ABILHAND-kids young CP: a measure of manual ability in young children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7.

Objective: Hand dysfunction is one of the main factors contributing to daily activity limitations in children with cerebral palsy (CP). As a latent -variable, manual ability is not easily measurable, especially in young children. This study aimed to develop ABILHAND-Kids Young CP, a Rasch-built manual ability measure in young children with CP.

Upright Posture: A Singular Condition Stabilizing Sensorimotor Coordination.

It has long been hypothesized that the nervous system uses the direction of gravity to align the various sensory systems when interacting with the external world. In line with this hypothesis, systematic drift in hand-path orientation was recently observed during targeted arm motions performed with eyes closed in weightlessness or, on Earth, for longitudinal movements in a supine posture. No such drift was observed in upright posture on Earth.

A Singular Theory of Sensorimotor Coordination: On Targeted Motions in Space.

Gravity has long been purported to serve a unique role in sensorimotor coordination, but the specific mechanisms underlying gravity-based visuomotor realignment remain elusive. In this study, astronauts (nine males, two females) performed targeted hand movements with eyes open or closed, both on the ground and in weightlessness. Measurements revealed systematic drift in hand-path orientation seen only when eyes were closed and only in very specific conditions with respect to gravity.

Assessing Participation in Stroke Survivors: Psychometric Properties of the Participation Measurement Scale (PM-Scale) Brazil.

Initial evidence supports the reliability of the Participation Measurement Scale (PM-Scale) in Brazil, but further exploration of its psychometric properties is needed for Brazilian stroke survivors. The aim of the study is to analyze the reliability, convergent validity, internal consistency, and accuracy of the PM-Scale Brazil. A methodological study involved three assessments over intervals of 7-14 days.

Fast grip force adaptation to friction relies on localized fingerpad strains.

During object manipulation, humans adjust the grip force to friction, such that slippery objects are squeezed more firmly than sticky ones. This essential mechanism to keep a stable grasp relies on feedback from tactile afferents innervating the fingertips, that are sensitive to local skin strains. To test if this feedback originates from the skin-object interface, we asked participants to perform a grip-lift task with an instrumented object able to monitor skin strains at the contact through transparent plates of different frictions.

A haptic illusion created by gravity.

Human dexterity requires very fine and efficient control of fingertip forces, which relies on the integration of cutaneous and proprioceptive feedback. Here, we examined the influence of gravity on isometric force control. We trained participants to reproduce isometric vertical forces on a dynamometer held between the thumb and the index finger in normal gravity and tested them during parabolic flight creating phases of microgravity and hypergravity, thereby strongly influencing the motor commands and the proprioceptive feedback.

Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian version of the PM-Scale: A specific measure of participation after stroke.

Background: The PM-Scale was developed specifically to assess participation in individuals after stroke based on the concepts contained in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. However, this measure is only available in English and French.

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the PM-Scale to Brazilian Portuguese, followed by the validation and testing of reliability of the translated version.

Relationships between walking speed, activities and participation in people with chronic stroke in Burundi.

Background: Reduced walking speed because of a stroke may limit activities of daily living (ADLs) and restrict social participation.

Objectives: To describe the level of balance impairment, activity limitations, and participation restrictions and to investigate their relationship with walking speed in Burundians with chronic stroke.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved adult stroke survivors.

Effect of mixed and collective physical activity in chronic stroke rehabilitation: A randomized cross-over trial in low-income settings.

Background: The prevalence of physical inactivity after stroke is high and exercise training improves many outcomes. However, access to community training protocols is limited, especially in low-income settings.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a new intervention: Circuit walking, balance, cycling and strength training (CBCS) on activity of daily living (ADL) limitations, motor performance, and social participation restrictions in people after stroke.

Biopsychosocial factors associated with chronic low back pain-related activity limitations in Burundi.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is an increasing burden worldwide. The biopsychosocial factors associated with CLBP-related activity limitations have not yet been investigated in Burundi.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate the biopsychosocial factors that influence the CLBP-related activity limitations in a Burundian sample population.

Normal and tangential forces combine to convey contact pressure during dynamic tactile stimulation.

Humans need to accurately process the contact forces that arise as they perform everyday haptic interactions such as sliding the fingers along a surface to feel for bumps, sticky regions, or other irregularities. Several different mechanisms are possible for how the forces on the skin could be represented and integrated in such interactions. In this study, we used a force-controlled robotic platform and simultaneous ultrasonic modulation of the finger-surface friction to independently manipulate the normal and tangential forces during passive haptic stimulation by a flat surface.

Grip Force is Adjusted at a Level That Maintains an Upper Bound on Partial Slip Across Friction Conditions During Object Manipulation.

Dexterous manipulation of objects heavily relies on the feedback provided by the tactile afferents innervating the fingertips. Previous studies have suggested that humans might take advantage of partial slip, localized loss of grip between the skin and the object, to gauge the stability of a contact and react appropriately when it is compromised, that is, when slippage is about to happen. To test this hypothesis, we asked participants to perform point-to-point movements using a manipulandum.

