LATEST RESEARCHES ON RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESES: TOWARD SOCIAL IMPLEMENTATIONS OF BIOMECHANICS

Recent developments in running-specific prostheses (RSPs) have allowed individuals with lower extremity amputation (ILEAs) to regain the functional capability of running and jumping. However, the biomechanical characteristics of ILEAs using RSPs remain largely unknown. Understanding the biomechanical adaptations that occur during running and jumping with RSPs will assist clinicians and coaches in making objective decisions regarding the most appropriate prostheses, as well as in the fitting and alignment of these devices, for performance improvements in ILEAs. This presentation introduces our project regarding biomechanics of amputee athletes wearing RSPs, and its applications to athletes, prosthetists, manufacturers, and clinicians for the promotion of activity among amputees

ESTIMATION OF RUNNING INJURY RISKS USING WEARABLE SENSORS

This research estimates running pattern characteristics that relate to running injury risks quantitatively and simply from a real-environment running motion. Wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors are used to provide a simple measurement of the running patterns in a real environment. We then measure an experimental running motion in detail in the laboratory using both large-scale devices and wearable sensors, and build correlational models between the conventional parameters related to running injury risks and parameters from wearable sensors. These correlational models realize a quantitative and simple estimation of running pattern characteristics related to running injury risks from a real-environment running motion. Our models estimate that fatigue, grounding style, pronation, and grounding impact have a high correlation with injury risk by the conventional methods. A feedback of these parameters and shoe selection based on these information would contribute to a reduction of running injuries

LEG AND VERTICAL STIFFNESS OF TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES USING RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESES

Since running-specific prostheses (RSPs) emulate spring-like leg functions, human musculoskeletal system is often modelled as a spring-mass model. In the model, the leg (KM) and vertical stiffness (KM) is known to strongly influence running performance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the asymmetry in stiffness between the intact limbs and prosthetic limbs during sprinting. Eight sprinters with unilateral transfemoral amputation performed overground sprinting at maximum speed. & and Kw,t were calculated from vertical ground reaction force data in both the intact and prosthetic limbs. & was significantly greater in intact limbs than prosthetic limbs. Although there was no significant difference on Kvert, cohen's d of Kvert between legs was 1.28. Therefore KM might have potential significant difference

Design-thinking skill enhancement in virtual reality: A literature study

As a methodology, design thinking involves practicing “a way of thinking” that non-designers can use as a source of inspiration instead being limited to a group of professional designers. This methodology has gained research attention because of the growing demands for social innovation and sustainability. The general public is expected to gain design-thinking skills through training or by applying design-thinking tools. Virtual reality (VR) is considered a potential tool to help accelerate augmenting design-thinking skills because it allows users to have embodied and immersive experiences. This study reviews existing literature on how VR has been used to enhance design-thinking skills. The general features of the publications such as the year of publication, design-thinking stages, VR types, targeted participants, and publication fields are analyzed for determining the latest trends and scenarios under this research topic. Further, a thematic analysis that follows creative enhancement structures is conducted to understand the role of VR in enhancing design-thinking skills, and future research directions are discussed based on the results. The review concludes that VR has the potential to enhance creativity in many aspects. Moreover, it highlights the need of gaining deeper understanding about 1) art, humanities, and societal perspectives; 2) cognition processes in VR; 3) emphasizing and defining stages in the design-thinking process; 4) technological improvements combined with the Metaverse; and 5) hybrid of the virtual and real worlds

JOINT MOMENTS OF UNILATERAL TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES USING RUNNING-SPECIFIC PROSTHESIS DURING SPRINTING

The aim of this study was to investigate the bilateral difference of the joint moments between an intact leg (INT) and a prosthetic leg (PST) in unilateral transfemoral amputees (TFAs) wearing running-specific prosthesis during sprinting. Eight sprinters with unilateral TFAs performed maximal sprinting on a 40-m runway with 7 force platforms located in between. Hip and knee joint extension and flexion moments during stance phase in INT were significantly greater than those of PST. However, ankle plantarflexion moment in PST was significantly greater than that of INT. Since kinetic asymmetry between legs is thought to be related with running-related injury, sprinter with unilateral TFAs may have a higher risk of musculoskeletal injury at hip and knee joints

AN EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF A DOUBLE-LEG CIRCLE ON A POMMEL HORSE, AND A DESIRABLE PERFOMANCE PROPOSAL

For the evaluation of the performance of a double-leg circle on a pommel horse, we focused on the relation between the horizontal rotation of a body about the vertical axis in the center of a pommel horse and the hip rotation about the longitudinal axis of a body. Several gymnasts having different levels of skill were examined by using a motion capture system. The analysis shows that the horizontal rotation and the hip rotation are in good synchronization for the performance of a well-trained gymnast