Biomechanics Commons^™

Human-In-The-Loop Bayesian Optimization Of Wearable Device Parameters, Myunghee Kim, Ye Ding, Philippe Malcolm, Jozefien Speeckaert, Christopher Siviy, Conor J. Walsh

Journal Articles

The increasing capabilities of exoskeletons and powered prosthetics for walking assistance have paved the way for more sophisticated and individualized control strategies. In response to this opportunity, recent work on human-in-the-loop optimization has considered the problem of automatically tuning control parameters based on realtime physiological measurements. However, the common use of metabolic cost as a performance metric creates significant experimental challenges due to its long measurement times and low signal-to-noise ratio. We evaluate the use of Bayesian optimization—a family of sample-efficient, noise-tolerant, and global optimization methods—for quickly identifying near-optimal control parameters. To manage experimental complexity and provide comparisons against related …

Dynamics Of Stride Interval Characteristics During Continuous Stairmill Climbing, Peter C. Raffalt, Srikant Vallabhajosula, Jessica J. Renz, Mukul Mukherjee, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

It has been shown that statistical persistence in stride intervals characteristics exist during walking, running and cycling and were speed-dependent among healthy young adults. The purpose of this study was to determine if such statistical persistence in stride time interval, stride length and stride speed also exists during self-paced continuous stairmill climbing and if the strength is dependent on stepping rate. Stride time, stride length, and stride speed were collected from nine healthy participants during 3 min of stairmill climbing at 100, 110, and 120% of their preferred stepping rate (PSR) and 5 min of treadmill walking at preferred walking …

On The Rules For Aquatic Locomotion, M. Saadat, Frank E. Fish, A. G. Domel, G. V. Lauder, H. Haj-Hariri

Biology Faculty Publications

We present unifying rules governing the efficient locomotion of swimming fish and marine mammals. Using scaling and dimensional analysis, supported by new experimental data, we show that efficient locomotion occurs when the values of the Strouhal (St) number St(=f A/U) and A∗(=A/L), two nondimensional numbers that relate forward speed U, tail-beat amplitude A, tail-beat frequency f , and the length of the swimmer L are bound to the tight ranges of 0.2–0.4 and 0.1–0.3, respectively. The tight range of 0.2–0.4 for the St number has previously been associated with optimal thrust generation. We show that the St number alone is …

Mechanobiology Of Epithelial Clusters In Ecms Of Diverse Mechanical Properties, Samila Nasrollahi

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cell clusters reside in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) of varying mechanical properties. Epithelial cells sense and translate the mechanical cues presented by the surrounding ECM into biochemical signals through a process called ‘mechanotransduction’, which controls fundamental aspects of disease and development. During the course of metastasis, mechanical changes in the tumor microenvironment can lead to declustering of epithelial cells through a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Throughout different steps of metastasis, escaped epithelial clusters encounter heterogeneous tissues of varying mechanical properties that ultimately influence their behavior in distant locations within the body. This dissertation investigates the mechanobiology of epithelial clusters …

Effects Of Adaptive-Tempo Music-Based Ras For Parkinson’S Disease Patients, Bart Moens, Leon Van Noorden, Wim De Wilde, Micheline Lesaffre, Dirk Cambier, Dobromir Dotov, Patrick Santens, Jana Blomme, Heleen Soens, Marc Leman

Journal Articles

The use of Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS) is a potential method to help Parkinson Patients improve their gait characteristics. By providing auditory stimuli such as a metronome or music, gait impairments, which characterize the illness, tend to improve without pharmacological or surgical intervention. This work evaluates three different RAS approaches: fixed-tempo metronomes, fixed-tempo music and adaptive-tempo music. 29 Parkinson Disease (PD) patients were tested in a repeated measures experiment to compare spatiotemporal gait parameters in different cueing conditions. Baseline measures without RAS were taken, followed by counterbalanced trials of the three RAS methods. Compared to the baseline, beneficial effects were …

Analysis Of Human Movement Patterns During Endurance Running, Joshua Paul Bailey

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Endurance running and participation in racing events has flourished over the last decade. Recreational runners enter the training period for an upcoming race at differing levels of fitness and training. As individuals sign-up for the race, they typically follow the commitment with an increase in training load. The increases in training load are accomplished through a combination of increasing mileage, or duration of running, and running intensity through increase velocity. These increases are theoretically being applied in a progressive overload principle, where the musculoskeletal system has time to adapt to the breakdown provided from the previous training session. Progressive overload …

The Influence Of Crossfit Training On Running Mechanics, Sophia D. Bradley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Introduction

