Paweł Pakosz

Application of sEMG and Posturography as Tools in the Analysis of Biosignals of Aging Process of Subjects in the Post-production Age

Surface electromyography (sEMG) and posturography are some of the most useful tools applied in the assessment of the motor skills of humans. The scope and objective of this paper is to report on concurrent and synchronized application of the Kistler platform for postural balance and electromyography analysis (sEMG Noraxon) with the purpose of the registration of the bioelectric muscle tension of selected muscles (soleus, tibialis anterior). A random group of senior subjects aged 60–70 years, who participate in regular fitness program involving the formation of psychomotor activities (once a week) and focusing primarily on the motor coordination and low-intensity aerobic performance capacity was subjected to 4 tasks involving postural assessment. The results of the study were concerned with the analysis of the correlation between the sEMG and COP parameters and confirm the initial hypothesis regarding the existence of a positive correlation between the level of muscular coactivation (soleus, tibialis anterior) and the scatter parameters of COP.

Coordination Aspects of an Effective Sprint Start

The aim of the present study was to examine differences in the movement structure and the coordination aspects expressed by bioelectrical tension indicators between a group of experts/sprinters and a group of novices/students. A group consisted of 20 sprinters and a control group consisted of 35 master’s physical education students. A 16-channel surface electromyography (14 muscles) and two cameras with recording speed of 250 frames/per second were used. Significant differences were found between reaction time (p < 0.005) and time at 30 m of the covered sprinting distance (p < 0.001) between the students and advance athletes. Furthermore, the sprinters activated the back foot (taking off the starting blocks) and the front foot (first ground contact) earlier, which correlated with the attained times at 5 (r = 0.66) and 10 m (r = 0.62) of the covered sprinting distance. The most important component of the sprint start, apart from the muscle strength of the legs, is the appropriate motor coordination, which greatly affects the generation of power in the legs at the right time and optimal duration.

Functional differences in upper limb movement after early and chronic stroke based on kinematic motion indicators

AIMS The main purpose of this study was to determine the changes in kinematic parameters of ischemic stroke affected upper limbs, during simple functional activity, to determine the most relevant changes. METHODS The OptiTrack system was used for motion capture. To determine upper extremity function in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) tasks. During particular phases, the following matrices were chosen: mean and peak speed, normalized movement unit, normalized jerk and phase movement time. The chosen matrices represent the speed and smoothness profile of end-point data. The the arm-trunk compensation was also taken into consideration. Twenty stroke patients, in early (G1 from 1 to 3 months after stroke) and chronic stage (G2 from 6 months to 1 year), were studied. The large and small cylinder forward and back transporting phases were evaluated. RESULTS The most significant differences between groups G1 and G2 were in mean and peak speed of the forward transport of the large and small cylinders for the paretic limb. Significant differences were also found for the smoothness (measured by movement unit, mean and peak speed and jerk) where the G2 group had a rougher motion. There were also differences in arm-trunk compensation in the frontal plane. CONCLUSION The variables used in the study showed applicability in assessing kinematic parameters in both the early and chronic period after stroke.

TMG AS A PREVENTION METHOD OF ATHLETES MUSCLES, LIGAMENTS AND JOINTS INJURIES

Wstęp. Celem badania było ustalenie, jaka zmiana następuje w parametrach sy metrii bocznych i funkcjonalnych mięśni kończyn dolnych, mierzonych za pomocą ten siomiografii (TMG), po miesięcznym okresie odpowiednio zestawionego szkolenia, nakierowanego na poprawę parametrów symetrii. Materiał i metody. Badaniem TMG objęto dziewięć zawodniczek kadry polski short tracku, o średnim wieku 18,2±2,9 lat, wysokości ciała 161±2,8 cm i masie ciała 56,8±4,8 kg. Wykonano test i retest systemem TMG, po miesięcznym okresie przygotowawczym do sezonu. Za pomocą TMG mierzono symetrie boczne i funkcjonalne mięśni powierzchownych kończyn dolnych. Wyniki. Wyniki badań wykazują poprawę parametrów symetrii mierzonych TMG na skutek miesięcznego szkolenia wyrównawczego. Symetrie boczne poprawiły się z początkowych średnich wartości 85% na 88%. Symetrie funkcjonalne lewej kończyny dolnej z 74% na 83% (p=0,003), natomiast prawej z 81% na 84% (p=0,06). Wnioski. System TMG to skuteczne narzędzie do wykrycia i wskazania zagrożonych kontuzją mięśni, więzadeł czy stawów. Badanie systemem TMG ocenia programy sportowe i daje możliwość ich korekty. Stosując miesięczny trening wyrównawczy zasugerowany przez system TMG, można poprawić parametry symetrii bocznych i funkcjonalnych oraz zmniejszyć ryzyko kontuzji.