Biomechanics Commons^™

The Importance Of Managing Psychosocial Health: A Case Study, Mary Insana Fisher, Harold L. Merriman

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Managing the physical aspects of lymphedema requires an individual to be committed to daily treatment of this chronic condition. Performing manual lymph drainage, using compression bandaging or compression garments, exercising, and caring for the skin all take time and a high level of dedication. This commitment to self-care can be emotionally and psychologically exhausting.

When coupled with other emotional stressors in a patient’s life, successful treatment of lymphedema is challenging. We present a case demonstrating how the physical and psychological aspects of care interplay, and, when well-managed, can positively affect the outcome.

Breast Cancer Edge Task Force Outcomes - Clinical Measures Of Strength And Muscular Endurance: A Systematic Review, Mary Insana Fisher, Claire Davies, Christine Beuthin, Genevieve Colon, Brittany Zoll, Lucinda Pfalzer

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Muscular strength deficits are a common morbidity following treatment for breast cancer. Accurate assessment of strength and muscular endurance following breast cancer treatments is essential in identifying deficits and planning rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify strength and muscular endurance outcome measures for use with women treated for breast cancer that possess strong psychometric properties and are clinically useful.

Methods: Multiple electronic databases were searched between February and June 2013. Included studies of tools used to assess strength and muscular endurance met the following criteria: reported psychometric properties, clinically feasible methods, adults (preferably …

Test Items In The Complete And Short Forms Of The Bot-2 That Contribute Substantially To Motor Performance Assessments In Typically Developing Children 6-10 Years Of Age, Kadi Carmosino, Ashley Grzeszczak, Kaylie Mcmurray, Ali Olivo, Bo Slutz, Brittany Zoll, Betsy Donahoe-Fillmore, C. Jayne Brahler

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objectives: Determine the magnitude of association between individual subtest items of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), and the respective total subtest scores and to review items on the BOT-2 Short Form.

Background: The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2), is a test used to measure gross motor proficiency in both typically developing children and children with developmental disabilities between the ages of four and twenty-one. The BOT-2 Short Form consists of fourteen test items proportionally selected from the subtests of the Complete Form. It can be used as a screening tool and takes less …

Gait Initiation Mechanics In Concussed Varsity Athletes, Adam Harper

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Concussions are a common and potentially serious injury that affects athletes across multiple sports. More than ever concussions are now at the forefront of sport-related research.

Current research indicates that in a cohort of Canadian junior hockey players examined during the 2009-2010 season showed a rate of concussion at 36.5% of all athletic injuries (Echlin et al., 2010). This rate of concussion injury indicates that proper evaluations and examination tools are key to successful management of concussions. The objective of this study was to determine whether a functional task such as gait initiation is able to quantify stability difference following …

Evaluation Of Static And Dynamic Postural Control In Athletes With Concussions During Recovery, Nicholas Murray

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Approximately seventy-six percent of individuals with a sport-related concussion present with reduced balance. Current Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols rely heavily on measures of static balance that are not environmentally relevant. However, due to the variable nature of symptom presentation, research has not clearly defined a requisite time for balance recovery following a sport-related concussion. The use of novel procedures such as monitoring postural control during an environmentally relevant dynamic balance tasks could refine the timeline for recovery of postural control and aid in mitigating the potential severe consequences of Second Impact Syndrome. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate …

Biomechanics Of Slips In Alternative Footwear, Harish Chander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Injuries in the workplace pose a significant burden to the health of human beings as well as financial or economic losses to occupational organizations. Slips, trips and an induced loss of balance have been identified as the major causative factor for workplace injuries involving falls (Courtney et al, 2001; Redfern et al, 2001). The bureau of labor statistics reported 15% of a total of 4,693 workplace fatalities and a total of 299,090 cases of non-fatal workplace injuries that were due to slips, trips and falls (BLS, 2011). The purpose of the study was to analyze the biomechanics of human locomotion …

Changes In Predicted Muscle Coordination With Subject-Specific Muscle Parameters For Individuals After Stroke, Brian A. Knarr, Darcy S. Reiman, Stuart A. Binder-Macleod, Jill S. Higginson

Journal Articles

Muscle weakness is commonly seen in individuals after stroke, characterized by lower forces during a maximal volitional contraction. Accurate quantification of muscle weakness is paramount when evaluating individual performance and response to after stroke rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of subject-specific muscle force and activation deficits on predicted muscle coordination when using musculoskeletal models for individuals after stroke. Maximum force generating ability and central activation ratio of the paretic plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, and quadriceps muscle groups were obtained using burst superimposition for four individuals after stroke with a range of walking speeds. Two models …

