Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Proprioception'

The shoulder is an inherently unstable joint and requires well-coordinated muscle work and an appropriate sensorimotor system for it to remain stable. The sensorimotor system is defined as all the sensory, motor, central integration and processing components involved in maintaining joint stability. Shoulder action involving overhead work places great demands on the shoulder joint and can result in shoulder lesions, such as impingement syndrome. Moreover, activities requiring repetitive arm movements, including high velocity actions, have also been identified as a risk factor for shoulder impingement.

Surfing is a competitive sport that is subjectively judged on the ability to combine a variety of progressive manoeuvres while maximising the speed, power and flow, with the emphasis of certain elements contingent on the conditions. Competitive surfing requires high levels of upper- and lower-body strength and power and joint range of motion (ROM), as well as the ability to re-stabilise efficiently on landing. Additionally, surfers must monitor the frequently changing wave formation for potential manoeuvres while maintaining or regaining an upright stance, which may induce changes in the subcomponents of the postural control system including proprioception. Currently, proprioception is not well understood nor examined in surfers, making it difficult to quantify proprioceptive ability and interpret how proprioception may relate to surfing performance. The purpose of this thesis was fourfold: 1) to examine the relationships between surfing experience, physical performance and ankle proprioception; 2) to determine the effect of an increasing external load on proprioceptive ability; 3) to compare ankle proprioception and physical performance among competitive and non-competitive surfers; and, 4) to investigate the potential for individual changes in ankle proprioception and physical performance in competitive surfers in response to a surf-specific neuromuscular training program. Study one identified no significant differences among ankle plantarflexion, dorsiflexion, inversion and eversion discrimination scores of each limb and that surf experience and lower-body strength had a statistically significant main effect on ankle proprioception. Additionally, gender/sex had a statistically significant main effect on ankle discrimination scores which may be attributed to differences in surfing experience, physical performance, environmental and sociocultural factors. Study two demonstrated a nonlinear change in proprioception, with better ankle discrimination scores for the moderately loaded assessment compared to the unloaded assessment and the lightest and heaviest loading parameters. These results may be related to the underlying mechanisms relating to the mechanical features of the muscle, and the potential discomfort and fatigue imposed by the heaviest loading parameter. Study three identified that senior-elite surfers demonstrated significantly higher ankle discrimination scores compared to junior-elite and recreational surfers. Senior-elite surfers also displayed significantly greater ankle dorsiflexion ROM and reduced relative peak landing force, suggesting that ankle proprioception and landing ability may be distinguishing characteristics of higher-level surfers. Study four demonstrated that a 12-week neuromuscular training program that included components of gymnastics can elicit improvements in proprioception and that changes in physical performance are likely specific to the stimulus. The results also highlighted the large inter- and intra-individual variability in response to training. However, the in-water surf assessment did not provide clear evidence of a performance improvement; though, it is proposed that it may be necessary to develop a more reliable assessment method to clarify the relationships between training-specific adaptations and in-water surfing ability. Overall, the studies presented provide evidence of a bilateral multidirectional proprioceptive ability that is unique to the sport of surfing and is related to both the amount and quality of motor experience attained, as well as the potential for individual changes in response to a surf-specific neuromuscular training program in competitive surfers.

In daily living activities, proprioception is fundamental to interact with the environment and rapidly react to changing circumstances. The ability to coordinate force and position in bimanual tasks is essential for manipulating objects out of view and preventing their slippage. The work carried out in my Ph.D. research project aims to highlight the importance of assessing proprioception in both people with sensorimotor deficits and unimpaired and provide guidelines on how to design an effective supplementary vibrotactile feedback to enhance proprioception and the associated motor outcomes. In the usual formulation of assessment protocols, either in research or clinical environments, position and force sense are mainly evaluated separately while their possible interactions and interference have received less attention. In my Ph.D. research project, I did a step toward filling this gap, identifying the reciprocal interaction between position sense and force control in bimanual tasks performed by unimpaired participants. I found that position sense is influenced by the symmetry of the loading condition, while force control is mostly affected by the position of the non-dominant hand. I also found that this latter result was not determined by handedness, but more likely by the specialization of the brain hemispheres. However, handedness influenced the overall proprioceptive performance since left-handers had a more asymmetrical performance than right-handers. In the neurological assessment protocols commonly used in the clinical practice, proprioceptive functions are mainly assessed subjectively by clinicians referring to qualitative clinical scales. However, reliable methods to quantify proprioceptive deficits are crucial for better enhancing the detection of early symptoms, developing effective neuro-rehabilitative treatments, and monitor the progress of both disease and treatments. Furthermore, after stroke the main focus of clinical assessment is on the contralesional side of the body. Less attention is dedicated to the ipsilesional side and to the bimanual coordination. To this end, in my Ph.D. project, I investigated the position sense deficits of the two upper limbs taking into account also the location of the lesion. I found that the ipsilesional arm of stroke survivors had similar matching accuracy but higher precision than the contralesional arm. The accuracy of the two arms inter-correlated in the left and central regions of the peripersonal space for all the stroke survivors independently of the location of the brain lesion. This findings highlight that after stroke the two arms have different proprioception and motor capabilities. As results, one of the main consequences is a defective bimanual coordination, which impacts the ability to perform many daily living activities. Despite its importance, the current formulation of the neurological assessment and rehabilitative protocol is more focused on unimanual task, limiting the possibility to investigate the interaction and interference that arise from the inter-limb coordination. This could be due to the limited availability of devices to assess the bimanual proprioception. In this context, in my Ph.D. research project I optimized a device to assess proprioception and the reciprocal interaction between position sense and force control in bimanual tasks. Its usability has been tested on stroke survivors, which performed force matching tasks and a lifting task. In the matching task, I found that the stroke survivors had higher difficulty to match a level of force required, even when it was tailored on their capability, while their ability to maintain the force was not affected. In the lifting task, I found that stroke survivors applied more force than age-matched unimpaired participants to lift the device. However, the timing in which the force was applied was not significantly different between the two populations. Due to impact of the proprioceptive deficits, several solutions have been proposed to mitigate them and enhance the related motor outcome. Among all, the application of supplementary somatosensory feedback has been shown to be an effective resource to enhance sensorimotor ability in unimpaired participants as well as in people with sensorimotor deficits. This type of feedback is an strong modulator of plasticity, enhances motor (re-)learning and control, and can also temporally reduce position sense disorders. However, how to convey the proprioceptive information in the supplementary feedback (i.e., encoding method) and the importance of the information conveyed by the feedback (i.e., informational content) are not well investigated. In this context, my Ph.D. research project aims at deepening the actual knowledge on how to encode information in supplementary vibrotactile feedback to enhance proprioception and related motor outcomes. To this end, I compared the effects on postural control of two methods for encoding the amplitude and direction of the acceleration of the body center of mass in the activation of two vibration motors placed on the back and on the abdomen of the participants. I also evaluated the importance of the informational content of the feedback by applying a vibrotactile feedback that was uncorrelated with the actual oscillations of the center of mass. The results show that synchronized vibrotactile feedback significantly reduced the sway amplitude while increasing the frequency in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. The presence of uncorrelated vibration, instead, increased the sway amplitude, highlighting the importance of the informational content. In a second study, I tested the effects of applying two types of supplemental vibrotactile feedback on the ipsilesional arm in stroke survivors while they performed goal-directed movements with their contralesional arm. I found that all the three stroke survivors were able to perceive the vibrotactile feedback and to perform the motor tasks (i.e., reaching and stabilization) when it was applied, but they reached various levels of capability in distinguishing and using it during the motor tasks. Indeed, all of them improved their performance in the stabilization task using one encoding scheme. The stroke survivor with the better sensory assessment score also improved in the reaching performance when one supplemental feedback was applied. These preliminary results encourage investigating the effects of a longer multi-session training with a personalized vibrotactile feedback design. The findings of my Ph.D. research project enlarge the actual knowledge on interaction between the upper limb position sense and force control, and its asymmetries related to handedness and how it is affected after stroke. My Ph.D. research project also provide evidences to support the need to a assess both ipsilesional and contralesional proprioceptive deficits separately and concurrently during bimanual tasks.

