Regulation of angular impulse during two forward translating tasks

Angular impulse generation is dependent on the position of the total body center of mass (CoM) relative to the ground reaction force (GRF) vector during contact with the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine how backward angular impulse was regulated during two forward translating tasks. Control of the relative angle between the CoM and the GRF was hypothesized to be mediated by altering trunk-leg coordination. Eight highly skilled athletes performed a series of standing reverse somersaults and reverse timers. Sagittal plane kinematics, GRF, and electromyograms of lower extremity muscles were acquired during the take-off phase of both tasks. The magnitude of the backward angular impulse generated during the push interval of both tasks was mediated by redirecting the GRF relative to the CoM. During the reverse timer, backward angular impulse generated during the early part of the take-off phase was negated by limiting backward trunk rotation and redirecting the GRF during the push interval. Biarticular muscles crossing the knee and hip coordinated the control of GRF direction and CoM trajectory via modulation of trunk-leg coordination.     

Lower extremity control during turns initiated with and without hip external rotation

The pirouette turn is often initiated in neutral and externally rotated hip positions by dancers. This provides an opportunity to investigate how dancers satisfy the same mechanical objectives at the whole-body level when using different leg kinematics. The purpose of this study was to compare lower extremity control strategies during the turn initiation phase of pirouettes performed with and without hip external rotation. Skilled dancers (n=5) performed pirouette turns with and without hip external rotation. Joint kinetics during turn initiation were determined for both legs using ground reaction forces (GRFs) and segment kinematics. Hip muscle activations were monitored using electromyography. Using probability-based statistical methods, variables were compared across turn conditions as a group and within-dancer. Despite differences in GRFs and impulse generation between turn conditions, at least 90% of each GRF was aligned with the respective leg plane. A majority of the net joint moments at the ankle, knee, and hip acted about an axis perpendicular to the leg plane. However, differences in shank alignment relative to the leg plane affected the distribution of the knee net joint moment when represented with respect to the shank versus the thigh. During the initiation of both turns, most participants used ankle plantar flexor moments, knee extensor moments, flexor and abductor moments at the push leg׳s hip, and extensor and abductor moments at the turn leg׳s hip. Representation of joint kinetics using multiple reference systems assisted in understanding control priorities.     

Mechanical demand and multijoint control during landing depend on orientation of the body segments relative to the reaction force.

The purpose of this study was to determine how diverse momentum conditions and anatomical orientation at contact influences mechanical loading and multijoint control of the reaction force during landings. Male collegiate gymnasts (n=6) performed competition style landings (n=3) of drop jumps, front saltos, and back saltos from a platform (0.72 m) onto landing mats (0.12 m). Kinematics (200 fps), reaction forces (800 Hz) and muscle activation patterns (surface EMG, 1600 Hz) of seven lower extremity muscles were collected simultaneously. Between-task differences in segment orientation relative to the reaction force contributed to significant between-task differences in knee and hip net joint moments (NJM) during the impact phase. During the stabilization phase, ankle, knee, and hip NJMs acted to control joint flexion. Between-task differences in muscle activation patterns indicated that gymnasts scaled biarticular muscle activation to accommodate for between-task differences in NJM after contact. Activation of muscles on both sides of the joint suggests that impedance like control was used to stabilize the joints and satisfy the mechanical demand imposed on the lower extremity. Between-subject differences in the set of muscles used to control total body center of mass (TBCM) trajectory and achieve lower extremity NJMs suggests that control of multijoint movements involving impact needs to incorporate mechanical objectives at both the total body and local level. The functional consequences of such a control structure may prove to be an asset to gymnasts, particularly when required to perform a variety of landing tasks under a variety of environmental constraints.     

The effects of sloped surfaces on locomotion: backward walking as a perturbation

The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity kinetics and muscle activity during backward slope walking to clarify the relationship between joint moments and powers and muscle activity patterns observed in forward slope walking. Nine healthy volunteers walked backward on an instrumented ramp at three grades (-39% (-21 degrees ), 0% (level), +39% (+21 degrees )). EMG activity was recorded from major lower extremity muscles. Joint kinetics were obtained from kinematic and force platform data. The knee joint moment and power generation increased significantly during upslope walking; hip joint moment and power absorption increased significantly during downslope walking. When compared to data from forward slope walking, these backward walking data suggest that power requirements of a task dictate the muscle activity pattern needed to accomplish that movement. During downslope walking tasks, power absorption increased and changes in muscle activity patterns were directly related to the changes in the joint moment patterns. In contrast, during upslope walking tasks, power generation increased and changes in the muscle activity were related to the changes in the joint moments only at the 'primary' joint; at adjacent joints the changes in muscle activity were unrelated to the joint moment pattern. The 'paradoxical' changes in the muscle activity at the adjacent joints are possibly related to the activation of biarticular muscles required by the increased power generation at the primary joint. In total, these data suggest that changing power requirements at a joint impact the control of muscle activity at that and adjacent joints.     

