Biomechanics Commons^™

Polydactyl Precursors: Insights Into Early Tetrapod Locomotion From Polydactyl American Alligators, Trevor P. Brewington

All Theses

Several of the earliest tetrapod lineages exhibited polydactyl limbs, with seven or eight digits per limb rather than the typical five or fewer seen in extant lineages. How these digit configurations might have been used during terrestrial locomotion is unclear, given the lack of living models in which their performance can be studied and limited evidence from fossil trackways. However, polydactyly occasionally appears in natural populations of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), animals with body plans that broadly resemble those of early tetrapods. To test how polydactyl limbs similar to those of early tetrapods might have functioned on land, …

Mandibular Ecomorphology Of Tylosaurus (Reptilia: Mosasauridae), Andrew I. Price, Amanda Peng

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The large mosasaur Tylosaurus is known to have been a predator of large marine animals. Performing beam theory analysis, a computational technique that uses linear dimensions of a structure to calculate its resistance to bending, on the mandibles of six Tylosaurus specimens from the Smoky Hill Chalk of Kansas indicates dorsoventral and mediolateral bending strength both increase posteriorly along the mandible. Comparisons with Varanus komodoensis indicate relatively greater mediolateral bending strength mid-dentary in Tylosaurus, suggesting that resisting torsional forces of struggling prey was more important at this landmark in Tylosaurus and that more of its jaw length was used …

Biomechanical Characterization Of Porcine Lower Limb Arteries For Preclinical Evaluation Of Peripheral Vascular Devices, Barbara Batista De Oliveira, Frazer Heinis, Anastasia Desyatova, Jason Mactaggart, Alexey Kamenskiy

Journal Articles

Purpose Peripheral artery disease (PAD) predominantly affects the lower extremities, where complex biomechanical deformations during limb flexion contribute to disease progression and treatment failure. While human and cadaver studies have characterized these deformations, preclinical device testing requires large-animal models that replicate human arterial anatomy and biomechanics. Swine are commonly used, yet their biomechanical comparability to humans remains poorly defined. Methods We performed a detailed morphometric and biomechanical analysis of the external iliac (EIA), superficial femoral (SFA), and popliteal (PA) arteries in 20 Yucatan and 16 domestic swine using computed tomography angiography. Arteries were evaluated in straight and flexed limb postures …

Combining Haptic Feedback With Electromyography To Study Knee Injury In Stationary Cycling, Christopher Kirby

Honors Theses

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) is the most prevalent overuse injury in cycling, often linked to altered neuromuscular activation patterns of the quadriceps and hamstrings. While sensory feedback has successfully modified cyclists posture, there is a critical lack of evidence-based interventions targeting the underlying muscle activation imbalances associated with chronic knee pain. This study aimed to develop and validate a novel, real-time biofeedback system that utilizes electromyography (EMG) to trigger vibrotactile cues, aiming to shift muscle onset timing earlier in the pedal stroke to mitigate PFPS-related imbalances. A closed-loop system was engineered by integrating a Delsys EMG system with a SageMotion …

Optimizing Hip And Knee Assistance For Walking And Sit-To-Stand Transitions: An Intrinsic Muscle Mechanics Based Predictive Approach, Neethan Ratnakumar

Dissertations

As the global population ages, the demand for wearable assistive technologies continues to rise, driven by their potential to enhance mobility and independence in older adults. Effectively designed controllers for lower-limb exoskeletons to assist sit-to-stand (STS) and walking are crucial for delivering efficient, safe, and comfortable assistance during daily activities. Traditionally, controller optimization involves biomechanical modeling and user-specific customization. Musculoskeletal simulations play a central role in this process by providing insights into human-exoskeleton interaction dynamics, thereby informing and refining control strategies.

