Effects of Different Forms of Extrinsic Feedback on the Accuracy of Force Production and to Differentiate this Force in the Simple Cyclic Movements of the Upper and Lower Limb

Abstract Background: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of force production by the limbs and to identify the ability to differentiate this force during a progressively increasing value, in response to different types of extrinsic feedback. Material and methods: The study involved nineteen healthy and physically active boys and girls aged 12.82±0.34 years, body height 157.05±9.02 cm, and body mass 44.89±7.89 kg. The tasks were to perform a series of right and left upper limb pulls and pushes with increasing force using the levers of the kinesthesiometer and a series of lower limb presses on the pedal of the kinesthesiometer. The tasks were completed in three feedback conditions: no feedback, sound feedback, verbal feedback, and the retention test was used. To assess the level of accuracy of force production, the novel index of force production accuracy (FPAIndex) was used. Results: The outcomes expressing the value of FPAIndex on the point scale indicated that the highest level of kinesthetic differentiation was observed when no feedback was provided (1.17 points), and the lowest kinesthetic differentiation was recorded when verbal feedback was provided (3.33 points). However, they were devoid of statistical value. The repeated-measures analysis of variance ANOVA with the Tukey post-hoc test (HSD) indicated a significant lowest (p=0.0402) level of accuracy of FPA (x̄ 36.12±18.29 [N]) only for the act of left lower limb press (LL PRESS) in the retention test, while no feedback was provided to the subjects. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that verbal and sound extrinsic feedback did not affect the accuracy of force production by the upper and lower limbs and the ability to differentiate this force in simple movements among children.

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Relationships between movements of the lower limb joints and the pelvis in open and closed kinematic chains during a gait cycle

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.1515/hukin-2015-0168 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 37-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Zdenek Svoboda ◽

Miroslav Janura ◽

Patrik Kutilek ◽

Eva Janurova

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Gait Cycle ◽

External Rotation ◽

Body Height ◽

Movement Pattern ◽

Kinematic Chain ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Initial Contact ◽

3D Analysis ◽

Kinematic Chains

AbstractLots of athletic skills performed during practice or competition are initiated by the legs, where athletes either walk or run prior to executing specific skills. Kinematic chains are used to describe the relationships between body segments and joints during movement. The aim of this study was to determine the relationships between movements of lower limb segments and the pelvis in open and closed kinematic chains while walking. The experimental group consisted of 32 males (age 23.3 ± 2.5 years, body mass 78.1 ± 8.7 kg, body height 182 ± 6 cm). For 3D analysis, an optoelectronic system Vicon MX (7 cameras, frequency 200 Hz) was used. Positioning of the segments was determined by the PlugInGait Model. Each participant executed five trials at speeds ranging from 1.38 to 1.52 m·s-1. The relationships between angle variables of the lower limbs and the pelvis in selected gait cycle phases were evaluated using STATISTICA software (version 10.0) and the Spearman correlation. The highest numbers of moderate and large correlations were found at opposite toe off, heel rise and initial contact for the sagittal and transversal planes in comparison to the frontal plane. The closed kinematic chain had a stronger impact on determining the movement pattern. The instructions or interventions focusing on closed kinematic chain alternation are more effective for changes in a movement pattern. The preferred limb initiates kinematics in the direction of propulsion, while the non-preferred limb in internal and external rotation.

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Kinematic Adaptations of Forward and Backward Walking on Land and in Water

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.1515/hukin-2015-0104 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 15-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Cristina Cadenas-Sanchez ◽

Raúl Arellano ◽

Jos Vanrenterghem ◽

Gracia López-Contreras

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Sagittal Plane ◽

Body Height ◽

Step Length ◽

Initial Contact ◽

Step Frequency ◽

Backward Walking ◽

Limb Kinematics ◽

Lower Limb Kinematics

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare sagittal plane lower limb kinematics during walking on land and submerged to the hip in water. Eight healthy adults (age 22.1 ± 1.1 years, body height 174.8 ± 7.1 cm, body mass 63.4 ± 6.2 kg) were asked to cover a distance of 10 m at comfortable speed with controlled step frequency, walking forward or backward. Sagittal plane lower limb kinematics were obtained from three dimensional video analysis to compare spatiotemporal gait parameters and joint angles at selected events using two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Key findings were a reduced walking speed, stride length, step length and a support phase in water, and step length asymmetry was higher compared to the land condition (p<0.05). At initial contact, knees and hips were more flexed during walking forward in water, whilst, ankles were more dorsiflexed during walking backward in water. At final stance, knees and ankles were more flexed during forward walking, whilst the hip was more flexed during backward walking. These results show how walking in water differs from walking on land, and provide valuable insights into the development and prescription of rehabilitation and training programs.

