Auditory Cue Effects on Gait-Phase-Dependent Electroencephalogram (EEG) Modulations during Overground and Treadmill Walking.

Walking rehabilitation following injury or disease involves voluntary gait modification, yet the specific brain signals underlying this process remains unclear. This aim of this study was to investigate the impact of an auditory cue on changes in brain activity when walking overground (O) and on a treadmill (T) using an electroencephalogram (EEG) with a 32-electrode montage. Employing a between-group repeated-measures design, 24 participants (age: 25.7 ± 3.8 years) were randomly allocated to either an O (n = 12) or T (n = 12) group to complete two walking conditions (self-selected speed control (sSC) and speed control (SC)). The differences in brain activities during the gait cycle were investigated using statistical non-parametric mapping (SnPM). The addition of an auditory cue did not modify cortical activity in any brain area during the gait cycle when walking overground (all p > 0.05). However, significant differences in EEG activity were observed in the delta frequency band (0.5-4 Hz) within the sSC condition between the O and T groups. These differences occurred at the central frontal (loading phase) and frontocentral (mid stance phase) brain areas (p < 0.05). Our data suggest auditory cueing has little impact on modifying cortical activity during overground walking. This may have practical implications in neuroprosthesis development for walking rehabilitation, sports performance optimization, and overall human quality-of-life improvement.

Muscle Activation and Ground Reaction Force between Single-Leg Drop Landing and Jump Landing among Young Females during Weight-Acceptance Phase.

Single-leg drop landing (SLDL) and jump landing (SLJL) are frequently used as assessment tools for identifying potential high-risk movement patterns; thus, understanding differences in neuromuscular responses between these types of landings is essential. This study aimed to compare lower extremity neuromuscular responses between the SLDL and SLJL. Thirteen female participants performed an SLDL and SLJL from a 30-cm box height. Vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), time to peak vGRF, and surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected. Continuous neuromuscular responses, peak vGRF, and time to peak vGRF were compared between the tasks. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) analysis demonstrated that the SLJL had a significantly higher sEMG activity in the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) within the first 10% of the landing phase compared with SLDL. At 20-30% of the landing phase, sEMGs in the RF and VL during the SLDL were significantly higher compared with SLJL (p < 0.05). A higher peak vGRF and shorter time to peak vGRF was observed during SLJL (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings highlight that SLJL exhibited greater RF, VL, and VM activities than SLDL at initial impact (10% landing), coinciding with a higher peak vGRF and shorter time to attain peak vGRF. Our findings support the role of the quadriceps as the primary energy dissipator during the SLJL.

Comparing the Efficacy of Long Spinal Board, Sked Stretcher, and Vacuum Mattress in Cervical Spine Immobilization; a Method-Oriented Experimental Study.

Introduction: Inadequate spinal motion restriction in patients suffering from spinal injuries could lead to further neurological damage, ultimately worsening their prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of long spinal boards (LSB), ske stretcher, and vacuum mattress for cervical spine immobilization during transportation of patients by measuring the angular motion of the cervical spine following lifting, transferring, and tilting. Methods: We conducted an experimental study using a box of three randomizations and crossover designs without a washout period effect for the long spinal board, sked stretcher, and vacuum mattress. We concealed the randomization with sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes (SNOSE). Kinematic data were collected using eight optoelectronic cameras at 200 Hz (BTS Bioengineering, Milan, Italy) in triangular planes (lateral bending, flexion-extension, and axial rotation) while performing all three motions (static lift-hold, transfer, and 90° tilt). Results: 12 cases (7 males and 5 females) with the mean age of 20 ± 3.03 (range: 18-28) years were studied. The three highest angular motions were observed in the axial rotation plane during patient's tilting under immobilization on all devices (Vacuum mattress having the highest value of 99.01±8.93, followed by the LSB at 89.89±34.35 and the sked stretcher at 86.30±7.73 degrees). During patient lifting, a higher angular motion was observed with vacuum mattress immobilization in flexion extension (Coefficient = 4.45; 95%CI: 0.46 - 8.45; p =0.029) and axial rotation (Coefficient = 3.70; 95%CI: 0.58 - 6.81; p =0.020) planes. During patient transfer, a higher angular motion was observed with sked stretcher in the flexion-extension plane (Coefficient = 2.98; 95%CI: 0.11 - 5.84; p = 0.042). During patient tilting to 90 degrees, a higher angular motion was observed with vacuum mattress immobilization in lateral bending (Coefficient = -4.08; 95%CI: -7.68 - -0.48; p = 0.026) for the vacuum mattress. Conclusion: Based on the finding of the present study, patients on the vacuum mattress experience significantly higher angular motion in flexion extension and axial rotation during lifting, as well as lateral bending during 90-degree tilting. In addition, patients on the sked stretcher showed significantly higher angular motion in flexion-extension during the transferring. However, the predictive margins for immobilization across all devices did not demonstrate clinically significant differences among the three immobilization devices.

