Browsing by Author "Mendes, Joaquim"
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- Conductive ink vs force sensing resistors in plantar pressure soles: WalkinSense®, MyCareShoe® and DIAPODALPublication . Morales, Isabel; Martins, Pedro; Silva, Carolina; Marques, Arcelina; Mendes, Joaquim; Simini, FrancoWe compare plantar pressure data obtained by MyCareShoe® (nine sensors), which uses a proprietary variable resistance conductive ink with DIAPODAL (eight sensors), which utilizes standard force sensing resistors. Both sys tems are then compared to WalkinSense®, a well established pressure system that uses eight force sensing piezoresistors. Our objective is to validate the pressure measurements of DIAPODAL. The assessment protocol consisted of different combinations of the three sensing systems (Test 1 to Test 5). We repeated six times of eight steps each, taken by a healthy volunteer. We analized the signals of the eight common loca tions of the three systems. We detected plantar pressure peaks and calculated the pressure time integral. The pressure for DIAPODAL ranged from 43 to 477 kPa, and the pressure time integral from 75 to 375 kPas over the tests. The equivalence of MyCareShoe® and DIAPODAL with WalkinSense®, taken as the standard for peak plantar pressure measurements was found to be 34% for MyCareShoe® and 69% for DIAPODAL. Considering pressure time integral, the equivalence was 92% to DIAPODAL and 68% to MyCareShoe® which confirm consistency. Record ing of simultaneous plantar soles WalkinSense®/ MyCareShoe® and WalkinSense®/DIAPODAL was consistent for repeatability and linearity (Pearson correlation coefficient, > 0.85 in 80% of the eight-stride series). These findings confirm equivalence between force sensing resistors and conductive ink for pressure measurements. A reliable pressure distribution pattern at 100 Hz can therefore be used as basic information to design a multi variable approach to detect foot conditions by means of real time step detection.
- Home-based virtual reality exercise program during the maintenance stage of cardiac rehabilitation: A randomized controlled trialPublication . Vieira, Ágata; Melo, Cristina; Noites, Andreia; Machado, Jorge; Mendes, JoaquimHome-based virtual reality technology may become an alternative to cardiac rehabilitation. To evaluate the effects of a specific, home-based exercise program, performed either through a virtual reality (Kinect) or a conventional format (booklet) in the maintenance stage of cardiac rehabilitation for six months on functional muscle strength of the lower limbs, physical activity and exercise tolerance. This is a randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT02753829) with individuals with coronary artery disease from a hospital in Porto, Portugal, randomly allocated to an experimental group “1” (EG1; n = 11), submitted to a virtual reality exercise program (Kinect); an experimental group “2” (EG2; n = 11), submitted to an exercise program described in a booklet (conventional format); or a control group (CG) (n=11), submitted to routine care. Parameters of functional muscle strength of the lower limbs (sit-to-stand test), physical activity (accelerometer) and exercise tolerance (stress test) were assessed and compared between the groups. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, with 95% with a significance level of 0.05. Significant improvements in functional muscle strength of the lower limbs were observed in EG1 compared to EG2, at three months (19.5 ± 7.7 versus 11.9 ± 4.7, p = 0.042), and at six months (23.0 ± 7.7 versus 14.6 ± 4.6, p = 0.027) of intervention. The program did not demonstrate superior results, in relation to the control group and among the different formats, in physical activity and effort tolerance. In relation to the functional muscle strength of the lower limbs, the virtual reality format showed significantly better results when compared to the conventional format only.