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Effect of horse riding equipment in activity of trunk and lower limb muscles in equine-assisted therapy

Acta Scientiarum Health Sciences ◽

10.4025/actascihealthsci.v42i1.52739 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. e52739

Author(s):

Janaine Brandao Lage ◽

Mariane Fernandes Ribeiro ◽

Vicente de Paula Antunes Teixeira ◽

Rodrigo César Rosa ◽

Alex Abadio Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Muscular Activity ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Or Education ◽

Lower Limb Muscles ◽

Horse Riding ◽

Equine Assisted Therapy ◽

Equine Assisted

Equine-assisted therapy uses the horse in rehabilitation and/or education of people, such as Down syndrome (SD), cerebral palsy (PC) and intellectual disability (DI). In context, the rehabilitation program and horse riding equipment should be used according to the specific characteristics of each individual, becoming an ally in the quest for excellence in equine-assisted therapy programs. The aim was to evaluate the effect of riding equipment used in equine-assisted therapy on the muscular activity of trunk and lower limb of individuals with SD, PC and DI. The study included 15 individuals equally assigned to each group: SD, PC and DI with a mean age of 16.2 (± 1.10), 16 (± 1.22) e 16 (±0) years, respectively. The analysis of muscle activity was performed through surface electromyography, using four variations of horse riding equipment: saddle with and without feet supported on the stirrups and blanket with and without feet supported on the stirrups. Sigma Stat 3.5® software was used for statistical analysis. The Shapiro Wilk’s test was used for normality of the data, the Bartlett test for homogeneity of the variances and the Kruskal-Wallis test for repeated measures with no normal distribution. Statistically significant differences were observed for p < 0.05. The SD group presented a greater muscular activity of trunk and lower limbs with blanket equipment without the feet supported in the stirrups (H = 15.078, p = 0.002), as in the DI group (H = 8.302, p = 0.040), while in PC group was the saddle with feet supported in the stirrups (H = 11.137, p = 0.011). The choice of riding equipment used in equine-assisted therapy interferes differently in the pattern of muscular activation of the trunk and the lower limbs, according to the pathological processes of the practitioners. It should be an important aspect to consider when planning a treatment.

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Does Attentional Focus Influence Psychophysiological Responses to an Acute Bout of Exercise? Evidence From an Experimental Study Using a Repeated-Measures Design

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.680149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Friedrich Meixner ◽

Cornelia Herbert

Keyword(s):

Negative Affect ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Impedance Cardiography ◽

Force Production ◽

Attentional Focus ◽

Cardiovascular Activity ◽

Cycling Exercise ◽

Physically Active ◽

Repeated Measures Design ◽

Attention Focus

Attentional focus during aerobic exercise has been studied in the context of sports performance, injury prevention and affective experience. Previous research suggests that an additional mental task parallel to the physical activity might influence exercise experience and performance. It has been tested if attentional focus influences cardiovascular activity, positive/negative affect, and subjective exertion during a cycling exercise. Data from N = 30 female participants has been collected using a repeated measures design, with the following experimental manipulations: (A) an internal attention focus (i.e., paying attention to force production of the quadriceps muscles), (B) an external attention focus (i.e., paying attention to changes in brightness in the cycling track simulation), and as control conditions, (C) exercise without attention focus (i.e., no specific instruction was given) and (D) no exercise, no attention focus. Subjective affect and subjective exertion were assessed, and changes in cardiovascular activity were recorded via mobile impedance cardiography (ICG) at rest, during and after the exercise, including HR, HRV (RMSSD, HF), PEP, CO, SV, LVET, and RSA. Exercise was associated with adaptations in cardiovascular activity, positive/negative affect, and subjective exertion. However, this did not interact with attentional focus. The original hypothesis could not be supported: instructed attentional focus does not influence affect, exertion, or cardiovascular activity during a cycling exercise. Therefore, attentional focusing during exercise does not appear to put notable additional mental demands on the physically active participant. Nonetheless, impedance cardiography delivered reliable measurements even during the cycling exercise.

