Pub Date : 2022-11-01DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2040044
Xiaohan Xu, Guojiong Hu, Genevieve K. R. Williams, Fenghao Ma
(1) Background: We aimed to compare gender differences in knee biomechanics and neuromuscular characteristics, and to determine the relationships between lower limb muscle pre-activations and knee biomechanics during a single leg drop landing, in order to identify riskier landing patterns to prevent injury and intervene properly. (2) Methods: Descriptive laboratory cross-sectional study on 38 healthy untrained subjects with low to moderate physical activity status. (3) Results: During the initial-contact phase of landing, females demonstrated greater peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) normalized to body weight (49.12 ± 7.53 vs. 39.88 ± 5.69 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.37), peak knee anterior reaction force normalized to body weight (0.23 ± 0.04 vs. 0.17 ± 0.05 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.33), and decreased pre-activation of the semitendinosus (45.10 ± 20.05% vs. 34.03 ± 12.05%; p = 0.04; Hedge’s g = 0.67). The final regression equation was peak knee anterior reaction force = 0.024 + 0.025 (peak knee flexion moment) − 0.02 (semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio) + 0.003 (peak vertical GRF) (R2 = 0.576, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Overall, the data provided in this study support that a reduced semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio predicted an increase in knee anterior reaction force and potentially an increase in ACL forces. Female non-athletes had gender-specific landing characteristics that may contribute to ACL injury. Future studies are warranted to consider more possible predictors of non-contact ACL injury.
{"title":"Gender Comparisons and Associations between Lower Limb Muscle Activation Strategies and Resultant Knee Biomechanics during Single Leg Drop Landings","authors":"Xiaohan Xu, Guojiong Hu, Genevieve K. R. Williams, Fenghao Ma","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2040044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040044","url":null,"abstract":"(1) Background: We aimed to compare gender differences in knee biomechanics and neuromuscular characteristics, and to determine the relationships between lower limb muscle pre-activations and knee biomechanics during a single leg drop landing, in order to identify riskier landing patterns to prevent injury and intervene properly. (2) Methods: Descriptive laboratory cross-sectional study on 38 healthy untrained subjects with low to moderate physical activity status. (3) Results: During the initial-contact phase of landing, females demonstrated greater peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) normalized to body weight (49.12 ± 7.53 vs. 39.88 ± 5.69 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.37), peak knee anterior reaction force normalized to body weight (0.23 ± 0.04 vs. 0.17 ± 0.05 N/kg; p < 0.001; Hedge’s g = 1.33), and decreased pre-activation of the semitendinosus (45.10 ± 20.05% vs. 34.03 ± 12.05%; p = 0.04; Hedge’s g = 0.67). The final regression equation was peak knee anterior reaction force = 0.024 + 0.025 (peak knee flexion moment) − 0.02 (semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio) + 0.003 (peak vertical GRF) (R2 = 0.576, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Overall, the data provided in this study support that a reduced semitendinosus-to-vastus lateralis pre-activation ratio predicted an increase in knee anterior reaction force and potentially an increase in ACL forces. Female non-athletes had gender-specific landing characteristics that may contribute to ACL injury. Future studies are warranted to consider more possible predictors of non-contact ACL injury.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42881316","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-19DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2040043
Abdullah Al Masud, Chwan-Li Shen, M. Chyu
The application of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has been demonstrated to be effective in improving muscle strength/power by a number of studies, but an optimal training protocol has never been established. This paper presents a review of studies on the effects of WBV on muscles and an analysis of data to identify the optimal protocols for the most beneficial neuromuscular responses in terms of vibration frequency, amplitude, knee flexion angle, body posture (standing, sitting, supine, prone), muscle type (quadriceps, hamstrings), and vibration mode (superoinferior, anteroposterior, rotational). Ninety articles were selected for final review from initially selected 2093 articles using PRISMA guidelines. The findings suggest that the beneficial effects of WBV increase with frequency and amplitude but the optimal frequency and amplitude have not been established. The effect of the knee flexion angle is not clear. The optimal WBV protocol should be determined by considering the adverse effects of WBV on all parts of the human body including that related to head acceleration. WBV in sitting or lying positions may provide a better muscle response than standing. Directions for future research are discussed with regard to establishing the optimal WBV protocol as a safe and effective therapeutic/exercise modality for improving muscle strength and health.
