Unveiling mortality risk factors in paediatric sickle cell disease patients during acute crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a significant health burden in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This study aims to identify predictive factors of mortality in SCD children admitted to emergency care in Lubumbashi, DRC. We performed a non-interventional cohort follow-up on SCD patients aged 0 to 16 admitted for a "true emergency". Demographic, clinical, and biological data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify significant risk factors associated with mortality. Among the 121 patients included, 24 died during the follow-up period. Univariate regression revealed age, Mikobi score, referral origin, stroke, and severe infection as significant risk factors. Multivariate analyses identified Hb, WBC, SR, and LDH as predictive factors of mortality. Notably, patients aged 12 to 16 years faced a higher risk, shifting the age of mortality from early to late childhood and adolescence. This study provides valuable insights into mortality risk factors for paediatric SCD patients during acute crises. Early diagnosis, regular follow-up, and therapeutic education are essential to improve patient outcomes and survival rates. These findings contribute to better disease management and targeted interventions, aiming to reduce mortality associated with SCD.

Effectiveness of mHealth Interventions to Improve Pain Intensity and Functional Disability in Individuals With Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mHealth-supported active exercise interventions to reduce pain intensity and disability level in persons with hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). DATA SOURCES: Three databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between January 1, 2012 and July 31, 2023. PROSPERO registration number of this review was CRD42023394119. STUDY SELECTION: We included only RCTs that were identified and screened by 2 independent reviewers (J.M. and G.N.). In addition, the reference lists of the identified studies were manually checked for further inclusion. Included studies had to provide mHealth-supported active exercises for persons with hip or knee OA, and evaluate pain intensity and disability using both questionnaires and performance tests. DATA EXTRACTION: From the included studies, the 2 independent authors extracted data using a predetermined Excel form. Characteristics of the interventions were described and a meta-analysis was performed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twelve RCTs were included, representing 1541 patients with a mean age of 58.7±5 years, and a body mass index of 28.8±3.1 kg/m2; women being more predominant than men with a total female to male ratio of 2.2. The methodological quality of the included studies was moderate in 75% of the studies. There was no statistically significant difference between mHealth-supported active exercises compared with the interventions without mHealth in terms of pain reduction (standard mean differences [SMD]=-0.42; 95% CI, -0.91 to 0.07; P=.08) and disability mitigation (SMD=-0.36; 95% CI, -0.81 to 0.09; P=.10). However, a statistically significant difference was found between patient education combined with mHealth-supported active exercises compared with patient education alone in terms of pain (SMD= -0.42; 95% CI, -0.61 to -0.22; P<.01) and disability (SMD=-0.27; 95% CI, -0.46 to -0.08; P<.01) reduction. CONCLUSIONS: mHealth-supported exercises were found to be effective, especially when combined with patient education, in reducing pain and mitigating disability in patients with hip or knee OA.

Feasibility of a 10-week community-based mobile health rehabilitation program using the WalkWithMe application in late sub-acute and chronic stroke survivors in a low resource setting: A pilot study.

Physical functioning can be increased in people with stroke by using a mobile health application. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a 10-week community-based program using the WalkWithMe (WWM) application in people with late sub-acute and chronic stroke in Benin. An interventional pilot study with mixed methods research design was used examining the application of an unsupervised individualized mobile Health (mHealth) instructed training program. Main outcome included the application usage, safety, adherence, perceived enjoyment, mHealth quality, patient experiences and pre-post efficacy measures. Nine adults, five males, median age of 60 years and time since stroke of 12 months participated in this study. For most participants adherence with the application was over 70%. However, some usability problems were observed due to incorrect understanding and use by participants and technical problems. The application was very fun, stimulating and enjoyable. Significant improvements were found with median (pre/post measures) of locomotors skill (1.4/3.4); impairments (38/40), Barthel Index (85/95), activity limitation (2.1/3.1), and quality of life (194/218). A trend towards significant improvement was found with 6 minutes walking test (181/220, p = 0.06). The WWM application is perceived as a potential approach to increase physical activity and functioning among people with stroke in Benin.

STASISM: A Versatile Serious Gaming Multi-Sensor Platform for Personalized Telerehabilitation and Telemonitoring.

