José María Heredia Jiménez

Spatial-temporal parameters of gait in women with fibromyalgia

The aim of the present study was to determine if there are differences in such parameters among patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy subjects and whether the degree of affectation by FM can decrease the gait parameters. We studied 55 women with FM and 44 controls. Gait analysis was performed using an instrumented walkway for measurement of the kinematic parameters of gait (GAITRite system), and patients completed a Spanish version of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Significant differences (p < 0.001) between FM and control groups were found in velocity, stride length, cadence, single support ratio, double support ratio, stance phase ratio, and swing phase ratio. There were significant inverse correlations between FIQ and velocity, stride length, swing phase, and single support, whereas significant direct correlations were found with stance phase and double support. Gait parameters of women affected by FM were severely impaired when compared to those of healthy women. Different factors such as lack of physical activity, bradikinesia, overweight, fatigue, and pain together with a lower isometric force in the legs can be responsible for the alterations in gait and poorer life quality of women with FM.The aim of the present study was to determine if there are differences in such parameters among patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy subjects and whether the degree of affectation by FM can decrease the gait parameters. We studied 55 women with FM and 44 controls. Gait analysis was performed using an instrumented walkway for measurement of the kinematic parameters of gait (GAITRite system), and patients completed a Spanish version of Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Significant differences (p < 0.001) between FM and control groups were found in velocity, stride length, cadence, single support ratio, double support ratio, stance phase ratio, and swing phase ratio. There were significant inverse correlations between FIQ and velocity, stride length, swing phase, and single support, whereas significant direct correlations were found with stance phase and double support. Gait parameters of women affected by FM were severely impaired when compared to those of healthy women. Different factors such as lack of physical activity, bradikinesia, overweight, fatigue, and pain together with a lower isometric force in the legs can be responsible for the alterations in gait and poorer life quality of women with FM.

Estudio comparativo de la capacidad de realizar sprints repetidos entre jugadores de balonmano y baloncesto amateurs y profesionales

Introduccion y objetivos: Los deportes de equipo requieren jugadores que puedan realizar un numero elevado de sprints cortos, intercalados con periodos de recuperacion o de intensidad, y a este tipo de esfuerzos se le ha denominado capacidad de realizar sprints repetidos (RSA). Aunque la importancia de estos esfuerzos esta constatada en deportes de equipo, la diferencia entre deportistas de distintas disciplinas debe ser estudiada debido a la variabilidad de esfuerzos en los numerosos deportes colectivos. La presente investigacion va encaminada a determinar las diferencias y analogias en test RSA entre deportistas amateurs y profesionales de deportes colectivos distintos como son el baloncesto y balonmano. Metodo: Se evaluaron 4 equipos, 2 de baloncesto y 2 de balonmano (divididos en amateurs y profesionales). El test RSA realizado fue 8 × 30 m con 25 s de recuperacion, en pista con celulas fotoelectricas. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos no muestran diferencias significativas en las variables cineticas entre los diferentes grupos. Si se encontraron diferencias entre baloncesto profesional y balonmano profesional (p < 0,05) en las variables mejor sprint y aceleracion 0-10 m. Se observo un descenso en la potencia (entre el 20,51 y el 23,37%) entre el sprint 1 y 8 en los 4 grupos, pero no hubo diferencias entre ellos. Conclusiones: El tipo de esfuerzos realizados por deportistas de deportes de cooperacion y oposicion de disciplinas semejantes (como baloncesto y balonmano) es similar en el test RSA, debido a que los esfuerzos realizados en competicion se asemejan mucho entre deportes y con los esfuerzos realizados en el protocolo utilizado.

Energy Expenditure Analysis: A Comparative Research of Based on Mobile Accelerometers

Nowadays, the Metabolic Equivalent Task (MET) is the most often used indicator for energy expenditure (EE) calculation of physical activity (PA). The use of novel devices based on inertial movements (e.g. accelerometers) enable the measurement of the PA using “counts”:, where each count is an aggregated value that can be used to determine the number of METs. For some kind of users, such as elderly people or patients in AAL environments, the MET is an important indicator in order to maintain a good health. At present, there exist several types of inertial devices that enable different forms of count calculation and types of exercise monitoring. From the point of view of process analysis and infrastructure needed, they differ in several aspects, such as extra devices required and out-of-device processing. This paper presents a survey analysis about the possibilities of different types of accelerometers to measure EE in AAL contexts. To achieve this objective, we have conducted several experiments based on the performing of different exercises with different accelerometers placed in different body parts.

CloudFit: A Cloud-Based Mobile Wellness Platform Supported by Wearable Computing

Health and wellness area is an emerging social concern. The emergence of Cloud Computing and the growth of new technologies as smartphones and all kinds of wearable devices have given rise to delocalized health and wellness management systems and applications. Most of these systems, which are used by users on their own, are designed to track the exercises, monitor the physiological variables or as dietary diary with the aim to change the diary habits of users to improve their health and wellness, that could also be enhanced by the participation of expert advisors in the supervision of these activities.