Isokinetics and Exercise Science - Volume 13, issue 3

Authors: Murakami, Masahito | Kato, Junich | Maeda, Noriaki | Takahashi, Kentarou | Furukawa, Hiroshi

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The objective of this study was three-fold: 1. To measure brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) in fifteen stroke patients with hemiplegia (9 males and 6 females; 60±10 years old) 2. To examine changes in baPWV due to rehabilitation by physiotherapy; and 3. To evaluate the effects of an increase in physical activities on baPWV. BaPWV decreased significantly from 1,885±374 before rehabilitation to 1,770±374 cm/sec after rehabilitation (p<0.0005) on the paralyzed side and from 1,714±374 to 1,568±364 …cm/sec (p<0.001) on the non-paralyzed side. The serum total cholesterol level did not evidence significant change. The FIM, which represents the degree of functional independence, increased significantly from 52±21 to 75±29 (p<0.0005). A significant positive correlation (r=0.58, p<0.05) was observed between ΔFIM and ΔbaPWV on the paralyzed side. In stroke patients with motor disorders due to hemiplegia, baPWV was significantly higher on the paralyzed side than on the non-paralyzed side, suggesting a decrease in the arterial extensibility due to motor paralysis. Furthermore, baPWV was improved by rehabilitation, and this improvement was related to an increase in physical activities. It is hence concluded that baPWV may be considered an effective index of the rehabilitation. Show more

Keywords: Stroke, pulse wave velocity, physical activity

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0189

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 165-168, 2005

Authors: Tang, W.-T. | Shung, H.-M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between agonist concentric isokinetic strengths applicable to jump shooting motions and associated performance at different shooting ranges. Twenty-two elite high school basketball players participated in the present study. The accuracy of jump shooting (from the 2-point range to the 3-point range at six distance intervals) was derived from 20 attempts at each distance as an indicator of basketball shooting performance. Subjects also performed four …maximal isokinetic efforts of the dominant knee extensor, shoulder flexor, and elbow extensor at angular velocities of 60, 180 and 300°/s, and of the wrist flexor at 60, 180, and 240°/s. Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between isokinetic strengths and shooting accuracy at varied distances. Two-point shooting performance at 3.225 m was significantly correlated with wrist flexor torque (r=0.67; P<0.05) at the test angular velocity of 60°/s. Three-point shooting performance at 6.75 m was significantly correlated with elbow extensor torques (r=0.74; P<0.05) at the test angular velocities of 180 and 300°/s. We conclude that there is a significant correlation between short distance shooting accuracy and wrist isokinetic strength, and between long distance shooting accuracy and the elbow extensor isokinetic strength. This result suggests that specific isokinetic strength should be stressed in training, which may constrain performance of jump shooting for skilled high school basketball players. Show more

Keywords: Shooting accuracy, isokinetic peak torque, basketball players, long distance, elbow extensor, wrist flexor

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0200

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 169-174, 2005

Authors: Kaygusuz, Akif | Meric, Feray | Ertem, Kadir | Duzova, Halil | Karakoc, Yunus | Ozcan, Cemal

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study, we investigated the effects of different skills of sport on electromyography (EMG) of limb muscles in sportsmen. Two different skill groups of sport consisted of 10 soccer players who use extensively lower limb, and 10 handball, basketball and volleyball players with selectively high usage of the upper limb. Surface EMG (sEMG) were recorded from the abductor pollicis brevis and gastrocnemius muscles of subjects. In addition, Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) were recorded from the lower …limb of participants. EMG findings of two groups were compared with each other and age-sex matched sedentary controls. Amplitude and area of sEMG recorded from gastrocnemius muscle of handball-basketball-volleyball players were significantly higher than those of soccer players (p<0.01 and p<0.05), whereas not significantly different based on the abductor pollicis brevis (p>0.05 in both). F-response of both muscles and H-reflex of handball-basketball-volleyball players were also significantly higher from those of soccer players and control group (p<0.05 for all), whereas only F-response of gastrocnemius muscle of soccer player was significantly lower than that of control group (p<0.05). We conclude that EMG amplitude of gastrocnemius muscle, F-response and H-reflex times of lower limbs increase in handball-basketball-volleyball players due to the nature of training skills. Volleyball, handball or basketball training contributes to neuromuscular differences in both upper and lower extremities more than football training because both extremities are extensively used in these sport categories. Show more

