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

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.

scholarly journals Unilateral and Bilateral Strength Asymmetry among Young Elite Athletes of Various Sports

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (12) ◽  
pp. 683
Author(s):  
Maros Kalata ◽  
Tomas Maly ◽  
Mikulas Hank ◽  
Jakub Michalek ◽  
David Bujnovsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Young Athletes ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Strength Asymmetry ◽  
Main Factor ◽  
Objective Type

Background and objective: Type of physical activity may influence morphological and muscular asymmetries in the young population. However, less is known about the size of this effect when comparing various sports. The aim of this study was to identify the degree of bilateral asymmetry (BA) and the level of unilateral ratio (UR) between isokinetic strength of knee extensors (KE) and flexors (KF) among athletes of three different types of predominant locomotion in various sports (symmetric, asymmetric and hybrid). Material and methods: The analyzed group consisted of young elite athletes (n = 50). The maximum peak muscle torque of the KE and KF in both the dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NL) lower limb during concentric muscle contraction at an angular velocity of 60°·s−1 was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. Results: Data analysis showed a significant effect of the main factor (the type of sport) on the level of monitored variables (p = 0.004). The type of sport revealed a significant difference in the bilateral ratio (p = 0.01). The group of symmetric and hybrid sports achieved lower values (p = 0.01) of BA in their lower limb muscles than those who played asymmetric sports. The hybrid sports group achieved higher UR values (p = 0.01) in both lower limbs. Conclusions: The results indicate that sports with predominantly symmetrical, asymmetrical, and hybrid types of locomotion affected the size of the BA, as well as the UR between KE and KF in both legs in young athletes. We recommend paying attention to regular KE and KF strength diagnostics in young athletes and optimizing individual compensatory exercises if a higher ratio of strength asymmetry is discovered.

Deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscle activity associated with load release while standing in individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (8) ◽  
pp. 1996-2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidehito Tomita ◽  
Yoshiki Fukaya ◽  
Kenji Totsuka ◽  
Yuri Tsukahara
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Palsy ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Muscle Activity ◽  
Erector Spinae ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Postural Muscle ◽  
Load Release

This study aimed to determine whether individuals with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) have deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscle activity. Nine individuals with SDCP (SDCP group, 3 female and 6 male, 13–24 yr of age) and nine age- and sex-matched individuals without disability (control group) participated in this study. Participants stood on a force platform, which was used to measure the position of the center of pressure (CoP), while holding a light or heavy load in front of their bodies. They then released the load by abducting both shoulders. Surface electromyograms were recorded from the rectus abdominis, erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), medial hamstring (MH), tibialis anterior (TA), and gastrocnemius (GcM) muscles. In the control group, anticipatory inhibition before load release and load-related modulation of the inhibition were observed in all the dorsal muscles recorded (ES, MH, and GcM). In the SDCP group, similar results were obtained in the trunk muscle (ES) but not in the lower limb muscles (MH and GcM), although individual differences were seen, especially in MH. Anticipatory activation of the ventral lower limb muscles (RF and TA) and load-related modulation of the activation were observed in both participant groups. CoP path length during load release was longer in the SDCP group than in the control group. The present findings suggest that individuals with SDCP exhibit deficits in anticipatory inhibition of postural muscles at the dorsal part of the lower limbs, which is likely to result in a larger disturbance of postural equilibrium.

scholarly journals 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

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Stefan Szczepan ◽  
Zofia Wróblewska ◽  
Andrzej Klarowicz ◽  
Ryszard Błacha ◽  
Marek Rejman
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Retention Test ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Verbal Feedback ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Cyclic Movements ◽  
Extrinsic Feedback

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.

Develop a Flexible Regenerative Exoskeleton to Assist Walking

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Longhan Xie ◽  
Xiaodong Li
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Metabolic Cost ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Lower Limb Exoskeleton ◽  
Negative Work ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Assisting Device

During walking, human lower limbs accelerate and decelerate alternately, during which period the human body does positive and negative work, respectively. Muscles provide power to all motions and cost metabolic energy both in accelerating and decelerating the lower limbs. In this work, the lower-limb biomechanics of walking was analyzed and it revealed that if the negative work performed during deceleration can be harnessed using some assisting device to then assist the acceleration movement of the lower limb, the total metabolic cost of the human body during walking can be reduced. A flexible lower-limb exoskeleton was then proposed; it is worn in parallel to the lower limbs to assist human walking without consuming external power. The flexible exoskeleton consists of elastic and damping components that are similar to physiological structure of a human lower limb. When worn on the lower limb, the exoskeleton can partly replace the function of the lower limb muscles and scavenge kinetic energy during lower limb deceleration to assist the acceleration movement. Besides, the generator in the exoskeleton, serving as a damping component, can harvest kinetic energy to produce electricity. A prototype of the flexible exoskeleton was developed, and experiments were carried out to validate the analysis. The experiments showed that the exoskeleton could reduce the metabolic cost by 3.12% at the walking speed of 4.5 km/h.

