A study on skin mobility according to joint movement: Variations in mobility according to joint motion range and correlation and influence with hydrica composition.

BACKGROUND: Skin structures arranged in an advantageous structure for skin stretching to facilitate movement of the human body, and have structural functions to help the movement of the joints by changing the position of the skin, such as the stretch that occurs incidentally. Proper movement of the skin is required to be efficient owing to the nature of the skin that covers the entire human body with a single connected tissue layer. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to quantify the skin mobility that occurs during joint motion and to identify the correlation and influence with hydrica composition. MATERIALS & METHODS: The subjects of this study were healthy people in their 20s-50s (20 male, 20 female), The movement of the skin marker attached to the skin was measured using X-ray, and the hydrica composition was measured using Inbody S10. RESULTS: Experiments showed that the skin on the side at which the joint bends and wrinkles form moved away from the moving joint, while the skin on the side where the wrinkles spread out moved toward the moving joint. As the range of joint motion increases, the skin became more mobile (OR: 18.95 ± 5.91 mm, MR: 34.09 ± 7.87 mm, IR: 51.14 ± 8.73 mm, FF: 78.76 ± 12.24) (p < 0.05). As a result of regression analysis between the total amount of skin mobility and the factors of hydrica composition, it was found that the ABW (arm body water) affected skin mobility as B = 7.430 (p < 0.05, adjusted R2  = 0.119). CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it was revealed that directional movement of the skin appeared according to joint movement, and it was affected by body water.

Exoskeleton-assisted Gait Training in Spinal Disease With Gait Disturbance.

Objective: Gait impairment reduces a patient's quality of life. Exoskeletons and wearable robotics enable patients with gait disturbance to stand up and walk. An exoskeleton was developed for use in patients with stroke and spinal cord injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of overground exoskeleton-assisted gait training (OEGT) in spine diseases with gait disturbance. Methods: This was a single-group preliminary study. Five participants with gait disorders because of root dysfunction accompanying spinal stenosis were included in this study. All participants underwent surgical treatment and an exoskeleton training protocol scheduled for 2 or 3 days per week for 4 weeks. Each session was 60 minutes. Clinical tests were performed before (T1) and at the end of the training (T2). Results: One patient dropped out of the study because of medical issues that were not associated with the exoskeleton. Exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation was feasible for all participants. All participants showed positive changes in gait performance, balance, proximal muscle strength, psychological state, and satisfaction with the rehabilitation. However, there was no significant improvement in neurological deficits. Conclusion: OEGT is a feasible rehabilitation method for patients with gait disorders caused by degenerative spinal disease.

Postural taping applied to the low back influences kinematics and EMG activity during patient transfer in physical therapists with chronic low back pain.

We examined the influence of the application of postural taping on the kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex, electromyographic (EMG) activity of back extensor muscles, and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in the low back during patient transfer. In total, 19 male physical therapists with chronic low back pain performed patient transfers with and without the application of postural taping on the low back. The kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex and EMG activity of the erector spinae were recorded using a synchronized 3-D motion capture system and surface EMG. RPE was measured using Borg's CR-10 scale. Differences in kinematic data, EMG activity, and RPE between the two conditions were analyzed using a paired t-test. Peak angle and range of motion (ROM) of lumbar flexion, EMG activity of the erector spinae, and RPE decreased significantly, while peak angle and ROM of pelvic anterior tilt and hip flexion increased significantly during patient transfer under the postural taping condition versus no taping (p<0.05). These findings suggest that postural taping can change back extensor muscle activity and RPE as well as the kinematics of the lumbo-pelvic-hip complex in physical therapists with chronic low back pain during patient transfer.