Seven Things to Know about Exercise Classification with Inertial Sensing Wearables.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise monitoring with low-cost wearables could improve the efficacy of remote physicaltherapy prescriptions by tracking compliance and informing the delivery of tailored feedback. While a multitude of commercial wearables can detect activities of daily life, such as walking and running, they cannot accurately detect physical-therapy exercises. The goal of this study was to build open-source classifiers for remote physical therapy monitoring and provide insight on how data collection choices may impact classifier performance. METHODS: We trained and evaluated multi-class classifiers using data from 19 healthy adults who performed 37 exercises while wearing 10 inertial measurement units on the wrist, pelvis, thighs, shanks, and feet. We investigated the effect of sensor density, location, type, sampling frequency, output granularity, feature engineering, and training-data size on exercise-classification performance. RESULTS: Exercise groups (n = 10) could be classified with 96% accuracy using a set of 10 inertial measurement units (IMUs) and with 89% accuracy using a single pelvis-worn IMU. Multiple sensor modalities (i.e., accelerometers and gyroscopes), high sampling frequencies, and more data from the same population did not improve model performance, but in the future data from diverse populations and better feature engineering could. CONCLUSIONS: Given the growing demand for exercise monitoring systems, our sensitivity analyses, along with open-source tools and data, should reduce barriers for product developers, who are balancing accuracy with product formfactor, and increase transparency and trust in clinicians and patients. The open-source data and code are available at https://simtk.org/projects/imu-exercise.

Correction: Isometric versus isotonic exercise in individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy-Effects on shoulder pain, functioning, muscle strength, and electromyographic activity: A protocol for randomized clinical trial.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293457.].

Isometric versus isotonic exercise in individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy-Effects on shoulder pain, functioning, muscle strength, and electromyographic activity: A protocol for randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common shoulder disorder in which the primary treatment is resistance exercises. Isometric exercises are being studied for lower limb tendinopathies but not for rotator cuff tendinopathy. This protocol for a randomized clinical trial aims to compare the effects of two types of exercise (isometric and isotonic) on shoulder pain, functioning, muscle strength, and electromyographic activity in individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy. METHODS: Forty-six individuals (18 to 60 years old) with shoulder pain for more than three months and unilateral supraspinatus and/or infraspinatus tendinopathy will participate in this trial. Individuals will be randomized into two exercise groups: isometric or isotonic. The following outcomes will be evaluated before and after the first session and after six weeks of intervention: shoulder pain and functioning; isometric strength of shoulder elevation and lateral and medial rotation; and electromyographic activity of medial deltoid, infraspinatus, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius. Groups will perform stretching and strengthening of periscapular muscles. The isometric group will perform three sets of 32 s, at 70% of maximal isometric strength. The isotonic group will perform concentric and eccentric exercises (2 s for each phase) in three sets of eight repetitions at a load of eight repetition maximum. The total time under tension of 96 s will be equal for both groups, and load will be adjusted in weeks three and five of the protocol. Treatment effect between groups will be analyzed using linear mixed model. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Trial registration number: Universal Trial Number (UTN) code U1111-1284-7528 and Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry platform-RBR-3pvdvfk.

Markerless motion capture estimates of lower extremity kinematics and kinetics are comparable to marker-based across 8 movements.

Motion analysis is essential for assessing in-vivo human biomechanics. Marker-based motion capture is the standard to analyze human motion, but the inherent inaccuracy and practical challenges limit its utility in large-scale and real-world applications. Markerless motion capture has shown promise to overcome these practical barriers. However, its fidelity in quantifying joint kinematics and kinetics has not been verified across multiple common human movements. In this study, we concurrently captured marker-based and markerless motion data on 10 healthy subjects performing 8 daily living and exercise movements. We calculated the correlation (R xy ) and root-mean-square difference (RMSD) between markerless and marker-based estimates of ankle dorsi-plantarflexion, knee flexion, and three-dimensional hip kinematics (angles) and kinetics (moments) during each movement. Estimates from markerless motion capture matched closely with marker-based in ankle and knee joint angles (R xy ≥ 0.877, RMSD ≤ 5.9°) and moments (R xy ≥ 0.934, RMSD ≤ 2.66 % height × weight). High outcome comparability means the practical benefits of markerless motion capture can simplify experiments and facilitate large-scale analyses. Hip angles and moments demonstrated more differences between the two systems (RMSD: 6.7° - 15.9° and up to 7.15 % height × weight), especially during rapid movements such as running. Markerless motion capture appears to improve the accuracy of hip-related measures, yet more research is needed for validation. We encourage the biomechanics community to continue verifying, validating, and establishing best practices for markerless motion capture, which holds exciting potential to advance collaborative biomechanical research and expand real-world assessments needed for clinical translation.