{"title":"On the Optimal Whole-Body Vibration Protocol for Muscle Strength","authors":"Abdullah Al Masud, Chwan-Li Shen, M. Chyu","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2040043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040043","url":null,"abstract":"The application of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has been demonstrated to be effective in improving muscle strength/power by a number of studies, but an optimal training protocol has never been established. This paper presents a review of studies on the effects of WBV on muscles and an analysis of data to identify the optimal protocols for the most beneficial neuromuscular responses in terms of vibration frequency, amplitude, knee flexion angle, body posture (standing, sitting, supine, prone), muscle type (quadriceps, hamstrings), and vibration mode (superoinferior, anteroposterior, rotational). Ninety articles were selected for final review from initially selected 2093 articles using PRISMA guidelines. The findings suggest that the beneficial effects of WBV increase with frequency and amplitude but the optimal frequency and amplitude have not been established. The effect of the knee flexion angle is not clear. The optimal WBV protocol should be determined by considering the adverse effects of WBV on all parts of the human body including that related to head acceleration. WBV in sitting or lying positions may provide a better muscle response than standing. Directions for future research are discussed with regard to establishing the optimal WBV protocol as a safe and effective therapeutic/exercise modality for improving muscle strength and health.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":"113 1-2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41287055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-18DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2040042
Damjana V. Cabarkapa, D. Cabarkapa, A. Fry, Shay M. Whiting, Gabriel G Downey
While being an integral part of both the offensive and defensive segments of the game, the biomechanical parameters of setting motions remain understudied in the scientific literature. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine differences in kinetic and kinematic characteristics between: (a) three types of setting motions (i.e., front, middle, back); (b) two types of setting approaches (i.e., stationary, step-in); and (c) proficient (PRO) and non-proficient (N-PRO) volleyball players. Twenty recreationally active females performed five stationary and five step-in setting approaches to Zone 4–2 in a randomized order. Uni-dimensional force plate sampling at 1000 Hz and high-definition camera recording at 30 fps were used to obtain kinetic and kinematic variables of interest. The total number of setting attempts performed by each subject was 30, accounting for a grand total of 600 attempts. PRO setters had less knee flexion, shoulder flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion at the initial concentric phase of the volleyball setting motion when compared to the N-PRO setters. Moreover, significantly greater peak concentric and landing forces, impulse, rate of force development, and vertical jump height were observed for PRO setters compared to N-PRO setters, while no significant differences were found between different setting targets and approaches.
{"title":"Kinetic and Kinematic Characteristics of Setting Motions in Female Volleyball Players","authors":"Damjana V. Cabarkapa, D. Cabarkapa, A. Fry, Shay M. Whiting, Gabriel G Downey","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2040042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040042","url":null,"abstract":"While being an integral part of both the offensive and defensive segments of the game, the biomechanical parameters of setting motions remain understudied in the scientific literature. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to examine differences in kinetic and kinematic characteristics between: (a) three types of setting motions (i.e., front, middle, back); (b) two types of setting approaches (i.e., stationary, step-in); and (c) proficient (PRO) and non-proficient (N-PRO) volleyball players. Twenty recreationally active females performed five stationary and five step-in setting approaches to Zone 4–2 in a randomized order. Uni-dimensional force plate sampling at 1000 Hz and high-definition camera recording at 30 fps were used to obtain kinetic and kinematic variables of interest. The total number of setting attempts performed by each subject was 30, accounting for a grand total of 600 attempts. PRO setters had less knee flexion, shoulder flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion at the initial concentric phase of the volleyball setting motion when compared to the N-PRO setters. Moreover, significantly greater peak concentric and landing forces, impulse, rate of force development, and vertical jump height were observed for PRO setters compared to N-PRO setters, while no significant differences were found between different setting targets and approaches.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43566300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-01DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2040040
Michele Aquino, John Petrizzo, R. Otto, J. Wygand