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Design of a Human Knee Reeducation Mechanism

Acta Universitatis Sapientiae Electrical and Mechanical Engineering ◽

10.2478/auseme-2019-0004 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 42-53

Author(s):

Allaoua Brahmia ◽

Ridha Kelaiaia

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Mechanical Design ◽

Kinematic Chain ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Kinematic Structure ◽

Robotic Device ◽

Human Knee ◽

Kinematic Study ◽

Rehabilitation Exercise ◽

New Machine

Abstract To establish an exercise in open muscular chain rehabilitation (OMC), it is necessary to choose the type of kinematic chain of the mechanical / biomechanical system that constitutes the lower limbs in interaction with the robotic device. Indeed, it’s accepted in biomechanics that a rehabilitation exercise in OMC of the lower limb is performed with a fixed hip and a free foot. Based on these findings, a kinematic structure of a new machine, named Reeduc-Knee, is proposed, and a mechanical design is carried out. The contribution of this work is not limited to the mechanical design of the Reeduc-Knee system. Indeed, to define the minimum parameterizing defining the configuration of the device relative to an absolute reference, a geometric and kinematic study is presented.

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Assessment of the Multi-Location External Workload Profile in the Most Common Movements in Basketball

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21103441 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 3441

Author(s):

Carlos D. Gómez-Carmona ◽

Sebastián Feu ◽

José Pino-Ortega ◽

Sergio J. Ibáñez

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Ad Hoc ◽

Physical Conditioning ◽

Lumbar Region ◽

Basketball Players ◽

Eta Squared ◽

Subject Variability ◽

Acceleration And Deceleration ◽

Linear Movement

The present study analyzed the multi-location external workload profile in basketball players using a previously validated test battery and compared the demands among anatomical locations. A basketball team comprising 13 semi-professional male players was evaluated in five tests (abilities/skills/tests): (a) aerobic, linear movement, 30-15 IFT; (b) lactic anaerobic, acceleration and deceleration, 16.25 m RSA (c) alactic anaerobic, curvilinear movement, 6.75 m arc (d) elastic, jump, Abalakov test (e) physical-conditioning, small-sided game, 10’ 3 vs.3 10 × 15 m. PlayerLoadRT was evaluated at six anatomical locations simultaneously (interscapular line, lumbar region, knees and ankles) by six WIMU PROTM inertial devices attached to the player using an ad hoc integral suit. Statistical analysis was composed of an ANOVA of repeated measures and partial eta squared effect sizes. Significant differences among anatomical locations were found in all tests with higher values in the location nearer to ground contact (p < 0.01). However, differences between lower limb locations were only found in curvilinear movements, with a higher workload in the outside leg (p < 0.01). Additionally, high between-subject variability was found in team players, especially at lower limb locations. In conclusion, multi-location evaluation in sports movements will make it possible to establish an individual external workload profile and design specific strategies for training and injury prevention programs.

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Effects of Dominant and Nondominant Limb Immobilization on Muscle Activation and Physical Demand during Ambulation with Axillary Crutches

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ◽

10.3390/jfmk6010016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Kara B. Bellenfant ◽

Gracie L. Robbins ◽

Rebecca R. Rogers ◽

Thomas J. Kopec ◽

Christopher G. Ballmann

Keyword(s):

Lower Limb ◽

Muscle Activation ◽

Weight Bearing ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Medial Gastrocnemius ◽

