Investigating and preventing ankle sprain

This book will be valuable for anyone with an interest in sports technology, including those in industry, academia, sports organisations and athletes themselves

Investigating and Preventing Ankle Sprain

This book will be valuable for anyone with an interest in sports technology, including those in industry, academia, sports organisations and athletes themselves

The use of model matching video analysis and computational simulation to study the ankle sprain injury mechanism

Lateral ankle sprains continue to be the most common injury sustained by athletes and create an annual healthcare burden of over $4 billion in the U.S. alone. Foot inversion is suspected in these cases, but the mechanism of injury remains unclear. While kinematics and kinetics data are crucial in understanding the injury mechanisms, ligament behaviour measures - such as ligament strains - are viewed as the potential causal factors of ankle sprains. This review article demonstrates a novel methodology that integrates model matching video analyses with computational simulations in order to investigate injury-producing events for a better understanding of such injury mechanisms. In particular, ankle joint kinematics from actual injury incidents were deduced by model matching video analyses and then input into a generic computational model based on rigid bone surfaces and deformable ligaments of the ankle so as to investigate the ligament strains that accompany these sprain injuries. These techniques may have the potential for guiding ankle sprain prevention strategies and targeted rehabilitation therapies

The use of model matching video analysis and computational simulation to study the ankle sprain injury mechanism

Lateral ankle sprains continue to be the most common injury sustained by athletes and create an annual healthcare burden of over $4 billion in the U.S. alone. Foot inversion is suspected in these cases, but the mechanism of injury remains unclear. While kinematics and kinetics data are crucial in understanding the injury mechanisms, ligament behaviour measures - such as ligament strains - are viewed as the potential causal factors of ankle sprains. This review article demonstrates a novel methodology that integrates model matching video analyses with computational simulations in order to investigate injury-producing events for a better understanding of such injury mechanisms. In particular, ankle joint kinematics from actual injury incidents were deduced by model matching video analyses and then input into a generic computational model based on rigid bone surfaces and deformable ligaments of the ankle so as to investigate the ligament strains that accompany these sprain injuries. These techniques may have the potential for guiding ankle sprain prevention strategies and targeted rehabilitation therapies

The comparison between China and UK of the construction of city community sports service system in the scope of eco-civilization

The construction of urban community sports public service is not only an important part of urban community public service management, but also an important content of building the national fitness public service system. In this paper, the author analyse the comparison between China and UK of the construction of city community sports service system in the scope of eco-civilization. With the rapid development of society and economy, people's demand for sports is more and more urgent, and community sports is the most effective and direct way to meet people's needs. Therefore, it has practical significance to study the construction and management mode of community sports facilities

Fundamental motor skill proficiency of Hong Kong children aged 6-9 Years

This study investigated the fundamental motor skill proficiency of Hong Kong children ages 6-9. Ninety-one male and 76 female Chinese students (mean age = 7.6 years) from six local primary schools in Hong Kong participated in this study. The Test of Gross Motor DevelopmentSecond Edition (TGMD-2) was administrated to assess the mastery of gross motor skills by an experienced physical education instructor. The performance was videotaped, and it was rated by the same physical education instructor again (1 week apart) to show the reliability (0.88-0.97). Results showed that the participants were in general superior to the normative samples from the TGMD-2 manual, scoring a gross motor quotient (GMQ) of 56.8-80.9. Overall, 24% of the participants were rated as superior, 36% as above average, 47% as average, and 2% as below average. Excellent proficiency (> 80% in every subitem) was observed in running, galloping, leaping, sliding, catching, and throwing skills. In comparing the results with other studies, we found that the participants were superior to the data reported in previous studies in United States, Brazil, and Australia. This study added valuable information to the establishment of a worldwide normative reference for the comparison of future studies in other countries

A clinically applicable tool for rapidly estimating muscle volume using ultrasound images

