scholarly journals Reliability of 3-Dimensional Measures of Single-Leg Drop Landing Across 3 Institutions: Implications for Multicenter Research for Secondary ACL-Injury Prevention

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory D. Myer ◽  
Nathaniel A. Bates ◽  
Christopher A. DiCesare ◽  
Kim D. Barber Foss ◽  
Staci M. Thomas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Drop Landing ◽  
Prevention Studies ◽  
Acl Injury Prevention

Context:Due to the limitations of single-center studies in achieving appropriate sampling with relatively rare disorders, multicenter collaborations have been proposed to achieve desired sampling levels. However, documented reliability of biomechanical data is necessary for multicenter injury-prevention studies and is currently unavailable.Objective:To measure the reliability of 3-dimensional (3D) biomechanical waveforms from kinetic and kinematic variables during a single-leg landing (SLL) performed at 3 separate testing facilities.Design:Multicenter reliability study.Setting:3 laboratories.Patients:25 female junior varsity and varsity high school volleyball players who visited each facility over a 1-mo period.Intervention:Subjects were instrumented with 43 reflective markers to record 3D motion as they performed SLLs. During the SLL the athlete balanced on 1 leg, dropped down off of a 31-cm-high box, and landed on the same leg. Kinematic and kinetic data from both legs were processed from 2 trials across the 3 laboratories.Main Outcome Measures:Coefficients of multiple correlations (CMC) were used to statistically compare each joint angle and moment waveform for the first 500 ms of landing.Results:Average CMC for lower-extremity sagittal-plane motion was excellent between laboratories (hip .98, knee .95, ankle .99). Average CMC for lower-extremity frontal-plane motion was also excellent between laboratories (hip .98, knee .80, ankle .93). Kinetic waveforms were repeatable in each plane of rotation (3-center mean CMC ≥.71), while knee sagittal-plane moments were the most consistent measure across sites (3-center mean CMC ≥.94).Conclusions:CMC waveform comparisons were similar relative to the joint measured to previously published reports of between-sessions reliability of sagittal- and frontal-plane biomechanics performed at a single institution. Continued research is needed to further standardize technology and methods to help ensure that highly reliable results can be achieved with multicenter biomechanical screening models.

scholarly journals Biologically Inspired Design and Development of a Variable Stiffness Powered Ankle-Foot Prosthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Agboola-Dobson ◽  
Guowu Wei ◽  
Lei Ren
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Variable Stiffness ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Biologically Inspired ◽  
Passive Rotation ◽  
Ground Conditions ◽  
Biologically Inspired Design

Recent advancements in powered lower limb prostheses have appeased several difficulties faced by lower limb amputees by using a series-elastic actuator (SEA) to provide powered sagittal plane flexion. Unfortunately, these devices are currently unable to provide both powered sagittal plane flexion and two degrees of freedom (2-DOF) at the ankle, removing the ankle’s capacity to invert/evert, thus severely limiting terrain adaption capabilities and user comfort. The developed 2-DOF ankle system in this paper allows both powered flexion in the sagittal plane and passive rotation in the frontal plane; an SEA emulates the biomechanics of the gastrocnemius and Achilles tendon for flexion while a novel universal-joint system provides the 2-DOF. Several studies were undertaken to thoroughly characterize the capabilities of the device. Under both level- and sloped-ground conditions, ankle torque and kinematic data were obtained by using force-plates and a motion capture system. The device was found to be fully capable of providing powered sagittal plane motion and torque very close to that of a biological ankle while simultaneously being able to adapt to sloped terrain by undergoing frontal plane motion, thus providing 2-DOF at the ankle. These findings demonstrate that the device presented in this paper poses radical improvements to powered prosthetic ankle-foot device (PAFD) design.

The Biomechanics of Lower Extremity Action in Distance Running

Foot & Ankle ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter R. Cavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Common Finding ◽  
Distance Running ◽  
Foot Placement ◽  
Running Injuries ◽  
Acceleration Force ◽  
Rearfoot Motion ◽  
Insight Into

The role of quantitative biomechanical measurements in the evaluation of the running patient is discussed. Many techniques are now available to provide insight into the external mechanics of lower extremity action during running, and results from such measurements are presented for symptom-free subjects at distance running speeds. Details of stride length, stride time, and foot placement are first presented followed by a discussion of kinematic data, including stick figures, angle-time graphs, and angle-angle diagrams for the sagittal plane motion of the hip, knee, and ankle joints. The measurement of rearfoot motion, as an approximation of coronal plane subtalar joint movements, is also discussed. Results from acceleration, force, and pressure measurements are considered, and the assertion is made that bilateral asymmetry in many of these measures is a fairly common finding. There are, at present, few reports in the literature of the application of biomechanical techniques to the evaluation of patients with running injuries. It is anticipated that there will be rapid developments in this area in the future and that this will provide considerable insight into the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of running injuries.

