Biomedical subjects

B P Self

Publications and source records attributed to B P Self.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Ankle biomechanics during four landing techniques.

PURPOSE: An understanding of landing techniques is important for the prevention of injuries in a number of athletic events. There is a risk of injury to the ankle during landings, and the kinematics and forces involved in different landing strategies may be related to the occurrence of trauma. METHODS: In the current study, four drop conditions from a 30.48-cm (12-inch) height were tested. The conditions were a) BN: Bent knee (self-selected), Natural (self-selected) plantar flexor contraction; b) SN: Stiff-knee, Natural plantar flexors; c) SP: Stiff-knee, Plantar flexors absorbing the impact; and d) SH: Stiff-knee, absorbing most of the impact in the Heels. Peak vertical forces and accelerations were measured, and Achilles tendon forces and stiffnesses were calculated. RESULTS: Peak vertical forces and peak tibial accelerations were highest for the SH condition (2418 N and 20.7 G), whereas peak Achilles tendon force was highest for SP drops. The overall average AT stiffness was 166,345 N x m(-1). CONCLUSIONS: The results from the study were used in an extensive cadaver study to investigate ankle injuries. The data from the current study indicate that athletes may not use their full energy absorbing potential in landings during sporting activities.

Achilles Tendon↗

PubMed2001

Prosthetic arm monitoring system using a programmable interface controller.

Children with upper extremity limb deficiency are often prescribed a prosthetic arm to assist with daily function. Three types of prostheses are available: passive, active body-powered, and active myoelectric; costs range from $3,000 to $15,000. Clinicians rely on parent and child feedback regarding the usefulness of the prosthesis, and may assess the child's skill in using the device in a controlled setting. However, these methods do not provide an objective quantification of the wear and use of the device during daily activities. The purpose of this project is to develop a sensor to record the amount of time per day the prosthetic arm is worn, and to count the number of times per day the child activates (closes) the prosthetic hand (or terminal device). The system that has been developed can be integrated unobtrusively into a child's prosthetic arm. A programmable interface controller (PIC) with interface circuitry and memory was developed to record the daily wear pattern and hand usage of the prosthesis at 15-minute intervals. Memory and battery capacities are sufficient to record data over a three-month period. A personal computer interface downloads the collected data and may be used to reprogram the device for different time periods of data collection. All components, including the battery, have a mass of 87 grams and fit inside the forearm cavity of a 9-year old's prosthesis. Controlled trials are underway at Shriners Hospital for Children, Northern California, to determine system reliability.

Arm↗

PubMed2000

A biomechanical analysis of a medial unloading brace for osteoarthritis in the knee.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the study were to measure the force applied to the lateral side of the knee by a valgus loading brace designed for patients with medial compartment osteoarthritis (OA) and to compare the varus moment at the knee during level gait with and without the brace. METHODS: Five subjects diagnosed with medial compartment OA were fitted with a custom Monarch valgus loading knee brace. A 3-dimensional videobased motion analysis system and force plate information were used to calculate forces and moments at the knee. An instrumented condylar bladder was used to determine the force applied to the knee by the brace. The varus moments for the braced and unbraced trials were compared during gait at 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% of stance. RESULTS: The Monarch brace significantly reduced the varus moment at 20% and 25% of stance. The valgus force measured with the custom condylar bladder remained fairly constant throughout the first 80% of the stance phase. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced various moment observed for the braced condition demonstrates the biomechanical function of the brace in 5 subjects and may contribute to a reduction of pain for patients with medial compartment OA.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2000

Ankle biomechanics during impact landings on uneven surfaces.

Inversion sprains of the lateral ligaments of the ankle are one of the most common of all sporting injuries. While the strains in the anterior talofibular (ATFL) and calcaneofibular (CFL) ligaments have been measured in quasi-static conditions, the dynamic strains during an actual traumatic event have not been determined. The present investigation determined the strains and strain rates in the ATFL and CFL during an in vitro inversion sprain. The ATFL tended to have higher strain and strain rate values than the CFL, which may explain why it is more often injured than the CFL.

