Quantitative feature analysis of continuous analytic wavelet transforms of electrocardiography and electromyography.

Theoretical and practical advances in time-frequency analysis, in general, and the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), in particular, have increased over the last two decades. Although the Morlet wavelet has been the default choice for wavelet analysis, a new family of analytic wavelets, known as generalized Morse wavelets, which subsume several other analytic wavelet families, have been increasingly employed due to their time and frequency localization benefits and their utility in isolating and extracting quantifiable features in the time-frequency domain. The current paper describes two practical applications of analysing the features obtained from the generalized Morse CWT: (i) electromyography, for isolating important features in muscle bursts during skating, and (ii) electrocardiography, for assessing heart rate variability, which is represented as the ridge of the main transform frequency band. These features are subsequently quantified to facilitate exploration of the underlying physiological processes from which the signals were generated.This article is part of the theme issue 'Redundancy rules: the continuous wavelet transform comes of age'.

The effects of weighted skates on ice-skating kinematics, kinetics and muscular activity.

Sport-specific resistance training, through limb loading, can be a complimentary training method to traditional resistance training by loading the working muscles during all phases of a specific movement. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of skating with an additional load on the skate, using a skate weight prototype, on kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activation during the acceleration phase while skating on a synthetic ice surface. 10 male hockey skaters accelerated from rest (standing erect with knees slightly bent) under four non-randomized load conditions: baseline 1 (no weight), light (0.9 kg per skate), heavy (1.8 kg per skate), and baseline 2 (no weight). Skating with additional weight caused athletes to skate slower (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.551), and led to few changes in kinematics: hip sagittal range of motion (ROM) decreased (2.2°; p = 0.032; η2 = 0.274), hip transverse ROM decreased (3.4°; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.494), ankle sagittal ROM decreased (2.3°; p = 0.022; η2 = 0.295), and knee sagittal ROM increased (7.8°; p < 0.001, η2 = 0.761). Overall, weighted skates decreased skating velocity, but athletes maintained similar muscle activation profiles (magnitude and trends) with minor changes to their skating kinematics.

Assessment of Three-Dimensional Trunk Kinematics and Muscle Activation during Cycling with Independent Cranks.

Independent cranks (IC) are recently introduced bicycle cranks that are decoupled; therefore allowing each leg to pedal independent of the other. Despite this introduction, limited research has been conducted assessing biomechanical changes when cycling with IC. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare trunk kinematics and surface electromyography (sEMG) during IC and normal crank (NC) cycling during a graded exercise test to volitional fatigue. Ten healthy, physically active men performed two tests (IC and NC) on a cycling ergometer on separate days. 3D motion capture data of the trunk and pelvis and sEMG of the latissimus dorsi, tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius lateral head, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis and the biceps femoris were collected bilaterally. The first 30 seconds (beginning) and the last 30 seconds (end) of each trial were analyzed with respect to external load (beginning vs end), crank type (IC vs NC) side (left vs right), and phase of the pedal cycle (push vs recovery). Mean load at volitional fatigue in NC (351 W) was significantly greater than IC (318 W; p < 0.001). As external load increased, there was a similar increase in spine flexion angle in the sagittal plane for both NC (8.2°) and IC (4.6°). The NC condition demonstrated significantly greater increase in muscle activation from the beginning to the end than the IC condition in the tibialis anterior, rectus femoris and biceps femoris in the push phase, and the rectus femoris and biceps femoris in the recovery phase. As IC demonstrated less increase in activation, they cause less variation in muscular contraction from beginning to end throughout the full pedal range of motion, yet do not alter gross trunk kinematics. Due to altered muscle activation patterns when cycling with IC, they are proposed as a potentially beneficial training tool to increase training diversity.

Analysis of free moment and center of pressure frequency components during quiet standing using magnitude squared coherence.

To date, no postural studies have investigated the specific relationship between linear (anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML)) postural sway and the free moment (FM) over the range of biomechanically important frequencies. The goal of the current paper is to study the relationship between FM and the AP/ML movements during quiet standing with respect to individual frequencies. Mean squared coherence, which measures the degree of the relationship between two signals as a function of frequency, is employed to address this question. The results showed that, in two conditions (eyes opened and eyes closed), at very low frequencies (<0.5Hz), AP and FM were strongly correlated (>0.8) while there was a weak correlation between ML and FM (∼0.2). The situation reversed from (0.5 to 1.5Hz), with AP/FM correlation decreasing, and ML/FM correlation peaking slightly below 1.0Hz. Both conditions were only weakly correlated beyond 1.5Hz. It is suggested that these observations arise from differences in ankle activation between the left and right sides, whereas at higher frequencies, high coherence between ML and FM is a hip control strategy.

