The rocker-soled shoes change the kinematics and muscle contractions of the lower extremity during various functional movement.

While rocker-shaped soles have become popular for running shoes, whether or not this type of shoe benefits other functional movements has rarely been discussed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rocker-soled shoes on lower extremity biomechanics during different exercises. Seventeen healthy university students were recruited.

Effects of 12-Week Progressive Sandbag Exercise Training on Glycemic Control and Muscle Strength in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Combined with Possible Sarcopenia.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at a three-fold increased risk of developing sarcopenia compared to those without diabetes. The objective of this study was to investigate whether an intervention involving progressive sandbag exercises is beneficial to patients with T2DM and possible sarcopenia in terms of enhancing muscle strength and controlling blood sugar levels. Forty patients with T2DM and possible sarcopenia (age > 50 years) were recruited and randomly divided into resistance training and control groups.

Twelve Weeks of a Staged Balance and Strength Training Program Improves Muscle Strength, Proprioception, and Clinical Function in Patients with Isolated Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Ligament reconstruction is indicated in patients with an isolated posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury who fail conservative treatment. To eliminate the need for PCL reconstruction, an ideal rehabilitation program is important for patients with an isolated PCL injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the improvement in functional outcome, proprioception, and muscle strength after a Both Sides Up (BOSU) ball was used in a balance combined with strength training program in patients with an isolated PCL injury.

Effects of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure and Childhood Exercise on Maternal Behaviors in Female Rats at Postpartum: A Role of Methylation in the Hypothalamus.

Both the detrimental effect of prenatal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) and the beneficial effects of physical exercise on brain functions have been reported. The oxytocin pathway has been implicated in the onset of maternal behaviors. Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) through DNA methylation has been associated with the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Training Benefits and Injury Risks of Standing Yoga Applied in Musculoskeletal Problems: Lower Limb Biomechanical Analysis.

Standing yoga poses strengthen a person's legs and helps to achieve the goal of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, but inadequate exercise planning can cause injuries. This study investigated changes in the electromyogram and joint moments of force (JMOFs) of lower extremities during common standing yoga poses in order to explore the feasibility and possible injury risk in dealing with musculoskeletal problems. Eleven yoga instructors were recruited to execute five yoga poses (Chair, Tree, Warrior 1, 2, and 3).

A New Method for Evaluating Pelvic and Trunk Rotational Pitching Mechanics: From Qualitative to Quantitative Approaches.

The purpose of this study was to build on existing qualitative to quantitative approaches to develop a new quantitative method for evaluating pelvic and trunk rotational pitching mechanics. Thirty pitchers were divided into two groups ("Pattern1": closed "hip-to-shoulder separation"; "Pattern2": open "hip-to-shoulder separation"). Several parameters were analyzed.

Effect of Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit on Shoulder in Baseball Pitchers during Fastball Pitching.

Previous studies have reported that pitchers with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) may increase the risk of shoulder injury. However, limited information is available regarding the specific effects of GIRD in baseball pitching. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether baseball pitchers with GIRD change their pitching mechanism.

Recovery of BDNF and CB1R in the Prefrontal Cortex Underlying Improvement of Working Memory in Prenatal DEHP-Exposed Male Rats after Aerobic Exercise.

Early-life exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) has been suggested to relate to hyperactivity, lack of attention, and working memory deficits in school-age children. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and endocannabinoids are induced by aerobic exercises to provide beneficial effects on brain functions. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying working memory impairment and the protective role of exercise in prenatal DEHP-exposed male rats.

Effects of glenohumeral internal rotation deficit on baseball pitching among pitchers of different ages.

Background: Previous studies have reported that glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) may increase the risk of shoulder injury. However, the effects of GIRD on baseball pitching among pitchers of different age groups are still unclear.

Methods: The study participants were 24 high school and 24 university pitchers.

Characteristics of the Motor Units during Sternocleidomastoid Isometric Flexion among Patients with Mechanical Neck Disorder and Asymptomatic Individuals.

Mechanical neck disorder is a widespread and non-neurological musculoskeletal condition resulting from modern lifestyles. Presently, the fundamental electrophysiological properties of the motor units of the sternocleidomastoid muscles and the characteristics of the short-term synchronization of the motor unit in patients with neck pain are ambiguous. This study therefore aims to clarify the fundamental electrophysiological properties of the motor units of the sternocleidomastoid muscles in patients with mechanical neck disorder and in asymptomatic individuals.

How kinematic disturbance in the deformed rheumatoid thumb impacts on hand function: a biomechanical and functional perspective.

Purpose This study investigates the effects of kinematic disturbances in rheumatoid thumb on patient's hand functions via objective and patient-perceived measurements. Method Twenty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 21 healthy age- and gender-matched individuals were recruited to receive the objective evaluations, including the Purdue Pegboard Test, Jamar dynamometer, pinch-meter, Permanent Impairment Scale and self-administrated measurements, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Manual Ability Measure-36 (MAM-36). An electromagnetic tracking system was used to measure thumb kinematics.

