OBJECTIVETo evaluate the intramuscular loads of the upper limb during static postures and repetitive work by surface electromyography.

METHODSTwenty-six male college student volunteers were recruited for the experiment. The surface electromyography (SEMG) singal were recorded from the brachioradialis, biceps brachii, deltoid and trapezius of right arm during static postures including forward elevating, abducting, extending and a repetitive performance at different height of the bench, and root mean square (RMS) values were educed from the singal.

RESULTSThe SEMG amplitudes from forward elevating and abducting were in direct proportion to the angle of the elevating and abducting (r > 0.9, P < 0.01). The maximal voluntary electrical activation (MVE) of the deltoid were 6.4%, 10.1%, 12.6%, 16.2% and 20.8% while the arm elevated forward at an angle of 0 degrees , 45 degrees , 90 degrees , 135 degrees and 180 degrees respectively. The repetitive work showed that the height of the bench and the duration had more effects on deltoid and trapezius than the other muscles. The MVE% of the deltoid were 13.0%, 14.4% and 15.6% while the bench was 74, 79 and 84 cm in height respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEMG which is suitable for determining and reflecting the muscle strain during static postures and repetitive work may be a reasonable indicator for the assessment of manual workload and the ergonomic design.

Arm ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Posture ; physiology ; Young Adult

By detection and analysis of neuro-information from amputee in experiments, a research on the correlations of three main nerves (median nerve, radial nerve and ulnar nerve), on the patterns for discharging information, and on the mechanics about how neuro-information dominates movements was performed. These researches would contribute to the development of neuroprosthesis.
Adult ; Amputation ; Amputees ; Arm ; Artificial Limbs ; Humans ; Male ; Median Nerve ; physiology ; Microelectrodes ; Movement ; physiology ; Radial Nerve ; physiology ; Ulnar Nerve ; physiology

BACKGROUND: Lung protective strategies, using low tidal volume in ARDS, improve survival rate in ARDS. However, low tidal volume ventilation may promote alveolar de-recruitment. Therefore, alveolar recruitment is necessary to maintain arterial oxygenation and to prevent repetitive opening and closure of collapsed alveoli in lung protective strategies. There has been a recent report describing improvement in arterial oxygenation with use of recruitment maneuver. However, impact of recruitment on outcome of ARDS is unknown. We evaluated whether short-term survival difference existed in patients with ARDS, who were performed alveolar recruitment maneuver(ARM) and prone position, according to response of alveolar recruitment or not. METHODS: All patients who were diagnosed with ADRS and received mechanical ventilation were included. ARM were sustained inflation(35-45 cmH2O CPAP for 30-40 sec.) or increasing level of PEEP. If these methods were ineffective, alveolar recruitment with prone position was done for at least 10 hours. PaO2/FiO2(P/F) ratio was determined before and at 0.5 and 2 hours after ARM. We defined a responder if the P/F ratio was increased over 50% of baseline value. We compared 10-days and 30-days survival rate between responders and non-responders. RESULTS: 20 patients(M:F=12:8, 63 +/- 14 age) were included. Among them, 12 patients were responders and 8 patients were non-responders. In responders, P/F ratio was increased from 92 +/- 25 mmHg to 244 +/- 85 mmHg. In non-responders, P/F ratio increased from 138 +/- 37 mmHg to 163 +/- 60 mmHg. Among non-responders, P/F ratio was improved over 50% in 2 patients after prone position. Overall, 14 patients were responders after ARM and prone position. The 10-days and 30-days survival rate in responders was significantly higher than in non-responders(86%, 57% in responders and 33%, 0% in non-responders)(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between responders and non-responders in age(71 +/- 11, 60 +/- 14), lung injury score(2.8 +/- 0.2, 2.9 +/- 0.45), simplified acute physiology score(SAPS) II (35 +/- 4.6, 34 +/- 5.7), positive end-positive pressure level(15.6 +/- 1.9 cmH2O, 14.5 +/- 2.1 cmH2O). CONCLUSION: ARM may improve arterial oxygenation in some patients with ARDS. These responders in patients with ARDS showed significant higher 10-days and 30-days survival rate than non-responders patients with alveolar recruitment.
Arm ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Injury ; Oxygen ; Physiology ; Prone Position ; Respiration, Artificial ; Survival Rate ; Tidal Volume ; Ventilation

