Compliance to prescribed training among recreational swimmers using augmented-reality swim goggles: A randomised controlled trial.

Complying with prescribed training plans is an important challenge for swimmers, as deviations from intended intensity or duration can reduce gains in performance and fitness. This randomised controlled trial investigated whether real-time visual feedback enhances compliance with prescribed training protocols among recreational swimmers. Fifty-seven participants were randomised into feedback (FB) and non-feedback (NFB) groups and completed 35 workouts over 12 weeks across three training volumes (small, medium, large).

Does ankle support of safety shoes increase trip-related risk of falling? - A randomized crossover study.

Background: Occupational footwear offers multiple safety features like ankle support. Although designed to protect the ankle joint, the added mass and structural rigidity may restrict ankle range of motion and hinder natural gait adaptations essential for balance, potentially increasing trip severity and fall risk.

Research Question: Does ankle support in occupational footwear increase the trip related-fall risk?

Methods: Twenty asymptomatic individuals (11 females and nine males) participated in this randomized cross-over study.

Pain Mechanisms and Psychosocial Variables in Patients With Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Secondary Analysis From a Randomised Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) affects approx. 15%-20% of patients undergoing surgery. It is largely unexplained why some patients develop chronic pain after TKA, but several factors, e.

Replicating cheese maturing warehouse conditions in laboratory slip resistance testing: Identifying safety footwear for a specific working environment.

This laboratory study assessed the slip resistance of seven safety shoes certified under ISO 20345:2021 in conditions mimicking a cheese maturing warehouse with floors contaminated by smear brine. Measurements of dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) were performed on polyurethane and tile surfaces, demonstrating that footwear with wider heels, larger contact areas, and lower local pressure exhibited higher slip resistance. Regression analyses indicated significant predictive relationships between heel width and contact area on slip resistance on the polyurethane surface, with notable differences in performance across shoe models.

A pull function attachment to manual wheelchairs: a case report on usability and shoulder pain in people with spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Shoulder pain mostly due to high biomechanical load of the anterior-shoulder musculature is prevalent among manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or disorder (SCI/D). This case study showcases a novel pull-function attachment to the wheelchair that reverses the propulsion motion by pulling rather than pushing the wheelchair. Additionally, the study reports its preliminary usability and impact on shoulder pain.

The effects of photobiomodulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on chronic neck pain: A double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Photobiomodulation (PBM) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are used to reduce neck pain.

Objective: To investigate the immediate and 1-month post-treatment effects of 10 treatment sessions of PBM and TENS delivered over 2 weeks on pain intensity in individuals with neck pain.

Methods: Individuals with neck pain were randomized into four groups: PBM+TENS, PBM, TENS, and Sham.

Pressure Pain Hyperalgesia Expressed by Topographical Pressure Pain Sensitivity after Cardiac Surgery.

Backgrounds: We aim to evaluate changes in pressure pain sensitivity before and after cardiac surgery using topographical sensitivity maps utilizing a pressure algometer.

Methods: Pressure pain thresholds over 17 thoracic points and 4 distant pain-free points were assessed in 70 patients (women: 29, age: 67.5 years), before and at 1, 3, and 7 postoperative days.

Effects of biofeedback and strength training interventions on neck-shoulder sensory-motor responses among visual display unit users. A narrative review.

Workplace biofeedback and strength training interventions have been conducted to treat neck-shoulder pain among visual display unit users. Biofeedback has been given using surface electromyography, mechanomyography, oculometrics, and spinal posture to promote either muscle relaxation, muscle activation or change in posture. Strength training has been performed mostly using basic exercise equipment according to various progression principles.

Absolute and Relative Reliability of Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics Extracted from an Inertial Measurement Unit among Senior Adults Using a Passive Hip Exoskeleton: A Test-Retest Study.

Background: Seniors wearing a passive hip exoskeleton (Exo) show increased walking speed and step length but reduced cadence. We assessed the test-retest reliability of seniors' gait characteristics with Exo.

Methods: Twenty seniors walked with and without Exo (noExo) on a 10 m indoor track over two sessions separated by one week.

Walking against the odds: The intricate connection between spatiotemporal characteristics, kinetic and kinematic variables, cognitive stress, and passive assistive exoskeletons in senior and young adults.

In this study, we investigated the combined effects of age, dual-tasking (DT) and a passive hip exoskeleton on gait patterns among senior (SA) and young adults (YA). It was hypothesized that SA will be more affected by DT and that wearing the exoskeleton will improve gait patterns for both groups during DT. Twenty-two SA and twenty-six YA performed a single task (normal walking) and DT walking at their preferred speed with an exoskeleton (EXO), without (noEXO), and a sham version (SHAM) in a randomized and balanced order.

