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Biomedical subjects

B M Nigg

Publications and source records attributed to B M Nigg.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Surface-related injuries in soccer.

The review of the effects of artificial turf and natural grass on surface-related traumatic injuries in soccer suggests that surfaces with artificial turf produce more abrasion injuries than surfaces with natural grass. Most authors report no significant difference in injury frequencies for the number of traumatic injuries. However, some authors report fewer traumatic injuries on artificial turf, especially after a period of adaptation on the artificial turf. A difference in injury pattern and injury mechanism when playing on different types of surfaces has been suggested, as well as an increased injury risk for frequent alternating between different playing surfaces. The relationship between knee and ankle injuries and the fixation of the foot to the ground is not yet evaluated in soccer. In American football, the severity and incidence of knee and ankle injuries were reported to be significantly lower when using shoes with lower friction properties. However, in American football severe injuries typically occur in collision situations often independent of the surface. Soccer is characterised by sprinting, stopping, cutting and pivoting situations, where shoe-surface relations are essential and frictional resistance must be within an optimal range. Future research should address this compromise between performance and protection.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed1988

The influence of construction strategies of sprung surfaces on deformation during vertical jumps.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the influence of variations in the construction of area-elastic surfaces on the local deformation of these surfaces during an actual movement of athletes. Area-elastic surfaces were systematically varied in construction to allow the discussion of the influence of: (a) the number; (b) the spacing of the sleepers; (c) the material of the lowest sleeper; (d) variations of the second layer; (e) variations of the top surface; and (f) addition of a special padding element between the first and second sleepers on maximum deformation. Deformation data were collected using high-speed film from a group of recreational athletes and a group of national team athletes (volleyball) performing a drop jump. The differences in maximum deformation between the various surfaces tested were about 100% from the lowest to the highest value for the recreational athletes and about 1,000% for the national team athletes. The differences in deformation were primarily influenced by the number of sleepers used and/or by construction elements which are close to the top of the surface (top layer, second layer, add rubber padding, number of sleepers). The one sleeper system consistently had the lowest values of maximum deformation.

Construction Materials↗
PubMed1988

A method for the assessment of area-elastic surfaces.

A method is presented for the evaluation of area-elastic surfaces using two subject tests. Deformations and jump heights are determined for 12 sprung floor samples to accuracies of 0.12 mm and 0.4 cm respectively, using filming techniques. It is found that the deformation of a floor sample is dependent on both the subject group and the dimensions of the floor sample. The method showed significant differences in deformation values of the 12 floor samples but only small differences in jump heights.

Construction Materials↗
PubMed1988

The influence of playing surfaces on the load on the locomotor system and on football and tennis injuries.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the influence of playing surfaces on the forces and moments acting on the human body and the injuries they may cause for 2 selected sports activities, American football and tennis. The review is based on data from the literature and from our own investigations. A review of the effect of sports surfaces on injuries in American football leads to the conclusion that surfaces with artificial turf produce non-severe injuries more frequently than surfaces with natural grass. However, severe injuries seem to occur as frequently on natural grass as on artificial turf. It has been speculated that the shoe-surface combination which determines the frictional forces is connected with the injury frequency, i.e. the higher the frictional resistance the higher the injury frequency. Tennis surfaces have been shown to influence the occurrence and frequency of tennis injuries dramatically. The injury frequency on 'clay' and 'synthetic sand' is significantly lower than on other selected artificial surfaces. It is speculated that the differences in injury frequency are directly related to the differences in the frictional properties of the surfaces. Surfaces with low frictional resistance are assumed to cause fewer injuries than surfaces with high frictional resistance. In general, it can be concluded that the frictional property of a surface is one of the main factors to be considered when studying the aetiology of acute and/or chronic pain and injury in sports. Compliance or stiffness of surfaces, surprisingly, could not be related to the frequency of injuries on particular playing surfaces. However, it is speculated that compliance properties of surfaces are a factor which must be considered when studying chronic injuries.

Ankle↗
PubMed1988

Quantifying the effects of spinal manipulations on gait using patients with low back pain.

