The master‘s thesis deals with the analysis of the hand-written text. There is a design and a realization of a system for the purpose of diagnosing a Parkinson’s desease based on the analysis of hand-written text. The system consists from several modules and it is programmed in the programming environment of MATLAB. The first module provides pre-processing of the records to adjust records to the form suitable for the segmentation. Afterwards, the records are divided into those with signals onto the surface of the tablet and those with the signals above the surface of the tablet. In the next module the records are segmented by the two-phase metod of automatic segmentation.High-level featuresare calculated from the extracted features. The results of the statistical analysis are exported in the form suitable for the classification process. The classification is performed by the proposed model made in the programming environment of RapidMiner. The output of designed system is the trained model capable of automatic classification of the Parkinson’s disease by the analysis of the hand-written text.

Denna uppsats syftar till att diskutera vinylskivan och dess omslags estetiska utveckling under 1900-talet samt hur vinylskivan har fungerat som musikmedium. Vinylskivans omslag kommer att diskuteras utifrån hur det har påverkat skivmarknaden under tiden vinylskivan var det rådande musikformatet. Uppsatsen kommer också att undersöka tre skivomslag för att undersöka bruket av kvinnligt kodade kroppar inom populärmusik och varför dessa har blivit utvalda att representera musiken inom musikmediet “skivomslag”. Det kommer att ske en utvecklad version av Erwin Panofskys ikonografisk bildanalys med hjälp av Roland Barthes semiotiska metod.Jag kommer att använda Sébastien Telliers album Sexuality (2008), The Strokes album Is This It (2001) och Kesha’s album Rainbow (2017) i analysen. Jag kommer att ta hänsyn till skillnader och likheter av utförandet kring skivomslaget om det är en manlig upphovsperson respektive kvinnlig upphovsperson. I uppsatsen kommer det också ske en diskussion kring skivmediumet i sig och vad skivans förpackningen inom musikmarknaden har betytt för konsumtionen med dessa bildmotiv. Uppsatsen består av två kapitel, det första kapitlet fokuserar på vinylskivan och dess designutveckling och i kapitel två kommer den ikonografiska/semiotiska bildanalysen att avhandlas. Uppsatsen avslutas i en avslutande diskussion och en sammanfattning.

The master‘s thesis deals with the analysis of the hand-written text. There is a design and a realization of a system for the purpose of diagnosing a Parkinson’s desease based on the analysis of hand-written text. The system consists from several modules and it is programmed in the programming environment of MATLAB. The first module provides pre-processing of the records to adjust records to the form suitable for the segmentation. Afterwards, the records are divided into those with signals onto the surface of the tablet and those with the signals above the surface of the tablet. In the next module the records are segmented by the two-phase metod of automatic segmentation.High-level featuresare calculated from the extracted features. The results of the statistical analysis are exported in the form suitable for the classification process. The classification is performed by the proposed model made in the programming environment of RapidMiner. The output of designed system is the trained model capable of automatic classification of the Parkinson’s disease by the analysis of the hand-written text.

Title: The evaluation of tennis technique and game level of female adolescent tennis players Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to evaluate and compare tennis technique of selected strokes and game level of adolescent female tennis players. Methods: For my diploma thesis, I have chosen methods of testing, participant observation and scaling. The research group consisted of four players aged 16-17. I had tested these players using the ITN test, based on which I determined their game level. I used a method of participant observation in order to collect data for the evaluation of selected strokes' technique. Specifically, I observed the players during their training and sessions and made video records of them. Collected data were evaluated based on Likert scale, which contains of six levels. Results: Based on testing, the players were placed in three ITN categories (ITN 5, ITN 6 and ITN 7). The game level of all players is intermediate. According to the ITN test, the strongest part of their game are groundstrokes. On the other hand, the weakest spot of their game are volleys and serve. The players were able to estimate their strengths and weaknesses in almost all cases. In terms of technique, each player has a different stroke as their best one. It does not apply that the player with the best...

