Michela Turci

Three-dimensional analysis of active head and cervical spine range of motion: effect of age in healthy male subjects.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of age on active head-cervical range of motion in healthy men. DESIGN Three-dimensional cervical motion ranges and patterns were measured in 70 men. BACKGROUND The effect of age on cervical range of motion is still discussed. METHOD Twenty adolescent (mean age 16 year), 30 young adult (mean age 23 year), and 20 mid-aged (mean age 37 year) men performed maximal head and cervical spine flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. Movements were detected using a digital optoelectronic instrument. Maximum head-cervical spine and thoracic motions were separated. RESULTS Flexion and extension were larger in the adolescents and young adults (130-132 degrees ) than in the mid-aged men (117 degrees ). Thoracic movement increased as a function of age. Lateral bending was symmetric, associated with head-cervical rotation and extension, and larger in adolescents (85 degrees ) than in young (77 degrees ) and mid-aged adults (79 degrees ). Axial rotation was symmetric, associated with flexion-extension and lateral bending, and similar in the three age groups (respectively, 160 degrees, 155 degrees, 153 degrees ). CONCLUSIONS Active head-cervical range of motion reduced between 15 and 45 years of age in men. Relevance The present data can be used as a reference for cervical range in motion in men between 15 and 45 years.

Repeatability of mae-geri-keage in traditional karate: a three-dimensional analysis with black-belt karateka.

In karate, performance also depends on a correct body shape, and the repeatability of standardized movements conditions the effectiveness of techniques. The execution of mae-geri-keage (frontal snap kick) was studied in 13 karateka (1st–5th dan). The 3D trajectories of 13 body landmarks were analyzed by an optoelectronic instrument while each karateka performed 10 repetitions of the movement. For each karateka and repetition, the standard deviations of the spatial coordinates x, y, z for each landmark were computed. A total standard deviation of the single participant was also calculated. Two experienced karateka performed with the best repeatability (smaller standard deviation) while executing the studied kick. Generally, the best repeatability was observed in the horizontal plane. The lower variability was observed in hips and head. Ankle and knee of the dominant limb had the worse. The method could detect athletes particularly gifted for the discipline. Moreover, it could help in the identification of those parts of body that do not repeat the movement with the desired precision.

Body movements on the men’s competition mushroom: a three dimensional analysis of circular swings

Objectives: To develop a method for the three dimensional analysis of body movements and body positions during the performance of circular swings on the competition mushroom, an apparatus used by young gymnasts for pommel horse training. Methods: Five experienced male gymnasts, all of national level, performed three series of 10 circular swings on the competition mushroom. An optoelectronic instrument was used for the detection of the three dimensional movement of 13 body landmarks. From landmark trajectories, several technical measurements were obtained: diameters of ideal circles of ankles, hips, shoulders; deviation of the ankle diameters from circularity and from the horizontal plane; angle between the shoulder, hip, and ankle. The values were used for a quantitative assessment of performance of the five gymnasts. Results: During the exercise, each ankle should follow a nearly horizontal circular path (deviation from circularity ranged from 3.6% to 6%, deviation from horizontality was 9.4–19.7%), there should be an angle of about 180° at the hips (actual values 146–153°), and the shoulders should move as little as possible, and only in the lateral plane, without major anteroposterior movements (shoulder movement was 27–31% of ankle movement, hip movement was 16–20%). Conclusions: The method could help coaches and gymnasts to determine which parts of the body are not repeating a selected movement with sufficient accuracy and to quantify improvements made after a specific training programme.

INFLUENCE OF TRAINING ON MAINTENANCE OF EQUILIBRIUM ON A TILTING PLATFORM

To assess the influence of training on the maintenance of equilibrium on a tilting platform, 13 young healthy male athletes aged 19 to 33 years were randomly divided into experimental (n = 7) and control (n = 6) groups. Two experimental sessions were performed before and after a specific 4-wk. training by the experimental group. Subjects stood upright on a tilting platform. The athletes were asked to maintain the platform as horizontal as possible during a 30-sec. test. The three-dimensional movements of the platform versus the ground were recorded by using a computerized optoelectronic digitiser. The platform plane was calculated and its directrix computed. The area of oscillation and instantaneous angular velocity of the directrix at standardized height were calculated. In both groups the area of oscillation and the angular velocity were reduced in Session 2, but the reduction was significant only in the experimental group. Specific training can significantly improve skill at maintaining equilibrium in young healthy sport performers.

Induced Oral Breathing and Craniocervical Postural Relations: An Experimental Study in Healthy Young Adults

Abstract The influence of induced oral breathing on head and craniocervical posture was studied in ten healthy young adults. After a baseline recording, oral respiration was induced by using a swimmer’s type nose clip. The subjects were filmed 15 and 90 minutes after wearing the nose clip, immediately and 15 minutes after taking it off. The angles C7-tragion versus the true vertical, nasion-tragion versus the vertical, and C7-tragion-nasion were calculated, and the difference between the baseline and the four experimental recordings was computed. During the experiment, head and neck positions were modified in all subjects, but with a large variability for both the direction (flexion or extension) and the extent of the modification. Overall, the mean differences were minimal with large standard deviations. Differences between baseline and the experimental recordings were significant only for the C7-tragion versus the vertical angle (analysis of variance, p=0.0083). In conclusion, induced oral respiration may have a significant role in the alteration of head and craniocervical posture, but the effect was highly variable.

