No abstract

We studied the coordination of body segments during treadmill walking. Specifically, we used the uncontrolled manifold hypothesis framework to quantify the segmental angular momenta (SAM) synergies that stabilize (i.e., reduce the across trials variability) the whole body angular momentum (WBAM). Seven male subjects were asked to walk over a treadmill at their comfortable walking speed. A 17-segment model, fitted to the subject's anthropometry, was used to reconstruct their kinematics and to compute the SAM and WBAM in three dimensions. A principal component analysis was used to represent the 17 SAM by the magnitudes of the first five principal components. An index of synergy (DeltaV) was used to quantify the co-variations of these principal components with respect to their effect on the WBAM. Positive values of DeltaV were observed in the sagittal plane during the swing phase. They reflected the synergies among the SAM that stabilized (i.e., made reproducible from stride to stride) the WBAM. Negative values of DeltaV were observed in both frontal and sagittal plane during the double support phase. They were interpreted as "anti-synergies", i.e., a particular organization of the SAM used to adjust the WBAM. Based on these results, we demonstrated that the WBAM is a variable whose value is regulated by the CNS during walking activities, and that the nature of the WBAM control changed between swing phase and double support phase. These results can be linked with humanoid gait controls presently employed in robotics.

Three computer models of varying complexity were developed in order to investigate the kinematics, kinetics, muscle operating ranges, and energetics of rock climbing. First, inverse dynamic models were used to investigate the joint angles and torques used in climbing and to quantify the total mechanical work required for typical rock climbing. Climbing experience was found to have a significant effect on the kinematics used in climbing; however, there were no significant differences in mechanical work. Second, a musculoskeletal model of the whole body was developed, this model combined with the kinematic data was used to analyze the operating ranges of the upper and lower limb muscles during climbing. In general, the experienced climbers employed kinematic motions that corresponded to muscle fibers used for climbing operating much closer to their optimum length than the kinematics of inexperienced climbers. Third, a forward dynamic model was developed to predict the metabolic goal of climbing. The results of this model suggest that an experienced climbing style minimizes the fatigue of muscles while an inexperienced climbing style minimizes the total joint torques generated.

Background Studies suggest that 50% of children with cerebral palsy are prescribed ankle foot orthoses. One of the aims of ankle foot orthosis use is to aid in walking. This research examined the effects that ankle foot orthoses have on the energy recovery and the mechanical work performed by children with cerebral palsy during walking. Methods Twenty-one children with spastic diplegia walked with and without their prescribed bilateral ankle foot orthoses. Ten of the subjects wore articulated (hinged) orthoses and 11 subjects wore solid orthoses. Three dimensional kinematic data were collected and between and within group repeated measures ANOVAs were applied to the dependent measures. Findings The results were similar for both groups. There was an increase in stride length, energy recovery, and potential energy and the kinetic energy variation. There was no change in the mechanical work performed to walk or the normalized center of mass vertical excursion. Unfortunately, the increase in energy recovery did not alter the external work, as it was offset by increased variation in the potential and kinetic energies of the center of mass. There was a great deal of variability in the measured work, with both large increases and decreases in the work of individual subjects when wearing orthoses. Interpretation These results suggest that current ankle foot orthoses can reduce the work to walk, but do not do so for many children with cerebral palsy. This research suggests that ankle foot orthosis prescription could be aided by measuring the mechanical work during walking.

In participants reporting HxLBP, TrA thickness modulations were lower and both tabletop and seated thickness modulations were able to distinguish reported HxLBP status. These findings suggest that TrA muscle function may be altered by HxLBP.