Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Alexandre Karamanoukian, Jean-Philippe Boucher, Romain Labbe, Nicolas Vignais
Summary: This study assessed the validity of an innovative football shoe that can directly measure normal ground reaction forces (nGRF) on the field. The results showed good agreement between nGRF measured by the instrumented shoe and vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) measured by a force platform, indicating that the instrumented shoe is a highly valid tool. The on-field nGRF patterns can provide new insights into training load quantification and detection of neuromuscular fatigue.
Article
Neurosciences
Ronaldo Briani, Danilo de Oliveira Silva, Matheus H. M. Ducatti, Helder S. Lopes, Amanda S. Ferreira, Benjamin F. Mentiplay, Fabio M. de Azevedo, Christian J. Barton
Summary: Women with patellofemoral pain (PFP) exhibit deficits in maximal strength and rate of torque development (RTD) of knee flexors and extensors during isometric, concentric, and eccentric contractions, but these deficits are not correlated with subjective function. Small to moderate correlations are found between maximal concentric and eccentric knee flexor strength and RTD with objective function measures such as single leg hop test and forward step-down test.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tom Weihmann
Summary: Most terrestrial animals move with a specific number of legs for propulsion, which varies between species. Understanding the reasons for these differences is crucial for understanding the evolution of multiple-leg locomotor systems and the development of robots. Some species also change the number of legs they use for propulsion when speeding up, but the reasons for this behavior remain unclear.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcin Derlatka, Marek Parfieniuk
Summary: Researchers have used ground reaction forces (GRFs) to observe gait for medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, and biometrics. This dataset includes 13,702 measurements of bipedal GRFs from 324 students during one step of normal gait, along with processed data suitable for experiments in GRF-based recognition of persons and footwear.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Hilary Mary Clayton, Sarah Jane Hobbs
Summary: This study measured ground reaction forces (GRFs) in horses performing the piaffe and found that hind limbs bear more weight in the movement, although peak vertical GRF is higher in the fore limbs. The variability of horizontal GRF components between steps is thought to reflect the challenge of balancing on one diagonal pair of limbs during the piaffe.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Anderson Souza Oliveira, Cristina-Ioana Pirscoveanu, John Rasmussen
Summary: From the point of view of measurement, footstep sounds provide a simple and inexpensive way to assess running biomechanical parameters. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the sounds of footsteps combined with machine learning algorithms to predict the ground reaction force curves. The results show high accuracy in predicting the ground reaction force profiles, which is important for injury prevention and performance optimization for runners.
Article
Neurosciences
Takeshi Kera, Hisashi Kawai, Junta Takahashi, Hirohiko Hirano, Yutaka Watanabe, Yoshinori Fujiwara, Kazushige Ihara, Hunkyung Kim, Shuichi Obuchi
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the relationship between ground reaction force during sit-to-stand motion and sarcopenia, and develop a diagnostic tool. The results showed that ground reaction force parameters related to strength and power were lower in the sarcopenia group. Furthermore, a formula using maximum ground reaction force was developed to detect sarcopenia with high sensitivity and specificity.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Dongwei Liu, Ming He, Meijin Hou, Ye Ma
Summary: In this study, bilateral long short-term memory neural networks were trained to estimate ground reaction forces (GRFs) during stair ascent and descent using whole-body kinematics as input. A post-processing algorithm was developed to remove artifacts on GRFs in the swing phase. The models achieved excellent accuracy, allowing researchers to estimate 3D GRFs during stair walking without instrumented staircases.
Article
Biophysics
Jonas S. Stoltze, Jari Pallari, Behrokh Eskandari, Anderson S. C. Oliveira, Cristina I. Pirscoveanu, John Rasmussen, Michael S. Andersen
Summary: This paper presents a knee brace design that applies an extension moment to unload the muscles in stance phase during gait, as an alternative to conventional valgus braces for knee osteoarthritis patients. The concept was tested on a healthy subject with a prototype, and the results showed reduced muscle activation and knee compressive forces. Further clinical experiments are required to evaluate the effects on pain and disease progression.
JOURNAL OF BIOMECHANICAL ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Shawanee' Patrick, Namita Anil Kumar, Pilwon Hur
Summary: State-of-the-art knee braces and exoskeleton devices often use different knee mechanisms, and there is currently no consensus on the benefits of self-aligning mechanisms. This study compared three different knee brace mechanisms and evaluated their impact on device migration and interaction forces through an experiment. The results showed that a polycentric mechanism with a predefined centrode may not be beneficial for most users, while a polycentric mechanism with a self-aligning center of rotation can improve mechanism alignment and reduce device migration.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROROBOTICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anna Weissenbacher, Alexander Tichy, Karl Weissenbacher, Barbara Bockstahler
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the influence of two types of harness on the force distribution between the paws of guide dogs. The results showed that both types of harness had clear effects on impulse when used with a handle and under re-enactment of lead work. Additionally, the use of a Y-harness with handles shortened the stride length.
