Abstract This research project summarizes and combines the results of three experiments to determine the scientific relation between using the preferred and non-preferred legs in sports. The paper looks at the biomechanical reasons one leg outperforms the other and what can be done to overcome this obstacle.
From the Paper "In addition to the model, the experiment employed four men who were "skilled in punt kicking" (Putnam, 1991, p. 132) and a group of two men and two women who were skilled, if not well trained, in long distance running. The first batch of data was a ball-to-leg speed ratio. The four men were asked to punt the ball of their choice, trying to obtain maximum leg speed. The camera used to capture the information was aimed specifically at the ankle-area at the time of impact. The other group was asked to run and then walk along a line on the ground while cameras captured their joint movements and speeds. This experiment discovered a number of things about the way joints move and how this effects movement in the legs."
Abstract This paper presents the findings of an article written after testing two specific hypotheses: (1) that the ski boot in its standard setting causes a misalignment of two measurements of knee angles as compared to the natural barefoot position; and (2) that both canting and boot rotation affect on varus valgus (VV) and internal-external rotation (IRER) angles as well.
Outline:
Introduction
Article Summary
Subjective Evaluation
Biomechanical Description of Technique
Critical Analysis of Technique Selected
Summary
From the Paper "Knee injuries are some of the most interesting issues in orthopedics and sports medicine from the perspective of both prevention and treatment. The analysis of biomechanical causation is crucial to understanding acute traumatic knee injuries as well as long-term chronic knee problems commonly presenting in athletes at all levels of involvement.
"In the case of knee injuries in skiers, one testable hypothesis is the component of causation that relates to ski boots. By design, ski boots are intended to provide external support and maintenance of advantageous ankle and knee flexion and tibial angular orientation with respect to the perpendicular as measured between the skier and the ski
slope. Previous research has established a relationship between external ankle support in general and specifically, the way that altering or restricting the natural motion of the ankle joint contributes to changes in the mechanical load on anatomical structures in the knee."
Abstract The paper describes kinesthesiology as a branch of physics dedicated to the physics involved in movement. It shows that several scientists of note contributed to this field including Aristotle, who applied geometry to the acts of walking, running and jumping. The paper describes that as a dancer moves across the stage force is transferred from one element to another. This paper explores the body mechanics involved in all phases of the ballet leap, called the jete?.
Table of contents
Introduction
Phases of the Jete?
Analysis of the Muscles Involved
Analysis of the Injuries Prone to the Movement
From the Paper "The landing phase of the leap is by far the most dangerous. If the body is not positioned properly to absorb the impact, injuries could be extensive, particularly if they cause a fall. Every part of the body is at risk in a fall situation. Injuries could be more severe involving broken bones, especially in the ankle and foot of the leading leg. If a fall is involved bruising could result."
From the Paper "Punting a football is an action designed to provide impetus to an external object. Movements of this type culminate in brief contact with an object (moving or still) by a moving body part. In such actions the "imparting of force" is the principal aim and the skills involve applying the force to the correct point, and with appropriate amounts of force, to achieve the desired distance and direction (Wells & Luttgens, 1976, p. 466). The motion involved in kicking the ball is angular in nature as the lower leg engages in rotating about an axis in the knee joint and the thigh moves in a rotatory motion about the hip joint.
The series of movements involved in punting include the flexion of the hip with explosive extension of the knee and plantar flexion of the ankle at the kicking point. The sole base of support from which the kick is launched is the standing ..."
From the Paper "This literature review of squat weightlifting is in the area of biomechanics and includes: optimal biomechanics, with the study of training modalities, contributions of biomechanical variables, and effects of weight-lifting limits; and the study of associated potential biomechanical problems, to include lumbar dynamics or lower back difficulties. Interest in physical strength includes many areas such as: ergonomics, human factors engineering, rehabilitation, physiology, psychology, and physical education. Athletes have used resistance training techniques to heighten competitive performance. A review of the squat weightlift is of interest since it is used to build physical strength and the squat-lift is accepted as a safe means of lifting, which, used correctly, will help eliminate lower back..."
From the Paper "CERVICAL SPINE DYSFUNCTION
Introduction
This research examines the phenomenon of cervical spine dysfunction. The anatomy of the spine and the biomechanics of movement are reviewed before the dysfunction of the cervical spine and physiotherapeutic techniques that may be used on subjects suffering from cervical spine dysfunction are examined.
Anatomy of the Spine
The human spine is comprised of 24 vertebrae. These vertebrae are small bones which as a set contain the spinal cord. The 24 vertebrae are grouped into three sections which correspond with their location on the spine. The three sections are (1) the cervical spine, which is comprised of the vertebrae located in the neck, (2) the thoracic spine, which is comprised of the vertebrae .."
Abstract The supermarket industry is highly competitive and characterized by low profit margins. Consumers are motivated by price and service since many of the items they carry are considered commodities by consumers. Convenience, including how quickly a consumer can select and pay for goods, is also a motivating factor in choosing one market over another for shopping chores.
From the Paper "ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT OF THE KNEE JOINT
Introduction
The supermarket industry is highly competitive and characterized by low profit margins. Consumers are motivated by price and service since many of the items they carry are considered commodities by consumers. Convenience, including how quickly a consumer can select and pay for goods, is also a motivating factor in choosing one market over another for shopping chores. A comparison of acute ACL stability tests includes the anterior drawer test, Lachman's test, and pivot shift test.
Anatomy & Structure
The anatomy of the knee includes the patellar ligament, patella, articular cartilage, posterior cruciate ligament, anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, lateral ..."
From the Paper "Chapter 1
Introduction
While there are a variety of skill groupings that prove important to the play of baseball, those entailing the batter's hitting the baseball prove most difficult. As a result, the batter's hitting of the baseball is one of the most important skills needed in the game. There are primarily three phases, or skill groupings, that comprise the swing of the baseball batter: the preparatory phase, the force phase, and the follow-through phase (Hay, 1985, p. 205). The preparatory phase of the batter's swing entails the stance, while the stride and the swing consist of the force phase. McKinney and Logan report that the follow-through phase consists of those actions taken by the batter as he or she is recovering from the swing (McKinney & Logan, 1977, p...."
Abstract This paper provides an application oriented state-of-the-art review of smart materials and magnetostrictive actuators in aeronautical design. Smartness describes self-adaptability, self-sensing, memory and multiple functionality of the materials or structures. The paper shows that these characteristics provide numerous possible applications for these materials and structures in aerospace, manufacturing, civil infrastructure systems and biomechanics. Active vibration and acoustic transmission control, active shape control and active damage control are some of those areas which have found attractive applications for smart materials and structures. Examples of specific applications are micro-positioning, vibration isolation, fast acting valve and nozzles, transducers, luxury car shocks, and active engine mounts in aircrafts. The paper shows that system integration, mass and energy consumption reduction, elimination of moving parts in actuators and collocation between actuator and sensor are some of the benefits of using smart materials. Those smart materials covered in this paper are primarily piezoelectric, shape memory alloys and magnetostrictive.
From the Paper "Along these lines there is growing interest in the design and control of smart structures systems with embedded sensors and actuators that provide enhanced ability to program a desired response from a system. The ability to sense real-time conditions, i.e., the factors that contribute to turbulence and therefore resistance in a given environment, would be welcome and useful. Applications of interest include: (a) smart helicopter rotors with actuated flaps that alter the aerodynamic and vibrational properties of the rotor in conjunction with evolving flight conditions and aerodynamic loads; and (b) smart fixed wings with actuators that alter airfoil shape to accommodate changing drag/lift conditions. In these and other examples, key technologies include actuators based on materials that respond to changing electric, magnetic, and thermal fields via piezoelectric, magnetostrictive and thermo-elasto-plastic interactions."
Abstract This paper examines the beneficial aspects of running on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. It does so by first looking at the different types of running and then by explaining the biomechanics of running.
