A methodological proof-of-concept of the teeter-totter effect.

The Nike Vaporfly 4% (VP4) shoe is popular due to its unique design and reported performance benefits. However, the underlying mechanisms responsible for the improvements remain unclear. One proposed mechanism is the teeter-totter effect.

Curved non-motorized treadmills do not biomechanically replicate overground running better than motorized treadmills.

The purpose of this study was to determine if curved non-motorized treadmills can reproduce overground running better than motorized treadmills by analysing the differences in joint kinematics (hip, knee, and ankle) using SPM. Nineteen recreational runners completed three randomized running tests on these surfaces. Kinematic data from the hip, knee, and ankle joints were collected.

Addition of a Cognitive Task During Walking Alters Lower Body Muscle Activity.

This study compared electromyography of five leg muscles during a single walking task (WALK) to a dual task (walking + cognitive task; COG) in 40 individuals (20 M and 20 F) using a wavelet analysis technique. It was hypothesized that muscle activation during the dual task would differ significantly from the walking task with respect to both timing (H1) and frequency (H2). The mean overall intensity for the COG trials was 4.

Influence of running shoes on muscle activity.

Studies on the paradigm of the preferred movement path are scarce, and as a result, many aspects of the paradigm remain elusive. It remains unknown, for instance, how muscle activity adapts when differences in joint kinematics, due to altered running conditions, are of low / high magnitudes. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate changes in muscle activity of the lower extremities in runners with minimal (≤ 3°) or substantial (> 3°) mean absolute differences in the ankle and knee joint angle trajectories when subjected to different running footwear.

The Preferred Movement Path Paradigm: Influence of Running Shoes on Joint Movement.

Purpose: (A) To quantify differences in lower extremity joint kinematics for groups of runners subjected to different running footwear conditions, and (B) to quantify differences in lower extremity joint kinematics on an individual basis for runners subjected to different running footwear conditions.

Methods: Three-dimensional ankle and knee joint kinematics were collected for 35 heel-toe runners when wearing three different running shoes and when running barefoot. Absolute mean differences in ankle and knee joint kinematics were computed between running shoe conditions.

Older adults show higher increases in lower-limb muscle activity during whole-body vibration exercise.

The purpose of this study was to compare lower limb muscle activity during whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise between a young and an older study population. Thirty young (25.9±4.

Relationship Between Lower Limb Muscle Activity and Platform Acceleration During Whole-Body Vibration Exercise.

The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of different magnitudes and directions of the vibration platform acceleration on surface electromyography (sEMG) during whole-body vibration (WBV) exercises. Therefore, a WBV platform was used that delivers vertical vibrations by a side-alternating mode, horizontal vibrations by a circular mode, and vibrations in all 3 planes by a dual mode. Surface electromyography signals of selected lower limb muscles were measured in 30 individuals while they performed a static squat on a vibration platform.

Assessing Footwear Effects from Principal Features of Plantar Loading during Running.

Purpose: The effects of footwear on the musculoskeletal system are commonly assessed by interpreting the resultant force at the foot during the stance phase of running. However, this approach overlooks loading patterns across the entire foot. An alternative technique for assessing foot loading across different footwear conditions is possible using comprehensive analysis tools that extract different foot loading features, thus enhancing the functional interpretation of the differences across different interventions.

Vibration transmission to lower extremity soft tissues during whole-body vibration.

In order to evaluate potential risks of whole-body vibration (WBV) training, it is important to understand the transfer of vibrations from the WBV platform to the muscles. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the transmissibility of vibrations from the WBV platform to the triceps surae and quadriceps soft tissue compartments. Sixteen healthy, male participants were exposed to side-altering WBV at 2.

Development of a symmetry index using discrete variables.

The objective of this study was to introduce and evaluate a new methodology to quantify lower extremity movement symmetry using data from the stance phase in over-ground running. Seventeen subjects completed five heel-toe over-ground running trials per leg over a force platform at 3.33±0.