AIM The main goal of this validation study was to evaluate whether lower limb muscle weakness and plantar flexor rate of force development (RFD) related to altered gait parameters in children with cerebral palsy (CP), when weakness was assessed with maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) in a gait related test position. As a subgoal, we analyzed intra- and intertester reliability of t...

BACKGROUND Although selenium plays an important role in muscle function, the relation between circulating selenium and muscle strength in elderly adults has not been characterized. OBJECTIVE The objective was to examine the hypothesis that low plasma selenium is associated with poor muscle strength in older adults. DESIGN We measured plasma selenium and hip, grip, and knee strength in a cro...

The amount of force developed by a muscle is related to many factors including where the muscle operates on its length-tension curve. It is well documented that placing the triceps surae muscle group in a lengthened state (i.e.: near maximal dorsiflexion) elicits maximum plantar flexion torque [1, 2]. Isolated gastrocnemius contracture (IGC) is characterized by limited dorsiflexion with the kne...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE After total knee arthroplasty with conventional surgical approach, more than half of the quadriceps extension strength is lost in the first postoperative month. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) operated with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) results in less operative trauma. We investigated changes in leg-extension power (LEP) in the first month after MIS Oxford UK...

Background. It is unclear whether the clinical use of tibial rotation to measure the strength of the medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings in isolation is based on sound scientific evidence or is simply based on anatomical features. Objectives. To verify the appropriateness of tibial rotation for isolation of the medial hamstrings and lateral hamstrings, the participants performed neutral r...

BACKGROUND Previous studies are contradictory in terms of the function, regeneration potential, insertion point, and cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons after harvest for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. HYPOTHESES In the long term, the tendons will regenerate in most patients with a more proximal point of insertion, the cross-sectional area of the ...

OBJECTIVE Muscle weakness develops rapidly after stroke, adversely affecting motor performance, and contributing to reduced functional ability. While the contributions of structural and functional alterations in skeletal muscle to post-stroke weakness have been well described, the relationship between motor pathway integrity, measured using both radiological and electrophysiological techniques,...

Background: Deficits in upper body movement have received little attention during gait in cerebral palsy (CP) children with crouch gait pattern (CGP).Objective: Purpose of this research is to describe the correlation of trunk movement with the excessive knee flexion and ankle kinematic in CP children with CGP.Methods: Gait analysis data from 57 limbs of diplegic CP children with CGP and 26 limb...

BACKGROUND Musculus gastrocnemius tightness (MGT) can be diagnosed by comparing ankle dorsiflexion (ADF) with the knee extended and flexed. Although various measurement techniques exist, the degree of knee flexion needed to eliminate the effect of the gastrocnemius on ADF is still unknown. The aim of this study was to identify the minimal degree of knee flexion required to eliminate the restric...

A safe rehabilitation exercise for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries needs to be compatible with the normal knee arthrokinematics to avoid abnormal loading on the joint structures. The objective of this study was to measure the amount of the anterior tibial translation (ATT) of the ACL-deficient knees during selective open and closed kinetic chain exercises. The intact and injured knees...