Eccentric cycling involves greater mental demand and cortical activation of the frontoparietal network.

Eccentric, compared to concentric exercise, is proposed to involve different neuro-motor processing strategies and a higher level of mental demand. This study compared eccentric and concentric cycling at matched perceived effort and torque for the mental demand and related-cortical activation patterns. Nineteen men (30 ± 6 years) performed four different 5-min cycling conditions at 30 RPM on a semi-recumbent isokinetic cycle ergometer: (1) concentric at a moderate perceived effort (23 on the CR100® scale) without torque feedback; (2) concentric and (3) eccentric at the same average torque produced in the first condition; and (4) eccentric at the same moderate perceived effort than the first concentric condition. The conditions two to four were randomized. After each condition, mental demand was monitored using the NASA Task Load Index scale. Changes in oxy-(O2 Hb) and deoxy-(HHb) hemoglobin during exercise were measured over both prefrontal cortices and the right parietal lobe from a 15-probe layout using a continuous-wave NIRS system. Mental demand was significantly higher during eccentric compared to concentric cycling (+52%, p = 0.012) and when the exercise intensity was fixed by the torque rather than the perceived effort (+70%, p < 0.001). For both torque- or perceived effort-matched exercises, O2 Hb increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the left and right prefrontal cortices, and right parietal lobe, and HHb decreased in the left, and right, prefrontal cortices during eccentric compared to concentric cycling. This study supports that acute eccentric cycling, compared to concentric cycling, involves a higher mental demand, and frontoparietal network activation.

The Use of Embedded IMU Insoles to Assess Gait Parameters: A Validation and Test-Retest Reliability Study.

Wireless wearable insoles are interesting tools to collect gait parameters during daily life activities. However, studies have to be performed specifically for each type of insoles on a big data set to validate the measurement in ecological situations. This study aims to assess the criterion validity and test-retest reliability of gait parameters from wearable insoles compared to motion capture system. Gait of 30 healthy participants was recorded using DSPro® insoles and a motion capture system during overground and treadmill walking at three different speeds. Criterion validity and test-retest reliability of spatio-temporal parameters were estimated with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). For both systems, reliability was found higher than 0.70 for all variables (p < 0.001) except for minimum toe clearance (ICC < 0.50) with motion capture system during overground walking. Regardless of speed and condition of walking, Speed, Cadence, Stride Length, Stride Time and Stance Time variables were validated (ICC > 0.90; p < 0.001). During walking on treadmill, loading time was not validated during slow speed (ICC < 0.70). This study highlights good criterion validity and test-retest reliability of spatiotemporal gait parameters measurement using wearable insoles and opens a new possibility to improve care management of patients using clinical gait analysis in daily life activities.

Concentric versus eccentric cycling at equal power output or effort perception: Neuromuscular alterations and muscle pain.

This study aimed to compare neuromuscular alterations and perceptions of effort and muscle pain induced by concentric and eccentric cycling performed at the same power output or effort perception. Fifteen participants completed three 30-min sessions: one in concentric at 60% peak power output (CON) and two in eccentric, at the same power output (ECCPOWER ) or same perceived effort (ECCEFFORT ). Muscle pain, perception of effort, oxygen uptake as well as rectus femoris and vastus lateralis electromyographic activities were collected when pedaling. The knee extensors maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, the torque evoked by double stimulations at 100 Hz and 10 Hz (Dt100; Dt10), and the voluntary activation level (VAL) were evaluated before and after exercise. Power output was higher in ECCEFFORT than CON (89.1 ± 23.3% peak power). Muscle pain and effort perception were greater in CON than ECCPOWER (p < 0.03) while muscle pain was similar in CON and ECCEFFORT (p > 0.43). MVC torque, Dt100, and VAL dropped in all conditions (p < 0.04). MVC torque (p < 0.001) and the Dt10/ Dt100 ratio declined further in ECCEFFORT (p < 0.001). Eccentric cycling perceived as difficult as concentric cycling caused similar muscle pain but more MVC torque decrease. A given power output induced lower perceptions of pain and effort in eccentric than in concentric yet similar MVC torque decline. While neural impairments were similar in all conditions, eccentric cycling seemed to alter excitation-contraction coupling. Clinicians should thus be cautious when setting eccentric cycling intensity based on effort perception.

