Sagittal view of six high knee flexion postures. 1) heels-up squat, 2) flatfoot squat, 3) dorsiflexed kneel, 4) plantarflexed kneel, 5) dorsiflexed asymmetric kneel, and 6) plantarflexed asymmetric kneel.
Performing passive range of motion for the hip joint (hip scour) of a participant prior to data collection to normalize across individual flexibility differences.
Footswitches allow us to identify the instant when points of a shoe or foot make contact with the ground during movement.
Attachment of a pressure sensor on a participant to measure force transfer between the thigh and shank segments during high knee flexion movements.
Functional trials allow us to identify hard to locate joint centers to improve our measurement of segment movement and force transmission through the body.
By strapping in multiple locations along different segments we can apply fixed weights to see how far the leg will abduct or adduct.
To test ankle range of motion we can support the participant's leg in a fixed position and apply forces to the foot.
Femoral epicondyles are clamped onto a base with the thigh strapped down to keep it static during weight application to the shank.
A padded sled rests atop ball bearings on a lexan table top, creating a nearly frictionless surface for measuring frontal plane knee joint laxity. The participant is seated in the chair and the leg is strapped into the padded cradle.
Applying a load to the sled to abduct the participant's leg in a safe and controlled manner.
Instrumenting a participant's lower limb for motion tracking and electromyography data collection.
Placing a digitizing probe (Optotrak, Northern Digital Inc., Waterloo, ON) on a participant's knee to create a virtual landmark for 3D segment reconstruction.
Applying a measured force to maximally dorsiflex the participant's ankle to characterize this participant's ankle flexibility.
Applying a measured force to maximally plantarflex the participant's ankle to characterize this participant's ankle flexibility.
Measuring a participant's knee flexion angle prior to a maximum voluntary contraction to assure that their knee extensors can maximally activate.
One of the high knee flexion postures measured by Professor Stacey Acker's students.
This subject is being exposed to 30 minutes of kneeling work to see if long periods of kneeling effects knee control mechanisms.
Preparing a participant for testing by fixing the shank on a nearly frictionless sled to ensure smooth controlled movements.
Instructing a blinded participant through a knee proprioception test to assess differences which may occur from prolonged kneeling work.
A participant performing a plantarflexed kneel while pressure is measured between the thigh and calf.
