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Exploratory study on the natural ground electric current that flows through human body as a possible pathway for the therapeutic effects of beach going

Neoh SL

Complement Ther Med, 2018 Dec;41:161-168.
PMID: 30477833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2018.09.017

This paper explores the electrical nature of sandy beach and proposes a pathway for the therapeutic effects of beach going. The electric potential and current generated on the ground across the human body and resistors were measured. The ground was found to have a non-homogenous electric potential which generated a potential difference between any two points on the ground. A power curve, similar to a battery, in the nanowatt range was obtained. This power appeared to be stable across time but varies across ground location. Standing on the beach with dry feet did not allow any current in the micro-ampere range to conduct. But upon moistening the feet, the body electrical resistance was reduced by 94% and the ground potential difference across the two feet was sufficient to drive a micro-ampere range current through the body. This may be one reason for the therapeutic effects of being on the beach.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Fulltext FLIR vs SEEK thermal cameras in biomedicine: comparative diagnosis through infrared thermography

Kirimtat A, Krejcar O, Selamat A, Herrera-Viedma E

BMC Bioinformatics, 2020 Mar 11;21(Suppl 2):88.
PMID: 32164529 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-3355-7

BACKGROUND: In biomedicine, infrared thermography is the most promising technique among other conventional methods for revealing the differences in skin temperature, resulting from the irregular temperature dispersion, which is the significant signaling of diseases and disorders in human body. Given the process of detecting emitted thermal radiation of human body temperature by infrared imaging, we, in this study, present the current utility of thermal camera models namely FLIR and SEEK in biomedical applications as an extension of our previous article.
RESULTS: The most significant result is the differences between image qualities of the thermograms captured by thermal camera models. In other words, the image quality of the thermal images in FLIR One is higher than SEEK Compact PRO. However, the thermal images of FLIR One are noisier than SEEK Compact PRO since the thermal resolution of FLIR One is 160 × 120 while it is 320 × 240 in SEEK Compact PRO.
CONCLUSION: Detecting and revealing the inhomogeneous temperature distribution on the injured toe of the subject, we, in this paper, analyzed the imaging results of two different smartphone-based thermal camera models by making comparison among various thermograms. Utilizing the feasibility of the proposed method for faster and comparative diagnosis in biomedical problems is the main contribution of this study.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology
Fulltext The effects of prosthetic foot type and visual alteration on postural steadiness in below-knee amputees

Arifin N, Abu Osman NA, Ali S, Wan Abas WA

Biomed Eng Online, 2014;13(1):23.
PMID: 24597518 DOI: 10.1186/1475-925X-13-23

Achieving independent upright posture has known to be one of the main goals in rehabilitation following lower limb amputation. The purpose of this study was to compare postural steadiness of below knee amputees with visual alterations while wearing three different prosthetic feet.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Evaluation of postural steadiness in below-knee amputees when wearing different prosthetic feet during various sensory conditions using the Biodex® Stability System

Arifin N, Abu Osman NA, Ali S, Gholizadeh H, Wan Abas WA

Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2015 Jul;229(7):491-8.
PMID: 26019139 DOI: 10.1177/0954411915587595

In recent years, computerized posturography has become an essential tool in quantitative assessment of postural steadiness in the clinical settings. The purpose of this study was to explore the ability of the Biodex(®) Stability System (BSS) to quantify postural steadiness in below-knee amputees. A convenience sample of 10 below-knee amputees participated in the study. The overall (OSI), anterior-posterior (APSI) and medial-lateral (MLSI) stability indexes as well as the percentage of time spent in left and right quadrants and four concentric zones were measured under altered sensory conditions while standing with solid ankle cushion heel (SACH), single-axis (SA) and energy storage and release (ESAR) feet. Significant difference was found between sensory conditions in SACH and ESAR feet for OSI (SACH, p = 0.002; ESAR, p = 0.005), APSI (SACH, p = 0.036; ESAR, p = 0.003) and MLSI (SACH, p = 0.008; ESAR, p = 0.05) stability indexes. The percentage of time spent in Zone A (0°-5°) was significantly greater than the other three concentric zones (p < 0.01). The loading time percentage on their intact limb (80%-94%) was significantly longer than the amputated limb (20%-6%) in all conditions for all three prosthetic feet. Below-knee amputees showed compromised postural steadiness when visual, proprioceptive or vestibular sensory input was altered. The findings highlight that the characteristics of postural stability in amputees can be clinically assessed by utilizing the outcomes produced by the BSS.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
A state-of-the-art review of foot pressure

Zulkifli SS, Loh WP

Foot Ankle Surg, 2020 Jan;26(1):25-32.
PMID: 30600155 DOI: 10.1016/j.fas.2018.12.005

