Running Biomechanics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disoder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hunter J. Bennett ◽  
Justin Haegele
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Running Biomechanics ◽  
Adolescents With Asd

Abstract Research examining gait biomechanics of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has grown significantly in recent years and has demonstrated that persons with ASD walk at slower self-selected speeds and with shorter strides, wider step widths, and reduced lower extremity range of motion and moments compared to neurotypical controls. In contrast to walking, running has yet to be examined in persons with ASD. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity running biomechanics in adolescents (13-18-year-olds) with ASD and matched (age, sex, and body mass index) neurotypical controls. Three-dimensional kinematics and ground reaction forces (GRF) were recorded while participants ran at two matched speeds: self-selected speed of adolescents with ASD and at 3.0m/s. Sagittal and frontal plane lower extremity biomechanics and vertical GRFs were compared using two-way ANOVAs via statistical parametric mapping. Adolescents with ASD ran with reduced stride length at self-selected speed and reduced vertical displacement, loading-propulsion GRFs, propulsion plantarflexion moments, loading-propulsion hip abduction moments, and loading knee abduction moments at both speeds. Running at 3.0m/s increased sagittal plane hip and knee moments surrounding initial contact and frontal plane knee angles during mid stance and propulsion compared to self-selected speeds. Reduced contributions from primarily the ankle plantarflexion but also knee abduction and hip abduction moments likely reduced the vertical GRF and displacement. As differences favored reduced loading, youth with ASD can safely be encouraged to engage in running as a physical activity.

scholarly journals Effect of Q-factor manipulation via pedal spacers on lower limb frontal plane kinematics during cycling

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Andrew N Fife ◽  
Harsh Harish Buddhadev ◽  
David N Suprak ◽  
Sarah B Paxson ◽  
Jun G San Juan
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Q Factor ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Fitting Procedures ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Position Data ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Lateral Knee Pain

Anecdotal evidence suggests that frontal plane kinematics of the lower extremity are an important aspect of bicycle fit, however, frontal plane adjustments are often overlooked during common fitting procedures. The purpose of this study was to manipulate Q-factor width via pedal spacers to determine their influence on frontal plane kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle during cycling. Twenty-four young healthy recreational cyclists (12 female) completed five minutes of pedaling at their preferred cadence and power output under three stance widths conditions: no spacer, 20 mm spacer, and 30 mm spacer. For each participant, the pedaling cadence and power output were kept identical for all experimental conditions. Lower extremity marker position data were captured at 250 Hz for the last two minutes of each condition. Sixty consecutive crank cycles were analyzed to identify maximum and minimum hip, knee, and ankle angles in the frontal plane. With an increase in Q-factor, hip and knee maximum abduction angles increased and maximum adduction angles decreased. With increase in Q-factor from no spacer to 20 mm spacer condition, hip abduction increased by 0.8o (∆10%; p<0.001) whereas hip abduction decreased by 0.9o (∆23%; p<0.001) and similarly, knee abduction increased by 1.2o (∆60%; p=0.002) whereas knee abduction decreased by 1.1o (∆18%; p=0.003). And with increase in Q-factor from no spacer to 30 mm spacer condition, hip abduction increased by 1.4o (∆18%; p<0.001) and hip adduction decreased by 1.6o (∆40%; p<0.001) and similarly, knee abduction increased by 1.8o (∆86%; p<0.001) and knee adduction decreased by 2.1o (∆35%; p<0.001). Maximum and minimum ankle angles were not affected by the stance width conditions (p>0.05). Pedal spacers are an effective way of manipulating Q-factor and frontal plane kinematics of the hip and knee and could help cyclists experiencing medial or lateral knee pain.

Statistical Parametric Mapping as a Measure of Differences Between Limbs: Applications to Clinical Populations

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 377-387
Author(s):  
Cherice N. Hughes-Oliver ◽  
Kathryn A. Harrison ◽  
D.S. Blaise Williams ◽  
Robin M. Queen
Keyword(s):  
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Ligament Reconstruction ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Parametric Mapping ◽  
Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

In healthy individuals, symmetrical lower-extremity movement is often assumed and calculated using discrete points during various tasks. However, measuring overall movement patterns using methods such as statistical parametric mapping (SPM) may allow for better interpretation of human movement. This study demonstrated the ability of SPM to assess interlimb differences in lower-extremity movement during 2 example tasks: running and landing. Three-dimensional motion analysis was used to determine sagittal and frontal plane lower-extremity joint angles in (1) young and older individuals during running and (2) patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and uninjured control athletes during landing. Interlimb differences within each group were compared using SPM and paired t tests on peak discrete angles. No differences between limbs were found between young and older runners using SPM. Peak ankle eversion and plantar flexion angles differed between limbs in young and older runners. Sagittal plane hip angle varied between limbs in uninjured control athletes. Frontal plane ankle angle and sagittal plane knee and hip angles differed between limbs in patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using SPM and discrete analysis. These data suggest that SPM can be useful to determine clinically meaningful interlimb differences during running and landing in multiple populations.

scholarly journals Hip-Abductor Fatigue and Single-Leg Landing Mechanics in Women Athletes

2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary F. Patrek ◽  
Thomas W. Kernozek ◽  
John D. Willson ◽  
Glenn A. Wright ◽  
Scott T. Doberstein
Keyword(s):  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Gluteus Medius ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Fatigue Protocol ◽  
Landing Mechanics ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Hip Abductor ◽  
Anterior Cruciate

Abstract Context: Reduced hip-abductor strength and muscle activation may be associated with altered lower extremity mechanics, which are thought to increase the risk for anterior cruciate ligament injury. However, experimental evidence supporting this relationship is limited. Objective: To examine the changes in single-leg landing mechanics and gluteus medius recruitment that occur after a hip-abductor fatigue protocol. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty physically active women (age  =  21.0 ± 1.3 years). Intervention(s): Participants were tested before (prefatigue) and after (postfatigue) a hip-abductor fatigue protocol consisting of repetitive side-lying hip abduction. Main Outcome Measure(s): Outcome measures included sagittal-plane and frontal-plane hip and knee kinematics at initial contact and at 60 milliseconds after initial contact during 5 single-leg landings from a height of 40 cm. Peak hip and knee sagittal-plane and frontal-plane joint moments during this time interval were also analyzed. Measures of gluteus medius activation, including latency, peak amplitude, and integrated signal, were recorded. Results: A small (&lt;1°) increase in hip-abduction angle at initial contact and a small (&lt;1°) decrease in knee-abduction (valgus) angle at 60 milliseconds after contact were observed in the postfatigue landing condition. No other kinematic changes were noted for the knee or hip at initial contact or at 60 milliseconds after initial contact. Peak external knee-adduction moment decreased 27% and peak hip adduction moment decreased 24% during the postfatigue landing condition. Gluteus medius activation was delayed after the protocol, but no difference in peak or integrated signal was seen during the landing trials. Conclusions: Changes observed during single-leg landings after hip-abductor fatigue were not generally considered unfavorable to the integrity of the anterior cruciate ligament. Further work may be justified to study the role of hip-abductor activation in protecting the knee during landing.

scholarly journals Relationship Between 2-Dimensional Frontal Plane Measures and the Knee Abduction Angle During the Drop Vertical Jump

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brad W. Willis ◽  
Katie Hocker ◽  
Swithin Razu ◽  
Aaron D. Gray ◽  
Marjorie Skubic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motion Capture ◽  
Vertical Jump ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Ligament Injury ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Abduction Angle ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Drop Vertical Jump

Context: Knee abduction angle (KAA), as measured by 3-dimensional marker-based motion capture systems during jump-landing tasks, has been correlated with an elevated risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury in females. Due to the high cost and inefficiency of KAA measurement with marker-based motion capture, surrogate 2-dimensional frontal plane measures have gained attention for injury risk screening. The knee-to-ankle separation ratio (KASR) and medial knee position (MKP) have been suggested as potential frontal plane surrogate measures to the KAA, but investigations into their relationship to the KAA during a bilateral drop vertical jump task are limited. Objective: To investigate the relationship between KASR and MKP to the KAA during initial contact of the bilateral drop vertical jump. Design: Descriptive. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Participants: A total of 18 healthy female participants (mean age: 24.1 [3.88] y, mass: 65.18 [10.34] kg, and height: 1.63 [0.06] m). Intervention: Participants completed 5 successful drop vertical jump trials measured by a Vicon marker-based motion capture system and 2 AMTI force plates. Main Outcome Measure: For each jump, KAA of the tibia relative to the femur was measured at initial contact along with the KASR and MKP calculated from planar joint center data. The coefficient of determination (r2) was used to examine the relationship between the KASR and MKP to KAA. Results: A strong linear relationship was observed between MKP and KAA (r2 = .71), as well as between KASR and KAA (r2 = .72). Conclusions: Two-dimensional frontal plane measures show strong relationships to the KAA during the bilateral drop vertical jump.