Telemonitoring and telerehabilitation have shown promise in delivering individualized healthcare remotely. We introduce STASISM, a sensor-based telerehabilitation and telemonitoring system, in this work. This platform has been created to facilitate individualized telerehabilitation and telemonitoring for those who need rehabilitation or ongoing monitoring. To gather and analyze pertinent and validated physiological, kinematic, and environmental data, the system combines a variety of sensors and data analytic methodologies. The platform facilitates customized rehabilitation activities based on individual needs, allows for the remote monitoring of a patient's progress, and offers real-time feedback. To protect the security of patient data and to safeguard patient privacy, STASISM also provides secure data transmission and storage. The platform has the potential to significantly improve the accessibility and efficacy of telerehabilitation and telemonitoring programs, enhancing patients' quality of life and allowing healthcare professionals to provide individualized care outside of traditional clinical settings.

Innovative Digital Phenotyping Method to Assess Body Representations in Autistic Adults: A Perspective on Multisensor Evaluation.

In this perspective paper, we propose a novel tech-driven method to evaluate body representations (BRs) in autistic individuals. Our goal is to deepen understanding of this complex condition by gaining continuous and real-time insights through digital phenotyping into the behavior of autistic adults. Our innovative method combines cross-sectional and longitudinal data gathering techniques to investigate and identify digital phenotypes related to BRs in autistic adults, diverging from traditional approaches. We incorporate ecological momentary assessment and time series data to capture the dynamic nature of real-life events for these individuals. Statistical techniques, including multivariate regression, time series analysis, and machine learning algorithms, offer a detailed comprehension of the complex elements that influence BRs. Ethical considerations and participant involvement in the development of this method are emphasized, while challenges, such as varying technological adoption rates and usability concerns, are acknowledged. This innovative method not only introduces a novel vision for evaluating BRs but also shows promise in integrating traditional and dynamic assessment approaches, fostering a more supportive atmosphere for autistic individuals during assessments compared to conventional methods.

Technological Features of Immersive Virtual Reality Systems for Upper Limb Stroke Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, and it greatly impacts the quality of life for survivors by causing impairments in their upper limbs. Due to the difficulties in accessing rehabilitation services, immersive virtual reality (IVR) is an interesting approach to improve the availability of rehabilitation services. This systematic review evaluates the technological characteristics of IVR systems used in the rehabilitation of upper limb stroke patients. Twenty-five publications were included. Various technical aspects such as game engines, programming languages, headsets, platforms, game genres, and technical evaluation were extracted from these papers. Unity 3D and C# are the primary tools for creating IVR apps, while the Oculus Quest (Meta Platforms Technologies, Menlo Park, CA, USA) is the most often used headset. The majority of systems are created specifically for rehabilitation purposes rather than being readily available for purchase (i.e., commercial games). The analysis also highlights key areas for future research, such as game assessment, the combination of hardware and software, and the potential integration incorporation of biofeedback sensors. The study highlights the significance of technological progress in improving the effectiveness and user-friendliness of IVR. It calls for additional research to fully exploit IVR's potential in enhancing stroke rehabilitation results.

Incorporating Wearable Technology for Enhanced Rehabilitation Monitoring after Hip and Knee Replacement.

Osteoarthritis (OA) poses a growing challenge for the aging population, especially in the hip and knee joints, contributing significantly to disability and societal costs. Exploring the integration of wearable technology, this study addresses the limitations of traditional rehabilitation assessments in capturing real-world experiences and dynamic variations. Specifically, it focuses on continuously monitoring physical activity in hip and knee OA patients using automated unsupervised evaluations within the rehabilitation process. We analyzed data from 1144 patients who used a mobile health application after surgery; the activity data were collected using the Garmin Vivofit 4. Several parameters, such as the total number of steps per day, the peak 6-minute consecutive cadence (P6MC) and peak 1-minute cadence (P1M), were computed and analyzed on a daily basis. The results indicated that cadence-based measurements can effectively, and earlier, differ among patients with hip and knee conditions, as well as in the recovery process. Comparisons based on recovery status and type of surgery reveal distinctive trajectories, emphasizing the effectiveness of P6MC and P1M in detecting variations earlier than total steps per day. Furthermore, cadence-based measurements showed a lower inter-day variability (40%) compared to the total number of steps per day (80%). Automated assessments, including P1M and P6MC, offer nuanced insights into the patients' dynamic activity profiles.

