The aim of this study was to determine the differences in reaction time, reaction complexity, and movement speed depending on age. Material and Methods. The study included 40 healthy subjects (20 young and 20 older women and men). The study was conducted at the Human Motorics Laboratory, Lithuanian Sports University. An analyzer DPA-1 of dynamic upper and lower limb movements was used for the research purposes. Results. The reaction time of the right arm of the young subjects was 0.26 s (SD, 0.01) and that of the left arm was 0.25 s (SD, 0.02), when an accuracy task was performed. The reaction time of the older subjects was 0.29 s (SD, 0.03) and 0.28 s (SD, 0.03) for the right and left arms, respectively. The reaction time of the right leg of the young subjects was 0.26 s (SD, 0.02) and that of the left leg was 0.27 s (SD, 0.03). The reaction time of the right and left legs of the older subjects was 0.33 s (SD, 0.02) and 0.35 s (SD, 0.04), respectively. The reaction of the young subjects was almost two times faster compared with the older persons after the accuracy task with each limb was accomplished. Conclusions. In case of movements with arms and legs, reaction time and movement speed directly depend on the complexity of a task. Reaction time and movement speed are slower for the older subjects in comparison with the young ones; the results worsen in proportion to the increasing complexity of a task.

No abstract

The decrease in knee flexors and extensors strength and poor balance are related to the impairment of the knee proprioception after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction [1, 2]. Therefore, it is important to assess the impact of various physiotherapy programs on static balance, knee proprioception, and thigh muscle strength, and at the same time pursue the qualitative rehabilitation as well as look for the possibilities of assessment of knee proprioception using the isokinetic dynamometer. Twenty volunteers (aged 26–36 years) participated in the study four–five weeks after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The participants were divided into two groups: trial group (n = 10; two women, eight men) and control group (n = 10; two women, eight men). Complementary neuromuscular training and the ordinary physiotherapy program were applied to the trial group for three weeks; the control group received only the ordinary physiotherapy program. Static balance (using Balance error scoring system), knee proprioception (using the isokinetic dynamometer), and thigh muscle strength (using Lovett scale) were determined before and after the three-week intervention period. Participants had to indicate the position of the tested leg, i. e. whether the knee was flexed at 30 or 60 degrees. We established the difference between the indicated and real position of the leg in degrees. The mentioned difference indicated the state of knee proprioception. The outcomes of static balance significantly improved after three weeks of physiotherapy in both groups: trial group — from 12.3 ± 3.4 to 2.1 ± 0.8 errors (p < 0.01), control group – from 12.2 ± 1.6 to 4.2 ± 0.9 errors (p < 0.01). Also, the trial and control groups demonstrated improved condition of knee proprioception at both angular velocities of 15 degrees/s and 30 degrees/s. There were no differences between standard means of knee flexors strength before the intervention. The outcomes of knee flexors strength of the trial group were significantly higher as compared to the outcomes demonstrated by the control group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in knee extensors strength between both groups. Thus, values of static balance, knee proprioception, and flexors/extensors strength change more rapidly when frequent and longer neuromuscular training is applied. The ordinary physiotherapy program has a positive but less effect on the above mentioned variables.Keywords: anterior cruciate ligament, static balance, proprioception, muscle strength, neuromuscular training.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different muscle length and visual feedback information (VFI) on accuracy of isometric contraction of elbow flexors in men after an ischemic stroke (IS). Materials and Methods. Maximum voluntary muscle contraction force (MVMCF) and accurate determinate muscle force (20% of MVMCF) developed during an isometric contraction of elbow flexors in 90° and 60° of elbow flexion were measured by an isokinetic dynamometer in healthy subjects (MH, n = 20) and subjects after an IS during their postrehabilitation period (MS, n = 20). Results. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the isometric contraction of the elbow flexors absolute errors were calculated. The absolute errors provided information about the difference between determinate and achieved muscle force. Conclusions. There is a tendency that greater absolute errors generating determinate force are made by MH and MS subjects in case of a greater elbow flexors length despite presence of VFI. Absolute errors also increase in both groups in case of a greater elbow flexors length without VFI. MS subjects make greater absolute errors generating determinate force without VFI in comparison with MH in shorter elbow flexors length.