Article
Orthopedics
Simon Thwaites, Mark Rickman, Dominic Thewlis
Summary: A lab-based technique for visualising knee loading using force-sensitive resistors has been developed. The combination of force-sensitive resistor activation and vertical ground reaction force data provides valuable insights into both the magnitude and locations of applied loads throughout kneeling.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Bianca Bieber, Bianca Reicher, Alexander Tichy, Barbara Bockstahler
Summary: This study investigated the effects of wearing dog boots on ground reaction forces (GRF) and center of pressure (COP) in dogs. It was found that certain configurations of the boots had significant impacts on GRF and COP parameters in dogs.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Minghui Yin, Tiezhu Liu, Tong Li, Zhenpeng Guan, Keshi Zhang, Siyuan Yin, Guangyang Gou, Jianhai Sun, Tianjun Ma, Jianqun Cheng, Gang Chen, Chunxiu Liu, Ning Xue
Summary: With the increasing prevalence of knee arthritis, the market for liners with force detection devices has expanded. In this study, a pressure-sensing device with bendable and disposable flexible sensor arrays was developed for force detection during knee arthroplasty. The device not only improves the spatial resolution of force detection through layout design, but also enables synchronous monitoring of axial and tangential stress inside the knee joint, filling in the research gap of tangential stress. The pressure sensors offer a stable, wide range, highly sensitive, and consistent avenue for knee arthroplasty.
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Chunyang Li, Weifeng Liu, Ruihua Liang
Summary: An indirect identification method is proposed in the paper to determine the vertical wheel-rail contact forces, which are key factors in models addressing wheel-rail interaction. The calculated forces are used to predict ground-borne vibrations, with a case study in Beijing Metro validating the effectiveness of the method. Results show efficient and accurate determination of the vertical wheel-rail contact forces and good agreement between predicted and measured ground-borne vibrations.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alessandra D'Amico, Elena Cavarretta, Chiara Fossati, Paolo Borrione, Fabio Pigozzi, Giacomo Frati, Sebastiano Sciarretta, Vincenzo Costa, Fabrizio De Grandis, Antonia Nigro, Mariangela Peruzzi, Fabio Miraldi, Wael Saade, Antonella Calogero, Paolo Rosa, Gioacchino Galardo, Lorenzo Loffredo, Pasquale Pignatelli, Cristina Nocella, Roberto Carnevale
Summary: This study aimed to explore the relationship between platelet activation, oxidative stress, and muscular injuries in elite football players compared to amateur athletes during physical exercise. The results showed that elite football players were more susceptible to muscle damage induced by oxidative stress compared to amateur athletes.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Marco Bravi, Chiara Fossati, Arrigo Giombini, Andrea Macaluso, Jose Kawazoe Lazzoli, Fabio Santacaterina, Federica Bressi, Ferruccio Vorini, Stefano Campi, Rocco Papalia, Fabio Pigozzi
Summary: This systematic review aimed to identify the criteria used to determine when a patient is ready for return-to-play after rotator cuff repair. The review included 24 studies and identified nine criteria, with time being the most commonly used criterion, followed by strength and range of motion. The results are consistent with previous research and the review adds methodological strength by following guidelines and including data from both athletes and non-athletes.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Sport Sciences
Riccardo Borzuola, Luca Laudani, Luciana Labanca, Andrea Macaluso
Summary: This review evaluates the impact of neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed onto voluntary contractions on muscle strength and mass. The findings suggest that chronic exposure to NMES+ can significantly improve muscle strength compared to traditional training or passive NMES training, and in some cases also increase muscle mass. However, discrepancies in stimulation methods and exercise types were found to affect the results.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SPORT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Francesco Budini, Luciana Labanca, Michael Scholz, Andrea Macaluso
Summary: This study investigated the effects of mental fatigue on tremor, dexterity, and force steadiness. The results indicated that mental fatigue did not significantly influence these neuromuscular parameters.
Article
Physiology
Valter Di Salvo, Daniele Bonanno, Mattia Modonutti, Andrea Scanavino, Claudio Donatelli, Fabio Pigozzi, Lorenzo Lolli
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the general perspectives of elite soccer players on the time course of perceived postmatch fatigue and the influence of away matches on subjective perceptions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with professional soccer players from 14 top-division European clubs. The results showed that two-thirds of the players perceived higher postmatch fatigue 2 days after a competition, with a higher proportion observed among wide midfielders, attackers, and central midfielders. Additionally, approximately two-thirds of the players reported more than usual perceived postmatch fatigue following away matches. These findings highlight the need for dedicated recovery protocols within 48 hours postmatch and tailored strategies for addressing the additional burden of away matches and travel.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY AND PERFORMANCE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Alessandra D'Amico, Chiara Fossati, Fabio Pigozzi, Paolo Borrione, Mariangela Peruzzi, Simona Bartimoccia, Filippo Saba, Annachiara Pingitore, Giuseppe Biondi-Zoccai, Luigi Petramala, Fabrizio De Grandis, Daniele Vecchio, Luca D'Ambrosio, Sonia Schiavon, Luigi Sciarra, Cristina Nocella, Elena Cavarretta
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a mixture containing three compounds on muscle injury biomarkers in endurance athletes. The results showed that the intake of this mixture significantly reduced oxidative stress and positively modulated autophagy, resulting in a significant decrease in muscle injury biomarkers.
Article
Neurosciences
Riccardo Borzuola, Federico Quinzi, Martina Scalia, Sabrina Pitzalis, Francesco Di Russo, Andrea Macaluso
Summary: Superimposing NMES on voluntary muscle contractions has been shown to improve motor performance even more than voluntary exercise alone. This study aimed to investigate the acute responses in spinal excitability and brain activity following three conditions: NMES + ISO, passive NMES, and ISO.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Andrea Segreti, Mihail Celeski, Luigi Maria Monticelli, Alfonso Perillo, Simone Pasquale Crispino, Giuseppe Di Gioia, Valeria Cammalleri, Chiara Fossati, Simona Mega, Rocco Papalia, Fabio Pigozzi, Gian Paolo Ussia, Francesco Grigioni
Summary: Observing mitral or tricuspid valve disease in athletes raises important considerations regarding etiology, eligibility for competitive sports, and the risk of severe arrhythmias. Imaging modalities play a crucial role in diagnosing and stratifying the risk of valve diseases in athletes, providing essential information about physiology and differentiating primary valve diseases from those secondary to cardiac adaptations related to training. Evaluating athletes during exercise using multimodality imaging can help reproduce the sport setting and better characterize the etiology and mechanism of valve defects.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Sport Sciences
Marco Bravi, Chiara Fossati, Arrigo Giombini, Elena Mannacio, Riccardo Borzuola, Rocco Papalia, Fabio Pigozzi, Andrea Macaluso
Summary: Assessing and monitoring shoulder strength during rehabilitation is crucial. A fixed dynamometer is a valid and cost-effective method for assessment. This study aimed to compare shoulder strength values under different postures and grip modalities. The results showed that posture and grip modality did influence shoulder muscle strength assessment recorded by a fixed dynamometer.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL MORPHOLOGY AND KINESIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giuliana Abbadessa, Eleonora Maniscalco, Loredana Grasso, Jasmin Popara, Federica Di Scipio, Francesco Franco, Daniele Mancardi, Fabio Pigozzi, Paolo Borrione, Giovanni Nicolao Berta, Silvia Racca
Summary: Metformin (Met) is a commonly prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus. It suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, enhances peripheral glucose uptake, and lowers glucose absorption by the intestine. Recent studies have found that Met is also effective in other clinical applications. However, the mechanism of action of Met on muscle and its effect on muscle performance are still unclear. This study investigated the effects of Met combined with training on physical performance in healthy rats. The results showed that Met did not improve physical performance, but it protected myocytes from exercise-induced damage and positively affected muscle adaptation to exercise. This supports the idea of using Met therapeutically when muscle function and structure are compromised.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maurizio Casasco, Ferdinando Iellamo, Marco Scorcu, Attilio Parisi, Irena Tavcar, Erica Brugin, Barbara Martini, Chiara Fossati, Fabio Pigozzi
Summary: According to a study conducted in Italy, cardiac complications from SARS-CoV-2 are rare in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic competitive athletes. An RTP assessment based on symptoms and ECG-monitored exercise test would ensure a safe return to play for these athletes.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Sport Sciences
Fabio Pigozzi, Xavier Bigard, Juergen Steinacker, Bernd Wolfarth, Victoriya Badtieva, Christian Schneider, Jeroen Swart, James Lee John Bilzon, Demitri Constantinou, Michiko Dohi, Luigi Di Luigi, Chiara Fossati, Norbert Bachl, Guoping Li, Theodora Papadopoulou, Maurizio Casasco, Dina Christina (Christa) Janse van Rensburg, Jean-Francois Kaux, Sandra Rozenstoka, Jose-Antonio Casajus, Irina Zelenkova, Emre Ak, Bulent Ulkar, Francisco Arroyo, Anca Ionescu, Andre Pedrinelli, Mike Miller, Patrick Singleton, Malav Shroff, Nick Webborn, James Barrett, Blair Hamilton, Michael Geistlinger, Gianfranco Beltrami, Sergio Migliorini, Lenka Dienstbach-Wech, Stephane Bermon, Yannis P. Pitsiladis
Summary: The IOC has published a framework on fairness, inclusion, and non-discrimination based on gender identity and sex variations. However, the framework lacks consideration for medical and scientific issues and places the responsibility for gender eligibility and classification solely on International Federations (IFs) who may not have the capacity to implement it. This could result in either excluding all transgender or DSD athletes or having no eligibility rules, both of which have significant drawbacks and go against the Olympic charter and laws in many countries.
BMJ OPEN SPORT & EXERCISE MEDICINE
(2022)
