Can two-dimensional measured peak sagittal plane excursions during drop vertical jumps help identify three-dimensional measured joint moments?

Background: Less optimal sagittal plane movement patterns are believed to increase knee injury risk in female athletes. To facilitate clinical screening with a user-friendly method, the purpose of the present study was to examine the temporal relationships between two-dimensional measured sagittal plane kinematics and three-dimensional joint moments during the double-leg drop vertical jump (DVJ) and single-leg DVJ (SLDVJ). Methods: Fifty injury-free female athletes were tested. Maximal excursions of hip flexion, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion were measured through two-dimensional video analysis. Three-dimensional motion and ground reaction forces were recorded to calculate external hip flexion, knee flexion and knee abduction moments during the entire stance phase of DVJ and SLDVJ. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping was used to examine relationships between peak two-dimensional kinematic variables and three-dimensional moment profiles. Results: Hip flexion was significantly related to the hip and knee flexion moment for both tests and knee abduction moment for DVJ during the time frames corresponding with highest three-dimensional moments, while knee flexion was significantly related to the hip flexion moment during these time frames. No significant relationships were found for ankle dorsiflexion with any of the joint moments. Conclusions: Two-dimensional measured sagittal plane hip flexion angles at the deepest landing position were associated with peak joint moments of the hip and knee during DVJ and SLDVJ, while the amount of knee flexion was only associated with the hip flexion moment. Assessment of knee injury risk with two-dimensional video analysis could benefit from measuring maximal hip flexion, more so than knee flexion

Reliability intra-and inter-examiner of the head postural assessment by computerized photogrammetry

Scientific articles about reliability of photogrammetry for cervical spine posture evaluation are infrequent. The aim of the present investigation is to verify intra-and inter-examiner reliability of the computerized photogrammetry method for head postural evaluation in lateral view. Twenty-five young women, between 20 and 30 years old, were positioned seated in an upright position and photographed in lateral view. The photographs were imported to Corel Draw X13 program for postural evaluation by computerized photogrammetry. Analyses of intra-and inter-examiner reliability were performed for the angles: condyle-acromion (ACA), menton-sternum (AME) and Frankfurt (AF). The photogrammetry was performed by two examiners: EA and EB. For intra-examiner analyses, EA assessed the pictures twice (A1 and A2) for the same angles within 3 months. For the inter-examiner analyses, EB performed the photogrammetry for the same angles (B1) in order to compare with the data from EA. Using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) we observed an excellent correlation in the intra-examiner analysis (A1 and A2) for the angles: ACA and AME (both with ICC=1.0); and AF (ICC=0.78). For the inter-examiner analyses between A1 and B1, it was observed: ACA (ICC=0.24), AME (ICC=0.26) and AF (ICC=0.00). For the comparison between A2 and B1, the ICC values were: 0.23; 0.27 and 0.00, respectively for ACA, AME and AF, classified as weak correlations. In conclusion, the photogrammetry is reliable when performed by the same examiner. The inter-examiner assess showed low reliability, what could have been compromised by the reduced experience of the EB in applying the method

Addition of test components during neurodynamic testing: Effect on range of motion and sensory responses

Study Design: Single session, repeated-measures design. Objectives: To analyze the impact of different components of the neural tissue provocation test for the median nerve (NTPT1) on the range of motion (ROM) of the elbow and wrist and the sensory responses elicited by the test. Background: The assessment of minor peripheral nerve injuries by neurodynamic tests is becoming more integrated in physical therapy practice. The influence of different test components on the nervous system has been analyzed in numerous in vitro studies, but in vivo studies are still lacking. Methods and Measures: Five test variations were performed on 35 asymptomatic men (23.5 +/- 2.3 years). Elbow extension was performed (1) without additional components (NTPT1(NEUTRAL)), (2) with wrist extension (NTPT1(WE)), (3) with cervical contralateral lateral flexion (NTPT1(CLLF)), and (4) with both wrist extension and cervical contralateral lateral flexion (NTPT1(WE+CLLF)). In the fifth variant, the wrist was extended from a preloaded position (WENTPT1). The range of elbow and wrist extension when a submaximal discomfort was elicited was measured with 2 electrogoniometers. Results: The addition of each test component resulted in a significantly reduced ROM (NTPT1(NEUTRAL): 179.5 +/- 8.8 degrees, NTPT1(WE): 169.0 +/- 13.9 degrees, NTPT1(CLLF): 154.7 +/- 13.2 degrees, NTPT1(WE+CLLF): 143.9 +/- 16.1 degrees; WENTPT1: 67.1 +/- 11.0 degrees). Sensory responses were predominantly evoked at the region of the added component. Conclusions: The different test components, whose mechanical influence on the nervous system has been demonstrated in anatomical studies, also have an effect on joint ROM and sensory responses during neurodynamic testing, when individually or simultaneously added. If the nerve bedding is elongated throughout its whole length, the available ROM is markedly reduced and sensory responses can be elicited throughout the entire arm