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Locomotion persists despite changes in external and internal circumstances. Motor responses to gait impairment exhibit commonalities across various taxa and types of injury, yet we lack a systematic understanding of compensation strategies. The objective of this dissertation is to uncover principles governing implicit goals within the control of locomotion. I propose that coordination of injured locomotion will demonstrate that these goals follow a hierarchical organization of the neuromuscular system. Accurate quantification of gait deficits in rodents demands sophisticated measurement techniques. I utilize X-ray technology to examine intralimb and interlimb coordination after unilateral injury in rats. My findings indicate that compensation to injury involves the coordination of lower-order motor elements to preserve the pre-injury behaviors of higher-order elements. Specifically I present evidence that preservation of limb angle and limb length are critical task goals that transcend injury states and afferent sensory feedback conditions. Broadening my investigation to include interlimb coordination revealed that task goals may change to satisfy the goals of a higher hierarchical level. This work is a necessary precursor to study locomotor coordination and injury compensation in more complex rodent injury models such as self-reinnervation, sciatic nerve, and spinal cord injury. These results could also translate to clinical gait rehabilitation through future protocols that address motor patterns of the entire limb over the behavior of individual joints.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a modified sitting position straight leg raise on vastus medialis oblique (VMO) strength and EMG activity as compared to a traditional straight leg raise. A total of twenty-three subjects were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (group I) modified straight leg raise (MSLR), and (group II) straight leg raise (SLR). The exercise program was three weeks long. University procedures for the protection of human subjects were followed. The subjects began with a 5 minute warm-up on a Cybex stationary bike set at 90 revolutions / minute. The subject then had electrodes placed on the Vastus Lateralis (VL) and Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO). A Macintosh computer was used to record the EMG data. The subject then performed a standard Cybex test for knee flexion and extension. The Cybex dynamometer was placed at the knee joint line, the chair back tilt was at 85 degrees, the hip, chest, and thigh restraints were all fastened. The subjects in group I (Modified sitting SLR) and II (SLR) then returned the next day for their first rehabilitation lesson. Each subject group then participated in their respected exercise program for a total of three weeks. After three weeks of rehabilitation, the subjects retested using the same procedures followed in the pretest. A two tailed t-test was used to determine significance of the difference between means of the two groups. No significant differences were found between the two groups. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in drop landing ground reaction forces between athletes with and without patellar tendinitis. Subjects included 30 recreational athletes, 15 with patellar tendinitis and 15 without. Subjects with patellar tendinitis were tested twice, before (PTI) and after (PTF) rehabilitation. The non-patellar tendinitis (NPT) group was tested once. Subjects performed three trials of a drop landing from a height of 40 cm onto the force plate. Video data was collected to determine the deepest angle of knee flexion during landing. Statistical analysis using ANOVA revealed significant differences in maximum vertical force for the initial peak, post hoc analysis revealed differences between PTI and NPT groups aswell as between PTF and NPT groups. Results indicate athletes with patellar tendinitis exhibit higher initial peak 1 VGRF than athletes without patellar tendinitis. Results indicate that athletes who consistently land with elevated peak 1 ground reaction force are more likely to develop patellar tendinitis. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of high intensity eccentric muscle damage on plasma creatine kinase and plasma malondialdehyde. Twelve subjects, who served as their own control, performed 10 sets of eccentric knee extensions at a 10 RM intensity with their dominant leg. The subjects lowered the resistance in slow controlled manner to a three count of a metronome set at one beat per second. The resistance was set at an intensity equal to 120% of the subject's concentric 1RM. Creatine kinase and malondialdehyde were measured pre-exercise and at 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours post-exercise. Results (p<_ .05) showed a significant increase in both creatine kinase and malondialdehyde compared to baseline. Creatine kinase showed significant increases through 120 hours post-exercise, and peaked at 96 hours post-exercise. Malondialdehyde showed significant increases through 72 post-exercise and peaked at 24 hours postexercise. It appears that a single bout, of high intensity, eccentric exercise can cause significant increases in creatine kinase and malondialdehyde. / Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology

Ground contact results in the generation of a heel-strike transient that propagates through the musculoskeletal system. The inability to attenuate the heel-strike-induced shock wave is a possible factor in the development of various gait pathologies and overuse-type injuries, such as knee osteoarthrosis, stress fractures, and low back pain. It is hypothesized that prolonged running will result in increased shock transmission at the tibia and sacroiliac joint during conditions of controlled velocity/stride mechanics. Subjects performed an extended running trial for 25-minutes at 75% HRReserve. EMG data of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior and accelerometer data from the tibial tuberosity and sacrum were recorded at one-minute intervals. Accelerometer data at the tibial tuberosity did show a significant increase during the run protocol. Linear regression of EMG frequency and tibial shock also demonstrated a significant relationship. An extended running protocol will lead to increases in tibia shock acceleration independent of stride mechanics. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to compare the protective characteristics of four different ankle braces and one form of ankle taping. An inversion and plantar flexion platform was used to induce ankle movements. The subjects used in this study consisted of 10 volunteer male students. The subjects had no sprains five months prior to testing. All subjects were tested in the same size 10 shoes, high tops and low tops. A Certified Athletic Trainer applied all ankle braces and ankle tapings. A closed basketweave with heel locks, adherent spray, and pre-wrap was used for all taping conditions.After the application of the ankle braces or taping, each subject performed two tests on the inversion and plantar flexion platform. A random order was used among the subjects. An ankle inversion platform was modified to induce 30 degrees of inversion and 35 degrees of plantar flexion simultaneously. The subjects will be filmed using a Locam 16mm at 200 frame/second. All subjects were filmed from the posterior plane with markings on the posterior aspect of the lower leg to help analyze the movement at the subtalar joint. A Calcomp 9100 series digitizer that was interfaced with a VAX computer was used to analyze the data and calculate the amount of angular displacement at the subtalar joint. An ANOVA with repeated measures was used to determine significant differences between support techniques. University procedures for the protection of human subjects was followed. ANOVA procedures indicated no significant difference in angular displacement between braces. A statistical analysis indicated that low top shoes provided significantly more support than high top shoes in braced ankles. / School of Physical Education

The purposes of this study is to determine: (a) the relationship between the dependant variables, (b) the relationship between the Borg pain scale and the performance tests, (c) the difference in performance between involved and uninvolved extremities, and (d) the effects of the three different therapeutic exercise treatments on selected performance tests and pain free isometric strength testing. Fifty subjects with physician diagnosed anterior knee pain (AKP), completed initial performance testing and 14 subjects completed initial testing, therapy and six weeks later final performance testing. The 14 subjects were randomly assigned to one of three therapeutic exercise treatment groups. The performance tests included; pain free isometric strength tests (90, 60, 45, and 15 degrees knee flexion), stair test, timed hop, triple hop, crossover hop, Figure 8 and Borg pain scale rating for each performance test. The results indicated a significant correlation between performance tests and pain free isometric strength tests. There was no relationship indicated between the performance tests, Borg pain scale ratings. The contrast between the injured and uninjured extremities performance test values of the fifty subjects that completed the initial testing indicated no significant (p< 0.05) difference. The results of this study indicated that there was no significant difference between the therapeutic exercise treatment groups. In conclusion, the three anterior knee pain treatments had no effect on strength and performance. / School of Physical Education

This study surveyed school-based speech language pathologists regarding their expectations for children returning to school after suffering a traumatic brain injury. Limited literature exists discussing the coordination procedures that should occur between hospital and school personnel. The survey was developed based on the existing literature and was sent to school-based speech language pathologists in the state of Indiana. A total of 38% of the surveys were completed and returned. Results of the surveys found that many of the coordination procedures in the literature were not consistently being followed. Participants who reported having experience with this population in the schools seemed more aware of the procedures that should be followed, based on their answers to the survey questions. It can be concluded, based on the results of the surveys, that increased knowledge and experience of school personnel about the effects, implications, and needs of students with traumatic brain injury would benefit children returning to the school environment after sustaining this type of injury. / Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology