BACKGROUND To assess the functional donor site morbidity of the forearm free flap in patients surviving at least 2 years after ablative head and neck cancer surgery in a tertiary care centre. METHODS This study involved nine long-term survivors (2 year post-operative) who had forearm free flaps to reconstruct head and neck defects. All flaps were raised from the non-dominant arm. The non-dono...

Hardware-in-the-loop transmission testing requires precise speed and torque tracking of the actuators that emulate the engine and vehicle dynamics. System-inversion-based feedforward controllers offer a solution, but they do not work for non-minimum-phase systems. Preview filters can provide stable approximate inversion of non-minimum-phase systems, but they require future values, which are not...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of a modified isometric dynamometer (MID) in performance deficits of the knee extensor and flexor muscles in normal individuals and in those with ACL reconstructions. METHODS Sixty male subjects were invited to participate of the study, being divided into three groups with 20 subjects each: control group (GC), group...

This study aimed at assessing the efficacy of a physical activity intervention on a group of older elderly individuals living in residential care facilities, in terms of the functionality of their upper limbs, hands, and fingers. It also aimed at determining if the coaches’ level of self-efficacy can contribute to the efficacy of the physical activity program. The project involved 44 institutio...

OBJECTIVE It has been shown that adults with either long-standing type 1 or type 2 diabetes had lower skeletal muscle strength than nondiabetic adults in cross-sectional studies. The aim of the study was to investigate longitudinal changes of muscle mass and strength in community-dwelling older adults with and without type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined leg and arm muscle...

AIM Functional status at one moment in time is a determinant of future functional status and survival. Physical deterioration tends to occur early in the disabling process; however, etiological questions remain. This study investigated the association between physical performance characteristics and functioning independently in middle-aged and elderly men. METHODS A total of 400 independently...

Hyperthyroidism is a pathologic condition in which the body is exposed to excessive amounts of circulating thyroid hormones. Skeletal muscle is one of the major target organs of thyroid hormones. We evaluated hand grip strength and function in patients with overt hyperthyroidism. Fifty-one patients newly diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and 44 healthy controls participated in this study. Age, hei...

Paramedics who perform emergency rescue functions are highly susceptible to musculoskeletal injuries. Through an interview and survey process firefighters, many of whom are cross-trained paramedics in a consortium of 14 suburban fire departments, identified and rated tasks that were perceived to be both strenuous and frequently performed. The objective of the current study was to describe the w...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is traditionally conceptualised as a disorder of movement, but recent data suggest that motivational deficits may be more pervasive than previously thought. Here, we ask whether subclinical deficits in incentivised decision-making are present in PD and, if so, whether dopaminergic therapy ameliorates such deficits. We devised a novel paradigm in which participants decid...

Meniscus degeneration, synovial inflammation, subchondral bone changes, and cartilage loss serve as the best indicators of osteoarthritis (OA). The most prevalent type joint conditions, OA, impairs mobility, lowers quality life, limits participation in social activities. Although pain is primary concern for majority patients, clinical symptoms also include stiffness, discomfort, dysfunct...