MOVEMENT VARIABILITY IN THE SPINAL KINEMATICS OF FAST BOWLERS

The purpose of this study was to quantify the inter- and intra-individual spinal movement variability in a group of pre-elite and elite fast bowlers. Eleven pre-elite and elite level bowlers from the Otago region (New Zealand) took part in the study. Each bowler bowled two six-over spells, while being recorded by a 3D motion analysis system in two sessions, one week apart. Thorax and lumbopelvis segments were modelled and analysed. Between session changes in spine kinematics were greatest for lateral bending (p = .0001). Inter-individual variability was much greater than the average within-participant variability (more than double), highlighting the need for individual analyses of fast bowlers in the future. Inter- and intra-individual variability in spinal movement among a homogenous group of fast bowlers found in the current study will be important for designing future studies on cricket fast bowlers

Anticipatory postural control differs between low back pain and pelvic girdle pain patients in the absence of visual feedback

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the effect of vision on anticipatory postural control (APA) responses in two groups of clinically diagnosed chronic low back pain patients, those with Posterior Pelvic Girdle pain and those with Non-Specific Low Back Pain compared to a matched group of healthy controls during the modified Trendelenburg task. Methods Seventy-eight volunteer participants (60 females and 18 males) gave informed consent to take part in this study. 39 with confirmed LBP or PGP lasting longer than 12 weeks and 39 healthy matched controls performed 40 single leg lift tasks (hip flexion to 90° as quickly as possible) with their non-dominant lower limb. A force plate was used to determine the medial-lateral displacement of the center of pressure, and the initiation of weight shift; kinematics was used to determine initiation of leg lift; and electromyography was used to determine onset times from the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO) and lumbar multifidus (MF), gluteus maximus (GM) and biceps femoris (BF). Results The PGP group showed significantly longer muscle onset latencies in the BF, EO MF with visual occlusion (F2,746 = 4.51, p \u3c .0001). Conclusion The muscle onset delays identified between the two LBP sub-groups suggests that pain may not be the primary factor in alteration of APA response. The PGP group show a greater reliance on vision which may signal impairment in multiple feedback channels

Role of Physical Evaluation in the Early Identification of Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Research Proposal

The aim of this study was to present a rationale to explore the use of clinical tests for the sacroiliac joints to detect early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to suggest a protocol to validate these clinical tests. Based on the European Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatments of Pelvic Girdle Pain, we propose a set of six clinical tests to identify the likely presence of inflammation in the sacroiliac joints associated with early axial SpA. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current gold standard used to identify inflammation in the sacroiliac joints, the results of the proposed set of clinical tests are compared with those from the MRI examinations. We hypothesize that specific clinical tests, which combine pain provocation and functional tests, for assessing the sacroiliac joints will help to identify early active inflammation at the sacroiliac joints in axial SpA. If such tests prove to be sensitive and specific, they could add further value to the diagnostic classification criteria for axial SpA

Sex differences in anticipatory postural adjustments during rapid single leg lift

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of sex on the kinetic, kinematic and neuromuscular correlates of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) during a single leg lift task performed by healthy participants. Fifty healthy age and body mass index matched participants (25 women and 25 men) performed 20 single leg lift task (hip flexion to 90 ° as quickly as possible) with their dominant and their non-dominant lower limbs. A force plate was used to determine the medial-lateral displacement of the center of pressure (COPML), and the initiation of weight shift (T0); kinematics was used to determine leg lift (T1); and electromyography was used to determine onset times from eight muscles: bilateral external oblique, internal oblique and lumbar multifidus, and unilateral (stance limb) gluteus maximus and biceps femoris. Movement control limb dominance was included in the analysis. Statistically significant interactions between sex and limb dominance (p \u3c .001) were observed for T1, COPML, and muscle onsets. Also, statistically significant main effect of sex on T0 was observed. Women showed increased APA time (T1) and magnitude (COPML) in their dominant limbs compared to men. Such differences between sexes did not occur in the non-dominant limb. Women recruited proximal muscles later than their man counterparts. Overall, women appear to have a stronger effect of limb dominance on their anticipatory postural control strategy which requires further investigation. The findings of the current study indicate that women and men differ in their anticipatory postural control strategy for rapid single leg lift

Inter-tester reliability of non-invasive technique for measurement of innominate motion

a b s t r a c t Although the complex anatomical orientation and position of the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) has rendered their 3D kinematic evaluation difficult, recent techniques of palpationedigitization of pelvic landmarks using electromagnetic tracking device have been able to accurately and non-invasively quantify the subtle SIJ kinematics. While this technique demonstrates radiographic validity and high test-retest reliability, it is yet to be assessed with regards to inter-tester and trial-to-trial reliability. A single-group repeated measure design using 4 testers was conducted to evaluate the inter-tester and trial-to-trial reliability of palpationedigitization technique for innominate vector length measurements using the Polhemus electromagnetic tracking device. Fourteen young, healthy adults between the ages of 18e40 years participated in the study. The innominate vector length was calculated from 3D co-ordinates of palpated and digitized pelvic landmarks in two test positions of hip. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine how palpationedigitization errors for pelvic landmarks impacts on innominate angle calculation. Reliability indexes of Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (!0.97) and Standard error of measurement (SEM) ( 2.02 mm) demonstrated very high inter-tester and trial-to-trial reliability and accuracy of palpationedigitization technique for innominate vector length measurements, irrespective of the two test positions. A higher consistency of measurements was obtained within-testers as compared to between testers, and sensitivity analysis demonstrated a negligible influence of palpationedigitization errors on the innominate angle measurements. The results support clinical and research utility of this technique for non-invasive kinematic evaluation of SIJ motion for this population. Further research on the use of this palpationedigitization technique in symptomatic population is warranted

Touchscreen learning deficits and normal social approach behavior in the Shank3B model of Phelan–McDermid Syndrome and autism

SHANK3 is a synaptic scaffolding protein localized in the postsynaptic density and has a crucial role in synaptogenesis and neural physiology. Deletions and point mutations in SHANK3 cause Phelan–McDermid Syndrome (PMS), and have also been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities, leading to the hypothesis that reduced SHANK3 expression impairs basic brain functions that are important for social communication and cognition. Several mouse models of Shank3 deletions have been generated, varying in the specific domain deleted. Here we report impairments in cognitive function in mice heterozygous for exon 13–16 (coding for the PDZ domain) deletion. The touchscreen pairwise discrimination task was chosen by virtue of its: (a) conceptual and technical similarities to the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) and NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery used for testing cognitive functions in humans, (b) minimal demand on motor abilities, and (c) capability to measure many aspects of learning and memory and complex cognitive functions, including cognitive flexibility. The similarity between our mouse tasks and human cognitive assays means a high translational validity in future intervention studies using preclinical models. Our study revealed that Shank3B heterozygous mice (+/–) were slower to reach criterion in the pairwise visual discrimination task, and exhibited trends toward making more errors (first trial errors) and more correction errors than wildtype mice (+/+). Open field activity was normal in +/–, ruling out hypo- or hyperactivity as potential confounds in the touchscreen test. Sociability in the three chamber test was also normal in both +/+ and +/–. These results indicate a deficit in discrimination learning in the Shank3B model of PMS and ASD, suggesting that this mouse model is a useful preclinical tool for studying neurobiological mechanisms behind cognitive impairments in PMS and ASD. The current findings are the starting point for our future research in which we will investigate multiple domains of cognition and explore pharmacological interventions