scholarly journals Validity of load rate estimation using accelerometers during physical activity on an anti-gravity treadmill

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 205566832092955
Author(s):  
Susan Nazirizadeh ◽  
Maria Stokes ◽  
Nigel K Arden ◽  
Alexander IJ Forrester

Introduction A simple tool to estimate loading on the lower limb joints outside a laboratory may be useful for people who suffer from degenerative joint disease. Here, the accelerometers on board of wearables (smartwatch, smartphone) were used to estimate the load rate on the lower limbs and were compared to data from a treadmill force plate. The aim was to assess the validity of wearables to estimate load rate transmitted through the joints. Methods Twelve healthy participants (female n = 4, male n = 8; aged 26 ± 3 years; height: 175 ± 15 cm; body mass: 71 ± 9 kg) carried wearables, while performing locomotive activities on an anti-gravity treadmill with an integrated force plate. Acceleration data from the wearables and force plate data were used to estimate the load rate. The treadmill enabled 7680 data points to be obtained, allowing a good estimate of uncertainty to be examined. A linear regression model and cross-validation with 1000 bootstrap resamples were used to assess the validation. Results Significant correlation was found between load rate from the force plate and wearables (smartphone: [Formula: see text]; smartwatch: [Formula: see text]). Conclusion Wearables’ accelerometers can estimate load rate, and the good correlation with force plate data supports their use as a surrogate when assessing lower limb joint loading in field environments.

Symmetry ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 720
Author(s):  
Zixiang Gao ◽  
Qichang Mei ◽  
Gusztáv Fekete ◽  
Julien S Baker ◽  
Yaodong Gu

The aim of this study was to examine whether there are kinematic and kinetic differences in the lower limb and whether the symmetry of the lower extremities is different after prolonged-running. Fifteen healthy male amateur runners (age: 22 ± 1 years, height: 173 ± 8 cm, mass: 65 ± 7 kg, BMI: 21.62 ± 2 kg/m2) were recruited as participants for this study. A Vicon eight-camera motion capture system and Kistler force plate were used to collect kinematic and kinetic parameters. A motorized treadmill, 15-point Borg scale and heart rate bands were used to monitor fatigue during a running-induced fatigue protocol. Paired sample T tests were used to check statistical difference (p = 0.05) between the lower limbs and the symmetry changes in pre-fatigue and post-fatigue running sessions. The symmetry angle (SA) of the knee flexion angle, hip flexion angle and hip extension angle in post-fatigue was significantly greater than in pre-fatigue, increasing by 4.32%, 10.71%, and 23.12%, respectively. Moreover, the SA of hip flexion moment increased by 2.61%. However, the knee extension velocity and hip flexion velocity became more symmetrical than in pre-fatigue (p < 0.05), the SA decreased by 5.91% and 5.45%, respectively. Differences in limb function during post-fatigue may lead to changes of symmetry in the lower limbs. The variables of asymmetry may be used as a compensation mechanism to maintain gait stability. Physical therapy assessment of fatigue injuries and long-distance running training programs may want to consider the changes in symmetry due to limb dominance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e000582
Author(s):  
Jasmine N Aikman ◽  
Graham P Arnold ◽  
Sadiq Nasir ◽  
Weijie W Wang ◽  
Rami Abboud

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine if ball position influences the risk of lower limb non-contact injury in hockey sweep pass. It also aimed to determine a ball position that minimises excessive strain placed on the lower limb joints of the lead leg during the sweep pass.MethodsA cohort of 18 female hockey-playing volunteers (age: 19.7±1.5 years; height: 165.5±5.4 cm; body mass: 66.4±7.0 kg) were recruited. Participants performed the sweep pass using three different ball positions: in front, in line with, and behind the heel of the lead (left) foot.Motion analysis and force plate data were collected. Moments and angles in all three planes of motion for the three main lower limb joints were then calculated using Vicon software. Results were statistically analysed using SPSS software.ResultsSignificant differences (p<0.05) were found between the three tested ball positions for the mean maximum angles and moments, and mean ranges of motion produced at the lead three main lower limb joints. Positioning the ball in line with the heel of the lead foot resulted in the lowest moments and angles when compared with the other two ball positions.ConclusionsThe results indicate that positioning the ball in line with the heel of the lead foot is recommended to minimise the risk of injury to the lower limb joints during the hockey sweep pass. It is hoped that these findings will result in this position being implemented by players new to hockey or those returning to the sport following injury.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Upadhyay ◽  
Umesh C Parashari ◽  
Sachin Khanduri ◽  
Samarjit Bhadury

