Development of a Dynamic Knee Simulator

Author(s):  
Andrew Dauster ◽  
Mohamed Samir Hefzy ◽  
Ethan Hauser ◽  
Philip Nowicki

Dynamic knee simulators use muscle analogs to incite motion at the knee joint [1–5]. There is a great variation between simulators in choice of powering of muscle analog systems, what movements are fixed, controlled, or unconstrained, as well as whether or not the system is open or closed kinetic chain. The objective of this work is to develop a portable dynamic knee simulator that allows simulation of knee joint motions when it is maximally flexed during a large range of activities involving the lower limb in both a vertical (e.g. deep squat) as well an horizontal position (e.g. rowing).

1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor B. Birmingham ◽  
John F. Kramer ◽  
J. Tim Inglis ◽  
Colleen A. Mooney ◽  
Lisa J. Murray ◽  
...  

The primary objective of the present study was to compare the effect of a neoprene sleeve on knee joint position sense during a sitting open kinetic chain test and a supine closed kinetic chain test. Young (24 2 years old), healthy subjects (18 men and 18 women) performed knee joint angle replication tests during open kinetic chain knee extension (sitting) and closed kinetic chain leg press (supine with an axial load of 15% body weight) before and after application of a neoprene sleeve over the dominant knee. The improvement in ability to replicate joint angles after application of the sleeve (sleeve effect) was significantly less during the supine closed kinetic chain test (0.3° 1.4°) than during the sitting open kinetic chain test (1.2° 1.1°). The sleeve effect was inversely related to subjects' performance without the sleeve during both the sitting open kinetic chain and supine closed kinetic chain tests, suggesting that some people may derive greater benefit from the sleeve than others. Although the sleeve effects were small, particularly during the supine closed kinetic chain test, 72% of subjects felt that the sleeve improved their overall test performance. Future research is needed to establish the functional relevance of the small sleeve effects observed and to identify the characteristics of people who might derive greatest benefit from sleeve use.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Romero-Franco ◽  
Juan Antonio Montaño-Munuera ◽  
Pedro Jiménez-Reyes

Context: Knee joint-position sense (JPS) is a key parameter for optimum performance in many sports but is frequently negatively affected by injuries and/or fatigue during training sessions. Although evaluation of JPS may provide key information to reduce the risk of injury, it often requires expensive and/or complex tools that make monitoring proprioceptive deterioration difficult. Objective: To analyze the validity and reliability of a digital inclinometer to measure knee JPS in a closed kinetic chain (CKC). Design: The validity and intertester and intratester reliability of a digital inclinometer for measuring knee JPS were assessed. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: 10 athletes (5 men and 5 women; 26.2 ± 1.3 y, 71.7 ± 12.4 kg; 1.75 ± 0.09 m; 23.5 ± 3.9 kg/m2). Intervention: Knee JPS was measured in a CKC. Main Outcome Measures: Absolute angular error (AAE) of knee JPS in a CKC. Results: Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of the mean (SEM) were calculated to determine the validity and reliability of the inclinometer. Data showed that the inclinometer had a high level of validity compared with an isokinetic dynamometer (ICC = 1.0, SEM = 1.39, P < .001), and there was very good intra- and intertester reliability for reading the inclinometer (ICC = 1.0, SEM = 0.85, P < .001). Compared with AutoCAD video analysis, inclinometer validity was very high (ICC = 0.980, SEM = 3.46, P < .001) for measuring AAE during knee JPS in a CKC. In addition, the intertester reliability of the inclinometer for obtaining AAE was very high (ICC = .994, SEM = 1.67, P < .001). Conclusion: The inclinometer provides a valid and reliable method for assessing knee JPS in a CKC. Health and sports professionals could take advantage of this tool to monitor proprioceptive deterioration in athletes.


