Humans have a large impact on biodiversity, especially by causing habitat loss and habitat degradation but also through human-induced climate change. Because of habitat loss and habitat degradation the Middle-spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) went extinct in Sweden 1983. Globally the Middle-spotted woodpecker is today listed as least concern but because of human-induced climate change the species might be threatened in the whole world in the future. Different ways to help the species is by protection of potential habitat, restoration or reintroduction. The aim of this study is to help the Middle-spotted woodpecker survive in the future by facilitate its potential progress to Sweden, Linköping. One way to help the species is by investigating if a reintroduction is possible. Therefore, I created a habitat model of the Middle-spotted woodpecker based on published studies and used the model to analyze the landscape for possible sites of reintroduction. Results from published studies showed that the species require at least 20 hectares oak forest per breeding pair, a high density of mature oak and more potential habitat to distribute to, within a 10-kilometer distance. Four areas in Linköping fulfilled all the requirements but only two of them were situated in less than 10 kilometers from each other. A successful reintroduction of the Middle-spotted woodpecker requires a landscape with at least 15-20 potential habitat in a near distance to each other. Therefore, a reintroduction of Middle-spotted woodpecker is not possible in Linköping unless more habitats is restored.

Running is becoming an increasingly popular sport; however, runners have a high rate of injury and are therefore often treated in the orthopedic or sports medicine setting. One current focus of these patients' treatment is gluteus medius muscle (GM) strengthening and gait retraining, with the goal of decreasing frontal plane pelvic drop. Unfortunately, there is a research void assessing the role of GM function on pelvic drop, and the effect of an increased pelvic drop on running performance. The specific aims of this research were to investigate a link between frontal plane pelvic drop and (1) isometric GM torque, (2) GM surface electromyography (sEMG) peak amplitude and onset timing, and (3) GM fatigue; and (4) to study the relationship between frontal plane pelvic drop and increased metabolic energy demands. Subjects were recreational runners who ran an average of five or more miles per week. Data from an initial ten subjects were collected, followed by an additional eleven subjects tested for Specific Aims #1, 2, and 3. GM maximal isometric torque was obtained prior to the run. Subjects ran on a treadmill for thirty minutes while three-dimensional pelvic kinematics, GM sEMG, and metabolic data were collected. Pearson's Correlations and scatter plots of the variables showed no relationship between GM maximal isometric strength, GM peak amplitude and onset timing, or GM fatigue rate and frontal plane pelvic drop. The change in pelvic drop also had no effect on the change in running economy (RE) from the start to end of the run. Clinicians should not employ a GM centered treatment approach when treating frontal plane pelvic instability in runners. Future research into additional core stabilizing muscles and their interactions could provide insight into which muscles should be the focus of treatment in runners with proximal instability. These studies should also include kinetic as well as lower extremity (LE) kinematic analysis of running gait to investigate the link between these variables, their relationship to muscle performance, as well as to running performance.

Abstract Background: The Gluteus Medius (GM) muscle has an important role in stabilizing the pelvis and controlling the knees during athletic activities. Weakness in the GM can affect performance negatively and increase the risk of lower extremity (LE) injuries. During functional activities different parts of the muscle becomes activated depending on the degree of hip flexion. However, many GM strength exercises only train the GM in one fixed degree of hip flexion. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a new training device designed to increase the muscle activation of the GM during progressive hip flexion in squats. Methods: The new device was developed to offer resistance training against hip abduction during squats. To be able to validate the new device in activating the GM, 32 female athletes (mean age 20 ± 3) with various athletic backgrounds was included in the study. All subjects performed squats on and off the device while surface electromyographical (SEMG) activity was recorded from GM on both sides of the body. Results: All test subjects were able to perform the squat and to activate the GM. When the squats were performed on the new device the muscle activation in GM was significantly higher compared to bodyweight squats (Z=-4.9, p < 0.001). Correlation tests between a complete sequence of five squats and one selected repetition revealed that activation was consistent throughout the exercise, (right GM: rs = 0.93, p < 0.001, left GM: rp = 0.92, p < 0.001) . No differences in activation were found between the right and left GM when squatting on the device. Conclusion: This study showed that the newly developed training device increased the muscle activity in GM during squats. Moreover, the results showed that squatting on the device activates the left and right side of the body equally and that the GM was activated during the whole exercise, under ongoing hip flexion. This information could be used to develop new training methods with the aim to improve stabilization of the pelvis and lower extremities during functional activities. / Sammanfattning Bakgrund: Gluteus medius (GM) fyller en viktig funktion vid idrottsliga aktiviteter genom att den stabiliserar bäckenet och kontrollerar knäna. Svaghet i GM kan påverka prestationen negativt samt öka risken för skador i de lägre extremiteterna (LE). Vid funktionella aktiviteter aktiveras olika delar av GM beroende på graden av höftflexion. Många styrkeövningar för GM tränar emellertid muskeln i endast en fixerad grad av höft flexion. Syfte: Syftet med den här studien har varit att utveckla samt validera ett nytt träningsredskap, designat för att optimera muskelaktiveringen av GM under höftflexion. Metod: Träningsredskapet utvecklades för att erbjuda motstånd mot abduktion vid knäböj. För att validera redskapets förmåga att aktivera GM inkluderades 32 kvinnliga idrottare (medelålder, 20 ± 3 år) med varierande idrottslig bakgrund. Alla försökspersoner utförde knäböjningar med och utan träningsredskapet samtidigt som elektromyografisk aktivitet mättes i höger och vänster GM. Resultat: Alla försökspersoner kunde utföra knäböjningar och lyckades aktivera GM. Knäböjningar som utfördes på träningsredskapet resulterade i signifikant högre aktivering av GM jämfört med knäböjningar utan redskapet (Z=-4.9, p < 0.001). Korrelations test mellan kompletta sekvenser om fem repetitioner och enstaka repetitioner visade att aktiveringen var konstant under hela övningen, (höger GM: rs = 0.93, p < 0.001, vänster GM: rp = 0.92, p < 0.001). Inga skillnader i aktivering hittades mellan höger och vänster GM vid knäböjningar på redskapet. Slutsats: Studien visade att det utvecklade träningsredskapet ökade aktiveringen av GM vid knäböjningar. Resultaten visade också att denna aktivitet var jämnt fördelad mellan höger och vänster GM samt att aktiveringen var konstant under hela övningen. Resultaten i denna studien kan användas för att utveckla nya träningsmetoder med syfte att förbättra stabiliseringen av bäckenet och de lägre extremiteterna vid funktionella aktiviteter.

