@article{MuellerEngelMuelleretal.2016, author = {Mueller, Juliane and Engel, Tilman and Mueller, Steffen and Kopinski, Stephan and Baur, Heiner and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Neuromuscular response of the trunk to sudden gait disturbances: Forward vs. backward perturbation}, series = {Journal of electromyography and kinesiology}, volume = {30}, journal = {Journal of electromyography and kinesiology}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {1050-6411}, doi = {10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.07.005}, pages = {168 -- 176}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The study aimed to analyse neuromuscular activity of the trunk comparing four different perturbations during gait. Thirteen subjects (28 +/- 3 yrs) walked (1 m/s) on a split-belt treadmill, while 4 (belt) perturbations (F1, F2, B1, B2) were randomly applied. Perturbations differed, related to treadmill belt translation, in direction (forward (F)/backward (B)) and amplitude (20 m/s(2) (1)/40 m/s(2) (2)). Trunk muscle activity was assessed with a 12-lead-EMG. EMG-RMS [\%] (0-200 ms after perturbation; normalized to RMS of normal gait) was analyzed for muscles and four trunk areas (ventral left/right; dorsal left/right). Ratio of ventral: dorsal muscles were calculated. Muscle onset [ms] was determined. Data analysis was conducted descriptively, followed by ANOVA (post hoc Tukey-Kramer (alpha = 0.05)). All perturbations lead to an increase in EMG-RMS (428 +/- 289\%). F1 showed the lowest and F2 the highest increase for the flexors. B2 showed the highest increase for the extensors. Significant differences between perturbations could be observed for 6 muscles, as well as the 4 trunk areas. Ratio analysis revealed no significant differences (range 1.25 (B1) to 1.71 (F2) between stimuli. Muscle response time (ventral: 87.0 +/- 21.7 ms; dorsal: 88.4 +/- 17.0 ms) between stimuli was only significant (p = 0.005) for the dorsal muscles. Magnitude significantly influences neuromuscular trunk response patterns in healthy adults. Regardless of direction ventral muscles always revealed higher relative increase of activity while compensating the walking perturbations. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerMuellerEngeletal.2016, author = {M{\"u}ller, Juliane and M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Engel, Tilman and Reschke, Antje and Baur, Heiner and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Stumbling reactions during perturbed walking: Neuromuscular reflex activity and 3-D kinematics of the trunk - A pilot study}, series = {Journal of biomechanics}, volume = {49}, journal = {Journal of biomechanics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Oxford}, issn = {0021-9290}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbiomech.2015.09.041}, pages = {933 -- 938}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Stumbling led to an increase in ROM, compared to unperturbed gait, in all segments and planes. These increases ranged between 107 +/- 26\% (UTA/rotation) and 262 +/- 132\% (UTS/lateral flexion), significant only in lateral flexion. EMG activity of the trunk was increased during stumbling (abdominal: 665 +/- 283\%; back: 501 +/- 215\%), without significant differences between muscles. Provoked stumbling leads to a measurable effect on the trunk, quantifiable by an increase in ROM and EMG activity, compared to normal walking. Greater abdominal muscle activity and ROM of lateral flexion may indicate a specific compensation pattern occurring during stumbling. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerEngelKopinskietal.2017, author = {M{\"u}ller, Juliane and Engel, Tilman and Kopinski, Stephan and Mayer, Frank and M{\"u}ller, Steffen}, title = {Neuromuscular trunk activation patterns in back pain patients during one-handed lifting}, series = {World journal of orthopedics}, volume = {8}, journal = {World journal of orthopedics}, number = {2}, publisher = {Baishideng Publishing Group}, address = {Pleasanton}, issn = {2218-5836}, doi = {10.5312/wjo.v8.i2.142}, pages = {142 -- 148}, year = {2017}, abstract = {AIM To analyze neuromuscular activity patterns of the trunk in healthy controls (H) and back pain patients (BPP) during one-handed lifting of light to heavy loads. METHODS RESULTS Seven subjects (3m/4f; 32 +/- 7 years; 171 +/- 7 cm; 65 +/- 11 kg) were assigned to BPP (pain grade >= 2) and 36 (13m/23f; 28 +/- 8 years; 174 +/- 10 cm; 71 +/- 12 kg) to H (pain grade <= 1). H and BPP did not differ significantly in anthropometrics (P > 0.05). All subjects were able to lift the light and middle loads, but 57\% of BPP and 22\% of H were not able to lift the heavy load (all women) chi(2) analysis revealed statistically significant differences in task failure between H vs BPP (P = 0.03). EMG-RMS ranged from 33\% +/- 10\%/30\% +/- 9\% (DL, 1 kg) to 356\% +/- 148\%/283\% +/- 80\% (VR, 20 kg) in H/BPP with no statistical difference between groups regardless of load (P > 0.05). However, the EMG-RMS of the VR was greatest in all lifting tasks for both groups and increased with heavier loads. CONCLUSION Heavier loading leads to an increase (2-to 3-fold) in trunk muscle activity with comparable patterns. Heavy loading (20 kg) leads to task failure, especially in women with back pain.}, language = {en} } @article{MuellerMartinezValdesStolletal.2018, author = {Mueller, Juliane and Martinez-Valdes, Eduardo Andr{\´e}s and Stoll, Josefine and Mueller, Steffen and Engel, Tilman and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Differences in neuromuscular activity of ankle stabilizing muscles during postural disturbances}, series = {Gait \& posture}, volume = {61}, journal = {Gait \& posture}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Clare}, issn = {0966-6362}, doi = {10.1016/j.gaitpost.2018.01.023}, pages = {226 -- 231}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The purpose was to examine gender differences in ankle stabilizing muscle activation during postural disturbances. Seventeen participants (9 females: 27 +/- 2yrs., 1.69 +/- 0.1 m, 63 +/- 7 kg; 8 males: 29 +/- 2yrs., 1.81 +/- 0.1 m; 83 +/- 7 kg) were included in the study. After familiarization on a split-belt-treadmill, participants walked (1 m/s) while 15 right-sided perturbations were randomly applied 200 ms after initial heel contact. Muscle activity of M. tibialis anterior (TA), peroneus longus (PL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) was recorded during unperturbed and perturbed walking. The root mean square (RMS; [\%]) was analyzed within 200 ms after perturbation. Co-activation was quantified as ratio of antagonist (GM)/agonist (TA) EMG-RMS during unperturbed and perturbed walking. Time to onset was calculated (ms). Data were analyzed descriptively (mean +/- SD) followed by three-way-ANOVA (gender/condition/muscle; alpha= 0.05). Perturbed walking elicited higher EMG activity compared to normal walking for TA and PL in both genders (p < 0.000). RMS amplitude gender comparisons revealed an interaction between gender and condition (F = 4.6, p = 0.049) and, a triple interaction among gender, condition and muscle (F = 4.7, p = 0.02). Women presented significantly higher EMG-RMS [\%] PL amplitude than men during perturbed walking (mean difference = 209.6\%, 95\% confidence interval = -367.0 to -52.2\%, p < 0.000). Co-activation showed significant lower values for perturbed compared to normal walking (p < 0.000), without significant gender differences for both walking conditions. GM activated significantly earlier than TA and PL (p < 0.01) without significant differences between the muscle activation onsets of men and women (p = 0.7). The results reflect that activation strategies of the ankle encompassing muscles differ between genders. In provoked stumbling, higher PL EMG activity in women compared to men is present. Future studies should aim to elucidate if this specific behavior has any relationship with ankle injury occurrence between genders.}, language = {en} } @article{BaritelloKhajooeiEngeletal.2020, author = {Baritello, Omar and Khajooei, Mina and Engel, Tilman and Kopinski, Stephan and Quarmby, Andrew James and M{\"u}ller, Steffen and Mayer, Frank}, title = {Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass}, series = {BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation}, volume = {12}, journal = {BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation}, number = {1}, publisher = {BioMed Central}, address = {London}, issn = {2052-1847}, doi = {10.1186/s13102-020-00168-x}, pages = {14}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Background Recent shoulder injury prevention programs have utilized resistance exercises combined with different forms of instability, with the goal of eliciting functional adaptations and thereby reducing the risk of injury. However, it is still unknown how an unstable weight mass (UWM) affects the muscular activity of the shoulder stabilizers. Aim of the study was to assess neuromuscular activity of dynamic shoulder stabilizers under four conditions of stable and UWM during three shoulder exercises. It was hypothesized that a combined condition of weight with UWM would elicit greater activation due to the increased stabilization demand. Methods Sixteen participants (7 m/9 f) were included in this cross-sectional study and prepared with an EMG-setup for the: Mm. upper/lower trapezius (U.TA/L.TA), lateral deltoid (DE), latissimus dorsi (LD), serratus anterior (SA) and pectoralis major (PE). A maximal voluntary isometric contraction test (MVIC; 5 s.) was performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Next, internal/external rotation (In/Ex), abduction/adduction (Ab/Ad) and diagonal flexion/extension (F/E) exercises (5 reps.) were performed with four custom-made-pipes representing different exercise conditions. First, the empty-pipe (P; 0.5 kg) and then, randomly ordered, water-filled-pipe (PW; 1 kg), weight-pipe (PG; 4.5 kg) and weight + water-filled-pipe (PWG; 4.5 kg), while EMG was recorded. Raw root-mean-square values (RMS) were normalized to MVIC (\%MVIC). Differences between conditions for RMS\%MVIC, scapular stabilizer (SR: U.TA/L.TA; U.TA/SA) and contraction (CR: concentric/eccentric) ratios were analyzed (paired t-test; p <= 0.05; Bonferroni adjusted alpha = 0.008). Results PWG showed significantly greater muscle activity for all exercises and all muscles except for PE compared to P and PW. Condition PG elicited muscular activity comparable to PWG (p > 0.008) with significantly lower activation of L.TA and SA in the In/Ex rotation. The SR ratio was significantly higher in PWG compared to P and PW. No significant differences were found for the CR ratio in all exercises and for all muscles. Conclusion Higher weight generated greater muscle activation whereas an UWM raised the neuromuscular activity, increasing the stabilization demands. Especially in the In/Ex rotation, an UWM increased the RMS\%MVIC and SR ratio. This might improve training effects in shoulder prevention and rehabilitation programs.}, language = {en} } @article{QuarmbyKhajooeiKurtzetal.2023, author = {Quarmby, Andrew James and Khajooei, Mina and Kurtz, Philip and Henschke, Jakob and Kim, MyoungHwee and Mayer, Frank and Engel, Tilman}, title = {Unexpected running perturbations}, series = {Frontiers in sports and active living}, volume = {5}, journal = {Frontiers in sports and active living}, publisher = {Frontiers Media}, address = {Lausanne}, issn = {2624-9367}, doi = {10.3389/fspor.2023.1129058}, pages = {14}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Introduction Balance is vital for human health and experiments have been conducted to measure the mechanisms of postural control, for example studying reflex responses to simulated perturbations. Such studies are frequent in walking but less common in running, and an understanding of reflex responses to trip-like disturbances could enhance our understanding of human gait and improve approaches to training and rehabilitation. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the technical validity and reliability of a treadmill running protocol with perturbations. A further exploratory aim was to evaluate the associated neuromuscular reflex responses to the perturbations, in the lower limbs. Methods Twelve healthy participants completed a running protocol (9 km/h) test-retest (2 weeks apart), whereby 30 unilateral perturbations were executed via the treadmill belts (presets:2.0 m/s amplitude;150 ms delay (post-heel contact);100ms duration). Validity of the perturbations was assessed via mean +/- SD comparison, percentage error calculation between the preset and recorded perturbation characteristics (PE\%), and coefficient of variation (CV\%). Test-retest reliability (TRV\%) and Bland-Altman analysis (BLA; bias +/- 1.96 * SD) was calculated for reliability. To measure reflex activity, electromyography (EMG) was applied in both legs. EMG amplitudes (root mean square normalized to unperturbed strides) and latencies [ms] were analysed descriptively. Results Left-side perturbation amplitude was 1.9 +/- 0.1 m/s, delay 105 +/- 2 ms, and duration 78 +/- 1 ms. Right-side perturbation amplitude was 1.9 +/- 0.1 m/s, delay 118 +/- 2 ms, duration 78 +/- 1 ms. PE\% ranged from 5-30\% for the recorded perturbations. CV\% of the perturbations ranged from 19.5-76.8\%. TRV\% for the perturbations was 6.4-16.6\%. BLA for the left was amplitude: 0.0 +/- 0.3m/s, delay: 0 +/- 17 ms, duration: 2 +/- 13 ms, and for the right was amplitude: 0.1 +/- 0.7, delay: 4 +/- 40 ms, duration: 1 +/- 35 ms. EMG amplitudes ranged from 175 +/- 141\%-454 +/- 359\% in both limbs. Latencies were 109 +/- 12-116 +/- 23 ms in the tibialis anterior, and 128 +/- 49-157 +/- 20 ms in the biceps femoris. Discussion Generally, this study indicated sufficient validity and reliability of the current setup considering the technical challenges and limitations, although the reliability of the right-sided perturbations could be questioned. The protocol provoked reflex responses in the lower extremities, especially in the leading leg. Acute neuromusculoskeletal adjustments to the perturbations could be studied and compared in clinical and healthy running populations, and the protocol could be utilised to monitor chronic adaptations to interventions over time.}, language = {en} }