Bipedal Walking ◽

Lower Limb Muscle ◽

Limb Muscle ◽

Physical Demand ◽

Limb Dominance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of how limb dominance and joint immobilization alter markers of physical demand and muscle activation during ambulation with axillary crutches. In a crossover, counterbalanced study design, physically active females completed ambulation trials with three conditions: (1) bipedal walking (BW), (2) axillary crutch ambulation with their dominant limb (DOM), and (3) axillary crutch ambulation with their nondominant limb (NDOM). During the axillary crutch ambulation conditions, the non-weight-bearing knee joint was immobilized at a 30-degree flexion angle with a postoperative knee stabilizer. For each trial/condition, participants ambulated at 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 mph for five minutes at each speed. Heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored throughout. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to record muscle activation of the medial gastrocnemius (MG), soleus (SOL), and tibialis anterior (TA) unilaterally on the weight-bearing limb. Biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB) sEMG were measured bilaterally. sEMG signals for each immobilization condition were normalized to corresponding values for BW.HR (p < 0.001) and RPE (p < 0.001) were significantly higher for both the DOM and NDOM conditions compared to BW but no differences existed between the DOM and NDOM conditions (p > 0.05). No differences in lower limb muscle activation were noted for any muscles between the DOM and NDOM conditions (p > 0.05). Regardless of condition, BB activation ipsilateral to the ambulating limb was significantly lower during 0.6 mph (p = 0.005) and 0.8 mph (p = 0.016) compared to the same speeds for BB on the contralateral side. Contralateral TB activation was significantly higher during 0.6 mph compared to 0.8 mph (p = 0.009) and 1.0 mph (p = 0.029) irrespective of condition. In conclusion, limb dominance appears to not alter lower limb muscle activation and walking intensity while using axillary crutches. However, upper limb muscle activation was asymmetrical during axillary crutch use and largely dependent on speed. These results suggest that functional asymmetry may exist in upper limbs but not lower limbs during assistive device supported ambulation.

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COVID-19 era in long-term cardiac rehabilitation programs: how was muscle strenght and lean mass affected in cardiovascular patients?

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology ◽

10.1093/eurjpc/zwab061.362 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

M Borges ◽

M Lemos Pires ◽

R Pinto ◽

G De Sa ◽

I Ricardo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Strength ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Lean Mass ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Face To Face ◽

Home Based ◽

Lower Limb Strength

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Exercise prescription is one of the main components of phase III Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) programs due to its documented prognostic benefits. It has been well established that, when added to aerobic training, resistance training (RT) leads to greater improvements in peripheral muscle strength and muscle mass in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). With COVID-19, most centre-based CR programs had to be suspended and CR patients had to readjust their RT program to a home-based model where weight training was more difficult to perform. How COVID-19 Era impacted lean mass and muscle strength in trained CVD patients who were attending long-term CR programs has yet to be discussed. Purpose To assess upper and lower limb muscle strength and lean mass in CVD patients who had their centre-based CR program suspended due to COVID-19 and compare it with previous assessments. Methods 87 CVD patients (mean age 62.9 ± 9.1, 82.8% male), before COVID-19, were attending a phase III centre-based CR program 3x/week and were evaluated annually. After 7 months of suspension, 57.5% (n = 50) patients returned to the face-to-face CR program. Despite all constraints caused by COVID-19, body composition and muscle strength of 35 participants (mean age 64.7 ± 7.9, 88.6% male) were assessed. We compared this assessment with previous years and established three assessment time points: M1) one year before COVID-19 (2018); M2) last assessment before COVID-19 (2019); M3) the assessment 7 months after CR program suspension (last trimester of 2020). Upper limbs strength was measured using a JAMAR dynamometer, 30 second chair stand test (number of repetitions – reps) was used to measure lower limbs strength and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure upper and lower limbs lean mass. Repeated measures ANOVA were used. Results Intention to treat analysis showed that upper and lower limbs lean mass did not change from M1 to M2 but decreased significantly from M2 to M3 (arms lean mass in M2: 5.68 ± 1.00kg vs M3: 5.52 ± 1.06kg, p = 0.004; legs lean mass in M2: 17.40 ± 2.46kg vs M3: 16.77 ± 2.61kg, p = 0.040). Lower limb strength also decreased significantly from M2 to M3 (M2: 23.31 ± 5.76 reps vs M3: 21.11 ± 5.31 reps, p = 0.014) after remaining stable in the year prior to COVID-19. Upper limb strength improved significantly from M1 to M2 (M1: 39.00 ± 8.64kg vs M2: 40.53 ± 8.77kg, p = 0.034) but did not change significantly from M2 to M3 (M2 vs M3: 41.29 ± 9.13kg, p = 0.517). Conclusion After CR centre-based suspension due to COVID-19, we observed a decrease in upper and lower limbs lean mass and lower limb strength in previously trained CVD patients. These results should emphasize the need to promote all efforts to maintain physical activity and RT through alternative effective home-based CR programs when face-to-face models are not available or possible to be implemented.

