Spatting restricts ankle motion more effectively than taping during exercise

Ankle injuries, via plantarflexion (PF) and inversion, are commonplace today. To reduce ankle injuries, restrictive appliances such as taping and bracing have been employed. These appliances, however, have the disadvantage of potentially loosening considerably with mild activity. Spatting—applying tape over the shoe and sock—has been suggested as a viable alternative, yet its efficacy has not been researched widely. We examined the effects of taping or spatting the ankles on 17 men (age = 20.7 ± 2.1 years; height = 185.7 ± 5.7 cm; mass = 93.6 ± 16.2 kg) before, during, and after 60 minutes of exercise involving multi-directional activity. Active range of motion (ROM) for PF and inversion was measured via goniometry for each subject\u27s dominant leg to establish baseline values. ROM was measured after the appliances were applied, then following a five-minute warm-up period, and after each of three, 20-minute exercise periods. The subjects also completed a 5-item, 5-point Likert-type scale survey regarding their perceptions of each ankle appliance with respect to comfort, effectiveness, and protective ability. Separate, two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures were used to assess differences in PF and inversion ROM relative to time. A series of Wilcoxon tests were used to assess the Likert-type scale survey. In comparison to spatting, taping loosened by ~5° for PF at 40 minutes and by ~3° for inversion at 20 minutes (both significant interactions, p \u3c 0.01). Thus indicating that spatting is more restrictive than taping after 20 minutes of exercise. Interestingly, taping was perceived as more comfortable than spatting (Z = 2.03, p = 0.04); nonetheless, the perceived protection along with the perceived ability to move before, during, and after exercise was rated similarly between the appliances (p \u3e 0.05). Despite an advantage of restricting PF and inversion during exercise with spatting, it is not known if the loss of tape-skin contact underscores the potential benefits associated with the neuromuscular reactivity that have been reported with taping. Additional research is needed to clarify this issue

Electromyographic Analysis of the Lumbar Extensor Muscles during Dynamic Exercise on a Home Exercise Device

Resistance exercise with devices offering mechanisms to isolate the lumbar spine is effective to improve muscle strength and clinical outcomes. However, previously assessed devices with these mechanisms are not conducive for home exercise programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lumbar extensor muscles during dynamic exercise on a home back extension exercise device. Ten adults (5 F, 5 M) performed dynamic lumbar extension exercise on a home device at three loads: 1.00 × body weight (BW), 1.25 × BW and 1.50 × BW. Surface EMG activity from the L3/4 paraspinal region was collected. The effect of exercise load, phase of movement, and position in the range of motion on lumbar extensor EMG activity (normalized to % maximum voluntary isometric contraction) was assessed. Lumbar extensor EMG activity significantly increased from 1.00 BW to 1.50 BW loads (p = 0.0006), eccentric to concentric phases (p < 0.0001), and flexion to extension positions (p < 0.0001). Exercise using a home back extension exercise device progressively activates the lumbar extensor muscles. This device can be used for home-based resistance exercise programs in community-dwelling adults without contraindications

Quantification of isometric lumbar extension strength using a backup lumbar extension dynamometer

Is it possible to learn to perform a motor sequence without awareness of the sequence? In two experiments, we presented participants with the most elementary sequence: an alternation between two options. We used a double-step pointing task in which the final position of the target alternated between two quite similar values. The task forced participants to start moving before the final target was visible, allowing us to determine participants’ expectations about the final target position without explicitly asking them. We tracked participants’ expectations (and thus motor sequence learning) by measuring the direction of the initial part of the movement, before any response to the final step. We found that participants learnt to anticipate the average size of the final step, but that they did not learn the sequence. In a second experiment, we extended the duration of the learning period and increased the difference in size between the target position changes. Some participants started anticipating the step size in accordance with the sequence at some time during the experiment. These participants reported having noticed the simple sequence. The participants who had not noticed the sequence did not move in anticipation of the sequence. This suggests that participants who did not learn this very simple sequence explicitly also did not learn it implicitly

