| 1. |
- Andersson, Eva A
(författare)
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EMG and strength in trunk and hip muscles
- 1997
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to study the myouelectric activity of all major muscles involved in the movements and stabilization of the trunk, pelvis and hips during training exercises, postures, motor tasks, maximal strength performance and locomotion. By use of ultra-sound, EMG electrodes could be guided safely and accurately into muscles situated even close to the spinal column, such as psoas, quadratus lumborum and deep parts of erector spinae. A task specific variation in activation levels were seen between muscle synergies, as well as between individual muscles within a synergy. Selective engagement of the abdominal muscles could be achieved in trunk flexion sit-ups, that is lifting only the upper trunk from the floor. An even higher activation of abdominal muscles was needed for static stabilization of the trunk and pelvis during hip flexion sit-ups, whereas single leg lifts were performed without involvement of the abdominal muscles. A selective activation of either the iliacus or psoas muscle was observed, for example in certain types of training exercises and in walking and running. Applying bending moments to the spine, resulted in a grading of the muscle activation response according to mechanical advantage, that is highest in the quadratus lumborum in lateral loading and in the superficial erector spinae in ventral loading. An exception was the most forward flexed position in standing where the superficial erector spinae "relaxed" but quadratus lumborum remained active. In general, the level of EMG in maximal efforts was maintained at the same high level irrespective of position in the range of motion, despite a marked variation in strength output. This position-dependency, as well as the strength values as such, varied in a specific way in groups of athletes, related to previous background. These data contribute to the understanding of muscle function and motor control of the trunk , pelvis and hips. They are also of relevance when evaluating and designing tests and training programs in rehabilitation and sport contexts as well as for improving biomechanical models of spinal loading.
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| 2. |
- Askling, Carl
(författare)
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Hamstring muscle strain
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Acute hamstring strains are common injuries in different sports. They are often serious, causing long rehabilitation times and a proneness for re-injury. Preliminary observations indicate that the injuries can be of at least two types, one occurring during high-speed running and the other during motions where the hamstring muscles reach extreme lengths.Aims: To investigate the possible existence of different types of acute hamstring strains in two specific athletic groups, namely sprinters and dancers, as well as the generality of these findings in other sports.Methods: In the first project, 18 sprinters and 15 dancers with acute first time hamstring strains were prospectively included. All subjects were examined, clinically and with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), on 4 occasions after injury: at day 2-4, 10, 21 and 42. The follow-up period was 2 years. In the second project, 30 subjects from 21 different sports were prospectively included. All subjects were examined clinically and with MRI. The follow-up period lasted until the subjects returned to sport or finished their sport activity due to the injury.Results: All sprinters sustained their injuries during competitive high-speed running. In contrast, all dancers encountered their injuries during slow-speed stretching type of exercises. The initial loss of strength and flexibility was significantly greater in sprinters than in dancers. At 42 days after injury, both groups could perform more than 90% of the test values of the uninjured leg. All the sprinters’ injuries were primarily located in biceps femoris long head, whereas the dancers’ injuries were mainly (87%) involving the proximal free tendon of semimembranosus. For the sprinters, involvement of the proximal free tendon, as estimated by MRI, and proximity to the ischial tuberosity, as estimated both by palpation and MRI, were associated with significantly longer time to return to pre-injury level. In the dancers, there were no significant correlations between clinical or MRI parameters and time to return to per-injury level. The time to pre-injury level was significantly longer (median 50 weeks, range 30-76) for the dancers compared to the sprinters (16, 6-50). In the second project, all injuries occurred during movements reaching a position with combined extensive hip flexion and knee extension. They were all located close to the ischial tuberosity and 83% involved the proximal free tendon of semimembranosus. Fourteen subjects (47%) decided to end their sport activity and for the remaining 16 subjects the median time back to sport was 31 (range 9-104) weeks. There were no significant correlations between clinical and MRI parameters and time to return to sport.Conclusions: There seems to be a link between the injury situation and the two types of acute hamstring strain in sprinters and dancers with respect to clinical findings, injury location, muscles and tissues involved, and time to return to pre-injury level. Proximity of the injury to the ischial tuberosity, as estimated both by palpation and MRI, is associated with longer recovery time. Also in other sports, an injury situation where the hamstrings reach extensive lengths caused a specific injury to the proximal posterior thigh similar to that described in dancers. Due to the prolonged recovery time associated with this type of injury, correct diagnosis based on history, clinical and MRI investigation, and adequate information to the athletes are essential.