This work presents a simulation-driven approach for developing exoskeleton controllers for walking and STS using two distinct methods: optimal …

Advances In Bone And Orthopedics 2025 – 5th Edition, Jean-Philippe Berteau, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Hélène Follet, Aurélie Levillain

Publications and Research

This volume brings together selected works from the 2025 Bone and Orthopedics Interdisciplinary Symposium (BONITOS), underscoring our community’s ongoing commitment to advancing research in biomechanics, bone health, and orthopedic science. The symposium unites leading experts from around the world, fostering collaboration and the exchange of ideas across disciplines. Organized in partnership with the French-speaking Society of Biomechanics, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the University of Lyon, the College of Staten Island of the City University of New York (CUNY), and the American Association of Physical Therapists (APTA) – Brooklyn Staten Island Chapter, BONITOS 2025 represents …

Gamified Gait Rehabilitation Via Real-Time Biofeedback And Adaptive Hip-Exoskeleton Control, Mariya Huzaifa Tohfafarosh

Theses

Gait impairments arise from systemic diseases, age-related degeneration, musculoskeletal dysfunctions, or neurological conditions. While traditional rehabilitation can be effective, they often face challenges such as high costs, inaccessibility, and low patient engagement. To address these challenges, my work introduces a virtual reality-based rehabilitation (VRBR) system, integrating real-time motion and electromyographic (EMG) muscle activation feedback with a gamified virtual environment for enhanced adaptability and engagement. The system includes a custom-designed hip-exoskeleton that provides adaptive spring-like assistance or resistance, supporting both mobility-impaired users and strength training. Assistance levels can be tuned to match the user's progress. Additionally, a custom pressure insole was …

The Distribution Of Spinal Cord Injury Severity Across Age And Injury Location In Frontal Impact Automobile Collisions, Alyssa Teixeira

Master's Theses

Automobile collisions are a leading cause of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) worldwide, accounting for about 42% of SCIs in the United States alone (McDonald & Sadowsky, 2002; Roberts et al., 2017). The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies road traffic injuries as the leading cause of death for individuals aged 5-29 years, emphasizing the urgent need for effective prevention strategies (World Health Organization, 2023). The primary aim of this study was to identify differences in spinal column injury severity and location (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar) across multiple age groups to identify any discrepancies or similarities. A total of 302 traffic accidents …

Advancing Tka Biomechanics: From Joint Simulator To Boundary Condition Development, Yashar Ali Behnam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses four specific aims that collectively attempted to advance the experimental and computational analysis of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) components. The first study focused on the development of a novel whole knee joint simulator capable of simultaneous tibiofemoral and patellofemoral knee loading. This simulator employs custom fixturing to facilitate dynamic, unconstrained, muscle-driven PF articulation alongside controlled TF contact mechanics. Validation against experimental measurements showed strong agreement, demonstrating the simulator's potential as a valuable tool for future TKA design and surgical technique investigations.

The second study verified implant-specific physiological boundary conditions which accurately simulate activities of daily living using …

Mission Success: Mastering Muscle Function Through Humanoid Analysis, Amber M. Chelette

Educational Practices in Kinesiology

Knowledge of muscle function and human movement are essential skills of all kinesiology students. In the humanoid activity, teams are challenged to determine whether a muscle is essential to the successful development of a humanoid being sent to Mars. This activity provides a significant learning experience regarding muscle anatomy, function, and movement analysis. The humanoid activity is intended for use in a face-to-face upper-level kinesiology anatomy or movement analysis course and best implemented with class sizes of 20-30 students. The total time commitment is approximately 45 minutes.

Canine Agility On The A-Frame Obstacle, Derek Wheeler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Agility dogs rely on speed, strength, and precision to safely complete obstacles, such as the A-frame. These athletes can experience injuries in training or competition and the variability in multiple repetitions is undocumented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether canine mass and trained contact behavior affected performance variables, including number of footfalls, obstacle completion time, and velocity between repetitions. Twenty-one actively competing dogs, at the masters level in American Kennel Club agility, were recorded completing two repetitions of the A-frame under standardized conditions. Paw placements were tracked manually frame by frame in XMALab and statistical analyses including …

Lower Extremity Individual Muscle Forces In Females During Loaded Hex-Bar Squat Jumps, Jadon Konkel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the individual muscle forces and contributions to extensor force occurring during the propulsive phase of unloaded jumps in females and explore how these are influenced by increasing loads using the hex bar modality. Ten, college-aged females (height: 1.66 ± 0.09 m; weight: 68.63 ± 9.66 kg) with weightlifting experience performed hexagonal bar squat jumps at bodyweight (BW), BW+20% and BW+40% of 1RM. Traditional motion capture techniques were employed to collect dominate lower limb kinematics and kinetics. Individual muscle forces were estimated utilizing Static Optimization in OpenSim using a Gait2392 musculoskeletal model. Muscle …

