Stuart Charles Miller

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Verified

Stuart verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• PhD, PGCHE, fHEA
• Reader in Human Biomechanics at Queen Mary University of London

Background Plantar Heel Pain (PHP) can be a debilitating musculoskeletal condition from which only 50% recover within a year due to poor understanding of the mechanisms explaining severity and predicting outcomes specific to PHP. Objective To explore associations between biopsychosocial variables and the severity of people with PHP. Secondly, to d...

Soft robotic gloves are designed to assist individuals with daily tasks that involve grasping. Such devices are however often hampered by an inability to generate enough force to enable them to perform the tasks for which they were designed. This study evaluates the grasping capabilities of a novel textile soft robotic glove, which has performance-...

Hand-wearable robots, specifically exoskeletons, are designed to aid hands in daily activities, playing a crucial role in post-stroke rehabilitation and assisting the elderly. Our contribution to this field is a textile robotic glove with integrated actuators. These actuators, powered by pneumatic pressure, guide the user's hand to a desired positi...

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common injury in golfers of all abilities. The primary aim of this review was to improve understanding of human golf swing biomechanics associated with LBP. A systematic review using the PRISMA guidelines was performed. Nine studies satisfying inclusion criteria and dually reporting golf swing biomechanics and LBP we...

Background Historically, kinematic measures have been compared across injured and non-injured groups of runners, failing to take into account variability in kinematic patterns that exist independent of injury, and resulting in false positives. Research led by gait patterns and not pre-defined injury status is called for, to better understand runnin...

In manufacturing, construction, logistics, and other industrial tasks, human workers are required to handle and manipulate heavy loads such as loading packages in and out of warehouses, manipulating physical components on assembly lines, and more. However, repetitive manipulation of heavy loads can disrupt balance and lead to strains and injuries o...

Background Numerous conditions are grouped under the generic term exercise-induced leg pain (EILP), yet clear diagnostic guidelines are lacking. This scoping review was conducted to clarify the definition and diagnostic criteria of nine commonly occurring EILP conditions. Methods Three online databases were searched from inception to April 2022 fo...

Humans are intrinsically unstable in quiet stance from a rigid body system viewpoint; however, they maintain balance, thanks to neuro-muscular sensory control properties. With increasing levels of balance related incidents in industrial and ageing populations globally each year, the development of assistive mechanisms to augment human balance is pa...

Purpose This study measured bilateral deficit (BD) of torque and rate of torque development (RTD) of knee extensors during isometric and concentric tests performed on two isokinetic machines, one for each leg. Methods 36 volunteers performed concentric (60°/s) and isometric repetitions, unilaterally and bilaterally. The BD was measured as BD index...

Introduction Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is common and predominately affects active populations. Altered biomechanics and psychosocial variables have been reported in people with PFP, but the effects of neuromuscular exercise on these variables is unknown. We aimed to investigate changes in biopsychosocial measures following a two-week neuromuscular...

Background Plantar Heel Pain (PHP) is a common disorder with many treatment pathways and is not self-limiting, hence prognostic information concerning recovery or recalcitrance is needed to guide practice. In this systematic review, we investigate which prognostic factors are associated with favourable or unfavourable PHP outcomes. Methods MEDLINE...

Objective: To determine what combinations of self-reported factors distinguish patellar tendinopathy (PT) from other knee problems, and explain PT severity variance. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Social media, private practice and National Health Service. Participants: An international sample of jumping athletes diagnosed with either...

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and subsequent reconstruction is common and has a profound effect on health-related quality of life. There is currently limited understanding as to which variables are associated with a successful outcome post-ACL reconstruction (ACLR) in recreational athletes. Purpose Explore the association betw...

Objective: Examine how rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy differed from other shoulder problems (OSP) by measuring a variety of self-reported bio-psycho-social factors, and establish which explain severity. Methods: A validated online survey battery was used to collect self-reported biopsychosocial variables in an international population. Diagnosti...

