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The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation

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A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2022) | Viewed by 39321

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Dr. David John Saxby

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Griffith Centre for Biomedical and Rehabilitation Engineering (GCORE), Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
Interests: neuromusculoskeletal biomechanics; orthopaedics; computational modelling; rehabilitation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of biomechanics can arguably be dated back to 400 BC, where one of the earliest known written records of a pinhole camera relates to the ‘camera obscura’, which was provided by the Chinese philosopher, Mozi (circa 470 BCE-circa 391 BCE) [1]. Observers could witness human movement through a projection with the human eye. The most notable movement captured was animal, not human movement. This was later developed by Eadweard Muybridge. Muybridge is known for his pioneering work in animal locomotion from 1877 to 1878, where he used multiple cameras to capture motion in stop-motion photographs, and his zoopraxiscope, a device used to project motion pictures that pre-dated the flexible perforated film strip used in cinematography [2]. During his career, he produced over 100,000 images of animals and humans in motion, capturing what the human eye could not distinguish as individualized or transitionary movements.

Since these humble beginnings, the field of biomechanics has emerged, wherein we are able to measure human kinematics, kinetics, electromyography etc., not only in zero-dimensional scalar components, but three-dimensional time-varying planes [3]. With established standards [4,5] and advancements in motion capture developments, biomechanics has firmly positioned itself as a performance and rehabilitation toolbox for clinicians and allied health professionals alike. In this Special Issue, we will present case studies, clinical trials, and technological advancements in the real world so as to show the readers the current state of biomechanics within the health care system and future applications.

References;

Needham, Joseph. Science and Civilization in China, vol. IV, part 1: Physics and Physical Technology (PDF). p. 98. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
"Eadweard Muybridge (British photographer)". Britannica. Retrieved 17 July 2009. English photographer important for his pioneering work in photographic studies of motion and in motion-picture projection.
Pataky, T.C. RFT1D: Smooth One-Dimensional Random Field Upcrossing Probabilities in Python. J. Stat. Softw. 2016, 71,1–22
Derrick, T.R.; Bogert, A.J.V.D.; Cereatti, A.; Dumas, R.; Fantozzi, S.; Leardini, A. ISB recommendations on the reporting of intersegmental forces and moments during human motion analysis. J. Biomech. 2019, 99, 109533
Wu., G; Cavanagh, P.R. ISB recommendations for standardization in the reporting of kinematic data. The Center for Locomotion Studies. J. Biomech. 1995, 28, 1257–1261

Dr. David John Saxby
Guest Editor

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Keywords

biomechanics
simulation
modelling
rehabilitation
performance

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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16 pages, 1682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Effects of Three Types of Hamstring Stretching on Length, Neurodynamic Response, and Perceived Sense of Effort—A Randomised Cross-Over Trial

by Carlos López-de-Celis, Pedro Izquierdo-Nebreda, Vanessa González-Rueda, Aïda Cadellans-Arróniz, Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz, Elena Bueno-Gracia and Albert Pérez-Bellmunt

Life 2022, 12(10), 1666; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12101666 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2745

Abstract

Background: Stretching techniques for hamstring muscles have been described both to increase muscle length and to evaluate nerve mechanosensitivity. Aim: We sought to evaluate the short-term effects of three types of hamstring stretching on hamstring length and report the type of response (neural or muscular) produced by ankle dorsiflexion and perceived sense of effort in asymptomatic subjects. Methods: A randomised cross-over clinical trial was conducted. A total of 35 subjects were recruited (15 women, 20 men; mean age 24.60 ± 6.49 years). Straight leg raises (SLR), passive knee extensions (PKE), and maximal hip flexion (MHF) were performed on dominant and non-dominant limbs. In addition, the intensity of the applied force, the type and location of the response to structural differentiation, and the perceived sensation of effort were assessed. Results: All stretching techniques increased hamstring length with no differences between limbs in the time*stretch interaction (p < 0.05). The perceived sensation of effort was similar between all types of stretching except MHF between limbs (p = 0.047). The type of response was mostly musculoskeletal for MHF and the area of more neural response was the posterior knee with SLR stretch. Conclusions: All stretching techniques increased hamstring length. The highest percentage of neural responses was observed in the SLR stretching, which produced a greater increase in overall flexibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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9 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Footwear on Anterior Cruciate Ligament Forces during Landing in Young Adult Females

by Riad Akhundov, Adam L. Bryant, Tim Sayer, Kade Paterson, David J. Saxby and Azadeh Nasseri

