A interação entre humanos em movimento e estruturas, geralmente, ocorre em estruturas esbeltas, na qual o nível de vibração é potencialmente elevado. Além disso, há a adição de massa para o sistema estrutural, devido à presença de pessoas e um aumento de amortecimento devido à capacidade do corpo humano em absorver energia vibratória. Neste trabalho, uma campanha de testes foi realizada para obtenção de parâmetros de um modelo biodinâmico de um único grau de liberdade (SDOF) que representa a ação de um pedestre caminhando na direção vertical. Os parâmetros deste modelo são a massa modal (m), amortecimento (c) e rigidez (k). As medições experimentais são realizadas em uma plataforma de forças, os dados de entrada do modelo são as amplitudes de aceleração espectral dos três primeiros harmônicos ao nível da cintura dos indivíduos testados e as amplitudes correspondentes dos três primeiros harmônicos da força de reação do solo vertical. Isto conduz a um sistema de equações não lineares que são resolvidos usando um algoritmo de otimização baseado em gradientes. Vários indivíduos participaram dos testes para garantir variabilidade interindividual, e expressões de regressão e uma rede neural artificial (RNA) são utilizadas para relacionar os parâmetros biodinâmicos com a taxa de passos e a massa corporal dos pedestres. Os resultados mostram alguma dispersão no amortecimento e rigidez que não são precisamente correlacionadas com a massa e taxa de passo dos pedestres. O uso da RNA resulta em melhorias significativas nas expressões dos parâmetros com uma menor incerteza. Além disso, dois modelos são usados para representar a força dos pedestres: (a) modelo de força simples (MFS) onde a força de passos sucessivos é representada pela série de Fourier, com velocidade constante do pedestre, atuando em uma linha reta no sentido da caminhada; (b) modelo de força completamente sincronizado (MFCS) onde as componentes da força são representadas considerando parâmetros cinéticos e cinemáticos da marcha e são sincronizados no tempo e no espaço. Os resultados mostram que pode haver diferenças importantes no comportamento estrutural quando é usado um MFCS, especialmente em passarelas com elevada flexibilidade. Finalmente, as acelerações verticais medidas em uma passarela protótipo mostram a adequação do modelo numérico para a representação dos efeitos de pedestres caminhando em uma estrutura. Os resultados são consistentes para várias densidades de pedestres. / The interaction between moving humans and structures usually occurs in slender structures where the level of vibration is potentially high. Furthermore, there is the addition of mass to the structural system due to the presence of people and an increase in damping due to the human body´s ability to absorb vibrational energy. In this work, a test campaign is presented to obtain parameters for a single degree of freedom (SDOF) biodynamic model that represents the action of a walking pedestrian in the vertical direction. The parameters of this model are the modal mass (m), damping (c) and stiffness (k). The experimental measurements are performed on a force platform, and the inputs are the spectral acceleration amplitudes of the first three harmonics at the waist level of the tested subjects and the corresponding amplitudes of the first three harmonics of the vertical ground reaction force. This leads to a system of nonlinear equations that are solved using a gradient-based optimization algorithm. A set of individuals took part in the tests to ensure inter-subject variability, and, regression expressions and an artificial neural network (ANN) were used to relate the biodynamic parameters to the pacing rate and the body mass of the pedestrians. The results showed some scatter in damping and stiffness that could not be precisely correlated with the mass and pacing rates of the subjects. The use of the ANN resulted in significant improvements in the parameter expressions with a low uncertainty. Moreover, two models were used to represent the pedestrian loading: (a) simple force model (SFM) where the force from successive footfalls is represented by the Fourier series, with a constant pedestrian speed, acting on a straight line in the direction of walking; (b) fully synchronized force model (FSFM) where the load components are represented considering kinetic and kinematic parameters and are synchronized in time and space. The results show that there may be important differences in structural behavior when a FSFM is used, especially in footbridges with high flexibility. Finally, the measured vertical accelerations on a prototype footbridge show the adequacy of the numerical model for the representation of the effects of walking pedestrians on the structure. The results are consistent for several crowd densities.

Submitted by Jean Medeiros (jeanletras@uepb.edu.br) on 2017-04-06T15:47:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Wasington Almeida Reis.pdf: 19730973 bytes, checksum: 6aafb64ef70f96d88cdaae99bb70cab9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Secta BC (secta.csu.bc@uepb.edu.br) on 2017-07-20T11:41:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Wasington Almeida Reis.pdf: 19730973 bytes, checksum: 6aafb64ef70f96d88cdaae99bb70cab9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-20T11:41:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PDF - Wasington Almeida Reis.pdf: 19730973 bytes, checksum: 6aafb64ef70f96d88cdaae99bb70cab9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-23 / Many unintuitive medical equipment and difficult learning have not instructive documents nor satisfactory usability, which may cause erroneous operations Thus, the force platform studied considered experimental, is without any formal standardize their usage processes that can support future provisioning users. Therefore, the aim of this study was to propose a guidance manual for use of the experimental force platform by identifying critical factors of usability, so you can help users carry out the assessment of safe and efficient postural control. The study was conducted in Strategic Technologies Center for Health (NUTES) in conjunction with the Motor Behavior Laboratory (LACOM), Department of Physical Education at the State University of Paraiba, in Campina Grande - PB. The population and sample of this research were composed of 10 individuals, professionals and students of Physical Education and Physiotherapy of both sexes. For the collection of information was carried out a pilot study of the use of process equipment. Also, we used an adapted form of the standard NBR IEC 62366: 2010 which deals with issues related to equipment for health associated with usability, to identify technical features of the experimental force platform. Later we used a list of questions for the interview with users using equipment often in research. Finally, an observational test usability, to list the actions of users and the questionnaire "Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction - WANTED a score from 0 to 9 points, in order to assess the user's impression regarding interaction system, in which the means of questions and suggestions points showed improvements equipment. All stages of this study, to base the construction of the guidance manual, whose main purpose assist in learning and minimize usability errors when using the specific force platform. / Muitos equipamentos médicos não intuitivos e de difícil aprendizado não apresentam documentos instrutivos e nem usabilidade satisfatória, podendo acarretar operações equivocadas. Desta forma, a plataforma de força estudada, considerada experimental, encontra-se sem nenhuma padronização formal de seus processos de utilização que poderão aprovisionar suporte aos futuros usuários. Logo, o objetivo deste estudo foi propor um manual de orientação para utilização da plataforma de força experimental por meio de identificação de fatores críticos de usabilidade, para que possa auxiliar os usuários a realizar a avaliação de forma segura e eficiente do controle postural. O estudo foi realizado no Núcleo de Tecnologias Estratégicas em Saúde (NUTES) em conjunto com o Laboratório de Comportamento Motor (LACOM), do Departamento de Educação Física na Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, no município de Campina Grande – PB. A população e a amostra desta pesquisa foram compostas por 10 indivíduos, sendo profissionais e estudantes de Educação Física e Fisioterapia de ambos os sexos. Para a coleta das informações foi realizado um estudo piloto do processo de utilização do equipamento. Também, utilizou-se um formulário adaptado da norma ABNT NBR IEC 62366:2010 que trata de questões relacionadas a equipamentos para a saúde associados à usabilidade, visando identificar particularidades técnicas da plataforma de força experimental. Posteriormente foi utilizado um roteiro de questões para entrevista com usuários que utilizam o equipamento com frequência em pesquisas. Por fim, foi realizado um teste observacional de usabilidade, visando o registro das ações dos usuários e aplicado questionário ―Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction – QUIS numa pontuação de 0 a 9 pontos, afim de avaliar a impressão do usuário em relação a interação com o sistema, na qual as médias das questões evidenciaram sugestões e pontos de melhorias do equipamento. Todas as etapas deste estudo, embasaram a construção do manual de orientação, que tem como propósito principal auxiliar na aprendizagem e minimizar os erros de usabilidade ao utilizar a plataforma de força específica.

