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Humans are fascinated by the bipedal locomotor capacities at both ends of the athletic spectrum—sprinting speed and endurance. Some of the more popular field (eg, soccer, rugby, and lacrosse) and court (eg, basketball, tennis, and netball) sports utilize mixed energy systems requiring an interplay of both maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) to meet the high-intensity running demands of varying frequency, duration, intensity, and recovery. Recently, these locomotor capacities have been considered in combination to produce what is called the anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) as part of the locomotor profile concept (MSS, MAS, and ASR). The purpose of this narrative review is to (1) provide an overview of the locomotor profile concept; (2) review the assessment methods for estimating MSS, MAS, and ASR; (3) examine the age-, sex-, and maturity-associated variations in MSS, MAS, and ASR; (4) examine the trainability of MSS, MAS, and ASR in youth athletes; and (5) conclude with the practical applications using principles of long-term athlete development for training the locomotor profile in youth field and court sport athletes. Based on the available data in young male athletes, MSS, MAS, and ASR generally increase with age and across maturity groups and are trainable. Overall, decisions on training need to consider the sport demands, current fitness and maturity status, and targeted training adaptation sought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical efficiency of human locomotion has been studied extensively. The mechanical efficiency of the whole body occasionally exceeds muscle efficiency during bouncing type gaits. It is thought to occur due to elasticity and stiffness of the tendinomuscular system and neuromuscular functions, especially stretch reflexes. In addition, the lower limb joint kinetics affect mechanical efficiency. We investigated the impact of varying external work on mechanical efficiency and lower limb kinetics during repeated sledge jumping. Fifteen male runners performed sledge jumping for 4 minutes at 3 different sledge inclinations. Lower limb kinematics, ground reaction forces, and expired gases were analyzed. Mechanical efficiency did not differ according to sledge inclination. Mechanical efficiency correlated positively with the positive mechanical work of the knee and hip joints and the negative contribution of the hip joints. Conversely, it correlated negatively with both the positive and negative contributions of the ankle joint. This may be attributable to the greater workload in this study versus previous studies. To achieve greater external work, producing more mechanical energy at the proximal joint and transferring it to the distal joint could be an effective strategy for improving mechanical efficiency because of the greater force-generating capability of distal joint muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated how data series length and gaps in human kinematic data impact the accuracy of Lyapunov exponents (LyE) calculations with and without cubic spline interpolation. Kinematic time series were manipulated to create various data series lengths (28% and 100% of original) and gap durations (0.05–0.20 s). Longer gaps generally resulted in significantly higher LyE% error values in each plane in noninterpolated data. During cubic spline interpolation, only the 0.20-second gap in frontal plane data resulted in a significantly higher LyE% error. Data series length did not significantly affect LyE% error in noninterpolated data. During cubic spline interpolation, sagittal plane LyE% errors were significantly higher at shorter versus longer data series lengths. These findings suggest that not interpolating gaps in data could lead to erroneously high LyE values and mischaracterization of movement variability. When applying cubic spline, a long gap length (0.20 s) in the frontal plane or a short sagittal plane data series length (1000 data points) could also lead to erroneously high LyE values and mischaracterization of movement variability. These insights emphasize the necessity of detailed reporting on gap durations, data series lengths, and interpolation techniques when characterizing human movement variability using LyE values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Global navigation satellite system device–derived metrics are commonly represented by discrete zones with intensity often measured by standardizing volume to per-minute of activity duration. This approach is sensitive to imprecision in duration measurement and can lead to highly variable outcomes—transforming data from zones to a gradient may overcome this problem. The purpose of this study was to critically evaluate this approach for measuring team-sport activity demands. Methods: Data were collected from 129 first-team and 73 academy matches from a Scottish Premiership football club. Gradients were calculated for velocity, acceleration, and deceleration zones, along with per-minute values for several commonly used metrics. Means and 95% CIs were calculated for playing level, as well as first-team positional groups. Within-subject coefficients of variation were also calculated for match level, position, and individual groups. Results: The gradient approach showed consistency with per-minute metrics when measuring playing level and position groups. With coefficients of variation of 10.8% to 26.9%, the gradients demonstrated lower variability than most per-minute variables, which ranged from 10.7% to 84.5%. Conclusions: Gradients are a potentially useful way of describing intensity in team sports and compare favorably to existing intensity variables in their ability to distinguish between match types and position groups, providing evidence that gradient variables can be used to monitor match and training intensity in team sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimated the contribution of the midfoot joint complex (MJC) kinematics to the pelvis anterior–posterior positions during the stance phase of walking and investigated whether the MJC is functionally coordinated with the lower limb joints to maintain similar pelvic positions across steps. Hip, knee, ankle, and MJC sagittal angles were measured in 11 nondisabled participants during walking. The joints' contributions to pelvic positions were computed through equations derived from a link-segment model. Functional coordination across steps was identified when the MJC contribution to pelvic position varied and the summed contributions of other joints varied in the opposite direction (strong negative covariations [r ≤ −.7] in stance phase instants). We observed that the MJC plantarflexion (arch raising) during the midstance and late stance leads the pelvis backward, avoiding excessive forward displacement. The MJC was the second joint that contributed most to the pelvis positions (around 18% of all joints' contributions), after the ankle joint. The MJC and ankle were the joints that were most frequently coordinated with the other joints (≅70% of the stance phase duration). The findings suggest that the MJC is part of the kinematic chain that determines pelvis positions during walking and is functionally coordinated with the lower limb joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was 2-fold: (1) to examine the relationships between psychophysiological responses and locomotor demands with variations in technical performance during 2v2 and 4v4 conditioned games and (2) to compare psychophysiological and locomotor responses among players exhibiting higher and lower technical performance levels during the conditioned games. Methods: Twenty-four male youth soccer players (16.3 ± 0.8 y old) participating at the trained/developmental level underwent monitoring for psychophysiological responses (including heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and visual analog scale), locomotor demands (such as distance covered), and technical performance variables (including successful and unsuccessful passes and shots, as well as lost balls) across 2v2 and 4v4 formats. These formats were applied 4 times within a single session and were replicated twice over 2 weeks. Results: Large correlations between the number of lost balls per minute and mean heart rate were found in both the 2v2 and 4v4 games (r =.586 and r =.665, respectively). Successful shots were inversely and largely correlated with mean heart rate (r = −.518) in 4v4 games. The number of interceptions per minute was inversely and significantly correlated with the visual analog scale in 2v2 and 4v4 games (r = −.455 and r = −.710, respectively). The frequency of lost balls was significantly higher among players who attained a higher mean heart rate (2v2: +42.9%, P =.031, d = −0.965; 4v4: +57.1%, P <.001, d = −2.072). Conclusions: Coaches should be aware that highly psychophysiologically demanding scenarios may significantly impair technical performance. Therefore, prioritizing technical performance by deliberately adjusting the intensity should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rugby union is a contact team sport demanding high levels of physical capacity, and understanding the match workloads can be useful to inform training. In this study, the factors influencing locomotion and contact workloads for offensive and defensive ball-in-play periods are quantified. Methods: Locomotion and contact metrics were collected from global positioning system units and videos for 31 professional players of a Super Rugby team across 14 games in the 2021 season. Data were analyzed with a generalized mixed-model procedure that included effects for type of play, playing position, match outcome, and ball-in-play time. Magnitudes were assessed with standardization, and evidence for substantial magnitudes was derived from sampling uncertainty. Results: When offense was compared to defense, most metrics showed decisively substantial increases (small to moderate) for forwards and backs. There was decisive evidence that locomotion metrics were substantially lower (large differences) and contact metrics were higher (very large differences) when comparing forwards to backs on offense and defense. When winning was compared to losing, there was good evidence that forwards experienced small increases in overall workload on defense, and backs experienced a small increase in high-speed running and a moderate decrease in contacts on offense. Match-to-match changes associated with ball-in-play time, attributed to fatigue, were decisive (moderate to very large) across most metrics for forwards and backs in offense and defense. Conclusions: The increased locomotion and contact workloads in offensive periods and the differing physical requirements between positions and match outcomes for both types of play are novel findings that should aid practitioners in designing effective training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lower limb exoskeletons and exosuits ("exos") are traditionally designed with a strong focus on mechatronics and actuation, whereas the "human side" is often disregarded or minimally modeled. Muscle biomechanics principles and skeletal muscle response to robot-delivered loads should be incorporated in design/control of exos. In this narrative review, we summarize the advances in literature with respect to the fusion of muscle biomechanics and lower limb exoskeletons. We report methods to measure muscle biomechanics directly and indirectly and summarize the studies that have incorporated muscle measures for improved design and control of intuitive lower limb exos. Finally, we delve into articles that have studied how the human–exo interaction influences muscle biomechanics during locomotion. To support neurorehabilitation and facilitate everyday use of wearable assistive technologies, we believe that future studies should investigate and predict how exoskeleton assistance strategies would structurally remodel skeletal muscle over time. Real-time mapping of the neuromechanical origin and generation of muscle force resulting in joint torques should be combined with musculoskeletal models to address time-varying parameters such as adaptation to exos and fatigue. Development of smarter predictive controllers that steer rather than assist biological components could result in a synchronized human–machine system that optimizes the biological and electromechanical performance of the combined system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Variable-speed control in the field is challenging for motion science. Tests were performed to evaluate speed, Froude number, and oxygen consumption if these varied when using the same frequency of steps. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of auditory feedback to control variable speed on the treadmill and track during acceleration cycles around the transition speed. Methods: Twenty-four trained men participated. The protocol was based on 5 ramps of 50 seconds each around 80%, 90%, 100%, 110%, and 120% of the walking–running transition speed, recording the frequency of steps with a mobile phone during the treadmill test. The tests were replicated on the track using auditory feedback. Results: When evaluating each speed of the protocols separately for the same frequency of steps, the average speed on the track was always higher on average at 54.7% compared to the laboratory (P <.050), and on the track, it was 16.2% higher than in the laboratory (P >.050). Conclusions: It cannot be considered that the same frequency of steps is equivalent to the same speed in the laboratory and on the track. These results point to the importance of reliable speed control during open field tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and adequate physical fitness (PF) levels are a solid foundation for acquiring an active and healthy lifestyle during childhood and adolescence. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to compare gender and age groups and identify correlations between FMS and PF in young elementary school students. We used a structured questionnaire to gather sociodemographic information from parents, and we characterized the children's economic profile with the Brazil Social Economic Status Criterion. We collected FMS data using the Furtado-Gallagher Children Observational Movement Pattern Assessment System (FG-COMPASS), and we used the Brazil Sports Project Battery Test to measure PF levels. Statistical analyses involved descriptive data and inferential tests to determine group differences in FMS and PF levels. Hierarchical regression helped identify the associations between FMS and PF, as controlled by sociodemographic factors. Participants were 720 students (and parents) of both genders (383 girls, 337 boys; M age = 8.8, SD = 1.52 years) from grades 1 to 5 in an elementary school in a municipality in the western region of the Paraná state in Brazil. The results showed significant differences in children's motor skills and PF based on gender and age. The hierarchical regression model showed different combinations of flexibility, abdominal resistance, upper limb strength, agility, speed, and lower limb strength, which explained 33.7% of the variability in the global FMS index, 41% of the variability in manipulative skills, and 12.7% of the variability in locomotor skills. In addition, there was a positive association between FMS and PF related to neuromuscular development for both sexes, regardless of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined individual variation in change over time in sedentary behaviour and factors associated with higher or lower sedentary behaviour and change in sedentary behaviour in 110 toddlers from 18 to 36 months of age. Mother/child dyads were recruited into the study when children were 6 months of age. Mothers completed surveys, and children were measured at 6-month intervals to 36 months. Children wore accelerometers for one week at each time point, and height and weight were measured. Growth curve modelling examined relationships between demographic, early life, and environmental factors and sedentary behaviour from 18 to 36 months. Fifty-one percent of the children were boys. The trajectory of sedentary behaviour increased from 18 to 24 months then declined. Children with higher sedentary behaviour were less likely to be enrolled in daycare (p < 0.05), and they engaged in higher TV/electronic media use (p < 0.05). Children with lower sedentary behaviour were more likely to have been breastfed (p < 0.05). Children with higher locomotion scores at 6 months were less sedentary at 18 months (p < 0.05), but this difference diminished over time. Mothers should be encouraged to breastfeed, limit their child’s TV/electronic media use, and provide opportunities for their young children to be physically active. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals suffering from voice disabilities have limited access to currently available automation technologies that operate through voice commands. To address this issue, an alternative voice recognition approach is essential without directly monitoring the audio signals generated from the vocal cord. In this work, the design of a chemically reactive and conductive sponge is reported to create an underwater vibration sensor with a fast response time and high sensitivity, through orthogonal modulation of conductivity (40–2150 kΩ), water repellence (0°–154°) and mechanical properties (0.32–2.63 MPa). This class of porous sponge sensors enables the identification of subtle water waves generated at the air–water interface and extends its utility to detecting a variety of locomotion (squatting, jumping, walking, etc.), as well as automated voice recognition using a deep learning model without direct contact with the human body. Overall, this underwater vibration sensor provides a novel basis for remote interaction with automated technologies, which finds use in medical diagnostics, human‐machine interfaces, and underwater communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinematic data is a valuable source of movement information that provides insights into the health status, mental state, and motor skills of individuals. Additionally, kinematic data can serve as biometric data, enabling the identification of personal characteristics such as height, weight, and sex. In CeTI-Locomotion, four types of walking tasks and the 5 times sit-to-stand test (5RSTST) were recorded from 50 young adults wearing motion capture (mocap) suits equipped with Inertia-Measurement-Units (IMU). Our dataset is unique in that it allows the study of both intra- and inter-participant variability with high quality kinematic motion data for different motion tasks. Along with the raw kinematic data, we provide the source code for phase segmentation and the processed data, which has been segmented into a total of 4672 individual motion repetitions. To validate the data, we conducted visual inspection as well as machine-learning based identity and action recognition tests, achieving 97% and 84% accuracy, respectively. The data can serve as a normative reference of gait and sit-to-stand movements in healthy young adults and as training data for biometric recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Aim Methods Results Discussion Plantar flexors play a pivotal role in human locomotion and balance. Several original research studies and systematic reviews have characterised the impact of single‐leg disuse on plantar flexor strength and size. However, no meta‐analysis has quantified the effects of single‐leg disuse on changes in plantar flexor strength and size in uninjured adults.To quantify changes in plantar flexor strength and size in response to single‐leg disuse.Data were extracted from 19 studies captured in our previous systematic review on studies that employed a unilateral lower limb immobilisation model (cast or brace) and were published up to January 30, 2022. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed on original research studies reporting measures of plantar flexor strength (isometric, isokinetic, or repetition maximum) and size (magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography) in uninjured adults.Single‐leg disuse decreased plantar flexor strength (Hedges gav = −0.71 [95% confidence interval: −0.93, −0.48], p < 0.001, 7−28 days, N = 16 studies, n = 121 participants including ≥13 females, ages 19−29) and plantar flexor size (−0.33 [−0.50, −0.15], p < 0.001, 14−35 days, N = 6, n = 49, 10 females, ages 22−27) across all durations of disuse.Single‐leg disuse decreases plantar flexor strength and size in uninjured adults. This work adds to recent meta‐analytic findings demonstrating the declines in knee extensors strength and size following single‐leg disuse. The paucity of female and participants >30 years old in the single‐leg disuse literature examining plantar flexors represents a priority of future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No mechanoreceptor potential C (NompC) is a major mechanotransduction channel with an important role in sensing of external mechanical stimuli by insects, which help these organisms to avoid injury and adapt to environmental changes. To explore the biological functions of NompC in Bactrocera dorsalis, a notorious agricultural pest, we successfully generated NompC knockout strains using clustered regularly interspaced small palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR‐associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) technology. BdorNompC knockout led to an adult lethal phenotype, with approximately 100% mortality at 3 d after eclosion. Morphological observation revealed that the legs and wings of BdorNompC knockout insects were deformed, while behavioral assays showed that the locomotion was impaired in both adults and larvae, relative to that of the wild‐type strain. Moreover, BdorNompC knockout reduced gentle‐touch response in larvae. These results suggest that BdorNompC is critical for B. dorsalis survival, and that this mechanosensation channel represents a potential new target for pest control agents. Our findings also represent novel evidence indicating that insect NompC is involved in modulating adult wing and leg morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing that conventional understanding of animal and human locomotion is based on a dated and reductionist machine modeling of organisms, we set out to create a theory of locomotion by reasoning from first principles. We center on the constraints necessitated by 1) the 2nd law of thermodynamics, 2) the theory of evolution, 3) a systems science view of organisms, and 4) the laws of motion, but we also look for compatibility these constraints might find in emerging areas of scientific inquiry (ecological psychology, processual biology, soft matter, biotensegrity), and in the wisdom embedded in various movement traditions and ancient philosophy. Applying and synthesizing these, we propose an updated "bouncing bones" (BB) model for walking and running, which corresponds with maximum efficiency and conservation of energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motion is vital for life. Currently, the clinical assessment of motion abnormalities is largely qualitative. We previously developed methods to quantitatively assess motion using visual detection systems (around-body) and stretchable electronic sensors (on-body). Here we compare the efficacy of these methods across predefined motions, hypothesizing that the around-body system detects motion with similar accuracy as on-body sensors. Six human volunteers performed six defined motions covering three excursion lengths, small, medium, and large, which were analyzed via both around-body visual marker detection (MoCa version 1.0) and on-body stretchable electronic sensors (BioStamp version 1.0). Data from each system was compared as to the extent of trackability and comparative efficacy between systems. Both systems successfully detected motions, allowing quantitative analysis. Angular displacement between systems had the highest agreement efficiency for the bicep curl and body lean motion, with 73.24% and 65.35%, respectively. The finger pinch motion had an agreement efficiency of 36.71% and chest abduction/adduction had 45.55%. Shoulder abduction/adduction and shoulder flexion/extension motions had the lowest agreement efficiencies with 24.49% and 26.28%, respectively. MoCa was comparable to BioStamp in terms of angular displacement, though velocity and linear speed output could benefit from additional processing. Our findings demonstrate comparable efficacy for non-contact motion detection to that of on-body sensor detection, and offers insight as to the best system selection for specific clinical uses based on the use-case of the desired motion being analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with hypertension (HTN) are characterized by exaggerated vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and a compromised leg blood flow (QL) response to exercise recruiting a small muscle mass. However, the impact of hypertension on peripheral hemodynamics and the development of neuromuscular fatigue during locomotor activities, which critically depends on QL, remain unknown. Eight HTN (143 ± 11 mmHg/95 ± 6 mmHg; 45 ± 13 yr) and eight matched (age and activity) controls (120 ± 6 mmHg/77 ± 7 mmHg; CTRL) performed constant-load cycling exercise at 25, 50, and 75 W (for 4 min each) and at 165 ± 41 W (for 5 min). Exercise-induced locomotor muscle fatigue was quantified as the pre- to postexercise change in quadriceps twitch-torque (ΔQtw, peripheral fatigue) and voluntary activation (ΔVA%, central fatigue). QL (Doppler ultrasound) and leg vascular conductance (LVC) were determined during cycling at 25, 50, and 75 W. Heart rate and ventilatory responses were recorded during all intensities. MAP during exercise was, on average, ∼21 mmHg higher (P = 0.002) and LVC ∼39% lower (P = 0.001) in HTN compared with CTRL. QL was consistently between 20 and 30% lower (P = 0.004), and heart rate was significantly higher in HTN. Exercise-induced peripheral (ΔQtw: −53 ± 19% vs. −25 ± 23%) and central (ΔVA%: −7 ± 5% vs. −3 ± 2%) fatigue was significantly greater in HTN compared with CTRL. In addition to an exaggerated MAP, LVC and QL were lower during exercise in HTN compared with CTRL. Given the critical role of QL in determining the development of neuromuscular fatigue, these hemodynamic impairments likely accounted for the faster development of neuromuscular fatigue characterizing hypertensive individuals during locomotor exercise. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: The impact of primary hypertension on the cardiovascular and neuromuscular fatigue response to locomotor exercise is unknown. We compared central and peripheral hemodynamics and the development of central and peripheral fatigue during cycling exercise in patients with stage I/II hypertension and age- and activity-matched healthy individuals. In addition to a significantly elevated blood pressure, hypertensive patients were, compared with their nonhypertensive counterparts, also characterized by considerable leg blood flow limitations and impaired neuromuscular fatigue resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with lower limb impairment after a stroke or spinal cord injury require rehabilitation, but traditional methods can be challenging for both patients and therapists. Robotic systems have been developed to help; however, they currently cannot detect the continuous gait phase in real time, hindering their effectiveness. To address this limitation, researchers have attempted to develop gait phase detection in general using fuzzy logic algorithms and neural networks. However, there is a paucity of research on real-time and continuous gait phase detection. In light of this gap, we propose an unsupervised learning method for real-time and continuous gait phase detection. This method employs windows of real-time trajectories and a pre-trained model, utilizing trajectories from treadmill walking data, to detect the real-time and continuous gait phase of human on overground locomotion. The neural network model that we have developed exhibits an average time error of less than 11.51 ms across all walking conditions, indicating its suitability for real-time applications. Specifically, the average time error during overground walking at different speeds is 11.20 ms, which is comparatively lower than the average time error observed during treadmill walking, where it is 12.42 ms. By utilizing this method, we can predict the real-time phase using a pre-trained model from treadmill walking data collected with a full motion capture system, which can be performed in a laboratory setting, thereby eliminating the need for overground walking data, which can be more challenging to obtain due to the complexity of the setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, and currently, no effective treatments are available to reverse or halt its progression in clinical practice. Although a plethora of studies have highlighted the benefits of physical exercise in combating AD, elder individuals often have limited exercise capacity. Therefore, mild physical exercise and nutritional interventions represent potential strategies for preventing and mitigating neurodegenerative diseases. Our research, along with other studies, have demonstrated that platycodin D (PD) or its metabolite, platycodigenin, derived from the medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorus, exerts neuroprotective effects against amyloid b (Ab)-induced neuroinflammation. However, the combined effects of PD and physical exercise on alleviating AD have yet to be explored. The current study aimed to investigate whether combined therapy could synergistically ameliorate memory deficits and AD pathology in 5 FAD mice. Methods: Five-month-old 5 x FAD mice were randomly assigned to four groups, and received either PD (5 mg/kg/day, p.o.), voluntary running, or a combination of both for 47 days. Nest building test, locomotion test, and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the cognitive function. Immunohistochemical and ELISA analysis was performed to determine Ab build-up, microglia and astrocytes hyperactivation, and survival neurons in the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis was used to assess the polarization of microglia and astrocytes. HPLC analysis was performed to measure monoamine neurotransmitters in the hippocampus. Results and discussion: The combination of PD and voluntary running synergistically restored nest-building behavior, alleviated recognition and spatial memory deficits, and showed superior effects compared to monotherapy. In addition, the PD and voluntary running combination reduced Ab build-up, decreased hyperactivation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus and perirhinal cortex, promoted the polarization of inflammatory M1 microglia and reactive astrocytes toward beneficial phenotypes, and lowered systemic circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines while increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines in 5 FAD mice. Furthermore, combined therapy effectively protected neurons and increased levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in the hippocampus of 5 FAD mice. In conclusion, the combination of PD and voluntary running holds great potential as a treatment for AD, offering promise for delaying onset or progression of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinematics, kinetics and biomechanics of human gait are widely investigated fields of research. The biomechanics of locomotion have been described as characterizing muscle activations and synergistic control, i.e., spatial and temporal patterns of