Biomechanics Commons^™

Stride Length-Speed Relationship During Body Weight Supported Running, Carmen Chona

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to determine if body weight support influences the stride length-speed relationship. Additionally, the purpose was to determine if impact characteristics of running are influenced by body weight support and speed. Subjects (n=10; 6 female, 4 male) volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects were injury free and were comfortable running on a treadmill for 30 minutes. Subjects ran on a lower body positive (LBPP, Alter-G, G-Trainer) treadmill for 4 conditions of body weight (100, 40, 30 and 20% of body weight) and 4 running speeds (100, 110, 120 and 130% of the preferred …

An Evaluation Of Kinematic Variables During Stance Phase Of A Training Endurance Run, Joshua Paul Bailey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of the study was to evaluate kinematics of the lower extremity during the stance phase of an endurance training run. Fifteen participants (8 male, 7 female; 30.5 ± 8.4 years; 71.8 ± 11 kg; 1.73 ± 0.07 m) reported that they were currently signed up for, or planned on signing up for, an endurance race within the next six months of participation in the study (9 half marathon, 3 marathon, 1 triathlon, 2 21k trail run). All had a weekly running mileage greater than 20 miles (23.8 ±4.6 miles). Participants were required to complete the 15–kilometer training run …

A Comparative Evaluation Of The Effects Of Incline On Kinematics And Muscle Function During Backward Walking, Daniel Brent Jensen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to investigate lower extremity kinematics and muscle activation patterns in inclined backward walking (IBW) versus traditional backward walking (BW). This purpose was achieved by evaluating performance of individuals walking backward on a treadmill at inclines of 0%, 6%, 8%, 10%, and 12%. Eleven participants (24.9 ± 4.8 yrs, 71.9 ± 11.6 kg, 1.7 ± 0.09m) recruited from the UNLV student body went through a familiarization training program before any data were collected. The familiarization training, which took place across 3 different days, served to: 1) help the participants become comfortable and familiar with BW …

The Effects Of Opedix < Sup > Tm < / Sup > Knee Support System, Philip Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Knee supports are often employed to decrease adductor angle and/or adductor moment and thus medial knee joint loading in persons with medial knee osteoarthritis. It is compelling that these gait alterations would also be considered beneficial in healthy individuals from a prophylactic application. While the Opedix product was designed specifically as a knee support system, in the present study lower extremity kinematic chain with emphasis on hip and knee were investigated.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test Opedix garments and describe the changes in sagittal (X), frontal (Y), and transverse (Z) planes for both kinematic and …

Analysis And Application Of Passive Gait Rehabilitation Methods, Ismet Handzic

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human gait is elegant and efficient in propelling the body forward. While a healthy human gait is symmetric, any deviation from symmetry can cause inefficiencies to the entire body. Such asymmetries may present themselves in hemiplegic patients, prosthetic users, lower limb injuries, limb height and weight discrepancies, or abnormal overground foot rolling. In this dissertation, practical passive methods to alleviate such asymmetric walking dynamics are presented. The novel concepts presented in this manuscript can all be related and applied to passive gait rehabilitation, that is, the rehabilitation of a person's gait through methods that do not require external power. One …

Lateral Line Analogue Aids Vision In Successful Predator Evasion For The Brief Squid, Lolliguncula Brevis, Carly A. York, Ian K. Bartol

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cephalopods have visual and mechanoreception systems that may be employed to sense and respond to an approaching predator. While vision presumably plays the dominant role, the importance of the lateral line analogue for predator evasion has not been examined in cephalopods. To test the respective roles of vision and the lateral line analogue, brief squid, Lolliguncula brevis, were observed in the presence of summer flounder, Paralichthys dentatus, under light and dark conditions with their lateral line analogue intact and ablated. Hair cell ablation was achieved through a pharmacological technique used for the first time on a cephalopod. The …

Adaptation And Prosthesis Effects On Stride-To-Stride Fluctuations In Amputee Gait, Shane R. Wurdeman, Sara A. Myers, Adam L. Jacobsen, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Twenty-four individuals with transtibial amputation were recruited to a randomized, crossover design study to examine stride-to-stride fluctuations of lower limb joint flexion/extension time series using the largest Lyapunov exponent (λ). Each individual wore a “more appropriate” and a “less appropriate” prosthesis design based on the subject's previous functional classification for a three week adaptation period. Results showed decreased λ for the sound ankle compared to the prosthetic ankle (F_1,23 = 13.897, p = 0.001) and a decreased λ for the “more appropriate” prosthesis (F_1,23 = 4.849, p = 0.038). There was also a significant effect for the time …

