Biomechanics Commons^™

A Constitutive-Based Deep Learning Model For The Identification Of Active Contraction Parameters Of The Left Ventricular Myocardium, Igor Augusto Paschoalotte Nobrega

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Modern breakthroughs in biomedical engineering, computer science, and data mining have created new opportunities for detecting important mechanical properties of soft tissues that can be employed to identify possible signs of diseases or physiological difficulties. However, the scarcity of different mechanical properties obtained through noninvasive testing emphasizes the importance of incorporating authentic biological data into computer models capable of replicating the behavior of soft tissues.

The field of continuum theory of large deformation hyperactivity permits the formulation of highly descriptive mathematical research and computational models capable of perfectly describing the minute mechanical characteristics of soft materials. By including features about …

These Fish Were Made For Walking: Morphology And Walking Kinematics In Balitorid Loaches, Callie Hendricks Crawford

Dissertations

Terrestrial excursions have been observed in multiple lineages of marine and freshwater fishes. These ventures into the terrestrial environment may be used when fish are searching out new habitat during drought, escaping predation, laying eggs, or seeking food sources. The physiological demands for life under water and on land are vastly different and require different functional adaptations. Fish with terrestrial excursions must be capable of dealing with the stresses of both aquatic and terrestrial environments for varying periods of time. To deal with these stresses, amphibious fishes exhibit many morphological and behavioral adaptations. These adaptations have led to a range …

Electromyography Activity Of The Teres Minor Muscle With Varying Positions Of Horizontal Abduction In The Quadruped Position, Masaaki Tsuruike, Todd S. Ellenbecker, Connor Lauffenburger

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background
The teres minor (TMi) muscle exposed relatively high activity during the acceleration and deceleration phases of the throwing motion, compared with the infraspinatus muscle. However, few studies have identified TMi muscle activity in intervention exercises. The purpose of this study was to investigate TMi muscle activities in different horizontal adduction positions in the quadruped horizontal abduction exercise. This study hypothesized that TMi muscle activity would differ in response to resistance application across different horizontal adduction positions.
Materials and methods
Nineteen collegiate baseball players volunteered their participation. Raw electromyography activity of the TMi muscle along with 7 different muscles attached …

Developing A Practical Application Of The Isometric Squat And Surface Electromyography, David Phillips, Angelic Rose Del Vecchio, Kevin Carroll, Evan L. Matthews

Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education Scholarship and Creative Works

Electromyography (EMG) is a research tool used in gait analysis, muscle coordination evaluation, clinical evaluation and sports techniques. Electromyography can provide an insight into neural adaptations, cross education effects, bilateral contraction deficiencies, and antagonist activity in exercise-related movements. While there are clear benefits to using EMG in exercise-related professions, accessibility, cost, and difficulty interpreting the data limit its use in strength and clinical settings. We propose a practical EMG assessment using the isometric squat to identify compensatory activation patterns and report early observations. Ten healthy participants were recruited. Participants performed a 2-min isometric handgrip protocol and an isometric squat protocol. …

Synthetic Gene Circuits For Self-Regulating And Temporal Delivery Of Anti-Inflammatory Biologic Drugs In Engineered Tissues, Lara Pferdehirt

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The recent advances in the fields of synthetic biology and genome engineering open up new possibilities for creating cell-based therapies. We combined these tools to target repair of articular cartilage, a tissue that lacks a natural ability to regenerate, in the presence of arthritic diseases. To this end, we developed cell-based therapies that harness disease pathways and the unique properties of articular cartilage for prescribed, localized, and controlled delivery of biologics, creating the next generation of cell therapies and new classes of synthetic circuits. We created tissue engineered cartilage from murine induced pluripotent stem cells that had the ability to …

