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Vasilios Baltzopoulos

Publications and source records attributed to Vasilios Baltzopoulos.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Centre of mass motion during stair negotiation in young and older men.

The aim of this study was to compare centre of mass (COM) motion and its separation from centre of pressure (COP) as 13 young men (aged 23-36 years) and 15 healthy, community dwelling older men (aged 73-84 years) ascended and descended a three step staircase at a controlled cadence of approximately 90 steps/min. Centre of mass was obtained from whole body motion analysis, and simultaneously, COP was obtained using force plates built into the steps. The following variables were investigated: medio-lateral COM range of motion; peak antero-posterior and medio-lateral COM-COP separation; and peak antero-posterior, medio-lateral, and vertical COM velocities. No significant differences in these variables between young men and older men were present during ascent or descent. It was concluded that frontal plane dynamic stability during stair negotiation is well maintained in healthy older men, and that healthy older men do not exhibit an altered strategy in traversing the COM in the plane of progression during stair negotiation.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Human patellar tendon moment arm length: measurement considerations and clinical implications for joint loading assessment.

Detailed understanding of the knee joint loading requires the calculation of muscle and joint forces in different conditions. In these applications the patellar tendon moment arm length is essential for the accurate estimation of the tibiofemoral joint loading. In this article, different methods that have been used to determine the patellar tendon moment arm length under in vivo and in vitro conditions are reviewed. The limitations and advantages associated with each of the methods are evaluated together with their applications in the different loading conditions that the musculoskeletal system is subjected to. The three main measurement methods that this review considers are the geometric method, the tendon excursion method and the direct load method. A comparison of relevant quantitative results is presented to asses the impact of the errors of each method on the quantification of the patellar tendon moment arm and the implications for joint loading assessment in clinical applications.

Compressive Strength↗
PubMed2006

Can the patellar tendon moment arm be predicted from anthropometric measurements?

The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between patellar tendon moment arm length and several relevant anthropometric characteristics of 22 healthy men. The patellar tendon moment arm length was measured using magnetic resonance imaging with two different methods: (1) measurement of patellar tendon moment arm length (d(PT)) with respect to the tibiofemoral contact point (d(PTCP)) and (2) measurement of d(PT) with respect to the intersection point of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligament (d(PTIP)). Pearson correlation coefficients and a stepwise linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationships between the d(PT) and anthropometric measurements taken. Furthermore, a Student's t-test was used to determine differences between the d(PTCP) and d(PTIP) values. Only knee circumference was a significant d(PTCP) predictor (P < 0.05) but with a very low R2 (0.139). None of the anthropometric parameters examined was found to be a significant d(PTIP) predictor. The correlation coefficients ranged from -0.04 to 0.42. The d(PTIP) values were significantly higher (by 0.84-1.89 cm) than the d(PTCP) values (P < 0.05). These results are in disagreement with previous in vitro findings that d(PT) variance may be explained by knee joint size differences. Hence, existing imaging-based methodologies remain necessary for accurate quantification of the patellar tendon moment arm.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Kinematics of stair descent in young and older adults and the impact of exercise training.

Stair descent is a challenging task in old age. This study firstly investigated lower extremity kinematics during stair descent in young (YOU) and healthy, community dwelling older adults (OLD). Secondly, the impact of an exercise training intervention on age-related differences in stair descent was assessed. At baseline, a motion analysis system was used to determine spatio-temporal gait variables and lower extremity kinematics as YOU (n=23, age=27+/-3 years) and OLD (n=34, age=73+/-4 years) descended a three step staircase. The older adults were then divided into training (TRA) and control (CON) groups. For 12 months, TRA performed resistance, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises under supervision in a class environment (twice per week) and unsupervised at home (once per week). CON carried on with normal daily activities. Following the intervention, baseline measurements were repeated in TRA and CON. At baseline, total descent, stride cycle, and single support times were longer in OLD than in YOU. In addition, sagittal plane knee motion was lower in OLD whilst frontal and transverse plane pelvis and hip motion were higher in OLD. Exercise training did not reduce the age-related differences observed. In conclusion healthy older adults perform stair descent at a slower speed and with greater motion outside the plane of progression than young adults. We found no evidence that these differences are reduced by generic exercise training, at least in non-frail older adults.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Muscle activation assessment: effects of method, stimulus number, and joint angle.

Activation capacity has traditionally been assessed using the interpolated twitch technique (ITT) and central activation ratio (CAR). However, the quantitative agreement of the two methods and the physiological mechanisms underpinning any possible differences have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to compare and assess the sensitivity of the ITT and CAR to potential errors introduced by (1) evoking inadequate force, by manipulating the number of stimuli, and (2) neglecting differences in series elasticity between conditions, by manipulating joint angle. Ten subjects performed knee extension contractions at 30 degrees and 90 degrees knee-joint angles during which the ITT and CAR methods were applied using 1, 2, 4, and 8 electrical stimuli. Joint angle influenced the ITT outcome with higher values taken at 90 degrees (P < 0.05), while the number of stimuli influenced the CAR outcome with a higher number of stimuli yielding lower values (P < 0.05). For any given joint angle and stimulus number, the CAR method produced higher activation values than the ITT method by 8%-16%. Therefore, in the quantification of voluntary drive with the ITT and CAR methods consideration should be given not only to the number of stimuli applied but also to the effect of series elasticity due to joint-angle differences, since these factors may differently affect the outcome of the calculation, depending on the approach followed.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Human calf muscle responses during repeated isometric plantarflexions.