40 million Americans run regularly.1 Contrary to many runner’s beliefs, increased strength may be beneficial while not adding body mass. An increase in strength in specific muscles may improve running gait and performance. 9,6 Strength training may also play an important role in preventing common overuse injuries in running 11,12 Depending on the style of strength training, it may also have an enhanced benefit on running economy.4,16

Participation in CrossFit is also widely popular, with an increase in participation of 923% in the past ten years.2 CrossFit is a type of strength training in which most movements performed utilize …

Optimization Of Prosthetic Hands: Utilizing Modularity To Improve Grip Force, Grasp, And Versatility, Jordan William Harris

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

It has been demonstrated that although many varieties of upper limb prosthetics exist, commercially available prosthetics are outdated and unsatisfactory. Ineffectiveness and limitations have led to some prosthesis wearers having to own multiple devices, whereas others have given up on them entirely. Even though ample research has been conducted to design and test new hand designs, the industry appears to rest in an overall stagnated state.

It was proposed here, that one problem with prosthetic research is an excess of variables involved in testing, and therefore the improper application of the scientific method. It seems that each time a research …

Biomechanical Adjustments During Landing In Response To Task Perturbations, John Robert Harry

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Landing strategies are evaluated to determine a performer’s favored neuromusculo-skeletal solution for the performance of the task. Depending on the strategy employed, a performer might increase his or her musculoskeletal injury potential, as defined by increased impact forces and/or demands on the involved joints. In recent history, the manner in which a performer modifies his or her strategy has been evaluated following the application of an added external mass during the impact phase of landings performed from atop an elevated platforms or a hanging position from a raised bar. Furthermore, the strategies evaluated in contemporary research are quantified using biomechanical …

Dynamic Balance Changes Within Three Weeks Of Fitting A New Prosthetic Foot Component, Jenny A. Kent, Nicholas Stergiou, Shane R. Wurdeman

Journal Articles

Balance during walking is of high importance to prosthesis users and may affect walking during baseline observation and evaluation. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in walking balance occurred during an adaptation period following the fitting of a new prosthetic component.

Margin of stability in the medial-lateral direction (MOSML) and an anterior instability margin (AIM) were used to quantify the dynamic balance of 21 unilateral transtibial amputees during overground walking. Participants trialled two prosthetic feet presenting contrasting movement/balance constraints; a Higher Activity foot similar to that of their own prosthesis, and a Lower Activity foot. Participants …

Muscle Strength And Control Characteristics Are Altered By Peripheral Artery Disease, Molly Schieber, Ryan Hasenkamp, Iraklis Pipinos, Jason Johanning, Nicholas Stergiou, Holly Despiegelaere, Jung Chien, Sara A. Myers

Journal Articles

Objective

Methods

Hip Mechanics Of Unilateral Drop Landings, Bobbie S. Irmischer

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Increased hip forces are a proposed factor for osteoarthritis and femoroacetabular impingement. These forces can be estimated through musculoskeletal modeling using measured kinematics and kinetics. An understanding of hip joint loading during landing in a asymptomatic population will begin to elucidate what, if any, sex differences exist and how changes in landing condition alter hip mechanics. The overall purpose of this dissertation was to explore how sex and landing condition effect landing mechanics. Landing mechanics were quantified using ground reaction forces (GRF), hip joint forces (HJF), and lower extremity kinematics during unilateral drop landings from 30-cm, 40-cm, and 50-cm, as …

Varying Negative Work Assistance At The Ankle With A Soft Exosuit During Loaded Walking, Philippe Malcolm, Sangjun Lee, Simon Crea, Christopher Siviy, Fabricio Saucedo, Ignacio Galiana, Fausto A. Panizzolo, Kenneth G. Holt, Conor J. Walsh

Journal Articles

Background: Only very recently, studies have shown that it is possible to reduce the metabolic rate of unloaded and loaded walking using robotic ankle exoskeletons. Some studies obtained this result by means of high positive work assistance while others combined negative and positive work assistance. There is no consensus about the isolated contribution of negative work assistance. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the effect of varying negative work assistance at the ankle joint while maintaining a fixed level of positive work assistance with a multi-articular soft exosuit.

