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Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2005. / Supervisor: M. A. Elbestawi. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 183-204).

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Neuromuscular and kinematic patterns during the tennis forehand have been studied extensively. However, no one has evaluated potential upper-extremity kinematic changes during the forehand as ball speed increases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in shoulder and trunk kinematics as forehand ball speed increased, in an attempt to better understand how kinematics may promote forehand ball speed. Peak trunk rotation angle, shoulder horizontal abduction/adduction and internal/external rotation angle, and corresponding angular velocities were measured between initial backswing and ball contact during forehands that were performed at three different speeds (50%, 75%, and 100% of maximal post-impact ball speed). Between-speed differences were observed for all dependent variables. Internal humeral rotation velocity increased by 136% (from 477°/s to 1128°/s) while trunk rotation velocity increased by 91% (from 164°/s to 313°/s) and trunk rotation angle increased by only 26% (from 46° to 58°) as forehand ball speed increased from slow to fast. Two primary conclusions can be drawn from these results: (1) trunk and upper arm rotation (adduction and internal rotation) are important to produce forehand ball speed, and (2), increased joint angular velocity may be more important than altered joint position when attempting to produce maximal forehand ball speed.

Abstract Background: The squat is one of the most used exercises in the field of strength and conditioning. It is included as a core exercise in many sports training programmes to enhance athletic performance due to its biomechanical and neuromuscular similarities of a wide range of athletic movements. The barbell squat commonly used by athletes participating in resistance training and it is generally performed using regular athletic shoes or specially designed weightlifting shoes. However it is now getting more common to perform the barbell back squat in barefoot or in barefoot-inspired foot wear. Weightlifting shoes may be well known to weightlifters but to the noncompetitive lifters and professional athletes they are in general unfamiliar. It is believed that the structure of the weightlifting shoe supports proper squat mechanism. There is however limited scientific data reporting on the use of weightlifting shoes and therefore, it may be needed to investigate how weightlifting shoes affects the lower body lifting kinematics in the back squat compared to other conditions. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the kinematic differences that appears in the sagittal plane when performing a barbell back squat wearing weightlifting shoes and barefoot. Method: Fifteen healthy participants (n=15) completed the study. The study included the barbell back squat in three sets of three repetitions on 50, 60 and 70% of the participant’s 1RM. The participants performed the movement in both weightlifting shoes and barefoot in an order randomly chosen and all movements was recorded with a digital camera from the sagittal plane. Results: The results showed that the angles were greater in the weightlifting shoe condition on all percentage. The results showed that there was no statistical significance in the hip angle at 50% of 1RM (p= 0,370) or at 70% (p = 0,053) but a statistical significance in the hip angle at 60 % (p = 0,028). The results showed no statistical significance in the ankle angle at 50% of 1RM (p = 0,997), 60% (p = 0,182) or 70 % (p = 0,332). Conclusion: Findings from this study did not demonstrate that there was a significant difference between performing a barbell back squat in weightlifting shoes and barefoot. More research is needed to investigate and compare more variables in the difference between performing a barbell back squat wearing weightlifting shoes and barefoot.

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O bobsled é um esporte desenvolvido para prática de inverno e tem como objetivo principal, percorrer uma pista de gelo inclinada de aproximadamente 1500m no menor tempo possível. A atividade é iniciada com o trenó parado, sem movimento. Existem duas modalidades, o bobsled para quatro pessoas e bobsled para duas pessoas. O movimento inicial do bobsled é conhecido como o momento de propulsão do trenó ou da largada, já teve sua importância demonstrada para a obtenção de um bom desempenho final em estudos anteriores, é executado na modalidade de dois atletas pelo atleta piloto e pelo atleta breakman. Os objetivos deste trabalho se preocuparam em investigar a existência de um padrão cinemático adotado pelos atletas piloto e atletas breakman durante o momento de propulsão do trenó das 15 melhores equipes participantes do campeonato, assim como a existência da relação entre o tempo de largada e o tempo final da prova e a variação do desempenho obtido entre todas as equipes participantes. As imagens utilizadas neste trabalho foram adquiridas durante o XIV Campeonato Mundial de Bobsled masculino na modalidade de dois atletas, realizado na cidade de Koonigssee (Alemanha) em 2004. Para se investigar o padrão cinemático foram utilizadas variáveis relacionadas a angulação do ombro, cotovelo, tronco e joelho; variações do deslocamento e altura do centro de gravidade; além do comprimento do passo dos atletas piloto e breakman. Foi possível identificar um padrão cinemático típico adotado pelos atletas piloto e breakman durante o momento da largada, além de se identificar semelhanças entre o comportamento adotado pelos atletas piloto e breakman durante o instante da largada e o comportamento adotado pelos atletas de atletismo. O coeficiente de correlação encontrado neste estudo se assemelhou aos coeficientes encontrados nos estudos anteriores (aproximadamente r2=0,5), assim como pode se verificar a pequena variação do desempenho entre as equipes participantes (inferior a 4%) / Bobsled is a sport developed for practiced in winter time and has as main objective cover an inclined ice track of approximately 1500 m in less time as possible. The activity is initiated with the sleigh stopped, without movement. There are two modalities, the bobsled for four persons and for two persons. The initial movement of the bobsled is known as the propulsion moment and its importance for a good final performance had already been demonstrated in preview studies. This moment is executed in the modality for two persons by the pilot athlete and by the breakman athlete. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence of a kinematic pattern adopted by the pilot athlete and the breakman athlete during the propulsion moment of the sleigh of the 15 best teams of the championship, as well as the existence of a relation between the propulsion moment and the final time of the test and the variation of the performance gotten by all the participant teams. The imagesm used in this study had been acquired during the XIV Word-Wide Championship of male bobsled in the modality for two persons, carried through in the city of Koonigsee (Germany) in 2004. To investigate the kinematic pattern it was used variables related to the shoulder, elbow, trunk and knee angles; variations of the center of gravity displacement and height; and the length of the step of the pilot and breakman athletes. It was possible to identify a typical kinematic pattern adopted by the pilot and breakman athletes during the propulsion moment, beyond identifying similarities between the behavior adopted by the pilot and breakman athletes during the propulsion moment and the behavior adopted by the track and fields athletes. The correlation coefficient found in this study was similar to those found in the previous studies (around r2=0,5) as well as the small variation verified in the performance between the participant teams (less than 4%)

