The purpose of this study is to explore the Swedish site Funbeat which is a space dedicated to people who share an interest in exercising in general, and running in particular. By applying a netnographic analysis, I will investigate if Funbeat matches the criteria of a participatory culture and how the members manage to establish a collective intelligence within the community. In order to achieve this, I will analyze the interactivity between the participants which occurs in discussion threads concerning injuries related to running, in the sites discussion forum. The results will then be discussed in relation to previous research within the field for participatory culture, collective intelligence and interactivity. The outcome of the study revealed that Funbeat can be regarded as very good example of a participatory culture. By each member sharing their individual knowledge in matters regarding injuries, a collective intelligence was established. This knowledge has been acquired by personal experience, by consulting a physiotherapist or by sharing information which intend to serve as self-help for other members.

Physical activity can prevent cardiovascular disease, obesity, type II diabetes and some types of cancer. With only 3.5% of adults meeting the recommended physical activity guidelines, research has focused on the regulatory factors that influence physical activity level. Genetic influence accounts for the majority of physical activity regulation. However, there is limited information on the mechanisms that affect physical activity, in part, because of a lack of reliable methods to silence genes in vivo. The purpose of this dissertation was to identify mechanisms in skeletal muscle that influence physical activity. The methods used to accomplish the purpose of this dissertation were the evaluation of Vivo-morpholinos as a gene silencing tool in skeletal muscle and brain, identification of proteins in skeletal muscle associated with increased physical activity level, and the use Vivo-morpholinos to transiently knockdown the identified skeletal muscle proteins as a means to elucidate mechanisms for the peripheral regulation of physical activity. Overall, this study showed that Vivo-morpholinos effectively silenced genes in skeletal muscle yet required the use of a pharmacological aid to achieve gene silencing in the brain. Additionally proteins associated with calcium regulation (Annexin A6 and Calsequestrin 1) and the Kreb’s (TCA) cycle were found to be over expressed in the high active animals. The knockdown of Annexin A6 and Calsequestrin 1 resulted in a significant decrease in physical activity, thus showing that calcium regulation could influence the physical activity response. While these results provide a potential mechanism for the peripheral regulation of physical activity, a side effect observed was that Vivo-morpholinos can hybridize resulting in increased mortality rates of the treatment animals. Therefore, we developed methods to alleviate the toxic effects of Vivo-morpholinos. Thus, this dissertation refined a technique for determining a gene’s effect in an in vivo model and identified two candidate proteins (Annexin A6 and Calsequestrin 1) that play a role in regulating daily physical activity.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chiropractic)-Dept. of Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006 xiv, 61 leaves, Annexures 1-12, 20 leaves / It is well known that the lifetime incidence of lower back pain (LBP) is particularly high (Richardson et al., 1999). Most cases of LBP are self-limiting, however certain regional biomechanical deficits may be overlooked, such as core stability. As a result of this, LBP may become a chronic condition in the athletic and general population. This principle can be applied to road running, as the forces that pass through the muscles of the lower limbs and trunk cannot be properly absorbed if the trunk musculature is not properly trained. This may lead to lower back pain as a result of inadequate functioning and strength of stabilizing structures (Hedrick, 2000). The purpose of this exploratory cross-sectional study was to determine the relationship between core muscle strength and chronic lower back pain in amateur female road runners and non-runners. The focus was to determine the core stability values in mmHg between amateur female runners with and without chronic LBP, and female non-runners with and without chronic LBP; as well as to compare female runners and non-runners with regard to core muscle strength.

