Lower Limb Biomechanical Responses During a Standardized Load Carriage Task are Sex Specific

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodie A Wills ◽  
David J Saxby ◽  
Gavin K Lenton ◽  
Timothy L A Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Internal Rotation ◽  
Physical Training ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Load Carriage ◽  
Peak Knee

ABSTRACT Introduction The purpose of this study was to investigate sex-specific lower limb biomechanical adaptations during a standardized load carriage task in response to a targeted physical training program. Materials and Methods Twenty-five healthy civilians (males [n = 13] and females [n = 12]) completed a load carriage task (5 km at 5.5 km·h−1, wearing a 23 kg vest) before and after a 10-week lower-body–focused training program. Kinematics and ground reaction force data were collected during the task and were used to estimate lower limb joint kinematics and kinetics (i.e., moments and powers). Direct statistical comparisons were not conducted due to different data collection protocols between sexes. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA tested for significant interactions between, and main effects of training and distance marched for male and female data, respectively. Results Primary kinematic and kinetic changes were observed at the knee and ankle joints for males and at the hip and knee joints for females. Knee joint moments increased for both sexes over the 5 km distance marched (P > .05), with males demonstrating significant reductions in peak knee joint extension after training. Hip adduction, internal rotation, and knee internal rotation angles significantly increased after the 5 km load carriage task for females but not males. Conclusion Differences in adaptive gait strategies between sexes indicate that physical training needs to be tailored to sex-specific requirements to meet standardized load carriage task demands. The findings highlighted previously unfound sex-specific responses that could inform military training and facilitate the integration of female soldiers into physically demanding military roles.

scholarly journals Mulligan Knee Taping Using Both Elastic and Rigid Tape Reduces Pain and Alters Lower Limb Biomechanics in Female Patients With Patellofemoral Pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 232596712092167
Author(s):  
Grant J.K. Mackay ◽  
Sarah M. Stearne ◽  
Catherine Y. Wild ◽  
Erin P. Nugent ◽  
Alexander P. Murdock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Internal Rotation ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Patellofemoral Pain ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Female Patients ◽  
Tibiofemoral Rotation ◽  
Peak Knee

Background: Evidence supports the use of Mulligan knee taping in managing patellofemoral pain (PFP). However, no studies have compared the efficacy of rigid and elastic tape using this technique. Hypothesis: Mulligan knee taping applied with both rigid and elastic tape will produce similar reductions in knee pain, hip internal rotation, and knee flexion moments compared with no tape. Elastic tape will also be more comfortable than rigid tape. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 19 female patients (mean age, 26.5 ± 4.5 years) with PFP performed a self-selected pain provocative task, single-leg squat (SLSq) task, and running task while wearing Mulligan knee taping applied with rigid tape, elastic tape at 100% tension, and no tape. Pain and taping comfort were recorded using 11-point numeric rating scales. An 18-camera motion capture system and in-ground force plates recorded 3-dimensional lower limb kinematics and kinetics for the SLSq and running tasks. Statistical analysis involved a series of repeated-measures analyses of variance. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for analyzing taping comfort. Results: Compared with no tape, both rigid and elastic tape significantly reduced pain during the pain provocative task (mean difference [MD], –0.97 [95% CI, –1.57 to –0.38] and –1.42 [95% CI, –2.20 to –0.64], respectively), SLSq (MD, –1.26 [95% CI, –2.23 to –0.30] and –1.13 [95% CI, –2.09 to –0.17], respectively), and running tasks (MD, –1.24 [95% CI, –2.11 to –0.37] and –1.16 [95% CI, –1.86 to –0.46], respectively). Elastic tape was significantly more comfortable than rigid tape generally ( P = .005) and during activity ( P = .022). Compared with no tape, both rigid and elastic tape produced increased knee internal rotation at initial contact during the running task (MD, 5.5° [95% CI, 3.6° to 7.4°] and 5.9° [95% CI, 3.9° to 7.9°], respectively) and at the commencement of knee flexion during the SLSq task (MD, 5.8° [95% CI, 4.5° to 7.0°] and 5.8° [95% CI, 4.1° to 7.4°], respectively), greater peak knee internal rotation during the running (MD, 1.8° [95% CI, 0.4° to 3.3°] and 2.2° [95% CI, 0.9° to 3.6°], respectively) and SLSq tasks (MD, 3.2° [95% CI, 2.1° to 4.3°] and 3.8° [95% CI, 2.3° to 5.2°], respectively), and decreased knee internal rotation range of motion during the running (MD, –3.6° [95% CI, –6.1° to –1.1°] and –3.7° [95% CI, –6.2° to –1.2°], respectively) and SLSq tasks (MD, –2.5° [95% CI, –3.9° to –1.2°] and –2.0° [95% CI, –3.2° to –0.9°], respectively). Conclusion: Mulligan knee taping with both rigid and elastic tape reduced pain across all 3 tasks and altered tibiofemoral rotation during the SLSq and running tasks. Clinical Relevance: Both taping methods reduced pain and altered lower limb biomechanics. Elastic tape may be chosen clinically for comfort reasons.

Late Rearfoot Eversion and Lower-limb Internal Rotation Caused by Changes in the Interaction between Forefoot and Support Surface

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 503-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thales R. Souza ◽  
Rafael Z. Pinto ◽  
Renato G. Trede ◽  
Renata N. Kirkwood ◽  
Antônio E. Pertence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Internal Rotation ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Support Surface ◽  
Kinetic Chain ◽  
Mechanical Factors ◽  
Lateral Wedges ◽  
Rearfoot Eversion

Background: The influence of distal mechanical factors that change the interaction between the forefoot and the support surface on lower-limb kinematics is not well established. This study investigated the effects of the use of lateral wedges under the forefoot on the kinematics of the lower extremity during the stance phase of walking. Methods: Sixteen healthy young adults participated in this repeated-measures study. They walked wearing flat sandals and laterally wedged sandals, which were medially inclined only in the forefoot. One wedged sandal had a forefoot lateral wedge of 5° and the other wedged sandal had a forefoot lateral wedge of 10°. Kinematic variables of the lower extremity, theoretically considered clinically relevant for injury development, were measured with a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The variables were evaluated for three subphases of stance: loading response, midstance, and late stance. Results: The 5° laterally wedged sandal increased rearfoot eversion during midstance and the 10° laterally wedged sandal increased rearfoot eversion during mid- and late stances, in comparison to the use of flat sandals. The 10° laterally wedged sandal produced greater internal rotation of the shank relative to the pelvis and of the hip joint, during the midstance, also compared to the use of flat sandals. Conclusions: Lateral wedges under the forefoot increase rearfoot eversion during mid-and late stances and may cause proximal kinematic changes throughout the lower-extremity kinetic chain. Distal mechanical factors should be clinically addressed when a patient presents late excessive rearfoot eversion during walking. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 99(6): 503–511, 2009)

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Insole Colour on Impact Loading and Lower-Limb Kinematics When Running at Preferred and Nonpreferred Speeds

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Yi Wang ◽  
Wing-Kai Lam ◽  
Lok-Yee Pak ◽  
Charis K.-W. Wong ◽  
Mohammad F. Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Impact Loading ◽  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Maximum Loading