Do Right-Handed Monkeys Use The Right Cheek Pouch Before The Left?, Madhur Mangalam, Nisarg Desai, Mewa Singh

Journal Articles

There can be several factors that are likely to have played a role in the evolution of hand preference in humans and non-human primates, which the existing theories do not consider. There exists a possibility that hand preference in non-human primates evolved from the pre-existing lateralities in more elementary brain functions and behavior, or alternatively, the two coevolved. A basic example can be a hand-mouth command system that could have evolved in the context of ingestion. In the present study, we examined the relationship between lateralities in prehension and mastication processes, that is, hand and cheek pouch usage, in free-ranging …

Twenty-Four Hour Post-Exercise Hypotension Following Concurrent Cardiovascular And Resistance Exercise, Whitley J. Stone

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Despite pharmacological advances, exercise remains a cost effective preventative for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by acutely and chronically lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP). Although numerous studies have investigated aerobic and resistance training’s role in eliciting an acute SBP response termed post-exercise hypotension (PEH), few researchers have investigated how performing both cardiovascular and weight training in a single session (concurrent training) or how different prescriptions for order of exercise modality will elicit this PEH response; no known studies have attempted altering the order of exercise types within each session. This study seeks to determine if the order of exercise type will affect …

Sitting And Looking: The Development Of Stability And Visual Exploration, Regina T. Harbourne, Bridget O. Ryalls, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

This longitudinal study focused on the interaction of developing sitting postural control with look time, which served as a measure for cognitive processing. Twenty-eight typically developing infants and 16 infants with motor delays were evaluated using center-of-pressure measures to assess stability of sitting postural control and videography to assess look time at objects, at three progressive stages of sitting development. Results indicated that look time decreased significantly in conjunction with a significant increase in postural stability in both groups as sitting progressed to independence. Infants with motor delays showed significantly longer looks when compared to typical infants at the middle …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Gait Kinetics Resulting From Use Of A Vacuum Socket On A Transtibial Prosthesis, Maria De Lourdes Ramos Gonzalez

Honors College Theses

The technology and design of lower limb prosthetics have evolved greatly since their introduction. The current study proposed to compare the effects of a conventional pin socket attachment and a vacuum socket attachment for a transtibial amputee. Whereas traditional measurements of gait utilize force plates and camera systems, this study made use of a small tri-axial load cell located at the base of the socket to measure the forces and moments exerted during a regular gait cycle. The hypothesis tested stated that a vacuum pump socket attachment, when compared to a non-vacuum (pin) socket, will have a significant effect on …

Effects Of An In-Season Resistance Training Program On Lower Extremity Power Output In Collegiate Basketball Players, Kevin Lee King

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in muscle power performance in a horizontal (forward movement), vertical, and lateral directions in collegiate basketball players due to the presence of an in-season resistance training program (ISRTP). Four basketball teams were recruited for this study. Two women's basketball teams and two men's basketball teams participated with one team in each gender participating in an ISRTP and one team not participating in an ISRTP. Fifty-three collegiate basketball players (Females= 29, Males= 24) were successfully recruited for this project. Subjects were assessed for lower extremity muscle power and muscle strength at pre-season, …

The Effects Of Apoe Knock Out On Skeletal Muscle Regeneration: A Look Into Markers Of Protein Synthesis And Satellite Cell Function, Joshua Eden Ragland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ApoE helps regulate serum cholesterol levels by adding in transport of cholesterol into the cells, as well as, to the liver. ApoE knockout mice (ApoE KO) present a model that demonstrates the effects of hypercholesterolemia. Damage to muscle stimulates a complex regenerative response. The effects of high cholesterol on this regenerative response are not known. PURPOSE: To determine if skeletal muscle regeneration is altered in apoE KO mice by measuring protein synthesis regulator IGF-1, Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K, cell cycle regulator cyclin D1, and myogenic regulatory factors myoD and myogenin. METHODS: Female C57/BL6 (WT) and apoE KO were assigned to …

Asymmetric Unilateral Transfemoral Prosthetic Simulator, Tyagi Ramakrishnan

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

amputation, which includes reduced force generation at the knee and ankle, reduced control of the leg, and different mass properties relative to their intact leg. The physical change in the prosthetic leg leads to gait asymmetries that include spatial, temporal, or force differences. This altered gait can lead to an increase in energy consumption and pain due to compensating forces and torques. The asymmetric prosthesis demonstrated in this research aims to find a balance between the different types of asymmetries to provide a gait that is more symmetric and to make it overall easier for an amputee to walk.