Uppsatsens syfte är att genom en multimodal kritisk diskursanalytisk metod undersöka representationen av personer med funktionsnedsättningar i två olika situationskomedier, från två olika tidsperioder. Dessa är Different Strokes, från mitten på 1980-talet, och Speechless från 2016. Fokus ligger på en karaktär från respektive situationskomedi, Kathy från Different Strokes och JJ från Speechless. Vidare är syftet också att diskutera kring huruvida representationerna kan förstärka olika stereotyper och fördomar i samhället. Urvalet består av fyra (4) avsnitt från respektive serie, det vill säga totalt åtta (8) avsnitt. Personer med funktionsnedsättningar avbildas allt som oftast på ett stereotypt vis, oftast med själva funktionsnedsättningen i fokus. Bilden som förmedlas via medier har idag stor påverkan på mottagaren. Uppsatsen kommer fram till att situationskomedierna avbildar personer med funktionsnedsättningar på ett förhållandevis stereotypt vis, vilket i relativt stor mån kan påverka hur mottagaren uppfattar personer med funktionsnedsättningar. Slutligen kommer uppsatsen också fram till att det är av största vikt att avbilda personer med funktionsnedsättningar på ett respektfullt vis. Detta kan, med stor sannolikhet, leda till att redan existerande stereotyper och fördomar förstärks och därmed också stigmat i samhället. / The purpose of the study is to investigate the representation of people with disabilities in two different sitcoms, from two different time periods. The analysis is made by a multimodal critical discourse analysis method. The sitcoms are Different Strokes, from the mid 1980s, and Speechless from 2016. The focus will be on one character from each sitcom, Kathy from Different Strokes and JJ from Speechless. Furthermore, the purpose is also to discuss whether the representations can reinforce different stereotypes and prejudices in society. The selection consists of four (4) episodes from each series, i.e. a total of eight (8) sections. People with disability are often depicted in a stereotypical way, most of the time with the disability it self in focus. The image that is conveyed via the media has a great influence on the recipients today. The study concludes that both sitcoms depicted people with disabilities in a relatively stereotyped manner, which to a relatively large extent can influence how the recipient perceives people with disabilities. The study also concludes that it is of the utmost importance to depict persons with disabilities in a respectful manner. This may otherwise lead to the strengthening of existing stereotypes and prejudices and thus stigma in society.

TITLE The Choice of the swimming method, the most common mistakes when swimming with applicants for study at the Faculty of Education of Charles University AUTHOR Šárka Papežová DEPARTMENT Department of physical education SUPERVISOR PaedDr. Irena Svobodová ABSTRACT This thesis deals with the choice of swimming strokes in entrance examinations for a study at the College of Education, Charles University, and it also analyses the most common mistakes in individual swimming strokes with reference to accepted swimming rules. The problem is approached from the perspective of academic field of Physical Education and Teaching for Kindergartens and it is analysed with view of sex and age of the candidates. The thesis also turns to the characteristics of individual swimming strokes and mistakes in swimming. Statistical analysis of 5 years of records of entrance examinations were used in preparation of this thesis. KEYWORDS Swimming method, the front crawl, the breaststroke, the backstroke, respiration during swimming, statistic, physical education, teaching for infant school

Being one of the most spectacular events in nature, lightning is basically a transient high current electric discharge in the atmosphere, which extends up to kilometres. Cloud to ground discharge is the most hazardous one as far as ground based structures are considered. Among the different phases of a lightning flash, return stroke is considered to be the most energetic phase and is basically responsible for most of the damages. Hence, much emphasis has been given to return stroke modeling. A more realistic modeling of return stroke is very essential to accurately study the interaction of return stroke with the structures on ground. As return stroke is dominated by electromagnetic phenomenon, an electromagnetic model will be the most suitable one. It does not call for any assumption on the mode of wave propagation, as well as, electromagnetic coupling between the different channel portions. There