From the Paper "From a sports professional point of view running is of three different types namely sprinting, middle distance and long distance or (marathon). Sprinting events are those races that are up to 400m. During the sprinting activity the muscles? metabolic pathways supply the required energy at a rate which is several times higher than the regular aerobic systems. This is verified by the decrease in PCr (phosphocreatine) by 67%, muscle glycogen by around 32% and ATP by 28%. Furthermore anaerobic glycolysis increases muscle lactate level by 20 fold. For sprinting, the thrust during the propelling period is very important and sports scientists have reported that the maximum force that a muscle can generate is directly proportional to its cross sectional area. This implies that good Sprinters usually are more muscular compared to marathon racers. For middle distance and marathon running the oxidative systems are the chief energy suppliers and there is a predominance of slow twitch muscle fibres."
Abstract Sports has become a multi-billion-dollar business, and the ever-increasing competitiveness and challenges, both mental and physical, faced by the modern sportsperson has increased the need for a medical and scientific support system for athletes. This paper discusses two fields that have developed from this need: sports science and sports medicine. The paper shows that they are interrelated, the former being more of an investigative and experimental area, while the latter deals with the implementation of the knowledge and techniques developed by sports science.
From the Paper "High quality sports performance depends largely on an individual's movement pattern and is usually referred to as technique. Good technique not only produces an effective performance but also reduces the risk of injury. The effect of physical forces on the movement and on the size, shape and structure of the body is scientifically studied by biomechanists today in an attempt to help optimize athletic technique. (Stein, 2003) Through qualitative analysis via direct observation on film or video tape, a biomechanist will study an athlete's performance with a view to diagnosing any problems which might be limiting sporting potential. In close consultation with the athlete's coach, training patterns may be altered to incorporate elements which may help to rectify the problem."
Abstract This paper explains that prosthetic devices were needed the minute the first human was born with a missing or deformed limb, or the first person lost a limb in battle or even during the course of daily life. The author points out that the ancient principles on which prosthetics continue to rely are still amazingly efficient. It explains that in the past 25 years, there have been advances in prosthetic limb technology, such as lightweight plastics, composites and electronic systems; but there will be more, which will continue to open new directions for prosthetics. The paper relates that prostheses for amputations through the hip joint consist of a laminated hip basket, hip joint, knee joint, SACH foot, pipe connectors and external cosmetic finish; an active carbon fiber foot and multi-axis hydraulic and mechanical knee joint may also be used. Charts and illustrations.
Table of Contents
Overview Section
History of Lower Limb Prosthetics
Advancements and the Future
Aetiology and Incidence of Lower Limb Amputation
Pre- and Post-Operative Considerations in Lower Limb Amputation
Types of Surgery
Syme's Amputation
Below Knee Amputation
Above Knee Amputation
Hip Disarticulation
Pain Management
Types of Lower Limb Prosthetic Hardware
Literature Review Section
From the Paper "Sometimes, especially after recorded history began, the reasons for needed prosthetic devices sounded eerily like some of the major 'hero' stories of today; the young man who cut off his own arm to escape entrapment in a crevice on a lonely mountain is one recent example. A few years ago, a man cut off his own lower leg when he caught it in a bear trap far from home or help. However, in Herodotus' The Histories, dating to 484 BCE, there is a story of a Persian named Hegestratus. Hegistratus was captured by the enemy and imprisoned with a leg iron. To escape, he cut off part of his own foot; later, he is said to have worn a wooden replacement, a prosthesis (University of Iowa Health Care Web site). Another account, however, notes that he used a 'wooden filler' to escape, traveling 30 miles before he was captured and "had his head amputated" (Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Web site). Not only was there no prosthetic head, Hegistratus did not live long enough to investigate what was available in foot prostheses at the time. While much of this knowledge is based on the verbal record, there was physical evidence of early prostheses. A tomb in Capua, Italy, offered an artificial leg made from copper and wood and dating to 200 BCE. Bombing in World War II destroyed it, however."
Abstract This paper looks at manual handling and the risks involved for back injuries. It looks at different types of handling: lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling and moving. The author assesses risks and gives preventive measures. The paper also offers the biomechanics of manual handling and back injuries.
From the Paper "A recent survey of self-reported, work-related injuries estimated that there were over a million people with musculoskeletaldisorders (MSD's) in Great Britain caused or aggravated by their work and this resulted in roughly a million lost working days ..."