Validity and Reliability of Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)-Derived 3D Joint Kinematics in Persons Wearing Transtibial Prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: A validity and reliability assessment of inertial measurement unit (IMU)-derived joint angular kinematics during walking is a necessary step for motion analysis in the lower extremity prosthesis user population. This study aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) system compared to an optical motion capture (OMC) system in transtibial prosthesis (TTP) users. METHODS: Thirty TTP users were recruited and underwent simultaneous motion capture from IMU and OMC systems during walking. Reliability and validity were assessed using intra- and inter-subject variability with standard deviation (S.D.), average S.D., and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: The intra-subject S.D. for all rotations of the lower limb joints were less than 1° for both systems. The IMU system had a lower mean S.D. (o), as seen in inter-subject variability. The ICC revealed good to excellent agreement between the two systems for all sagittal kinematic parameters. CONCLUSION: All joint angular kinematic comparisons supported the IMU system's results as comparable to OMC. The IMU was capable of precise sagittal plane motion data and demonstrated validity and reliability to OMC. These findings evidence that when compared to OMC, an IMU system may serve well in evaluating the gait of lower limb prosthesis users.

Reliability and validation of the Thai version of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT-THA).

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide a version of Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) for the Thai younger adult population and examine psychometric properties and determine the cut-off score. METHODS: CAIT-Youth Thai version was modified to CAIT Thai version (CAIT-THA). To validate the CAIT-THA psychometric properties, 72 with chronic ankle instability (CAI) and 72 without (age 23.45 ± 4.45 years) were recruited. The validation was carried out by using internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), concurrent validity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient), discriminative validity (Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve), and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC). A cut-off score was determined via Youden's index. RESULTS: Validation showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.837), and concurrent validity (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.762 and 0.731 for right ankle and left ankle, respectively). Test-retest reliability was excellent with ICC (2,1) of 0.945 (95% CI = 0.93-0.96). A cut-off score of ≤ 25, determined by ROC curve and Youden's index, was distinguished between participants with and without CAI. CAIT-THA obtained 97.2% sensitivity, 94.4% specificity, 0.03 negative, and 17.5 positive likelihood ratios. CONCLUSION: CAIT-THA is a validated tool that can be used in Thai younger adults. Clinicians and researchers can confidently use a score of ≤ 25 to determine the presence of CAI.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool Thai version (CAIT-THA) questionnaire is available for Thai young adults.The CAIT-THA had high sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood cut-off ratio scores for discrimination between chronic ankle instability (CAI) and non-CAI.The CAIT-THA questionnaire may be used in rehabilitation and research settings for the identification and management of CAI conditions.

Quantitative EEG in sports: performance level estimation of professional female soccer players.

PURPOSE: Measuring the peak performance of athletes remains a challenge in movement science and sports psychology. Non-invasive quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) recordings can be used to analyze various factors in sports psychology. METHOD: In this context, sports-related psychological factors were used to estimate the performance of Thai professional female soccer players before a competition. The QEEG recordings of thirty-two players were recorded three times: twice before a competition (once a week) and a week after a competition. Four factors of sports psychology were estimated and observed: anxiety, perceptual response to an acute bout of brain activity, assertiveness, and brain central fatigue. A brain topographic map (absolute power) and brain connectivity (coherence and amplitude asymmetry) data were used to analyze sports-related psychological factors. These factors were measurable based on the brain activity of the athletes and could be used to evaluate their performance during competitions by using QEEG values. RESULTS: Sports-related psychological performance was estimated by Pearson's correlation coefficients, which revealed that a quick perceptual response to an acute bout of brain activity could predict an athlete's performance during competition (r = .584, p = .000). Additionally, Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to estimate athletes performance. The results revealed a strong relationship ( r s =.634, p = .000), which was derived from the summation of anxiety and perceptual response to an acute bout of brain activity. CONCLUSION: Consequently, the results of the present study can provide information to help staff coaches to choose the best performing players, representing an alternative method for accurately selecting key players in the competitive sports community.

Quantitative EEG evaluation for performance level analysis of professional female soccer players.

Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was used to investigate the brain activity of Thai professional female soccer team players who exhibit high performance. The QEEGs of 29 players were recorded three times: twice before a competition (once a week) and a week after a competition. The results of the brain topographic map (absolute power) in the alpha frequency band and the brain connectivity (coherence) in the delta frequency bands represented their anxiety and decision-making levels, respectively. These phenomena occurred in the brain activities of the athletes, which could be used to predict their performances during the competition. Moreover, the value of the correlation coefficient between the brain activity ranking and average performance score revealed a moderate to good relationship (rs = .586, p = .001). These results support the association between brain activity and performance level during competition.