scholarly journals Relationship between Connective Tissue Morphology and Lower-Limb Stiffness in Endurance Runners. A Prospective Study

Author(s):  
Alberto Rubio-Peirotén ◽  
Felipe García-Pinillos ◽  
Diego Jaén-Carrillo ◽  
Antonio Cartón-Llorente ◽  
Ferrán Abat ◽  
...  

Background: The lower limb behaves like a spring compressing and decompressing during running, where lower-limb stiffness is one of the most influential factors. This prospective observational study is aimed at examining the relationship between the connective tissue morphology and lower-limb stiffness and investigating whether the barefoot/shod condition influences on such relationship. Methods: 14 male amateur runners (10-km time trial <50′) were included. Data were recorded over one session, where participants ran 2 trials (i.e., barefoot and shod conditions) of 3 minutes at 12 km/h, where running spatiotemporal parameters and vertical (Kvert) and leg stiffness (Kleg) were obtained. Prior to testing trials, thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) were recorded for Achilles (AT) and patellar tendons (PT) and plantar fascia (PF) with ultrasound. Results: Under barefoot condition, a positive correlation was found between Kleg and AT-thickness and CSA and PF-thickness; and between Kvert and AT-thickness and PF thickness. Under shod condition, a positive correlation was found between Kleg and PT-CSA and PT-thickness, and between Kvert and PT-CSA and PT-thickness. Conclusions: The results reveal a specificity of the relationship between the lower-limb stiffness and the morphology of the connective tissue. Greater tendon shows higher lower-limb stiffness when that tendon is specially demanded by the function.

Author(s):  
Alberto Rubio-Peirotén ◽  
Felipe García-Pinillos ◽  
Diego Jaén-Carrillo ◽  
Antonio Cartón-Llorente ◽  
Luis E. Roche-Seruendo

The influence of the morphologic characteristics of connective tissue, which plays an essential role during sports activities, on sporting tasks needs further research given the controversial findings reported in the literature. This study aimed at examining the relationship between lower limb connective tissue morphology and drop jump reactivity and determining the influence of sex and athletic performance level. A total of 30 men and 14 women, runners, executed 6 drop jumps (3 × 20 cm and 30 cm height respectively) and their thickness and cross-sectional area were recorded for Achilles and patellar tendons and plantar fascia. No significant results were found in the relationship between the morphology of the connective tissue and reactivity strength index for both sexes. Significant sex differences were found, while women showed greater values (p < 0.005) for Achilles tendon and plantar fascia; men showed greater values for reactivity strength index and drop jump performance (p < 0.001). The present study shows a limited relationship between connective tissue morphology and drop jump reactivity. Additionally, women showed greater normalized values for Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, and men showed greater reactivity strength index and jumping performance values. No relationships between athletic performance level and connective tissue were found.


2021 ◽  
pp. 2150019
Author(s):  
Andriana Koufogianni ◽  
Asimakis K. Kanellopoulos ◽  
Konstantinos Vassis ◽  
Ioannis A. Poulis

Design: Cross-sectional study. Background: Osteoarthritis is one of the most common conditions in our society. A growing number of studies suggest the existence of central sensitization (CS) in a subgroup of osteoarthritic patients. One of the criteria included for the classification of CS pain is the expanded distribution of pain. As this criterion is a well-recognized sign of CS, a digital pain drawing (DPD) analysis would be useful to easily identify possible extended areas of pain distribution (PD) in patients with OA. Objective: To study the relationship between the percentage of distribution of pain in the lower limb for both knee and hip, in patients before hip or knee arthroplasty, and the Central Sensitization Inventory Questionnaire. Methods: Twenty women (mean [Formula: see text] years) with diagnosed chronic (over 3 months) knee ([Formula: see text]) and hip ([Formula: see text]) OA participated in the study, with intensity of pain from mild to severe, meaning pain [Formula: see text]/10 using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). The PD was analyzed via software created for this research, called “Pain Distribution Application”. Results: A statistically significant positive correlation between CSI and PD to the lower extremity OA (hip and knee) ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) was found. The distribution of pain has a linear correlation with the results in CSI, of patients who tested positive for CS, i.e. with a score of [Formula: see text]. Conclusions: As the distribution of pain on the surface of the body (diffusion) increases, so does the score of people who test positive for CSI. Our results showed that calculating the distribution of pain with our application may have a utility as a CS screening tool. The PD threshold of 10% of the body area is an index for CS for chronic pain lower limb OA patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Zhun Gong ◽  
Lichao Yu ◽  
Jonathan W Schooler