Machine Learning Approaches for Activity Recognition and/or Activity Prediction in Locomotion Assistive Devices-A Systematic Review.

Locomotion assistive devices equipped with a microprocessor can potentially automatically adapt their behavior when the user is transitioning from one locomotion mode to another. Many developments in the field have come from machine learning driven controllers on locomotion assistive devices that recognize/predict the current locomotion mode or the upcoming one. This review synthesizes the machine learning algorithms designed to recognize or to predict a locomotion mode in order to automatically adapt the behavior of a locomotion assistive device. A systematic review was conducted on the Web of Science and MEDLINE databases (as well as in the retrieved papers) to identify articles published between 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2020. This systematic review is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and is registered on Prospero (CRD42020149352). Study characteristics, sensors and algorithms used, accuracy and robustness were also summarized. In total, 1343 records were identified and 58 studies were included in this review. The experimental condition which was most often investigated was level ground walking along with stair and ramp ascent/descent activities. The machine learning algorithms implemented in the included studies reached global mean accuracies of around 90%. However, the robustness of those algorithms seems to be more broadly evaluated, notably, in everyday life. We also propose some guidelines for homogenizing future reports.

Cardiorespiratory and Autonomic Nervous System Responses to Prolonged Eccentric Cycling.

Offering large muscle benefits despite low metabolic demand, continuous eccentric exercise appears to be an interesting alternative to concentric exercise. Nevertheless, further knowledge is needed about prolonged eccentric exercise. This work sought to investigate the cardiovascular responses to prolonged constant-load eccentric compared to concentric cycling. Ten healthy males performed two 45-min exercise sessions of either concentric or eccentric cycling separated by a month and matched for heart rate during the first 5 min of exercise. Cardiorespiratory, autonomic nervous system and vascular responses were assessed at rest, and during exercise and recovery. During cycling, oxygen uptake, cardiac output and systolic blood pressure were similar but heart rate and diastolic blood pressure were greater whereas stroke volume was lower during eccentric than concentric cycling (118±21 vs. 104±10 bpm; 77±9 vs. 65±8 mmHg; 122±12 vs. 135±13 mL). Baroreflex and noradrenaline concentration were altered during eccentric cycling, and after eccentric exercise, vascular tone was greater than after concentric cycling. We observed increased cardiovascular strain and altered baroreflex activity during eccentric compared with concentric exercise, suggesting eccentric cycling triggers greater sympathetic activity.

Influence of body mass index on sagittal hip range of motion and gait speed recovery six months after total hip arthroplasty.

PURPOSE: In practice, obesity leads to poor functional outcomes after total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, in clinical research, the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the gait recovery and kinematics for THA is not well documented. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of BMI on gait parameters pre-operatively and six months after THA for hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients. METHODS: We included 76 THA for hip OA: non-obese group (G1): 49 (BMI < 30 kg/2) and obese group (G2): 37 (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) with a control group of 61 healthy people. Clinical evaluation (HOOS) and a 3D gait analysis (gait speed and flexion range of the hip (ROM)) were performed before and six months after THA: The gains between the two visits were calculated and we looked for correlations between outcomes and BMI. RESULTS: Preoperative gait speed and hip ROM were significantly lower in obese patients (speed G1: 0.81 ± 0.22 m/s vs. G2: 0.64 ± 0.23 m/s, p = 0.004 and hip ROM G1: 26.1° ± 7.3 vs. G2: 21.4° ± 6.6, p = 0.005), and obese patients were more symptomatic. At six months, gait speed and hip ROM were significantly lower for all patients compared with the control group. No correlation between gait velocity, hip ROM, and BMI was found. Biomechanical and clinical gains were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: All patients, including obese patients, have significant functional improvement after THA, objectively assessed by gait speed. Even if patients did not fully recover to the level of a healthy control person after THA, functional gain is comparable irrespective of BMI.

Microcirculatory Assessment of Arterial Below-Knee Stumps: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Versus Transcutaneous Oxygen Tension-A Preliminary Study in Prosthesis Users.

