scholarly journals ROLE OF HAMSTRING MUSCLES IN KNEE JOINT STABILITY PROVIDING AND INJURY PREVENTION

Author(s):  
Inese Pontaga

The aim of our investigation was to determine the ratio of maximal torque values and the torques in the certain positions of range of movements (ROM) between hamstring (H) and quadriceps femoris (Q) muscles at medium and high velocity of movement in concentric (CC) and eccentric (ECC) action of hamstring muscles. The knee muscles of 15 amateur female short and middle distance runners were tested by the dynamometer system in the isokinetic movements with the angular velocity of 90º/s and 240º/s in CC and at the velocity of 90º/s in ECC H/ CC Q muscles contractions. The torque values produced by the muscles are detected at the different angular positions of the ROM with the step of 10º. The ratios of H/ Q muscles torques are calculated. The H/Q muscles maximal torques ratio is 0.51 ± 0.13 at the velocity of 90º/s in CC and 0.60 ± 0.09 in ECC H/ CC Q muscles contractions, and 0.59 ± 0.09 CC at the velocity of 240º/s. The H/Q maximal torques ratio and this ratio in the knee extreme extension and flexion at the ECC contraction of H is higher due to greater torques produced by the H in comparison with Q muscle. The H must be stronger to decelerate the thigh and lower leg extension in the late swing phase of running and to extend the hip in early stance phase to provide powerful sprint running and prevent the knee and H injury. The H/Q muscles torques ratio in extended knee positions are similar in medium (90º/s) and fast (240º/s) velocity of motions because CC action of H muscles cannot prevent extreme knee extension.

1998 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Per Aagaard ◽  
Erik B. Simonsen ◽  
S. Peter Magnusson ◽  
Benny Larsson ◽  
Poul Dyhre-Poulsen

Conventionally, the hamstring:quadriceps strength ratio is calculated by dividing the maximal knee flexor (hamstring) moment by the maximal knee extensor (quadriceps) moment measured at identical angular velocity and contraction mode. The agonist-antagonist strength relationship for knee extension and flexion may, however, be better described by the more functional ratios of eccentric hamstring to concentric quadriceps moments (extension), and concentric hamstring to eccentric quadriceps moments (flexion). We compared functional and conventional isokinetic hamstring: quadriceps strength ratios and examined their relation to knee joint angle and joint angular velocity. Peak and angle-specific (50°, 40°, and 30° of knee flexion) moments were determined during maximal concentric and eccentric muscle contractions (10° to 90° of motion; 30 and 240 deg/sec). Across movement speeds and contraction modes the functional ratios for different moments varied between 0.3 and 1.0 (peak and 50°), 0.4 and 1.1 (40°), and 0.4 and 1.4 (30°). In contrast, conventional hamstring:quadriceps ratios were 0.5 to 0.6 based on peak and 50° moments, 0.6 to 0.7 based on 40° moment, and 0.6 to 0.8 based on 30° moment. The functional hamstring:quadriceps ratio for fast knee extension yielded a 1:1 relationship, which increased with extended knee joint position, indicating a significant capacity of the hamstring muscles to provide dynamic knee joint stability in these conditions. The evaluation of knee joint function by use of isokinetic dynamometry should comprise data on functional and conventional hamstring:quadriceps ratios as well as data on absolute muscle strength.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Elliott ◽  
Andrew Marecki ◽  
Hugh Herr

Because the leg is known to exhibit springlike behavior during the stance phase of running, several exoskeletons have attempted to place external springs in parallel with some or all of the leg during stance, but these designs have failed to permit natural kinematics during swing. To this end, a parallel-elastic exoskeleton is presented that introduces a clutch to disengage the parallel leg-spring and thereby not constrain swing-phase movements of the biological leg. A custom interference clutch with integrated planetary gear transmission, made necessary by the requirement for high holding torque but low mass, is presented and shown to withstand up to 190 N·m at 1.8 deg resolution with a mass of only 710 g. A suitable control strategy for locking the clutch at peak knee extension is also presented, where only an onboard rate gyroscope and exoskeletal joint encoder are employed as sensory inputs. Exoskeletal electromechanics, sensing, and control are shown to achieve design critieria necessary to emulate biological knee stiffness behaviors in running.


