weijie, WangGraham, ArnoldGhazwani, Ahmed2024-03-212024-03-212024-03-17https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14154/71683Project Title: Biomechanical analysis of Pilates participants and its implication in rehabilitation From a clinical perspective, therapeutic exercise programmes should be flexible according to the patients’ needs and outcomes. Pilates exercise (PE) is a physical exercise program based on Contrology and is considered to benefit physical fitness. Many studies have reported the effectiveness of PE on balance, musculoskeletal and muscle strength in both healthy subjects and patients with health conditions; some results have shown that PE is beneficial for some specific patient groups. However, the majority of these studies have limitations such as single gender, small sample size and short intervention time. Therefore, the benefits of PE in physical fitness remain questionable. So far, no research has been conducted on the relationship between the joint kinematics/kinetics of PE practitioners and walking gait. This study aimed to investigate whether PE improves lower limb conditions. In addition, the muscle forces during gait were analysed using computer musculoskeletal models. Methods: Two groups of applicants were recruited: 19 subjects with experience of Pilates (Pilates group: PG) and 19 subjects with no experience of Pilates (non-Pilates group, NPG) were age-matched (45–77 years old). The Vicon motion capture system was used to collect the lower limb gait; a force sensor (FS) device was used to measure lower limb strength; the active knee extension angle (AKEA) test was used to evaluate the flexibility of the hamstring muscles; electromyography (EMG) was used to measure lower limb muscle activity; timers were used in the balance tests; and a musculoskeletal model was used to estimate the lower limb muscle forces. Results: In the gait test, subjects in the PG could walk significantly faster compared to those in the NPG. Excluding the hip in terminal stance (TS) phase, subjects in the PG had a significantly larger range of motion (RoM) in the transverse plane (rotation) in the major joints (hip, knee and ankle) than those in the NPG during the gait phases; this was most noticeable in the initial contact (IC) and loading response (LR) phases. However, subjects in the PG had a significantly smaller RoM in the pelvis joint in the coronal and transverse planes during the stance and swing phases compared to those in the NPG. Regarding the kinetic results (stance phase), subjects in the PG had significantly higher interior forces at the hip and knee joints compared to subjects in the NPG, while subjects in the PG had significantly smaller tension forces at the ankle joint and smaller loading forces at the knee joints compared to the NPG. In addition, subjects in the PG had significantly higher joint moments in the sagittal plane in the hip, knee and ankle joints compared to those in the NPG. Moreover, PG members showed significantly larger abduction moment in the hip joint during the pre-swing (PR) phase and in the knee joint during the LR phase compared to NPG members. No significant differences were found between the two groups for joint moments in the transverse plane, with the exception of the hip internal rotation moment in LR phase, which was significantly larger in the PG in compared to the NPG. Subjects in the PG had significantly higher ability in power generation and absorption at the hip, knee and ankle joints than subjects in the NPG. The EMG results showed that members of the PG had significantly less muscle activity in the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius muscles and significantly higher muscle activation in the hamstring muscles (biceps femoris) in comparison to NPG members. Related to the FS measurements, subjects in the PG were found to be stronger than subjects in the NPG, with significant differences in the foot force in the ankle plantar flexion muscles. The AKEA test revealed that members of the PG had significantly higher hamstring flexibility ability compared to members of the NPG. Finally, no significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of balance ability. Conclusions: This study provides the first comprehensive assessment of gait kinematics and kinetics in Pilates participants. The results suggested that individuals that practise Pilates have improved gait ability, and that PE confers benefits for hamstring flexibility and ankle plantar flexor strength but does not improve balance ability. Although PE is traditionally considered to focus on the core muscles, it is necessary to recognize that lower limb joints and muscles are also involved in many movements. The study's findings support this claim.256enKINETICSKINEMATICSPILATESJOINT POWERSTANCE PHASESWING PHASEThesis