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Relationships among cushion type, backrest height, seated posture, and reach of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Seated posture and trunk control are important factors affecting upper extremity (UE) function of wheelchair users. A stable pelvis and trunk are required to provide a base from which UE movement occurs, but, conversely, the ability to move one's trunk and pelvis can increase functional ranges of motion. For wheelchair users, balancing sufficient trunk support with adequate trunk mobility has important functional and medical consequences. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of cushion and backrest height on posture and reach and to determine the relationship between posture and UE reach using a randomized 2 x 3 repeated-measures factorial design. METHODS: Twenty-two subjects with spinal cord injury were tested in 6 configurations, including 3 types of cushions (segmented air, contoured viscous fluid/foam, and air/foam) and 2 of 3 backrest heights (referenced to T12, inferior scapular angle, and scapular spine) while performing unilateral and bilateral reaching tasks. Seated posture (pelvic tilt and torso angle) and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score were also measured. RESULTS: Pelvic tilt and ASIA score were significant predictors of reach. No evidence was found indicating cushion type or backrest height affected reach or posture. No consistent patterns of posture were found across cushion types or backrest heights. CONCLUSIONS: The posture adopted by wheelchair users is a more important influence on UE reach than are the cushion or backrest height used. Sitting with increased posterior pelvic tilt enhanced stability and permitted greater reach. Because individuals adopt different postures when using different cushions and backrest heights, clinicians should monitor posture while assessing seating and function of wheelchair users.

Adolescent↗

Prediction and set-dependent scaling of early postural responses in cerebellar patients.

We reported previously that patients with cerebellar deficits were unable to scale the magnitude of their early automatic postural responses to the predicted amplitudes of surface translations based on central set from prior experience. The present study investigated whether this deficit in set-dependent amplitude scaling was based predominantly on the cerebellar patient's disability (i) to predict perturbation amplitudes on the basis of prior experience, (ii) to scale the gain or magnitude of upcoming postural responses or (iii) to habituate postural responses. The increase in size of the early postural response when a larger than actual platform amplitude was expected and decrease when a smaller one was expected was defined as a measure of set-dependent amplitude prediction. The suppression of the postural response when the same platform velocity was repeated was used as a measure of habituation. The correlation between the size of early postural responses and platform amplitudes when presented serially, but not randomly, tested the ability to scale the gain of postural responses based on prior experience. Results show that although cerebellar patients could predict perturbation amplitudes based on prior experience, they could not use this prediction to modify precisely the gain of responses. The ability to habituate the magnitude of postural responses was not affected by cerebellar lesions. Thus, the cerebellum might not be critical for predicting upcoming events or for habituating to repeated postural stimuli, although it is important for accurate tuning of response gain based on prediction.

Adult↗

Atrial natriuretic peptide response to postural changes in patients with left atrial hypertension.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and renin activity (PRA) were measured in 13 patients with mitral stenosis 24 h before and 48 h after balloon valvotomy resulting in a fall in LA pressure from 23.4 +/- 2.2 to 10.5 +/- 0.8 mmHg (P less than 0.01). Before treatment, plasma ANP was higher during ambulation (128.1 +/- 18.5 pg ml-1) than in the supine posture (93.3 +/- 15.0 pg ml-1; P less than 0.01) and did not diminish after return to the erect posture (86.4 +/- 14.1 pg ml-1). A physiological response was restored after valvotomy with ANP plasma levels of 49.2 +/- 7.8 pg ml-1 in the initial ambulant period, 63.1 +/- 12.6 pg ml-1 in the supine posture and 44.6 +/- 8.7 pg ml-1 in the final erect posture. Postural variations of cyclic GMP were parallel to those of ANP. In contrast, LA hypertension did not abolish PRA postural response. During the three successive periods of ambulation, supine posture and erect posture PRA was 5.4 +/- 1.0, 2.8 +/- 0.6 and 5.5 +/- 1.2 ng h-1 ml-1, respectively, before treatment, whereas after treatment the values measured were 10.3 +/- 2.9, 2.3 +/- 0.7 and 7.0 +/- 2.5 ng h-1 ml-1 respectively. Variations of plasma ANP, cyclic GMP and PRA in response to postural changes were also studied in 10 healthy volunteers and in 12 uraemic patients with high plasma ANP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

In vivo measurement of lumbar spinal creep in two seated postures using magnetic resonance imaging.