The role of intersegmental dynamics during rapid limb oscillations

The interactive dynamic effects of muscular, inertial and gravitational moments on rapid, multi-segmented limb oscillations were studied. Using three-segment, rigid-body equations of motion, hip, knee and ankle intersegmental dynamics were calculated for the steady-state cycles of the paw-shake response in adult spinal cats. Hindlimb trajectories were filmed to obtain segmental kinematics, and myopotentials of flexors and extensors at each of the three joints were recorded synchronously with the ciné film. The segmental oscillations that emerged during the paw-shake response were a consequence of an interplay between active and passive musculotendinous forces, inertial forces, and gravity. During steady-state oscillations, the amplitudes of joint excursions, peak angular velocities, and peak angular accelerations increased monotonically and significantly in magnitude from the proximal joint (hip) to the most distal joint (ankle). In contrast to these kinematic relationships, the maximal values of net moments at the hip and knee were equal in magnitude, but of significantly lower magnitude than the large net moment at the ankle joint. At both the ankle and the knee, the flexor and extensor muscle moments were equal, but at the hip the magnitude of the peak flexor muscle moment was significantly greater than the extensor muscle moment. Muscle moments at the hip not only acted to counterbalance accelerations of the more distal segments, but also acted to maintain the postural orientation of the hindlimb. Large muscle moments at the knee functioned to counterbalance the large inertial moments generated by the large angular accelerations of the paw. At the ankle, the muscle moments dominated the generation of the paw accelerations. At the ankle and the knee, muscle moments controlled limb dynamics by slowing and reversing joint motions, and the active muscle forces contributing to ankle and knee moments were derived from lengthening of active musculotendinous units. In contrast to the more distal joints, the active muscles crossing the hip predominantly shortened as a result of the interplay among inertial forces and gravitational moments. The muscle function and kinetic data explain key features of the complex interactions that occur between central control mechanisms and multi-segmented, oscillating limb segments during the paw-shake response.     

Fatigue effects on the coordinative pattern during cycling: Kinetics and kinematics evaluation

The aim of the present study was to analyze the net joint moment distribution, joint forces and kinematics during cycling to exhaustion. Right pedal forces and lower limb kinematics of ten cyclists were measured throughout a fatigue cycling test at 100% of PO_MAX. The absolute net joint moments, resultant force and kinematics were calculated for the hip, knee and ankle joint through inverse dynamics. The contribution of each joint to the total net joint moments was computed. Decreased pedaling cadence was observed followed by a decreased ankle moment contribution to the total joint moments in the end of the test. The total absolute joint moment, and the hip and knee moments has also increased with fatigue. Resultant force was increased, while kinematics has changed in the end of the test for hip, knee and ankle joints. Reduced ankle contribution to the total absolute joint moment combined with higher ankle force and changes in kinematics has indicated a different mechanical function for this joint. Kinetics and kinematics changes observed at hip and knee joint was expected due to their function as power sources. Kinematics changes would be explained as an attempt to overcome decreased contractile properties of muscles during fatigue.     

Power and work produced in different leg muscle groups when rising from a chair

The aim of this study was to determine the power output and work done by different muscle groups at the hip and knee joints during a rising movement, to be able to tell the degree of activation of the muscle groups and the relationship between concentric and eccentric work. Nine healthy male subjects rose from a chair with the seat at knee level. The moments of force about the hip and knee joints were calculated semidynamically. The power output (P) and work in the different muscle groups surrounding the joints was calculated as moment of force times joint angular velocity. Work was calculated as: work = f Pdt. The mean peak concentric power output was for the hip extensors 49.9 W, hip flexors 7.9 W and knee extensor 89.5 W. This power output corresponded to a net concentric work of 20.7 J, 1.0 J and 55.6 J, respectively. There was no concentric power output from the knee flexor muscles. Energy absorption through eccentric muscle action was produced by the hip extensors and hip flexors with a mean peak power output of 4.8 W and 7.4 W, respectively. It was concluded that during rising, the hip and knee muscles mainly worked concentrically and that the greatest power output and work were produced during concentric contraction of the knee and hip extensor muscles. There was however also a demand for eccentric work by the hip extensors as well as both concentric and eccentric work by the hip flexors. The knee flexor muscles were unloaded.     

