Characteristics of Trunk Compensation Movements during Walking in People with Bilateral Transtibial Amputation: A Cross-sectional Study.

Objectives: The gait characteristics of people with bilateral transtibial amputation are not well understood. This study aimed to clarify changes in trunk lateral bending and the trunk flexion angle during walking in people with bilateral transtibial amputation.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, four participants with bilateral transtibial amputation who could walk without assistance (BTTA group) and ten able-bodied participants (control group) were recruited.

Immediate effects of stance and swing phase training on gait in patients with stroke.

To compare the effects of gait trainings targeting the stance (stance training) and the swing phases (swing training) among the subjects with stroke, and quantify the characteristics in the subjects who benefitted from either the stance training or the swing training. Sixteen subjects with stroke performed the stance training, which focused on the center of pressure to move from the heel to the forefoot, and the swing training, which focused on the improvement of hip flexion in the swing phase. To investigate the immediate effects of the stance training and the swing training, the instrumented gait analysis was performed before and after training.

A multidisciplinary approach to soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremities.

Introduction: Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) denotes a group of rare and highly heterogeneous malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin. Accurate histological diagnosis is critical for selecting appropriate treatment. Complete tumor resection is the primary treatment for STS, and the efficacies of radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been tested in the adjuvant setting to improve oncological outcomes.

Gait kinematics and physical function that most affect intralimb coordination in patients with stroke.

Background: Disturbed lower limb coordination is thought to limit gait ability in patients with stroke. However, the relationship of lower limb coordination with gait kinematics and physical function has not yet been clarified.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to clarify the gait kinematic and physical function variables that most affect intralimb coordination by using the continuous relative phase (CRP) between the thigh and shank.

Gait-Synchronized Rhythmic Brain Stimulation Improves Poststroke Gait Disturbance: A Pilot Study.

Background and Purpose- Gait disturbance is one of serious impairments lowering activity of daily life in poststroke patients. The patients often show reduced hip and knee joint flexion and ankle dorsiflexion of the lower limbs during the swing phase of gait, which is partly controlled by the primary motor cortex (M1). In the present study, we investigated whether gait-synchronized rhythmic brain stimulation targeting swing phase-related M1 activity can improve gait function in poststroke patients.

Intra-individual biomechanical effects of a non-microprocessor-controlled stance-yielding prosthetic knee during ramp descent in persons with unilateral transfemoral amputation.

Background:: A stance-yielding mechanism for prosthetic knees may reduce lower limb loading during specific activities, but quantitative data are insufficient.

Objectives:: To clarify the biomechanical effect of a non-microprocessor-controlled stance-yielding mechanism on ramp descent for individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation.

Study Design:: Intra-subject intervention study.

Kinetic differences between level walking and ramp descent in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation using a prosthetic knee without a stance control mechanism.

Background: Individuals with transfemoral amputation (TFA) have difficulty in descending ramps. Although individuals with TFA who descend ramps are speculated to have greater biomechanical demands, this has not been quantified.

Research Question: How do individuals with TFA wearing a prosthetic knee without a stance control mechanism adapt their gait biomechanics to a slightly declined surface?

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of level walking and ramp descent (5° decline) from six subjects with TFA who used a prosthesis without a stance control mechanism.

Different Conformations of Surface Cellulose Molecules in Native Cellulose Microfibrils Revealed by Layer-by-Layer Peeling.

Layer-by-layer peeling of surface molecules of native cellulose microfibrils was performed using a repeated sequential process of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical-mediated oxidation followed by hot alkali extraction. Both highly crystalline algal and tunicate celluloses and low-crystalline cotton and wood celluloses were investigated. Initially, the C6-hydroxy groups of the outermost surface molecules of each algal cellulose microfibril facing the exterior had the gauche-gauche (gg) conformation, whereas those facing the interior had the gauche-trans (gt) conformation.

Knee rotationplasty: motion of the body centre of mass during walking.

Knee rotationplasty (KRP) is a type of surgery in which the rotated ankle serves as a new knee after being removed for bone tumor. Although this limb salvage surgery is rarely indicated in properly selected patients, it may offer functional advantages over transfemoral amputation, and more durable results compared with a prosthesis. The walking mechanics of adult patients after KRP is believed to be close to that of below-knee amputees.

Muscle contributions to center of mass excursion in ankle and hip strategies during forward body tilting.

Humans employ two distinct strategies to maintain balance during standing: the ankle and hip strategies. People with a high fall risk tend to alter their motion patterns during forward body tilting from a hip to an ankle strategy. Improved knowledge regarding how muscles control the center of mass (COM) during balancing would facilitate clinical assessment.

Effects of High- and Low-Velocity Resistance Training on Gait Kinematics and Kinetics in Individuals with Hip Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high-velocity (HV) and low-velocity (LV) resistance training on gait kinematics and kinetics in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Design: This was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Forty-six women with hip osteoarthritis were randomly allocated to the HV (n = 23) or LV (n = 23) training group.

Association between physical function and the load pattern during stepping-up motion in community-dwelling elderly women.

Objective: Stepping-up motion is challenging task for elderly people in daily life. The present study investigated the relationship between the load pattern during stepping-up motion at maximum speed and physical function in elderly women.

Methods: The subjects comprised 109 community-dwelling elderly women (age 72.

Effect of higher muscle coactivation on standing postural response to perturbation in older adults.

Background: Although several studies have reported that muscle coactivation during postural control increases with age, the effect of higher muscle coactivation on standing postural response to perturbation is unknown.

Aims: To investigate whether higher muscle coactivation affects standing postural response to perturbation in older adults.

Methods: Thirty-four community-dwelling older participants were randomly assigned either to the coactivation group (CG), where muscle coactivation was increased intentionally, or to the non-coactivation group (NCG).

How Much Clinical and Functional Impairment do Children Treated With Knee Rotationplasty Experience in Adulthood?

Background: Rotationplasty may be indicated for some children with osteosarcoma in the distal femur or proximal tibia; in properly selected patients, it may offer functional advantages over transfemoral amputation and more durable results than a prosthesis. The clinical and functional outcomes reported for this procedure generally have been limited to studies with a mean followup of approximately 8 years in terms of Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Score (MSTS), physical examination, and gait analysis. However, the effects of residual thigh-shank length on gait have not been explored to our knowledge.

The effect of walking speed on gait kinematics and kinetics after endoprosthetic knee replacement following bone tumor resection.

Gait function is one of the most important components of functional outcome evaluation in patients with a tumor around the knee. In addition to walking at a preferred speed, the patients might be sometimes required to walk fast in daily life (e.g.

Compensation by nonoperated joints in the lower limbs during walking after endoprosthetic knee replacement following bone tumor resection.

Background: Endoprosthetic knee replacement is often used to preserve joint function in patients with bone tumors of the distal femur or proximal tibia. Recently, because of improved oncologic outcome, surgeons are focusing more on the functional outcome of patients with musculoskeletal tumors. We hypothesized that patients who have undergone endoprosthetic knee replacement are forced to compensate for deficiency in their operated joint during walking.

Relationship between length and degree of polymerization of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils.

The influence of 2,2,6,6-tetrametylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation of wood cellulose and the mechanical disintegration of oxidized cellulose in water on degree of polymerization determined by viscosity measurement (DP(v)) and the apparent length of the TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNs) was investigated. DP(v) values decreased from 1270 to 500-600 with increasing addition of NaClO in the TEMPO-mediated oxidation stage. The DP(v) values were further decreased by mechanical fibrillation in water.