https://luck.synhera.be/handle/123456789/103 2026-04-17T17:30:46Z https://luck.synhera.be/handle/123456789/3086 From brain to motion: harnessing higher-derivative mechanics for neural control White, Olivier; BUISSERET, Fabien; DIERICK, Frédéric; Boulanger, Nicolas Optimal Feedback Control provides a theoretical framework for goal-directed movements, where the nervous system adjusts actions based on sensory feedback. This theory assumes that there exists a cost function that is optimized throughout one's movement. It is natural to assume that mechanical quantities should be involved in cost functions, but this does not imply that the mechanical principles that govern human voluntary movements are necessarily Newtonian. We argue that integrating principles from Lagrangian and Hamiltonian higher-derivative mechanics, i.e. dynamical models relying on a Lagrangian of the form $L\left(\vec x,\dot{\vec x},\ddot{\vec x},\dots,\vec x^{\, (N)}\right)$, with $N\geq 2$ and where $\vec x^{\, (i)}$ denotes the $i^{\rm th}$ time-derivative of the position $\vec x$, provides a more natural framework to study the constraints hidden in human voluntary movement within Optimal Feedback Control theory. 2025-11-25T00:00:00Z https://luck.synhera.be/handle/123456789/3085 Solving Raven’s Matrices While Walking on a Treadmill: Insights into Cognitive-Motor Interference Patterns in Dual-Task DIERICK, Frédéric; BUISSERET, Fabien; Hoho, Thomas; Fievet, Alexandre; Luta, Adele This study investigates cognitive-motor interference by combining Raven’s Progressive Matrices Test (RPMT) with treadmill walking. Two groups of healthy adults—20 young adults (born after 1995) familiar with treadmill walking and 18 older adults (born before 1980) without treadmill experience—completed both single-task and dual-task conditions. Cognitive performance (RPMT score) and gait metrics (stride interval variability and sample entropy) were recorded. Results revealed diverse interference patterns, with a predominance of gait-prioritization strategies under dual-task conditions. Significant differences between groups were found: younger adults showed greater cognitive performance decline, while older adults increased stride interval under dual-task conditions. A negative correlation between gait variability and complexity suggested adaptive motor strategies in some participants. This dual-task paradigm offers a standardized framework to explore both individual and group variability in multitasking performance. These insights may inform the design of safer environments and interventions targeting populations with different cognitive-motor profiles. 2025-09-30T00:00:00Z https://luck.synhera.be/handle/123456789/3084 Stress on the stride: How treadmill walking reveals gait variability differences in children, young adults, and seniors? Buisseret, Fabien; Sanso, Aline; Sen, Eda nur; White, Olivier; Boulanger, Nicolas; Dierick, Frédéric The assessment of gait variability is a valuable approach for characterizing an individual’s walking pattern over extended time scales. Variability parameters, such as the coefficient of variation, the Hurst exponent, and the Minkowski fractal dimension of the attractor, are influenced by factors like age, dual-task performance, and neurodegenerative conditions. Treadmill walking, a compact and widely used method, enables precise data collection when combined with measurement devices. However, differences between treadmill and overground variability raise questions about its applicability to real-life gait analysis. This study investigates how treadmill walking, as an external stressor, reveals gait variability differences among children, young adults, and seniors by analyzing the center of mass trajectory. Fifteen children (median age: 11 years), 24 young adults (median age: 22.5 years), and 16 seniors (median age: 60 years) participated. Variability was assessed using stride intervals and phase-space metrics. Results indicate that young adults demonstrate “optimal” gait variability, characterized by minimal coefficients of variation and maximal fractal dimension. In contrast, children and seniors exhibit less predictable and less complex gait patterns, with differences in Hurst exponents distinguishing these groups. These findings highlight the nontrivial integration of age, fear of falling, and neurological maturation in gait variability. Practical implications for rehabilitation and clinical assessments are discussed, underscoring the need for protocol standardization and cautious interpretation of treadmill-based variability data. 2025-09-25T00:00:00Z https://luck.synhera.be/handle/123456789/3083 Score Your Way to Clinical Reasoning Excellence: SCALENEo Online Serious Game in Physiotherapy Education Hage, Renaud; Dierick, Frédéric; Da Natividade, Joel; Daniau, Simon; ESTIEVENART, Wesley; Leteneur, Sébastien; SERVOTTE, Jean-Christophe; Jones, Mark; BUISSERET, Fabien SCALENEo (Smart ClinicAL rEasoning iN physiothErapy) is an innovative online serious game designed to improve clinical reasoning in musculoskeletal physiotherapy education. Adapted from the “Happy Families” card game, it provides an interactive, structured approach to developing students/learners’ ability to categorize clinical information into families of hypotheses. This digital platform supports both self-directed and collaborative learning, eliminating the need for continuous instructor supervision while ensuring meaningful engagement. SCALENEo features a unique feedback and scoring system that not only assesses students/learners’ decision-making processes but also promotes cautious and reflective reasoning over random guessing. By aligning with evidence-based pedagogical strategies, such as serious games and formative assessment, SCALENEo offers educators a powerful tool to reinforce critical thinking, improve student/learner engagement, and facilitate deeper learning in clinical reasoning education. 2025-08-21T00:00:00Z