The purpose for conducting this study was to investigate the effects of chiropractic treatment on the gait of a group of subjects with sacroiliac joint syndromes. The clinical results suggest that chiropractic treatments reduce pain, increase mobility of the sacroiliac joint, and restore general functional ability of the patient. Force results obtained by using a force platform during gait of the subjects showed that external forces were significantly different for gait trials executed after chiropractic treatment compared to gait trials executed before chiropractic treatment. Force results were also significantly different for gait trials executed early in the rehabilitation process compared to those executed late in the rehabilitation process. It should now be investigated if and how these changes in external forces influence the internal forces acting on low back structures. Such an investigation may provide further insight into the mechanisms underlying low back problems.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1987

The influence of running velocity and midsole hardness on external impact forces in heel-toe running.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of midsole hardness and running velocity on external impact forces in heel-toe running. Fourteen subjects were assessed with a force platform and high speed film while running at speeds of 3, 4, 5 and 6 m s-1. The result showed that running velocity does influence external impact force peaks (linear connection) and that midsole hardness does not influence magnitude and loading rate of the external vertical impact forces. Changes in kinematic and kinetic data can be used to explain this result mechanically. However, the neuromuscular control mechanisms to keep external impact forces constant are not known.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1987

Biomechanical aspects of playing surfaces.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss some biomechanical aspects of playing surfaces with special focus on (a) surface induced injuries, (b) methodologies used to assess surfaces and (c) findings from various sports. The paper concentrates primarily on questions related to load on the athlete's body. Data from epidemiological studies suggest strongly that the surface is an important factor in the aetiology of injuries. Injury frequencies are reported to be significantly different for different surfaces in several sports. The methodologies used to assess surfaces with respect to load or performance include material tests and tests using experimental subjects. There is only little correlation between the results of these two approaches. Material tests used in many standardized test procedures are not validated which suggests that one should exercise restraint in the interpretation of these results. Point elastic surfaces are widely studied while area elastic surfaces have received little attention to date. Questions of energy losses on sport surfaces have rarely been studied scientifically.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed1987

Use of force platform variables to quantify the effects of chiropractic manipulation on gait symmetry.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether force platform measurements can be used to objectively assess short-term effects of spinal manipulation on patients with diagnosed, chronic unilateral "sacroiliac dyskinesia," here defined as decreased interarticular mobility of the sacroiliac joint. Nine patients walked across a force platform, were than manipulated by a chiropractor and then repeated the gait trials. Temporal and kinetic gait variables from the force platform measurements were analyzed for changes in the symmetry of the subjects' gait before and after treatment sessions. There was a distinct tendency towards improved gait symmetry after treatment in those cases where the gait was asymmetric prior to the treatment. This result indicated that force platform measurements may be used successfully to assess the effects of spinal manipulations on the gait of patients with sacroiliac dyskinesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Quantifying the effects of spinal manipulations on gait, using patients with low back pain: a pilot study.

A pilot study was performed to investigate the effects of chiropractic treatment on the gait of one patient with a chronic sacroiliac joint syndrome. Qualitative and quantitative measures were used to describe pain, sacroiliac joint mobility, functional ability and gait patterns of this patient before and after receiving chiropractic treatment, and throughout the rehabilitation period. For this patient, chiropractic treatment reduced the low back pain and was associated with significant changes in selected gait parameters. A study involving 10-20 subjects is under way to possibly generalize the findings of this investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The influence of lateral heel flare of running shoes on pronation and impact forces.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the influence of the flare at the lateral side of the heel of running shoes on: initial and total pronation; impact forces in heel-toe running; and to explain the results with a mechanical model. The experimental part of the study was performed by using 14 male runners. Their running movement (4 m/s) was quantified by using a force platform and high-speed film (100 frames X s-1). Three shoes were used, identical except in their lateral heel flare, one shoe with a conventional flare of 16 degrees, a second shoe with no flare, and a third shoe with a rounded heel (negative flare). The experimental results indicate that (for the used set of shoes); increasing heel flare increases the amount of initial pronation; changes in heel flare do not affect the magnitude of the total pronation; and changes in heel flare do not alter the magnitude of the impact force peaks. Since shoes with rounded lateral heels do reduce initial pronation, it is speculated that this construction could be used to prevent anterior medial compartment syndrome at the tibia of runners. It was concluded that more research is needed to specify whether the reported result is representative for various shoe types or is shoe specific.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1982

[Sports show support inlays. A biomechanical comparison of three different types of arch support (author's transl)].

