Michael S Laymon

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the Power Spectrum Density (PSD) of the electroencephalography (EEG) in common sensorimotor balance training tasks of varying difficulty. Sensorimotor balance exercises including alteration of vision, base of support or surface compliance are used to improve postural control. These exercises are presumed to induce supraspinal adaptation, however, there were no studies that investigated the power changes of the ...

Electrical stimulation is commonly used for strengthening muscle but little evidence exists as to the optimal electrode size, waveform, or frequency to apply. Three male and three female subjects (22–40 years old) were examined during electrical stimulation of the quadriceps muscle. Two self adhesive electrode sizes were examined, 2 cm × 2 cm and 2 cm × 4 cm. Electrical stimulation was applied with square and sine waveforms, currents of 5, 10 and 15 mA, and pulse widths of 100–500 μs ...

Eighty-two percent of sexually active women aged 15–44 have used oral contraceptive pills (OCP) in the United States. The OCP, an exogenous source of synthetic forms of steroid hormones, prevents ovulation. Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle (MC) are believed to have an impact on anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) laxity due to estrogen. Because the estrogen receptor β resides on human connective tissue, OCP may have potential impact on tendon and ligament synthesis, structure, and ...

BACKGROUND: It is commonly believed in medicine that using heat will increase the distensability and flexibility of soft tissue. If true, increased flexibility would be a positive factor to reduce injuries in sports. However, cold should have the opposite effect and is often used to treat sports injuries. This study was accomplished to quantify the effect of heat and cold on the force needed to flex the knee and laxness of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

MATERIAL AND ...

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), also known as exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD), is commonly experienced in individuals who have been physically inactive for prolonged periods of time, and begin with an unexpected bout of exercise, but can also occur in athletes who exercise beyond their normal limits of training. The symptoms associated with this painful phenomenon can range from slight muscle tenderness, to severe debilitating pain. The intensity of these symptoms and the ...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of heat applied for 8 hours immediately after or 24 hours after exercise on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in large skeletal muscle groups measured by subjective and objective means.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional repeated measure design study.

SETTING: Research laboratory.

SUBJECTS: Three groups of 20 subjects, age range 20 to 40 years.

INTERVENTION: Squats were conducted in three 5-minute bouts to initiate DOMS; 3 minutes of rest separated the bouts. One ...

Electrical stimulation is a commonly used modality for both athletic training and physical therapy. However, there are limited objective data available to determine the waveform which provides the maximum muscle strength as well as minimizing pain. In the present investigation, two groups of subjects were examined. Group 1 was composed of six males and four females and group 2 was composed of three male and three female subjects. The first series of experiments investigated muscle ...

This study examined how vision, base of support (BOS) and surface compliance affected postural sway and electromyography (EMG) activity of hip and ankle muscles during eight balance training tasks in young adults. Postural sway and EMG activity of gluteus maximus (GMAX), gluteus medius (GMED), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (GAST) were measured during eight balance tasks with eyes open or closed, feet in tandem or apart, and on foam or a firm surface. Postural sway and ...

Women have a higher risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries compared to men. ACL elasticity and muscle flexibility are major risk factors for knee injuries. The presence of estrogen receptors in connective tissue allows estrogen to change the mechanical properties of muscles and ligaments. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) happened when begin unaccustomed levels of exercise. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine ACL elasticity after exercise meant to produce DOMS. ...

BACKGROUND: Heating the skin and muscles is a commonly accepted method of pain relief and a modality to increase relaxation in muscles and increase tissue blood flow.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of local heat applied to trigger points and to determine if there was pain relief in the neck and plantar fascia.

METHODS: Forty adults were divided into 2 different groups according to their pain; twenty subjects had plantar foot pain and the other 20 ...

BACKGROUND: Exercise is of great value for individuals with diabetes in helping to control their hemoglobin A1c levels and in increasing their insulin sensitivity. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common problem in healthy individuals and in people who have diabetes. People with diabetes are also faced with metabolic and endothelial impairments, which could make DOMS even worse. But because they usually have neuropathies, they may not feel this soreness appropriately, leading to ...

BACKGROUND: This study quantified the effects of heat, cold, and pressure on the median nerve and transverse carpal ligament in subjects without carpal tunnel syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were individuals ages 20-50 who had no symptoms of carpal tunnel disease. Imaging ultrasound was used to measure the clearance around the median nerve, transverse ligament elasticity, nerve conduction velocity, thickness of the carpal ligament, and area of the median nerve. Pressure was ...