Observe Athlete’s Ankle Pain and Ankle Joint Muscle Characteristics Based on Microscope Images

Objective. To observe the characteristics of ankle pain and ankle joint muscle by microscope. Methods. In a sports university, 15 athletes above grade 2 were randomly selected as the experimental group, and 15 nonathletes were randomly selected as the control group. The experiment mainly included foot shape test, standard scaphoid height test, ankle range of motion test, ankle muscle emg test, and other experimental procedures. Medical microscopic image processing is a new technology developed in the past thirty years, which has brought great progress for mankind to understand and transform nature. Among them, the image processing and recognition of tumor cell microscopic images are one of the research focuses on the use of computers to process and recognize medical images. Results. In the test of ankle range of motion, when the angular velocity was the same as 60°/s, compared with the control group, the difference value of bilateral flexor peak moment in the experimental group was large, and the difference between the two groups was significant ( P < 0.05 ), with statistical significance. As the angular velocity dropped from 240°/s to 60°/s, 30 members of the experimental group and control group also experienced a decrease in the bilateral ankle isokyclic muscles, reflecting their lack of ankle strength. On the other hand, the muscle strength of the ankle joint in the experimental group was relatively small, and the difference between the two groups was significant ( P < 0.05 ). During the exercise, some members of the experimental group suffered from ankle pain, which resulted in insufficient strength of the muscles of the ankle joint, resulting in the interruption of the experiment. In the emg test of ankle muscles, the effective discharge values of preexcitation current of tibial anterior muscle before and after exercise were 104.6 ± 26.5 and 129.2 ± 38.1 , respectively, with significant difference and statistical significance. In the foot morphology test and the standard scaphoid height test, the difference between the two groups was not significant ( P > 0.05 ), and there was no statistical significance. Conclusion. Microscope based on athlete’s foot and ankle pain and ankle muscle characteristics to improve the accuracy of the observation, with the help of a microscope, you can see the details of a doctor are invisible to the naked eye and can record the relevant data in time in order to observe the late, for athlete’s foot and ankle pain relief and enhanced ankle muscles provide data support.

Transtibial limb loss does not increase metabolic cost in three-dimensional computer simulations of human walking

Loss of a lower limb below the knee, i.e., transtibial limb loss, and subsequently walking with a prosthesis, is generally thought to increase the metabolic cost of walking vs. able-bodied controls. However, high-functioning individuals with limb loss such as military service members often walk with the same metabolic cost as controls. Here we used a 3-D computer model and optimal control simulation approach to test the hypothesis that transtibial limb loss in and of itself causes an increase in metabolic cost of walking. We first generated N = 36 simulations of walking at 1.45 m/s using a “pre-limb loss” model, with two intact biological legs, that minimized deviations from able-bodied experimental walking mechanics with minimum muscular effort. We then repeated these simulations using a “post-limb loss” model, with the right leg’s ankle muscles and joints replaced with a simple model of a passive transtibial prosthesis. No other changes were made to the post-limb loss model’s remaining muscles or musculoskeletal parameters compared to the pre-limb loss case. Post-limb loss, the gait deviations on average increased by only 0.17 standard deviations from the experimental means, and metabolic cost did not increase (3.58 ± 0.10 J/m/kg pre-limb loss vs. 3.59 ± 0.12 J/m/kg post-limb loss, p = 0.65). The results suggest that transtibial limb loss does not directly lead to an increase in metabolic cost, even when deviations from able-bodied gait mechanics are minimized. High metabolic costs observed in individuals with transtibial limb loss may be due to secondary changes in strength or general fitness after limb loss, modifiable prosthesis issues, or to prioritization of factors that affect locomotor control other than gait deviations and muscular effort.

A wearable electromyography-controlled functional electrical stimulation system improves balance, gait function, and symmetry in older adults

BACKGROUND: Wearable technologies have been developed for healthy aging. The technology for electromyography (EMG)-controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) systems has been developed, but research on how helpful it is in daily life has been insufficient. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the EMG-controlled FES system on muscle morphology, balance, and gait in older adults. METHODS: Twenty-nine older adults were evaluated under two randomly assigned conditions (non-FES and FES assists). Muscle morphology, balance, gait function, and muscle effort during gait were measured using ultrasonography, a physical test, a gait analysis system, and EMG. RESULTS: The EMG-controlled FES system improved gait speed by 11.1% and cadence by 15.6% (P< 0.01). The symmetry ratio of the bilateral gastrocnemius was improved by 9.9% in the stance phase and 11.8% in the swing phase (P< 0.05). The degrees of coactivation of the knee and ankle muscles were reduced by 45.1% and 50.5%, respectively (P< 0.05). Balance improved by 6–10.7% (P< 0.01). CONCLUSION: The EMG-controlled FES system is useful for balance and gait function by increasing muscle symmetry and decreasing muscle coactivation during walking in older adults.

