Editorial

5 pages, 190 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue “Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis”

by Alberto Leardini, Harinderjit Singh Gill and Tung-Wu Lu

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 2191; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14052191 - 06 Mar 2024

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In March 2021, we invited submissions to the MDPI Special Issue “Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis”, in the form of original research papers, methodological advances, mini reviews or perspective articles [...] Full article

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13 pages, 2299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Instrumental Gait Analysis and Tibial Plateau Modelling to Support Pre- and Post-Operative Evaluations in Personalized High Tibial Osteotomy

by Claudio Belvedere, Harinderjit Singh Gill, Maurizio Ortolani, Nicoletta Sileoni, Stefano Zaffagnini, Fabio Norvillo, Alisdair MacLeod, Giacomo Dal Fabbro, Alberto Grassi and Alberto Leardini

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(22), 12425; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132212425 - 17 Nov 2023

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Abstract

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is intended to treat medial knee osteoarthritis by realigning the joint such that the loading in the knee during functional activity shifts laterally. The aim of this study was to use a novel methodology combining motion analysis and 3D [...] Read more.

High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is intended to treat medial knee osteoarthritis by realigning the joint such that the loading in the knee during functional activity shifts laterally. The aim of this study was to use a novel methodology combining motion analysis and 3D modelling to assess the efficacy of this surgery in changing the loading location in the knee in a cohort of 25 patients treated with personalized HTO. Pre-operatively and at 6 months post-surgery, weight-bearing CT and gait analysis during level walking were performed on all patients, as well as clinical evaluations using KOOS and VAS scores. CT scans were used to generate a knee bone model and a virtual tibial plateau plane; the intersection pattern between this plane and the ground reaction force (GRF) vector was calculated in the pre- and post-operative gait analyses. Clinical scores improved significantly (p < 0.001) after surgery (pre-/post-operative KOOS and VAS: 56.2 ± 14.0/82.0 ± 8.3 and 6.3 ± 1.7/1.5 ± 1.7). Post-operative GRF-to-tibial plateau intersection patterns were significantly (p < 0.001) more lateral (31.9 ± 19.8% of tibial plateau width) than the pre-operative patterns. Personalized HTO successfully and consistently lateralizes the GRF at the knee, in association with significant improvements in function and pain. The novel combination of 3D bone modelling and motion analysis also has the potential to further aid HTO surgical planning. Full article

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13 pages, 858 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Instability during Stepping and Distance between the Center of Mass and the Minimal Moment Axis: Effect of Age and Speed

by Bruno Watier, Jérémie Begue, Hélène Pillet and Teddy Caderby

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10574; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910574 - 22 Sep 2023

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Abstract

The goal of this study was to analyze instability during stepping at different speeds in young and older adults. To this aim, the anteroposterior and the mediolateral distances between the body center of mass (COM) and the minimum moment axis (MMA) were computed. [...] Read more.

The goal of this study was to analyze instability during stepping at different speeds in young and older adults. To this aim, the anteroposterior and the mediolateral distances between the body center of mass (COM) and the minimum moment axis (MMA) were computed. A total of 15 young adults (25 y.o. [19–29]) and 15 older adults (68.7 y.o. [63–77]) volunteered for this study. For the computation of the distances, a complete biomechanical protocol combining two force platforms and a 3D motion capture analysis system was setup. The subjects were equipped with 47 reflective markers and were modeled as a frictionless multibody system with 19 segments, 18 joints and 42 degrees of freedom. They were asked to perform a series of stepping tasks at fast and spontaneous speeds. The stepping was divided into five phases, with successive swing and double-stance phases. Greater instability was observed during the swing phases. The distances reveal a significant higher instability at fast speed for both groups (p < 0.001) for all the phases compared with spontaneous speeds. The anteroposterior distance was significantly greater for older adults, highlighting greater instability compared to young adults, while no differences were observed for the mediolateral distance all along the five phases, suggesting higher risks of backward and forward falls during stepping. Full article

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17 pages, 3429 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Balanced Foot Dorsiflexion Requires a Coordinated Activity of the Tibialis Anterior and the Extensor Digitorum Longus: A Musculoskeletal Modelling Study

by Carlo Albino Frigo, Andrea Merlo, Cristina Brambilla and Davide Mazzoli

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7984; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137984 - 07 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1400

Abstract

Equinus and equinovarus foot deviations (EVFD) are the most frequent lower limb acquired deformities in stroke survivors. We analysed the contribution that the tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and plantarflexor muscles play in EVFD via a biomechanical musculoskeletal model of the [...] Read more.

