The aim of this study was to determine the influence of distance from the target during dominant and non-dominant jab punches, on total response time, repeated jab punch force and anaerobic fatigue of amateur boxers. Data was gathered of the following variables: Biographical data, anthropometric data, total response time, change in total response time, number of punches, peak punch force and peak punch force fatigue resistance index. An exploratory and descriptive research design was used. Twelve male amateur boxers participated in this study. The participants were all either provincially or nationally ranked, between the ages 16 and 22 and in the competitive phase of their training. The data was compared to find statistical significance and it was found from the Wilcoxon ranked sign test that distance does not affect total response time, change in total response time, number of punches and peak punch force fatigue resistance index. However, it was found that distance affects peak punch force. Additionally,it was found using a Spearman rank correlation test that older boxers proved to have statistically significant faster total response times, the boxers that had slower total reponse times proved to have statistically significant less powerful peak punch force, the boxers that had slower total response times proved to have statistically significant larger fatigue resistance index, boxers with larger change in total response time proved to have statistically significant more powerful peak punch force and the boxers with larger peak punch force proved to have statistically significant smaller fatigue resistance index. The data presented provides an introduction of the exploration of how distance from a target relates to a boxer’s performance.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brock University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-92).

A prática do alongamento muscular é comum durante as rotinas de aquecimento para a corrida, com a crença de que tal atividade pode prevenir lesões e/ou melhorar o desempenho. Evidências experimentais indicaram que de forma aguda o alongamento estático pode prejudicar, melhorar ou não influenciar no desempenho de corridas de longas distâncias. Da mesma forma, evidenciou-se que o alongamento dinâmico pode melhorar ou não interferir no desempenho da corrida subsequente. No entanto, são escassos os dados relacionados à biomecânica da corrida em função destes estímulos. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o de dimensionar os efeitos agudos do alongamento estático e do alongamento dinâmico sobre as variáveis biomecânicas da corrida relacionadas ao desempenho e à sobrecarga mecânica externa. 32 corredores amadores participaram do estudo (20 homens e 12 mulheres; 31,5 ± 4,9 anos; 1,7 ± 0,1 metros; 68 ± 10,8 kg). Os corredores participaram de três sessões experimentais para a avaliação biomecânica durante 15 minutos de corrida em esteira numa velocidade constante. A velocidade de corrida foi individualizada e correspondente à velocidade média da última prova de 10 km de cada participante. Foram feitas aquisições do comportamento da força de reação do solo no eixo vertical (esteira Mercury® Med, H/P/Cosmos Sports & Medical GMB) e da atividade muscular (TeleMyoDTS) do reto femoral, do vasto lateral, do bíceps femoral, do gastrocnemio lateral e do tibial anterior, bem como de parâmetros espaço temporais como o tempo de apoio, a frequência e o comprimento de passos, em quatro momentos distintos: momento 1- entre 0 e 1 minuto de corrida, momento 2 - entre 4 e 5 minutos de corrida, momento 3 - entre 9 e 10 minutos de corrida e momento 4 - entre 14 e 15 minutos de corrida. Em cada sessão de avaliação, os voluntários foram submetidos a um protocolo de exercícios de alongamento distinto, sendo eles: alongamento estático para os membros inferiores, alongamento dinâmico para os membros inferiores e alongamento estático para os membros superiores. Em cada um dos dias, foram executados 5 exercícios distintos, com um volume total de estímulo de 60 segundos para cada grupamento muscular. Os resultados não evidenciaram influência significativa do alongamento estático ou do alongamento dinâmico sobre as variáveis biomecânicas da corrida avaliadas neste estudo. Observou-se somente efeitos principais de momento, evidenciando uma diminuição no primeiro pico da força de reação do solo no momento 4 em comparação com o momento 2 (p = 0,011), um aumento no comprimento e uma diminuição na frequência de passos (p < 0,05) nos momentos 3 e 4, e uma menor intensidade de atividade muscular do bíceps femoral e do gastrocnêmio lateral na fase de apoio a partir do momento 2 (p < 0,05), independentemente do tipo de exercício de alongamento utilizado. Com base nestes resultados é possível concluir que a utilização de até 60 segundos de alongamento, estático ou dinâmico, para os membros inferiores não foi capaz de influenciar significativamente o comportamento muscular e os parâmetros dinâmicos durante uma corrida na esteira em velocidade constante submáxima / Stretching is a common practice during warm up routines for running, with the belief that it could prevent against injuries or improve performance. Literature suggests that static stretching can impair, improve or cannot influence on subsequent long-distance running performance. On the same way, it has been shown that dynamic stretching can improve or do not influence running performance. However, data about the acute effects of stretching on running mechanics are rare. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the acute effects of static and dynamic stretching on running mechanics related to performance and to mechanical overload. 32 amateur runners volunteered to this study (20 men, 12 women; 31,5 ± 4,9 years; 1,7 ± 0,1 meters; 68 ± 10,8 kg). The runners underwent on three experimental sessions to assess running mechanics for 15 minutes of constant speed running on a instrumented treadmill. The speed was correspondent to the average speed of the last 10 km race performance of each volunteer. Ground reaction forces (Mercury® Med, H/P/Cosmos Sports & Medical GMB) data were collected, and electromyographic activity were assessed (TeleMyoDTS) of rectus femoral, vastus lateral, biceps femoral, lateral gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior during trials. Step frequency and step length were also assessed. These parameters were assessed in four different moments: moment 1 - between 0 and 1 minute of test; moment 2 - between 4 and 5 minutes of test; moment 3 - between 9 and 10 minutes of test; moment 4 - between 14 and 15 minutes of test. At each session, the volunteers underwent a different protocol of stretching exercises: static stretching for lower limbs; dynamic stretching for lower limbs; and static stretching for upper limbs. There were 5 different exercises for lower limbs, with a total volume of 60 seconds for each muscle. The results did not show any significant influence of static or dynamic stretching on running mechanics. It was only observed a moment main effects, showing a decrease in the first peak of ground reaction forces at time 4 compared to moment 2 (p = 0,011), an increase on step length and a decrease on step frequency (p < 0,05) at moments 3 and 4, and a decrease on electromyograph intensity of biceps femoral and lateral gastrocnemius during stance phase from the moment 2 to the end of the test. With these results, is possible to conclude that the use up to 60 seconds of static or dynamic stretching for lower limbs was not able to significant influence the neuromuscular behavior and the dynamic parameters during a treadmill running at a constant submaximal speed

abstract: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown benefits beyond its original therapeutic application, though there is a lack of research into these benefits in healthy and athletic populations. To address this gap in the VNS literature, the present study addresses the feasibility and possible efficacy of transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) in improving performance and various biometrics during two athletic tasks: golf tee shots and baseball pitching. Performance, cortical dynamics, anxiety measures, muscle excitation, and heart rate characteristics were assessed before and after stimulation using electroencephalography (EEG), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and electrocardiography (ECG) during the baseball and golf tasks as well as electromyography (EMG) for muscle excitation in the golf participants. Golfers exhibited increased perceived quality of each repetition (independent from outcome) and an improvement in state and trait anxiety after stimulation. Golfers in the active stimulation group also showed a greater reduction in right upper trapezius muscle excitation when compared to the sham stimulation group. Baseball pitchers exhibited an increase in perceived quality of each repetition (independent from outcome) after active stimulation but not an improvement of state and trait anxiety. No significant effects of stimulation Priming, stimulation Type, or the Priming×Type interaction were seen in heart rate, EEG, or performance in the golf or baseball tasks. The present study supports the feasibility of tVNS in sports and athletic tasks and suggests the need for future research to investigate further into the effects of tVNS on the performance, psychologic, and physiologic attributes of athletes during competition. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biomedical Engineering 2019