are mainly two approaches adopted for electromagnetic models i.e. frequency domain and time domain approach. Time domain approach is more reliable as it can handle, in principle, the nonlinear processes in the lightning channel. It is also free of numerical frequency domain to time domain inversion problem, which are found to be quite severe. However, most of the previous works on time domain electromagnetic models suffered from following two serious limitations - (i) the initial charge on the channel, which forms the true excitation for the problem, is not considered and (ii) instead of the non-linearly rising conductivity of the channel, a constant resistance is employed. For a realistic simulation of the interaction between the channel and any intercepting system, a time domain model with the above two major aspects being fully represented is very essential. In an earlier work, all these aspects have been fully considered but a domain based numerical modelling was employed. Consequently, it was difficult to consider the down conductor and further the number of unknowns was considerably large. In view of this, the present work is taken up and its scope is defined as to develop a boundary based numerical time domain electromagnetic model in which the initial charge on the channel and the non-linearly evolving channel conductance are fully considered. For the electrical engineering applications, electromagnetic aspects of the lightning phenomena is more important than the other associated physical processes and hence, importance is given only to the electromagnetic aspects. In other words, the light emission, thunder, chemical reactions at the channel etc. are not considered. Also, for most of the electrical engineering applications, the critical portion of current would be the region up to and around the peak and hence, modeling for this regime will be given prime importance. Owing to the complexity of the problem, some simplifying assumptions would be very essential. The literature indicates that these assumptions do not affect the adequate representation of the phenomena. Lightning channel is considered to be vertically straight without any branches. Earth is considered to be perfectly conducting. Explicit reference to dynamically varying channel radius, temperature and the air density is not made. However, it is assumed that the arc equation employed to describe the temporal changes in conductivity would adequately take care of these parameters. Lightning channel is represented by a highly conducting small core, which is surrounded by a weakly conducting corona sheath. The initial charge on the channel is deduced by solving for electrostatic field, with leader portion set to possess an axial gradient of 60 V/cm and the streamer portion to 5 – 10 kV/cm. The radius of the corona sheath is set iteratively by enforcing a gradient of 24 kV/cm up to its radial boundary. As analytical solution for the problem is impractical, suitable numerical solution is sought. Since the spatial extension of this time marching problem is virtually unbound and that the significant conduction is rather solely confined to an extremely small cross section of the channel core, a boundary-based method is selected. Amongst the numerical methods, the present work employs the moment method for the solution of the fields associated with the return strokes. A numerical solution of the Electric Field Integral Equation (EFIE) for thin structures has been developed in the literature. The same approach has been employed in the present work, however, with suitable modifications to suit the lightning problem. The code was written in MATLAB and integrations involved in the EFIE were solved using MATLAB symbolic computation. Before introducing the channel dynamic conductance and the initial charge on the channel, the code developed is validated by comparing the results for a center fed dipole antenna with that given in the literature. Also, NEC (Numeric Electromagnetic Code) simulations for various cases of monopole and dipole antenna were performed. The results from the code developed are shown to have good matching with that obtained from NEC based time domain results. In an earlier work, the dynamic conductance of the return stroke channel core, which is a high current electric arc, was represented by a first order arc equation. The same approach is employed in the present work also. Similarly, the transition from streamer to leader was modeled by Braginskii’s spark law and the same has been considered in the present work. A value of 10-5 S/m was used for minimum value of streamer