1990 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Thorland ◽  
Glen O. Johnson ◽  
Craig J. Cisar ◽  
Terry J. Housh ◽  
Gerald D. Tharp

This study assessed strength and muscular power of elite young male runners in order to determine the relationship of these characteristics to age and specialization in either sprint or middle distance events. Forty-eight national junior-level sprint and middle distance runners were evaluated for isokinetic peak torque for leg extension as well as muscular power and fatiguability. Peak torque values were greater for the older runners and for the sprinters when measured at higher velocities. However, when adjusted for body weight, the peak torque values of the sprinters became significantly greater at all testing velocities. Muscular power values were also greater for the older runners, but event-related differences only appeared for peak power and mean power measures (being greater in the sprinters).


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 121-128
Author(s):  
Sigal Ben-Zaken ◽  
Yoav Meckel ◽  
Dan Nemet ◽  
Alon Eliakim

The ACSL A/G polymorphism is associated with endurance trainability. Previous studies have demonstrated that homozygotes of the minor AA allele had a reduced maximal oxygen consumption response to training compared to the common GG allele homozygotes, and that the ACSL A/G single nucleotide polymorphism explained 6.1% of the variance in the VO2max response to endurance training. The contribution of ACSL single nucleotide polymorphism to endurance trainability was shown in nonathletes, however, its potential role in professional athletes is not clear. Moreover, the genetic basis to anaerobic trainability is even less studied. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of ACSL single nucleotide polymorphism among professional Israeli long distance runners (n=59), middle distance runners (n=31), sprinters and jumpers (n=48) and non-athletic controls (n=60). The main finding of the present study was that the ACSL1 AA genotype, previously shown to be associated with reduced endurance trainability, was not higher among sprinters and jumpers (15%) compared to middle- (16%) and long-distance runners (15%). This suggests that in contrast to previous studies indicating that the ACSL1 single nucleotide polymorphism may influence endurance trainability among non-athletic individuals, the role of this polymorphism among professional athletes is still not clear.


1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Fry ◽  
Dawn R. Powell ◽  
William J. Kraemer

Although it is generally accepted that human performance must be assessed in a manner specific to the training, previous studies have violated this principle. In order to determine the validity of evaluating short-term resistance training programs with isometric and isokinetic measures, 23 recreationally active males participated in an 8-week training program. Subjects were randomly divided into barbell squat, hip sled, leg extension, and control groups. Pre- and posttesting of quadriceps strength was performed with a Cybex isokinetic dynamometer. Six angle-specific torques (N.m) were determined at 0 rad-s-1 and 1.05 rad-s-1. Ten RM training loads increased significantly for all groups that trained. Isometric torque values differed significantly from isokinetic torque values at 30, 60, 75, and 90° of leg flexion for all groups. No significant torque increases from pre- to posttest were observed for any group at any limb angle for either isometric or isokinetic testing, or for isokinetic peak torque. This indicates that strength increases during short-term dynamic external resistance exercise are not adequately assessed with either isometric or isokinetic evaluations.


2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 388-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Verrelst ◽  
Dirk De Clercq ◽  
Jos Vanrenterghem ◽  
Tine Willems ◽  
Tanneke Palmans ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (11) ◽  
pp. 3050-3061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan K. Patrick ◽  
J. Adam Noah ◽  
Jaynie F. Yang

Human infants can crawl using several very different styles; this diversity appears at first glance to contradict our previous findings from hands-and-knees crawling, which suggested that there were strict limitations on coordination, imposed either mechanically or by the developing nervous system. To determine whether coordination was similarly restricted across crawling styles, we studied free crawling overground in 22 infants who used a number of different locomotor strategies. Despite the wide variety in the use of individual limbs and even the number of limbs used, the duration of the stance phase increased with duration of cycle, whereas the duration of the swing phase remained more constant. Additionally, all infants showed organized, rhythmic interlimb coordination. Alternating patterns (e.g., trotlike) predominated (86% of infants). Alternatively, yet much less frequently, all limbs used could work in synchrony (14% of infants). Pacelike patterns were never observed, even in infants that crawled with the belly remaining in contact with the ground so that stability was not a factor. To explore the robustness of the interlimb coordination, a perturbation that prolonged swing of the leg was imposed on 14 additional infants crawling on hands and knees overground or on the treadmill. The perturbation led to a resetting of the crawling pattern, but never to a change in the coordination of the limbs. The findings concur with those regarding other infant animals, together suggesting that the nervous system itself limits the coordination patterns available at a young age.


