Temporal Convolutional Network for Gait Event Detection.

In this study, we propose a novel deep learning-based framework for automatic gait event detection (GED) in diverse and complex walking scenarios, aiming to address the challenge of accurately identifying biomechanical markers linked to movement disorders. Current research methods in GED frequently encounter difficulties in maintaining high accuracy levels, especially when confronted with the intricate challenges of daily-life activities. Our proposed framework employs a Temporal Convolution Network (TCN) to address GED across diverse walking conditions and environments.

Toward Convenient and Accurate IMU-Based Gait Analysis.

While inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based systems have shown their potential in quantifying medically significant gait parameters, it remains to be determined whether they can provide accurate and reliable parameters both across various walking conditions and in healthcare settings. Using an IMU-based system we previously developed, with one IMU module on each subject's heel, we quantify the gait parameters of 55 men and 46 women, all healthy and aged 40-65, in normal, dual-task, and fast walking conditions. We evaluate their intra-session reliability, and we establish a new reference database of such parameters showing good to excellent reliability.

Strength and activity of the protractor and retractor muscles of the asymptomatic dyskinetic scapula.

The role of scapular dyskinesis as a risk factor of shoulder injury has been largely discussed. However, most studies have focused on symptomatic patients and less is known on the asymptomatic dyskinetic scapula. Removing the confounding effects of the pathologies could contribute to better characterize the scapula dyskinesis.

Normalizing gastrocnemius muscle EMG signal: An optimal set of maximum voluntary isometric contraction tests for young adults considering reproducibility.

Background: Even though most studies normalize the surface EMG signal of the gastrocnemius muscle using a single position of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), several studies tend to indicate that several positions are in fact needed to obtain a maximal voluntary activation (MVA) for most of the subjects. However, no combination of positions has already been described.

Research Question: A combination of MVIC positions to normalize the EMG signal of the gastrocnemius muscle is investigated.

Tight shoulders: A clinical, kinematic and strength comparison of symptomatic and asymptomatic male overhead athletes before and after stretching.

A tightness of the posterior structures of the throwing shoulder has been hypothesised to be associated with injuries and pain because of alterations of the scapular kinematics and muscular imbalances. The aims of this study were to identify the clinical and biomechanical profile of symptomatic and asymptomatic overhead athletes with a tight shoulder and to evaluate the efficiency of a self-applied stretching program. Twenty male overhead athletes were recruited.

Activation Profile of Scapular Stabilizing Muscles in Asymptomatic People: Does Scapular Dyskinesis Have an Impact on It?

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the activation profile of scapular stabilizing muscles in dyskinetic asymptomatic people.

Design: This is a noninterventional observational study. Two groups of 20 people were included in the study.

Kinesiotaping for scapular dyskinesis: The influence on scapular kinematics and on the activity of scapular stabilizing muscles.

Scapular dyskinesis is observed in 61% of overhead athletes (Burn et al., 2016). For most of them, it remains asymptomatic.

A foot/ground contact model for biomechanical inverse dynamics analysis.

The inverse dynamics simulation of the musculoskeletal system is a common method to understand and analyse human motion. The ground reaction forces can be accurately estimated by experimental measurements using force platforms. However, the number of steps is limited by the number of force platforms available in the laboratory.

Using supervised learning machine algorithm to identify future fallers based on gait patterns: A two-year longitudinal study.

Introduction: Given their major health consequences in the elderly, identifying people at risk of fall is a major challenge faced by clinicians. A lot of studies have confirmed the relationships between gait parameters and falls incidence. However, accurate tools to predict individual risk among independent older adults without a history of falls are lacking.

Gait symmetry in the dual task condition as a predictor of future falls among independent older adults: a 2-year longitudinal study.

Background: Given the potential consequences of falls among older adults, a major challenge is to identify people at risk before the first event. In this context, gait parameters have been suggested as markers of fall risk.

Aim: To examine, among older people, the prospective relationship between gait patterns assessed in comfortable and challenging walking conditions, and future fall(s).

Inter-Session Reliability of the Tennis Serve and Influence of the Laboratory Context.

To meet the demand of a player's entourage (e.g., coaches and medical staff), it is important for the biomechanics specialist to perform repeatable measures.

Evolution of the trophy position along the tennis serve player's development.

The trophy position is a coaching cue for the tennis serve that usually corresponds to the racquet high point (RHP) during the preparatory action for the stroke. Mastering this position and its time of occurrence seems essential in overarm movements like in the tennis serve. Clinicians and coaches have a real interest in understanding the trophy position and its evolution during the development of the elite players at different ages.

Normalizing shoulder EMG: An optimal set of maximum isometric voluntary contraction tests considering reproducibility.

Normalization of the electromyography (EMG) signal is often performed relatively to maximal voluntary activations (MVA) obtained during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MVIC). The first aim was to provide an inter-session reproducible protocol to normalize the signal of eight shoulder muscles. The protocol should also lead to a level of activation >90% of MVA for >90% of the volunteers.

Reliability of unipodal and bipodal counter movement jump landings in a recreational male population.

Movement patterns during landing have been suggested to be related to injury risk. The purpose of this study was to determine the inter-session reliability of kinematic variables and ground reaction forces during landing in a population of male recreational athletes after a counter movement jump. Both unipodal and bipodal landings were evaluated.

Biomechanical analysis of abdominal injury in tennis serves. A case report.

The serve is an important stroke in any high level tennis game. A well-mastered serve is a substantial advantage for players. However, because of its repeatability and its intensity, this stroke is potentially deleterious for upper limbs, lower limbs and trunk.

Development and validation of an accelerometer-based method for quantifying gait events.

An original signal processing algorithm is presented to automatically extract, on a stride-by-stride basis, four consecutive fundamental events of walking, heel strike (HS), toe strike (TS), heel-off (HO), and toe-off (TO), from wireless accelerometers applied to the right and left foot. First, the signals recorded from heel and toe three-axis accelerometers are segmented providing heel and toe flat phases. Then, the four gait events are defined from these flat phases.

Merging multi-camera data to reduce motion analysis instrumental errors using Kalman filters.

In motion capture systems, markers are often seen by multiple cameras. All cameras do not measure the position of the markers with the same reliability because of environmental factors such as the position of the marker in the field of view or the light intensity received by the cameras. Kalman filters offer a general framework to take the reliability of the various cameras into account and consequently improve the estimation of the marker position.

Dominance effect on scapula 3-dimensional posture and kinematics in healthy male and female populations.

Background: The contralateral shoulder is often used as a reference when evaluating a pathologic shoulder. However, the literature provides contradictory results regarding the symmetry of the scapular pattern in a healthy population. We assume that several factors including gender and type of motion may influence the bilateral symmetry of the scapulae.