1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan B. Andersen ◽  
Donna M. Terwilliger ◽  
Craig R. Denegar

The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference exists in the reproducibility of knee joint flexion angles in an open versus a closed kinetic chain. Thirty generally healthy subjects (12 males, 18 females; mean age 23.8 years) participated. Subjects actively reproduced small, medium, and large knee flexion angles (with target angles of 15°, 45°, and 75°, respectively) in an open and a closed kinetic chain while being videotaped. Goniometric measurements were taken from the videotape of initial and reproduced joint angles. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measures on kinetic chain test position and joint angle. Subjects more accurately reproduced knee flexion angles in a closed kinetic chain position. The main effect for angle and the interaction of angle and test position were nonsignificant. The results indicate that knee joint position is more accurately reproduced in closed kinetic chain. Closed kinetic chain testing is also a more functional assessment of joint position sense, and thus closed kinetic chain assessment of lower extremity joint position sense is recommended.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Patrick W. H. Kwong ◽  
Shamay S. M. Ng

Background. The Lateral Step-Up Test (LSUT) has been used to evaluate the closed kinetic chain functional muscle strength in people with orthopaedic or neurological conditions. No study has systematically investigated the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliabilities of this measure in stroke survivors. In addition, correlations of the LSUT count with other stroke-specific impairment and function measurements remain unidentified. Objectives. This study was aimed at investigating (1) the interrater, intrarater, and test-retest reliability of the LSUT; (2) minimum detectable change in LSUT counts; and (3) correlation between LSUT counts and stroke-specific impairment and function measurements. Methods. Thirty-three stroke survivors were assessed with LSUT and a battery of stroke-specific impairment and function measurements, including Fugl-Meyer assessment of lower extremity (FMA-LE), lower limb muscle strength, Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test (FTSTS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) scale, by two assessors. Their performance on LSUT was reassessed 1 week later to establish the test-retest reliability. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reliability of LSUT, and Spearman’s rho was used to quantify the strength of correlations between LSUT counts and secondary outcomes. Results. The LSUT counts exhibited good to excellent intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability (ICC: 0.869–0.991). The minimum detectable change in the average LSUT count was 1 step. LSUT counts correlated significantly with the FMA-LE score, lower limb muscle strength (except for the hip abductors), FTSTS time, BBS score, TUG time, and ABC score. Conclusions. The LSUT is a reliable, valid, and easily administered measure of the closed kinetic chain functional muscle strength of stroke survivors.


Author(s):  
Calvin H.N. Yuen ◽  
Christine P.Y. Lam ◽  
Kate C.T. Tong ◽  
Jessica C.Y. Yeung ◽  
Chloe H.Y. Yip ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Squatting is one of the common closed-kinetic chain (CKC) exercises for knee rehabilitation. Some patients cannot perform squatting exercises on land occasionally due to knee pain. Several studies had suggested that lower limb muscle activities are lower in water than on land while performing CKC exercises. The purpose of this study is to investigate the surface electromyography (sEMG) activities of Rectus femoris (RF) and Biceps femoris (BF) muscles when doing a squatting exercise in water and on land. (2) Methods: This was a cross-sectional experimental study. A total of 20 healthy participants (10 males, 10 females) were recruited by convenience sampling. The sEMG of RF and BF muscles in water and on land were collected and the knee motions were videotaped. Participants were instructed to perform closed kinetic-chain back squatting exercises at a specific speed (30 beats per minute) in water and on land at angular speed of 45°/s. Eight repetitions of the squatting exercise (0–90° knee flexion) were performed. The mean percentage maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) between two muscles was compared in two conditions. The %MVC of RF and BF muscles at different specific knee flexion angles (30°, 60° and 90° knee flexion) was also identified. (3) Result: Muscle activities of RF (p = 0.01) and BF (p < 0.01) muscles were significantly lower in water than on land. The %MVC of RF and BF muscles was found to be 15.01% and 10.68% lower in water than on land respectively. For different knee angle phases, the differences in %MVC between land and water had significant difference for both RF muscles and BF muscles. (4) Conclusion: This study found a difference of mean percentage MVC of RF and BF muscles between land and water in different phases of squatting. The water medium reduced the two muscles’ activities to a similar extent. The result showed that the aquatic environment allows an individual to perform squatting with less muscle activation which may serve as an alternative knee exercise option for patients who encounter difficulty in land squatting due to lower limb muscle weakness or a high level of knee pain.


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