Hyolingual biomechanics and kinematics in three species of two odontocete genera were investigated to compare adaptations and performance of divergent feeding strategies. Ram and suction feeding are two ends of a continuous spectrum that is poorly-studied in odontocetes. Comparative anatomy identified characters associated with feeding patterns of morphologically dissimilar and evolutionary distant genera. Hyolingual investigations included measurements of hyolingual muscle vectors and hyoid surface area/robustness. ANOVA's revealed Kogia basihyal and thyrohyal surface areas were significantly greater than T. truncatus. However, most predicted muscle tension values were not significantly different between genera. The presence of lateral gape occlusions, broad basihyal and thyrohyals near the caudal oral cavity, and a broad, short tongue were likely responsible for Kogia's effective suction mechanism. These features were absent, or reduced, in T. truncatus. The feeding kinematics of dwarf and pygmy sperm whales (Kogia sima and K. breviceps), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were characterized and compared incorporating the Ram-Suction Index (RSI). Mean RSI data support a suction feeding strategy for the phylogenetically basal Kogia (-0.67; S.D.±0.29) and a ram feeding strategy for the more-derived Tursiops (0.94; S.D.±0.11). Tursiops displayed two ram-based feeding behaviors, closed gape approach, where gape increased near food items, and open gape approach, where gape was at least 50% of maximum in the first video field. Four feeding phases were identified in both odontocetes: preparatory, jaw opening, gular depression, and jaw closing. The mean Kogia feeding cycle duration (470 ms; S.D.±139) was significantly shorter (P<0.003) than all Tursiops groups (pooled: 863 ms; S.D.±337, closed gape approach: 662 ms; S.D.±207, open gape approach: 1211 ms; S.D.±207). Kogia mean maximum gape angle (39.8°; S.D.±18.9), mean maximum opening, and closing gape angle velocities (293°/s; S.D.±261 and 223°/s; S.D.±121, respectively) were significantly greater (P<0.005) than pooled Tursiops mean maximum gape angle (24.8°; S.D.±6.6), mean maximum opening and closing gape angle velocities (84°/s; S.D.±56 and 120°/s; S.D.±54, respectively). Negative Kogia RSI values were correlated with increasing maximum hyoid depression and retraction, wide gape angle, and rapid opening gape velocity. Kinematic data support functional hypotheses that odontocetes generate suction by rapid depression of the hyoid and tongue.

The effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the central nervous system often manifest as abnormalities in gait kinematics. Clinically practical, valid, and reliable measures of gait kinematics are necessary to address research and clinical questions about MS. Wireless flexible electrogoniometry (EG) is a clinically practical measure of joint angles. The GAITRite walkway system is a clinically practical, valid and reliable measure of temporal and spatial gait characteristics. The overall objective of this two-study research project was to explore whether these clinically practical measures of gait kinematics can be used to accurately detect gait abnormalities in people with multiple sclerosis. Study 1 examined the reliability and validity of EG and Study 2 examined the gait kinematics of people with MS (PWMS) using EG and GAITRite. For Study 1, angle at initial contact and total joint excursion were measured by EG at both the knee and ankle while ten healthy adults walked at a self-selected comfortable speed. Measurements were repeated for two testers and two visits to assess reliability. The same variables were measured concurrently with three-dimensional motion analysis (3D) to assess validity. For all variables, reliability was good as indicated by low measurement error and validity was good as indicated by association and agreement of EG with 3D. For Study 2, the same joint angles, along with speed, cadence, step length, stride length, stance duration and double support duration were assessed for six PWMS and six controls without MS. PWMS showed significantly reduced speed, cadence, and ankle excursion and increased stance and double support duration as previously shown with 3D. Spasticity and/or instability may lead to these kinematic gait abnormalities in PWMS; however, reduced velocity may confound this interpretation by affecting the other observed gait abnormalities. Further research about the determinants of gait dysfunction in PWMS is required. EG and GAITRite are clinically practical, valid and reliable measures of gait kinematics and should be included in further clinic-based research to determine which kinematic gait abnormalities are causes and which are effects of the observed decrease in gait speed in PWMS.