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11 pages, 2520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomechanical Evaluation of Cannulated Screw Optimization for Stabilization of Pauwels Type Femoral Neck Fractures

by Özgür Verim

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 2807; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14072807 - 27 Mar 2024

Viewed by 375

Abstract

Triangular screw configuration (TSC) fixation is widely used in clinics for femoral neck fractures, and the appropriate positions of TSC fixation have not been fully described in the literature. This study investigated the optimal fixation of femoral neck fractures with TSC fixation under [...] Read more.

Triangular screw configuration (TSC) fixation is widely used in clinics for femoral neck fractures, and the appropriate positions of TSC fixation have not been fully described in the literature. This study investigated the optimal fixation of femoral neck fractures with TSC fixation under nonstandard Pauwels angles to determine the ideal position. To determine the optimal fracture line angle and cannulated screw positions, the Pauwels angle and Rotation and Translate variables were parametrically defined in the fracture line and cannulated screw positions. Considering the equivalent stresses on the fracture surfaces, the effectiveness values of the Rotation and Translate 1, 2 and 3 variables are weak, whereas the effectiveness value of the Pauwels angle is high. Considering the equivalent stress on the screws and that the variable value of Translates 1, 2 and 3 is 7 mm, it can be seen that the reverse triangulation configuration is better, and the Pauwels angle is approximately 54°. Among the parameters examined in the study, Pauwels angle was found to have the highest level of effectiveness on femoral neck fracture surfaces and screws. The findings in this study provide a solid basis for future research; however, further clinical research is warranted. Full article

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

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17 pages, 4787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation between Postural Stability and Lower Extremity Joint Reaction Forces in Young Adults during Incline and Decline Walking

by Noor Arifah Azwani Abdul Yamin, Khairul Salleh Basaruddin, Muhammad Farzik Ijaz, Mohd Hanafi Mat Som, Muhammad Nazrin Shah Shahrol Aman and Hiroshi Takemura

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(24), 13246; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132413246 - 14 Dec 2023

Viewed by 710

Abstract

Postural stability may be affected during slope walking, as there are different body kinetics and kinematic responses compared with level walking. Understanding body adaptations toward different inclinations is essential to prevent the risk of injury from falls or slips. This study was conducted [...] Read more.

Postural stability may be affected during slope walking, as there are different body kinetics and kinematic responses compared with level walking. Understanding body adaptations toward different inclinations is essential to prevent the risk of injury from falls or slips. This study was conducted to determine the correlations between stability parameters and loading response in terms of joint reaction force at the lower-extremity joints during inclined and declined walking. Twenty male subjects walked in the level, incline, and decline directions on a custom-built platform at three different slope angles (i.e., 5°, 7.5°, and 10°). To determine the ground reaction force (GRF), joint reaction force (JRF), center of pressure (COP), and center of mass (COM), a motion capture system was used to read the data of the ten reflective markers and transfer them to visual three-dimensional (3D) software. Pearson’s correlation test was performed with statistical significance set at p < 0.05 to evaluate the correlation of the required coefficient of friction (RCOF), postural stability index (PSI), and COP-COM distance with the JRF. This study has identified that the JRF changes in opposition to the changes in the RCOF during the initial strike during incline and decline walking, as JRF increases, the RCOF decreases with different strengths of correlation. There is also a strong positive correlation between the PSI and JRF in the proximal–distal direction, where the JRFs change in accordance with the change in the PSI, and the JRF increases with the increment of PSI. In addition, the JRF of the lower extremity also changed in a manner similar to the COP-COM distance in the medial–lateral direction. Overall, each stability parameter was correlated with the JRF of the lower-extremity joints in different directions and strengths. This study demonstrated that slope walking is particularly affected by surface inclination in terms of stability and loading. Therefore, this research can serve as a basis for future studies on slopes, as there is no specific basis for a maximum degree of inclination that is safe and suitable for all applications. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1328 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Effects of Mini Trampoline Training Session on Leg Stiffness and Reactive Power

by Francesca Di Rocco, Olga Papale, Emanuel Festino, Marianna De Maio, Cristina Cortis and Andrea Fusco