Life 2022, 12(8), 1119; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12081119 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2544

Abstract

Rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in young people have increased markedly over the past two decades, with females experiencing greater growth in their risk compared to males. In this study, we determined the effects of low- and high-support athletic footwear on ACL loads during a standardized drop–land–lateral jump in 23 late-/post-pubertal females. Each participant performed the task unshod, wearing low- (Zaraca, ASICS) or high- (Kayano, ASICS) support shoes (in random order), and three-dimensional body motions, ground-reaction forces, and surface electromyograms were synchronously acquired. These data were then used in a validated computational model of ACL loading. One-dimensional statistical parametric mapping paired t-tests were used to compare ACL loads between footwear conditions during the stance phase of the task. Participants generated lower ACL forces during push-off when shod (Kayano: 624 N at 71–84% of stance; Zaraca: 616 N at 68–86% of stance) compared to barefoot (770 N and 740 N, respectively). No significant differences in ACL force were observed between the task performed wearing low- compared to high-support shoes. Compared to barefoot, both shoe types significantly lowered push-off phase peak ACL forces, potentially lowering risk of ACL injury during performance of similar tasks in sport and recreation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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11 pages, 1201 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Finding Emergent Gait Patterns May Reduce Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis in a Clinically Relevant Time Frame

by Dhruv Gupta, Cyril John Donnelly and Jeffrey A. Reinbolt

Life 2022, 12(7), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12071050 - 14 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2474

Abstract

A high contact force between the medial femoral condyle and the tibial plateau is the primary cause of medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). A high medial contact force (MCF) during gait has been shown to be correlated to both the knee adduction moment (KAM) and knee flexion/extension moment (KFM). In this study, we used OpenSim Moco to find gait kinematics that reduced the peaks of the KAM, without increasing the peaks of the KFM, which could potentially reduce the MCF and, hence, the progression of knee OA. We used gait data from four knee OA participants. Our simulations decreased both peaks of the KAM without increasing either peak of the KFM. We found that increasing the step width was the primary mechanism, followed by simulations of all participants to reduce the frontal plane lever arm of the ground reaction force vector about the knee, in turn reducing the KAM. Importantly, each participant simulation followed different patterns of kinematic changes to achieve this reduction, which highlighted the need for participant-specific gait modifications. Moreover, we were able to simulate emerging gait patterns within 15 min, enhancing the relevance and potential for the application of developed methods in clinical settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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14 pages, 1543 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Combination of Two Manipulative Techniques for the Treatment of Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Andoni Carrasco-Uribarren, Pilar Pardos-Aguilella, Silvia Pérez-Guillén, Carlos López-de-Celis, Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz and Sara Cabanillas-Barea

Life 2022, 12(7), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12071023 - 9 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3264

Abstract

Cervicogenic dizziness is clinically associated with upper cervical spine dysfunctions. It seems that manual therapy decreases the intensity of dizziness in these subjects, but what happens to pain measured by pressure pain threshold (PPT) has not been studied. Purpose: analyze the short-term effects of combination two manipulation techniques protocol in worst dizziness intensity (wVAS), dizziness and cervical disability, upper cervical spine mobility and mechanosensivity of cervical tissue. Methods: Assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial was developed. A total of 40 patients with cervicogenic dizziness were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received three treatments consisting of a functional massage and a manipulation technique, and compared with a control group. The wVAS, dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), neck disability index (NDI), UCS mobility, and PPTs were measured. Measurements were made at the baseline, first follow-up 48 h after intervention and second follow-up 1 month after the intervention. Results: at second follow-up wVAS (p < 0.001), NDI (p < 0.001), DHI (p < 0.001), and upper right trapezius (p < 0.022) and right suboccipital (p < 0.043) PPTs showed a difference between groups in favor of the experimental group. Conclusions: apparently, the proposed intervention protocol decreases the intensity of dizziness and the mechanosensitivity of the cervical tissue and improves the feeling of disability due to neck pain and dizziness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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12 pages, 5462 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Variations in Strain Distribution at Distal Radius under Different Loading Conditions

by Jonas A. Pramudita, Wataru Hiroki, Takuya Yoda and Yuji Tanabe

Life 2022, 12(5), 740; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12050740 - 16 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3946

