Biomedical subjects

David Stubbs

Publications and source records attributed to David Stubbs.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A cross-sectional study of self-reported back and neck pain among English schoolchildren and associated physical and psychological risk factors.

This study set out to identify the associations between ergonomics and other factors with back and neck pain among schoolchildren. Self-reported questionnaires were used to record health outcomes and potential risk factors in state schools. Six hundred and seventy-nine schoolchildren from Surrey in the United Kingdom aged 11-14 years took part. Twenty-seven percent of children reported having neck pain, 18% reported having upper back pain, and 22% reported having low back pain. A forward stepwise logistic regression was performed with pain categories the dependent variables. Neck pain was significantly associated with school furniture features, emotional and conduct problems, family history of low back pain and previous treatment for musculoskeletal disorders. Upper back pain was associated with school bag weight (3.4-4.45 kg), school furniture features, emotional problems and previous treatment for musculoskeletal disorders. Low back pain was associated with school furniture features, emotional problems, family history and previous injury or accident. It is important to recognise the influence of physical, psychological and family factors in children's pain.

Back Pain↗

PubMed2006

Profiling schoolchildren in pain and associated demographic and behavioural factors: a latent class approach.

Musculoskeletal pain in adolescence is common and individuals frequently report pain in different sites. However, statistical analysis is often limited to considering one or a few pain sites. In this study latent class analysis was used to classify individuals into latent classes in terms of their patterns of endorsing ten musculoskeletal sites. Previously established covariates of musculoskeletal pain in adolescents were then assessed across emergent latent classes. The study was a cross sectional survey of adolescents attending post-primary schools in England. A total of 679 took part in the study with an age range from 11 to 14 years. Pain was operationalised as the occurrence of pain for one day or more in the past month. Schoolchildren self-reported on the incidence of pain aided by a nordic manikin. A three-class model emerged as the best fit. Classes were labelled 'Pain free' (63.4%), 'Neck and back' pain (28.2%) and 'Widespread' pain (8.4%). The 'Widespread' pain class was significantly related with Age (OR=1.79; 95%CI 1.24-2.57), Sex (OR=0.35, 95%CI 0.16-0.79), bag weight to body weight (OR=1.12, 95%CI 1.03-1.22), bag carrying method (OR=2.08, 95%CI 1.08-3.97), Schoolwork difficult (OR=2.78, 95%CI 1.27-6.07), and headaches (OR=2.13, 95%CI 1.65-2.76). While Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores (OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.01-1.11), and Headaches (OR=1.78, 95%CI 1.39-2.26) were significant for the 'Back and neck' class. It is suggested that research should seek to identify typical pain profiles for adolescents, rather than concentrating on specific pain sites since some risk factors may be obscured or inflated by inappropriately amalgamating or segregating pain sites.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2006

Wide-field Fizeau imaging telescope: experimental results.

A nine-aperture, wide-field Fizeau imaging telescope has been built at the Lockheed-Martin Advanced Technology Center. The telescope consists of nine, 125 mm diameter collector telescopes coherently phased and combined to form a diffraction-limited image with a resolution that is consistent with the 610 mm diameter of the telescope. The phased field of view of the array is 1 murad. The measured rms wavefront error is 0.08 waves rms at 635 nm. The telescope is actively controlled to correct for tilt and phasing errors. The control sensing technique is the method known as phase diversity, which extracts wavefront information from a pair of focused and defocused images. The optical design of the telescope and typical performance results are described.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Suture strength and angle of load application in a suture anchor eyelet.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of suture material, anchor orientation, and anchor eyelet design on the static loading properties of suture anchors. TYPE OF STUDY: Biomechanical bench study. METHODS: Two metallic suture anchors, Mitek GII (Mitek, Westwood, MA) and Corkscrew (Arthrex, Naples, FL) and a bioabsorbable anchor (Biocorkscrew; Arthrex) were tested with single strand of No. 2 Ethibond (Ethicon, Norderstedt, Germany) or No. 2 FiberWire (Arthrex) suture. Suture pull angle was varied through 0 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees with the anchor rotation angle in either a sagittal or coronal plane. Constructs were tested to failure using an MTS 858 Bionix testing machine (Material Testing Systems, Eden Prairie, MN). Peak loads, stiffness, energy to peak load, and failure modes were determined for all samples. RESULTS: FiberWire showed superior static mechanical properties when compared with single-strand Ethibond over all testing conditions (P < .05). Suture pull angle had a significant effect on load to failure with both metallic anchors but not on the bioabsorbable anchor (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Suture pull angle and anchor rotation angle play an important role in the failure load of suture when placed in an eyelet. The polyaxial nature of the Biocorkscrew eyelet allows for increased degrees of freedom but introduces failure of the suture eyelet as a new failure mode. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The loading direction and placement of the suture anchor plays a role in the performance of the suture anchor-suture complex.

Absorbable Implants↗

PubMed2005

Psychological barriers to Internet usage among older adults in the UK.

The Internet is an important tool in assisting the older population to lead independent and social lives. However, the majority of Internet users are under 55. This study investigated the following psychological barriers to Internet use by older adults: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, Internet efficacy, perceived complexity of navigation and perceived complexity of terminology. Twenty-three subjects (aged 55 - 75 years) were interviewed in the UK. The influences of age, computer and Internet experience, and training on these psychological barriers were explored. The results showed that the majority of the older adults who had a positive perception of usefulness, ease of use, and efficacy of the Internet or e-mail, used the Internet or e-mail more often. In addition, it was found that computer or Internet experience increased perceptions of ease of use and efficacy of the Internet and reduced perceived complexity of navigation. There was no difference between the two age groups (55 - 65 and 66 - 75 years) in these psychological barriers. It was concluded that increased marketing of the Internet (aimed at the older user), more simple and uniformly designed Internet pages, more user-friendly online help and error message terminology, and increased provision of training for the older user would assist uptake of the World Wide Web.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Classroom posture and self-reported back and neck pain in schoolchildren.

The study reported here aims to identify the extent of back pain experienced by 11-14 year old schoolchildren, and establish the intensity, duration and frequency of exposure to physical risk factors present in schools. This paper considers the sitting postures of schoolchildren in the classroom. The sitting postures of 66 children were recorded in normal lessons using the Portable Ergonomic Observation Method (PEO). The study found significant associations between flexed postures and low back pain. Static postures and neck and upper back pain were also associated. This study has implications for schools, designers and people in the field of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Further research is required to examine the association between sitting posture and pain reported at different spinal locations.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patient safety.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ergonomics↗