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| 3. |
- Bjerkefors, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Deep and superficial abdominal muscle activation during trunk stabilization exercises with and without instruction to hollow.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Manual Therapy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1356-689X .- 1532-2769. ; 15:5, s. 502-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The deepest muscle of the human ventro-lateral abdominal wall, the Transversus Abdominis (TrA), has been ascribed a specific role in spine stabilization, which has motivated special core stability exercises and hollowing instruction to specifically involve this muscle. The purpose here was to evaluate the levels of activation of the TrA and the superficial Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscles during five common stabilization exercises performed in supine, bridging and four-point kneeling positions, with and without instruction to hollow, i.e. to continuously pull the lower part of the abdomen towards the spine. Nine habitually active women participated and muscle activity was recorded bilaterally from TrA and RA with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes introduced under the guidance of ultrasound. Results showed that subjects were able to selectively increase the activation of the TrA, isolated from the RA, with the specific instruction to hollow and that side differences in the amplitude of TrA activity, related to the asymmetry of the exercises, remained even after the instruction to hollow. The exercises investigated caused levels of TrA activation from 4 to 43% of that during maximal effort and can thus be used clinically to grade the load on the TrA when designing programs aiming at training that muscle.
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| 4. |
- Hodges, Paul W, et al.
(författare)
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Intra-abdominal pressure response to multidirectional support-surface translation.
- 2004
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Ingår i: Gait & Posture. - : Elsevier BV. - 0966-6362 .- 1879-2219. ; 20:2, s. 163-70
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A complex response of the trunk muscles occurs to restore equilibrium in response to movement of the support surface. Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is considered to contribute to control of the trunk. This study investigated the contribution of IAP to the postural response to multidirection support-surface translation. IAP was recorded with a thin-film pressure transducer inserted via the nose into the stomach and trunk motion was recorded with an optoelectronic system with markers over the spinous process of L1. A pattern of trunk movement was recorded in response to the support-surface translations that was consistent with a 'hip' strategy of postural control. The trunk moved in a manner appropriate to move the centre of gravity over the new base of support. IAP was increased with movement in each direction, but varied in timing and amplitude between translation directions. In general, the IAP was greater with translations in the sagittal plane compared to the frontal plane and was initiated earlier for translations in the backward direction. These data indicate that IAP contributes to the postural response associated with support-surface translation and suggest that this is consistent with stiffening the spine.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Seger, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of eccentric versus concentric training on thigh muscle strength and EMG.
- 2005
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sports Medicine. - 0172-4622 .- 1439-3964. ; 26, s. 45-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to compare pure eccentric and concentric strength training regarding possible specific effects of muscle action type on neuromuscular parameters, such as a decreased inhibition during maximal voluntary eccentric actions. Two groups of young healthy adult men performed 10 weeks of either eccentric or concentric unilateral isokinetic knee extensor training at 90 degrees.s(-1), 4 sets of 10 maximal efforts, 3 days a week. Knee extensor torque and surface EMG from the quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups were collected and quantified in a window between 30 and 70 degrees knee angle (range of motion 90-5 degrees ) during maximal voluntary eccentric and concentric knee extensor actions at 30, 90, and 270 degrees.s(-1). Changes in strength of the trained legs revealed more signs of specificity related to velocity and contraction type after eccentric than concentric training. No major training effects were present in eccentric to concentric ratios of agonist EMG or in relative antagonist (hamstring) activation. Thus, for the trained leg, the muscle action type and speed specific changes in maximal voluntary eccentric strength could not be related to any effects on neural mechanisms, such as a selective increase in muscle activation during eccentric actions. Interestingly, with both types of training there were specific cross-education effects, that is, action type and velocity specific increases in strength occurred in the contralateral, untrained, leg, accompanied by a specific increase in eccentric to concentric EMG ratio after eccentric training.
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| 7. |
- Seger, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Electrically evoked eccentric and concentric torque-velocity relationships in human knee extensor muscles.
- 2000
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Ingår i: Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. - 0001-6772 .- 1365-201X. ; 169, s. 63-69
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The torque-velocity relationship, obtained during in situ conditions in humans, demonstrates a levelling-off of eccentric torque output at the isometric torque level, at least for knee extensor actions. In contrast, the in vitro force-velocity relationship for animal muscle preparations is characterized by a sharp rise in eccentric force from isometric maximum. A force-regulating 'protective' mechanism has been suggested during maximal voluntary high-tension eccentric muscle actions. To investigate this phenomenon, maximal voluntary and three different levels of submaximal, electrically induced torques were compared during isometric and low velocity (10, 20 and 30 degrees s-1) isokinetic eccentric and concentric knee extensor actions in 10 healthy, moderately trained subjects. Eccentric torque was higher than isometric during electrically evoked, but not during maximal voluntary muscle actions. In contrast, concentric torque was significantly lower than isometric for both maximal voluntary and submaximal, electrically evoked conditions. Comparisons of normalized torques (isometric value under each condition set to 100%) demonstrated that the maximal voluntary eccentric torque had to be increased by 20%, and the isometric by 10% in order for the maximal voluntary torque-velocity curve to coincide with the electrically stimulated submaximal ones. These results support the notion that a tension-regulating mechanism is present primarily during eccentric maximal voluntary knee extensor actions.