The effect of three different types of support inlays for sports shoes was investigated in the basis of measurements made on 37 athletes who use such shoes in their daily training. The date were obtained from force measurements (repulsion force on the ground) and with the aid of films. The investigation showed that there was no difference in the average values of the three types of support (loose inlay, glued-in inlay and support permanently attached to the shoe). All the supports reduced medial bending at the ankle joint. None of them caused a reduction medial bending at the ankle joint. None of them caused a reduction of repulsion forces when the foot came into contact with the support. In propulsion, all the supports caused an increase in the lateral outturn of the foot. The scatter range in the measurements obtained with the loose inlay was greater; a connection was found between this and the possibility of the foot slipping in the shoe.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mechanical energy contribution of the metatarsophalangeal joint to running and sprinting.

Despite the fact that a number of studies have investigated lower extremity energy generation during locomotion, the influence of the metatarsophalangeal (MP) joint remained unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contribution of the MP joint to the total mechanical energy in running and sprinting. A sagittal plane analysis was performed on data collected from 10 trained male athletes (five runners and five sprinters). The MP moment was assumed to be negligible until the ground reaction force acted distal to the joint. During running, once the ground reaction force crossed the MP joint, the MP moment was plantarflexor for the remainder of ground contact with average peak values of 59.9 Nm. The MP joint moment was plantarflexor throughout the stance phase for sprinting with average peak values of 112.4 Nm. Since the MP joint was dorsiflexing throughout the majority of the stance phase the joint absorbed large amounts of energy, on average 20.9 J during running and 47.8 J during sprinting. A lack of plantarflexion of the MP joint resulted in a lack of energy generation during take-off. Thus, the energy that was absorbed at the joint was dissipated in the shoe and foot structures.

Absorption↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The running shoe--a means of preventing running complaints].

One possible means of influencing and reducing the load on the human locomotive apparatus is the running shoe. Taking this as an example it can be shown how strategies for achieving this goal can be selected. The running shoe has three important characteristics: cushioning, support, and guidance. To achieve ideal cushioning, it is important to consider not so much the material of the inner sole, but rather the geometry of the shoe sole and the entire shoe. An analogous commentary may be made as regards support. By modifying the heel part of the shoe to approximate the human heel, pronation movement can be reduced. Lateral supports in the forefoot make it possible to control the propulsive movement (guidance). Consistent application of these considerations should bring about a reduction in the load on the locomotor apparatus and thus help prevent overstrain phenomena.

Ankle Joint↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of viscoelastic shoe insoles on vertical impact forces in heel-toe running.

The purposes of this study were: 1) to compare the impact forces in running using running shoes with conventional insoles to the impact forces using running shoes with four different viscoelastic insoles, 2) to discuss possible effects of the viscoelastic insoles on lower leg kinematics, and 3) to explain the force and kinematic results using a mechanical model. Kinetic and kinematic data were collected for 14 subjects running heel-toe at an average speed of 4 m/s. The results showed that the four tested viscoelastic insoles did not differ in variables describing the vertical impact forces (vertical force peak, time of occurrence of vertical force peak, maximum vertical loading rate) compared to the conventional insoles furnished in running shoes. Furthermore, the viscoelastic insoles did not influence kinematic variables of the lower extremities in a systematic way.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Range of motion of the foot as a function of age.

Movement of the foot is essential for human locomotion. The purpose of this paper was to quantify the range of motion of the foot as a function of age and to compare the rage of motion measurements for the foot in a laboratory coordinate system and a coordinate system fixed to the tibia. The measurements were taken in vivo using a range of motion instrument developed by Allinger (University of Calgary, Canada, 1990) from 121 subjects. The results suggest that: (1) the range of motion in general is greater for women than for men in the young adult group; (2) the range of motion in general is in the same order of magnitude for women and men in the oldest age group; and (3) the range of motion is about 8 degrees smaller in dorsiflexion and about 8 degrees higher in plantarflexion for women than for men in the oldest age group. It is speculated that physical activity and common shoe wear are factors influencing the age- and gender-dependent differences in range of motion. Furthermore, it has been shown that the range of motion values measured in a laboratory coordinate system and in a coordinate system fixed in the tibia are different in all directions except inversion. The differences in plantarflexion and dorsiflexion and inversion and eversion are relatively small. However, they are substantial for adduction and abduction. In all cases, the results were bigger for measurements in the laboratory coordinate system compared with the tibia coordinate system, because the movement of the lower leg was included in the measurements in the laboratory coordinate system.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