Subject-Specific Musculoskeletal Modeling Of Hip Dysplasia Biomechanics, Ke Song

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is characterized by abnormal bony anatomy, causes pain and functional limitations, and is a prominent risk factor for premature hip osteoarthritis. Although the pathology of DDH is believed to be mechanically-induced, little is known about how DDH anatomy alters hip biomechanics during activities of daily living, partly due to the difficulties with measuring hip muscle and joint forces. Musculoskeletal models (MSMs) are useful for dynamic simulations of joint mechanics, but the reliability of MSMs for DDH research is limited by an accurate model representation of the unique hip anatomy. To address such challenges, this …

Description, Reliability And Validation Of A Novel Ground-Reaction-Force-Triggered Protocol For Simulation Of Tripping Perturbations During Gait, James Anderson, Samuel Hadley, Denise Ng, Catrina Fabian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tripping is a common cause of falls across different age populations particularly in older adults. Concerns regarding the validity of simulated-fall research protocols reside in the current literature. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel treadmill-based tripping protocol that allowed researchers to deliver unanticipated tripping perturbations during walking with a high level of timing precision. The protocol utilized a side-by-side split-belt treadmill instrumented with force platforms. Treadmill belt acceleration profiles (two levels of perturbation severity: small perturbation vs large perturbation) were delivered unilaterally when the tripped leg bore 20% of the body weight during early stance. Peak …

Quantifying Fear Of Falling By Utilizing Objective Body Sway And Muscle Contraction Measures, Chenfan Gui

Theses & Dissertations

Fear of falling (FOF) is a psychological condition that can lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the elder population. However, the subjective and multidimensional nature of FOF resulted in the limitations of existing FOF measurements, which could influence the quality of those studies. The present study aimed to quantify FOF by using objective center of pressure (COP) trajectories and muscle contraction of the lower extremity to compensate for those limitations. Nineteen young healthy adults (24 years ± 2.47) were recruited in the present study. Subjects were required to watch three 360-degree videos, one control video and two roller coaster …

From Professor To Patient X, Anne R. Crecelius

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

I walked into the classroom feeling nervous. It wasn't my first time teaching undergraduate students about human endocrine physiology. I knew the material well. But today's lecture was different. I pulled up slides depicting a hypothetical cancer patient and told them, “Patient X had a biopsy that detected invasive carcinoma in her breast.” I described the many months of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments she went through before going into remission. Then I taught the students about the hormonal therapy she was prescribed—drugs her doctor hoped would limit the growth of any remaining cancer cells and prevent a recurrence. On …

Swimmers’ Upper Trapezius Activation During Shoulder Abduction Compared To Non-Overhead Athletes, Kendra Graham

Senior Honors Projects

Overhead sports such as baseball, tennis, volleyball, softball and swimming are known to cause rotator cuff imbalances and injuries. These injuries are typically caused by the repeated use of “throwing motion,” where the humerus is externally rotated and shoulder abducted and elevated. Previous research has shown that the function of the upper trapezius muscle in overhead athletes is likely to have improper activation (timing, magnitude) during various shoulder motions and/or activities of daily living. Swimmers are especially susceptible to this improper activation due to the use of their upper limbs in a repeated throwing motion. The added resistance of the …

Effects Of Different Stretching Modalities On The Antagonist And Agonist Muscles On Isokinetic Strength And Vertical Jump Performance, Samuel Montalvo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Warm-ups are essential components of all training sessions, sports, and physical activities. Warm-ups are typically composed of a variety of stretches. Two stretching modalities that are commonly performed before any physical activity are the static and dynamic stretching modalities. Historically, static stretching has been used as a preferred stretching modality during the warm-up period. However, research indicates that static stretching â?? if done prior to the training session â?? may inhibit the expression of muscular strength, muscular activation, and vertical jump height. On the contrary, dynamic stretching has been shown to improve the expression of muscular strength, muscular activation, and …

