The purpose of this study is to assess cardiovascular responses to lower body positive pressure (LBPP) and to examine the effects of LBPP unloading on gait mechanics during treadmill ambulation. We hypothesized that LBPP allows comfortable unloading of the body with minimal impact on the cardiovascular system and gait parameters. Fifteen healthy male and female subjects (22-55 yr) volunteered for the study. Nine underwent noninvasive cardiovascular studies while standing and ambulating upright in LBPP, and six completed a gait analysis protocol. During stance, heart rate decreased significantly from 83 +/- 3 beats/min in ambient pressure to 73 +/- 3 beats/min at 50 mmHg LBPP (P < 0.05). During ambulation in LBPP at 3 mph (1.34 m/s), heart rate decreased significantly from 99 +/- 4 beats/min in ambient pressure to 84 +/- 2 beats/min at 50 mmHg LBPP (P < 0.009). Blood pressure, brain oxygenation, blood flow velocity through the middle cerebral artery, and head skin microvascular blood flow did not change significantly with LBPP. As allowed by LBPP, ambulating at 60 and 20% body weight decreased ground reaction force (P < 0.05), whereas knee and ankle sagittal ranges of motion remained unaffected. In conclusion, ambulating in LBPP has no adverse impact on the systemic and head cardiovascular parameters while producing significant unweighting and minimal alterations in gait kinematics. Therefore, ambulating within LBPP is potentially a new and safe rehabilitation tool for patients to reduce loads on lower body musculoskeletal structures while preserving gait mechanics.

This study demonstrates differences in the EMG power spectra for females when compared with a matched group of males. Increased quadriceps coactivation in females may increase anterior tibial loads under dynamic conditions, thus placing the ACL at higher risk for injury in the female athlete.

Hyoid fractures in athletes are rare injuries that can be difficult to diagnose. Typically resulting from a direct blow to the anterior neck, hyoid fractures can lead to subcutaneous edema and subsequent airway compromise. The treatment of this fracture depends largely on the severity of the presenting symptoms. Generally, these fractures do not require surgical intervention but warrant close observation for delayed onset of airway obstruction. To raise awareness of this potentially dangerous fracture, the authors present 2 cases of isolated hyoid fractures in collegiate football players at our institution.

ACL graft length and tension change throughout knee range of motion and also depend on femoral tunnel orientation and fixation type. The use of an all-epiphyseal tunnel with suspensory fixation should be studied further for evidence of graft elongation.

Quantifying muscle and joint forces over a broad range of weight bearing loads during exercise may provide data required to improve prosthetic materials and better protect against muscle and bone loss. Collectively, leg intramuscular pressure (IMP), ground reaction force (GRF), and the instrumented tibial tray force measurements provide a comprehensive assessment of leg muscle and joint biomechanical effects of gravity during exercise. Titration of body weight (BW) by lower body negative pressure (LBNP) and lower body positive pressure (LBPP) can reproducibly modulate IMP within leg muscle compartments. In addition, previous studies document peak tibial forces during various daily activities of 2.2 to 2.5 BW. The study objective was to determine the IMPs of the leg, axial compressive force on the tibia in vivo, vertical GRF, and knee range of motion during altered BW levels using LBPP and LBNP treadmill exercise. We hypothesize that peak GRF, peak tibial forces, and peak IMPs of the leg correlate linearly with percent BW, as generated across a broad range of upright LBPP and supine LBNP exercise. When running at 2.24 m/s the leg IMPs significantly increased over the loading range of 60% to 140% BW with LBPP and LBNP (P < 0.001); as expected, leg IMPs were significantly higher when running compared with standing (P < 0.001). During upright LBPP, total axial force at the knee increased linearly as a function of BW at 0.67 m/s (R(2) = 0.90) and 1.34 m/s (R(2) = 0.98). During supine LBNP, total axial force at the knee increased linearly as a function of BW at 0.67 m/s (R(2) = 0.98) and 1.34 m/s (R(2) = 0.91). The present study is the first to measure IMPs and peak tibial forces in vivo during upright LBPP, upright LBNP, and supine LBNP exercise. These data will aid the development of rehabilitation exercise hardware and prescriptions for patients and astronauts.