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9865; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179865 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 934

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a mini trampoline training session (SuperJump^®) on leg stiffness and reactive power (R_P) while examining its relation to participants’ sex. A total of 20 participants (11 females, [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a mini trampoline training session (SuperJump^®) on leg stiffness and reactive power (R_P) while examining its relation to participants’ sex. A total of 20 participants (11 females, age: 24.4 ± 1.0 yrs; 9 males, age: 27.3 ± 2.9 yrs) performed continuous jump repetitions (RJs), measured on a force plate, before (PRE) and after (POST) a 30 min Superjump^® session. Linear repeated measures mixed models were used to examine the effects of the Superjump^® session on the leg stiffness mean (K_MEAN), mean of the best RJs (K_BEST), and R_P in relation to sex. Before and after the mini trampoline training session, females showed lower K_MEAN and K_BEST values compared with males. Despite the significant (p < 0.002) decreases in R_P after the Superjump^® session in both males (PRE: 23.1 ± 6.5 W/kg; POST: 21.2 ± 6.1 W/kg) and females (PRE: 23.6 ± 5.5 W/kg; POST: 21.9 ± 5.3 W/kg), leg stiffness remained unchanged, suggesting a potential protective effect of mini trampoline training on leg stiffness during acute adaptations. These findings suggest that Superjump^® training might exert a protective effect on leg stiffness, which prevents acute decreases that are commonly observed in other training modalities. The sex-related differences emerging from the present study emphasize the need for personalized approaches when integrating this innovative training tool into athletes’ regimens. Full article

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

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16 pages, 2164 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Loaded 5 Sit-to-Stand Test to Determine the Force–Velocity Relationship in Older Adults: A Validation Study

by Gianluca Bochicchio, Luca Ferrari, Alberto Bottari, Francesco Lucertini, Valentina Cavedon, Chiara Milanese and Silvia Pogliaghi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7837; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137837 - 03 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1044

Abstract

Force–velocity profiling (F-v) evaluates muscle function through the identification of maximum force (F0), velocity (V0), power (Pmax) and optimal velocity (Vopt). The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and feasibility of loaded 5 Sit-to-Stand (5STS) force-velocity profiling compared to the [...] Read more.

Force–velocity profiling (F-v) evaluates muscle function through the identification of maximum force (F0), velocity (V0), power (Pmax) and optimal velocity (Vopt). The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and feasibility of loaded 5 Sit-to-Stand (5STS) force-velocity profiling compared to the gold standard instruments (isokinetic Dynamometry, ISO) and asses the relationship between the 5STS-derived muscle function indexes with clinical markers of muscle mass and strength. Forty-six older adults (21 females: 63.8 ± 3.9 yrs) performed 5STS (four different weight conditions) and ISO tests (five different velocities). Paired t-tests, regression analyses, and Bland–Altman analysis were conducted. The results showed significant differences in F0, V0, and Vopt (p < 0.001) but no difference in Pmax (p = 0.259) between tests. Only F0 and Pmax were highly correlated between tests (r = 0.71, r = 0.84, respectively). Bland–Altman analysis showed a not significant bias and good precision (p = 0.260, 34 W) only for Pmax. Large to very large correlations (r = 0.53 to 0.81) were found between F0 and Pmax and clinical markers of muscle mass and strength. In conclusion, loaded 5STS profiling could be a feasible, valid, and cost- and time-efficient alternative to ISO for the characterization of clinically relevant markers of muscle function in healthy older adults. Full article

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

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12 pages, 8012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

One-Step Gait Pattern Analysis of Hip Osteoarthritis Patients Based on Dynamic Time Warping through Ground Reaction Force

by Sohyun Ahn, Wiha Choi, Hieyong Jeong, Sehoon Oh and Tae-Du Jung

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 4665; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13084665 - 07 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1667

