Dynamics of the human organism
In co-operation with the special research program 'optimization and control' at the Karl Franzens university Graz an emphasis was set, in which the dynamics of the regularization of the human organism were examined and converted into appropriate models. Practically applicable methods were prepared to the early diagnosis of illnesses and/or for the evaluation of therapy procedures under use of system-analytic optimization and modelling procedures, as well as an evaluation of newly-developed parameters, which are to characterize the state of health dynamically.
Development and application of functional methods of diagnosis and devices
The measurement of the co-ordination achievement of the autonomous system presupposes suitable measuring parameters. As a dynamic system the human organism is adjusted only briefly stationary and physiological parameters are subjected constant fluctuations and changes. For this reason dynamic procedures for the measurement of synchronisations and couplings between the body rhythms are to be developed. The Institute follows here a trend, that some years ago by the introduction of concepts of nonlinear thermodynamics to biology and medicine began and converts these concepts in the practical diagnostic medicine. Examples of examined parameters are the heart rate variability, the pulse-breath-coupling, as well as the synchronisation of heartbeat and respiration. Synchronisations and couplings between body rhythms are usually observed in recovery conditions of the organism, while times of increased provision of achievement can cause a reduction of these couplings. Due to models, which quantify these measured variables, a regulation of load and recovery of the organism is possible. A broad employment of the diagnostic procedures is possible only if the measurement can be performed without auxiliary expenditure for the persons who get measured. Therefore great importance is attached to the integration of measuring systems into mobile and ambulatory applicable measuring instruments, that are already existing.
The area of application of the measuring instruments and diagnostic procedures developed at the Institute are located among other things in the stress and recovery research. Stress on the job represents a considerable health endangerment and impairs the quality of life of the concerning person. This leads among other things to a reduced efficiency, higher time absent up to a change of profession of the concerned employees. E.g. the high psychological and physical load on the job of health service personnel without consideration of personal resources can lead to 'Burnout' easily.
The explosiveness of this topic is still strengthened, if one considers the demographic development: The portion of people that need support and care will strongly rise in the next years.
Assessment and efficacy research – preventative medicine and medical wellness
Health-related statements within the range of cures are subject to strict conditions of effect proofs. Also within the range of preventive medicine and medical wellness such editions become generally accepted ever more and increase the demand for scientific studies over the actual effectiveness of cures, substances or applications. While the evaluation of the effectiveness on illnesses can be done according to the rules of clinical practice and evidence-based medicine, the effect proof is to be supplied only with difficulty for preventive-medical measure. Since functional disturbances express themselves long time before outbreak of organic illnesses, the measurement of functional regularization offers itself as optimal tool for preventive-medical evaluation and also impact research. Not the organic illness and its regeneration, but the effect of a measure on the functional co-ordination and integration is measured. Applications of the functional diagnostic procedures, developed by the institute, in the evaluation of medical and preventive measures is therefore the topic of this area of research.
Competence Network Water
A very large range of this area of research is performed in the context of the Competence Network ‘water resources and their management’ in the node 3 ‘water and health’, in which the institute is strongly involved.
The natural welfare occurrences of traditional cure enterprises are mostly not arbitrarily increasable. An economic use of resources assumes an exact knowledge for that impact and the possible indications. Such medically oriented enterprises cannot compete with enterprises of the bath tourism. The quality of their cures is however in many cases singular and competitionless. One Part of this area of work will be to quantify and specify the medical effects of medical-balneological applications. The goal of the work of the institute in the context of the Competence Network is to develop methods for the evaluation of such applications, both within the clinical range and in the health tourism, which criteria refer particularly on the result quality.
Further the institute will aspire at taking over a prominent role in the development of quality criteria to balneology and thus becoming trailblazing for the positive competition in the cure area. This objective basis of evaluation for offers in the health tourism makes possible a better planning of the supraregional use of thermal water as well as the installation of medically justified wellness equipment.