A study was made to investigate the relative effectiveness of two methods of training on the development of arm strength. The purposes of the study included the following: 1. To determine functional arm strength of male students enrolled in physical education classes selected for the study. 2. To conduct specific exercise programs in each of the selected classes. 3. To determine the relative effectiveness of the selected programs in developing arm strength.

Thesis (M.S.M.E.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Jill S. Higginson, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

The present study investigated the patterns of interlimb organization during the concurrent performance of asymmetrical reaching movements. The inherent tendency towards interlimb synchronization often constrains activities requiring the two limbs to move over different distances or at different movement speeds. The study of bimanual coordination has shown that the amount of interlimb interference during bilateral performance of asymmetrical actions, is regulated according to the magnitude characteristics of the variable used to introduce the asymmetry between the limbs. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the degree of interlimb decoupling and the magnitude of the asymmetry between the limbs. Asymmetry was systematically manipulated by scaling the magnitude of the interlimb difference in final target distance, during bimanual performance of reaching movements. The degree of interlimb decoupling was reflected in the movement time, muscle activity onset and joint torque relationship between the limbs. / Decoupling of the asymmetrical limb movements was effected by an earlier onset of the antagonist muscles in the constrained limb which scaled the amount of muscle torque production and therefore the stiffness of the limb during the acceleration phase of the movement. Thus, the movement amplitude differentiation was achieved by an initial accelarative impulse attributed to the differential control of the muscle torque production at each joint. On the other hand, the interactive forces played a secondary role in the degree of decoupling process. Overall, the degree of decoupling scaled according to the magnitude of the interlimb difference in distance; the greater the asymmetry, the greater the differentiation between the limbs. However, systematic variations of the interlimb asymmetry in distance gave rise to a wide variety of individual decoupling trends. Bimanual practice of the asymmetrical reaching tasks did not result in the development of more independent limb movements. The results of the present study have implications to human factor design and ergonomics.

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if the CNS produces relatively simple alterations in muscle activity to accomplish goal-directed reaching motions of the upper limb under a variety of movement conditions. / To this end, six subjects performed goal-directed arm movements in the horizontal plane. Two movement amplitudes (300 mm and 400 mm) were completed at a moderate speed (1050 mm/s) and as-fast-as possible. The speed and amplitude conditions were repeated for the 45$ sp circ$ and 90$ sp circ$ movement directions. Finally, each of the movement conditions mentioned thus far, were performed within the right and left sections of the work-space. Surface electro-myographic activity was recorded from the pectoralis major, posterior deltoid, biceps brachii short head, brachioradialis, triceps brachii long head, and triceps brachii lateral head. Motion recordings were obtained with a spatial imaging system that monitored the positions of infrared emitting diodes attached to the subject's upper arm and forearm-hand complex. / Several simplification schemes were found to be operative at the level of the electro-myogram. These include: (a) simple timing relationships for agonists between joints and agonist/antagonist intermuscle latencies within each joint; (b) tightly coupled timing between agonists within a single joint; (c) for a particular movement direction, the form and shape of EMG burst activity followed a strategy associated with modulation of pulse height and width; (d) the slope, duration, and onset were further affected by the direction of hand movement which resulted in the greatest RMS-EMG signal amplitude, changing in a predictable manner, and finally (e) there was tuning in which elbow muscles were activated earlier for goal-directed arm movements in the left area of the work-space.

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