Landing kinetics and kinematics have historically been correlated with potential injury. A factor that requires more attention associated with its correlation to injury risk includes the impact of physiological fatigue. Fatigue is a multifaceted phenomenon involving central and peripheral factors resulting in a slowing or cessation of motor unit firing and a decrease in maximal force and power. Sports participation rarely results in momentary muscular failure occurring, as many sports consist of intermittent periods of activity that are interspersed with short rest periods that allow for recovery to take place. However, over the course of the competition, fatigue can still accumulate and can result in impaired performance. Current literature on the topic struggles to replicate the peripheral and central metabolic stresses required to induce a state of fatigue that would be equivalent to athletic exposure. Furthermore, the current literature fails to demonstrate consistency regarding the kinetic implications associated with fatigue, which may be secondary to the inconsistencies associated with fatigue protocols utilized. This article focuses on providing an overview of the current literature associated with fatigue’s impact on the kinetics associated with landing from a jump. The article will provide a prospective methodology utilizing repeat bouts of the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test. The proposed protocol may help further our understanding of the relationship between fatigue and lower extremity biomechanics.
{"title":"The Impact of Fatigue on Performance and Biomechanical Variables—A Narrative Review with Prospective Methodology","authors":"Michele Aquino, John Petrizzo, R. Otto, J. Wygand","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2040040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2040040","url":null,"abstract":"Landing kinetics and kinematics have historically been correlated with potential injury. A factor that requires more attention associated with its correlation to injury risk includes the impact of physiological fatigue. Fatigue is a multifaceted phenomenon involving central and peripheral factors resulting in a slowing or cessation of motor unit firing and a decrease in maximal force and power. Sports participation rarely results in momentary muscular failure occurring, as many sports consist of intermittent periods of activity that are interspersed with short rest periods that allow for recovery to take place. However, over the course of the competition, fatigue can still accumulate and can result in impaired performance. Current literature on the topic struggles to replicate the peripheral and central metabolic stresses required to induce a state of fatigue that would be equivalent to athletic exposure. Furthermore, the current literature fails to demonstrate consistency regarding the kinetic implications associated with fatigue, which may be secondary to the inconsistencies associated with fatigue protocols utilized. This article focuses on providing an overview of the current literature associated with fatigue’s impact on the kinetics associated with landing from a jump. The article will provide a prospective methodology utilizing repeat bouts of the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test. The proposed protocol may help further our understanding of the relationship between fatigue and lower extremity biomechanics.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42527542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-12DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030037
A. Foskolou, Analina A. Emmanouil, K. Boudolos, E. Rousanoglou
In popular fitness modalities, the participants often perform abdominal breathing while maintaining stable or rather unstable as well as inverted body stances that may challenge the respiratory muscles’ activation. This study aimed to examine the abdominal breathing effect on postural stability and the respiratory muscles’ activation during four body stances: the Upright Stance, the Quadrupled Inverted V, the Elbow Side-Bridge, and the Headstand. Participants (n = 29) maintained (40 s) the body stances under regular and abdominal breathing (the latter verified through visual inspection and 3D inertial sensing of the abdominal wall angular displacements, LORD-MicroStrain®, 100 Hz, MicroStrain, Inc., Williston, VT, USA). The trajectory of the center of pressure (CoP) (Kistler force plate, 100 Hz, Kistler Group, Winterthur, Switzerland) was recorded in synchronization with the respiratory muscles’ (sternocleidomastoid, external intercostals, diaphragm, rectus abdominis) vibromyographic activation (Biopac VMG sensors, 2000 Hz, Biopac Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, USA). Abdominal breathing had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) deteriorating effect on postural stability and an increasing one on the respiratory muscles’ activation; however, this was not consistent across body stances. The body stance specificity of the abdominal breathing effect justifies the purpose of the present study. Thus, before the request for abdominal breathing in popular fitness modalities, one should acknowledge the postural and the breathing demands of each particular stance, particularly for the inverted ones.
