Using Lunge Measurements for Baseline Fitness Testing

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Crill ◽  
Christopher P. Kolba ◽  
Gary S. Chleboun
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Fitness Testing ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Lower Extremity Function ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Lower Extremity Strength ◽  
Baseline Fitness

Context:The lunge is commonly used to assess lower extremity strength, flexibility, and balance, yet few objective data exist on it.Objectives:To determine the reliability of the lunge test, determine whether there are gender differences associated with it, and study the relationships between lunge distance and height and leg length.Design:Single-factor repeated measures.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:57: 29 men, 28 women.Main Outcome Measures:Anterior lunge (AL) and lateral lunge (LL) distance, height, and leg length (cm).Results:LL distance (131.3 ± 12.3) is significantly greater than AL distance (113.7 ± 17.2) in men and in women (LL 113.6 ± 10.5, AL 96.6 ± 11.1). There was no significant correlation for height or leg length to any lunge measurement in men or women.Conclusion:The lunge can be used as a reliable test to measure lower extremity function. Right- and left-leg lunge distances should not differ, and LL will always be greater than AL.

Single-Leg Landing Strategy after Knee-Joint Cryotherapy

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 313-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Hart ◽  
Jamie L. Leonard ◽  
Christopher D. Ingersoll
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Lower Extremity Function ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Force ◽  
Joint Flexion

Context:Despite recent findings regarding lower extremity function after cryotherapy, little is known of the neuromuscular, kinetic, and kinematic changes that might occur during functional tasks.Objective:To evaluate changes in ground-reaction forces, muscle activity, and knee-joint flexion during single-leg landings after 20-minute knee-joint cryotherapy.Design:1 × 4 repeated-measures, time-series design.Setting:Research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants:20 healthy male and female subjects.Intervention:Subjects performed 5 single-leg landings before, immediately after, and 15 and 30 minutes after knee-joint cryo-therapy.Main Outcome Measures:Ground-reaction force, knee-joint flexion, and muscle activity of the gastrocnemius, hamstrings, quadriceps, and gluteus medius.Results:Cryotherapy did not significantly (P> .05) change maximum knee-joint flexion, vertical ground-reaction force, or average muscle activity during a single-leg landing.Conclusion:Knee-joint cryotherapy might not place the lower extremity at risk for injury during landing.

Temporal Influences of Functional Knee Bracing on Torque Production of the Lower Extremity

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-227
Author(s):  
Brian Campbell ◽  
James Yaggie ◽  
Daniel Cipriani
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Joint Moments ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Reaction Forces ◽  
Vertical Ground Reaction Forces

Context:Functional knee braces (FKB) are used prophylactically and in rehabilitation to aide in the functional stability of the knee.Objective:To determine if alterations in select lower extremity moments persist throughout a one hour period in healthy individuals.Design:2X5 repeated measures design.Setting:Biomechanics Laboratory.Subjects:Twenty subjects (14 male and 6 female, mean age 26.5±7 yrs; height 172.4±13 cm; weight 78.6±9 kg), separated into braced (B) and no brace (NB) groups.Intervention:A one-hour exercise program divided into three 20 minute increments.Main Outcome Measures:Synchronized three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data were collected at 20-minute increments to assess the effect of the FKB on select lower extremity moments and vertical ground reaction forces.Results:Increase in hip moment and a decrease in knee moment were noted immediately after brace application and appeared to persist throughout a one hour bout of exercise.Conclusions:The FKB and the exercise intervention caused decreases in knee joint moments and increases in hip joint moments.

Comparisons of Static and Dynamic Balance Following Training in Aquatic and Land Environments

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee E. Roth ◽  
Michael G. Miller ◽  
Marc Ricard ◽  
Donna Ritenour ◽  
Brenda L. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Balance Training ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Time Interaction ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Post Test

Context:It has been theorized that aquatic balance training differs from land balance training.Objective:To compare the effects of balance training in aquatic and land environments.Design:Between-groups, repeated-measures design.Setting:Biomechanics laboratory and pool.Participants:24 healthy subjects randomly assigned to aquatic (n = 8), land (n = 10), or control (n = 6) groups.Intervention:Four weeks of balance training.Main Outcome Measures:Balance was measured (pre, mid, post, follow-up). COP variables: radial area, y range, x range in single leg (SL), tandem (T), single leg foam (SLF), and tandem form (TF) stance.Results:A significant condition × time interaction for x range was found, with improvements for SL, SLF, and TF. Radial area improved, with post-test 1.01 ± .23 cm2and follow-up 1.06 ± .18 cm2significantly lower than pretest 1.18 ± .23 cm2. Y range significantly improved, with posttest (4.69 ± 1.02 cm2) lower than pretest (5.89 ± 1.26 cm2). The foam conditions (SLF & TF) were significantly different from non-foam conditions (SL & T) for all variables.Conclusions:Results of this study show that balance training can effectively be performed in both land and aquatic environments.