Assessing heart rate variability through wavelet-based statistical measures.

Because of its utility in the investigation and diagnosis of clinical abnormalities, heart rate variability (HRV) has been quantified with both time and frequency analysis tools. Recently, time-frequency methods, especially wavelet transforms, have been applied to HRV. In the current study, a complementary computational approach is proposed wherein continuous wavelet transforms are applied directly to ECG signals to quantify time-varying frequency changes in the lower bands. Such variations are compared for resting and lower body negative pressure (LBNP) conditions using statistical and information-theoretic measures, and compared with standard HRV metrics. The latter confirm the expected lower variability in the LBNP condition due to sympathetic nerve activity (e.g. RMSSD: p=0.023; SDSD: p=0.023; LF/HF: p=0.018). Conversely, using the standard Morlet wavelet and a new transform based on windowed complex sinusoids, wavelet analysis of the ECG within the observed range of heart rate (0.5-1.25Hz) exhibits significantly higher variability, as measured by frequency band roughness (Morlet CWT: p=0.041), entropy (Morlet CWT: p=0.001), and approximate entropy (Morlet CWT: p=0.004). Consequently, this paper proposes that, when used with well-established HRV approaches, time-frequency analysis of ECG can provide additional insights into the complex phenomenon of heart rate variability.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Muscle Activation and Spine Kinematics Through Wavelet Coherence.

Advances in time-frequency analysis can provide new insights into the important, yet complex relationship between muscle activation (ie, electromyography [EMG]) and motion during dynamic tasks. We use wavelet coherence to compare a fundamental cyclical movement (lumbar spine flexion and extension) to the surface EMG linear envelope of 2 trunk muscles (lumbar erector spinae and internal oblique). Both muscles cohere to the spine kinematics at the main cyclic frequency, but lumbar erector spinae exhibits significantly greater coherence than internal oblique to kinematics at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 Hz. Coherence phase plots of the 2 muscles exhibit different characteristics. The lumbar erector spinae precedes trunk extension at 0.25 Hz, whereas internal oblique is in phase with spine kinematics. These differences may be due to their proposed contrasting functions as a primary spine mover (lumbar erector spinae) versus a spine stabilizer (internal oblique). We believe that this method will be useful in evaluating how a variety of factors (eg, pain, dysfunction, pathology, fatigue) affect the relationship between muscles' motor inputs (ie, activation measured using EMG) and outputs (ie, the resulting joint motion patterns).

Neuromuscular fatigue of the knee extensors during repeated maximal intensity intermittent-sprints on a cycle ergometer.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the time course of neuromuscular fatigue during maximal intensity intermittent-sprint cycling. METHODS: Eight participants completed 10, 10-s sprints interspersed with 180 s of recovery. The power outputs were recorded for each sprint. Knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force, voluntary activation, and evoked contractile properties were recorded presprint, postsprint 5, and postsprint 10. RESULTS: Total work over the 10 sprints decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and could be described by 2 linear relationships from sprints 1-5 compared with sprints 6-10. Participants had significantly (P < 0.05) lower MVC and twitch forces postsprint 5 compared with presprint. MVC, voluntary activation, and twitch force were decreased (P < 0.05) postsprint 10 compared with postsprint 5. CONCLUSIONS: The maximal intermittent sprints induced neuromuscular fatigue. Neuromuscular fatigue in the first 5 sprints was mainly peripheral, whereas in the last 5 sprints it was both peripheral and central.

