Mobile application: digital health card for deaf adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a mobile health application (mHealth) accessible to deaf adolescents, based on their health card, promoting autonomy to the access to the user's health information. METHOD: This was a methodological study, divided into three stages: a questionnaire to understand the knowledge of deaf adolescents about the health card, and development of the application using videos in Brazilian Sign Language Libras, Android Studio platform with Java language, and evaluation of the application. RESULTS: Most deaf adolescents were not aware of the health card. The application has two interface modes: male and female card, with the particularities of each sex. Furthermore, user's data security is carried out in accordance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law. The application received a score of 85.5 from experts, being classified as "good" to "excellent" in terms of usability. CONCLUSION: The application provides information from the health card in text and video in Libras, according to the selected sex, promoting adolescents' autonomy in accessing health information. Future implementations may include expansion to other mobile platforms.

Analysis of anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustment in women of different age groups using surface electromyography.

Postural balance is crucial for daily activities, relying on the coordination of sensory systems. Balance impairment, common in the elderly, is a leading cause of mortality in this population. To analyze balance, methods like postural adjustment analysis using electromyography (EMG) have been developed. With age, women tend to experience reduced mobility and greater muscle loss compared to men. However, few studies have focused on postural adjustments in women of different ages using EMG of the lower limbs during laterolateral and anteroposterior movements. This gap could reveal a decrease in muscle activation time with aging, as activation time is vital for postural adjustments. This study aimed to analyze muscle activation times in women of different ages during postural adjustments. Thirty women were divided into two groups: young and older women. A controlled biaxial force platform was used for static and dynamic balance tests while recording lower limb muscle activity using EMG. Data analysis focused on identifying muscle activation points and analyzing postural adjustment times. Results showed significant differences in muscle activation times between the two groups across various muscles and platform tilt conditions. Younger women had longer muscle activation times than older women, particularly during laterolateral platform inclinations. In anteroposterior movements, older women exhibited longer activation times compared to their laterolateral performance, with fewer differences between the groups. Overall, older women had shorter muscle activation times than younger women, suggesting a potential indicator of imbalance and increased fall risk.

Using a Dance Mat to Assess Inhibitory Control of Foot in Young Children.

The development of motor response inhibition is critical during preschool years and has been associated with an improvement in gross motor coordination in this population. However, the assessment of inhibitory abilities in young children is challenging in terms of task selection and subject engagement, especially when investigating foot responses. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe a child-friendly Go/No-go paradigm to assess inhibitory control of foot based on a dance mat protocol. In this method, Go and No-go stimuli are modeled in the context of a fishing game, and behavioral responses are assessed by recording the latency to touch the mat and the accuracy of the touches. In this protocol article, we (1) describe the stages of the experimental set-up, (2) provide an illustrative data collection example in a sample of children aged 3-4 years, and (3) describe how to process the data generated. The utilization of the dance mat provides a feasible tool for researchers interested in studying the development of motor inhibitory control of foot in preschoolers. Potential applications of this protocol may include studies on developmental differences between hand and foot specialization, sports-related performance and neuroimaging.

Mobile application: digital health card for deaf adolescents / Aplicación móvil: Cartilla de salud digital de un adolescente sordo / Aplicativo móvel: caderneta de saúde digital do adolescente surdo

ABSTRACT Objective: To develop a mobile health application (mHealth) accessible to deaf adolescents, based on their health card, promoting autonomy to the access to the user's health information. Method: This was a methodological study, divided into three stages: a questionnaire to understand the knowledge of deaf adolescents about the health card, and development of the application using videos in Brazilian Sign Language Libras, Android Studio platform with Java language, and evaluation of the application. Results: Most deaf adolescents were not aware of the health card. The application has two interface modes: male and female card, with the particularities of each sex. Furthermore, user's data security is carried out in accordance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law. The application received a score of 85.5 from experts, being classified as "good" to "excellent" in terms of usability. Conclusion: The application provides information from the health card in text and video in Libras, according to the selected sex, promoting adolescents' autonomy in accessing health information. Future implementations may include expansion to other mobile platforms.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Desarrollar una aplicación de atención médica móvil (mSalud) accesible a adolescentes sordos, a partir de la cartilla de salud del adolescente, promoviendo la autonomía en el acceso a la información de salud del usuario. Método: Se trató de un estudio metodológico, dividido en tres etapas: cuestionario para comprender los conocimientos de los adolescentes sordos sobre la cartilla de salud, y desarrollo de la aplicación utilizando videos en Libras, plataforma Android Studio con lenguaje Java y evaluación de la aplicación. Resultados: La mayoría de los adolescentes sordos no conocían su cartilla de salud. La aplicación cuenta con dos modos de interfaz: cartilla masculina y femenina, teniendo las particularidades de cada género. Además, la seguridad de los datos de los usuarios se lleva a cabo de conformidad con la ley general de proteccion de datos. La aplicación recibió una puntuación de 85,5 por parte de los expertos, clasificándola entre "buena" y "excelente" en términos de usabilidad. Conclusión: La aplicación proporciona información de la cartilla de salud en texto y video en Libras, según el género elegido, promoviendo la autonomía de los adolescentes en el acceso a la información de salud. Las implementaciones futuras pueden incluir la expansión a otras plataformas móviles.

