Eccentric overload in training settings utilizes loads higher than concentric one repetition maximum (1RM). There is no clear definition of eccentric “failure” or 1RM using conventional weights, so eccentric 1RM is estimated to be between 145-190% concentric 1RM. Historically, the highest intensity used for eccentric overload is typically 120% of concentric 1RM despite little research using conventional weights with higher eccentric intensities. The purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory neuro-mechanical analysis of different intensities of elbow flexors eccentric overload using free weights by examining angular kinematics during contraction. Twenty male participants with weight training experience had unilateral concentration curl isometric peak torque assessed on a Humac Norm Dynamometer and concentric 1RM assessed with dumbbells while biceps brachii electromyography (EMG) and elbow joint angle were recorded. Angles were recorded using a custom made electrogoniometer and elbow joint torque was estimated using inverse dynamics. Participants were randomly assigned in counter balanced order to perform eccentric actions at 120%, 140%, 150%, 160% and 170% concentric 1RM with 4 minutes rest between. Variables included peak torque, angular velocity at peak torque, impulse, power, mean EMG, and EMG normalized to peak. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA or a Friedman test. Angular velocity at peak torque was significantly lower for 120% (65.3 ± 40.8°/s) compared to all other conditions (range: 65.3 ± 40.8 to 162.1 ± 75.2°/s; p<0.01). Peak torque for all conditions (range: 98.2 ± 16.2 to 108.2 ± 21.6 Nm) was significantly higher than isometric peak torque (77.4 ± 16.8Nm; p<0.05). Peak torque at 160% (108.2 ± 21.6Nm) was significantly higher than at 120% (98.2 ± 16.2Nm; p<0.05). Power for 140-170% (range: 166.2 ± 85.7W to 265.8 ± 111.3W) was significantly higher than power at 120% (79.9 ± 66.8W; p<0.05). Impulse was highest at 120% (56.1 ± 54.6Nms) compared to all other conditions (range: 56.2 ± 54.6 to 9.6 ± 3.8Nms; p≤0.05). Impulse at 140% (20.6 ± 11.8Nms) was significantly higher than 170% (9.6 ± 3.8Nms; p<0.05). Isometric mean EMG (0.792 ± 0.285 mV) was significantly higher than all eccentric conditions (range: 0.654 ± 0.313 to 0.533 ± 0.259mV; p<0.05) with no difference between eccentric conditions for mean EMG or EMG normalized to peak. It was concluded that compared to 120%, eccentric overload with intensity ranging from 140-170% concentric 1RM involves minimal increases in peak torque and no change in EMG activation. Intensities above 120% enhance power and decrease impulse. This research has implications on future training prescription of eccentric exercise.

Neben ihrer Bedeutung in industriellen Anwendungen dienen Kolloide als Modellsysteme in Experimenten und in der Theorie, um die Struktur und Dynamik von kondensierter Materie zu untersuchen. Kürzlich wurde experimentell gezeigt, dass eine kleine Anisotropie ausreicht, um die viskoelastische Antwort im Vergleich zu harten Kugeln drastisch zu ändern. Die mikroskopischen Ursachen hierfür sind bisher nicht verstanden. In dieser Arbeit werden daher Nichtgleichgewichts-Brownsche-Dynamik-Simulationen (NEBD) von harten kolloidalen Dumbbells in oszillatorischen Scherfeldern entwickelt und eingesetzt, um diese Resultate mit Verbindung zu Rheologie- und Neutronenstreuexperimenten zu erklären. Weiterhin wird die Bedeutung der Anisotropie für Struktur und Dynamik von solchen Suspensionen im Gleichgewicht mit Hilfe von "Linear-Response"-Theorie und Brownsche-Dynamik-Simulationen analysiert. Im linearen Limit zeigt die Scherviskosität bei hohen Packungsdichten einen dramatischen Anstieg jenseits eines kritischen Anisotropieparameters. Dies weist darauf hin, dass schon bei den kleinen Anisotropien kollektive Rotations-Translations-Kopplungen für langsame Zeitskalen verantwortlich sind. Weiterhin wird ein Nichtgleichgewichtsübergang mittels NEBD-Simulationen von Suspensionen harter Dumbbells im PC unter oszillatorischer Scherung ersichtlich. Es wird gezeigt, dass der kontinuierliche Übergang nur für sehr kleine Aspektverhältnisse erhalten bleibt. Oberhalb eines bestimmten Aspektverhältnisses wird der Übergang durch einen ungeordneten Zustand vermittelt. Außerdem wird ein Sliding-Layer Zustand mit kollektiver Ordnung der Teilchenausrichtung bei hohen Scheramplituden beobachtet. Somit zeigt diese Arbeit, dass die NEBD-Simulationen Phänomene in Rheologie- und Streuexperimenten erklären. Angesichts dieser Experimente wird gezeigt, dass der Orientierungsfreiheitsgrad einen starken Einfluss auf den strukturellen Übergang bei steigenden Amplituden hat. / Besides being important for industrial applications, colloidal suspensions have long served as model systems for investigating the structure and dynamics of condensed matter. Recently, it has been demonstrated experimentally that apparently a small particle anisotropy is sufficient to dramatically change the viscoelastic response under external shearing fields, of which the microscopic mechanisms are not yet sufficiently understood. In the present work, NEBD simulations of colloidal hard dumbbells in oscillatory shear fields are developed and employed to elucidate the novel findings in close connection with comprehensive rheology and SANS experiments. Furthermore, by utilising BD simulations