Amputation is the oldest surgical procedure recorded. In small animals, mainly dogs and cats, the goal of these procedures maintain the patient's life, when it is affected by lesions that progress to necrosis, malignancies, distal irreparable injury, and another one. The force platforms used to measure ground reaction forces involved inhuman and animal movement, allowing the interpretation of movement through mechanical variables. This study aims to analyse the distribution of weighting every limb and compare them with data from animals considered normal (with four limbs). It was studied 20 canines, divided into four groups: Group 1 (without the left forelimb), Group 2 (without the right forelimb), Group 3 (without the left hind limb) and Group4 (without the right hind limb). The animals evaluated within groups were not normal standard and they were above or below the upper and lower limits, because they had not one of the four members, adapting and transferring your weight to one of the other three members. It can be concluded that canines without the left forelimb band right forelimb transfer the weight to theirs contra lateral sides. Dogs that have not left forelimb transfer 76.99% of weight to the contra lateral side, as well as dog without right forelimb transferring 71.73% of weight to the contra lateral side. The canines that have not the left or right hind limbs, transfer weight to the forelimbs. / A amputação é o procedimento cirúrgico mais antigo registrado. Em animais de pequeno porte, principalmente cães e gatos, o objetivo desta cirurgia é manter a vida do paciente, quando acometido por lesões que evoluem para necrose, neoplasias malignas, lesões distais irreparáveis, dentre outras causas. A plataforma de força é utilizada para medir as forças de reação do solo envolvidas no movimento humano e animal, possibilitando a interpretação do movimento através de variáveis mecânicas. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a distribuição de força em cada membro e comparar com os dados de animais, considerados normais, por possuírem quatro membros. Para isso, foram utilizados 20 animais, caninos divididos em quatro grupos: o Grupo 1 (sem o membro anterior esquerdo), o Grupo 2 (sem o membro anterior direito), Grupo 3 (sem o membro posterior esquerdo) e o Grupo 4 (sem o membro posterior direito). Todos os animais avaliados não estavam dentro dos padrões considerados normais, ou estavam acima ou abaixo dos limites superiores e inferiores, pois não tinham um dos quatros membros, adaptando-se e transferindo seu peso para os outros três membros. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que os animais sem o membro anterior esquerdo e o membro anterior direito transferem seu peso para seu lado contralateral. Os cães que não possuem membro anterior esquerdo transferem 76,99% do seu peso para o lado contralateral, e os sem membro anterior direito transferem 71,73% do seu peso para o lado contralateral. O grupo de animais que não possui o membro posterior esquerdo ou direito, transfere seu peso para os membros anteriores.

Author: Bc. Michaela Richtrová Tittle: Golf swing in subjects with amputation of lower extremity Objectives: The study aims at evaluation of the technique of golf swing used by patients with a different type and level of lower extremity amputation as compared to able-bodied golfers. Another objective is determination of the relation between individual phases of the golf swing and weight transfer, using different golf clubs, as compared to able-bodied golfers. Method: By its topic the work is a pilot study. The research has been divided into three descriptive case studies. The experimental group included two amateur golfers and one professional golfer. The control group was represented by an able-bodied golfer. Evaluation of kinematic parameters (trajectory of shoulders, hips, knee joints) was based on the Qualysis Motion Capture System. Evaluation of dynamic parameters (weight transfer) in the course of golf swing was made using two dynamometric Kistler platforms. Results: The measuring has demonstrated that in terms of both kinematics and dynamics, the mode of movement of a patient with a trans-tibial amputation during a golf swing corresponds to that of an able-bodied golfer. The same results were achieved by the patient also with the use of another type of golf club. A change, both in terms of...

Certains besoins de santé spécifiques ont contribué au développement du travail présenté ici, en particulier dans le domaine de la kinésithérapie dans lequel l’étude de l’équilibre postural est étudiée. Les solutions qui existent aujourd'hui sur le marché sont coûteuses, disponibles uniquement dans les grands hôpitaux ou dans des salles dédiées, avec un faible taux de fréquentation de la population, principalement dans des endroits plus éloignés des grands centres urbains. Ce travail a été développé en collaboration avec une équipe constituée de kinésithérapeutes, de chercheurs en génie électrique et en génie mécanique du laboratoire G-SCOP, Grenoble INP, Institut d’Ingénierie, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, France. Cette équipe cherche des solutions à faible coût qui répondent aux besoins de la société en général, en mettant l'accent sur la santé, mais également sur la vulgarisation scientifique, en diffusant ses travaux lors de manifestations de type fête de la Sciences dans la région et pour la communauté. Les travaux ont débuté avec une plateforme de force développée en 2016, conjointement par des chercheurs de l'UNESP (une Université de l'état Sao Paulo au Brésil) et du laboratoire G-SCOP. A cette solution a été ajoutée une nouvelle interface électronique, développée dans le but de fournir des informations