Peak hip and knee joint moments during a sit-to-stand movement are invariant to the change of seat height within the range of low to normal seat height.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have consistently reported that decreasing seat height increases the peak hip and knee joint moments; however, these findings may not apply to biomechanical changes at very low seat heights. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the effect of a large range of seat heights on peak joint moments of the lower limb during a sit-to-stand (STS) movement. METHODS: Eight healthy young subjects participated in this experiment. Each subject was instructed to stand up from six seat heights (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm). Joint moments were calculated with an inverse dynamics method. The sum of the hip and knee joint moments was used as the index to indicate the mechanical load of the STS movement. The effect of seat height on the mechanical load was examined with both analytical and experimental approaches. RESULTS: Through the analytical approach, it was revealed that the mechanical load of STS movements from low and normal seat heights (10 to 40 cm) always reaches its peak at or near the posture in which the thigh is horizontally positioned. This finding indicates that the peak value is invariant between the low and normal seat heights. Similar results were also found in the experimental approach. There were few significant differences in the peak mechanical load and the peak hip and knee joint moments between the low and normal seat heights, while they differed significantly between the low and high seat heights. CONCLUSIONS: This study concluded that, while the peak mechanical load and the peak hip and knee joint moments increase inversely to seat height within the range of high to normal seat height (60 to 40 cm), they are invariant to the change of seat height within the range of low to normal seat height (10 to 40 cm). These findings are useful for the design of chair, the improvement in the evaluation standard of minimum sit-to-stand height tests and the development of new muscular strength test.

The activation time-course of contractile elements estimated from in vivo fascicle behaviours during twitch contractions.

To better understand the cascade from neural activation up to force production within in vivo contracting muscle-tendon units, we estimated activation of contractile elements from experimentally measured human fascicle length change and force using a Hill-type muscle model. The experiment was conducted with respect to twitch contractions of the tibialis anterior muscle at three joint angles. As muscle contractile element force is a function of its length and velocity, the activation of contractile elements was calculated using a Hill-type muscle model and measured data. The results were able to reproduce the continuous rising activation of contractile elements after termination of electromyographic activity, the earlier shift of peak activation in time compared to twitch force, and the differences in time-course activation at three different joint angles. These findings are consistent with the predicted change in the activation of contractile elements from previous reports. Also, the results suggest that the time-course of the activation of contractile elements was greatly influenced by the change in force generating capacities related to both length and velocity, even in fixed end contractions, which could result from muscle-tendon interaction.

A biomechanical study of side steps at different distances.

Lateral quickness is a crucial component of many sports. However, biomechanical factors that contribute to quickness in lateral movements have not been understood well. Thus, the purpose of this study was to quantify 3-dimensional kinetics of hip, knee, and ankle joints in side steps to understand the function of lower extremity muscle groups. Side steps at nine different distances were performed by nine male subjects. Kinematic and ground reaction force data were recorded, and net joint torque and work were calculated by a standard inverse- dynamics method. Extension torques and work done at hip, knee, and ankle joints contributed substantially to the changes in side step distances. On the other hand, hip abduction work was not as sensitive to the changes in the side step distances. The main roles of hip abduction torque and work were to accelerate the center of mass laterally in the earlier phase of the movement and to keep the trunk upright, but not to generate large power for propulsion.

The effects of ankle restriction on the multijoint coordination of vertical jumping.

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of ankle restriction on the coordination of vertical jumping and discuss the influence of energy transfer through m. gastrocnemius on the multijoint movement. Eight participants performed two types of vertical jumps: a normal squat jump, and a squat jump with restricted ankle joint movement. Mechanical outputs were calculated using an inverse dynamics analysis. Custom-made shoes were used to restrict plantar flexion, resulting in significantly (P < .001) reduced maximum power and work at the ankle joint to below 2% and 3%, while maintaining natural range of motion at the hip and knee. Based on the comparison between the two types of jumps, we determined that the ankle restriction increased (P < .001) the power (827 ± 346 W vs. 1276 ± 326 W) and work (92 ± 34 J vs. 144 ± 36 J) at the knee joint. A large part of the enhanced output at the knee is assumed to be due to ankle restriction, which results in the nullification of energy transport via m. gastrocnemius; that is, reduced contribution of the energy transfer with ankle restriction appeared as augmentation at the knee joint.

The minimum required muscle force for a sit-to-stand task.

The purpose of this study was to reveal the minimum required muscle force for a sit-to-stand task. Combining experimental procedures and computational processing, movements of various sit-to-stand patterns were obtained. Muscle forces and activations during a movement were calculated with an inverse dynamics method and a static numerical optimization method. The required muscle force for each movement was calculated with peak muscle activation, muscle physiological cross sectional area and specific tension. The robustness of the results was quantitatively evaluated with sensitivity analyses. From the results, a distinct threshold was found for the total required muscle force of the hip and knee extensors. Specifically, two findings were revealed: (1) the total force of hip and knee extensors is appropriate as the index of minimum required muscle force for a sit-to-stand task and (2) the minimum required total force is within the range of 35.3-49.2 N/kg. A muscle is not mechanically independent from other muscles, since each muscle has some synergetic or antagonistic muscles. This means that the mechanical threshold of one muscle varies with the force exertion abilities of other muscles and cannot be evaluated independently. At the same time, some kinds of mechanical threshold necessarily exist in the sit-to-stand task, since a muscle force is an only force to drive the body and people cannot stand up from a chair without muscles. These indicate that the existence of the distinct threshold in the result of the total required muscle force is reasonable.