OBJECTIVE: To examine metrologic properties of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) versus transcutaneous oxygen tension (TcPO2) for microcirculatory assessment of vascular transtibial stumps at the stabilized period of prosthesis fitting, as a preliminary step before exploring its ability to predict stump healing, considering the previously identified limits of TcPO2 (borderline area between 15 and 35mmHg). DESIGN: Prospective single-center observational study. SETTING: University-based rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with unilateral transtibial amputation for peripheral artery disease, at the definitive stage of prosthesis fitting, able to perform a 2-minute walk test (N=30). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Test-retest, with the stump being evaluated in supine and inclined positions, first by NIRS (tissue saturation index [TSI], oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin) and second by TcPO2. Subjects carried out a 2-minute walk test and visual analog scales (wound healing and pain). RESULTS: Feasibility and tolerance of NIRS were satisfactory. The reliability of NIRS and TcPO2 values was good (intraclass correlation coefficient >0.7; P<.05). No significant relation was found between NIRS and TcPO2. No responsiveness (inclined vs supine) was reported (P>.05). A significant relation between TSI and the 2-minute walk test (r>.49, P<.05) was found. CONCLUSIONS: NIRS is painless, complication-free, and feasible, with good reliability. NIRS evaluates others domain than TcPO2 that are more linked to metabolic adaptation. Its capacity to predict stump healing and tolerance to early prosthesis fitting is therefore interesting to estimate in future studies.

Röttinger approach with dual-mobility cup to improve functional recovery in hip osteoarthritis patients: biomechanical and clinical follow-up.

PURPOSE: We assumed that the combination of dual-mobility total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the minimally-invasive Röttinger anterolateral approach could guarantee hip stability with faster functional recovery. We objectively analyzed functional improvement after dual-mobility THA by quantitative gait analysis. METHODS: We compared the results achieved following two different surgical approaches: Röttinger's versus Moore's approach (posterolateral approach). We included 70 patients in an open prospective single-centre study: 38 by Rottinger's approach (age = 67yo) and 32 by Moores's approach (age = 68yo). Clinical and biomechanical analysis (kinematic and kinetic parameters of the hip) were conducted at the pre-operative period and at six months post-op RESULTS: We found a significant improvement in all clinical scores and all biomechanical parameters but no difference was found between the two approaches. However, the study showed marked clinical, biomechanical and functional improvements for patients treated with dual-mobility THA for osteoarthritis without complete hip recovery compared with a control group. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the Röttinger approach with a dual-mobility cup remains a valid choice for primary THA without functional advantage at midterm.

Impact of systematic ultrasound of the knee on the rheumatologist's clinical decision in patients consulting for knee pain.

This clinical practice study aimed to determine whether the results of systematic US in patients with knee pain modified the rheumatologist's choices concerning diagnostic management and therapy. Patients consulting for non-traumatic knee pain, with recent radiography of the knee, were consecutively included over 9 months. After the radio-clinical assessment, the rheumatologist made a principal diagnosis concerning the knee pain and defined the therapeutic management and a complementary imaging strategy if necessary. US of the painful knee was then done in accordance with the reference protocol with the operators blinded to the clinical results. After reading the US report, the rheumatologist re-evaluated his/her diagnostic and therapeutic approach and the complementary exploration strategy. In the 100 patients included (mean age = 62.9 ± 18.5 years, duration of knee pain = 14.4 ± 8.1 months) with a majority of knee osteoarthritis (61 %), the diagnosis was clarified or modified after the US in 31 % of cases (calcium pyrophosphate deposition arthropathy and tendinitis principally), which led to an intensification of therapy in 15 % of cases and a de-escalation in 5 % of cases. These changes mainly concerned injectable treatments. The US of the painful knee resulted in few changes in imaging prescriptions (6 %), and this was not significant for the number of MRIs requested. In real-life practice in rheumatology, systematic US of the knee clarified the initial clinical diagnosis in almost one-third of cases, but did not significantly modify the therapeutic management, which remained symptomatic, and did not reduce the number of other imaging examinations after the initial radio-clinical assessment.

Effects of electrical stimulation pattern on quadriceps force production and fatigue.