sur le déplacement du centre de pression du patient. Un mécanisme a également été mis en place pour assurer la synchronisation entre les informations capturées par les capteurs installés sur la plate-forme et un capteur Microsoft Kinect. De nouveaux outils logiciels ont été proposés pour capturer et analyser les résultats. Le traitement des données permet de créer un modèle tridimensionnel détaillé contenant la cinématique de plusieurs articulations du corps humain et leur comportement respectif en fonction du temps. La mise en œuvre du capteur Kinect synchronisé avec la plate-forme de force permet de comparer le Centre de Pression avec le Centre de masse en vue de proposer un outil plus léger et moins cher à la communauté des praticiens hospitaliers. / Some specific health needs contributed to the development of the work presented here, especially in Physical Therapy in which the Postural Equilibrium is studied. The solutions that exist today in the market are of expensive, available only in large hospitals or in dedicated rooms, with low index of attendance to the population, mainly in places more distant of the great urban centers. This work was developed in cooperation with a team constituted of Phisiotherpists, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from of the G-SCOP Laboratory, Grenoble INP, Institute of Engineering Univ. Grenoble Alpes, France. This team seeks low cost solutions that meet the needs of society in general, with a focus on health, but also with a focus on the popularization of science, disseminating its work in basic schools in the region and also in the community. The work began with a strength platform developed in 2016, jointly by researchers from UNESP, Sao Paulo, Brasil, and the G-SCOP Laboratory. To this solution was added a new electronic interface, developed with the purpose of providing information on the displacement of the patient pressure center. A mechanism was also implemented to ensure synchronization between information captured by sensors installed on the platform and a Microsoft Kinect sensor. New software tools were developed to capture and analyze the results. The data treatment allows the creation of a detailed three-dimensional model, containing the kinematics of several joints of the human body and their respective positional behavior, as a function of time. With the implementation of the Kinect sensor, synchronised with the force platform, it is also possible to evaluate the kinematic and positional biomechanical parameters.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-05-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:47:51Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 freitas_rlb_me_ilha.pdf: 2701208 bytes, checksum: 5ab311e644d8a3837fea549fd3136b7e (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Neste trabalho, descreve-se um sistema eletrônico informatizado implementado com o objetivo de medir a distribuição do peso corporal na região plantar de pacientes, visando relacioná-la diretamente à tipologia e deformidades dos pés e associando-a, indiretamente, a eventuais deformidades dos membros inferiores, coluna vertebral, algias músculoesqueléticas e instabilidades da postura humana. O sistema é constituído por células de carga com extensômetros, montadas em uma base metálica, circuito de condicionamento de sinais, circuito de interfaceamento e um display de cristal líquido. Foi construída uma plataforma piloto com 4 células de carga, mas o projeto do sistema prevê a construção de duas plataformas com 45 células de cargas, cada uma. As células de carga apresentaram resposta linear, precisão superior a 2%, resolução inferior a 0,5 N e histerese desprezível. São apresentados os resultados de medições, efetuadas com o sistema, para medir a distribuição de forças nas quatro células de carga, quando se aplicou sobre elas um peso conhecido. As informações foram apresentadas em um display de cristal líquido e posteriormente serão apresentadas na tela de um computador, por meio de um programa desenvolvido em Delphi, facilitando a visualização para especialistas da área, principalmente médicos, fisioterapeutas e terapeutas ocupacionais. Com o equipamento proposto será possível investigar, clinicamente, patologias estudadas pela Podologia, Posturologia e Podoposturologia, viabilizando, com as informações captadas pelo sistema, metodologias mais adequadas de tratamentos. / In this work we describe an electrical system implemented with the purpose of measuring the distribution of body weight in plantar region of patients, aiming to relate it directly to the typology and deformities of the feet and involving it, indirectly, to any deformities of the lower limbs, skeletal spine, muscle-skeletal pains and human posture instability. The system consists of load cells with strain gages within a metal base, signal conditioning circuit, interfacing circuit, and a liquid crystal display. A prototype platform with 4 load cells was built, but the system will have two platforms with 45 loads of cells, each one. The load cells presented linear response, precision better than 2%, resolution less than 0.5 N, and low hysteresis. We show the results of the force distribution when a know weight is applied over the four load cells. The informations have been presented in a liquid crystal display, but later they will be presented in the screen of a computer, facilitating the visualization for specialists, mainly doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. With the proposed equipment it will be possible to investigate, clinically, pathologies studied by Podology, Posturology and Podoposturology making feasible, with the information obtained with the system, more appropriate methodologies of treatment.