Effects of a Targeted Exercise Program on Inter-Leg Asymmetries in Patients with Patellofemoral Pain

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is often associated with impaired muscle strength, flexibility, and stability. It has been suggested that inter-leg asymmetries have an important role in increasing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries, including PFP. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify significant asymmetries and determine the effects of a symmetry targeted exercise program in patients with PFP. Eighteen patients aged 13 to 54 years (24.17 ± 12.52 years) with PFP participated in this study. Strength, flexibility and stability outcomes of the trunk, hip, knee and ankle muscles were assessed. A single-group pretest–posttest design was used to assess changes in inter-leg and agonist–antagonist asymmetries resulting from the 8-week period of the supervised exercise program. Results indicated a significant improvement in inter-leg symmetry regarding bilateral stance in a semi-squat position (p = 0.020, d = 0.61, df = 17) and ankle plantarflexion (p = 0.003, d = 0.32, df = 17) and ankle dorsiflexion strength (p < 0.001, d = 0.46, df = 17). In addition, the ratio of ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion (p = 0.036, d = 1.14, df = 17) and hip extension/flexion (p = 0.031, d = 0.94, df = 16) changed significantly during the intervention period. To our knowledge, this was the first study to evaluate inter-leg asymmetries resulting from a period of a supervised exercise program. The results indicate that an exercise program focusing on individual asymmetries may influence specific deficits and contribute to better rehabilitation outcomes.

Ultrasound Changes of Peri-Ankle Muscles in Subjects with Unilateral Chronic Ankle Instability

BACKGROUND Ankle sprain is a common problem among active people and athletes. About 80 % of the people and 73 % of the athletes, who once had an ankle sprain, have experienced a recurrence of ankle sprain during their work or sport. Chronic ankle instability is described as a repeated ankle sprain, ankle giving way, pain and swelling and functional decline. Due to impaired muscle strength and impaired neuromuscular and postural control, it seems that the morphological criteria of peri-ankle muscles have changed. The study aimed to identify the morphological and muscle performance components of peroneus longus (PL) muscle in subjects with injured and intact sides of the chronic ankle sprain. Furthermore, the difference in ultrasonographic characteristics of PL muscle between genders, and the effect of the dominant limb on PL muscle ultrasonographic characteristics were investigated. METHODS The thickness, width and cross-sectional area (CSA) as morphological components and muscle performance components like fiber length, and pennation angle of PL muscle of the injured were calculated and compared to the intact side of the control in 25 subjects with unilateral chronic ankle instability via ultrasonography. RESULTS The findings of this study indicated a significant difference in the morphological component of PL muscle between both sides with no statistically significant difference in the muscle performance component of PL muscle. CONCLUSIONS Awareness of these changes in the injured side muscle morphology may lead to better clinical decision-making to design the best treatment plan by the physiotherapist. KEY WORDS Ankle Sprain, Chronic Ankle Instability, Ankle Muscle Ultrasonography

Effects of vibration rolling on ankle range of motion and ankle muscle stiffness in stroke patients: a crossover study

Background: Vibration stimulation has emerged as a treatment tool to aid spasticity during physical therapy. However, the benefits of vibration rolling (VR) on interventions for stroke patients are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of VR intervention on the range of motion (ROM) and ankle stiffness in stroke patients. Methods: In this crossover design study, seven stroke patients completed two test sessions (one VR and one non-VR [NVR]) in a randomized order, with 48 h of rest between each session. Participants completed intervention and its measurements on the same day. The measurements included ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion ROM and stiffness of ankle muscles, including the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius lateral and medial muscles. Results: After VR, ankle dorsiflexion ROM, gastrocnemius lateral stiffness, and gastrocnemius medial stiffness improved significantly (all P < 0.05). After NVR, only gastrocnemius lateral stiffness improved significantly (P < 0.05). Furthermore, compared with the change values for ankle dorsiflexion ROM and gastrocnemius lateral stiffness, VR showed a more significant difference than NVR (P < 0.05).Conclusions: VR improved ankle ROM and muscle stiffness. Therefore, we suggest that practitioners should consider VR as an intervention to increase dorsiflexion ROM and gastrocnemius stiffness in stroke patients.