Mechanomyographic Parameter Extraction Methods: An Appraisal For Clinical Applications, Morufu Olusola Ibitoye, Nur Azah Hamzaid, Jorge M. Zuniga, Nazirah Hasnan, Ahmad Khairi Abdul Wahab

Journal Articles

The research conducted in the last three decades has collectively demonstrated that the skeletal muscle performance can be alternatively assessed by mechanomyographic signal (MMG) parameters. Indices of muscle performance, not limited to force, power, work, endurance and the related physiological processes underlying muscle activities during contraction have been evaluated in the light of the signal features. As a non-stationary signal that reflects several distinctive patterns of muscle actions, the illustrations obtained from the literature support the reliability of MMG in the analysis of muscles under voluntary and stimulus evoked contractions. An appraisal of the standard practice including the measurement theories …

Examining The Role Of Attention In Steering Using A Dual Task Paradigm, Venkata Naga Pradeep Ambati

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Changing the direction of locomotion, often referred to as "steering", is an integral component of human locomotion. Steering requires maintaining dynamic balance while translating and rotating the body in the new travel direction. Given the level of sensation thought to be involved in sub serving goal directed modifications in steering, it is highly likely that steering control may require attention. Since attention resources decline with increasing age, we may see the influence of age on steering performance when attention resources are limited. Therefore, this study sought to investigate the role of attention in steering using a dual task paradigm in …

Shoulder Impingement In Water Polo Players, Kelly A. Davis

Scripps Senior Theses

Water polo is a highly dynamic and physically demanding sport that has heretofore not inspired nearly as much research as other overhead sports such as baseball or swimming. As in almost all overhead sports, water polo puts its players at high risks for shoulder injuries since the motions required to perform the sport at an optimum level push the limits of normal shoulder function.

Human shoulders are inherently unstable as a tradeoff to their flexibility. Because of this instability, many structures are required to work concurrently to keep the shoulder in place. These structures include muscles, ligaments and cartilages. It …

Training Strategies And Movement Assessments In Athletes And Non-Athletes, Matthew David Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

This dissertation is composed of three manuscripts based on two studies related to training and assessment methods used to evaluate change and overall quality in measures of performance, postural control, and functional movement. Study one evaluated the effect of sand training on athletic performance and postural control. Study two investigated the effect of scoring strata of the deep squat (DS) component of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) on the weight-bearing lunge test (WBLT), Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), and Lateral Flexion Test (LFT) in 101 male and female college students.

Study one results included significant overall improvements of the five …

Skills Learning In Robot-Assisted Surgery Is Benefited By Task-Specific Augmented Feedback, Srikant Vallabhajosula, Srikant Vallabhajosula, Timothy N. Judkins, Mukul Mukherjee, I. H. Suh, D. Oleynikov, K.-C. Siu

Journal Articles

Background: Providing augmented visual feedback is one way to enhance robot-assisted surgery (RAS) training. However, it is unclear whether task specificity should be considered when applying augmented visual feedback. Methods: Twenty-two novice users of the da Vinci Surgical System underwent testing and training in 3 tasks: simple task, bimanual carrying (BC); intermediate task, needle passing (NP); and complex task, suture tying (ST). Pretraining (PRE), training, and posttraining (POST) trials were performed during the first session. Retention trials were performed 2 weeks later (RET). Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 feedback training groups: relative phase (RP), speed, grip force, …

Field Testing The Upright Versus The Aero Cycling Position, Curtis Scrugham

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Body position can be of great importance to athletes who want to maximize their performance on the bike. Aerodynamic resistance can account for 70-90% of resistance encountered by cyclists, and a strategy used to reduce this resistance is riding in the aero position Research has been done in the lab to determine if there are trade-offs to using this position (Jobson et al. 2008, Welbergen and Clijsen 1990, Hubenig, Game and Kennedy 2011, Peveler 2004, Origenes et al. 1993, Ryschon and Stray-Gunderson 1991, Gnehm et al. 1997, Ashe et al. 2003). . Researchers have reported that riders untrained in the …

Skeletal Muscle Contraction Simulation: A Comparison In Modeling, Jonathan M. Ford

