GROSS MOTOR COORDINATION AND FATIGUE PATTERNS WHILE CYCLING DO NOT DIFFER WITH KNEE BRACING
Hoover DL, Bonnel D, Craig P, Eiberger E, Fletcher B, Gregory H; Department of Physical Therapy Education, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
INTRODUCTION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Studies show gross motor coordination (GMC) is affected by some knee braces (KB). Yet little is known about how KB influences GMC or fatigue measures (FM) while cycling. These issues have clinical implications given KB may influence quality of exercise during rehabilitation. This study explored the effects of a “second generation” KB on GMC and FM during high intensity cycling.
METHOD: Sixty one women (23.37±2.45 yr, 167.98±7.22 cm, 64.01±8.71 kg) completed this study. Two groups of participants visited the lab on 2 randomized occasions, completing the Wingate Anaerobic Test under seated and standing conditions. Participants in one group (n=32) wore a knee brace on the dominant leg, and the other group (n= 29) served as control. Following a standardized warm up, subjects rode an electronically-braked cycle ergometer at maximal intensity for 30 seconds, under computer-controlled conditions. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Non-significant interactions were found between KB conditions over time for GMC measures. Significant interactions F(5,55)=15,567, p≤0.000) were found over time within each KB condition between seated and standing riding positions. Non-significant differences were found between KB conditions for FM. Mean power (MP: F(1,59) = 107.364, P≤.000) values were significantly higher, and the fatigue index (FI: F(1,59) = 91.122, P≤.000) was significantly lower, for both brace conditions during the seated position.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings support reports that two distinct attractor states control seated and standing cycling. Neither GMC nor FM was influenced by the KB used in this study. Physical therapists may apply these results when they believe KB is warranted by injury status, motor task, or environmental context but they do not want extremity GMC or FM in patients altered in any way.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The knee braces used in this study were provided by Mueller Sports Medicine, Prarie du Sac, Wisconsin, USA.
Hoover DL, Bonnel D, Craig P, Eiberger E, Fletcher B, Gregory H; Department of Physical Therapy Education, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO
INTRODUCTION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Studies show gross motor coordination (GMC) is affected by some knee braces (KB). Yet little is known about how KB influences GMC or fatigue measures (FM) while cycling. These issues have clinical implications given KB may influence quality of exercise during rehabilitation. This study explored the effects of a “second generation” KB on GMC and FM during high intensity cycling.
METHOD: Sixty one women (23.37±2.45 yr, 167.98±7.22 cm, 64.01±8.71 kg) completed this study. Two groups of participants visited the lab on 2 randomized occasions, completing the Wingate Anaerobic Test under seated and standing conditions. Participants in one group (n=32) wore a knee brace on the dominant leg, and the other group (n= 29) served as control. Following a standardized warm up, subjects rode an electronically-braked cycle ergometer at maximal intensity for 30 seconds, under computer-controlled conditions. ANOVA was used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Non-significant interactions were found between KB conditions over time for GMC measures. Significant interactions F(5,55)=15,567, p≤0.000) were found over time within each KB condition between seated and standing riding positions. Non-significant differences were found between KB conditions for FM. Mean power (MP: F(1,59) = 107.364, P≤.000) values were significantly higher, and the fatigue index (FI: F(1,59) = 91.122, P≤.000) was significantly lower, for both brace conditions during the seated position.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings support reports that two distinct attractor states control seated and standing cycling. Neither GMC nor FM was influenced by the KB used in this study. Physical therapists may apply these results when they believe KB is warranted by injury status, motor task, or environmental context but they do not want extremity GMC or FM in patients altered in any way.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The knee braces used in this study were provided by Mueller Sports Medicine, Prarie du Sac, Wisconsin, USA.