The Effect of Upper-String Musician Practice Session on Scapular Kinematics

Background: Shoulder pain is common in the upper-string musician population. [43,49] Pain has been linked with injury and impairments. Altered scapular kinematics has been associated with patients diagnosed with shoulder injury or impairment. Fatigue of the shoulder complex through repeated arm motions has been shown to alter scapular kinematics, resulting in shoulder pathologies, including rotator cuff impingement syndrome. [12,15,28] Upper string musicians have been documented with practicing multiple hours in a day and it could be inferred those practice sessions could be fatiguing. [24,49] Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effect of upper string musician practice session has on scapular kinematics. The study has three alternative hypotheses. The first being that following the practice session there will be decreased upward scapular rotation during arm elevation. The second being that following the practice session there will be decreased external scapular rotation during arm elevation. Finally, following the practice session there will be decreased posterior scapular tilt during arm elevation. Methods: Six upper-string musicians were recruited for this study. Participants performed five-arm elevation followed by a predetermined test piece for scapular kinematic pre-measures. Participants then practiced for 45 minutes. Following the practice session, the participants performed the predetermined test piece then the five-arm elevation for post-measures. Strength measures were recorded following the practice session as well. Pre-fatigue/ fatigue scapular motion and strength measures was explored using paired t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were appropriate. Statistical significance was determined a P \u3c 0.05. Results: Following the practice session there was no statistically significant change in upward scapular rotation for either the left (P = 0.392) or right (P = 0.43) during arm elevation. External scapular rotation measures were not found to be statistically significant pre- and post-practice session for either the left (P = 0.801) or right (P = 0.282) arm during arm elevation. Posterior scapular tilt was found to not be statistically significant for the left (p = 0.069) or right (P = 0.814) arm during arm elevation. It was also found that during arm elevation angle main affect was not statistically significant for posterior scapular tilt (P = 0.251) on the left arm. Arm elevation angle main affect was not found to be statistically significant for external scapular rotation (P = 0.126) or posterior scapular tilt (P = 0.917) for the right arm. Conclusion: Following the practice session specific for upper-string musicians, the results showed no statistically significant decrease for upward scapular rotation, external scapular rotation, or posterior scapular tilt. The study did find. However, that arm elevation did not influence external scapular rotation or posterior scapular tilt. Further research with more participants is needed to determine if the results are population-specific or not

Model Block Press

The Center for Vocational Building Technology came to the Mechanical Engineering department at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a project to create a new, less expensive model block press than their current BP9 design. This press would produce ¼ scale model compressed earth blocks to be sold as souvenirs and used in demonstrations for constructing buildings. After analyzing the design of the current block presses, JCM came up with the BP10 design. The BP10 operates similarly to the larger block presses, but will cost significantly less to produce and will have some of the design features enhanced to make it easier to use

Self-healing properties of augmented injectable hydrogels over time

Injectable polymers offer great benefits compared to other types of implants; however, they tend to suffer from increased mechanical wear and may need a replacement implant to restore these mechanical properties. The purpose of this experiment is to investigate an injectable hydrogel\u27s self-healing ability to augment itself to a previously molded implant. This was accomplished by performing a tensile strength test to examine potential diminishing mechanical properties with increasing time, as well as dye penetration tests to examine the formation of interfacial bonds between healed areas of hydrogels. There were several time points in between injections that were explored, from 0 min between injections all the way up to 48 h in between injections. The tests showed no statistical differences of the increased injection times compared to the single injection for the tensile test. However, our results showed an increase of mechanical breaks at self-healed joints, as well as a linear regression test showed a decrease in dye diffusion rate as time between injections increase. These results show that the hydrogel has strong self-healing abilities, and as time between injections increase, they mechanical properties will slowly decrease. Based on this, the tests can be applied to other injectable implants and a noninvasive solution to a worn-down implant, as well as show scientific backing to a possibly unique and beneficial self-healing property

The use of Heel Lifts for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease to Improve Postural Stability.

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative condition that results in resting tremors, slowed movement (bradykinesia), rigidity, and postural instability. People with PD develop a standing alignment often referred to as a “stooped posture”; flexed hips, kyphotic spine, forward shoulders, forward head, and downward head tilt. Concurrently, this population has high prevalence of impaired standing and dynamic balance, decreased muscle strength, slower gait, and slower anticipatory and reactionary body adjustments. We propose plantarflexion contractures contribute to instability by causing an altered alignment and decreasing the available range for reactive excursion in lower extremity. Purpose: To investigate if postural alignment, perceived stability and balance is impacted by accommodating plantar flexion (PF) contractures, with a heel lift, in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). To investigate the correlation of the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) to PF contracture severity in order to predict postural instability. Design: Pre-test post-test with no follow up Participants: Convenience sampling of 32 participants. Inclusion Criteria: diagnosed with PD, and independently ambulate 20 ft. without assistive devices. Exclusion Criteria: cannot understand English, and any comorbidities impacting postural stability. Interventions: Participants were assessed for talocrural dorsiflexion ROM. Patients filled in a self-reported Falls Efficacy Scale (FES). Then were assessed for the following outcome measures with and without the use of heel lifts: Sagittal Posture Photo Analysis, Visual Analog Perceived Stability Scale, Tekscan Pressure Sway Map, and Functional Reach Test (FRT). Heel lift size was assigned based on PF contracture severity. Results: Significant findings (p\u3c0.05) include increase in height (mean 1.00 cm) an anterior translation of the hips (mean 2.3cm) and a more upright trunk (mean 1.37 degrees) and head angle (mean 2.61 degrees). The perceived stability increased (mean 0.75) and functional reach decreased (mean 2.22cm). Correlations (R=0.36-0.50) were found between the degree of PF contracture and the reported fear of falling for questions on the FES that involved ADLs that required ambulation. Conclusion: Accommodating PF contractures, on individuals diagnosed with PD, with heel lifts significantly improves perceived stability, upright postural alignment, but also decreases forward reach. Clinical Significance: Heel lifts are a useful treatment to improve postural alignment in the PD population; however, it should be considered an adjunct treatment to joint mobilization and muscle lengthening techniques. References: Bartonek A, Lidbeck CM, Pettersson R, Weidenhielm EB, Eriksson M, Gutierrez- Farewik E. Influence of heel lifts during standing in children with motor disorders. Gait Posture. 2011;34(3):426-431. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2011.06.015. Gross MT, Mercer VS, Lin F-C. Effects of foot orthoses on balance in older adults. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012;42(7):649-657. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3944. Jankovic J. Parkinson’s disease: clinical features and diagnosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008;79(4):368-376. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.131045. Klamroth S, Steib S, Devan S, Pfeifer K. Effects of Exercise Therapy on Postural Instability in Parkinson Disease: A Meta-analysis. J Neurol Phys Ther JNPT. 2016;40(1):3-14. doi:10.1097/NPT.0000000000000117. Rogers ME, Page P, Takeshima N. Balance Training for the Older Athlete. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2013;8(4):517-530