Biomedical subjects

K J Kauranen

Publications and source records attributed to K J Kauranen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Motor performance of the foot after Achilles rupture repair.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine some motor performance aspects of the unloaded lower extremity after Achilles tendon rupture repair. The measured motor performance aspects were simple reaction time, choice reaction time, speed of movement, foot tapping speed, and coordination. METHODS: Ninety patients (76 men and 14 women) with total closed Achilles tendon rupture had been operated on a mean of 3.1 years before the measurements. Ninety age and gender-matched control subjects were drawn from a larger reference group from the local population. Age and gender-matched pairs were set up, and the results were compared. The measurements were made with the HPM/BEP-system, which is a multifunctional system designed to measure different motor aspects of the feet, including reaction time, movement speed, tapping speed, and coordination. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the results between the operated and non-operated lower extremities in the patient group a mean of 3.1 years after the operation. When the results were compared between the patient and control groups, no statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, it seems that the measured motor performance functions of the unloaded lower extremity had fully recovered after the Achilles tendon rupture repair in the above mentioned aspects, and the operated patients do not have an increased risk to get reinjury of Achilles tendon because of the lower performance of these motor functions of the lower extremity.

Achilles Tendon↗

PubMed2001

Relationship between extremities in motor performance.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the extremities in different aspects of motor performance, including simple reaction time, choice reaction time, speed of movement, tapping speed, and coordination, i.e., speed of movement/accuracy. 186 healthy randomly selected right-handed subjects (93 men, 93 women; aged 21-70 years) were measured on a test battery of five tests for both hands and feet. Correlations between the extremities in motor performance were highest between hands (r=.71-.80, p<.001) or between feet (r=.57-.88, p<.001) depending on the complexity of response for all subjects. These relations remained at almost the same magnitude even when age was eliminated. Correlations between the upper and lower extremities were lower (r = .40-.62). Correlations between extremities were lower for one age group (21-30 years) than for all subjects (21-70 years). These results showed that the motor performance for the hands is not a very good indicator of the motor performance of the lower extremities, especially in a homogeneous age group, and it seems that the lower extremities should be studied with specific motor performance tests.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

A 10-week strength training program: effect on the motor performance of an unimpaired upper extremity.

OBJECTIVE: Muscle strength training is one of the most common therapy methods in physical therapy programs, and the usual goal of this treatment is to improve muscle strength. Little attention has been paid, however, to the effects of strength training on the other components of motor performance. This study examined the effects of a 10-week strength training program on the motor performance of the hand, including reaction time, speed of movement, tapping speed, and coordination in normal healthy volunteers. DESIGN: Before-after trial. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: Sixteen healthy women volunteers aged 25 to 45 years participated. INTERVENTION: Subjects accomplished a 10-week muscle strength training program of the upper extremities. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Reaction time, speed of movement, tapping speed, and coordination were measured three times on consecutive days, and muscle strength and electromyographic values of the right upper extremity were recorded once before the training period. After the training period, the same measurements were made as before the training. RESULTS: The 10-week strength training decreased choice reaction time by 6% (p < .01) and increased tapping speed by 3% (p < .01) and coordination by 5% (p < .05). Speed of movement increased, but this change was not statistically significant. All the measured isometric muscle strengths and electromyographic activations upon maximum isometric contraction increased. CONCLUSIONS: A 10-week strength training of the upper extremities increased muscle strength and some motor performance functions of the hand, including choice reaction time, tapping speed, and coordination.

Adult↗