The Kinematic and Electromyographic Analysis of Roller Skating at Different Speeds on a Treadmill: A Case Study.

Elite athletes in speed roller skates perceive skating to be a more demanding exercise for the groin when compared to other cyclic disciplines, increasing their risk of injury. The objective of this study was to monitor the kinematic and electromyographic parameters of roller speed skaters, linearly, on a treadmill, and to compare different skating speeds, one at 20 km/h and one at 32 km/h, at a 1° inclination. The acquisition was carried out by placing an inertial sensor at the level of the first sacral vertebra, and eight surface electromyographic probes on both lower limbs. The kinematic and electromyographic analysis on the treadmill showed that a higher speed requires more muscle activation, in terms of maximum and average values and co-activation, as it not only increases the intrinsic muscle demand in the district, but also the athlete's ability to coordinate the skating technique. The present study allows us to indicate not only how individual muscle districts are activated during skating on a surface different from the road, but also how different speeds affect the overall district load distributions concerning effective force, which is essential for the physiotherapist and kinesiologist for preventive and conditional purposes, while also considering possible variations in the skating technique in linear advancement.

Pulsed radiofrequency on peripheral nerve as a rehabilitation aid.

The work described below explores the field of the effects of pulsed radiofrequency for pain relief purposes. While the effects of this technique on pain modulation (A-delta and C fibers) are relatively well-known, little has been written yet about the potential of pulsed radiofrequency interactions with other fibers. The proposed algorithm, specifically elaborated, investigates the effect of this technique on neuromuscular fatigue, through a surface electromyographic study of the femoral nerve of a patient with residual pain after knee arthroplasty surgery, before and after the treatment. This work yields a preliminary result that is encouraging for subsequent large-scale studies.

Surface electromyographic wheel speed skate protocol and its potential in athletes' performance analysis and injury prevention.

BACKGROUND: Speed skating is a discipline that involves cyclical and repetitive movements that make athletes susceptible to injuries, especially in the groin. In professional athletes, during a season, it was found that about 20% had overuse injuries with significant consequences during the competitive season due to long recovery times. Currently, new technological tools allow the measurement of multiple parameters and, through a panel of data deriving from various measurements, provide a valuable aid for training and rehabilitative purposes. This study aimed to probe the potential of the new analysis algorithm, or its ability to detect differences in electromyographic and acceleration patterns between newcomers to the discipline and professional athletes. METHODS: We proceeded through measurements using a system based on an inertial sensor and four probes for surface electromyography. RESULTS: The analysis highlights important differences both from the point of view of accelerations (with marked oscillations on the three axes of the neophyte concerning greater stability of the professional's trunk) and a different pattern of muscle activation during joint movement a greater coactivation of the neophyte compared to the professional, which could lead to a greater risk of injury due to less training. CONCLUSIONS: This new protocol, when validated on a statistically significant sample of elite athletes leading to specific benchmarks, can be used to improve athletes' performances and maybe to prevent athletes' injuries.

Evaluation of muscle energy in isometric maintenance as an index of muscle fatigue in roller speed skating.

Roller speed skating is a discipline in which muscle fatigue plays an important role in athletes; in this work, we wanted to evaluate whether a methodological approach based on the energy required to maintain an isometric muscle contraction for one minute, indexed on the MVIC (maximum voluntary isometric contraction), i.e. % RMS/MVIC can give results similar to the frequency decay analysis/time in terms of usability for athlete training and injury prevention. Right and left gluteus maximus and vastus lateralis muscles (involved in the propulsive phase of skating ) were examined separately by surface electromyography in three competitive athletes in short-track speed skating on asphalt. The results showed an asymmetry between the right (less resistant) and left (more resistant) lower limb, in all three athletes, from the point of view of fatigue, in both investigated muscles. Furthermore, a trend in terms of fatigue resistance was found that was directly proportional to skill in both muscles studied. This can be of help in better planning the training of street speed skaters (which although similar to the discipline on ice is not completely superimposable) with the dual purpose of improving their performance and preventing injuries, often linked to the degree of right-left muscle asymmetry.

Physical Activity in Oncology: To Do, Not to Do, and How to Do It? An Announcement of an Educational Program.

The National Cancer Institute of Aviano, Italy, recently launched a new program to educate the cancer population, bringing patients as close as possible to the world of physical activity during the cancer rehabilitation phase. A personalized assessment of the patient using the latest technologies allows to create a personalized electronic record of the state of physical performance to be shared among the patient, the staff at the institute (including the medical doctors and physiotherapists in charge), and the fitness instructors, who deal with of the recovery tasks. The outcome of the program can allow the development of a personalized rehabilitation path that includes physical fitness to be monitored remotely.

Case report: Movement analysis in oncological rehabilitation: proposal of a kinematic and surface electromyographic protocol in breast oncology.

Introduction: Breast cancer disease often affects the ipsilateral shoulder joint, with pain and joint limitation. Proper pain management, which can be obtained using, for example, pulsed radiofrequency of the suprascapular nerve, can help the physiotherapist mitigate patient pain. The modern technologies of kinematic analysis and surface electromyography of movement analysis can give further support in building a personalized rehabilitation program, based on the quantitative study of movement, in this case of the upper limb. Methods: A brief case report was conceived to develop and test the evolution of a shoulder joint analysis protocol based on an inertial accelerometer and non-invasive surface electromyography. Results: An analysis algorithm was defined to adapt to the needs of patients operated on at the breast based on a kinematic component (ROM - range of movement - and Jerk index) and an electromyographic one (study of muscle behavior in groups of four). The coactivations were also evaluated, both as an average value and in graphical form, to offer the physiotherapist a complete overview of the movement of the upper limb. Discussion: The promising protocol results underline its strengths, including the simplicity of use, combined with the reduced time required for processing the reports and the portability of the PC-sensors complex, making these analyses potentially valuable for patient care.