Infants explore environments through repetitive movements which are constrained or facilitated by the environmental context. The current studies analyzed how typically developing infants bounced in four environments that differed by system natural frequency. Four pre-walking infants (age 9.7 months ±1.8) were placed in four spring conditions with natural spring frequencies of 0.9, 1.15, 1.27 and 1.56 Hz. All infants bounced above the natural spring frequency in all conditions suggesting that they do not solely behave like a mass-spring system. Two patterns of bouncing adaptations were identified. Three infants regulated bounce frequency, while one infant regulated the percentage of time on the ground. When infants matched their bounce frequency to the natural frequency, trunk vertical displacement and joint ranges of motion decreased across conditions and demonstrated a shift from non-spring like to circular spring-like phase planes. Moderate to high correlations were found for inter- and intra-limb coordination. Conversely, when an infant regulated time on the ground, trunk vertical displacement and joint ranges of motion remained the same across conditions and inter- and intra-limb correlations were low to moderate. Phase planes remained circular spring-like for this infant. Asymmetrical loading patterns and decreasing vertical ground reaction forces were found in all infants suggesting that a timing component is always regulated. The difference in bouncing pattern may be indicative of different bouncing skill level.

Limited research exists on the comparison of pulsed shortwave diathermy (PSWD) and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). In addition, minimal research exists on the AcuForce® 7.0 and none of it examines the effects of the AcuForce® 7.0 on range of motion (ROM). This study focused on the comparison of PSWD and IASTM on hamstring flexibility and perceived patient comfort. Twenty male students, faculty, and staff (age 24.5 ± 5.7 years) participated. Active knee extension ROM with the hip flexed at 90º was measured before and after the intervention. Perceived patient comfort was measured after the intervention. The results showed significant increases in ROM in all subjects (p = 0.013). However, there were no significant differences between groups (p = 0.079). Also, there were no significant differences in perceived patient comfort. The results of this study support hamstring flexibility can be increased with the use of either PSWD or the AcuForce® 7.0.

Bakgrund: Fotleden används dagligen och en nedsatt fotledsrörlighet kan orsaka många problem för personer i vardagen. Knäböj är en rörelse som används både i vardagen samt i träningssammanhang och kräver en god dorsalflexion i fotleden. Det är därför värdefullt att som fysioterapeut veta vilken metod som ökar dorsalflexion inför ett rehabiliteringsprogram där knäböj ingår. Syfte: Sammanställa litteraturen gällande akuta effekter av dynamisk och statisk stretching samt posterior talocrural glide på dorsalflexion i talocruralleden hos friska individer, definierat som personer utan fysiologisk sjukdom eller trauma med eventuell påverkan på fotleden. Studien syftar även till att värdera graden av evidens för behandlingarna. Metod: Litteratursökning utfördes i databasen PubMed. Slutligen inkluderades åtta studier med sammanlagt 141 deltagare. Samtliga studier kvalitetsgranskades enligt PEDro scale, därefter användes SBU:s GRADE för evidensbedömning. Resultat: Statistisk signifikant ökning på dorsalflexion för samtliga metoder med liknande utslag på rörlighet, med liten fördel för statisk stretch. Kvalitetsgranskning enligt PEDro scale visar på att fem studier anses vara av måttlig till hög kvalitet och tre anses vara av låg kvalitet. Otillräckligt vetenskapligt underlag för posterior talocrural glide, statisk och dynamisk stretch på dorsalflexion. Konklusion: Statisk stretch, dynamisk stretch och posterior talocrural glide ökar dorsalflexionen efter minst två minuters behandling. Evidensen talar för att samtliga metoder ger liknande utfall på dorsalflexionen med en liten fördel för statisk stretch, men fler studier behövs för att bekräfta resultatet. / Background: Demands are put on the ankle daily. Limited ankle range of motion can present problems during daily activities. The squat is a movement performed both in everyday life as well as in the context of training and requires ample dorsiflexion of the ankle. Therefore, it is of value to physiotherapists to know which method should be used to increase dorsiflexion in a rehabilitation protocol where the squat is included. Objective: To provide an overview of the acute effects of static and dynamic stretching as well as posterior talocrural glide in healthy individuals without physiological diseases or trauma relating to the ankle. The study will also assess the level of evidence surrounding each of these methods. Method: The database PubMed was used to search for the included studies. A total of eight studies was included in this review, with a total of 141 participants. Study quality was judged using PEDro scale, after which SBU’s GRADE was used to determine the level of evidence for each method. Result: A statistically significant increases present for each of the methods, with similar outcomes on the dorsiflexion. Assessing the quality of the included studies with PEDro scale resulted in five studies of moderate to high quality and three of low quality. Evidence supporting posterior talocrural glide, static and dynamic stretching is deemed insufficient according to SBU’s GRADE. Conclusion: Dorsiflexion is increased after two minutes of static and dynamic stretching as well as posterior talocrural glide. The evidence suggests that similar increases are present with each method, with static stretch showing a slightly higher result. However further research is required to confirm the result.

