a virtual and physical environment

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Marco A. Bühler, Anouk Lamontagne

Abstract

Background

Circumvention of pedestrians is an essential requirement of community ambulation and can be challenging to reproduce in laboratory or clinical settings. Virtual reality (VR) is a powerful tool that allows investigations, assessments or training of such tasks under ecological but controlled conditions. The extent to which current VR technologies can elicit responses similar to those observed in the physical world, however, remains to be determined.

Research questions

(1) To what extent does the circumvention of static pedestrians in VR differ from that observed in the physical environment (PE)? and; (2) To what extent does the inter-trial variability of obstacle circumvention outcomes differ in VR vs. the PE?

Methods

Healthy young participants (n = 13) were assessed while walking and avoiding a collision with an interferer that stood either at 3.0 and 3.5 m from the participant's starting position (experimental trials) or that exited to the side (catch trials). The task was performed in the PE and VE, in a random order. A female collaborator acted as interferer in the PE and her kinematics was used to create the avatar used in the VE.

Results

Compared to the PE, the circumvention of a static pedestrian in VR was characterized by larger obstacle clearances and slower walking speeds. Characteristics of circumvention strategy such as the preferred side of circumvention, response to obstacle position and pattern of speed adaptation were similar between VR and the PE. Inter-trial variability for the different outcomes were also similar between the two environments.

Significance

Differences in obstacle clearance and speed indicate the use of “safer” circumvention strategies in VR. However, the patterns of locomotor adaptation that were largely similar between the two environments which suggests that VR is a valuable tool to study, assess and possibly train complex locomotor tasks such as obstacle avoidance.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2R2YfB2
via IFTTT

Self-rated walking disability and dynamic ankle joint stiffness in children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis receiving intraarticular corticosteroid joint injections of the foot

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Maura D. Iversen, Eva Weidenhielm-Broström, Ruoli Wang, Anna-Clara Esbjörnsson, Stefan Hagelberg, Per Åstrand

Abstract

Background

Children and adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) exhibit deviations in ankle dynamic joint stiffness (DJS, or moment-angle relationship) compared to healthy peers, but the relationship between ankle DJS and self-reported walking impairments has not been studied. This secondary analysis aimed to investigate the relationship between ankle DJS and self-reported walking disability in juveniles with JIA, and to determine whether intraarticular corticosteroid foot injections (IACI) were associated with long term changes in ankle DJS.

Research questions

Is ankle DJS altered in children with JIA reporting walking difficulties compared to children with JIA reporting no walking difficulties? Are IACIs associated with persistent alterations in ankle DJS?

Methods

Gait dynamics (DJS), foot pain, and foot-related disability were assessed in 33 children with JIA before intraarticular corticoid foot injection (IACI), and three months after IACI. Using self-reported walking capacity scores, children were classified as either having no walking difficulties (ND) or having walking difficulties (WD). Inferential statistics were used to compare demographics, pain, impairment scores, and ankle DJS between the groups.

Results

Before treatment, in the WD group, ankle DJS was significantly decreased both in the early rising phase (ERP = 0.03+0.02 vs. 0.05+0.02 Nm(kg*deg)^{- 1}) and late rising phase (LRP = 0.11+0.06 vs. 0.24+0.22 Nm(kg*deg)^-1) compared to the ND group. At three months, the ERP was still significantly decreased in the WD group (ERP = 0.03+0.01 vs. 0.05+0.03 Nm(kg*deg)^-1).

Significance

Among children and adolescents with JIA who reported walking difficulties prior to IACIs, alterations in DJS in early stance phase (decreased ERP) remained three months after IACI suggesting persistent gait adaptations, possibly related to pain. Pre-treatment gait analysis may aid in identifying children who will not benefit from IACIs and therefore, may be spared the risk of side effects associated with this treatment.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2q5p1xm
via IFTTT

The transition between turning and sitting in patients with Parkinson's disease: a wearable device detects an unexpected sequence of events

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2018

Source: Gait & Posture

Author(s): Aner Weiss, Talia Herman, Anat Mirelman, Shirley Shema Shiratzky, Nir Giladi, Lisa L. Barnes, David A. Bennett, Aron S. Buchman, Jeffrey M. Hausdorff

Abstract

Background

When older adults turn to sit, about 80% of the subjects complete the turn before starting to sit i.e., a distinct-strategy, while in about 20%, part of the turning and sitting take place concurrently, i.e., an overlapping-strategy. A prolonged duration of the separation between tasks in the distinct-strategy (D-interval) and a prolonged duration of the overlap interval in overlapping-strategy (O-interval) are related to worse motor symptoms and poorer cognition. In the present study, we evaluated what strategy is employed by patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) when they transition from turning to sitting.

Methods

96 participants with PD performed turn to sit as part of the Timed Up and Go test, both with and without medications, while wearing a body-fixed sensor. We quantified the turn-to-sit transition and determined which strategy (distinct or overlapping) was employed. We then stratified the cases and used regression models adjusted for age, gender, height, and weight to examine the associations of the D-interval or O-interval with parkinsonian features and cognition.

Results

Most patients (66%) employed the overlapping-strategy, both off and on anti-parkinsonian medications. Longer O-intervals were associated with longer duration of PD, more severe PD motor symptoms, a higher postural-instability-gait-disturbance (PIGD) score, and worse freezing of gait. Longer D-intervals were not associated with disease duration or PD motor symptoms. Neither the D- nor O-intervals were related to cognitive function. Individuals who employed the overlapping-strategy had more severe postural instability (i.e., higher PIGD scores), as compared to those who used the distinct-strategy.

Significance

In contrast to older adults without PD, most patients with PD utilize the overlapping strategy. Poorer postural and gait control are associated with the strategy choice and with the duration of concurrent performance of turning and sitting. Additional work is needed to further explicate the mechanisms underlying these strategies and their clinical implications.

from #Audiology via ola Kala on Inoreader https://ift.tt/2R4EeKi
via IFTTT