Drawing on research in the fields of neuroscience, reading cognition, and the history of writing, the author explores the condition of reading today. Rather than accepting the apocalyptic pronouncements that the Internet is "dumbing down" current readers, the author argues for a more nuanced understanding of the effects of digital media. He argues that the literacies needed for the new digital realm are not new, but are literacies developed over thousands of years. The author argues for the need of more education and instruction in the use of digital media, and that the digital realm requires new proprioceptive (spatial awareness) abilities to navigate.

L'objectif de ce travail de thèse était d'étudier les effets de l'hyperthermie sur la proprioception et leurs répercussions sur la cinématique de la course à pied. Nous avons élaboré un protocole expérimental composé de deux études pour répondre à cette question. La première expérimentation a exploré l'hyperthermie induite en mode passif et son effet sur la proprioception. Notre hypothèse était que les perturbations neuromusculaires induites par une hyperthermie passive générale pourraient affecter la proprioception et l'équilibre. 14 participants ont réalisé une série de tests de la fonction neuromusculaire ainsi que des tests de proprioception et d'équilibre statique et dynamique dans une chambre environnementale en conditions chaude (44°C-50°C) et contrôle (24°C). Les résultats de cette 1ère étude ont montré qu'une augmentation de la température rectale (39.0°C vs. 36.9°C) et cutanée (37.9°C vs. 32°C) en ambiance chaude par rapport à la situation de contrôle était associée à une réduction de l'amplitude du reflexe H, une diminution de l'acuité proprioceptive et des perturbations de l'équilibre statique et dynamique. Ces résultats suggèrent que l'hyperthermie passive détériore la proprioception et l'équilibre, ce qui pourrait affecter le geste sportif. Afin d'explorer les effets de l'hyperthermie active sur la proprioception, nous avons par la suite réalisé le test de proprioception active chez 12 coureurs entrainés avant et après un test de 30 minutes en course à pied dans des conditions chaude (39°C) et contrôle (22°C). Les résultats de cette étude ont montré une augmentation plus importante des contraintes thermiques, perceptives et cardiovasculaires en ambiance chaude comparé à la condition tempérée. En plus, nous avons observé une diminution de l'acuité proprioceptive suite à l'exercice en ambiance chaude mais pas tempérée. Ces résultats montrent que les altérations identifiées en situation d'hyperthermie passive lors de la première étude sont également spécifiques à un exercice en ambiance chaude. Lors de ce protocole expérimental, nous avons également exploré les répercussions de ces perturbations de la proprioception sur la cinématique de la course à pied. Pour ce faire, les paramètres spatio-temporels et cinématiques angulaires de la foulée ont été mesurés à vitesse constante (i.e., 70% de la vitesse maximale aérobie) lors de la première et dernière minute de l'exercice (la vitesse étant librement choisie de la 2ème à la 29ème minute). Nous avons ainsi montré une diminution de la fréquence et une augmentation de la longueur des foulées avec la fatigue dans les deux conditions ; accompagnée de changement des paramètres angulaires limités à un redressement du bassin et une diminution de l'angle de la cheville. Cependant, Il n'y avait aucun effet de la condition thermique ou d'interaction entre la fatigue et l'environnement thermique pour les paramètres spatio-temporels et cinématiques angulaires. Ces résultats suggèrent que l'hyperthermie induite par un exercice de course à pied affecte la proprioception de la cheville, mais que cette altération n'affecte pas la cinématique de la course à pied. Suite à ces travaux, nous pouvons donc conclure que la proprioception est affectée par l'hyperthermie induite soit par des méthodes passives ou actives. Ces altérations pourraient provenir des effets de l'hyperthermie sur les fonctions neuromusculaire et cognitive. Cependant, la dégradation de l'acuité proprioceptive avec une augmentation de la température rectale au-delà de 39°C n'affecte pas la cinématique de la course à pied, ce qui suggère une forte stabilité du pattern de course malgré une proprioception et des fonctions neuromusculaires affectées
The objective of this PhD was to investigate the effects of hyperthermia on proprioception and their impact on running gait kinematics. We developed an experimental protocol consisting of two studies to answer this question.The first experiment explored passive hyperthermia and its effects on proprioception and balance. We hypothesized that neuromuscular disturbances induced by passive hyperthermia would impair proprioception and balance. 14 participants performed a series of tests of neuromuscular function, proprioception, as well as static and dynamic balance in an environmental chamber under hot (44°C - 50°C) and control (24°C) conditions. The results of this first study showed that an increase in rectal (39.0°C vs. 36.9°C) and skin (37.9°C vs. 32°C) temperatures in hot compared to control ambient conditions was associated with a reduction in the amplitude of the Hoffman reflex, a decrease in the proprioceptive acuity and impairments in static and dynamic balance. These results suggest that passive hyperthermia deteriorates proprioception and balance, something that could potentially affect sports movement. ln order to explore the effects of active hyperthermia on proprioception, we subsequently performed the active discrimination test in 12 trained runners before and just after a 30-minute running time-trials under hot (39°C) and control (22°C) conditions. The results of this study showed a larger increase in thermal, perceptual and cardiovascular stresses when running in the heat as compared to running in a temperate environment. ln addition, we observed a decrease in proprioceptive acuity following exercising in the heat only. This showed that the proprioceptive impairments identified during the first study are also present following exercise-induced hyperthermia, but not exercise-induced fatigue without hyperthermia. During this study, we have also explored the impact of hyperthermia-induced alterations in proprioception on running gait kinematics. To do so, we measured angular kinematics and spatiotemporal stride parameters at a constant speed (i.e., 70% of the maximum aerobic speed) during the first and last minute of the exercise (whilst speed was freely chosen from the 2nd to the 29th minute). Results showed that fatigue decreased step frequency and increase step length under both conditions, along inducing a few little changes in the angular kinematic parameters limited to an increase of the PELVlS angle and a decrease of the ANKLE angle. However, no interaction effect was found for any of the spatiotemporal or angular stride parameters. These results suggest that exercise-induced hyperthermia impairs ankle proprioception, but that this alteration does not affect running kinematics. ln summary, proprioception is affected by hyperthermia induced either by passive or active methods. These alterations could be due to the effects of hyperthermia on neuromuscular and cognitive functions. However, the degradation of proprioceptive acuity with an increase in rectal temperature above 39 °C does not affect the kinematics of running, suggesting that running pattern remains stable despite proprioception and neuromuscular functions impairments