<p class="tgt"><em>To investigate the relationship of resilience, positive emotions and mental health, and the relationship of resilience, positive emotion and three sub-dimensions of mental health: self-affirmation, depression and anxiety. In this study, the existing cross-sectional data, select the Beijing Forestry University data as samples. In this study, questionnaire survey a random sample of 199 undergraduate students of Beijing Forestry University, they uniform application three Scale Surveying, PANAS, CD-RISC, GHQ-20. According from the study, (1) resilience, positive mood and general health are related where resilience and positive emotions between the resilience. General psychological health, positive emotions and general mental health</em><em>?</em><em>it is positively correlated. (2) Resilience and self-affirmation exists, positive correlation with depression and anxiety, respectively negative correlation. Between positive emotions and self-affirmation the positive correlation with anxiety negative correlation. (3) Part mediating effect of positive emotions exist between resilience and self-affirmation, resilience can be made to self-affirmation prediction coefficient from 0.042 down to 0.036. Therefore, this study concluded that resilience undergraduates can have an impact on mental health through the intermediary variable positive emotions.</em></p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-200
Author(s):  
Javaria Mukhtar ◽  
Muhammad Hussain ◽  
Kousar Perveen ◽  
Muhammad Afzal ◽  
Syed Amir Gilani

Inter-professional learning is helpful for students to identify other professionals for team work and collaboration which results in improved patient care out come and also improve Communication among health professionals and patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between readiness and perception of students towards inter-professional learning. A correlation, cross-sectional study was done with Two hundred and eighty five undergraduate Nursing and Paramedical students from Jan, 2018 to May, 2018. Convenient sampling was used to collect data. The Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) were used to measure the readiness and perception of students regarding inter-professional leaning. The data were analyzed using software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (Version 21). Spearman rho correlation test was used to explore the relationship of variables. The results showed statically significant positive correlation between the readiness and Perception of students regarding inter-professional learning (p=.000). This study indicated that there is strong positive correlation between readiness and perception of students towards inter-professional learning but students have least response towards team work and collaboration. Study suggests that inter-professional education should introduce in the curriculum of nursing and paramedical students to promote team work and share learning.Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 5, Issue-3: 192-200


2020 ◽  
pp. 156918612092660
Author(s):  
Haruka Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuya Takeda ◽  
Soichiro Koyama ◽  
Keisuke Morishima ◽  
Yuichi Hirakawa ◽  
...  

Background Previous studies have reported a relationship between upper limb motor function and activities of daily living. However, their relationship after removing the influence of lower limb motor function has not been clarified. Objective This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb and total Functional Independence Measure motor score and between Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb and each item contained in Functional Independence Measure motor score after eliminating the influence of the motor function of the affected lower limb. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included 58 subacute stroke patients. To investigate the relationship between the Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb and total Functional Independence Measure motor score before and after removing the influence of Fugl-Meyer assessment lower limb, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and partial correlation analysis were used. Additionally, the relationship between Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb and each item of Functional Independence Measure motor score after removing the influence was assessed. Results Before removing the influence of Fugl-Meyer assessment lower limb, Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb was strongly correlated with total Functional Independence Measure motor score (r = 0.74, p < 0.001). However, it became weak after removing the influence (r = 0.27, p = 0.04). Regarding each item of Functional Independence Measure motor score, Fugl-Meyer assessment upper limb was correlated with grooming (r = 0.27, p = 0.04), bathing (r = 0.28, p = 0.03), dressing upper body (r = 0.33, p = 0.01), dressing lower body (r = 0.31, p = 0.02), and stair-climbing (r = 0.31, p = 0.02) after removing the influence. Conclusion These findings suggest that the relationship between the upper limb motor function and activities of daily living is strongly influenced by lower limb motor function.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (Supl 1) ◽  
pp. 96S
Author(s):  
Henrique Mansur ◽  
Guilherme Gonçalves Feijó Carvalho ◽  
Isnar Moreira de Castro Júnior