coordinated muscle groups and joints. Both kinematic synergies and muscle synergies have been extracted from locomotion data, showing that in healthy people four–five synergies underlie human locomotion; such synergies are, in general, robust across subjects and might be altered by pathological gait, depending on the severity of the impairment. In this work, for the first time, we apply the mixed matrix factorization algorithm to the locomotion data of 15 healthy participants to extract hybrid kinematic–muscle synergies and show that they allow us to directly link task space variables (i.e., kinematics) to the neural structure of muscle synergies. We show that kinematic–muscle synergies can describe the biomechanics of motion to a better extent than muscle synergies or kinematic synergies alone. Moreover, this study shows that at a functional level, modular control of the lower limb during locomotion is based on an increased number of functional synergies with respect to standard muscle synergies and accounts for different biomechanical roles that each synergy may have within the movement. Kinematic–muscular synergies may have impact in future work for a deeper understanding of modular control and neuro-motor recovery in the medical and rehabilitation fields, as they associate neural and task space variables in the same factorization. Applications include the evaluation of post-stroke, Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy patients, and for the design and development of robotic devices and exoskeletons during walking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Locomotion activities are part of most human daily tasks and are the basis for subsistence activities, particularly for hunter–gatherers. Therefore, differences in speed walking‐related variables may have an effect, not only on the mobility of the group, but also on its composition. Some anthropometric parameters related to body length could affect walking speed‐related variables and contribute to different human behaviors. However, there is currently little information on the influence of these parameters in nonadult individuals. Methods: Overall, 11 females and 17 male child/adolescents, 8–17 years of age, volunteered to participate in this cross‐sectional study. Five different pace walking tests were performed on a treadmill to calculate the optimal locomotion speed (OLS) and U‐shaped relationship between the walking energy expenditure and speed (χ2 cost of transport [CoT]) (i.e., energetic walking flexibility). Results: The mean OLS was 3.05 ± 0.13 miles per hour (mph), with no differences between sexes. Similarly, there were no sex differences in walking flexibility according to the χ2 CoT. Body height (p <.0001) and femur length (p <.001) were positively correlated with χ2 CoT; however, female child/adolescents mitigated the effect of height and femur length when walking at suboptimal speeds. Conclusion: Consistent with prior observations in adults, our findings suggest that anthropometric parameters related to body stature are associated with reduced suboptimal walking flexibility in children and adolescents. Taken together, these results suggest that children and adolescents can adapt their pace to the one of taller individuals without a highly energetic penalty, but this flexibility decreases with increasing body size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the interaction between sarcopenic obesity and locomotive and nonlocomotive physical activity (PA) on the risk of depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older Japanese women. Participants were 143 community-dwelling older women aged 64–94 years. PA was measured using a three-axis accelerometer. Participants were classified according to two levels of total, locomotive, and nonlocomotive PA. Depressive symptoms were assessed by a self-administered survey consisting of the 15-item Japanese version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15-J). The interaction between sarcopenic obesity groups and total or locomotive PA did not affect GDS-15-J scores. However, the interaction between sarcopenic obesity groups and nonlocomotive PA significantly affected GDS-15-J scores (p <.05). Moreover, sarcopenic obesity in the low PA group had significantly higher GDS-15-J scores compared with sarcopenic obesity in the high PA group (p <.05). We concluded that sarcopenic obesity combined with low nonlocomotive PA may exacerbate depressive symptoms in older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporal gait kinematics and their variability are commonly assessed in clinical and laboratory settings to quantify fall risk. Although the Hawthorne effect, or modifications in participant behavior due to knowledge of being observed, has the potential to impact such assessments, it has received minimal attention in the study of gait—particularly gait variability. The purpose of this study was to quantify the Hawthorne effect on variability and central tendency measures of fall-related spatiotemporal gait parameters. Seventeen healthy young adults walked on a treadmill at a self-selected velocity for 2 minutes under covert evaluation (ie, without awareness of being evaluated) and 2 minutes under overt evaluation. The movement was recorded using motion capture technology, from which we calculated mean value and step-to-step variability (using standard deviation and mean absolute deviation) of step length, step width, percent double support, percent stance phase, and stride time. Although central tendencies were unaffected by evaluation type, four-of-five measures of variability were significantly lower during overt evaluation for at least one-of-two metrics. Our results suggest a Hawthorne effect on locomotor control. Researchers should be aware of this phenomenon when designing research studies and interpreting gait assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn more complex outdoor–indoor transition scenarios, people were more prone to getting lost due to difficulties in effectively integrating proprioceptive cues and external navigation cues. Previous research had mostly focused on spatial perception driven by head or limb movements, with less discussion on locomotion methods that involved significant visual discrepancies. The challenge in designing navigation systems lies in balancing the enhancement of wayfinding performance with the potential negative impact on spatial cognition. We believe that navigation legibility might be a key optimization approach. Additionally, the differences in performance between different age groups were also worth investigating. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how locomotion methods and navigation legibility affected wayfinding performance, navigation interaction, navigation regression, and spatial cognition in younger and older adults during outdoor–indoor transition scenarios. Twenty-four younger (aged 19–27) and 24 older adults (aged 60–83) underwent VR wayfinding tasks. Participants initially followed virtual phone navigation from outdoor starting points to indoor endpoints, then drew cognitive route maps. Five main findings emerged: Continuous teleportation positively affected navigation performance and global representation of routes. Improving navigation legibility boosted navigation interaction, navigation regression, and global representation of routes. Older adults engaged more in navigation interaction but less in navigation regression, exhibiting poorer performance and route representation. Location-specific differences were observed in locomotion, legibility, and age effects. Furthermore, most older adults and over half of younger adults displayed a deflection effect based on outdoor–indoor (OI) space in route representation. These findings indicated that continuous teleportation and enhanced navigation legibility could improve user experience and spatial cognition, highlighting the importance of considering user age and the characteristics of outdoor–indoor transition scenarios when optimizing navigation methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gait event detection is crucial for assessment, evaluation and provision of biofeedback during rehabilitation of walking. Existing online gait event detection algorithms mostly rely on add-on sensors, limiting their practicality. Instrumented treadmills offer a promising alternative by utilizing the Center of Pressure (CoP) signal for real-time gait event detection. However, current methods have limitations, particularly in detecting cross-step events during perturbed walking conditions. Methods: We present and validate a CoP-based algorithm to detect gait events and cross-steps in real-time, which combines thresholding and logic techniques. The algorithm was evaluated on CoP datasets from healthy participants (age range 21–61 years), stroke survivors (age range 20–67 years), and people with unilateral transtibial amputation (age range 28–63 years) that underwent perturbation-based balance assessments, encompassing different walking speeds. Detected gait events from a simulated real-time processing operation were compared to offline identified counterparts in order to present related temporal absolute mean errors (AME) and success rate. Results: The proposed algorithm demonstrated high accuracy in detecting gait events during native gait, as well as cross-step events during perturbed walking conditions. It successfully recognized the majority of cross-steps, with a detection success rate of 94%. However, some misclassifications or missed events occurred, mainly due to the complexity of cross-step events. AME for heel strikes (HS) during native gait and cross-step events averaged at 78 ms and 64 ms respectively, while toe off (TO) AME were 126 ms and 111 ms respectively. A statistically significant difference in the algorithm's success rate score in detecting gait events during cross-step intervals was observed across various walking speeds in a sample of 12 healthy participants, while there was no significant difference among groups. Conclusion: The proposed algorithm represents an advancement in gait event detection on instrumented treadmills. By leveraging the CoP signal, it successfully identifies gait events and cross-steps in the simulated real-time processing operation, providing valuable insights into human locomotion. The algorithm's ability to accommodate diverse CoP patterns enhance its applicability to a wide range of individuals and gait characteristics. The algorithm's performance was consistent across different populations, suggesting its potential for diverse clinical and research settings, particularly