Mechanical analysis of the landing phase in heel-toe running.

Results of mechanical analyses of running may be helpful in the search for the etiology of running injuries. In this study a mechanical analysis was made of the landing phase of three trained heel-toe runners, running at their preferred speed and style. The body was modeled as a system of seven linked rigid segments, and the positions of markers defining these segments were monitored using 200 Hz video analysis. Information about the ground reaction force vector was collected using a force plate. Segment kinematics were combined with ground reaction force data for calculation of the net intersegmental forces and moments. The vertical component of the ground reaction force vector Fz was found to reach a first peak approximately 25 ms after touch-down. This peak occurs because, in the support leg, the vertical acceleration of the knee joint is not reduced relative to that of the ankle joint by rotation of the lower leg, so that the support leg segments collide with the floor. Rotation of the support upper leg, however, reduces the vertical acceleration of the hip joint relative to that of the knee joint, and thereby plays an important role in limiting the vertical forces during the first 40 ms. Between 40 and 100 ms after touch-down, the vertical forces are mainly limited by rotation of the support lower leg. At the instant that Fz reaches its first peak, net moments about ankle, knee and hip joints of the support leg are virtually zero. The net moment about the knee joint changed from -100 Nm (flexion) at touch-down to +200 Nm (extension) 50 ms after touch-down. These changes are too rapid to be explained by variations in the muscle activation levels and were ascribed to spring-like behavior of pre-activated knee flexor and knee extensor muscles. These results imply that the runners investigated had no opportunity to control the rotations of body segments during the first part of the contact phase, other than by selecting a certain geometry of the body and muscular (co-)activation levels prior to touch-down.     

Orthoses posted in both the forefoot and rearfoot reduce moments and angular impulses on lower extremity joints during walking

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of orthoses designed to support the forefoot and rearfoot on the kinematics and kinetics of the lower extremity joints during walking. Fifteen participants volunteered for this study. Kinematic and kinetic variables during overground walking were compared with the participants wearing sandals without orthoses or sandals with orthoses. Orthoses increased knee internal abduction moment during late stance and knee abduction angular impulse, and reduced the medial ground reaction force during late stance, adduction free moment, forefoot eversion angle, ankle inversion moment and angular impulse, hip adduction angle, hip abduction moment, and hip external rotation moment and angular impulse (p<0.05). Orthoses decreased the torsional forces on the lower extremity and reduced the loading at the hip during walking. These findings combined with our previous studies and those of others suggest that forefoot abnormalities are critically important in influencing lower extremity kinematics and kinetics, and may underlie some non-traumatic lower extremity injuries.     

Age causes a redistribution of joint torques and powers during gait.

At self-selected walking speeds, elderly compared with young adults generate decreased joint torques and powers in the lower extremity. These differences may be actual gait-limiting factors and neuromuscular adaptations with age or simply a consciously selected motor pattern to produce a slower gait. The purpose of the study was to compare joint torques and powers of young and elderly adults walking at the same speed. Twelve elderly and fourteen young adults (ages 69 and 21 yr) walked at 1.48 m/s over a force platform while being videotaped. Hip, knee, and ankle torques and powers were calculated from the reaction force and kinematic data. A support torque was calculated as the sum of the three joint torques. Extensor angular impulse during stance and positive work at each joint were derived from the torques and powers. Step length was 4% shorter and cadence was 4% higher in elderly adults (both P < 0.05) compared with young adults. Support angular impulse was nearly identical between groups, but elderly adults had 58% greater angular impulse and 279% more work at the hip, 50% less angular impulse and 39% less work at the knee, and 23% less angular impulse and 29% less work at the ankle compared with young adults (t-test, all P < 0.05). Age caused a redistribution of joint torques and powers, with the elderly using their hip extensors more and their knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors less than young adults when walking at the same speed. Along with a reduction in motor and sensory functions, the natural history of aging causes a shift in the locus of function in motor performance.     