Orientador: Orival Andries Júnior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T05:58:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SilvaNeto_LuizVieirada_M.pdf: 895752 bytes, checksum: 969b92939cb56474d2c75ca0ebb18906 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: O Triathlon é uma modalidade esportiva composta por três etapas, que são nadar, pedalar e correr. Diversos estudos vem investigando como nadar influencia etapas seguintes, mas os resultados ainda são controversos em alguns aspectos. Existem estudos, que falam da importância de nadar para o desempenho geral da prova, pois à medida em que às distâncias das provas variam, a correlação com o resultado final varia. Com isso o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar como nadar 375 metros pode influenciar durante o pedalar e o correr, além do resultado geral em uma prova simulada de triathlon super sprint (nadar 375m- pedalar 10Km-correr 2.5Km). Foram avaliados 8 triatletas amadores, (27 ± 4 anos; 75 ± 6 kg; 179 ± 7 cm), que assinaram o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (TCLE), que foi aprovado junto ao projeto de pesquisa pelo comitê de ética em pesquisa da Unicamp com o Nº8999/2012. Foram realizados três protocolos de avaliação: 1º Triathlon (Tri) que consistia em nadar 375m, pedalar 10Km e correr 2.5Km, no 2º Pedalar e Correr (PC) onde o voluntário deveria pedalar 10Km e correr 2.5Km e no 3º Correr (C) e último o voluntário teve de correr 2.5Km. Todas as coletas foram randomizadas e obedeceram um intervalo que tinha o mínimo de 48 horas. Os dados foram analisados através de estatística descritiva, a normalidade foi testada através do teste de Shapiro-Wilk e após a normalidade dos dados aceita, foi usado o teste "t" pareado para se comparar duas situações e a correlação de Pearson de um momento com o outro, os resultados da presente pesquisa foram expostos em dois artigos. No primeiro estudo, nadar reduziu o desempenho do pedalar (-8,4%) e o tempo total (pedalar + correr; -5,4%) quando comparados à realização das mesmas sem a presença prévia do nadar, todas as etapas analisadas, com exceção do correr em PC, houveram correlações significativas com o tempo total de prova. No segundo estudo, houve diferença significativa nas variáveis, potência média e máxima, potência relativa média e máxima, além de velocidade média e máxima, entre os protocolos Tri e PC. Com base nos achados da presente pesquisa, concluímos que nadar previamente, reduz o desempenho do pedalar, mas não influencia no desempenho do correr, mesmo dessa forma o tempo total de prova foi influenciado, pelo nadar previamente / Abstract: Triathlon is a sport consisting of three stages, which are swimming, biking and running. Several studies have been investigating how swimming may influence on biking and how biking may influence on running, but the results still controversial in some aspects. There are studies that pointed out the importance of swimming for the overall performance in the competition. As the shorter the competition, the bigger the correlation with the final result were found. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze how to swim 375 meters may influence biking and running and the overall outcome in a simulated competition of super sprint triathlon (375m swim, 10km cycle, run 2,5 Km). Eight amateur triathletes (27 ± 4 years, 75 ± 6 kg, 179 ± 7 cm), who signed the consent form which was approved by UNICAMP research and ethics committee with number 8999/2012. Three protocols of evaluation were performed: 1st Tri which consisted of swimming 375m, cycling 10km and running 2.5 km; in the 2nd CR the volunteer should cycle 10km and run 2.5 km and in the 3rd R and the last one, the volunteer had to run 2, 5km. All samples were randomized and they had a minimum of 48 hours rest. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Normality was tested by the Shapiro-Wilk. "t" paired test was used to compare the situations and the correlation of Pearson of one moment with other. In the first study, swimming reduced biking performance (-8.4%) and the total time (cycling + running; -5.4%) when compared to the performance of biking and running without the prior presence of swimming. All stages analyzed, with exception of running on BR had significant correlations with the total time of the competition. In the second study, there were significant differences in the variables, average power, maximum power and maximum average relative, and average and maximum speed between the Tri and BR protocols. Based on the results of this research, we concluded that to perform swimming first reduces cycling performance, but does not influence the performance of the run. Finally the total time of the competition was influenced by the pre-swim / Mestrado / Biodinamica do Movimento e Esporte / Mestre em Educação Física

abstract: Electrical nerve stimulation is a promising drug-free technology that could treat a variety of ailments and disorders. Methods like Vagus Nerve Stimulation have been used for decades to treat disorders like epilepsy, and research with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation has shown similar effects as its invasive counterpart. Non-invasive nerve stimulation methods like vagus nerve stimulation could help millions of people treat and manage various disorders. This study observed the effects of three different non-invasive nerve stimulation paradigms in human participants. The first study analyzed the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous auricular vagal nerve stimulation in healthy humans using a bilateral stimulation protocol with uniquely designed dry-hydrogel electrodes. Results demonstrate bilateral auricular vagal nerve stimulation has significant effects on specific parameters of autonomic activity and is safe and well tolerated. The second study analyzed the effects of non-invasive electrical stimulation of a region on the side of the neck that contains the Great Auricular Nerve and the Auricular Branch of the Vagus Nerve called the tympanomastoid fissure on golf hitting performance in healthy golfers. Results did not show significant effects on hitting performance or physiological activity, but the nerve stimulation had significant effects on reducing state-anxiety and improving the quality of feel of each shot. The third study analyzed the effects of non-invasive nerve stimulation of cervical nerves on the back of the neck on putting performance of yips-affected golfers. Results demonstrated that cervical nerve stimulation had significant effects on improving putting performance but did not have significant effects on physiological activity. Data from these studies show there are potential applications for non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation for healthy and athletic populations. Future research should also examine the effects of these stimulation methods in clinical populations. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biomedical Engineering 2020

El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar la relación que existe entre los episodios de Flow y las habilidades psicológicas para el rendimiento en un grupo de 156 nadadores de competencia con edades comprendidas entre los 10 y 29 años. Para este propósito se utilizó la escala de Flow (García-Calvo, Jiménez, Santos-Rosa y Cervelló 2008) y el Inventario de Ejecución Deportiva (IPED) traducida al castellano por Raimundi, Reigal y Hernández (2016). Los resultados muestran una correlación positiva (Rho= .41, p< .01) entre la actitud hacia las capacidades de la escala de Flow y los pensamientos positivos del IPED; y entre las sensaciones durante la competencia de la escala de Flow y los pensamientos negativos. Así mismo, una correlación positiva (Rho= .31, p < .01) entre pensamientos positivos y negativos del IPED, y actitud hacia las capacidades y sensaciones durante la competencia. / The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between the episodes of Flow and the psychological skills for performance in a group of 156 competitive swimmers aged between 10 and 29 years. The Flow scale (García-Calvo, Jiménez, Santos-Rosa y Cervelló 2008) and the Sports Execution Inventory (IPED) translated into Spanish by Raimundi, Reigal y Hernández (2016) was used for this purpose. The results show a positive correlation (Rho= .41, p < .01) between the attitude towards the capacities of the Flow scale and the positive thoughts of the IPED, and between the sensations during the Flow scale competition and the negative thoughts. Likewise, a positive correlation (Rho= .31, p < .01) between positive and negative thoughts of the IPED, and attitude towards abilities and feelings during the competition. / Tesis

This study evaluated the effectiveness of behavioral skills training (BST) as an intervention to improve bowling form. Three individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disability participated. A multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the changes in each participant’s bowling form. Each of the participant’s bowling form improved after BST was introduced. Two of the three participant’s performance increased with BST alone. The third participant showed minimal improvement after BST, however with the addition of a reinforcement component, the participant’s form increased substantially from baseline. The results of this study suggest BST is an effective intervention to use for improving bowling form.

Sports research in behavior analysis is becoming increasingly popular. As the proliferation of research continues, multiple interventions have been shown to help enhance sports-related performance. However, different intervention components are rarely if ever used alone, which has created a limitation with the current body of research. To begin to address this limitation, this study had three experiments to evaluate some different components of video recording procedures and behavioral skills training (BST) to facilitate performance enhancement. Experiment 1 separated video modeling and video feedback to see which component best improved pitching form in Little League baseball players. Experiment 2 evaluated video self-evaluation and video feedback to evaluate which component best improved swing form of recreational golfers. Experiment 3 separated the different antecedent and consequence components of BST (instruction and feedback) to see which component best improved safe-tackling form in Pop-Warner football players. Results showed that consequent interventions were more effective than antecedent interventions. We discuss the importance of the results to current literature, and how they might guide future research.

