Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the self-care and health condition of the older adults. CUIDAMOS+75. A mixed methods study protocol.

Aims: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health condition of people ≥75 years of age and on their family caregivers in Spain. Design: Multicentric, mixed method concurrent study. Methods: This work, which will be conducted within the primary care setting in 11 administrative regions of Spain, will include three coordinated studies with different methodologies. The first is a population-based cohort study that will use real-life data to analyze the rates and evolution of health needs, care provision, and services utilization before, during, and after the pandemic. The second is a prospective cohort study with 18 months of follow-up that will evaluate the impact of COVID-19 disease on mortality, frailty, functional and cognitive capacity, and quality of life of the participants. Finally, the third will be a qualitative study with a critical social approach to understand and interpret the social, political, and economic dimensions associated with the use of health services during the pandemic. We have followed the SPIRIT Checklist to address trial protocol and related documents. This research is being funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III since 2021 and was approved by its ethics committee (June 2022). Discussion: The study findings will reveal the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the older adults and their caregivers. This information will serve policymakers to adapt health policies to the needs of this population in situations of maximum stress, such as that produced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trial Registration: Identifier: NCT05249868 [ClinicalTrials.gov].

DISEÑO DE UN SISTEMA DE REHABILITACIÓN PARA MIEMBRO SUPERIOR EN ENTORNO DE REALIDAD VIRTUAL / DESIGN OF A UPPER LIMB REHABILITATION SYSTEM IN VIRTUAL REALITY ENVIRONMENT / PROJETO DO SISTEMA DE REABILITAÇÃO DO MEMBRO SUPERIOR EM AMBIENTE DE REALIDADE VIRTUAL

Este trabajo describe el diseño y desarrollo de un sistema capaz de adquirir señales electromiográficas de superficie, digitalizarlas y procesarlas en una computadora personal, para ser usadas como control de un objeto de realidad virtual que representa al miembro superior. La clasificación de la intencionalidad del usuario se realiza mediante la configuración y entrenamiento de una red neuronal artificial. Luego se presenta en tiempo real la animación en realidad virtual de los movimientos realizados por el miembro superior. Los resultados para los cuatro voluntarios estudiados, indican una tasa de clasificación positiva en promedio del 75% para cada uno de ellos.

This work presents the design and development of a six-channel system for acquisition and conditioning of electromyographic signals collected in the upper limb. The main objective of the work is to create a system that can be used as rehabilitation and training instrument for potential users of myoelectric prostheses. The software developed perform actions of feature extraction, classifier training and design of the mechanical model of the human arm, with the running movements of flexion, extension, pronation and supination of the forearm and the grasp in a reality environment virtual, providing rehabilitation therapy to different patients.

Este trabalho apresenta a concepção e desenvolvimento de um sistema de seis canais para a aquisição e condicionamento de sinais eletromiográficos coletados no membro superior. O principal objetivo do trabalho é criar um sistema que pode ser utilizado como instrumento de reabilitação e treinamento para os potenciais utilizadores de prótese mioelétrica. O software desenvolvido executar ações de extração de características, o treinamento do classificador e design do modelo mecânico do braço humano, com os movimentos da corrida de flexão, extensão, pronação e supinação do antebraço e do alcance em um ambiente de realidade virtual, fornecendo terapia de reabilitação para diferentes pacientes.

Electrocutaneous stimulation system for Braille reading.

This work is an assistive technology for people with visual disabilities and aims to facilitate access to written information in order to achieve better social inclusion and integration into work and educational activities. Two methods of electrical stimulation (by current and voltage) of the mechanoreceptors was tested to obtain tactile sensations on the fingertip. Current and voltage stimulation were tested in a Braille cell and line prototype, respectively. These prototypes are evaluated in 33 blind and visually impaired subjects. The result of experimentation with both methods showed that electrical stimulation causes sensations of touch defined in the fingertip. Better results in the Braille characters reading were obtained with current stimulation (85% accuracy). However this form of stimulation causes uncomfortable sensations. The latter feeling was minimized with the method of voltage stimulation, but with low efficiency (50% accuracy) in terms of identification of the characters. We concluded that electrical stimulation is a promising method for the development of a simple and unexpensive Braille reading system for blind people. We observed that voltage stimulation is preferred by the users. However, more experimental tests must be carry out in order to find the optimum values of the stimulus parameters and increase the accuracy the Braille characters reading.