Keywords: Training, electromyography, F-response, H-reflex

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0201

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 175-178, 2005

Authors: Howatson, G. | van Someren, K.A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The aim of this investigation was to examine the intra-subject and group reproducibility of isokinetic muscle function testing and the associated surface electromyography (EMG) signal on repeated days testing. Fifteen subjects who were unfamiliar with isokinetic dynamometry completed maximal isokinetic elbow flexor contractions at 60°/s and 210°/s on five consecutive days. Surface electromyography was recorded from the biceps brachii to examine the electrical activity associated with the peak torque. The intra-subject reproducibility …was moderate for isokinetic torque: mean coefficient of variation (CV) of 8.93% at 60°/s and 9.14% at 210°/s, however the EMG and EMG:torque ratio were somewhat more variable: mean CV of 15.18% and 18.42% at 60°/s, respectively and 11.97% and 14.50% at 210°/s, respectively. The group reproducibility for all variables at both isokinetic speeds were high with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.92 and 0.99. In addition, the group CV for isokinetic peak torque, EMG and EMG:torque ratio for both contraction speeds ranged from 1.47% to 5.12%. These results illustrate that individual subjects can show large day-to-day variations in torque and EMG, however when group data are examined, both torque and the associated EMG activity demonstrate high reproducibility. Practitioners should therefore express caution when interpreting longitudinal changes in an individual's isokinetic data. Show more

Keywords: Reproducibility, isokinetic dynamometry, electromyography

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0202

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 179-186, 2005

Authors: Hill, A.M. | Pramanik, S. | McGregor, A.H.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Background: Measuring isokinetic strength of the shoulder complex is potentially an important clinical tool in both diagnosis and management of injury and pathology. However, a clinically relevant position is yet to be established. Objectives: To establish an appropriate and repeatable protocol to evaluate the functional strength of both internal and external rotators of the glenohumeral joint to enable assessment of clinical injury management and training related developments in upper limb strength. Methods: …A population cross-sectional study of shoulder internal and external rotational strengths of 17 normal, healthy volunteers (11 males, 6 females) aged 21 to 45 years were measured both isokinetically and isometrically. Two test positions: seated and supine, were compared by way of reliability and repeatability analyses. Humeral rotation was performed at 45° of abduction in the scapular plane seated, and at 90° of abduction in the supine position. Results: Throughout concentric testing, when the population was considered as a whole the left shoulder data appeared more repeatable than the right shoulder. This however, was not evident when the study population was divided into single sex groupings. Equally, whilst the repeatability trend of sitting vs. supine position was skewed towards the former, more evident in the left shoulder, this was less apparent when sexes were analysed separately. All comparative measures were statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that measurements of isokinetic shoulder rotation strength are highly prone to both joint specific and non-specific errors. Show more

Keywords: Shoulder, rotator cuff, isokinetic dynamometry, reliability

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0203

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 187-195, 2005

Authors: Caruso, J.F. | Hernandez, D.A. | Porter, A. | Schweickert, T. | Saito, K. | Cho, M. | De Garmo, N.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Volunteers provided data comparing two classes (integrated electromyography, anthropometry) of predictor variables to explain the variance associated with calf press performance done against inertial resistance. Subjects performed three 3-set 10-repetition workouts, each starting with body mass and body surface area determinations. During the first and last repetitions per set, integrated electromyography (IEMG) was collected from the lateral and medial gastrocnemius (LG, MG), and soleus (SOL). Multivariate regression revealed all prediction equations were …significant (p < 0.05). For tenth repetition dependent variables, anthropometry explained more variance than did IEMG; perhaps due to greater series elastic element involvement of the musculotendinous unit, less motor unit recruitment may have occurred. IEMG was generally more correlated to first than tenth repetition dependent variables. Among IEMG variables, SOL data explained more variance seen with tenth repetition concentric variables; yet correlations between dependent measures and MG data were usually high for first repetition eccentric, but low for tenth repetition, variables. The diverse levels of variance explained among independent variable classes illustrate pronounced differences in what they contribute to performance, and within IEMG variables suggests considerable anatomical/histochemical differences among the triceps surae. Show more

