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Biomedical subjects

Q M Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Q M Huang.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Postural control of the trunk in response to lateral support surface translations during trunk movement and loading.

The postural response to translation of the support surface may be influenced by the performance of an ongoing voluntary task. This study was designed to test this proposal by applying lateral perturbations while subjects handled a load in the frontal plane. Measurements were made of medio-lateral displacement of the centre of pressure, angular displacement of the trunk and thigh in the frontal plane and intra-abdominal pressure. Subjects were translated randomly to the left and right in a variety of conditions that involved standing either quietly or with a 5 kg load in their left hand, which they were required either to hold statically or to lift or lower. The results indicate that when the perturbation occurred towards the loaded left side the subjects were able to return their centre of pressure, trunk and thigh rapidly and accurately to the initial position. However, when the perturbation occurred towards the right (away from the load) this correction was delayed and associated with multiple changes in direction of movement, suggesting decreased efficiency of the postural response. This reduced efficiency can be explained by a conflict between the motor commands for the ongoing voluntary task and the postural response, and/or by the mechanical effect of the asymmetrical addition of load to the trunk.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2001

Intramuscular myoelectric activity and selective coactivation of trunk muscles during lateral flexion with and without load.

STUDY DESIGN: Myoelectric activity of trunk muscles was measured intramuscularly in six healthy subjects as they maintained static trunk postures at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, and 30 degrees of lateral bending, unloaded or holding a 20-kg load in one hand alongside the body. OBJECTIVE: To determine the position and load dependency of the agonistic and antagonistic myoelectric responses of deep and superficial trunk lateral flexor muscles. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Loading of the trunk in lateral bending is associated with incidences of low back pain. The neuromotor control of muscles surrounding the spine may be decisive for its vulnerability. Earlier documentation of the activation pattern of trunk muscles, particularly those situated deeply, is incomplete. METHODS: Trunk angle was measured between S1-C7 and the vertical with a protractor. Electromyographic activity was recorded unilaterally from eight trunk muscles using intramuscular fine-wire electrodes inserted under the guidance of ultrasound. RESULTS: The electromyographic data showed that all muscles on the side contralateral to the load, except rectus abdominis, had their highest activity while loaded in the position most laterally flexed to the loaded side. The degree of bilateral coactivation was greater for the ventral than for the dorsal muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The myoelectric responses of most lumbar trunk muscles to static lateral flexion were dependent on trunk position and loading. The abdominal muscles demonstrated more coactivation than the other trunk muscles, and thus appeared to contribute more to trunk stabilization in laterally bent and loaded trunk positions.

Abdomen↗
PubMed2000

The visible human anatomy of the lumbar erector spinae.

STUDY DESIGN: Image data of the male and female cadavers from the Visible Human Project were visualized and quantified. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the anatomy of the lumbar part of the human lumbar erector spinae muscles. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Recent studies have shown discrepancies in the description of the anatomy of the lumbar part of the lumbar erector spinae. The main differences concern whether lumbar fascicles of iliocostalis lumborum exist and whether the lumbar fascicles have direct attachments to the ilium or attach via the erector spinae aponeurosis. With the Visible Human Project from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, a new powerful basis for anatomic investigation has become available. METHODS: Software was produced to visualize sections oriented in any direction and with maximum resolution of the Visible Human male and female. Three-dimensional coordinates of anatomic structures in the image space could be marked in the cross-sectional images. The geometry and the physiologic cross-sectional areas of the erector spinae fascicles of lumbar origin were thus derived. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The study supports a classification of the lateral fascicles of the lumbar part of the lumbar erector spinae as part of iliocostalis lumborum. In both the male and the female, a large part of the erector spinae fibers of lumbar origin attached to the erector spinae aponeurosis. These results are of importance for biomechanical analysis of force transmission in the lumbar spine.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Trunk muscle strength in eccentric and concentric lateral flexion.

The aim of this study was to investigate the position and velocity dependency of the strength (torque) output of lateral flexor muscles of the trunk. Twelve male volunteers with no history of back pain participated. Movement was constrained to the frontal plane and the velocity was controlled by an isokinetic dynamometer. The eccentric and concentric strength of lateral flexor muscles on the left side was measured in a supine position at velocities of 15, 30, 45 and 60 degrees x s(-1) and static strength at 20, 10, 0, -10 and -20 degrees of lateral trunk flexion. Average peak torque values ranged between 211 and 218 Nm (eccentric) and between 66 and 140 Nm (concentric) over all tested velocities, and the average static torque ranged between 80 and 172 Nm over all tested positions. The shape of the torque position curves was unaffected by speed and peak torque occurred at an average position of 11-15 degrees to the contralateral (right) side in both eccentric and concentric actions. In eccentric actions, torque output was significantly higher than that during concentric and static actions. Increasing the speed of contraction did not affect eccentric torque values, whereas both peak and angle-specific concentric torque decreased with increasing speed. These results are in general accordance with earlier findings from other muscle groups, such as the knee extensors. However, they are partially at variance with results obtained in studies of lateral lifting and lowering, indicating that there are other limiting factors in complex tasks that do not just involve the trunk muscles.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Pulling force in lateral lifting and lowering.

This work investigated maximal voluntary lateral hand pulling force in 18 healthy, habitually active men. Measurements were made in standing at different static angles of lateral trunk flexion, as well as at different constant lifting and lowering velocities. Movement was constrained to the frontal plane, velocity was controlled by an isokinetic dynamometer, pulling force was measured with a strain gauge and overall lateral angular displacement of the trunk by an electrogoniometer. Mean peak pulling force values ranged from 478 to 658 N (static), 291 to 528 N (lifting), and 801 to 911 N (lowering), respectively. The static pulling forces were the highest in flexed positions to the loaded side (10 degrees and 20 degrees trunk angles). In lifting, peak and position-specific pulling force decreased with increasing velocity. Peak lifting force occurred in a flexed trunk position of 7 to 9 degrees to the loaded side. In lowering, pulling forces were significantly higher than during lifting at corresponding velocities and showed less changes with velocity. Peak lowering force occurred at a trunk angle of -7 to -11 degrees, that is towards the unloaded side. In conclusion, maximal voluntary pulling force in the frontal plane was found to be task dependent. Lowering was accompanied by higher forces and a different velocity and position dependency than lifting which, in addition to the fact that the trunk muscles act predominantly eccentrically during the lowering task, may impose an increased risk of injury.

Adult↗