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Computer generated three-dimensional (3-D) models are being used at increasing rates in the fields of entertainment, education, research, and engineering. One of the aspects of interest includes the behavior and function of the musculoskeletal system. One such tool used by engineers is the finite element method (FEM) to simulate the physics behind muscle mechanics. There are several ways to represent 3-D muscle geometry, namely a bulk, a central line of action and a spline model. The purpose of this study is to exmine how these three representations affect the overall outcome of muscle movement. This is examined in a series …

Lower Extremity Kinematics During Walking And Elliptical Training In Individuals With And Without Traumatic Brain Injury, Thad Buster, Judith Burnfield, Adam P. Taylor, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Background and Purpose: Elliptical training may be an option for practicing walking-like activity for individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Understanding similarities and differences between participants with TBI and neurologically healthy individuals during elliptical trainer use and walking may help guide clinical applications incorporating elliptical trainers.

Methods: Ten participants with TBI and a comparison group of 10 neurologically healthy participants underwent 2 familiarization sessions and 1 data collection session. Kinematic data were collected as participants walked on a treadmill or on an elliptical trainer. Gait-related measures, including coefficient of multiple correlations (a measure of similarity between ensemble joint movement profiles; …

Oncology Section Task Force On Breast Cancer Outcomes: Scapular Assessment, Mary Insana Fisher, Pamela K. Levangie

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Functional deficits and changes in scapular mechanics following breast cancer (BC) treatments have been documented. Scapular assessment is important when examining the shoulder in survivors of breast cancer to document the need for or effectiveness of physical therapy intervention. The Oncology Section Task Force on Breast Cancer Outcomes sought to identify scapular examination tools that can be recommended for routine use in individuals treated for BC.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature on scapular measures was conducted. Relevant studies were examined for psychometric properties and clinical usefulness. Each method was given a recommendation score based on the Breast …

Oncology Section Task Force On Breast Cancer Outcomes: An Introduction To The Edge Task Force And Clinical Measures Of Upper Extremity Function, Pamela K. Levangie, Mary Insana Fisher

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

With the proliferation of outcome measures in the literature, many of which lack documentation of sufficient psychometric properties to justify use, it is difficult to document patient change or demonstrate effectiveness of interventions. The goal of the Section on Research’s EDGE (Evaluation Database to Guide Effectiveness) Task Force is to facilitate identification of valid and reliable tests and measures that reflect clinically important outcomes and are responsive to change for standard use across selected patient groups. This paper lays the groundwork for understanding the work of the Oncology Section’s Breast Cancer EDGE Task Force on clinical measures of shoulder function …

Degeneracy And Long-Range Correlations, D. Delignières, Vivien Marmelat

Journal Articles

Degeneracy is a ubiquitous property of complex adaptive systems, which refers to the ability of structurally different components to perform the same function in some conditions and different functions in other conditions. Here, we suppose a causal link between the level of degeneracy in the system and the strength of long-range correlations in its behavior. In a numerical experiment, we manipulated degeneracy through the number of networks available in a model composed of a chain of correlated networks over which a series of random jumps are performed. Results showed that correlations in the outcome series increased with the number of …

Correlation Of Shoulder And Elbow Kinetics With Ball Velocity In College Baseball Pitchers, Eric Post

Theses and Dissertations

Specific injuries at the elbow and glenohumeral joints have been linked to several kinetic variables that occur throughout the throwing motion. Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) sprains have been linked to excessive elbow valgus and shoulder external rotation torques occurring during the late-cocking phase of throwing. Shoulder external rotation torque during the late arm-cocking phase and shoulder distraction forces during the deceleration phase contribute to tears of the labrum. Additionally, it is believed that the peak distraction force generated during the arm deceleration phase also contributes to SLAP tears and rotator cuff pathologies. Very little research has been done to directly …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Biomechanics Research Building Newsletter, Fall 2013, Biomechanics Research Building

Biomechanics Annual Report

This issue features:

Updates - Featured Story: Our New Home, American Society of Biomechanics Meting, Nonlinear Workshop 2013, European Nonlinear Workshop, and Staff Updates;

Projects - VA Peripheral Arterial Disease, Motor Development, Optical Topography System, Effects of Virtual Reality, Virtual Reality, Robotic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Amputee, Proof of Concept Grant, Lateral Stepping, The Marriage of Music and Math, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Balance, NASA Grant, Back Pain Research, and Faculty Research International Grants.

Other Content - Other Visitors/Tours, Student Awards, Travels, and Campaign for Nebraska.