Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Gait Rehabilitation Using Functional Electrical Stimulation Induces Changes In Ankle Muscle Coordination In Stroke Survivors: A Preliminary Study, Jessica L. Allen, Lena H. Ting, Trisha M. Kesar

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Freezing Of Gait: Mechanisms, Mechanics, And Management, Peter S. Myers

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with multiple motor and non-motor symptoms, including postural instability, gait impairments, and cognitive deficits. More than 50% of individuals with PD experience a symptom called freezing of gait (FOG), described as a transient inability to take another step forward. Individuals with PD who experience FOG (freezers) have further postural, gait, and cognitive impairments compared to individuals with PD without FOG (non-freezers). While degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is accepted as the primary etiology of the disease, research shows that the disease has a global impact on the brain, accounting …

Acromial Insufficiency Fractures In Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Biomechanical Study, Alicia Kerrigan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is increasingly utilized in the aging population, with a growing list of surgical indications including rotator cuff tear arthropathy, proximal humerus fractures, and revision arthroplasty. Acromial insufficiency fractures following RTSA are poorly understood, difficult to diagnose, and associated with inferior clinical outcomes. There is limited knowledge in the literature regarding the etiology of post-operative acromial fractures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of implant parameters on acromial strain following RTSA.

Using a cadaveric model, a custom designed modular RTSA system was implanted that allowed for evaluation of modifiable parameters including glenoid …

Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty Using A Novel 3d Printed Titanium Augment: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Study, Charles-Antoine Dion

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

During revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA), proximal tibial bone loss is frequently encountered and can result in a less-stable bone-implant fixation. A 3D printed titanium augment that conforms to the irregular shape of the proximal tibia was recently developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fixation stability of rTKA with this augment in comparison to conventional cemented rTKA.

Fixation stability testing was conducted on eleven pairs of thawed fresh-frozen cadaveric tibias (22 tibias) after primary and revision TKA. During the loading protocol, the bone-implant micromotion was measured using a high-resolution optical system.

There was significantly less micromotion …

Wearable Sensors And Total Knee Arthroplasty: Assessing Quantitative Function To Improve The Patient Experience, Megan Fennema

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease for which the only long-term solution is total knee arthroplasty (TKA), though many patients are not satisfied with their TKA. Satisfaction in TKA patients is not well understood. Subjective questionnaires and objective functional tests have been previously used to assess TKA outcomes, but both have disadvantages. Wearable sensors have facilitated affordable biomechanical measurement in OA and TKA populations. The objective of this work was to use wearable sensors alongside functional tests with TKA patients to identify quantitative function that related to subjective function and satisfaction. A wearable sensor-setup was validated before implementation in …

Performance Impact Of Different Lower-Limb Setup Positions In The Backstroke Swimming Start, Gordon E. Barkwell

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The performance impact of different knee extension angles in the setup position for a backstroke start was evaluated using an instrumented starting surface. Ten backstroke swimmers completed maximum-effort starts in each of two setup positions: one with the knees flexed, and one with the knees extended. The start handles and touchpad were instrumented with tri-axial force plates. Activity of major hip and knee extensors was measured using surface electromyography. Body position was recorded throughout the start using two high-speed cameras. There was no difference in time to 10 m between the two conditions, indicating there is likely no advantage in …

Risk Factors Associated With Low Back Pain In Golfers: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jo Armour Smith, Andrew Hawkins, Marybeth Grant-Beuttler, Richard Beuttler, Szu-Ping Lee

Physical Therapy Faculty Articles and Research

Context:

Low back pain is common in golfers. The risk factors for golf-related low back pain are unclear but may include individual demographic, anthropometric, and practice factors as well as movement characteristics of the golf swing.

Objective:

The aims of this systematic review were to summarize and synthesize evidence for factors associated with low back pain in recreational and professional golfers.

Data Sources:

A systematic literature search was conducted using the PubMed, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus electronic databases through September 2017.

Study Selection:

Studies were included if they quantified demographic, anthropometric, biomechanical, or practice variables in individuals with and without golf-related …

Design, Development, Manufacturing And Biomechanical Testing Of Stand-Alone Cage For Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion, Fahad Alhelal

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Introduction: The most common method of spinal fusion includes pedicle screws instrumentation, either with or without interbody cage fusion. This thesis aimed to develop and test a novel stand-alone intervertebral device that eliminates the need for pedicle screws and rods.

Method: The stand-alone cage was designed in collaboration with spinal surgeons and engineers using computer assisting drawings, and manufactured in titanium by 3D printing. Biomechanical testing comparing the stand-alone cage with standard posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in sawbones (n=6) and cadavers (n=8).