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa (MDL) is a rare cause of congenital macrodactyly, characterised by progressive proliferation of all mesenchymal elements, with disproportionate increase in fibro-adipose tissue. It occurs most frequently in lower limbs along the distribution of the medial plantar nerve. MDL presents as localised gigantism of the hand or foot and comes to clinical attention for cosmetic reasons, mechanical problems secondary to degenerative joint disease, or development of neurovascular compression. Here, we report a case of MDL, with altered soft tissue growth due to an earlier surgery, making clinical diagnosis difficult. However, with a complete radio-clinical work-up and review of the history, a provisional diagnosis of MDL was made, which was confirmed by histopathology and during surgery.


1998 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 260-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
AL Johnson ◽  
CW Smith ◽  
GJ Pijanowski ◽  
LL Hungerford

The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the outcome of 21 clinical patients treated with triple pelvic osteotomies during the year following surgery. Specific aims included documenting the time of and extent of improved limb function as measured by force plate analysis, evaluating the progression of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the treated and untreated coxofemoral joints, and determining whether or not triple pelvic osteotomy resulted in degenerative joint changes in the ipsilateral stifle and hock. Twelve dogs were treated unilaterally and nine dogs were treated bilaterally with triple pelvic osteotomies. There were no differences in mean anteversion angles, angles of inclination, or preoperative DJD between treated hips and untreated hips. Degenerative joint disease progressed significantly in all hips regardless of treatment. Two cases developed hyperextension of their hocks after the triple pelvic osteotomies. However, no radiographic evidence of DJD was observed for any of the stifles or hocks at any observation time. A significant increase in vertical peak force (VPF) scores was noted for treated legs by two-to-three months after surgery, which continued over time. Untreated legs did not show a significant change in VPF scores over time. No differences were found in progression to higher scores when unilaterally treated legs, first-side treated legs, and second-side treated legs were compared.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 8244
Author(s):  
Yuri Russo ◽  
Dragan Marinkovic ◽  
Borislav Obradovic ◽  
Giuseppe Vannozzi

Lateral stepping is a motor task that is widely used in everyday life to modify the base of support, change direction, and avoid obstacles. Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs) are often analyzed to describe postural preparation prior to forward stepping, however, little is known about lateral stepping. The aim of the study is to characterize APAs preceding lateral steps and to investigate how these are affected by footwear and lower limb preference. Twenty-two healthy young participants performed a lateral step using both their preferred and non-preferred leg in both barefoot and shod conditions. APA spatiotemporal parameters (size, duration, and speed) along both the anteroposterior and mediolateral axes were obtained through force plate data. APAs preceding lateral stepping showed typical patterns both along the anteroposterior and mediolateral axis. RM-ANOVA highlighted a significant effect of footwear only on medio-lateral APAs amplitude (p = 0.008) and velocity (p = 0.037). No differences were found for the limb preference. APAs in lateral stepping presented consistent features in the sagittal component, regardless of limb/shoe factors. Interestingly, the study observed that footwear induced an increase in the medio-lateral APAs size and velocity, highlighting the importance of including this factor when studying lateral stepping.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joyce B. Weersink ◽  
Natasha M. Maurits ◽  
Bauke M. de Jong

BackgroundWalking is characterized by stable antiphase relations between upper and lower limb movements. Such bilateral rhythmic movement patterns are neuronally generated at levels of the spinal cord and brain stem, that are strongly interconnected with cortical circuitries, including the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA).ObjectiveTo explore cerebral activity associated with multi-limb phase relations in human gait by manipulating mutual attunement of the upper and lower limb antiphase patterns.MethodsCortical activity and gait were assessed by ambulant EEG, accelerometers and videorecordings in 35 healthy participants walking normally and 19 healthy participants walking in amble gait, where upper limbs moved in-phase with the lower limbs. Power changes across the EEG frequency spectrum were assessed by Event Related Spectral Perturbation analysis and gait analysis was performed.ResultsAmble gait was associated with enhanced Event Related Desynchronization (ERD) prior to and during especially the left swing phase and reduced Event Related Synchronization (ERS) at final swing phases. ERD enhancement was most pronounced over the putative right premotor, right primary motor and right parietal cortex, indicating involvement of higher-order organization and somatosensory guidance in the production of this more complex gait pattern, with an apparent right hemisphere dominance. The diminished within-step ERD/ERS pattern in amble gait, also over the SMA, suggests that this gait pattern is more stride driven instead of step driven.ConclusionIncreased four-limb phase complexity recruits distributed networks upstream of the primary motor cortex, primarily lateralized in the right hemisphere. Similar parietal-premotor involvement has been described to compensate impaired SMA function in Parkinson’s disease bimanual antiphase movement, indicating a role as cortical support regions.