Abstract

Distal radial fractures exhibit various fracture patterns. By assuming that the strain distribution at the distal radius affects the diversification of the fracture pattern, a parameter study using the finite element model of a wrist developed from computed tomography (CT) images was performed under different loading conditions. The finite element model of the wrist consisted of the radius, ulna, scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, and major carpal ligaments. The material properties of the bone models were assigned on the basis of the Hounsfield Unit (HU) values of the CT images. An impact load was applied to the scaphoid, lunate, and triquetrum to simulate boundary conditions during fall accidents. This study considered nine different loading conditions that combine three different loading directions and three different load distribution ratios. According to the analysis results, the strain distribution at the distal radius changed with respect to the change in the loading condition. High strain concentration occurred in regions where distal radius fractures are commonly developed. The direction and distribution of the load acting on the radius were considered to be factors that may cause variations in the fracture pattern of distal radius fractures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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10 pages, 358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiotherapeutic Methods in the Treatment of Cervical Discopathy and Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: A Prospective Study

by Grzegorz Mańko, Małgorzata Jekiełek, Tadeusz Ambroży, Łukasz Rydzik and Jarosław Jaszczur-Nowicki

Life 2022, 12(4), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12040513 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3977

Abstract

Spinal dysfunctions are very common in the population. However, there is still a lack of information on how to diagnose and treat them properly. The common causes of spinal dysfunctions are cervical discopathy and degenerative cervical myelopathy. The aims of the study are to examine whether a combination of manual therapy and stabilometer platform exercises can be effective in treating cervical discopathy and degenerative cervical myelopathy, and the possibility of observing the differences between patients suffering from the above diseases. The study involved 40 patients referred for rehabilitation, who formed two groups of 20 people. The first group consisted of patients suffering from cervical discopathy, the second group consisted of patients affected by degenerative cervical myelopathy. During therapy, manual therapy techniques and a stabilometric platform were used. The Neck Disability Index and Pain Numeric Rating Scale were used for clinical evaluation. The correlation between the existing diseases and the results obtained in the Neck Disability Index and Pain Numeric Rating Scale was examined. The distribution of patient responses in questions of the Neck Disability Index was also checked. Clinical evaluation was performed twice, before the start of therapy and after a two-week rehabilitation treatment. The study showed a significant difference between the patients’ results before the start of therapy and after the end of the rehabilitation stay in both used questionnaires (p = 0.00). A difference in the distribution of responses between the two groups after therapy was also found in the Neck Disability Index (p = 0.018) and in the Pain Numeric Rating Scale (p = 0.043). The study shows that manual therapy and exercises using the stabilometric platform are effective methods of treating both patients with cervical discopathy and patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. It was also noted that, when comparing groups of patients, patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy tend to have greater disturbances in concentration-related activities, such as reading, focusing, driving, sleeping, and resting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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14 pages, 7473 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of an Articulated Neck to Assess Impact Head-Neck Injuries

by José Luis Rueda-Arreguín, Marco Ceccarelli and Christopher René Torres-SanMiguel

Life 2022, 12(2), 313; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020313 - 19 Feb 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2775

Abstract

This paper describes a new solution for an articulated low-cost artificial neck with sensors to assess the effects of head impacts. This prototype is designed as a new solution to evaluate the neck’s response after suffering the head impact. An overview of existing solutions is reported to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each one briefly. Problems and requirements for prototype design are outlined to guide to a solution with commercial components. A prototype is developed, and its operating performance is evaluated through a lab test. Several tests are worked out considering the biomechanics involved in the most common accidents of head-neck impacts. Results show a response on the prototype similar to an actual human neck. Future improvements are also outlined for better accurate responses considering the results from the lab test. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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12 pages, 1000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Combined Balance Exercises and Kinesio Taping on Balance, Postural Stability, and Severity of Ankle Instability in Female Athletes with Functional Ankle Instability

by Sara Mahmoudzadeh Khalili, Amir Hossein Barati, Rafael Oliveira and Hadi Nobari

