Trunk Torsion Research Articles

A Biomechanical Evaluation of the Upper Limb Kinematic Parameters of the Throwing Action in Handball: A Case Study

Handball is a team sport that involves fourteen players who are attempting to score more goals than their opponent within two thirty-minute halves. A biomechanical analysis based on measuring the kinematics of jump throws could provide us with information on the ball’s velocity, the maximal internal rotation of the trunk, and the trunk’s flexion, as well as the angular velocity of the ball during shoulder rotation. The main aim of this study was to determine the wrist velocity during jump throws and standing throws without a run-up. The trunk, arm rotation, and wrist velocity will influence the speed of the ball during throwing. This case study included a senior-grade male handball player aged 18.75 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 25.5. The biomechanical evaluation was carried out using a three-dimensional Vicon system. The biomechanical analysis consisted of an evaluation of angular trunk velocity, angular arm rotation velocity, and wrist velocity during two types of throwing: jump throws and standing throws without a run-up. The data were recorded for standing throws without a run-up (S1) and jump throws (S2). For each situation, we measured two phases due to the great variation in the kinematic parameters. Phase 1 (F1) occurred when the elbow angle was 90°, up to the moment when the wrist had an inflection of its trajectory, and Phase 2 (F2) finished when the wrist’s velocity reached its maximum. The results regarding the angular velocity of the trunk torsion showed a high value of this parameter during Phase F2 compared to Phase F1 for both types of throws (S1 and S2). The angular velocity of the arm rotation achieved its maximum value in F2 during S2, and the wrist velocity was highest during Phases F2 and S2. The correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a good correlation between the angular velocity of the trunk torsion and the angular velocity of the arm rotation for S1 in Phase F1; however, in Phase F2, we found a good correlation between the angular velocity of the trunk torsion and wrist velocity. For S2, we found that in Phase F1, there was a good correlation between the angular velocity of the trunk torsion and wrist velocity; however, for Phase F2, there was a good correlation between the angular velocity of the arm’s rotation and wrist velocity. Therefore, the results from this case study indicate that the wrist velocity is influenced by the other two kinematic parameters, especially the angular velocity of the arm’s rotation. This means that the development of explosive force in the muscles of the trunk and arm could improve the wrist’s velocity and also increase the optimization of throwing in handball.

Trunk Alignment in Physically Active Young Males with Low Back Pain.

Background: Systematic physical activity has become an essential part of the guidelines for the prevention and treatment of low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to assess differences in trunk alignment parameters with regard to the level of physical activity in groups of individuals with and without LBP. Methods: 43 participants with LBP and 37 healthy persons were recruited. Participants were divided into two subgroups: (1) students with a moderate level of physical activity (MPA); (2) students with a high level of physical activity (HPA). An original questionnaire was used to assess the prevalence of LBP. The spinal posture was measured using the Formetric 4D rasterstereographic system. Results: There were no significant differences between groups for any of the parameters assessed: trunk imbalance, trunk inclination, trunk torsion, pelvic tilt, pelvic inclination, pelvic torsion, kyphotic angle and lordotic angle. Conclusions: There are no differences in trunk alignment parameters in the sagittal, frontal and transversal planes between physically active males with and without LBP. Therefore, it can be assumed that physical activity may reduce the risk of the deterioration of trunk alignment in males with LBP younger than 25 years.

Effect of incremental intensities on the spinal morphology and core muscle activation in competitive cyclists

ABSTRACT Cycling is a sport where cyclists predominantly adopt a sitting posture, with the trunk tilted forward. This posture requires a high volume of training and duration in several intensities of effort. This study aims to: 1) evaluate the behaviour of the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion and sacral inclination in the sagittal plane, the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion in the frontal plane, and the trunk torsion in the transverse plane; 2) compare the activation of the core muscles as the intensity of effort increases during an incremental test in cycling, and 3) identify which core muscle has a greater activation in each intensity zone. The spinal posture and the activation of the eight core muscles were evaluated in twelve competitive cyclists during incremental cycling intensities. Thoracic and lumbar spine flexion and sacral inclination statistically increased as the intensity of effort increased (Start < VT1 < VT2 < VO2max). A significant increase in muscle activation was observed in all core muscles evaluated as the intensity increased. The rectus abdominis showed statistically significant greater muscle activation than the other core muscles evaluated. In conclusion, as the intensity of effort in cycling increases, cyclists significantly increase the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion, the sacral inclination in the sagittal plane, the thoracic and lumbar spine flexion in the frontal plane, trunk rotation in the transverse plane, as well as the activation of the core muscles.

