Development of PainFace software to simplify, standardize, and scale up mouse grimace analyses.

Facial grimacing is used to quantify spontaneous pain in mice and other mammals, but scoring relies on humans with different levels of proficiency. Here, we developed a cloud-based software platform called PainFace ( http://painface.net ) that uses machine learning to detect 4 facial action units of the mouse grimace scale (orbitals, nose, ears, whiskers) and score facial grimaces of black-coated C57BL/6 male and female mice on a 0 to 8 scale.

Dmriprep: open-source diffusion MRI quality control framework with graphical user interface.

In the last decade, investigating white matter microstructure and connectivity via diffusion MRI (dmri) has become a crucial cornerstone in neuroimaging studies. However, even modern dmri sequences have inherently a low signal-to-noise ratio and long acquisition times, depending on the spatial resolution. Furthermore, many types of artifacts complicate the appropriate analysis of dmri, necessitating appropriate quality control (QC) procedures, including exclusion and/or correction of inappropriate/erroneous dmri data.

Differences in Physical Characteristics of the Lower Extremity and Running Biomechanics Between Different Age Groups.

(1) Background: The objective of this study was to determine physical and biomechanical changes in age groups upon running. (2) Method: 75 male adults (20-80s) participated in the study. Bone mineral density and lower extremity joint strength were measured according to age-increase targeting.

Can Neurocognitive Function Predict Lower Extremity Injuries in Male Collegiate Athletes?

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether neurocognitive evaluation can confirm the association between neurocognitive level and postural control and to analyze the relationship between neurocognitive level and acute musculoskeletal injury in male non-net sports athletes. Seventy-seven male non-net sports athletes participated in this study. The Standardized Assessment of Concussion (SAC), Landing Error Scoring System (LESS), Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) were used for testing; we collected data related to injury history for six months after testing.

Effects of arch-support orthoses on ground reaction forces and lower extremity kinematics related to running at various inclinations.

While foot orthoses are commonly used in running, little is known regarding biomechanical risk potentials during uphill running. This study investigated the effects of arch-support orthoses on kinetic and kinematic variables when running at different inclinations. Sixteen male participants ran at different inclinations (0°, 3° and 6°) when wearing arch-support and flat orthoses on an instrumented treadmill.

The effects of downhill slope on kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity joints during running.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate how lower extremity kinematics and kinetics change when running downhill.

Methods: Fifteen male recreational runners ran on an instrumented treadmill with three different slope conditions [level (0°), moderate (-6°), and steep (-9°)] at a controlled speed of 3.2 m/s.

Understanding the impact loading characteristics of a badminton lunge among badminton players.

Background: The rapid and repetitive badminton lunges would produce strenuous impact loading on the lower extremities of players and these loading are thought to be the contributing factors of chronic knee injuries. This study examined the impact loading characteristics in various groups of badminton athletes performing extreme lunges.

Methods: Fifty-two participants classified into male skilled, female skilled, male unskilled, and female unskilled groups performed badminton lunge with their maximum-effort.

Comparison of Proprioceptive Training and Muscular Strength Training to Improve Balance Ability of Taekwondo Poomsae Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trials.

Maintaining balance while performing "Hakdariseogi" in Taekwondo, which involves standing on one leg, is a critical aspect of the Poomsae competition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of proprioceptive training and lower-limb muscular strength training on the balance of Taekwondo Poomsae athletes over a 6-week period. Thirty Taekwondo Poomsae athletes were randomly assigned to three groups, namely, a proprioception training group, a lower-limb muscular strength training group, and a control group.

Kinetics and perception of basketball landing in various heights and footwear cushioning.

Background: The previous studies on basketball landing have not shown a systematic agreement between landing impacts and midsole densities. One plausible reason is that the midsole densities alone used to represent the cushioning capability of a shoe seems over simplified. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of different landing heights and shoes of different cushioning performance on tibial shock, impact loading and knee kinematics of basketball players.

Do running speed and shoe cushioning influence impact loading and tibial shock in basketball players?

Background: Tibial stress fracture (TSF) is a common injury in basketball players. This condition has been associated with high tibial shock and impact loading, which can be affected by running speed, footwear condition, and footstrike pattern. However, these relationships were established in runners but not in basketball players, with very little research done on impact loading and speed.

Influence of pilates training on the quality of life of chronic stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study was to observe the influence of Pilates training on the quality of life in chronic stoke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Forty chronic stroke patients participated in this study. They were divided into same number of experimental group (EG) and control group (CG).

Effects of forefoot bending stiffness of badminton shoes on agility, comfort perception and lower leg kinematics during typical badminton movements.

This study investigated whether an increase in the forefoot bending stiffness of a badminton shoe would positively affect agility, comfort and biomechanical variables during badminton-specific movements. Three shoe conditions with identical shoe upper and sole designs with different bending stiffness (Flexible, Regular and Stiff) were used. Elite male badminton players completed an agility test on a standard badminton court involving consecutive lunges in six directions, a comfort test performed by a pair of participants conducting a game-like practice trial and a biomechanics test involving a random assignment of consecutive right forward lunges.

Does shoe heel design influence ground reaction forces and knee moments during maximum lunges in elite and intermediate badminton players?

Background: Lunge is one frequently executed movement in badminton and involves a unique sagittal footstrike angle of more than 40 degrees at initial ground contact compared with other manoeuvres. This study examined if the shoe heel curvature design of a badminton shoe would influence shoe-ground kinematics, ground reaction forces, and knee moments during lunge.

Methods: Eleven elite and fifteen intermediate players performed five left-forward maximum lunge trials with Rounded Heel Shoe (RHS), Flattened Heel Shoe (FHS), and Standard Heel Shoes (SHS).

Relationship between lower limb muscle strength, self-reported pain and function, and frontal plane gait kinematics in knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The relationship between muscle strength, gait biomechanics, and self-reported physical function and pain for patients with knee osteoarthritis is not well known. The objective of this study was to investigate these relationships in this population.

Methods: Twenty-four patients with knee osteoarthritis and 24 healthy controls were recruited.

Dynamically adjustable foot-ground contact model to estimate ground reaction force during walking and running.

Human dynamic models have been used to estimate joint kinetics during various activities. Kinetics estimation is in demand in sports and clinical applications where data on external forces, such as the ground reaction force (GRF), are not available. The purpose of this study was to estimate the GRF during gait by utilizing distance- and velocity-dependent force models between the foot and ground in an inverse-dynamics-based optimization.

Greater Q angle may not be a risk factor of patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Background: A greater Q-angle has been suggested as a risk factor for Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Greater frontal plane knee moment and impulse have been found to play a functional role in the onset of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome in a running population. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between Q-angle and the magnitude of knee abduction moment and impulse during running.

Alterations in knee joint laxity during the menstrual cycle in healthy women leads to increases in joint loads during selected athletic movements.

Background: It has been speculated that the hormonal cycle may be correlated with higher incidence of ACL injury in female athletes, but results have been very contradictory.

Hypothesis: Knee joint loads are influenced by knee joint laxity (KJL) during the menstrual cycle.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle affect knee laxity and stiffness in healthy female subjects.

Background: Whether knee laxity varies throughout the menstrual cycle remains controversial. As increased laxity may be a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, further research is warranted.

Hypothesis: Variation in estradiol and progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle influences knee laxity and stiffness.