Applied Sciences

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13 pages, 933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Gait Kinematics in Older Adults: Free Walking vs. Nordic Walking with Classic and Mechatronic Poles

by Agnieszka Szpala, Sławomir Winiarski, Małgorzata Kołodziej, Bogdan Pietraszewski, Ryszard Jasiński, Tadeusz Niebudek, Andrzej Lejczak, Karolina Lorek, Jacek Bałchanowski, Sławomir Wudarczyk and Marek Woźniewski

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 3057; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073057 - 5 Apr 2024

Viewed by 449

Abstract

This investigation aimed to scrutinise the kinematic and spatio-temporal characteristics of free and Nordic walking (NW) in older adults, utilising both traditional and biosensor-integrated mechatronic poles. The hypothesis was that including biosensors for gait analysis in NW poles would not disrupt the walking [...] Read more.

This investigation aimed to scrutinise the kinematic and spatio-temporal characteristics of free and Nordic walking (NW) in older adults, utilising both traditional and biosensor-integrated mechatronic poles. The hypothesis was that including biosensors for gait analysis in NW poles would not disrupt the walking pattern of older adults compared to standard poles. The study involved seniors aged 65–74 who were amateur Nordic Walking (NW) practitioners. They were instructed to traverse a 100-m distance three times: without poles, with traditional NW poles, and with mechatronic poles. The MyoMOTION MR3 system was used to gather biomechanical data. The study revealed differences in eight kinematic parameters and stride time between free walking and walking with poles. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in any of the parameters, regardless of the pole type used. The findings suggest that older NW practitioners tend to employ free walking patterns even when using poles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Electronic Monitoring Systems and Their Application)

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15 pages, 1155 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Motion Detectors as Additional Monitoring Devices in the Intensive Care Unit—A Proof-of-Concept Study

by Gülmisal Güder, Eva von Rein, Thomas Flohr, Dirk Weismann, Dominik Schmitt, Stefan Störk, Stefan Frantz, Vincent Kratzer and Christian Kendi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9319; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169319 - 16 Aug 2023

Viewed by 905

Abstract

Background: Monitoring the vital signs of delirious patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) is challenging, as they might (un-)intentionally remove devices attached to their bodies. In mock-up scenarios, we systematically assessed whether a motion detector (MD) attached to the bed may help [...] Read more.

Background: Monitoring the vital signs of delirious patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) is challenging, as they might (un-)intentionally remove devices attached to their bodies. In mock-up scenarios, we systematically assessed whether a motion detector (MD) attached to the bed may help in identifying emergencies. Methods: We recruited 15 employees of the ICU and equipped an ICU bed with an MD (IRON Software GmbH, Grünwald, Germany). Participants were asked to replay 22 mock-up scenes of one-minute duration each: 12 scenes with movements and 10 without movements, of which 5 were emergency scenes (“lying dead-still, with no or very shallow breathing”). Blinded recordings were presented to an evaluation panel consisting of an experienced ICU nurse and a physician, who was asked to assess and rate the presence of motions. Results: Fifteen participants (nine women; 173 ± 7.0 cm; 78 ± 19 kg) joined the study. In total, 286 out of 330 scenes (86.7%) were rated correctly. Ratings were false negative (FN: “no movements detected, but recorded”) in 7 out of 180 motion scenes (3.9%). Ratings were false positive (FP: “movements detected, but not recorded”) in 37 out of 150 scenes (24.7%), more often in men than women (26 out of 60 vs. 11 out of 90, respectively; p < 0.001). Of note, in 16 of these 37 FP-rated scenes, a vibrating mobile phone was identified as a potential confounder. The emergency scenes were correctly rated in 64 of the 75 runs (85.3%); 10 of the 11 FP-rated scenes occurred in male subjects. Conclusions: The MD allowed for identifying motions of test subjects with high sensitivity (96%) and acceptable specificity (75%). Accuracy might increase further if activities are recorded continuously under real-world conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Electronic Monitoring Systems and Their Application)

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Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 1363 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Nanosensors for Structural Health Monitoring in Bridge Maintenance: Innovations, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

by Daguang Han, Haidar Hosamo, Chunli Ying and Ruimin Nie

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(20), 11149; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132011149 - 10 Oct 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2011

Abstract

This paper presents a thorough review and detailed analysis of nanosensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) in the context of bridge maintenance. With rapid advancements in nanotechnology, nanosensors have emerged as promising tools for detecting and assessing the structural integrity of bridges. The [...] Read more.

This paper presents a thorough review and detailed analysis of nanosensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) in the context of bridge maintenance. With rapid advancements in nanotechnology, nanosensors have emerged as promising tools for detecting and assessing the structural integrity of bridges. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various types of nanosensors utilized in bridge maintenance, their operating principles, fabrication techniques, and integration strategies. Furthermore, this paper explores the challenges associated with nanosensor deployment, such as signal processing, power supply, and data interpretation. Finally, the review concludes with an outlook on future developments in the field of nanosensors for SHM in bridge maintenance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Intelligent Electronic Monitoring Systems and Their Application)

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