The effect of bilateral asymmetry of muscle strength on the height of a squat jump: a computer simulation study.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of bilateral asymmetry of muscle strength on maximal height of the squat jump. A computer simulation technique was used to develop two kinds of 3D human lower limb musculoskeletal model (model-symmetry and model-asymmetry). The total muscle strength of the two models was set to be identical. Bilateral muscle strength was equal in the model-symmetry simulation, while the model-asymmetry simulation was performed with a 10% bilateral strength asymmetry. A forward dynamics approach was used to simulate squat jumps. The squat jumps were successfully generated, producing jump heights of 0.389 m for model-symmetry and 0.387 m for model-asymmetry. The small difference in height (0.5%) indicated that the effect of the 10% bilateral asymmetry of muscle strength on jump height is negligible. With model-asymmetry, the strong leg compensated for the muscle strength deficit of the weak leg. Importantly, the mono-articular and large extensor muscles of the hip and knee joint of the strong leg, including the gluteus maximus, adductor magnus, and vasti, compensated for the muscle strength deficit of the weak leg.

The effect of bilateral asymmetry of muscle strength on jumping height of the countermovement jump: a computer simulation study.

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of bilateral asymmetry of muscle strength on performance (maximal jumping height) of the countermovement jump. In experimental studies, it is impossible to control for muscle strength asymmetry, since it varies widely among individuals. In the current study, we used computer simulation. Two three-dimensional human lower limb neuromusculoskeletal models (model-symmetry and model-asymmetry) were developed. The total muscle strength of the two models was set to be identical. Bilateral muscle strength was set equal in the model-symmetry simulation, while the model-asymmetry simulation was set with a 10% bilateral strength asymmetry. The countermovement jumps were generated successfully, producing jumping heights of 0.416 m for model-symmetry and 0.419 m for model-asymmetry. The small difference in height (0.7%) indicates that bilateral asymmetry by itself does not have a significant effect on jumping performance. With model-asymmetry, the strong leg compensated for the muscle strength deficit of the weak leg by lateral movement of the body to distribute the load proportional to the muscle strength of each leg.

Biomechanical analysis of the relation between movement time and joint moment development during a sit-to-stand task.

BACKGROUND: Slowness of movement is a factor that may cause a decrease of quality of daily life. Mobility in the elderly and people with movement impairments may be improved by increasing the quickness of fundamental locomotor tasks. Because it has not been revealed how much muscle strength is required to improve quickness, the purpose of this study was to reveal the relation between movement time and the required muscle strength in a sit to stand (STS) task. Previous research found that the sum of the peak hip and knee joint moments was relatively invariant throughout a range of movement patterns (Yoshioka et al., 2007, Biomedical Engineering Online 6:26). The sum of the peak hip and knee joint moment is an appropriate index to evaluate the muscle strength required for an STS task, since the effect of the movement pattern variation can be reduced, that is, the results can be evaluated purely from the viewpoint of the movement times. Therefore, the sum of the peak hip and knee joint moment was used as the index to indicate the required muscle strength. METHODS: Experimental kinematics data were collected from 11 subjects. The time at which the vertical position of the right shoulder fell outside three standard deviations of the vertical positions during the static initial posture was regarded as the start time. The time at which the vertical position fell within three standard deviations of the vertical positions during static upright standing posture was regarded as the finish time. Each movement time of the experimental movements was linearly lengthened and shortened through post-processing. Combining the experimental procedure and the post-processing, movements having various movement patterns and a wide range of movement times were obtained. The joint moment and the static and inertial components of the joint moment were calculated with an inverse dynamics method. The static component reflects the gravitational and/or external forces, while the inertial component reflects the acceleration of the body. RESULTS: The quantitative relation between the movement time and the sum of the peak hip and knee joint moments were obtained. As the STS movement time increased, the joint moments decreased exponentially and converged to the static component (1.51 approximately 1.54 N.m/kg). When the movement time was the longest (movement time: 7.0 seconds), the joint moments (1.57 N.m/kg) closely corresponded to the minimum of 1.53 N.m/kg as reported by Yoshioka et al.. CONCLUSION: The key findings of this study are as follows. (1) The minimum required joint moment for an STS task is essentially equivalent to the static component of the joint moment. (2) For fast and moderate speed movements (less than 2.5 seconds), joint moments increased exponentially as the movement speed increased. (3) For slow movements greater than 2.5 seconds, the joint moments were relatively constant. The results of this STS research has practical applications, especially in rehabilitations and exercise prescription where improved movement time is an intended target, since the required muscle strength can be quantitatively estimated.

