TY - BOOK A1 - Uibel, Thomas A1 - Peterson, Leif Arne ED - Uibel, Thomas ED - Peterson, Leif Arne T1 - Tagungsband Aachener Holzbautagung 2019 Y1 - 2019 SN - 2197-4489 PB - FH Aachen CY - Aachen ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Werkhausen, Amelie A1 - Cronin, Neil J. A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Paulsen, Gøran A1 - Larsen, Askild V. A1 - Bojsen-Møller, Jens A1 - Seynnes, Olivier R. T1 - Training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness affects tendon strain pattern during running JF - PeerJ N2 - Background During the stance phase of running, the elasticity of the Achilles tendon enables the utilisation of elastic energy and allows beneficial contractile conditions for the triceps surae muscles. However, the effect of changes in tendon mechanical properties induced by chronic loading is still poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness would result in reduced tendon strain during the stance phase of running, which would reduce fascicle strains in the triceps surae muscles, particularly in the mono-articular soleus. Methods Eleven subjects were assigned to a training group performing isometric singleleg plantarflexion contractions three times per week for ten weeks, and another ten subjects formed a control group. Before and after the training period, Achilles tendon stiffness was estimated, and muscle-tendon mechanics were assessed during running at preferred speed using ultrasonography, kinematics and kinetics. Results Achilles tendon stiffness increased by 18% (P <0:01) in the training group, but the associated reduction in strain seen during isometric contractions was not statistically significant. Tendon elongation during the stance phase of running was similar after training, but tendon recoil was reduced by 30% (P <0:01), while estimated tendon force remained unchanged. Neither gastrocnemius medialis nor soleus fascicle shortening during stance was affected by training. Discussion These results show that a training-induced increase in Achilles tendon stiffness altered tendon behaviour during running. Despite training-induced changes in tendon mechanical properties and recoil behaviour, the data suggest that fascicle shortening patterns were preserved for the running speed that we examined. The asymmetrical changes in tendon strain patterns supports the notion that simple inseries models do not fully explain the mechanical output of the muscle-tendon unit during a complex task like running. KW - Achilles tendon KW - Stiffness KW - Running KW - Tendon properties KW - Architectural gear ratio Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6764 SN - 21678359 PB - Peer CY - London ER - TY - GEN A1 - Blottner, Dieter A1 - Hastermann, Maria A1 - Muckelt, Paul A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Schoenrock, Britt A1 - Salanova, Michele A1 - Warner, Martin A1 - Gunga, Hans-Christian A1 - Stokes, Maria T1 - MYOTONES - Inflight muscle health status monitoring during long-duration space missions onboard the International Space Station: a single case study T2 - IAC Papers Archive N2 - The MYOTONES experiment is the first to monitor changes in the basic biomechanical properties (tone, elasticity and stiffness) of the resting human myofascial system due to microgravity with a oninvasive, portable device on board the ISS. The MyotonPRO device applies several brief mechanical stimuli to the surface of the skin, and the natural oscillation signals of the tissue beneath are detected and computed by the MyotonPRO. Thus, an objective, quick and easy determination of the state of the underlying tissue is possible. Two preflight, four inflight and four post flight measurements were performed on a male astronaut using the same 10 measurement points (MP) for each session. MPs were located on the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, M. soleus, M. gastrocnemius, M. multifidus, M. splenius capitis, M. deltoideus anterior, M. rectus femoris, infrapatellar tendon, M. tibialis anterior. Subcutaneous tissues thickness above the MPs was measured using ultrasound imaging. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) of lower limb muscles and functional tests were also performed pre- and postflight. Our first measurements on board the ISS confirmed increased tone and stiffness of the lumbar multifidus muscle, an important trunk stabilizer, dysfunction of which is known to be associated with back pain. Furthermore, reduced tone and stiffness of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia were observed inflight vs. preflight, confirming previous findings from terrestrial analog studies and parabolic flights. Unexpectedly, the deltoid showed negative inflight changes in tone and stiffness, and increased elasticity, suggesting a potential risk of muscle atrophy in longer spaceflight that should be addressed by adequate inflight countermeasure protocols. Most values from limb and back MPS showed deflected patterns (in either directions) from inflight shortly after the re-entry phase on the landing day and one week later. Most parameter values then normalized to baseline after 3 weeks likely due to 1G re-adaptation and possible outcome of the reconditioning protocol. No major changes in subcutaneous tissues thickness above the MPs were found inflight vs preflight, suggesting no bias (i.e., fluid shift, extreme tissue thickening or loss). Pre- and postflight MRI and functional tests showed negligible changes in calf muscle size, power and force, which is likely due to training effects from current inflight exercise protocols. The MYOTONES experiment is currently ongoing to collect data from further crew members. The potential impact of this research is to better understand the effects of microgravity and countermeasures over the time course of an ISS mission cycle. This will enable exercise countermeasures to be tailored Y1 - 2019 SN - 00741795 N1 - International Astronautical Congress: space: the power of the past, the promise of the future - Washington DC, USA/Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika Dauer: 21.10.2019 → 25.10.2019 PB - Pergamon CY - Oxford ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Ketelhut, Maike A1 - Göll, Fabian A1 - Braunstein, Bjoern A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Abel, Dirk T1 - Iterative learning control of an industrial robot for neuromuscular training T2 - 2019 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications N2 - Effective training requires high muscle forces potentially leading to training-induced injuries. Thus, continuous monitoring and controlling of the loadings applied to the musculoskeletal system along the motion trajectory is required. In this paper, a norm-optimal iterative learning control algorithm for the robot-assisted training is developed. The algorithm aims at minimizing the external knee joint moment, which is commonly used to quantify the loading of the medial compartment. To estimate the external knee joint moment, a musculoskeletal lower extremity model is implemented in OpenSim and coupled with a model of an industrial robot and a force plate mounted at its end-effector. The algorithm is tested in simulation for patients with varus, normal and valgus alignment of the knee. The results show that the algorithm is able to minimize the external knee joint moment in all three cases and converges after less than seven iterations. KW - Knee KW - Training KW - Load modeling KW - Force KW - Iterative learning control Y1 - 2019 SN - 978-1-7281-2767-5 (ePub) SN - 978-1-7281-2766-8 (USB) SN - 978-1-7281-2768-2 (PoD) U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CCTA.2019.8920659 N1 - 2019 IEEE Conference on Control Technology and Applications (CCTA) Hong Kong, China, August 19-21, 2019 PB - IEEE CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ketelhut, Maike A1 - Kolditz, Melanie A1 - Göll, Fabian A1 - Braunstein, Bjoern A1 - Albracht, Kirsten A1 - Abel, Dirk T1 - Admittance control of an industrial robot during resistance training JF - IFAC-PapersOnLine N2 - Neuromuscular strength training of the leg extensor muscles plays an important role in the rehabilitation and prevention of age and wealth related diseases. In this paper, we focus on the design and implementation of a Cartesian admittance control scheme for isotonic training, i.e. leg extension and flexion against a predefined weight. For preliminary testing and validation of the designed algorithm an experimental research and development platform consisting of an industrial robot and a force plate mounted at its end-effector has been used. Linear, diagonal and arbitrary two-dimensional motion trajectories with different weights for the leg extension and flexion part are applied. The proposed algorithm is easily adaptable to trajectories consisting of arbitrary six-dimensional poses and allows the implementation of individualized trajectories. KW - Assistive technology KW - Rehabilitation engineering KW - Human-Computer interaction KW - Automatic control Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2019.12.102 SN - 2405-8963 N1 - 14th IFAC Symposium on Analysis, Design, and Evaluation of Human Machine Systems HMS 2019 Tallinn, Estonia, 16–91 September 2019 VL - 52 IS - 19 SP - 223 EP - 228 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Änderung der Prüfungsordnung für die Bachelorstudiengänge „Schienenfahrzeugtechnik“ „Schienenfahrzeugtechnik (Teilzeit)“ und „Dualer Studiengang Schienenfahrzeugtechnik (DIRail)“ im Fachbereich Maschinenbau und Mechatronik an der Fachhochschule Aachen T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 70/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Bachelor KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Maschinenbau und Mechatronik Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Prüfungsordnung für die Bachelorstudiengänge „Schienenfahrzeugtechnik“ „Schienenfahrzeugtechnik (Teilzeit)“ und „Dualer Studiengang Schienenfahrzeugtechnik (DIRail)“ im Fachbereich Maschinenbau und Mechatronik an der Fachhochschule Aachen T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 71/2019 KW - Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Maschinenbau und Mechatronik KW - lesbare Fassung Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Änderung der Ordnung zur Aufhebung der Studien- und Prüfungsordnung für den Masterstudiengang „Bauingenieurwesen“ vom 10. Dezember 2012 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 129/2012) in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnungen vom 30. Mai 2017 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 58/2017) an der Fachhochschule Aachen T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 81/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Studien- und Prüfungsordnung KW - Master KW - Bauingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Ordnung zur Änderung der Ordnung zur Aufhebung der Studien- und Prüfungsordnung für den Masterstudiengang „Facility Management“ vom 29. November 2012 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 127/2012) in der Fassung der Bekanntmachung der Änderungsordnungen vom 3. Februar 2016 (FH-Mitteilung Nr. 10/2016) an der Fachhochschule Aachen T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 83/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Änderungsordnung KW - Studien- und Prüfungsordnung KW - Master KW - Facility Management Y1 - 2019 ER - TY - GEN T1 - Studien- und Prüfungsordnung für den Bachelorstudiengang Bauingenieurwesen (7-semestrig), Bachelorstudiengang Bauingenieurwesen mit Praxissemester (8-semestrig) und Bachelorstudiengang Bauingenieurwesen mit Auslandssemester (8-semestrig) Abschluss Bachelor of Engineering T3 - FH-Mitteilungen - 84/2019 KW - Amtliche Mitteilung KW - Lesbare Fassung KW - Studien- und Prüfungsordnung KW - Bachelor KW - Bauingenieurwesen Y1 - 2019 ER -