Implications of Increased Lower Extremity Movement Variability on Fall Susceptibility at Increased Stride Lengths During Locomotion

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Nordin ◽  
Joshua P. Bailey ◽  
Janet S. Dufek
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stride Length ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Knee Joints ◽  
Lower Extremity Injury ◽  
Movement Variability ◽  
Heel Contact

The purpose of this examination was to explore the effects of stride length (SL) perturbations on walking gait, relative to preferred walking (PW) and running (PR), via lower extremity range of motion (ROM) variability. ROM variability at the hip, knee, and ankle joints, in the sagittal and frontal planes were used in evaluating motor control of gait, where increased gait variability has been previously implicated in fall susceptibly. Nine participants (5 male, 4 female; mean age 23.11±3.55 years, height 1.72±0.18m, mass 72.66±14.37kg) free from previous lower extremity injury were examined. Kinematic data were acquired using a 12-camera system (Vicon MX T40-S; 200Hz). Data filtering and interpolation included a low pass, 4th order, Butterworth filter (15Hz cutoff) and cubic spline. Five gait trials were completed for PW and PR, with subsequent SL manipulations computed as a percentage of leg length (LL). SL perturbations included 60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of LL. Kinematic analysis involved one stride (two steps) during each gait trial, assessing ROM at the hip, knee, and ankle from heel contact to toe-off for each limb, in the sagittal and frontal planes. Variability was expressed using coefficient of variation (%). Comparisons were made using 3×7 (joint × stride condition) mixed model ANOVAs, with repeated measures on stride condition (α = 0.05), using SPSS 20.0. Differences in lower extremity ROM variability were detected among stride conditions in the frontal and sagittal planes (F[3.185,76.451] = 3.004, p = .033; F[4.595,110.279] = 2.834, p = .022, respectively). Greater ROM variability was observed at, and in excess of SLs of 100%LL relative to PW in the frontal plane (PW: 9.2±4.2%; 100%LL: 11.8±3.6%, p = .014; 120%LL: 13.5±5.8%, p = .046; 140%LL: 13.8±6.5%, p = .016), and between SLs of 80%LL and 120%LL in the sagittal plane (4.9±3.0%; 7.8±4.7%, p = .046, respectively). From this, PW appeared to occur within SLs of 60%LL to 80%LL, while SLs exceeding 100%LL resulted in increased lower extremity ROM variability. This may have consequences for fall susceptibility at increased stride lengths during walking. PR did not reveal significant variability differences (p>.05) compared to walking conditions in either the sagittal or frontal plane (7.5±5.0%; 12.8±7.7%, respectively), suggesting that running represents a separate, but stable gait pattern. In the sagittal plane, ROM variability was significantly lower at the hip (3.9±1.5%), relative to the ankle (8.4±1.6%, p<.001) and knee joints (7.4±2.6%, p = .001), suggesting that gait control may be more active at the ankle and knee joints. Future investigations should examine kinetic changes in gait when altering stride length.

scholarly journals Anticipatory Effects on Lower Extremity Neuromechanics During a Cutting Task

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 905-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn M. Meinerz ◽  
Philip Malloy ◽  
Christopher F. Geiser ◽  
Kristof Kipp
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Ligament Injury ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Internal Joint ◽  
External Rotator