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a degenerative joint disease, which means it causes gradual damage to the joint, and its incidence rate continues to increase worldwide. Degenerative osteoarthritis can cause significant pain and gait disturbance in walking, affecting daily life. A diagnosis [...] Read more.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a degenerative joint disease, which means it causes gradual damage to the joint, and its incidence rate continues to increase worldwide. Degenerative osteoarthritis can cause significant pain and gait disturbance in walking, affecting daily life. A diagnosis method for hip OA includes questioning and various walking movements to find abnormalities of gait patterns based on human observation. However, when multiple gait tests are performed to notice the gait, it can cause pain continuously, even during the examination. Suppose hip OA could be diagnosed with only a one-step gait; both patients and medical doctors would be benefited because the diagnosis time can be reduced and the burden on the patient is decreased dramatically. Therefore, in this paper, we aimed to propose a method to recognize the abnormality of the hip OA patient with a one-step gait pattern based on a dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm through three directional ground reaction forces (GRFs). After a force plate measured three directional GRFs, the data of twenty-three hip OA patients and eighteen healthy people were classified using supervised machine learning algorithms. The results of the classification showed high accuracy and reliability. Then, the DTW algorithm was applied to compare the data of patients and healthy people to find out when patients may feel pain during the gait. By applying the DTW algorithm, it was possible to find out in which gait phase the patient’s gait showed the difference, such as when the heel first contacted the ground, in the middle of walking, or when the toe came off the ground. Through the results, the data of the one-step gait on the force plate enabled us to classify patients and healthy people with a high accuracy of over 70%, recognize the abnormal gait pattern, and determine how to relieve the pain during the gait. Full article

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

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16 pages, 871 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Effectiveness of Basketball Free Throws through the Implementation of Technologies in the Technical Training Process

by Mircea Olteanu, Bogdan Marian Oancea and Dana Badau

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2650; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042650 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 6021

Abstract

The aim of the study was to implement a specific training program to improve basketball free throws by using an innovative system called “system and technical device designed for motor learning process in the field of sports science and physical education with direct [...] Read more.

The aim of the study was to implement a specific training program to improve basketball free throws by using an innovative system called “system and technical device designed for motor learning process in the field of sports science and physical education with direct applicability in basketball specific training-free throw improvement”, as well as to evaluate the level of free throw effectiveness. We also aimed to highlight the differences in progress between the experimental and control groups for three age categories U14, U16, and U18 male juniors. The system and the device for detecting the ideal trajectory of the ball were provided by a high-speed video camera which captured the images and projected them in real-time onto a projection surface that was placed in front of, or to the side of the athlete, depending on the subject’s preference, provided that this projection surface is in the performer’s field of vision. The research took place from 5 April to 10 July 2021 and phased as follows: initial testing, implementation of the experimental 12-week free-throw training program (one individualized training session per week lasting 120 min), and final testing. The study included 360 subjects aged 13–14 years, who were grouped according to gender and team sport played. The evaluation was done by three tests: the FRB test (standardized test), the Shoot-Run test, and the 10 experimental throws test. The results of the study in all three motor tests showed that by implementing the innovative system that was designed for motor learning, the effectiveness of free throw shooting improved significantly in the players of the experimental groups in all age groups (U14, U16, U18), thus evidencing a positive, upward dynamic in relation to the increasing age category. In all three motor tests, the progress of the experimental groups was superior to the control groups as a result of the implementation of the experimental exercise program using the innovative system and device that was designed to improve free throws. The results of the study highlighted the effectiveness and opportunity of the implementation of innovative technologies in the process of training and evaluation of basketball specific free throws. Full article

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

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16 pages, 4574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A New Approach to Assess Quality of Motion in Functional Task of Upper Limb in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

by Wiktoria Wojnicz, Agnieszka Sobierajska-Rek, Bartłomiej Zagrodny, Michał Ludwicki, Joanna Jabłońska-Brudło and Katarzyna Forysiak

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 12247; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122312247 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1437

Abstract

(1) Background: This study presents a new method for the motion quantitative analysis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients (DMD) performing functional tasks in clinical conditions. (2) Methods: An experimental study was designed to define how different levels of external mass (light and heavy) [...] Read more.