Title: Effect of Kinesio Taping on the functional condition of the musculoskeletal system The concept of the problem: The kinesiotaping method is currently very popular therapeutic method in sport as well as in physiotherapy. Although this method was primarily developed as therapeutic method, there is only a few studies, in which the kinesiotaping method is used on healthy individuals. Objective: The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the immediate effect of applied kinesio tape on changes in the range of motion of the thoracic spine in the sagittal plane on healthy individuals. Methods: The theoretical part deals with summary of the taping method as well as with anatomical and kinesiological aspects of flexion and extension of the thoracic spine. The practical part as an experiment (single blinded controlled trial) is dedicated to the application of kinesio and placebo tape, the way that both tapes were applied was specifically designed for the purpose of this thesis and for specifically selected individuals. For gathering the data and for the evaluation the changes in the range of motion, the index of thoracic spine mobility was used. Results: For experimental group - kinesio tape there were no statistically significant increase in the range of motion. Vice versa, according to the obtained...

Title: Muscle tightness and range of motion analysis of selected upper body segments an its connection to selected parametres of experienced junior golf players swing. Objectives: The aim of this work is to assess muscle tightness, range of motion and golf swing kinematics of experienced junior golf players and to evaluate possible connections between muscle tightness, range of movement and golf swing kinematics Methods: Golf swing kinematics was observed by kinematic analyzer CODA Motion System. Selected parametres of golf swing were: shoulder rotation; pelvis rotation; X - factor; angle between shoulders and left arm. Parametres were measured in key moments of a goflf swing: end of backswing; impakt. Muscle tightness was measured by clinical test of muscle tightness according to Janda for selected muscles: m. triceps surae; m. iliopsoas; m. rectus femoris; m. tensor fascies latae; knee flexors; hip adductors; m. piriformis; m. quadratus lumborum; paravertebral muscles; m. pectoralis major; m. trapezius - upper part; m. levator scapulae and m. sternocleidomastoideus. Clinical test of range of motion according to Janda and standart two - arm goniometer was used for range of motion evaluation of selected body segments: hip joint - internal and external rotatio, flexion, extension; shoulder joint -...

