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Spinal motion and muscle activity during active trunk movements – comparing sheep and humans adopting upright and quadrupedal postures (2016)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., & Licka, T. F. (2016). Spinal motion and muscle activity during active trunk movements – comparing sheep and humans adopting upright and quadrupedal postures. PLOS ONE, 11(1), Article e0146362. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0146362

Sheep are used as models for the human spine, yet comparative in vivo data necessary for validation is limited. The purpose of this study was therefore to compare spinal motion and trunk muscle activity during active trunk movements in sheep and huma... Read More about Spinal motion and muscle activity during active trunk movements – comparing sheep and humans adopting upright and quadrupedal postures.

Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review (2015)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., & Zsoldos, R. R. (2016). Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 28, 167-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.12.005

The study of muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) is commonly used for investigations of the neuromuscular system in man. Although sEMG has faced methodological challenges, considerable technical advances have been made in the last f... Read More about Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review.

In vivo magnetic resonance imaging features of spinal muscles in the ovine model (2015)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Licka, T., Essigbeck, A., & Elliott, J. (2016). In vivo magnetic resonance imaging features of spinal muscles in the ovine model. Journal of Orthopaedic Translation, 6, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jot.2015.09.004

Background
Muscle fatty infiltration (MFI) has been identified in patients with spinal pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Even though sheep are a commonly used animal model for the human spine, comparative sheep MFI data from MRI is not av... Read More about In vivo magnetic resonance imaging features of spinal muscles in the ovine model.

MRI-determined lumbar muscle morphometry in man and sheep: potential biomechanical implications for ovine model to human spine translation (2015)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Licka, T. F., & Elliott, J. (2015). MRI-determined lumbar muscle morphometry in man and sheep: potential biomechanical implications for ovine model to human spine translation. Journal of Anatomy, 227(4), 506-513. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12354

The sheep is a commonly used animal model for human lumbar spine surgery, but only in vitro investigations comparing the human and ovine spine exist. Spinal musculature has previously not been compared between man and sheep. This additional knowledge... Read More about MRI-determined lumbar muscle morphometry in man and sheep: potential biomechanical implications for ovine model to human spine translation.

Movement control during active spinal range of motion is achieved by a differential use of eccentric and concentric muscle activity (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., & Licka, T. (2015, July). Movement control during active spinal range of motion is achieved by a differential use of eccentric and concentric muscle activity. Paper presented at XXV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB 2015 Glasgow), Glasgow

Introduction and Objectives: Neuromuscular control of the rectus abdominis (RA), obliquus internus (OI), obliquus externus (OE), and erector spinae (ES) muscles has been widely investigated during a range of conditions such as perturbations [1], stab... Read More about Movement control during active spinal range of motion is achieved by a differential use of eccentric and concentric muscle activity.

Subcutaneous fat thickness is not correlated to the magnitude of measurable trunk muscle activity in surface EMG of normal weight healthy adults (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., Elliott, J., & Licka, T. (2015, July). Subcutaneous fat thickness is not correlated to the magnitude of measurable trunk muscle activity in surface EMG of normal weight healthy adults. Paper presented at XXV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB 2015 Glasgow), Glasgow

Introduction and Objectives: Surface Electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive tool from which muscle activation parameters can be investigated during a variety of static and dynamic conditions. However, subcutaneous fat overlying a muscle of interes... Read More about Subcutaneous fat thickness is not correlated to the magnitude of measurable trunk muscle activity in surface EMG of normal weight healthy adults.

Active trunk exercises require more muscle activity in mature than in young adults (2015)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., & Licka, T. (2015, July). Active trunk exercises require more muscle activity in mature than in young adults. Paper presented at XXV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB 2015 Glasgow), Glasgow

Introduction and Objectives: Reductions in muscle strength [1], changes in motor control patterns [2] and muscle morphology [3] are known to occur with ageing. However, the effect of age on trunk muscle activity during active trunk exercises has not... Read More about Active trunk exercises require more muscle activity in mature than in young adults.

Comparative need for spinal stabilisation between quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion (2015)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., & Licka, T. (2015). Comparative need for spinal stabilisation between quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion. Comparative Exercise Physiology, 11(2), 95-105. https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP150008

Sheep are commonly used as an animal model for the human lumbar spine, but similarities in trunk muscle activity of humans and sheep during functional tasks, such as locomotion have not been investigated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evalua... Read More about Comparative need for spinal stabilisation between quadrupedal and bipedal locomotion.

Inter-rater reliability of trunk muscle morphometric analysis (2015)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Yeates, T. D., Licka, T., & Elliott, J. (2015). Inter-rater reliability of trunk muscle morphometric analysis. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 28(1), 181-190. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-140552

BACKGROUND: Inter-rater reliability of generalised lumbar extensor muscle CSA has been identified, however, more detailed reliability metrics of individual trunk muscles are lacking.
OBJECTIVE: To report muscle volume and muscle fatty infiltrate (MF... Read More about Inter-rater reliability of trunk muscle morphometric analysis.

Kinematic parameters of sheep walking on a treadmill (2014)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Essigbeck, A., Wolfram, I., & Licka, T. (2014). Kinematic parameters of sheep walking on a treadmill. Veterinary Journal, 202(3), 657-658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.09.028

Ovine locomotion studies are rare, despite their relevance for medical research. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate habituation and temporospatial parameters during treadmill walking of seven Austrian Mountain sheep. Sheep were naïv... Read More about Kinematic parameters of sheep walking on a treadmill.