Submitted by SILVANA ROCHA DA SILVEIRA null (silvana.silveira@anhanguera.com) on 2017-11-29T13:04:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Análise do comportamento do centro de pressão (CoP) na posição ereta quieta em situação de aclive, declive e horizontal diante da movimentação cefálica..pdf: 2182243 bytes, checksum: fd39ef1b65f1cbb09db1e3c1d618854b (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Pamella Benevides Gonçalves null (pamella@feg.unesp.br) on 2017-11-29T14:23:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_sr_dr_guara.pdf: 2182243 bytes, checksum: fd39ef1b65f1cbb09db1e3c1d618854b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-11-29T14:23:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_sr_dr_guara.pdf: 2182243 bytes, checksum: fd39ef1b65f1cbb09db1e3c1d618854b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-09-29 / O controle postural é um requisito imprescindível para a execução das habilidades motoras durante as tarefas das atividades de vida diária, logo, há a necessidade constante de ajuste dos segmentos corporais para garantir a autonomia e independência da mobilidade humana, dentro da conjuntura da acessibilidade. Os ajustes posturais são resultantes da interação do sistema sensório–motor e da sua correlação com o meio ambiente, produzindo orientação e estabilidade postural esperada durante a execução das atividades diárias, sendo ela estática ou dinâmica. Deste modo, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar e comparar o comportamento do centro de pressão na posição ereta quieta em situação de aclive, declive e horizontal diante da movimentação cefálica, entre três grupos com faixas etárias diferentes. O estudo transversal foi composto de 28 indivíduos, de ambos os gêneros, divididos em três grupos por faixas etárias (20 a 29 anos, 30 a 59 anos e acima de 60 anos), de acordo com os critérios de inclusão. O instrumento de avaliação constituiu-se por uma plataforma de força acoplada numa rampa com 15° e em um platô horizontal. A coleta dos dados seguiu um protocolo pré-determinado, envolvendo a posição ereta quieta com olhos abertos (OA), em quatro condições cefálicas, em três situações: aclive, declive e horizontal. Os dados obtidos foram trabalhados por meio do programa Matlab® e para a análise estatística foi aplicado o programa Action Start, utilizando a análise descritiva dos dados e o Teste Anova: fator único, Teste-t: duas amostras em par para média e Teste-t: duas amostras presumindo variâncias diferentes. Os resultados do presente estudo apontaram que a oscilação do CoP na posição ereta quieta com olhos abertos, se alteram diante das condições em que o segmento cefálico encontra – se em movimento, independente das situações de aclive, declive e horizontal, principalmente nos grupos com faixa etária igual ou superior a 60 anos / Postural control is an essential requirement for the performance of motor skills during daily activities, so there is a constant need to adjust the body segments to ensure the autonomy and independence of human mobility, within the context of accessibility. Postural adjustments result from the interaction of the sensor - motor system and its correlation with the environment, producing orientation and postural stability expected during the execution of daily activities, being static or dynamic. Thus, the objective of the study was to analyze and compare the behavior of the pressure center in the standing upright position in slope, slope and horizontal situation in front of the head movement, between three groups with different age groups. The cross-sectional study consisted of 28 individuals of both genders, divided into three groups by age group (20 to 29 years, 30 to 59 years and above 60 years), according to the inclusion criteria. The evaluation instrument consisted of a force platform coupled on a ramp with 15 ° and a horizontal plateau. Data collection followed a predetermined protocol, involving the standing upright position with open eyes (OA), in four cephalic conditions, in three situations - slope, slope and horizontal. The data obtained were worked through the Matlab® program and for the statistical analysis the Action program was applied using descriptive data analysis and the Anova test: single factor, t-test: two samples in pairs for mean and t-test: Two samples assuming different variances. The results of the present study pointed out that the oscillation of the CoP in the quiet standing position with open eyes, are altered by the conditions in which the cephalic segment is in motion, independent of slope, slope and horizontal situations, Aged 60 years or over

Orientador: Aparecido Augusto de Carvalho / Banca: Nobuo Oki / Banca: Josivaldo Godoy da Silva / Resumo: Neste trabalho, descreve-se um sistema eletrônico informatizado implementado com o objetivo de medir a distribuição do peso corporal na região plantar de pacientes, visando relacioná-la diretamente à tipologia e deformidades dos pés e associando-a, indiretamente, a eventuais deformidades dos membros inferiores, coluna vertebral, algias músculoesqueléticas e instabilidades da postura humana. O sistema é constituído por células de carga com extensômetros, montadas em uma base metálica, circuito de condicionamento de sinais, circuito de interfaceamento e um display de cristal líquido. Foi construída uma plataforma piloto com 4 células de carga, mas o projeto do sistema prevê a construção de duas plataformas com 45 células de cargas, cada uma. As células de carga apresentaram resposta linear, precisão