conductance. For numerical stability, upper (Gmax = 3 S/m) and lower bounds (Gmin = 0.0083 S/m) for the channel conductance are forced. Preliminary simulations were run with and without dynamic channel conductance. The initial charge distribution along the channel formed the excitation. Results clearly show that without the dynamically varying channel conductance, no streamer to leader transition and hence, no return stroke evolution can occur. In other words, the non-linearly evolving channel conductance is mainly responsible for the evolution of the return stroke. In order to consider the charge neutralization by the return stroke, the charge deposited by it is diffused into the corona sheath. A fixed value of the corona sheath conductance is employed and the diffusion process is modeled by an equation derived from the continuity equation. To study the effect of corona sheath, simulations were run with and without corona. From the simulation results it was observed that the corona sheath causes increase in peak value of the stroke current, as well as, time to front and a decrease in the velocity of propagation. For the validation of the model, the basic characteristics of the return stroke current like the current wave shape, temporal variation of stroke current at different heights, velocity of propagation and the vertical electric fields at various radial distances were compared with available field/experimental data. A good agreement was seen and based on this, it is concluded that the present work has successfully developed a boundary based time domain numerical model for the lightning return stroke. Natural lightning being a stochastic process, the values of the parameters associated with it would differ in every event. On other hand, any deterministic model like the one developed in the present work predicts a fixed pattern of the simulated quantities. Therefore, it was felt that some of the model parameters must be permitted to vary so that a range of results could be obtained rather than a single pattern of results. Incidentally, the model parameters like arc time constant, settling value of arc conductivity/gradient, bounds for channel conductivity, streamer gradient, radius of the core etc. are not precisely known for the natural lightning environment. Further, some of them are known to vary within an event. Considering these and that simplicity is very important in already complex model, the above-mentioned parameters are taken as tunable parameters (of course to be varied within the prescribed range) for deducing the return stroke currents with some desired characteristics. A study on the influence of these parameters is made and suggestions are provided. Simulations for the nominal range of stroke currents are made and results are presented. These simulations clearly show the role of cloud potential, which in turn dictates the length of final bridging streamer, on the return stroke currents. The spatio-temporal variation of the current, charge deposited by the return stroke and the channel conductivity are presented which, reveal the dynamic processes leading to the evolution of return stroke current. Subsequently, simulations for two cases of stroke to elevated strike object are attempted. The upward leader was modeled quite similar to the descending one. Many interesting findings are made. In summary, the present work has successfully developed a boundary-based time domain numerical electromagnetic model for the lightning return stroke, wherein, the initial charge deposited on the channel and the non-linearly rising channel conductance have been appropriately considered. Simulation using the model clearly depicts the dynamic evolution of the return stroke. The characteristics of the simulated return strokes are in good agreement with the field data. Some of the parameters of the model are suggested as tunable parameters, which permit simulation of strokes with different characteristics.

Τα τελευταία χρόνια, ανοσολογικές διεργασίες άσηπτης φλεγμονής έχουν αναγνωρισθεί ότι συμμετέχουν τόσο στην πρόκληση, όσο και στην (πρώιμη ή όψιμη) έκβαση των ισχαιμικών αγγειακών εγκεφαλικών επεισοδίων (Ι-ΑΕΕ). Στην παρούσα μελέτη ελέγχθηκε κατά πόσον η γενετική προδιάθεση, προς εντονότερη (ή ασθενέστερη) ανοσολογική απάντηση, θα μπορούσε να προβλέπει το οξύ Ι-ΑΕΕ, τη νευρολογική του εξέλιξη, την 6μηνη έκβασή του και την ανάπτυξη κοινών νευροψυχιατρικών επιπλοκών (κατάθλιψη, νοητική έκπτωση). Για το σκοπό αυτό αναλύθηκε η πιθανή προγνωστική αξία 5 σημειακών λειτουργικών πολυμορφισμών στα γονίδια φλεγμονωδών κυτταροκινών (IL4-589C>T, IL10-1082G>A, TNFa-308G>A, IL6-174G>C και IL12B 1188A>C) σε 145 διαδοχικούς ασθενείς με οξύ Ι-ΑΕΕ και ισάριθμους μάρτυρες. Επιπρόσθετα, η μελέτη αξιολόγησε το ρόλο της αντιφλεγμονώδους κυτταροκίνης αντιπονεκτίνης στην οξεία φάση του Ι-ΑΕΕ, καθώς και την πιθανή προβλεπτική της αξία στη νευρολογική του εξέλιξη, την πρόγνωση και την 6μηνη έκβασή του. Τα κύρια αποτελέσματα της μελέτης μπορούν να συνοψισθούν ως εξής: - Σε έναν ομογενή Eλληνικό πληθυσμό, οι λευτουργικοί πολυμορφισμοί IL4-589C>T, IL10-1082G>A, TNFa-308G>A, IL6-174G>C και IL12B 1188A>C δεν προβλέπουν την επέλευση ενός Ι-ΑΕΕ, την ηλικία έναρξης της νόσου ή την ανάπτυξη κατάθλιψης και νοητικής έκπτωσης όψιμα μετά το Ι-ΑΕΕ. - Ο IL4-589CT γονότυπος σχετίστηκε με την τάση της νόσου για υποτροπή. - Ο IL10-1082GG αρχέγονος γονότυπος προέβλεπε την πρώϊμη νευρολογική επιδείνωση και τη χειρότερη λειτουργική του έκβαση 1ου και 3ου μήνα. - Ο TNFa-308GG αρχέγονος γονότυπος συνέβαλλε ευεργετικά στην καλύτερη λειτουργική έκβαση κατά τον 6ο μήνα. - Ο IL12B 1188AC ετεροζυγώτης προέβλεπε σημαντικά τα ελαφρύτερα Ι-ΑΕΕ και στη χαμηλότερη θνητότητα από αυτά. - Τα αυξανόμενα επίπεδα αντιπονεκτίνης ορού σχετίζονται με μείωση των πιθανοτήτων για ένα Ι-ΑΕΕ, ανεξάρτητα από τους κλασσικούς παράγοντες κινδύνου. - Η αντιπονεκτίνη ορού βρίσκεται κατεσταλμένη στην οξεία φάση του Ι-ΑΕΕ, αλλά και 6 μήνες μετά. Τα χαμηλά της επίπεδα δεν αποτελούν αντίδραση οξείας φάσης, αλλά αντικατοπτρίζουν το σταθερό αντιφλεγμονώδη ρόλο της. - H αντιπονεκτίνης ορού οξείας φάσης μετά ένα Ι-ΑΕΕ δεν προβλέπει τη νευρολογική εξέλιξη και την 6μηνη έκβαση της νόσου στον άνθρωπο. Προτείνουμε ότι στο μέλλον η έγκαιρη ταυτοποίηση των γενετικά προδιατεθειμένων ατόμων για βαρύτερη νόσο και επιβαρυμένη έκβαση μετά ένα Ι-ΑΕΕ, θα επιτρέπει την αναγνώριση ομάδων ασθενών με τις μεγαλύτερες ανάγκες εντατικοποιημένης αποκατάστασης και βελτιστοποίησης των ιατρικών μας θεραπειών. Επιπρόσθετα, προτείνουμε ότι η αντιπονεκτίνη θα μπορούσε να αποτελεί ένα δυνητικό θεραπευτικό στόχο τροποποίησης του αγγειακού κινδύνου. / Immune processes of aseptic inflammation have been recently recognized as key participants into both the occurrence and (early or late) outcome of an ischemic stroke (IS). The current study tested whether the genetic predisposition for an enhanced (or suppressed) immunological response, could be predicting the occurrence, neurological evolution, 6-month outcome, and two common neuropsychiatric complications (depression, cognitive impairment) of an IS. For this purpose, 5 functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes of inflammatory cytokines (IL4-589C>T, IL10-1082G>A, TNFa-308G>A, IL6-174G>C and IL12B 1188A>C) were analyzed for their putative prognostic value in 145 consecutive acute IS patients and in an equal-sized control group. Moreover, the present study evaluated the role of an anti-inflammatory cytokine, adiponectin, into the acute phase of an IS, as well as its possible predicting value in the neurological evolution, prognosis and 6-month outcome of the ischemic event. The main results of this study may be summarized as follows: - In a homogenous Greek population, the functional polymorphisms IL4-589C>T, IL10-1082G>A, TNFa-308G>A, IL6-174G>C and IL12B 1188A>C do not predict IS occurrence, age of disease onset, or the development of late post-stroke depression and cognitive impairment. - The IL4-589CT mutant genotype was associated with relapsing IS. - The IL10-1082GG ancestral genotype significantly predicted early stroke pregression and worse functional outcome on months 1 and 3. - The TNFa-308GG ancestral genotype beneficially contributed into better 6-month functional outcome. - The IL12B 1188AC heterozygote significantly predicted milder strokes and decreased IS mortality. - Increasing serum adiponectin levels are associated with reduced odds for an IS, independently of common vascular risk factors. - Low serum adiponectin is present at the acute phase and 6 months after an IS. Suppressed adiponectin levels are not an effect of the acute-phase response, but reflect its solid anti-inflammatory role. - Acute post-stroke serum adiponectin does not predict neurological evolution and 6-month outcome of an IS in humans. We propose that early identification of genetically predisposed subjects, for a more severe disease and for a worse outcome, will allow in the future the recognition of those IS sufferers, who would most benefit from intensive rehabilitation programs, and optimization of our medical therapies. Moreover, we propose that adiponectin may represent a promising candidate for the therapeutic risk modification of common vascular complications.