The Relationship Between the Shape of the Spine and the Width of Linea Alba in Children Aged 6-9 Years. Case-Control Study.

IntroductionCivilization development coupled with contemporary lifestyle leads to a systematic increase in postural disorders. An analysis of factors that may provoke postural disorders indicates that such a stimulus may be the diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles. Moreover, abnormal activity of the rectus abdominis muscles may affect balance disorders through reduced spinal stabilization and disturbed body statics. There is an increase in body posture abnormalities between the ages of 6 and 9 related to new school duties.Purpose of the StudyThe purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the shape of the spine and the width of the linea alba in children aged 6–9 years.Material and MethodThe study was designed to evaluate parameters determining the shape of the spine, and the width of the linea alba in healthy children aged 6–9 years. The study participants were divided into two groups based on the width of the linea alba. The study group with the width of the linea alba >10 mm and the control group with the width of the linea alba ≤ 10 mm. The study group were included 37 children and the control group 24 children. The examination of the linea alba width was performed by a radiology specialist using a linear transducer and SAOTE- My Lab Classc-type ultrasound at rest and during contraction of the rectus abdominis muscles. Parameters describing the shape of the spine were measured using the Diers Formetric 4D system: trunk inclination, trunk imbalance, pelvis tilt, pelvic torsion, kyphotic apex, lordotic apex, kyphotic angle, lordotic angle, rotation angle, trunk torsion, lateral deviation. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using a Paired t test for comparison of differences between the results in the study and control groups and Pearson's test to assess the correlation between the width of the linea alba and parameters describing spinal alignment.ResultsIn both groups, the parameters describing the shape of the spine did not differ from the norms accepted as typical for the age norm. The only statistically significant difference between the study and control group concerned the trunk inclination, which was negative in the study group, signifying a shift of the entire spine axis backwards beyond the vertical.ConclusionsThere is a correlation between the shape of spine and the width of the linea alba in terms of selected parameters determining the body posture in the sagittal plane, which concern: the position of the lumbar lordotic apex, trunk inclination and the depth of the lumbar lordotic angle. The width of the linea alba is not explicitly related to abnormalities of pelvic and spinal alignment in the frontal and transverse planes.

A New Spinal Reflex Movement in Brain Death: Undulating Axial Trunk Torsion.

Brain death is defined as the irreversible cessation of function of the brain, brain stem, and medulla oblongata, despite the persistent respiration and circulation supported by mechanical ventilation. The determination of brain death is important with outcome prediction and organ transplantations. Spinal reflexes can be seen in patients with brain death and created confusion about the diagnosis of brain death for patients’ families, which cause delay or refusal of deceased-donor organ donation. We present here a new dramatic spinal movement after tapping stimulation which should be recognized to avoid unnecessary testing and confusion for clinicians and family members. A 31-year-old woman presented with sudden severe headache to our hospital. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed acute intraventricular hemorrhage. Her CT angiography showed a pseudoaneurysm at the end of left posterior pericallosal artery, puff-of-smoke collaterals at the M1 segment of right middle cerebral artery and at end of left internal carotid artery. A lumbar drainage was placed on the admission day. Two days later, her headache remained severe, and brain CT showed that her ventricular system was still filled with blood. An external ventricular drain was placed at the anterior horn of her right lateral ventricle. Six days later, she developed coma, and all her brain stem reflexes became absent. Brain CT showed increased intraventricular hemorrhage. Twenty days later, transcranial doppler and electroencephalogram proved brain death, and she passed the apnea test as well. All the procedures of brain death determination (clinical assessments and ancillary examinations) were conducted twice at an interval of 24 hours to confirm the death of brain. The timeline of her disease course and the results of relevant ancillary examinations were provided in Figures S1 through S3 and Table S1, SDC, https://links.lww.com/TP/C308. She was noted to have dramatic undulating axial trunk torsion and myoclonus in response to tapping stimulation at right shoulder (Figure 1). After tapping stimulation, the patient undulatingly twisted her abdomen towards the right with her chest and head moving to the left, and then she twisted her abdomen towards the left with her chest and head moving to the right. Myoclonus occurred after it and lasted for several seconds. Movements of undulating axial trunk torsion recurred in the end. The whole motor response to tapping stimulation lasted for about 10 seconds. This spinal reflex movement was seen for 8 days, from the 10th day after the absence of brain stem reflexes until 4 days after the confirmation of brain death when the patient was discharged upon request of family members.FIGURE 1.: Movement pattern. After tapping stimulation, the patient undulatingly twisted her abdomen towards the right with her chest and head moving to the left (①), and then she twisted the torso in the opposite way (②). Subsequently, myoclonus occurred (③), and movements of undulating axial trunk torsion repeated in the end.The exact mechanism for spinal reflexes in brain death remains unclear. These basic spinal reflex movements have been thought to be caused by modulatory afferents to these spinal cord centers and the absence of cortical inhibition.1 Some reflex movements evoked during the apnea test, such as Lazarus sign, might be due to hypoxic stimulation of cervical spinal cord neurons functionally isolated from rostral brain areas.2 Plantar flexion, myoclonus, triple flexion reflex, and pronator extension reflex are the common spinal reflexes in brain death.3 Lazarus sign is a rare complex movement consisting of bilateral arm flexion to chest, shoulder adduction, and hand crossing, which can be seen in 1.5% of brain-dead patients.4 Here, we reported another dramatic complex spinal movement of undulating axial trunk torsion which involves deep back muscles. The organ donation did not occur after determination of brain death due to the concern and refusal of family members. This reflex movement was not reported before and should be recognized to avoid uncertainty for families and failure in organ donation.5,6