While colour of red can play a significant role in altering human perception and performances, little is known about its perceptual-motor effect on running mechanics. This study examined the effects of variations in insole colours on impact forces, ankle kinematics, and trial-to-trial reliability at various running speeds. Sixteen male recreational runners ran on instrumented treadmill at slow (90%), preferred (100%), and fast (110%) running speeds when wearing insoles in red, blue, and white colours. We used synchronized force platform and motion capturing system to measure ground reaction force, ankle sagittal and frontal kinematics, and movement variability. A two-way (colour x speed) ANOVA with repeated measures was performed with Bonferroni adjusted post hoc comparisons, with alpha set at 0.05. Data analyses indicated that participants demonstrated higher impact and maximum loading rate of ground reaction force, longer stride length, shorter contact time, and smaller touchdown ankle inversion as well as larger ankle sagittal range of motion (RoM), but smaller frontal RoM in fast speed as compared with preferred P < 0.05 and slow speeds P < 0.001 . Although insole colour had minimal effect on mean values of any tested variables P > 0.05 , participants wearing red-coloured orthoses showed higher coefficient of variation values for maximum loading rate than wearing blue insoles P = 0.009 . These results suggest that running at faster speed would lead to higher impact loading and altered lower-limb mechanics and that colour used on the tops of insoles influences the wearers’ movement repeatability, with implications for use of foot insole in running.

scholarly journals Core-Muscle Training and Neuromuscular Control of the Lower Limb and Trunk

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 959-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shizuka Sasaki ◽  
Eiichi Tsuda ◽  
Yuji Yamamoto ◽  
Shugo Maeda ◽  
Yuka Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Neuromuscular Control ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trunk Flexion ◽  
Muscle Training ◽  
Jump Test ◽  
Peak Knee

Context Comprehensive injury-prevention training (plyometric, agility, balance, and core-stability exercises) has been shown to decrease sport-related injury. The relationship between trunk control and sport-related injury has been emphasized; however, the isolated effects of core-muscle training are unclear. Objective To investigate the effect of a simple 8-week core-muscle–training program on the neuromuscular control of the lower limb and trunk during jump landing and single-legged squatting. Design Controlled laboratory study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Seventeen female collegiate basketball players were randomly divided into training (n = 9; age = 19.7 ± 0.9 years) and control (n = 8; age = 20.3 ± 2.5 years) groups. Intervention(s) The training group completed the core-muscle–training program in addition to daily practice, and the control group performed only daily practice. Kinematic and kinetic data during a drop-jump test and single-legged squat were acquired using a 3-dimensional motion-analysis system. Main Outcome Measure(s) Three-dimensional hip, knee, and trunk kinematics; knee kinetics; and isokinetic muscle strength were measured at the pretraining and posttraining phases. Results For the drop-jump test, the maximal trunk-flexion angle increased (P = .008), and peak knee-valgus moment (P = .008) decreased in the training group. For the single-legged squat, the peak trunk-flexion angle increased (P = .04), and the total amount of trunk lateral-inclination angle (P = .02) and peak knee-valgus moment (P = .008) decreased in the training group. We observed no changes in the control group. Conclusions A consecutive 8-week core-muscle–training program improved lower limb and trunk biomechanics. These altered biomechanical patterns could be favorable to preventing sport-related injuries.

scholarly journals Lower-Limb Explosive Power did not Improve during 8 Weeks of Integrative Military Physical Training

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
jizheng Ma ◽  
Fei HU ◽  
Qiang Nian HUANG ◽  
Wei JIA ◽  
Ming Chao DING ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Anaerobic Power ◽  
Load Carriage ◽  
Plyometric Training ◽  
Explosive Power ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Objective: Military populations require a range of physical capabilities to meet the demands of the military profession. It is not known whether a specific within-session balance of the core components of physical fitness provides more effective training adaptations. The purpose of this research was to determine the effects of combinations of high-intensity endurance training, resistance training, anaerobic training and plyometric training. Methods: Twenty-eight healthy young cadets participated in an 8-week training program. Training was performed 6 days per week. Testing occurred before and after the 8-week training regimen. The pre- and post-training measures included the basic physiological and performance levels.Results: Physiological indices, such heart rate, heart rate variability, anaerobic power and maximal oxygen uptake, responded positively to training (P < 0.05). The components of physical fitness, such as muscle maximal strength and endurance, 600 all-out effort, 5000-m run time and 18-km military load carriage, were also significantly improved (P > 0.05). However, the jump capacity did not significantly increase. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that during short-term integrative training, the lower-limb muscle maximal power did not improve. Given that many military tasks demand explosive (power) abilities, a switch to integrative training may have far greater consequences for transferring the benefits of the training program to military human performance.