{"title":"Abdominal Breathing Effect on Postural Stability and the Respiratory Muscles’ Activation during Body Stances Used in Fitness Modalities","authors":"A. Foskolou, Analina A. Emmanouil, K. Boudolos, E. Rousanoglou","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030037","url":null,"abstract":"In popular fitness modalities, the participants often perform abdominal breathing while maintaining stable or rather unstable as well as inverted body stances that may challenge the respiratory muscles’ activation. This study aimed to examine the abdominal breathing effect on postural stability and the respiratory muscles’ activation during four body stances: the Upright Stance, the Quadrupled Inverted V, the Elbow Side-Bridge, and the Headstand. Participants (n = 29) maintained (40 s) the body stances under regular and abdominal breathing (the latter verified through visual inspection and 3D inertial sensing of the abdominal wall angular displacements, LORD-MicroStrain®, 100 Hz, MicroStrain, Inc., Williston, VT, USA). The trajectory of the center of pressure (CoP) (Kistler force plate, 100 Hz, Kistler Group, Winterthur, Switzerland) was recorded in synchronization with the respiratory muscles’ (sternocleidomastoid, external intercostals, diaphragm, rectus abdominis) vibromyographic activation (Biopac VMG sensors, 2000 Hz, Biopac Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, USA). Abdominal breathing had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) deteriorating effect on postural stability and an increasing one on the respiratory muscles’ activation; however, this was not consistent across body stances. The body stance specificity of the abdominal breathing effect justifies the purpose of the present study. Thus, before the request for abdominal breathing in popular fitness modalities, one should acknowledge the postural and the breathing demands of each particular stance, particularly for the inverted ones.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44544406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-11DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030036
Yusuke Sekiguchi, D. Owaki, Keita Honda, S. Izumi
The coordination of joint moments in the same limb—otherwise known as kinetic interjoint coordination—during gait in patients with hemiparesis remains unclear. This study clarifies the characteristics of kinetic interjoint coordination in the lower limbs using a principal component analysis (PCA). Using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and force plates, the kinematic and kinetic data from 29 patients with hemiparesis and 12 healthy controls were measured when they walked along a 7 m walkway. The spatiotemporal principal components (PCs) of the hip, knee, and ankle joint moments were calculated using a PCA and the motor modules during gait were identified. We adopted a case–control study design to clarify the kinetic interjoint coordination characteristics during gait in patients with hemiplegia. As the results of comparisons between the patients and controls showed, the peak timing of the first PC, which had high loadings of hip and ankle joint moments on the paretic side, was significantly earlier than that on the other sides. The loading of the knee joint moment for the first PC on the paretic side was significantly lower than that on the non-paretic side (p < 0.05), which was highly variable with negative and positive values. The results demonstrated that the first motor module comprising hip and ankle joint moments on the paretic side during gait in patients with hemiparesis may be merged with knee joint flexion or the extension moment, and may have an atypical temporal component. The index of kinetic interjoint coordination would be a useful tool for robotic-based systems for effective rehabilitation, which would significantly contribute to the acceleration of collaborative research in the fields of engineering and rehabilitation medicine.
