Biomechanics Commons^™

Air-Jet Bioprinting Of Stem Cell-Encapsulated Alginate Micro-Droplets For Organoid Biomanufacturing, Mirabella B. Stump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomanufactured 3D-organoids show promise for modeling and treating various conditions, particularly insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type-1 diabetes). Pancreatic islet organoids serve as sustainable sources of insulin-producing β-cells, potentially restoring insulin regulation in patients and providing a long-term solution for diabetes. Hydrogel droplet printing is an emerging technique in regenerative medicine due to its advantageous tunability and biocompatibility; however, challenges of consistency, quality control, and scalability persist. To address these issues, we developed a novel air-jetting based droplet bioprinting system for the generation of monodispersed alginate micro-droplets. The objective of this project was to incorporate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into …

Lower Limb Revascularization Leads To Faster Walking But With Less Efficient Mechanics In Claudicating Patients, Alex Dzewaltowski, Iraklis Pipinos, Molly Schieber, Jason Johanning, George P. Casale, Sara A. Myers, Philippe Malcolm

Journal Articles

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by reduced blood flow to the extremities due to atherosclerosis. Studies report impaired gait mechanics in patients with lower extremity PAD. We hypothesized that revascularization surgery would improve gait mechanics when quantified by net lower limb joint work across the stance phase of walking. We performed gait analyses in 35 patients with PAD and 35 healthy, older adults. Patients with PAD performed a walking protocol prior to and six months following revascularization surgery. Healthy adults only took part in a single walking session. Lower limb joint powers were calculated using inverse dynamics and …

Nonan Gaitprint: An Imu Gait Database Of Healthy Young Adults, Tyler M. Wiles, Madhur Mangalam, Joel H. Sommerfeld, Seung Kyeom Kim, Kolby J. Brink, Anaëlle Charles, Alli Grunkemeyer, Marilena Kalaitzi Manifrenti, Spyridon Mastorakis, Nicholas Stergiou, Aaron Likens

Journal Articles

An ongoing thrust of research focused on human gait pertains to identifying individuals based on gait patterns. However, no existing gait database supports modeling efforts to assess gait patterns unique to individuals. Hence, we introduce the Nonlinear Analysis Core (NONAN) GaitPrint database containing whole body kinematics and foot placement during self-paced overground walking on a 200-meter looping indoor track. Noraxon Ultium MotionTM inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors sampled the motion of 35 healthy young adults (19–35 years old; 18 men and 17 women; mean ± 1 s.d. age: 24.6 ± 2.7 years; height: 1.73 ± 0.78 m; body mass: …

Development And Validation Of An Improved Sagittal Plane Device For Infant Product Safety Testing, Sarah Marie Goldrod

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Infants need constant care and support through the first year of life. To minimize the burden of ongoing attending, caregivers frequently use commercial infant products to enable them to carry out daily tasks without holding the baby. An estimated 11,500 infant injuries involving nursery products were treated in emergency rooms in 2021, and 58 deaths were reported in seated nursery products between 2017 and 2019. Head-neck flexion and hyperextension and trunk flexion negatively influence normal breathing and can contribute to positional asphyxia in infants. The body position of infants lying within seated products is an important consideration for safety. Thus, …

Exploring Aging Using The Selection, Optimization, And Compensation (Soc) Framework In Conjunction With Kinematic Gait And Verbal Fluency Task Analysis In Healthy Adults, Emily Ann Chavez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This multi-study dissertation examined dual-task performance in young and middle-aged adults using verbal fluency tasks (VFT) during different walking scenarios (baseline, performing a VFT, walking narrowly, and performing a VFT while walking narrowly) as well as the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) model. Thirty adults (15 young adults (YA; 19-44 years) and 15 middle-aged adults (MA; 45-65 years) participated in this study. Overall, there were no significant differences between groups when data was examined in short (means of means approach) and long-form (incorporating all data), when analyzing clustering and switching strategies, gait speed variability, or dual-task costs. Overall, these three …

The Effect Of Step Rate Training On Running Economy And Biomechanics, Nahir Negron-Fernandez

All NMU Master's Theses

It is known that running economy is a determinant of running performance. Increased step rate has been correlated with improved running economy, but it is unknown whether these improvements can be maintained with chronic training. The purpose of this study was to determine if a step rate training intervention improves running economy and improves lower body kinetic factors in distance runners. Nine participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 7) undergoing a 6-week supplemental training program, or a non-training control group (n = 2). The intervention group trained three times a week, running at a higher …

Comparison Of Male And Female Ultramarathon Runners, Kelsey Klug

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This research study investigates how specific running variables and demographic characteristics impact performance, or speed, for ultramarathon runners. These variables and characteristics include biological sex, cadence, age range, total distance of the race, duration of the race, years of running experience, total number of ultramarathon races ever completed, and number of races completed in the last twelve months. An ultramarathon is any running distance over a standard marathon or 42.2 kilometers. Participation in ultramarathons has increased by 345% since 2010, with females making up 23% of participants. No in-person data collection was necessary for this study. Participants were asked to …

Physiological And Biomechanical Response To Indoor Cycling With And Without The Ability To Sway, Alina P. Swafford

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction: Bicycles have been around since the early 19th century. Since the invention of the bicycle, it has taken on several purposes. People have used bicycles as a means of transportation, leisure, exercise, and sport. The number of individuals who participate in a cycling event per year has increased. With the increase in popularity, research related to cycling has also increased. Research related to the physiology and biomechanics of cycling are of particular areas of interest. Balance is a crucial component of understanding why we cycle a certain way. Some research has labeled balancing on a bicycle as cycling sway. …

Quantifying Non-Gaussian Intermittent Fluctuations In Physiology: Multiscale Probability Density Function Analysis Using The Savitzky-Golay Detrending, Madhur Mangalam, Damian G. Kelty-Stephen, Eiichi Watanabe, Ken Kiyono

Journal Articles

When measuring physiological data, the central limit theorem typically implies a consistent variance, resulting in data that closely follow a Gaussian distribution. However, physiological measurements often deviate from this expectation, increasing variance due to nonlinear correlations across various scales. The challenge lies in testing these tails, which comprise only rare and extreme values. We introduce multiscale probability density function (PDF) analysis, a method that estimates this non-Gaussianity parameter for physiological fluctuations in each of multiple timescales. We gain valuable insights into the observed distributions with heavier tails and nonlinear correlations by exploring the relationship between non-Gaussianity and logarithmic scale. To …

Characterization Of Adipocyte Mechanical Properties And Stretch Control Of Mechanosignaling In Adipocytes, Tasneem Bouzid

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Obesity has reached global epidemic levels in recent decades and is the leading risk factor for type-2 diabetes (T2D). Adipose tissue behaves as a link between obesity and T2D, with dysfunctional extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, adipokine secretion and lipid metabolism leading to insulin resistance. The extracellular mechanophysical milieus is understood to regulate adipocyte differentiation and function through activation of mechanosensory machinery and related pathways. Therefore, exploring the adipocytic response to mechanical loading can provide great pathophysiological insight into obesity and T2D.

Adipose tissue is exposed to various compound forces due to weight-bearing and movement, and adipocyte stiffness influences stress distribution …

Kinematic Analysis Of Gait And Deep Knee Flexion For Pre- And Post-Operative Total Knee Arthroplasty, Samantha Collins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a form of arthritis that develops in the joint due to overuse and aging causing pain, discomfort, and disability. Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA) is a surgical procedure performed when OA symptoms are severe with an estimated 600,000 patients in the United States currently receiving TKA. Studies have reported dissatisfaction of the knee for 14-39% of patients. This study collected knee kinematics before and after surgery using stereo radiography for precise measurement of gait and deep knee flexion activities. Results showed healthy knee kinematics were not restored and no significant changes could be seen from OA kinematics in …

Exploration Of Motion Capture System To Investigate Human Shoulder Kinematics, Ola Alsaadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The glenohumeral joint (GH) is commonly conceptualized as a ball-and-socket joint [1], and its center of rotation (COR) is presumed to coincide with the geometric center of the medial-superior region of the humeral head [2]. Recent research has endorsed improvements in COR estimation through invasive and noninvasive techniques, including cadaver studies, stereophotogrammetry, and motion capture (MOCAP) systems. Despite increased interest in wearable technology within human movement analysis, the problem of COR estimation employing MOCAP systems and its validation against bi-planar fluoroscopy remains relatively unexplored.