in the domains of gait analysis and rehabilitation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional motion analysis performed in the modern gait analysis laboratory provides a wealth of information about the kinematics and kinetics of human locomotion, but standard gait analysis is largely restricted to joint-level measures. Three-dimensional joint rotations, joint moments, and joint powers tell us a great deal about gait mechanics, but it is often of interest to know about the roles that muscles play. This narrative review surveys work that has been done, largely over the past four decades, to augment standard gait analysis with muscle-level assessments of function. Often, these assessments have incorporated additional technology such as ultrasound imaging, or complex modeling and simulation techniques. The review discusses measurements of muscle moment arm during walking along with assessment of muscle mechanical advantage, muscle–tendon lengths, and the use of induced acceleration analysis to determine muscle roles. In each section of the review, examples are provided of how the auxiliary analyses have been used to gain potentially useful information about normal and pathological human walking. While this work highlights the potential benefits of adding various measures to gait analysis, it is acknowledged that challenges to implementation remain, such as the need for specialized knowledge and the potential for bias introduced by model choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decline in neuromusculoskeletal capabilities of older adults can affect motor control, independence, and locomotion. Because the elderly population is increasing worldwide, assisting independent mobility and improving rehabilitation therapies has become a priority. The combination of rehabilitation robotic devices and virtual reality (VR) tools can be used in gait training to improve clinical outcomes, motivation, and treatment adherence. Nevertheless, VR tools may be associated with cybersickness and changes in gait kinematics. This paper analyzes the gait parameters of fourteen elderly participants across three experimental tasks: free walking (FW), smart walker-assisted gait (AW), and smart walker-assisted gait combined with VR assistance (VRAW). The kinematic parameters of both lower limbs were captured by a 3D wearable motion capture system. This research aims at assessing the kinematic adaptations when using a smart walker and how the integration between this robotic device and the VR tool can influence such adaptations. Additionally, cybersickness symptoms were investigated using a questionnaire for virtual rehabilitation systems after the VRAW task. The experimental data indicate significant differences between FW and both AW and VRAW. Specifically, there was an overall reduction in sagittal motion of 16%, 25%, and 38% in the hip, knee, and ankle, respectively, for both AW and VRAW compared to FW. However, no significant differences between the AW and VRAW kinematic parameters and no adverse symptoms related to VR were identified. These results indicate that VR technology can be used in walker-assisted gait rehabilitation without compromising kinematic performance and presenting potential benefits related to motivation and treatment adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of advanced control systems in prostheses necessitates the accurate identification of human locomotion activities, a task that can significantly benefit from EEG-based measurements combined with machine learning techniques. The main contribution of this study is the development of a novel framework for the recognition and classification of locomotion activities using electroencephalography (EEG) data by comparing the performance of different machine learning algorithms. Data of the lower limb movements during level ground walking as well as going up stairs, down stairs, up ramps, and down ramps were collected from 10 healthy volunteers. Time- and frequency-domain features were extracted by applying independent component analysis (ICA). Successively, they were used to train and test random forest and k-nearest neighbors (kNN) algorithms. For the classification, random forest revealed itself as the best-performing one, achieving an overall accuracy up to 92%. The findings of this study contribute to the field of assistive robotics by confirming that EEG-based measurements, when combined with appropriate machine learning models, can serve as robust inputs for prosthesis control systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results obtained from the design process of a hardware-software instrument for a system for monitoring the bioelectrical activity of the foot muscles of patients with locomotor dysfunction of the lower limbs are presented. This measuring system uses non-invasive biosignal acquisition methods employing myographic sensors. The information obtained allows the patient's condition to be assessed in order to set goals and select means for subsequent rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In laboratory settings, human locomotion encounters minimal opposition from air resistance. However, moving in nature often requires overcoming airflow. Here, the drag force exerted on the body by different headwind or tailwind speeds (between 0 and 15 m·s−1) was measured during walking at 1.5 m·s−1 and running at 4 m·s−1. To our knowledge, the biomechanical effect of drag in human locomotion has only been evaluated by simulations. Data were collected on eight male subjects using an instrumented treadmill placed in a wind tunnel. From the ground reaction forces, the drag and external work done to overcome wind resistance and to sustain the motion of the center of mass of the body were measured. Drag increased with wind speed: a 15 m·s−1 headwind exerted a drag of ∼60 N in walking and ∼50 N in running. The same tailwind exerted −55 N of drag in both gaits. At this wind speed, the work done to overcome the airflow represented ∼80% of the external work in walking and ∼50% in running. Furthermore, in the presence of fast wind speeds, subjects altered their drag area (CdA) by adapting their posture to limit the increase in air friction. Moving in the wind modified the ratio between positive and negative external work performed. The modifications observed when moving with a head- or tailwind have been compared with moving uphill or downhill. The present findings may have implications for optimizing aerodynamic performance in competitive running, whether in sprints or marathons. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: This is the first study to assess the biomechanical adaptations to a wide range of wind speeds inside a wind tunnel. Humans increase their mechanical work and alter their drag area (CdA) by adapting their posture when walking and running against increasing head and tailwinds. The observed drag force applied to the subject is different between walking and running at similar headwind speeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Generation and regulation (control) of linear and angular momentum is a challenge during turning while walking which may be exacerbated by age-related changes. In healthy older adults, little is known about how momentum is controlled during turns, especially within each phase of gait. Each phase of gait affords unique mechanical contexts to control momenta and regulate balance. In healthy young adults, we found that the transverse-plane linear and angular momenta generation strategies observed within specific phases of gait during straight-line gait were also used during turns. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether healthy older adults shared similar momentum control strategies specific to each gait phase during straight-line gait and turns. Methods: Nine healthy older adults completed straight-line gait and 90° leftward walking turns. We compared the change in transverse-plane whole-body linear and angular momentum across gait phases (left and right single and double support). We also compared the average leftward force and transverse-plane moment across gait phases. Results: We found that leftward linear momentum was generated most during right single support in straight-line gait and leftward turns. However, in contrast to straight-line gait, during leftward turns, average leftward force was applied across gait phases, with left single support generating significantly less leftward average force than other gait phases. Leftward angular momentum generation and average moment were greatest during left double support in both tasks. We observed some within-participant results that diverged from the group statistical findings, illustrating that although they are common, these momenta control strategies are not necessary. Conclusions: Older adults generated transverse-plane linear and angular momentum during consistent phases of gait during straight-line gait and 90° turns, potentially indicating a shared control strategy. Understanding momentum control within each phase of gait can help design more specific targets in gait and balance training interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the significance of motor competence (MC) for healthy development and as a cornerstone for lifelong physical activity (PA), it is crucial to understand the manifold factors that are associated with MC. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate correlates of children's MC and their fundamental movement skills (FMS) within their daily life from a comprehensive biopsychosocial-ecological perspective. Methods: This is a cross-sectional sub-study of the 'Physical Literacy for Communities (PL4C)' WAVES cohort study conducted in the West Vancouver School District, Canada. Motor competence was assessed using the PLAYfun tool including overall MC score and five FMS category scores, namely, running, locomotor skills, upper and lower body control and balance skills. By means of structural equation modeling (SEM), direct associationswith MC and with the specific FMS categories addressing physical activity behavior, self-perceived physical literacy, parenting, and school ground design were investigated. Results: A total of 355 children with a mean age of 7.5 years and 111.1 min of MVPA per day participated. The group comprised 51% boys and 47% girls from 14 elementary schools. Most children were at an emerging MC-level (71%), while those at a competent MC-level exhibited significantly more daily minutes of MVPA (123 versus 109, p = 0.001). Additionally, they played outdoors more frequently and engaged in more instructor-led PA. The results revealed that logistical support from parents had not only a direct positive association with overall MC, both for girls and boys, but also with most of the FMS categories. However, the correlates of MC varied between genders and showed different patterns across the five FMS categories. While time spent in sports or coach-/instructor-led physical activities had a significant SEM generated direct effect only for boys' MC and for locomotor, upper body object control and balance, the aesthetic design of the school grounds was only associated with girls' MC and those same three FMS categories. Multivariate SEM could explain 26% of variance for girls' MC and 30% for boys'. Conclusions: This exploratory baseline assessment revealed parental logistical support as an important correlate of MC, irrespective of gender. There were distinct gender patterns across biopsychosocial-ecological correlates influencing MC and FMS. Despite the heterogeneity of the results, our findings indicate a potential role of school ground design in supporting the development of children's MC, especially for girls. Key Points: • The influence of biopsychosocial-ecological correlates on motor competence (MC) varied based on gender and the specific fundamental movement skill (FMS) categories. • While parental logistical support demonstrated a positive direct association with both genders' MC and most of the FMS categories, coach-led physical activities appeared to enhance only boys'. • The positive direct association of outdoor play on boys' MC and of school ground aesthetics on girls' MC might suggest the role of the physical environment in MC development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurology and connective tissue are intimately interdependent systems and are critical in regulating many of the body’s systems. Unlocking their multifaceted relationship can transform clinical understanding of the mechanisms involved in multisystemic regulation and dysregulation. The fascial system is highly innervated and rich with blood vessels, lymphatics, and hormonal and neurotransmitter receptors. Given its ubiquity, fascia may serve as a “watchman,” receiving and processing information on whole body health. This paper reviews what constitutes fascia, why it is clinically important, and its contiguous and interdependent relationship with the nervous system. Unquestionably, fascial integrity is paramount to human locomotion, interaction with our environment, bodily sense, and general physical and emotional wellbeing, so an understanding of the fascial dysregulation that defines a range of pathological states, including hypermobility syndromes, autonomic dysregulation, mast cell activation, and acquired connective tissue disorders is critical in ensuring recognition, research, and appropriate management of these conditions, to the satisfaction of the patient as well as the treating practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real walking is considered as the best locomotion metaphor to explore virtual environments in terms of user experience. In addition to being intuitive for the user, walking captures the true feelings of motion since the visual and proprioceptive sensations are harmonized well. The major disadvantage of choosing walking over other locomotion metaphors involves the physical constraints of the available space, which is usually considerably smaller than the virtual environment. To address this issue, redirected walking (RDW) introduces slight mismatches between a user's visually perceived path and their actual walking pattern, compelling them to subconsciously compensate for the inconsistency by adjusting their walking trajectory. As a result, users are steered to a certain degree, and expansive virtual environments are effectively compressed into smaller physical spaces. Among others, particularly predictive RDW offers immense potential for growth since it unites various algorithmic systems, whereas many approaches from literature depend on drastic restrictions like single-user constraints or architectural limitations to ensure real-time performance. This work presents two novel predictive RDW systems that allow multiple physically colocated users to explore independent and unconstrained virtual environments. The systems rely on two new implementations of prediction systems based on clothoid trajectory generation combined with a cost-based planning concept built on nonharmonic artificial potential fields (APFs), which inherently allow non-convex and dynamic physical environments. Using the APFs, three additional RDW conditions popular in the literature are implemented for comparison purposes. The five RDW concepts are then validated in an extensive user study with 150 participants conducted in 75 pairs. The results indicate that the novel predictive RDW systems outperform the three systems from literature, except for particular sections of the virtual environment with specific architectural traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In humans and other adult mammals, axon regeneration is difficult in axotomized neurons. Therefore, spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event that can lead to permanent loss of locomotor and sensory functions. Moreover, the molecular mechanisms of axon regeneration in vertebrates are not very well understood, and currently, no effective treatment is available for SCI. In striking contrast to adult mammals, many nonmammalian vertebrates such as reptiles, amphibians, bony fishes and lampreys can spontaneously resume locomotion even after complete SCI. In recent years, rapid progress in the development of next‐generation sequencing technologies has offered valuable information on SCI. In this review, we aimed to provide a comparison of axon regeneration process across classical model organisms, focusing on crucial genes and signalling pathways that play significant roles in the regeneration of individually identifiable descending neurons after SCI. Considering the special evolutionary location and powerful regenerative ability of lamprey and zebrafish, they will be the key model organisms for ongoing studies on spinal cord regeneration. Detailed study of SCI in these model organisms will help in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of neuron regeneration across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falls in older adults significantly impact overall health and healthcare costs. Intrinsic capacity (IC) reflects functional reserve and is an indicator of healthy aging. Aims: To explore the association between IC and recent falls (≤ 90 days) in community-dwelling octogenarians from the Aging and Longevity in the Sirente geographic area (IlSIRENTE) study. Methods: The Minimum Data Set for Home Care (MDS−HC) and supplementary questionnaires and tests were used to assess the five IC domains: locomotion, cognition, vitality, psychology, and sensory. Scores in each domain were rescaled using the percent of maximum possible score method and averaged to obtain an overall IC score (range 0−100). Results: The study included 319 participants (mean age 85.5 ± 4.8 years, 67.1% women). Mean IC score was 80.5 ± 14.2. The optimal IC score cut-off for predicting the two-year risk of incident loss of at least one activity of daily living (ADL) was determined and validated in a subset of 240 individuals without ADL disability at baseline (mean age 84.7 ± 4.4 years, 67.1% women). Participants were then stratified into low (< 77.6) and high (≥ 77.6) IC categories. Those with high IC (63.9%) were younger, more often males, and had lower prevalence of recent falls, disability, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy. Logistic regression models including IC as a continuous variable revealed a significant association between higher IC and lower odds of falls. This association was significant in the unadjusted (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94–0.98, p < 0.001), age- and sex-adjusted (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94–0.98, p < 0.001), and fully adjusted models (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99, p = 0.003). When considering IC as a categorical variable, unadjusted logistic regression showed a strong association between high IC and lower odds of falls (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16–0.60, p < 0.001). This association remained significant in both the age- and sex-adjusted (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.15–0.59, p < 0.001) and fully adjusted models (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.16–0.82, p = 0.007). The locomotion domain was independently associated with falls in the unadjusted (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97–0.99, p < 0.001), age- and sex-adjusted (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96–0.99, p < 0.001), and fully adjusted model (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99, p < 0.001). Discussion: This is the first study using an MDS−HC-derived instrument to assess IC. Individuals with higher IC were less likely to report recent falls, with locomotion being an independently associated domain. Conclusions: Lower IC is linked to increased odds of falls. Interventions to maintain and improve IC, especially the locomotion domain, may reduce fall risk in community-dwelling octogenarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial segmental location of motoneurons in the human spinal cord is influenced by both evolutionary and functional principles tending to optimize motor control, reflex integration, and adaptation to the demands of movement. Bearing in mind the biomechanics of limb muscles, it is logical to examine how motoneuron activity clusters functionally during typical daily activities like walking. This article provides a summary of advancements in the study of spinal maps of motoneuron activation during human locomotion by reviewing data gathered over -20 years. The effects of child development, aging, and neurological disorders show the salient characteristics of spinal segmental activity during different human locomotor tasks and conditions. By exploiting the neuromechanics of the spinal motor circuits, that is, the link between motoneuron activity and gait mechanics, neuroprosthetics and other focused treatments may better help individuals with locomotor impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims were to determine the relationship(s) between match-play external load and post-match neuromuscular fatigue as latent constructs, the contribution of the specific measured variables to these latent