<p>The purpose with this thesis was to study user activities in a business system, MediusFlow. The overall objective was to identify user related problems and to analyse which of the usability data gathering methods to use in the future development process of the company Medius.</p><p>The outcome of this study indicated that a cognitive related user problem was the most important problem to solve. A Star Life Cycle method was preferred. Two low-fidelity prototypes were developed to exemplify an alternative design solution to the identified cognitive user problem. Furthermore, the two best methods to use when gathering user related requirements were heuristic evaluation and expert review.</p><p>In addition a company specific Style Guide was created with generic guidelines as a foundation for development of future applications within Medius.</p>

The Gluteus Medius and the Tensor Fascia Lata are two of the main muscles involved in the action of hip abduction. This action is important for both dynamic movements in athletic pursuits and in every day ambulation. Weakness in these muscles has been connected to multiple injuries in the lower limb, but the question of the casual relationship between gait change, hip abductor weakness, and lower limb injury is still up for debate. As presented by the current research, younger populations tend to have overuse injuries with females having a greater susceptibility for injuries connected to hip abductor weakness, and older populations tend to have injures related to atrophy and degeneration of either the hip abductor muscles or the joint surrounding the hip. Research in this field has increasingly focused on sub-sets of the populations, such as just females or just males, trying to pinpoint the role that hip abductor weakness plays in these injuries. By trying to minimize or even eliminate the confounding variables that have previously made it difficult to determine the role hip abductor weakness plays in these gait changes and injuries, these studies have been able to make more clear conclusions at the expense of making a broader generalization. Similarities and differences between how the sub-groups present with hip abductor weakness are discussed, as well as discrepancies observed within the research done on similar cohorts. Future directions for research in this field are discussed, as well as implications for clinical implementation of targeted rehabilitation programs to ensure the best possible outcomes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-01-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:41:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 martins_cb_dr_jabo.pdf: 1196655 bytes, checksum: ae351a11891c3264becc940e47280709 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação com diferentes concentrações de óleo de soja e do treinamento de resistência nas adaptações do músculo glúteo médio de 20 eqüinos da raça Puro Sangue Árabe. Os animais foram distribuídos em cinco grupos, cada grupo foi composto por quatro cavalos. O grupo controle não recebeu óleo e os demais foram suplementados com 6, 12, 18 e 24% de óleo. Os animais foram submetidos a sete semanas consecutivas de exercício em esteira rolante e trilha. Analisou-se a influência do treinamento e da suplementação com óleo sobre o peso e escore corporal, concentração de glicogênio muscular e características das fibras do músculo glúteo médio. Os resultados demonstraram que as diferentes concentrações de óleo na dieta não influenciaram as variáveis estudadas. Houve redução significativa do peso corpóreo após o treinamento, no entanto o escore corporal permaneceu constante. O músculo glúteo médio expressou três tipos de fibras puras: I, IIA, IIX. O treinamento não induziu hipertrofia das fibras do músculo glúteo médio. O treinamento ocasionou aumento na proporção e na área relativa das fibras tipo IIA em detrimento das fibras IIX, melhorando a capacidade oxidativa muscular. Tanto as dietas com óleo como o treinamento não aumentaram as concentrações de glicogênio muscular. / The aim of this study was evaluate the effects of supplementation with different concentrations of soy oil and endurance training on gluteus medius muscle adaptations in twenty Arabian horses. The horses were randomized in five groups (four horses each group). The control group did not receive the oil and the other groups were supplemented with 6%, 12%, 18% and 24% of soy oil. The animals were submitted to seven weeks of exercise on treadmill and track. The influence of training and oil supplementation on body weight, corporal score, muscular glycogen stores and characteristics of the gluteus medius muscular fibers were analyzed. The results showed that the supplementation of soy oil in diet was not significantly effective on the studied parameters. There was a significant reduction of the body weight after the end of training; however the corporal score showed no changes. The gluteus medius muscle expressed three types of pure fibers: I, IIA and IIX. The training induced a increase in the proportion and relative area of the type IIA fibers in detriment of type IIX fibers, improving the oxidative capacity muscular. No hypertrophy of the muscular fibers was observed. There were no significant changes in the values of the total glycogen after the training period.