INTRODUCTION: Mixed stimulation programs (MIX) that switch from constant frequency trains (CFT) to variable frequency trains have been proposed to offset the rapid fatigue induced by CFT during electrical stimulation. However, this has never been confirmed with long stimulation patterns, such as those used to evoke functional contractions. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that MIX programs were less fatiguing than CFTs in strength training-like conditions (6-s contractions, 30-min). METHODS: Thirteen healthy subjects underwent 2 sessions corresponding to MIX and CFT programs. Measurements included maximal voluntary isometric torque and torque evoked by each contraction. RESULTS: There were greater decreases of voluntary and evoked torque (P < 0.05) after CFT than MIX, and mean torque was 13 ± 1% higher during the MIX session (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that combining train types might be a useful strategy to offset rapid fatigue during electrical stimulation sessions with long-duration contractions.

Influence of Posture on Gait Parameters in Severe Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis Before and After Decompression Surgery.

BACKGROUND: We searched to quantify the influence of sagittal vertical axis (SVA) on the improvement of spatiotemporal gait parameters using a gait motion analysis (GMA) before and after decompression surgery in patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with severe LisSS planned for lumbar decompression underwent a full-body biplanar radiographs (EOS) to quantify the SVA and have benefited from a 3-dimensional GMA 1 month before surgery (M0) and 6 month (M6) after surgery. The first step of this study was to confirm the validation of 3-dimensional sagittal vertical axis (3D SVA) for posture analysis. An analysis of modification of the 3D SVA and spatiotemporal gait parameters was then carried out in order to identify any correlation. RESULTS: Decompression surgery did not significantly improve 3D SVA between M0 and M6 (respectively 49.1 [50.3] vs. 49.84 [19.02], P = 0.42). Concerning spatiotemporal parameters, we found significant difference for all parameters between M0 and M6. A strong correlation (R2 > 0.65) between static SVA (EOS) and 3D SVA was demonstrated using a statistical regression equation. There was also a statistically significant correlation between SVA (static and 3-dimension) and improvement in spatiotemporal gait parameters after decompression surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study analyses the relationship between postural change (SVA) and improvement in gait parameters measured during GMA before and after decompression surgery for LSS. This specific analysis of gait parameters may represent a prognostic assessment tool for the recovery of patients undergoing surgery for a LSS.

3D motion analysis dataset of healthy young adult volunteers walking and running on overground and treadmill.

Used on clinical and sportive context, three-dimensional motion analysis is considered as the gold standard in the biomechanics field. The proposed dataset has been established on 30 asymptomatic young participants. Volunteers were asked to walk at slow, comfortable and fast speeds, and to run at comfortable and fast speeds on overground and treadmill using shoes. Three dimensional trajectories of 63 reflective markers, 3D ground reaction forces and moments were simultaneously recorded. A total of 4840 and 18159 gait cycles were measured for overground and treadmill walking, respectively. Additionally, 2931 and 18945 cycles were measured for overground and treadmill running, respectively. The dataset is presented in C3D and CSV files either in raw or pre-processed format. The aim of this dataset is to provide a complete set of data that will help for the gait characterization during clinical gait analysis and in a sportive context. This data could be used for the creation of a baseline database for clinical purposes to research activities exploring the gait and the run.

IMPROVE study protocol, investigating post-stroke local muscle vibrations to promote cerebral plasticity and functional recovery: a single-blind randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Spasticity is a frequent disabling consequence following a stroke. Local muscle vibrations (LMVs) have been proposed as a treatment to address this problem. However, little is known about their clinical and neurophysiological impacts when used repeatedly during the subacute phase post-stroke. This project aims to evaluate the effects of a 6-week LMV protocol on the paretic limb on spasticity development in a post-stroke subacute population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an interventional, controlled, randomised, single-blind (patient) trial. 100 participants over 18 years old will be recruited, within 6 weeks following a first stroke with hemiparesis or hemiplegia. All participants will receive a conventional rehabilitation programme, plus 18 sessions of LMV (ie, continuously for 30 min) on relaxed wrist and elbow flexors: either (1) at 80 Hz for the interventional group or (2) at 40 Hz plus a foam band between the skin and the device for the control group.Participants will be evaluated at baseline, at 3 weeks and 6 weeks, and at 6 months after the end of the intervention. Spasticity will be measured by the modified Ashworth scale and with an isokinetic dynamometer. Sensorimotor function will be assessed with the Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper extremity. Corticospinal and spinal excitabilities will be measured each time. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study was recorded in a clinical trial and obtained approval from the institutional review board (Comité de protection des personnes Ile de France IV, 2021-A03219-32). All participants will be required to provide informed consent. The results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals to disseminate information to clinicians and impact their practice for an improved patient's care. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Trial: NCT05315726 DATASET: EUDRAct.