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The Effects Of A Foot-Toe Orthosis On Dynamic Balance And Hallux Valgus Angle, Adam Richard Kelly

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Decreased balance has been identified as a risk factor for lower extremity injury in several populations. Previous literature has investigated the effects of using orthotics, textured insoles and textured surfaces on balance. However, no research exists on the effects of a foot-toe orthosis on dynamic balance. Objective: To determine the effects of a foot-toe orthosis on dynamic balance and hallux valgus angle. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Athletic Training research laboratory. Participants: Sixty-three healthy and recreationally active collegiate students. (age: 21.59±1.49yrs, height 172.48±8.99cm, mass 73.86kg±15.64kg) Interventions: Participants were randomly allocated to one of three groups that received either …

Amputation Effects On The Underlying Complexity Within Transtibial Amputee Ankle Motion, Shane R. Wurdeman, Sara A. Myers, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

The presence of chaos in walking is considered to provide a stable, yet adaptable means for locomotion. This study examined whether lower limb amputation and subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation resulted in a loss of complexity in amputee gait. Twenty-eight individuals with transtibial amputation participated in a 6 week, randomized cross-over design study in which they underwent a 3 week adaptation period to two separate prostheses. One prosthesis was deemed “more appropriate” and the other “less appropriate” based on matching/mismatching activity levels of the person and the prosthesis. Subjects performed a treadmill walking trial at self-selected walking speed at multiple points of …

Persistent Fluctuations In Stride Intervals Under Fractal Auditory Stimulation, Vivien Marmelat, Kjerstin Torre, Peter J. Beek, Andreas Daffertshofer

Journal Articles

Stride sequences of healthy gait are characterized by persistent long-range correlations, which become anti-persistent in the presence of an isochronous metronome. The latter phenomenon is of particular interest because auditory cueing is generally considered to reduce stride variability and may hence be beneficial for stabilizing gait. Complex systems tend to match their correlation structure when synchronizing. In gait training, can one capitalize on this tendency by using a fractal metronome rather than an isochronous one? We examined whether auditory cues with fractal variations in inter-beat intervals yield similar fractal inter-stride interval variability as isochronous auditory cueing in two complementary experiments. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Modulation Of Vestibular Evoked Reflexes In Postural Muscles During Self-Motion Experiences In Virtual Environments, Fabricio Saucedo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

BACKGROUND & AIM: Maintaining posture requires the input from three primary sensory systems. These systems include somatosensory, visual, and vestibular components. Of these three systems, the visual and vestibular systems work closest to maintain balance and posture due to visual-vestibular interactions that take place during static and dynamic activities. They are mainly responsible for identifying stimuli and using sensory information to orient the body in space. Thus, understanding how visual and vestibular components integrate may be critical to understand how visual and vestibular sensory information is weighted to control balance. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if visual …

Pedestrian Head Protection During Car To Pedestrian Accidents: In The Event Of Primary Impact With Vehicle And Secondary Impact With Ground, Vishal Gupta

Wayne State University Dissertations

Current regulations for assessing pedestrian safety use a simplified test setup that ignores many real-world factors. In particular, the level of protection is assessed using a free-motion headform impacting the vehicle's hood at a fixed angle. As such, this test setup does not capture the effect due to the vehicle front-end profile, nor does it comprehend injury due to a possible secondary impact of the pedestrian's head with ground. This thesis aims to numerically simulate vehicle to pedestrian crashes to develop knowledge that may suggest ways to improve safety above and beyond the regulatory tests. Inputs to the simulations include …

The Relationship Between Dorsiflexion Range Of Motion And Knee Kinematics In A Land-And-Jump Task, Nate Brookreson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The study examined the relationship between weight-bearing and non weight-bearing dorsiflexion range of motion and frontal knee kinematics at initial ground contact and maximal knee flexion in a land-and-jump task. Thirteen male participants (age = 23 + 2.35 y, height = 181.4 + 5.68 cm, mass = 84.5 + 17.2 kg) proficient in landing and jumping techniques and free from lower limb injury participated in the study. Measurement of ankle range of motion was conducted utilizing non weight-bearing and weight-bearing positions prior to participating in the land-and jump task. During the jump, a 10-camera Vicon 3D Motion Analysis System captured …

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 …