Bakgrund: Subacromiell smärta är vanligt hos idrottare med repetitivt arbete ovan axelhöjd, vilket kan orsakas av obalans i muskulatur, förändrad position eller inskränkt rörlighet av scapula. Nedsatt funktion av scapula och dess stabilitet kan leda till minskad axelledsrörlighet och försvagad muskultur i området. Träning är förstahandsalternativet för minskad smärta, förbättrad funktion och ökad rörlighet vid subacromiell smärta. Behandling med scapulafokuserad träning har i dagsläget otillräcklig evidens. Mer studier behövs för att avgöra vilken nedsättning av scapula som den typ av träning påverkar och hur olika scapula fokuserade interventioner påverkar subacromiell smärta. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka effekten av kombinationsövningen ”shoulder dislocations” vad gäller scapulakontroll, aktiv utåtrotation i axelled och smärta hos crossfitutövare med subacromiell smärta. Metod: Single-subject metod med AB design användes till studien. Tre baslinjemätningar och fyra mätningar under interventionsfasen gjordes, där scapulakontrollen och aktiv utåtrotation i axeln mättes samt smärtskattning utfördes. Deltagarna var sin egen kontroll. Populationen var personer som tränade crossfit vid minst tre tillfällen per vecka med subacromiell smärta. Under interventionen utför deltagarna ”shoulder dislocation” tre gånger per vecka med doseringen tio repetitioner i tre set. Resultatet presenterades i grafer och analyserades visuellt. Resultat: Fyra deltagare inkluderades i studien varav en med bilaterala besvär. Samtliga deltagare förbättrade scapulakontrollen, fyra av fem deltagare förbättrade den aktiva utåtrotationen i axelled. Tre av fem deltagare upplevde minskad smärta under träning och vid mättillfället. Slutsats: ”Shoulder dislocation” tycks förbättra scapulakontrollen, aktiv utåtrotation i axelleden hos crossfitutövare med subacromiell smärta och tendens till minskad smärta. / Background: Subacromial pain is common among overhead athletes, which can lead to muscular imbalance, changed position or decreased mobility of scapula. Reduced function and stability of scapula could lead to decreased shoulder mobility and weakened musculature in the area. Exercise is first hand choice to reduce pain, improve function and increase range of motion at subacromial pain. Treatment with scapular focused exercise is today limited. More studies are needed to determine what kind of reduction of scapula this exercise influences and how different scapular focused interventions affect subacromial pain. Aim: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of the combination exercise ”shoulder dislocations” in terms of scapula control, active external rotation in the glenohumeral joint and pain in crossfit athletes with subacromial pain. Method: Single-subject method with AB design was used in the study. Three baseline measurements and four measurements during the intervention phase was collected, where control of scapula, active external rotation and pain was measured. Participants were their own control. The population was individuals who trained crossfit at least three times a week and had subacromial pain. During the intervention the participants performed ”shoulder dislocations”. Performing three sets of ten repetitions three times a week. The results were presented in graphs and visually analyzed. Results: Four participants were included in the study whereof one had bilateral disorders. All participants increased control of scapula, four out of five increased active external rotation of the glenohumeral joint. Three out of five participants experienced pain reduction during exercise and at the time of measurement. Conclusion: ”Shoulder dislocations” seems to improve control of scapula and active external range of motion of the glenohumeral joint in crossfit athletes with subacromial pain.

The title of the master thesis: Clinical evaluation of ROM of shoulder joint in cadet and junior category players of so-called overhead sports Abstract in English language: The goal of this thesis is to elucidate whether the "overhead" athletes like handballers and volleyballers suffer from extension changes and local hypermobility in their shoulder joints. These changes are going to be described by trigonometric measurements and hypermobility tests by Sachse. It is going to be determined which "overhead" athletes are affected the most. Their sex is going to be taken into consideration. The theoretical part of the thesis describes selected "overhead" sports and their strain on a human body from a kinesiologic point of view. Especially the impact of offensive blows in volleyball and throws in handball on shoulder joints are going to be examined. The thesis is going to examine a shoulder girdle from an anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, and physiology point of view. A chapter focused on hypermobility and it is classification is included too. 95 people without a prior injury of a shoulder joint in the age from 16 to 19 years old including 73 "overhead" athletes were tested. There were 30 men, 40 women, 34 handballers, and 39 volleyballers. In the control group, there were 22 people, of which 11 men and 11...

Diploma thesis title: Influence of tissue flossing therapy on the range of motion and fascial chains in the lower limbs. Objectives: The main objective is to present theoretical facts about tissue flossing therapy, to document the effect of this method on the active range of motion in the lower limbs and to investigate whether this increase in movement can be achieved by influencing fascial chains in distant parts of the musculoskeletal system. Methods: The research was completed by 30 recreational or high-level athletes aged 19 to 26 years. Initial testing and subsequent treatment of the ankle joint and surrounding fascial structures were done using the tissue flossing technique. The initial tests consisted of a weight- bearing lunge test to test the dorsal flexion of the ankle joint and a Thomayer test to test the range of motion within the fascial superficial back line. Treatment of both ankle joints and surrounding fascial structures on both lower limbs was followed by final testing. The resulting data were processed using mathematical software R. A paired t-test, a two-sample t-test for independent selections assuming different variables and a test of the agreement of the fraction with a known constant were used to calculate the p-values. Statistical significance was determined at the critical...

Although the automation level is high within the automotive industry, there is still a high number of manual labour tasks such as in assembly areas. Taking ergonomics programs into account is essential to improve the workstation designs and conditions, which should result in increases in worker output and reductions of discomfort. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders continue to be one of the main problems in the industry today. Exoskeletons are a new technology becoming increasingly important due to its potential reducing loads, they suppose a possible promising solution to advantage in manufacturing environments. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare how the use of three different models of exoskeletons affects the range of motion of workers at overhead assembly operations. EksoVest from EksoBionics, Paexo from Ottobock and MATE from Comau have been the passive upper body exoskeletons involved in the present project. To develop the comparison analysis an experiment was designed in which seventeen subjects participated including factory operators and students. The experiment consists of performing three different tasks (drilling operation and stretching) four times, one with each of the exoskeleton models and another without them. Observations, interviews and video and motion capture (Xsens equipment) recordings have been the elements involved in collecting the data. The results have shown that all the subjects agree that exoskeletons help in this specific overhead task, on the contrary, for tasks requiring a larger range of motion the performance decreases. Paexo was the preferred model followed by EksoVest and MATE respectively. However, none of the models got a complete positive valuation. In addition, statistical analysis of the motion capture recorded data have described a trend of keeping the arms raised when using the exoskeletons during the tasks than performing it without them. Positive and negative aspect, activation zone and uses of each of the exoskeleton models are also discussed. To conclude, the results of this thesis highlight the need for design improvements in order to allow a full range of movement to workers and increase user performance in a broader number of applications or tasks as well as to assure a more suitable implementation.

Background: Baseball players exhibit a more posteriorly oriented humeral head or humeral retrotorsion (HRT) in the dominant arm, likely representing an adaptive response to the stress of throwing. This adaptation is thought to occur while skeletally immature, however there is limited research detailing how throwing while young influences the development HRT. In addition, it is currently unclear how this changing osseous orientation influences shoulder motion within young athletes. Purpose: To determine the influence of throwing and age on the development of asymmetry in HRT and shoulder range of motion (ROM); and analyze the relationship between HRT and ROM. Study Design: Cross-sectional age matched study Methods: Healthy athletes (8-14 years-old) were categorized into two groups based upon sports participation; throwing group (n=85) and non-throwing group (n=68). Bilateral measurements of HRT, shoulder external (ER), internal rotation (IR) and total range of motion (TROM) at 90° were performed using diagnostic ultrasound and digital inclinometer. A two-way analysis of variance was performed with throwing status (yes/no) and age group (youth (8-10.5), junior (10.51-12) and senior (12.01-13.99)) as primary factors. Dependent variables were asymmetry (dominant-non-dominant) in HRT,ER, IR and TROM. The relationship between ROM and HRT was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Throwing athletes demonstrated a larger degree of HRT on the dominant side, resulting in greater asymmetry (8.7° versus 4.6°). Throwing athletes demonstrated a gain of ER (5.2°), a loss of IR (6.0°) and no change in TROM when compared to the non-dominant shoulder. Pairwise comparisons identified altered HRT and shoulder ROM in all age groups of throwers. A significant but weak relationship between HRT and shoulder ROM existed. Conclusion: Throwing causes adaptive changes in HRT and shoulder ROM in youth baseball players at a very young age. Other factors in addition to HRT influence shoulder motion within this population. Clinical Relevance: In baseball players, an altered arc of motion can be expected at a young age. This adaptation is in part due to changes in osseous structures, however a larger component of change is likely due to other factors.