ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. OBJECTIVES: To examine effectiveness of an ankle brace with a subtalar locking system in restricting ankle inversion during passive and dynamic movements. BACKGROUND: Semirigid ankle braces are considered more effective in restricting ankle inversion than other types of brace, but a semirigid brace with a subtalar locking system may be even more effective. METHODS: Nineteen healthy subjects with no history of major lower extremity injuries were included in the study. Participants performed 5 trials of an ankle inversion drop test and a lateral-cutting movement without wearing a brace and while wearing either the Element (with the subtalar locking system), a Functional ankle brace, or an ASO ankle brace. A 2-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess brace differences (P?.05). RESULTS: All 3 braces significantly reduced total passive ankle frontal plane range of motion (ROM), with the Element ankle brace being the most effective. For the inversion drop the results showed significant reductions in peak ankle inversion angle and inversion ROM for all 3 braces compared to the no brace condition; and the peak inversion velocity was also reduced for the Element brace and the Functional brace. In the lateral-cutting movement, a small but significant reduction of the peak inversion angle in early foot contact and the peak eversion velocity at push-off were seen when wearing the Element and the Functional ankle braces compared to the no brace condition. Peak vertical ground reaction force was reduced for the Element brace compared to the ASO brace and the no brace conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the tested ankle braces, especially the Element brace, provided effective restriction of ankle inversion during both passive and dynamic movements.
Subject(s)
Ankle Joint/physiopathology , Braces , Joint Instability/physiopathology , Joint Instability/therapy , Range of Motion, Articular , Adult , Equipment Design , Female , Humans , Male , Young AdultABSTRACT
CONTEXT: Impact is known to cause injury during running, while variability is thought to promote healthy performance. OBJECTIVE: Quantify contributions of the lower extremity and back and the variability of impact generation among (1) prepubescent girls (Grp 1), (2) normally menstruating women (Grp 2), and (3) postmenopausal women (Grp 3) to address possible lifespan changes during running. DESIGN: A mixed model experiment. SETTING: Biomechanics Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 31 healthy females owing membership to Grp1, Grp 2, or Grp 3. INTERVENTION: Participants ran on a treadmill at their preferred speed (45 s) and at a speed 10% faster (45 s) while instrumented with uniaxial accelerometers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lower extremity attenuation, back attenuation and variability of peak impact acceleration values. RESULTS: Lower extremity attenuation and variability were greatest for Grp 1 while impact variability was least for Grp 2. CONCLUSION: Lifespan phases appear to affect impact attenuation strategies and variability of impact during running for females.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Physiological , Menarche/physiology , Postmenopause/physiology , Running/physiology , Stress, Physiological , Acceleration , Adolescent , Adult , Back , Biomechanical Phenomena , Child , Exercise Test , Female , Humans , Life Style , Middle Aged , Models, Theoretical , Pilot Projects , Spine/physiology , Task Performance and Analysis , Young AdultABSTRACT
A recent survey was conducted on stimulation of mothers and babies during pregnancy and the neonatal period. The survey was responded to by 82 neonatology staff members from Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) at hospitals in the United States. Some forms of stimulation were extremely common including (1) skin-to-skin following birth in the delivery room (83% of hospitals); (2) containment (swaddling and surrounded by blanket rolls) in the NICU (86%); (3) music in the NICU (72%); (4) rocking in the NICU (85%); (5) kangaroo care (98%); (6) non-nutritive sucking during tubefeedings in the NICU (96%); and (7) breastfeeding in the NICU (100%). Other forms of stimulation occurred less frequently including (1) pregnancy massage (19%); (2) labor massage (30%); (3) the Doula (assistant who comforts during labor and delivery) (30%); (4) waterbeds in the NICU (23%); and (5) preterm infant massage in the NICU (38%).
