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Background Sit-to-stand (STS) movement is an important transition movement for daily life. STS movement is typically seen in children aged 1 year and older. According to the motor development process, the ability of children in different age groups to perform STS movement would be different before they meet the mutuality. However, it is still unclear whether there are changes in the STS movement of growing children and adults. Research question Are there any differences in the movement time, joint angles, and peak joint moments of STS in typically developing (TD) children? Methods Motion analysis and the force plate system were used to analyze the STS movement in 77 healthy participants. All participants were asked to perform the STS movement using an adjustable bench with a self-selected pattern. Statistical analysis was done with respect to age (4–6, 7–9, 10–12, 18–25 years) and body height (1.00–1.20, 1.20–1.40, 1.40–1.60, 1.60–1.80 meters). Results Children aged 4–6 years (or 1.0–1.20 m height) took less time to accomplish STS movement than adults (or 1.60–1.80 m height). Children aged 4–9 years performed STS movement by using more trunk and hip flexion and anterior pelvic tilt, but less knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion than children aged 10–12 years and adults. At the final standing position, children aged 4–12 years exhibited more knee extension and more ankle plantar flexion than adults. In addition, children aged 4–12 years had more peak trunk-pelvic extension and less peak knee extension moments than adults. Significance Different strategies to achieve the STS task were found among children aged 4–12 years in terms of total movement time, joint angle, and joint moments. Adult-like kinematic and kinetic STS patterns were not seen in children up to 12 years old.

Anterior seat inclination has been applied in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) to adjust alignment during sitting. However, there has been a lack of evidence reporting the effects of anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand (STS) performance in children with SDCP. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the effects of anterior seat inclination on STS performance in children with SDCP.Fourteen children with SDCP (aged 8.74 (1.79) years, GMFCS levels I and II) participated in this study. All participants performed STS in four conditions of the seat including the horizontal seat (HS), anterior seat inclination of 5° (A5), 10° (A10) and 15° (A15). Three-dimensional motion analysis system was used to capture STS movements.The total movement time and total mechanical work during the STS with A5, A10 and A15 were significantly lower than STS with HS. At the beginning of the task, STS with A5, A10 and A15 showed less trunk and hip flexion than HS.Anterior seat inclination with 5°, 10° and 15° could improve STS performance in children with SDCP. Therefore, applying these seats would be another option for children with SDCP to enhance STS performance.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONAnterior seat inclination could improve sitting posture in children with diplegia.Children with diplegia spent less time when STS from the anterior seat inclination.Children with diplegia used less energy when STS from the anterior seat inclination.

Background Sit-to-stand (STS) is one of the most common fundamental activity in daily life. The pathology of the neuromuscular control system in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP) could contribute to atypical movement patterns leading to the inefficiency performance including the STS task. However, there was also a lack of evidence about kinematics, kinetics, and especially mechanical work during the STS task in children with SDCP aged 7–12 years old. Research question What were the differences in mechanical work, kinematics and kinetics during STS task between children with SDCP and typically developing (TD) children? Methods Eleven children with SDCP (GMFCS I-II) and eleven age and gender-matched control TD children with an age range of 7–12 years were enrolled. Motion analysis and force plate systems were used to collect data. All participants performed the STS task from an adjustable chair. Independent sample t-test and two-way analysis of variance were used in this study. Results The children with SDCP took a longer time and used more mechanical work during STS than TD children. At the beginning of the STS task, children with SDCP showed more trunk flexion and posterior pelvic tilting; in addition, during the STS task they also presented more trunk, hip, and knee flexion than TD children. However, the children with SDCP showed less ankle dorsiflexion compared with TD children. For the kinetic variables, asymmetry was found in children with SDCP. The maximum hip and knee extension moment, plantar flexion moment, and peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) of the non-dominant leg were higher than the values of the dominant leg in these children. Significance Even though, children with SDCP who are able to independently STS. They were also a mechanically less efficient performance during STS task. Therefore, this task still needs to be trained during rehabilitation sessions.