The Effect of the TayCo External Ankle Brace on Multidirectional Reach Distance, Balance, and Motion in Collegiate Athletes

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 323-327
Author(s):  
Steven J. Smith ◽  
Cameron J. Powden
Keyword(s):  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Collegiate Athletes ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Lower Extremity Function ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Ankle Brace

Ensuring ankle stability while allowing for functional movement is important when returning patients to physical activity and attempting to prevent injury. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the TayCo external and a lace-up ankle brace on lower extremity function, dynamic balance, and motion in 18 physically active participants. Significantly greater range of motion was demonstrated for the TayCo brace compared with the lace-up brace for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, as well as less range of motion for the TayCo brace compared to the lace-up brace for inversion and eversion. The TayCo brace provided restricted frontal plane motion while allowing increased sagittal plane motion without impacting performance measures.

Implications of Increased Lower Extremity Movement Variability on Fall Susceptibility at Increased Stride Lengths During Locomotion

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Nordin ◽  
Joshua P. Bailey ◽  
Janet S. Dufek
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Knee Joints ◽  
Lower Extremity Injury ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Heel Contact

The purpose of this examination was to explore the effects of stride length (SL) perturbations on walking gait, relative to preferred walking (PW) and running (PR), via lower extremity range of motion (ROM) variability. ROM variability at the hip, knee, and ankle joints, in the sagittal and frontal planes were used in evaluating motor control of gait, where increased gait variability has been previously implicated in fall susceptibly. Nine participants (5 male, 4 female; mean age 23.11±3.55 years, height 1.72±0.18m, mass 72.66±14.37kg) free from previous lower extremity injury were examined. Kinematic data were acquired using a 12-camera system (Vicon MX T40-S; 200Hz). Data filtering and interpolation included a low pass, 4th order, Butterworth filter (15Hz cutoff) and cubic spline. Five gait trials were completed for PW and PR, with subsequent SL manipulations computed as a percentage of leg length (LL). SL perturbations included 60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of LL. Kinematic analysis involved one stride (two steps) during each gait trial, assessing ROM at the hip, knee, and ankle from heel contact to toe-off for each limb, in the sagittal and frontal planes. Variability was expressed using coefficient of variation (%). Comparisons were made using 3×7 (joint × stride condition) mixed model ANOVAs, with repeated measures on stride condition (α = 0.05), using SPSS 20.0. Differences in lower extremity ROM variability were detected among stride conditions in the frontal and sagittal planes (F[3.185,76.451] = 3.004, p = .033; F[4.595,110.279] = 2.834, p = .022, respectively). Greater ROM variability was observed at, and in excess of SLs of 100%LL relative to PW in the frontal plane (PW: 9.2±4.2%; 100%LL: 11.8±3.6%, p = .014; 120%LL: 13.5±5.8%, p = .046; 140%LL: 13.8±6.5%, p = .016), and between SLs of 80%LL and 120%LL in the sagittal plane (4.9±3.0%; 7.8±4.7%, p = .046, respectively). From this, PW appeared to occur within SLs of 60%LL to 80%LL, while SLs exceeding 100%LL resulted in increased lower extremity ROM variability. This may have consequences for fall susceptibility at increased stride lengths during walking. PR did not reveal significant variability differences (p>.05) compared to walking conditions in either the sagittal or frontal plane (7.5±5.0%; 12.8±7.7%, respectively), suggesting that running represents a separate, but stable gait pattern. In the sagittal plane, ROM variability was significantly lower at the hip (3.9±1.5%), relative to the ankle (8.4±1.6%, p<.001) and knee joints (7.4±2.6%, p = .001), suggesting that gait control may be more active at the ankle and knee joints. Future investigations should examine kinetic changes in gait when altering stride length.

Timing of Lower Extremity Frontal Plane Motion Differs Between Female and Male Athletes During a Landing Task

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 1517-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Joseph ◽  
Michael Rahl ◽  
Jessica Sheehan ◽  
Bradley MacDougall ◽  
Elaine Horn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Male Athletes

Sustained Improvements in Dynamic Balance and Landing Mechanics After a 6-Week Neuromuscular Training Program in College Women’s Basketball Players

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate R. Pfile ◽  
Phillip A. Gribble ◽  
Gretchen E. Buskirk ◽  
Sara M. Meserth ◽  
Brian G. Pietrosimone
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Injury Prevention ◽  
Outcome Measures ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Lower Extremity Injury ◽  
Extremity Injury ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Landing Mechanics ◽  
Women's Basketball ◽  
Over Time