{"title":"Kinetic Interjoint Coordination in Lower Limbs during Gait in Patients with Hemiparesis","authors":"Yusuke Sekiguchi, D. Owaki, Keita Honda, S. Izumi","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030036","url":null,"abstract":"The coordination of joint moments in the same limb—otherwise known as kinetic interjoint coordination—during gait in patients with hemiparesis remains unclear. This study clarifies the characteristics of kinetic interjoint coordination in the lower limbs using a principal component analysis (PCA). Using a three-dimensional motion analysis system and force plates, the kinematic and kinetic data from 29 patients with hemiparesis and 12 healthy controls were measured when they walked along a 7 m walkway. The spatiotemporal principal components (PCs) of the hip, knee, and ankle joint moments were calculated using a PCA and the motor modules during gait were identified. We adopted a case–control study design to clarify the kinetic interjoint coordination characteristics during gait in patients with hemiplegia. As the results of comparisons between the patients and controls showed, the peak timing of the first PC, which had high loadings of hip and ankle joint moments on the paretic side, was significantly earlier than that on the other sides. The loading of the knee joint moment for the first PC on the paretic side was significantly lower than that on the non-paretic side (p < 0.05), which was highly variable with negative and positive values. The results demonstrated that the first motor module comprising hip and ankle joint moments on the paretic side during gait in patients with hemiparesis may be merged with knee joint flexion or the extension moment, and may have an atypical temporal component. The index of kinetic interjoint coordination would be a useful tool for robotic-based systems for effective rehabilitation, which would significantly contribute to the acceleration of collaborative research in the fields of engineering and rehabilitation medicine.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48217381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-09-02DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030035
Shuaijie Wang, T. Bhatt
Stroke survivors are at a relatively higher risk of falling than their healthy counterparts. To identify the key gait characteristics affecting fall risk in this population, this study analyzed the gait kinematics and gait asymmetries for 36 community-dwelling people with chronic stroke (PwCS). According to their fall history in the last 12 months, they were divided into a fall group (n = 21) and non-fall group (n = 15), and then the gait kinematics (step length, stride length, stance time, swing time, trunk angle, and segment angles for lower limbs) and their asymmetries (symmetry ratio and symmetry index) were compared between these two groups. To investigate the relationship between fall types and gait characteristics, these variables were also compared between 11 slip-fallers and non-fallers, as well as between 7 trip-fallers and non-fallers. Our results indicated that the fallers showed smaller trunk and thigh angle, larger shank angle, and higher gait asymmetries (trunk and foot). Such changes in gait pattern could also be found in the trip-fallers, except the trunk angle. Additionally, the trip-fallers also showed a shorter step length, shorter stride length, shorter swing time, larger foot angle on the paretic side, and higher asymmetries in shank angle and step length, while the slip-fallers only showed changes in trunk angle and thigh angle and higher asymmetries in step length and foot angle compared to the non-fall group. Our results indicated that improper or pathological gait patterns (i.e., smaller thigh angle or higher foot asymmetry) increases the risk of falling in PwCS, and different fall types are associated with different gait characteristics. Our findings would be helpful for the development of fall risk assessment methods that are based on kinematic gait measurements. Implementation of objective fall risk assessments in PwCS has the potential to reduce fall-related injuries, leading to a reduction in associated hospital costs.
{"title":"Gait Kinematics and Asymmetries Affecting Fall Risk in People with Chronic Stroke: A Retrospective Study","authors":"Shuaijie Wang, T. Bhatt","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030035","url":null,"abstract":"Stroke survivors are at a relatively higher risk of falling than their healthy counterparts. To identify the key gait characteristics affecting fall risk in this population, this study analyzed the gait kinematics and gait asymmetries for 36 community-dwelling people with chronic stroke (PwCS). According to their fall history in the last 12 months, they were divided into a fall group (n = 21) and non-fall group (n = 15), and then the gait kinematics (step length, stride length, stance time, swing time, trunk angle, and segment angles for lower limbs) and their asymmetries (symmetry ratio and symmetry index) were compared between these two groups. To investigate the relationship between fall types and gait characteristics, these variables were also compared between 11 slip-fallers and non-fallers, as well as between 7 trip-fallers and non-fallers. Our results indicated that the fallers showed smaller trunk and thigh angle, larger shank angle, and higher gait asymmetries (trunk and