Measuring breathing rates without a mouthpiece is of interest in clinical settings. Electrocardiogram devices and, more recently, optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) methods can estimate breathing rates with only a few electrodes or motion-capture markers placed on the patient. This study estimated and compared the accuracy and reliability of three non-invasive devices: an OEP system with 12 markers, an electrocardiogram device and the conventional spirometer. Using the three devices simultaneously, we recorded 72 six-minute epochs on supine subjects. Our results show that the OEP system has a very low limit of agreement and a bias lower than 0.4% compared with the spirometer, indicating that these devices can be used interchangeably. We observed comparable results for electrocardiogram devices. The OEP system facilitates breathing rate measurements and offers a more complete chest-lung volume analysis that can be easily associated with heart rate analysis without any synchronisation process, for useful features for clinical applications and intensive care.

Introduction: Standard osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT) is used as a supportive care for pain management in cancer patients. Objectives: The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of OMT with that of a sham treatment to attenuate pain in cancer patients in a palliative care unit. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was a simple blind, monocentric, placebo-controlled study. Seventy-five patients were randomly distributed between standard and sham OMT sessions at a 1:1 ratio, receiving standard or sham treatment every 2 days for the 7 days of the study. Patients were assessed using a self-administered visual analog scale (VAS)—ranging from 0 to 100, recorded in the morning and evening. They also completed the QLQ-C15-PAL quality-of-life questionnaire on the first and last day of the study. For participants with controlled analgesia pumps, the number of analgesic doses was recorded. Results: The OMT group demonstrated a significant effect of days, circadian period, and group on VAS pain decrease (P < 0.05). The VAS pain score for the OMT group exhibited a notable decline from the third day (D3 pm) (P = 0.03) to D6 pm (P = 1.28 × 10⁻⁰⁵) with 43.2% improvement by the conclusion of the study. On D6, the quality-of-life score exhibited a tendency towards improvement. Patients with analgesia pumps showed a 31.58% reduction in their demand for analgesics (P = 0.016). No significant results were observed between D0 and D3. Conclusion: It is hypothesized that OMT could prove an efficacious method of pain management in cancer patients receiving palliative care, in addition to conventional cancer treatment.

The maximal total power (P_max) is one of the major determinants of sprint performance. It can be calculated using a simple model based on the runner’s velocity. This velocity has already been measured with force plates, video cameras or a radar system, but not with an inertial system. The purpose of this study was to compare P_max measured with a radar system and with a multiple inertial sensors system. Seven participants (174.0 ± 6.9 cm; 67.7 ± 10.1 kg; 22.3 ± 1.7 years) realized two maximal 40-m sprints. Each athlete was equipped with an instrumented suit composed of 17 inertial measurement units (IMU) (Xsens), and a radar (Stalker ATS) was placed behind them. Both systems measured the athletes’ instantaneous horizontal velocity during the acceleration phase. Using an exponential model, P_max, maximal velocity (V_max), the slope of the exponential model (τ), maximal force (F₀) and the slope of the force, the velocity relationship (SFV) was calculated. The results showed that P_max, V_max, τ, F₀ and SFV were not significantly different between the radar and the Xsens system (p > 0.13). P_max, V_max and F₀ measured with the radar were correlated with the same parameters measured with Xsens (r > 0.81 and p ≤ 0.03). The IMU system can be accurately used to measure the main parameters that determine the sprint running performance: P_max, V_max and F₀. Moreover, contrary to the radar system, multiple inertial sensors will allow for an understanding of the role of the segments in maximal sprint running.

People with intellectual disability (ID) are often subject to motor impairments such as altered gait. As gait is a task involving motor and perceptive dimensions, perceptual-motor training is an efficient rehabilitation approach to reduce the risk of falls which grows with age. Virtual, augmented, and mixed reality are recent tools which enable interaction with 3D elements at different levels of immersion and interaction. In view of the countless possibilities that this opens, their use for therapeutic purposes is constantly increasing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence a mixed reality activity could have on motor and cognitive abilities in eighteen adults with intellectual disability. For three months, once a week, they had around 20 min to pop virtual balloons with a finger using a Microsoft HoloLens2^® head-mounted mixed-reality device. Motor skills were assessed through gait analysis and cognitive abilities were measured with the Montréal Cognitive Assessment. Both walking speed and cognitive score increased after training. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that mixed reality holds potential to get used for therapeutic purposes in adults with ID.

This case report seeks to evaluate the effects of an osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) management and the advantages of optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) for the quantification and description of asymmetrical chest wall motions associated with quality of life in a mild scoliosis patient (Cobb angle <30°). A 72-year-old woman diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis received three OMT associated with respiratory exercises in between treatment sessions. Respiratory kinematics and volumes were measured before and after each OMT session using OEP. Subjective patient's quality of life was estimated by completion of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) before the first and after the third interventions. The OEP method assessed an asymmetrical motion of the pulmonary rib cage (RCP) and abdominal rib cage (RCA) between the left and right sides. This chest wall asymmetry seemed to be associated with the direction of the scoliosis deformity. The RCP and RCA asymmetry scores decreased gradually, approaching 0 % after OMT sessions, and their variability also decreased by the end of the protocol. Conversely, quality of life increased for all eight items evaluated, indicating positive effect of OMT in the management of this scoliosis patient who experienced chronic back pains. Results from this single case study bring a promising method to evaluate non pharmacological intervention such as OMT in the management of idiopathic scoliosis patients. OEP is an effective method to evaluate breathing patterns in scoliosis patients and can detect respiratory asymmetries that could not have been objectified by any other method.