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| 8. |
- Seger, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Muscle strength and electromyogram in boys and girls followed through puberty.
- 2000
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Ingår i: European Journal of Applied Physiology. - 1439-6319 .- 1439-6327. ; 81, s. 54-61
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in anthropometric measures and muscle strength that occur during puberty in children from the age of 11 to 16 years. Special attention was paid to possible gender- and muscle action-type-specific alterations in torque/velocity and EMG/velocity characteristics. Sixteen children participated in the study (9 boys and 7 girls). Eccentric and concentric muscle strength was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 45, 90 and 180 degrees x s(-1). Simultaneously, a surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded from the quadriceps muscle. At the age of 11, the boys and girls exhibited equal anthropometric measures and strength performance. In both genders, body measures and muscle strength increased significantly during the 5-year period, with larger increases being recorded for the boys. In addition, the boys increased selectively their eccentric torque per body mass, indicating an action-type-specific change in muscle quality. The general shape of the torque/velocity relationship exhibited an adult-like pattern both before and after puberty, and did not differ between genders. Both pre- and postpuberty, myoelectric activity was generally lower during eccentric than concentric actions, the highest values occurring for both genders in the concentric 180 degrees x s(-1) test. Ratios of eccentric to concentric torque per EMG, which reflect electromechanical efficiency, showed no significant changes with age. A significant velocity- and gender-specific change in electromechanical efficiency was observed at the highest speed at postpuberty, where the ratio for the girls was higher than for the boys.
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| 9. |
- Seger, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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Muscle strength and myoelectric activity in prepubertal and adult males and females.
- 1994
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Ingår i: European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology. - 0301-5548 .- 1432-1025. ; 69, s. 81-87
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The compare children and adults of both genders with respect to torque-velocity, electromyogram (EMG)-velocity and torque-EMG relationships during maximal voluntary knee extensor muscle actions. Four groups of purpose of this investigation was to ten subjects each were studied comprising 11-year-old girls and boys and female and male physical education students (22-35 years). Maximal voluntary eccentric (lengthening) and concentric (shortening) actions of the knee extensors were performed at the constant velocities of 45, 90 and 180 degrees.s-1. Average values for torque and EMG activity, recorded by surface electrodes from the quadriceps muscle, were taken for the mid 40 degrees of the 80 degrees range of motion. The overall shapes of the torque- and EMG-velocity relationships were similar for all four groups, showing effects of velocity under concentric (torque decrease and EMG increase) but not under eccentric conditions. Eccentric torques were always greater than velocity-matched concentric ones, whereas the eccentric EMG values were lower than the concentric ones at corresponding velocities. Torque output per unit EMG activity was clearly higher for eccentric than for concentric conditions and the difference was of similar magnitude for all groups. Thus, the torque-EMG-velocity relationships would appear to have been largely independent of gender and to be fully developed at a prepubertal age.
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| 10. |
- Seger, Jan
(författare)
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Neuromuscular aspects of eccentric knee extensor actions : effects of electrical stimulation, age, gender and training
- 1998
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to study the effects of electrical stimulation, age, gender and training on the torque- and EMG-velocity relationships during eccentric knee extensor muscle actions in man. An isokinetic custom-built dynamometer was evaluated and used throughout the thesis. During maximal voluntary efforts eccentric torque output was similar to isometric and did not change with velocity. Superimposing electrical stimulation onto a maximal effort caused a specific increase in eccentric torque output. Submaximal electrical stimulation alone also produced a relatively higher eccentric than concentric torque. These results indicate the presence of a neural tension-regulating mechanism during maximal voluntary eccentric muscle actions in man. The hypothesis that such a mechanism would be more pronounced in children than adultswas not corroborated by the results from children, pre- and postpuberty. The adult pattern of interdependence between torque, EMG and muscle action type seemed to be established before puberty in both males and females. Comparisons between genders indicated a higher eccentric to concentric ratio of electromechanical eficiency at high velocity in postpuberty and adult females. Training with either pure eccentric or concentric maximal isokinetic muscle actions resulted in mode and velocity specific adaptations, particularly for eccentric training, in peak torque, muscle cross-sectional area, electromechanical efficiency and cross education, that is increase in strength of the contralateral leg. On the other hand, no or only minor training effects were seen on mean torque, muscle fibre morphology, eccentric to concentric EMG ratios and antagonist muscle activity. The expression of net eccentric torque output during maximal voluntary eccentric knee extensor actions have shown several distinct features separating it from concentric and isometric actions. Clarification of the underlying neuromuscular mechanisms remains a challenge for future research.
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