and linear response theory, the impact of anisotropy on structure and dynamics of such suspensions in equilibrium is analysed. In the linear response limit, the shear viscosity exhibits a dramatic increase at high packing fractions beyond a critical anisotropy of the particles. This indicates that newly occurring, collective rotational-translational couplings must be made responsible for slow time scales appearing in the PC. Moreover, a non-equilibrium transition emerging at moderate aspect ratios is revealed by NEBD of plastic crystalline suspensions under oscillatory shear. This transition behaviour is systematically studied. It is demonstrated that the continuous nature of the transition is retained for very low aspect ratios only. Above a certain aspect ratio, the transition is mediated by an intermediate disordered state. Furthermore, a partially oriented sliding layer state featuring a finite collective order in the particles'' orientations is observed at high strains. Hence, this thesis demonstrates that the NEBD simulations explain novel phenomena in rheology and scattering experiments. In the light of these experiments, it is shown that the orientational degree of freedom has a vigorous impact on the structural transition under increasing oscillatory shear.

Indian club swinging (ICS) is a training modality that has a rich history across the world (Simpson & Jalli, 2009). Countless practitioners of ICS have praised the physiological benefits they have received from ICS, but there remains a paucity in the objective literature demonstrating these benefits. This dissertation aimed to assess and better understand the physiological and performance changes experienced by an individual participating in an acute bout of repetitive and submaximal upper extremity exercise with Indian clubs (ICs). Chapter 3 examined the impact of an 8-minute bout of ICS by objectively assessing the joint mobility and musculoskeletal performance of individuals after performing the ICS routine. The results showed that isokinetic peak torque and relative peak torque at 60°∙sec-1 during the D2 diagonal pattern away from the body were significantly greater in the IC condition when compared with the control. Also examined was the feasibility of using eight 1-hour practice sessions with novice club swingers to develop ICS competency to perform 8 minutes of continuous swinging. The results demonstrated that this amount of practice would be adequate to teach novice club swingers the appropriate form/technique to complete the ICS routine safely. Chapter 4 compared active shoulder mobility and isokinetic strength, endurance, and power in participants after a standardized dynamic warm-up routine for the upper extremity, consisting of repetitive, low-intensity, large range of motion movements under three separate conditions (holding 2lb ICs, 2lb dumbbells, or no external load). The results showed that internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint improved in active range of motion in the IC condition and was significantly greater than both the dumbbell and no external load groups. Peak torque and total work during isokinetic shoulder flexion at 60°∙sec-1 was significantly greater for IC compared with the dumbbell condition but not the no external load condition, and total work during isokinetic shoulder internal rotation at 180°∙sec-1 was significantly greater for IC compared with the dumbbell condition but not the no external load condition. Self-reported perceived experiences of participants after each condition were also examined in this chapter. The results showed that participants felt more warmed-up and more fatigued after the IC and dumbbell condition compared with the no external load condition. High enjoyment values were reported for all three warm-up conditions. Chapter 5 compared shoulder internal rotation range of motion and girdle stability between exercise conditions (IC and no external load) measured before and after a standardized warm-up. The results showed active internal rotation improved after the IC condition compared to the no external load condition, and the Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST) scores improved after participants performed either the IC or the no external load warm-up. Participants’ perceived exertion increased significantly after performing either the IC or the no external load warm-up, but they reported significantly higher perceived exertion after performing the IC warm-up compared with no external load. Participants’ affective responses were lower after performing the IC condition compared with the no external load condition but were not significantly different between rested and warmed-up ratings in either condition. In conclusion, performing a warm-up with ICs can result in improved strength, endurance, power, stability and mobility in the upper extremity. It will also increase the intensity and perceived exertion of the warm-up but does not diminish the enjoyment and affective response the participant experiences. Additionally, individuals do not have to perform traditional ICS exercises to experience the positive benefits of using ICs as a tool to enhance their warm-up. Using a regressed version of traditional ICS patterns that are easier to perform is an acceptable and effective way to incorporate Indian clubs into the warm-up phase of an exercise session.