(1) Background: This study presents a new method for the motion quantitative analysis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients (DMD) performing functional tasks in clinical conditions. (2) Methods: An experimental study was designed to define how different levels of external mass (light and heavy) influence the performance of the upper limbs of a tested DMD and reference subject (RS) during horizontal movements (level of the waist) under natural conditions (NC) and passive manipulator conditions (PMC); the kinematic data and muscle activity of four chosen superficial muscles (EMG) were recorded. (3) Results: A piecewise linear multi-regression analysis revealed high statistically significant results (R² ≥ 0.75) between the tested muscle activities and kinematic data in the tested DMD patient and RS. These results were used to define whether the neural control of the four tested muscles (processed EMG data) was correlated more with the displacement of the wrist joint or the center of mass of the tested upper limb while performing functional tests with a given external weight in a horizontal plane under NC or PMC. (4) Conclusions: The proposed approach can be used to estimate the contributions of the tested muscles to patients’ motion performance and define whether this contribution is correlated with the kinematics or dynamics of the tested arm. Full article

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

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18 pages, 799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Portable RGB-D Camera-Based System for Assessing Gait Impairment Progression in ATTRv Amyloidosis

by Maria do Carmo Vilas-Boas, Ana Patrícia Rocha, Hugo Miguel Pereira Choupina, Márcio Neves Cardoso, José Maria Fernandes, Teresa Coelho and João Paulo Silva Cunha

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(20), 10203; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010203 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1136

Abstract

Hereditary Amyloidosis associated with variant Transthyretin (ATTRv Amyloidosis) is a progressive and highly disabling neurological disorder that affects gait. Quantitative motion analysis is useful for assessing motor function, including gait, in diseases affecting movement. A single markerless RGB-D camera enables 3D full-body motion [...] Read more.

Hereditary Amyloidosis associated with variant Transthyretin (ATTRv Amyloidosis) is a progressive and highly disabling neurological disorder that affects gait. Quantitative motion analysis is useful for assessing motor function, including gait, in diseases affecting movement. A single markerless RGB-D camera enables 3D full-body motion capture in a less expensive and intrusive, and more portable way than multi-camera marker-based systems. In this study, we examine whether a gait analysis system based on an RGB-D camera can be used to detect significant changes in the gait of ATTRv amyloidosis patients over time, when compared with a 12-camera system. We acquired 3D data provided by both systems from six ATTRv amyloidosis patients, while performing a simple gait task, once (T0) and 18 months later (T1). A direct comparison of systems has already been conducted. In this work, however, for each patient, we investigated if the RGB-D camera system detects statistically significant differences between the two different acquisitions in a similar way to the reference system, and whether it is reliable to use during patients’ follow-up. The obtained results show that the differences detected between T0 and T1 for both systems follow the same tendency for 65% of the spatiotemporal gait parameters, and for 38% of the kinematic parameters (38%). The most reliable parameters were: stride duration/length, gait speed (and its variability), and arm/foot swing velocity, all with an almost perfect strength of agreement. Full article

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

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16 pages, 3799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reducing the Number of Sensors in the Data Glove for Recognition of Static Hand Gestures

by Jakub Piskozub and Pawel Strumillo

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(15), 7388; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12157388 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1382

Abstract

Data glove devices, apart from being widely used in industry and entertainment, can also serve as a means for communication with the environment. This is possible thanks to the advancement in electronic technology and machine learning algorithms. In this paper, the results of [...] Read more.