Equinus and equinovarus foot deviations (EVFD) are the most frequent lower limb acquired deformities in stroke survivors. We analysed the contribution that the tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and plantarflexor muscles play in EVFD via a biomechanical musculoskeletal model of the ankle–foot complex. Our model was composed of 28 bones (connected by either revolute joints or bone surface contacts), 15 ligaments (modelled as non-linear springs), and 10 muscles, modelled as force actuators. Different combinations of muscle contractions were also simulated. Our results demonstrate that, compared to the condition when the foot is suspended off the ground, the contraction of the TA alone produces dorsiflexion (from −18° to 0°) and a greater supination/inversion (from 12° to 30°). The EDL alone produces dorsiflexion (from −18° to −6°), forefoot pronation (25°) and calcaneal eversion (5.6°). Only TA and EDL synergistic action can lead the foot to dorsiflexion suitable for most daily life activities (≥20°) without any deviation in the frontal plane. When pathological contractures of the plantarflexor muscles were simulated, foot deformities reproducing EVFD were obtained. These results can be relevant for clinical applications, highlighting the importance of EDL assessment, which may help to design appropriate functional surgery and plan targeted rehabilitation treatments. Full article

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13 pages, 1207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accuracy of Hidden Markov Models in Identifying Alterations in Movement Patterns during Biceps-Curl Weight-Lifting Exercise

by André B. Peres, Mário C. Espada, Fernando J. Santos, Ricardo A. M. Robalo, Amândio A. P. Dias, Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez, Andrei Sancassani, Danilo A. Massini and Dalton M. Pessôa Filho

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010573 - 31 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1669

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of mathematical and cinematic motion analysis regarding the accuracy of the detection of alterations in the patterns of positional sequence during biceps-curl lifting exercise. Two different methods, one with and one without metric data from the environment, were [...] Read more.

This paper presents a comparison of mathematical and cinematic motion analysis regarding the accuracy of the detection of alterations in the patterns of positional sequence during biceps-curl lifting exercise. Two different methods, one with and one without metric data from the environment, were used to identify the changes. Ten volunteers performed a standing biceps-curl exercise with additional loads. A smartphone recorded their movements in the sagittal plane, providing information on joints and barbell sequential position changes during each lift attempt. An analysis of variance revealed significant differences in joint position (p < 0.05) among executions with three different loads. Hidden Markov models were trained with data from the bi-dimensional coordinates of the joint positional sequence to identify meaningful alteration with load increment. Tests of agreement tests between the results provided by the models with the environmental measurements, as well as those from image coordinates, were performed. The results demonstrated that it is possible to efficiently detect changes in the patterns of positional sequence with and without the necessity of measurement and/or environmental control, reaching an agreement of 86% between each other, and 100% and 86% for each respective method to the results of ANOVA. The method developed in this study illustrates the viability of smartphone camera use for identifying positional adjustments due to the inability to control limbs in an adequate range of motion with increasing load during a lifting task. Full article

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13 pages, 1073 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Body’s Center of Mass Motion Relative to the Center of Pressure during Gait, and Its Correlation with Standing Balance in Patients with Lumbar Spondylosis

by Ting-Chun Huang, Hsing-Po Huang, Kuan-Wen Wu, Jwo-Luen Pao, Cheng-Kuang Chen, Ting-Ming Wang and Tung-Wu Lu

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(24), 12915; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122412915 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1276

Abstract

Lumbar spondylosis (LS) is a common degenerative spine disease that often leads to impaired motor control, sensory changes, and imbalance. The current study aimed to compare the dynamic balance control between patients with LS and healthy controls in terms of inclination angles (IA) [...] Read more.