STUDY DESIGN: A magnetic resonance imaging technique was developed to measure creep in the lumbar spine in different seated postures. Owing to the fixed size and horizontal orientation constraints of the magnetic resonance imaging system bore, gravitational force was simulated in the horizontal plane while the subject assumed each of two near-seated postures: 1) flexed lumbar, and 2) extended lumbar. OBJECTIVES: One experimental subject was used to determine the feasibility of this technique designed to correlate spinal creep with different seated postures. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although epidemiologic and pathologic studies have linked the seated posture with low back pain and disc degeneration, few in vivo studies have explored the mechanical response of the lumbar spine to seated postures. METHODS: Creep displacement of four lumbar discs (L3-S1) was measured from unloaded and loaded scans separated by 30 minutes of constant loading. Forty-eight images were measured from three trials in each posture, four sagittal slices per trial. RESULTS: Creep while in an extended posture (3.58 mm) was greater than creep while in a flexed posture (2.92 mm). System resolution was 0.78 mm. CONCLUSION: This technique can be used to discern between creep displacements in different postures.

Adult↗

The influence of different sitting positions on cervical and lumbar posture.

STUDY DESIGN: This study used a repeated measures design to assess the effects of multiple sitting postures on various spinal angles. All subjects were tested in slouched, erect, forward inclined, and comfortable postures. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the changes in head, cervical, lumbar, and pelvic postures in different sitting positions and also to determine if there is a relation between lumbar posture and cervical posture during sitting. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Clinicians commonly assert that head and neck position is strongly influenced by lumbar and pelvic position. A biomechanical model was developed that allowed detailed, quantitative description of head, neck, lumbar, and pelvic postures. This model enabled a distinction to be made between upper and lower cervical motions. METHODS: Various spinal angles were measured in 30 healthy subjects in four sitting positions using a three-dimensional digitizing system. Reliability of the measurement procedure was determined using an intraclass correlation coefficient and the values for most angles was above 0.8. RESULTS: With the exception of head orientation, analysis of variance revealed significant differences in spinal angles between different sitting positions. Head orientation appeared to be maintained by compensatory adjustments in both the upper and lower cervical spine and changes in lumbar posture were associated with compensatory changes in overall cervical position. As the lumbar spine moved toward extension, the cervical spine flexed and as the lumbar spine flexed the cervical spine extended. However, there was variation among subjects as to whether cervical spine adjustments occurred primarily in the upper or lower cervical region. CONCLUSIONS: Different sitting postures clearly resulted in changes in cervical spine position. Lumbar and pelvic position should be considered when control of cervical posture is desired.

Adult↗

Are the changes in postural control associated with low back pain caused by pain interference?