Preventive effect of tailored exercises on patellar tendinopathy in elite youth athletes: A cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of an intervention with tailored exercises on the incidence of patellar tendinopathy (PT) in elite youth jumping athletes. DESIGN: Prospective crossover cohort. SETTING: One sport club facility. PARTICIPANTS: 271 elite youth basketball and volleyball player were followed in the first year of the study (Observation year) and 270 athletes were followed in the second year (intervention year). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incidence rates of PT per 1,000h of exposure. Cox survival analysis was used to verify the effects of the intervention (exercises implemented according to the findings of a preseason assessment) on PT incidence. RESULTS: The exercise prevention program significantly reduced the number of cases of PT, with athletes submitted to the intervention showing 51% less risk of developing PT. The overall PT incidence in the Observation year (5.9 per 1,000h of exposure) was significantly higher than that in the intervention year (2.8 per 1,000h of exposure) (P = .037). Twenty-six athletes developed PT in the observation year, whereas 13 athletes developed PT in the intervention year. CONCLUSIONS: A tailored preventive program may be able to reduce the incidence of patellar tendinopathy, especially in male youth volleyball athletes. Randomized controlled trials are encouraged to confirm these findings.

Shockwave therapy associated with progressive exercises in rotator cuff tendinopathy: a clinical trial protocol.

The aim of the present study is to determine whether adding shockwave therapy (SWT) to a progressive exercise program improves shoulder pain and function in individuals with rotator cuff tendinopathy (RC tendinopathy). Ninety patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy will be randomly allocated into two groups: active SWT plus a progressive exercise program or placebo SWT plus a progressive exercise program. Primary outcomes will be measured using the Constant-Murley Score function questionnaire and by assessing patient-reported pain intensity with the numerical pain rating scale. The secondary outcomes will be measured using the Global Perceived Effects Scale and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index. All the outcomes will be measured immediately after the end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up.

Does current evidence support the use of kinesiology taping in people with knee osteoarthritis?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current evidence about the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) with different amounts of tension in people with knee osteoarthritis (OA). DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE (via PUBMED), SciELO, COCHRANE Library, Scopus, PEDro, Web of Science and EMBASE were used as search databases. STUDY SELECTION: Two independent researchers searched these databases from inception until June 2020 using the descriptors "kinesiotaping", "kinesio taping", "kinesiotape", "tape", "taping", "kinesiology taping", "kinesiology tape", "kinesthetic taping" or "elastic therapeutic tape" associated with "knee osteoarthritis". We included clinical trials that compared the application of KT with and without tension in people with knee OA. DATE EXTRACTION AND QUALITY ANALYSIS: Data extraction included sample description, KT tension used in the study groups, duration of KT application, area of KT application, outcome measures and study methodological quality. The quality of the studies was evaluated by means of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) score. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 850 studies identified, eight met the inclusion criteria and were ultimately included in this review. Most studies had moderate quality, with a satisfactory PEDro score. Results showed that KT application with tension was not superior to the application without tension for the outcomes of pain, physical function, range of motion and muscle strength. Evidence for edema, balance and quality of life is still limited. CONCLUSION: Current evidence does not support the use of kinesiology taping in people with knee OA.

Dry cupping in the treatment of individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain: a protocol for a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain is a very prevalent condition in the population and cupping therapy has been presented as a frequently used non-pharmacological treatment in this population. However, there is a lack of well-designed studies that evaluate the effects of this technique. This protocol describes a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind study that aims to evaluate the effect of dry cupping therapy on pain, physical function, trunk range of motion, quality of life and psychological symptoms in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Ninety individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain, aged from 18 to 59 years, will be randomised into two groups: intervention group, which will be submitted to dry cupping therapy application with two suctions; and placebo group which will undergo placebo dry cupping therapy. Both applications will occur bilaterally in parallel to the vertebrae from L1 to L5. The application will be performed once a week for 8 weeks. The volunteers will be evaluated before the treatment (T0), immediately after the first intervention (T1), after 4 weeks of intervention (T4) and after 8 weeks of intervention (T8). The primary outcome will be pain intensity, and secondary outcomes will be physical function, lumbar range of motion, patient expectation, overall perception of effect, quality of life and psychological factors. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee of FACISA/UFRN (number: 3639814). The results of the study will be disseminated to participants through social networks and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03909672.