Pelvic Sucker Form And Function In Waterfall Climbing Gobies: Variation In Morphology And Adhesive Performance Can Inspire Biomimetic Innovation, Amanda Palecek Mcclung

All Dissertations

Adhesive systems have evolved in many animal lineages and have appeared multiple times among the fishes. Bioadhesion in the gobies, a group found around the world, plays a role in both station-holding and even climbing. Among the Hawaiian streams, we find four species of amphidromous gobies which must face predators as juveniles and climb streams up to hundreds of feet tall to reach adult habitats. These gobies exhibit a range of climbing and adhesive abilities that result in an elevation-dependent species stratification, in which increasingly proficient climbing species are found in streams at increasingly higher elevations. This group is therefore …

The Hoof Inside Out: A Comprehensive Investigation About The Shoe Configuration Effects On The Behavior Of The Equine Hoof, Rita Aoun

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The equine hoof is a unique organ in biology that has intricate elastic properties. From simple protection to therapeutic and corrective measures, horseshoes are widely used in the equine industry. Various types of shoeing have been designed and used based on their unique targeted functions following hoof care. Shoes can modify the gait of the horse, affect the alignment of the distal joints, and alter stress and strains on specific hoof regions. The objective of this dissertation is to provide an overview of the available research on the existing methodology and literature on the effects of shoeing on equine gait …

The Volleyball Attack: Training, Kinematics, And The Role Of The Torso, Kiara Baeleah Barrett

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Volleyball is an explosive, dynamic sport popular around the globe. The volleyball attack is the predominant point-scoring avenue and the point of interest for many coaches and players. As this motion is repeated many times throughout the course of a match, it is linked to overuse injuries at the shoulder. The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate methodological approaches for research in this movement as well as establishing mechanisms for improving performance and the health of the volleyball players’ shoulder.

For the first study, a systematic review of published literature was performed to ascertain training protocols beneficial to volleyball …

Altered Gait Mechanics In Marfan Syndrome, Amara G. Sharp

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

FBN1 is a gene responsible for the production of fibrillin, a major component of connective tissue throughout the body including skeletal muscle tissue. In individuals with Marfan Syndrome these mutations in FBN1 result in widespread muscle weakness and a correspondingly higher incidence of lower extremity joint pain. Despite the widespread musculoskeletal impacts of Marfan Syndrome there is a dearth of research on the potential impacts of Marfan Syndrome on gait mechanics that may be related to the high incidence of lower extremity joint pain in the Marfan Syndrome population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the potential …

Effect Of Task Constraints On Neurobiological Systems Involved In Postural Control In Individuals With And Without Chronic Ankle Instability, Yuki A. Sugimoto, Patrick O. Mckeon, Christopher K. Rhea, Carl G. Mattacola

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of task constraints on the neurobiological systems while maintaining postural control under various sensory feedback manipulations in individuals with and without Chronic Ankle Instability (CAI). Forty-two physically active individuals, with and without CAI, were enrolled in a case-control study conducted at a biomechanics research laboratory. All participants underwent the Sensory Organization Test (SOT), which assesses individuals’ ability to integrate somatosensory, visual, and vestibular feedback to maintain postural control in double-, uninjured-, and injured-limb stances under six different conditions in which variations in the sway-referenced support surface (platform) and visual surroundings, …

Gait Kinematics In Sled Dog Fitness, Ashley Maio

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The sport of sled dog racing has become popular in recent years, where teams of dogs navigate Arctic conditions anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand miles, usually within 10 days. To prepare for these competitions, dogs are subjected to rigorous training months prior to the race that results in significant changes to the physiology of their bones and muscles. This study aims to determine differences in gait kinetics between female and male sled dogs. Ten dogs, five females and five males, were recorded trotting from a lateral view for three weightbased trials to simulate different amounts of weight …

