Consideraciones Éticas y Académicas sobre el Uso de Inteligencia Artificial en Cursos de Metodología de la Investigación en Rehabilitación / Ethical and Academic Reflections on the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Research Methodology Courses in Rehabilitation Science

En el cruce entre la revolución tecnológica y la educación en ciencias de la rehabilitación y del movimiento humano, la inteligencia artificial (IA) emerge como herramienta transformadora en los cursos de metodología de investigación. Este artículo destaca su potencial para optimizar la experiencia de aprendizaje y personalizar la instrucción, pero enfatiza la necesidad crucial de abordar desafíos éticos y pedagógicos. Propone orientaciones para equilibrar la innovación educativa y la responsabilidad académica, resaltando la importancia de la implementación consciente y planificada de la IA en los equipos de investigación en ciencias de la rehabilitación y del movimiento humano, garantizando así la integridad científica y ética en este campo en constante evolución.

In the intersection between technological advancements and education in rehabilitation science, artificial intelligence (AI) emerges as a transformative tool in research methodology. This article navigates the ethical and academic considerations tied to the incorporation of AI in rehabilitation and movement science courses. While acknowledging its potential to enhance learning experiences, it critically addresses the imperative to tackle ethical and pedagogical challenges. The paper offers guidance to strike a balance between educational innovation and academic responsibility. It emphasizes the need for a conscientious and planned implementation of AI, ensuring both scientific integrity and ethical adherence in this dynamically evolving field.

Role of kinesiophobia in the selective motor control during gait in patients with low back-related leg pain.

Fear of movement has been related to changes in motor function in patients with low back pain, but little is known about how kinesiophobia affects selective motor control during gait (ability of muscles performing distinct mechanical functions) in patients with low back-related leg pain (LBLP). The aim of the study was to determine the association between kinesiophobia and selective motor control in patients with LBLP. An observational cross-sectional study was performed on 18 patients. Outcome included: kinesiophobia using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia; pain mechanism using Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Signs and Symptoms; disability using Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire; mechanosensitivity using Straight Leg Raise. Surface electromyography was used to assess selective motor control during gait by examining the correlation and coactivation in muscle pairs involved in the stance phase. Pairs included vastus medialis (VM) and medial gastrocnemius (MG), causing opposite moments around the knee joint, and gluteus medius (GM) and MG, as muscles with distinct mechanical functions (weight acceptance vs. propulsion). A strong association was observed between kinesiophobia and correlation (r = 0.63; p = 0.005) and coactivation (r = 0.69; p = 0.001) between VM versus MG. A moderate association was observed between kinesiophobia and correlation (r = 0.58; p = 0.011) and coactivation (r = 0.55; p = 0.019) between GM versus MG. No significant associations were obtained for other outcomes. A high kinesiophobia is associated with low selective motor control of the muscles involved in the weight acceptance and propulsion phases during gait in patients with LBLP. Fear of movement was better associated with decreased neuromuscular control than other clinical variables such as pain mechanism, disability, and mechanosensitivity.

Soleus muscle and Achilles tendon compressive stiffness is related to knee and ankle positioning.

Changes in fascicle length and tension of the soleus (SOL) muscle have been observed in humans using B-mode ultrasound to examine the knee from different angles. An alternative technique of assessing muscle and tendon stiffness is myometry, which is non-invasive, accessible, and easy to use. This study aimed to estimate the compressive stiffness of the distal SOL and Achilles tendon (AT) using myometry in various knee and ankle joint positions. Twenty-six healthy young males were recruited. The Myoton-PRO device was used to measure the compressive stiffness of the distal SOL and AT in the dominant leg. The knee was measured in two positions (90° of flexion and 0° of flexion) and the ankle joint in three positions (10° of dorsiflexion, neutral position, and 30° of plantar flexion) in random order. A three-way repeated-measures ANOVA test was performed. Significant interactions were found for structure × ankle position, structure × knee position, and structure × ankle position × knee position (p < 0.05). The AT and SOL showed significant increases in compressive stiffness with knee extension over knee flexion for all tested ankle positions (p < 0.05). Changes in stiffness relating to knee positioning were larger in the SOL than in the AT (p < 0.05). These results indicate that knee extension increases the compressive stiffness of the distal SOL and AT under various ankle joint positions, with a greater degree of change observed for the SOL. This study highlights the relevance of knee position in passive stiffness of the SOL and AT.

