Biomechanics Commons^™

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Department Of Biomechanics Annual Report Spring 2018, Department Of Biomechanics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Biomechanics Annual Report

This report contains:

A letter from the Director: Dr. Nick Stergiou

Articles about Updates from the Center for research in Human Movement Variability

Articles about Updates from the Department of Biomechanics

Article about Other Exciting Events

Articles about Beyond our Boarders

Article about Outreach

and Highlights

Engineering Hyaluronic Acid Carbon Nanotube Nanofibers: A Peripheral Nerve Interface To Electrically Stimulate Regeneration, Elisabeth M. Steel

Wayne State University Dissertations

Peripheral nerve injuries annually affect hundreds of thousands of people globally. Current treatments like the gold standard autograft and commercially available nerve guide conduits (NGC) are insufficient to repair long gap peripheral nerve injuries. NGCs can aid recovery but lack key microenvironment cues that promote nerve regeneration. We hypothesized that providing topographical, mechanical, and electrical guidance cues through a nanofibrous composite biopolymer would result in improved neuron growth metrics using an in vitro model. We embedded hydrophilic carbon nanotubes (CNT) within hyaluronic acid (HA) nanofibers by electrospinning. The aims of this study were (1) to define the topographical, nanomechanical, and …

Influence Of Gluteus Medius Strength On Interlimb Asymmetry In Female Recreational Runners., Morgan Meyer, Olivia Moody, Kathryn Harrison, Gregory Crosswell, Bhushan Thakkar

UROP Posters

PURPOSE: Running-related injuries are most often single-sided and are partially attributed to lower limb movement and loading asymmetries.¹ Gluteus Medius (GM) plays a significant role in lower limb alignment, especially in the frontal and transverse planes by its influence on the pelvis and the femur.² Female runners are more prone to GM weakness which has been proposed to be a risk factor for overuse injuries.³ These strength deficits contribute to abnormal lower limb kinematics and kinetics during dynamic tasks like running and jumping.⁴ These changes include an increase in peak hip adduction angle (HA), hip internal …

Relationships Between Throwing Velocity And Selected Kinematics In Youth Baseball Players, Nick Hedgecock

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Research investigating baseball position players has been limited primarily to pitchers. The current study examined several kinematic variables and their relationship with ball velocity in middle and high school-aged baseball players using two-dimensional (2D) motion analysis. The purpose of this study was to investigate these relationships using 2D motion analysis and compare these results to those reported in the literature using 3D analysis. Thirteen baseball players (15.31 ± 1.25 yrs., 72.29 ± 10.79 kg and 177.09 ± 5.59 cm tall) participated in the study. A video camera was used to record three throwing trials for each participant. Four reflective markers …

Trunk Stability And Postural Stability In People With Multiple Sclerosis, Derek Tolbert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological disease which affects an estimated 2.5million people worldwide. People with Multiple Sclerosis often experience high rates of falls, which have been associated with age, disability, and increased postural sway. Additionally, people with Multiple Sclerosis often exhibit muscular weakness and poor responses to perturbations. PURPOSE: To determine if trunk stability and postural control are altered among PwMS and if trunk muscle activity is correlated with postural stability. METHODS: Ten participants with a physician's diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (9 female, 1 male) were included in this study. Ten healthy controls were matched for age, height, weight, and …

Grail Based Sensory Perturbations - A New Tool To Assess Sensory Organization And Fall Risk During Walking In The Elderly, Harbir Bhatti

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; and every 19 minutes, an older adult die from a fall. According to the CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting (WISQARS), one in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year. In 2014, the total medical cost of fall injuries was $31 billion. These fall accident and injury statistics may remain unchanged unless an automated highly accurate mechanism for fall risk assessment is available. Having said that, the purpose of this research study is to identify fall prone elderly and prevent fall from occurring. Using …

Bilateral Deficit: A Comparison Between Upper-Body And Lower-Body Maximal Strength, James Lee Ramsey

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: The study’s primary purpose was to determine if maximal unilateral strength is greater than maximal bilateral strength for the leg press and vertical dumbbell press exercises. The secondary purpose was to determine if blood glucose levels differ between the unilateral and bilateral conditions for the leg press exercise. Methods: Thirty college-aged volunteers reported on two separate occasions, 72 hours apart, for maximal strength testing. Blood glucose was obtained before and after strength testing for the leg press exercise. A paired samples t-test was conducted to determine significance (p < .05). Results: Participants were significantly stronger for the bilateral leg press; however, no significant differences were observed for the vertical dumbbell press exercise. No significant differences were observed in plasma blood glucose for the leg press exercise. Conclusion: Participants did not display a bilateral lateral deficit, which may have been a result of their resistance training prior to the study.

