The effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the central nervous system often manifest as abnormalities in gait kinematics. Clinically practical, valid, and reliable measures of gait kinematics are necessary to address research and clinical questions about MS. Wireless flexible electrogoniometry (EG) is a clinically practical measure of joint angles. The GAITRite walkway system is a clinically practical, valid and reliable measure of temporal and spatial gait characteristics. The overall objective of this two-study research project was to explore whether these clinically practical measures of gait kinematics can be used to accurately detect gait abnormalities in people with multiple sclerosis. Study 1 examined the reliability and validity of EG and Study 2 examined the gait kinematics of people with MS (PWMS) using EG and GAITRite. For Study 1, angle at initial contact and total joint excursion were measured by EG at both the knee and ankle while ten healthy adults walked at a self-selected comfortable speed. Measurements were repeated for two testers and two visits to assess reliability. The same variables were measured concurrently with three-dimensional motion analysis (3D) to assess validity. For all variables, reliability was good as indicated by low measurement error and validity was good as indicated by association and agreement of EG with 3D. For Study 2, the same joint angles, along with speed, cadence, step length, stride length, stance duration and double support duration were assessed for six PWMS and six controls without MS. PWMS showed significantly reduced speed, cadence, and ankle excursion and increased stance and double support duration as previously shown with 3D. Spasticity and/or instability may lead to these kinematic gait abnormalities in PWMS; however, reduced velocity may confound this interpretation by affecting the other observed gait abnormalities. Further research about the determinants of gait dysfunction in PWMS is required. EG and GAITRite are clinically practical, valid and reliable measures of gait kinematics and should be included in further clinic-based research to determine which kinematic gait abnormalities are causes and which are effects of the observed decrease in gait speed in PWMS.

Hyolingual biomechanics and kinematics in three species of two odontocete genera were investigated to compare adaptations and performance of divergent feeding strategies. Ram and suction feeding are two ends of a continuous spectrum that is poorly-studied in odontocetes. Comparative anatomy identified characters associated with feeding patterns of morphologically dissimilar and evolutionary distant genera. Hyolingual investigations included measurements of hyolingual muscle vectors and hyoid surface area/robustness. ANOVA's revealed Kogia basihyal and thyrohyal surface areas were significantly greater than T. truncatus. However, most predicted muscle tension values were not significantly different between genera. The presence of lateral gape occlusions, broad basihyal and thyrohyals near the caudal oral cavity, and a broad, short tongue were likely responsible for Kogia's effective suction mechanism. These features were absent, or reduced, in T. truncatus. The feeding kinematics of dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia sima and K. breviceps), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were characterized and compared incorporating the Ram-Suction Index (RSI). Mean RSI data support a suction feeding strategy for the phylogenetically basal Kogia (-0.67; S.D.±0.29) and a ram feeding strategy for the more-derived Tursiops (0.94; S.D.±0.11). Tursiops displayed two ram-based feeding behaviors, closed gape approach, where gape increased near food items, and open gape approach, where gape was at least 50% of maximum in the first video field. Four feeding phases were identified in both odontocetes: preparatory, jaw opening, gular depression, and jaw closing. The mean Kogia feeding cycle duration (470 ms; S.D.±139) was significantly shorter (P<0.003) than all Tursiops groups (pooled: 863 ms; S.D.±337, closed gape approach: 662 ms; S.D.±207, open gape approach: 1211 ms; S.D.±207). Kogia mean maximum gape angle (39.8°; S.D.±18.9), mean maximum opening, and closing gape angle velocities (293°/s; S.D.±261 and 223°/s; S.D.±121, respectively) were significantly greater (P<0.005) than pooled Tursiops mean maximum gape angle (24.8°; S.D.±6.6), mean maximum opening and closing gape angle velocities (84°/s; S.D.±56 and 120°/s; S.D.±54, respectively). Negative Kogia RSI values were correlated with increasing maximum hyoid depression and retraction, wide gape angle, and rapid opening gape velocity. Kinematic data support functional hypotheses that odontocetes generate suction by rapid depression of the hyoid and tongue.