Single-Leg Drop Jump Biomechanics After Ankle or Knee Joint Cooling in Healthy Young Adults

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jihong Park ◽  
Kyeongtak Song ◽  
Sae Yong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Angular Velocity ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Knee Flexion ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Time To Peak ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Vertical Ground

Context: It is unclear if lower-extremity joint cooling alters biomechanics during a functional movement. Objective: To investigate the effects of unilateral lower-extremity cryotherapy on movement alterations during a single-leg drop jump. Design: A crossover design. Setting: Laboratory. Patients: Twenty healthy subjects (10 males and 10 females; 23 y, 169 cm, 66 kg). Intervention(s): Subjects completed a single-leg drop jump before and after a 20-minute ankle or knee joint cooling on the right leg, or control (seated without cooling) on 3 separate days. Main Outcome Measures: Time to peak knee flexion, vertical ground reaction force, lower-extremity joint angular velocity (sagittal plane only), and angle and moment (sagittal and frontal planes) in the involved leg over the entire ground contact (GC; from initial contact to jump-off) during the first landing. Time to peak knee flexion was compared using an analysis of variance; the rest of the outcome measures were analyzed using functional analyses of variance (P < .05). Results: Neither joint cooling condition changed the time to peak knee flexion (F2,95 = 0.73, P = .49). Ankle joint cooling reduced vertical ground reaction force (55 N at 4% of GC), knee joint angular velocity (44°/s during 5%–9% of GC), and knee varus moment (181 N·m during 18%–20% of GC). Knee joint cooling resulted in a reduction in knee joint angular velocity (24°/s during 37%–40% of GC) and hip adduction moment (151 N·m during 46%–48% of GC), and an increase in hip joint angular velocity (16°/s during 49%–53% of GC) and plantarflexion angle (1.5° during 11%–29% of GC). Conclusion: Resuming activity immediately after lower-extremity joint cooling does not seem to predispose an individual to injury during landing because altered mechanics are neither overlapping with the injury time period nor of sufficient magnitude to lead to an injury.

Leg and Joint Stiffness Adaptations to Minimalist and Maximalist Running Shoes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Allison H. Gruber ◽  
Shuqi Zhang ◽  
Jiahao Pan ◽  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Impact Loading ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Impact Force ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Joint Stiffness ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Vertical Stiffness ◽  
Vertical Loading ◽  
Force Characteristics

The running footwear literature reports a conceptual disconnect between shoe cushioning and external impact loading: footwear or surfaces with greater cushioning tend to result in greater impact force characteristics during running. Increased impact loading with maximalist footwear may reflect an altered lower-extremity gait strategy to adjust for running in compliant footwear. The authors hypothesized that ankle and knee joint stiffness would change to maintain the effective vertical stiffness, as cushioning changed with minimalist, traditional, and maximalist footwear. Eleven participants ran on an instrumental treadmill (3.5 m·s−1) for a 5-minute familiarization in each footwear, plus an additional 110 seconds before data collection. Vertical, leg, ankle, and knee joint stiffness and vertical impact force characteristics were calculated. Mixed model with repeated measures tested differences between footwear conditions. Compared with traditional and maximalist, the minimalist shoes were associated with greater average instantaneous and average vertical loading rates (P < .050), greater vertical stiffness (P ≤ .010), and less change in leg length between initial contact and peak resultant ground reaction force (P < .050). No other differences in stiffness or impact variables were observed. The shoe cushioning paradox did not hold in this study due to a similar musculoskeletal strategy for running in traditional and maximalist footwear and running with a more rigid limb in minimalist footwear.