M.Tech. / The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two different treatment methods for myofascial pain and dysfunction syndrome of the Gluteus Medius muscle. This was done in order to determine whether or not a combined treatment of the integrated neuromuscular inhibition technique (INIT) and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) adjustive therapy was more effective than the INIT applied in isolation, in the treatment of the Gluteus Medius myofascial pain and dysfunction syndrome (GMMPDS). Participants were recruited using advertisement posters placed throughout the University of Johannesburg Doornfontein Campus and were treated at the University of Johannesburg Chiropractic Day Clinic. Thirty participants, between the ages of eighteen and fifty years, who were suffering from lower back pain and presented with Gluteus Medius myofascial trigger points (TrPs) and an SIJ dysfunction were selected for the study. They were randomly assigned into one of two groups, consisting of fifteen subjects each, as they entered into the study. Group one received the INIT to the affected Gluteus Medius muscle. Group two received a combination of the INIT to the affected Gluteus Medius muscle and an SIJ adjustment. Patients attended four sessions over a period of eight days and were treated on all of these sessions. Subjective and objective data were recorded on all sessions. Subjective data was recorded using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale. Objective data was recorded using the Universal Goniometer, to measure hip ranges of motion of the affected Gluteus Medius muscle, and the Wagner Pressure Algometer to measure pain-pressure threshold of the affected Gluteus Medius muscle TrPs. All of the data were statistically analyzed using Repeated Measures and Independent t-Tests. P-values were calculated to determine the statistical significance of the data. The results of the study indicate that both treatment methods are effective in treating GMMPDS, however a combined treatment approach of INIT and SIJ adjustive therapy was more effective in achieving a greater therapeutic response compared to INIT alone.

The purpose with this thesis was to study user activities in a business system, MediusFlow. The overall objective was to identify user related problems and to analyse which of the usability data gathering methods to use in the future development process of the company Medius. The outcome of this study indicated that a cognitive related user problem was the most important problem to solve. A Star Life Cycle method was preferred. Two low-fidelity prototypes were developed to exemplify an alternative design solution to the identified cognitive user problem. Furthermore, the two best methods to use when gathering user related requirements were heuristic evaluation and expert review. In addition a company specific Style Guide was created with generic guidelines as a foundation for development of future applications within Medius.

No description available.

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Myofascial trigger points (MTrP’s) cause acute discomfort to intense pain and often lead to the use of pain medication as well as loss of man hours (Simons, Travell and Simons, 1999a; Tough, White, Cummings, Richards and Campbell, 2009). Dry needling is very effective and is widely used for the treatment of MTrP’s (Vulfsons, Ratmansky and Kalichman, 2012), but comes with various significant drawbacks, such as the experience of pain during or after treatment (post-needling soreness) or individuals with needle phobias (Unruh, Strong and Wright, 2002). More serious risks also exist, including damage to the viscera (Dommerholt and Fernández-de-las-Peñas, 2013). Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is a non-invasive technique and very little discomfort or pain is experienced by the patient during and after treatment. LLLT is effective in the short- and long-term relief of trigger points and myofascial pain syndrome. Therefore it can easily serve as an alternative to myofacial dry needling (Chow and Barnsley, 2005). This study aimed to determine whether LLLT or myofascial dry needling is more effective in the treatment of active MTrP’s, specifically those of the gluteus medius muscle. It also aimed to determine if LLLT could serve as an alternative treatment to dry needling in cases where dry needling is contraindicated or not desired. Thirty participants who complied with the inclusion criteria were divided into one of two groups. Group 1 (n=15) received dosages of LLLT directly to the active MTrP’s in the gluteus medius muscle and Group 2 (n=15) received myofascial dry needling to active MTrP’s in the gluteus medius muscle. Each participant attended 6 treatment sessions over a course of 2 weeks as well as a 7th measurements-only session.