Acelerometría: una nueva herramienta para incluir en la práctica clínica / Accelerometry: a new techinique in a clinical practice

El propósito del presente trabajo es mostrar un primer acercamiento al estudio del movimiento humano a través de acelerometria. Se describe el funcionamiento de los sensores involucrados y se revisan algunas investigaciones que han aplicado esta tecnología bajo distintas configuraciones. Mediante el análisis del comportamiento de las señales obtenidas a través de registros acelerométricos se analizó la marcha automática sobre una cinta caminadora a velocidad constante durante treinta segundos en un sujeto sin disfunción del movimiento. Se analizó la respuesta para las direcciones vertical, medio-lateral y antero-posterior observándose un patrón característico, tanto en el dominio del tiempo como de la frecuencia. Los resultados presentados en este reporte muestran concordancia con Los hallazgos obtenidos por otros autores, lo que evidencia un aporte significativo desde el punto de vista de la tecnología empleada en Los registros, tanto por las proyecciones que esta herramienta ofrece, como por los reducidos costos involucrados. En Chile, este tipo de herramientas es poco conocida, sin embargo esta línea de investigación y desarrollo puede constituir una real alternativa a los sistemas de análisis de movimiento convencionales. En el Laboratorio de Análisis de Movimiento Humano de la Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación, se está abriendo esta línea de investigación, que puede significar una alternativa a los sistemas convencionales de análisis de movimiento y un aumento del trabajo investigativo en Kinesiología, al situarse como una técnica barata, con el potencial de ser aplicada en cualquier lugar, sin necesidad de un Laboratorio, lo que además abre la posibilidad de realizar mediciones de forma ambulatoria, por ejemplo en un consultorio o en la casa de un paciente.

The purpose of this work is to show a first approach to the study of the human motion through accelerometry. The functioning of the involucrate sensors is described and some investigations that applied this technology under different configurations were checked. By means of the analysis of the signal behaviour obtained through accelerometric records examined the automatic walk on a treadmill at constant velocity during thirty seconds in a patient without dysfunction of movement. The answer was examined for vertical, half lateral and antero posterior directions observing a similar pattern, as much as in the domain of the time as in frequency. The results given in this report show concordance with obtained findings by other authors, what evidences a significant contribution from a technology point of view used in the records, as much as projections this tool offers, as implicated costs reduced. In Chile, this kind of tool is not well known, however this line of research and development can constitute a real alternative to conventional systems of analysis of movement. In the Laboratory of Human Movement Analysis of The Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación university, this line of investigation is starting to open, this can mean an alternative to the conventional systems of analysis of movement and an increase of the investigating work in Kinesiology, been placed like a cheap technique, with the potential to be used everywhere, without the need of a Laboratory, giving also the possibility to take records in a outpatient clinic, at a primary healthcare or at patient’s house, for instance. Therefore, the challenge is to include this tool within the routine of the national healthcare, either to describe a patient’s movement quantitatively, compare the results of a therapy or training objectively, determine principles of a treatment or evaluate data with other records to understand the causes that determine the condition to study.

Dolor lumbar: análisis neurofisiológico / Lumbar pain: neurophysiological analysis

La complejidad del proceso doloroso tanto en su génesis como en su desarrollo, sumado a los innegables efectos secundarios, físicos y emocionales, hace necesario abordar al paciente con un enfoque integrador donde no sólo se analice el componente mecánico sino también el neural. La presente revisión tiene como objetivo analizar desde un punto de vista integrador algunos conceptos mecánicos y neurofisiológicos presentes en el paciente portador de dolor lumbar crónico