7. Frontal Plane Knee Loading during Bodyweight Squat Performance: Effects of Stance Width and Foot Rotation

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Kingston
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Knee Joint ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Inverse Dynamics ◽  
Exercise Prescription ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
The Body ◽  
Knee Adduction Moment ◽  
Squat Exercise

The bodyweight squat is routinely used for conditioning of the knee musculature. In the performance of this exercise, modifications in the initial standing position may result in altered frontal plane kneel loading, and hence may potentially be used for targeted exercise prescription. The purpose of this study is to quantify the frontal plane mechanical loading on the knee joint whilst performing the bodyweight squat exercise, and to examine the effects of varying stance width and foot rotation angle. Twenty-four participants (14 males) performed 4 randomized sets of 8 repetitions of the body weight resistant squat exercise in the following conditions: 1) Shoulder width (SW) stance with parallel feet; 2) SW stance with feet externally rotated 30°; 3) 140% SW stance with parallel feet, and; 4) 140% SW stance with the feet externally rotated by 30°. The adduction/abduction knee joint moment experienced across conditions was calculated using inverse dynamics procedures. Moment waveforms were subjected to Principal Component (PC) analysis, with 3 PC’s retained based on a 90% trace criteria. Following, a 1-way repeated measures ANOVA and pair wise comparisons were used to discern differences between conditions. Omnibus test results indicate significant differences across conditions for PC1 and PC2 (p<0.01), Post hoc comparisons and waveform interpretation of PC1 extreme scores showed that the magnitude of the adduction moment was higher throughout the movement in the foot rotated conditions vs. the parallel feet conditions in both stance widths (mean Z scores .69 & .65 vs. -.88 & -.45, p<0.01, respectively). For PC2, significant differences were found between the 2 parallel feet conditions and the 2 foot rotated conditions, as well as between the foot conditions in the wide stance squats. PC2 differences were interpreted as phase shift operators. We found that modification of foot rotation slightly alters the magnitude and timing of knee adduction moment component during performance of the body weight squat. The observed magnitude differences are presumably a consequence of alteration in the location of the point of application of the ground reaction force during the initial standing posture. The findings may assist clinicians in exercise prescription decision making.

Effects of Toe Direction on Biomechanics of Trunk, Pelvis, and Lower-Extremity During Single-Leg Drop Landing

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069-1074
Author(s):  
Aiko Sakurai ◽  
Kengo Harato ◽  
Yutaro Morishige ◽  
Shu Kobayashi ◽  
Yasuo Niki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Abduction Angle ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Knee Ligament ◽  
Drop Landing ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Vertical Ground

Context: Toe direction is an important factor affecting knee biomechanics during various movements. However, it is still unknown whether toe direction will affect trunk and pelvic movements. Objective: To examine and clarify the effects of toe directions on biomechanics of trunk and pelvis as well as lower-extremities during single-leg drop landing (SLDL). Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Setting: Research laboratory. Participants: A total of 27 male recreational-level athletes. Intervention(s): Subjects performed SLDL under 3 different toe directions, including 0° (toe neutral), 20° (toe-in [TI]), and −20° (toe-out). SLDL was captured using a motion analysis system. Nondominant leg (27 left) was chosen for the analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Peak values of kinematic and kinetic parameters during landing phase were assessed. In addition, those parameters at the timing of peak vertical ground reaction force were also assessed. The data were statistically compared among 3 different toe directions using 1-way repeated measures of analysis of variance or Friedman χ2 r test. Results: Peak knee abduction angle and moment in TI were significantly larger than in toe neutral and toe-out (P < .001). Moreover, peak greater anterior inclination, greater inclination, and rotation of trunk and pelvis toward the nonlanding side were seen in TI (P < .001). At the timing of peak vertical ground reaction force, trunk inclined to the landing side with larger knee abduction angle in TI (P < .001). Conclusions: Several previous studies suggested that larger knee abduction angle and moment on landing side as well as trunk and pelvic inclinations during landing tasks were correlated with knee ligament injury. However, it is still unknown concerning the relationship between toe direction and trunk/pelvis movements during landing tasks. From the present study, TI during SLDL would strongly affect biomechanics of trunk and pelvis as well as knee joint, compared with toe neutral and toe-out.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document