BACKGROUND: Voluntary limb movements are associated with involuntary and automatic postural adjustments of the trunk muscles. These postural adjustments occur prior to movement and prevent unwanted perturbation of the trunk. In low back pain, postural adjustments of the trunk muscles are altered such that the deep trunk muscles are consistently delayed and the superficial trunk muscles are sometimes augmented. This alteration of postural adjustments may reflect disruption of normal postural control imparted by reduced central nervous system resources available during pain, so-called "pain interference," or reflect adoption of an alternate postural adjustment strategy. METHODS: We aimed to clarify this by recording electromyographic activity of the upper (obliquus externus) and lower (transversus abdominis/obliquus internus) abdominal muscles during voluntary arm movements that were coupled with painful cutaneous stimulation at the low back. If the effect of pain on postural adjustments is caused by pain interference, it should be greatest at the onset of the stimulus, should habituate with repeated exposure, and be absent immediately when the threat of pain is removed. Sixteen patients performed 30 forward movements of the right arm in response to a visual cue (control). Seventy trials were then conducted in which arm movement was coupled with pain ("pain trials") and then a further 70 trials were conducted without the pain stimulus ("no pain trials"). RESULTS: There was a gradual and increasing delay of transversus abdominis/obliquus internus electromyograph and augmentation of obliquus externus during the pain trials, both of which gradually returned to control values during the no pain trials. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that altered postural adjustments of the trunk muscles during pain are not caused by pain interference but are likely to reflect development and adoption of an alternate postural adjustment strategy, which may serve to limit the amplitude and velocity of trunk excursion caused by arm movement.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Acute effects of a single open sea air dive and post-dive posture on cardiac output and pulmonary gas exchange in recreational divers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of open sea scuba air diving to 39 m (30 minutes bottom time) with standard decompression. To account for possible gravity dependent effects of venous gas bubbles, the variables were measured in different post-dive body postures and compared with the baseline values before the dive in the same posture. METHODS: Eight male divers conducted two similar dives on successive days. Their posture before and after the dive was either sitting or supine, in random order. The divers were evaluated before and 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the dive. Venous bubbles were detected by precordial Doppler after the dive in four divers in the supine posture and two divers in the sitting posture. RESULTS: Arterialised oxygen tension had decreased at all times after the dive (-11.3 mm Hg, p = 0.00006), due to decreased alveolar oxygen tension, irrespective of posture. Apart from an increase in the sitting posture 30 minutes after the dive, pulmonary capacity for carbon monoxide diffusion and cardiac index decreased, mostly 60 minutes after the dive (-9%, p = 0.0003 and -20%, p = 0.0002 respectively). The decrease in cardiac index was greater in the supine posture (p = 0.0004), and the physiological dead space/tidal volume ratio increased more in the sitting position (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Field dives are associated with moderate impairments in cardiac output and gas exchange. Some of these impairments appear to depend on the posture of the diver after the dive.

Adult↗

A short essay on posture and movement.

Certain statements concerning the relation of posture and movement which have become traditional are re-examined--in particular, the statement 'Movement (that is, pysiological movement) consists of a series of postures. The theme of the essay is the posture--that is, postural activity--should be regarded as a function in its own right and not merely as a component of movement and, secondly, that expressions such as a' series of postures' or 'a change of posture' are not valid as definitions of physiological movement is general, but describe only movement which is part of the postural function. Voluntary movement consists of much more than a series of postures and its significance, ordinarily, is not postural.

Brain↗

Effects of deep brain stimulation and levodopa on postural sway in Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify postural sway in subjects with Parkinson's disease and elderly controls, and determine the effects of Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation, levodopa, and their interactions on postural control during quiet stance. METHODS: Centre of foot pressure (CoP) displacement under each foot was measured during three 60 s trials of quiet stance with eyes open in 11 controls and six patients with Parkinson's disease. Subjects with Parkinson's disease were tested in four treatment conditions: off both deep brain stimulation and levodopa (off condition); on deep brain stimulation; on levodopa; and on both deep brain stimulation and levodopa. The variables extracted from CoP included: root mean square distance (rms), mean velocity, 95% power frequency (f(95%)), area of the 95% confidence ellipse (ellipse area), direction of its major axis (mdir), and postural asymmetry between the feet. RESULTS: rms and area of postural sway were larger than normal in subjects with Parkinson's disease in the off condition, increased further with levodopa, and significantly decreased with deep brain stimulation. Mean velocity and f(95%) were also larger than normal but were restored to normal by all treatments, especially by deep brain stimulation. The combined effect of deep brain stimulation and levodopa resulted in a postural sway that was an average of the effect of each treatment individually. Levodopa increased sway more in the mediolateral than in the anterior-posterior direction. Subjects with Parkinson's disease had asymmetrical mean velocity and f(95%) between the feet, and this asymmetry increased with levodopa but decreased with deep brain stimulation. The f(95%) of the CoP correlated with tremor, posture, and gait subcomponents of the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with Parkinson's disease have abnormal postural sway in stance. Treatment with levodopa increases postural sway abnormalities, whereas treatment with deep brain stimulation improves postural sway. Quantitative evaluation of static posturography may be a useful adjunct to clinical measures in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Aged↗

Volume-related and volume-independent effects of posture on esophageal and transpulmonary pressures in healthy subjects.

