https://hdl.handle.net/10259/8017 2026-04-17T15:31:46Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11453 Upper Extremity Motor Performance During a Shirt Buttoning Task in Huntington’s Disease Simón Vicente, Lucía; Cuesta García, César; Calvo Simal, Sara; Mariscal, Natividad; Saiz Rodríguez, Miriam; Aguado, Laura; Muñoz-Siscart, Ignacio; Cruz Salamanca, Irene de la; Díaz-Piñeiro, Dolores; Cubo Delgado, Esther Background: Motor impairment in Huntington’s Disease (HD) includes chorea, bradykinesia, dystonia, and rigidity, causing Upper extremity (UE) impairments in daily activities. Objectives: Describe motor patterns and analyze execution times for buttoning a shirt in premanifest and manifest-HD versus controls; explore the relationship between clinical assessments and UE motor performance and assess interobserver reliability of the motor pattern coding system. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with 30 manifest-HD, 9 premanifest-HD, and 30 controls from Burgos University Hospital, Spain. Participants buttoned a five-button shirt and time spent and motor patterns were analyzed using Observer-XT-software. Results: Significant differences were found in movement time and motor patterns between groups. Manifest-HD took nearly twice as long as controls to complete the task. Correlations were found with clinical assessments. Degree of interobserver agreement was excellent. Conclusion: Evaluating motor patterns helps in early detection of motor impairment, monitoring disease progression, and developing rehabilitation programs to maintain and improve UE function Plain Language Summary: How Huntington’s Disease affects upper limb movements and impact on quality of life, motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms when buttoning a shirt The research aims to explore motor patterns and execution times during buttoning a shirt in people with Huntington’s Disease (HD) at different stages (premanifest-HD and manifest-HD) compared to controls. Premanifest-HD is the stage before noticeable symptoms appear, while manifest-HD is when symptoms become noticeable (involuntary movements, difficulty with coordination, changes in thinking . . .). The disease progresses over time, and symptoms become more severe. The primary research question is: How do motor patterns and execution times differ between individuals with HD (premanifest and manifest) and controls? The hypothesis is that individuals with manifest-HD will exhibit significantly impaired motor patterns and longer execution times compared to controls. The study hopes to uncover early indicators of motor decline and provide insights for developing targeted rehabilitation programs. This research is crucial because motor impairments in HD, such as chorea, bradykinesia, dystonia, and rigidity, significantly impact the quality of life and independence of individuals. HD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and understanding these impairments can lead to better management and treatment strategies. HD affects approximately 5–10 per 100,000 people worldwide. This research impacts not only individuals with HD but also their families, caregivers, and health care systems. The study employed an observational cross-sectional design, ideal for comparing different groups at a single point in time. It provides a snapshot of the differences in motor function between individuals with manifest-HD, premanifest-HD, and healthy controls. Key variables included the time taken to button a five-button shirt and the motor patterns used during the task. Participants included 30 individuals with manifest-HD, 9 with premanifest-HD, and 30 healthy controls. The use of Observer-XT software ensured precise and objective measurement of the variables. 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11277 Effectiveness of the NeuronUp program in improving the cognitive performance in older adults Sáiz Vázquez, Olalla; Ubillos Landa, Silvia; Mercado Val, Elvira; Líbano Miralles, Mario del; Santamaría Vázquez, Montserrat Background: The application of new technologies for cognitive stimulation has increased in recent years, allowing interdisciplinary teams to work more efficiently, minimizing the costs and time of analysis, management, and design of activities, and improving the care of older adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a cognitive intervention carried out using a web platform (NeuronUp) in improving mild cognitive decline (orientation, reading, memory, and language) in institutionalized older adults as compared to traditional interventions using pencil and paper. Methods: The experimental design was applied on two randomly allocated participant groups. One group received the intervention through NeuronUp (55 participants), and the other group received it with pencil and paper (55 participants). For the user evaluation, the Abbreviated Barcelona Test (PIEN-TB), which was administered before and after the intervention, was used. Analyses of variance, covariance, multivariate analysis of variance, and covariance were performed on two groups (control and experimental) twice (pre- and post-intervention). Each cognitive measure was used as a dependent variable; the group was the fixed factor, and the pre-test scores and the educational levels were the covariates. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed in all categories except for language. The NeuronUp program improved three of the four cognitive skills evaluated: orientation (F(3106) = 12.747, p = .001, d = 0.69) and reading (F(3106) = 9.195, p = .003, d = 0.59) with moderate effect sizes, and memory (F(3106) = 58.911, p = .001, d = 1.49) with a strong effect size. Conclusion: The NeuronUp program is effective in improving cognitive processes in older individuals; furthermore, implementing treatments with new technologies guided by specialized professionals may be beneficial. 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/10074 The wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) technique in thumb injuries: a systematic review Saraiva, María do Rosario; Sáiz Vázquez, Olalla; Ortiz Huerta, Juan Hilario; Santamaría Vázquez, Montserrat Human hands have a complex anatomical structure. The thumb, being an integral part of the hand, has an essential function in gripping. In this sense, thumb fractures account for 4% of all hand fractures (it may occur in association with fractures of the trapezium). The majority of hand fractures should be treated non-surgically and surgeons must avoid unnecessary surgery. Historically, hand surgery has used a combination of local/regional/general anaesthesia and a tourniquet. This study aims to carry out a systematic review to determine whether the WALANT technique is an advantageous alternative to conventional anaesthesia for surgical procedures on thumb injuries, in terms of patient function and pain. Method: We conducted a search in the following databases: Pubmed/Medline, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar, using the equation "WALANT" OR "Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet" AND "thumb pathology". Results: In five of the 584 articles included, two studied trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis, one De Quervain's disease and the remaining two flexor injuries. WALANT showed good results in active movements, but with similar levels of pain between anaesthetics. Patients were more anxious during general anaesthesia, plus the fact that they were fasting and suspending medication. Conclusion: WALANT is a convenient and favourable option in several studies. It has been demonstrated the benefits in terms of return to function and pain. Artículo de revisión 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10259/9863 Improvement of Motor Imagination and Manual Ability Through Virtual Reality and Selective and Nonselective Functional Electrical Stimulation: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Santamaría Vázquez, Montserrat; Ortiz Huerta, Juan Hilario; Martín-Odriozola, Aitor; Sáiz Vázquez, Olalla Background: Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive process that has been shown to be useful in the rehabilitation process after brain injury. Moreover, functional electrical stimulation (FES) and virtual reality (VR) have also been shown to be effective interventions in many parameters, and there is some evidence of their contribution to the improvement of MI capacity. Objective: This study aimed to compare the improvements in MI parameters, grip strength, and manual dexterity obtained using VR, FES, and selective FES based on multifield electrodes in healthy people. Methods: This clinical randomized controlled trial (RCT)with 4 branches will involve 80 healthy university students, with blinded third-party assessment. Participants will be divided into 4 groups: control (no intervention), selective FES (Fesia Grasp), traditional FES (Globus Elite), and Virtual Rehab Hands (Leap Motion sensor). Each group will receive 5 daily sessions, and assessments will be conducted at baseline, postintervention, and follow-up. The Movement Imagery Questionnaire-Revised (MIQ-RS) and chronometry will be used to assess MI, strength will be measured with a digital dynamometer, and manual dexterity will be evaluated with the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT) and the Box and Block Test (BBT). Statistical analyses will include 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA with post hoc Bonferroni correction to compare group differences over time, with nonparametric tests (eg, Kruskal-Wallis) being used if normality or variance assumptions are violated. The study will be organized into 3 phases: preparation, data collection, and analysis. The preparation phase will involve finalizing project protocols and obtaining ethical approvals. The data collection phase will consist of recruiting participants, randomizing them into 4 intervention groups, and conducting baseline assessments, followed by intervention sessions. Finally, the analysis phase will focus on evaluating the data collected from all groups and compiling the results for presentation. Results: The study received approval in July 2023, with recruitment and data collection starting in September 2023. The recruitment phase was expected to conclude by July 2024, and the entire study, including the 2-week follow-up, was set to finish in September 2024. As of July 2024, we had enrolled 100% of the sample (N=80 students). We plan to publish the study findings by the end of 2024. Conclusions: Improvements in MI and upper limb functionality are expected, particularly in the selective FES group. This RCT will identify which intervention is most effective in enhancing these skills, with potential benefits for patients with neurological motor disorders. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06109025; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06109025 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/63329. Protocolo 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z