MUSCLE PERFORMANCE OF THE SHOULDER ROTATORS IN UNIVERSITY TENNIS PLAYERS

Muscle imbalance has been identified as one of the cause for shoulder injuries among tennis players. The aim of this study was to investigate the isokinetic work ratios of eccentric antagonist to concentric agonist shoulder rotators during the service action among University team tennis players, and compare them between dominant and non-dominant arms. Tennis players with no previous history of shoulder problems were recruited from the University team (N=20). Isokinetic testing of the shoulder rotators were performed using the Cybex Norm TM isokinetic system. Results revealed no significant differences in work ratios between the dominant and non-dominant side during the acceleration or deceleration phase of the tennis serve. It was concluded that among asymptomatic tennis players a good balance existed between the internal and external rotators which can be quantified using work ratios

Isometric hip and knee torque measurements as an outcome measure in robot assisted gait training

Strength changes in lower limb muscles following robot assisted gait training (RAGT) in subjects with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI) has not been quantified using objective outcome measures. To record changes in the force generating capacity of lower limb muscles (recorded as peak voluntary isometric torque at the knee and hip), before, during and after RAGT in both acute and subacute/chronic ISCI subjects using a repeated measures study design. Eighteen subjects with ISCI participated in this study (Age range: 26–63 years mean age = 49.3 ± 11 years). Each subject participated in the study for a total period of eight weeks, including 6 weeks of RAGT using the Lokomat system (Hocoma AG, Switzerland). Peak torques were recorded in hip flexors, extensors, knee flexors and extensors using torque sensors that are incorporated within the Lokomat. All the tested lower limb muscle groups showed statistically significant (p < 0.001) increases in peak torques in the acute subjects. Comparison between the change in peak torque generated by a muscle and its motor score over time showed a non-linear relationship. The peak torque recorded during isometric contractions provided an objective outcome measure to record changes in muscle strength following RAGT

A combination of Botulinum toxin A therapy and functional electrical stimulation in children with cerebral palsy

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Duration of strength retention of ankle taping during activities of daily living

Background and purpose: Taping has been used for the prevention and treatment of ankle injuries. The change in tape strength his not been specifically quantified during activities of daily living (ADL) by any investigation so far, Therefore the primary aim of this study was to investigate the change in ankle tape strength over a 24-h period, while subjects performed their ADL. Subjects: Twenty-four healthy subjects (mean age: 24.3 +/- 7.4) participated in this study. Methods: Ankle taping was applied to all subjects for a 24-h period. Outcome measures were recorded at six different time intervals and are as follows: before and immediately after taping, 15, 30, 60 min, and 24 h post taping. Strength of tape was quantified as the moment required to rotate the foot passively into inversion, measured using a handheld dynamometer. The range of motion (ROM) was also measured using a goniometer. The muscle activity of the ankle evertors were monitored while recording the outcome measures to ensure that the passive rotation of the ankle into inversion by the investigator was not impeded by their contraction. Results: A significant change in the moment required to rotate the foot into inversion and ROM was found between all time intervals tested (p < 0.001). There was a 58% reduction in MOM and a 155% increase in ROM after 24 h. Discussion and conclusion: This study has quantified for the first time the reduction in the support provided by ankle taping while subjects performed their ADL. This can assist clinicians on deciding the frequency of tape reapplication that may required to provide adequate support to the ankle

Mechanical stimulation of the foot sole in a supine position for ground reaction force simulation

To promote early rehabilitation of walking, gait training can start even when patients are on bed rest. Supine stepping in the early phase after injury is proposed to maximise the beneficial effects of gait restoration. In this training paradigm, mechanical loading on the sole of the foot is required to mimic the ground reaction forces that occur during overground walking. A pneumatic shoe platform was developed to produce adjustable forces on the heel and the forefoot with an adaptable timing. This study aimed to investigate the stimulation parameters of the shoe platform to generate walking-like loading on the foot sole, while avoiding strong reflexes. This study evaluated this platform in ten able-bodied subjects in a supine position. The platform firstly produced single-pulse stimulation on the heel or on the forefoot to determine suitable stimulation parameters, then it produced cyclic stimulation on the heel and the forefoot to simulate the ground reaction forces that occur at different walking speeds. The ankle angle and electromyography (EMG) in the tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SOL) muscles were recorded. User feedback was collected. When the forefoot or/and the heel were stimulated, reflexes were observed in the lower leg muscles, and the amplitude increased with force. Single-pulse stimulation showed that a fast-rising force significantly increased the reflex amplitudes, with the possibility of inducing ankle perturbation. Therefore a slow-rising force pattern was adopted during cyclic stimulation for walking. The supine subjects perceived loading sensation on the foot sole which was felt to be similar to the ground reaction forces during upright walking. The EMG generally increased with force amplitude, but no reflex-induced ankle perturbations were observed. The mean change in the ankle joint induced by the stimulation was about 1[degree sign]. The rate of force increase should be carefully adjusted for simulation of walking-like loading on the foot sole. It is concluded that the dynamic shoe platform provides adjustable mechanical stimulation on the heel and the forefoot in a supine position and has technical potential for simulation of ground reaction forces that occur during walking

A combination of Botulinum Toxin A therapy and functional electrical stimulation in children with cerebral palsy - A pilot study.

Among the ambulant population of children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP), dynamic equinus is one of the most common form of gait deviation that is encountered. To investigate the combined effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and Botulinum Toxin A (BTXA) therapy in children with spastic CP, and to demonstrate the feasibility of this combination therapy. A single-subject design with repeated measures was adopted. Eight children (six males, two females; mean age 7 y 9 mo, SD 1 y 5 mo; range 7 y to 11 y) diagnosed with hemiplegic (n=6) or diplegic (n=2) spastic CP completed the study. Each subject participated in the study for twenty weeks. This period consisted of baseline (one week), BTXA phase (three weeks), first FES phase (four weeks), first control phase (four weeks), second FES phase (four weeks) and second control phase (four weeks). Subjects were assessed at the end of each phase. The ankle angle at the end of swing phase was selected as the primary outcome measure. The secondary outcome measure recorded was the foot contact pattern. There was an increase in ankle dorsiflexion at the end of the combined intervention in most subjects (n=6), accompanied by an improvement in foot contact pattern. This pilot study demonstrated that it is feasible to combine BTXA therapy with FES in ambulant children with spastic CP