Journal of Advanced Sport Technology
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter-Spring 2019

The Trackman portable launch monitor has become a popular tool of assessment and feedback among elite golfers, including tour professionals and U.S. collegiate teams. The device meets important criteria for assessing golf performance, including portability, accuracy, reliability, and instantaneous feedback. The goals of this study were to evaluate potential benefits of introducing the Trackman to a collegiate golf team and critically examine performance based on device data. In a pretest-posttest design, female collegiate golfers (n = 10) with an average handicap of six strokes were assessed on shot performance at varying distances at two different time points eight weeks apart using the Trackman “Combine” Standardized Test. Results indicated no significant interaction between the time point of assessment and shot distance (p = .625) and no significant main effect for time point (p = .995). However, there was a main effect for distance (p < .001), such that golfers struggled more with short and long shots when compared with those in the middle of the spectrum. Performance at the shortest yardage of 60 was significantly worse than 100 (p = .009), 120 (p = .019), and 140 yards (p = .047). Performance at longer distances of 160 and 180 yards was significantly worse than 100 (p = .020, p = .010, respectively) and 120 (p = .041, p = .020, respectively) yards, and driver performance was significantly worse than 80 (p = .001), 90 (p = .001), 100 (p < .001), 120 (p < .001), and 140 (p < .001) yards. These findings suggest that eight weeks of orientation and practice with such technology do not significantly alter baseline testing results regarding shot quality at varying goal distances. Furthermore, golfers in the current study comparably excel at golf shots of intermediate lengths (i.e., 80 – 140 yards) while demonstrating higher levels of variability outside this range. Implications for practice structure and performance are discussed.

Fatigue along with pronated feet during running are possible risk factors for injuries. Motion control shoes were designed to limit excessive foot motion in runners, but its clinical efficacy has not been well reported. This study investigated the ground reaction force characteristics in novice female runners with pronated feet during running with different footwear before and after fatigue of the lower limb muscles. 22 novice female runners with pronated feet were volunteered to participate in this study. A Kistler force plate and a Vicon three-dimensional motion analysis system were used to record the ground reaction forces and gait pattern of participants, when running with motion control shoes and control shoes before and after fatigue of the lower limb muscles. The results of this study showed that the frequency with a power of 99.5% of in the vertical ground reaction force with the motion control shoes were lower than that control shoes during post-test. the frequency with a power of 99.5% of in the anterior-posterior Center of pressure ground reaction force with the motion control shoes were greater than that motion control shoes during pre-test. the frequency with a power of 99.5% of in the Medio-lateral Center of pressure ground reaction force with the motion control shoes were greater than that control shoes during pre-test. the frequency with a power of 99.5% of in the free moment ground reaction force with the control shoes were greater than that control shoes during post-test.

Our objective was designing and producing a mechanical starting block and then compare the results with routine starting block in sprinting. A 2D sketch was designed using SOLIDWORKS Software. The body of the starting block with dimensions of 75×22×7 cm was developed with iron alloys during two stages. Starting block pedals were designed and manufactured with dimensions of 20×12 cm. Each pedal was connected to the starting block body using a 10 cm sliding connector to have the ability to change the horizontal distance between the pedals. The results from the first sample indicated that the board had not sufficient strength during sprinting start. In the second design, inclinable pedals in selectable 30, 45, and 65 degrees fabricated with 6 mm metal plate. Twelve replaceable nails for Tartan surface mounted on the front and end nail-holder plates. In order to evaluate the starting block, 20 athletics with mean age, height, weight and history of exercise  (21.6 ± 2.3 year, 178.1 ± 5.2 cm, 68.7 ± 6.1 kg, and 5.2 ± 0.8 year, respectively) evaluated their sprinting performance under supervision of two referees and five coaches using a questionnaire. By changing the design and new product, the second prototype was evaluated. The final sample indicated that the boards and pedals had sufficient strength and robustness. The level of satisfaction of runners, coaches and referees were significantly different from the traditional starting block (p<0.05). The Test-Retest Reliability test using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient computed from responses to the questionnaires shown perfect correlated (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). According to the results, the final starting block had sufficient robustness and is suitable for using in the research and official competitions.

Using of rescue devices is necessary to prevent drowning in the water. The purpose of this review was to collect new information regarding different aquatic rescue devices and their functions. We conducted a systematic search using the databases of Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, Springer and Google patent. The keywords that were used in this search were: swimming, beaches, swimming pool, rip current, drowning, rescue, rescue device and lifeguard. This search included all the published papers until 2018. Twenty-three papers were collected and reviewed during this study. In general, the aquatic rescue devices were divided into three groups: 1. Beach devices, 2. Pool devices, 3. Beach and pool devices. Some devices are personal life-saving devices for saving swimmer in water, but others cannot be useful without the presence of lifeguard, therefore we can categorize these devices into two groups: 1. Devices that perform the rescue process without lifeguard assistance, 2. Devices that they cannot rescue swimmer without assistance of lifeguard.  There are different kinds of rescue devices, so it is necessary to identify them correctly to choose the best option for the aquatic safety.

The aim of the present study was to design a new corrective and wireless thoracolumbar bracing for individuals with functional thoracolumbar kyphosis. For designing a new corrective and wireless thoracolumbar bracing, we used elastic thoraco-lumbo-sacral support. The support structure of the present brace formed by six straps to adjust, two metals to hold, support structure in electronic form, and two local stabilizers with bending sensor. The software of this brace designed to be able to find out the bending angle of the bending sensor. Electronic system connects through mobile App using Bluetooth connection. To do this, the researcher must turn on the electronic circuit, then device and mobile phone connects with Bluetooth. After that, the bending sensor data transform to the mobile software and the software shows the amount of bending on the mobile phone. The new corrective and wireless thoracolumbar brace designed in the present study could be used in the corrective training programs and also during daily activities. The alarm system of this brace made it a suitable and user-friendly brace for corrective aims of kyphosis malalignment. In patients with the all grade of abnormal kyphosis or lordosis, we mount the wireless thoracolumbar brace strapped to the hip and chest. Bending sensors send information of the kyphosis or lordosis angle in sagittal plane to the microcontroller. When angle is greater than the normal angle, microcontroller switch on the vibration switch to alarm patient to correct his/her posture. The current wireless device deemed to use in the corrective training programs and also during daily activities in patients with some postural abnormalities.

The main aim of the current project was to analyze the content of published articles of sports technology and anticipating the future direction of the Journal of Advanced Sport Technology (JAST), which was done to describe the current state to achieve the viewpoint of developing and promoting this journal. Articles in the field of sports technology in this survey has been investigated from several aspects, such as sports related applications, the number of authors, the variety of collaborator organizations. This study was conducted by a checklist in the sports technology related journals from 2008 to 2015. The results indicated that in terms of the number of authors, Australia, British and American authors ranked first to third and in terms of the entire authors, Australia, England, and New Zealand ranked first to third. After numerous studies, subjects in three areas of athletic performance (58.5%), sports goods (28.3%), and sports equipment (13.2%)were identified. Athletic performance has always maintained its attractiveness in the period from 2008 to 2015, and sports goods were in the next rank, and sports equipment was initially referenced, but over time, it has attracted fewer researchers. There was no significant relationship between the numbers of authors of each article with its viewers. There is also no significant relationship between the diversity of countries in each article in terms of viewers.Consequently, we suggest the Journal of Advanced Sports Technologies direct its scope and priority areas toward sport performance and on the next priority, it must focus on sports goods and eventually on sports equipment.