Influence of External Ankle Support on Lower Extremity Joint Mechanics During Drop Landings

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitchell L. Cordova ◽  
Yosuke Takahashi ◽  
Gregory M. Kress ◽  
Jody B. Brucker ◽  
Alfred E. Finch
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Angular Displacement ◽  
Joint Mechanics ◽  
Drop Landing ◽  
Joint Displacement ◽  
Ankle Support ◽  
Drop Landings

Objective:To investigate the effects of external ankle support (EAS) on lower extremity joint mechanics and vertical ground-reaction forces (VGRF) during drop landings.Design:A 1 × 3 repeated-measures, crossover design.Setting:Biomechanics research laboratory.Patients:13 male recreationally active basketball players (age 22.3 ± 2.2 y, height 177.5 ± 7.5 cm, mass 72.2 ± 11.4 kg) free from lower extremity pathology for the 12 mo before the study.Interventions:Subjects performed a 1-legged drop landing from a standardized height under 3 different ankle-support conditions.Main Outcome Measures:Hip, knee, and ankle angular displacement along with specific temporal (TGRFz1, TGRFz2; s) and spatial (GRFz1, GRFz2; body-weight units [BW]) characteristics of the VGRF vector were measured during a drop landing.Results:The tape condition (1.08 ± 0.09 BW) demonstrated less GRFz1 than the control (1.28 ± 0.16 BW) and semirigid conditions (1.28 ± 0.21 BW; P < .0001), and GRFz2 was unaffected. For TGRFz1, no-support displayed slower time (0.017 ± 0.004 s) than the semirigid (0.014 ± 0.001 s) and tape conditions (0.014 ± 0.002 s; P < .05). For TGRFz2, no-support displayed slower time (0.054 ±.006 s) than the semirigid (0.050 ± 0.006 s) and tape conditions (0.045 ± 0.004 s; P < .05). Semirigid bracing was slower than the tape condition, as well (P < .05). Ankle-joint displacement was less in the tape (34.6° ± 7.7°) and semirigid (36.8° ± 9.3°) conditions than in no-support (45.7° ± 7.3°; P < .05). Knee-joint displacement was larger in the no-support (45.1° ± 9.0°) than in the semirigid (42.6° ± 6.8°; P < .05) condition. Tape support (43.8° ± 8.7°) did not differ from the semirigid condition (P > .05). Hip angular displacement was not affected by EAS (F2,24 = 1.47, P = .25).Conclusions:EAS reduces ankle- and knee-joint displacement, which appear to influence the spatial and temporal characteristics of GRFz1 during drop landings.

Tibiofemoral Joint-Surface Motions in Weight-Bearing and Non-Weight-Bearing Movement

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Hollman ◽  
Robert H. Deusinger ◽  
Linda R. Van Dillen ◽  
Dequan Zou ◽  
Scott D. Minor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Weight Bearing ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Thigh Muscle ◽  
Joint Surface ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Sliding Motion ◽  
Type Design

Context:Analyses of the path of instant center of rotation (PICR) can be used to infer joint-surface rolling and sliding motion (arthrokinematics). Previous PICR research has not quantified arthrokinematics during weight-bearing (WB) movement conditions or studied the association of muscle activity with arthrokinematics.Objective:To examine tibiofemoral arthrokinematics and thigh-muscle EMG during WB and non-weight-bearing (NWB) movement.Design:2 x 9 repeated-measures experiment.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:11 healthy adults (mean age 24 years).Main Outcome Measures:Tibiofemoral percentage rolling arthrokinematics and quadriceps: hamstring EMG activity.Results:WB percentage rolling (76.0% ± 4.7%) exceeded that of NWB (57.5% ± 1.8%) through terminal knee extension (F8,80= 8.99,P< .001). Quadriceps:hamstring EMG ratios accounted for 45.1% and 34.7% of the variance in arthrokinematics throughout the WB and NWB movement conditions, respectively (P< .001).Conclusions:More joint-surface rolling occurs through terminal knee extension during WB movement and is associated with an increase in hamstring activity.

Changes in Isokinetic Muscle Strength of the Lower Extremity in Recreational Athletes with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 252-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukio Urabe ◽  
Mitsuo Ochi ◽  
Kiyoshi Onari
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Acl Reconstruction ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Joint Movement ◽  
Isokinetic Muscle Strength ◽  
Dependent Variables

Objective:To investigate changes in muscle strength in the lower extremity after ACL reconstruction.Design:Prospective case series.Dependent Variables:Isokinetic muscle strength measured in 6 movements (hip extension/flexion, hip adduction/abduction, knee extension/flexion) and circumference of the thigh/calf.Setting:Clinic and home.Patients:44 (24 men, 20 women) between the ages of 16 and 47 years with an ACL rupture. All underwent reconstruction via a semitendinosus autograft.Main Outcome Measures:The peak torque for each joint movement was recorded. Repeated-measures ANOVA and power analysis were conducted to detect significant interaction effects.Results:The decline of muscle strength after ACL reconstruction remained not only in the knee extensors and flexors but also in the hip adductors.Conclusion:Rehabilitation programs that address the behavioral patterns and physiological characteristics of an ACL injury will benefit the athlete’s whole body and lead to a full recovery.