This study employed a marker-based MOCAP system to compare the accuracy, error, and precision of three …

Understanding Physical Activity Preferences And Motives In U.S. Adults, Christopher R. Hill, Malasher Johnson, Victoria Mazaras, Stephen Samendinger

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 16, 2023. This study examined U.S. adult physical activity preferences and explored how a sample of Americans conceptualize these preferences, as previous attempts have primarily focused on non-U.S. or special populations. A sample of adults (n=402) was surveyed and stratified into 'Alone' or 'Group' physical activity preference conditions, with additional items exploring preference characteristics and social-psychological motives. Most adults preferred to exercise Alone (n=126), with a Partner (n=88), or with the use of a Virtual/Video environment (n=122) compared to those who preferred Group exercise (n=66). While there were no …

A Framework For Biomechanical Analysis Of Jump Landings For Injury Risk Assessment, Srishti Sharma, Srikrishnan Divakaran, Kaya Tolga, Christopher B. Taber, Mehul S. Raval

School of Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Publications

Competitive sports require rapid and intense movements, such as jump landings, making athletes susceptible to injuries due to altered neuromuscular control and joint mechanics. Biomechanical features during landings are associated with injury risk, emphasizing proper movement and postural stability. Computer vision techniques offer a time-efficient, noninvasive, and unbiased method to assess jump-landings and identify injury risks. This study proposes a video analysis framework to evaluate jump landing biomechanics in athletes todetermineirregularmovementsandincorrectpostures.It providesadviceandrecommendationstocoachesforinjury predictionandtrainingimprovements.Theproposedframework istestedusingcountermovementjumpvideosof17NCAA DivisionIfemalebasketballathletes.Theresultsindicateda lowMeanAbsoluteError(0.97),highcorrelation(0.89),high averageaccuracy(98.31%)andF1score(0.98),signifyingthe framework’sreliabilityinidentifyinginjuryrisk.

Multifractality In Stride-To-Stride Variations Reveals That Walking Involves More Movement Tuning And Adjusting Than Running, Taylor J. Wilson, Madhur Mangalam, Nicholas Stergiou, Aaron Likens

Journal Articles

Introduction: The seemingly periodic human gait exhibits stride-to-stride variations as it adapts to the changing task constraints. The optimal movement variability hypothesis (OMVH) states that healthy stride-to-stride variations exhibit “fractality”—a specific temporal structure in consecutive strides that are ordered, stable but also variable, and adaptable. Previous research has primarily focused on a single fractality measure, “monofractality.” However, this measure can vary across time; strideto-stride variations can show “multifractality.” Greater multifractality in stride-tostride variations would highlight the ability to tune and adjust movements more.

Methods: We investigated monofractality and multifractality in a cohort of eight healthy adults during self-paced walking and …

Biomechanical Adaptations While Performing Bilateral Drop Landings With A Unilateral Ankle Tape Application, Eric Daniel Jenkins

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Ankle sprains are the most common injury in sport and exercise performance, which makes the utilization of ankle taping a common procedure to both prevent potential sprain, as well as protect against reinjury. However, unilateral ankle taping may have unintended consequences on the mechanics of the ankle and other joints of both legs. The aim of this dissertation was to determine the effects of ankle taping on lower body kinetics and kinematics, stiffness, and coordination during a bilateral landing task.

Twelve female participants completed a total of 90 drop landings across two visits, randomized from landing platforms of 30, 45, …

The Effects Of Lifting With Intent On Hip And Knee Moments During Back Squats, Kyle A. Parrish

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Back squatting is a widely used movement in the strength and conditioning community. Within the last few years, velocity-dependent training and its application of tracking intensity have increased in popularity. Biomechanics research has frequently examined force generation, joint loading, and muscle contributions of back squats with different bar placement, stance width, and increasing barbell loads. However, no information exists regarding whether lifting with intent increases velocity and how increased velocity is biomechanically achieved. This study aimed to examine how lifting with intent affects bar velocity and how joint moment alterations could contribute to these potential changes in velocity. Fifteen males …

Compensating For Effects Of Autotomy On Locomotion In Stink Bugs (Halyomorpha Halys), Lilian C. Jubb

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

Autotomy is the voluntary release of an appendage, typically to avoid predation or entrapment. Autonomy of a single leg can have minimal effects on locomotion in arthropods with more than six legs. Hexapods, however, use a double-tripod gait which is completely disrupted with the loss of a single leg, thus locomotor performance should be greatly reduced leading to lower survival. Autotomy is so costly to locomotion that some insects regenerate a lost limb in a subsequent molt leading to reduced investment in other important functions (e.g. reproduction). Autotomy persists in adult hexapods with no opportunity for regeneration, which suggests some …

Age, Lower Extremity Muscle Strength, And Running Biomechanics In Healthy Female Recreational Runners, Heather Mcconchie Hamilton

Rehabilitation Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Middle-age and older runners demonstrate differences in running biomechanics compared to younger runners. Females and males demonstrate differences in running biomechanics, and females experience additional hormonal changes with age due to menopause. Despite the biomechanical and physiological differences between females and males, little research has investigated the effect of age specifically in female runners. The overall purpose of this research was to determine the relationships among age, lower extremity muscle strength, and running biomechanics in healthy female recreational runners. Healthy female recreational runners aged 25 – 65 years were recruited. Participants ran on an instrumented treadmill at a training pace …

Influence Of Maximal Strength On Joint-Specific Function And Coordination Across Stretch-Shortening Cycle Task Demands, Michael H. Haischer

Dissertations (1934 -)

Jumping involves the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) and is a familiar movement in many sports. More explosive jumping may provide a competitive advantage, but the biomechanics that relate to optimal SSC utilization for performance are not well understood. Furthermore, while strength relates to better jump performance and may facilitate mechanisms like joint stiffness that benefit SSC utilization, how strength impacts adjustments to biomechanics and locomotor functional roles of the lower extremity joints under different SSC demands has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to investigate how strength influences biomechanics and functional roles of the ankle, knee, and …

Successful Closed Reduction And Tooth-To-Tooth Wire-Fixation Of A Mandibular Singular Parasymphysis Fracture In A Male Collegiate Lacrosse Player, Steven Ross Murray, Coryann L. Leadford, Nathaniel Snyder, Robert W. Pettitt, Jeremy R. Hawkins

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

A 19-year-old male collegiate lacrosse player suffered an acute singular parasymphysis fracture of the mandible when he was struck in the facemask of his helmet by a lacrosse ball during practice. The fracture was confirmed via panoramic radiography and treated with a closed reduction under local anesthetic by looping a 26-gauge wire around the two right incisors and the right cuspid. This approach to managing the fracture was taken instead of an open reduction and plate application to be less invasive with the hope of a faster recovery and fewer complications. The fracture healed and aligned properly, and after six …

Reliability And Construct Validity Of The Single-Leg Landing Error Scoring System (Sl-Less) In Physically Active Females, Jennifer E. Earl-Boehm, Madison Mach, Erin Lally, Maegan O'Connor, Hayley Ericksen

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

PURPOSE Single-leg landings are common in sport and often result in injury, however a rubric to evaluate biomechanics during single-leg jump landing (SLL) does not exist. The Single-Leg Landing Error Scoring System (SL-LESS) is a rubric developed to evaluate movement during SLL. The purpose of this study was to 1) determine inter- and intra-rater reliability of the SL-LESS, 2) and determine the content and construct validity of the SL-LESS when evaluating SLL

METHOD 28 healthy females completed SLL on two days while 2D and 3D data were recorded. 3D angles were trunk flexion/lateral-flexion, pelvic tilt/contralateral drop, hip flexion/adduction, and knee …

Leadership And Management Curricula Trends In Athletic Training Education, Stephanie Wise, Matthew R. Kutz

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: Leadership and management skills both are needed by athletic trainers. However, most professional education emphasizes management-related behaviors. The purpose of this study was to differentiate between leadership and management behaviors taught in athletic training programs and explore the pedagogical strategies used in teaching those behaviors. Method: A cross-sectional exploratory design was used to survey Athletic Training Program Directors (PDs). The Leadership and Management Education Assessment Instrument (LMEAI) was developed for this investigation. The LMEAI collected standard demographic characteristics of respondents and used a 5-point Likert scale (1 = extremely important to 5 = not at all important) to assess …

Quality Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Performed Over Hockey Shoulder Pads: A Simulation Study, Jennifer Longo, Katie J. Lyman, Thomas A. Hanson, Adam G. Estabrooks

Journal of Sports Medicine and Allied Health Sciences: Official Journal of the Ohio Athletic Trainers Association

Purpose: Athletic trainers (ATs) must be prepared to manage cardiac arrest events in all athletes, including those participating in equipment-intensive sports. The goal of this study was to determine if first responders, specifically ATs, were able to perform high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) over hockey shoulder pads. Methods: A sample of 50 ATs completed a one-minute, compression-only CPR proficiency test on a medium-fidelity manikin (Resusci Anne QCPR). Once deemed proficient, each participant completed CPR according to 2020 AHA guidelines on the manikin fitted with hockey shoulder pads for 8 minutes and 59 seconds. The primary measures of interest were the percentage …