Investigation of the Relationship Between Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis and Disordered Spinal and Pelvic Morphology.

IntroductionA critical question is the causal relationship between hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA) and disordered spinal and pelvic morphology. The aim of this study is to examine this correlation. Therefore, we studied the effect of total hip or knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) on truncal parameters to determine the causal relationship between these two situations.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective study of the effect of THA or TKA in patients with hip or knee OA on truncal morphological parameters. Patients with one-sided hip or knee OA who chose to undergo THA or TKA were enrolled and surveyed. A control group (CG) was also surveyed for comparison with the patients. The patients were preoperatively examined for truncal parameters using the Diers Formetric four-D analysis system (surface topography technique) to calculate several truncal parameters in all planes at four months and 12 months postoperatively. Measurable examinations were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.00 (SPSS Inc., Chicago), and statistical significance was set at a p-value of <0.05.ResultsThe study examined 34 patients who underwent THA, including 19 women and 15 men with a mean age of 67.62 ± 8.28 years. The study also examined 45 patients who underwent TKA, including 34 women and 11 men, with a mean age of 72.42 ± 7.0 years. These patients were also compared with a CG that consisted of 25 normal individuals, including 12 women and 13 men, with a mean age of 69.28 ± 10.11 years.The results of this study from four months after THA revealed that the lordotic angle, trunk torsion, pelvic inclination, pelvic obliquity, and pelvis rotation were improved to normal levels. At 12 months after THA, only the pelvic obliquity was improved to normal levels. At four months after TKA the lordotic angle, pelvic inclination, and pelvic obliquity were improved to normal levels. However, the fleche cervicale and vertebral rotation were worse. At 12 months after TKA, only the pelvic obliquity was improved to normal levels.ConclusionsTHA and TKA to correct hip and knee OA do not correct the disordered morphology of the trunk in the long term. Thus, hip or knee OA does not seem to be responsible for disordered trunk morphology. However, it cannot be ruled out whether the disturbed morphology is responsible for the appearance of the hip and knee OA.

Technical analysis of adaptive neuron fuzzy intelligent system in tennis serve

Serving is the most important hitting technique in tennis, and a good service receiving can instantly reverse the active and passive relationship between serve and receive on the tennis court, and control the rhythm of the court. The purpose of this study is to use an adaptive neuron fuzzy intelligent system to analyze some techniques of tennis serve. In this study, eight male players from the school tennis team were selected as the experimental subjects, whose sports level was above the national tennis level II. Ten weeks before the simulation test, the training time and frequency of 8 subjects were the same. In other words, 5 times a week, 2.5 hours±0.5 hours. The work engineering of adaptive fuzzy system firstly, in the off-line modeling stage, the adaptive fuzzy system uses the rule self splitting technology to generate the initial fuzzy rules, and uses the improved adaptive neural network algorithm to optimize the calculation; then according to the error between the system input and the predicted output, the independent variable is adjusted and replaced; at the same time, the adaptive fuzzy system is further used for calculation In the process of tennis serving, the nonlinear control variables are obtained online and applied to the fuzzy system for control. Next, in the experiment, the system was used to record the body’s movement and service scores during service. The experimental results show that during the service process, the maximum trunk torsion amplitude can reach 48.26 ° and the minimum is only 5.41 ° and the service score accounts for 81.41% and 80.47% of the total scores of the two sections respectively. This shows that the fuzzy system in this study can effectively analyze the service posture and score of athletes. It is concluded that the accurate calculation and analysis of tennis serve by adaptive neuron intelligent fuzzy system in this study is conducive to improve the tennis serviceability and competition performance of players. This research has made a certain contribution to the intellectualization of sports.

