Background  The use of multisensory environments (MSEs) is perceived to be important for individuals with profound and multiple disabilities, although there is limited research on the efficacy of the procedures. After a search of the literature, numerous positive outcomes of MSEs were described. Our research aimed to determine whether the use of an MSE, when applied to increase the level of alertness and interaction, actually leads to this effect. Methods  A total of 15 facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium agreed to participate in the investigation. Information was gathered on the use of MSE by 177 individuals. For 62 persons, an increase of level of activity was the only stated goal. We randomly selected 20 persons out of this group for observation, using momentary time sampling as a means to relate multisensory experiences to the level of alertness and interaction. Results  The results of our study show that in general there is little evidence for an increase in activity levels as a result of MSE. There is, however, a relation between the level of activity and contextual variables. In particular, people with profound multiple disabilities have strong responses towards stimuli provided by members of staff (touching, talking to the person). Conclusions  In general, the living unit is as good a place as the MSE for promoting alertness and interactions. The influence of materials on the level of activity is limited.

The relationship between lameness-related adaptations in equine appendicular motion and muscle activation is poorly understood and has not been studied objectively. The aim of this study was to compare muscle activity of selected fore- and hindlimb muscles, and movement of the joints they act on, between baseline and induced forelimb (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Three-dimensional kinematic data and surface electromyography (sEMG) data from the fore- (triceps brachii, latissimus dorsi) and hindlimbs (superficial gluteal, biceps femoris, semitendinosus) were bilaterally and synchronously collected from clinically non-lame horses (n = 8) trotting over-ground (baseline). Data collections were repeated during iFL and iHL conditions (2–3/5 AAEP), induced on separate days using a modified horseshoe. Motion asymmetry parameters and continuous joint and pro-retraction angles for each limb were calculated from kinematic data. Normalized average rectified value (ARV) and muscle activation onset, offset and activity duration were calculated from sEMG signals. Mixed model analysis and statistical parametric mapping, respectively, compared discrete and continuous variables between conditions (α= 0.05). Asymmetry parameters reflected the degree of iFL and iHL. Increased ARV occurred across muscles following iFL and iHL, except non-lame side forelimb muscles that significantly decreased following iFL. Significant, limb-specific changes in sEMG ARV, and activation timings reflected changes in joint angles and phasic shifts of the limb movement cycle following iFL and iHL. Muscular adaptations during iFL and iHL are detectable using sEMG and primarily involve increased bilateral activity and phasic activation shifts that reflect known compensatory movement patterns for reducing weightbearing on the lame limb. With further research and development, sEMG may provide a valuable diagnostic aid for quantifying the underlying neuromuscular adaptations to equine lameness, which are undetectable through human observation alone.

Articular cartilage damage is a major challenge in healthcare due to the lack of long-term repair options. There are several promising regenerative implant-based approaches for the treatment, but the fixation of the implant remains a significant challenge. This study evaluated the potential for repair of an osteochondral implant produced through a novel combined bioprinting-based chondral-bone integration, with and without cells, in an equine model. Implants consisted of a melt electrowritten polycaprolactone (PCL) framework for the chondral compartment, which was firmly integrated with a bone anchor. The bone anchor was produced by extrusion-based printing of a low-temperature setting bioceramic material that had been proven to be effective for osteo-regeneration in an orthotopic, non-load bearing and non-articular site in the same species in an earlier in vivo study. Articular cartilage-derived progenitor cells were seeded into the PCL framework and cultured for 28 days in vitro in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP-9), resulting in the formation of abundant extracellular matrix rich in glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and type II collagen. The constructs were implanted in the stifle joints of Shetland ponies with cell-free scaffolds as controls. Clinical signs were monitored, and progression of healing was observed non-invasively through radiographic examinations and quantitative gait analysis. Biochemical and histological analyses 6 months after implantation revealed minimal deposition of GAGs and type II collagen in the chondral compartment of the defect site for both types of implants. Quantitative micro-computed tomography showed collapse of the bone anchor with low volume of mineralized neo-bone formation in both groups. Histology confirmed that the PCL framework within the chondral compartment was still present. It was concluded that the collapse of the osteal anchor, resulting in loss of the mechanical support of the chondral compartment, strongly affected overall outcome, precluding evaluation of the influence of BMP-9 stimulated cells on in vivo cartilage regeneration.

BackgroundThe inter‐relationship between equine thoracolumbar motion and muscle activation during normal locomotion and lameness is poorly understood.ObjectiveTo compare thoracolumbar and pelvic kinematics and longissimus dorsi (longissimus) activity of trotting horses between baseline and induced forelimb (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness.Study designControlled experimental cross‐over study.MethodsThree‐dimensional kinematic data from the thoracolumbar vertebrae and pelvis, and bilateral surface electromyography (sEMG) data from longissimus at T14 and L1, were collected synchronously from clinically nonlame horses (n = 8) trotting overground during a baseline evaluation, and during iFL and iHL conditions (2–3/5 AAEP), induced on separate days using a lameness model (modified horseshoe). Motion asymmetry parameters, maximal thoracolumbar flexion/extension and lateral bending angles, and pelvis range of motion (ROM) were calculated from kinematic data. Normalised average rectified value (ARV) and muscle activation onset, offset and activity duration were calculated from sEMG signals. Mixed model analysis and statistical parametric mapping compared discrete and continuous variables between conditions (α = 0.05).ResultsAsymmetry parameters reflected the degree of iFL and iHL. Maximal thoracolumbar flexion and pelvis pitch ROM increased significantly following iFL and iHL. During iHL, peak lateral bending increased towards the nonlame side (NLS) and decreased towards the lame side (LS). Longissimus ARV significantly increased bilaterally at T14 and L1 for iHL, but only at LS L1 for iFL. Longissimus activation was significantly delayed on the NLS and precipitated on the LS during iHL, but these clear phasic shifts were not observed in iFL.Main limitationsFindings should be confirmed in clinical cases.ConclusionsDistinctive, significant adaptations in thoracolumbar and pelvic motion and underlying longissimus activity occur during iFL and iHL and are detectable using combined motion capture and sEMG. For iFL, these adaptations occur primarily in a cranio‐caudal direction, whereas for iHL, lateral bending and axial rotation are also involved.

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.