De nombreux travaux ont montre que la distance et la direction sont programmees et controlees differemment. En telemanipulation, les operateurs effectuant des gestes a partir d'un ecran video, doivent s'adapter a des perturbations en direction et en distance generees par l'utilisation de la camera. Toutefois, les recherches experimentales ont porte essentiellement sur l'effet des perturbations en direction et ont delaisse l'analyse des distorsions en distance. Le but de ce travail est de definir les mecanismes qui permettent de s'adapter a une perturbation en distance introduite par un ecran video. Les sujets devaient effectuer des mouvements de pointage au moyen des informations fournies par un ecran. La taille de l'image variait en fonction de l'echelle utilisee (grossissement ou reduction). Les resultats obtenus montrent que l'adaptation a une distorsion en distance est bien plus rapide que celle survenant pour les perturbations directionnelles. Les corrections different selon que la perturbation porte sur la distance ou la direction. Toutefois, cette adaptation se generalise mal a d'autres situations experimentales. Il n'y a pas de reorganisation generale de l'espace de controle et le mecanisme adaptatif ne se transfere pas a d'autres echelles. L'adaptation releve plutot d'un controle realise dans l'espace de la tache, c'est a dire celui definissant la trajectoire de la main. On observe une predominance des informations visuelles sur les informations proprioceptives et la presence d'indices visuels permet d'ameliorer l'adaptation. L'ensemble de ces resultats suggere l'existence de deux mecanismes permettant de s'adapter a une perturbation en distance. Le premier mecanisme entraine une adaptation visuomotrice locale. Le second mecanisme, necessaire pour un transfert de l'adaptation, est beaucoup plus lent et implique une recoordination generale de l'espace de travail
Several studies on motor control suggest that amplitude and direction parameters involve different processes. In remote operation, operators carry out various visual-motor tasks while viewing their hands by means of video feedback. This situation usually entails a discrepancy between the information provided by visual and proprioceptive systems. Among numerous studies that analyzed the adaptation of the perceptual-motor system to visual spatial distortions, many focused on perceptual-motor adaptation to directional distortions. The present study concerns the adaptation of motor system to the distortion of distance when the production of movement is visually controlled through a video display. The subjects had to perform a pointing movement with information provided by video screen. By changing the zoom of the camera, the amplitude of the movement perceived on the screen was different from the actual movement. Results showed that the movement adapted more quickly to the distortions of distance than to directional distortions. However, adaptation did not transfer to other situations since it was specific to the target and scale. Adaptation occurred at task level, i. E. , was based on information relating to the displacement of the hand. Most of subjects tended to use mainly the information provided by the visual system. The spatial cues (e. G. Reference frame, known objects) facilitated this adaptation. In conclusion, adaptation to distance distortion depends on two processes. The first one leads to a local visual-motor adaptation. The second one, which is necessary for the transfer of adaptation, is slower and involves a general remapping of the whole grasping space

Clinical and experimental research has demonstrated that the emotional experience of fear impairs postural stability in humans. This is problematic considering that fear-related postural instability contributes to a greater likelihood of an individual suffering a fall that can result in devastating physical and financial consequences. For this reason, the research presented in this thesis was performed to clarify the current description of the postural behaviour observed among those who experience fear and/or anxiety and to investigate how human proprioceptive information is utilized by the central nervous system to explain anxiety-induced changes in postural control. Over a series of four consecutive studies, elevated surface heights were used to assess the within-subject effect of fear and anxiety on changes in static posturography, spinal reflex excitability as well as changes in mechanically (TEP) and electrically (SEP) evoked somatosensory potentials. The results of the first study demonstrated that the changes in postural control that occurred with increased surface height were dependent upon the degree of fear of falling experienced by the participants. The results of the second study demonstrated that soleus tendon reflex (STR) excitability could be facilitated during states of height-induced fear and anxiety, without any accompanying changes at the level of the somatosensory cortex. The results of the third study failed to demonstrate that descending pre-synaptic inhibition influences soleus Hoffmann reflex (SOL H-reflex) excitability during states of height-induced fear and anxiety. As such, the fourth study in this thesis was designed to test the effectiveness of using visual feedback to overcome the biomechanical confounds that limited the interpretation of changes in static posturography measures and SOL H-reflex excitability observed in the previous three studies. Taken together, the results of these four studies extend the current understanding of how posture changes during states of height-induced fear and anxiety and sheds new light on the mechanisms that facilitate the changes in spinal reflex excitability and cortical control of posture during such circumstances.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007.
Title from electronic title page (viewed Apr. 25, 2008). "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Science in the Department of Biomedical Engineering." Discipline: Biomedical Engineering; Department/School: Medicine.

The intent of this thesis is to provide an account of the phenomenology of movement that collapses the distinction between mental and physical without the elimination of the mental. There are two main ways in which mental and physical converge in this account. First of all, the type of knowledge involved in learning movement skills is a type of nonpropositional knowledge that is literally embodied in the neuromuscular system of the body. Thus the mental phenomena of knowing-how and thinking how to do movement skills are body-wide phenomena. Furthermore, this type of knowledge is genuinely self-referential, since the knower and known are identical. Second, the phenomenology of self-actuated movement reveals that the self is experienced as a psychophysical unity through the experience of the coherence of action and the proprioception of that action. This is due to the sense of effort provided by sensorimotor integration of the peripheral nervous system. This sense of effort is the direct awareness of physical properties of muscle lengths, tensions, and speeds of contraction, and is thus a genuine psychophysical phenomenon. It is also argued that we enjoy a high degree of epistemic security regarding experiences of this type.

The aims of this study were to; determine if it is possible for amputees to identify walking surfaces by receiving feedback through their prostheses. determine if there are any measurable changes in amputee gait characteristics when walking on different surfaces.   Methods Subjects walked on a specially built walkway with exchangeable surface materials (level, soft and tilted) with visual and audio feedback occluded. Subjects were required to identify the surface material. Kinematic data were collected simultaneously.   Results Agreement between the true surface and that identified by the subject on the amputated side was fair to good (k=0.58). A two way repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference in lateral knee displacement between heel contact to foot flat, with main effect for surface (p=0.010).   Conclusion Amputees have a fair to good ability to identify walking surfaces without additional information from eye sight, hearing or the sound limb.   The kinematic measures showed a significant increase in lateral knee displacement between heel contact to foot flat on the tilted surface compared to both level and soft surfaces. This was the case for both the amputated and the sound side.   The duration of heel contact to foot flat was unaffected by walking surface and first or second step.
Titel: Transtibialt amputerades varseblivning av gångunderlag – En pilotstudie   Syftet med studien var att; undersöka om det är möjligt för en amputerad att identifiera gångunderlag genom informationen de får via protesen. undersöka om det existerar några mätbara förändringar i den amputerades gångmönster på olika underlag.   Metod Försökspersonerna gick på en specialbyggd gångbana med utbytbart gångunderlag (plant, mjukt och vinklat), med visuella intryck och ljud från gångbanan isolerade. Försökspersonerna ombads identifiera gångunderlaget. Kinematiska data samlades in simultant.   Resultat Överensstämmelse mellan det verkliga underlaget och det som rapporterades av försökspersonen var godkänt till bra (k=0,58). En two way repeated measures ANOVA visade en signifikant skillnad gällande lateral knärörelse mellan hälisättning och framfotsisättning, med huvudeffekt för gångunderlag (p=0,010).   Slutsats Amputerade har en godkänt till bra förmåga att identifiera gångunderlag utan extra information från syn, hörsel eller från det friska benet.   Kinematiska data visade en signifikant ökning av lateral knärörelse mellan hälisättning och framfotsisättning på det vinklade underlaget jämfört med både det plana och det mjuka underlaget. Detta gällde för både amputerad och frisk sida.   Tiden för hälisättning till framfotsisättning var ej påverkad av gångunderlag, och inte heller av om det var första eller andra steget.

Proprioceptive information appear to play an important role in stability and movements of shoulder joint in sporting activities especially in tennis. The purpose of this study was to measure the shoulder proprioceptive differences, and assess proprioceptive sense between dominant and non-dominant shoulders between male tennis players and controls between ages 14 - 16. 15 young male tennis players with a mean age 14.6 ±
0.7 years and 15 young male sedentary individuals with a mean age 14.8 ±
0.9 years participated in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Average height, weight, and BMI of the players were 169.4 ±
5.9 cm., 63.9 ±
5.5 kg., and 22.2 ±
1.0 kg/m2 respectively. Mean height, weight, and BMI of the non-players were 168.3 ±
5.3 cm., 64.4 ±
10.2 kg., and 23.1 ±
3.9 kg/m2 respectively. Proprioceptive sense was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. Measurements were made in two positions: &lsquo
sitting&rsquo
versus &lsquo
standing&rsquo
for service, forehand, and backhand positions. Differences between players and control groups were investigated by MANOVA. Paired t-test was used to evaluate differences between dominant and non-dominant shoulders and sitting and standing positions. There was no statistically difference between players and non-players in means of age, body height, weight, and BMI. The study revealed the following results: 1) There was a significant difference between shoulder proprioceptive senses of players and controls (p <
0.05) at service, forehand, and backhand positions. 2) Significant difference between dominant and non-dominant shoulders at 15º
and 30º
was not observed (p <
0.05). 3) No significant difference was observed between sitting and standing positions at 30º
(p <
0.05). It was concluded that tennis players had better proprioceptive sense than their age matched sedentary controls.