1995 ◽  
Vol 198 (7) ◽  
pp. 1589-1601 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Kuenzi ◽  
M Burrows

The hair plate proprioceptors at the thoraco-coxal joint of insect limbs provide information about the movements of the most basal joint of the legs. The ventral coxal hair plate of a middle leg consists of group of 10-15 long hairs (70 microns) and 20-30 short hairs (30 microns). The long hairs are deflected by the trochantin as the leg is swung forward during the swing phase of walking, and their sensory neurones respond phasically during an imposed deflection and tonically if the deflection is maintained. Selective stimulation of the long hairs elicits a resistance reflex that rotates the coxa posteriorly and is similar to that occurring at the transition from the swing to the stance phase of walking. The motor neurones innervating the posterior rotator and adductor coxae muscles are excited, and those to the antagonistic anterior rotator muscle are inhibited. By contrast, selective stimulation of the short hairs leads only to a weak inhibition of the anterior rotator. The excitatory effects of the long hairs are mediated, in part, by direct connections between their sensory neurones and particular motor neurones. A spike in a sensory neurone elicits a short-latency depolarising postsynaptic potential (PSP) in posterior rotator and adductor motor neurones whose amplitude is enhanced by hyperpolarising current injected into the motor neurone. When the calcium in the saline is replaced with magnesium, the amplitude of the PSP is reduced gradually, and not abruptly as would be expected if an interneurone were interposed in the pathway. Several sensory neurones from long hairs converge to excite an individual motor neurone, evoking spikes in some motor neurones. The projections of the sensory neurones overlap with some of the branches of the motor neurones in the lateral association centre of the neuropile. It is suggested that these pathways would limit the extent of the swing phase of walking and contribute to the switch to the stance phase in a negative feedback loop that relieves the excitation of the hairs by rotating the coxa backwards.


Author(s):  
Timothy Sullivan ◽  
Justin Seipel

The Spring Loaded Inverted Pendulum (SLIP) model was developed to describe center of mass movement patterns observed in animals, using only a springy leg and a point mass. However, SLIP is energy conserving and does not accurately represent any biological or robotic system. Still, this model is often used as a foundation for the investigation of improved legged locomotion models. One such model called Torque Damped SLIP (TD-SLIP) utilizes two additional parameters, a time dependent torque and dampening to drastically increase the stability. Forced Damped SLIP (FD-SLIP), a predecessor of TD-SLIP, has shown that this model can be further simplified by using a constant torque, instead of a time varying torque, while still maintaining stability. Using FD-SLIP as a base, this paper explores a leg placement strategy using a simple PI controller. The controller takes advantage of the fact that the energy state of FD-SLIP is symmetric entering and leaving the stance phase during steady state conditions. During the flight phase, the touch down leg angle is adjusted so that the energy dissipation due to dampening, during the stance phase, compensates for any imbalance of energy. This controller approximately doubles the region of stability when subjected to velocity perturbations at touchdown, enables the model to operate at considerably lower torque values, and drastically reduces the time required to recover from a perturbation, while using less energy. Finally, the leg placement strategy used effectively imitates the natural human response to velocity perturbations while running.


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Duysens ◽  
F. Clarac ◽  
H. Cruse

How is load sensed by receptors, and how is this sensory information used to guide locomotion? Many insights in this domain have evolved from comparative studies since it has been realized that basic principles concerning load sensing and regulation can be found in a wide variety of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate. Feedback about load is not only derived from specific load receptors but also from other types of receptors that previously were thought to have other functions. In the central nervous system of many species, a convergence is found between specific and nonspecific load receptors. Furthermore, feedback from load receptors onto central circuits involved in the generation of rhythmic locomotor output is commonly found. During the stance phase, afferent activity from various load detectors can activate the extensor part in such circuits, thereby providing reinforcing force feedback. At the same time, the flexion is suppressed. The functional role of this arrangement is that activity in antigravity muscles is promoted while the onset of the next flexion is delayed as long as the limb is loaded. This type of reinforcing force feedback is present during gait but absent in the immoble resting animal.


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