Ventilator management decisions in acute lung injury could be better informed with knowledge of the patient's transpulmonary pressure, which can be estimated using measurements of esophageal pressure. Esophageal manometry is seldom used for this, however, in part because of a presumed postural artifact in the supine position. Here, we characterize the magnitude and variability of postural effects on esophageal pressure in healthy subjects to better assess its significance in patients with acute lung injury. We measured the posture-related changes in relaxation volume and total lung capacity in 10 healthy subjects in four postures: upright, supine, prone, and left lateral decubitus. Then, in the same subjects, we measured static pressure-volume characteristics of the lung over a wide range of lung volumes in each posture by using an esophageal balloon catheter. Transpulmonary pressure during relaxation (PLrel) averaged 3.7 (SD 2.0) cmH2O upright and -3.3 (SD 3.2) cmH2O supine. Approximately 58% of the decrease in PLrel between the upright and supine postures was due to a corresponding decrease in relaxation volume. The remaining 2.9-cmH2O difference is consistent with reported values of a presumed postural artifact. Relaxation volumes and pressures in prone and lateral postures were intermediate. To correct estimated transpulmonary pressure for the effect of lying supine, we suggest adding 3 cmH2O (95% confidence interval: -1 to +7 cmH2O). We conclude that postural differences in estimated transpulmonary pressure at a given lung volume are small compared with the substantial range of PLrel in patients with acute lung injury.

Adult↗

Phase-dependent organization of postural adjustments associated with arm movements while walking.

This study examines the interactions between anteroposterior postural responses and the control of walking in human subjects. In the experimental paradigm, subjects walked upon a treadmill, gripping a rigid handle with one hand. Postural responses at different phases of stepping were elicited by rapid arm pulls or pushes against the handle. During arm movements, EMG's recorded the activity of representative arm, ankle, and thigh segment muscles. Strain gauges in the handle measured the force of the arm movement. A Selspot II system measured kinematics of the stepping movements. The duration of support and swing phases were marked by heel and toe switches in the soles of the subjects' shoes. In the first experiment, subjects were instructed to pull on the handle at their own pace. In these trials all subjects preferred to initiate pulls near heel strikes. Next, when instructed to pull as rapidly as possible in response to tone stimuli, reaction times were similar for all phases of the step cycle. Leg muscle responses associated with arm pulls and pushes, referred to as "postural activations," were directionally specific and preceded arm muscle activity. The temporal order and spatial distribution of postural activations in the muscles of the support leg were similar when arm pull movements occurred while the subject was standing in place and after heel strike while walking. Activations began in the ankle and radiated proximally to the thigh and then the arm. Activations of swing leg muscles were also directionally specific and involved flexion and forward or backward thrust of the limb. When arm movements were initiated during transitions from support by one leg to the other, patterns of postural activations were altered. Alterations usually occurred 10-20 ms before hell strikes and involved changes in the timing and sometimes the spatial structure of postural activations. Postural activation patterns are similar during in-place standing and during the support phase of locomotion. Walking and posture control appear to be separately organized but interrelated activities. Our results also suggest that the stepping generators, not peripheral feedback time locked to heel strikes, modulate postural activation patterns.

Adult↗

Postural behavior in children born preterm.

The present paper presents clinical and neurophysiological data of postural behavior in preterm children without CP. Clinical follow-up studies of preterm infants until toddler and school age have reported that low-risk preterm infants may have atypical postural behavior in terms of reduced amount of rotation during crawling, delayed dynamic balance, delayed onset of and a poor quality of early walking behavior. At school age, dysfunctions such as problems in standing on one leg and poor hopping are reported. Neurophysiological data of postural control at early age indicated the presence of a dysfunction in the capacity to modulate postural activity, and the postural activity has been characterized by temporal disorganization of EMG responses. Postural responses to goal-directed reaching in supine lying have been recorded and analyzed in terms of the total body center of pressure. In this study, preterm infants show less mobile postural behavior compared with full-term infants. In infancy, the less mobile postural behavior seemed to be adequate as it was related to better goal-directed reaching quality, but the results indicated that the relatively immobile postural behavior during reaching in early age was related to less favorable neuromotor behavior in school-age.