Grasping and manipulation of objects is an integral part of a robot’s physical interaction with the environment. In order to cope with real-world situations, sensor based grasping of objects and grasp stability estimation is an important skill. This thesis addresses the problem of predicting the stability of a grasp from the perceptions available to a robot once fingers close around the object before attempting to lift it. A regrasping step can be triggered if an unstable grasp is identified. The percepts considered consist of object features (visual), gripper configurations (proprioceptive) and tactile imprints (haptic) when fingers contact the object. This thesis studies tactile based stability estimation by applying machine learning methods such as Hidden Markov Models. An approach to integrate visual and tactile feedback is also introduced to further improve the predictions of grasp stability, using Kernel Logistic Regression models. Like humans, robots are expected to grasp and manipulate objects in a goal-oriented manner. In other words, objects should be grasped so to afford subsequent actions: if I am to hammer a nail, the hammer should be grasped so to afford hammering. Most of the work on grasping commonly addresses only the problem of finding a stable grasp without considering the task/action a robot is supposed to fulfill with an object. This thesis also studies grasp stability assessment in a task-oriented way based on a generative approach using probabilistic graphical models, Bayesian Networks. We integrate high-level task information introduced by a teacher in a supervised setting with low-level stability requirements acquired through a robot’s exploration. The graphical model is used to encode probabilistic relationships between tasks and sensory data (visual, tactile and proprioceptive). The generative modeling approach enables inference of appropriate grasping configurations, as well as prediction of grasp stability. Overall, results indicate that the idea of exploiting learning approaches for grasp stability assessment is applicable in realistic scenarios.

QC 20121026

The objective of this Master's thesis was to quantify the effects of repetitive arm motion-induced shoulder fatigue on perceptual characteristics related to shoulder proprioception in a healthy group of male and female adults. Through three simple perceptual tasks, our protocol aimed to assess healthy adults' senses of force, rhythm, and posture in a non-fatigued condition, and in a fatigued condition following an upper-extremity repetitive pointing task (RPT). Repetitive motion-induced fatigue revealed an increase in anterior-posterior center of pressure (CoP) range of motion and displacement, but no change in force matching accuracy, nor in the ability to maintain a particular rhythm during a repetitive arm task. Since our study involved relatively low efforts, compensations from unfatigued muscles possibly explain subjects' ability to preserve certain task characteristics. We do not fully understand the mechanisms by which repetitive arm motion-induced fatigue may impair postural stability, but it is possible that these mechanisms could involve changes in other systems, occurring with global fatigue. More studies are needed to shed light into that question.
Le but de ce projet de maîtrise était de mesurer les effets de la fatigue musculaire sur les caractéristiques perceptives liées à la proprioception dans un groupe de femmes et d'hommes en bonne santé. Par trois simples tâches perceptives, notre protocole visait à évaluer la perception de la force, du rythme, et de la posture dans un état non-fatigué, et dans un état fatigué suite à un mouvement répétitif. La fatigue, provoquée par des mouvements répétitifs, à révélé une augmentation antéro-postérieur de l'amplitude de mouvement et du déplacement du centre de pression, mais aucun changement dans la capacité d'égaler une force, ni dans la capacité de maintenir un rythme particulier au cours d'une tâche répétitive. Puisque notre étude a nécessité des efforts relativement faibles, la préservation de certaines caractéristiques de ces tâches peut être expliquée par l'assistance d'autres muscles non fatigués. Nous ne comprenons pas entièrement les mécanismes par lesquels la fatigue, causée par les mouvements répétitifs du membre supérieur, peut nuire à la stabilité posturale, mais il est possible que ces mécanismes pourraient impliquer des changements dans d'autres systèmes. D'autres études seront nécessaires pour répondre à cette question.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 107 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 55 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 90 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

This PhD thesis contributes to a synthesis of the bibliographic material reviewed from original sources written in various languages (and thus sometimes unknown in the scientific community at international level, since they were not published in English) and to scientific research by findings and results from experimental work carried out at the Mira y López Laboratory of the University of Barcelona on topics related to individual differences in proprioception based on fine motor behaviour. The main aim of this work is to show the importance of proprioceptive sense, as a basis of individual differences, for human health and life quality. Most of the experimental work is related to sex and age-dependent differences in human fine behaviour, thus allowing analysis and understanding of those differences. When self-correction of behaviour is not possible (the person does not see the feedback of his/her movements), the expression reflects the intrinsic qualities of each person based both on biological or endogenous factors or ones specific to the nervous system and adaptive behaviour learnt during his/her own experience with environmental interactions. Experimental work was carried out with use of the latest proprioceptive diagnostics which was a result of many years of work within the Mira y Lopez myokinetic psychodiagnosis (MKP) tradition, Proprioceptive Diagnostics of Temperament and Character or DP-TC in Spanish abbreviation (Tous, Muiños, Tous, O. i Tous, R., 2012). DP-TC was a result of digitization and statistical validation of MKP lineograms’ and parallels` parts. Thus, due to this special software, graphomotor fine behaviour (precision and speed) can be registered and measured and converted to the metric system: from pixels to millimetres. For the study of individual differences, various movement types were used: frontal, transversal and sagittal, both hands and two sensory conditions: proprioceptive-visual (PV), where the integration function of both sensory conditions can be observed, and proprioceptive-only (P). The experimental studies were cross-sectional and analysed for sex- and age-dependent individual differences mainly, although a brief résumé of other studies was included, showing the relationship between proprioceptive information feedback and both emotion and cognition, at the end of this thesis. The major contributions of this work are the following: - synthetic bibliographical work on the topic of proprioception and individual differences and importance for human health and quality of life, which is conducted for the first time and can be used for wider understanding in order to carry out future research and application (more effective therapeutic and educational work), and can be used and adapted to form part of a program, especially for psychological, pedagogical and neurological faculties; - brief description of fine motor behaviour in different cultures: Arabic (in which the custom is to write in a different direction to Western people); and Belarus (for the latter some results are given, together with relationships to verbal and other physical parameters) is represented in the initial part of the thesis; - an age-dependent proprioceptive differences study based on fine motor behaviour in 196 participants from 12 to 95 years old, in which the polynomial function was of the best fit for size (line length tracings) in frontal and transversal movements; - it was shown that proprioception function was the first to deteriorate in precision with increasing age value if compared to the integrative function of both sensory inputs (proprioceptive and visual); - the crucial ages for age-dependent changes were shown for the first time; these results give the first experimental support for the age of the mid-life crisis (approx. 40 years); - sex-dependent differences and sex*age-dependent differences were analysed and discussed also; - a correlational analysis was performed between precision and fine motor speed in two sensory conditions of the test; - practical applications of study results together with the future potential research interests in the area of proprioception and individual differences are given in the final part of the work.
Aquesta tesi doctoral contribueix tant a la sinterització del material bibliogràfic, revisat de fonts originals, escrit en diferents idiomes (a vegades desconegudes en la comunitat científica a nivell internacional, ja que no van ser publicades en anglès) com a la investigació científica amb els resultats de les investigacions experimentals, dutes a terme al Laboratori Mira i López de la Universitat de Barcelona, en l'estudi empíric de les diferències individuals en la propiocepció, basades en el comportament motor fi. L'objectiu principal teòric d'aquest treball és mostrar la importància de la propiocepció, com a base de les diferències individuals, per a la salut humana i la qualitat de vida. La major part del treball experimental es basa en la constatació de les diferències individuals en la motricitat fina propioceptiva relacionades amb l'edat i el sexe que permet analitzar i entendre aquestes diferències en el comportament humà. Quan la autocorrecció de la conducta no és possible (la persona no veu els traços dels seus moviments en la part propioceptiva del test), l'expressió grafomotora reflecteix les qualitats intrínseques de cada persona, basades en factors biològics, o endògens, específiques del sistema nerviós i la conducta adaptativa, apreses en les seves pròpies experiències amb les interaccions ambientals. Els treballs experimentals s'han realitzat amb l'ús del Diagnòstic Propioceptiu de Temperament i el Caràcter o DP-TC, en abreviatura espanyola (Tous, Muiños, Tous, O. i Tous, R., 2012), que és el resultat més recent de molts anys de treball dins la línia de la tradició del Psicodiagnòstic Miokinético (PMK) de Mira i López. El DP-TC és el resultat de la digitalització i validació estadística dels subtests corresponents als lineogramas i les paral • leles del PMK. Mitjançant aquest programa especial, el comportament grafomotor fi (precisió i velocitat) pot ser registrat i mesurat, ja que permet transformar les mesures en mil•límetres, del sistema mètric, a píxels. Per a l'estudi de les diferències individuals es van utilitzar diferents tipus de moviment: frontal, transversal i sagital, amb les dues mans per separat i dues condicions sensorials: propioceptiva-visual (PV), on es pot observar la funció d'integració de les dues condicions sensorials i només propioceptiva (P) on es pot observar la informació propioceptiva en la conducta motora fina. Els estudis experimentals van ser sobre les diferències individuals en el sexe i l'edat, encara que es dóna també, al final d'aquesta tesi, un breu resum d'altres estudis -alguns transculturals- que mostren la relació de la informació propioceptiva amb l'emoció i la cognició. Les principals contribucions d'aquest treball són els següents: - Treball bibliogràfic comentat sobre el tema de la propiocepció i les diferències individuals i la importància per a la salut humana i la qualitat de vida que es realitza per primera vegada i es pot utilitzar per a una comprensió més àmplia a l'hora de realitzar futures investigacions i aplicacions (treballs terapèutics i educatius més eficaços). La informació recollida es pot utilitzar i adaptar per formar part del programa formatiu, especialment en les facultats de psicologia, pedagogia i neurologia. - S'ha realitzat una breu descripció de la conducta motora fina en diferents cultures: Àrab, (que té l'hàbit d'escriure en una altra direcció que a Occident) i Bielorussa (per a aquests últims, alguns resultats es donen amb relació als paràmetres físics i verbals) que es representa a la part inicial del tesis. - L'estudi de les diferències propioceptives dependents de l'edat, basades en la conducta motora fina, en 196 participants 12-95 anys d'edat, que va permetre constatar que la funció polinòmica era la millor opció per a la descripció de l'evolució de la reproducció de la longitud de línia de traços en els moviments frontals i transversals. - Es va constatar que la funció de propiocepció era la primera que empitjorava en la precisió amb l'augment de l'edat abans de l'empitjorament de la funció integradora realitzada per les dues entrades sensorials (propioceptiva i visual); - Es posen de manifest les edats crucials per als canvis propioceptius dependents de l'edat; els resultats per primera vegada donen el suport experimental de l’edat de la crisi de l’edat mitjana (aprox. 40 anys). - S'han analitzat i discutit les diferències de sexe i la interacció sexe per edat; - S’ha fet anàlisi correlacional entre precisió motora fina i la velocitat en dues condicions sensorials del test. - Es dona en la part final de la tesi la descripció de les aplicacions dels resultats de la tesi i els interessos potencials de la investigació futura en l'àrea de la propiocepció i les diferències individuals.
Esta tesis doctoral contribuye tanto a la sintonización del material bibliográfico, revisado de fuentes originales, escrito en diferentes idiomas (a veces desconocidos en la comunidad científica a nivel internacional, ya que no fueron publicadas en inglés) como a la investigación científica con los resultados de las investigaciones experimentales, llevadas a cabo en el Laboratorio Mira y López de la Universidad de Barcelona, en el estudio empírico de las diferencias individuales en la propiocepción, basadas en el comportamiento motor fino. El objetivo principal teórico de este trabajo es mostrar la importancia de la propiocepción, como base de las diferencias individuales, para la salud humana y la calidad de vida. La mayor parte del trabajo experimental se basa en la constatación de las diferencias individuales en la motricidad fina propioceptiva relacionadas con el sexo y la edad que permite analizar y entender esas diferencias en el comportamiento humano. Cuando la autocorrección de la conducta no es posible (la persona no ve los trazos de sus movimientos en la parte propioceptiva del test), la expresión grafomotora refleja las cualidades intrínsecas de cada persona, basadas en factores biológicos, o endógenos, específicos del sistema nervioso y la conducta adaptativa, aprendidas en sus propias experiencias con las interacciones ambientales. Los trabajos experimentales se han realizado con el uso del Diagnóstico Propioceptivo de Temperamento y el Carácter o DP-TC, en abreviatura española (Tous, Muiños, Tous, O. y Tous, R., 2012), que es el resultado más reciente de muchos años de trabajo dentro de la línea de la tradición del Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético (PMK) de Mira y López. El DP-TC es el resultado de la digitalización y validación estadística de los subtests correspondientes a los lineogramas y las paralelas del PMK. Mediante este software especial, el comportamiento grafomotor fino (precisión y velocidad) puede ser registrado y medido; ya que permite transformar las medidas en milímetros, del sistema métrico, a píxeles. Para el estudio de las diferencias individuales se utilizaron diferentes tipos de movimiento: frontal, transversal y sagital, con ambas manos por separado y dos condiciones sensoriales: propioceptiva-visual (PV), donde se puede observar la función de integración de ambas condiciones sensoriales y solamente propioceptiva (P) donde se puede observar la información propioceptiva en la conducta motora fina. Los estudios experimentales fueron sobre las diferencias individuales en el sexo y la edad, aunque se da también, al final de esta tesis, un breve resumen de otros estudios -algunos transculturales- que muestran la relación de la información propioceptiva con la emoción y la cognición. Las principales contribuciones de este trabajo son los siguientes: - Trabajo bibliográfico comentado sobre el tema de la propiocepción y las diferencias individuales y la importancia para la salud humana y la calidad de vida de estos estudios que se realiza por primera vez y se puede utilizar para una comprensión más amplia a la hora de realizar futuras investigaciones y aplicaciones (trabajos terapéuticos y educativos más eficaces) que se puede utilizar y adaptar para formar de un parte programa formativo, especialmente en las facultades de psicología, pedagogía y neurología. - Se ha realizado una breve descripción de la conducta motora fina en diferentes culturas: Árabe, (que tiene el hábito de escribir en otra dirección que en Occidente) y Bielorrusa (para estos últimos, algunos resultados se dan con relación a los parámetros físicos y verbales) que se representa en la parte inicial de la tesis. - El estudio de las diferencias propioceptivas dependientes de la edad, basadas en la conducta motora fina, en 196 participantes 12 a 95 años de edad, que permitió constatar que la función polinómica era la mejor opción para la descripción de la evolución de la reproducción del tamaño (longitud de línea de trazos) en los movimientos frontales y transversales. - Se constató que la función de propiocepción la primera que empeora en la precisión con el aumento de la edad antes del empeoramiento de la función integradora realizada por las dos entradas sensoriales (propioceptiva y visual); - Se ponen de manifiesto las edades cruciales para los cambios propioceptivos dependientes de la edad; por la primera vez experimentalmente se justifican las fases de desarrollo y de la crisis de edad media en la base de propiocepción. - Se han analizado y discutido las diferencias de sexo y la interacción sexo por edad. - Las aplicaciones prácticas de los resultados derivados de la tesis y los intereses potenciales de la investigación futura en el área de la propiocepción y las diferencias individuales están representados en la parte final del manuscrito.
Кандидатская диссертация на тему «Возрастные и половые различия в проприоцепции на основе исследования тонкой моторики» даёт детальный анализ библиографического материала, собранного из первоисточников, написанных на различных языках (иногда неизвестных в научном международном сообществе, так как не были опубликованы на английском языке); а также научных исследований, выводов и результатов экспериментальных работ, выполненныхв Лаборатории Мира Лопес Барселонского Университета Барселоны на темы, связанные с индивидуальными различиями в проприоцепции на основе проявлений тонкой моторики. Основной целью данной работы является показать важность изучения проприоцептивного чувства в исследовании индивидуальных различий, так и в связи с исследованием здоровья человека и качества жизни. Большинство экспериментальных работ, представленных в диссертации, связаны с половыми и возрастными индивидуальными различиями в проявлении тонкой моторики; таким образом, результаты этих работ позволяют проанализировать и понять эти индивидуальные различия. В проприоцептивной части теста самостоятельная коррекция моторного акта на основе зрительного контроля невозможна. В связи с этим характеристика этих движений отражает индивидуальные качества каждого человека, формирующихся как на основе биологических (эндогенных факторов или специфических свойств нервной системы), так и на базе адаптивно усвоенного поведения (его собственного опыта, полученного в результате взаимодействия с окружающей средой). Экспериментальная работа проводилась с использованием новейшей проприоцептивной диагностики, которая является результатом многих лет работы в традициях миокинетической психодиагностики (MKP) Мира и Лопеса, Проприоцептивная Диагностика Темперамента и Характера или DP-TC в испанской аббревиатуре (Tous, Muiños, Tous, О.,Tous, R., 2012). DP-TC возник как результат применения новейших технологий (компьютеров и тактильных экранов), а также статистической проверки MKP, линеограмм и параллелей. Таким образом, с помощью специального программного обеспечения, мелкое графомоторное поведение (точность и скорость) может быть зарегистрировано, измерено и преобразовано в метрическую систему: с пикселей в миллиметры. Для изучения индивидуальных различий были использованы различные типы движения: фронтальный, трансверсальный и сагиттальной, обе руки и два сенсорных условия: проприоцептивно-визуальное (PV), с интегральной опорой на проприоцептивную и сенсорную афферентацию, и с опорой только на проприоцептивную афферентацию (P). Экспериментальные исследования были трансверсального типа и анализировали главным образом половые и возрастные индивидуальные различия. Также в диссертации приводится обзор данных других исследований, показывающих взаимосвязь показателей проприоцепции с эмоциями и познавательной сферой (памятью). Основные результаты этой работы: - анализ литературы по теме «Проприоцепция и индивидуальные различия, и ее значение для здоровья человека и качества жизни», который характеризуется теоретической новизной и большой практической значимостью (для более эффективных терапевтической и воспитательной работы), данный анализ литературы может быть с успехом использован при разработке образовательных программ, особенно для психологических, педагогических и неврологических факультетов; - краткое описание проявлений тонкой моторики в разных культурах: арабской (где практикуется письмо справа налево, в отличие от письма в западной культуре) и Беларуси (для последних некоторые результаты приведены вместе с корреляционным анализом взаимосвязи проприоцептивного метода с вербальными методиками и другими физическими параметрами) представлено в начальной части диссертации; - исследование возрастных различий в проприоцептивной функции на основе проявлений тонкой моторики, в котором приняли участие 196 испытуемых в возрасте от 12 до 95 лет, результаты которого показали, что полиномиальная функция наилучшим образом подходила для длины линий (трассировки длины линии) во фронтальных и трансверсальных движениях; - было показано, что проприоцептивная функция начинала ухудшаться первой с увеличением возраста по сравнению с интегративной функцией (проприоцептивно-визуальной); - критические точки (точки перегиба) возраста для возрастных изменений были показаны впервые экспериментально, что также в некоторой степени соответствует обозначенному возрасту кризиса середины жизни (около 40 лет) и другим фазам развития; - обсуждены и проанализированы половые и поло-возрастные различия тонкой моторики; - предоставлен корреляционный анализ зависимости точности тонкой моторики и скорости выполнения задания в двух сенсорных условиях теста; - практические применения результатов и перспективы дальнейших исследований в области проприоцепции и индивидуальных различий рассмотрены в заключительной части диссертации.