Lumbar spondylosis (LS) is a common degenerative spine disease that often leads to impaired motor control, sensory changes, and imbalance. The current study aimed to compare the dynamic balance control between patients with LS and healthy controls in terms of inclination angles (IA) and the rate of change of IA (RCIA) of the center of mass relative to the center of pressure (COM–COP motion) during walking and to identify the correlation between dynamic balance and standing balance in patients with LS. Eleven patients with LS and eleven healthy controls performed level walking and static standing in a gait laboratory while their whole-body motion and ground reaction forces were measured to calculate the IA and RCIA. Gait temporal–spatial parameters were also recorded. Correlations between the COP motions during standing balance and COM–COP motions during gait were quantified using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r). In the sagittal plane, the patients increased posterior IA with decreased posterior RCIA during the double-limb support phase of gait and showed decreased anterior RCIA, with small ranges of IA and RCIA during the single-limb support phase (p < 0.05). In the frontal plane, the patients increased medial–lateral ranges of RCIA and medial IA during the double-limb support phase of gait and increased medial RCIA and ranges of IA during the single-limb support phase of gait (p < 0.05). A moderate to strong correlation was found between dynamic balance and standing balance in the patients (p < 0.05). The patients presented a conservative anterior–posterior dynamic balance control but an unstable medial–lateral dynamic balance control during walking, which may be related to the decreased gait speed. The results showed that the greater the postural sway in the patients’ standing balance, the more conservative the dynamic balance control in the sagittal plane, and the greater the risk of imbalance in the frontal plane. It is thus suggested that dynamic balance control deviations during gait in patients with LS cannot be deduced solely from standing balance test data, and should thus be monitored via dynamic approaches in clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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22 pages, 6856 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crouch Gait Analysis and Visualization Based on Gait Forward and Inverse Kinematics

by Juan-Carlos Gonzalez-Islas, Omar-Arturo Dominguez-Ramirez, Omar Lopez-Ortega, Jonatan Peña-Ramirez, Jesus-Patricio Ordaz-Oliver and Francisco Marroquin-Gutierrez

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10197; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010197 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3046

Abstract

Crouch gait is one of the most common gait abnormalities; it is usually caused by cerebral palsy. There are few works related to the modeling of crouch gait kinematics, crouch gait analysis, and visualization in both the workspace and joint space. In this [...] Read more.

Crouch gait is one of the most common gait abnormalities; it is usually caused by cerebral palsy. There are few works related to the modeling of crouch gait kinematics, crouch gait analysis, and visualization in both the workspace and joint space. In this work, we present a quaternion-based method to solve the forward kinematics of the position of the lower limbs during walking. For this purpose, we propose a modified eight-DoF human skeletal model. Using this model, we present a geometric method to calculate the gait inverse kinematics. Both methods are applied for gait analysis over normal, mild, and severe crouch gaits, respectively. A metric-based comparison of workspace and joint space for the three gaits for a gait cycle is conducted. In addition, gait visualization is performed using Autodesk Maya for the three anatomical planes. The obtained results allow us to determine the capabilities of the proposed methods to assess the performance of crouch gaits, using a normal pattern as a reference. Both forward and inverse kinematic methods could ultimately be applied in rehabilitation settings for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases derived from crouch gaits or other types of gait abnormalities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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11 pages, 2434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Walking in the Absence of Anterior Cruciate Ligament: The Role of the Quadriceps and Hamstrings

by Lucia Donno, Valerio Sansone, Alessandro Galluzzo and Carlo Albino Frigo

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8667; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178667 - 29 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1523

Abstract

The actual need for surgical reconstruction of an injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to quantify and analyze the knee kinematics and the ligament force redistribution resulting from the ACL sacrifice and [...] Read more.

The actual need for surgical reconstruction of an injured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to quantify and analyze the knee kinematics and the ligament force redistribution resulting from the ACL sacrifice and the consequent effects of changing the quadriceps and hamstring activity during walking. A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model was used to simulate the behavior of the knee joint during the gait cycle, in different testing conditions: an ACL-deficient knee, an ACL-deficient knee with hamstrings inactivated and an ACL-deficient knee with quadriceps inactivated. Our results showed that in the ACL-deficient knee, the medial collateral ligament (MCL) was the main passive stabilizer of the anterior translation of the tibia. Furthermore, the compensation effects produced by the hamstrings and quadriceps in the ACL-deficient knee during walking were quantified and analyzed. In the case of ACL sacrifice, reducing the quadriceps activity would allow for relieving all ligaments in general, except for the posterior cruciate ligament, which required more consistent recruitment in the support phase. Meanwhile, hamstring activity was crucial not only to compensate for the absence of ACL in limiting the anterior tibial displacement but also to reduce the risk of MCL injury. Full article

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10 pages, 464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Kinematic Analysis of the Basketball Shot Performed with Different Ball Sizes

by Cíntia França, Élvio R. Gouveia, Manuel J. Coelho-e-Silva and Beatriz B. Gomes

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6471; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136471 - 25 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2426

Abstract

In youth basketball, the ball’s size is adapted to fit the participants’ physical capacities and improve the development of manipulative skills. The current study compared the kinematic parameters of the basketball shot (BS) performed with two different ball sizes. Twenty-seven adolescent females aged [...] Read more.