Exploring The Relationship Of Intact Limb Knee Joint Loading With Step Lengths And Step Length Symmetry In Individuals With Lower Limb Amputation, Edward D. Syrett

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with unilateral lower limb amputation (LLA) frequently experience intact limb knee pain, dysfunction, and osteoarthritis. These problems can worsen pre-existing reductions in mobility and quality of life that this population regularly experiences. It is widely accepted that knee joint loading is implicated in the development of knee joint issues, and intact limb knee joint load alterations are thought to be widespread in individuals with LLA. Prior work suggests that gait deviations frequently present in this population may be a contributory cause of these altered forces. These deviations can take many forms, but individuals with LLA commonly demonstrate alterations in …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

Acute Responses To Combined Accentuated Eccentric Loading And Rest Redistribution, Sungwon Chae

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation was 2 parts of investigations of various acute responses to high-volume combined accentuated eccentric loading and rest redistribution (AEL + RR). Resistance-trained men (n = 12, 25.6 ± 4.4 years, 1.77 ± 0.06 m, 81.7 ± 11.4 kg) completed a back squat (BS) 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and weight releaser familiarization session. Three BS exercise conditions (sets × repetitions × eccentric/concentric loading) comprised AEL + RR 5: 3 × (5 × 2) × 110/60%, AEL + RR 2: 3 × (2 × 5) × 110/60%, and traditional sets (TS): 3 × (1 × 10) × 60/60% 1RM. The …

Biomat (Biomechanics Multiactivity Transformer) Model, Mohsen Sharifi Renani

BioMAT (Biomechanics Multiactivity Transformer)

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Accuracy Of Inertial Measurment Units In Detecting Gait Parameters For Lower Limb Prosthesis And Orthosis Users, Bryce Fuller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A Gait Extraction System (GES) was developed to investigate the accuracy of wearable sensors by producing gait parameters, to be compared against a gold standard motion capture system. Two inertial measurement units (IMUs) were placed in the lower limb region, specifically in the shank region of each leg. The GES uses algorithms to extract the gait cycle from raw acceleration data to produce gait parameters such as stride length, stride time, step length, step time, stance time, swing time and cadence. There were three main trials that consisted solely of a flat road, a road with small hills and a …

Multi Segment Finite Element Analysis Of The Lumbar Spine, James J. Doulgeris

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Finite element analysis of the spine has become popular over the past several decades. However, the current studies often use minimal specimens for modeling. The purpose of this study was to validate and analyze multiple finite element models with data from in vivo experiments and other finite element studies before future investigations. This study developed eight (8) lumbar spine (L2-L5) finite element models followed by finite element analysis of simulated bending in the six (6) basic motions. CT scans were obtained from four (4) males and four (4) females between the ages of forty-four (44) and seventy-three (73) years old. …

Effects Of Increased Shoe Collar Height And Limb Dominance On Landing Knee Biomechanics In Collegiate Volleyball Players, Lindsey Legg

Master's Theses

Athletic footwear with higher collar heights are worn to restrict ankle motion. Reduced ankle dorsiflexion has been associated with increased frontal plane knee motion. Volleyball players wear mid-cut shoes (MC) that have an increased collar height rising slightly superior to the talocrural joint and malleoli. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of MC and limb dominance on knee landing mechanics. It was hypothesized that participants would land with greater initial contact (IC) and peak frontal joint plane angles and moments and smaller IC and peak sagittal plane joint angles and moments at the knee in MC …

Locomotion And Life History In A Leaping Primate: Mechanics And Energetics Of Movement Throughout The Propithecus Lifespan, Nicholas Heslep

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Arboreal primates are typically altricial, exhibit long juvenile periods, and use dynamic locomotor behaviors that can be challenging and risky. Sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) have particularly slow life histories for their size, with long juvenile periods, protracted reproductive careers, and long life spans. Slow somatic growth poses potential mechanical challenges for juvenile sifaka who use thigh-powered vertical clinging and leaping to follow group members during travel. I examined mechanical and energetic costs of movement in developing sifaka. I instrumented 8 wild sifaka (3 yearlings, 3 subadults, 2 adults) in 4 social groups with inertial sensors measuring tri-axial acceleration for …