Quantitative Assessment of Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Endurance

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and variability of repeated measurements of dynamic and static lumbar muscle endurance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Participants performed an isometric lumbar-extension strength test followed by 2 trials of 4 separate lumbar muscular-endurance tests (with a 24-hour rest period between tests). Data were collected at a university musculoskeletal research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Eight healthy, physically active volunteers (5 men, 3 women; age = 25.9 ± 4.3 years; height = 169.0 ± 4.6 cm; mass = 73.9 ± 33.1 kg) participated in this investigation. MEASUREMENTS: We initially tested each participant's isometric lumbar-extension peak torque on a lumbar-extension dynamometer. Static (holding time) and dynamic (repetitions) lumbar-endurance tests were subsequently performed on the lumbar-extension dynamometer and a horizontal roman chair. RESULTS: Interclass reliability was high for all endurance tests completed (r = 0.91 to 0.96, P ≤ .05). Variability (expressed as total error) for the static-dynamometer and roman-chair tests was 18.3 and 11.6 seconds, respectively, with 2.8 and 1.6 repetitions for the dynamic-dynamometer and roman-chair tests, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbar muscle endurance can be reliably assessed by both static and dynamic protocols on high- and low-technology devices

THE EFFECTS OF COLD WHIRLPOOL ON POWER, SPEED, AGILITY, AND RANGE OF MOTION

The purpose was to determine if cold whirlpool treatment decreases functional performance equally regardless of gender. A secondary aim was to determine if there is a gradual increase in functional performance across time. Twenty-one college-aged subjects volunteered to participate in this study and were required to perform four measures of functional performance including: counter movement vertical jump, T-test, 36.58-meter dash (40-yard), and active range of motion of the ankle. Participants were treated with a 20 minute, 10 degree Celsius cold whirlpool following the pre-test of a given functional performance measure. Participants demonstrated significant decreases in counter movement vertical jump, T-test, and 40-yard dash performance immediately following treatment. Vertical jump performance remained impaired for at least 32 minutes. While both the T-test and 40-yard dash were affected for 7 and 22 minutes post- treatment, respectively. Participants also demonstrated significant decreases in peak power and average power immediately after and for 32 minutes post-treatment. Dorsiflexion was significantly decreased 7 and 12 minutes following treatment. There were no differences for plantar flexion, inversion, or eversion. These data suggest functional performance was affected immediately following and for up to 32 minutes after cold whirlpool treatment. It was also evident that there is a gradual performance increase for each measure of functional performance across time. Therefore, the consequences should be carefully considered before returning athletes to activity following cold whirlpool treatmen

Quantitative Assessment of Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Endurance

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and variability of repeated measurements of dynamic and static lumbar muscle endurance. Design and Setting: Participants performed an isometric lumbar-extension strength test followed by 2 trials of 4 separate lumbar muscular-endurance tests (with a 24-hour rest period between tests). Data were collected at a university musculoskeletal research laboratory. Subjects: Eight healthy, physically active volunteers (5 men, 3 women; age = 25.9 ± 4.3 years; height = 169.0 ± 4.6 cm; mass = 73.9 ± 33.1 kg) participated in this investigation. Measurements: We initially tested each participant\u27s isometric lumbar-extension peak torque on a lumbar-extension dynamometer. Static (holding time) and dynamic (repetitions) lumbar-endurance tests were subsequently performed on the lumbar-extension dynamometer and a horizontal roman chair. Results: Interclass reliability was high for all endurance tests completed (r = 0.91 to 0.96, P ≤ .05). Variability (expressed as total error) for the static-dynamometer and roman-chair tests was 18.3 and 11.6 seconds, respectively, with 2.8 and 1.6 repetitions for the dynamic-dynamometer and roman-chair tests, respectively. Conclusions: Lumbar muscle endurance can be reliably assessed by both static and dynamic protocols on high- and low-technology devices