Sarcopenic dysphagia is described as difficulty swallowing due to generalized sarcopenia of skeletal muscles and thus swallowing muscles. It is a recently recognized condition. It draws attention due to its important complications. The risk factors of dysphagia include age, history of clinical disease, and physical frailty, including reduced activities of daily living. It is a common syndrome among the elderly and demands multidisciplinary therapeutic interventions, including nutritional support and rehabilitation programs, which are non-invasive but effective methods, mandatory for the best outcome. The prevention, assessment, and intervention methods for sarcopenic dysphagia are very important. Recent studies demonstrate that new concepts in rehabilitation and nutritional support render promising results.
Background: There has been a growing interest in using inertial sensors to explore the temporal aspects of the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. The current study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal parameters and phases of the TUG test in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and compare the results with those of non-arthritic individuals. Methods: This study included 20 patients with KOA and 60 non-arthritic individuals aged 65 to 84 years. All participants performed the TUG test, and 17 spatiotemporal parameters and phase data were collected wirelessly using the BTS G-Walk inertial sensor. Results: Significant mobility impairments were observed in KOA patients, including slower gait speed, impaired sit-to-stand transitions, and reduced turning efficiency. These findings highlight functional deficits in individuals with KOA compared to their non-arthritic counterparts. Conclusions: The results emphasize the need for targeted physiotherapy interventions, such as quadriceps strengthening, balance training, and gait retraining, to address these deficits. However, the study is limited by its small sample size, gender imbalance, and limited validation of the BTS G-Walk device. Future research should include larger, more balanced cohorts, validate sensor reliability, and conduct longitudinal studies. Despite these limitations, the findings align with previous research and underscore the potential of inertial sensors in tailoring rehabilitation strategies and monitoring progress in KOA patients.
Introduction: Intra-articular hip injections are routinely performed under sonographic or fluoroscopic guidance in order to improve accuracy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and accuracy of a hip injection technique that does not require the use of fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance and can be performed in the clinic. A combination of radiographic and anatomic landmarks was used in order to perform the hip injection, based on the use of simple hip radiographs. Methods: In this prospective study 35 patients with hip osteoarthritis or femoroacetabular impingement were included. All patients underwent intra-articular hip joint injection using the technique we describe. The injection location was determined based on measurements performed on hip radiographs using as reference points fixed anatomical landmarks, i.e., the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), the cephalic, and caudal femoral head-neck junctions. The vertical distance between the ASIS and the greater trochanter and the horizontal distance between the two head-neck junctions, and the vertical line were also measured. The accuracy of the injection was assessed using ultrasound examination before and after the injection in order to verify intra-articular fluid injection. Results: Intra-articular hip joint injections using the described non-guided technique were successful in 33 of 35 (94.3%) patients without any complications. Conclusion: Hip injections can be performed with high accuracy without the need for radiological or ultrasound guidance using the described technique. The combination of radiological and anatomical landmarks to perform intra-articular hip injections is safe, cost-effective, and accurate.
Background: Wearable inertial sensors are essential tools in biomechanics and sports science for assessing gait in real-world conditions. This study explored gender-based differences in biomechanical walking patterns among healthy Greek athletes using the BTS G-Walk system, focusing on key gait parameters to inform gender-specific training and rehabilitation strategies. Methods: Ninety-five healthy athletes (55 men, 40 women), aged 18 to 30 years, participated in this study. Each athlete performed a standardized 14 m walk while 17 biomechanical gait parameters were recorded using the BTS G-Walk inertial sensor. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS to assess gender differences and left–right foot symmetry. Results: No significant asymmetry was found between the left and right feet for most gait parameters. Men exhibited longer stride lengths (left: p = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 0.61; right: p = 0.009, Cohen’s d = 0.53) and longer stride and gait cycle durations (left: p = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.52; right: p = 0.025, Cohen’s d = 0.53). Women showed a higher cadence (p = 0.022, Cohen’s d = −0.52) and greater propulsion index (left: p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.71; right: p = 0.001, Cohen’s d = −0.73), as well as a higher percentage of first double support (p = 0.030, Cohen’s d = −0.44). Conclusions: These findings highlight the impact of biological and biomechanical differences on walking patterns, emphasizing the need for gender-specific training and rehabilitation. The BTS G-Walk system proved reliable for gait analysis, with potential for optimizing performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation in athletes. Future research should explore larger, more diverse populations with multi-sensor setups.
There has been a growing interest in the use of inertial sensors to explore the temporal aspects of the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test. The current study aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal parameters and the phases of the TUG test in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) using inertial sensors and to compare the results with those of non-arthritic individuals. The study included 20 patients with KOA and 60 non-arthritic individuals aged 65 to 84 years. All volunteers performed the TUG test and 17 spatiotemporal parameters and phase data were collected wirelessly using the BTS G-Walk inertial sensor. Significant differences were observed between KOA patients and non-arthritic controls, with all but 3 parameters not reaching statistical significance. The results of our study align with findings from similar studies involving diverse patient populations. Our study offers valuable insights into specific characteristics of mobility and functional abilities influenced by KOA, enabling healthcare professionals to develop targeted interventions.