Comparison of the effects of fatigue on kinematics and muscle activation between men and women after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: Studies comparing the effects of fatigue between men and women after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are lacking. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of muscle fatigue on trunk, pelvis and lower limb kinematics and on lower limb muscle activation between male and female athletes who underwent ACL reconstruction. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen recreational athletes (7 males and 7 females) with unilateral ACL reconstruction participated of this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trunk, pelvis and lower limb kinematics and muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, gluteus medius and gluteus maximus were evaluated during a single-leg drop vertical jump landing before and after a fatigue protocol. RESULTS: Females had greater peak knee abduction after fatigue in relation to before fatigue (P = 0.008), and in relation to men after fatigue (P = 0.011). Also, in females, peak knee abduction was greater in the reconstructed limb in relation to the non-reconstructed limb after fatigue (P = 0.029). Males showed a greater mean amplitude of activation of the vastus lateralis muscle after fatigue in relation to before fatigue (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle fatigue produced kinematic alterations that have been shown to increase the risk for a second ACL injury in female athletes.

Forefoot varus predicts subtalar hyperpronation in young people.

BACKGROUND: Subtalar joint hyperpronation is a foot misalignment that has been associated with several musculoskeletal injuries. Forefoot varus is thought to result in subtalar hyperpronation during weightbearing circumstances. However, few studies have aimed to verify whether there is a significant relationship between forefoot alignment and subtalar hyperpronation. Moreover, no study has attempted to verify whether forefoot varus can predict subtalar hyperpronation in young individuals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to verify whether forefoot varus can predict subtalar hyperpronation, measured using the rearfoot eversion angle test, the navicular drop test, and the Foot Posture Index (FPI), in young people. METHODS: Fifty-four healthy adolescents volunteered for this study (28 boys and 26 girls). A single examiner evaluated the forefoot angle, rearfoot angle, navicular drop, and FPI of each participant. Statistical analysis included the Pearson correlation test and a linear regression analysis to establish the relationship between the variables. RESULTS: These results showed a high positive correlation between forefoot varus and rearfoot angle (r = 0.86; P < .001), navicular drop (r = 0.76; P < .001), and FPI (r = 0.82; P < .001). Moreover, the forefoot varus variable was able to predict 74% of the variability in the rearfoot angle, 58% in the navicular drop, and 67% in the FPI (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support previous assumptions that individuals with forefoot varus present subtalar hyperpronation. Clinicians should not overlook forefoot alignment when prescribing foot orthoses for treating patients with foot misalignments.

Relação entre hiperpronação subtalar e lesões do ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho: revisão de literatura / Relationship between subtalar hyperpronation and injuries on the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee: literature review

INTRODUÇÃO: A ruptura do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) é uma lesão severa, que resulta em instabilidade funcional e distúrbios articulares degenerativos. Fatores de risco proximais à articulação do joelho têm sido bastante enfatizados na última década, mas pouca atenção tem sido dada para os fatores de risco distais ao joelho. A hiperpronação subtalar (HS) foi sugerida por alguns autores como possível fator de risco às lesões do LCA, mas as evidências da literatura a respeito são escassas e pouco conclusivas. OBJETIVO: O propósito deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão dos estudos da literatura que avaliaram as alterações de alinhamento da articulação subtalar associadas à lesão do LCA ou associadas a outros fatores de risco conhecidos para essa lesão. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma busca em bases eletrônicas (PubMed, MEDLINE, COCHRANE, Web of Science, PEDro, SciELO, LILACS e EMBASE), compreendendo publicações de 1966 até 2011. RESULTADOS E DISCUSSÃO: Foram encontrados nove estudos clínicos considerados pertinentes ao tema. Desses trabalhos, quatro identificaram HS em indivíduos com lesão do LCA e um apontou correlação entre HS e outros fatores de risco para lesões do LCA. A não identificação de correlação entre essas variáveis nos demais estudos se deve, provavelmente, a diferenças metodológicas nas avaliações. Deve-se ressaltar que a natureza retrospectiva dos estudos encontrados não permite o estabelecimento de causa e consequência nesse contexto. São necessários estudos prospectivos, com mais uniformidade metodológica, para o definitivo estabelecimento da HS como efetivo fator de risco para as lesões do LCA.