Is it possible to individualize intensity of eccentric cycling exercise from perceived exertion on concentric test?

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and acute effects of a procedure using perceived exertion during a prior submaximal concentric (CON) test to individualize eccentric (ECC) cycling exercise intensity. DESIGN: Prospective, monocentric open study. SETTING: Technological investigation platform at a physical medicine and rehabilitation department in a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Healthy subjects (N=18; 15 men, 3 women) aged between 22 and 37 years. INTERVENTIONS: The subjects performed 3 cycling exercises: (1) incremental CON test to determine the comfortable pedaling power (CPP) corresponding to a Borg scale rating of 12 (rate of perceived exertion); (2) steady-state CON exercise at the CPP workload to determine the corresponding plantar pressure; and (3) steady-state ECC exercise with an imposed resistance corresponding to the CPP plantar pressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of perceived exertion on Borg scale, oxygen uptake (V˙o2), heart rate, cardiac output, and stroke volume using inert gas rebreathing techniques were measured during steady-state CON and ECC exercises. Muscle soreness was rated on a visual analog scale immediately, 24, and 48 hours after the tests. RESULTS: No adverse effects were reported. V˙o2 was about 5 times the resting value during CON exercise, while it was twice that during ECC exercise. Cardiac output was lower during ECC exercise (P<.05). This moderate increase of cardiac output was exclusively linked to a greater increase in stroke volume during ECC exercise than during CON exercise (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-intensity ECC cycling exercise tailored according to perceived exertion during a prior CON test is well tolerated. It corresponds to a limited muscular use of oxygen and to an isolated increase in stroke volume. It appears to be a feasible procedure for preconditioning before ECC training.

Sensitivity and specificity of the flexion and extension relaxation ratios to identify altered paraspinal muscles' flexion relaxation phenomenon in nonspecific chronic low back pain patients.

BACKGROUND: Among the main methods used to identify an altered flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP) in nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP), it has been previously demonstrated that flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) and extension relaxation ratio (ERR) are more objective than the visual reference method. OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the different methods used to calculate the ratios in terms of their ability to identify an altered FRP in NSCLBP. METHODS: Forty-four NSCLBP patients performed a standing maximal trunk flexion task. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded along the erector spinae longissimus (ESL) and multifidus (MF) muscles. Altered FRP based on sEMG was visually identified by three experts (current standard). Six FRR methods and five ERR methods were used both for the ESL and MF muscles. ROC curves (with areas under the curve (AUC) and sensitivity/specificity) were generated for each ratio. RESULTS: All methods used to calculate these ratios had an AUC higher than 0.9, excellent sensitivity (>90 %), and good specificity (80-100 %) for both ESL and MF muscles. CONCLUSION: Both FRP ratios (FRR and ERR) for MF and ESL muscles, appear to be an objective, sensitive and specific method for identifying altered FRP in NSCLBP patients.

Gait analysis dataset of healthy volunteers and patients before and 6 months after total hip arthroplasty.

Clinical gait analysis is a promising approach for quantifying gait deviations and assessing the impairments altering gait in patients with osteoarthritis. There is a lack of consensus on the identification of kinematic outcomes that could be used for the diagnosis and follow up in patients. The proposed dataset has been established on 80 asymptomatic participants and 106 patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis before and 6 months after arthroplasty. All volunteers walked along a 6 meters straight line at their self-selected speed. Three dimensional trajectories of 35 reflective markers were simultaneously recorded and Plugin Gait Bones, angles, Center of Mass trajectories and ground reaction forces were computed. Gait video recordings, when available, anthropometric and demographic descriptions are also available. A minimum of 10 trials have been made available in the weka file format and C3D file to enhance the use of machine learning algorithms. We aim to share this dataset to facilitate the identification of new movement-related kinematic outcomes for improving the diagnosis and follow up in patients with hip OA.