Data glove devices, apart from being widely used in industry and entertainment, can also serve as a means for communication with the environment. This is possible thanks to the advancement in electronic technology and machine learning algorithms. In this paper, the results of the study using a designed data glove equipped with 10 piezoelectric sensors are reported, and the designed glove is validated on a recognition task of hand gestures based on 16 static signs of the Polish Sign Language (PSL) alphabet. The main result of the study is that recognition of 16 PSL static gestures is possible with a reduced number of piezoelectric sensors. This result has been achieved by applying the decision tree classifier that can rank the importance of the sensors for the recognition performance. Other machine learning algorithms were also tested, and it was showed that for the Support Vector Machines, k-NN and Bagged Trees classifiers, a recognition rate of the signs exceeding 90% can be achieved just for three preselected sensors. Such a result is important for a reduction in design complexity and costs of such a data glove with sustained reliability of the device. Full article

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

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12 pages, 2432 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of 12 Weeks of Saddle Horse Conversion Training on Thoroughbred Horse Gait

by Taewoon Jung and Hyoungjin Park

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6411; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136411 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376

Abstract

The unwanted horse problem is the most serious issue confronting the equestrian industry. Thus, it is recommended that retired racehorses switch to become saddle horses for ‘the second life of a racing veteran’ because training and using retired Thoroughbred racehorses as saddle horses [...] Read more.

The unwanted horse problem is the most serious issue confronting the equestrian industry. Thus, it is recommended that retired racehorses switch to become saddle horses for ‘the second life of a racing veteran’ because training and using retired Thoroughbred racehorses as saddle horses is the most cost-effective option. The current study aimed to analyze the effects of saddle horse conversion training on gaits of retired Thoroughbred racehorses. Our study included 12 retired Thoroughbred racehorses. These Thoroughbred racehorses performed the retraining 20–50 min a day, five times per week for three months. There are some critical findings in this study. The results show that the decreased stride length of each foot decreased the displacements of the center of mass and the center of the head. In addition, after retraining, there was a significant decrease in the head–neck angle and displacement between the center of the head and the center of the neck. These changes in the horse’s movements mean that the habitual movements for racing are gradually changed to optimal movements for a saddle horse. Full article

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

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9 pages, 2390 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Associations between Plantar Force Distribution and Successfulness in Short-Fire Shooting among Special Police Officers

by Mario Kasović, Lovro Štefan, Mate Bilobrk, Damir Sladin, Andro Štefan, Ivana Štrbac and Katerina Jencikova

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5199; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105199 - 20 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine whether a pistol shooting efficiency score could be predicted by plantar force distribution patterns. In this cross-sectional study, participants were special police male officers (N = 30), members of the Anti-Terrorist Unit ‘Lučko’ [...] Read more.

The main purpose of the study was to determine whether a pistol shooting efficiency score could be predicted by plantar force distribution patterns. In this cross-sectional study, participants were special police male officers (N = 30), members of the Anti-Terrorist Unit ‘Lučko’ (age_mean±SD = 40 ± 6 years, height_mean±SD = 180 ± 5 cm, weight_mean±SD = 89 ± 8 kg). Shooting efficiency at a target 10 m away was tested on a scale from 0 to 5, while standing on a Zebris pedobarographic platform. Higher absolute (N; β = −0.19, p = 0.002) and relative (%; β = −0.12, p = 0.043) forces beneath the hindfoot were associated with poorer shooting efficiency. A significant positive association between the relative force beneath the forefoot and shooting efficiency was found, i.e., higher relative forces beneath the forefoot region exhibited better shooting values (β = 0.12, p = 0.043). When the force was normalized by weight (N/kg), similar associations remained. This study shows that higher force values under the hindfoot region may lead to a lower shooting performance, while higher force values under the forefoot region can increase shooting performance. Full article

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

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11 pages, 7464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relation between Step-To-Step Transition Strategies and Walking Pattern in Older Adults

by Arthur H. Dewolf, Guillaume M. Meurisse, Yury Ivanenko, Francesco Lacquaniti, Guillaume J. Bastien and Bénédicte Schepens

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5055; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105055 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1422

Abstract

In older adults, two different modes of step-to-step transition have been observed: an anticipated mode when the redirection of the centre of mass of the body (COM) begins before double stance and another when the transition begins during double stance. However, the impact [...] Read more.

