JOINT ANGLES AND FORCES ON WRIST STRUCTURES DURING VARIATIONS OF YOGA POSES

The current study analysed joint angles of the wrists and forces on the structures in the hands and wrists in a hyperextended position and a neutral position during three different yoga poses. Participants (n = 9) performed three yoga poses (plank, side plank, and upward dog), with their wrists in a hyperextended position (H) and a neutral position (N). Each pose was completed three times for 10 seconds in H and N, for a total of six trials per pose. A two-way Repeated Measures ANOVA found significant differences in both wrist joint angles and GRF between H and N. Due to the suggested path transmission of forces, as well as the increased longitudinal loading that comes with wrist hyperextension, it is recommended that plank, side plank, and upward dog be performed in a neutral wrist position

ELECTROMYOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF FOREARM MUSCLES DURING VARIOUS YOGA POSES

The current study examined muscle activity via electromyography of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR), ulnaris (FCU), and extensor carpi radialis (ECR), ulnaris (ECU) during two variations of three separate yoga poses. Nine participants (n=9) performed three different yoga poses: plank, side-plank, and upward dog; in two separate variations, (V1) with the wrists in a passive hyperextended position, and (V2) with the wrists in a neutral position where the participants made a fist and performed the pose in that position. There were no differences between poses or variations for ECR. A difference was found between variations, but not poses for ECU. FCR and FCU were different between poses, but not variations. The only interaction was for the FCR. Due to the increased muscle activity in V2, performing yoga in V1 position may allow a yoga session to be completed with less fatigue and risk for injury

THE EFFECT OF SHOE TYPE ON VARIOUS KINETIC AND KINEMATIC VARIABLES DURING STEP-UP AND STEP-DOWN MOTIONS

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of shoe type on the biomechanical responses to a stepping task. Participants (n = 8) performed six two minute stepping trials at a stepping rate of 72 bpm; 3 trials in hiking boots and 3 trials in hiking shoes. Lower limb joint angles and moments were calculated using Visual 3D. No significant differences were found in step down peak ground reaction forces (GRF), ankle, knee, and hip range of motion (ROM), joint moments, joint flexion at step down contact, or toe clearance height between footwear conditions. Due to the lack of differences found between footwear conditions, the use of either a hiking shoe or boot may not result in an increased risk of injury, therefore leaving the choice of footwear to the hiker’s personal preference

THE USE OF A LOWER-LIMB PROSTHETIC DEVICE TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE FACTORS IN ELITE PARACANOE

The current study examined how a lower-limb prosthesis affected paracanoe performance factors. One paracanoe athlete completed two, 30 second tethered sprints with and without the use of a custom prosthesis. Kinematic and kinetic performance variables were compared. When the prosthesis was worn, a significant increase in propulsion impulse was observed on the right side (50 Ns to 61 Ns), which may have been due to enhanced contact between the residual limb and the kayak. Stroke rate symmetry index became significantly more symmetrical while wearing the prosthesis (0.27 to 0.01); perhaps due to a more upright trunk position, decreasing variability in center of gravity movement. In conclusion, based on the results, the addition of a prosthesis for the paracanoe athlete in the present study had a positive effect on performance factors

Genetic determinants of risk in pulmonary arterial hypertension: international genome-wide association studies and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Rare genetic variants cause pulmonary arterial hypertension, but the contribution of common genetic variation to disease risk and natural history is poorly characterised. We tested for genome-wide association for pulmonary arterial hypertension in large international cohorts and assessed the contribution of associated regions to outcomes. METHODS: We did two separate genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and a meta-analysis of pulmonary arterial hypertension. These GWAS used data from four international case-control studies across 11 744 individuals with European ancestry (including 2085 patients). One GWAS used genotypes from 5895 whole-genome sequences and the other GWAS used genotyping array data from an additional 5849 individuals. Cross-validation of loci reaching genome-wide significance was sought by meta-analysis. Conditional analysis corrected for the most significant variants at each locus was used to resolve signals for multiple associations. We functionally annotated associated variants and tested associations with duration of survival. All-cause mortality was the primary endpoint in survival analyses. FINDINGS: A locus near SOX17 (rs10103692, odds ratio 1·80 [95% CI 1·55-2·08], p=5·13 × 10-15) and a second locus in HLA-DPA1 and HLA-DPB1 (collectively referred to as HLA-DPA1/DPB1 here; rs2856830, 1·56 [1·42-1·71], p=7·65 × 10-20) within the class II MHC region were associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension. The SOX17 locus had two independent signals associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (rs13266183, 1·36 [1·25-1·48], p=1·69 × 10-12; and rs10103692). Functional and epigenomic data indicate that the risk variants near SOX17 alter gene regulation via an enhancer active in endothelial cells. Pulmonary arterial hypertension risk variants determined haplotype-specific enhancer activity, and CRISPR-mediated inhibition of the enhancer reduced SOX17 expression. The HLA-DPA1/DPB1 rs2856830 genotype was strongly associated with survival. Median survival from diagnosis in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension with the C/C homozygous genotype was double (13·50 years [95% CI 12·07 to >13·50]) that of those with the T/T genotype (6·97 years [6·02-8·05]), despite similar baseline disease severity. INTERPRETATION: This is the first study to report that common genetic variation at loci in an enhancer near SOX17 and in HLA-DPA1/DPB1 is associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Impairment of SOX17 function might be more common in pulmonary arterial hypertension than suggested by rare mutations in SOX17. Further studies are needed to confirm the association between HLA typing or rs2856830 genotyping and survival, and to determine whether HLA typing or rs2856830 genotyping improves risk stratification in clinical practice or trials. FUNDING: UK NIHR, BHF, UK MRC, Dinosaur Trust, NIH/NHLBI, ERS, EMBO, Wellcome Trust, EU, AHA, ACClinPharm, Netherlands CVRI, Dutch Heart Foundation, Dutch Federation of UMC, Netherlands OHRD and RNAS, German DFG, German BMBF, APH Paris, INSERM, Université Paris-Sud, and French ANR