Hip Abductor Weakness and Lower Extremity Kinematics during Running

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky L. Heinert ◽  
Thomas W. Kernozek ◽  
John F. Greany ◽  
Dennis C. Fater
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Hip Abductor ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Prospective Study Design

Objective:To determine if females with hip abductor weakness are more likely to demonstrate greater knee abduction during the stance phase of running than a strong hip abductor group.Study Design:Observational prospective study design.Setting:University biomechanics laboratory.Participants:15 females with weak hip abductors and 15 females with strong hip abductors.Main Outcome Measures:Group differences in lower extremity kinematics were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with one between factor of group and one within factor of position with a significance value of P < .05.Results:The subjects with weak hip abductors demonstrated greater knee abduction during the stance phase of treadmill running than the strong group (P < .05). No other significant differences were found in the sagittal or frontal plane measurements of the hip, knee, or pelvis.Conclusions:Hip abductor weakness may influence knee abduction during the stance phase of running.

Hand-Held Dynamometry: Reliability of Lower Extremity Muscle Testing in Healthy, Physically Active, Young Adults

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent M. Kelln ◽  
Patrick O. McKeon ◽  
Lauren M. Gontkof ◽  
Jay Hertel
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Sports Medicine ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Reliable Tool ◽  
Muscle Testing ◽  
Lower Extremity Muscle ◽  
Type Design

Context:Hand-held dynamometry (HHD) has been shown to be a reliable, objective way to obtain strength measurements in elderly and physically impaired subjects.Objective:To estimate the intratester, intertester, and intersession reliability of HHD testing of lower extremity movements in young, healthy subjects.Design:Repeated measures.Setting:Sports medicine laboratory.Participants:Nine males and eleven females (Mean age = 26 years).Measurements:Strength measures of 11 right lower extremity movements were taken by 3 different testers on 2 separate days using a HHD.Results:Intratester ICC range was .77 to .97 with SEM range of .01 to .44 kg. Mean intertester ICC range was .65 to .87 with SEM range of .11 to 1.05 kg. Mean intersession ICC range was .62 to .92 with SEM range of .01 to .83 kg.Conclusions:HHD has the potential to be a reliable tool for strength measurements in healthy, strong subjects; however, there are noteworthy limitations with movements where subjects can overpower the testers.

Quantifying Bilateral Joint Contributions during Three Variations of the Step Exercise

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean P. Flanagan ◽  
Kara M. Kessans ◽  
George J. Salem
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Joint Torque ◽  
Biomechanical Analysis ◽  
Main Outcome Measure ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Step Down

Context:Information regarding how the mechanical demand differs with variants of the step exercise may be used by clinicians to more appropriately prescribe lower-extremity exercise.Objective:To quantify the joint torque contributions of the lower extremity during three different step exercises: forward step-up (FS), lateral step-up (LS), and step-down (SD).Design:An experiment with a repeated measures design.Setting:Biomechanics laboratory.Participants:18 healthy subjects (9 men, 9 women, age 25.67 ± 4.23 years, height 1.73 ± 0.10 meters, mass 72.73 ± 10.67 kilograms).Intervention:Participants performed three sets of three repetitions of each exercise while instrumented for biomechanical analysis.Main Outcome Measure:Mechanical effort of the hip, knee, and ankle of both limbs during each exercise.Results:The greatest contribution from the hip was required during the FS, while the contribution from the knee was required during the SD. The greatest contribution from the ankle was required during the LS and SD.Conclusion:Choice of step exercise results in different distributions of mechanical demand across the lower extremities.

Shoulder-Rotator Strength of High School Swimmers Over the Course of a Competitive Season

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Ramsi ◽  
Kathleen A. Swanik ◽  
Charles “Buz” Swanik ◽  
Steve Straub ◽  
Carl Mattacola
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Competitive Season ◽  
Male High School ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Main Effects ◽  
Competitive Swimmers ◽  
External Rotator

Context:Changes in strength over the course of a swim season could predispose the shoulder to strength imbalances and lead to injury.Objective:To examine isometric shoulder internal- (IR) and external-rotator (ER) strength in high school swimmers over a 12-week competitive season.Design:Three 3 × 2 × 2 ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to determine significant main effects for IR, ER, and IR:ER strength ratio.Participants:27 (14 female, 13 male) high school varsity swimmers.Main Outcome Measures:IR and ER strength during preseason, midseason, and postseason.Results:Significant increases in IR strength in both groups were revealed for all test sessions. ER strength significantly improved in both males and females from preseason to midseason and from preseason to postseason. IR:ER ratio revealed a significant increase from preseason to postseason.Conclusions:Increases in IR strength without equal gains in ER strength were revealed and could contribute to future shoulder pathologies in competitive swimmers

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document