Ankle Injuries↗

PubMed2000

Pressurized sleeves and gloves for protection against acceleration-induced arm pain.

BACKGROUND: Acceleration (or G) induced arm pain may develop in centrifuge runs and in flight with low arm position and assisted pressure breathing during G (PBG) in combination with an extended coverage anti-G suit. To decrease this arm pain, pressurized sleeves and gloves were developed. METHODS: Eight subjects who earlier exhibited G-induced arm pain were tested on the centrifuge. The G-exposures consisted of a gradual onset run up to a maximum of +9 G2, rapid onset runs to +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, +8, and +9 Gz and a simulated aerial combat maneuver (SACM) with peaks up to +9 Gz. On separate days, the subjects were tested without the sleeves and gloves, and with the sleeves and gloves pressurized to a maximum of 40, 60, or 80 mmHg at +9 Gz. The subjects reported their left and right arm pain on a subjective rating scale. RESULTS: G-induced arm pain, usually starting above +6 Gz, was often the reason for termination of the G-exposure without the pressurized sleeves and gloves. The pressurized sleeves and gloves significantly (p < 0.001) decreased arm pain, put no significant difference was found among the different pressures used. Heart rate was not different with and without the pressurized sleeves and gloves. CONCLUSIONS: The pressurized sleeves and gloves are an effective method to alleviate and sometimes eliminate G-induced arm pain.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Muscle activity in the slalom turn of alpine skiing and in-line skating.

The electromyographic (EMG) activity of seven muscles of the trunk and lower extremity in five male masters level ski racers during a slalom turn in both alpine skiing and in-line skating was recorded using a telemetry system. Measurements were made on separate testing days using slopes commonly used in each activity (24 slope alpine skiing, 5 in-line skating). Qualitative video recorded at 60 Hz was analyzed to partition the turning cycle in both slalom skiing and in-line skating into initiation and turning phases. The EMG data from each turning cycle were normalized to standard isometric contractions (SIC's) for each muscle in order to quantitatively compare the amplitude characteristics of each phase of the turning cycle in both slalom skiing and in-line skating. The turning phase of in-line skating was found to be significantly longer (55%) than in slalom skiing, most likely due to significantly lower subject velocities recorded during in-line skating (8.5 m/s vs 10.2 m/s). All muscles were active at moderate to high levels (48-172% of SIC) during each phase of the turning cycle in both slalom skiing and in-line skating. The EMG amplitude characteristics were similar for six of the muscles in both slalom skiing and in-line skating for each of the turning phases. Only the erector spinae displayed significantly higher average and peak amplitudes in slalom skiing for both phases. It is concluded that the muscle activity patterns associated with the slalom turn of in-line skating are similar but notably more quasi-static than in slalom skiing.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Rotational strength of double-pinning techniques in repair of transverse fractures in femurs of dogs.

Transverse midshaft fractures of femurs from freshly euthanatized dogs were stabilized by means of 6 methods: (1) 3.5-mm bone plate and screws, (2) single intramedullary pin, (3) double intramedullary pins retrograded proximally and driven distally to the level of the femoral trochlea, (4) double intramedullary pins retrograded distally and driven proximally into the trochanteric region, (5) double intramedullary pinning in Rush pin fashion, and (6) multiple intramedullary pinning that filled the medullary cavity at the fracture site. All bones were subjected to torsional stress. The measured strain was converted to forces of torque and correlated with bone diameter to normalize the data. The forces of torque from each fixation technique were compared with each other and with the mean torque force necessary to fracture intact femurs. Torsional shear applied to plated femurs resulted in failure at a mean level of 33.8% of the calculated theoretic moment. Torsional forces were concentrated at one end of the plate and catastrophically failed at that point, whereas the fracture site remained rigidly fixed. There was no significant difference in the initial moment of torsional failure between the single intramedullary pin technique (0.05 Nm) and the double-pinning techniques (0.03 to 0.04 Nm). The multiple-pinning technique was 1.8 to 3 times as effective in resisting rotational forces, compared with the other pinning techniques, but not significantly so.

Animals↗