Characteristics of hip joint reaction forces during a range of activities.

The paper reports the characteristics of joint forces for 9 activities in 18 normal healthy subjects. Activities included Walk, Walk Turn, Stand to Sit, Sit to Stand, Squat, Stand Reach, Kneel Reach, Lunge, and Golf Swing. Within the cohort ∼30% variability occurred in the manner in which each activity was completed.

Muscular activity comparison between non-amputees and transfemoral amputees during normal transient-state walking speed.

Research Question: Would there be differences in muscle activation between healthy subjects' (HS) dominant leg and transfemoral amputees' (TFA) intact-leg/contralateral-limb (IL) during normal transient-state walking speed?

Methods: The muscle activation patterns are obtained by calculating the linear envelope of the EMG signals for each group. The activation patterns/temporal changes are compared between-population using statistical parametric mapping (SPM).

Results: Individual muscle activity showed significant differences in all muscles except vastus lateralis (VL), semitendinosus (SEM) and tensor fascia latae (TFL) activities.

Analysis of hip joint cross-shear under variable activities using a novel virtual joint model within Visual3D.

Cross-shear forces occur between bearing surfaces at the hip and have been identified as a key contributor to prosthesis wear. Understanding the variation in relative motion paths between both individuals and activities, is a possible explanation for increased revision rates for younger patients and could assist in improved pre-clinical testing regimes. Additionally, there is little information for the pre-clinical testing of cartilage substitution therapies for younger more active individuals.

Differences in muscle synergies between healthy subjects and transfemoral amputees during normal transient-state walking speed.

Background: Lower limb amputation is a major public health issue globally, and its prevalence is increasing significantly around the world. Previous studies on lower limb amputees showed analogous complexity implemented by the neurological system which does not depend on the level of amputation.

Research Question: What are the differences in muscle synergies between healthy subjects (HS) and transfemoral amputees (TFA) during self-selected normal transient-state walking speed?

Methods: thirteen male HS and eleven male TFA participated in this study.

Foot trajectories and loading rates in a transfemoral amputee for six different commercial prosthetic knees: An indication of adaptability.

Background: The relationship between the functional loading rate and heel velocities was assessed in an active unilateral transfemoral amputee (UTFA) for adaptation to six different commercial prosthetic knees.

Objective: To Investigate the short-term process of adaptability for UTFA for two types of prosthetic knees were evaluated, based on the correlation between heel vertical velocity and transient loading rate.

Methods: The loading rate was calculated from the slope of ground reaction forces (GRF) and the corresponding time.

Biomechanical analysis of walking gait when simulating the use of an Ilizarov external fixator.

The Ilizarov frame is an external fixation device, primarily used for the treatment of complex fractures. The authors postulate that the size and weight of the frame may lead to biomechanical adaptations to gait, independent to any injury. Temporospatial characteristics, kinetics and kinematics were assessed when simulating the use of an Ilizarov frame.

Sequential therapy of anti-Nogo-A antibody treatment and treadmill training leads to cumulative improvements after spinal cord injury in rats.

Intense training is the most clinically successful treatment modality following incomplete spinal cord injuries (SCIs). With the advent of plasticity enhancing treatments, understanding how treatments might interact when delivered in combination becomes critical. Here, we investigated a rational approach to sequentially combine treadmill locomotor training with antibody mediated suppression of the fiber growth inhibitory protein Nogo-A.

Virtual prototyping of a semi-active transfemoral prosthetic leg.

This article presents a virtual prototyping study of a semi-active lower limb prosthesis to improve the functionality of an amputee during prosthesis-environment interaction for level ground walking. Articulated ankle-foot prosthesis and a single-axis semi-active prosthetic knee with active and passive operating modes were considered. Data for level ground walking were collected using a photogrammetric method in order to develop a base-line simulation model and with the hip kinematics input to verify the proposed design.

Forefoot, rearfoot and shank coupling: effect of variations in speed and mode of gait.

Background: Although there is a wealth of research into the kinematic coupling between the foot and shank, it remains unclear whether the relationship is stable across speed and mode of gait. The aim of this study was to determine whether the coupling relationship between the forefoot, rearfoot and shank differed between walking and running, and across different running speeds.

Methods: Twelve subjects walked/ran barefoot over-ground at one walking and three running speeds.

Changes in foot and lower limb coupling due to systematic variations in step width.

Background: Motion at the midfoot joints can contribute significantly to overall foot motion during gait. However, there is little information regarding the kinematic coupling relationship at the midfoot. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the coupling relationship at the midfoot and subtalar joints was affected when step width was manipulated during running.

Kinematics of cycling in relation to anterior knee pain and patellar tendinitis.

The coronal and sagittal plane leg movements of 24 experienced male cyclists were assessed using video analysis while cycling on a Kingcycle windload simulator. The cyclists were grouped into those with a history of injury and an asymptomatic group on the basis of self-reported injury status. The ages, cycling experience, competition distances and competition speeds of the two groups were compared using Student's t-test.