Context:Epidemiological data demonstrate the need for lower-extremity injury-prevention training. Neuromuscularcontrol (NMC) programs are immediately effective at minimizing lower-extremity injury risk and improving sport-related performance measures. Research investigating lasting effects after an injury-prevention program is limited.Objective:To determine whether dynamic balance, landing mechanics, and hamstring and quadriceps strength could be improved after a 6-wk NMC intervention and maintained for a season.Design:Prospective case series.Setting:Controlled laboratory.Participants:11 Division I women’s basketball players (age 19.40 ± 1.35 y, height 178.05 ± 7.52 cm, mass 72.86 ± 10.70 kg).Interventions:Subjects underwent testing 3 times, completing the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), and isometric strength testing for the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles. Pretest and posttest 1 occurred immediately before and after the intervention, respectively, and posttest 2 at the end of the competitive season, 9 mo after posttest 1. Subjects participated in eighteen 30-min plyometric and NMC-training sessions over a 6-wk period.Main Outcome Measures:The normalized SEBT composite score, normalized peak isometric hamstrings:quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, and the LESS total score.Results:The mean composite reach significantly improved over time (F2,10 = 6.96, P = .005) where both posttest scores were significantly higher than pretest (70.41% ± 4.08%) (posttest 1 73.48% ± 4.19%, t10 = –3.11, P = .011) and posttest 2 (74.2% ± 4.77%, t10 = –3.78, P = .004). LESS scores significantly improved over time (F2,10 = 6.29, P = .009). The pretest LESS score (7.30 ± 3.40) was higher than posttest 1 (4.9 ± 1.20, t10 = 2.71, P = .024) and posttest 2 (5.44 ± 1.83, t10 = 2.58, P = .030). There were no statistically significant differences (P > .05) over time for the H:Q ratio when averaging both legs (F2,10 = 0.83, P = .45).Conclusions:A 6-wk NMC program improved landing mechanics and dynamic balance over a 9-mo period in women’s basketball players. NMC adaptations can be retained without an in-season maintenance program.

scholarly journals Validity and Reliability of a Smartphone and Digital Inclinometer in Measuring the Lower Extremity Joints Range of Motion

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-52
Author(s):  
Walaa S. Mohammad ◽  
◽  
Faten F. Elattar ◽  
Walaa M. Elsais ◽  
Salameh O. AlDajah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Smart Phone ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Plane Motion ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Digital Inclinometer

In clinical settings, available valid and reliable tools are important components in evaluating the lower extremity range of motion. Although the digital inclinometer is highly reliable compared to the universal goniometer, its availability and high cost impede its extensive use. Nowadays, smartphone applications have become widely available to clinicians for assessing the joint range of motion. The present study aims to assess the validity and intra-rater reliability of the smart- phone application “Clinometer” for measuring hip, knee, and ankle sagittal ranges of motion, using the digital inclinom- eter as the reference standard. Active hip, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range-of-motion mea- surements were recorded in 102 young, healthy female participants on two separate occasions using Clinometer and a digital inclinometer. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to evaluate the smartphone application’s validity against the digital inclinometer. To assess the reliability of the Clinometer app, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable difference (MDD) were used. Clinometer displayed excellent validity when compared to the digital inclinometer for hip and knee movements (r>0.90), while ankle ROM displayed moderate validity (r = 0.52-0.57). Additionally, Clinometer demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90) for hip and knee sagittal plane motion and moderate reliability for the ankle sagittal plane motion (ICC = 0.53–0.67). Cli- nometer is a portable, low-cost, valid, and reliable tool for assessing active hip and knee range of motions and can be easily incorporated into clinical settings; however, it cannot be used interchangeably for ankle measures.

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.

Running Biomechanics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disoder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter J. Bennett ◽  
Justin Haegele
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Running Biomechanics ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Abstract Research examining gait biomechanics of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has grown significantly in recent years and has demonstrated that persons with ASD walk at slower self-selected speeds and with shorter strides, wider step widths, and reduced lower extremity range of motion and moments compared to neurotypical controls. In contrast to walking, running has yet to be examined in persons with ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity running biomechanics in adolescents (13-18-year-olds) with ASD and matched (age, sex, and body mass index) neurotypical controls. Three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRF) were recorded while participants ran at two matched speeds: self-selected speed of adolescents with ASD and at 3.0m/s. Sagittal and frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics and vertical GRFs were compared using two-way ANOVAs via statistical parametric mapping. Adolescents with ASD ran with reduced stride length at self-selected speed and reduced vertical displacement, loading-propulsion GRFs, propulsion plantarflexion moments, loading-propulsion hip abduction moments, and loading knee abduction moments at both speeds. Running at 3.0m/s increased sagittal plane hip and knee moments surrounding initial contact and frontal plane knee angles during mid stance and propulsion compared to self-selected speeds. Reduced contributions from primarily the ankle plantarflexion but also knee abduction and hip abduction moments likely reduced the vertical GRF and displacement. As differences favored reduced loading, youth with ASD can safely be encouraged to engage in running as a physical activity.

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