Context  Continued research into the mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury helps to improve clinical interventions and injury-prevention strategies. A better understanding of the effects of anticipation on landing neuromechanics may benefit training interventions. Objective  To determine the effects of anticipation on lower extremity neuromechanics during a single-legged land-and-cut task. Design  Controlled laboratory study. Setting  University biomechanics laboratory. Participants  Eighteen female National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I collegiate soccer players (age = 19.7 ± 0.8 years, height = 167.3 ± 6.0 cm, mass = 66.1 ± 2.1 kg). Intervention(s)  Participants performed a single-legged land-and-cut task under anticipated and unanticipated conditions. Main Outcome Measure(s)  Three-dimensional initial contact angles, peak joint angles, and peak internal joint moments and peak vertical ground reaction forces and sagittal-plane energy absorption of the 3 lower extremity joints; muscle activation of selected hip- and knee-joint muscles. Results  Unanticipated cuts resulted in less knee flexion at initial contact and greater ankle toe-in displacement. Unanticipated cuts were also characterized by greater internal hip-abductor and external-rotator moments and smaller internal knee-extensor and external-rotator moments. Muscle-activation profiles during unanticipated cuts were associated with greater activation of the gluteus maximus during the precontact and landing phases. Conclusions  Performing a cutting task under unanticipated conditions changed lower extremity neuromechanics compared with anticipated conditions. Most of the observed changes in lower extremity neuromechanics indicated the adoption of a hip-focused strategy during the unanticipated condition.

scholarly journals On the importance of the hip abductors during a clinical one legged balance test: A theoretical study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242454
Author(s):  
Payam Mirshams Shahshahani ◽  
James A. Ashton-Miller
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Muscle Strength ◽  
State Space ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Clinical Test ◽  
Plane State ◽  
Hip Abduction ◽  
Abduction Strength

Background The ability to balance on one foot for a certain time is a widely used clinical test to assess the effects of age and diseases like peripheral neuropathy on balance. While state-space methods have been used to explore the mechanical demands and achievable accelerations for balancing on two feet in the sagittal plane, less is known about the requirements for sustaining one legged balance (OLB) in the frontal plane. Research question While most studies have focused on ankle function in OLB, can age and/or disease-related decreases in maximum hip abduction strength also affect OLB ability? Methods A two-link frontal plane state space model was used to define and explore the ‘feasible balance region’ which helps reveal the requirements for maintaining and restoring OLB, given the adverse effects of age and peripheral neuropathy on maximum hip and ankle strengths. Results Maintaining quasistatic OLB required 50%-106% of the maximum hip abduction strength in young and older adults, and older patients with peripheral neuropathy. Effectiveness of a ‘hip strategy’ in recovering OLB was heavily dependent on the maximum hip abduction strength, and for healthy older women was as important as ankle strength. Natural reductions of strength due to healthy aging did not show a meaningful reduction in meeting the strength requirement of clinical OLB. However deficits in hip strength typical of patients with peripheral neuropathy did adversely affect both quasistatic OLB and recoverable OLB states. Significance The importance of hip muscle strength has been underappreciated in the clinical OLB test. This is partly because the passive tissues of the hip joint can mask moderate deficits in hip abduction strength until it is needed for recovering OLB. Adding a follow up OLB test with a slightly raised pelvis would be a simple way to check for adequate hip abductor muscle strength.

scholarly journals BIOMECHANICAL SYMMETRY DURING DROP JUMP AND SINGLE-LEG HOP LANDING IN UNINJURED ADOLESCENT ATHLETES

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2325967119S0002
Author(s):  
Nicole Mueske ◽  
Mia J. Katzel ◽  
Kyle P. Chadwick ◽  
Curtis VandenBerg ◽  
J. Lee Pace ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Return To Sport ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Drop Jump ◽  
Adolescent Athletes ◽  
Peak Knee ◽  
Dominant Side

