Journal of Advanced Sport Technology
Volume:6 Issue: 2, Summer-Autumn 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate electromyography frequency spectrum of selected lower limb muscles in males with ACL injury during three different running patterns. Fourteen soccer players with ACL injury and 14 healthy soccer players were volunteered to participate in the study. A wireless electromyography system with 8 pairs of bipolar surface electrodes was used to record the electromyography frequency spectrum during three running patterns. The results showed that the median frequency of tibia anterior muscle in the ACL injury group during propulsion phase in the rear-foot strike running pattern was greater compared to the healthy group (p= 0.024). The median frequency of semitendinosus muscle in the propulsion phase in mid-foot running patterns in the ACL group was higher compared to the healthy group (p=.0.044). Also, the median frequency of semitendinosus muscle in the loading response phase in forefoot running patterns in the ACL group was greater compared to the healthy group (p= 0.028). According to the research results, it can be stated increased agonist and antagonist muscle activity across different running patterns increase the risk of secondary injury in people with ACL injuries.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute functional fatigue on plantar pressure distribution and center of pressure (CoP)  in young professional male volleyball players. 38 young volleyball players voluntarily participated in this study and were randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. A plantar pressure scanner measured plantar pressure distribution and CoP during standing and walking. The dependent samples t-test was used to investigate inter-group differences, and the covariance test was used to compare between groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21) at a significance level of p≥0.05. The results showed that fatigue had a significant effect on the percentage of plantar pressure distribution in the fore-foot of both feet and the left rear-foot in both control and training groups (p<0.05). Also, the CoP path length and the ellipse area of the CoP after fatigue showed a significant change in the experimental group (p<0.05). The results showed that fatigue increases the contact surface and impulse of the forefoot and the CoP movements. These factors can increase the probability of injury in participants.

Minimal shoes may alter ankle kinematics while running. This study aimed to systematically review studies investigating ankle kinematics in runners while wearing minimalist shoes versus traditional shoes and barefoot. Four databases including PubMed (128 studies), Web of science (224), Scopus (242 studies) and Embase (148 studies) were searched from inception to Aug 9, 2022. Two reviewers screened studies to identify studies reporting the effects of minimal shoes on ankle kinematics during running. Eleven studies with a total of 203 (wearing minimal shoes) participants and 18 controls (8 participants wearing minimal shoes without gait training and 10 wearing standard shoes) were included. The study design of the included studies were RCTs (2 studies), prospective study (1), cross-sectional study (5), and crossover (3). The Downs and Black appraisal scale was applied to assess the quality of included studies. The results showed that minimal shoe was capable of changing the kinematics of ankle while running. Uncushioned minimal shoes decreased ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact and ankle adduction, and increased plantarflexion moment, strike index, total ROM and joint excursion in stance phase compared to traditional shoes. Standardizing shoes and speeds are needed for reliable comparisons among studies. Because most studies examining the efficacy of minimal shoes, had a low level of evidence, further studies providing valid and high-quality evidence which include RCTs are required to support clinical practice in the use of minimal shoes. Uncushioned minimal shoes are better replicating barefoot running. Therefore, it is recommended for runners since they can change their foot strike pattern to mid-foot or forefoot and consequently reduce peak impact force, resulting in preventing future injuries especially in the knee.