Ergonomic intervention on a packing workstation with robotic aid -case study at a furniture manufacturing industry.

Several risk factors among packing lines workers can lead to Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) occurrence. Foreseeing WRMSD prevention and productivity increase, some furniture manufacturing industries have been investing in the adoption of robotic solutions. In this field, ergonomics plays an important role to verify if automation implementation has been successful. This study aims to address the general impact and effectiveness from an ergonomics point of view of the implementation of a robotic aid in a packing workstation. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was applied to 14 workers of semi-automated packing lines. Some additional questions about occupational conditions were included. In order to assess the ergonomic impact of the robotic aid, Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) was also applied by trained ergonomists, by analyzing the considered packing workstations before and after the adoption of the robotic aid proposed solution. The results showed that trunk torsion was the most highlighted WRMSD risk factor by all workers, associating it with the lumbar pain. The obtained RULA scores demonstrated that the adoption of a robotic aid eliminated this risk factor and, consequently, reduced the corresponding WRMSD risk. The adoption of robotic aids can be instrumental in reducing WRMSD risk in furniture manufacturing industries. Ergonomic studies with workers' participatory approaches seem to be an appropriate strategy to enable the validation and development of industrial robotic solutions.

Relating the Diers formetric measurements with the subjective severity of acute and chronic low back pain

Background contextNonspecific low back pain (LBP) is a common disorder with a high economic, social and psychological burden. Many systems have been developed for evaluating the severity of LBP, though these are mainly based on scoring questionnaires for the functional status of the patients. Objective quantifiable methods relating LBP with anthropometric factors are scarce. PurposeTo find the correlates of nonspecific LBP with spine shape variables and demographic characteristics. To investigate the possible relationship between the latter and the result of a questionnaire subjectively quantifying the severity of LBP. Study Design/SettingThis is a pragmatic observational prospective cohort study. Patient sample218 subjects participated in this study. A first group of participants were 160 patients consulting at an osteopathic outpatient clinic for back pain complaints. The second group consisted of 58 healthy pain-free volunteers. Outcome measuresThe Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to quantify the degree of functional impairment due to low back pain. The surface topography of the back was registered statically with the Diers-4D formetric® system. MethodsMultivariate analyses of the DIERS 4D formetric system recordings in the subjects with or without nonspecific, acute or chronic LBP. ResultsDifferent patterns between female and male subjects were found. Age, coronal and sagittal imbalance correlated with LBP in female subjects, whereas pelvic inclination, the trunk torsion and apical deviation correlated with LBP in male. Multivariate analyses allowed creating an algorithm to predict the functional disability (predicted LBP-score, PLBP), based on the above variables for females and males. Logistic stepwise regression analysis indicated the probability of a patient having a LBP-score above or below ODI 20 (P= <0.0001), which is considered the clinically relevant threshold value for justifying absence from work. ConclusionsIn this study LBP was correlated with spine shape variables leading to an algorithm predicting the functional disability of a patient due to LBP. Discrepancies between the model and the ODI result may suggest elements that are clinically relevant.

Osteopathic approach with a patient undergoing cardiac transplantation: the five diaphragms.

The case report presents a patient with a possible neuropathic sternal pain associated with a recent heart transplant procedure. The patient could not breathe deeply and move the upper limbs, with a trunk torsion, feeling a sharp pain under and around the left breastbone. A fascial osteopathic approach in the treatment of the pelvic floor, the respiratory diaphragm, the thoracic outlet, the tongue and the tentorium cerebelli allowed the patient to access to a cardiovascular rehabilitation program. In osteopathic medicine, these anatomical parts of the body are called the five diaphragms. To our best knowledge, this is the first case report that uses osteopathic treatment in a patient with sternal pain associated with an undergoing cardiac transplantation. The clinical importance of the case report is added to other osteopathic research with patients undergoing cardiac surgery (coronary artery bypass graft) and with multiple benefits, without side effects. One of the main goals of osteopathic treatment is to provide the patient with well-being, from many clinical points of view, allowing the person to be discharged from the hospital more quickly and/or with less pain.