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde das Phasenverhalten von harten Hantelteilchen (Dumbbells) als Funktion des Aspektverhältnisses (L*, der Quotient aus dem Abstand der Massenzentren zum Durchmesser der Kugel) und der Volumendichte untersucht. Bragg-Reflexe weisen darauf hin, das harte Dumbbells mit L* < 0.4 einen Phasenübergang von einer Fluid-artigen Phase zu einem plastischen Kristall zeigen. Die experimentellen Phasendiagramme bei L* ~ 0.24 und L*~ 0.30 sind vergleichbar mit Vorhersagen aus Monte Carlo-Simulationen. Rheologie Messungen zeigen, dass harte Dumbbells verschiedene Gleichgewichts- und Nichtgleichgewichtsphasen annehmen. Suspensionen von harten Dumbbells im Zweiphasenbereich zeigen ein einziges Fließgrenzen-Ereignis, wohingegen in der plastischen Kristallphase zwei Fließgrenzen-Ereignisse beobachtet werden. Diese, im Folgenden als „double yielding“ bezeichneten Ereignisse, hängen mit der Kristallisation der Suspensionen von harten Dumbbells zusammen. Die entsprechende Strukturentwicklung wurde mit rheo-SANS-Experimenten untersucht und mithilfe von BD Simulationen interpretiert. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die plastische Kristallphase polykristallin im Ruhezustand ist. Unter schwacher Scherung wird eine fcc-Schwerzwilling Struktur ausgebildet. Bei hoher Scherung formt sich eine teilweise orientierte Struktur aus gleitenden Schichten. Zwischen diesen beiden Strukturen existiert eine ungeordnete Übergangsphase. Die Scher-induzierte Strukturausbildung eintspricht dem „double yielding“ Ereignis der kristallinen harten Dumbells. Es wurde gezeigt, dass ein größeres L* (L* < 0.4) die Strukturentwicklung unter Scherung qualitativ nicht beeinflusst. Aufgrund verlangsamter Dynamik in der Nähe des Glasübergangs sind lediglich stärkere oder längere Oszillationen von Nöten, um Scher-induzierte Kristallisation zu erzeugen. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit werden Systeme aus hohlen Kugeln und „Janus“-Dumbbells vorgestellt, die als kolloidale Modellsysteme dienen können. / In the present work the phase behaviour of hard dumbbells has been explored as a function of aspect ratio (L*, the center to center distance to the diameter of one composed sphere) and volume fractions using thermosensitive dumbbell-shaped microgels as the hard dumbbell model system. A fluid-to-plastic crystal phase transition indicated by Bragg reflections has been observed for L* < 0.4. The experimental phase diagrams at L* ~ 0.24 and L* ~ 0.30 are comparable to the theoretical prediction of the Monte Carlo simulations. Rheological measurements reveal that the hard dumbbells in the biphasic gap show the yielding behaviour with a single yielding event, while two yielding events have been observed for the plastic crystalline phase. The two yielding events, referred to as the double yielding behaviour, are proved to be related to the crystallization of hard dumbbells. The underlying structural evolution has been investigated by rheo-SANS experiments and the scattering data has been interpreted by BD simulations. It is demonstrated that the plastic crystal structure of the hard dumbbells is polycrystalline at rest, which has been induced into the twinned fcc structure at low strain, the partially oriented sliding layers at high strain and the intermediate state at the strain in-between. The shear-induced structural evolution corresponds to the double yielding events of the fully crystallized hard dumbbells. Additionally, we prove that the increase of L* (L* < 0.4) does not change the structural evolution of the sheared hard dumbbells. Only more extensive or longer oscillations are required to form the shear-induced crystal structures due to the slowdown of the dynamics in the vicinity of the glass transition. In a second part, the work of this thesis is extended to hollow systems composed of hollow spheres and hollow Janus dumbbells that can be used as model systems to probe phase behaviour of hollow capsules.