Lack of Balance Confidence is a psychological injury that can lead to limited activities and as a result anxiety, depression and reduced quality of life. There is limited research on Balance Confidence and its effect on gait parameters. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) and gait symmetry and the variability of gait symmetry in elderly women. The current research was descriptive and correlational. The sampling method was available. 21 elderly women eligible to include in the study completed ABC scale. Hp Cosmos Mercury treadmill and Optitrack 3D motion capture system were used to record the kinematic and temporo-spatial information of individuals' gait. The data acquisition process was recorded for at least 30 seconds after the treadmill speed was fixed at a data acquisition of 120 frames per second in at least 10 full gait cycles of individuals. The components of gait symmetry and gait symmetry variability were obtained from three temporo-spatial factors of step length, step width and stride time. The results were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test. Correlation between variables showed that there is a significant and positive relationship between ABC and the variability of total gait symmetry. Also, the results showed that ABC has a positive and significant relationship with the symmetry of step length and width, and a negative and significant relationship with the variability of step length and width. However, there is no relationship between ABC and the variability of symmetry and time. According to the results of the research, it is suggested to design interventions to increase balance confidence among elderly women in order to improve the indices related to gait and subsequently the quality of life.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has been considered one of the common treatments for ACL injury. Decrease in the proprioceptive function following ACLR, which may remain between 2 and 3 years after the surgery, provides the possibility of re-injury. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the postural control, weight distribution, and center of pressure (COP) Symmetry Index in individuals with ACLR during quiet standing, in open and closed eyes conditions, compared to healthy people. In the present study, 12 men with right ACLR and 12 healthy men were recruited as participants. Participants stood barefoot on the two force plates. Each foot was placed on one of the 2 platforms. Postural control was assessed during quiet standing in two conditions (open and closed eyes conditions). The positions of COP in antero-posterior and medio-lateral directions are detected under the right and left foot separately and also as net. Postural sway quantified based on five parameters included the amplitude (AMP), total excursions (TOTEX), mean velocity (MVELO), standard deviation (SD), and 95% confidence ellipse area (AREACE). Weight distribution percentage on the lower limbs and COP Symmetry Index in antero-posterior direction were also calculated. The results showed that the COP parameters in some investigated parameters (TOTEXap, SDap, AREACE, AMPap, TOTEXml) were higher in individuals with ACLR than in the healthy group (P<0.05). There was no difference between the two groups regarding the Symmetry Index in the eyes open and closed conditions (P>0.05). Weight distribution, in eyes open condition, in ACLR group on the operated limb is more than that in healthy people (P<0.05).We concluded that individuals with ACLR has a poor postural control in anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions during quiet standing. The Symmetry Index was the same in both groups. In contrast to the able-bodied participants, individuals with ACLR bear more body weight on the operated limb than on the non- operated limb.

The integration of visual, vestibular, and somatosensory play a vital role in postural control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual and vestibular manipulation on plantar pressure during gait. 15 Health women aged 20 to 30 years participated in this study. They walked in a 10-meter path in three different conditions without visual and vestibular manipulation of sense, manipulation of visual sense, and manipulation of vestibular sense. Plantar pressures variables were measured during walking and recorded by the foot pressure device. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. Our study showed no significant difference in center of pressure displacement in the internal-external and anterior-posterior direction among condition (p>0.05). The standard deviation of the center of pressure in the anterior-posterior direction was higher in the non-manipulated condition than in the visual manipulation (p=0.001). There was a significant difference between the conditions with manipulation visual and vestibular in medial-lateral cop velocity. The result of cop Area showed no significant difference among condition (P> 0.05). It seems that decreases in center of pressure velocities in subjects with a lack of visual information due to the time-consuming processing of information of the Proprioception and vestibular system, and decrease in walking speed.In the absence of information of visual system, the nervous system uses information from the vestibular system to postural control and maintain balance. Although in this study, the visual system has a more dominant role than the vestibular system in posture control. It is recommended that in the design of exercise, to enhance balance function, improvement he function of Visual-vestibular reflex should be included in the exercise program of the people.