superior a 2%, resolução inferior a 0,5 N e histerese desprezível. São apresentados os resultados de medições, efetuadas com o sistema, para medir a distribuição de forças nas quatro células de carga, quando se aplicou sobre elas um peso conhecido. As informações foram apresentadas em um display de cristal líquido e posteriormente serão apresentadas na tela de um computador, por meio de um programa desenvolvido em Delphi, facilitando a visualização para especialistas da área, principalmente médicos, fisioterapeutas e terapeutas ocupacionais. Com o equipamento proposto será possível investigar, clinicamente, patologias estudadas pela Podologia, Posturologia e Podoposturologia, viabilizando, com as informações captadas pelo sistema, metodologias mais adequadas de tratamentos. / Abstract: In this work we describe an electrical system implemented with the purpose of measuring the distribution of body weight in plantar region of patients, aiming to relate it directly to the typology and deformities of the feet and involving it, indirectly, to any deformities of the lower limbs, skeletal spine, muscle-skeletal pains and human posture instability. The system consists of load cells with strain gages within a metal base, signal conditioning circuit, interfacing circuit, and a liquid crystal display. A prototype platform with 4 load cells was built, but the system will have two platforms with 45 loads of cells, each one. The load cells presented linear response, precision better than 2%, resolution less than 0.5 N, and low hysteresis. We show the results of the force distribution when a know weight is applied over the four load cells. The informations have been presented in a liquid crystal display, but later they will be presented in the screen of a computer, facilitating the visualization for specialists, mainly doctors, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. With the proposed equipment it will be possible to investigate, clinically, pathologies studied by Podology, Posturology and Podoposturology making feasible, with the information obtained with the system, more appropriate methodologies of treatment. / Mestre

The purpose of this analysis was to construct a preliminary scale of reference values for reactive strength index-modified (RSImod). Countermovement jump data from 151 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I collegiate athletes (male n = 76; female n = 75) were analyzed. Using percentiles, scales for both male and female samples were constructed. For further analysis, athletes were separated into four performance groups based on RSImod and comparisons of jump height (JH), and time to takeoff (TTT) were performed. RSImod values ranged from 0.208 to 0.704 and 0.135 to 0.553 in males and females, respectively. Males had greater RSImod (p < 0.001, d = 1.15) and JH (p < 0.001, d = 1.41) as compared to females. No statistically significant difference was observed for TTT between males and females (p = 0.909, d = 0.02). Only JH was found to be statistically different between all performance groups. For TTT no statistical differences were observed when comparing the top two and middle two groups for males and top two, bottom two, and middle two groups for females. Similarities in TTT between sexes and across performance groups suggests JH is a primary factor contributing to differences in RSImod. The results of this analysis provide practitioners with additional insight as well as a scale of reference values for evaluating RSImod scores in collegiate athletes.

Polypterus senegalus, an extant member of the ray-finned fishes, can both swim in water and walk overland. Both environments impose different locomotor requirements on Polypterus fins. In an aquatic environment, forward propulsion is largely generated through oscillations of the pectoral fins working in sync with each other. On land, the pectoral fins are engaged in a contralateral gait, and are involved in lifting the body off the ground while simultaneously balancing the body. Polypterus have been shown to undergo behavioural, anatomical, and physiological changes during both short- and long-term exposure to land. Differences in force environments and locomotor behaviour between aquatic and terrestrial environments are hypothesized to be the cause of these plastic changes observed in the musculoskeletal tissues of Polypterus. Despite these observable changes, it is unclear exactly how the pectoral fins are experiencing ground reaction forces (GRF) during terrestrial locomotion. By measuring and quantifying force production during walking in Polypterus, this thesis provides a first look at the relationship between GRFs produced and experienced during walking and the pectoral fins of the amphibious fish, Polypterus. The kinematics of the pectoral fins and fore body were analyzed during terrestrial locomotion, and strategic points across both pectoral fins and body were digitized. Kinematics were compared with GRFs in the thrust (X), stabilizing (Y) and lifting (Z) planes to understand how impact forces travel through the fin tissues. Further analysis, using inverse dynamics, is required to determine how these impact forces travel through the musculature of the pectoral fins, perhaps providing potential hypotheses as to the effects of GRFs and their role in not only how terrestrial locomotion affects the behavioural, anatomical, and physiological plasticity observed in Polypterus, but also the limbs of tetrapods during the evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments.