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Denis Gravel: Influence Statistics

OBJECTIVE: To determine, using the Muscular Utilization Ratio (MUR) method, whether plantarflexor weakness is among the factors preventing stroke subjects from walking at faster speeds. Potential compensations by the hip flexors were also examined.

DESIGN: A convenience sample of 17 chronic stroke subjects in a context of a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Gait speed is correlated with the residual strength of the muscles involved in gait in stroke subjects. However, it has not been ...

BACKGROUND: The asymmetrical motor pattern of persons with hemiparesis influences the performance of activities that require interactions between the two sides of the body.

METHODS: Twelve subjects with a chronic hemiparesis were asked to stand up and sit down at their natural speed in the following foot positions: (1) spontaneous; (2) symmetrical; (3) asymmetrical with the affected foot placed backward; and (4) asymmetrical with the unaffected foot placed backward. Forces were recorded ...

AIMS: To compare the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function in continent and stress urinary incontinent women using dynamometric measurements.

METHODS: Thirty continent women and 59 women suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI), aged between 21 and 44 and parous, participated in the study. An instrumented speculum was used to assess the static parameters of the PFM: (1) passive force at 19 and 24 mm of vaginal aperture (antero-posterior diameter), (2) maximal strength in a ...

BACKGROUND: Although reaching an optimal level of independence during sitting pivot transfer is crucial for individuals with spinal cord injury, little is known regarding the kinematic requirements of this functional task.

METHODS: Ten males with spinal cord injury performed independent sitting pivot transfers between an initial seat and a target one placed at same (50 cm), lower (40 cm), and higher heights (60 cm) than the initial one, using their usual movement strategies. ...

INTRODUCTION: Back muscle capacity is impaired in chronic low back pain patients but no motivation-free test exists to measure it. The aims of this study were to assess the reliability and criterion validity of electromyographic indices of muscle fatigue during an intermittent absolute endurance test.

METHODS: Healthy subjects (44 males and 29 females; age: 20-55 yrs) performed three maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and a fatigue test while standing in a static dynamometer. Surface ...

This article reports the results of a comparative study on directional patterns of muscle activation at the lower limb in 15 subjects with hemiparesis and 18 healthy subjects. Subjects were required to exert static hip and knee torques using multidirectional and biarticular dynamometers designed for the lower limbs. Hip torques were performed in abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, and in combined directions (e.g., hip flexion and abduction) and knee torques were exerted in flexion ...

3D analysis of the gait of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was the topic of only a few studies and none of these considered the effect of gait velocity on the gait parameters of children with DMD. Gait parameters of 11 children with DMD were compared to those of 14 control children while considering the effect of gait velocity using 3D biomechanical analysis. Kinematic and kinetic gait parameters were measured using an Optotrak motion analysis system and AMTI force plates ...

Because of extensor weakness, children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) maintain internal flexion moments at the joints of the lower extremities when they walk. We believe that at the ankle, the plantar flexion moments caused by contractures may contribute significantly to the production of the net ankle flexion moment during the gait in these children. The goal of the present study is to quantify ankle plantar flexion passive moments that may be associated with the presence of ...

The purpose of this study was to assess different measurement strategies to increase the reliability of different electromyographic (EMG) indices developed for the assessment of back muscle impairments. Forty male volunteers (20 controls and 20 chronic low back pain patients) were assessed on three sessions at least 2 days apart within 2 weeks. Surface EMG signals were recorded from four pairs (bilaterally) of back muscles (multifidus at the L5 level, iliocostalis lumborum at L3, and ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the reliability (intertrial, interevaluator) and the concurrent validity of strength measurements obtained with a chair-fixed dynamometer and to recommend a clinical protocol that minimizes standard error of measurement (SEM).

DESIGN: Within-session repeated measures of maximal static strength of knee flexors and extensors at 30 degrees and 60 degrees of flexion on the chair-fixed and Cybex dynamometers.

SETTING: Ambulatory physiotherapy department of a ...

INTRODUCTION: In a previous paper, standard surface electromyographic (EMG) indices of muscle fatigue, which are based on the lowering of the median or mean frequencies of the EMG power spectrum in time, were applied during an intermittent absolute endurance test and were evaluated relative to criterion validity and test-retest reliability. The aims of this study were to assess mechanical and alternative EMG correlates of muscle fatigue.

METHODS: Healthy subjects (44 males and 29 ...

The passive properties of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) might play a role in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) pathophysiology.

AIM: To investigate the test-retest reliability of the dynamometric passive properties of the PFM in postmenopausal SUI women.

METHODS: Thirty-two SUI postmenopausal women were convened to two sessions 2 weeks apart. In each session, the measurements were repeated twice. The pelvic floor musculature was evaluated in four different conditions: (1) forces ...

The goal of the present study was to compare electromyogram (EMG) power spectra obtained from step (constant force level) and ramp (progressive increase in the force level) isometric contractions. Data windows of different durations were also analysed for the step contractions, in order to evaluate the stability of EMG power spectrum statistics. Fourteen normal subjects performed (1) five ramp elbow extensions ranging from 0 to 100% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and (2) ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the movement patterns and the muscular demand during a posterior transfer maneuver on a level surface in individuals with spinal cord injuries.

DESIGN: Six participants with high-level spinal cord injury (C7 to T6) were compared to five participants with low-level spinal cord injury (T11 to L2) with partial or complete control of abdominal musculature.

BACKGROUND: Developing an optimal level of independence for transfer activities ...

BACKGROUND: No study has reported the differences between sides in the net muscular moment of lower limbs of subjects with hemiparesis during sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit tasks in various foot positions. Moreover, the asymmetry of lower-joint moments has not yet been related to muscular weakness of the lower limbs in this population.

METHODS: A convenience sample of 12 individuals (mean age (standard deviation): 49.7 (9.0) years) with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke were asked to ...