Central Nervous System↗

Mechanism of the postural dependence of vital capacity in tetraplegic subjects.

It is well established that unlike normal subjects patients with cervical cord transection have an increase in VC when changing from the seated to the supine posture. To investigate the mechanism of this paradoxical increase, we measured static lung volumes in both the seated and supine posture in 14 consecutive patients with tetraplegia (C4-C7) and in 4 patients with paraplegia (Th4-Th7). The increase in VC in the supine compared with the seated posture was (mean +/- SE) 0.41 +/- 0.07 L (16.0% of the seated value) in the tetraplegic subjects and 0.40 +/- 0.01 L (11.2% of the seated value) in the paraplegic subjects (p less than 0.001). However, TLC in all subjects was 0.28 +/- 0.05 L smaller in the supine posture (p less than 0.001), thus indicating that the larger VC in this posture is related to a reduction in residual volume (RV) rather than to an increased mechanical advantage of the diaphragm. The reduction in RV in the supine posture was consistent, averaging 0.72 +/- 0.06 L (29.1% of the seated value) in the tetraplegic subjects and 0.62 +/- 0.21 L (37.6 percent of the seated value) in the paraplegic subjects (p less than 0.001). Inflating blood pressure cuffs at the bases of the legs prior to the assumption of the supine posture diminished the reduction in RV with recumbency by only 0.10 +/- 0.02 L. In contrast, the postural dependence of RV was abolished when the abdomen was tightly supported by elastic straps and maintained constant in configuration during postural changes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Postural sway analysis of a teenager with childhood lead intoxication--a case study.

We had an opportunity to study a 15-year-old boy, evaluating the long-term effect of early childhood lead (Pb) poisoning on the maturation of postural balance. Postural balance (or sway) was quantified using a microprocessor-based Force Platform System along with four postural tasks specifically designed to indirectly challenge and/or minimize the effect of vision, proprioception and vestibular systems relevant for postural stability. The Pb-intoxicated patient showed increased postural sway compared to those of non-poisoned young adults and a 14-year-old boy for postural tasks requiring input from higher centers. A review of historical information and results of the physical and neurological examinations did not reveal an alternative explanation for this patient's postural sway abnormalities. These responses are also comparable to those noted in younger children with chronic Pb-exposure histories. In summary, this case study gives suggestive evidence that early excessive exposure to Pb can have long-term, detrimental neurological effects as reflected by postural stability. Measurement of postural balance appears to be a sensitive research methodology to assess subclinical neurological effects of remote lead intoxication.

Adolescent↗

Reliability of upright posture measurements in primary school children.

BACKGROUND: Correct upright posture is considered to be a measure of good musculoskeletal health. Little is known about the usual variability of children's upright standing posture. The aim of this study was to assess differences between repeated measures of upright posture in a group of primary school children. METHODS: Sagittal plane photographs of usual, relaxed upright standing posture of 38 boys and girls aged 5-12 years were taken twice within an hour. Reflective markers were placed over the canthus, tragus, C7 spinous process, greater trochanter and lateral malleolus. Digitising software was used to calculate the x,y plane coordinates, from which five postural angles were calculated (trunk, neck, gaze, head on neck, lower limb). Height, weight, motor control estimates (as measured by the Brace Tests) and presence of recent pain were recorded for each child, and the association between the first test measure of posture angles and these factors was assessed using linear regression and ANOVA models. Multiple ANOVA models were applied to analyse the effect of repeated testing, and significant predictors on the angles. RESULTS: Four of the five postural angles (trunk, neck, head on neck, lower limb) were significantly influenced by age. As age was strongly associated with height (r2 = 0.84) and moderately associated with weight and motor control (r2 = 0.67, 0.56 respectively), these developmental parameters may well explain the age effect on angles. There was no relationship between age and pain reported on either the testing day, or recently, and there was no gender influence on any angle. There was no significant effect of repeated testing on any angle (ICC>0.93). None of the hypothesized predictors were associated with differences in angles from repeated testing. CONCLUSION: This study outlined the variability of relaxed upright standing posture of children aged 5-12 years, when measured twice in an hour. Age influenced the size of the angles but not the variability. While the subject numbers in this study are small, the findings provide useful information on which further studies in posture and its development in pre-adolescent children can be based.