BACKGROUND Symmetry of strength, thigh girth and hop distance is often used as a benchmark in return to sport testing. Using symmetry as a gold standard has been translated into biomechanical testing; however, kinematic and kinetic symmetry during dynamic tasks in adolescents without lower extremity injury is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to assess symmetry in uninjured adolescent athletes during double and single-leg landing tasks. METHODS 36 uninjured athletes (ages 7-15 years, mean 12.4, SD 2.4; 47% female) completed vertical drop jump (DJ) and single-leg hop (SLH) for distance tasks; lower extremity kinematics and kinetics were collected through 3-D motion analysis using a 6 degree-of-freedom model; 2-3 trials per participant per side were analyzed. Differences between dominant and non-dominant limbs from initial contact to peak knee flexion were examined using statistical parametric mapping (SPM), a methodology for performing statistics on time series data. The SPM method allows differences between dominant and non-dominant limbs to be evaluated for statistical significance at all time points throughout the landing movement. RESULTS During both DJ (Figure 1) and SLH (Figure 2), the dominant limb tended to be more internally rotated at the hip throughout landing, but the asymmetry was significant only for short periods early in landing during the DJ (p<0.05) and at mid-landing in the SLH (p=0.01). Additionally, the dominant hip tended to have less abducted positioning throughout both tasks, but differed significantly only shortly after initial contact in the SLH landing (p=0.04). The dominant limb ankle was less inverted (p<0.001) with a lower external inversion moment (p<0.001) during early to mid-landing in the DJ, and less everted (p=0.04) with higher external inversion moment (p=0.05) early in SLH landing. The only asymmetry observed in either task in the sagittal plane was slightly higher external ankle flexion moments (p=0.05) just after initial contact in the DJ. No asymmetries were detected in peak vertical ground reaction force or knee kinematics/kinetics for either task. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE Uninjured adolescent athletes exhibited only slight asymmetries during double and single-leg landing, primarily at the hip and ankle in the frontal and transverse planes. The hip may perform larger adjustments to accommodate center of mass location, while the ankle fine-tunes the landing as the closest segment to the ground. This study supports that normal biomechanics are symmetric during double and single-leg landing. Biomechanical symmetry is therefore a reasonable target in return to sport assessment. While only small regions of statistically significant asymmetry were identified, it is possible that greater asymmetries are present within individuals. In the grouped analysis, asymmetry towards the dominant side for one individual could offset asymmetry towards the non-dominant side of another individual. In future analysis, we will examine the magnitude and significance of within-subject asymmetry.

Effects of External Load on Sagittal and Frontal Plane Lower Extremity Biomechanics During Back Squats

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva M. U. Maddox ◽  
Hunter J. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Transition Period ◽  
Statistical Parametric Mapping ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Vertical Acceleration ◽  
Hip Strength ◽  
Protocol Testing ◽  
Testing Protocol ◽  
Early Peak ◽  
Lower Extremity Biomechanics

Abstract Previous literature suggests the sticking region, the transition period between an early peak concentric velocity to a local minimum, in barbell movements may be the reason for failing repeated submaximal and maximal squats. This study determined the effects of load on lower extremity biomechanics during back squats. Twenty participants performed the NSCA's one-repetition maximum (1RM) testing protocol, testing to supramaximum loads (failure). After completing the protocol and a 10-minute rest, 80% 1RM squats were performed. Statistical parametric mapping was used to determine vertical velocity, acceleration, ankle, knee, and hip sagittal and frontal plane biomechanics differences between 1RM, submaximum, and supramaximum squats (105% 1RM). Vertical acceleration was a better discriminative measure than velocity, exibiting differences across all conditions. Supramaximum squats emphasized knee moments, whereas 1RM emphasized hip moments during acceleration. Submaximum squats had reduced hip and knee moments compared to supramaximum squats, but similar knee moments to 1RM squats. Across all conditions, knee loads mirrored accelerations and a prominent knee (acceleration) to hip (sticking) transition existed. These results indicate that 1) submaximum squats performed at increased velocities can provide similar moments at the ankle and knee, but not hip, as maximal loads and 2) significant emphasis on hip strength is necessary for heavy back squats.

Hip Abductor Weakness and Lower Extremity Kinematics during Running

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Becky L. Heinert ◽  
Thomas W. Kernozek ◽  
John F. Greany ◽  
Dennis C. Fater
Keyword(s):  
Lower Extremity ◽  
Study Design ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Stance Phase ◽  
Frontal Plane ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Type Design ◽  
Hip Abductor ◽  
Knee Abduction ◽  
Prospective Study Design

Objective:To determine if females with hip abductor weakness are more likely to demonstrate greater knee abduction during the stance phase of running than a strong hip abductor group.Study Design:Observational prospective study design.Setting:University biomechanics laboratory.Participants:15 females with weak hip abductors and 15 females with strong hip abductors.Main Outcome Measures:Group differences in lower extremity kinematics were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA with one between factor of group and one within factor of position with a significance value of P < .05.Results:The subjects with weak hip abductors demonstrated greater knee abduction during the stance phase of treadmill running than the strong group (P < .05). No other significant differences were found in the sagittal or frontal plane measurements of the hip, knee, or pelvis.Conclusions:Hip abductor weakness may influence knee abduction during the stance phase of running.

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