Impaired performance while executing a motor task is attributed to a disruption of normal automatic processes when an internal focus of attention is used (Wulf, McNevin, & Shea, 2001). When an external focus of attention is adopted, automaticity is not constrained and improved performance is noted. What remains unclear is whether the specificity of internally focused task instructions may impact task performance. In the present study, behavioural, kinematic and neurophysiological outcome measures assessed the implications of changing attentional focus for novice and skilled performers in a golf putting task. Findings provided evidence that when novice participants used an internal focus of attention related to task execution, accuracy, kinematics of the putter, and variability of EMG activity in the upper extremity were all adversely affected as task difficulty increased. Instructions which were internal but anatomically distal to the primary movement during the task appeared to have an effect similar to an external focus of attention and did not adversely affect outcomes.

No description available.

The aim of this study was to determine how the performance of the Egyptian high jumpers is depending on the kinematic parameters of a take-off phase. The sample of the study has been selected from competitors of the high jump event - three jumpers representing the Egyptian international athletic team. The researcher has studied the sample using a direct measurement by a synchronized 3D video system to measure the kinematic parameters. The researcher has found a relation between record level and vertical velocity components with improvement in technique and better fitness levels, thus the Egyptian jumpers can achieve further progress in their results. This raises optimism because Omer Samir (A2) is very young and his current record 2.02m gives hope for future World - Class. Key words High jump, kinematic parameters, take-off phase.

Orientador: Alberto Cliquet Junior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T19:04:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cacho_EnioWalkerAzevedo_D.pdf: 1807435 bytes, checksum: 38ebb707d0aa2cd9d8808391db1f768e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: Vários são os instrumentos de avaliação dedicados aos tetraplégicos. A compreensão de suas relações é de fundamental importância para o desenvolvimento e elaboração de abordagens terapêuticas voltadas à reabilitação da extremidade superior desses indivíduos. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as correlações entre as avaliações clínicas, funcionais e cinemáticas da extremidade superior durante os movimentos de alcance-preensão em tetraplégicos. Vinte tetraplégicos crônicos e vinte participantes controles foram selecionados para o estudo. Os instrumentos utilizados para a avaliação foram: o padrão de classificação da Associação Americana de Lesão Medular - ASIA, a Medida de Independência Funcional - MIF, a Mensuração de Independência da Medula espinhal - SCIM II, e a avaliação cinemática do movimento de alcance-preensão. Foram utilizadas as seguintes variáveis cinemáticas: deslocamento anterior do tronco e protração do ombro, amplitude articular do ombro, cotovelo e punho nos planos sagital e horizontal, índice de curvatura, pico de velocidade máxima, razão do pico de velocidade máxima, tempo de movimento e número de picos. O deslocamento anterior do tronco, protração do ombro e as amplitudes articulares do ombro e cotovelo não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os tetraplégicos e os controles. Apenas a amplitude de flexoextensão do punho foi significativamente maior em tetraplégicos. Os movimentos dos tetraplégicos foram mais lentos, segmentados e menos harmoniosos, quando comparados com os controles. Foi encontrada uma correlação positiva entre o índice motor total e a MIF (r = 0.6089; p = 0.0044) e SCIM II (r = 0.5229; p = 0.018). As avaliações funcionais apresentaram correlação positiva entre si (r = 0.8283; p < 0.0001). Foi encontrada também correlação entre o índice motor direito e esquerdo, a MIF motora e o SCIM II, com várias variáveis cinemáticas estudadas (pico de velocidade máxima, tempo de movimento, índice de curvatura, número de picos e razão do pico de velocidade máxima de velocidade). Dentre as amplitudes articulares de movimento (ombro, cotovelo e punho), apenas a amplitude do punho demonstrou correlação com a variável clínica. Este estudo demonstra que a força muscular avaliada pelo índice motor da ASIA se correlaciona moderadamente com as variáveis cinemáticas relacionadas à harmonia de trajetória dos movimentos de alcance-preensão em tetraplégicos. Já as avaliações funcionais apresentaram forte correlação entre si e moderada correlação com o índice motor direito, esquerdo e total, mas não apresentaram uma correlação constante com as variáveis cinemáticas avaliadas à direita e à esquerda. / Abstract: Several assessment tools are dedicated to understanding tetraplegics. The understanding of their relationships has a fundamental importance for the development and elaboration of therapeutic approaches aiming rehabilitation of the upper extremity of these individuals. The objective of this study is to analyze the correlations between clinical, functional and kinematics assessments of upper extremity during reaching-grasping movements in tetraplegics. Twenty chronic tetraplegic patients and 20 control participants were selected for this study. The instruments used for evaluation were the standard classification of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury - ASIA, the Functional Independence Measure - FIM, the Spinal Cord of Independence Measurement - SCIM II and the kinematics evaluation of the reach-grasp movement. The following kinematic variables were used: anterior displacement of the trunk and protraction of the shoulder, joint range of motion of shoulder, elbow and wrist in sagittal and horizontal planes, curvature index, peak speed, ratio of peak speed, movement time and peak number. The anterior displacement of the trunk, shoulder protraction and range of motion of shoulder and elbow showed no significant differences between groups of tetraplegic patients and controls. Only the flexion-extension amplitude of the wrist was significantly greater in tetraplegics. The movements in quadriplegic patients were slower, targeted and less harmonious when compared with controls. There was a positive correlation between the total motor index and functional FIM (r = 0.6089; p = 0.0044) and SCIM II (r = 0.5229; p = 0.018). Both functional scores showed positive correlation within each other (r = 0.8283; p < 0.0001). There was also correlation between the right and left motor indices, the motor FIM and the SCIM with most of the kinematics studied (peak of velocity, movement time, index of curvature, number of peaks and peak velocity ratio of the maximum velocity). On the other hand, for the joint range of motion (shoulder, elbow and wrist), only the wrist in the horizontal plane demonstrated correlation with clinical variables. This study demonstrates that muscle strength assessed by the ASIA motor index correlates moderately with the kinematic variables related to the harmony and the trajectory of the reaching-grasping movement in tetraplegics. Yet, functional assessments showed strong correlation among themselves, and moderate correlation with right, left and total motor index, but did not show a constant correlation with kinematic variables measured on the right and left. / Doutorado / Pesquisa Experimental / Doutor em Cirurgia