Result: Compared to PLIF, the stand-alone cage demonstrated no significant difference in range of flexion, lateral bend …

The Development Of A Temporomandibular Force Simulator To Study Craniofacial Strain In-Vitro, Kenneth Kc Ip

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

An in-vitro musculoskeletal loading simulator was developed to replicate the internal forces of mastication, and then employed in a comparison of clinically relevant facial fracture repairs. Muscle forces are simulated by pneumatic pistons via 3D printed mounts that are reverse-engineered from CT scan to match muscle attachment sites, which are adhered to bone in order to simulate native stress distributions. Bite force and bone strain pattern of the craniofacial structure under load were measured using a force sensor and strain gauges respectively. In a series of five fresh-frozen cadaveric heads, it was found that strain patterns of the craniofacial structure …

Motor Impairments In Children With Autism: Insight Into The Complexity Of The Disorder, Jeffrey Douglas Eggleston

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder which has seen an increasing prevalence rate in recent decades. Currently, the diagnostic criteria for the disorder evaluate a multitude of social communication and interactions, in a variety of contexts, and restricted or repetitive behavioral patterns (stereotyped movement, resistance to changes in routines, restricted interests, and hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory stimulus). Furthermore, ASD severity is based upon the marked severity of the above described impairment and they must also fall within one of three potential categories: 1) symptoms being present in early development, although potentially not manifested fully; 2) the …

Large, Long Range Tensile Forces Drive Convergence During, David R. Shook, Eric Kasprowicz, Md, Lance A. Davidson, Raymond Keller

Division of Internal Medicine Faculty Papers & Presentations

Indirect evidence suggests that blastopore closure during gastrulation of anamniotes, including amphibians such as Xenopus laevis, depends on circumblastoporal convergence forces generated by the marginal zone (MZ), but direct evidence is lacking. We show that explanted MZs generate tensile convergence forces up to 1.5 mN during gastrulation and over 4 mN thereafter. These forces are generated by convergent thickening (CT) until the midgastrula and increasingly by convergent extension (CE) thereafter. Explants from ventralized embryos, which lack tissues expressing CE but close their blastopores, produce up to 2 mN of tensile force, showing that CT alone generates forces sufficient to close …

Kinematic Comparison Of Underwater Dolphin And Flutter Kicking Performed In A Prone And Supine Body Position, Peter Robinson, Taylor L. Adams, Kali Rose, Mickey B. Scharbrough, Scott P. Mclean

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Despite an increasing emphasis on underwater dolphin kicking in competitive swimming, little objective research exists to explain its preference over flutter kicking. PURPOSE: To examine kinematic characteristics of flutter and dolphin kicking performed in prone and supine body positions. METHODS: Ten collegiate swimmers (1.77±0.07 m, 72.4±7.6 kg, 19.8±1.0 yrs) experienced with dolphin and flutter kicking completed eight 10 m maximal effort underwater kicking trials. Body position and kicking style were randomly varied between trials such that half of all trials were performed using each kicking style and each body position. A calibrated underwater camera was used to record …

Effect Of Dolphin Kick Timing On Breaststroke Pullout Performance, Taylor L. Adams, Mickey B. Scharbrough, Scott P. Mclean

International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings

Breaststroke pullouts are now permitted to include a dolphin kick. Two variations of the pullout are distinguished by the timing of the dolphin kick within the movement. One variation uses an early-initiation of the dolphin kick (performed before the initiation of the arm pull) while a second variation uses a late-initiation of the dolphin kick (performed at the completion of the arm pull). PURPOSE: To compare the performance of two variations of breaststroke pullouts that incorporate a dolphin kick. METHODS: Fourteen collegiate swimmers (18.9 ± 1.17 years, 73.7 ± 8.54 kg, 174.5 ± 9.88 cm) who compete in breaststroke or …

Changes In Reach To Eat Movement Control After Intensive Training For Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy, Yaching Hung, Aryeh D. Spingarn

Publications and Research

Ya Ching Hung EdD. and Aryeh Spingarn EP-C, CSCS, EIM-Level 2 Queens College, City University of New York Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences, Changes in Reach to Eat Movement Control After Intensive Training for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Purpose: The current study compares the effects of an intervention on children with Congenital Hemiplegia during a simple eating task using kinematic analyses. Previous studies looked at simple bimanual tasks such as opening a drawer; no studies examined the effects of intensive training on unimanual reach, grasp, and eat movement control. Methods: 20 children with Unilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy …

The Effects Of Self-Adherent Taping On Peak Inversion Angle And Eversion Moment Upon Landing During A Maximal Vertical Jump And A Depth Drop, Christopher M. Gregoire

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Ankle injuries are the most common injury in physically active adults with roughly 15% to 30% of all physical activity injuries being ankle injuries. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-adherent ankle taping in reducing peak ankle inversion angle and peak ankle eversion moment upon landing during a max vertical jump and depth drop compared to jumping without a prophylactic ankle stabilizer.