Movement is central for life, and all animals depend on accurate regulation of movement for purposeful behavior. There is great diversity of movements, ranging between simple and vital breathing movements to minute and subtle movements of the face used to communicate emotions. Consequently, motor neurons, which are the only route of central nervous system output, are essential for all motor behaviors. To control the many motor behaviors expressed by an animal, motor neurons are exposed to a large number and variety of modulating synaptic inputs and have evolved into subtypes with specific functions. In this thesis, motor neuron subtypes and the synaptic input to motor neurons from Renshaw cells and Ia afferents have been studied. Novel molecular markers that identify subtypes of motor neurons are described. Three markers, Chodl, Calca and ERRβ, have been used to study the degeneration of subtypes of motor neurons in a mouse model of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Another marker, 5-ht1d, has been used to record the electrophysiological character of gamma motor neurons. In mice that lack 5-ht1d, motor neurons develop with reduced proprioceptive input. Remarkably, these mice had fewer foot faults than control animals when challenged to cross a narrow beam suggesting that the amplitude of monosynaptic proprioceptive input to motor neurons is not essential for motor coordination. In a final set of experiments, genetic removal of vesicular transport of neurotransmitter from Renshaw cells suggest that Renshaw cells are not integral for motor circuit function or motor behaviors. However, they are involved in the development of motor circuits in the spinal cord. Together, this thesis provides novel molecular tools for studies of motor neuron subtypes and novel data regarding the development and function of spinal motor circuits.

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, May, 2020
Cataloged from the official PDF of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 69-72).
Over the past decade, the development of soft robots has significantly progressed. Today, soft robots have a variety of usages in multiple fields, ranging from surgical robotics to prostheses to human-robot interaction. These robots are more versatile, adaptable, safe, robust, and dexterous than their conventional rigid-body counterparts. However, due to their high-dimensionality and flexibility, they still lack a quintessential human ability: the ability to accurately perceive themselves and the environment around them. To maximize their effectiveness, soft robots should be equipped with both proprioception and exteroception that can capture this intricate high-dimensionality. In this thesis, an embedded vision-based sensor, which can capture richly detailed information, is utilized to concurrently perceive proprioception and tactile sensing. Three proprioceptive methods are implemented: dot pose tracking, lookup table, and deep learning.
Although dot pose tracking (average 0.54 mm RMSE) and the lookup table (0.91 mm accumulative distance error) both have accurate proprioception results, they are impractical to implement and easily influenced by outside parameters. As such, the deep learning method for soft finger proprioception was implemented for the GelFlex, a novel highly underactuated exoskeleton-covered soft finger with embedded cameras. The GelFlex has the ability to perform both proprioception and tactile sensing and upon assembly into a two-finger robotic gripper, was able to successfully perform a bar stock classification task, which requires both types of sensing. The proprioception CNN was extremely accurate on the testing set (99% accuracy where all angles were within 1° error) and had an average accumulative distance error of 0.77 mm during live testing, which is better than human finger proprioception (8.0 cm ±1.0 cm error).
Overall, these techniques allow soft robots to be able to perceive their own shape and the surrounding environment, enabling them to potentially solve various everyday manipulation tasks.
by Sandra Q. Liu.
S.M.
S.M. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005.
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 91 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems and the leading cause of disability globally. Impaired proprioception was believed to be a potential mechanism of development and maintenance of low back pain. Studies involving people with low back pain have predominantly investigated the alteration of lumbar proprioception, with little exploration on the features of proprioception and its association with low back pain. The aim of this thesis was to interrogate the link between proprioception and low back pain in people with low back pain. Four studies were conducted to answer specific questions around this aim. The first study was a systematic review with meta-analysis which was conducted to determine the relationship between lumbar proprioception and low back pain and disability by pooling data from published studies or theses that measured proprioception and pain or disability in people with low back pain. The results of meta-analyses demonstrated that lumbar proprioceptive performance was not significantly associated with either levels of pain or disability in people with low back pain. The second study, a cross-sectional study, examined whether proprioception at adjacent peripheral joints to lumbar spine is also affected and whether there is a more generalized impairment of proprioception in people with low back pain by comparing proprioception at peripheral joints between people with and without low back pain. The results showed that there was no proprioception impairment in both adjacent (hip) and remote (elbow) peripheral joints in people with low back pain when compared with asymptomatic controls, suggesting an absence of central mechanisms. The third study was a longitudinal study that investigated whether the differences in proprioception observed between people with and without low back pain remained stable with repeated measurements or whether a training effect diminished the differences. The results revealed that where present, significant baseline differences between people with and without low back pain did not persist over repeated measurements. The impact of potential proprioception impairment on motor control of walking in people with low back pain was tested in a fourth study by comparing the means and variations of gait parameters across gait cycles between people with and without low back pain. The results demonstrated that expected alterations in gait parameters that would arise from proprioception deficits were not shown in people with low back pain. Overall, the body of findings in this thesis may suggest that proprioception does not play a significant role in low back pain and questions the rationale of inclusion of proprioception training in low back pain rehabilitation.