Methods: We tested eight participants during …

Gait Deficiencies Associated With Peripheral Artery Disease Are Different Than Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, John D. Mccamley, Eric J. Pisciotta, Jennifer M. Yentes, Shane R. Wurdeman, Stephen I. Rennard, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Jason M. Johanning, Sara A. Myers

Journal Articles

Objective: Previous studies have indicated that patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), display significant differences in their kinetic and kinematic gait characteristics when compared to healthy, aged-matched controls. The ability of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to ambulate is also limited. These limitations are likely due to pathology-driven muscle morphology and physiology alterations establish in PAD and COP, respectively. Gait changes in PAD were compared to gait changes due to COPD to further understand how altered limb muscle due to disease can alter walking patterns. Both groups were independently compared to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that both …

Muscle Strength And Control Characteristics Are Altered By Peripheral Artery Disease, Molly Schieber, Ryan Hasenkamp, Iraklis Pipinos, Jason Johanning, Nicholas Stergiou, Holly Despiegelaere, Jung Chien, Sara Myers

Journal Articles

Objective

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common manifestation of atherosclerosis, is characterized by lower leg ischemia and myopathy in association with leg dysfunction. Patients with PAD have impaired gait from the first step they take with consistent defects in the movement around the ankle joint, especially in plantar flexion. Our goal was to develop muscle strength profiles to better understand the problems in motor control responsible for the walking impairment in patients with PAD.

Methods

Ninety-four claudicating PAD patients performed maximal isometric plantar flexion contractions lasting 10 seconds in two conditions: pain free (patient is well rested and has …

Posture And Gaze Tracking Of A Vertically Moving Target Reveals Age-Related Constraints In Visuo-Motor Coupling, Haralampos Sotirakis, Anastasia Kyvelidou, Nicholas Stergiou, Vassilia Hatzitaki

Journal Articles

Previously we have demonstrated that the effect of aging on posture and gaze active tracking of a visual target moving in the horizontal direction is dependent on target’s complexity. In this study, we asked whether a similar phenomenon is present when tracking a visual target moving with varying complexity in the vertical direction. Ten young (22.98 ± 2.9 years) and 10 older adults (72.45 ± 4.72 years) tracked for 120 s, a visual target moving vertically by shifting their bodyweight in the anterior-posterior direction. Three target motions were tested: a simple periodic (sine wave), a more complex (Lorenz attractor) and …

The Interaction Of Scale And Temperature In Elastically Powered Movements, Jeffrey P. Olberding

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For many animals, rapid movements place high power demands on underlying muscles. Storage of muscle energy in elastic structures and the subsequent rapid release of that energy can effectively amplify muscle power. Elastic recoil can also confer thermal robustness to performance in behaviors occurring at variable temperatures. Muscle contractile performance tends to decrease at lower temperatures, but elastic recoil is less affected by temperature. Here I examine the impacts of temperature and scale in systems using elastic recoil and I explore possible interactive effects on movement performance.

I explored the role that muscle contractile properties play in the differences in …

Functional Trade-Offs In Feeding Performance In Salamanders Of The Family Salamandridae, Charlotte M. Stinson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Performance is an organism’s ability to accomplish a particular task or behavior, and morphology can have a major impact on the performance of an organism. Salamanders are ecologically diverse and can feed using a variety of behaviors depending on the environment in which feeding occurs. Feeding is accomplished through the use of the hyobranchial apparatus, which lies along the oropharynx, and this structure can have competing roles; in aquatic environments the apparatus is used for suction feeding and works to depress the floor of the mouth, but during terrestrial feeding this structure projects the tongue forward out of the mouth. …

The Development Of A Platform Interface With The Use Of Virtual Reality To Enhance Upper-Extremity Prosthetic Training And Rehabilitation, Ashley D. Knight

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the investigation and development of an effective prosthetic training and rehabilitation platform with the use of virtual reality to facilitate an effective process to return amputees to the highest level of independence and functioning possible.

It has been reported that approximately 10 million people live with a limb loss worldwide, with around 30% being an upper-extremity amputee. The sudden loss of a hand or arm causes the loss of fine, coordinated movements, reduced joint range of motion (ROM), proprioceptive feedback and aesthetic appearance, all which can be improved with the use of a prosthesis and proper …

Human Biomechanics Ii Course Project, Abdelaziz Mohammad

Best Integrated Writing

Mohammad tested Human Arm Module PASCO ME-6807A, in order to determine some of the biomechanical characteristics, such as force, tension, instantaneous angular velocity, and acceleration vs. angular position required for various movements and arm positions in space.