Dependence of Rotator Cuff Muscle Thickness and Stiffness on Low-Level Contractions: Metrology of the Contraction Level Using Shear-Wave Imaging.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effects of the level of contraction during isometric shoulder abduction at different abduction angles on muscle thickness and stiffness of the shoulder girdle in asymptomatic individuals.

Design: Measurement properties study.

Setting: Biomechanics and motion analysis lab.

In-Field Training of a Passive Back Exoskeleton Changes the Biomechanics of Logistic Workers.

OCCUPATIONAL APPLICATIONSOccupational exoskeletons receive rising interest in industry as these devices diminish the biomechanical load during manual materials handling. Still, we have limited knowledge when it comes to in-field use. This gap often contributes to failure in the implementation of exoskeleton in industry.

Exercise and Pain Neuroscience Education for Patients With Chronic Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Up to 20% of patients develop chronic pain after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet there is a scarcity of effective interventions for this population.

Objective: To evaluate whether neuromuscular exercise and pain neuroscience education were superior to pain neuroscience education alone for patients with chronic pain after TKA.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A superiority randomized clinical trial was conducted at 3 outpatient clinics at Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark.

Effect of applied cadence in repeated sprint cycling on muscle characteristics.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate physiological responses, muscle-tendon unit properties of the quadriceps muscle, and mechanical performance after repeated sprint cycling at optimal and 70% of optimal cadence.

Methods: Twenty recreational cyclists performed as first sprint performance cycling test and during subsequent sessions two repeated sprint cycling protocols at optimal and 70% of optimal cadence, in random order. The muscle-tendon unit outcome measures on the dominant leg included muscle thickness, fascicle length (L), pennation angle (θ), and stiffness for the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis muscle (VM) at baseline, immediately after repeated sprint cycling, and 1-h post-exercise.

Effect of a home-based isometric handgrip training programme on systolic blood pressure in adults: A randomised assessor-blinded trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of 20 weeks of home-based isometric handgrip training (IHT) compared with usual care on systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adults.

Design And Participants: This was a randomised, controlled, assessor-blinded trial. Participants were randomised to either IHT (intervention group) or usual care (control group).

Changes in normalized mutual information in response to strength training: An ancillary analysis of a quasi-randomized controlled trial.

The aim of the present investigation was twofold. (1) to assess test-retest reliability of normalized mutual information (NMI) values extracted from the surface electromyography (sEMG) signal of muscles pairs of the upper body during dynamic bench press at a high load, and (2) to assess changes in NMI values from before to after a five-week quasi-randomized controlled bench press training intervention. For test-retest reliability, 20 strength trained males (age 25 ± 2 years, height 1.

Biomechanical changes, acceptance, and usability of a passive shoulder exoskeleton in manual material handling. A field study.

Occupational exoskeletons contribute to diminish the biomechanical load during manual work. However, familiarization to the use of exoskeletons is rarely considered, which may lead to failure of acceptance and implementation. In this study, ten logistic workers underwent a 5-week progressive familiarization to a passive shoulder exoskeleton, while ten workers acted as controls.

Augmented-reality swim goggles accurately and reliably measure swim performance metrics in recreational swimmers.

Background: Swimmers commonly access performance metrics such as lap splits, distance, and pacing information between work bouts while they rest. Recently, a new category of tracking devices for swimming was introduced with the FORM Smart Swim Goggles (FORM Goggles). The goggles have a built-in see-through display and are capable of tracking and displaying distance, time splits, stroke, and pace metrics in real time using machine learning and augmented reality through a heads-up display.

Characterization of the Structural and Mechanical Changes of the Biceps Brachii and Gastrocnemius Muscles in the Subacute and Chronic Stage after Stroke.

The objective of this study was to characterize the changes of muscle tone, stiffness, and thickness of upper and lower limb muscles in stroke survivors. Forty patients with subacute or chronic stroke and 31 controls were included and measured using myotonometry (MyotonPRO), with multiple site assessments at muscle belly (MB) and musculotendinous (MT) locations of the biceps brachii and gastrocnemius muscles. Muscle thickness (ultrasonography) was obtained for each muscle.

Stiffness and thickness of the upper trapezius muscle increase after repeated climbing bouts in male climbers.

Background: Indoor climbing involves overloading the shoulder girdle, including the rotator cuff and upper trapezius muscles. This on the field study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated climbing bouts on morphological and mechanical measures of the upper trapezius muscle.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen experienced male climbers participated in the study.

The Analgesic Effect of Resistance Training after Breast Cancer (ANTRAC): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: The objective of this blinded parallel-arm randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effect of resistance training (RT) on pain, maximal strength, and shoulder function in breast cancer survivors (BCS) with persistent pain after treatment.

Methods: Twenty BCS with self-reported pain ≥1.5 yr after treatment were randomized to an experimental group (EXP, n = 10), who performed a supervised progressive total body heavy RT program 2 times per week for 12 wk, or a control group (CON, n = 10), who was instructed to continue their everyday life.