Walking on high heels changes muscle activity and the dynamics of human walking significantly

The aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of net joint moments in the lower extremities during walking on high-heeled shoes compared with barefooted walking at identical speed. Fourteen female subjects walked at 4 km/h across three force platforms while they were filmed by five digital video cameras operating at 50 frames/second. Both barefooted walking and walking on high-heeled shoes (heel height: 9 cm) were recorded. Net joint moments were calculated by 3D inverse dynamics. EMG was recorded from eight leg muscles. The knee extensor moment peak in the first half of the stance phase was doubled when walking on high heels. The knee joint angle showed that high-heeled walking caused the subjects to flex the knee joint significantly more in the first half of the stance phase. In the frontal plane a significant increase was observed in the knee joint abductor moment and the hip joint abductor moment. Several EMG parameters increased significantly when walking on high-heels. The results indicate a large increase in bone-on-bone forces in the knee joint directly caused by the increased knee joint extensor moment during high-heeled walking, which may explain the observed higher incidence of osteoarthritis in the knee joint in women as compared with men.     

Effect of landing height on frontal plane kinematics, kinetics and energy dissipation at lower extremity joints

Lack of the necessary magnitude of energy dissipation by lower extremity joint muscles may be implicated in elevated impact stresses present during landing from greater heights. These increased stresses are experienced by supporting tissues like cartilage, ligaments and bones, thus aggravating injury risk. This study sought to investigate frontal plane kinematics, kinetics and energetics of lower extremity joints during landing from different heights. Eighteen male recreational athletes were instructed to perform drop-landing tasks from 0.3- to 0.6-m heights. Force plates and motion-capture system were used to capture ground reaction force and kinematics data, respectively. Joint moment was calculated using inverse dynamics. Joint power was computed as a product of joint moment and angular velocity. Work was defined as joint power integrated over time. Hip and knee joints delivered significantly greater joint power and eccentric work (p<0.05) than the ankle joint at both landing heights. Substantial increase (p<0.05) in eccentric work was noted at the hip joint in response to increasing landing height. Knee and hip joints acted as key contributors to total energy dissipation in the frontal plane with increase in peak ground reaction force (GRF). The hip joint was the top contributor to energy absorption, which indicated a hip-dominant strategy in the frontal plane in response to peak GRF during landing. Future studies should investigate joint motions that can maximize energy dissipation or reduce the need for energy dissipation in the frontal plane at the various joints, and to evaluate their effects on the attenuation of lower extremity injury risk during landing.     

Effects of added trunk load and corresponding trunk position adaptations on lower extremity biomechanics during drop-landings

Although both trunk mass and trunk position have the potential to affect lower extremity biomechanics during landing, these effects are not well understood. Our overall hypothesis stated that both trunk mass and trunk position affect lower extremity biomechanics in landing. Thus, our purpose was to determine the effects of an added trunk load and kinematic trunk adaptation groups on lower extremity joint kinematics, kinetics, and energetics during drop-landings. Twenty-one recreationally active subjects were instrumented for biomechanical analysis. Subjects performed two sets of eight double-limb landings with and without 10% body weight added to the trunk. On lower extremity dependent variables, 2(condition: no load, trunk load)x2(group: trunk extensors vs. trunk flexors) ANOVAs were performed. Condition by group interactions at the hip showed differing responses to the added trunk load between groups where the trunk extensor group decreased hip extensor efforts ( downward decrease 11-18%) while the trunk flexor group increased hip extensor efforts ( upward increase 14-19%). The trunk load increased biomechanical demands at the knee and ankle regardless of trunk adaptation group. However, the percent increases in angular impulses and energy absorption in the trunk extensor group were 14-28% while increases in the trunk flexor group were 4-9%. Given the 10% body weight added to the trunk, the 14-28% increases at the knee and ankle in the trunk extensor group were likely due to the reduced hip extensor efforts during landing. Overall these findings support our overall hypothesis that both trunk mass and trunk position affect lower extremity biomechanics during vertically oriented landing tasks.     

Joint moments’ contributions to vertically accelerate the center of mass during stair ambulation in the elderly: An induced acceleration approach

Falls are a serious problem faced by the elderly. Older adults report mostly to fall while performing locomotor activities, especially the ones requiring stair negotiation. During these tasks, older adults, when compared with young adults, seem to redistribute their lower limb joint moments. This may indicate that older adults use a different strategy to accelerate the body upward during these tasks. The purposes of this study were to quantify the contributions of each lower limb joint moment to vertically accelerate the center of mass during stair ascent and descent, in a sample of community-dwelling older adults, and to verify if those contributions were correlated with age and functional fitness level. A joint moment induced acceleration analysis was performed in 29 older adults while ascending and descending stairs at their preferred speed. Agreeing with previous studies, during both tasks, the ankle plantarflexor and the knee extensor joint moments were the main contributors to support the body. Although having a smaller contribution to vertically accelerate the body, during stair descent, the hip joint moment contribution was related with the balance score. Further, older adults, when compared with the results reported previously for young adults, seem to use more their knee extensor moment than the ankle plantarflexor moment to support the body when the COM downward velocity is increasing. By contributing for a better understanding of stair negotiation in community dwelling older adults, this study may help to support the design of interventions aiming at fall prevention and/or mobility enhancement within this population.     