constructs, and how these differ between forwards and backs in elite rugby union. Forty-one elite male rugby union players (22 forwards and 19 backs) from the same international rugby union team were tested, with data included from the 2020 and 2021 international seasons (11 matches; 146 player appearances). Player's match-play external loads were quantified using microtechnology (for locomotor activities) and video analysis (for collision actions). Neuromuscular fatigue was quantified using countermovement jump tests on force plates which were conducted ~ 24 to 48 hours pre- and post-match. Partial least squares correlation (PLSC) leave one variable out (LOVO) procedure established the relative variable contribution to both external load (X matrix) and neuromuscular fatigue (Y matrix) constructs. Linear mixed-effects models were then constructed to determine the variance explained by the latent scores applied to the variables representing these constructs. For external load, both locomotor and collision variables were identified for the forwards and the backs, although the identified variables differed between groups. For neuromuscular fatigue, jump height was identified as a high contributor for the forwards and the backs, with concentric impulse and reactive strength index high contributors only for the backs. The explained variance between the external load and neuromuscular fatigue latent constructs at the individual player level was 4.4% and 32.2% in the forwards and the backs models, respectively. This discrepancy may be explained by differences in match-play external loads and/or the specificity of the tests to measure indicators of fatigue. These may differ due to, for example, the activities undertaken in the different positional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elucidation of human locomotion strategies has potential applications in the prevention of sarcopenia and in the reduction of falls. Given the diverse biochemical, mechanical and functional age-related changes seen in the neuro-musculoskeletal system, the decline in motor function is difficult to study experimentally. In this study, we use transfer testing and coupled simulation strategies within a deep reinforcement learning environment to better understand the complex problem of motor control adaptation to age-related changes. Using transfer testing, a 3D musculoskeletal model is separately trained on parameters of the young adult model (Y) for either forward or backward falls after completing two steps forward, and tested using a 30% age-related reduction for all parameters (M_all). This strategy produces a backward fall for a forwardly trained simulation, showing potential sensitivity of these parameters to a given fall direction. Second, a coupled simulation solution is used to simulate recovery from falls by considering the center-of-mass position relative to the base of support. Results for the M_all trained model showed a longer simulation time and a greater vertical pelvis velocity with a maximal value of 4.26 m/s. In particular, the results of the coupled simulations clearly show that both the young and M_all condition models respond with a step back and stronger leg extensor activations to propel the model forward to recover from the simulated fall. We developed a novel coupling between transfer testing and coupled simulation strategies to improve upon muscle models for characterizing muscle function, and also to begin testing different hypotheses, such as the strategy and force required to avoid a fall at different limits. This opens new avenues for precision rehabilitation with patient-specific muscle-driven recovery exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To identify factors associated with locomotive syndrome (LS) using medical questionnaire data and machine learning. Methods: A total of 1575 participants underwent the LS risk tests from the third survey of the research on osteoarthritis/osteoporosis against disability study (ROAD) study. LS was defined as stage 1 or higher based on clinical decision limits of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association. A total of 1335 items of medical questionnaire data came from this study. The number of medical questionnaire items was reduced from 1335 to 331 in data cleaning. From the 331 items, identify factors associated with LS use by light gradient boosting machine‐based recursive feature elimination with cross‐validation. The performance of each set was evaluated using an average of seven performance metrics, including 95% confidence intervals, using a bootstrapping method. The smallest set of items is determined with the highest average of receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (ROC‐AUC) under 20 items as association factors of LS. Additionally, the performance of the selected items was compared with the LS risk tests and Loco‐check. Results: The nine items have the best average ROC‐AUC under 20 items. The nine items show an average ROC‐AUC of 0.858 (95% confidence interval 0.816–0.898). Age and back pain during walking were strongly associated with the prevalence of LS. The ROC‐AUC of nine items is higher than that of existing questionnaire‐based LS assessments, including the 25‐question Geriatric Locomotor Scale and Loco‐check. Conclusions: The identified nine items could aid early LS detection, enhancing understanding and prevention. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 806–813. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a hands-free control system for a human-guided smart stroller. The proposed method uses real-time peer-to-peer localization technology of the human and stroller to realize an intuitive hands-free control system based on the relative position between the human and the stroller. The control method is also based on functional and mechanical safety to ensure the safety of the stroller's occupant (child) and the pilot (parent) during locomotion. In this paper, first, we present a preliminary investigation of the humans' preference for the relative position in the context of hands-free guided strollers. Then, we present the control method and a prototype implemented with an electric wheelchair and UWB sensors for localization. We present an experimental evaluation of the proposed method with 14 persons walking with the developed prototype to investigate the usability and soundness of the proposed method compared to a remote joystick and manual operation. The evaluation experiments were conducted in an indoor environment and revealed that the proposed method matches the performance of joystick control but does not perform as well as manual operation. Notably, for female participants, the proposed method significantly surpasses joystick performance and achieves parity with manual operation, which shows its efficacy and potential for a smart stroller. Also, the results revealed that the proposed method significantly decreased the user's physical load compared to the manual operation. We present discussions on the controllability, usability, task load, and safety features of the proposed method, and conclude this work with a summary assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motor competence and executive functions co-develop throughout childhood and adolescence, and there is emerging evidence that improvements in motor competence may have cognitive benefits in these populations. There is a need to provide a quantitative synthesis of the cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that have examined the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged youth. Objectives: The primary aim of our systematic review was to synthesise evidence of the association between motor competence and executive functions in school-aged children and adolescents (5–18 years). Our secondary aim was to examine key moderators of this association. Methods: We searched the PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and EMBASE databases from inception up to 27 June 2023. We included cross-sectional, longitudinal and experimental studies that assessed the association between motor competence (e.g., general motor competence, locomotor skills, object control skills and stability skills) and executive functions (e.g., general executive functions, inhibition, working memory and cognitive flexibility) in children and adolescents aged 5–18 years. Results: In total, 12,117 records were screened for eligibility, and 44 studies were included. From the 44 included studies, we meta-analysed 37 studies with 251 effect sizes using a structural equation modelling approach in the statistical program R. We found a small positive association (r = 0.18, [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13–0.22]) between motor competence and executive functions. The positive associations were observed in cross-sectional (r = 0.17, [95% CI 0.13–0.22]), longitudinal (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.03–0.28]) and experimental studies (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.01–0.45]). We also found that general motor competence (r = 0.25, [95% CI 0.18–0.33]), locomotor (r = 0.15, [95% CI 0.09–0.21]), object control (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08–0.20]) and stability (r = 0.14, [95% CI 0.08–0.20]) skills were associated with executive functions. We did not find any moderating effects for participants' age on the associations between motor competence and executive functions. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a small-to-moderate positive association between motor competence and executive functions in children and adolescents. The small number of experimental studies included in this review support the assertion that interventions targeting children's motor competence may be a promising strategy to improve their executive functions; however, more research is needed to confirm these findings. Future studies should explore the underlying mechanisms linking motor competence and executive functions as their comprehension may be used to optimise future intervention design and delivery. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42021285134. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GPS speed thresholds in women's rugby union are usually based on data derived from the men's game. However, evidence suggests the maximum speeds achieved by female players are 2–8 km.h−1 slower and the volume of high‐intensity running (HIR) in women's rugby may be underestimated. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of adjusting absolute thresholds on the volume of high‐intensity locomotion. GPS units recorded movement data from 58 players across 18 English Premier15 s matches. Distance in HIR and sprint (Spr) zones were calculated using male‐derived criteria: AbsMale (HIR >18 km.h−1; Spr ≥21 km.h−1). Two alternative thresholds were compared: AbsFVmax (HIR >16 km.h−1; Spr ≥19 km.h−1); AbsFemale (HIR >14 km.h−1; Spr ≥17 km.h−1). Data were analysed using one‐way ANOVA and effect sizes to determine differences in distances between thresholds. AbsMale HIR and Spr distances were 63 ± 71 m and 30 ± 53 m. Significantly greater distances at higher‐intensity speeds were observed with female‐adjusted thresholds. AbsFVmax: HIR: 139 ± 116 m (p = 0.01, ES 0.80); Spr: 60 ± 90 m (p = 0.131, ES 0.41) and AbsFemale: HIR: 239 ± 157 m (p < 0.01, ES 1.45); Spr: 137 ± 152 m (p < 0.01, ES 0.94). 24 players (41%) achieved speeds greater than the 21 km·h−1 threshold with the male‐derived thresholds. At AbsFVmax threshold this increased to 44 (76%) and 100% at the AbsFemale threshold. Existing male‐derived thresholds appear to underestimate high‐intensity locomotion of female players. With adjusted thresholds, specifically the AbsFemale, the proportional volume of high‐intensity activity in the women's game (8.2% total distance) aligns more closely to that observed during men's match‐play. Highlights: Calculation of the total high‐intensity locomotion in women's rugby union (RU) using male‐derived thresholds (92.3 ± 123.8 m) equates to 2.1% of the total distance covered in games.Adjusting thresholds relative to the speed at the second ventilatory threshold and female maximum velocity increased the proportion of high‐intensity activity to 4.5% and 8.2% of total distance respectively.Reducing GPS high intensity speed thresholds to >14 km.h−1 for high‐intensity running (HIR) and ≥17 km.h−1 for sprinting produce high‐intensity speed distances that are proportionally similar to male rugby players and are more suitable when analysing match demands in women's RU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the modular hypothesis for the control of movement, muscles are recruited in synergies, which capture muscle coordination in space, time, or both. In the last two decades, muscle synergy analysis has become a well-established framework in the motor control field and for the characterization of motor impairments in neurological patients. Altered modular control during a locomotion task has been often proposed as a potential quantitative metric for characterizing pathological conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to analyze the recent literature that used a muscle synergy analysis of neurological patients' locomotion as an indicator of motor rehabilitation therapy effectiveness, encompassing the key methodological elements to date. Searches for the relevant literature were made in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Most of the 15 full-text articles which were retrieved and included in this review identified an effect of the rehabilitation intervention on muscle synergies. However, the used experimental and methodological approaches varied across studies. Despite the scarcity of studies that investigated the effect of rehabilitation on muscle synergies, this review supports the utility of muscle synergies as a marker of the effectiveness of rehabilitative therapy and highlights the challenges and open issues that future works need to address to introduce the muscle synergies in the clinical practice and decisional process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different approaches exist for characterizing athletes, e.g., physiological and locomotor profiling. The aims of this study were to generate and compare physiological and locomotor profiles of male and female runners and to evaluate relationships between the different approaches. Thirty-four highly trained adolescent and young adult female and male athletes (n = 11 sprinters; n = 11,400-m runners; n = 12 middle-distance runners) performed two 100-m sprints on a running track to determine maximal sprinting speed (MSS) and maximal lactate accumulation rate (ċLamax). A cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed on a treadmill to determine maximal aerobic speed (MAS) and maximal oxygen uptake (...o2max). Anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) was calculated as the difference between MSS and MAS. Group comparisons were conducted with a 2-way ANOVA (discipline x sex; p < 0.05) and Bonferroni post hoc tests and Cohen's d as effect size. Parameters were correlated by Pearson's correlation coefficients. Maximal aerobic speed and ...o2max were higher in 400-m and middle-distance runners compared with sprinters (p ≤ 0.02; -2.24 ≤ d ≤ -1.29). Maximal sprinting speed and ċLamax were higher in sprinters and 400-m runners compared with middle-distance runners (0.03 ≤ p ≤ 0.28; 0.73 ≤ d ≤ 1.23). Anaerobic speed reserve was highest in sprinters and lowest in middle-distance runners (p ≤ 0.03; 1.24 ≤ d ≤ 2.79). High correlations were found between ASR and MAS, MSS, and ċLamax (p < 0.01; -0.55 ≤ r ≤ 0.91) and between ċLamax and MSS (p < 0.01; r = 0.74). Our results indicate that athletes of different sprinting and running disciplines show differing physiological and locomotor profiles, and that the parameters of these approaches are related to each other. This can be of interest for assessing strengths and weaknesses (e.g., for talent identification) or training prescription in these disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The progression from crawling to walking in infancy is associated with changes in infant language development. One possible explanation for such change is the infant's language environment. Prior research indicates that caregivers use more action directives with walking infants compared to crawling infants, but the relations of such parental speech with infant vocabulary is unknown. Here, we present findings from day‐long home audio recordings (Study 1) and laboratory observations (Study 2) of same‐aged crawling and walking infants to explore how caregiver language, specifically action directives, were associated with parent reported infant vocabulary size. Findings in both studies indicated that caregiver action directives were associated with crawling, but not walking infants' receptive vocabulary sizes. Specifically, action directives about objects occurring when the infant and caregiver were not jointly engaged were associated with higher receptive vocabulary scores for crawling infants, but no such pattern was found for walking infants. The replication of results in distinct samples with different research methodologies strengthens the findings. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that caregiver social engagement specific to infant motoric development is related with infant language learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ankle joint is pivotal in prosthetic feet, especially in Energy-Storing-and-Releasing feet, favoured by individuals with moderate to high mobility (K3/K4) due to their energy efficiency and simple construction. ESR feet, mainly designed for sagittal-plane motion, often exhibit high stiffness in other planes, leading to difficulties in adapting to varied ground conditions, potentially causing discomfort or pain. This study aims to present a systematic methodology for modifying the ankle joint's stiffness properties across its three motion planes, tailored to individual user preferences, and to decouple the sagittal-plane behaviour from the frontal and transverse ones. To integrate the multi-axial ankle inside the MyFlex-η, the designing of experiments using finite element analysis was conducted to explore the impact of geometric parameters on the joint's properties with respect to design constraints and to reach the defined stiffness targets on the three ankle's motion planes. A prototype of the multi-axial ankle joint was then manufactured and tested under FEA-derived load conditions to validate the final configuration chosen. Composite elastic elements and complementary parts of the MyFlex-η, incorporating the multi-axial ankle joint, were developed, and the prosthesis was biomechanically tested according to lower limb prosthesis ISO standards and guidelines from literature and the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA). Experimental tests showed strong alignment with numerical predictions. Moreover, implementing the multi-axial ankle significantly increased frontal-plane compliance by 414% with respect to the same prosthesis with only one degree of freedom on the sagittal plane without affecting the main plane of locomotion performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground reaction force (GRF) data is often collected for the biomechanical analysis of running, due to the performance and injury risk insights that GRF analysis can provide. Traditional methods typically limit GRF collection to controlled lab environments, recent studies have looked to combine the ease of use of wearable sensors with the statistical power of machine learning to estimate continuous GRF data outside of these restrictions. Before such systems can be deployed with confidence outside of the lab they must be shown to be a valid and accurate tool for a wide range of users. The aim of this study was to evaluate how accurately a consumer-priced sensor system could estimate GRFs whilst a heterogeneous group of runners completed a treadmill protocol with three different personalised running speeds and three gradients. Fifty runners (25 female, 25 male) wearing pressure insoles made up of 16 resistive sensors and an inertial measurement unit ran at various speeds and gradients on an instrumented treadmill. A long short term memory (LSTM) neural network was trained to estimate both vertical $(GRF_v)$ (G R F v) and anteroposterior $(GRF_{ap})$ (G R F a p) force traces using leave one subject out validation. The average relative root mean squared error (rRMSE) was 3.2% and 3.1%, respectively. The mean $(GRF_v)$ (G R F v) rRMSE across the evaluated participants ranged from 0.8% to 8.8% and from 1.3% to 17.3% in the $(GRF_{ap})$ (G R F a p) estimation. The findings from this study suggest that current consumer-priced sensors could be used to accurately estimate two-dimensional GRFs for a wide range of runners at a variety of running intensities. The estimated kinetics could be used to provide runners with individualised feedback as well as form the basis of data collection for running injury risk factor studies on a much larger scale than is currently possible with lab based methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]