In older adults, two different modes of step-to-step transition have been observed: an anticipated mode when the redirection of the centre of mass of the body (COM) begins before double stance and another when the transition begins during double stance. However, the impact of transition mode on gait kinetics and kinematics has not been investigated. Age and step-to-step-transition-related differences in intersegmental coordination and in the COM trajectory during walking were identified. Fifteen young (24.1 ± 0.7 y.o.) and thirty-six older adults (74.5 ± 5.0 y.o.) walked on a treadmill at 1.11 m s⁻¹ and 1.67 m s⁻¹. Lower-limb motion and ground reaction force were recorded. The COM dynamics were evaluated by measuring the pendulum-like exchange of the COM energies. While all young adults and 21 of the older adults used an anticipated transition, 15 older adults presented a non-anticipated transition. Previously documented changes of intersegmental coordination with age were accentuated in older adults with non-anticipated transition (p < 0.001). Moreover, older adults with non-anticipated transition had a smaller pendulum-like energy exchange than older adults with anticipated transition (p = 0.03). The timing of COM redirection is linked to kinematic and mechanic modification of gait and could potentially be used as a quantitative assessment of age-related decline in gait. Full article

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

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29 pages, 26009 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating 3D Human Motion Capture on Mobile Devices

by Lara Marie Reimer, Maximilian Kapsecker, Takashi Fukushima and Stephan M. Jonas

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 4806; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12104806 - 10 May 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6439

Abstract

Computer-vision-based frameworks enable markerless human motion capture on consumer-grade devices in real-time. They open up new possibilities for application, such as in the health and medical sector. So far, research on mobile solutions has been focused on 2-dimensional motion capture frameworks. 2D motion [...] Read more.

Computer-vision-based frameworks enable markerless human motion capture on consumer-grade devices in real-time. They open up new possibilities for application, such as in the health and medical sector. So far, research on mobile solutions has been focused on 2-dimensional motion capture frameworks. 2D motion analysis is limited by the viewing angle of the positioned camera. New frameworks enable 3-dimensional human motion capture and can be supported through additional smartphone sensors such as LiDAR. 3D motion capture promises to overcome the limitations of 2D frameworks by considering all three movement planes independent of the camera angle. In this study, we performed a laboratory experiment with ten subjects, comparing the joint angles in eight different body-weight exercises tracked by Apple ARKit, a mobile 3D motion capture framework, against a gold-standard system for motion capture: the Vicon system. The 3D motion capture framework exposed a weighted Mean Absolute Error of 18.80° ± 12.12° (ranging from 3.75° ± 0.99° to 47.06° ± 5.11° per tracked joint angle and exercise) and a Mean Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient of 0.76 for the whole data set. The data set shows a high variance of those two metrics between the observed angles and performed exercises. The observed accuracy is influenced by the visibility of the joints and the observed motion. While the 3D motion capture framework is a promising technology that could enable several use cases in the entertainment, health, and medical area, its limitations should be considered for each potential application area. Full article

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

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14 pages, 3881 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Existence of Shared Muscle Synergies Underlying Perturbed and Unperturbed Gait Depends on Walking Speed

by Lotte Hagedoorn, Matjaž Zadravec, Andrej Olenšek, Edwin van Asseldonk and Zlatko Matjačić

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 2135; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12042135 - 18 Feb 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1705

Abstract

Muscle synergy theory assumes that the central nervous system generates a wide range of complex motor outputs by recruiting muscle synergies with different strengths and timings. The current understanding is that a common set of muscle synergies underlies unperturbed as well as perturbed [...] Read more.