Segment-interaction analysis of the stance limb in sprint running

A high angular velocity of the thigh of the stance limb, generated by hip extensor musculature, is commonly thought to be a performance-determining factor in sprint running. However, the thigh segment is a component of a linked system (i.e., the lower limb), therefore, it is unlikely that the kinematics of the thigh will be due exclusively to the resultant joint moment (RJM) at the hip. The purpose of this study was to quantify, by means of segment-interaction analysis, the determinants of sagittal plane kinematics of the lower limb segments during the stance phase of sprint running. Video and ground reaction force data were collected from four male athletes performing maximal-effort sprints. The analysis revealed that during the first-third of the stance phase, a hip extension moment was the major determinant of the increasing angular velocity of the thigh. However, during the mid-third of stance, hip and knee extension moments and segment interaction effects all contributed to the thigh attaining its peak angular velocity. Extension moments at the ankle, and to a lesser extent the knee, were attributed with preventing the 'collapse' of the shank under the effects of the interactive moment due to ground reaction force. The angular acceleration of the foot was determined almost completely by the RJM at the ankle and the interactive moment due to ground reaction force. Further research is required to determine if similar results exit for a wide range of athletes and for other stages of a sprint race (e.g. early acceleration, maximal velocity, and deceleration phases).     

Muscle activation patterns of selected lower extremity muscles during stepping and cutting tasks

Lower extremity muscle activations during crossover and side step cut tasks are hypothesized to play an important role in controlling knee motion, and therefore, impact the design of knee injury prevention and rehabilitation programs. However, the contribution of lower extremity muscles to frontal and transverse plane moments during cutting tasks is unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle activation patterns of selected lower extremity muscles (vastus lateralis, medial/lateral hamstrings and medial/lateral gastrocnemius) of subjects performing a stepping down and side step cut, a stepping down and crossover cut and an equivalent straight ahead task. Ground reaction force was used to determine the cut angle, stance time and compare the lower limb loading during each task. Electromyography data during all tasks were normalized to the average activation during the straight ahead tasks to determine relative changes in muscle activation between the straight ahead and different cut styles (crossover and side step). There were no differences in the pattern of muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, or lateral hamstring muscles when comparing the cutting tasks to the equivalent straight ahead task. However, the crossover cut task resulted in significantly higher muscle activation of the medial hamstrings and lateral gastrocnemius muscles relative to both the side step cut and straight ahead tasks. These results suggest the medial/lateral hamstrings and medial/lateral gastrocnemius play a role in transverse and frontal plane control during cut tasks.     

Coordination of the leg muscles in backlift and leglift.

Net joint moments are often used to quantify the loading of structures (e.g. the intervertebral disc at L5S1) during lifting. This quantification method is also used to evaluate the loading of the knee, for instance, to determine the effect of backlifting as opposed to leglifting. However, the true loading of the joint as derived from net joint moments can be obscured by a possible co-contraction of antagonists. To unravel the mechanisms that determine the net joint moments in the knee, the leglift was compared to the backlift. Although a completely different net knee moment curve was found when comparing the two lifting techniques, it appeared to be closely related to the ground reaction force vector and its orientation with respect to the joint centre of rotation (R > 0.995). This close relation was established by co-contraction of both flexors and extensors of the knee. Furthermore, a close relation appeared to exist between the joint moment difference between hip and knee and the activity difference between rectus femoris muscle and hamstring (R = 0.72 and 0.83 in leglift and backlift, respectively). The knee-ankle joint moment difference and the activity of the gastrocnemius showed a close relation as well (R = -0.89 and 0.96 in leglift and backlift, respectively). These relations can be interpreted as a mechanism to distribute net moments across joints. It is concluded that during lifting tasks the intermuscular coordination is aimed at coupling of joint moments, such that the ground reaction force points in a direction that provides balance during the movement. The use of net joint moments as direct indicators for joint loading (e.g. knee) seems, therefore, questionable.     

膝骨性关节炎患者登梯时下肢肌肉活动和膝关节负荷的分析

目的:分析膝骨性关节炎患者(KOA)登梯时下肢肌群肌电活动与关节角冲量与正常人的差异,为康复方案设计提供生物力学参考。方法:采用Qualisys三维运动分析系统以及Delsys无线表面肌电系统对招募10名符合纳排标准的膝骨性关节炎患者和10名正常人进行登梯活动的步态检测,采用下肢肌群均方根值、股内外侧肌协同收缩比值、股二头肌和股外侧肌共同活动比值和髋、膝关节在冠状面和矢状面上角冲量对比分析与两组登梯时下肢肌群收缩模式对关节负荷的影响。结果:与正常对照相比,上梯时膝骨性关节炎患者股直肌均方根值RMS(Root Mean Square)增大(P0.05),膝骨性关节炎患者股内外侧肌收缩均方根值比值(RMS(Vastus Medialis)VM/(Vastus Lateralis)VL)减小(P0.05),膝骨性关节炎患者腘绳肌与股外侧肌收缩比值(RMS(Biceps Femoris)BF/VL增大(P0.05)。下梯时,膝骨性关节炎患者股直肌均方根值(RMS)增大(P0.05),臀大肌均方根值(RMS)减小(P0.05),股内外侧肌收缩均方根比值(RMS VM/VL)减小(P0.05)。上梯时,膝骨性关节炎患者髋、膝关节冠状面上的关节角冲量大于正常人(P0.05),膝关节在矢状面上关节角冲量大于正常组(P0.05),下梯髋、膝关节冠状面、矢状面上的角冲量无统计学差异(P0.05)。KOA组VM/VL、BF/VL与膝关节在冠状面和矢状面上的角冲量的改变没有直接的相关性(P0.05)。结论:膝骨性关节炎患者在登梯活动时股直肌的收缩活动增加,股内外侧肌的协同收缩下降,主动肌与拮抗肌的共同收缩增加,膝骨性关节炎患者在面对登梯活动时下肢肌群选择性激活和高激活状态协调一致,促进关节稳定。虽然下肢神经肌肉的收缩模式和膝关节负荷之间没有直接的相关性,可能是对膝关节负荷产生影响的生物力学因素较多,神经肌肉的收缩模式只是部分影响因素,后续将增加其他生物力学因素进一步研究。     

Effect of arm swing direction on forward and backward jump performance

This study quantified and compared how the directional differences in arm swing affected mechanical and physiological parameters during forward and backward jumping. Seven subjects maximally performed three types of forward and backward squat jumps-no arm swing (FJ, BJ), forward arm swing (FJF, BJF), and backward arm swing (FJB, BJB) from a force platform. All performances were captured with a 3-D motion capture system. Electromyograms (EMGs) of the lower extremity muscles were obtained. Variables were calculated by combining kinematic and kinetic data. The jump displacement and center of mass velocity at take-off were significantly larger in FJF than in FJ or FJB and larger in BJB than in BJ or BJF, suggesting that the best performance was obtained by employing the same arm swing direction as a given jump direction. The total work by three lower and two upper extremity joints was significantly larger in FJF than in FJ or FJB and larger in BJB than in BJ or BJF. For the lower extremity joints, hip work was the greatest in FJF and BJB. The integrated EMG of the biceps femoris when the hip power was produced was significantly larger in FJF and BJB than under other conditions. These results suggest that if the arm swing direction is the same as a given jump direction, the activation level of the hip extensor is greater to counter large loads which make the hip joint flex during the push-off phase, which result in increased hip extension torque, power, and work.     

Resultant lower extremity joint moments in below-knee amputees during running stance

Resultant flexion/extension lower extremity joint moments of four below-knee amputees running between 2.5 and 5.7 m s-1 were computed during stance on their intact and prosthetic limbs. All subjects wore patellar tendon-bearing prostheses with either a SACH or Greissinger foot component. During stance on the prosthesis, the resultant hip extensor moment on the amputated side was greater in magnitude and duration than its counterpart on the intact limb during its corresponding stance period. Since the artificial foot was planted on the ground, such a moment may help control knee flexion and promote knee extension of the residual limb. For the three subjects whose knees continued to flex at the beginning of stance, there was a dominant extensor moment about the knee joint during stance on the prosthesis. By contrast, for the fourth subject whose knee remained straight or hyperextended throughout stance on the prosthesis, a flexor moment was dominant.