O bobsled é um esporte desenvolvido para prática de inverno e tem como objetivo principal, percorrer uma pista de gelo inclinada de aproximadamente 1500m no menor tempo possível. A atividade é iniciada com o trenó parado, sem movimento. Existem duas modalidades, o bobsled para quatro pessoas e bobsled para duas pessoas. O movimento inicial do bobsled é conhecido como o momento de propulsão do trenó ou da largada, já teve sua importância demonstrada para a obtenção de um bom desempenho final em estudos anteriores, é executado na modalidade de dois atletas pelo atleta piloto e pelo atleta breakman. Os objetivos deste trabalho se preocuparam em investigar a existência de um padrão cinemático adotado pelos atletas piloto e atletas breakman durante o momento de propulsão do trenó das 15 melhores equipes participantes do campeonato, assim como a existência da relação entre o tempo de largada e o tempo final da prova e a variação do desempenho obtido entre todas as equipes participantes. As imagens utilizadas neste trabalho foram adquiridas durante o XIV Campeonato Mundial de Bobsled masculino na modalidade de dois atletas, realizado na cidade de Koonigssee (Alemanha) em 2004. Para se investigar o padrão cinemático foram utilizadas variáveis relacionadas a angulação do ombro, cotovelo, tronco e joelho; variações do deslocamento e altura do centro de gravidade; além do comprimento do passo dos atletas piloto e breakman. Foi possível identificar um padrão cinemático típico adotado pelos atletas piloto e breakman durante o momento da largada, além de se identificar semelhanças entre o comportamento adotado pelos atletas piloto e breakman durante o instante da largada e o comportamento adotado pelos atletas de atletismo. O coeficiente de correlação encontrado neste estudo se assemelhou aos coeficientes encontrados nos estudos anteriores (aproximadamente r2=0,5), assim como pode se verificar a pequena variação do desempenho entre as equipes participantes (inferior a 4%) / Bobsled is a sport developed for practiced in winter time and has as main objective cover an inclined ice track of approximately 1500 m in less time as possible. The activity is initiated with the sleigh stopped, without movement. There are two modalities, the bobsled for four persons and for two persons. The initial movement of the bobsled is known as the propulsion moment and its importance for a good final performance had already been demonstrated in preview studies. This moment is executed in the modality for two persons by the pilot athlete and by the breakman athlete. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence of a kinematic pattern adopted by the pilot athlete and the breakman athlete during the propulsion moment of the sleigh of the 15 best teams of the championship, as well as the existence of a relation between the propulsion moment and the final time of the test and the variation of the performance gotten by all the participant teams. The imagesm used in this study had been acquired during the XIV Word-Wide Championship of male bobsled in the modality for two persons, carried through in the city of Koonigsee (Germany) in 2004. To investigate the kinematic pattern it was used variables related to the shoulder, elbow, trunk and knee angles; variations of the center of gravity displacement and height; and the length of the step of the pilot and breakman athletes. It was possible to identify a typical kinematic pattern adopted by the pilot and breakman athletes during the propulsion moment, beyond identifying similarities between the behavior adopted by the pilot and breakman athletes during the propulsion moment and the behavior adopted by the track and fields athletes. The correlation coefficient found in this study was similar to those found in the previous studies (around r2=0,5) as well as the small variation verified in the performance between the participant teams (less than 4%)