In youth basketball, the ball’s size is adapted to fit the participants’ physical capacities and improve the development of manipulative skills. The current study compared the kinematic parameters of the basketball shot (BS) performed with two different ball sizes. Twenty-seven adolescent females aged 12.1 ± 0.9 years (height: 153.3 ± 8.0 cm; body mass: 48.8 ± 12.8 kg) completed 10 BS trials from a frontal position at 5.75 m from the basket with two ball sizes: a smaller and lighter ball (size five, 480 g) and the standard ball size for their age (size six, 566 g). No statistically significant differences were observed for ball release variables or efficacy levels. Significantly greater shoulder flexion was detected at release while shooting with a size six ball (F = 2.982, p ≤ 0.01). The shoulder’s angular velocity at release was significantly lower while performing with a size six ball (F = 3.089, p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences were found for the elbow or knee angles or angular velocities. Stature and upper-body strength were significantly correlated with selected kinematic parameters. A change in ball size may be a helpful strategy for coaches seeking to promote optimal shooting patterns, enhancing effectiveness and enjoyment, particularly among young people and more inexperienced players. Full article

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19 pages, 3785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Phone-Based Motion Capture and Analysis: Importance of Operating Envelope Definition and Application to Clinical Use

by Ashley Chey Vincent, Haley Furman, Rebecca C. Slepian, Kaitlyn R. Ammann, Carson Di Maria, Jung Hung Chien, Ka-Chun Siu and Marvin J. Slepian

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 6173; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12126173 - 17 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2122

Abstract

Human movement is vital for life, with active engagement affording function, limiting disease, and improving quality; with loss resulting in disability; and the treatment and training leading to restoration and enhancement. To foster these endeavors a need exists for a simple and reliable [...] Read more.

Human movement is vital for life, with active engagement affording function, limiting disease, and improving quality; with loss resulting in disability; and the treatment and training leading to restoration and enhancement. To foster these endeavors a need exists for a simple and reliable method for the quantitation of movement, favorable for widespread user availability. We developed a Mobile Motion Capture system (MO²CA) employing a smart-phone and colored markers (2, 5, 10 mm) and here define its operating envelope in terms of: (1) the functional distance of marker detection (range), (2) the inter-target resolution and discrimination, (3) the mobile target detection, and (4) the impact of ambient illumination intensity. MO²CA was able to detect and discriminate: (1) single targets over a range of 1 to 18 ft, (2) multiple targets from 1 ft to 11 ft, with inter-target discrimination improving with an increasing target size, (3) moving targets, with minimal errors from 2 ft to 8 ft, and (4) targets within 1 to 18 ft, with an illumination of 100–300 lux. We then evaluated the utility of motion capture in quantitating regional-finger abduction/adduction and whole body–lateral flex motion, demonstrating a quantitative discrimination between normal and abnormal motion. Overall, our results demonstrate that MO²CA has a wide operating envelope with utility for the detection of human movements large and small, encompassing the whole body, body region, and extremity and digit movements. The definition of the effective operating envelope and utility of smart phone-based motion capture as described herein will afford accuracy and appropriate use for future application studies and serve as a general approach for defining the operational bounds of future video capture technologies that arise for potential clinical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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16 pages, 2241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Scoring of Human Body-Balance Ability on Wobble Board Based on the Geometric Solution

by Hang Thi Phuong Nguyen, Yeongju Woo, Ngoc Nguyen Huynh and Hieyong Jeong

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(12), 5967; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12125967 - 11 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2287

Abstract

Many studies have reported that the human body-balance ability was essential in the early detection and self-management of chronic diseases. However, devices to measure balance, such as motion capture and force plates, are expensive and require a particular space for installation as well [...] Read more.

Many studies have reported that the human body-balance ability was essential in the early detection and self-management of chronic diseases. However, devices to measure balance, such as motion capture and force plates, are expensive and require a particular space for installation as well as specialized knowledge for analysis. Therefore, this study aimed to propose and verify a new algorithm to score the human body-balance ability on the wobble board (HBBAWB), based on a geometric solution using a cheap and portable device. Although the center of gravity (COG), the projected point of the center of mass (COM) on the fixed ground, has been used as the index for the balance ability, generally, it was not proper to use the COG under the condition of no fixed environment. The reason was that the COG index did not include the information on the slope for the wobble. Thus, this study defined the new index as the perpendicular-projection point (PPP), which was the projected point of the COM on the tilted plane. The proposed geometric solution utilized the relationship among three points, the PPP, the COM, and the middle point between the two feet, via linear regression. The experimental results found that the geometric solution, which utilized the relationship between the three angles of the equivalent model, enabled us to score the HBBAWB. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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25 pages, 8451 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison between Helical Axis and SARA Approaches for the Estimation of Functional Joint Axes on Multi-Body Modeling Data

by Carlo De Benedictis

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1274; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031274 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2109