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of cinedefecography (CD), anal electromyography (EMG), and anal manometry (ARM) for the diagnosis of non-relaxing puborectalis syndrome (NRPR) and to compare the outcomes for patients after biofeedback therapy (BF). METHODS: The clinical criteria used in this study for NRPR included straining, incomplete evacuation, tenesmus, and the need for enemas, suppositories, or digitation. Patients who satisfied the clinical criteria were evaluated by use of anorectal physiology tests: CD, EMG, and ARM. The EMG criteria included failure to achieve a significant decrease in the electrical activity of the puborectalis (PR) during attempted evacuation. The ARM criteria included failure to achieve a significant decrease in intra-anal pressure during attempted evacuation. The CD criteria included either paradoxical contraction or failure of the PR to relax together with incomplete evacuation. Other possible etiologies for incomplete evacuation, such as rectal intussusception or rectocele, were excluded in all cases. Fifty-eight constipated patients diagnosed as having NRPR by at least one of anorectal physiolosic tests had more than one BF session. The outcomes for fifty-one patients (mean age, 44.8 years; male-to-female ratio, 22:29) were reported as either improved or unimproved at a mean follow-up of 12.7 (range, 2~30) months. The sensitivities, the specificities, and the positive and negative predictive values for the CD, EMG, and ARM diagnoses of NRPR were calculated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each test and to identify predictors associated with the outcome of BF. RESULTS: The sensitivities of EMG, CD, and ARM were 96%, 89%, and 85%, respectively (P>0.05). The positive predictive values of the three tests were 63% for EMG, 52% for ARM, and 51% for CD (P>0.05). The negative predictive values of the three tests were 90% for EMG, 43% for ARM, and 25% for CD (P<0.05). The specificities of the three tests were 38% for EMG, 13% for ARM, and 2% for CD (P<0.05). The positive predictive values the two-study-positive groups and the three-study-positive group were 63% for the EMG- and ARM-positive group, 61% for the CD- and EMG-positive group, 51% for the CD- and ARM-positive group, and 61% for the three-study- positive group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A combination of the CD and the EMG tests is suggested for the diagnosis of NRPR.
Arm ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Diagnosis* ; Electromyography ; Enema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intussusception ; Manometry ; Physiology ; Rectocele ; Suppositories

A sensing method based on high-speed camera is proposed to recognize human arm motion in this paper. A sensing system for human arm motion was established. A fast image processing algorithm was developed to accurately extract marker positions in the image. Angle parameter results were further improved with the instantaneous joint center principle. The human motion information results can serve as the research references of medical treatment, gym, bionics, and so on. The sensing method can also be applied to other fields of the human motion recognition.
Algorithms ; Arm ; physiology ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Movement ; Video Recording ; methods

PURPOSE: The aim was to evaluate the discriminating accuracy of anorectal manometry (ARM) between nonconstipated (NC) subjects and functionally constipated (FC) subjects, and between FC subjects with and without functional defecation disorder (FDD). METHODS: Among female patients who visited anorectal physiology unit, those who could be grouped to following categories were included; FC group with FDD (+FDD subgroup), or without FDD (−FDD subgroup) and NC group. ARM was performed and interpreted not only with absolute pressure values, but also pattern classification and quantification of pressure changes in the rectum and anus during attempted defecation. RESULTS: There were 76 subjects in NC group and 75 in FC group. Among FC group, 63 subjects were in −FDD subgroup and 12 in +FDD subgroup. In pattern classification of pressure changes, type 0, as ‘normal’ response, was only slightly more prevalent in NC group than in FC group. When all ‘abnormal’ types (types 1–5) were considered together as positive findings, the sensitivity and specificity of pattern classification in diagnosing FC among all subjects were 89.3% and 22.7%. Those values in diagnosing FDD among FC group were 91.7% and 11.1%. Manometric defecation index (MDI) as a quantification parameter was significantly different between −FDD and +FDD subgroups. Other conventional absolute pressures were mostly comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: Among all parameters of ARM, MDI was useful to diagnose FDD in FC patients. Other parameters including the pattern classification were questionable in their ability to diagnose FDD.
Anal Canal ; Arm ; Classification ; Constipation ; Defecation* ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Physiology ; Rectum ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the capability of C(N) and determinism% (DET%) together with the linear indices, we detected the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal changes during ramp contractions of biceps brachii.