Body Size Regulation Via Bmp Signaling In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Uday Madaan

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The body size of an organism can be a crucial determinant of access to nutrition, reproductive success and overall survival in the wild. However, how body size of an individual is determined is incompletely understood. Body size is a complex trait determined by multiple pathways and genes, making it difficult to understand the role of individual genes and pathways in determining overall size. In Caenorhabditis elegans, a homolog of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP) is a major regulator of body size; functional loss of DBL-1 leads to a small body size. Due to a drastic change in body size in dbl-1 …

Body Mass Index Associations Between Mother And Offspring From Birth To Age 18: The Fels Longitudinal Study, Stacie S. Swanton, Audrey C. Choh, Miryoung Lee, Lloyd L. Laubach, Jon K. Linderman, Stefan A. Czerwinski, Matthew J. Peterson

Health and Sport Science Faculty Publications

Background: Parental obesity is a known determinant of childhood obesity. Previous research has shown a strong maternal influence on body mass index (BMI) during infancy and early childhood.

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to investigate the BMI associations between mother and offspring from birth to age 18 years.

Methods: Participants were selected from the Fels Longitudinal Study. The current study sample includes 427 (215 mother/son and 212 mother/daughter) mother/child pairs. These pairs are repeatedly measured at multiple age groups in children, resulting in a total of 6,263 (3,215 mother/son, 3,048 mother/daughter) observations for data analysis. Inclusion criteria were …

Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Walk With Altered Step Time And Step Width Variability As Compared With Healthy Control Subjects, Jennifer M. Yentes, Stephen I. Rennard, Kendra K. Schmid, Daniel Blanke, Nikolaos Stergiou

Journal Articles

Rationale: Compared with control subjects, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased incidence of falls and demonstrate balance deficits and alterations in mediolateral trunk acceleration while walking. Measures of gait variability have been implicated as indicators of fall risk, fear of falling, and future falls.

Objectives: To investigate whether alterations in gait variability are found in patients with COPD as compared with healthy control subjects.

Methods: Twenty patients with COPD (16 males; mean age, 63.6 ± 9.7 yr; FEV1/FVC, 0.52 ± 0.12) and 20 control subjects (9 males; mean age, 62.5 ± 8.2 yr) walked for 3 …

Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Walk With Altered Step Time And Step Width Variability As Compared With Healthy Control Subjects, Jennifer M. Yentes, Stephen I. Rennard, Kendra K. Schmid, Daniel Blanke, Nicholas Stergiou

Journal Articles

Rationale: Compared with control subjects, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased incidence of falls and demonstrate balance deficits and alterations in mediolateral trunk acceleration while walking. Measures of gait variability have been implicated as indicators of fall risk, fear of falling, and future falls.

Objectives: To investigate whether alterations in gait variability are found in patients with COPD as compared with healthy control subjects.

Methods: Twenty patients with COPD (16 males; mean age, 63.6 ± 9.7 yr; FEV1/FVC, 0.52 ± 0.12) and 20 control subjects (9 males; mean age, 62.5 ± 8.2 yr) walked for 3 …

Differences In Lower Limb Kinetics In College Age Female Gymnasts To Coaches’ Perceived Efficiency In A Specific Counter Movement Jump Technique, Stephen Christopher Avgerinos

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports the results of a quantitative research project which examined kinetics of female collegiate gymnasts aged 18 to 21 performing a ‘punching’ counter-movement jump (CMJ) technique that is taught and required for exemplar scoring during NCAA competition. Twelve female gymnasts were recruited from the competitive team at Illinois State University. Participation was voluntary and athletes were not compensated. Each gymnast performed 8 punch-CMJ trials without coaching instruction except to perform a punching CMJ. The method of performing this CMJ began by stepping off from a 33 cm elevation, ‘punching’ off the force plates, and finishing with a landing …

A Letter From Oata Chair Of Research And Grants Subcommittee, Shelley Payne Dr.

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

A thank you and conclusion to the OATA Annual Symposium and Meeting

Type Ix Slap Lesion To Non-Throwing Shoulder Of Collegiate Baseball Player, Matthew Horgan, Francesca Gironda-Whitaker

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

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional research abstracts, as well as Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.

Os Trigonum Fracture: Case Report, Sabrina Salupo

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

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional research abstracts, as well as Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.

Bi-Lateral Compartment Syndrome In Feet And Gastrocnemius-Soleus Complex Of A High School Female Soccer And Lacrosse Player, Cassandra Parise, Jeffery Huston

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

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional research abstracts, as well as Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.

Patellar Dislocation: A Deeper Look At Various Knee Pathologies In Young Female Athletes, Cade Coulter

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

In Volume 3, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS you will find Professional research abstracts, as well as Under Graduate student research abstracts, case reports, and critically appraised topics.

Thank you for viewing this 3^rd Annual OATA Special Edition.