Abstract

Functional methods usually allow for a flexible and accurate representation of joint kinematics and are increasingly implemented both for clinical and biomechanics research purposes. This paper presents a quantitative comparison between two widely adopted methods for functional axis estimation, that is, the helical [...] Read more.

Functional methods usually allow for a flexible and accurate representation of joint kinematics and are increasingly implemented both for clinical and biomechanics research purposes. This paper presents a quantitative comparison between two widely adopted methods for functional axis estimation, that is, the helical axis theory and the symmetrical axis of rotation approach (SARA). To this purpose, a multi-body model was developed to simulate the lower limb of a subject. This model was designed to reproduce different motion patterns, that is, by selecting the active degrees of freedom of the simulated ankle joint. Thanks to virtual markers attached to each segment, the multi-body model was used to generate simulated motion capture data that were then analyzed by instantaneous helical axes and SARA algorithms. To achieve a synthetic representation of joint kinematics, a mean helical axis and an average SARA functional axis were estimated, along with dispersion parameters and rms distance data that were used to quantitatively assess the performance of each method. The sensitivity of each algorithm to different combinations of range and speed of motion, scattering of marker clusters, sampling rate, and additive noise on markers’ trajectories, was finally evaluated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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13 pages, 4267 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Upper Body Posture Recognition Using Inertial Sensors and Recurrent Neural Networks

by Hao-Yuan Tang, Shih-Hua Tan, Ting-Yu Su, Chang-Jung Chiang and Hsiang-Ho Chen

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 12101; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112412101 - 19 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3392

Abstract

Inadequate sitting posture can cause imbalanced loading on the spine and result in abnormal spinal pressure, which serves as the main risk factor contributing to irreversible and chronic spinal deformity. Therefore, sitting posture recognition is important for understanding people’s sitting behaviors and for [...] Read more.

Inadequate sitting posture can cause imbalanced loading on the spine and result in abnormal spinal pressure, which serves as the main risk factor contributing to irreversible and chronic spinal deformity. Therefore, sitting posture recognition is important for understanding people’s sitting behaviors and for correcting inadequate postures. Recently, wearable devices embedded with microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) sensors, such as inertial measurement units (IMUs), have received increased attention in human activity recognition. In this study, a wearable device embedded with IMUs and a machine learning algorithm were developed to classify seven static sitting postures: upright, slump, lean, right and left bending, and right and left twisting. Four 9-axis IMUs were uniformly distributed between thoracic and lumbar regions (T1-L5) and aligned on a sagittal plane to acquire kinematic information about subjects’ backs during static-dynamic alternating motions. Time-domain features served as inputs to a signal-based classification model that was developed using long short-term memory-based recurrent neural network (LSTM-RNN) architecture, and the model’s classification performance was used to evaluate the relevance between sensor signals and sitting postures. Overall results from performance evaluation tests indicate that this IMU-based measurement and LSTM-RNN structural scheme was appropriate for sitting posture recognition. Full article

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13 pages, 1259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hamstring Torque, Velocity and Power Elastic Band Measurements during Hip Extension and Knee Flexion

by Dario Santos, Fernando Massa, Jorge Dominguez, Isabel Morales, Juan Del Castillo, Andrea Mattiozzi and Franco Simini

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10509; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112210509 - 09 Nov 2021

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Abstract

The quantitative dynamic monitoring of the performance of hamstring muscles during rehabilitation and training cannot currently be undertaken using elastic resistance bands. Hip extension with a fully extended knee involves hamstring agonists, while knee flexion involves only the hamstring. The purpose of this [...] Read more.

The quantitative dynamic monitoring of the performance of hamstring muscles during rehabilitation and training cannot currently be undertaken using elastic resistance bands. Hip extension with a fully extended knee involves hamstring agonists, while knee flexion involves only the hamstring. The purpose of this study is to provide normative values of torque, velocity and power involving hamstring muscles opposing elastic bands. Twenty amateur athletes aged 25.7 ± 4.9, were studied during two motor tasks—hip extension and knee flexion, both isometric & dynamic—with an elastic resistance band and DINABANG portable instrument. We compared the peak isometric torque in hip extension with agonists (2.93 Nm/kg) and without them (1.21 Nm/kg): the difference is significant. The peak angular limb velocity—starting at 50% of the maximum torque—is smaller in hip extension with agonists (215.96°/s) than in a knee flexion without them (452.56°/s). The combination of peak torque and peak velocity estimates power and there is no difference (p = 0.051) with and without agonists: 452.56°Nm/s.kg without agonists and 542.13°Nm/s.kg with them. This study opens the possibility of monitoring torque–velocity–power profiles for hamstring exercise in open chain. Full article

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12 pages, 3523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spine, Pelvis and Hip Kinematics—Characterizing the Axial Plane in Healthy and Osteoarthritic Hips

by Danilo S. Catelli, Brendan Cotter, Mario Lamontagne and George Grammatopoulos

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 9921; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11219921 - 23 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2198

Abstract

Abnormal spinopelvic movements are associated with inferior outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to (1) characterize the agreement between dynamic motion and radiographic sagittal assessments of the spine, pelvis, and hip; (2) determine the effect of hip osteoarthritis (OA) on [...] Read more.

Abnormal spinopelvic movements are associated with inferior outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study aims to (1) characterize the agreement between dynamic motion and radiographic sagittal assessments of the spine, pelvis, and hip; (2) determine the effect of hip osteoarthritis (OA) on kinematics by comparing healthy individuals with pre-THA patients suffering from uni- or bilateral hip OA. Twenty-four OA patients pre-THA and eight healthy controls underwent lateral spinopelvic radiographs in standing and seated bend-and-reach (SBR) positions. Lumbar-lordosis (LL), sacral-slope (SS), and pelvic–femoral (PFA) angles were measured in both positions, and the differences (Δ) between SBR and standing were computed to assess spine flexion (SF), pelvic tilt (PT), and hip flexion (HF), respectively. Dynamic SBR and seated maximal trunk rotation (STR) tasks were performed at the biomechanics laboratory. Peak sagittal and axial kinematics for spine, pelvis, and hip, and range of motion (ROM), were calculated for SBR and STR. Radiograph readings correlated with sagittal kinematics during SBR for ΔLL and SFmax (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), ΔPT and PTmax (r = 0.44, p = 0.014), and ΔPFA and HFmax (r = 0.70, p < 0.001), with a satisfactory agreement in Bland–Altman analyses. Sagittal SBR spinal (r = 0.33, p = 0.022) and pelvic (r =0.35, p = 0.018) flexions correlated with the axial STR rotations. All axial spinopelvic parameters were different between the OA patients and controls, with the latter exhibiting significantly greater mobility and less variability. Bilaterally affected patients exhibited lower peak and ROM compared to controls. The biomechanics laboratory performed reliable assessments of spinopelvic and hip characteristics, in which the axial plane can be included. The sagittal and axial pelvic kinematics correlate, illustrating that pelvic rotation abnormalities are likely also contributing to the inferior outcomes seen in patients with abnormal spinopelvic flexion characteristics. Axial rotations of the pelvis and spine were least in patients with bilateral hip disease, further emphasizing the importance of the hip–pelvic–spine interaction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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16 pages, 3226 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Tibiofemoral Kinematics Using Single-Plane Fluoroscopy and a Personalized Kinematic Model

by Cheng-Chung Lin, Hsuan-Lun Lu, Tung-Wu Lu, Chia-Yang Wang, Jia-Da Li, Mei-Ying Kuo and Horng-Chuang Hsu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9415; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209415 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1770

Abstract

Model-based 3D/2D image registration using single-plane fluoroscopy is a common setup to determine knee joint kinematics, owing to its markerless aspect. However, the approach was subjected to lower accuracies in the determination of out-of-plane motion components. Introducing additional kinematic constraints with an appropriate [...] Read more.

