Classification of the Effort Index and Biomechanical Overload in Natural Trails of UNESCO Global Geoparks-A Network Perspective of Trails of the Araripe UGG (NE Brazil).

Natural trails in UNESCO Global Geopark territories show strong salutogenic, inclusive and interactive characteristics as potentials and opportunities for ecosystem health. It is essential to provide information to inform the hiker as to the characteristics of the environment and the attractions and challenges of the route. Based on a network analysis methodology we aimed to identify the indicators of centrality and strength of connection in order to classify the effort index and biomechanical overload of the Araripe UNESCO Global Geopark trails in Brazil. The results showed strong connection and centrality of the variables related to the biomechanical overload in the effort index. In the trail of Pontal de Cruz the altimetric variation and the surface of the ground are highlighted in the biomechanical overload that presented a horizontal course equivalent 2.6 times larger than the presented distance. In Sítio Fundão trail, the surface of the ground also stood out, increasing the exposure in 36% of the presented distance. On the Missão Velha Waterfall trail, the variable that stood out was the biomechanical overload on the knee, equivalent to a horizontal increase of 28% of the measured distance. The methodology presented sought to optimise the mapping, management and consolidation of a network of natural trails aggregated to a high geotouristic, scientific, educational, cultural and well-being potential as presented in the Araripe UGG territory.

Temporal parameters of the foot roll-over during walking: influence of obesity and sarcopenic obesity on postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to establish a reference dataset for temporal parameters on postmenopausal women during walking and to explore the effect of obesity and sarcopenic obesity on the same parameters. METHODS: Based on plantar pressure data collected from 239 postmenopausal women, the initial contact, final contact, time to peak pressure and the duration of contact at the 10 anatomical areas of the foot considered were measured. Body composition was evaluated by octopolar bioimpedance. RESULTS: Non-obese and non-sarcopenic started with heel contact followed by a latero-medial contact of the metatarsals and finally the hallux (the sarcopenic obese group ended in the toes 2-5). After heel off, the forefoot started to push off at the lateral metatarsals, followed by a more central push off and finally over the hallux (the sarcopenic obese group presented a greater oscillation in the metatarsals). The stance phase was divided into four distinct phases: initial contact (22.30%), forefoot contact (19.98%), foot flat (13.40%) and forefoot push off (44.32%). Sarcopenic obese spent more time in the forefoot contact phase (relative and absolute) and less time in the initial contact phase (%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide a reliable and representative reference dataset for temporal characteristics of foot roll-over during walking of postmenopausal women. Sarcopenic obesity affects significantly the temporal characteristics of foot roll-over during walking in this population. Such findings are of concern to clinicians interested in the promotion of activity to reduce obesity and gain or maintain muscle, since sarcopenic obesity affects normal walking, which might increase injuries.

Dynamic joint stiffness of the ankle during walking: gender-related differences.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize and compare dynamic joint stiffness (DJS) of the ankle in the sagittal plane during natural cadence walking in both genders. DESIGN: Observation, cross-sectional and matched pairs. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one males (mean age=27+/-4.2 years) and 18 females (mean age=22.9+/-4.1 years). SETTING: Laboratory at the University de Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The DJS of the ankle was assessed while participants performed barefoot walking at a natural cadence, was measured using a force platform (1000 Hz), and synchronized with a high-speed camera (200 Hz). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: DJS of the ankle in males and females was calculated in two sub-phases (the second and the fourth sub-phases) of the stance phase. The Wilcoxon non-parametric matched-pairs test and the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test were used to analyse difference of DJS of the ankle within and between the groups with p0.05 regarded as significant. RESULTS: Male and female participants demonstrated significantly (p<0.005) less DJS during the second sub-phase. DJS was not significantly (p>0.063) different between females (0.0511 N m/kg/ degrees ) and males (0.0596 N m/kg/ degrees ) during the second sub-phase. DJS was significantly (p<0.001) higher in males (0.0844 N m/kg/ degrees ) than females (0.0691 N m/kg/ degrees ) during the fourth sub-phase. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-specific DJS characteristics demonstrated by females in this study may be used in preventative training programs designed to promote a greater ability to use contractile components to produce mechanical energy through the ankle.

Ankle kinematics to evaluate functional recovery in crushed rat sciatic nerve.

Peripheral nerve researchers frequently use the rat sciatic nerve crush model in order to test different therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this study was to determine the sequence of changes after an axonotmetic injury by means of a biomechanical model of the foot and ankle, and compare them with walking track analysis, over a fixed period of time. A kinematic analysis program was used to acquire ankle motion data for further analysis. Although repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant cumulative changes induced by the crush lesion for both ankle kinematic parameters and sciatic functional index, post-hoc multiple comparisons by the Student-Neuman-Keuls test revealed significant differences between week 0 and week 8 only for ankle kinematics. These results are of importance in showing the superiority of ankle kinematics in detecting small biomechanical deficits related to hyperexcitability of the plantarflexor muscles, in contrast with walking track analysis, which showed full motor functional recovery 8 weeks after the crush lesion.

Motion of the foot and ankle during the stance phase in rats.

Computerized analysis of rat gait is becoming an invaluable technique used by some peripheral nerve investigators for the evaluation of function. In this article we describe the use of a biomechanical model of the foot and ankle that allows a quantitative assessment and description of the ankle angle, reflecting plantarflexion and dorsiflexion during the stance phase of gait. Kinematic data of 144 trial walks from 36 normal rats were recorded with a high-speed digital image camera at 225 images per second. The ankle angular changes associated with the specific temporal events of foot placement on the ground through the stance phase were assessed. The information obtained was used to propose a new subdivision of the stance phase in the rat into three major components. This approach will provide a helpful research tool to analyze gait data that rely on the accurate determination of spatiotemporal foot events.