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This study investigated the effect of circumferential pressure on timing and muscle-response parameters during ballistic ankle plantar flexion in 15 young healthy subjects. Circumferential pressure was provided by an air-splint applied around the lower calf. Data were collected at 1, 3, and 5 min. prior to, during, and following application of pressure. A 3 X 3 repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant increases in premotor and reaction times during application of pressure. There was no main effect for magnitude of muscle activity or motor time. Results support previous studies showing decreases in the excitability of the motor-neuron pool with circumferential pressure and an inverse relationship between excitability and premotor time.

Examined the movement characteristics of 41 meningomyelocele children through administration of 13 items from the Southern California Sensory Integration Test. Three factors of movement ability emerged: one describing a pattern representing both constructional and gestural apraxia; the second indicative of bilateral coordination; and the third indicating ataxic-like movements. (Author/SJL)

The effect of uncertainty of movement increased reaction time and movement time significantly in a simple task of running for mildly retarded eight- and ten-year old children. No change in performance was noted for normal children. (Author/PN)

The changes in peak facilitation and slope of facilitation of the H-reflex were compared to the parameters of an isometric plantarflexion task. The amplitude of the reflex was significantly greater for reflexes elicited within 50 msec. of the onset of soleus muscle activity. Neither peak amplitude of the reflex nor slope correlated with rate of rise of isometric force; however, they did show a modest relationship between premotor time and reaction time.