Sports scientists and trainers generally agree that the multidimensional training in tennis should start during early childhood in order to ultimately reach a professional playing standard. Evidence suggests that motor skills, including power, strength, agility, speed and explosive power, as well as mental strength and a highly developed neuromuscular coordinating ability are strongly correlated with the level of tournament performance. Turner&Dent (1996) found that 27% of all tennis injuries in junior players occur in the shoulder region. The shoulder girdle is prone to injury because of its ability to maximally accelerate and decelerate the arm while the arm maintains it maintains precise control over the racquet at ball contact. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the occurrence of shoulder injuries could be minimized in tennis players by following a specific exercise programme, focusing on the shoulder girdle. A total of 42 tennis players participated in this study. They were all aged between 14 and 18 years. Both males and females were used for the purpose of this study. All the players were training at the SA Tennis Performance Centre and the International Tennis Federation at the University of Pretoria. They were all elite tennis players practising daily and scheduled for standard major tournaments throughout the year. Each subject completed a questionnaire of his or her tennis and medical history. The players were then divided into a control group and an experimental group. Both groups completed a series of physical scientific tests, consisting of posture analysis, body composition, flexibility, functional strength of the upper body; and isokinetic power and endurance of the shoulder muscles. These tests were executed every 3 months over a 9-month period and the results of each battery of tests were used to adjust and upgrade the new programmes. The experimental group did specific preventative shoulder exercises 5 times a week in addition to their usual gymnasium programme twice a week, while the control group followed a normal strengthening programme twice a week. A medical doctor immediately evaluated any muscle stresses or pains throughout the year. At the end of the year the data was compared to determine the difference in injury occurrence between the two groups. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the distribution of the lean body mass with the Lean body mass at T1 being lower than the Lean body mass at T3 in the control group. In the experimental group the fat percentage showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) from T1 to T3. The distribution of the muscle percentage at T1 was significantly different (p<0.05) from the distribution of the muscle percentage at T3 in the experimental group with the muscle percentage at T1 being lower than the muscle percentage at T3. There was a significant difference between the control and experimental group for 1RM bench press (p<0.05) with the 1RM bench press measurements at T3 being lower for the control group than for the experimental group. Also, the 1RM bench press at T1 was lower than the 1RM bench press at T3 in the experimental group. The experimental group showed a significant increase from T1 to T3, peaking at T3 with the 1RM bench press. Results of the tests done to determine isokinetic muscle strength showed that a statistical significant correlation (p<0.05) was found with regard to the strength of the internal rotators of the non-dominant shoulder at T3, with the experimental group having a higher measurement than the control group. The internal rotators and external rotators of both the dominant and non-dominant shoulders were lower at T1 than at T3 in the experimental group (p<0.05). The external rotators of the non-dominant shoulder at T1 were lower than the external rotators of the non-dominant shoulder at T3 in the control group. Results of the tests done to determine flexibility showed a statistically significant difference with the internal rotators and external rotators of the dominant as well as the non-dominant shoulders being lower at T1 than at T3 in the experimental group. Also, the external rotators of the non-dominant shoulder of the control group were lower at T1 than at T3. Results of the tests done to determine posture showed that in the control group, 54.5% of the players had scoliosis at T1 as opposed to 40.9% at T3. In the experimental group 55% had scoliosis at T1 compared to the 30% at T3. In the experimental group, 55% of the players’ shoulder heights were not level at T1, compared to 30% at T3. 