Muscle synergy theory assumes that the central nervous system generates a wide range of complex motor outputs by recruiting muscle synergies with different strengths and timings. The current understanding is that a common set of muscle synergies underlies unperturbed as well as perturbed walking at self-selected speeds. However, it is not known whether this is the case for substantially slower walking. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a shared set of muscle synergies underlies balance recovery responses following inward- and outward-directed perturbations in the mediolateral direction at various perturbation onsets and walking speeds. Twelve healthy subjects walked at three walking speeds (0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 m/s) on a treadmill while perturbations were applied to the pelvis using the balance assessment robot. A set of sixteen EMG signals, i.e., eight muscles per leg, was measured and decomposed into muscle synergies and weighting curves using non-negative matrix factorization. The muscles included were left and right tibialis anterior, soleus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, rectus femoris, hamstring, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus. In general, four muscle synergies were needed to adequately reconstruct the data. Muscle synergies were similar for unperturbed and perturbed walking at a high walking speed (0.8 m/s). However, the number of similar muscle synergies between perturbed and unperturbed walking was significantly lower for low walking speeds (0.4 and 0.6 m/s). These results indicate that shared muscle synergies underlying perturbed and unperturbed walking are less present during slow walking compared to fast walking. Full article

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

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8 pages, 849 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Effects of the Repeated Exposure to Trip-like Perturbations on Inter-Segment Coordination during Walking: An UCM Analysis

by Vito Monaco, Clara Zabban and Tamon Miyake

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9663; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11209663 - 16 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1709

Abstract

The minimum toe clearance (MTC) results from the coordination of all bilateral lower limb body segments, i.e., a redundant kinematic chain. We tested the hypothesis that repeated exposure to trip-like perturbations induces a more effective covariation of limb segments during steady walking, in [...] Read more.

The minimum toe clearance (MTC) results from the coordination of all bilateral lower limb body segments, i.e., a redundant kinematic chain. We tested the hypothesis that repeated exposure to trip-like perturbations induces a more effective covariation of limb segments during steady walking, in accordance with the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) theory, to minimize the MTC across strides. Twelve healthy young adults (mean age 26.2 ± 3.3 years) were enrolled. The experimental protocol consisted of three identical trials, each involving three phases carried outin succession: steady walking (baseline), managing trip-like perturbations, and steady walking (post-perturbation). Lower limb kinematics collected during both steady walking phases wereanalyzed in the framework of the UCM theory to test the hypothesis that the reduced MTC variability following the perturbation can occur, in conjunction with more effective organization of the redundant lower limb segments. Results revealed that, after the perturbation, the synergy underlying lower limb coordination becomes stronger. Accordingly, the short-term effects of the repeated exposure to perturbations modify the organization of the redundant lower limb-related movements. In addition, results confirm that the UCM theory is a promising tool for exploring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at purposely modifying motor behaviors. Full article

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

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14 pages, 854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Static Balancing Ability and Lower Body Kinematics Examination of Hungarian Folk Dancers: A Pilot Study Investigating the “Kalocsai Mars” Dance Sequence

by Cecília Molnár, Zsófia Pálya and Rita M. Kiss

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8789; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188789 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2253

Abstract

Folk dance is a collection of traditional dances that requires years of practicing to perform correctly. The aim of the present study was to develop a complex biomechanical measurement procedure that investigated Hungarian folk dancers’ balancing ability and lower body kinematics through a [...] Read more.

Folk dance is a collection of traditional dances that requires years of practicing to perform correctly. The aim of the present study was to develop a complex biomechanical measurement procedure that investigated Hungarian folk dancers’ balancing ability and lower body kinematics through a dance movement called “Kalocsai mars”. Therefore, 11 dancers’ motion (5 female and 6 male; age: 20.5 ± 2.5 years; height: 173.82 ± 7.82 cm; weight: 64.77 ± 8.67 kg) was recorded with an optical-based motion capture system and force platforms simultaneously. Before and after the dancing session, static balancing tests were performed, examining bipedal stance with eyes opened and closed conditions. The ANOVA results showed that the values of the range of motions of the knee joint flexion-extension angles and hip flexion averaged for sessions increased significantly (

p = 0.044

,

p = 0.003

,

p = 0.005

) during the dancing sessions. The deviation in the joint angle was greater in the nondominant legs, suggesting that the nondominant side requires more attention to execute the dance steps correctly. The results of the balance tests showed that the oscillation in the posterior direction increased significantly after dancing (

p = 0.023

). In comparison, the visual feedback had no significant effect on the dancers’ balancing ability. Full article

