Recent Posters
Purpose: Total Hip Replacements (THR) are a common procedure for older people who suffer from degenerative joint disease. Golf is a very popular leisure sport played by many older Americans including those with THR. Hip torques encountered in a golf swing after THR has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to describe three- dimensional (3D) hip joint torques generated during a golf swinging by those with THR. Methods: Three male amateur golfers who were at least 1 year post THR (ages 59-71 year old and right hand dominant, (2 were left THR) participated. Golf handicap ranged from 16-18. All participants completed the Hip Harris Score. Passive reflective markers were placed on key boney anatomical landmarks. Participants were allowed to warm up prior to testing by performing golf swings. During data collection, participants completed ten swings using a standardized driver. Kinetics and kinematics were captured using a 10 camera Motion Analysis system (Motion Analysis Corp, Santa Rose, CA) and two AMTI (Advanced Medical Technology, Inc., Watertown, MA) forceplates. Inverse dynamics procedure was used to calculate peak hip torques in all three planes. Hip torques were normalized to body weight x height (BW x Ht) and presented as internal torques. Comparisons were made to previously collected similarly aged healthy male golfers (senior group). Results: Average Club head velocity was slower than senior group. Like the senior group, THR golfers exhibited the greatest torque in the sagittal plane .In the frontal plane, all THR golfers demonstrated a lower hip adductor torque on the lead leg compared to the trail leg and compared to senior group. In the transverse plane, those with THR exhibited higher hip external rotation torques compared to the internal rotation torques and compared to the senior group. Conclusion: Three dimensional peak hip torques generated during the golf swing by persons with a THR are greatest in the sagittal plane. THR golfers demonstrated slower club head speed but generated higher hip torques in the transverse plane as compared to those without a THR. Hip external rotation torque was higher in all of the THR compared to the senior group. Clinical Significance: Subjects with a THR may be prone to abnormal forces in the transverse plane during the golf swing. Future studies are needed to determine impact on return to golf decisions following a THR.
Introduction: Stair gait is an activity performed daily. Inherently falls during stair gait continue to be a concern especially for older adults 65 years +. Recently falls have become the most common cause of injury-related deaths in individuals over the age of 75 y.o. Stair descent falls account for 75% of stair falls and also present a greater injury severity. Poor shoes or insoles and lighting condition can contribute to an increased risk of falls during stair locomotion. Stability can be measured using the COM-BOS ‘stability margin’ relationship. Center of pressure (COP), another stability measure,can be calculated from a multi-axis force-plate system. As well, plantar pressure is an important indicator of gait pattern efficiency. Aim: To identify aspects of stair gait that increase the risk of falls. By measuring the COM-BOS ‘stability margin’, the COP and plantar pressure patterns of individuals during stair gait, while modifying insoles and lighting. Methods: Young and older adults will ascend and descend a 4 level staircase, with two imbedded AMTI-force platforms in varying lighting condition (low, normal). Participants will be fitted with standardized footwear with Medi-logic insoles placed under varying hardnesses of insoles. An Optotrak motion capture system will record 12 IRED markers placed on the individual to determine the COM trajectory and BOS of location. Hypothesis: Partipants should demonstrate a greater lateral displacement in the single support phase during dim lighting as opposed to normal lighting. The stability of older adults will be compromised with alteration to the insoles (soft and hard).
Dexterous manipulation relies on modulation of digit forces as a function of digit placement. However, little is known about the sense of position of the finger pads relative to each other. We quantified subjects' ability to match perceived vertical distance between the thumb and index finger pads (dy) of the right hand (“reference” hand, Rhand) using the ipsilateral or contralateral hand (“test” hand, Thand) without vision of the hands. The Rhand digits were passively placed non-collinearly (dy = ±30 mm) or collinearly (dy = 0 mm). Subjects reproduced Rhand dy by using a congruent or inverse Thand posture. We hypothesized that matching error would be greater (a) for collinear than non-collinear digits positions, (b) when Rhand and Thand postures were not congruent, and (c) when subjects reproduced dy using the contralateral hand. Subjects made greater errors when matching collinear than non-collinear dys, when the posture of Thand and Rhand were not congruent, and when Thand was the contralateral hand. Under-estimation errors were produced only for non-collinear digits positions, when the postures of Thand and Rhand were not congruent, and when Thand was the contralateral hand. These findings indicate that perceived finger pad distance is transferred across hands less accurately than when it is reproduced within the hand and reproduced less accurately when a higher-level processing of the somatosensory feedback is required for non-congruent hand postures. We propose that erroneous representation of finger pad distance, if not compensated for between contact and onset of manipulation, might lead to manipulation performance errors.
2012-2013 $10,000 Academic Scholarship Awardees
The Force and Motion Foundation's $10,000 Academic Scholarship is awarded annually to promising graduate students in fields related to multi-axis force measurement and testing. The 2012-2013 year's subject focus was: orthopedic, cardiovascular and tissue engineering research in which multi-axis measurement or testing plays a significant role.
After considering a large number of well-written and interesting applications from outstanding graduate students, the Force and Motion Foundation is pleased to announce the three awardees of the 2012-2013 $10,000 Academic Scholarship.
United States:
International: