Researcher(s)
- Katherine Duong, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Stephanie Cone, Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware
Abstract
Observing the biomechanics of human motion can allow for an assessment of forces in the musculoskeletal system. The iliotibial (IT) band is responsible for hip and knee stabilization and actuation due to its origins at the hip and insertion at the knee. Experimentally, musculoskeletal biomechanics are assessed by motion capture systems which measure joint kinematics by tracking markers on anatomic landmarks through space and time. Kinovea is an open-source motion capture processing software that can be used to process video from ordinary cameras, making it highly accessible. Joint kinematics were analyzed in Kinovea and paired with ultrasound measures of IT band structure. The goals of this study were to examine IT band structure in addition to hip and knee range of motion (ROM) during functional exercises.
This study recruited 30 (15 male, 15 female) adult (26 ± 4 years) participants. Eight markers were placed on anatomical landmarks on the participant’s dominant leg. Participants completed seven functional tasks while video was recorded (GoPro Hero11). Recordings were uploaded into Kinovea for processing where hip and knee joint angles were extracted using a custom MATLAB code. Ultrasound was used to take images of the distal IT band (~4 cm proximal to the knee) and analyzed for cross-sectional area in ImageJ.
No significant difference in ROM existed between sexes (p>0.05). Of all tested movements, hamstring curls had the greatest knee ROM, while Romanian deadlift had the lowest ROM (p<0.005). Ultrasound yielded a mean IT band cross-sectional area of 41.5 ±11.8 mm2. Ongoing studies include measuring shear wave speed through the IT band using a technique called shear wave tensiometry. Understanding joint ROM and IT band properties can give insight into stress throughout the IT band during rehabilitation and functional exercises.