Effects of Dancer-Specific Biomechanics on Adolescent Ballet Dancers' Posture En Pointe and Factors Related to Pointe Readiness: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: There are no universally accepted requirements or uniform protocols to determine when dancers can safely commence dancing en pointe (shod relevé). The purpose of this study was to examine dancer-specific biomechanics of adolescent pointe dancers and explore factors that may help determine pointe readiness.

Methods: Dancers (n=26; median age 14 yrs [IQR=13-16]) were stratified into two groups based on the ability to stand on the pointe shoe box as per a plumb line (Group 1: on the box; Group 2: not on the box) during parallel, shod relevé.

Determinants of healing and readiness for prosthetic fitting after transtibial amputation: Integrative literature review.

Background: Healing after an amputation is a critical step in the recovery process. Delayed wound healing can lead to deconditioning and flexion contractures which reduce a patient's ability to use a prosthesis, ambulate independently, and return to community participation. The purpose of this integrative literature review was to determine the evidence-based physiological factors, comorbidities, postoperative management, and outcome measures associated with healing after transtibial amputation and address how these factors clinically guide readiness for prosthetic intervention.

Comparing Temporospatial Performance During Brisk and Self-Paced Walking by Men With Osteomyoplastic Transfemoral Amputation and Controls Using Pressure and Muscle Activation Peak Times.

Background: The aim of osteomyoplastic transfemoral amputation (OTFA) is to produce sustained, robust prosthetic gait performance by residuum reconstructing. A better understanding of residuum-socket interface pressures (RSI) and residuum muscle activation should uniquely reveal gait stability to better inform long-term rehabilitation goals.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to characterize RSI pressures and residuum muscle activation in men with OTFA while walking at two speeds and compare temporospatial muscle activation with intact controls.

Applications of Biomechanical Foot Models to Evaluate Dance Movements Using Three-Dimensional Motion Capture: A Review of the Literature.

Dance movement requires excessive, repetitive range of motion (ROM) at the foot-ankle complex, possibly contributing to the high rate of injury among dancers. However, we know little about foot biomechanics during dance movements. Researchers are using three-dimensional (3D) motion capture systems to study the in vivo kinematics of joint segments more frequently in dance-medicine research, warranting a literature review and quality assessment evaluation.