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory process of multifactorial etiology that affects the origin of the plantar fascia and surrounding structures. A difference in length between lower limbs is relatively common within the population and can sometimes cause changes in biomechanics and symptoms. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship between lower limb dysmetria and plantar fasciitis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed to measure the length of the lower limbs by scanometry in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Other risk factors, such as body mass index, foot shape and the presence of plantar calcaneal spur, were also assessed in foot radiographs. Results: Of the 54 patients included in the study, 44.4% were men, and the mean age was 50.38 (23-73 years); 81.5% had pain in one foot, and 53.7% had feet that were considered plantigrade. We observed dysmetria in 88.9% of the sample, with a mean of 0.749 cm (SD ±0.63). In addition, 46.3% feet with pain showed calcaneal spurs on the radiographs. Conclusion: Approximately 90% of patients showed lower-limb dysmetria and, in most cases, the side with the shorter limb was affected by plantar fasciitis


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Debenham ◽  
William I. Gibson ◽  
Mervyn J. Travers ◽  
Amity C. Campbell ◽  
Garry T. Allison

Context:Eccentric exercises are increasingly being used to treat lower-limb musculoskeletal conditions such as Achilles tendinopathy. Despite widespread clinical application and documented efficacy, mechanisms underpinning clinical benefit remain unclear. Positive adaptations in motor performance are a potential mechanism.Objective:To investigate how an eccentric loading intervention influences measures of stretch-shortening-cycle (SSC) behavior during a hopping task.Design:Within-subjects repeated-measures observational study.Setting:University motion-analysis laboratory.Participants:Healthy adults.Interventions:A single intervention of 5 sets of 10 eccentric plantar-flexion contractions at 6 repetitions maximum using a commercial seated calf-raise machine.Main Outcome Measures:Lower-limb stiffness, sagittal-plane ankle kinematics, and temporal muscle activity of the agonist (soleus) and antagonist (tibialis anterior) muscles, measured during submaximal hopping on a custom-built sledge-jump system.Results:Eccentric loading altered ankle kinematics during submaximal hopping; peak angle shifted to a less dorsiflexed position by 2.9° and ankle angle precontact shifted by 4.4° (P < .001). Lower-limb stiffness increased from 5.9 to 6.8 N/m (P < .001), while surface EMG measures of soleus occurred 14–44% earlier (P < .001) after the loading intervention.Conclusions:These findings suggest that eccentric loading alters SSC behavior in a manner reflective of improved motor performance. Decreased ankle excursion, increased lower-limb stiffness, and alterations in motor control may represent a positive adaptive response to eccentric loading. These findings support the theory that mechanisms underpinning eccentric loading for tendinopathy may in part be due to improved “buffering” of the tendon by the neuromuscular system.


2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
John J. McMahon ◽  
Paul Comfort ◽  
Stephen Pearson

2021 ◽  
pp. 030802262110300
Author(s):  
Haruka Yamamoto ◽  
Kazuya Takeda ◽  
Soichiro Koyama ◽  
Keisuke Morishima ◽  
Yuichi Hirakawa ◽  
...  

Introduction Upper limb motor function and activities of daily living (ADL) are related in chronic stroke patients. This study investigated this relationship after removal of the influence of motor function of the affected lower limb, which until now has remained unclear. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included 53 patients with chronic stroke. Upper and lower limb motor function and ADL were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment of the upper (FMA-UL) and lower limbs (FMA-LL) and functional independence measure motor score (FIM-M). To clarify the relationship between FMA-UL and total FIM-M before and after removal of the influence of FMA-LL, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and partial correlation analysis were used. The relationship between FMA-UL and each item of FIM-M after removal of the influence of FMA-LL was assessed using partial correlation analysis. Results Before the influence of FMA-LL was removed, FMA-UL was moderately to well correlated with total FIM-M. This became weak after the influence was removed. Regarding each item of FIM-M, FMA-UL was correlated with dressing (upper body), toileting, and walking or wheelchair after removal of the influence. Conclusion The relationship between upper limb motor function and ADL is strongly influenced by lower limb motor function.


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