title: Effect of footwear versus barefoot on double-leg jump-landing and jump height measures: A randomized cross-over study

authors: Hébert-Losier, Kim

subjects: anterior cruciate ligament

abstract: Background: 
Assessing individuals in their own athletic footwear in clinics is common, but can affect movement, performance, and clinical measures.
 
Purpose:
The aim was to compare overall Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, injury risk categorization, specific LESS errors, and jump heights between habitual athletic footwear and barefoot conditions. 

Study design:  
Randomized cross-over laboratory study. 

Methods: 
Eighty healthy individuals (55% male) completed the LESS following standard procedures (i.e., land from a 30-cm box to a distance of 50% of body height and then jump upwards maximally). Participants performed the LESS three times in two randomized conditions: footwear and barefoot. LESS data were extracted from 2D videos to compare group-level mean LESS scores, group-level and individual-level injury risk categorization (5-error threshold), specific landing errors, and jump heights between conditions. 

Results: 
LESS scores were significantly greater (0.3 errors, p=0.022) and jump heights were significantly lower (0.6 cm, p=0.029) in footwear than barefoot, but differences were trivial (d = 0.18 and -0.07, respectively) and not clinically meaningful. Although the number of high injury-risk participants was not statistically different at a group level (p=1.000); 27 individuals (33.8%) exhibited a clinically meaningful difference between conditions of one error or more in LESS score, categorization was inconsistent for 16.3% of individuals, and four of the 17 landing errors significantly differed between conditions.
 
Conclusion: 
At a group level, habitual athletic footwear does not meaningfully influence LESS scores, risk categorization, or jump height. At an individual level, footwear can meaningfully affect LESS scores, risk categorization, and alter landing strategies. Use of consistent protocol and footwear is advised for assessing movement patterns and injury risk from the LESS given the unknown predictive value of this test barefoot.
 
Level of Evidence:  
Level 3.

text: Effect of footwear versus barefoot on double-leg jump-landing and jump height measures: A randomized cross-over study Background: 
Assessing individuals in their own athletic footwear in clinics is common, but can affect movement, performance, and clinical measures.
 
Purpose:
The aim was to compare overall Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) scores, injury risk categorization, specific LESS errors, and jump heights between habitual athletic footwear and barefoot conditions. 

Study design:  
Randomized cross-over laboratory study. 

Methods: 
Eighty healthy individuals (55% male) completed the LESS following standard procedures (i.e., land from a 30-cm box to a distance of 50% of body height and then jump upwards maximally). Participants performed the LESS three times in two randomized conditions: footwear and barefoot. LESS data were extracted from 2D videos to compare group-level mean LESS scores, group-level and individual-level injury risk categorization (5-error threshold), specific landing errors, and jump heights between conditions. 

Results: 
LESS scores were significantly greater (0.3 errors, p=0.022) and jump heights were significantly lower (0.6 cm, p=0.029) in footwear than barefoot, but differences were trivial (d = 0.18 and -0.07, respectively) and not clinically meaningful. Although the number of high injury-risk participants was not statistically different at a group level (p=1.000); 27 individuals (33.8%) exhibited a clinically meaningful difference between conditions of one error or more in LESS score, categorization was inconsistent for 16.3% of individuals, and four of the 17 landing errors significantly differed between conditions.
 
Conclusion: 
At a group level, habitual athletic footwear does not meaningfully influence LESS scores, risk categorization, or jump height. At an individual level, footwear can meaningfully affect LESS scores, risk categorization, and alter landing strategies. Use of consistent protocol and footwear is advised for assessing movement patterns and injury risk from the LESS given the unknown predictive value of this test barefoot.
 
Level of Evidence:  
Level 3.

year: 2023

title: Looking beyond the number of repetitions: An observational cross-sectional study on calf raise test outcomes in children aged 10–17 years

authors: Hébert-Losier, Kim

subjects: Ankle

abstract: Aims: The calf raise test (CRT) assesses plantarflexor strength and endurance, but normative data for children are scarce. Furthermore, contradictions exist on which factors are associated with total repetitions, with repetitions being the only metric considered. We quantified three of the main CRT outcomes (repetitions, total work, and peak height) in children 10–17 years and explored their relationship with various factors. Methods: Healthy children (n = 165, 50.3% female) completed single-legged calf raises on a 10° incline, once on each leg. Test outcomes were extracted using the valid and reliable Calf Raise application. Results: CRT outcomes were not significantly different between legs (p ≥ .19). The only covariates significantly associated with outcomes based on stepwise quantile regressions were body mass index centile for repetitions, meeting physical activity recommendations for total work and peak height, and age for total work. Outcomes did not significantly differ based on sex or maturation. Median values were around 26 for repetitions, 640–1460 J for total work (age dependent), and 10.1 cm for peak height for children meeting physical activity recommendations. Conclusion: Children who were older, had lower body mass indices, and were more active exhibited superior CRT outcomes. Meeting physical activity recommendations appears beneficial for plantarflexor function and should continue to be prioritized in children.

text: Looking beyond the number of repetitions: An observational cross-sectional study on calf raise test outcomes in children aged 10–17 years Aims: The calf raise test (CRT) assesses plantarflexor strength and endurance, but normative data for children are scarce. Furthermore, contradictions exist on which factors are associated with total repetitions, with repetitions being the only metric considered. We quantified three of the main CRT outcomes (repetitions, total work, and peak height) in children 10–17 years and explored their relationship with various factors. Methods: Healthy children (n = 165, 50.3% female) completed single-legged calf raises on a 10° incline, once on each leg. Test outcomes were extracted using the valid and reliable Calf Raise application. Results: CRT outcomes were not significantly different between legs (p ≥ .19). The only covariates significantly associated with outcomes based on stepwise quantile regressions were body mass index centile for repetitions, meeting physical activity recommendations for total work and peak height, and age for total work. Outcomes did not significantly differ based on sex or maturation. Median values were around 26 for repetitions, 640–1460 J for total work (age dependent), and 10.1 cm for peak height for children meeting physical activity recommendations. Conclusion: Children who were older, had lower body mass indices, and were more active exhibited superior CRT outcomes. Meeting physical activity recommendations appears beneficial for plantarflexor function and should continue to be prioritized in children.

year: 2024-09-23

title: An AR memory app based on Māori mnemonic aids

authors: Taia, Ivy

subjects: computer science

abstract: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a world-wide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Māori cultural tools / techniques and how they helped Māori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Māori mnemonic aids.

text: An AR memory app based on Māori mnemonic aids Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a world-wide “silent epidemic” causing a variety of memory issues for those affected. Although several software approaches aim to aid memory recollection, they are inadequate for many TBI survivors and none address aspects of cultural awareness in New Zealand. We explored design concepts of traditional Māori cultural tools / techniques and how they helped Māori people recall past information. This paper describes our research and development of Maumahara Papahou, a mobile app that uses Augmented Reality features to create a digital memory treasure box based on the concepts of Māori mnemonic aids.

year: 2018