Mobile health: Is your next rehabilitation's specialist in your pocket?

The past few decades have witnessed an unprecedented surge in health-related mobile applications. However, most of these applications primarily focus on lifestyle domains such as sleep, fitness, and nutrition. A notable stride in this landscape involves the emergence of applications catering specifically to rehabilitation needs. This expert review aims to provide an encompassing overview of the wide spectrum of apps available for both assessment and rehabilitation. It delves into the existing constraints associated with these tools and deliberates on the potential avenues for future advancements and integration for future advancements and integration. The transformative potential of this mobile, affordable, and user-friendly technology in reshaping the field of rehabilitation sciences will be highlighted. This article underscores how harnessing these innovations can elevate accessibility and effectiveness in the rehabilitation processes, leading to improved overall outcomes and wellbeing.

The long-term relation between physical activity and executive function in the Rotterdam Study.

BACKGROUND: Research on the association between physical inactivity and cognitive decline and dementia is dominated by studies with short-term follow-up, that might be biased by reverse causality. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the long-term association between physical activity, cognition, and the rate of age-associated cognitive decline. METHODS: We investigated the association between late-life physical activity and executive functioning and rate of decline of executive abilities during follow-up of up to 16 years, in 3553 participants of the prospective Rotterdam Study cohort. Measurement took place in 1997-1999, 2002-2004, 2009-2011, and 2014-2015. RESULTS: At baseline (age ± 72 years), higher levels of physical activity were associated with higher levels of executive functioning (adjusted mean difference = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00 ; 0.06, p = 0.03). This difference remained intact up to 16 years of follow-up. The level of physical activity at baseline was unrelated to the rate of decline of executive abilities over time, in the whole group (adjusted mean difference in changetime*physical activity = 0.00, 95% CI: -0.00 ; 0.01, p = 0.31). However, stratification by APOE genotype showed that the accelerated decline of executive abilities observed in those with the ApoE-ε4 allele might be attenuated by higher levels of physical activity in late adulthood (ApoE-ε4 carriers: Btime*physical activity = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.00 ; 0.01, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of physical activity in late adulthood are related to higher levels of executive functioning, up to 16 years of follow-up. Accelerated decline of executive abilities observed in those with the ApoE-ε4 allele might be mitigated by higher levels of physical activity.

Mobile technologies for rehabilitation in non-specific spinal disorders: a systematic review of the efficacy and potential for implementation in low- and middle-income countries.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was primarily to identify the types of mHealth technologies for the rehabilitation of non-specific spinal disorders, second to evaluate their efficacy, and finally to determine their applicability in LMICs. METHODS: Three databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) were searched for randomized controlled trials and clinical trials from January 2012 until December 2022. Studies were found eligible when using mHealth technologies for the rehabilitation of non-specific spinal disorders. To evaluate efficacy, the primary outcome was pain intensity, and the secondary outcomes were disability and quality of life. To evaluate the applicability in LMICs, information about financial and geographical accessibility, offline usability, and languages was extracted. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included comprising 1828 participants who suffer from non-specific low back pain (86.05%) and non-specific neck pain (13.95%). Fourteen distinct smartphone-based interventions and two sensor system interventions were found, with a duration ranging from four weeks to six months. All mHealth interventions demonstrated efficacy for the improvement of pain, disability and quality of life in non-specific spinal disorders, particularly low back pain. Five of the evaluated smartphone applications were free of charge accessible and had language features that could be adapted for use in LMICs. CONCLUSION: mHealth interventions can be used and integrated into the conventional treatment of non-specific spinal disorders in rehabilitation. They have demonstrated efficacy and could be implemented in LMICs with minor adaptations to overcome language barriers and the absolute necessity of the internet.

Clinical phenotypes and prognostic factors in persons with hip osteoarthritis undergoing total hip arthroplasty: protocol for a longitudinal prospective cohort study (HIPPROCLIPS).

BACKGROUND: Large heterogeneity exists in the clinical manifestation of hip osteoarthritis (OA). It is therefore not surprising that pain and disability in individuals with hip OA and after total hip arthroplasty (THA) cannot be explained by biomedical variables alone. Indeed, also maladaptive pain-related cognitions and emotions can contribute to pain and disability, and can lead to poor treatment outcomes. Traumatic experiences, mental disorders, self-efficacy and social support can influence stress appraisal and strategies to cope with pain, but their influence on pain and disability has not yet been established in individuals with hip OA undergoing THA. This study aims (1) to determine the influence of traumatic experiences and mental disorders on pain processing before and shortly after THA (2) to identify preoperative clinical phenotypes in individuals with hip OA eligible for THA, (3) to identify pre- and early postoperative prognostic factors for outcomes in pain and disability after THA, and (4) to identify postoperative clinical phenotypes in individuals after THA. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal cohort study will investigate 200 individuals undergoing THA for hip OA. Phenotyping variables and candidate prognostic factors include pain-related fear-avoidance behaviour, perceived injustice, mental disorders, traumatic experiences, self-efficacy, and social support. Peripheral and central pain mechanisms will be assessed with thermal quantitative sensory testing. The primary outcome measure is the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score. Other outcome measures include performance-based measures, hip muscle strength, the patient-specific functional scale, pain intensity, global perceived effect, and outcome satisfaction. All these measurements will be performed before surgery, as well as 6 weeks, 3 months, and 12 months after surgery. Pain-related cognitions and emotions will additionally be assessed in the early postoperative phase, on the first, third, fifth, and seventh day after THA. Main statistical methods that will be used to answer the respective research questions include: LASSO regression, decision tree learning, gradient boosting algorithms, and recurrent neural networks. DISCUSSION: The identification of clinical phenotypes and prognostic factors for outcomes in pain and disability will be a first step towards pre- and postoperative precision medicine for individuals with hip OA undergoing THA. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05265858. Registered on 04/03/2022.

Current Technology Developments Can Improve the Quality of Research and Level of Evidence for Rehabilitation Interventions: A Narrative Review.

The current important limitations to the implementation of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in the rehabilitation field are related to the validation process of interventions. Indeed, most of the strict guidelines that have been developed for the validation of new drugs (i.e., double or triple blinded, strict control of the doses and intensity) cannot-or can only partially-be applied in rehabilitation. Well-powered, high-quality randomized controlled trials are more difficult to organize in rehabilitation (e.g., longer duration of the intervention in rehabilitation, more difficult to standardize the intervention compared to drug validation studies, limited funding since not sponsored by big pharma companies), which reduces the possibility of conducting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, as currently high levels of evidence are sparse. The current limitations of EBP in rehabilitation are presented in this narrative review, and innovative solutions are suggested, such as technology-supported rehabilitation systems, continuous assessment, pragmatic trials, rehabilitation treatment specification systems, and advanced statistical methods, to tackle the current limitations. The development and implementation of new technologies can increase the quality of research and the level of evidence supporting rehabilitation, provided some adaptations are made to our research methodology.

Gait Stride Length Estimation Using Embedded Machine Learning.

INTRODUCTION: Spatiotemporal gait parameters, e.g., gait stride length, are measurements that are classically derived from instrumented gait analysis. Today, different solutions are available for gait assessment outside the laboratory, specifically for spatiotemporal gait parameters. Such solutions are wearable devices that comprise an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor and a microcontroller (MCU). However, these existing wearable devices are resource-constrained. They contain a processing unit with limited processing and memory capabilities which limit the use of machine learning to estimate spatiotemporal gait parameters directly on the device. The solution for this limitation is embedded machine learning or tiny machine learning (tinyML). This study aims to create a machine-learning model for gait stride length estimation deployable on a microcontroller. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Starting from a dataset consisting of 4467 gait strides from 15 healthy people, measured by IMU sensor, and using state-of-the-art machine learning frameworks and machine learning operations (MLOps) tools, a multilayer 1D convolutional float32 and int8 model for gait stride length estimation was developed. RESULTS: The developed float32 model demonstrated a mean accuracy and precision of 0.23 ± 4.3 cm, and the int8 model demonstrated a mean accuracy and precision of 0.07 ± 4.3 cm. The memory usage for the float32 model was 284.5 kB flash and 31.9 kB RAM. The int8 model memory usage was 91.6 kB flash and 13.6 kB RAM. Both models were able to be deployed on a Cortex-M4F 64 MHz microcontroller with 1 MB flash memory and 256 kB RAM. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that estimating gait stride length directly on a microcontroller is feasible and demonstrates the potential of embedded machine learning, or tinyML, in designing wearable sensor devices for gait analysis.