Keywords: Triceps surae, series elastic element

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0204

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 197-206, 2005

Authors: Gajdosik, Richard L. | Riggin, Tammy J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Studies have suggested that distance runners have decreased calf muscle-tendon unit (MTU) flexibility, which is related to improved running economy. This study examined the passive elastic properties of the calf MTU of distance runners to test the hypothesis that they have increased passive elastic properties measured in vivo. Ten distance runners (aged 18–21 years) and 10 untrained men (aged 23–28 years) were tested. A Kin-Com® dynamometer stretched the right calf MTU from …plantarflexion (PF) to maximal dorsiflexion (DF) at 5°·s^{-1} (0.087 rad·s^{-1} ) with minimal surface electromyogram activity in the soleus, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior muscles. ANOVA analyses indicated that the maximal DF ROM did not differ between groups, but the maximal passive DF torque (Nm), total absorbed passive elastic energy (area under full stretch curve [°·Nm]) and passive elastic stiffness (Nm·°^{-1} ) within the last 10° of the stretch were greater for the distance runners when controlled for body mass (P⩽0.007). The maximal passive DF torque and the passive elastic stiffness were greater when controlled for PF maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (P⩽0.028). The increased passive resistive properties suggested structural adaptations in the calf MTU, possibly the result of eccentric loading and stretching, which would contribute to improved running economy. Show more

Keywords: Distance runners, passive elastic properties, calf muscle-tendon unit

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0206

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 207-216, 2005

Authors: Cubukcu, Sibel | Alimoglu, M. Kemal | Balci, Nilufer | Beyazova, Mehmet

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Purpose: To determine the effect of foot arch structure on ankle muscle strength. Methods: Forty-seven young female volunteers (94 feet) were classified in to low (LA), high (HA) and normal (NA) arch groups according to their arch ratio (AR) and Chippaux-Smirak index (CSI) values. The distribution of the participants among LA, HA and NA groups did not differ when AR or CSI was preferred for classification. Isokinetic muscle strength of ankle invertor/evertors and plantar/dorsal …flexors was measured by using an isokinetic dynamometer. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation test and ROC curve analysis were used in statistical analyses. Results: A strong correlation was found between AR and CSI values. Significant differences were found in mean strength measurements of ankle muscles in favor of NA group at 120°/s for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, 120 and 150°/s for eversion and at 120°/s for the ratio between ankle inversion and eversion. Sensitivity and specificity rates of muscular strength as an indicator of arch anomalies were low. Conclusion: Normal arched individuals have higher muscular strength values only at faster testing speeds Show more

Keywords: Foot, arch, ankle, muscle, strength

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0209

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 217-222, 2005

Authors: Ertem, Kadir | Harma, Ahmet | Cetin, Aymelek | Elmali, Nurzat | Yologlu, Saim | Bostan, Haci | Sakarya, Bulent

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Measurement of grip strength is an important component in hand evaluation. It assesses the patient's initial limitations and provides a quick reassessment of patient's progress throughout the treatment. This investigation was conducted to examine the determinants of hand dominance of average versus maximum grip strength, body mass index (BMI) and age for hand evaluation. Subjects were 877 apparently healthy male adult volunteers from the Inonu University – students and personnel; average age 21.14±2.09 …(19–40 years). A good correlation was found between the BMI hand strength measures. Grip strength was measured instrumentally. The rule "dominant hand (DH) is approximately 10% stronger than the non-dominant hand (NDH)" was found to be valid for left handed persons only (7%) otherwise these measures should be considered equivalent in both hands. The difference between maximum and average of three consecutive measurement of grip strength was found significant for both hands. As the significant difference was found between RGSmax (Maximum Grip Strength of Right Hand) and RGSav (Average Grip Strength of Right Hand); LGSmax (Maximum Grip Strength of Left Hand)/LGSav (Average Grip Strength of Left Hand) measures for RDH. RGSmax and LGSmax where correlated only for LDH. Therefore, average of three consecutive measurement of grip strength is more consistent for standard hand evaluation. Show more

Keywords: Hand, hand strength, muscle strength, grip, dynamometry

DOI: 10.3233/IES-2005-0210

Citation: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 223-227, 2005