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Biomedical subjects

D Blanke

Publications and source records attributed to D Blanke.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Spanning set defines variability in locomotive patterns.

The purpose of the investigation was to use the spanning set methodology to quantify variability in locomotive patterns and to compare this method with traditional measures of variability. Subjects ran on a treadmill while sagittal plane kinematic data were collected with a high-speed (180 Hz) camera. Changes in variability were evaluated as the subject ran barefoot and in shoes. Mean ensemble curves for the knee angle during the stance period were created for each condition. From these curves, traditional measures of variability were calculated using the coefficients of variation (CVs), and the mean deviation (MD). Spanning set vectors were defined from the coefficients of polynomials that were fitted to the respective standard deviation curves. The magnitude of the spanning set was determined by calculating the norm of the difference between the two vectors. The normalised difference between the two conditions was 6.6%, 6.9% and 98%, for the MD, CV and spanning sets, respectively. The results indicated that the spanning set was capable of statistically (p < 0.05) determining differences in variability between the two conditions. CV and MD measures were unable to detect statistical differences (p > 0.05) between the two conditions. The spanning set provides an alternative, and sensitive measure for evaluating differences in variability from the mean ensemble curve.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Intralimb coordination following obstacle clearance during running: the effect of obstacle height.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the different coordination strategies used following obstacle clearance during running. Ten subjects ran over a level surface and over obstacles of six different heights (10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20 and 22.5% of their standing height). Analysis based upon the dynamical systems theory (DST) was used and the phasing relationships between lower extremity segments were examined. The results demonstrated that the increasing obstacle height elicited behavioral changes. The foot and the leg became more independent in their actions, while the leg and the thigh strengthened their already stable relationship. The 15% obstacle height seems to be a critical height for the observed changes.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Age and gender effects on postural control measures.

OBJECTIVE: Identifying age-related changes in the postural control system is an important first step towards understanding the risk for falls in older adults. The purpose of this study was to determine whether age or gender had any effects on six relatively new postural control measures. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, 2 x 2 factorial design, representing two ages (younger [20 to 35 years], and older [60 to 75 years]) and both sexes. SETTING: University campus. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four community dwelling healthy adults (12 women, 12 men) participated in each of the younger and older groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome measures included five force platform measures and functional reach (cm). The force platform measures, obtained using the Balance Master system, included movement time and path length to targets, and sway area under conditions of eyes open, eyes closed, and with visual feedback. RESULTS: Although gender was not significant for any outcome measure, age was significant in all six outcome measures. Older adults demonstrated larger areas of sway regardless of condition (eyes open, eyes closed or with visual feedback). Older adults had longer movement times, longer path lengths, and shorter distances of functional reach when compared with younger adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the measures studied are sensitive to age-related changes in healthy elderly.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Flexibility training: ballistic, static or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation?

The effects of stretching techniques on the flexibility of the shoulder, trunk, and hamstring muscles were compared in college men. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: control (n=10), ballistic (n=11), static (n=10), or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) (n=12). Baseline measurements (Leighton flexometer) were obtained on 2 separate days prior to and following a 3-day per week, 6-week flexibility training program. A 4x3 (subject group x muscle group) unweighted mean factorial analysis of variance for the difference scores (post minue pre) revealed significant (p less than 0.05) main effects for the 4 subjects groups and the 3 muscle groups. Post hoc analysis showed that only the PNF group had flexibility increases (10.6 degrees) greater than the control (3.4 degrees), and that the hamstrings (9.4 degrees increase) improved more than the trunk (5.2 degree increase). Furthermore, reliability was generally higher for the post-training scores, and the variability between days was lower for the post-training scores of the shoulder and hamstrings (p less than 0.05). The significant (p less than 0.05) between-day changes in flexibility pre-training confirm the importance of establishing baseline data prior to any training study. The findings indicate that PNF may be the preferred technique for improving flexibility, and that flexibility training results in an increased consistency of flexibility scores.

Adult↗