In the present study, we measured the contraction-induced shortening (dL) of individual synergistic human muscles in a repeated motor task to assess their contractile behaviour. Ultrasonography was used to obtain dL measurements in the gastrocnemius (GS) and soleus (SOL) muscles of six men performing 11 consecutive isometric plantarflexions. Contractions 1 and 11 were performed with maximal effort, and contractions 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 were performed with efforts generating 50, 70 and 90%, respectively, of the plantarflexion moment produced in contraction 1. In contractions 5-10, the SOL muscle dL was similar (p > 0.05) to that produced in contraction 1 (approximately 6 mm), indicating that the SOL muscle became fully activated at 70% of the maximum plantarflexion moment. The GS muscle dL in contractions 10 and 11 exceeded by approximately 0.5 mm (p < 0.05) and 1.3 mm (p < 0.01), respectively, that generated in contraction 1 (approximately 10 mm), despite evidence obtained by superimposed stimulation that contraction 1 was produced with full motor unit activation. The consequent paradox that the GS muscle would produce in contractions 10 and 11 a greater activation and therefore more force than its actual potential is resolved when considering the interaction between the time-dependent tensile response of tendon and the performance of muscle as dictated by the sliding filament mechanism of contraction.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Muscle fibre length-to-moment arm ratios in the human lower limb determined in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to quantify in vivo the fibre length (L)-to-moment arm (d) ratio (L/d) in the major ankle plantarflexors and knee extensors of 21 healthy men. Measurements of L were taken in the gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, soleus, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius muscles using ultrasound scanning. Measurements of d were taken in the Achilles tendon (d(AT)) and patellar tendon (d(PT)) using magnetic resonance imaging. The relations between (a) L in each ankle plantarflexor muscle and d(AT), (b) L in each knee extensor muscle and d(PT), and (c) d(AT) and d(PT,) were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficients. There was no significant relation (P>0.05) between any of the above parameters, with the correlation coefficient values ranging from -0.2 to 0.29. These results contradict previous findings that L scales with d, indicating that skeletal size differences between individuals may not always be associated with predictable differences in muscle architecture. This needs to be accounted for when information about the L/d ratio of a given muscle-joint in a given individual is required, as for example is the case when assessing the suitability of a potential donor muscle in surgical tendon transfer.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Isokinetic knee extension and vertical jumping: are they related?

The aim of this study was to examine joint power generation during a concentric knee extension isokinetic test and a squat vertical jump. The isokinetic test joint power was calculated using four different methods. Five participants performed concentric knee extensions at 0.52, 1.57, 3.14 and 5.23 rad x s(-1) on a Lido isokinetic dynamometer. The squat vertical jump was performed on a Kistler force plate. Kinematic data from both tests were collected and analysed using an ELITE optoelectronic system. An inverse dynamics model was applied to measure knee joint moment in the vertical jump. Knee angular position data from the kinematic analysis in the isokinetic test were used to derive the actual knee angular velocity and acceleration, which, in turn, was used to correct the dynamometer moment for inertial effects. Power was measured as the product of angular velocity and moment at the knee joint in both tests. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between mean (+/- s) peak knee joint power in the two tests (squat vertical jump: 2255 +/- 434 W; isokinetic knee extension: 771 +/- 81 W). Correlation analysis revealed that there is no relationship between the peak knee joint power during the vertical jump and the slow velocity isokinetic tests. Higher isokinetic velocity tests show better relationships with the vertical jump but only if the correct method for joint power calculation is used in the isokinetic test. These findings suggest that there are important differences in muscle activation and knee joint power development that must be taken into consideration when isokinetic tests are used to predict jumping performance.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Repeated contractions alter the geometry of human skeletal muscle.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated contractions on the geometry of human skeletal muscle. Six men performed two sets (sets A and B) of 10 repeated isometric plantarflexion contractions at 80% of the moment generated during plantarflexion maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), with a rest interval of 15 min between sets. By use of ultrasound, the geometry of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was measured in the contractions of set A and the displacement of the MG tendon origin in the myotendinous junction was measured in the contractions of set B. In the transition from the 1st to the 10th contractions, the fascicular length at 80% of MVC decreased from 34 +/- 4 (means +/- SD) to 30 +/- 3 mm (P < 0.001), the pennation angle increased from 35 +/- 3 to 42 +/- 3 degrees (P < 0.001), the myotendinous junction displacement increased from 5 +/- 3 to 10 +/- 3 mm (P < 0.001), and the average fascicular curvature remained constant (P > 0.05) at approximately 4.3 m(-1). No changes (P > 0.05) were found in fascicular length, pennation angle, and myotendinous junction displacement after the fifth contraction. Electrogoniometry showed that the ankle rotated by approximately 6.5 degrees during contraction, but no differences (P > 0.05) were obtained between contractions. The present results show that repeated contractions induce tendon creep, which substantially affects the geometry of the in-series contracting muscles, thus altering their potential for force and joint moment generation.

Adult↗