Differences In Walking Mechanics Between A Traditional Walker And The Kb Balance Trainer, Silvia Zanini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

INTRODUCTION: Millions of individuals with ambulatory difficulties rely on walking aids to maintain independence and mobility. However, users of traditional walkers typically exhibit increased forward lean of their trunk while using the assistive device. The KB Balance Trainer is a new posterior walker designed to facilitate a more erect position during gait. PURPOSE: To compare gait mechanics across three walking conditions: unassisted, using a traditional walker, and using the KB Balance Trainer. METHODS: Seven adults with experience using walkers due to ambulatory difficulties participated in the study. The study consisted of one training session and one gait analysis session. The …

Effect Of Shin-Torso Alignment And Biomechanical Positioning On Lower Extremity Joint Angles In Hockey Players, Stacy Solomon

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

The Slippery Slope Between Falling And Recovering: An Examination Of Sensory And Somatic Factors Influencing Recovery After A Slip, Samuel J. Wilson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Slips and falls account for large rates of injury and mortality in multiple populations. During an unexpected slip, sensory mechanisms are responsible for signaling the slip to the central nervous system, and a series of corrective responses is generated to arrest the slip and prevent a fall. While previous research has examined the corrective responses elicited, the answer of how these systems break down during a fall remains elusive. Purpose: To examine differences in postural control (slip detection), lower extremity corrective responses (slip recovery), and cortical control of the slip recovery response between individuals who fall and those who …

Prosthetic Energy Return During Walking Increases After 3 Weeks Of Adaptation To A New Device, Samuel F. Ray, Shane R. Wurdeman, Kota Z. Takahashi

Journal Articles

Background: There are many studies that have investigated biomechanical differences among prosthetic feet, but not changes due to adaptation over time. There is a need for objective measures to quantify the process of adaptation for individuals with a transtibial amputation. Mechanical power and work profiles are a primary focus for modern energystorage- and-return type prostheses, which strive to increase energy return from the prosthesis. The amount of energy a prosthesis stores and returns (i.e., negative and positive work) during stance is directly influenced by the user’s loading strategy, which may be sensitive to alterations during the course of an adaptation …

Introducing Statistical Persistence Decay – A Quantification Of Stride-To-Stride Time Interval Dependency In Human Gait, P. C. Raffalt, J. M. Yentes

Journal Articles

Stride-to-stride time intervals during human walking are characterised by predictability and statistical persistence quantified by sample entropy (SaEn) and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) which indicates a time dependency in the gait pattern. However, neither analyses quantify time dependency in a physical or physiological interpretable time scale. Recently, entropic half-life (ENT½) has been introduced as a measure of the time dependency on an interpretable time scale. A novel measure of time dependency, based on DFA, statistical persistence decay (SPD), was introduced. The present study applied SaEn, DFA, ENT½, and SPD in known theoretical signals (periodic, chaotic, and random) and stride-to-stride time …

Coactivation Index Of Children With Congenital Upper Limb Reduction Deficiencies Before And After Using A Wristdriven 3d Printed Partial Hand Prosthesis, Jorge Zuniga, Dimitrios Kastavelis, Jean Peck, Rakesh Srivastava, James E. Pierce, Drew R. Dudley, David A. Salazar, Keaton J. Young, Brian A. Knarr

Journal Articles

Background: Co-contraction is the simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscles that produces forces around a joint. It is unknown if the use of a wrist-driven 3D printed transitional prostheses has any influence on the neuromuscular motor control strategies of the affected hand of children with unilateral upper-limb reduction deficiencies. Thus, the purpose of the current investigation was to examine the coactivation index (CI) of children with congenital upper-limb reduction deficiencies before and after 6 months of using a wrist-driven 3D printed partial hand prosthesis.

