Feasability of An Eccentric Isokinetic Protocol to Induce Trunk Muscle Damage: A Pilot Study.

Eccentric exercise is discussed as a treatment option for clinical populations, but specific responses in terms of muscle damage and systemic inflammation after repeated loading of large muscle groups have not been conclusively characterized. Therefore, this study tested the feasibility of an isokinetic protocol for repeated maximum eccentric loading of the trunk muscles. Nine asymptomatic participants (5 f/4 m; 34±6 yrs; 175±13 cm; 76±17 kg) performed three isokinetic 2-minute all-out trunk strength tests (1x concentric (CON), 2x eccentric (ECC1, ECC2), 2 weeks apart; flexion/extension, 60°/s, ROM 55°).

Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass.

Background: Recent shoulder injury prevention programs have utilized resistance exercises combined with different forms of instability, with the goal of eliciting functional adaptations and thereby reducing the risk of injury. However, it is still unknown how an unstable weight mass (UWM) affects the muscular activity of the shoulder stabilizers. Aim of the study was to assess neuromuscular activity of dynamic shoulder stabilizers under four conditions of stable and UWM during three shoulder exercises.

Unexpected walking perturbations: Reliability and validity of a new treadmill protocol to provoke muscular reflex activities at lower extremities and the trunk.

Instrumented treadmills offer the potential to generate standardized walking perturbations, which are particularly rapid and powerful. However, technical requirements to release adequate perturbations regarding timing, duration and amplitude are demanding. This study investigated the test-retest reliability and validity of a new treadmill perturbation protocol releasing rapid and unexpected belt perturbations to provoke muscular reflex responses at lower extremities and the trunk.

Neuromuscular trunk activation patterns in back pain patients during one-handed lifting.

Aim: To analyze neuromuscular activity patterns of the trunk in healthy controls (H) and back pain patients (BPP) during one-handed lifting of light to heavy loads.

Methods: After assessment of back pain (graded chronic pain scale according to von Korff) all subjects ( = 43) performed a warm-up (treadmill walking). Next, subjects were instructed to lift 3 × a 20 kg weight placed in front of them (with both hand) onto a table (height: 0.

Neuromuscular response of the trunk to sudden gait disturbances: Forward vs. backward perturbation.

The study aimed to analyse neuromuscular activity of the trunk comparing four different perturbations during gait. Thirteen subjects (28±3yrs) walked (1m/s) on a split-belt treadmill, while 4 (belt) perturbations (F1, F2, B1, B2) were randomly applied. Perturbations differed, related to treadmill belt translation, in direction (forward (F)/backward (B)) and amplitude (20m/s(2) (1)/40m/s(2) (2)).