The present work studied potential differences in activation times of selected muscles associated with the motor responses of the armed arm and differences in selected muscle pairs activation during the fencing lunge. Twenty-eight fencers (epée fencers, aged 23.1 ± 5.4 years) grouped into elite and beginning skill levels, participated in this study. Surface electromyography was used to determine muscle activation time (time period measured from visual stimulus occurrence to the moment of muscle activation threshold detection). For motor response, we measured the time between visual stimulus occurrence and armed arm movement. A significant difference was found between elite and beginning fencers in the motor response of the armed arm. Detection of armed arm's motor response was significantly later in beginners. Greater time disparities between arm's motor response and muscle activation time of the m. rectus femoris on the front/lunge side was also found in beginners. Lastly, difference was detected between elite and beginning fencers regarding the muscle activation time of selected muscle pairs. Future studies and trainers can use these results to further explore key areas of motor control and biomechanics for improving of fencing performance.
Lumbar spine stenosis (LSS) typically manifests with neurogenic claudication, altering patients’ gait. The use of optoelectronic systems has allowed clinicians to perform 3D quantitative gait analysis to quantify and understand these alterations. Although several authors have presented analysis of spatiotemporal gait parameters, data concerning kinematic parameters is lacking. Fifteen patients with LSS were matched with 15 healthy controls. Quantitative gait analysis utilizing optoelectronic techniques was performed for each pair of subjects in a specialized laboratory. Statistical comparison of patients and controls was performed to determine differences in spatiotemporal parameters and the Gait Profile Score (GPS). Statistically significant differences were found between patient and control groups for all spatiotemporal parameters. Patients had significantly different overall GPS (p = 0.004) and had limited internal/external pelvic rotation (p < 0.001) and cranial/caudal movement (p = 0.034), limited hip extension (p = 0.012) and abduction/adduction (p = 0.012) and limited ankle plantar flexion (p < 0.001). In conclusion, patients with LSS have significantly altered gait patterns in three regions (pelvis, hip and ankle) compared to healthy controls. Analysis of kinematic graphs has given insight into gait pathophysiology of patients with LSS and the use of GPS will allow us to quantify surgical results in the future.
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