Sex-Based Differences In Acvr2b And Grb10 Expression In Skeletal Muscle During Induced Cancer Cachexia And Disuse, Lauren Martinez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Muscle atrophy is the shrinkage of muscle fibers that are largely maintained by a balance of protein synthesis and degradation. Imbalances in protein synthesis and degradation are observed in different muscle atrophy disorders such as cancer cachexia and disuse. These forms of muscle atrophy produce distinct wasting pathologies that are influenced by biological sex. Activin receptor type-2B (ACVR2B) and Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (GRB10) have been identified as genes that potentially regulate muscle mass while also displaying sexually dimorphic differences. Purpose: To examine the influence of ACVR2B and GRB10 throughout the development of cancer cachexia and disuse-induced atrophy …

The Influence Of Resistance Training On Post Surgical Outcomes In Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Kevin H. Choe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is commonly injured, especially in individuals under the age of 25. ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is the most common treatment after ACL injury, followed by physical therapy. However, successful surgery and completion of rehabilitation, individuals still demonstrate quadriceps weakness and asymmetries during locomotion. To improve these deficits, an intervention that improves quadriceps strength and lower extremity biomechanics during locomotion is required. First, we aimed to complete a systematic review of the literature to determine the efficacy of resistance training in improving outcomes after ACLR. Second, we aimed to identify if a history of resistance training positively …

Relationship Of Shoe Wetness To Mechanical Performance, Sara Lyn Crawford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to mechanically impact test shoes that underwent both saturation and repetitive loading protocols to determine if these interventions affected the impact absorption and energy return properties of a shoe. Six pairs of the same make and model of shoe were divided into Control and Experimental Groups and tested on an impact machine before and after undergoing a protocol. The repetitive load protocol involved subjecting the shoes to impacts commensurate with a 5 km race. The water saturation protocol involved soaking the shoes until reaching their maximum saturation. The Control shoes underwent initial testing and …

The Investigation Of The Influence Of Long-Distance Running On Foot Volume In Healthy Female Collegiate Distance Athletes, Mufaro M. Hungwe

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine the change, if any, in foot volume over time after exercise, specifically a long-distance 5 Km run. Five UNLV Women’s Track & Field and Cross- Country distance athletes (n = 5; 20 ± 1.87 years; 54.50 ± 3.71 kg; 160.88 ± 4.98 cm) were recruited to participate in this study. The dependent variables were foot volume and foot size. These variables were measured pre and post a 5 Km run at a self-selected somewhat hard pace over the independent variable time. Foot volumetrics were performed five times, (Pre-run, post- run(5 min), post-run(10 …

Relationship Between Jump Performance And Asymmetry, Cordero Roche

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate the relationship between jump performance and asymmetry. This investigation was divided into three separate studies. The first aim investigated which asymmetry variables for eccentric and concentric phases best predicted jump height (JH) during different jump types. The aim of the second study was to determine if asymmetry variables differed between jump type and genders.

Fourteen participants performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop vertical jumps (DVJ). The DVJ were administered from a 30.5 cm platform leading with dominant leg striking separate force platforms with each foot. Vertical ground reaction forces were used to …

Patient-Specific Finite Element Analysis For Mandibular Fracture Fixation, Ethan Snyder

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This thesis proposes an approach for Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mandibular fracture fixation. Using a Computerized Tomography (CT) scan of mandible obtained from a specific person, the material characteristics, density and modulus of elasticity, were determined from a set of discrete points within the mandible that are 1mm spaced based on the Hounsfield Units of these points. The mandible geometry was sectioned to simulate a fracture. Muscle and mastication forces were added to replicate post-surgery loading. Using a standard linear miniplate, this material model was compared with two commonly used mandibular cortical shell bone models: isotropic and orthotropic. A …

The Influence Of Sports-Related Concussion On Lower Extremity Injury Risk In Adolescent And Collegiate Athletes, Jason M. Avedesian

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Sports-related concussion (SRC) represents a major epidemiological concern in the adolescent and collegiate athlete populations, with conservative estimates of approximately four million SRCs occurring each year in the United States. While the majority of previous research has emphasized the management and recovery of the cognitive aspects of SRC, recent data indicates subtle motor behavior is altered following a concussive event. Injury surveillance literature indicates that adolescent and collegiate athletes are at an approximately 2–4 greater risk for lower extremity (LE) injury following an SRC when compared to matched controls and pre-SRC LE injury rates. Furthermore, athletes with a previous SRC …