The majority of plantar ulcers in the diabetic population occur in the forefoot. Peripheral neuropathy has been related to the occurrence of ulcers. Long-term diabetes results in the joints becoming passively stiffer. This static stiffness may translate to dynamic joint stiffness in the lower extremities during gait. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to demonstrate differences in ankle and knee joint stiffness between diabetic individuals with and without peripheral neuropathy during gait. Diabetic subjects with and without peripheral neuropathy were compared. Subjects were monitored during normal walking with three-dimensional motion analysis and a force plate. Neuropathic subjects had higher ankle stiffness (0.236 N·m/ deg) during 65 to 80% of stance when compared with non-neuropathic subjects (-0.113 N·m/deg). Neuropathic subjects showed a different pattern in ankle stiffness compared with non-neuropathic subjects. Neuropathic subjects demonstrated a consistent level of ankle stiffness, whereas non-neuropathic subjects showed varying levels of stiffness. Neuropathic subjects demonstrated lower knee stiffness (0.015 N·m/deg) compared with non-neuropathic subjects (0.075 N·m/deg) during 50 to 65% of stance. The differences in patterns of ankle and knee joint stiffness between groups appear to be related to changes in timing of peak ankle dorsiflexion during stance, with the neuropathic group reaching peak dorsiflexion later than the non-neuropathic subjects. This may partially relate to the changes in plantar pressures beneath the metatarsal heads present in individuals with neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During ballistic locomotion and landing activities, the lower extremity joints must function synchronously to dissipate the impact. The coupling of subtalar motion to tibial and knee rotation has been hypothesized to depend on the dynamic requirements of the task. This study was undertaken to look for differences in the coupling of 3-D foot and knee motions during walking, jogging, and landing from a jump. Twenty recreationally active young women with normal foot alignment (as assessed by a licensed physical therapist) were videotaped with high-speed cameras (250 Hz) during walking, jogging, hopping, and jumping trials. Coupling coefficients were compared among the four activities. The ratio of eversion to tibial rotation increased from the locomotion to the landing trials, indicating that with the increased loading demands of the activity, the requirements of foot motion increased. However, this increased motion was not proportionately translated into rotation of the tibia through the subtalar joint. Furthermore, the ratio of knee flexion to knee internal rotation increased significantly from the walking to landing trials. Together these findings suggest that femoral rotation may compensate for the increase in tibial rotation as the force-dissipating demands of the task increase. The relative unbalance among the magnitude of foot, tibial, and knee rotations observed with increasing task demands may have direct implications on clinical treatments aimed at reducing knee motion via controlling motion at the foot during landing tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study were to analyze double-limb, dominant-limb, and nondominant-limb landings, each with a two-footed takeoff, in order to detect potential differences in muscle activity and ground reaction forces and to examine the possible influence of leg dominance on these parameters. Each of the three jump landing combinations was analyzed in 11 healthy female volleyball players (age 21 ± 3 yrs; height 171 ± 5 cm, mass 61.6 ± 5.5 kg, max. vertical jump height 28 ± 4 cm). Ground reaction forces under each limb and bilateral muscle activity of the vastus medialis, hamstrings, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles were synchronized and collected at 1,000 Hz. Normalized EMG amplitude and force platform data were averaged over five trials for each participant and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. During the takeoff phase in jumps with one-footed landings, the non-landing limb loaded more than the landing limb (p = 0.003). During the 100 ms prior to initial contact, single-footed landings generated higher EMG values than two-footed landings (p = 0.004). One-footed landings resulted in higher peak vertical loading, lateral loading, and rate of lateral loading than two-footed landings (p < 0.05). Trends were observed indicating that muscle activation during one-footed landings is greater than for two-footed landings (p = 0.053 vs. p = 0.077). The greater forces and rate of loading produced during single-limb landings implies a higher predisposition to injury. It appears that strategic planning and training of jumps in volleyball and other jumping sports is critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological evidence suggests the incidence of injury in female athletes is greater after the onset of puberty and that landing from a jump is a common mechanism of knee injury. This investigation compared lower extremity joint kinematics and joint resultant forces and moments during three types of stride jump (stride jump followed by a static landing; a ballistic vertical jump; and a ballistic lateral jump) between pre- and postpubescent recreational athletes to provide some insight into the increased incidence of injury. Sixteen recreationally active postpubescent women (ages 18–25 years) and 16 recreationally active prepubescent girls (ages 8–11 years) participated in this study. High speed 3D videography and force plate data were used to record each jumper's performance of the stride jumps, and an inverse dynamic procedure was used to estimate lower extremity joint resultant forces and moments and power. These dependent variables were submitted to a 2 × 3 (Maturation Level × Landing Sequence) MANOVA with repeated measures on the last factor. The findings indicated that postpubescents landed with the knee more extended (4.4°) and had greater extension moments (approximately 30% greater hip and knee extension moments) and powers (40% greater knee power). Further, the post-pubescent athletes had greater knee anterior/posterior forces as well as mediolateral resultant forces. The differences found between the two groups suggest there may be anatomical and physiological changes with puberty that lead to differences in strength or neuromuscular control which influence the dynamic restraint system in these recreational athletes. A combination of these factors likely plays a role in the increased risk of injury in postpubescent females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the exercise tolerance of a young girl with a congenital heart defect associated with asplenia syndrome. The child was exercised minimally on a treadmill for a period of 10 minutes, during which time heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, and transcutaneous PO2 values were monitored. Due to a small increase in heart rate and a very low PO2 during exercise, it was suggested that some adaptive mechanism had been developed to counteract her cyanotic condition. An optimal increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels supported this. No ECG abnormalities were noted. It was concluded that this child should have some, but minimal, involvement in physical education programs despite the severity of her condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes automatic postural responses of deaf children during anterior body sway. Subjects were placed in a vestibular dysfunction (VDD) or vestibular nondysfunction (VNDD) group based on postrotary nystagmus response. They stood on an electrically driven platform, and brief support surface movement (12 cm/sec) elicited automatic postural responses under both static and dynamic conditions. Subjects underwent trials with and without vision, and etectromyographical (EMG) data was recorded from posterior leg muscles. Both groups displayed some response characteristics found in previous reports (Nashner & Cordo, 1981), and under dynamic conditions the response latencies significantly decreased. However, the major finding was the response delay of some 40 msec by VDD subjects. It was proposed that this delay could in part be responsible for balance and movement problems exhibited by many deaf children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of an apraxic condition in children with meningomyelocele. Subjects were grouped according to the presence or absence of hydrocephalus as diagnosed by a computerized tomography scan. Subjects performed tasks of simple movements and motor sequences first to verbal command and then to imitation. For simple movements there was a significant Group by Cue interaction. The hydrocephalic group, significantly inferior on the verbal cue, were noticeably better on imitation. For those subjects without hydrocephalus, such was unlikely due to a ceiling effect to the verbal cue. For motor sequences, there was a significant Cue and Group effect. Both groups improved to the visual cue with the nonhydrocephalus group being consistently superior. The results are discussed in terms of patterns of response, and a cognitive or brainstem/cerebellar-based disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A test for the evaluation of the motor ability of the hearing impaired is described, and illustrations of selected sign language directions used in its administration are presented. Among the skills assessed are running speed and agility, balance, and coordination. (JN)