A 6-Month Home-Based Functional Electrical Stimulation Program for Foot Drop in a Post-Stroke Patient: Considerations on a Time Course Analysis of Walking Performance.

Foot drop is a common disability in post-stroke patients and represents a challenge for the clinician. To date, ankle foot orthosis (AFO) combined with conventional rehabilitation is the gold standard of rehabilitation management. AFO has a palliative mechanical action without actively restoring the associated neural function. Functional electrical stimulation (FES), consisting of stimulation of the peroneal nerve pathway, represents an alternative approach. By providing an FES device (Bioness L-300, BIONESS, Valencia, CA, USA) for 6 months to a post-stroke 22-year-old woman with a foot drop, our goal was to quantify its potential benefit on walking capacity. The gait parameters and the temporal evolution of the speed were collected with a specific connected sole device (Feet Me®) during the 10-m walking, the time up and go, and the 6-minute walking tests with AFO, FES, or without any device (NO). As a result, the walking speed changes on 10-m were clinically significant with an increase from the baseline to 6 months in AFO (+0.14 m.s-1), FES (+0.36 m.s-1) and NO (+0.32 m.s-1) conditions. In addition, the speed decreased at about 4-min in the 6-minute walking test in NO and AFO conditions, while the speed increased in the FES conditions at baseline and after 1, 3, and 6 months. In addition to the walking performance improvement, monitoring the gait speed in an endurance test after an ecological rehabilitation training program helps to examine the walking performance in post-stroke patients and to propose a specific rehabilitation program.

Kinematics and electromyographic activity of horse riders during various cross-country jumps in equestrian.

The objective of this study was to identify the key biomechanical patterns (functional muscles and kinematics) of amateur horse riders during various cross-country jumps in equestrian. Eleven riders first performed a control condition that corresponded to jumps over three different obstacles (log wall, brush and tree trunk) before jumping over the same three obstacles in a cross-country course. 3D Kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) activity was synchronously collected which included seven muscles of the riders back, lower and upper limbs. Maximum voluntary isometric strength of knee extensors was also measured before and immediately after the race to investigate potential fatigue. Our results showed similar EMG activity for the different obstacles. Whereas some kinematics alterations were observed between obstacles. Moreover, back movements alterations were recorded between the jumps of the cross-country as compared to the control condition. Finally, muscle strength was not altered after the race. In conclusion, our study indicates that upper and lower body muscles contributed to the realisation of various jumps during a cross-country and that the different configurations of the obstacles did not induced specific muscular and kinematic responses.

Measuring threshold and latency of motion perception on a swinging bed.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to develop and to evaluate a system to measure latency and threshold of pendular motion perception based on a swinging bed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 30 healthy adults (age: 32 ± 12 years). All subjects were tested twice with a 10 min. interval. A second trial was conducted 2 to 15 days after. A rehabilitation swinging bed was connected to an electronic device emitting a beep at the beginning of each oscillation phase with an adjustable time lag. Subjects were blindfolded and auditory cues other than the beep were minimized. The acceleration threshold was measured by letting the bed oscillate freely until a natural break and asking the patient when he did not perceive any motion. The perception latency was determined by asking the patient to indicate whether the beep and the peak of each oscillation were synchronous. The time lag between sound and peak of the head position was swept from -750 to +750 ms by 50 ms increments. RESULTS: The mean acceleration threshold was 9.2±4.60 cm/s2. The range width of the synchronous perception interval was estimated as 535±190 ms. The point of subjective synchronicity defined as the center of this interval was -195±106 ms (n = 30). The test-retest evaluation in the same trial showed an acceptable reproducibility for the acceleration threshold and good to excellent for all parameters related to sound-movement latency. CONCLUSION: Swinging bed combined to sound stimulation can provide reproducible information on movement perception in a simple and non-invasive manner with highly reproducible results.