Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Neuromuscular Adaptions Following A Daily Strengthening Exercise In Individuals With Rotator Cuff Related Shoulder Pain: A Pilot Case-Control Study, Amee L. Seitz, Lisa A. Podlecki, Emily R. Melton, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: The goal of therapeutic exercise is to facilitate a neuromuscular response by increasing or decreasing muscular activity in order to reduce pain and improve function. It is not clear what dosage of exercise will create a neuromuscular response.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects following a three-week home program of a daily single exercise, the prone horizontal abduction exercise (PHA), on neuromuscular impairments of motor control as measured by scapular muscle EMG amplitudes, strength, and secondarily outcomes of self-reported pain and function between individuals with and without subacromial pain syndrome.

Study Design: Prospective Case-Control, …

Walking With A Robotic Exoskeleton Does Not Mimic Natural Gait: A Within-Subjects Study, Chad Swank, Sharon Wang-Price, Fan Gao, Sattam Almutairi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Background: Robotic exoskeleton devices enable individuals with lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with full weight-bearing and reciprocal gait. Limited information is available on how a robotic exoskeleton affects gait characteristics.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing a robotic exoskeleton affects temporospatial parameters, kinematics, and muscle activity during gait.

Methods: The study was completed by 15 healthy adults (mean age 26.2 [SD 8.3] years; 6 males, 9 females). Each participant performed walking under 2 conditions: with and without wearing a robotic exoskeleton (EKSO). A 10-camera motion analysis system synchronized with 6 …

Muscle Activity During Maximal Isometric Forearm Rotation Using A Power Grip, Joseph Scott Bader, Michael R. Boland, Desney Greybe, Arthur J. Nitz, Timothy L. Uhl, David A. Pienkowski

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study aimed to provide quantitative activation data for muscles of the forearm during pronation and supination while using a power grip. Electromyographic data was collected from 15 forearm muscles in 11 subjects while they performed maximal isometric pronating and supinating efforts in nine positions of forearm rotation. Biceps brachii was the only muscle with substantial activation in only one effort direction. It was significantly more active when supinating (µ = 52.1%, SD = 17.5%) than pronating (µ = 5.1%, SD = 4.8%, p < .001). All other muscles showed considerable muscle activity during both pronation and supination. Brachioradialis, flexor carpi radialis, palmaris longus, pronator quadratus and pronator teres were significantly more active when pronating the forearm. Abductor pollicis longus and biceps brachii were significantly more active when supinating. This data highlights the importance of including muscles additional to the primary forearm rotators in a biomechanical analysis of forearm rotation. Doing so will further our understanding of forearm function and lead to the improved treatment of forearm fractures, trauma-induced muscle dysfunction and joint replacements.

Muscle Synergy During A Single Leg Standing Test In Ambulatory Children With Cerebral Palsy, Brennan L. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a sensorimotor disorder characterized by dysfunctional motor coordination, balance problems, and loss of selective motor control. Motor coordination exhibited as co-contraction, has been subjectively quantified using gait analysis, but recent studies have begun to objectively analyze the amount of co-contraction by collecting electromyography (EMG) data. Center of pressure excursion (COPE) measurements collected during a single leg standing test (SLST) have shown to be more valid measurements of balance in populations with motor disabilities than a SLST alone. A recent study has correlated increased COPE velocity with a lower fall risk as determined by reported fall …

A Literature Review Of Studies Evaluating Rotator Cuff Activation During Early Rehabilitation Exercises For Post-Op Rotator Cuff Repair, Samuel N. Wells, Jodi R. Schilz, Timothy L. Uhl, A. Burke Gurney

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Despite the modern advancement of surgical repair equipment and techniques, many rotator cuff repairs do not clinically heal. Prescribed rehabilitative exercises must appropriately load the repaired muscle-tendon complex to promote healing and prevent capsular adhesions without damaging the repair. The clinician must possess an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the healing rotator cuff, and understand the importance of the plane of movement, speed of the movement, position of the extremity, level of assistance, and type of resistance used. Electromyography (EMG) provides a useful means to determine muscle activation levels during specific exercises. Descriptions of specific exercises and EMG …