Aging↗

Development of postural adjustments during reaching in preterm infants.

Preterm infants often show postural abnormalities, such as hyperextension of neck and trunk, which can interfere with motor and cognitive development. Little is, however, known on the pathophysiology of postural development in preterm infants. Therefore, we longitudinally studied the development of postural adjustments during reaching movements in 12 preterm infants between the (corrected) ages of 4 and 18 mo. Five infants showed minor neurological dysfunctions at 18 mo, such as a mild diffuse hypotonia, a mild hypertonia of the legs, or a mild asymmetry in posture and motility, and seven infants were neurologically normal. Each assessment consisted of a simultaneous recording of video-data and surface electromyograms of arm, neck, trunk, and leg muscles during reaching in various lying and sitting positions. Comparable data on postural development in ten full-term infants were available. The preterm infants showed an excessive amount of postural activity during reaching movements at all ages studied. Moreover, the postural adjustments were temporally disorganized and could not be modulated with respect to the velocity of the arm movement and the initial sitting position. We hypothesized that the preterms' disability to modulate their postural adjustments might be due to a reduced capacity to learn from prior experience. In our small group the postural dysfunctions were not related to the presence of hyperextension at early ages, to the neurological outcome at 18 mo, or to the lesions found on the neonatal brain ultrasound scans.

Birth Weight↗

Effects of vehicle interior geometry and anthropometric variables on automobile driving posture.

The effects of vehicle package, seat, and anthropometric variables on posture were studied in a laboratory vehicle mockup. Participants (68 men and women) selected their preferred driving postures in 18 combinations of seat height, fore-aft steering wheel position, and seat cushion angle. Two seats differing in stiffness and seat back contour were used in testing. Driving postures were recorded using a sonic digitizer to measure the 3D locations of body landmarks. All test variables had significant independent effects on driving posture. Drivers were found to adapt to changes in the vehicle geometry primarily by changes in limb posture, whereas torso posture remained relatively constant. Stature accounts for most of the anthropometrically related variability in driving posture, and gender differences appear to be explained by body size variation. Large intersubject differences in torso posture, which are fairly stable across different seat and package conditions, are not closely related to standard anthropometric measures. The findings can be used to predict the effects of changes in vehicle and seat design on driving postures for populations with a wide range of anthropometric characteristics.

Anthropometry↗

Postural assessment of girls between 7 and 10 years of age.

UNLABELLED: Postural alterations are often found in children and teenagers. In this stage of development, the posture undergoes many adjustments and adaptations due to changes of the body and to demanding psychosocial factors. PURPOSE: To identify which postural alterations occur most often in students between 7 and 10 years of age, to identify preventive measures, and to provide information to parents and teachers about the problem of bad posture. METHODS: Thirty three girls in each of 4 age groups between 7 and 10 years of age were assessed, resulting in a sample of 132 subjects. Photos of each girl in the sagittal and frontal planes were examined for postural deviations. RESULTS: The main postural deviations found were knock-knee, medial rotation of the hip, antepulsion, pelvic anteversion, knee hyperextension, lumbar hyperlordosis, valgus ankle, imbalanced shoulders, lateral pelvic inclination, scoliosis, trunk rotation, thoracic hyperkyphosis, winged scapula, shoulder protraction, abducted scapula, medial rotation of shoulders, and head tilt. CONCLUSION: High incidences of postural alterations occur in children of school age. Some of these reflect normal postural development, and get corrected during the child's growth. On the other hand, some alterations are asymmetries that can be caused by daily demands on the body and can result in negative impacts on the quality of life during childhood and adulthood. We emphasize the importance of providing information to parents and teachers about the problem of bad posture.

Child↗