Carga física biomecánica durante el levantamiento manual de cargas: un caso de estudio en estibadores portuarios en Colombia

Workload related to material handling is one of main biomechanical risks that cause work related musculoskeletal disorderat work. The aim of this study wasto assess the risk factors for biomechanical loading present at carried out tasks by port stevedores. First, we made a diagnosis using the risk assessment matrix (RAM) then; we evaluated the biomechanical risk using the NIOSH lifting equation (Compound method). The results were a high level of unacceptable risk at the beginning and at the end of the task (scored 4.22 and 8.50 respectively). Subsequently, we made a correlation analysis between this scored and the musculoskeletal discomfort perceived by stevedores. From this analysis, it is evident that there is a direct relation between lifting vertical distance, trunk torsion, and the increase of musculoskeletal lesions suffered by the dockers. Finally, we proposed some methods to improve the activities of filling and emptying containers and minimize the manual material handling.

Study the Effect of Dexamethasone on the External morphology features at different Embryonic Developmental stages in the Swiss Albino Mice Embryos.

The current study was conducted for the period from September 2015 until August 2016 in college of Education for Pure Sciences - University of Thi- Qar, this study aimed to fallow the changes on the External morphology features at different Embryonic Developmental stages when the pregnant mice treated with different doses of Dexamethasone (Dex). Use In the current study, sixty pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups and each group of 15 pregnant mice. Given the members of each group specific dose of Dex and at different time periods, while the control group injected with a solution of Normal Saline 0.9%, all animals received doses used by tail intravenous injection until the end of the time periods specified. The treatment of animals under the same conditions were determined dose based on body weight, according to what is stated in the pharmaceutical constitutions. The results of statistical analysis at the level of probability (p<0.05) to different doses Dexamethasone show there is an negative effects on mice embryo's body weights and the lengths increase with increasing of number and doses concentrations. using of different doses of Dex showed various changes on general external morphological features and congenital malformation in embryos of treated mothers included: Death of embryos , Letter C Shape Embryos , Head hemorrhage , placenta damage , Neural Tube Defect, Trunk Torsion, curved head , Brain hypertrophy , Liver Hypertrophy , swelling , Short nostril and limbs, Convoluted Tail, Oedema ,Wrinkled skin, absent fingers and eyelids, Crooked pave, Short toes, Seal legs appearance , Tail congestion , Bulging eyes.

Efficacy of the use of the McKenzie and Vojta methods to treat discopathy-associated syndromes in the pediatric population.

This paper evaluates the efficacy of using the McKenzie and Vojta methods for patients with low back pain and the use of the DIERS Formetric 4D system as an objective diagnostic tool. The study enrolled 28 patients aged 15-17 years old. The patients were hospitalized at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Świętokrzyskie Center for Pediatrics in Kielce with a diagnosis of back pain associated with a discopathy. The patients were rehabilitated according to the McKenzie and Vojta methods. Assessment by means of the DIERS Formetric system had taken place before the first therapy session and on the day that pain was eliminated to evaluate trunk inclination, angle of thoracic kyphosis, angle of lumbar lordosis, lateral deviation, trunk torsion, surface rotation and pelvic obliquity. Pain intensity and change in pain intensity over time were assessed by means of a numerical rating scale. Pain intensity was reduced to 0 over 3-12 days. The study participants demonstrated reduction in anterior trunk inclination of the mean value at 1.83°. The angle of thoracic kyphosis was also reduced by 7.95°. The angle of lordosis increased by 7.6°. The lateral spinal curvature was reduced by 8.92 mm. There was a reduction of 4.64° in trunk torsion. Surface rotation was reduced by 1.61° and pelvic obliquity was reduced by 3.78°. In discopathic patients, postural parameters comprising trunk inclination, angle of thoracic kyphosis, angle of lumbar lordosis, lateral deviation, trunk torsion, vertebral rotation and pelvic obliquity fail to reach Hartzmann's physiological reference ranges. A therapeutic intervention based on the Vojta and McKenzie methods may normalize the posture to physiological reference ranges and is effective in the treatment of patients with back pain. The DIERS system is an objective tool for tracing the effects of therapy in patients with back pain. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):33-41.

