Relationship between Trunk Position Sense and Trunk Control in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and Aim. Children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) have impaired trunk control. Joint position sense, a component of proprioception, plays a crucial role in maintaining spinal mobility and stability. The current study is aimed at analysing the relationship between trunk control and trunk position sense in children with spastic CP. Methods. In this study, 24 children with spastic CP aged between 8 and 15 years were recruited. They were classified based on their functional performance using Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Trunk control and trunk position sense were assessed using the trunk control measurement scale (TCMS) and digital goniometer, respectively. The correlation between these variables was tested using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Results. Significant negative correlation was found between trunk position sense and TCMS score. Similarly, a significant moderate correlation was found between trunk position sense and GMFCS. A strong negative correlation was also found between GMFCS and TCMS. Conclusion. Children with spastic CP with better trunk position sense had better trunk control. Similarly, children with higher functional performance had better trunk control and lesser error in trunk position sense. The current findings imply the relevance of proprioceptive training of the trunk for enhancing trunk motor control in children with spastic CP.

Multisensory contribution in visuospatial orientation: an interaction between neck and trunk proprioception

A coherent perception of spatial orientation is key in maintaining postural control. To achieve this the brain must access sensory inputs encoding both the body and the head position and integrate them with incoming visual information. Here we isolated the contribution of proprioception to verticality perception and further investigated whether changing the body position without moving the head can modulate visual dependence—the extent to which an individual relies on visual cues for spatial orientation. Spatial orientation was measured in ten healthy individuals [6 female; 25–47 years (SD 7.8 years)] using a virtual reality based subjective visual vertical (SVV) task. Individuals aligned an arrow to their perceived gravitational vertical, initially against a static black background (10 trials), and then in other conditions with clockwise and counterclockwise background rotations (each 10 trials). In all conditions, subjects were seated first in the upright position, then with trunk tilted 20° to the right, followed by 20° to the left while the head was always aligned vertically. The SVV error was modulated by the trunk position, and it was greater when the trunk was tilted to the left compared to right or upright trunk positions (p < 0.001). Likewise, background rotation had an effect on SVV errors as these were greater with counterclockwise visual rotation compared to static background and clockwise roll motion (p < 0.001). Our results show that the interaction between neck and trunk proprioception can modulate how visual inputs affect spatial orientation.

Test Re-test Reliability of Single and Multijoint Strength Properties in Female Australian Footballers

Purpose To examine the test re-test reliability of isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of hip adduction (ADDISO), hip abduction (ABDISO), and multijoint leg extension (SQUATISO) in sub-elite female Australian footballers. Methods Data were collected from 24 sub-elite female Australian footballers (age 22.6 ± 4.5 years; height 169.4 ± 5.5 cm; body mass 66.6 ± 8.0 kg; 4.5 ± 4.4 years sport-specific training; 2.5 ± 2.0 years unstructured resistance training) from the same club on two non-consecutive days. Participants performed three isometric MVCs of ADDISO, ABDISO, and SQUATISO. The SQUATISO was performed at 140° knee flexion with a vertical trunk position and ADDISO and ABDISO measures were performed in a supine position at 60° of knee flexion and 60° hip flexion. Reliability was assessed using paired t tests and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), typical error (TE), and coefficient of variation (CV%) with 95% CI. Results SQUATISO peak force (ICC .95; CV% 4.1), ABDISO for left, right, and sum (ICC .90–.92; CV% 5.0–5.7), and ADDISO for left, right, and sum (ICC .86–.91; CV% 6.2–6.9) were deemed acceptably reliable based on predetermined criteria (ICC ≥ .8 and CV% ≤ 10). Conclusion SQUATISO, ABDISO, and ADDISO tests demonstrated acceptable reliability for the assessment of peak force in sub-elite female Australian footballers, suggesting these assessments are suitable for muscle strength testing and monitoring adaptations to training.

Test re-test reliability of single and multijoint strength properties in female Australian footballers

Purpose: To examine the test re-test reliability of isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of hip adduction (ADDISO), hip abduction (ABDISO), and multijoint leg extension (SQUATISO) in sub-elite female Australian footballers. Methods: Data were collected from 24 sub-elite female Australian footballers (age: 22.6±4.5 y; height: 169.4±5.5 cm; body mass: 66.6±8.0 kg; 4.5±4.4 y sport-specific training; 2.5±2.0 y unstructured resistance training) from the same club on two non-consecutive days. Participants performed 3 isometric MVCs of ADDISO, ABDISO and SQUATISO. The SQUATISO was performed at 140° knee flexion with a vertical trunk position and ADDISO and ABDISO measures were performed in a supine position at 60° of knee flexion and 60° hip flexion. Reliability was assessed using paired T-tests and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), typical error (TE) and coefficient of variation (CV%) with 95% CI. Results: SQUATISO peak force (ICC: .95; CV%: 4.1), ABDISO for left, right and sum (ICC: .90 – .92; CV%: 5.0 – 5.7), and ADDISO for left, right and sum (ICC: .86 - .91; CV%: 6.2 – 6.9) were deemed acceptably reliable based on predetermined criteria (ICC ≥ .8 and CV% ≤ 10). Conclusion: SQUATISO, ABDISO and ADDISO tests demonstrated acceptable reliability for the assessment of peak force in sub-elite female Australian footballers, suggesting these assessments are suitable for muscle strength testing and monitoring adaptations to training.