Biomechanical Energetics Of Terrestrial Locomotion In California Sea Lions, Sarah Kerr

Biology Student Work

Pinnipedia, an order of semi-aquatic marine mammals, adapted a body design to locomote both aquatically and terrestrially. The limbs of these amphibious mammals are modified as flippers, which are beneficial for aquatic locomotion, but can limit their locomotion on land. Phocids (true seals) have reduced forelimbs and are unable to bring their hindlimbs beneath them during terrestrial locomotion. Otariids, like the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), have enlarged forelimbs and can bring their hindlimbs under the body to locomote quadrupedally on land. Due to these differences, phocids are expected to move on land with greater energetic costs compared …

Beatwalk: Personalized Music-Based Gait Rehabilitation In Parkinson’S Disease, Valérie Cochen De Cock, Dobromir Dotov, Loic Damm, Sandy Lacombe, Petra Ihalainen, Marie Christine Picot, Florence Galtier, Cindy Lebrun, Aurélie Giordano, Valérie Driss, Christian Geny, Ainara Garzo, Erik Hernandez, Edith Van Dyck, Marc Leman, Rudi Villing, Benoit G. Bardy, Simone Dalla Bella

Journal Articles

Taking regular walks when living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) has beneficial effects on movement and quality of life. Yet, patients usually show reduced physical activity compared to healthy older adults. Using auditory stimulation such as music can facilitate walking but patients vary significantly in their response. An individualized approach adapting musical tempo to patients’ gait cadence, and capitalizing on these individual differences, is likely to provide a rewarding experience, increasing motivation for walk-in PD. We aim to evaluate the observance, safety, tolerance, usability, and enjoyment of a new smartphone application. It was coupled with wearable sensors (BeatWalk) and delivered individualized …

The Effect Of Lumbar Support On Holding Shoulder Electromyography And Trunk Kinematics In Collegiate Violinists, Lauren Elizabeth Lee, Kevin Enstrom, Michael T. Soucy

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Instrument-specific holding mechanics in violinists likely contribute to a high incidence of playing related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). The inclusion of a lumbar support while playing may alleviate potential risks for PRMDs. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of lumbar support on left holding shoulder musculature electromyography (EMG) activity and thigh, trunk, and hip kinematics. METHODS: Eleven (6 F; 5 M) collegiate musicians (19.5±1.3 years, 1.71±0.1 m, 68.1±7.7 kg, playing experience: 10.0±3.9 years, weekly playing time: 14.1±8.2 hours) gave voluntary informed consent and performed Prelude from Suite No. 1 in G Major (JS Bach, BWV 1007) with and without a lumbar support. …

An Annual Training Plan For Collegiate Dance, Ashley R. German

Honors Thesis

The focus of this thesis is on developing an annual resistance training plan for collegiate dance with no test subjects. This project provides biomechanical, physiological, and injury analysis of collegiate dance. Based on the analysis, a research-based, linear resistance training program for the University of South Dakota Dance Team was created. The resistance training program follows basic strength and conditioning principles including specificity, overload, and periodization. Additionally, exercise selection, order, volume, and intensity were prescribed based on standards set forth by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Generally, from off-season to in-season, exercises moved from general to specific, along with …

Using Machine Learning To Quantify Transverse Plane Lumbopelvic Rhythm, Seth Higgins, Joshua Tome, Rumit Singh Kakar

College of Health Sciences Posters

Lumbopelvic rhythm illustrates the relative motion between the lumbar spine and pelvis during various activities and could be used as a biomarker for low back pain (LBP). Sagittal plane lumbopelvic rhythm has been extensively examined as a surrogate to measure low back pain risk factor, but trunk rotation, the second component of lifting is commonly missed. Since lumbopelvic rhythm are time series and not discrete variables, machine learning may be a viable solution in identifying clusters of patterns for healthy adults. PURPOSE: To categorize healthy lumbopelvic rhythm in the transverse plane using machine learning. METHODS: 80 adults with no history …