Objective To identify the individual, anatomical, and biomechanical predictors of plantar fasciitis among novice conscripts. Design A prospective cohort study. Setting Military training camp in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants One hundred thirteen novice conscripts without lower extremity pain prior to the commencement of military training. Main outcome measure(s) Individual, anatomical, and biomechanical variables were assessed in all participants at baseline. The primary criterion variable was the presence or absence of plantar fasciitis. Results After 10 weeks of training, 113 participants were classified as having (n = 71) and not having (n = 42) plantar fasciitis. The results indicated that the conscripts with poorer quality of movement and lesser femoral anteversion angle tended to exhibit plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 1.996 and 0.720, respectively). Regarding individual components, the conscripts with higher body mass index and higher stress level had increased risk of plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 1.238 and 1.110, respectively). Moreover, the conscripts with a higher level of physical exercise before military training had a reduced risk of presenting with plantar fasciitis (odds ratio = 0.242). Conclusions Multiple predictors–especially individual characteristics and the abnormalities from the proximal region (other than foot and ankle)–contributed to the development of plantar fasciitis among Thai novice conscripts.

Objective To evaluate the factors that influence gait by comparing lower extremity kinematics during the stance phase of the gait cycle between individuals with and without plantar fasciitis. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting Motion analysis research laboratory. Participants Thirty subjects with plantar fasciitis and 30 aged-matched controls. Main outcome measure(s) Range of motion of the lower extremity and multi-segment foot during gait using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. Results The plantar fasciitis group showed significant differences in motion in the multi-segment foot, ankle, knee, and hip from the control group during various subphases of the stance phase. Specifically, relative to the control group, the plantar fasciitis group had more rearfoot adduction, forefoot eversion, ankle abduction, and hip abduction. They also had less midfoot dorsiflexion, forefoot dorsiflexion, knee extension, knee external rotation, and hip extension (all Ps Conclusions Individuals with plantar fasciitis exhibited more flexibility in the ankle-foot complex and poorer quality of lower-extremity movement than the group that did not have plantar fasciitis. Thus, differences in structures in both the ankle-foot complex as well as those in the hip and knee joints appear to be associated with the presence of plantar fasciitis.

The present study aimed to compare the effects of chair height and anterior seat inclination on sit-to-stand (STS) performance in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (SDCP). Twelve children with SDCP were tested with three conditions of STS task: low chair with horizontal seat (control), low chair with anterior seat inclination (AiC), and high chair with horizontal seat (HiC) conditions. A 3D motion analysis system and two force plates were used to collect and analyze the movement time, mechanical work, kinematics, and kinetics. The results showed that in the AiC and HiC conditions, movement time and mechanical work during STS were significantly reduced when compared with the control condition. In addition, in the AiC condition, trunk alignment at the beginning of the STS task improved and the range of pelvis movement reduced, whereas in the HiC condition, the range of movement of hip, knee, and ankle joint and maximum hip and knee extension moment were reduced in children with SDCP when compared with the control condition. These results suggest that chair height and anterior seat inclination may have a positive effect on STS ability in children with SDCP. Trial register No. TCTR20170619003.