Rasterstereographic Analysis of Lateral Shift in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Control Study.

Objective Detection of a lateral shift (LS) in patients with diagnosed disc herniation compared to healthy controls. Summary of Background Data A specific lateral shift (LS) pattern is observed in patients with disc herniation and low back pain, as shown in earlier studies. Methods Rasterstereography (RS) was used to investigate the LS. Thirty-nine patients with lumbar disc herniation diagnosed by radiological assessment and low back pain and/or leg pain (mean age 48.2 years, mean BMI 28.5, 28 males and 11 females) and 36 healthy controls (mean age 47.4 years, mean BMI 25.7, 25 males and 11 females) were analysed. LS, pelvic tilt, pelvic inclination, lordotic angle, and trunk torsion were assessed. Results The patient group showed a nonsignificant increase in LS, that is, 5.6 mm compared to the healthy controls with 5.0 mm (p = 0.693). However, significant differences were found between groups regarding pelvic tilt in degrees (patients 5.9°, healthy controls 2.0°; p = 0.016), trunk torsion (patients 7.5°, controls 4.5°; p = 0.017), and lordotic angle (patients 27.5°, healthy controls 32.7°; p = 0.022). The correlation between pain intensity and the FFbH-R amounted 0.804 (p = < 0.01), and that between pain intensity and the pain disability index was 0.785 (p < 0.01). Discussion Although some studies have illustrated LS with disc herniation and low back pain, the present findings demonstrate no significant increase in LS in the patient group compared to healthy controls. Conclusion The patients with lumbar disc herniation did not demonstrate an increased LS compared to healthy controls. Other parameters like pelvic tilt and inclination seemed to be more suitable to identify changes in posture measured by RS in patients with low back pain or disc herniation.

Kinematics of the thorax and pelvis during accelerated sprinting.

This study aimed to describe changes in thoracic and pelvic movements during the acceleration phase of maximal sprinting, and to clarify which kinematic variable relates to better accelerated sprinting performance. Twelve male sprinters performed 60-m sprints, during which three-dimensional step-to-step changes in thoracic and pelvic angles, as well as the trunk quasi-joint angle, were obtained throughout a 50-m distance. The patterns of thoracic and pelvic movements were maintained throughout the entire acceleration phase, although the phase profiles of the relative movements between the thorax and pelvis in three planes differed. Increase in peak thoracic and pelvic tilt angles terminated (-10.3° and 3.2° from the vertical line) and trunk extension range (≈21.7°) decreased from the 13th-15th steps. Moreover, thoracic and pelvic obliquity angles decreased from 15.3° and 8.8°, and conversely, rotation angles increased to 23.5° and plateaued (≈16°), during the entire acceleration phase. Moreover, smaller inclination of the thorax and deeper inclination of the pelvis, smaller rotations of the pelvis and trunk quasi-joint and greater thoracic obliquity during the initial section (to the 4th step), deeper inclination of the pelvis during the middle section (to the 14th step), and smaller trunk torsion and thoracic obliquity during the final section in the entire acceleration phase of sprinting were associated with increases in running speed. The results suggest that sprint acceleration toward maximal speed is not performed with only proportional increases in magnitudes of trunk movements, and important factors for better sprint acceleration performance alter with increasing running speed.

Tonic Investigation Concept of Cervico-vestibular Muscle Afferents.

Introduction Interdisciplinary research has contributed greatly to an improved understanding of the vestibular system. To date, however, very little research has focused on the vestibular system's somatosensory afferents. To ensure the diagnostic quality of vestibular somatosensory afferent data, especially the extra cranial afferents, stimulation of the vestibular balance system has to be precluded. Objective Sophisticated movements require intra- and extra cranial vestibular receptors. The study's objective is to evaluate an investigation concept for cervico-vestibular afferents with respect to clinical feasibility. Methods A dedicated chair was constructed, permitting three-dimensional trunk excursions, during which the volunteer's head remains fixed. Whether or not a cervicotonic provocation nystagmus (c-PN) can be induced with static trunk excursion is to be evaluated and if this can be influenced by cervical monophasic transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (c-TENS) with a randomized test group. 3D-video-oculography (VOG) was used to record any change in cervico-ocular examination parameters. The occurring nystagmuses were evaluated visually due to the small caliber of nystagmus amplitudes in healthy volunteers. Results The results demonstrate: no influence of placebo-controlled c-TENS on the spontaneous nystagmus; a significant increase of the vertical nystagmus on the 3D-trunk-excursion chair in static trunk flexion with cervical provocation in all young healthy volunteers (n = 49); and a significant difference between vertical and horizontal nystagmuses during static trunk excursion after placebo-controlled c-TENS, except for the horizontal nystagmus during trunk torsion. Conclusion We hope this cervicotonic investigation concept on the 3D trunk-excursion chair will contribute to new diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives on cervical pathologies in vestibular head-to-trunk alignment.

