Assessment of musculoskeletal system in women with jumping mechanography

Original Research

(4490) Views  (1324) Full article downloads

Authors: Yannis Dionyssiotis, Antonios Galanos, Georgios Michas, et al

Published Date August 2009 Volume 2009:1 Pages 113 - 118

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S5889

Yannis Dionyssiotis^1,2, Antonios Galanos¹, Georgios Michas¹, Georgios Trovas¹, Georgios P Lyritis¹

¹Laboratory for Research of the Musculoskeletal System, University of Athens, KAT Hospital, Kifissia, Greece; ²Rehabilitation Department, Rhodes General Hospital, Rhodes, Greece

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate and add reference data about the musculoskeletal system in women. The mechanography system of the Leonardo™ platform (Novotec, Germany) was used to measure parameters of movement (velocity, force, power) in 176 healthy Greek women aged 20–79 years, separated according to age decade in six groups: group 1 (n = 12), 20–29 years; group 2 (n = 14), 30–39 years; group 3 (n = 33), 40–49 years; group 4 (n = 59), 50–59 years including 21 postmenopausal; group 5 (n = 31), 60–69 years including 12 postmenopausal; and group 6 (n = 27), 70–79 years all postmenopausal. This system measures forces applied to the plate over time, calculates through acceleration the vertical velocity of center of gravity and using force and velocity it calculates power of vertical movements. All women performed a counter-movement jump (brief squat before the jump) with freely moving arms. Weight was recorded on the platform before the jump and height was measured with a wall-mounted ruler. Body weight and body mass index were gradually increased; on the contrary height and all movement parameters except force (velocity, power) were statistically decreased during aging and after menopause.

Keywords: biomechanics, ground reaction force, power, women, menopause

General overview: To collect data of muscle function we applied the newly developed technique of mechanography (LEONARDO, Hans Schiessl, Novotec, Germany) to 176 healthy women in order to analyse the objective parameters of movement. Through mechanography we register ground reaction forces, which are used to calculate velocity of the centre of gravity (COG) and power over the duration of a physiological movement (jumping). This specialized technique, in contrast to other methods of measuring locomotion, provides a scientific description of movement according to the conventions of physics that is, in physical units (Newton, Watt, etc) and as a dynamic measure is more functionally relevant than isometric or dynamic isokinetic tests. The study suggests that a decline in the kinetic and kinematic parameters is expected during aging and adds reference values for jumping mechanography in women.

Other articles by Dr Yannis Dionyssiotis