Musculoskeletal Modeling Of The Pelvis And Lumbar Spine During Running, Ruth Higgins, Maryam Moeini, Hunter Bennett, Stacie Ringleb

College of Engineering & Technology (Batten) Posters

Musculoskeletal modeling provides an alternative to in-vivo characteristics that are difficult to directly measure for movements such as running, especially for trunk muscles and joints. The full-body-lumbar-spine (FBLS) model by Raabe and Chaudhari, 2016 is an OpenSim model created for simulations of jogging. The lifting full-body (LFB) model by Beaucage-Gauvreau et al., 2018 is an adaptation of the FBLS created for estimating spinal loads during lifting. PURPOSE: Determine validity of the FBLS and LFB models in simulating pelvis and lumbar spine kinematics during running. METHODS: Inverse Kinematics were executed using experimental data for the FBLS and LFB models. To …

Self-Selected Maximum But Not Jogging Speed Decreases With Age In Male And Female Runners, Heather Hamilton, Rumit Singh Kakar

College of Health Sciences Posters

Introduction: Running velocity decreases with age, likely resulting from physiological and musculoskeletal changes associated with aging. Females experience a more rapid decline in physical performance during middle age than males, therefore it is important to consider separate-sex analyses when studying running biomechanics and running-related injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between age and different running speeds separately for female and male runners.

Methods: Male (n=33) and female (n=46) runners (ages 18–65 years) ran at their self-selected JOG (long distance) and MAX (maximal running) pace on a treadmill. Running velocity was recorded. Simple linear regression was …

Trunk Kinematics Using Musculoskeletal Modeling During Range Of Motion Tasks, Maryam Moeini, Ruth M. Higgins, Hunter Bennett, Stacie Ringleb

College of Health Sciences Posters

A spine model can be used to predict post-spinal fusion motion needed to perform physical activities in individuals with scoliosis. Full body lumbar spine (FBLS) model (Raabi et al., 2016) allows for modeling lumbar spine and pelvis movement and was validated for jogging. However, like other existing adult spine models, FBLS model does not allow for a motion providing thoracic and spine. Purpose: To adapt the FBLS model for simulating thoracic, lumbar and pelvis motion during trunk rotation in all 3 planes of motion. Methods: Since T12-L1 in FBLS model is designed as a dependent joint (axial rotation analogous to …

Predictions Of Knee Joint Contact Forces Using Only Kinematic Inputs With A Recurrent Neural Network, Kaileigh Elisabeth Estler

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND: Knee joint contact (bone on bone) forces are commonly estimated using surrogate measures such as external knee adduction moments (with limited success) or musculoskeletal modeling (more successful). Despite its capabilities, modeling is not optimal for clinicians or persons with limited experience and knowledge. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to design a novel prediction method for knee joint contact forces that is equal or more accurate than modeling, yet simplistic in terms of required inputs. METHODS: This study included all six subjects’ (71.3±6.5kg, 1.7±0.1m) data from the opensource “Grand Challenge” datasets (simtk.org) and two subjects from the "CAMS" …

We Are People First, Mary I. Fisher

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Castor And Pteronura Tail Undulation Data, Frank E. Fish

Biology Data Repository

No abstract provided.

The Correlation Between Ankle Proprioception And Lower Extremity Muscle Reactions In Response To Simulated Lateral Ankle Sprains, Erin M. Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Lateral ankle sprains are one of the most commonly occurring sport-related injuries. The somatosensory system is primarily responsible for monitoring the position of the joints in space during movement. This system functions by way of neurological structures that provide proprioceptive and neuromuscular input to the brain. Motor control of the lower extremity relies on proprioceptive input to the central nervous system (CNS) and local neuromuscular control of each joint to produce coordinated, global muscular responses to external events. Previous research has investigated links between proprioception and neuromuscular control in relationship to ankle inversion separately, but none have searched for …