Low prevalence of high blood pressure in pregnant women in Burkina Faso: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure (HBP) during pregnancy causes maternal and fetal mortality. Studies regarding its prevalence and associated factors in frontline level health care settings are scarce. We thus aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HBP and its associated factors among pregnant women at the first level of the health care system in Burkina Faso. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six health facilities between December 2018 and March 2019. HBP was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with HBP. RESULTS: A total of 1027 pregnant women were included. The overall prevalence of HBP was 1.4% (14/1027; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.7-2.3), with 1.6% (7/590; 95% CI 0.8-3.3) in rural and 1.2% (7/437; 95% CI 0.6- 2.5) in semi-urban areas. The prevalence was 0.7% (3/440; 95% CI 0.2-2.1) among women in the first, 1.5% (7/452; 95% CI 0.7-3.2) in the second and 3% (4/135; 95% CI 1.1-7.7) in the third trimester. In the multivariable analysis, pregnancy trimester, maternal age, household income, occupation, parity, and residential area were not associated with HBP during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HBP among pregnant women at the first level of health system care is significantly lower compared to prevalence's from hospital studies. Public health surveillance, primary prevention activities, early screening, and treatment of HDP should be reinforced in all health facilities to reduce the burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes in Burkina Faso.

What Are the Key Gut Microbiota Involved in Neurological Diseases? A Systematic Review.

There is a growing body of evidence highlighting there are significant changes in the gut microbiota composition and relative abundance in various neurological disorders. We performed a systematic review of the different microbiota altered in a wide range of neurological disorders (Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and stroke). Fifty-two studies were included representing 5496 patients. At the genus level, the most frequently involved microbiota are Akkermansia, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella. The overlap between the pathologies was strongest for MS and PD, sharing eight genera (Akkermansia, Butyricicoccus, Bifidobacterium, Coprococcus, Dorea, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, and Prevotella) and PD and stroke, sharing six genera (Enterococcus, Faecalibacterium, Lactobacillus, Parabacteroides, Prevotella, and Roseburia). The identification signatures overlapping for AD, PD, and MS raise the question of whether these reflect a common etiology or rather common consequence of these diseases. The interpretation is hampered by the low number and low power for AD, ALS, and stroke with ample opportunity for false positive and false negative findings.

Tobacco use and associated risk factors in Burkina Faso: results from a population-based cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Studies characterizing the prevalence of tobacco use in low-income countries are lacking. This study describes the prevalence of tobacco use in Burkina Faso and its associated factors. METHODS: Data from the 2013 Burkina Faso World Health Organization (WHO) Stepwise approach to Surveillance (STEPS) were analyzed. The prevalence of any tobacco product use, cigarette smoking, and other tobacco use was calculated. Logistic regression analyses identified factors associated with tobacco use. Overall, 4691 people were included in this analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of any tobacco use was 19.8% (95% CI: 18.4-21.2). Tobacco use was higher for men (29.2% [27.0-31.5]) than women (11.8% [10.3-13.4]). The prevalence of smoked tobacco was 11.3% (10.3-12.4), with a significantly higher prevalence among men (24.5% [22.1-27.0]) than women (0.1% [0.01-0.3]). The overall prevalence of other tobacco use was 8.9% (7.4-10.7), with lower values for men (5.6% [4.1-7.2]) compared to women (11.7% [9.4-14.1]). Tobacco smoking among men was significantly associated with an increased age and alcohol consumption. The analysis of risk factors for other tobacco use stratified by gender showed that age, education, residence, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with consumption for women, and age and alcohol consumption for men. CONCLUSION: Tobacco use is common in Burkina Faso. To effectively reduce tobacco use in Burkina Faso, a comprehensive tobacco control program should consider associated factors, such as gender, age, and alcohol consumption.

Automated functional upper limb evaluation of patients with Friedreich ataxia using serious games rehabilitation exercises.