The science of foot pressure studies the forces acting on the bottom and different regions of the foot along with the pressure exerted on the plantar surface with the interacting surface in contact. The information derived gave impact to human biomechanical assessment on body balance and ergonomics posture during gait. Various experiments designed at generating foot pressure data returns only with limited knowledge generated. Obviously, the procedure for experiment design needs to be properly understood from the foot morphology aspects; healthiness, footwear, surface in contact, load and forces impacts, and the foot sensitivity as well as the specification for the foot pressure. This paper reviews the proper preliminary experimental setups for foot pressure measurement analysis during static or dynamic gait. The strength and limitations of recent devices used and considerable variables are also discussed. The overall review explains that the comfortable natural gait in relation to the aspects of sensitivity, load, time duration, and stability are the standard considerations for plantar pressure experiments.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Cutaneous Larva Migrans Associated With Löffler's Syndrome in a 6-Year-Old Boy

Wang S, Xu W, Li LF

Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2017 Sep;36(9):912-914.
PMID: 28338526 DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000001593

Cutaneous larva migrans is a frequent dermatologic problem among travelers in tropical areas, but its association with Löffler's syndrome is an extremely rare condition, particularly in children. Here, we describe a 6-year-old boy presenting cutaneous larva migrans associated with Löffler's syndrome.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology
The effect of feet position on standing balance in patients with diabetes

Mehdikhani M, Khalaj N, Chung TY, Mazlan M

Proc Inst Mech Eng H, 2014 Aug;228(8):819-23.
PMID: 25205748 DOI: 10.1177/0954411914547714

Feet displacement is recognized to be an important element in standing and is also linked to postural instability in elderly people with diabetes. This study investigates standing balance in diabetic patients in four asymmetric feet displacements. Quiet standing balance was investigated using the Biodex Balance System in 18 diabetic patients and compared with 18 control elderly subjects. The four standing conditions, namely, comfortable feet position, preferred feet position with a stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders, feet side by side, and heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet were evaluated (i.e. eyes opened, eyes closed). The overall stability was calculated by measuring anterior-posterior and medial-lateral indices in standing conditions. Differences among feet positions were compared using an analysis of variance and the independent t-test. The diabetic patients were unstable in the medial-lateral direction when standing with feet side by side versus heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet (p = 0.012 and 0.011, respectively), while in controls the anterior-posterior stability scores between standing in preferred foot position with stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders versus feet side by side, and heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet versus preferred foot position with stance width of 17 cm and 15° angle between the medial borders had significant difference (p foot position (p = 0.047) and heel side by side with a 30° angle between medial edges of feet versus comfortable foot position (p = 0.016) when they closed their eyes during the test had significant difference. Results confirmed that diabetic patients have greater instability in the medial-lateral direction when the base of support reduces and visual clue has an important role in standing balance.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Prospective study to determine the effect of intermittent pneumatic foot and calf compression on popliteal artery peak systolic blood flow

Mokhtar S, Azizi ZA, Govindarajanthran N

Asian J Surg, 2008 Jul;31(3):124-9.
PMID: 18658010

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effects of posture and also intermittent foot and calf compression on peak systolic flow of the popliteal artery in a normal population.
METHODS: This was a prospective study carried out in normal subjects at the Vascular Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, from March 2006 to September 2006. The study compared the popliteal artery blood flow during change of posture from the horizontal (supine) to the sitting position and the effect of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) of the foot and calf on popliteal artery blood flow immediately and 10 minutes after cessation of compression.
RESULTS: A total of 15 subjects involving 30 limbs were examined in this study. On comparing flows between the horizontal and sitting position, there was a mean reduction in blood flow of 23% (p < 0.005). Immediately after compression of the foot and calf, there was an increase in blood flow of between 4% and 35% with a mean of 15% (p < 0.05). Peak systolic flows at 10 minutes postcompression were 536 +/- 95 mL/min, which was still significantly higher than precompression measurements.
CONCLUSION: There is a significant reduction in popliteal artery blood flow on changing from the supine to the sitting position. Popliteal artery blood flow is higher than baseline after 15 minutes of intermittent pneumatic foot and calf compression. The increase in popliteal artery blood flow is still present 10 minutes after cessation of IPC.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Compression and texture in socks enhance football kicking performance

Hasan H, Davids K, Chow JY, Kerr G

Hum Mov Sci, 2016 Aug;48:102-11.
PMID: 27155962 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2016.04.008