Model-based 3D/2D image registration using single-plane fluoroscopy is a common setup to determine knee joint kinematics, owing to its markerless aspect. However, the approach was subjected to lower accuracies in the determination of out-of-plane motion components. Introducing additional kinematic constraints with an appropriate anatomical representation may help ameliorate the reduced accuracy of single-plane image registration. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a multibody model-based tracking (MbMBT) scheme, embedding a personalized kinematic model of the tibiofemoral joint for the measurement of tibiofemoral kinematics. The kinematic model was consisted of three ligaments and an articular contact mechanism. The knee joint activities in six volunteers during isolated knee flexion, lunging, and sit-to-stand motions were recorded with a biplane X-ray imaging system. The tibiofemoral kinematics determined with the MbMBT and mediolateral view fluoroscopic images were compared against those determined using biplane fluoroscopic images. The MbMBT was demonstrated to yield tibiofemoral kinematics with precision values in the range from 0.1 mm to 1.1 mm for translations and from 0.2° to 1.3° for rotations. The constraints provided by the kinematic model were shown to effectively amend the nonphysiological tibiofemoral motion and not compromise the image registration accuracy with the proposed MbMBT scheme. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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15 pages, 2122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Musculoskeletal Dynamics during Gait: Evaluating the Best Personalization Strategy through Model Anatomical Consistency

by Michele Conconi, Erica Montefiori, Nicola Sancisi and Claudia Mazzà

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8348; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188348 - 09 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2433

Abstract

No consensus exists on how to model human articulations within MSK models for the analysis of gait dynamics. We propose a method to evaluate joint models and we apply it to three models with different levels of personalization. The method evaluates the joint [...] Read more.

No consensus exists on how to model human articulations within MSK models for the analysis of gait dynamics. We propose a method to evaluate joint models and we apply it to three models with different levels of personalization. The method evaluates the joint model’s adherence to the MSK hypothesis of negligible joint work by quantifying ligament and cartilage deformations resulting from joint motion; to be anatomically consistent, these deformations should be minimum. The contrary would require considerable external work to move the joint, violating a strong working hypothesis and raising concerns about the credibility of the MSK outputs. Gait analysis and medical resonance imaging (MRI) from ten participants were combined to build lower limb subject-specific MSK models. MRI-reconstructed anatomy enabled three levels of personalization using different ankle joint models, in which motion corresponded to different ligament elongation and cartilage co-penetration. To estimate the impact of anatomical inconsistency in MSK outputs, joint internal forces resulting from tissue deformations were computed for each joint model and MSK simulations were performed ignoring or considering their contribution. The three models differed considerably for maximum ligament elongation and cartilage co-penetration (between 5.94 and 50.69% and between −0.53 and −5.36 mm, respectively). However, the model dynamic output from the gait simulations were similar. When accounting for the internal forces associated with tissue deformation, outputs changed considerably, the higher the personalization level the smaller the changes. Anatomical consistency provides a solid method to compare different joint models. Results suggest that consistency grows with personalization, which should be tailored according to the research question. A high level of anatomical consistency is recommended when individual specificity and the behavior of articular structures is under investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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12 pages, 6277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aging Affects Multi-Objective Optimal Control Strategies during Obstacle Crossing

by Chien-Chung Kuo, Jr-Yi Wang, Sheng-Chang Chen, Tung-Wu Lu and Horng-Chaung Hsu

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8040; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178040 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1806

Abstract

Obstacle crossing challenges balance and increases the risk of falls in older people. Knowledge of the control strategies adopted by older people will be helpful for the study of the mechanisms of falls during obstacle crossing and the development of fall-prevention approaches. A [...] Read more.

Obstacle crossing challenges balance and increases the risk of falls in older people. Knowledge of the control strategies adopted by older people will be helpful for the study of the mechanisms of falls during obstacle crossing and the development of fall-prevention approaches. A mechanical model of the body combined with measured gait data was used to study the control strategies adopted by 17 healthy older and 17 young adults when crossing obstacles of different heights, in terms of the best-compromise weighting sets for the objectives of minimizing energy expenditure and maximizing the toe-obstacle and heel-obstacle clearances. The older group showed increased leading toe-obstacle clearance and trailing toe-obstacle distance, but decreased leading heel-obstacle distance. Compared with the young, the crossing strategy of older people emphasized the foot-obstacle clearance to reduce the risk of tripping, at the expense of energy expenditure. It appears that the multi-objective optimal control strategy relies on the muscular strength of the lower extremities and precise end-point control. Therefore, maintaining or improving the muscle strength and the ability of limb position control is critical for safe and successful obstacle-crossing in the older population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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10 pages, 1612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study of Military Crawl as a Special Type of Human Quadripedal Automatic Locomotion

by Dmitry Skvortsov, Victor Anisimov and Alina Aizenshtein

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7666; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167666 - 20 Aug 2021

Viewed by 2766

Abstract

The biomechanics of military crawl locomotion is poorly covered in scientific literature so far. Crawl locomotion may be used as a testing procedure which allows for the detection of not only obvious, but also hidden locomotor dysfunctions. The aim of the study was [...] Read more.

The biomechanics of military crawl locomotion is poorly covered in scientific literature so far. Crawl locomotion may be used as a testing procedure which allows for the detection of not only obvious, but also hidden locomotor dysfunctions. The aim of the study was to investigate the biomechanics of crawling among healthy adult participants. Eight healthy adults aged 15–31 (four women and four men) were examined by means of a 3D kinematic analysis with Optitrack optical motion-capture system which consists of 12 Flex 13 cameras. The movements of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip joints were recorded. A person was asked to crawl 4 m on his/her belly. The obtained results including space-time data let us characterize military crawling in terms of pelvic and lower limb motions as a movement similar to walking but at a more primitive level. Progressive and propulsive motions are characterized as normal; additional right–left side motions—with high degree of reciprocity. It was found that variability of the left-side motions is significantly lower than that of the right side (Z = 4.49, p < 0.0001). The given normative data may be used as a standard to estimate the test results for patients with various pathologies of motor control (ataxia, abasia, etc.). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

15 pages, 418 KiB

Open AccessReview

Novel Technologies Used in the Assessment of Patellofemoral Pain: A Scoping Review

by Gamze Arin-Bal, Volga Bayrakci-Tunay, Maria Grazia Benedetti, Alberto Leardini, Federico Vismara and Claudio Belvedere

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 10825; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131910825 - 29 Sep 2023

Viewed by 846

Abstract

This scoping review aims to present existing evidence on new technologies reported recently to assess patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). The literature search was conducted in September 2023, and search engines were Medline (via Pubmed), Scopus, and Cochrane Central. The preferred search term [...] Read more.

This scoping review aims to present existing evidence on new technologies reported recently to assess patients with patellofemoral pain (PFP). The literature search was conducted in September 2023, and search engines were Medline (via Pubmed), Scopus, and Cochrane Central. The preferred search term was “patellofemoral pain”, as the 2016 PFP consensus statement recommended, and several subgroups were arranged to find any possible technology-related assessment. The total number of articles found was 7927. After eliminating duplicates, 2058 articles remained for the title and abstract screening. Methods sections of the articles were investigated for data charting. Among the 652 full-text articles, 8 met our inclusion criteria on gait analysis, 34 on imaging, and 95 on EMG. However, only 5 included innovative technology, 2 used cone-beam CT, 1 used a device in medical imaging to apply stress to the patella in anatomical directions, and 2 used a novel EMG electrode system based on a high-density linear array. The results of this review demonstrate the large use of innovative technologies in PFP, particularly using medical imaging and state-of-the-art gait analysis, sometimes used together for thorough biomechanical studies. Because modern technology can provide precise and detailed information, exploiting these to design more effective prevention campaigns and patient-specific rehabilitation programs is fundamental. Investigations are becoming increasingly translational and multidisciplinary as a fusion of technological and clinical perspectives brings significant insights to PFP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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22 pages, 1003 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review of the Biomechanical Studies on Shoulder Kinematics in Overhead Sporting Motions: Types of Analysis and Approaches

by Yuvaraj Ramasamy, Juliana Usman, Rizal Razman, Yeap Ming Wei, Harley Towler and Mark King

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(16), 9463; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13169463 - 21 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1652

Abstract

The shoulder is a unique and complex joint in the human body with three bones and four joints, which makes it the most unstable joint in the body due to the amount of motion. To improve approaches toward understanding the performance of overhead [...] Read more.

The shoulder is a unique and complex joint in the human body with three bones and four joints, which makes it the most unstable joint in the body due to the amount of motion. To improve approaches toward understanding the performance of overhead throwing movements, this systematic review summarizes the type of analysis related to shoulder biomechanics involving overhead sporting motions. A search of seven databases identified 33 eligible studies, which were subsequently scored using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score scale. A total of nine articles from badminton, seven from baseball, five from volleyball, five from tennis, three from cricket, and one from softball were reviewed. All 33 studies evaluated shoulder kinematics and 12 of them also investigated the forces and torques (kinetics). The most common methods used were 3D motion analysis (76%), digital video cameras (15%), electromagnetic tracking system (6%), and finally 3% used IMU sensors. Overall, shoulder external rotation during the back swing, internal rotation, and elbow extension during the forward acceleration phase were the strongest predictors of high velocity overhead throwing movement. The findings provide some useful insights and guidance to researchers in their future contribution to the existing body of literature on shoulder overhead throwing movement biomechanics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Human Motion Analysis)

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