Combined Driving: Task-Specific Position Impacts Grip Strength of Equestrian Athletes

BACKGROUND: Loss of hand strength is a predictor of mortality in aging populations. Despite reliance on the hands to participate in equestrian driving activity, no existing studies focus on associations of hand strength to athletic performance. Therefore, this study 1) established baseline handgrip of equestrian combined drivers in standing and task-specific positions, 2) determined endurance of task-specific handgrip, 3) compared handgrip strength to normative data, and 4) evaluated associations of handgrip and equestrian-specific variables. METHODS: There were 51 combined drivers (9 males, 42 females) ages 21-78 who completed a survey, standing handgrip, and grip strength and endurance in a task-specific position. Sixty-three percent of participants were 50 years or older. The dynamometer grip bar was normalized by hand size for standing tests; to duplicate sport-specific tasks, the bar was set to the closest setting. Significances were determined at p \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: Drivers with more than 30 years of experience demonstrated highest summed standing (73.1 ± 5.2 kg) and summed sitting (59.9 ± 6.3 kg) grip strength. Females 60-years and older had greater handgrip endurance (Χ2 = 8.323, df = 2, p = .0156) in non-dominant (left) hands. Males (60%) reported more cold weather fatigue than females. Glove wearing was associated with bilateral endurance balance; a higher proportion of endurance balance between dominant and non-dominant (49% high-high and 29% low-low; Χ2 = 11.047, df = 1, p = .0009) was realized. There were no associations of handgrip and prior injury. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have implications in understanding task-specific and normative grip strengths in aging equestrian populations. Bilateral balance in handgrip strength and endurance is important particularly in maintaining strength in non-dominant hands over time. Equestrian driving sport promotes greater endurance in older females. Strength can be improved by participating in combined driving, and engagement in this sport over several years\u27 benefits hand strength over time. This cohort of equestrian participants provides evidence that participating in hand-specific activities promotes greater strength, which has been previously shown to improve aging outcomes

Sport-Specific Differences in Dynamic Visual Acuity and Gaze Stabilization in Division-I Collegiate Athletes

BACKGROUND: The vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) integrates the vestibular and ocular systems to maintain gaze during head motion. This reflex is often negatively affected following sport-related concussion. Objective measures of gaze stability, a function mediated by the VOR, such as the computerized dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) and gaze stabilization test (GST), may have utility in concussion management. However, normative data specific to sport, sex, or concussion history have not been established in collegiate athletes. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish normative values for the DVAT and GST in collegiate athletes and explore the effect of sport, sex, and concussion history on VOR assessments. METHODS: The DVAT and GST were completed by 124 collegiate athletes (72 male, 52 female, mean±SD, age: 19.71±1.74 years, height: 173.99±13.97 cm, weight: 80.06±26.52 kg) recruited from Division-I athletic teams (football, soccer and cheerleading). The DVAT and GST were performed in the rightward and leftward directions during a single session in a standardized environment. Normative values for DVAT and GST measures were expressed as percentiles. Non-parametric statistics were used to compare differences between groups based on sex, sport, and concussion history. Alpha was set a-priori at 0.05. RESULTS: Overall, the median LogMAR unit for 124 athletes completing the DVAT was 0 (IQR = 0.17) for both leftward and rightward. The median velocities achieved on the GST were 145 °/sec and 150 °/sec (IQR = 45 and 40) for the leftward and rightward directions respectively. Significant differences were observed between sports (p = 0.001-0.17) for the GST with cheerleading demonstrating higher velocities than the other sports. However, no significant differences were identified based on sex (p≥0.09) or history of concussion (p≥0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Normative estimates for the DVAT and GST may assist in the clinical interpretation of outcomes when used in post-concussion evaluation for collegiate athletes. Although sex and previous concussion history had no effect on the DVAT or GST, performance on these measures may be influenced by type of sport. Sport-related differences in the GST may reflect VOR adaptations based on individual sport-specific demands

Reliability and Validity of a Clinical Assessment Tool for Measuring Scapular Motion in All 3 Anatomical Planes

CONTEXT: A single clinical assessment device that objectively measures scapular motion in each anatomical plane is not currently available. The development of a novel electric goniometer affords the ability to quantify scapular motion in all three anatomical planes. OBJECTIVE: Investigate the reliability and validity of an electric goniometer to measure scapular motion in each anatomical plane during arm elevation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Laboratory setting. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Sixty participants (29 females, 31 males) were recruited from the general population. INTERVENTION(S): An electric goniometer was used to record clinical measurements of scapular position at rest and total arc of motion (excursion) during active arm elevation in two testing sessions separated by several days. Measurements were recorded independently by two examiners. In one session, scapular motion was recorded simultaneously with a 14-camera three-dimensional optical motion capture system. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reliability analysis included examination of clinical measurements for scapular position at rest and excursion during each condition. Both the intra-rater reliability between testing sessions and the inter-rater reliability recorded within the same session were assessed using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC2,3). The criterion-validity was examined by comparing the mean excursion values of each condition recorded by the electric goniometer to the 3D optical motion capture system. Validity was assessed by evaluating the average difference and root mean square error (RMSE). RESULTS: The between session intra-rater reliability was moderate to good (ICC2,3: 0.628-0.874). The within session inter-rater reliability was moderate to excellent (ICC2,3: 0.545-0.912). The average difference between the electric goniometer and 3D optical motion capture system ranged from -7° to 4° and the RMSE was between 7-10°. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of scapular measurements is best when a standard operating procedure is used. The electric goniometer provides an accurate measurement of scapular excursions in all three anatomical planes during arm elevation