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

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Review

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20 pages, 1147 KiB

Open AccessReview

Influence of Footwear Features on Oxygen Consumption and Running Economy: A Review

by Miguel Ángel Melero-Lozano, Marta San-Antolín, Davinia Vicente-Campos, J. L. Chicharro, Ricardo Becerro-de-Bengoa-Vallejo, Marta Elena Losa-Iglesias, David Rodríguez-Sanz and César Calvo-Lobo

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010023 - 20 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1593

Abstract

It has been reported that the new technology applied to current racing shoes has increased the performance of runners who use this kind of footwear. This improvement has been proven in the scientific literature in relation to oxygen consumption. Nevertheless, as it is [...] Read more.

It has been reported that the new technology applied to current racing shoes has increased the performance of runners who use this kind of footwear. This improvement has been proven in the scientific literature in relation to oxygen consumption. Nevertheless, as it is a novel topic, there is a lack of knowledge about which specific features achieve a decrease in oxygen consumption during running. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the features of footwear, specifically the shoe mass, the cushioning system, the longitudinal bending stiffness and the comfort feeling on running economy. This review was carried out from the bibliographic search in the main databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Plus and Medline and considering the PRISMA statement as a reference so that an analysis of the results has been obtained together with the methodological quality and risk of bias of the studies. Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria, which presented a moderate/high methodological quality, and an analysis of their results was carried out. Footwear features such as the shoe mass, the cushioning system and the longitudinal bending stiffness produce advantages compared to other footwear that does not include this technology. Due to the lack of evidence, the influence of comfort feeling on oxygen consumption has not been proved. Full article

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

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Other

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14 pages, 1262 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Specific Test Design for the In-Depth Technique Analysis of Elite Karate Competitors with the Application of Kinematic Sensors

by Vesna Vuković, Nenad Koropanovski, Stefan Marković, Anton Kos, Milivoj Dopsaj and Anton Umek

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8048; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168048 - 11 Aug 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

Karate fighters are under constant pressure to find adequate scoring solutions in ever-changing combat conditions. Thus, technique improvement at high levels of mastery demands a novel approach to key data acquisition and in-depth analysis of more than just the impact phase in punch [...] Read more.

Karate fighters are under constant pressure to find adequate scoring solutions in ever-changing combat conditions. Thus, technique improvement at high levels of mastery demands a novel approach to key data acquisition and in-depth analysis of more than just the impact phase in punch execution. With the aim of describing the kinematic and temporal structure of a reverse punch in the developmental phase, two wireless sensors were used for the acquisition of selected quantities in ten modalities performed by a continental and world medallist. The results show that the timeline of kinematic parameters may be a reliable factor regarding the efficiency of the reverse punch. The obtained hand results show a tendency towards maintaining greater levels of stability in comparison to the body. Additionally, the differences between parameters in relation to applied tests that replicated training and combat conditions were noted. The highest acceleration values were obtained in sliding motion preceding RP, with a partner holding chest punch pad, both static (7.35 ± 0.47 g₀) and dynamic (6.99 ± 1.23 g₀) tests. The same applies for velocity (8.39 ± 0.14 and 7.30 ± 1.28 m/s). The obtained results indicate the need for specific testing and an individual approach in the analysis of the techniques of elite competitors, along with the use of sensors in data acquisition. Such an approach may help improve the training and competition practice of karate fighters. Full article

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

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