63.6% of the control group’s non-dominant shoulders were higher than the dominant shoulder at T1, compared to the 40.9% of subjects at T3. Among the subjects in the experimental group, 50% had a higher non-dominant shoulder and 5% a higher dominant shoulder at T1, compared to 25% and 5% respectively in the control group, at T3. Results of the tests done to determine the occurrence of injuries, showed that the subjects with no injuries in the control group stayed stable from T1 (54.5%) to T2 (54.5%) whereafter it increased to 59.1% at T3. The experimental group stayed stable from T1 (55.0%) to T2 (55.0%) where after it increased to 85% at T3. In the control group the percentage grade 1 and 2 injuries was 13.6% at T1, increasing to 18.2% at T2, and decreasing to 13.6% at T3. In the experimental group 15% of the subjects had grade 1 injuries at T1. This percentage increased to 30% at T2 where after it decreased to 15% at T3 again. The percentage of subjects with grade 2 injuries in the experimental group remained stable at 10.0% from T1 to T2. None of the subjects had grade 2 injuries at T3. In the control group 9% had grade 3 injuries at T1, with none at T2 and T3. In the experimental group the percentage of subjects with grade 3 injuries remained stable at 5.0% from T1 to T2. None of the subjects had grade 3 injuries at T3. In the control group 4.5% of subjects had grade 4 injuries at T1. This stayed more or less stable at T2 (4.6%) and increased to 9.1% at T3. In the experimental group 10.0% had grade 4 injuries at T1. None of the subjects had grade 4 injuries at either T2 or T3. In the control group 4.5% had grade 5 injuries at T1, none had it at T2, and 4.5% had it at T3. In the experimental group none of the subjects had grade 5 injuries at T1, T2 or T3. In the control group none of the subjects had grade 6 injuries at T1 or T3. At T2, however, 4.6% had grade 6 injuries. In the experimental group 5.0% of the subjects had grade 6 injuries at T1 and none had this type of injury at T2 or T3. In conclusion, the results indicate that a specifically designed exercise programme can help to diminish the risk of shoulder injuries in tennis players. It can also improve bi-lateral muscle strength in opposing muscle groups which are used in tennis. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted

Thesis (MSportSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There are a growing number of men and women world-wide who are suffering strokes due to poor lifestyle-related habits. While there is evidence of the differences in cerebral haemodynamics between stroke patients and both elderly and young healthy individuals, limited evidence has examined the effect of rehabilitation on cerebral haemodynamics. Furthermore, most studies have examined changes in cerebral haemodynamics during cognitive and functional tasks in isolation, with no literature published on them simultaneously. The primary aim of this study was to examine whether differences in cerebral haemodynamics exist between stroke patients and healthy elderly individuals while performing a simple and complex cognitive task. Thirty two men and women (age 75 ± 8 years) volunteered to participate in the study and were split into an experimental (n = 14) group consisting of stroke patients and a control (n = 18) group consisting of healthy individuals. Each participant was required to attend one testing session where measurements of oxyhaemoglobin (O2Hb), deoxy-haemoglobin (HHb), tissue oxygenation index (TOI) and total haemoglobin index (THI) were obtained. Measurements were obtained with the participants at rest, while performing the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the modified Stroop Task as cognitive tests, and the Timed Up-and-Go (TuG) and six minute walk test (6MWT) or Toe Taps (TT) as the functional tests. Furthermore, the outcome scores of the various tests were also recorded. Change in O2Hb levels were lower in the experimental group than in the control group, especially in the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC) while HHb values