The vestibular craniovertebral joints

The significance of cervical proprioception for human balance has thus far not been sufficiently elucidated. The aim of this study was to provoke selective cervico-vestibular stimulation using the trunk excursion test (TET) we ourselves constructed. This chair is designed to enable evaluation of cervico-ocular reactions during isolated trunk excursion and possible effects of aging. The previously used head excursion test (HET) was statistically compared to the TET. In both methods, 100healthy subjects of two age groups (group(26): median age= 26years, n= 50; group(50): median age= 50years, n= 50) were randomized for comparison of similar neck-to-trunk-positions. HET enabled detection of significant nystagmus modulation in horizontal and vertical dimensions; whereas in pure cervical stimulation using the new TET, this was only evident in the horizontal dimension and only during trunk torsion. Comparison of the two methods confirmed significantly stronger nystagmus modulation through head excursion. In terms of the HET, group(50) showed significantly more vertical nystagmus activity than group(26). However, no significant difference was found between the groups in terms of their reactions to trunk excursion in the TET. In agroup-specific comparison of the methods, group(26) showed asignificant increase in horizontal nystagmus in head compared to trunk excursion, whereas group(50) generally displayed asignificantly greater response to provocation by head excursion in HET. Analysis of the significant vertical nystagmus modulation produced with the TET method showed predominance of upbeat- (UBN) over downbeat-nystagmus (DBN). Through head excursion with the HET, DBN was more frequently evoked in group(50) than in group(26). No significant age-dependent difference could be derived in UBN. The results of the pilot study indicate that head-to-trunk provocation is asuitable means of evaluating cervicotonic provocation nystagmus. Only by evaluation of adequate excursion limits and consistent analysis of patients with cervical deficiency can the effects of the method be further assessed.

Gait assymetry and trunk torsion in scoliotic girls

Gait assymetry and trunk torsion in scoliotic girls

Intra- and Interday Reliability of Spine Rasterstereography

To determine intra- and interday reliability of spine rasterstereographic system Formetric 4D with and without reflective markers. Twenty-six healthy volunteers (M group) had two markers placed in correspondence of vertebra prominens and intergluteal cleft, and 24 volunteers (NM group) were assessed without markers. All participants were analyzed two times in the same day and one time on a separate day. Trunk length, kyphotic angle, lordotic angle, pelvic inclination, kyphotic and lordotic apex, right and left lateral deviation, flèche cervicale and lombaire, trunk imbalance, pelvic tilt, inflection point, rotation correction, right and left surface rotation, pelvic torsion, and trunk torsion were measured. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach Alpha (Cα) were calculated. In M group, for intra-, interday, and overall evaluations, the higher reliability coefficients were 0.971, 0.963, and 0.958 (ICC) and 0.987, 0.983, and 0.985 (Cα) for trunk length, kyphotic angle, and lordotic apex, respectively; while in NM group, they were 0.978, 0.982, and 0.972 and 0.989, 0.991, and 0.991 for trunk length. In M group, the lower values were 0.598, 0.515, and 0.534 (ICC) and 0.742, 0.682, and 0.784 (Cα) for trunk and pelvic torsion and in NM group 0.561, 0.537, and 0.461 and 0.731, 0.695, and 0.729 for left lateral deviation. The reliability of most parameters was excellent.

Clinical Evaluation of the Pre and Post Operative Anterior Chest Wall Contour in Thoracic Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Similar spinal deformities in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) usually accompany different anterior chest wall appearance. The surgical correction of the deformed chest wall is quite elusive despite excellent Cobb angle reduction. We wonder if the anterior chest wall deformity is independent in the severity on the co-development of spinal curvature, trunk torsion and vertebral rotation.