A comparison of the mechanical effect of arm swing and countermovement on the lower extremities in vertical jumping.

The purposes of this study were to quantify and compare how arm swing and countermovement affect lower extremity torque and work during vertical jumping and to gain insight into the mechanisms that enable the arm swing and countermovement to increase jump height. Five participants maximally performed two types of vertical squat jumps with (SJA) and without (SJ) an arm swing and two types of countermovement vertical jumps with (CJA) and without (CJ) an arm swing. The participants jumped from a force platform and all performances were videotaped with a high-speed video camera (200 Hz). Jump heights, joint torques and work were calculated by combining kinematic and kinetic data. It was found that of the four jumping conditions, the participants jumped highest when they used an arm swing with countermovement (i.e., CJA). The increase of the countermovement jump height with an arm swing is the result of the increase of the lower extremity work. In the hip joint, the increase in torque caused by the countermovement predominantly occurred at the beginning of the propulsion phase, while the increase in torque caused by the arm swing occurred in the rest of the propulsion phase. A key finding of our study is that arm swing and countermovement have independent effects on lower extremity work, and their effects are additive in CJA to produce greater jump height.

Biomechanical behavior of muscle-tendon complex during dynamic human movements.

This paper reviews the research findings regarding the force and length changes of the muscle-tendon complex during dynamic human movements, especially those using ultrasonography and computer simulation. The use of ultrasonography demonstrated that the tendinous structures of the muscle-tendon complex are compliant enough to influence the biomechanical behavior (length change, shortening velocity, and so on) of fascicles substantially. It was discussed that the fascicles are a force generator rather than a work generator; the tendinous structures function not only as an energy re-distributor but also as a power amplifier, and the interaction between fascicles and tendinous structures is essential for generating higher joint power outputs during the late pushoff phase in human vertical jumping. This phenomenon could be explained based on the force-length/velocity relationships of each element (contractile and series elastic elements) in the muscle-tendon complex during movements. Through computer simulation using a Hill-type muscle-tendon complex model, the benefit of making a countermovement was examined in relation to the compliance of the muscle-tendon complex and the length ratio between the contractile and series elastic elements. Also, the integral roles of the series elastic element were simulated in a cyclic human heel-raise exercise. It was suggested that the storage and reutilization of elastic energy by the tendinous structures play an important role in enhancing work output and movement efficiency in many sorts of human movements.

Influence of vision and static stretch of the calf muscles on postural sway during quiet standing.

The purpose of this experimental study was to evaluate the effects of vision and stretching of the calf muscles on postural sway during quiet standing. Under pre-stretch conditions, participants stood on a force plate for 30s and the sway of the ground reaction force center of pressure was recorded. The following postural sway variables were calculated off-line: sweep speed, sway speed, standard deviation, maximal mediolateral range, maximal anteroposterior range, mean mediolateral position and mean anteroposterior position. For post-stretch conditions, participants stood quietly on a device that was utilized to impose a static 3 min ankle joint dorsiflexion stretch. Immediately thereafter, participants moved onto the force platform where postural sway parameters were again recorded. Randomized eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions were tested in both cases. Results showed that postural sway significantly increased due to stretch (sweep speed, sway speed, standard deviation, maximal anteroposterior range, mean anteroposterior position), as well as eye closure (sweep speed, sway speed, standard deviation, maximal mediolateral range, maximal anteroposterior range). The interaction between stretch and eye closure was also significant (sweep speed, sway speed, standard deviation, maximal mediolateral range), suggesting that there were only minor increases in postural sway after stretch under the eyes-open condition. It was suggested that stretching of the calf muscles has the effect of increasing postural sway, although this effect can be greatly compensated for when vision is included.