Line Hops and Side Hold Rotation Tests Load Both Anterior and Posterior Shoulder: A Biomechanical Study

Background: Clinical tests should replicate the stressful positions encountered during sport participation. Evaluating the kinetic and electromyographical demands of clinical tests enables clinicians to choose appropriate tests for specific sports. Purpose: To describe the shoulder forces and muscle activation levels during closed chain functional tests of Line Hops (LH) and Side Hold Rotation (SHR). Study Design: Descriptive biomechanical study. Methods: Ten asymptomatic participants were examined in a university laboratory. Two functional tests were evaluated using three-dimensional video analysis and electromyography to measure shoulder forces, moments, and muscular activity levels. Results: SHR produced a peak average posterior translation force of 4.84 N/kg (CI95 4.32-5.36N/kg) and a peak average anterior translational force of 1.57 N/kg (CI95 1.10-2.01N/kg). High levels of serratus anterior (98% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and infraspinatus (52 %MVIC) were recorded during SHR. LH produced a posterior translational force of 4.25 N/kg (CI95 3.44–5.06N/kg). High levels of serratus anterior (105 %MVIC) and infraspinatus (87 %MVIC) were recorded during the push off phase of this activity. Conclusions: LH and SHR placed large posterior translational forces that approached half of a person\u27s bodyweight on shoulder structures. SHR produced an anterior translation force at extremes of horizontal abduction placing approximately 18% of bodyweight on shoulder structures. The LH test required the serratus anterior to provide power to push the upper torso of the ground while both the serratus and the infraspinatus provides scapular and humeral stability, respectively. Level of Evidence: 4: Case series

Physical Therapists’ Assessment of Patient Self-Efficacy for Home Exercise Programs

# Background Patient adherence to home exercise programs (HEPs) is low, and poor patient self-efficacy is a barrier clinicians can influence. However, little evidence suggests that clinicians assess level of patient self-efficacy before prescribing HEPs. # Purpose To determine the importance of patient self-efficacy to physical therapists (PTs) when addressing patient barriers, determine how PTs assess and use patient self-efficacy for HEPs, and describe the barriers facing PTs when assessing patient self-efficacy for HEPs. # Study Design Survey. # Methods Practicing PTs were recruited from the American Physical Therapy Association’s Orthopedic Section and emailed the electronic survey. # Results Email invitations were sent to 17730 potential participants, and 462 PTs completed the survey over one month. PTs rated self-efficacy as “very” to “extremely” important for patient adherence (58%, 265/454). Most (71%, 328/462) reported assessing self-efficacy before prescribing HEPs and did so through verbal discussion and observation of the patient (50% and 38% respectively). Half of respondents individualized HEPs through self-efficacy related themes. PTs not assessing self-efficacy reported not knowing how (51%, 68/134), being unsure what to do with the information (24%, 32/134), or reporting other barriers (21%, 28/134). # Conclusions Most PTs indicated that self-efficacy was important for patient adherence, but assessment strategies reported, such as verbal discussion and observation, may not be the most accurate. PTs who did not assess self-efficacy reported not knowing how or what to do with the information once collected. These findings suggest that there is a gap in knowledge related to how to evaluate self-efficacy for HEPs. Better assessment of self-efficacy may lead to more appropriate and effective implementation strategies. # Level of Evidence Level I

Programmable dispersion on a photonic integrated circuit for classical and quantum applications

We demonstrate a large-scale tunable-coupling ring resonator array, suitable for high-dimensional classical and quantum transforms, in a CMOS-compatible silicon photonics platform. The device consists of a waveguide coupled to 15 ring-based dispersive elements with programmable linewidths and resonance frequencies. The ability to control both quality factor and frequency of each ring provides an unprecedented 30 degrees of freedom in dispersion control on a single spatial channel. This programmable dispersion control system has a range of applications, including mode-locked lasers, quantum key distribution, and photon-pair generation. We also propose a novel application enabled by this circuit – high-speed quantum communications using temporal-mode-based quantum data locking – and discuss the utility of the system for performing the high-dimensional unitary optical transformations necessary for a quantum data locking demonstration

Specificity of isokinetic assessment in noncontact knee injury prevention screening: A novel assessment procedure with relationships between variables in amateur adult agility-sport athletes

Objectives To present a new knee isokinetic assessment procedure linked to noncontact knee injury mechanisms and examine correlations between variables relevant to noncontact knee injury prevention screening (peak torque [PT, Nm], time-to-peak torque [TTPT, ms], angle-of-peak torque [APT, °], mean PT [MPT, Nm]). Design Cross-sectional. Setting Sports medicine laboratory. Participants Thirty-four agility-sport athletes (male/female n=18/16, age 24.1±3.5yr, height 171.8±9.6cm, mass 70.6±12 kg). Main outcome measures Pearson's/Spearman's correlation (r/rs), coefficient of determination (r2/rs2). Results Most correlations were statistically non-significant or statistically-significant with only weak-to-moderate coefficients. For both knee extension and flexion, PT and MPT were significantly and strongly correlated (r=0.99, r2=0.98, p=0.001). Graphical analyses revealed two datapoint clusters for knee flexion TTPT and APT. One cluster indicated some participants could generate knee flexor PT rapidly (200ms, >50°). Conclusions In this study, most isokinetic variables represented distinct knee neuromuscular characteristics. For both knee extension and flexion, only PT or MPT need be used to represent isokinetic maximal strength. Knee flexion TTPT and APT may have utility in noncontact knee injury prevention screening with amateur adult agility-sport athletes