Humans are intrinsically unstable in quiet stance from a rigid body system viewpoint; however, they maintain balance thanks to neuro-muscular sensory properties whilst still exhibiting postural sway characteristics. This work intro-duces a one-degree-of-freedom supernumerary tail for balance augmentation in the sagittal plane to negate anterior-pos...

Background: Neuromuscular alterations are common in people with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A comprehensive understanding of these alterations is important to enable targeted rehabilitation strategies. Objectives: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively understand the neuromuscular alterations around the knee joint in pe...

Introduction: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) has poor outcomes, and we have no robust prognostic guides to understand who gets better, when and why. We aimed to identify which combination of self-reported factors best predicts PT recovery. Materials and Methods: A previously validated, reliable online questionnaire battery yielded data from an interna...

Purpose: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is poorly understood, and recent research has focused on physical examination and imaging, with the absence of statistical models considering combinations of various risk factors potentially obscuring understanding of how jumping athletes with PT (JPTs) present, progress and differ from athletes with other knee p...

Purpose: To determine the relationship between shoulder pain, physical examination, and tissue pathology in manual wheelchair users competing in elite sport. Methods: Eighty elite para athletes who used a manual wheelchair for daily mobility were recruited from international track (n = 40), field (n = 19) and powerlifting (n = 21) competitions....

Background Plantar heel pain (PHP) is a debilitating musculoskeletal condition from which only 65–75% recover within a year. Treatment has unsatisfactory results, partially due to poor understanding of PHP prognosis. Methods We carried out a prospective cohort study with 1 year follow-up. 136 patients were recruited from five different countries u...

Introduction Local neuromuscular deficits have been reported in people with patellofemoral pain. To help identify interventional targets, we synthesized the neuromuscular characteristics associated with patellofemoral pain persistence. Materials and Methods Five databases were searched for case-control studies. Muscle electromyography, flexibility...

Background Local neuromuscular deficits have been reported in people with patellofemoral pain. We synthesised the neuromuscular characteristics associated with patellofemoral pain to help identify interventional targets and potential mechanisms. Methods Five databases were searched for local neuromuscular characteristics in case-control studies. E...

Wilson, LJ, Dimitriou, L, Hills, FA, Gondek, MB, van Wyk, A, Turek, V, Rivkin, T, Villiere, A, Jarvis, P, Miller, S, Turner, A, and Cockburn, E. Cold water immersion offers no functional or perceptual benefit compared to a sham intervention during a resistance training program. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-Cold water immersion (CWI) is...

Background: Plantar heel pain (PHP) accounts for 11-15% of foot symptoms requiring professional care in adults. Recovery is variable, with no robust prognostic guides for sufferers, clinicians or researchers. Therefore, we aimed to determine the validity, reliability and feasibility of questionnaire, clinical and biomechanical measures selected to...

Background Neuromuscular deficits are common following knee injuries and may contribute to early-onset post-traumatic osteoarthritis, likely mediated through quadriceps dysfunction. Objective To identify how peri-articular neuromuscular function changes over time after knee injury and surgery. Design Systematic review with meta-analyses. Data So...

Objectives To determine the thermal patterning of the Achilles tendon following bodyweight resistance exercise with and without blood-flow restriction (BFR). Design Cross-sectional Setting Research laboratory Participants Twelve asymptomatic recreational runners (Age: 37±10, Height: 169±20, Mass: 73.8±13.4). Main Outcome Measures Thermograms we...

Football boots are marketed with emphasis on a single key performance characteristic (e.g. speed). Little is known on how design parameters impact players’ performance. This study investigated the impact of boot design on performance maintenance and perceived foot comfort during a 90-minute match simulation drill. Eleven male university football pl...

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Muscle excitation is traditionally assessed by bipolar surface electromyography (sEMG), ignoring within muscle differences. Low density multi-channel sEMG (LDmEMG) layouts are enabling extraction of excitation patterns from signals recorded in multiple locations on a muscle. Quadriceps femoris excitation is frequently measured i...