By understanding the normal humeral and scapular kinematics during the kayak stroke, inferences about the relationship of kayaking technique and shoulder injury may be established. The purpose of this study was to describe scapular and humeral kinematics and to compare dominant versus non-dominant symmetry in healthy whitewater kayakers performing the forward stroke. Twenty-five competent whitewater kayakers (mean age: 34.1±9.4 years, mean height: 1.768±0.093 m, mean mass: 78.2±13.0 kg) underwent humeral and scapular kinematic assessment, using an electromagnetic tracking device, while kayaking on a kayak ergometer. Paired t-tests were used to determine symmetry. Scapular and humeral kinematic means and standard deviations at six time points during the kayak stroke were described. Scapular and humeral kinematics were shown to be similar upon bilateral comparison. The greatest potential for injury during the forward stroke may be at thrust paddle shaft vertical when the humerus is maximally elevated in internal rotation and adduction as subacromial structures may be mechanically impinged. The relationship between scapulohumeral kinematics related to injury at other time points are also described.

<p> To provide a logical framework for the comparison of various methods of kinematic flood routing a general method of kinematic flood routing is developed.</p> <p> After presenting the general framework, the properties of the numerical model are investigated by: l. Algebraic examination of the finite difference scheme. 2.Numerical experiments using a high speed digital computer. 3. Comparison of the kinematic flood routing results with results of simulations using the complete one dimensional dynamic representation.</p> <p> Particular facets of the numerical kinematic model that were studied included: 1. The stability of the numeric schematizations. 2. The degree of approximation with the finite difference system. 3. The applicability of kinematic methods to unsteady flow systems. 4. Methods of extending the kinematic solutions to predict attenuation as well as translation of the flood wave through the channel systems. </p> <p> The results indicate that kinematic flood routing methods differ primarily in the point about which the finite difference equation is formulated, hereafter termed the nucleus, and that the general framework is capable of emulating such methods as the Muskinghum Method, other non-linear kinematic methods and reservoir routing. By varying the location of the nucleus the stability and degree of approximation is significantly altered. This results in the outflow hydrograph being sensitive to the location of the nucleus and the size of the finite difference steps.</p> <p> To facilitate further research and application of the methods outlined in the thesis, a computer program was developed to enable kinematic flood routing to be performed in a natural channel with arbitrary geometry. Furthermore, the data is compatible with a program that is capable of performing a flood routing analysis using a numerical solution of the complete Saint-Venant equations. Documentation of the computer program for kinematic analysis is included with this thesis.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

The aim of this study was to determine how the performance of the Egyptian high jumpers is depending on the kinematic parameters of a take-off phase. The sample of the study has been selected from competitors of the high jump event - three jumpers representing the Egyptian international athletic team. The researcher has studied the sample using a direct measurement by a synchronized 3D video system to measure the kinematic parameters. The researcher has found a relation between record level and vertical velocity components with improvement in technique and better fitness levels, thus the Egyptian jumpers can achieve further progress in their results. This raises optimism because Omer Samir (A2) is very young and his current record 2.02m gives hope for future World - Class. Key words High jump, kinematic parameters, take-off phase.