[Purpose] The multi-directional reach test (MDRT) is a simple, inexpensive, reliable and valid screening tool for assessing the limits of stability in the anterorposterior and mediolateral directions. The aim of this study was to quantify the limits of stability of people aged between 20 and 79 years using the MDRT. [Subjects] One hundred and eighty subjects were divided into the following 6 age groups: 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70–79 years (n=30 per group). [Methods] The MDRT was used to measure the limits of stability in four directions: forward, backward, leftward and rightward. Subjects performed maximal outstretched arm reach in each direction with their feet flat on the floor. [Results] All age groups performed the greatest values of the limit of stability in the forward direction. The 60–79 year group demonstrated significantly lower limits of stability in the forward, leftward and rightward directions compared to the 20–39 year group. [Conclusion] The limits of stability declined with age mainly in the forward, leftward and rightward directions. The MDRT appears to be a useful assessment tool for postural control and balance of those aged 60 years and over.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise using a mung bean bag (MB) for balance ability. Thirty-nine healthy female young adults (aged 18-25 years with normal body mass index) were randomly assigned into three groups (n for each group = 13): control group, firm surface (FS) exercise group, and MB exercise group. The FS and MB groups were trained with static and dynamic balance exercises (20 minutes × 3 times/week × 6 weeks). Participants' balance abilities were measured using a Balance Master 4 times: at pre-training (baseline) and at the second, fourth, and sixth weeks post-training. Three tests were assessed: unilateral stance test, modified clinical test for sensory integrations on balance (mCTSIB), and limits of stability (LOS) test. The MB group significantly improved unilateral stance balance in both eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions, whereas the FS group improved only in the eyes-closed condition. No significant difference was found across groups in the mCTSIB parameters. Only the FS group significantly improved LOS parameters. These results suggest the MB exercise could be used to improve unilateral stance balance, but not the LOS or mCTSIB, in healthy young adults.

Summary Objective This study investigated the effects of an acupoint-stimulating lumbar backrest on pain and disability in office workers who suffering from low back pain (LBP) as well as the preference influence on pain and disability. Methods Sixty-four participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one with no intervention ( n =32) and another with 1 month of backrest use ( n =32). An additional group ( n =37) who wished to try 1 month of acupressure backrest were recruited to indicate the preference effect. Pain and disability were two key outcomes. Results Significant differences between control and randomized acupressure backrest groups were found at 2 week period for disability and at 4 weeks for pain after the backrest use. Also, significant differences were found in both groups for 3 month period with an increase of the treatment effect on pain and disability. Both control and randomized acupressure backrest groups showed greater improvement in pain and disability scores which were more than the minimal clinically important change (30% improvement for both outcomes). No significant difference was found for pain and disability between the randomized and preferred backrest groups. Conclusion These findings suggested 1-month of acupressure backrest use could improve LBP conditions. Preference was not a powerful moderator to the significant treatment effect.

The study investigated the influence of lumbar flexibility exercise on the lumbar angle among patients with non-specific low back pain (LBP). Pre-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design trial was conducted at Health Service Center, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Thirty-five non-specific LBP patients with limitation in lower back range of motion and without neurological deficits were recruited (based on the LBP guidelines by RCGP 1999). Lumbar flexibility exercise program developed based on McKenzie therapy was performed individually each day for 2 weeks. Patients attended an exercise program daily in the first week under the supervision of a physiotherapist. The exercise program consisted of 7 sets a day (3-2-2 in the morning-afternoon-evening) in series of 10 repetitions for each set for 2 weeks. Lumbar angle was measured at the beginning and at the end of 2 weeks in order to determine the range of motion improved. The results indicated that the low back pain symptom improved as well as the angle.

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of unstable support surfaces, i.e. foam pad, mung bean bag, and plastic bead bag, on postural stability disturbance. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-two healthy young adults (11 male and 11 female; aged 21.09 ± 1.44 years; BMI 20.40 ± 1.40 kg/m(2)) participated in the study. The Balance Master™ was used to evaluate the limit of stability and the unilateral stance performance. Each participant was assessed while standing on the following surfaces: 1) a firm surface, 2) a foam pad, 3) a mung bean bag, and 4) a plastic bead bag. The order of surfaces was randomly assigned. [Results] The mung bean bag and plastic bead bag showed greater disturbances in limit of stability and unilateral stance than the foam pad. There was no significant difference in postural stability disturbance between the mung bean bag and plastic bead bag. [Conclusion] These results suggested that both the mung bean bag and plastic bead bag could be used as a low-cost tool for balance assessment instead of a foam pad in healthy young adults.