BACKGROUND: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a disease with neurological and systemic involvement. Clinical assessment tools commonly used for FRDA become less effective in evaluating decay in patients with advanced FRDA, particularly when they are in a wheelchair. Further motor worsening mainly impairs upper limb function. In this study, we tested if serious games (SG) developed for rehabilitation can be used as an assessment tool for upper limb function even in patients with advanced FRDA. METHODS: A specific SG has been developed for physical rehabilitation of patients suffering from neurologic diseases. The use of this SG, coupled with Kinect sensor, has been validated to perform functional evaluation of the upper limbs with healthy subjects across lifespan. Twenty-seven FRDA patients were included in the study. Patients were invited to perform upper limb rehabilitation exercises embedded in SG. Motions were recorded by the Kinect and clinically relevant parameters were extracted from the collected motions. We tested if the existence of correlations between the scores from the serious games and the severity of the disease using clinical assessment tools commonly used for FRDA. Results of patients were compared with a group a healthy subjects of similar age. RESULTS: Very highly significant differences were found for time required to perform the exercise (increase of 76%, t(68) = 7.22, P < 0.001) and for accuracy (decrease of 6%, t(68) = - 3.69, P < 0.001) between patients and healthy subjects. Concerning the patients significant correlations were found between age and time (R = 0.65, p = 0.015), accuracy (R = - 0.75, p = 0.004) and the total displacement of upper limbs. (R = 0.55, p = 0.031). Statistically significant correlations were found between the age of diagnosis and speed related parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that SG reliably captures motor impairment of FRDA patients due to cerebellar and pyramidal involvement. Results also show that functional evaluation of FRDA patients can be performed during rehabilitation therapy embedded in games with the patient seated in a wheelchair. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved as a component of the EFACTS study ( Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02069509 , registered May 2010) by the local institutional Ethics Committee (ref. P2010/132).

3D Analysis of Upper Limbs Motion during Rehabilitation Exercises Using the KinectTM Sensor: Development, Laboratory Validation and Clinical Application.

Optoelectronic devices are the gold standard for 3D evaluation in clinics, but due to the complexity of this kind of hardware and the lack of access for patients, affordable, transportable, and easy-to-use systems must be developed to be largely used in daily clinics. The KinectTM sensor has various advantages compared to optoelectronic devices, such as its price and transportability. However, it also has some limitations: (in)accuracy of the skeleton detection and tracking as well as the limited amount of available points, which makes 3D evaluation impossible. To overcome these limitations, a novel method has been developed to perform 3D evaluation of the upper limbs. This system is coupled to rehabilitation exercises, allowing functional evaluation while performing physical rehabilitation. To validate this new approach, a two-step method was used. The first step was a laboratory validation where the results obtained with the KinectTM were compared with the results obtained with an optoelectronic device; 40 healthy young adults participated in this first part. The second step was to determine the clinical relevance of this kind of measurement. Results of the healthy subjects were compared with a group of 22 elderly adults and a group of 10 chronic stroke patients to determine if different patterns could be observed. The new methodology and the different steps of the validations are presented in this paper.

Validation of the Balance Board for Clinical Evaluation of Balance During Serious Gaming Rehabilitation Exercises.

BACKGROUND: Balance and posture can be affected in various conditions or become decreased with aging. A diminution of balance control induces an increase of fall's risk. INTRODUCTION: The Nintendo Wii Balance Board™ (WBB) is used in rehabilitation to perform balance exercises (using commercial video games). The WBB has also been validated to assess balance and posture in static conditions. However, there is currently no study investigating the use of WBB to assess balance during the realization of balance exercises using this device. The aim of this study was to validate the use of WBB, coupled with specially developed serious games, to assess dynamic balance during rehabilitation exercises. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five subjects participated in this study. Subjects were asked to play two specially developed serious games. Center of pressure (CP) displacements were simultaneously recorded with a WBB and a gold standard force plate (FP). Nine parameters were derived from CP displacement. Bland and Altman plots, paired-sample t tests, intraclass correlation coefficient's, and Pearson's coefficient correlations were computed. RESULTS: Excellent correlation between both devices was found for each parameter for the two games (R = 0.95 and 0.96). DISCUSSION: Unlike previous work on the WBB, these excellent results were obtained without using any calibration procedure. Despite this, results were highly correlated between the WBB and the FP. CONCLUSIONS: The WBB could be used in clinics to assess balance during rehabilitation exercises and, thus, allows a more regular patient follow-up.