foot). Such changes in gait pattern could also be found in the trip-fallers, except the trunk angle. Additionally, the trip-fallers also showed a shorter step length, shorter stride length, shorter swing time, larger foot angle on the paretic side, and higher asymmetries in shank angle and step length, while the slip-fallers only showed changes in trunk angle and thigh angle and higher asymmetries in step length and foot angle compared to the non-fall group. Our results indicated that improper or pathological gait patterns (i.e., smaller thigh angle or higher foot asymmetry) increases the risk of falling in PwCS, and different fall types are associated with different gait characteristics. Our findings would be helpful for the development of fall risk assessment methods that are based on kinematic gait measurements. Implementation of objective fall risk assessments in PwCS has the potential to reduce fall-related injuries, leading to a reduction in associated hospital costs.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46400627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-30DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030034
Li Jin, M. Hahn
The lower–extremity system acts like a spring in the running stance phase. Vertical stiffness (Kvert) and leg stiffness (Kleg) reflect the whole–body center of mass (COM) and leg–spring system loading and response in running, while joint stiffness (Kjoint) represents joint–level dynamic loading and response. This study aimed to investigate whether Kjoint is associated with Kvert and Kleg across different running speeds. Twenty healthy subjects were recruited into a treadmill running study (1.8 to 3.8 m/s, with 0.4 m/s intervals). We found that Kjoint accounted for 38.4% of the variance in Kvert (p = 0.046) and 42.4% of the variance in Kleg (p = 0.028) at 1.8 m/s; Kjoint also accounted for 49.8% of the variance in Kvert (p = 0.014) and 79.3% of the variance in Kleg (p < 0.0001) at 2.2 m/s. Kknee had the strongest unique association with Kvert and Kleg at 1.8 and 2.2 m/s. Kjoint was associated with Kleg at a wider range of speeds. These findings built a connection between joint stiffness and limb stiffness within a certain range of running speeds. Kknee may need to be considered as an important factor in future limb stiffness optimization and general running performance enhancement.
{"title":"Relationship between Joint Stiffness, Limb Stiffness and Whole–Body Center of Mass Mechanical Work across Running Speeds","authors":"Li Jin, M. Hahn","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030034","url":null,"abstract":"The lower–extremity system acts like a spring in the running stance phase. Vertical stiffness (Kvert) and leg stiffness (Kleg) reflect the whole–body center of mass (COM) and leg–spring system loading and response in running, while joint stiffness (Kjoint) represents joint–level dynamic loading and response. This study aimed to investigate whether Kjoint is associated with Kvert and Kleg across different running speeds. Twenty healthy subjects were recruited into a treadmill running study (1.8 to 3.8 m/s, with 0.4 m/s intervals). We found that Kjoint accounted for 38.4% of the variance in Kvert (p = 0.046) and 42.4% of the variance in Kleg (p = 0.028) at 1.8 m/s; Kjoint also accounted for 49.8% of the variance in Kvert (p = 0.014) and 79.3% of the variance in Kleg (p < 0.0001) at 2.2 m/s. Kknee had the strongest unique association with Kvert and Kleg at 1.8 and 2.2 m/s. Kjoint was associated with Kleg at a wider range of speeds. These findings built a connection between joint stiffness and limb stiffness within a certain range of running speeds. Kknee may need to be considered as an important factor in future limb stiffness optimization and general running performance enhancement.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47192179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-24DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030033
H. R. Vanderhoof, E. A. Chavez, J. D. Eggleston
Walking workstations may counteract sedentarism in working adults; however, performing dual-task walking may affect gait or work performance. The purpose of this study was to examine gait symmetry parameters and work performance while completing a fine motor dexterity task during walking workstation use. Gait function, quantified as gait symmetry, was used to identify attentional resource allocation of the co-occurring tasks during the dual-task conditions. Eighteen college-aged students performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) with left and right hands separately while using a walking workstation at a self-selected speed. Gait symmetry indices were computed on stride length and lower extremity angular joint positions and were analyzed for a comparison of the baseline and PPT dual-task conditions. No asymmetries were found in stride length or lower extremity angular joint positions at any sub-phase of gait during walking workstation use. PPT scores decreased significantly in the walking condition compared to the seated and standing conditions. Overall, gait symmetry did not change at any lower extremity angular joint position at any sub-phase; however, there was a decrease in PPT performance, which may relate to decreased work performance. However, increased exposure to the PPT task while using a walking workstation may improve work performance over time.