Children at the Louisiana State School for the Deaf were tested for motor proficiency using the Short Form of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency. The children appeared to lack balancing skills but scored better than hearing children in visual motor control. Sex and age differences are noted. (PP)

Purpose: To evaluate the rates and characteristics of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in physical therapists (PTs) according to their specialty and setting.Method: Participants completed an online questionnaire including 15 demographic questions, 7 work-related and 8 injury-related questions for 9 different body parts.Results: Complete responses were obtained from 121 PTs; 96% reported MSD symptoms during the previous 12 months, 64% affecting at least 3 body parts. The body parts with the highest prevalence of symptoms were the low back (66%) and the neck (61%). For PTs specialized in acute care, geriatrics and pediatrics, the body part most commonly affected was the low back, while for PTs specialized in orthopedics and neurology, the body part most commonly affected was the neck. Regarding work settings, the low back was the most commonly affected for PTs working in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics and hospitals, and the neck in PTs working in academic and home health settings.Conclusions: MSDs are common among PTs; the body parts most often affected were the low back and neck. The prevalence and body parts affected varied by practice setting and specialty area. The findings can help informing the design of evidence-based rehabilitation, prevention, training and educational programs.Implications for RehabilitationRehabilitation of injured physical therapists needs to address the symptoms of the multiple body parts that are usually affected (e.g. back, wrists and hands).Rehabilitation of injured physical therapists needs to take into consideration their job demands, practice setting and specialty area.The findings can inform the design of rehabilitation, prevention, training and educational programs for physical therapists. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To evaluate if wearing unstable shoes reduces low back pain and disability in nurses. Design: A randomized controlled trial. Setting: Hospitals and homecare. Subjects: A total of 20 matched female registered nurses with low back pain. The mean (standard deviation) age was 31 years (5) for the control and 34 years (6) for the intervention group; height was 161 cm (5) and 165 cm (7), respectively. Interventions: The intervention group received unstable shoes at Week 2 to wear for at least 36 h/week for a month. Main measures: The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and a visual analogue pain scale. Results: The mean (standard deviation) pain level was 6 (1) at baseline vs. 6 (2) at Week 6 for the control group, and 5 (1) vs. 1 (1) for the intervention group. The mean (standard deviation) disability level was 31% (9) at baseline vs. 28% (7) at Week 6 for the control, and 27% (12) vs. 13% (5) for the intervention group. There were no significant changes over time on pain or disability levels for the control group. The intervention group reported lower levels of pain on Weeks 4 (mean difference ⩾–1.4, p ⩽ 0.009) and 6 (mean difference ⩾–3.1, p < 0.001). Disability levels were also lower on Weeks 4 (mean difference = −4.5%, p NS) and 6 (mean difference = −14.1%, p = 0.020). Conclusions: Wearing unstable shoes reduced low back pain and disability in nurses and might be helpful as part of the back pain rehabilitation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]