Twelve volunteers participated in testing procedure on two separate days. Day one consisted of orientation while day two consisted of experimental data collection. The participant’s peak inversion angle and eversion moment were …

Midfoot Power During Walking And Stair Ascent In Healthy Adults, Frank Diliberto, Jeff Houck

Faculty Publications - College of Physical Therapy

Introduction/Purpose: Intrinsic foot muscles have the capacity to attenuate and reverse arch deformation under loaded conditions. This function is proposed to be an important component in generating the midfoot power and stability requisite for gastroc-soleus muscle action at the ankle during forward propulsion. Synergistic activation of intrinsic foot muscles is proposed to function as a ‘foot core’ during weightbearing activity that is analogous to the function of the smaller muscles at the spine. If this theory were sound, midfoot power would be expected to increase, potentially in proportion to ankle power, as the muscular demand of a task increases. The …

Design And Analysis Of A 3d-Printed, Thermoplastic Elastomer (Tpe) Spring Element For Use In Corrective Hand Orthotics, Kevin Thomas Richardson

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical Engineering

This thesis proposes an algorithm that determine the geometry of 3D-printed, custom-designed spring element bands made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) for use in a wearable orthotic device to aid in the physical therapy of a human hand exhibiting spasticity after stroke. Each finger of the hand is modeled as a mechanical system consisting of a triple-rod pendulum with nonlinear stiffness at each joint and forces applied at the attachment point of each flexor muscle. The system is assumed quasi-static, which leads to a torque balance between the flexor tendons in the hand, joint stiffness and the design force applied to …

The Potential Role Of Weightlifting Training On The Biomechanics Of Patient Movements In The Prevention Of Back Injury, Michael Lee Callihan

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Back injury in nursing is a significant concern for the health of the worker, the costs to the healthcare system, and the safety of the patients. Current injury prevention measures include ergonomic adjustments to the work environment, the use of mechanical lifting equipment, policies to limit manual handling of patients, and the teaching of lifting techniques. These measures have been met with limited success in reducing injury rates. Little is known about whether changing the lifting biomechanics used in the healthcare setting can lower high injury rates across the profession.

The purposes of this dissertation were to: 1) identify the …

The Effect Of Tackling Training On Head Accelerations In Youth American Football, Eric Schussler, Richard J. Jagacinski, Susan E. White, Ajit M. Chaudhari, John A. Buford, James A. Onate

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Many organizations have introduced frameworks to reduce the incidence of football related concussions through proper equipment fitting, coach education, and alteration of tackling technique.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of training in a vertical, head up tackling style on the number of head accelerations experienced while tackling in a controlled laboratory situation. The authors hypothesized that training in a head up tackling technique would reduce the severity of head acceleration experienced by participants.

Design: Controlled Laboratory Study.

Methods: Twenty-four participants (11.5 ± 0.6 years old, 60.5 ± 2.2 in, 110 ± 18.4 lbs.) …

The Mechanics Of Front Leg Loading During Cricket Fast Bowling: Delivery Variations, Spell Demands, And The Effects Of Strength Training, Samuel J. Callaghan

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The goal of fast bowling in cricket is to dismiss a batsman for as few runs as possible. To assist this goal, fast bowlers will attempt to maximise ball release velocity (BRV) to decrease the decision-making and stroke execution time of the opposing batsmen. Fast bowlers will also employ various delivery lengths (i.e. short, good and full) to assist in affecting a batsman’s stroke execution.

Several issues remain to be addressed with regards to the biomechanical assessment of fast bowling. This is particularly evident when analysing fast bowling performance (i.e. BRV), the implications of front foot loading (i.e. vertical and …

Assessment Of Joint Kinetics In Elite Sprint Cyclists, Lynne Munro

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Sprint cycling requires the production of explosive muscle power outputs up to very high pedalling rates. The ability to assess muscular function through the course of the sprint would aid training practices for high-level performers. Inverse dynamics provides a non-invasive means of estimating the net muscle actions acting across any joint contributing to movement. However, analysis of joint kinetics requires motion-capture techniques that present some unique challenges for cycling. This thesis presents three studies investigating the application of a custom-designed force pedal system to examine the joint kinetics of elite trained track sprint cyclists. To provide the basis for selecting …