Methods: Electromyographic activity of wrist flexors and extensors (flexor carpi ulnaris and extensor …

Statistics And Biomechanics: An Interdisciplinary Evaluation Of The Mathematical, Practical, And Athletic Applications Of Principal Component Analysis, Sydney Grace Davis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Excerpt from Introduction

Coaches and athletes around the world are in constant pursuit of improving their athletic performance. For some, a routine amount of weight lifting, cardiovascular exercise, agilities and flexibility training with gradual advancement may be enough to see growth. However, many are not satisfied and turn to in-depth analyses of their techniques in order to measure their progress. After an intense workout or competition, coaches spend time breaking down athletic performances based on major movements. By compartmentalizing these activities, they can identify which motions are efficient and which ones hinder fluid motion. From this evaluation and discernment, athletes …

The Influence Of Self-Prescribed Knee Bracing On Walking In Healthy Adults, Lauren Luginsland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The knee is one of the most commonly loaded anatomical joints in the human body due to maintaining an upright posture. Increased joint loading can lead to various injuries which can either be treated surgically or non-surgically including immobilization by bracing. Numerous studies have looked at functional knee bracing post-operative surgery creating a gap within the literature analyzing non-operative functional knee braces within a healthy population. Commonly prescribed functional knee braces such as the Ossur Rebound® have been prescribed by physicians, but also available over-the-counter for self-prescription to assist with injury prevention, stabilization, and protection. Previous studies have looked at …

The Effect Of Postural Alterations On Metabolic Cost In Running On Incline Slopes, Nikaela K. Hemminger

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In spite of an intuitive relationship between running technique and performance, the influence of specific techniques on metabolic cost remains unclear. While recent studies suggest that postural lean affects metabolic cost during level ground running, little information exists regarding the influence of postural lean on the metabolic cost of running on an incline slope. Purpose: This study sought to investigate the effect of postural lean on metabolic cost, kinematics, and muscle activation of running across a range of incline slopes. Methods: Sixteen healthy adult runners (21±2 years, 8M/8F) of different competitive standards participated in twelve running trials on a motorized …

The Effect Of Asymmetry On Pregnancy-Related Pain In The Postpartum Period, Krista G. Meder

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Nearly 50% of women experience back pain and other lower extremity pain during pregnancy, with many reporting lasting pain postpartum. Pregnant women experience changes to their pelvis and lower extremities that do not always return to pre-pregnancy baseline. Not much is known of the lingering effects of pregnancy related asymmetry and its relationship to pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess asymmetries of the pelvis and lower extremities to determine whether malalignment is related to areas of pain at the low back, hip, thigh, knee, leg, and foot/ankle. Methods: Seventeen postpartum women and seven nulliparous controls were …

The Effect Of Shin-Torso Alignment And Biomechanical Positioning On Muscle Activity Of The Lower Extremity In Ice Hockey Players, Noah Pring

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Lumbar Spine And Muscle Loading Between Male And Female Workers During Box Transfers, Denis Gagnon, André Plamondon, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

There is a clear relationship between lumbar spine loading and back musculoskeletal disorders in manual materials handling. The incidence of back disorders is greater in women than men, and for similar work demands females are functioning closer to their physiological limit. It is crucial to study loading on the spine musculoskeletal system with actual handlers, including females, to better understand the risk of back disorders. Extrapolation from biomechanical studies conducted on unexperienced subjects (mainly males) might not be applicable to actual female workers. For male workers, expertise changes the lumbar spine flexion, passive spine resistance, and active/passive muscle forces. However, …

A New Approach To Multiplanar, Real-Time Simulation Of Physiological Knee Loads And Synthetic Knee Components Augmented By Local Composition Control In Fused Filament Fabrication, Joshua Taylor Green

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Despite numerous advances in biomedical engineering, few developments in surgical simulation have been made outside of computational models. Cadavers remain the primary media on which surgical research and simulation is conducted. Most attempts to quantify the effects of orthopedic surgical methods fail to achieve statistical significance due to limited quantities of cadaver specimen, large variations among the cadaver population, and a lack of repeatability among measurement techniques. The general purpose of the research covered in this dissertation is to develop repeatable simulation of physiological loads and develop techniques to fabricate a synthetic-based replacement of cadaver specimens. Future work applying this …