RESUMO Objetivo: Desenvolver um aplicativo móvel de saúde (mHealth) acessível a adolescentes surdos, baseado na caderneta de saúde do adolescente, promovendo a autonomia no acesso à informações de saúde do usuário. Método: Tratou-se de um estudo metodológico, dividido em três etapas: questionário para entender o conhecimento dos adolescentes surdos sobre a caderneta de saúde, e desenvolvimento do aplicativo utilizando vídeos em Libras, plataforma Android Studio com linguagem Java e avaliação do aplicativo. Resultados: Maioria dos adolescentes surdos não tinha conhecimento da caderneta de saúde. O aplicativo possui dois modos de interface: caderneta masculina e feminina, possuindo as particularidades de cada gênero. Além disso, a segurança de dados do usuário é feita conforme a LGPD. O aplicativo recebeu a nota 85,5 dos especialistas, classificando-o entre "bom" a "excelente" em termos de usabilidade. Conclusão: O aplicativo fornece informações da caderneta de saúde em texto e vídeo em Libras, de acordo com o gênero escolhido, promovendo a autonomia dos adolescentes no acesso a informações de saúde. Futuras implementações podem incluir a expansão para outras plataformas móveis.

The late effect of Kinesio Taping® on handgrip strength.

Kinesio Taping® elastic tape is increasingly used in physiotherapy treatment. However, there is a lack of scientific research regarding the late effects of its use. This study quantified the late effects of applying the Kinesio Taping® elastic tape by measuring changes in handgrip muscle strength after 24, 48 and 72 h of application. The Kinesio Taping® elastic tape was applied on the dominant and non-dominant limbs of 36 volunteers randomly assigned to three groups: muscle facilitation, muscle inhibition and control group. The statistical test showed there was a statistically significant difference among all groups of dominant limb and non-dominant limb. However, the analysis on intragroup relationship to periods of application (Initial, 24, 48 and 72 h) and the interaction among repeated measures showed there was no statistically significant difference. This result may contribute to the investigation of the late effects of the Kinesio Taping® elastic tape on the physical rehabilitation.

Computer tool to evaluate the cue reactivity of chemically dependent individuals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is one of the major influences on the dropout of relapse and treatment of substance abuse treatment. Chemically dependent individuals need (CDI) to be aware of their emotional state in situations of risk during their treatment. Many patients do not agree with the diagnosis of the therapist when considering them vulnerable to environmental stimuli related to drugs. This research presents a cue reactivity detection tool based on a device acquiring physiological signals connected to personal computer. Depending on the variations of the emotional state of the drug addict, alteration of the physiological signals will be detected by the computer tool (CT) which will modify the displayed virtual sets without intervention of the therapist. METHODS: Developed in 3ds Max® software, the CT is composed of scenarios and objects that are in the habit of marijuana and cocaine dependent individual's daily life. The interaction with the environment is accomplished using a Human-Computer Interface (HCI) that converts incoming physiological signals indicating anxiety state into commands that change the scenes. Anxiety was characterized by the average variability from cardiac and respiratory rate of 30 volunteers submitted stress environment situations. To evaluate the effectiveness of cue reactivity a total of 50 volunteers who were marijuana, cocaine or both dependent were accompanied. RESULTS: Prior to CT, the results demonstrated a poor correlation between the therapists' predictions and those of the chemically dependent individuals. After exposure to the CT, there was a significant increase of 73% in awareness of the risks of relapse. CONCLUSION: We confirmed the hypothesis that the CT, controlled only by physiological signals, increases the perception of vulnerability to risk situations of individuals with dependence on marijuana, cocaine or both.

The design and evaluation of a peripheral device for use with a computer game intended for children with motor disabilities.

Many children with motor impairments cannot participate in games and jokes that contribute to their formation. Currently, commercial computer games there are few options of software and sufficiently flexible access devices to meet the needs of this group of children. In this study, a peripheral access device and a 3D computerized game that do not require the actions of dragging, clicking, or activating various keys at the same time were developed. The peripheral access device consists of a webcam and a supervisory system that processes the images. This method provides a field of action that can be adjusted to various types of motor impairments. To analyze the sensitivity of the commands, a virtual course was developed using the scenario of a path of straight lines and curves. A volunteer with good ability in virtual games performed a short training with the virtual course and, after 15min of training, obtained similar results with a standard keyboard and the adapted peripheral device. A 3D game in the Amazon forest was developed using the Blender 3D tool. This free software was used to model the characters and scenarios. To evaluate the usability of the 3D game, the game was tested by 20 volunteers without motor impairments (group A) and 13 volunteers with severe motor limitations of the upper limbs (group B). All the volunteers (group A and B) could easily execute all the actions of the game using the adapted peripheral device. The majority positively evaluated the questions of usability and expressed their satisfaction. The computerized game coupled to the adapted device will offer the option of leisure and learning to people with severe motor impairments who previously lacked this possibility. It also provided equality in this activity to all the users.

Peripheral device to quantify grip and pinch capacity of children

Abstract Introduction Grip and pinch movements are important to perform daily activities and to manipulate objects. In this paper we describe the development and evaluation of a peripheral device to quantify cylindrical grip, pulp-to-pulp pinch, pulp-to-side pinch strength and range of motion of children. Methods Three objects were selected: a door handle, a switch, and a key, which were instrumented with force sensing resistors to analyse the strength. Potentiometers were used to verify the range of motion and micro switches to assure the correct position of the fingers during the movement execution. Thirty volunteers (8.77 ± 1.28), both male and female, were selected to test the peripheral device functionality. Results The results determined the minimum necessary strength values for the object activation and maximum displacement, in which the values are 2.5N, 40°; 2.7N, 55°; and 2.8N, 100%, for door handle object, key object, and switch object, respectively. In the functionally tests, volunteers have shown a superior strength for activating each object and 73.33% of them have completed the range movement in the key object, 86.67% in the switch object, and 93.33% in the door handle object. Conclusion The developed peripheral device enabled the measurement of range and static and dynamic strength of grip and pinch movements of children.