METHODS5 seconds sEMG signals of 11 male volunteers were recorded to analyze its changes of the linear indices AEMG, mean power frequency(MPF), MF and the non-linear indices C (N), DET%.

RESULTSAverage electromyography (AEMG) inclined linearly from 112.14 microV to 1277.18 microV while DET% displayed an decrease from 74.95 to 46.7 during the 5 voluntary contractions. The spectrum parameters MPF/MF and C(N) leveled off with the increasing of the force.

CONCLUSIONThe linear index AEMG inclined linearly while MPF and MF leveled off with the increasing of the force. The non-linear index DET% declined while C(N) leveled off during the 5 seconds ramp contractions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Arm ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; physiology ; Muscle Fatigue ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; physiology ; Physical Endurance ; Young Adult

Female ; Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; diagnosis ; Male ; Reference Standards ; Skin Temperature ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the risk factors for upper extremity-work-related musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSD) on 13 production lines in an airbag factory using the threshold limit values-American conference of industrial hygienists- hand activity level (TLV-ACGIH-HAL) method and introduce the ergonomic improvement to reduce the repetitiveness and the peak force (Pf).

METHODSProfessional exposure level on 13 production lines in a automobile factory was measured using the TLV-ACGIH-HAL method and a further risk was assessed according to the ergonomic improvement.

RESULTSThe first assessment of 9 production lines showed that the professional exposure level was above the TLV or HAL limit. The second assessment showed that the professional exposure level was below the AL limit on all production lines except 1, in which the professional exposure level was between TLV and HAL.

CONCLUSIONThe assessment of UE-WMSD-related risk can identify the riskiest emplacements and evaluate the reduction of risk in professional exposure through interventions of structural- organizational type.

Arm Injuries ; prevention & control ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Humans ; Industry ; Occupational Health ; Risk Factors ; Task Performance and Analysis ; Upper Extremity ; physiology

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports on altered kinematics of the shoulder after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). We investigated differences in 3-dimensional (3D) scapular motions assessed using an optical tracking system between RTSA treated shoulders and asymptomatic contralateral shoulders during arm motion. METHODS: Thirteen patients who underwent RTSA were assessed for active arm elevation in 2 distinct elevation planes (sagittal plane flexion and scapular plane abduction). Their mean age was 72 years (range, 69 to 79 years) and the mean follow-up was 24.4 months (range, 13 to 48 months). The dominant side was the right side in all the 13 patients, and it was also the side treated with RTSA. Scapular kinematics was recorded with an optical tracking system. The scapular kinematics and the scapulohumeral rhythm (SHR) of the RTSA shoulders and asymptomatic contralateral shoulders were recorded and analyzed during arm elevation. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in internal/external rotation and anterior/posterior tilting of the scapula between shoulders during arm motion (p > 0.05). However, upward rotation of the scapula differed significantly during arm motion (p = 0.035 for sagittal plane flexion; p = 0.046 for scapular plane abduction). There were significant differences in the SHR between the two shoulders (p = 0.016 for sagittal plane flexion; p = 0.021 for scapular plane abduction). CONCLUSIONS: The shoulder kinematics after RTSA showed significant differences from the contralateral asymptomatic shoulders. Increased upward rotation and decreased SHR after RTSA indicate that RTSA shoulders use more scapulothoracic motion and less glenohumeral motion to elevate the arm.
Aged ; Arm/physiology ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder/*methods ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Fiducial Markers ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/*methods ; Male ; Range of Motion, Articular/*physiology ; Scapula/*physiology ; Shoulder Joint/*physiology