Background Plantar heel pain (PHP) accounts for 11-15% of foot symptoms requiring professional care in adults. Recovery is variable, with no robust prognostic guides for sufferers or clinicians. Therefore, we aimed to determine the validity, reliability and feasibility of questionnaire, clinical and biomechanical measures selected to generate a pro...

Objectives The main aim was to assess feasibility by testing data collection procedures for a cohort study. Measurements validity and reliability were secondary objectives. Design Feasibility study. Setting Combination of remote contact, assessment in clinic and biomechanical evaluation. Participants 36 jumping athletes (female:17, male:19) equa...

Objectives: Investigate the validity and reliability of markerless, smart phone collected, two-dimensional (2D) video, analysed using the 'Hudl technique' application, compared to three-dimensional (3D) kinematics during running, in participants with patellofemoral pain (PFP). Design: Validity/reliability study. Setting: Biomechanics laborator...

Alterations in quadriceps neuromuscular function are common following knee injuries and increase the risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. A reliable neuromuscular test battery is critical to accurately monitor these alterations specifically in knee-injured populations, and also in healthy populations for comparison. We aimed to investigate betwee...

Representation of realistic muscle geometries is needed for systematic biomechanical simulation of musculoskeletal systems. Most of the previous musculoskeletal models are based on multibody dynamics simulation with muscles simplified as one-dimensional (1D) line-segments without accounting for the large muscle attachment areas, spatial fibre align...

Background/Aims Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, patients are reported to be at greater risk of re-rupture if they fail to meet structured discharge criteria. This prospective cohort study aimed to provide objective and subjective measures guiding safe return to play of amateur athletes following anterior cruciate ligament recon...

Background/Aims Peak hip adduction and knee flexion during running are associated with patellofemoral pain persistence, representing treatment targets. Clinical practice is lacking a validated, reliable tool with which to measure these kinematics. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of clinical gait analysis, by investigating concurrent vali...

Introduction Peak hip adduction (HADD) and knee flexion (KFLEX) during running are associated with patellofemoral pain (PFP) persistence, representing treatment targets. Clinical practice is lacking a validated, reliable tool with which to measure these kinematics. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of clinical gait analysis, by investigati...

INTRODUCTION: Low intensity resistance training, with partial blood flow restriction (BFR), has repeatedly shown increases in both muscle size and strength. Despite the growing interest in BFR, there lacks a consensus regarding its methodological application. Perhaps one of the most obvious and overlooked considerations with BFR is postural positio...

INTRODUCTION: Low intensity resistance training, with partial blood flow restriction (BFR), has repeatedly shown increases in both muscle size and strength. Despite the growing interest in BFR, there lacks a consensus regarding its methodological application. Perhaps one of the most obvious and overlooked considerations with BFR is postural positio...

Decisions made by seated athletes and their coaches regarding throwing frame design and throwing technique are currently based using a combination of comfort and trial and error (Frossard et al.2005). A better understanding of the interaction between the seated athlete and their throwing frame is needed (Keogh & Burkett 2016). This will enable evi...

Studies regarding human motor behaviour have considered that the variability of mechanical characteristics of human movement is not noise. Instead, this has been identified as indicative of true movement, and the functionality of this is considered highly valuable (Daf- fertshofer et al., 2004). The purpose of this study was to identify whether for...

The purpose of this study was to identify whether the motor pattern of forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) affects the neural control and kinematics of lower limbs. A 21-camera 3D motion analysis system was used for the examination of locomotion. The activation of seven muscles of the right leg was recorded. The motion analysis was perfo...

The neuromuscular adaptations in response to muscle stretch training have not been clearly described. In the present study, changes in muscle (at fascicular and whole muscle levels) and tendon mechanics, muscle activity and spinal motoneuron excitability were examined during standardized plantar flexor stretches after 3 wk of twice-daily stretch tr...

It has previously been shown that a loaded warm-up may improve power performances. We examined the acute effects of loaded dynamic warm-up on change of direction speed (CODS); this had not been previously investigated. Eight elite badminton players participated in three sessions during which they performed vertical countermovement jump and CODS tes...