400 m bėgimas yra viena iš sunkiausių rungčių lengvojoje atletikoje, pati ilgiausia distancija sprinto rungtyse. Dažnai sportininkai, kurie startuoja 400 m bėgime, varžybose bėga ir 100 m, 200 m ar 800 m nuotolius. 400 m bėgimo rezultatą pagrinde lemia greitumo ištvermė, t.y. galimybė palaikyti maksimalias greitumo galimybes 45 s periode. Darbo aktualumas – atlikti tyrimai leis išsiaiškinti, kuri fizinė ypatybė dominuoja ir lemia varžybinį rezultatą bėgant 400 m. Tyrimo objektas – 400 m bėgimo rezultatas. Darbo tikslas – išanalizuoti, 100 m ar 800 m bėgikai pasiekia geresnius rezultatus 400 m bėgimo nuotolyje, ir netiesiogiai nustatyti greitumo ir ištvermės komponentų įtaką bėgimo rezultatui šiame nuotolyje. Uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti Lietuvos ir geriausių pasaulio 100 m ir 800 m bėgikų 400 m bėgimo rezultatus 2. Palyginti geriausių pasaulio ir Lietuvos 100 m ir 800 m bėgikų 400 m bėgimo rezultatus Tiriamieji - pasaulio elito (n = 20) ir Lietuvos (n = 20) 100 m ir 800 m (amžius 23 ± 4,3 m; ūgis 1,79 ± 0,19 m; svoris 78 ± 4,7 kg) ir 800 m (n = 10; amžius 23 ± 2,3 m; ūgis 1,73 ± 0,22 m; svoris 69 ± 5,2 kg) bėgimo rungties geriusių sportininkų dešimtukas, kada nors bėgusių 400 m distanciją. Tyrimo organizavimas Tyrimo rezultatų analizei duomenys buvo paimti iš oficialios internetinės svetainės www.iaaf.com ir www.lengvoji.lt. Buvo paimti geriausiųjų pasaulio ir Lietuvos bėgikų varžybiniai 100 m, 400 m ir 800 m rezultatai. Buvo atrinkti tų sportininkų rezultatai, kurie bėgo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / 400 m running is one of the most difficult event in athletics and the longest distance at sprint events. Usually 400m runners starts at 100 m, 200m and 800m distances. 400 m running result basically determines the speed endurance - possibility to keep maximal speed facilities in 45 s period. Task relevence - studies will let to find out what physical feature is dominating and determining result of 400 m running contest. Task object –400 m running performance The aim of the study – analyse if 100m runners achieve better results in 400m distance compared to 800m runners. Also indirectly analyse speed or endurancde component influence on the result in this type of ditance.. Tasks: 1. Evaluate 400 m running results of Lithuanian and the world best 100 m and 800 m runners. 2. Compare 400 m running results of world and Lithuanian best 100m and 800m runners. Testing subjects are worlds elite 100m (n = 20; age 23 ± 4,3 m; height 1,79 ± 0,19 m; weight 78 ± 4,7 kg) and 800m (n = 20; age 23 ± 2,3 m; height 1,73 ± 0,22 m; weight 69 ± 5,2 kg) runing event top ten athletes, ever ran 400m distance. Methods The statistics for analysing the test results were taken from www.iaaf.com ir www.lengvoji.lt.The data used from the website consisted of the best results of 100 m, 400 m and 800 m distance of world‘s and Lithuanias best athletes. The results were used only if the athletes have completed a race of all three events 100m, 400m and 800m. Conclussion : 1. Generating power and... [to full text]

Berri and Simmons (2009) investigate the relationship between the NFL Combine and the NFL Draft. They find that a quarterback’s performance in the Combine can have a significant impact on that player’s draft position. However, they find that no known aspect of a quarterback before they are drafted is an indicator of success in the NFL. I examine if these relationships exist for the Running Back position. I find similar results to Berri and Simmons: that performance in the Combine does have an effect on that player’s draft position, but that no aspect of a running back’s pre-draft characteristics can be seen as a sign of future NFL success.

