Yumie Okuyama da Silva

Análise do torque de resistência e da força muscular resultante durante exercício de extensão de quadril no Pilates e suas implicações na prescrição e progressão

BACKGROUND: The understanding of the external mechanics of Pilates exercises and the biomechanics of the joints may guide the prescription of rehabilitation exercises. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the resistance torque (ΓR) during hip extension (HE) exercises performed on the Pilates Cadillac. To perform a biomechanic analysis of the ΓR and the weighted mean moment arm (WMMA) in order to calculate the resultant muscle force (FMR) of the hip extensors and flexors. To present a mechanical criteria for progression of HE exercise on the Pilates Cadillac. METHODS: Fourteen participants performed HE exercises on the Cadillac in four randomly assigned situations - using two springs (blue and red), which were attached in two positions (high and low). Angular positions were measured using an electrogoniometer. In order to calculate ΓR, the muscle torque (ΓM) and FMR, free-body diagrams and movement equations were used. The WMMA of the hip extensors and flexors were estimated from the literature. RESULTS: The ΓR and FMR presented a similar behavior during all situations; however, the maximum ΓR values did not occur at the same joint position as the FMR maximum values. The WMMA of the hip flexors presented an increased- decreased behavior with greatest values around 55o of flexion, while the hip extensors presented a similar behavior with greatest values around 25o of flexion. CONCLUSION: Biomechanic analysis of HE exercises and the evaluation of mechanical features in relation to the hip joint may be used as an objective criteria for the prescription and progression of HE exercise in Pilates.

Position of arm and forearm, and elbow flexion during performance of the sculling technique: Technical recommendation versus actual performance

Sculling motion is a swimming technique executed in a vertical position with the head above the waters surface and, based on the technical recommendation, should be performed maintaining an elbow flexion angle of 90°, arms kept stationary while the forearms move. In order to verify if this recommendation is indeed realistic, the aim of this study was to describe the elbow flexion angle ant its angular velocity, linear speed and range of motion of the shoulder, elbow and wrist during the sculling motion. Data were calculated using three-dimensional kinematic process from underwater video images of ten athletes of synchronized swimming. The results indicate that the arm is relatively stationary and the forearm moves, which agrees with the technical recommendation. However, the elbow flexes and extends, which contradicts the technical recommendation. These findings should be considered when this action is practiced, especially in synchronized swimming, in which sculling motion is a fundamental technique.

EMG Analysis of a Pilates Exercise

The Pilates method was originally developed by Joseph Pilates in Germany during the First World War and introduced in the United States in 1923 (Latey, 2001; Muscolino & Cipriani, 2004; Rydeard et al., 2006). The method assembles movements from gymnastics, martial arts, yoga and dance with philosophic ideas (Self et al., 1996; Latey, 2001; Rydeard et al., 2006). After the 1980’s, new elements were incorporated aiming to improve both physical conditioning and rehabilitation programs. When considering physical conditioning increases in joint flexibility, muscle strength, balance and whole body conditioning were observed in Pilates’ practitioners (Bertolla F, 2007; Jago et al., 2006; Segal et al., 2004). For rehabilitation, Pilates exercises have been used for joint function restoration, lumbar-pelvic stabilization, fibromyalgia control and low back pain treatment (Blum, 2002; Kolyniak et al., 2004; Donzelli et al., 2006). In order to achieve the program goals, the health professionals can choose between mat or apparatus exercises. The apparatus, such as the reformer or the Cadillac, were designed specifically for the Pilates method. These apparatus uses springs in order to generate external load for the musculoskeletal structure. In general, each spring presents a different elastic constant and has more than one attachment possibility in the different apparatus, reflecting in the external load (Self et al., 1996; Rydeard et al., 2006). Regardless of the objectives, it is recommended that the training program uses exercises with progressive external load, according to each individual’s needs. However, what have been observed is that the determination of external load in Pilates’ exercises is based on subjective information, such as changing a less resistance for a higher resistance spring, without realizing how high is the difference in each situation. When this is follower, intensity is only determined based on patient’s feedback and the instructor’s experience (Blum, 2002), what may affect negatively the Pilates training program success. Attentive to this situation, the Mechanics of Movement Investigation Group (BIOMEC Grupo de Investigacao em Mecânica do Movimento) has been using biomechanical analysis of human movement, in order to identify the resistance moments curve shape in a quantitative analysis of Pilates exercises (Silva et al., 2009; Loss et al., 2010; Melo et al., 2011). Thus, besides using load cells for measuring spring’s strength (Self et al., 1996), resistance moment may be estimated in different subjects positioning and spring setups (Silva et al., 2009).

Posición del brazo y el antebrazo y la flexión del codo durante la ejecución de técnica Sculling: Recomendación técnica frente al que es hecho en la práctica

Sculling motion is a swimming technique executed in a vertical position with the head above the waters surface and, based on the technical recommendation, should be performed maintaining an elbow flexion angle of 90°, arms kept stationary while the forearms move. In order to verify if this recommendation is indeed realistic, the aim of this study was to describe the elbow flexion angle ant its angular velocity, linear speed and range of motion of the shoulder, elbow and wrist during the sculling motion. Data were calculated using three-dimensional kinematic process from underwater video images of ten athletes of synchronized swimming. The results indicate that the arm is relatively stationary and the forearm moves, which agrees with the technical recommendation. However, the elbow flexes and extends, which contradicts the technical recommendation. These findings should be considered when this action is practiced, especially in synchronized swimming, in which sculling motion is a fundamental technique.

Posição do braço e antebraço e flexão do cotovelo durante a execução da técnica do palmateio: Recomendação técnica versus o que é realizado na prática

Sculling motion is a swimming technique executed in a vertical position with the head above the waters surface and, based on the technical recommendation, should be performed maintaining an elbow flexion angle of 90°, arms kept stationary while the forearms move. In order to verify if this recommendation is indeed realistic, the aim of this study was to describe the elbow flexion angle ant its angular velocity, linear speed and range of motion of the shoulder, elbow and wrist during the sculling motion. Data were calculated using three-dimensional kinematic process from underwater video images of ten athletes of synchronized swimming. The results indicate that the arm is relatively stationary and the forearm moves, which agrees with the technical recommendation. However, the elbow flexes and extends, which contradicts the technical recommendation. These findings should be considered when this action is practiced, especially in synchronized swimming, in which sculling motion is a fundamental technique.