Context: Manual isometric muscle testing is a common clinical technique used to assess muscle strength. To provide the most accurate data for the test, the muscle being assessed should be at a length in which it produces maximum force. However, there is tremendous variability in the recommended positions and joint angles used to conduct these tests, with few apparent objective data used to position the joint such that muscle-force production is greatest. Objective: To use validated anatomically and biomechanically based musculoskeletal models to identify the optimal joint positions in which to perform manual isometric testing. Design: In silico analysis. Main outcome measure: The joint position which produces maximum muscle force for 49 major limb and trunk muscles. Results: The optimal joint position for performing a manual isometric test was determined. Conclusion: Using objective anatomical models that take into account the force-length properties of muscles, the authors identified joint positions in which net muscle-force production was predicted to be maximal. This data can help health care providers to better assess muscle function when manual isometric strength tests are performed.
Search Results
Optimal Joint Positions for Manual Isometric Muscle Testing
Stefan C. Garcia, Jeffrey J. Dueweke, and Christopher L. Mendias
Physiological Responses, Rating of Perceived Exertion, and Stride Characteristics During Walking on Dry Land and Walking in Water, Both With and Without a Water Current
Kenji Masumoto, Ayako Hamada, Hiro-omi Tomonaga, Kana Kodama, and Noboru Hotta
Context:
Walking in water has been included in rehabilitation programs. However, there is a dearth of information regarding the influence of a water current on physiological responses, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and stride characteristics of subjects while they walk in water.
Objective:
To compare physiological responses, RPE, and stride characteristics of subjects walking in water (with and without a current) with those of subjects walking on dry land.
Design:
Repeated measures.
Setting:
University laboratory.
Participants:
7 male adults (mean age = 21.6 y).
Intervention:
Subjects walked on a treadmill on dry land and on an underwater treadmill immersed to the level of the xiphoid process. The walking speeds in water were set to be half of that on dry land.
Main Outcome Measures:
Oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory-exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE), RPE (for breathing and legs, RPE-Br and RPE-Legs, respectively), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, and stride frequency (SF) were measured. In addition, stride length (SL) was calculated.
Results:
There was no significant difference in the VO2, RER, HR, VE, RPE-Br, and RPE-Legs while walking in water with a current compared with walking on dry land (P > .05). Furthermore, VO2, RER, HR, VE, RPE-Br, RPE-Legs, SF, and SBP while walking in water were significantly higher with a water current than without (P < .05).
Conclusions:
These observations suggest that half the speed should be required to work at the similar metabolic costs and RPE while walking in water with a current, compared with walking on dry land. Furthermore, it was suggested that the physiological responses and RPE would be higher while walking in water with a current than without.
Return to Play in Elite Rugby Union: Application of Global Positioning System Technology in Return-to-Running Programs
Laura C. Reid, Jason R. Cowman, Brian S. Green, and Garrett F. Coughlan
Global positioning systems (GPS) are widely used in sport settings to evaluate the physical demands on players in training and competition. The use of these systems in the design and implementation of rehabilitation and return-to-running programs has not yet been elucidated.
Objective:
To demonstrate the application of GPS technology in the management of return to play in elite-club Rugby Union.
Design:
Case series.
Setting:
Professional Rugby Union club team.
Participants:
8 elite Rugby Union players (age 27.86 ± 4.78 y, height 1.85 ± 0.08 m, weight 99.14 ± 9.96 kg).
Intervention:
Players wore GPS devices for the entire duration of a club game.
Main Outcome Measures:
Variables of locomotion speed and distance were measured.
Results:
Differences in physical demands between playing positions were observed for all variables.
Conclusions:
An analysis of the position-specific physical demands measured by GPS provides key information regarding the level and volume of loads sustained by a player in a game environment. Using this information, sports-medicine practitioners can develop rehabilitation and return-to-running protocols specific to the player position to optimize safe return to play.
Ankle Bracing Alters Coordination and Coordination Variability in Individuals With and Without Chronic Ankle Instability
Adam E. Jagodinsky, Christopher Wilburn, Nick Moore, John W. Fox, and Wendi H. Weimar
Context: Ankle bracing is an effective form of injury prophylaxis implemented for individuals with and without chronic ankle instability, yet mechanisms surrounding bracing efficacy remain in question. Ankle bracing has been shown to invoke biomechanical and neuromotor alterations that could influence lower-extremity coordination strategies during locomotion and contribute to bracing efficacy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle bracing on lower-extremity coordination and coordination dynamics during walking in healthy individuals, ankle sprain copers, and individuals with chronic ankle instability. Design: Mixed factorial design. Setting: Laboratory setting. Participants: Forty-eight recreationally active individuals (16 per group) participated in this cross-sectional study. Intervention: Participants completed 15 trials of over ground walking with and without an ankle brace. Main Outcome Measures: Coordination and coordination variability of the foot–shank, shank–thigh, and foot–thigh were assessed during stance and swing phases of the gait cycle through analysis of segment relative phase and relative phase deviation, respectively. Results: Bracing elicited more synchronous, or locked, motion of the sagittal plane foot–shank coupling throughout swing phase and early stance phase, and more asynchronous motion of remaining foot–shank and foot–thigh couplings during early swing phase. Bracing also diminished coordination variability of foot–shank, foot–thigh, and shank–thigh couplings during swing phase of the gait cycle, indicating greater pattern stability. No group differences were observed. Conclusions: Greater stability of lower-extremity coordination patterns as well as spatiotemporal locking of the foot–shank coupling during terminal swing may work to guard against malalignment at foot contact and contribute to the efficacy of ankle bracing. Ankle bracing may also act antagonistically to interventions fostering functional variability.