Rectus abdominis activity decreases relative to erector spinae with maturity despite similar muscle volumes and lumbar posture at stance (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., Elliott, J., & Licka, T. (2014, July). Rectus abdominis activity decreases relative to erector spinae with maturity despite similar muscle volumes and lumbar posture at stance. Paper presented at XX Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK 2014), Rome, Italy

AIM: To compare trunk muscle volume, muscle activity and lumbar spine posture in young and mature participants without low back pain.
METHODS: Twenty-four participants were allocated to a young group (YG: age 18-25yrs, n=12) or mature group (MG: age... Read More about Rectus abdominis activity decreases relative to erector spinae with maturity despite similar muscle volumes and lumbar posture at stance.

Concentric and eccentric muscle activity of erector spinae are not correlated during full range flexion-extension (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., & Licka, T. (2014, July). Concentric and eccentric muscle activity of erector spinae are not correlated during full range flexion-extension. Paper presented at XX Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK 2014), Rome, Italy

AIM: To investigate erector spinae muscle activity in healthy young and mature females relative to trunk movement in forward flexion at stance
METHODS: In ten female participants (young 18-25yrs, n=5; mature 45-60yrs, n=5) left and right erector spi... Read More about Concentric and eccentric muscle activity of erector spinae are not correlated during full range flexion-extension.

Age and side-related morphometric MRI evaluation of trunk muscles in people without back pain (2014)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Licka, T., & Elliott, J. (2014). Age and side-related morphometric MRI evaluation of trunk muscles in people without back pain. Manual Therapy, 20(1), 90-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2014.07.007

This study evaluated lumbar spine muscle volume and Muscle Fatty Infiltrate (MFI) across two age groups of healthy adults. Twenty-four participants (young group – YG: age 18–25, n = 12; mature group – MG: age 45–60, n = 12) without low back pain unde... Read More about Age and side-related morphometric MRI evaluation of trunk muscles in people without back pain.

Lumbar flexor-extensor ratio does not change with age despite a reduction in multifidus volume (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., Elliott, J., & Licka, T. (2013, October). Lumbar flexor-extensor ratio does not change with age despite a reduction in multifidus volume. Paper presented at Eurospine Annual Meeting 2013, Liverpool

Introduction: Trunk musculature is an important contributor to spinal stability. In a healthy population, ageing leads to generalised muscle volume loss. Whilst the benefits of synergistic muscle activity for a supported spine are well reported, age-... Read More about Lumbar flexor-extensor ratio does not change with age despite a reduction in multifidus volume.

Internal and external oblique muscles are similar in their phasic activity during walking and running (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., Treppler, M., & Licka, T. (2013, August). Internal and external oblique muscles are similar in their phasic activity during walking and running. Paper presented at XXIV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics : XV Brazilian Congress of Biomechanics (ISB 2013 Brazil), Natal, Brazil

Human gait has been extensively investigated, althoughless is reported about trunk muscle activation during gait.The study aim was to determine internal oblique (IO) andexternal oblique (EO) muscle activity during walking andrunning, using a quartile... Read More about Internal and external oblique muscles are similar in their phasic activity during walking and running.

Variability of trunk muscle co-activation during repeated thoracolumbar flexion in 4-point kneeling (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Valentin, S., Tobner, K., & Licka, T. (2013, August). Variability of trunk muscle co-activation during repeated thoracolumbar flexion in 4-point kneeling. Paper presented at XXIV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics : XV Brazilian Congress of Biomechanics (ISB 2013 Brazil), Natal, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate intra and interparticipant variability of trunk muscle co-activation during thoracolumbar flexion in 4-point kneeling. Kinematic data were collected using 10 high speed cameras to identify reflective marker movem... Read More about Variability of trunk muscle co-activation during repeated thoracolumbar flexion in 4-point kneeling.

Trunk muscle activity is independent of angle achieved in posterior pelvic tilt (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Grill, K., Valentin, S., & Licka, T. (2013, August). Trunk muscle activity is independent of angle achieved in posterior pelvic tilt. Paper presented at XXIV Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics : XV Brazilian Congress of Biomechanics (ISB 2013 Brazil), Natal, Brazil

Posterior pelvic tilt (PPT) exercises are frequently used in back rehabilitation, although the immediate effect of PPT in people not educated in this exercise is unknown. This study evaluated the effect of PPT in healthy participants on pelvic angle... Read More about Trunk muscle activity is independent of angle achieved in posterior pelvic tilt.

The presence of long spinal muscles increases stiffness and hysteresis of the caprine spine in-vitro (2012)
Journal Article
Valentin, S., Groesel, M., & Licka, T. (2012). The presence of long spinal muscles increases stiffness and hysteresis of the caprine spine in-vitro. Journal of Biomechanics, 45(15), 2506-2512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2012.07.022

Long muscle-tendon-units are known to contribute to spinal stiffness and hysteresis in-vivo, yet their contribution as a passive structure in-vitro is less well defined. Twelve full length caprine spines including the head, pelvis and all spinal musc... Read More about The presence of long spinal muscles increases stiffness and hysteresis of the caprine spine in-vitro.

Antagonistic co-activation of neck muscles during flexion and extension (2012)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Zsoldos, R., Valentin, S., Peham, C., & Licka, T. (2012, July). Antagonistic co-activation of neck muscles during flexion and extension. Presented at XIXth Congress of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology (ISEK12), Brisbane, Australia