scholarly journals Exoskeleton for Gait Rehabilitation: Effects of Assistance, Mechanical Structure, and Walking Aids on Muscle Activations

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 2868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice De Luca ◽  
Amy Bellitto ◽  
Sergio Mandraccia ◽  
Giorgia Marchesi ◽  
Laura Pellegrino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Gait Training ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Gait Rehabilitation ◽  
Mechanical Structure ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Muscle Activations

Several exoskeletons have been developed and increasingly used in clinical settings for training and assisting locomotion. These devices allow people with severe motor deficits to regain mobility and sustain intense and repetitive gait training. However, three factors might affect normal muscle activations during walking: the assistive forces that are provided during walking, the crutches or walker that are always used in combination with the device, and the mechanical structure of the device itself. To investigate these effects, we evaluated eight healthy volunteers walking with the Ekso, which is a battery-powered, wearable exoskeleton. They walked supported by either crutches or a walker under five different assistance modalities: bilateral maximum assistance, no assistance, bilateral adaptive assistance, and unilateral adaptive assistance on each leg. Participants also walked overground without the exoskeleton. Surface electromyography was recorded bilaterally, and the statistical parametric mapping approach and muscle synergies analysis were used to investigate differences in muscular activity across different walking conditions. The lower limb muscle activations while walking with the Ekso were not influenced by the use of crutches or walker aids. Compared to normal walking without robotic assistance, the Ekso reduced the amplitude of activation for the distal lower limb muscles while changing the timing for the others. This depended mainly on the structure of the device, and not on the type or level of assistance. In fact, the presence of assistance did not change the timing of the muscle activations, but instead mainly had the effect of increasing the level of activation of the proximal lower limb muscles. Surprisingly, we found no significant changes in the adaptive control with respect to a maximal fixed assistance that did not account for subjects’ performance. These are important effects to take into careful considerations in clinics where these devices are used for gait rehabilitation in people with neurological diseases.

scholarly journals Asymmetry and changes in the neuromuscular profile of short-track athletes as a result of strength training

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261265
Author(s):  
Paweł Pakosz ◽  
Anna Lukanova-Jakubowska ◽  
Edyta Łuszczki ◽  
Mariusz Gnoiński ◽  
Oscar García-García
Keyword(s):  
Strength Training ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Female Athletes ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Monthly Period ◽  
Track Athletes ◽  
The Right

Background The purpose of this study was to identify the biomedical signals of short-track athletes by evaluating the effects of monthly strength training on changes in their neuromuscular profile, strength, and power parameters of the lower limb muscles. Muscle asymmetry, which can cause a risk of injury, was also evaluated. Methods and results This study involved female athletes, age 18.8 ± 2.7 years, with a height of 162 ± 2.4 cm, and weight of 55.9 ± 3.9 kg. Before and after the monthly preparatory period prior to the season, strength measurements were assessed through the Swift SpeedMat platform, and reactivity of the lower limb muscles was assessed with tensiomyography (TMG). The athletes were also tested before and after the recovery training period. In the test after strength training, all average countermovement jump (CMJ) results improved. Flight time showed an increase with a moderate to large effect, using both legs (5.21%). Among the TMG parameters, time contraction (Tc) changed globally with a decrease (-5.20%). Changes in the results of the test after recovery training were most often not significant. Conclusion A monthly period of strength training changes the neuromuscular profile of short-track female athletes, with no significant differences between the right and left lower limbs.

scholarly journals Effects of Whole-Body Vibration-Assisted Training on Lower Limb Blood Flow in Children With Myelomeningocele

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Szopa ◽  
Małgorzata Domagalska-Szopa ◽  
Andrzej Siwiec ◽  
Ilona Kwiecień-Czerwieniec
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Range Of Motion ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Functional Mobility ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Tibial Arteries

This study investigated the effectiveness of whole-body vibration (WBV) training incorporated into a conventional physiotherapy (PT) program (WBV-assisted training) in improving blood flow in the lower limbs and range of motion in the lower limb joints of children with myelomeningocele (MMC). A total of 31 children with MMC (7–15 years old) underwent a 6 weeks treatment program consisting of 2 weeks of conventional PT followed by 4 weeks of WBV-assisted training. The assessment comprised two parts: evaluation of lower limb joint range of motion and Doppler ultrasonography of the superficial femoral, popliteal, and anterior tibial arteries and was performed three times for each of the participants (at baseline, after 10 sessions of PT but before WBV-assisted training, and after 20 sessions of WBV-assisted training). Our results showed that WBV-assisted training significantly improved lower limb circulation in patients with MMC, increasing velocity and reducing resistivity in all tested arteries. Moreover, WBV-assisted training alleviated lower-extremity contractures, especially of the knee. Thus, WBV-assisted training is effective as an adjunctive rehabilitation program for improving functional mobility in children with MMC.

scholarly journals Influence of Kinesio tape on lower limb muscular activity after knee joint rehabilitation program

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0-0
Author(s):  
HOSSAM ELGAZZAR ◽  
Abdel Basset Abdel gawad ◽  
Abdel-Rahman Ibrahim Akl
Keyword(s):  
Knee Joint ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Rehabilitation Program ◽  
Kinesio Tape

scholarly journals Patterns of lower limb muscular activity and joint moments during directional efforts using a static dynamometer

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Lalumiere ◽  
Cloé Villeneuve ◽  
Cassandra Bellavance ◽  
Michel Goyette ◽  
Daniel Bourbonnais
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Inverse Dynamics ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Joint Moments ◽  
Muscle Groups

Abstract Background Strength and coordination of lower muscle groups typically identified in healthy subjects are two prerequisites to performing functional activities. These physical qualities can be impaired following a neurological insult. A static dynamometer apparatus that measures lower limb joint moments during directional efforts at the foot was developed to recruit different patterns of muscular activity. The objectives of the present study were to 1) validate joint moments estimated by the apparatus, and 2) to characterize lower limb joint moments and muscular activity patterns of healthy subjects during progressive static efforts. Subjects were seated in a semi-reclined position with one foot attached to a force platform interfaced with a laboratory computer. Forces and moments exerted under the foot were computed using inverse dynamics, allowing for the estimation of lower limb joint moments. To achieve the study’s first objective, joint moments were validated by comparing moments of various magnitudes of force applied by turnbuckles on an instrumented leg equipped with strain gauges with those estimated by the apparatus. Concurrent validity and agreement were assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients and Bland and Altman analysis, respectively. For the second objective, joint moments and muscular activity were characterized for five healthy subjects while exerting progressive effort in eight sagittal directions. Lower limb joint moments were estimated during directional efforts using inverse dynamics. Muscular activity of eight muscles of the lower limb was recorded using surface electrodes and further analyzed using normalized root mean square data. Results The joint moments estimated with the instrumented leg were correlated (r > 0.999) with those measured by the dynamometer. Limits of agreement ranged between 8.5 and 19.2% of the average joint moment calculated by both devices. During progressive efforts on the apparatus, joint moments and patterns of muscular activity were specific to the direction of effort. Patterns of muscular activity in four directions were similar to activation patterns reported in the literature for specific portions of gait cycle. Conclusion This apparatus provides valid joint moments exerted at the lower limbs. It is suggested that this methodology be used to recruit muscular activity patterns impaired in neurological populations.

scholarly journals Intermittent Claudication in Physiotherapists’ Practice

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Anna Spannbauer ◽  
Maciej Chwała ◽  
Tomasz Ridan ◽  
Arkadiusz Berwecki ◽  
Piotr Mika ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽  
Intermittent Claudication ◽  
Lower Limb ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Arterial Disease ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles ◽  
Peripheral Arterial

Intermittent claudication is a symptom of atherosclerosis of the lower limbs (peripheral arterial disease (PAD)) and is characterized by pain and cramps of lower limb muscles during exercise. Claudication leads to a reduction in physical activity of patients. PAD is a systemic disease. Atherosclerotic lesions located in the arteries of the lower limbs not only pose the risk of the ischemic limb loss, but above all, they are an important prognostic factor. Patients with claudication are at significant risk of cardiovascular complications such as infarcts or strokes. Comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with intermittent claudication based on the current TASC II (Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease) guidelines, ESC (European Society of Cardiology) guidelines, and AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines includes supervised treadmill training, training on a bicycle ergometer, Nordic Walking, resistance exercises of lower limb muscles, and exercises of upper limbs. A trained, educated, and motivated patient has a chance to improve life quality as well as life expectancy.

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