High physical activity vs. quality of the trunk position and the efficiency of core muscles among young males

Introduction: Physical activity is considered to be one of the keystones of a healthy lifestyle and an indispensable condition for correct body posture. The purpose of the study was to check the body posture of young males with above-average physical activity and how the position of the trunk changes after extending the arms forward. The frequency and intensity of back pain among males in the study were also analyzed. Material and methods: The study involved 50 young, healthy males, whose high daily physical activity was confirmed by the IPAQ questionnaire. Body height and weight were checked, and BMI was calculated. The position of the trunk in three planes was examined using the ultrasonic Zebris Pointer system. The examination was performed twice: in the habitual standing position and in the position taken from the Matthiass test: standing position with the arms in front of the trunk (90o). The data was prepared in the Statistica v13 program. Results: The male participants were characterized by an incorrect depth of physiological curvatures of the spine and asymmetry of the position of the shoulder and pelvic girdles in the frontal plane. Extending the arms forward in a standing position resulted in flatter thoracic kyphosis, rounder lumbar lordosis and tilting the trunk backwards. Periodic pain sensation in the lumbar spine was reported by approximately 60% of participants. It was a mild pain that did not require painkillers. There were no significant relationships between the quality of the trunk position and pains in the lumbar region. Conclusions: High physical activity turned out to be insufficient to ensure correct body posture and efficiency of core muscles. Postural education should be a permanent element of health promotion programs aimed at increasing the quality of life.

Influence of Anticipation and Motor-Motor Task Performance on Cutting Biomechanics in Healthy Men

Context Biomechanical analyses of cutting tasks have demonstrated kinematic differences associated with the noncontact knee-injury risk when the movement direction is unanticipated. Motor-motor dual tasks occur within dynamic environments and change the demand for attentional resources needed to complete athletic maneuvers, which may contribute to injury risk. Objective To investigate the influence of anticipation and motor-motor task performance on cutting biomechanics. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants A total of 32 healthy, recreationally active men (age = 23.1 ± 3.6 years, height = 180.0 ± 7.0 cm, mass = 81.3 ± 17.3 kg) who self-reported regular participation in cutting sports. Intervention(s) Participants performed a 45° side-step cut on the dominant limb in a random order of conditions: anticipation (anticipated, unanticipated) and task (no ball throw, ball fake, ball throw). Main Outcome Measure(s) Triplanar trunk, hip, and knee angles were assessed throughout the stance phase using 3-dimensional motion capture. Data were analyzed using a time series of means calculated from initial contact to toe-off (0%–100%) with 90% confidence intervals. Mean differences between conditions were identified as regions of nonoverlapping confidence intervals, and those that occurred during the region of peak vertical ground reaction force (0%–25%) are presented. Results Regardless of anticipation, attending to a ball (ball throw) resulted in more trunk extension (range = 2.9°–3.7°) and less lateral trunk flexion toward the cutting direction (range = 5.2°–5.9°). Planning to attend to a ball (ball fake) resulted in less lateral trunk flexion toward the cutting direction (4.7°). During unanticipated cutting, more trunk rotation away from the cutting direction was observed when attending to a ball (range = 5.3°–7.1°). The interaction of anticipation and task had a similar influence on sagittal- and frontal-plane trunk position. Conclusions Motor-motor task performance and its interaction with anticipation induced an upright, neutral trunk position during side-step cutting, which has been associated with the risk for noncontact knee injury. Promoting task complexity during rehabilitation and injury-prevention programs may better prepare individuals to succeed when performing high-risk athletic maneuvers.

High-impact Routines to Ameliorate Trunk and Lower Limbs Flexibility in Women

Several types of routines and methods have been experimented to gain neuro/muscular advantages, in terms of overall range of motion, in athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of different routines on trunk- and lower limbs flexibility in a sample of young women. In a randomized-crossover fashion, eleven subjects underwent to: hamstrings stretching [S]; hamstrings stretching plus whole-body vibration [S+WBV]; partial-body cryotherapy [Cryo]; rest [Control]. Standing hamstrings stretch performance and sit-and-reach amplitude resulted to be improved with [S+WBV] compared to all other protocols (p<0.05). [Cryo] ameliorated the active knee extension performance with respect to all other interventions (p<0.05). These flexibility improvements were obtained without a loss in the trunk position sense proprioception. These results represent the first evidence that a single session of either vibration or cryotherapy can ameliorate flexibility without losing the trunk position sense proprioception in young women.

Effects of Self-Selected Step Length and Trunk Position on Joint Kinetics in Highly Physically Fit Older Adults

The causes of age-related differences in lower-extremity joint moments and powers are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of highly physically active older adults walking with (1) a step length similar to young adults and (2) an upright trunk posture, on hip and ankle joint kinetics. The authors hypothesized that, compared with their self-selected walking mechanics, older adults would exhibit decreased hip kinetics and increased ankle kinetics when prescribed a young adult step length, and would exhibit decreased hip extension moments when maintaining an upright trunk posture during walking. A total of 12 active older adults (67 [5] y) and 13 active young adults (21 [3] y) walked at 1.3 m/s. The older adults also walked at 1.3 m/s with step lengths prescribed from height-matched young adults and, in a separate condition, walked with an upright trunk. The older adults did not display larger ankle kinetics or smaller hip kinetics in either condition compared to walking with a self-selected step length. These findings indicate that step length and trunk position do not primarily contribute to age-related differences in kinetics in highly active older adults and should serve as a starting point for investigating alternative explanations.