{"title":"Gait Symmetry Is Unaffected When Completing a Motor Dexterity Task While Using a Walking Workstation in Healthy, Young Adults","authors":"H. R. Vanderhoof, E. A. Chavez, J. D. Eggleston","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030033","url":null,"abstract":"Walking workstations may counteract sedentarism in working adults; however, performing dual-task walking may affect gait or work performance. The purpose of this study was to examine gait symmetry parameters and work performance while completing a fine motor dexterity task during walking workstation use. Gait function, quantified as gait symmetry, was used to identify attentional resource allocation of the co-occurring tasks during the dual-task conditions. Eighteen college-aged students performed the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) with left and right hands separately while using a walking workstation at a self-selected speed. Gait symmetry indices were computed on stride length and lower extremity angular joint positions and were analyzed for a comparison of the baseline and PPT dual-task conditions. No asymmetries were found in stride length or lower extremity angular joint positions at any sub-phase of gait during walking workstation use. PPT scores decreased significantly in the walking condition compared to the seated and standing conditions. Overall, gait symmetry did not change at any lower extremity angular joint position at any sub-phase; however, there was a decrease in PPT performance, which may relate to decreased work performance. However, increased exposure to the PPT task while using a walking workstation may improve work performance over time.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42246223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-08-04DOI: 10.3390/biomechanics2030031
Francesca Wade, Sidney T. Baudendistel, Amanda E. Stone, Jaimie A. Roper, Tiphanie E. Raffegeau, M. Terza, C. Hass
Mobility disability is prevalent in aging populations. While existing walking interventions improve aspects related to mobility, meaningful and sustained changes leading to preventing and reversing mobility disability have remained elusive. Split-belt treadmills can be used to train gait adaptability and may be a potential long-term rehabilitation tool for those at risk for mobility decline. As adaptability is necessary for community walking, we investigated the feasibility of a small, randomized controlled 16-week gait adaptability training program in a cohort of 38 sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: traditional treadmill training, split-belt treadmill training, or no-contact control. Both treadmill interventions included progressive training 3 days a week, focusing on increasing duration and speed of walking. Cognitive, functional, cardiovascular, and gait assessments were completed before and after the intervention. While individuals were able to complete split-belt treadmill training, only Timed Up and Go performance was significantly improved compared to traditional treadmill training. As the stimulus provided by the split-belt training was difficult to control, we did not observe a clear benefit for split-belt treadmill training over traditional treadmill training. Our findings indicate a cautionary tale about the implementation of complex training interventions.
{"title":"Locomotor Adaptation Training to Prevent Mobility Disability","authors":"Francesca Wade, Sidney T. Baudendistel, Amanda E. Stone, Jaimie A. Roper, Tiphanie E. Raffegeau, M. Terza, C. Hass","doi":"10.3390/biomechanics2030031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/biomechanics2030031","url":null,"abstract":"Mobility disability is prevalent in aging populations. While existing walking interventions improve aspects related to mobility, meaningful and sustained changes leading to preventing and reversing mobility disability have remained elusive. Split-belt treadmills can be used to train gait adaptability and may be a potential long-term rehabilitation tool for those at risk for mobility decline. As adaptability is necessary for community walking, we investigated the feasibility of a small, randomized controlled 16-week gait adaptability training program in a cohort of 38 sedentary older adults at risk for mobility disability. Individuals were randomly assigned to one of three groups: traditional treadmill training, split-belt treadmill training, or no-contact control. Both treadmill interventions included progressive training 3 days a week, focusing on increasing duration and speed of walking. Cognitive, functional, cardiovascular, and gait assessments were completed before and after the intervention. While individuals were able to complete split-belt treadmill training, only Timed Up and Go performance was significantly improved compared to traditional treadmill training. As the stimulus provided by the split-belt training was difficult to control, we did not observe a clear benefit for split-belt treadmill training over traditional treadmill training. Our findings indicate a cautionary tale about the implementation of complex training interventions.","PeriodicalId":72381,"journal":{"name":"Biomechanics (Basel, Switzerland)","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45739297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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