Repeatability of Choku-Tsuki and Oi-Tsuki in Shotokan Karate: A 3-Dimensional Analysis with Thirteen Black-Belt Karateka

13 black-belt karateka performed two different standardized counter-offensive techniques. The trajectories of selected body landmarks were studied by using a computerized image analyzer that allows a 3-dimensional reconstruction of standardized movements. The repeatability of both karate techniques was quantified for each participant. Analysis confirmed that more experienced karateka obtained the best repeatability, as already demonstrated in a preliminary study conducted with a smaller sample of less experienced participants.

Competency-based medical education studying live anatomy by ultrasound

1Department of Health Sciences, San Paolo Medical School, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy 2San Paolo Ultrasound Medical School (SPUMS), San Paolo Medical School, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy 3ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy 4Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy 5Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

Cervical Range of Motion in Rugby League Players

Background: The active range of motion of human cervical spine naturally changes during lifetime; sport practice may also modify cervical range of motion. Purpose: To investigate the effect of rugby league practice and age on active cervical range of motion. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Active cervical range of motion was quantified in 34 Rugby League players and 70 healthy control men (adolescents, 15-16 years; young adults, 19-25 years; adults, 31-45 years) using an optoelectronic motion analyser. Principal plane movements (flexion-extension, axial rotation, lateral bending) and concomitant out-of-plane motions were computed, and compared by factorial analyses of variance. Results: Aging significantly reduced active cervical flexion-extension (from adolescence to adult age: about 15° in control participants, 21° in rugby players) and lateral bending (from adolescence to adult age: about 6° in control participants, 17° in rugby players). A trend in motion reduction was observed for axial rotation. Significant reductions were found for concomitant movements in other planes. Rugby league practice significantly modified active cervical lateral bending: during adolescence and young adulthood it had a beneficial effect, increasing the range of motion of 8-11°, but after the third decade of life the effect reversed. Some differences were observed also for concomitant out-of-plane movements. Conclusions: Both aging and rugby practice significantly modified active cervical range of motion. Clinical Relevance: The non-invasive assessment of active cervical movements may identify the players with altered neck mobility, and who may potentially be at larger risk for damages. They might benefit from specific cervical muscle training.

Transfer of training for two ball-throwing tasks.

The effects of training overhand ball throws to enhance underhand ball-throwing accuracy were studied with 921 Italian high school pupils (575 girls, M age = 16.5 yr., SD =1.3; 346 boys, M = 16.5 yr., SD = 1.2) ages 14 to 18 years. A standardized test (10 underhand tennis-ball throws into the floor area delimited by an 80-cm radius wooden hoop lying on the floor 9 m from the standing pupil) was performed and scored. An Experimental group (435 girls, M age = 16.5 yr., SD = 1.3; 204 boys, M age = 16.5 yr., SD =1.2) was randomly selected to participate in 10 weekly training periods. The set included 10 overhand throws of a rubber bouncing ball (14.5 cm diameter, weight 240 g) into a basketball hoop from 5 standardized positions (in front of the basketball hoop; at 45°, 90° on the right and on the left of the basketball hoop) at a distance of 4.40 m. The underhand test was repeated for both groups. On the average, boys obtained higher test scores than girls of the same age. Older adolescents had higher mean scores than younger adolescents. After 10 weeks, boys and girls of all ages improved. Mean differences between sessions were significant for the Experimental group (Student t test, p <.01). In Session 2, consistent differences between Experimental and Control groups were also found (Student t test, p < .05).

Core stability in young female dancers

Core has been described as a corset stabilizing the trunk area, bordered by the diaphragm upwardly, the abdominal muscular complex anterior-laterally, the spinal and gluteal muscles posteriorly and by the pelvic floor and the muscles of the pelvic girdle inferiorly (1). Core Stability (CS) is intended as a neuromuscular skill of trunk control, assisted by passive (ligaments) and active (muscles) elements. The effects of CS training on the strength, endurance and balance of young female dancers were measured. Thirty three young women participated (22 amateur dancers; 11 sedentary people; age 21±5.4yr) were asked to perform endurance (2), strength, and balance (3) tests (Session I) that were repeated after 10 weeks (Session II). During this period, 11 dancers (experimental group, EG) were randomly selected to attend specific training for CS in addition to traditional dancing exercises; 11 dancers only performed regular dance training (dance group, DG); the sedentary people did not carry out any exercise (control group, CG). Within each group and session, descriptive statistics of test performances were computed. Differences between groups and sessions were assessed, setting the level of statistical significance at 5% (p≤0.05) for all comparisons. In both sessions, EG and DG were stronger and more resistant than CG and demonstrated better balance in two balance tests (p<0.05). In Session II, performances generally improved in both EG and in DG. EG dancers significantly improved their endurance performances in Session II (p<0.01). Hence dance training in young female amateurs could be considered an effective exercise to enhance strength, endurance and balance. Specific CS training seemed to have favourable effects while improving endurance in female dancers. Further studies should be conducted on a larger sample of dancers, either men or women, to determine the efficacy of CS both in performance and in injury prevention.