1990 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. B. Hurley ◽  
R. McKenney ◽  
M. Robinson ◽  
M. Zadravec ◽  
M. R. Pierrynowski

Very little quantitative biomechanical research has been carried out evaluating issues relevant to prosthetic management. The literature available suggests that amputees may demonstrate an asymmetrical gait pattern. Furthermore, studies suggest that the forces occurring during amputee gait may be unequally distributed between the contralateral and prosthetic lower limbs/This study investigates the role of the contralateral limb in amputee gait by determining lower limb joint reaction forces and symmetry of motion in an amputee and non-amputee population. Seven adult below-knee amputees and four non-amputees participated in the study. Testing involved collection of kinematic coordinate data employing a WATSMART video system and ground reaction force data using a Kistler force plate. The degree of lower limb symmetry was determined using bilateral angle-angle diagrams and a chain encoding technique. Ankle, knee and hip joint reaction forces were estimated in order to evaluate the forces acting across the joints of the amputee's contralateral limb. The amputees demonstrated a lesser degree of lower limb symmetry than the non-amputees. This asymmetrical movement was attributed to the inherent variability of the actions of the prosthetic lower limb. The forces acting across the joints of the contralateral limb were not significantly higher than that of the non-amputee. This suggests that, providing the adult amputee has a good prosthetic fit, there will not be increased forces across the joints of the contralateral limb and consequently no predisposition for the long-term wearer to develop premature degenerative arthritis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (02) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
Rahmatika ◽  
Rudy Handoyo ◽  
Tanti Ajoe Kesoema

Introduction: About 75-85% of cases of scoliosis are idiopathic, with unknown cause whose ratio between men and women is 1: 8. In severe scoliosis, many disorders may occur such as muscle imbalance, pain, muscle weakness, degenerative joint disease, decreased cardiovascular capacity, and neurological disorders.Case Presentation: We reported a 14-year-old boy patient post posterior instrumentation and fusion surgery e.c neglected idiopathic triple curve scoliosis with neuromuscular complications such as weakness in upper and lower limbs causing disruption in hand functions and ambulation disorders, and respiration disorders such as shortness of breath, especially when walking in long-distance or running.The rehabilitation program consisting of exercise in the pool, fine motor exercise, activity of daily living (ADL) exercise, chest expansion exercise, and orthotic administration, which aims to support therecovery of patients to full function as early as possible.Conclusion: After 2 months, the patient showed slight improvement in functional, ambulation, and hand function due to non-routine exercise at the hospital.


2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles N. Brooks ◽  
James B. Talmage

Abstract Meniscal tears and osteoarthritis (osteoarthrosis, degenerative arthritis, or degenerative joint disease) are two of the most common conditions involving the knee. This article includes definitions of apportionment and causes; presents a case report of initial and recurrent tears of the medial meniscus plus osteoarthritis (OA) in the medial compartment of the knee; and addresses questions regarding apportionment. The authors, experienced impairment raters who are knowledgeable regarding the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), show that, when instructions on impairment rating are incomplete, unclear, or inconsistent, interrater reliability diminishes (different physicians may derive different impairment estimates). Accurate apportionment of impairment is a demanding task that requires detailed knowledge of causation for the conditions in question; the mechanisms of injury or extent of exposures; prior and current symptoms, functional status, physical findings, and clinical study results; and use of the appropriate edition of the AMA Guides. Sometimes the available data are incomplete, requiring the rating physician to make assumptions. However, if those assumptions are reasonable and consistent with the medical literature and facts of the case, if the causation analysis is plausible, and if the examiner follows impairment rating instructions in the AMA Guides (or at least uses a rational and hence defensible method when instructions are suboptimal), the resulting apportionment should be credible.


2000 ◽  
Vol 81 (3B) ◽  
pp. s67-s72
Author(s):  
Victoria A. Brander ◽  
Darryl L. Kaelin ◽  
Terry H. Oh ◽  
Peter A.C. Lim

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