Lower-Extremity Muscle Activity During Aquatic and Land Treadmill Running at the Same Speeds
W. Matthew Silvers, Eadric Bressel, D. Clark Dickin, Garry Killgore, and Dennis G. Dolny
Context:
Muscle activation during aquatic treadmill (ATM) running has not been examined, despite similar investigations for other modes of aquatic locomotion and increased interest in ATM running.
Objectives:
The objectives of this study were to compare normalized (percentage of maximal voluntary contraction; %MVC), absolute duration (aDUR), and total (tACT) lower-extremity muscle activity during land treadmill (TM) and ATM running at the same speeds.
Design:
Exploratory, quasi-experimental, crossover design.
Setting:
Athletic training facility.
Participants:
12 healthy recreational runners (age = 25.8 ± 5 y, height = 178.4 ± 8.2 cm, mass = 71.5 ± 11.5 kg, running experience = 8.2 ± 5.3 y) volunteered for participation.
Intervention:
All participants performed TM and ATM running at 174.4, 201.2, and 228.0 m/min while surface electromyographic data were collected from the vastus medialis, rectus femoris, gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and biceps femoris.
Main Outcome Measures:
For each muscle, a 2 × 3 repeated-measures ANOVA was used to analyze the main effects and environment–speed interaction (P ≤ .05) of each dependent variable: %MVC, aDUR, and tACT.
Results:
Compared with TM, ATM elicited significantly reduced %MVC (−44.0%) but increased aDUR (+213.1%) and tACT (+41.9%) in the vastus medialis, increased %MVC (+48.7%) and aDUR (+128.1%) in the rectus femoris during swing phase, reduced %MVC (−26.9%) and tACT (−40.1%) in the gastrocnemius, increased aDUR (+33.1%) and tACT (+35.7%) in the tibialis anterior, and increased aDUR (+41.3%) and tACT (+29.2%) in the biceps femoris. At faster running speeds, there were significant increases in tibialis anterior %MVC (+8.6−15.2%) and tACT (+12.7−17.0%) and rectus femoris %MVC (12.1−26.6%; swing phase).
Conclusion:
No significant environment–speed interaction effects suggested that observed muscle-activity differences between ATM and TM were due to environmental variation, ie, buoyancy (presumed to decrease %MVC) and drag forces (presumed to increase aDUR and tACT) in the water.
Does Blood Flow Restriction Resistance Training Improve Knee-Extensor Strength, Function, and Reduce Patient-Reported Pain? A Critically Appraised Topic
Matthew Zaremba, Joel Martin, and Marcie Fyock-Martin
locomotion test; OA, osteoarthritis; RCT, randomized controlled trial; reps, repetitions; RM, repetition maximum; ROM, range of motion; SSWV, self-selected walking velocity; STS5, sit-to-stand 5 times; TSA, timed stair ascent; TST, timed-stand test; TUG, timed up-and-go test; VAS, visual analog scale; WOMAC
Backward Running on a Negative Slope as a Treatment for Achilles Tendinopathy in Runners: A Feasibility Pilot Study
Shlomo Hammer, Elad Spitzer, and Shmuel Springer
joints. 10 , 11 Specifically, compared with forward locomotion, during BR, the calf muscles minimize their propulsive role and act more to decelerate the body mass, as with eccentric exercise. 12 Furthermore, BR may serve as a training method to enhance sensorimotor control of movement. 11 In a study
Variable Lower Limb Alignment of Clinical Measures With Digital Photographs and the Footscan Pressure System
Figen Govsa, Gkionoul Nteli Chatzioglou, Simin Hepguler, Yelda Pinar, and Ozden Bedre
The human foot complex is a multijoint mechanism that determines the critical interaction between the lower limb and the ground during locomotion. 1 – 3 Any injury, lesion, or neuromuscular disorder of this key element of the lower limb drastically affects the normal interaction between muscles
Therapeutic Elastic Tapes Applied in Different Directions Over the Triceps Surae Do Not Modulate Reflex Excitability of the Soleus Muscle
Igor E.J. Magalhães, Rinaldo A. Mezzarane, and Rodrigo L. Carregaro
al . Neuromechanical interactions between the limbs during human locomotion: an evolutionary perspective with translation to rehabilitation . Exp Brain Res . 2016 ; 234 ( 11 ): 3059 – 3081 . PubMed ID: 27421291 doi:10.1007/s00221-016-4715-4 27421291 10.1007/s00221-016-4715-4 27. Mezzarane RA , Nakajima T
Kinetics and Stabilization of the Tuck Jump Assessment
Lucy S. Kember, Rhodri S. Lloyd, Gregory D. Myer, and Isabel S. Moore
criterion and may also offer greater insight into the validity of the assessment tool as an effective ACL screening method. The stability and consistency of ground reaction forces during locomotion is a critical aspect of kinetic measurements. Previous researchers have investigated the reliability of ground