Productivity and safety concerns of traditional cable harvesting systems have been the key drivers for increasing levels of mechanisation in New Zealand. The use of grapples in cable yarding could eliminate the need for motor-manual tree fallers and breaker-outs in most situations. A comparative time study was carried out on two mechanised cable harvesting systems utilising grapple carriages in an attempt to better understand the benefits and limitations of each system in different harvest settings. These systems include the Mechanical system which involved a swing yarder operating a mechanical grapple carriage and the Motorised system, which used a tower yarder with a motorised grapple carriage. The Mechanical system took less time to accumulate felled trees but took longer to unhook trees on the landing than the Motorised system. The Mechanical system had a shorter cycle time (2.07 minutes) than the Motorised system (2.32 minutes) and extracted 1.3 tonnes more than the Motorised system per cycle. The Motorised system had shorter cycle times when in horizontal haul distances of less than 90 metres, but had the longest times when the distance exceeded this. Utilisation rates were similar between the two systems, although the main difference in delays between the two systems was the use of surgepiles on the landing by the Motorised system. Both systems were effective, although on average the Mechanical system was more productive, with a productivity of 45 t/SMH, compared to 40 t/SMH for the Motorised system. The Mechanical system was the most productive when extracting mechanically felled and pre-bunched or trees while the Motorised system was the most productive when extracting motor-manually felled trees. Pre-bunching with an excavator was a more cost effective method than handing stems directly to the grapple carriage. Further research of the Mechanical system under more adverse conditions would allow a better overall comparison.

In male athletes from different sports, isokinetic knee extensor, and in orienteers also plantar flexor peak torque (PT), contractional work (CW) and integrated surface electromyograms (iEMG) were analysed. Single contraction PT, CW and iEMG in sprinters and marathon runners were signi­ficantly correlated to the cross-sectional area (CSA) of m. quadriceps, and to the Type II fibre area of m. vastus lateralis. When correcting PT, CW and iEMG for CSA of m. quadriceps, such correlations were found only for Type IIA fibre area at 180° s~1. Elec- tromyographically, m. vastus lateralis (biopsied muscle) was representative for m. quadriceps. Calculated optimal mean power (CW s~1) and electrical efficacy (CW/iEMG) approximated for sprinters 450° s-1 and for marathon runners 270° s~1, i.e. velocities at or above the upper limit of the dynamometers. In orienteers, plantar flexor PT increased during winter training, but decreased during competitive season. Knee extensor PT increased over the whole year. At 30 and 60° s~1 only knee extensor PT was negatively associated with the running velocity at onset of blood lactate accu­mulation (VOBLA)- Changes in VOBLA during winter period were negatively associated with changes in knee extensor PT at 180° s~1. During competitive season, changes in Vobla were negatively associated with the ratio quality : quantity running. In ice hockey players PT varied non-systematically with training and games. The biopsy specimens of marathon runners showed irregular fibre shapes, an in­creased amount of connective tissue and central fibre nuclei, indicating an early strain disease or functional adaptation to extreme demands. During repetitive contractions in sprinters and marathon runners, fatigue, i.e. slope of decline in CW, was significantly associated with the Type II fibre area of m. vastus lateralis. For knee extensors of sprinters, ice hockey players and orienteers, a steep de­crease in CW/iEMG was observed. In contrast, knee extensors of marathon runners and plantar flexors of orienteers showed an almost unaltered CW/iEMG throughout the test. The knee extensor endurance level (CW/iEMG) was significantly correlated to the maximal oxygen uptake. In orienteers, an increase in endurance level of both tested muscle groups during winter training parallelled an increase in VOBLA and V02obla- In hockey players, fatigue and endurance pattern (CW and CW/iEMG) changed non-systematically with training and games. In conclusion, isokinetic measurements and iEMG reflect the structural properties of the knee extensor muscles in sprinters and marathon runners. The demonstrated characteristics and changes in leg muscle function in different groups of athletes apparently reflect varying demands from different sports activities. / <p>S. 1-31: sammanfattning, s. 33-84: 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