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Computed tomography angiography and microsurgical flaps for traumatic wounds: What is the added value?

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation ◽

10.3233/ch-200986 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Lucas Sousa Macedo ◽

Renato Polese Rusig ◽

Gustavo Bersani Silva ◽

Alvaro Baik Cho ◽

Teng Hsiang Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

Lower Limb ◽

High Energy ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Added Value ◽

Vascular Lesions ◽

Limb Injuries ◽

Significant Difference

BACKGROUND: Microsurgical flaps are widely used to treat complex traumatic wounds of upper and lower limbs. Few studies have evaluated whether the vascular changes in preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) influence the selection of recipient vessel and type of anastomosis and the microsurgical flaps outcomes including complications. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate if preoperative CTA reduces the occurrence of major complications (revision of the anastomosis, partial or total flap failure, and amputation) of the flaps in upper and lower limb trauma, and to describe and analyze the vascular lesions of the group with CTA and its relationship with complications. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken with all 121 consecutive patients submitted to microsurgical flaps for traumatic lower and upper limb, from 2014 to 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: patients with preoperative CTA (CTA+) and patients not submitted to CTA (CTA–). The presence of postoperative complications was assessed and, within CTA+, we also analyzed the number of patent arteries on CTA and described the arterial lesions. RESULTS: Of the 121 flaps evaluated (84 in the lower limb and 37 in the upper limb), 64 patients underwent preoperative CTA. In the CTA+ group, 56% of patients with free flaps for lower limb had complete occlusion of one artery. CTA+ patients had a higher rate of complications (p = 0.031), which may represent a selection bias as the most complex limb injuries and may have CTA indicated more frequently. The highest rate of complications was observed in chronic cases (p = 0.034). There was no statistically significant difference in complications in patients with preoperative vascular injury or the number of patent arteries. CONCLUSIONS: CTA should not be performed routinely, however, CTA may help in surgical planning, especially in complex cases of high-energy and chronic cases, since it provides information on the best recipient artery and the adequate level to perform the microanastomosis, outside the lesion area.

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Motor disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: transcranial magnetic stimulation study

The Egyptian Journal of Neurology Psychiatry and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1186/s41983-020-00255-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anssam Bassem Mohy ◽

Aqeel Kareem Hatem ◽

Hussein Ghani Kadoori ◽

Farqad Bader Hamdan

Keyword(s):

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Motor Evoked Potential ◽

Invasive Procedure ◽

Single Pulse ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Control Group ◽

Conduction Time ◽

Motor Disability

Abstract Background Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure used in a small targeted region of the brain via electromagnetic induction and used diagnostically to measure the connection between the central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal muscle to evaluate the damage that occurs in MS. Objectives The study aims to investigate whether single-pulse TMS measures differ between patients with MS and healthy controls and to consider if these measures are associated with clinical disability. Patients and methods Single-pulse TMS was performed in 26 patients with MS who hand an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score between 0 and 9.5 and in 26 normal subjects. Different TMS parameters from upper and lower limbs were investigated. Results TMS disclosed no difference in all MEP parameters between the right and left side of the upper and lower limbs in patients with MS and controls. In all patients, TMS parameters were different from the control group. Upper limb central motor conduction time (CMCT) was prolonged in MS patients with pyramidal signs. Upper and lower limb CMCT and CMCT-f wave (CMCT-f) were prolonged in patients with ataxia. Moreover, CMCT and CMCT-f were prolonged in MS patients with EDSS of 5–9.5 as compared to those with a score of 0–4.5. EDSS correlated with upper and lower limb cortical latency (CL), CMCT, and CMCT-f whereas motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude not. Conclusion TMS yields objective data to evaluate clinical disability and its parameters correlated well with EDSS.

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