scholarly journals Parkinsonian Rigidity Shows Variable Properties Depending on the Elbow Joint Angle

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuyuki Endo ◽  
Toshimitsu Hamasaki ◽  
Ryuhei Okuno ◽  
Masaru Yokoe ◽  
Harutoshi Fujimura ◽  
...  

Parkinsonian rigidity has been thought to be constant through a full range of joint angle. The aim of this study was to perform a detailed investigation of joint angle dependency of rigidity. We first measured muscle tone at the elbow joint in 20 healthy subjects and demonstrated that an angle of approximately 60° of flexion marks the division of two different angle-torque characteristics. Then, we measured muscle tone at the elbow joint in 24 Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients and calculated elastic coefficients in flexion and extension in the ranges of 10°–60° (distal) and 60°–110° (proximal). Rigidity as represented by the elastic coefficient in the distal phase of elbow joint extension was best correlated with the UPDRS rigidity score (r=0.77). A significant difference between the UPDRS rigidity score 0 group and 1 group was observed in the elastic coefficient in the distal phase of extension (P<0.0001), whereas no significant difference was observed in the proximal phase of extension and in each phase of flexion. Parkinsonian rigidity shows variable properties depending on the elbow joint angle, and it is clearly detected at the distal phase of elbow extension.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guan Shi ◽  
Hai Tang ◽  
Jianlin Shan

Abstract Objective To study the effect of different wrist flexion and extension angles on the results of Hoffmann’s sign.Methods Thirty-seven patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy and fifty objectives as control group were examinated at 15° palmar flexion, 0° neutral, 30° back extension, and 60° back extension of the wrist joint to observe Hoffmann's sign.ResultsThe patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy did not present significantly different results of Hoffmann’s sign at 0° neutral, 30° back extension, and 60° back extension, but significantly different at 15° palmar flexion (P<0.05). In control group, there is no significant difference at 15° palmar flexion, 0° neutral, 30° back extension, but significantly different at 60° back extension (p<0.05).ConclusionThe different angles of wrist flexion and extension present a significant impact on the results of Hoffmann’s sign examination. For the patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, it is reliable to test Hoffmann’s sign at 30° wrist back extension.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 41-54
Author(s):  
Sebastian Zduński ◽  
Witold Rongies ◽  
Marcin Ziółkowski ◽  
Tomasz Kozieł ◽  
Piotr Kazimierski ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: In the majority of cases, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries require specialist surgical and physiotherapeutic treatment. The fact that the patient regains a full range of flexion and extension in the knee joint as well as the reduction or elimination of pain is a significant determinant of successful physiotherapy. Material and methods: The study included 72 randomly selected individuals with a complete ACL tear who were qualified for its surgical reconstruction. The research group included 37 patients aged 18-60 (mean age 37±10.3 years). All the participants from this group underwent physiotherapy based on recognised schemes of rehabilitation and performed for 4 weeks before the reconstruction surgery. The control group included 35 patients aged 18-60 (mean age 34±10.0 years) who did not undergo any presurgical physiotherapy programme. Results: Both in the research group and in the control group, subsequent measurements revealed a statistically significant improvement in the range of flexion and extension (p<0.05). Statistical analysis revealed a significantly better extension 1 week and 6 weeks after the ACL reconstruction (p<0.05) in the research group. Statistically significant differences in the level of pain in patients from both groups were noted in subsequent measurements (p<0.05). Also, a statistically significant difference concerning pain assessment 12 weeks after the reconstruction was noted in the research group (p<0.05). Conclusions: A quicker recovery of the range of extension in the operated knee joint and lower intensity of pain in the final measurement noted in the research group may indicate a certain therapeutic value of presurgical physiotherapy.


Author(s):  
Mansoor Amiri ◽  
Farhad Tabatabai Ghomsheh ◽  
Farshad Ghazalian

The purpose of this study was to model the resistance mechanism of Passive Knee Joint Flexion and Extension to create a similar torque mechanism in rehabilitation equipment. In order to better model the behavior of passive knee tissues, it is necessary to exactly calculate the two coefficients of elasticity of time-independent and time-dependent parts. Ten healthy male volunteers (mean height 176.4+/−4.59 cm) participated in this study. Passive knee joint flexion and extension occurred at velocities of 15, 45, and 120 (degree/s), and in five consecutive cycles and within the range of 0 to 100° of knee movement on the sagittal plane on Cybex isokinetic dynamometer. To ensure that the muscles were relaxed, the electrical activity of knee muscles was recorded. The elastic coefficient, (KS) increased with elevating the passive velocity in flexion and extension. The elastic coefficient, (KP) was observed to grow with the passive velocity increase. While, the viscous coefficient (C) diminished with passive velocity rise in extension and flexion. The heightened passive velocity of the motion resulted in increased hysteresis (at a rate of 42%). The desired of passive velocity is lower so that there is less energy lost and the viscoelastic resistance of the tissue in the movement decreases. The Coefficient of Determination, R2 between the model-responses and experimental curves in the extension was 0.96 < R2 < 0.99 and in flexion was 0.95 < R2 < 0.99. This modeling is capable of predicting the true performance of the components of passive knee movement and we can create a resistance mechanism in the rehabilitation equipment to perform knee joint movement. Quantitative measurements of two elastic coefficients of Time-independent and Time-dependent parts passive knee joint coefficients should be used for better accurate simulation the behavior of passive tissues in the knee which is not seen in other studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davis A. Forman ◽  
Daniel Abdel-Malek ◽  
Christopher M. F. Bunce ◽  
Michael W. R. Holmes

Forearm rotation (supination/pronation) alters corticospinal excitability to the biceps brachii, but it is unclear whether corticospinal excitability is influenced by joint angle, muscle length, or both. Thus the purpose of this study was to separately examine elbow joint angle and muscle length on corticospinal excitability. Corticospinal excitability to the biceps and triceps brachii was measured using motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited via transcranial magnetic stimulation. Spinal excitability was measured using cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials (CMEPs) elicited via transmastoid electrical stimulation. Elbow angles were manipulated with a fixed biceps brachii muscle length (and vice versa) across five unique postures: 1) forearm neutral, elbow flexion 90°; 2) forearm supinated, elbow flexion 90°; 3) forearm pronated, elbow flexion 90°; 4) forearm supinated, elbow flexion 78°; and 5) forearm pronated, elbow flexion 113°. A musculoskeletal model determined biceps brachii muscle length for postures 1–3, and elbow joint angles ( postures 4–5) were selected to maintain biceps length across forearm orientations. MEPs and CMEPs were elicited at rest and during an isometric contraction of 10% of maximal biceps muscle activity. At rest, MEP amplitudes to the biceps were largest during supination, which was independent of elbow joint angle. CMEP amplitudes were not different when the elbow was fixed at 90° but were largest in pronation when muscle length was controlled. During an isometric contraction, there were no significant differences across forearm postures for either MEP or CMEP amplitudes. These results highlight that elbow joint angle and biceps brachii muscle length can each independently influence spinal excitability. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Changes in upper limb posture can influence the responsiveness of the central nervous system to artificial stimulations. We established a novel approach integrating neurophysiology techniques with biomechanical modeling. Through this approach, the effects of elbow joint angle and biceps brachii muscle length on corticospinal and spinal excitability were assessed. We demonstrate that spinal excitability is uniquely influenced by joint angle and muscle length, and this highlights the importance of accounting for muscle length in neurophysiological studies.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (4) ◽  
pp. G604-G616 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Indireshkumar ◽  
James G. Brasseur ◽  
Henryk Faas ◽  
Geoffrey S. Hebbard ◽  
Patrik Kunz ◽  
...  

The relative contributions to gastric emptying from common cavity antroduodenal pressure difference (“pressure pump”) vs. propagating high-pressure waves in the distal antrum (“peristaltic pump”) were analyzed in humans by high-resolution manometry concurrently with time-resolved three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging during intraduodenal nutrient infusion at 2 kcal/min. Gastric volume, space-time pressure, and contraction wave histories in the antropyloroduodenal region were measured in seven healthy subjects. The subjects fell into two distinct groups with an order of magnitude difference in levels of antral pressure activity. However, there was no significant difference in average rate of gastric emptying between the two groups. Antral pressure history was separated into “propagating high-pressure events” (HPE), “nonpropagating HPEs,” and “quiescent periods.” Quiescent periods dominated, and average pressure during quiescent periods remained unchanged with decreasing gastric volume, suggesting that common cavity pressure levels were maintained by increasing wall muscle tone with decreasing volume. When propagating HPEs moved to within 2–3 cm of the pylorus, pyloric resistance was found statistically to increase with decreasing distance between peristaltic waves and the pylorus. We conclude that transpyloric flow tends to be blocked when antral contraction waves are within a “zone of influence” proximal to the pylorus, suggesting physiological coordination between pyloric and antral contractile activity. We further conclude that gastric emptying of nutrient liquids is primarily through the “pressure pump” mechanism controlled by pyloric opening during periods of relative quiescence in antral contractile wave activity.


2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 411
Author(s):  
Sadayuki Ito ◽  
Hiroaki Nakashima ◽  
Akiyuki Matsumoto ◽  
Kei Ando ◽  
Masaaki Machino ◽  
...  

Introduction: The T1 slope is important for cervical surgical planning, and it may be invisible on radiographic images. The prevalence of T1 invisible cases and the differences in demographic and radiographic characteristics between patients whose T1 slopes are visible or invisible remains unexplored. Methods: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the differences in these characteristics between outpatients whose T1 slopes were visible or invisible on radiographic images. Patients (n = 60) who underwent cervical radiography, whose T1 slope was confirmed clearly, were divided into the visible (V) group and invisible (I) group. The following radiographic parameters were measured: (1) C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA), (2) C2-7 angle in neutral, flexion, and extension positions. Results: Based on the T1 slope visibility, 46.7% of patients were included in group I. The I group had significantly larger C2-7 SVA than the V group for males (p < 0.05). The C2-7 SVA tended to be larger in the I group, without significant difference for females (p = 0.362). Discussion: The mean C2-7 angle in neutral and flexion positions was not significantly different between the V and I groups for either sex. The mean C2-7 angle in the extension position was greater in the V group. The T1 slope was invisible in males with high C2-7 SVA.


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