The purpose of this study was to compare selected kinematic characteristics of distance runners over a twenty year period. The subjects in the investigation were 14 long distance runners who at the time of the first observation were considered highly trained (running more than 50 miles per week). The second observation occurred approximately 20-23 years after the first observation. At this time the average weekly mileage per runner had decreased to 37 miles per week. The first observation's data were collected with a Locam camera at film speeds ranging from 60 to 120 frames/second. The film data were digitized at the same time as the second observation's data. The second observation's data were collected with a Panasonic 5000 shutter video camera. The Peak Performance Motion Measurement System video interface allowed a 60 frame/second field rate. Ten subjects ran at a speed of 3.4 m/s; two subjects at the speeds of 3.1 and 3.6 m/s; and one subject at each of the following speeds: 4.0, 4.5, and 4.9 m/s. Statistical analyses (ANOVA) of the stride length, stride frequency, support and non-support time, and joint angular displacement indicated no significant difference (p > .05) between the first observation and the second observation. The results of this study indicated that the kinematics of continually active long distance runners do not change with an increase in age. / School of Physical Education

Ground contact results in the generation of a heel-strike transient that propagates through the musculoskeletal system. The inability to attenuate the heel-strike-induced shock wave is a possible factor in the development of various gait pathologies and overuse-type injuries, such as knee osteoarthrosis, stress fractures, and low back pain. It is hypothesized that prolonged running will result in increased shock transmission at the tibia and sacroiliac joint during conditions of controlled velocity/stride mechanics. Subjects performed an extended running trial for 25-minutes at 75% HRReserve. EMG data of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and tibialis anterior and accelerometer data from the tibial tuberosity and sacrum were recorded at one-minute intervals. Accelerometer data at the tibial tuberosity did show a significant increase during the run protocol. Linear regression of EMG frequency and tibial shock also demonstrated a significant relationship. An extended running protocol will lead to increases in tibia shock acceleration independent of stride mechanics. / School of Physical Education

To determine the influence of running on certain blood-born parameters that are involved in bone metabolism, serum levels of calcium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP, a marker of bone formation), growth hormone (hGH), and parathyroid hormone (PTH), were analyzed in 10 male subjects following a 40 min. run at 70% VO2max. Each trial was preceeded by 1 day of inactivity, a 8-12 hr. fast, and drawing of a baseline blood sample by venipuncture. All other blood samples were taken via an indwelling catheter which was inserted in an antecubital vein immediately following the completion of the exercise bout. When the catheter was in place, an "immediate post" sample was drawn. Subsequent samples were taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min. after the immediate post sample. Analysis of serum calcium concentrations demonstrated that levels were significantly elevated by 12% following exercise, going from a fasted level of 9.7 ± .53 mg/dl to post-exercise levels of 11.8 ± .73 mg/dl. Serum calcium remained elevated during the first 4 min. following exercise. By 5 min. post-exercise, calcium levels dropped to levels that were significantly lower than the post-exercise sample. However, serum alkaline phosphatase did not change significantly following exercise, as the values remained within normal range throughout the experimental period. Concentrations tended to decrease over time but were not significantly lower than the preor post-exercise levels by the end of the sampling period. Serum concentrations of hGH were more than doubled following a single bout of exercise, going from 4.0 ± 0.98 ng/ml before exercise to 8.8 ± 1.6 ng/ml immediately post-exercise. Following this initial rise, hGH progressively declined and returned to baseline values by 30 min. post-exercise. The concentrations of PTH did not change significantly following exercise. The postexercise sample tended to be higher than baseline values but were not significantly different. The results presented here indicate that an exercise bout 40 min. at 70% V02max results in an elevation of serum calcium and hGH, but does not alter PTH secretion or ALP activity. The data presented in this study indicate that the temporary rise in calcium following exercise is unrelated to PTH. It is hypothesized that the increase in calcium that we observed is attributable to lactate accumulation that would result from an exercise bout of this nature. The buildup of lactic acid and drop in pH causes a dissolution of the crystaline calcium hydroxyapatite compartment of the skeleton, thus causing an increase in ionized calcium. It is not known whether a single bout of exercise can influence hormonal secretion to a sufficient degree to affect bone density, but the hormonal changes demonstrated here could be involved in long-term effects of training. / School of Physical Education