Abstract Archive

The current study describes the results of anterior-posterior (A-P) impacts conducted on the restrained mandibles of 25 male cadaveric specimens. Specimens were impacted using a gravity-driven drop tower with a cylindrical impactor. Results were used to generate an injury criterion based on impact f...

The kinematic characteristics and the passive mechanical properties of the ankle joint are determined primarily by the morphology of the articulating surfaces. Designing artificial surfaces for Total Ankle Replacement (TAR) that can effectively replace natural surfaces damaged by arthritis requires ...

This study investigated the relationship between joint angle variability and mean joint stiffness in two stroke patients who suffered different degree of impairment to lower extremity motor function.

The present study analyses how climate change aspects affect morphological and biomechanical features of bivalve shells, specifically the Chilean oyster Argopecten purpuratus. Specimens were raised in a controlled environment and exposed to different pH and temperature conditions. Morphological and ...

Slot scanning X-ray systems such as DXA and EOS provide low-dose high-contrast images of internal anatomy. The advantages of these devices are offset by an inherent susceptibility to motion artefact, as images are collected line-by-line. We present a novel method to measure patient motion and correc...

This study assessed the learning strategies adopted by a group of runners who underwent a running retraining program aiming to reduce peak tibial shock. Respondents exhibited combined gait modifications, including a reduction of the stride length and landing with a less dorsiflexed ankle after train...

We investigated changes in quadriceps motor unit firing behaviour during 2-leg vs. 1-leg squat exercises. In both tasks, motor unit firing rates of the Vastus Lateralis (VL) muscle were significantly lower during eccentric vs. concentric phases of the squat. However, as the subjects moved from 2-leg...

Loading of the musculoskeletal system has been key in the foot strike pattern debate. This multi-center study evaluated whether multi-directional peak tibial acceleration (PTA) behave similarly between foot strike patterns. 3D tibial accelerations were separately collected and processed in-lab and i...

This paper deals with the design of a wearable multi-sensor system (INDIP) that exploits a synergistic integration of different sensor types to provide a “best available” solution for digital gait assessment in real world scenarios. The system includes in its full bilateral configuration 2 Magne...

Multifractal Correlation Analysis (MFC) was used to study coordination between walkers and noisy metronomes. Results revealed stronger patterns of coordination between walkers and a fractal metronome in comparison to a white noise or periodic one, indicating improved walking adaptability.

In human gait, the ankle is commonly modelled as a linear rotational spring that stores and returns energy throughout stance. However, this model ignores the higher-order damping effects of the physiological ankle joint. More accurate characterizations of these nonlinear phenomena may help optimize ...

Incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) often impairs walking ability, which increase fall risk and limit community ambulation. To develop effective interventions for improving such ability, behaviors that contribute to walking stability and how those behaviors can be modified must be identified. This ...

Reduced standing stability typically decreases soleus Hoffmann (H-) reflex amplitude, purportedly to prevent the Ia signal from excessively activating spinal motor neurons. H-reflex measures exclude the variably sensitive spindle. Tendon tap (T-) reflex measures, including the spindle, could provide...

The flatfoot and cavus foot can affect the physical performance of athletes and increase the appearance of musculoskeletal disorders. The arch of the foot behaves as an elastic structure connecting the forefoot and hindfoot. The purpose of this work was to analyze the morphology of the soles of the ...

We developed and tested a radiology-driven framework to simulate hip kinematic motion and articular interference in young and active adults with diagnosed cases of two common hip pathologies. We “place” the hips of thirty-five individuals (15 control; 10 femoroacetabular impingement, FAI; and 10...

We measured the recruitment threshold and discharge rate of m. flexor hallucis brevis (FHB) motor units during a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) using indwelling fine-wire electrodes. We observed motor unit recruitment across a wide range of isometric forces as well as across a wide range of fir...

Dr. Ahmed studies the costs and rewards underlying the control of movement using a neuroeconomic approach. She will discuss her foundational work investigating the role of energetic cost in shaping non-locomotor tasks, including arm reaching and eye movements.

We engineered transgenic Drosophila lines mimicking the effects of sarcopenia on myosin, which were recently elucidated by proteomic studies using elderly human skeletal muscle biopsies. We performed skinned fiber mechanics on flight muscles from young flies expressing myosin genetically modified to...

There is a gap between the understanding of the mechanisms of sporting injury and the ability to monitor these risk parameters during a game. A single-sensor wearable solution which could be used in lieu of captive laboratory biomechanical instrumentation would be a breakthrough for accurate and val...

Diabetic foot is a severe complication and represents the most common cause of non-traumatic amputation. The goal of this study was to simulate diabetic foot behaviour and soft tissues internal stresses by taking into account muscle activation, muscle forces, altered foot kinematics and loads. Gait ...

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether parameters which describe the rate of collagen fibre damage accumulation in a collagen distribution model are dependent on the strain-rate. Fifty rat tail tendons were subjected to one of five different strain rates until failure. Using a co...

Locomotion on land and in water requires the coordination of a great number of muscle activations and joint movements. Constant feedback about the position of own body parts in relation to the surrounding environment and the body itself (proprioception) is required to maintain stability and avoid fa...

This study compared the micro-architecture and apparent modulus (Eapp) of humeral head trabecular bone in non-pathologic cadaveric specimens and osteoarthritic (OA) bone extracted from patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Differences were observed in both morphological parameters a...

We analyzed the motion characteristics of a hemiplegic patient reaching on a desk by comparing them with a healthy subject using three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis and electromyogram (EMG). In the hemiplegic subject, joint movement range, motion speed, and motion trajectory were remarkably infer...

154 people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) were randomized to 6 weeks of motor skill training (MST) or strength and flexibility (SF) exercise. At baseline, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up participants completed the modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ), the Numeric Pain Rating Sca...

Using a novel decomposition system capable of tracking the firing behaviour of motor units during dynamic tasks, we investigated for the first time the control of motor units during fatiguing dynamic flexion/extension contractions of the quadriceps muscle. We observed increasing motor unit firing ra...

Mechanical loading plays an important role in maintaining normal cartilage health. On the other hand, abnormal mechanical loading potentially results in cartilage degeneration. However, there is limited data quantifying the in vivo cartilage mechanical strain response during activities of daily livi...

Surgical resection of pelvic sarcomas requires the determination of one or more cutting planes by the surgeon. The biomechanical consequences of choosing the location and angle of the cutting plane are not well known and may require attention to patient-specific conditions. This study investigated t...

The pattern of variability found in stride-to-stride fluctuations has been identified as fractal. Being fractal means that, in a healthy system, these physiological processes have time intervals between events that are neither equal nor independent. The statistical proprieties of these fluctuations ...

Multitasking represents a common activity in sports, but it is unknown whether domain-specific cognitive ability can predict the effect of these scenarios on knee mechanics. The relationships between baseline cognitive ability and knee mechanics were characterized during a drop-jump landing task und...