Swallowing is a neurologically centrally driven event; however, a variety of sensory factors (e.g., bolus volume) have been shown to influence swallow-related events (e.g., swallow apnea duration). External factors (e.g., proprioception) have been previously shown to influence preparatory swallow movements (e.g., mouth opening). Yet, it is not known whether these external factors may influence the more automatic components of swallowing. This study was designed to determine whether proprioception influences the onset of swallow apnea. Participants (N = 14, Mage = 25.71 years) were presented with bites/sips of applesauce and water during self and assisted feeding conditions. Results indicated that proprioception had no impact on the timing of swallow apnea onset, supporting that swallow apnea is a centrally driven event. By gaining a better understanding of the physiological impact assisted feeding has on individuals, we can best serve individuals who rely on feeding assistance and optimize swallow safety across all populations.

Ren and colleagues (2006) found that saccades to visual targets became less accurate when somatosensory information about hand location was added, suggesting that saccades rely mainly on vision. We conducted two kinematic experiments to examine whether or not reaching movements would also show such strong reliance on vision. In Experiment 1, subjects used their dominant right hand to perform reaches, with or without a delay, to an external visual target or to their own left fingertip positioned either by the experimenter or by the participant. Unlike saccades, reaches became more accurate and precise when proprioceptive information was available. In Experiment 2, subjects reached toward external or bodily targets with differing amounts of visual information. Proprioception improved performance only when vision was limited. Our results indicate that reaching movements, unlike saccades, are improved rather than impaired by the addition of somatosensory information.

Ren and colleagues (2006) found that saccades to visual targets became less accurate when somatosensory information about hand location was added, suggesting that saccades rely mainly on vision. We conducted two kinematic experiments to examine whether or not reaching movements would also show such strong reliance on vision. In Experiment 1, subjects used their dominant right hand to perform reaches, with or without a delay, to an external visual target or to their own left fingertip positioned either by the experimenter or by the participant. Unlike saccades, reaches became more accurate and precise when proprioceptive information was available. In Experiment 2, subjects reached toward external or bodily targets with differing amounts of visual information. Proprioception improved performance only when vision was limited. Our results indicate that reaching movements, unlike saccades, are improved rather than impaired by the addition of somatosensory information.

Shoulder complaints constitute a significant portion of primary care visits each year in the US, costing $7 billion in annual medical treatment. Shoulder complaints arise from some type of trauma caused by muscle imbalances, proprioception, overuse, anatomical or a combination of these factors. More than two thirds of complaints involve the rotator cuff. Literature regarding shoulder mechanics and proprioception is mixed and with contradictory results. This may be the reason for the high incidence and low success rate in treating shoulder complaints. Here the contributions of the supraspinatus muscle to humeral elevation, and shoulder proprioception are investigated. The results of this dissertation are applicable to developing shoulder injury treatment and preventative strategies, computational shoulder models, and understanding proprioception at the shoulder. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2005
Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 101 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

More young people are participating in organised sport, due to growing physical activity promotion programmes. This may increase the risk of injury in adolescents. The rate of injury in football, in particular at a professional level has increased. There is a lack of literature in Scottish youth football in different aspects of sports injuries. There is a need in sports medicine for a static and dynamic standing balance and proprioception tests to quantify balance ability in adolescents. Although there are many studies focussing on the risk of falls in the elderly there are few studies of balance and measures of proprioception and muscle strength in young and adolescent sports participants. Young football players were selected as the target population of these studies, because of the growing number of young participants in this popular sport, as well as the vulnerability of this group to sports injury during their growth. Knee injuries commonly occur during sports activity. The consequences of ACL injury, in particular, are more serious and costly compared to the injuries of other joints. Football players suffer from an increased of knee injuries. In various stages of rehabilitation of the injured athlete after ACL injury a sensitive method of evaluation is required to identify neuromuscular impairment. This thesis reflects the results of four studies on different aspects of sports injury. The first study, the retrospective epidemiology section, looked at the prevalence of sports injury in youth football players, using a self administered questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The focus of the research was football related injuries, which happened during the season 2002-2003. The subjects of this study were 221 young Scottish football players aged between 12 and 19 years old. The second or reproducibility study was designed to examine whether the results from one of the main equipment tools utilised in this study were reproducible and consistent. This part of the study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability of one tester dynamic unipedal and bipedal balance in two groups of youth football players and young active adults. A group of healthy active adults (over 19 years old) participated in the first part and a group of younger adults (under 19 years old) participated in the second part of the reproducibility study. The extension to the second study was designed to compare balance and strength in professional and non-professional players and non-football players.

Thesis: Ph. D., Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, 2018.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 86-94).
Humans have the ability to precisely sense the position, speed, and torque of their body parts. This sense is known as proprioception, and is essential to human motor control. In the many attempts to create human-mechatronic interactions, there is still no robust, repeatable methodology to reflect proprioceptive information from a synthetic device onto the nervous system. As a solution to this shortcoming, I present the agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI). The AMI is comprised of 1) a surgical construct made up of two muscle-tendons - an agonist and an antagonist - surgically connected in series so that contraction of one muscle stretches the other, and 2) a bi-directional efferent-afferent neural control architecture. The AMI preserves dynamic muscle relationships that exist within native anatomy, thereby allowing proprioceptive signals from biological sensors within both muscles to be communicated to the central nervous system. Each AMI is designed to send control signals to one joint of a prosthesis, and to provide proprioceptive feedback pertaining to the movement of that joint. The doctoral work presented in this thesis constitutes the pre-clinical and early clinical validation of the AMI. The AMI concept is first described and validated in small (murine) and large (caprine) pre-clinical models. A detailed surgical methodology for implementation of the AMI during primary below-knee amputation is then described and evaluated in three human patients. Characterization of independent neural control of prosthetic joint position and impedance is presented for one AMI patient, as compared to a group of four persons with traditional amputation. Data are shown evidencing improved volitional control over the prosthesis in the AMI patient, as well as an emergence of natural reflexive behaviors during stair ambulation that do not exist in the traditional amputation cohort. These results provide a framework for reconsidering the integration of bionic systems with human physiology.
by Tyler R. Clites.
Ph. D.

This report covers the design research process and results of the 9-week Thesis Project I.A hands-on, Research Through Design approach led the project through an iterative process with a focus on creating functional prototypes and validation with experts to answer the research question: How could proprioceptive wearable technology assist in improving the quality of life for patients of Parkinson’s Disease? Within this main question, focus points have been placed on designing for comfort (i.e. wearability) and well-being with attention to aesthetics. The project builds upon the theories of Design for well-being, Embodied Interaction and Wearable technology and is supported by research on proprioception, Parkinson’s Disease, postural instability and sensory stimuli. The result is a series of models, sketches and prototypes and this report covering the process. The final concept and prototype is a system that monitors upper body posture and provides vibro-tactile feedback on strategically placed areas of the body to guide the patient towards the desired posture.

Bakgrund: Proprioception involverar bland annat förmågan att uppfatta var ens kroppsdelar befinner sig utan att behöva titta på dem, detta är en viktig del av handfunktionen. Tidigare studier har jämfört träning på stabilt underlag mot träning på instabilt underlag och vad detta har för effekt på fotledens proprioception. Effekten av hur de olika träningstyperna påverkar handleden är mindre studerat. I denna pilotstudie undersöks två olika träningsmetoder för handen, en stabil träningsform (Powergrip**) och en instabil träningsform (Powerball). Syfte: Undersöka effekten på proprioception och greppstyrka av träning med Powergrip respektive Powerball. Metodansats: Fjorton friska personer, 18 år eller äldre, delades in i två grupper, gruppindelningen skedde delvis slumpmässigt. Före och efter träningsperioden utfördes positionsinnestest för handledsproprioception och styrketest med handdynamometer för greppstyrka. Träningsperioden pågick fyra veckor och innehöll totalt 12 träningstillfällen, endast den dominanta handen tränades. Resultat: Inga stora skillnader framkom mellan grupperna i positionsinnestestet och styrketestet. Tendenser indikerar att positionssinnestestet och greppstyrketestet förbättrades för den tränade handen, men inte den icke-tränade handen för både Powerball och Powergrip. Powergripgruppen fick jämfört med powerballgruppen något större förbättring i styrketestet för tränade handen. Konklusion: Denna pilotstudie indikerar tendenser till förbättrad proprioception och styrkeökning för tränade handen, men inga eller små skillnader mellan grupperna. Framtida studier med fler deltagare behövs för att statistiskt kunna analysera eventuella skillnader inom och mellan grupperna. Framtida studier bör även inkludera personer med nedsatt handfunktion för att utvärdera träningseffekter vid rehabilitering.

Application of pressure in the form of taping and bracing has been shown to improve proprioception, and inducing localized muscle fatigue at various musculatures has been shown to adversely affect postural control. However, the potential for pressure application to mitigate the effects of localized muscle fatigue on postural control has not yet been determined. This study investigated specifically the effects of circumferential ankle pressure (CAP) and induced ankle fatigue on postural control. Fourteen young participants (seven males and seven females) performed fatiguing sub-maximal isotonic plantar flexion exercises on an isokinetic dynamometer, in the absence and presence of a pressure cuff (60 mm Hg) used to apply CAP. Proprioceptive acuity (PA) was determined using a passive-active joint position sense test, with categorical scores (low or high PA) used as a covariate. Postural sway during quiet standing was assessed using a force platform both pre- and post-fatigue as well as in the absence and presence of CAP. Application of CAP resulted in larger postural sway in individuals with low PA, and reduced postural sway in individuals with high PA. Fatigue effects on postural sway in individuals with low PA were more substantial as compared to individuals with high PA. CAP was found to be ineffective in mitigating the effects of fatigue on postural sway in individuals with lower PA. As a whole, the results suggest a potential for CAP as an ergonomic intervention in controlling fatigue-related fall incidents, though conclusive recommendations for use are not justified.
Master of Science

Une lésion corticale hémisphérique peut entrainer des troubles distincts en fonction du côté de la lésion : troubles du langage pour l'atteinte de l'hémisphère gauche ou difficultés à tenir debout lorsque c'est l'hémisphère droit qui est atteint. Nous avons fait l'hypothèse que l'hémisphère droit serait associé à une intégration des informations proprioceptives plus pertinente dans le but de contrôler notre posture bipodale. Nous avons donc perturbé ces informations par l'utilisation de vibrations tendineuses et observé les réactions posturales induites pour différents groupes (sujets jeunes, âgés et patients hémiparétiques). Nos résultats démontrent l'utilisation préférentielle de ces informations sensorielles par l'hémisphère droit, dans la gestion et l'organisation posturale au niveau spatial et multi-segmentaire. L'utilisation de ces stimulations proprioceptives pourrait être un facteur important dans la prise en charge thérapeutique de certaines populations pathologiques
A cortical injury leads to some distinct trouble depending on the injured side; speech and language troubles when the left brain is damaged or standing difficulties when the right brain is injured. Our hypothesis was that the right brain hemisphere permitted a more pertinent integration of proprioceptive information to control the upright position. We perturbed the proprioceptive information with tendon vibration and we observed the induced postural reactions for several groups (young and senior adults, stroke patients). Our results show that proprioceptive information is better processed by the right hemisphere, reflected by control and postural organization at spatial and multi-segmental levels. Proprioceptive stimulations may be an important tool for the rehabilitation of several pathological populations

Nos travaux de thèse se situent à l’interface entre la recherche fondamentale en neuroscience et ses applications cliniques dans le domaine de la chirurgie réparatrice des membres. Nous nous sommes intéressés au Syndrome Douloureux Régional Complexe de type I caractérisé par l’occurrence d’un état douloureux chronique et d’une perte sévère de mobilité segmentaire. Cette affection, dont l’incidence clinique est élevée, reste à ce jour largement incomprise dans ses mécanismes physiopathologiques et les moyens de traitement disponibles sont d’une efficacité limitée. Dans ce cadre, nous avons d’abord développé une méthodologie de traitement non médicamenteux des deux principaux symptômes de l’algodystrophie que sont la douleur chronique et la mobilité articulaire et validé leur efficacité thérapeutique sur une population de patients.La méthode s’appuie sur les propriétés physiologiques des vibrations mécaniques transcutanées et des vibrations tendineuses qui sont de puissants activateurs des mécanorécepteurs cutanés et proprioceptifs musculaires. L’activation isolée ou conjointe de ces deux canaux sensoriels permet tout à la fois de générer une antalgie puissante et durable et d’améliorer de façon significative la mobilité articulaire. Nous avons ensuite recherché les mécanismes responsables de ces effets. L’utilisation d’un modèle de douleur expérimentale nous a alors permis de montrer que la réduction importante et durable de la douleur générée par les vibrations a une origine à la fois tactile et proprioceptive musculaire, et que ses mécanismes d’action affectent à la fois la transmission médullaire des informations nociceptives et leur traitement central. D’un point de vue théorique nos résultats suggèrent que les afférences proprioceptives cutanées et musculaires contribuent au contrôle des phénomènes douloureux et que les flux afférents proprio-tactile contribuent à la préservation des propriétés fonctionnelles des réseaux centraux responsables de la représentation et de la commande du mouvement
This thesis tends to deal with both the aspects of neuroscience fundamental research and its possible clinical applications in limbs’ reconstructive surgery. We focused our attention on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I characterized by a chronic pain syndrome associated with a severe loss of segmental mobility. This particular disorder, with a high incidence has been to this day ratherly impenetrable regarding its physiological mechanisms, furthermore available treatments have a limited efficiency.For the matter, we first developed a non-drug therapeutic approach targeting toward algodystrophy two mains symptoms, which are chronic pain and articular mobility loss and monitored its efficiency on a patients’ population.The method is based on the physiological properties of both the tendons vibrations and trancutaneous mechanical vibrations, which are powerful activators of skin’s mechanoreceptors and muscular proprioceptive mechanoreceptors. Isolated or concomitant activation of both those sensorial chanels enables a powerful and lasting analgesic effect along with a significant improvement of the articular mobility.Afterwards, we searched for possible mechanisms behind those outcomes. Using an experimental pain model we were able to show that the significant and lasting reduction of pain endured due to the vibrations comes from afferent messages of tactile and muscular proprioceptive origin, acting both on medullar transmission of the nociceptive inputs and their central processing.From a theoretical perspective, our results suggest that cutaneous and muscular proprioceptive afferences are part of the control process of pain phenomenon and, that afferent proprio-tactile flux contribute to maintaining functional properties of central networks in charge of movement representation and command