Computer-assisted hand-held dynamometer: low-cost instrument for muscle function assessment in rehabilitation medicine.

In rehabilitation medicine, muscle function is assessed during the physical examination of the patient. Although a simple hand-held instrument improves the assessment of static strength, it is rarely used in clinical practice, where dynamic measurements are preferred. A computer-assisted hand-held dynamometer (CAHNDY) has been developed that enables the clinician to measure dynamic muscle function in a standardised manner, using simple (i.

Stiffness control for lower leg muscles in directing external forces.

The role of lower leg muscles is investigated during contact control tasks, in which the external force, applied by the foot on the surface, has to be controlled. Force, position and muscle activation were recorded. All subjects showed a stereotyped activation pattern to accomplish the tasks.

Two strategies of transferring from sit-to-stand; the activation of monoarticular and biarticular muscles.

In this study, two different strategies of rising from a chair were compared, using integrated biomechanical and electromyographic analyses. Nine healthy subjects were instructed to rise using two different strategies: natural sit-to-stand transfer (NSTS) and a sit-to-stand transfer with full flexion of the trunk (FSTS). Sagittal kinematics and ground reaction forces were registered.

Biomechanics and muscular activity during sit-to-stand transfer.

In the present study 10 healthy subjects were measured, performing sit-to-stand transfers in a natural way. Starting position and speed of movement were standardized. Sagittal kinematics, the ground reaction force, and muscle activity of nine leg muscles were recorded.

The application of generalizability theory to reliability assessment: an illustration using isometric force measurements.

Background And Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine the potential use of the generalizability theory for assessing reliability of muscle force measurements in clinical applications. Reliability is expressed in terms of standard error of measurement (SEM) and the indexes derived from the SEM. Using generalizability theory, potential sources of measurement error can be recognized and estimated.

Evaluation of moment-angle curves in isokinetic knee extension.

The purpose of this study was to challenge the notion that the relationship of moment of force to angular velocity, determined in isokinetic knee extension tests, reflects the force-velocity relationship of human knee extensors. For this purpose, maximum-effort isometric knee extension moments were collected at seven different knee joint angles, and maximum-effort isokinetic knee extension moments were measured as a function of knee joint angle at angular velocities of 30, 60, 120, and 210 degrees.s-1.

Diagnostic blocks of the tibial nerve in spastic hemiparesis. Effects on clinical, electrophysiological and gait parameters.

The value of a diagnostic block (DB) of the tibial nerve in 17 hemiparetic patients with gait disturbances was investigated. The purpose of this study was to find instruments that help to select patients who will benefit from a long lasting peripheral nerve block. The manually elicited ankle clonus and its abolition after injection of a local anaesthetic appeared to be a useful clinical test for the efficacy of DB.

Electromechanical delay during knee extensor contractions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude of electromechanical delay (EMD) and its possible dependence on muscle type, type of contraction, fatigue, level of force, initial muscle length, and muscle contraction velocity. This was achieved using an experiment that measured voluntary knee extensor torques and surface EMG activity for a variety of different contractile conditions in seven male subjects. EMD values were obtained using a cross-correlation technique in three experimental KIN-COM dynamometer conditions of vastus medialis, rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis.