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Exercise-induced rib stress fractures: potential risk factors related to thoracic muscle co-contraction and movement pattern

Vinther, A ; Kanstrup, IL ; Christiansen, E ; Alkjaer, T ; Larsson, B ; Magnusson, SP ; Ekdahl, Charlotte LU and Aagaard, P (2006) In Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 16(3). p.188-196
Abstract
The etiology of exercise-induced rib stress fractures (RSFs) in elite rowers is unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate thoracic muscle activity, movement patterns and muscle strength in elite rowers. Electromyographic (EMG) and 2-D video analysis were performed during ergometer rowing, and isokinetic muscle strength was measured in seven national team rowers with a history of RSF and seven matched controls (C). RSF displayed a higher velocity of the seat in the initial drive phase (RSF: 0.25 +/- 0.03, 0.25 (0.15-0.33) m/s vs C: 0.15 +/- 0.06, 0.18 (-0.11-0.29) m/s P = 0.028) (Mean +/- SEM, median and range). Further, RSF had greater co-contraction of m. serratus anterior and m. trapezius in the mid-drive phase (RSF: 47.5 +/-... (More)
The etiology of exercise-induced rib stress fractures (RSFs) in elite rowers is unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate thoracic muscle activity, movement patterns and muscle strength in elite rowers. Electromyographic (EMG) and 2-D video analysis were performed during ergometer rowing, and isokinetic muscle strength was measured in seven national team rowers with a history of RSF and seven matched controls (C). RSF displayed a higher velocity of the seat in the initial drive phase (RSF: 0.25 +/- 0.03, 0.25 (0.15-0.33) m/s vs C: 0.15 +/- 0.06, 0.18 (-0.11-0.29) m/s P = 0.028) (Mean +/- SEM, median and range). Further, RSF had greater co-contraction of m. serratus anterior and m. trapezius in the mid-drive phase (RSF: 47.5 +/- 3.4, 48.5 (35.8-60.2)% EMG signal overlap vs C: 30.8 +/- 6.5, 27.0 (11.2-61.6)% P = 0.043). In addition, the RSF subjects showed a lower knee-extension to elbow-flexion strength ratio (RSF: 4.2 +/- 0.22, 4.3 (3.5-5.1) vs C: 4.8 +/- 0.16, 5.0 (4.2-5.3) P = 0.043), indicating stronger arms relative to legs compared with controls. In conclusion, increased thoracic muscle co-contraction, altered movement patterns and reduced leg/arm strength ratio were observed in the RSF subjects, which may all predispose toward an increased risk of RSF. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
athletes, rowing biomechanics
in
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
volume
16
issue
3
pages
188 - 196
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:16643197
  • wos:000237097500007
  • scopus:33646263365
ISSN
1600-0838
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00473.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Physiotherapy (Closed 2012) (013042000)
id
6a5c3917-148d-4f02-9048-e75c871b97fc (old id 410627)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:16:30
date last changed
2022-02-12 21:03:30
@article{6a5c3917-148d-4f02-9048-e75c871b97fc,
  abstract     = {{The etiology of exercise-induced rib stress fractures (RSFs) in elite rowers is unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate thoracic muscle activity, movement patterns and muscle strength in elite rowers. Electromyographic (EMG) and 2-D video analysis were performed during ergometer rowing, and isokinetic muscle strength was measured in seven national team rowers with a history of RSF and seven matched controls (C). RSF displayed a higher velocity of the seat in the initial drive phase (RSF: 0.25 +/- 0.03, 0.25 (0.15-0.33) m/s vs C: 0.15 +/- 0.06, 0.18 (-0.11-0.29) m/s P = 0.028) (Mean +/- SEM, median and range). Further, RSF had greater co-contraction of m. serratus anterior and m. trapezius in the mid-drive phase (RSF: 47.5 +/- 3.4, 48.5 (35.8-60.2)% EMG signal overlap vs C: 30.8 +/- 6.5, 27.0 (11.2-61.6)% P = 0.043). In addition, the RSF subjects showed a lower knee-extension to elbow-flexion strength ratio (RSF: 4.2 +/- 0.22, 4.3 (3.5-5.1) vs C: 4.8 +/- 0.16, 5.0 (4.2-5.3) P = 0.043), indicating stronger arms relative to legs compared with controls. In conclusion, increased thoracic muscle co-contraction, altered movement patterns and reduced leg/arm strength ratio were observed in the RSF subjects, which may all predispose toward an increased risk of RSF.}},
  author       = {{Vinther, A and Kanstrup, IL and Christiansen, E and Alkjaer, T and Larsson, B and Magnusson, SP and Ekdahl, Charlotte and Aagaard, P}},
  issn         = {{1600-0838}},
  keywords     = {{athletes; rowing biomechanics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{188--196}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports}},
  title        = {{Exercise-induced rib stress fractures: potential risk factors related to thoracic muscle co-contraction and movement pattern}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00473.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1600-0838.2005.00473.x}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}