Background: Youth sports participation has numerous positive mental and physical health benefits. In young athletes, injuries result in millions of emergency room visits and millions of dollars spent every year offsetting many of the positive benefits gained by participation in sports. An increase in traumatic injury rates has been found to occur during the year of peak height growth (PHV), with a subsequent increase in risk of overuse injury in the years immediately following. This may be the result of changes to movement coordination around the time of adolescent growth spurts, a phenomenon called adolescent motor awkwardness (AMA). Though this phenomenon is well known to parents and coaches of young athletes, scientific research into its causes, symptoms, and timeline remains sparse. Minimal scientific evidence exists to quantify the impact of AMA on specific areas of movement coordination (ex. gait) and muscle performance, as well as its relation to growth spurts. Equally as poorly understood are the potential causes of motor disruptions during this period. As adolescents experience a wide variety of alterations to body size, proportions, and composition during puberty, there are many factors which could lead to disruptions to movement coordination. Additionally, there are substantial differences which arise in body proportions and composition between the sexes during puberty, yet any between-sex-group differences in the timeline, causes, or specific changes to movement coordination have not yet been explored. Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was threefold: 1) To understand how gait stability changes with age and height during adolescence, and how these changes differ between the sexes (aim 1; chapter 2); 2) To understand the immediate effects of physical growth on gait smoothness during adolescence (aim 2; chapter 3); 3) To understand how peripheral fatigue affects gait smoothness during adolescence, and to understand how physical growth impacts muscular fatigability (aim 3; chapter 4). Participants: Sixty-Seven individuals (n=34 female, n=33 male) participated in the first study session to obtain Harmonic Ratio (HR), age, height, and fatigue data for aims 1 and 3. A subset of 46 participants (n=20 female, n=26 male) returned to participate in a second study session to obtain growth rate, HR, and fatigue data for aims 2 and 3. Methods: The testing protocol used in both sessions was identical. Trigno sensors were adhered to the participants skin at four locations determined by manual palpation: C7, L5, and the right and left rectus femoris. Once sensors were secured, participants completed a 15-minute treadmill warm-up in which their self-reported preferred walking speed was obtained. Following the warm-up, participants completed two 9-minute treadmill walking trials at three set speeds: 70% (slow walking speed; SWS), 100% (preferred walking speed; PWS), and 130% (Fast Walking Speed; FWS) of preferred walking speed. The walking trials were separated by a 10-minute leg-focused fatigue protocol. During each walking trial, accelerations of the upper (C7) and lower (L5) trunk were recorded in three planes of motion: Anterior-Posterior (AP), Medio-Lateral (ML), and Vertical (V). Harmonic Ratios were calculated from these acceleration signals. Prior to beginning each walking trial (i.e., pre-fatigue and post-fatigue) surface electromyography (sEMG) of the right and left rectus femoris was obtained during a 10-second sustained maximal contraction. Median frequency (Fmed) of this sEMG signal was used to calculate muscular fatigue level before and after the fatiguing protocol. Descriptive statistics were calculated for both the first session group and the second session subgroup. To accomplish aim 1, relationships between age, height, and HRs were assessed using multiple linear regression models with Holm-Bonferroni correction. Gait and anthropometric characteristics were compared by sex using independent sample t-tests. To accomplish aim 2, associations between growth rate and HRs were assessed through multiple linear regression adjusted for age and height. To accomplish aim 3, pre- and post- fatigue HRs were compared within subjects using paired t-tests. The association between muscular fatigability and growth rate was assessed using linear regression. Results: In aim 1, male and female groups differed significantly in height, age, and gait speeds. HRs improved with age for females at C7AP at all speeds pre-fatigue and at C7V in SWS and PWS post-fatigue. Males’ HRs increased with age during FWS pre-fatigue at C7V, C7AP , and L5ML . Females had a significant negative association between height and HR post-fatigue at C7V during both SWS and PWS, and at C7AP during FWS. In aim 2, male and female groups differed significantly in height, but not in age, growth rate (GR), walking speeds, or average HRs. When accounting for age and height, GR over a four-month period was a significant linear predictor of smoothness of trunk motion only for females during fast walking at L5AP. In aim 3, Females showed a significant effect of fatigue at SWS and at PWS on smoothness of motion of the lower trunk. Males showed a significant effect of fatigue during FWS at C7 in all planes of motion. Conclusions: These findings overall suggest substantial sex differences in changes to smoothness of trunk motion during gait in adolescents and in the effects of fatigue on trunk smoothness. In aim 1, several HRs improved with age in both sexes, but benefits were eliminated with fatigue in males. Aim 2 suggests that physical growth does not have immediate impacts on HR in adolescence. The results of aim 3 show substantial differences between the sexes in how muscular fatigue impacts gait stability. Males were most affected by fatigue at the upper trunk, particularly at FWS, while females were most affected by fatigue at the lower trunk at PWS. / Physical Therapy