Blog Archives
“Isolated” vs. Integrated: Motor Learning Reality (Transfer)
“The present research was designed to investigate the mechanisms how ageing and orthopaedics disorders interact in determining and recovering from an impaired fast STS movement. Our findings verify the hypotheses that, in elders with motor impairments consequent to orthopaedic disorders (MIE), ageing and functional impairment reduce the performance in a successful fast sit-to-stand (STS) movement and that increasing knee extensor muscle strength improve this capability. On the basis of the comparison with healthy elderly subjects, we found that trunk bending momentum and knee extensor muscle strength are significant determinants of the fast STS capability in MIE as well as in healthy elders.”
M. Bernardi, et. al, 2004
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Bio Anatomy: The IT Band
The IT Band is a broad, flat sheet of connective tissue that runs from the lateral side of ilium (hip bone) down the outside of the leg to the tibia (lower leg). This tissue serves as a tendon for the Tensor Fascia Lata muscle as well as the Gluteus Maximus muscle. In addition, the IT Band serves as a passive restraint for lateral forces to the hip and knee joints.
IT Band Muscles: The Tensor Fascia Lata muscle has two divisions (the anterior, posterior fibers), while the Gluteus Maximus muscle has three divisions (the iliac, the sacral, and coccygeal fibers). When all divisions of these two muscles are strong, movements of the hip and knee can be performed more easily, efficiently, and pain-free. The resulting pull on the Ilio-Tibial Band will be appropriately directed and this can provide a great amount of stability to the hip when performing such movements as hip flexion, extension, abduction and internal/ external rotation.
Conversely, a loss of stability (weakness) in any of the muscles that pull on the Read the rest of this entry
Bio Anatomy: The Gluteus Medius Muscle
The Gluteus Medius is a broad, fan-shaped muscle located on the lateral side (outside) of the hip joint, and can be broken into three different divisions; the anterior fibers, the middle fibers, and the posterior fibers. Each of these three divisions plays an integral role in proper hip function, and plays a major role in controlled hip motion, as well as stabilization of the hip joint.
The anterior/middle and posterior/middle divisions will contribute to varying degrees of rotation of the thigh at the hipjoint (spin the thigh relative to the waist), while all three divisions collectively will contribute to abduction of the leg at the hip joint (move leg outward away Read the rest of this entry
BDx Biomechanics 