Linking of concepts measured by SATIS-Stroke and the PM-Scale to the international classification of functioning, disability and health.

Background: Rules have been developed to simplify the understanding of researchers/clinicians and standardize the linking process between concepts contained in the items on assessment measures and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).

Objective: Link the concepts of the SATISPART Stroke (SATIS-Stroke) and Participation Measurement Scale (PM-Scale) to ICF codes.

Methods: Linking was performed by two evaluators with experience in the ICF taxonomy who applied the ten standard linking rules specifically developed and updated for this purpose.

Measuring fingerpad deformation during active object manipulation.

During active object manipulation, the finger-object interactions give rise to complex fingertip skin deformations. These deformations are in turn encoded by the local tactile afferents and provide rich and behaviorally relevant information to the central nervous system. Most of the work studying the mechanical response of the finger to dynamic loading has been performed under a passive setup, thereby precisely controlling the kinematics or the dynamics of the loading.

Recognizing Manual Activities Using Wearable Inertial Measurement Units: Clinical Application for Outcome Measurement.

The ability to monitor activities of daily living in the natural environments of patients could become a valuable tool for various clinical applications. In this paper, we show that a simple algorithm is capable of classifying manual activities of daily living (ADL) into categories using data from wrist- and finger-worn sensors. Six participants without pathology of the upper limb performed 14 ADL.

Clinimetric properties of the SATIS-Stroke questionnaire in the Brazilian population: A satisfaction assessment measure addressing activities and participation after a stroke.

Background: SATIS-Stroke questionnaire has been translated and adapted for use in the Brazilian population, however, it is necessary to test the measurement properties in Brazilian population.

Objective: To test the reliability, agreement, concurrent validity, and diagnostic accuracy of the SATIS-Stroke.

Methods: Chronic stroke survivors were included.

Effectiveness of walking training on balance, motor functions, activity, participation and quality of life in people with chronic stroke: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of recent randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: To review and quantify the effects of walking training for the improvement of various aspects of physical function of people with chronic stroke.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of chronic stroke rehabilitation interventions published from 2008 to 2020 in English or French. Of the 6476-screened articles collated from four databases, 15 RCTs were included and analyzed.

Manual ability in hand surgery patients: Validation of the ABILHAND scale in four diagnostic groups.

Background: Patients treated in hand surgery (HS) belong to different demographic groups and have varying impairments related to different pathologies. HS outcomes are measured to assess treatment results, complication risks and intervention reliability. A one-dimensional and linear measure would allow for unbiased comparisons of manual ability between patients and different treatment effects.

Effectiveness of walking versus mind-body therapies in chronic low back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: Walking and mind-body therapies (MBTs) are commonly recommended to relieve pain and improve function in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of walking and MBTs in CLBP.

Methods: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing walking or MBTs to any other intervention or control in adults with CLBP.

A Very Fast Time Scale of Human Motor Adaptation: Within Movement Adjustments of Internal Representations during Reaching.

Humans and other animals adapt motor commands to predictable disturbances within tens of trials in laboratory conditions. A central question is how does the nervous system adapt to disturbances in natural conditions when exactly the same movements cannot be practiced several times. Because motor commands and sensory feedback together carry continuous information about limb dynamics, we hypothesized that the nervous system could adapt to unexpected disturbances online.

Applicability of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-based participation measures in stroke survivors in Africa: a systematic review.

To appraise available International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)-based tools for the measurement of participation after stroke and to examine their applicability in the African sociocultural context. Pubmed/Medline, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Hinari databases were systematically searched. The literature search was limited to studies published in the English or French language from January 2001 up to May 2019.

Fingerpad contact evolution under electrovibration.

Displaying tactile feedback through a touchscreen via electrovibration has many potential applications in mobile devices, consumer electronics, home appliances and automotive industry though our knowledge and understanding of the underlying contact mechanics are very limited. An experimental study was conducted to investigate the contact evolution between the human finger and a touch screen under electrovibration using a robotic set-up and an imaging system. The results show that the effect of electrovibration is only present during full slip but not before slip.

Determinants of Social Participation at 1, 3, and 6 Months Poststroke in Benin.

Objective: To build a model of prediction of social participation of community-dwelling stroke survivors in Benin at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months.

Design: An observational study with evaluations at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months poststroke. Correlational analyses and multivariate linear regressions were performed.

Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation of SATIS-Stroke for Use in Brazil: A Satisfaction Measure of Activities and Participation in Stroke Survivors.

Introduction: SATIS-Stroke was developed to measure satisfaction regarding activities and participation among stroke survivors based on the concepts contained in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. However, this measure is only available in English and French.

Objective: Perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of SATIS-Stroke to Brazilian Portuguese and test the preliminary reliability of this measure.