Cheung Chi-Kin. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 53-60). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Cheung Chi-Kin. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.ix / Introduction --- p.1 / Statement of Problem --- p.3 / Research Questions --- p.4 / Significance of the Study --- p.4 / Theoretical contribution --- p.4 / Practical contribution --- p.5 / Review of Literature --- p.6 / Physiological Studies regarding Load Carriage --- p.6 / Energy expenditure --- p.7 / Heart rate --- p.7 / Comparison between physiological studies and biomechanical studies regarding load carrying --- p.8 / Motor Control during Load Carrying --- p.10 / Gait Pattern --- p.11 / Gait pattern under load carrying --- p.11 / Walking velocity --- p.13 / Treadmill vs. overground walking --- p.13 / Trunk Posture --- p.15 / Electromyographic Activity --- p.16 / EMG and muscle force --- p.17 / EMG and fatigue --- p.18 / EMG during load carrying --- p.19 / Load Carrying Studies in Children --- p.21 / Methodology --- p.24 / Design --- p.24 / Subject --- p.24 / Instrumentation --- p.25 / Motion analysis --- p.25 / Electromyography --- p.25 / Heart rate measurement --- p.26 / School bag --- p.26 / Experimental Set-up --- p.27 / Procedures --- p.27 / Data Reduction --- p.29 / Gait parameters --- p.29 / Trunk posture --- p.31 / Electromyographic analysis --- p.32 / Heart rate --- p.34 / Data Analysis --- p.34 / Results --- p.35 / Gait Pattern --- p.35 / Trunk Posture --- p.36 / Electromyographic Activity --- p.37 / Channel 1 --- p.37 / Channel 2 --- p.37 / Channel 3 --- p.38 / Heart Rate --- p.38 / Summary --- p.39 / Discussion --- p.40 / Gait Pattern during Load Carriage --- p.40 / Stride parameters --- p.40 / Temporal parameters --- p.42 / Trunk Posture --- p.43 / Electromyographic Activity --- p.44 / Erector spinea --- p.45 / Upper trapezius --- p.45 / Risk factor from EMG measurement --- p.47 / Heart Rate --- p.47 / Maximum Permissible Backpack Weight for Children --- p.48 / Limitations of the Study --- p.49 / Further Direction --- p.50 / Conclusion --- p.52 / References --- p.53 / Appendix / Appendix A - Subject Information & Consent form --- p.61 / Appendix B - Experiment Set-up --- p.66 / Appendix C - Measurement of Skinfold --- p.67 / Appendix D - Standardized Isometric Maximum Voluntary Contraction --- p.68 / Appendix D - Figures and Tables --- p.69

PURPOSE: A recent study suggested that updated spectacles could increase fall rate in frail older people. The authors hypothesized that the increased risk may be due to changes in spectacle magnification. The present study was conducted to assess the effects of spectacle magnification on step negotiation. METHODS: Adaptive gait and visual function were measured in 10 older adults (mean age, 77.1 +/- 4.3 years) with the participants' optimal refractive correction and when blurred with +1.00, +2.00, -1.00, and -2.00 DS lenses. Adaptive gait measurements for the leading and trailing foot included foot position before the step, toe clearance of the step edge, and foot position on the step. Vision measurements included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereoacuity. RESULTS: The blur lenses led to equal decrements in visual acuity and stereoacuity for the +1.00 and -1.00 DS and the +2.00 and -2.00 DS lenses. However, they had very different effects on step negotiation compared with the optimal correction. Positive-blur lenses led to an increased distance of the feet from the step, increased vertical toe clearance and reduced distance of the leading heel position on the step. Negative lenses led to the opposite of these changes. CONCLUSIONS: The step negotiation changes did not mirror the effects of blur on vision, but were driven by the magnification changes of the lenses. Steps appear closer and larger with positive lenses and farther away and smaller with negative ones. Magnification is a likely explanation of the mobility problems some older adults have with updated spectacles and after cataract surgery.

Lau Tsz Chung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-66). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Lau Tsz Chung. / Acknowledgement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of contents --- p.v / List of Figures --- p.viii / List of Tables --- p.x / Introduction --- p.1 / Background --- p.1 / Statement of Problem --- p.3 / Research Question --- p.4 / Significance of the Study --- p.4 / Theoretical Contribution --- p.4 / Practical Contribution --- p.5 / Review of Literature --- p.7 / Load carrying on Level Ground --- p.7 / Research Method Involved --- p.8 / Modified Gait Pattern During Load Carriage --- p.9 / Trunk Posture --- p.10 / Low Back Pain --- p.11 / Posture and Back Pain --- p.12 / Load Carrying Studies in Children --- p.14 / Stair Walking --- p.15 / Compared with Level Walking --- p.15 / Temporal Characteristics --- p.17 / Kinematics Measurement --- p.18 / Stair Dimensions --- p.19 / Stair Walking with Load Carriage --- p.21 / Physiological Studies --- p.21 / Biomechanical Studies --- p.21 / Methodology --- p.24 / Design --- p.24 / Subject --- p.24 / Instrumentation --- p.25 / Motion Analysis System --- p.25 / School Bag --- p.25 / Experimental Set-up --- p.25 / Procedure --- p.26 / Term Definition --- p.27 / Data Analysis --- p.27 / Results --- p.29 / Ascending Stair --- p.29 / Posture --- p.29 / Effect on Load Weight --- p.29 / Effect on Load Carrying Method --- p.30 / Velocity --- p.30 / Parameters of Lower Extremities --- p.30 / Descending Stair --- p.31 / Posture --- p.31 / Effect on Load Weight --- p.31 / Effect on Load Carrying Method --- p.31 / Velocity --- p.32 / Parameters of Lower Extremities --- p.32 / Trend --- p.32 / Summary --- p.33 / Discussion --- p.35 / Ascending Stair --- p.35 / Posture --- p.35 / Different Load Weights --- p.35 / Different Carrying Methods --- p.39 / Velocity --- p.40 / Descending Stair --- p.42 / Posture --- p.42 / Velocity --- p.46 / Parameters of Lower Extremities --- p.47 / Trend --- p.48 / Back Pain --- p.49 / Recommended Carrying Load Method and Weight for Children --- p.50 / Limitations of the Study --- p.52 / Further Study --- p.53 / Conclusion --- p.56 / References --- p.57 / Appendix --- p.67 / Appendix A - The experimental Set-up --- p.67 / Appendix B - Subject Consent Form --- p.68 / Appendix C - Figures and Tables --- p.71