Purpose: This study aimed to identify a safe, rapid, and accessible method of estimating muscle volume of key lower limb muscle groups to reduce the time-demand of acquiring this measurement and potentially facilitate its application as a clinical monitoring tool. Methods: Unilateral MRI images were acquired from the 12th thoracic vertebrae to the base of the foot in 18 recreationally active males. Panoramic B-mode ultrasound images were acquired from the same leg at the mid-hip, 25%, 50%, and 75% of thigh length, and 25% of shank length. Body mass, height, limb lengths, and circumferences at the sites corresponding to the ultrasound images were acquired. A single investigator manually analysed all images. Regression analyses were conducted to identify models for estimating volume of the hip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle groups. Results: Models were developed for estimating hip extensor (SEE = 8.92%, R2 = 0.690), knee extensor (SEE = 5.24%, R2 = 0.707) and flexor (SEE = 7.89%, R2 = 0.357), and ankle plantarflexor (SEE = 10.78%, R2 = 0.387) muscle group volumes. The hip and knee extensor models showed good potential for generalisation. Systematic error was observed for the knee flexor and ankle plantarflexor models. Conclusions: Hip extensor, knee extensor and flexor, and ankle plantarflexor muscle group volumes can be estimated using B-mode ultrasound images and anthropometric measurements. The error shown for each of the models was sufficient to identify previously reported differences in muscle volume due to training or injury, supporting their clinical application

Lower-extremity gait kinematics on slippery surfaces in construction worksites

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the lower-extremity kinematics when walking on potentially slippery surfaces in simulated construction worksite environments. Methods: A survey was conducted to select two types of footwear, two floorings, and four contaminants to represent the local construction worksite environments, making 16 simulated conditions. A mechanical slip-resistance test was conducted to evaluate the slipping potential of the 16 conditions by the value of the dynamic coefficient of friction. The 16 conditions were classified into three groups by slipping potential. Fifteen harnessed Chinese male subjects were instructed to walk and avoid slips on each of the 16 simulated 5-m walkways 10 times at their natural cadence. The movements in the sagittal plane were videotaped, digitized, and analyzed by a motion analysis system. Gait pattern parameters were obtained. Lower-extremity kinematic data were time-normalized from foot strike (0% stance) to take-off (100% stance) and were extracted from foot strike to midstance (50% stance) at 10% stance intervals. Results: ANOVA showed that with increased slipping potential, changes in gait pattern parameters included increased stance and stride time, shortened stride length, decreased propagation speed, and gentle heel strike. In lower-extremity kinematic parameters, significant differences were found mainly at the ankle joint rather than the knee joint. Conclusion: Strategies to prevent slips included increased stance and stride time, shortened stride length, decreased propagation speed, and gentle heel strike. The ankle joint played the most important role in adaptation strategy. Such strategy included reducing range of motion, maintaining a stiff joint, and achieving flatfoot landing or a plantarflexed ankle joint during the first 10% stance

Lower extremity preventive measures for slips: joint moments and myoelectric analysis

This study investigated the lower extremity preventive measures for slips on simulated slippery surfaces in construction worksites. A total of 15 harnessed Chinese males walked without slips on a 5-m walkway in 16 simulated conditions 10 times at their natural cadence. Joint moments were calculated from kinetics, kinematics and anthropometric data recorded from a force plate, a Novel Pedar system and a motion analysis system. Data were evaluated from footstrike to mid-stance at 10%-stance intervals. Electromyography signals from tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, rectus femoris and biceps femoris in one stride were evaluated in four phases, including early/late stance and swing. Results showed that lower extremity preventive measures for slips included prolonged ankle plantar flexion moments from 25% to 92% stance, increased ankle plantar flexion moments from 30% stance to mid-stance, and diminished knee extension moments from 10% to 30% stance. Higher activity of rectus femoris and gastrocnemius were found in the late stance and the swing phase respectively

The effect of school bag design and load on spinal posture during stair use by children

Thirteen male children ascending and descending stairs with loads that equalled 0%, 10%, 15% and 20% of their body weight were the subject of our research: the boys were wearing an asymmetrical single-strap athletic bag or a symmetrical double-strap backpack during our experiments with them. The maximum spinal tilt to the loading side and to the support side, and the range of spinal motions, were obtained by using a motion analysis system. Our results showed that symmetry of spinal posture was observed both when they ascended staircase with all loads and descended in a backpack. When carrying an athletic bag with 15% and 20% of their body weight while ascending the staircase, the lateral spinal tilt to the supporting side was significantly increased. We concluded that a symmetrical backpack with a load not exceeding 20% or an asymmetrical single-strap athletic bag with a load not exceeding 10% should be recommended for school children in order to promote safer staircase use. Statement of Relevance: Children carrying heavy school bags may develop spinal problems. This study suggested that when they are using stairs, a symmetrical backpack with a load within 20% body weight is acceptable for them. When they are carrying an asymmetrical single-strap athletic bag, the bag's weight should not exceed 10% of the body weight in order to avoid excessive spinal tilt