Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2006. / Principal faculty advisor: Stuart A. Binder-Macleod, Dept. of Physical Therapy. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2008. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NR51727

Theses (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Includes abstract. Document formatted into pages: contains vii, 96 p. Includes vitae. Bibliography: p. 87-92.

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The focus of the present study was on the investigation of the effects of an intervention strategy on an industrial task in situ and a simulation of the same task within a laboratory setting. The task of offloading crates from a truck at a local business was simulated in a laboratory setting for rigorous analysis. The effect of an ergonomically sound intervention on selected physical, physiological and perceptual variables was evaluated in a test - retest experimental set-up using 28 young, healthy male students. Each of the two experimental conditions lasted for 16 minutes. In the pre-intervention task subjects were required to transfer the crates from one point to another by sliding them along the floor. During the execution of the post-intervention task responses to reductions in the stacking height and modifications of the working method were evaluated. Results obtained for spinal kinematics during the simulated industrial task indicated a high biomechanical risk, due to large ranges of motion, high velocities and accelerations in the sagittal and transverse planes. The heavy workload of the task was also evident in elevated physiological responses (HR, RF, VT, VE, VO2, RQ, EE) and perceptual ratings (RPE, Body Discomfort). Assessment of the intervention strategy revealed that the ‘high risk’ industrial task was reduced to ‘moderate acceptable’, with measurements of spinal kinematics, physiological and perceptual variables being significantly reduced. An in situ re-assessment of the workers’ responses to the intervention also elicited reductions in heart rates and perceptual ratings compared to the original task.

Performance-related musculoskeletal disorders in musicians are common due to the biomechanics required in their craft. Unfortunately, injuries can cause many to abandon music, so determining the best approach to treatment and prevention is key. This case study’s importance is to evaluate the optimal approach to carpal tunnel syndrome in a drummer. The patient is a 55-year-old male full-time drummer with a history of diabetes mellitus and osteoarthritis, who presented to clinic with chronic bilateral hand numbness and tingling that had been present for years. The location of the symptoms were mainly in the palmar aspect of the 1st digit, 2nd digit, 3rd digit, and the radial side of the 4th digit. The symptoms had progressively been worsening, and his discomfort was initially rated at a 10/10 bilaterally. He had tried over-the-counter and prescription anti-inflammatory medications as well as braces without improvement. His physical exam was positive for Tinel’s sign. The diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome was eventually made. The patient was treated with bilateral ultrasound-guided carpal tunnel injections with lidocaine and methylprednisolone. The other component of treatment was relative rest, which allowed us to tailor treatment to his drumming. After treatment, his discomfort was rated at 0/10 bilaterally, and he was drumming without issue. It was found that relative rest and carpal tunnel injections are effective in treating carpal tunnel syndrome in drummers. His treatment was tailored to his specific instrument type, which was a key component to the success. Upon review, there is limited to no specific information on treating drummers as a specific group in the literature, but rather more information on treating musicians as a whole. Different instrumentalists have different postures and repetitive movements, so future studies would do well to examine the individual biomechanics of the different instrumentalists to better tailor treatment and prevention.

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No description available.

In this dissertation, the design and development of a hybrid robotic system that simulates dynamic biomechanical tasks of the lower extremity with emphasis on knee and hip joints are presented. The hybrid system utilizes a mechanical hip and a cadaveric knee/ankle component and can accelerate the whole complex towards the ground. This system is used to simulate complex athletic movements such as landing from a jump at various anatomical orientations of the lower extremity with muscle action. The dynamic response of the lower extremity is monitored and analyzed during impulsive contact between the ground and the cadaveric leg. The cadaveric knee is instrumented to measure strain of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during simulated high impact sports activities. The mechanical hip allows various kinematics of the hip including flexion as well as abduction. In addition to the flexion and abduction of the mechanical hip, the controlled flexion and extension of the cadaveric knee allows for simulation of complex tasks such as landing from a jump. A large number of tests were performed at various anatomical positions utilizing this device to simulate landing from a jump. ACL strain was measured during these tasks using a Differential Variance Resistance Transducer (DVRT). Ground Reaction Force and muscle forces were measured and monitored using AmCell load cells recorded using the LabView software. one-inch and 6-inch jump landing heights were used for all the simulations. The tests were performed at differing angles of hip flexion (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°) and at two different ankle positions. Plantar flexion and flat-footed landing conditions were simulated and compared in all degrees of hip flexion. These tests were repeated with and without hip abduction in order to study the effects of these landing positions on ACL strain. Hip flexion was found to effect ACL strain: as angle of hip flexion increases, ACL strain decreases. This occurred in both abducted and non-abducted hip positions. Ankle landing position had an effect only in small drop heights, while hip abduction had an effect in large drops. Future tests must be completed to further study these effects. These studies showed that the robotic system can simulate dynamic tasks, apply muscle forces, and move the cadaveric tissue in three dimensional biomechanical positions. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-74). Also available on the Internet.