were higher in the right prefrontal cortex (RPFC) (p > 0.05). There were almost no differences in TOI between the two groups in either the LPFC or RPFC, however, statistically significant differences were seen in THI in the RPFC during the MMSE (p = 0.03), rest period 2 (p = 0.03), the first modified Stroop Task (p = 0.04), as well as the TuG (p = 0.02). Furthermore, significant differences were seen between the two groups with respect to the time taken to complete the TuG, with the experimental group completing it much faster (p = 0.04). The experimental group participants who had received regular rehabilitation performed consistently better across most of the testing phases, with a number of practically significant findings. The results show that definite differences exist between stroke patients and healthy elderly individuals when performing a simple and complex task. The positive effect of low intensity exercise on task performance was clearly seen in both groups, and holds a great deal of practical significance for the development of exercise programmes for healthy individuals, as well as stroke patients. Furthermore, rehabilitation following a stroke has obvious benefits as shown by the positive results of the current study, however, limited research exists to validate these findings, highlighting the need for further research in this area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar is ʼn wêreld wye toename in die aantal mans en dames wat beroertes ondervind as gevolg van swak lewenstyl-verwante gewoontes. Alhoewel baie navorsing beskikbaar is oor die verskille in serebrale hemodinamika tussen beroerte pasiënte en bejaardes, asook jong gesonde individue, is daar ʼn beperkte aantal studies oor die effek van rehabilitasie op serebrale hemodinamika. Meeste van hierdie studies het die veranderinge in serebrale hemodinamika tydens kognitiewe of funksionele take in isolasie ondersoek, met geen literatuur waar die effek van albei gesamentlik gemeet word nie. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die verskille in serebrale hemodinamika tussen beroerte pasiënte en gesonde bejaardes, tydens die uitvoering van ʼn eenvoudige en komplekse kognitiewe taak, te ondersoek. Twee-en-dertig mans en vroue (ouderdom 75 ± 8 jaar) het aan die studie deelgeneem. Die eksperimentele groep (n = 14) het bestaan uit die beroerte pasïente en die kontrole groep (n = 18) was gesonde bejaardes. Elke deelnemer het een toets sessie bygewoon waartydens oksihemoglobien (O2Hb), deoksihemoglobien (HHb), weefsel oksigenasie indeks (TOI) en totale hemoglobien indeks (THI) gemeet is. Metings is tydens rus geneem, asook tydens die kognitiewe toetse, die “Mini Mental State Exam” (MMSE) en die gewysigde Stroop taak gemeet, en die funksionele toetse, naamlik die “Timed Up-and-Go” (TuG) en die ses minute loop toets (6MWT) of “Toe Taps” (TT). Die eksperimentele groep se O2Hb was laer as die kontrole groep, veral in die linker voor frontale korteks (LPFC), en die eksperimentele groep se HHb waardes was hoër in die regter voor frontale korteks (RPFC) (p > 0.05). Daar was geen statisties betekenisvolle verskille in TOI tussen die twee groepe nie, maar wel in die THI in die RPFC tydens die MMSE (p = 0.03), rusperiode twee (p = 0.03), die eerste gewysigde Stroop Taak (p = 0.04) en die TuG toets (p = 0.02). Die kontrole groep was statisties betekenisvol vinniger as die eksperimentele groep in die TuG toets (p = 0.04). Deelnemers in die eksperimentele groep wat gereelde rehabilitasie ontvang het, het konsekwent beter gevaar tydens die toets sessie, en ʼn aantal prakties betekenisvolle verskille is in sekere veranderlikes gevind. Die resultate dui aan dat daar wel ʼn verskil in serebrale hemodinamika bestaan tussen beroerte pasiënte en gesonde bejaardes terwyl hulle eenvoudige en komplekse take verrig. Die positiewe effek van lae intensiteit oefening op prestasie was duidelike sigbaar van beide groepe. Hierdie resultate is prakties betekenisvol as dit kom by die ontwikkeling van oefenprogramme vir gesonde individue asook beroerte pasiënte. Rehabilitasie na ʼn beroerte hou ooglopende voordele in soos aangedui deur die positiewe bevindinge van die huidige studie, hoewel daar beperkte navorsing beskikbaar is om hierdie bevindinge te staaf. Daar is dus ʼn behoefte vir verdere navorsing in hierdie gebied.