The Effects Of Different Training Types On Phase Angle In Men - An Exploratory Study, Trevor Short, Paulette Yamada

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 12, 2023. Phase Angle (PhA) has emerged as a valuable measure in clinical and sports settings due to its predictive relationship with health and sports performance. Fitness is related to PhA, but the type of exercise training that is most influential over PhA has yet to be determined. The purpose was to explore the effects of endurance training (ET), strength-based resistance training (RT), and sprint-interval training (SIT) on PhA, resistance (R), and reactance (Xc) in men. Thirty-five recreationally-trained healthy young adult males (24±4 years) were randomly assigned to one …

Lower Body Joint Moments During The Golf Swing In Older Adults: Comparison To Other Activities Of Daily Living, Scott K. Lynn, Junsig Wang, Abigail C. Schmitt, C. Lowry Barnes

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Golf participation has increased dramatically in the last several years. With this increase in participation, clinicians need better evidenced based strategies to advise those golfers with different pathologies when it is safe to return to the game. Golf teaching professionals also need to understand how to alter golf mechanics to protect injured and/or diseased joints in golfers to allow them to play pain free and avoid further injury. This study used a 3-dimensional link segment model to calculate the net joint moments on the large lower limb joints (knee and hip) during golf (lead and trail leg) and two commonly …

Quantifying Balance: Computational And Learning Frameworks For The Characterization Of Balance In Bipedal Systems, Kubra Akbas

Dissertations

In clinical practice and general healthcare settings, the lack of reliable and objective balance and stability assessment metrics hinders the tracking of patient performance progression during rehabilitation; the assessment of bipedal balance plays a crucial role in understanding stability and falls in humans and other bipeds, while providing clinicians important information regarding rehabilitation outcomes. Bipedal balance has often been examined through kinematic or kinetic quantities, such as the Zero Moment Point and Center of Pressure; however, analyzing balance specifically through the body's Center of Mass (COM) state offers a holistic and easily comprehensible view of balance and stability.

Building upon …

Temporal Organization Of Stride-To-Stride Variations Contradicts Predictive Models For Sensorimotor Control Of Footfalls During Walking, Madhur Mangalam, Damian G. Kelty-Stephen, Joel H. Sommerfeld, Nicholas Stergiou, Aaron Likens

Journal Articles

Walking exhibits stride-to-stride variations. Given ongoing perturbations, these variations critically support continuous adaptations between the goal-directed organism and its surroundings. Here, we report that stride-to-stride variations during self-paced overground walking show cascade-like intermittency—stride intervals become uneven because stride intervals of different sizes interact and do not simply balance each other. Moreover, even when synchronizing footfalls with visual cues with variable timing of presentation, asynchrony in the timings of the cue and footfall shows cascade-like intermittency. This evidence conflicts with theories about the sensorimotor control of walking, according to which internal predictive models correct asynchrony in the timings of the cue …

Body Movement Syllabus - The City College Of New York - Department Of Theatre - Prof Timothy Allen, Timothy J. Allen

Open Educational Resources

This course will explore three modules of learning.

1. Anatomy and Psycho-Physical Centering, will explore two foundations: (1) the start of our research and practical application of the human anatomy in regards to how our body moves; and (2) your ability to tune into movement centers within the body by utilizing Chakra as a guiding study. Please note: Anatomy will be a continuous study throughout the entire semester.

2. THE SECOND MODULE, Partnered Connection, will focus on partnering with lifts, counter-balances, falls, and rolls that will build to a partnering sequence of the tools presented.

3. THE LAST MODULE, Global Archetypes, …

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A Comparison Of Ground Reaction Forces And Muscle Activity Of The Tsunami Bar® Against A Rigid Barbell During Back Squat Phases, John Carver Middleton

Theses and Dissertations

An Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved study was conducted to investigate the effects of the Tsunami Bar® (TB), a flexible barbell, on ground reaction force (GRF) production and muscle activity in the quadricep, hamstring, and gluteal muscle groups during phases of the squat exercise and compare the effects to the effects to using a rigid barbell (RB). A two-by-two repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the results. Descriptive statistics showed significantly higher GRFs for the TB during the unweighting phase, significant differences in GRFs between speeds for each phase, significantly higher forces on average with the …