Life 2022, 12(2), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12020178 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6899

Abstract

Ankle sprain is a common musculoskeletal injury, and recurrent ankle sprains often lead to ankle instability. This study aimed to examine whether a 6-week balance training on a wobble board (WB) combined with kinesio taping (KT) is effective in improving balance, postural stability, and ankle stability among female athletes with functional ankle instability (FAI). Twenty-four female athletes with FAI were randomly assigned to study (SG) or control groups (CG). SG attended a 6-week training protocol of combined balance training on the wobble board with KT applied to ankles during exercise. CG only went through a 6-week balance training procedure that was the same as the SG. Before and after the training program, balance and postural stability and the severity of ankle instability were assessed by single-leg Biodex Balance system and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT), respectively. The analysis revealed that the scores of balance and postural stability decreased after the 6-week training for CG (p = 0.002) and SG (p = 0.001), which indicates an improvement for these variables, and the score of CAIT increased, which means the severity of instability reduced (p = 0.001 for both groups). Significant between-group differences were found for balance and postural stability (t = 2.79, p = 0.011, g = −1.99) and the severity of instability (t = 2.082, p = 0.049, g = 1.36), favoring SG compared with CG. This study showed that the addition of KT to balance training is more effective than balance training alone in improving balance, postural stability, and severity of ankle instability in female athletes with FAI. Our findings could provide a preliminary reference for designing combined balance and KT programs for delivering health benefits to females with FAI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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18 pages, 4335 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Comparison of In Vivo Intradiscal Pressure between Sitting and Standing in Human Lumbar Spine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Jia-Qi Li, Wai-Hang Kwong, Yuk-Lam Chan and Masato Kawabata

Life 2022, 12(3), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12030457 - 20 Mar 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5340

Abstract

Background: Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent today. Disc degeneration could be one of the causes of non-specific LBP, and increased intradiscal pressure (IDP) can potentially induce disc degeneration. The differences in vivo IDP in sitting and standing postures have been studied, but inconsistent results have been reported. The primary objective of this systematic review is to compare the differences in vivo IDP between sitting and standing postures. The secondary objective of this review is to compare effect size estimates between (1) dated and more recent studies and (2) healthy and degenerated intervertebral discs. Methods: An exhaustive search of six electronic databases for studies published before November 2021 was conducted. Articles measuring in vivo IDP in sitting and standing postures were included. Two independent researchers conducted the screening and data extraction. Results: Ten studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the systematic review, and seven studies with nine independent groups were included in meta-analyses. The sitting posture induces a significantly higher IDP on the lumbar spine (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI = [0.33, 1.41]) than the standing posture. In studies published after 1990 and subjects with degenerated discs, there are no differences in vivo IDP between both postures. Conclusions: Sitting causes higher loads on the lumbar spine than standing in the normal discs, but recent studies do not support this conclusion. Furthermore, the degenerated discs showed no difference in IDP in both postures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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5 pages, 529 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Botulinum Toxin Injection for Painful Adductor Pollicis Contracture after Thumb Carpometacarpal Resection Arthroplasty

by Matthias Holzbauer, Gerhard Großbötzl and Stefan Mathias Froschauer

Life 2022, 12(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/life12010110 - 13 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3438

Abstract

Pollux adductus deformity is an accompanying symptom of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. We describe a case of a patient who presented with increased muscle tone of the adductor pollicis muscle and chronic pain in the thenar musculature, i.e., recurrence of an adduction deformity. The patient reported a symptom-free period of 5.5 years after having received resection-suspension-arthroplasty for stage IV thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis until spasmodic pain appeared. Due to the functional impairment of this condition, we administered therapy including 100 units of Botox^® (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan, Dublin, Ireland) injected with a fanning technique into the adductor pollicis muscle. Thus, we observed a substantial improvement in the patient-reported outcome measures as well as pain levels compared with initial values. The current case shows the pivotal role of the adductor pollicis muscle when patients report pain at the base of the thumb, which can cause considerable impairments despite the complication-free surgical treatment of thumb CMC OA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Biomechanics of Injury and Rehabilitation)

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