Running is a highly physical activity, and it is related to injuries when there is an excessive pronation of the foot. This study evaluates, from a sample group of healthy recreational runners, if the foot tends to pronate after a period of running activity and when, with respect to a period of running compared to walking, evaluated during several phases: after 30, 45, and 60 min. This quasi-experimental study has been carried out on a total of 36 healthy recreational subjects. The subjects were evaluated during two different activities: running activity for a period of an hour with respect to normal walking activity. The main outcome measures were the foot posture index (FPI) and the navicular drop test (NDT), which were evaluated at p1 (the screening day), after 30 min of activity (p2), after 45 min of activity (p3), and finally after 60 min (p4) during running or walking activity. The analysis showed significant differences for the FPI and NDT variables in both groups and on both feet, comparing p1 and p4. These changes showed a significant relationship comparing p1 and p3 for the FPI variable, and for the NDT variable (p < 0.001) of the left foot and, with respect to the right foot, significance was shown to the FPI comparing the p1 and p2. A significant difference was found in the tendency to pronate the foot after a period of running compared to the same period of walking after 60 min of activity. Running produced an excessive pronation of the foot after 45 min of activity, evaluated with the FPI for both feet.
10 October 2010 in The Open Biomedical Engineering Journal
Listening to music elicits a wide range of physiological responses, reflecting its impact on the brain and body. This article explores a low-cost, efficient, and user-friendly design for studying these physiological changes. The presented system focuses on physiological measurement methods to assess emotional responses based on changes mediated by the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic correlation of emotions is generated in response to different stimuli, both pleasant and unpleasant. Specifically, heart rate changes provide information on the autonomic regulation of the subject's affective state in response to specific musical stimuli. The proposed design, which incorporates wearable technology, has enabled improved the capabilities of real-time monitoring and data analysis. This research on a convenient, cost-effective and reliable protocol contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between musical perception and physiological states. From a technological perspective, complete real-time system integration has been achieved for the synchronized capture of physiological variables, applied stimuli, and the emotional state of the participants. This prototype has facilitated the investigation of physiological responses to highly emotional stimuli, including specially music. The results showed that participants exhibited several identifiable cardiac responses, particularly those with a biographical connection to the subject. Therefore, the proposed design could advance research on emotional regulation. It could also improve the design of personalized auditory interventions or music therapy. Finally, designs like the one presented, which include auditory stimuli, could be a simple and low-cost way to assess emotional responses
Background: Pain is a complex experience that significantly impacts on the quality of life of many older adults. Recognizing, assessing, and managing pain in this population is crucial, as untreated or undertreated pain can lead to decreased mobility, social isolation, depression, and overall decline in health. Neurofeedback is a promising noninvasive technique to address these challenges associated with aging using real-time visualizations of brain activity self-regulation. Objectives: The aim of this work is to search for innovative noninvasive tools that may be complementary for the improvement and maintenance of various cognitive abilities (including pain management) in the elderly. To this end, this project proposes the evaluation of a new prototype designed for electronic neurofeedback, using EEG electrodes and biofeedback for the use of binaural tones and their impact on the waves displayed by the EEG could result in a cognitive rehabilitation method that can increase attention or memory by training some aspects of brain activity. Methods: The proposed methodology for use in older people consists of administering binaural auditory stimuli to volunteers of different ages while monitoring brain activity through neurofeedback, with the aim of assessing their influence on neuronal activity and response patterns. The collected signals were processed to facilitate data classification by applying machine learning methods. Results: The use of neurofeedback as a complementary tool in the treatment of older adults as an adjunctive therapy against mild cognitive impairment could aim to improve overall cognitive function and could also be integrated into wellness programs. This seminal project generated a new design of a prototype of a brain-computer interface (BCI) system, developed to facilitate real-time interaction and data analysis during neurofeedback and auditory stimulus experiments. The experimental protocol showed that auditory training, as part of a neurofeedback prototype, could offer a simple and effective self-management tool for older people. By performing auditory exercises, participants demonstrated improved attention, relaxation, and overall mental clarity. Conclusions: Addressing pain in older adults is a public health priority. While neurofeedback for older adults is still emerging and requires further clinical studies, these results highlight the potential of neurofeedback-based auditory training as a viable option to help older populations maintain cognitive health and manage stress, with the added benefit of being accessible and easy to use in daily life.