The purpose of this study was to observe effects of wearing textured insoles and clinical compression socks on organisation of lower limb interceptive actions in developing athletes of different skill levels in association football. Six advanced learners and six completely novice football players (15.4±0.9years) performed 20 instep kicks with maximum velocity, in four randomly organised insoles and socks conditions, (a) Smooth Socks with Smooth Insoles (SSSI); (b) Smooth Socks with Textured Insoles (SSTI); (c) Compression Socks with Smooth Insoles (CSSI) and (d), Compression Socks with Textured Insoles (CSTI). Reflective markers were placed on key anatomical locations and the ball to facilitate three-dimensional (3D) movement recording and analysis. Data on 3D kinematic variables and initial ball velocity were analysed using one-way mixed model ANOVAs. Results revealed that wearing textured and compression materials enhanced performance in key variables, such as the maximum velocity of the instep kick and increased initial ball velocity, among advanced learners compared to the use of non-textured and compression materials. Adding texture to football boot insoles appeared to interact with compression materials to improve kicking performance, captured by these important measures. This improvement in kicking performance is likely to have occurred through enhanced somatosensory system feedback utilised for foot placement and movement organisation of the lower limbs. Data suggested that advanced learners were better at harnessing the augmented feedback information from compression and texture to regulate emerging movement patterns compared to novices.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology
Changes in organisation of instep kicking as a function of wearing compression and textured materials

Hasan H, Davids K, Chow JY, Kerr G

Eur J Sport Sci, 2017 Apr;17(3):294-302.
PMID: 27739339 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2016.1241829

This study investigated effects of wearing compression garments and textured insoles on modes of movement organisation emerging during performance of lower limb interceptive actions in association football. Participants were six skilled (age = 15.67 ± 0.74 years) and six less-skilled (age = 15.17 ± 1.1 years) football players. All participants performed 20 instep kicks with maximum velocity in four randomly organised insoles and socks conditions, (a) Smooth Socks with Smooth Insoles (SSSI); (b) Smooth Socks with Textured Insoles (SSTI); (c) Compression Socks with Smooth Insoles (CSSI); and (d), Compression Socks with Textured Insoles (CSTI). Results showed that, when wearing textured and compression materials (CSSI condition), less-skilled participants displayed significantly greater hip extension and flexion towards the ball contact phase, indicating larger ranges of motion in the kicking limb than in other conditions. Less-skilled participants also demonstrated greater variability in knee-ankle intralimb (angle-angle plots) coordination modes in the CSTI condition. Findings suggested that use of textured and compression materials increased attunement to somatosensory information from lower limb movement, to regulate performance of dynamic interceptive actions like kicking, especially in less-skilled individuals.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology*
Fulltext Leg Length Discrepancy: Dynamic Balance Response during Gait

Azizan NA, Basaruddin KS, Salleh AF, Sulaiman AR, Safar MJA, Rusli WMR

J Healthc Eng, 2018;2018:7815451.
PMID: 29983905 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7815451

Balance in the human body's movement is generally associated with different synergistic pathologies. The trunk is supported by one's leg most of the time when walking. A person with poor balance may face limitation when performing their physical activities on a daily basis, and they may be more prone to having risk of fall. The ground reaction forces (GRFs), centre of pressure (COP), and centre of mass (COM) in quite standing posture were often measured for the evaluation of balance. Currently, there is still no experimental evidence or study on leg length discrepancy (LLD) during walking. Analysis of the stability parameters is more representative of the functional activity undergone by the person who has a LLD. Therefore, this study hopes to shed new light on the effects of LLD on the dynamic stability associated with VGRF, COP, and COM during walking. Eighteen healthy subjects were selected among the university population with normal BMIs. Each subject was asked to walk with 1.0 to 2.0 ms-1 of walking speed for three to five trials each. Insoles of 0.5 cm thickness were added, and the thickness of the insoles was subsequently raised until 4 cm and placed under the right foot as we simulated LLD. The captured data obtained from a force plate and motion analysis present Peak VGRF (single-leg stance) and WD (double-leg stance) that showed more forces exerted on the short leg rather than long leg. Obviously, changes occurred on the displacement of COM trajectories in the ML and vertical directions as LLD increased at the whole gait cycle. Displacement of COP trajectories demonstrated that more distribution was on the short leg rather than on the long leg. The root mean square (RMS) of COP-COM distance showed, obviously, changes only in ML direction with the value at 3 cm and 3.5 cm. The cutoff value via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) indicates the significant differences starting at the level 2.5 cm up to 4 cm in long and short legs for both AP and ML directions. The present study performed included all the proposed parameters on the effect of dynamic stability on LLD during walking and thus helps to determine and evaluate the balance pattern.

Matched MeSH terms: Foot/physiology

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