Showing papers by "Marco Rabuffetti published in 2011"
TL;DR: A multiple-task gait analysis protocol including self-selected, increased and decreased speed gait; Walking on toes; walking on heels; step ascending and step descending, and apply it to 40 healthy subjects thus building extensive reference data set is proposed.
294 citations
23 Jun 2011
TL;DR: Results from a sample of 40 adult able bodied subjects demonstrated that a postural stabilization phase actually occurs, evidencing that large initial instability rates are quickly controlled and reduced.
Abstract: A ground reaction based method is proposed to evaluate the hypothesis that a stabilization phase occurs in transitions towards erect posture, following the macroscopic movement and preceding the quiet final erect posture, whose aim is to control and dissipate the residual inertial unbalancing forces occurring at the transition end. The experimental protocol considers three tasks leading to the final erect posture: taking a step forward (F), sit-to-stand (S), and bending the trunk forward (B), The method mainly consists of the fitting of a negative exponential function on the instability time profile following the end of the transition movement. The model parameters Y0, T, and Yinf, respectively, quantify the initial instability rate, a time duration related to the stabilization, and the final asymptotic instability rate. Results from a sample of 40 adult able bodied subjects demonstrated that a postural stabilization phase actually occurs: Yinf is smaller (0.010, 0.010, and 0.008 m/s2 for, respectively, F, S, and B tasks) than Y0 (0.081, 0.137, and 0.057 m/s2). Tis in the order of seconds (0.95, 0.51, and 1.00 s). No trial with large values of both Y0 and T was observed, evidencing that large initial instability rates are quickly controlled and reduced. The Y0 and T parameters distribution are discussed according to the possible underlying active and/or passive stabilization mechanisms. The test-retest reliability overall figure (mean ICC 0.45 for 12 indexes) increased, when dropping the indexes related to the less reliable B task, to values (mean ICC 0.56 for eight indexes) comparable to published posturographic data.
26 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that, in addition to natural walking, more challenging locomotor tasks are good candidates to provide reliable and sensitive outcome measures for CMT patients.
23 citations
23 May 2011
TL;DR: A possible role of pervasive solutions with respect to NDD is discussed, on the basis of the overall progress of ICT and on the experience achieved in the department in three fields: Assistive Technology, NDD quantitative assessment, and design and development of wearable devices.
Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) require a constant care and attention in pharmacological therapy and rehabilitation, exercises administration, functional assessments and management of daily life. In this paper, we discuss a possible role of pervasive solutions with respect to NDD, on the basis of the overall progress of ICT and on the experience achieved in our department in three fields: Assistive Technology, NDD quantitative assessment, and design and development of wearable devices.
5 citations
2 citations