1. |
- Hermansson, Liselotte, 1954-, et al.
(author)
-
Treatment for upper limb malformation in different areas of the world
- 2019
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Children with upper limb malformation may present with deficiencies in many ways and the treatment that they are offered may vary greatly around the world. Handsmart is a volunteer organization with the mission to support and empower people world-wide who are engaged in this field of rehabilitation through www.handsmart.org. A web-based survey was used to gather data about treatment for children with upper limb malformation in different areas of the world. Sixty-eight respondents from 18 countries representing Oceania, Asia, Europe, and North America with 35 occupational therapists, 6 physiotherapists, 23 prosthetists, and four other health care professionals participated. Only five countries do not have governmental funding for the provision of care for people with upper limb loss. Intervention is guided by the presentation of the limb. Most surgical procedures are made for functional benefits. Not all respondents report that they fit body-powered prostheses for children. The majority of respondents stated that training is offered for use of the prosthesis in their country. In some clinics (12 of 68 respondents), no treatment other than functional prostheses is provided for these children. Overuse or repetitive strain injuries are common with this population, especially as children age into adolescence and adulthood. Many people stated they would like to see clear guidelines used by multi-disciplinary teams to fit children. Recommendations should include treatment guidelines and follow-up practices.
|
|
2. |
- Koch, Rebecca E., et al.
(author)
-
No evidence that carotenoid pigments boost either immune or antioxidant defenses in a songbird
- 2018
-
In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 9:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dietary carotenoids have been proposed to boost immune system and antioxidant functions in vertebrate animals, but studies aimed at testing these physiological functions of carotenoids have often failed to find support. Here we subject yellow canaries (Serinus canaria), which possess high levels of carotenoids in their tissue, and white recessive canaries, which possess a knockdown mutation that results in very low levels of tissue carotenoids, to oxidative and pathogen challenges. Across diverse measures of physiological performance, we detect no differences between carotenoid-rich yellow and carotenoid-deficient white canaries. These results add further challenge to the assumption that carotenoids are directly involved in supporting physiological function in vertebrate animals. While some dietary carotenoids provide indirect benefits as retinoid precursors, our observations suggest that carotenoids themselves may play little to no direct role in key physiological processes in birds.
|
|
3. |
|
|
4. |
- Lendaro, Eva, 1989, et al.
(author)
-
Phantom motor execution as a treatment for phantom limb pain: Protocol of an international, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial
- 2018
-
In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055 .- 2044-6055. ; 8:7
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a chronic condition that can greatly diminish quality of life. Control over the phantom limb and exercise of such control have been hypothesised to reverse maladaptive brain changes correlated to PLP. Preliminary investigations have shown that decoding motor volition using myoelectric pattern recognition, while providing real-time feedback via virtual and augmented reality (VR-AR), facilitates phantom motor execution (PME) and reduces PLP. Here we present the study protocol for an international (seven countries), multicentre (nine clinics), double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of PME in alleviating PLP. Methods and analysis Sixty-seven subjects suffering from PLP in upper or lower limbs are randomly assigned to PME or phantom motor imagery (PMI) interventions. Subjects allocated to either treatment receive 15 interventions and are exposed to the same VR-AR environments using the same device. The only difference between interventions is whether phantom movements are actually performed (PME) or just imagined (PMI). Complete evaluations are conducted at baseline and at intervention completion, as well as 1, 3 and 6 months later using an intention-to-treat (ITT) approach. Changes in PLP measured using the Pain Rating Index between the first and last session are the primary measure of efficacy. Secondary outcomes include: Frequency, duration, quality of pain, intrusion of pain in activities of daily living and sleep, disability associated to pain, pain self-efficacy, frequency of depressed mood, presence of catastrophising thinking, health-related quality of life and clinically significant change as patient's own impression. Follow-up interviews are conducted up to 6 months after the treatment. Ethics and dissemination The study is performed in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and under approval by the governing ethical committees of each participating clinic. The results will be published according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials guidelines in a peer-reviewed journal.
|
|
5. |
- Lindner, Helen Y, 1967-, et al.
(author)
-
Cognitive load and compensatory movement in learning to use a multi-function hand
- 2019
-
In: Prosthetics and Orthotics International. - : Sage Publications. - 0309-3646 .- 1746-1553. ; 43:1 suppl. 1, s. 52-52
-
Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Recent technology provides increased dexterity in multi-function hands with the potential to reduce compensatory body movements. However, it is challenging to learn how to operate a hand that has up to 36 grips. While the cognitive load required to use these hands is unknown, it is clear that if the cognitive load is too high, the user may stop using the multi-functional hand or may not take full advantage of its advanced features.AIM: The aim of this project was to compare cognitive load and compensatory movement in using a multi-function hand versus a conventional myo hand.METHOD: An experienced prosthesis user was assessed using his conventional myo hand and an unfamiliar iLimb Ultra hand, with two-site control and the same wrist for both prostheses. He was trained to use power grip, lateral grip and pinch grip and then completed the SHAP test while wearing the Tobii Pro 2 eye-tracking glasses. Pupil diameter (normal range: 2-4mm during normal light) was used to indicate the amount of cognitive load.[1] The number of eye fixations on the prosthesis indicate the need of visual feedback during operation. Dartfish motion capture was used to track the maximum angles for shoulder abduction and elbow flexion.RESULTS: Larger pupils were found in the use of Ilimb ultra (2.6-5.6mm) than in the use of conventional myo hand (2.4-3.5mm) during the SHAP abstract light tests. The pupils dilated most often during changing grips, e.g. switching to pinch grip for the tripod task (from 2.7 to 5.6mm). After training of using power grip and pinch grip repeatedly, the maximum pupil diameter decreased from 5.6 to 3.3mm. The number of eye fixations on the I-limb ultra (295 fixations) were also higher than on the conventional myo-hand (139 fixations). Smaller shoulder abduction and elbow flexion were observed in the use of I-limb ultra (16.6°, 36.1°) than in the use of conventional myo hand (57°, 52.7°).DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Although it is cognitively demanding to learn to use a multi-function hand, it is possible to decrease this demand with adequate prosthetic training. Our results suggest that using a multi-function hand enables reduction of body compensatory movement, however at the cost of a higher cognitive load. Further research with more prosthesis users and other multi-function hands is needed to confirm the study findings.REFERENCES [1] van der Wel P, van Steenbergen H. Psychon Bull Rev 2018; 25(6):2005-15.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This project was supported financially by Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation, Promobilia Foundation and Örebro University.
|
|
6. |
|
|