The changes in shoulder rotation strength ratio for various shoulder positions and speeds in the scapular plane between baseball players and non-players.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate the effect of shoulder positions and speeds on internal and external rotation torque of college baseball players and age-matched non-players. [Subjects] Twenty first-level collegiate baseball players and 19 college students were recruited. [Methods] A dynamometer system was used to evaluate the shoulder rotation strength in sitting postures.

Recovery of motor coordination after exercise is correlated to enhancement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in lactational vanadium-exposed rats.

Lactational exposure to vanadium can reduce the locomotor activity in adult animals. In this study, we investigated whether lactational vanadium exposure impairs the motor coordination and whether exercise ameliorates this dysfunction. Sprague-Dawley dams were treated with or without vanadium during lactation.

Strengthening of back muscles using a module of flexible strain sensors.

This research aims at developing a flexible strain module applied to the strengthening of back muscles. Silver films were sputtered onto flexible substrates to produce a flexible sensor. Assuming that back muscle elongation is positively correlated with the variations in skin surface length, real-time resistance changes exhibited by the sensor during simulated training sessions were measured.

Change in pitching biomechanics in the late-inning in Taiwanese high school baseball pitchers.

Repetitive overhead throwing may result in overuse injuries and a change in the pitching mechanics of a baseball pitcher. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to quantify the changes in the muscle strength and pitching motion kinematics in the late-innings stage of a baseball game. Sixteen healthy baseball pitchers (16.

Impacts of elevated glycaemic haemoglobin and disease duration on the sensorimotor control of hands in diabetes patients.

Background: To understand the impacts of disease chronicity and hyperglycaemia on sensorimotor control of hands of diabetic patients, this study investigated the differences in hand sensation, strength and motor control by applying the pinch-holding-up activity test for patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with different levels of glycaemic control and disease chronicity.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-nine patients with clinically defined DM were included. Semmes-Weinstein monofilament, static two-point discrimination and moving two-point discrimination, maximal pinch strength precision pinch performance tests and nerve conduction studies (NCS) of the subjects were carried out.

Motor skill learning enhances the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein in the rat cerebellum.

Motor skill learning is essential for environmental adaptations during everyday life. It has been shown that the cerebellum plays an important role in both the adaptation of eye movements and the motor skill learning. However, the neuronal substrates responsible for consolidation of complex motor skills rather than simple reflexes are still uncertain.

Robotic thumb grasp-based range of motion optimisation.

With the thumb serving an important role in the function of the human hand, improving robotic prosthetic thumb functionality will have a direct impact on the prosthesis itself. So far, no significant work exists that examines the ranges of motion a prosthetic thumb should exhibit; many myoelectric prostheses arbitrarily select them. We question this design practice as we expect a significant functional volume reduction for performing certain activities vs.

Three-dimensional characteristics of neck movements in subjects with mechanical neck disorder.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Objectives: To examine characteristics of neck movement at three-dimensional planes for subjects with mechanical neck disorder (MND) and measure cervical range of motion, coupling motion, and calculation of the upper cervical rotation ratio.

Background: MND is characterized by symptoms of neck pain, headache, dizziness and limited range of motion (ROM).

The three-dimensional analysis of three thumb joints coordination in activities of daily living.

Background: Presently, the angular movements of the three thumb joints during activities of daily living are limited as a result of their static position and lack of the required thumb range of motion information during motion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the three thumb joints' motion required in activities of daily living.

Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects were recruited for this study.

The effect of chinese yuanji-dance on dynamic balance and the associated attentional demands in elderly adults.

Walking performance changes with age. This has implications for the problem of falls in older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Yuanji-Dance practice on walking balance and the associated attention demand in healthy elderly.

Comparison of segmental linear and angular momentum transfers in two-handed backhand stroke stances for different skill level tennis players.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of momentum transfer from the trunk and upper extremities to the racket between open and square stances for different skill levels players in the two-handed backhand stroke. The motion capture system with twenty-one reflective markers attached on anatomic landmarks of the subject was used for two-handed backhand stroke motion data collection. Twelve subjects were divided into an advanced group and an intermediate group based on skill level.

Use of virtual, interactive, musculoskeletal system (VIMS) in modeling and analysis of shoulder throwing activity.

Our purpose in this study was to apply the virtual, interactive, musculoskeletal system (VIMS) software for modeling and biomechanical analysis of the glenohumeral joint during a baseball pitching activity. The skeletal model was from VIMS library and muscle fiber attachment sites were derived from the visible human dataset. The muscular moment arms and function changes are mainly due to the large humeral motion involved during baseball pitching.

Muscle forces analysis in the shoulder mechanism during wheelchair propulsion.

This study combines an ergometric wheelchair, a six-camera video motion capture system and a prototype computer graphics based musculoskeletal model (CGMM) to predict shoulder joint loading, muscle contraction force per muscle and the sequence of muscular actions during wheelchair propulsion, and also to provide an animated computer graphics model of the relative interactions. Five healthy male subjects with no history of upper extremity injury participated. A conventional manual wheelchair was equipped with a six-component load cell to collect three-dimensional forces and moments experienced by the wheel, allowing real-time measurement of hand/rim force applied by subjects during normal wheelchair operation.