Accurate estimates of tibialis anterior (TA) muscle force are important in many contexts. Two approaches commonly used to estimate moment arms are the tendon excursion (TE) and geometric (GEO) methods. Previous studies report poor agreement between the two approaches. PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to (1) assess the impact of methodologic...

The process of neuromuscular adaptation in response to muscle stretch training has not been clearly described. In the present study, changes in muscle (at fascicular and whole muscle levels) and tendon mechanics, muscle activity and the excitability of the motor neurone pool were examined during plantar flexor stretches after 3 wk of twice-daily st...

The tibialis anterior (TA) muscle plays a vital role in human movement such as walking and running. Overuse of TA during these movements leads to an increased susceptibility of injuries e.g. chronic exertional compartment syndrome. TA activation has been shown to be affected by increases in exercise, age, and the external environment (i.e. incline...

Introduction The ability to move through large joint ranges of motion (ROM) is important for the successful performance of activities of daily living and athletic tasks, however the factors affecting ROM are not currently known. Two common approaches to studying these factors are to: (1) compare neuromuscular differences between 'flexible' and 'inf...

Nightingale, SC, Miller, S, and Turner, A. The usefulness and reliability of fitness testing protocols for ice hockey players: A literature review. J Strength Cond Res 27(6): 1742-1748, 2013Ice hockey, like most sports, uses fitness testing to assess athletes. This study reviews the current commonly used fitness testing protocols for ice hockey pla...

The muscle-tendon moment arm is an important input parameter for musculoskeletal models. Moment arms change as a function of joint angle and contraction state and depend on the method being employed. The overall purpose was to gain insights into the interactive effects of joint angle, contraction state and method on the Achilles tendon moment arm u...

Scientific research into fencing is sparse and little relates to strength and conditioning. In our experience of working within fencing, it is a predominately anaerobic sport characterised by explosive high-power movements. Consequently, fencers should be cautious of some of the traditional training methods currently used such as long slow distance...

Change of direction speed (CODS) is often considered a main determinant of successful performance in many team sports and is routinely measured using field-based tests. However, controversy regarding test selection still exists based upon the reliability and specificity of the tests. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the reliab...

Maximum joint range of motion is an important parameter influencing functional performance and musculoskeletal injury risk. Nonetheless, complete description of the muscle architectural and tendon changes that occur during stretch and the factors influencing maximum range of motion is lacking. We measured muscle-tendon elongation and fascicle lengt...

In golf, an increase in club head speed (CHS) has been shown to increase driving distance and is correlated with handicap. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a post activation potentiation (PAP) intervention on club head speed (CHS). A Flight Scope Launch Monitor was used to record CHS in 16 golfers (aged 20.1 ± 3.24 years,...

Agonist-mediated reciprocal inhibition (RI) in distal skeletal muscles is an important neurophysiological phenomenon leading to improved movement coordination and efficiency. It has been shown to be reduced in aged and clinical populations, so the development of interventions augmenting RI is an important research goal. We examined the efficacy of...

One of the most renowned strikes within combat sports is the rear hand punch. its impact force is subject to 5 trainable variables: (a) increase rear leg drive, (b) following the step forward, land with a rigid leg to increase breaking and transmission of forces, (c) increase the stretch-shortening cycle action of the trunk musculature, (d) increas...

Accurate and reliable estimation of muscle moment arms is a prerequisite for the development of musculoskeletal models. Numerous techniques are available to estimate the Achilles tendon moment arm in vivo. The purposes of this study were 1) to compare in vivo Achilles tendon moment arms obtained using the center of rotation (COR) and tendon excursi...

Chronic stretching training is commonly performed by athletic and patient populations to improve joint range of motion (ROM), reduce injury risk and, possibly, enhance movement performance. In this study, we examined changes in resting gastrocnemius medialis (GM) fascicle length and fascicle strain during stretch (ultrasound imaging) and soleus H-r...