INTRODUCTION: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a severe knee injury, leading to functional instability and degenerative joint disease. Risk factors proximal to the knee joint have been highly emphasized in the last decade, but less attention has been focused on risk factors located distal to the knee. Subtalar hyperpronation (SH) has been suggested by some authors as a possible risk factor for ACL injuries, but the evidences regarding this matter are still scarce and inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to carry out a review of literature studies that have performed assessments of the subtalar joint alignment associated to ACL injuries or associated to other known risk factors for this injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search in electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, COCHRANE, Web of Science, PEDro, SciELO, LILACS and EMBASE) was performed from 1966 to 2011. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Nine clinical studies were found to be pertinent to this matter. Among these, four studies have identified SH in subjects with ACL injury and one study has found a correlation between SH and other risk factors for ACL injury. The inexistence of correlation between these variables in the other studies is probably due to methodological differences in the assessments. It should be noted that the retrospective nature of the studies found does not allow the establishment of cause and consequence in this context. Prospective studies, with more methodological uniformity, are necessary for the definitive establishment of SH as an effective risk factor for ACL injuries.

Alterações neuromusculares no quadril associadas a entorses do tornozelo: revisão de literatura / Neuromuscular alterations on the hip associated to ankle sprains: literature review

INTRODUÇÃO: O tornozelo é a articulação mais frequentemente lesada na vida diária e nas atividades esportivas, sendo a entorse em inversão a lesão mais comum, com importantes repercussões funcionais e alto índice de recorrência após um evento de entorse primário. Os efeitos da lesão no tornozelo não se restringem a essa articulação, de modo que alterações na ativação e força da musculatura do quadril têm sido observadas após entorses em inversão do tornozelo. Essas alterações podem modificar o posicionamento do pé no instante do toque do calcanhar no solo, tornando o tornozelo mais suscetível à lesão por inversão. OBJETIVOS: O propósito deste estudo foi realizar uma revisão dos estudos da literatura que analisaram alterações neuromusculares presentes na articulação do quadril associadas a entorses em inversão do tornozelo. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma busca em bases eletrônicas (PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, PEDro, SciELO, LILACS e Embase), do ano de 1966 até 2009, tendo sido encontrados 13 trabalhos considerados pertinentes ao tema. RESULTADOS: Desses estudos, nove observaram alterações de força e/ou recrutamento dos músculos do quadril após entorses do tornozelo, sugerindo-se que as consequências da lesão local manifestam-se também em estruturas proximais no membro inferior, com possível influência na ocorrência de recidivas. Apenas dois trabalhos foram análises prospectivas e não evidenciaram alterações neuromusculares no quadril antes da lesão do tornozelo, sugerindo-se que as alterações de força e/ou recrutamento dos músculos do quadril são provavelmente secundárias à lesão articular distal. CONCLUSÃO: Mais estudos, com maior uniformidade metodológica, são necessários para maior elucidação sobre a questão.

INTRODUCTION: The ankle is the most frequently injured joint both in athletics and daily life, and the inversion sprain is the most common injury with significant functional repercussion, given the high recurrence rate after a primary sprain. The effects of ankle injury are not restricted to that joint and changes in the recruitment and strength of the hip muscles have been found after ankle inversion sprains. These changes may implicate in modified positions of the foot in gait during heel strike, making the ankle more susceptible to inversion injury. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article was to perform a review of the literature studies that have analyzed the neuromuscular alterations of the hip joint associated with ankle inversion sprains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search in electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, PEDro, SciELO, LILACS and Embase) was performed from 1966 to 2009, with 13 studies found to be pertinent to this matter. RESULTS: Among these, nine have found alterations in strength and/or recruitment of the hip muscles after an ankle sprain, suggesting that the implications of the local injury also manifest in proximal structures of the lower limb, with possible influence in recurrence of the injury. Only two articles were prospective analysis, and in those no evidence of neuromuscular alterations on the hip was found prior to the ankle injury, suggesting that the changes in strength and firing of the hip muscles are probably secondary to the distal lesion. CONCLUSION: More studies, with more methodological uniformity, are necessary for further elucidation on this matter.