The purpose of this study was to survey and compiling a talent identification model for volleyball elite players. The statistical population of this study was all elite volleyball boys’ players in ardabil city. Among the statistical population, 16 individuals were selected as a sample. All tests were performed on three consecutive days. On the first day, anthropometric features including lengths, environment, latitudes as well as body composition were measured. Then on the second day, the physiological and physical fitness features including: anaerobic capacity, agility, speed, muscle strength, reaction time, coordination, and power were taken. Finally, on the third day, the flexibility, muscular endurance and cardiorespiratory fitness were taken. SPSS software version 23 was used for statistical analysis and excel software was used for charts. The results showed that ardabil players are at a low level physiologically and anthropometric. The results of the study showed that the average speed of players was 5.92 seconds, the mean agility was 12.09 seconds, the average anaerobic capacity was 426 watts, the mean cardiorespiratory endurance was 43.24 ml / kg/min, the mean set up 44. 12 per minute The mean of vertical jump was 52.5 cm, the mean flexibility of 43.51cm, the average power of 50.56 kg, the mean coordination of 66.06 min / min, the mean time of the reaction time was 0.3152, as well as the mean height of 183.45 cm, the mean of the sitting high 94.10 cm, the mean of the wingspan was 194.35 cm, the mean palm length was 11.11 cm, the average fat percentage was 21.38 kg, and the average fat mass was 62.86 kg. The results indicate that the players in ardabil are at the lower level in terms of anthropometric and physiological indices. From the finding of this study, it can be conducted that the players of the present research study were low on anthropometric and psychological characteristics and these players are weak and have deficiency in terms of physiological and physical fitness that are modifiable defects, more than anthropometric.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of talent management technology in individual sports in Ardabil province. This research is descriptive and applied. The statistical population of the study consisted of 142 officials in the field of talent management, experienced coaches and professional athletes of the selected individual sports (weightlifting, wrestling, athletics, fencing, gymnastics and table tennis) delegations of Ardabil province. The sample size was considered equal to the population size and 100 questionnaires, which is about 71% of the population, were collected. The research tool is the standardized questionnaire of Roger et al. (2010) that the face and content validity was confirmed by several experts. Convergent, divergent and combined reliability of the questionnaire were also confirmed. The hypotheses related to the relationship between research variables and model fit were tested by modeling structural equations using SMART PLS3 software and the hypotheses related to the qualitative status of research variables were tested by a binomial test by SPSS26 software.Test findings hypotheses related to the relationships of research variables showed the significance of the effect of goals on the process, resources on the process, opportunities on the process, goals on the results, process and results, process the consequence, results the consequence in the talent management system. Of course, the effect of necessity on process, resources and results, opportunities and results, and necessities on significant results was not reported. Test findings hypotheses related to the status of technology quality of the research variables indicated the appropriate status of the quality technology of the goals in wrestling and the inadequate status of the quality of the technology of the goals in other sports. Also, the quality of resources, opportunities, necessities, process, results and consequences in all related sports was unsatisfactory. Therefore, it can be concluded that sports teams that pay attention to all stages of talent management and have proper performance in the structure and process, this will lead to positive results and consequences.

The trade-off between speed and accuracy in scoring process-oriented tests for fundamental movement skills (FMS) has always been challenging for a screening project. The aim of this study was the feasibility of using wearable inertial measurement units (IMU) and artificial intelligence algorithms to automatically assessment of FMS. 123 overhand throwings were performed by children aged 4 to 10 years (age = 7±1.84) (53% = boys). Three IMU (Shokofa Tavan Vira) sent signals of angular velocity, linear acceleration of the preferred hand, non-predominant ankle, and lumbar region of the children. Each performance was scored according to the criteria of the third edition test of The Gross Motor Development (TGMD-3) by reviewing the video of the performed skills. The "k nearest neighbor" algorithm was used for automatic data classification. The minimum difference between test signals and training signals was calculated and classified. Two issues were assessed: false acceptance, in which an “incorrect” performance was classified as “correct”; and false rejection where a “correct” performance was classified as “incorrect”. The classification accuracy of the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm was 85%. The automatic scoring algorithm also correctly classified 93%, 78%, 93%, and 76% in criteria 1 to 4, respectively. Low-back IMU data analysis shows the model's accuracy of 75%. Further, the total scoring time was reduced from 5 minutes to less than 30 seconds. The use of artificial intelligence in the signal processing of only three IMU was a reliable and practical method for the assessment of FMS. This approach means the monitoring and evaluation of children's movement skills can be objective. In addition, while maintaining relative accuracy, the time involved in the process-oriented analysis of FMS for research, clinical, sports, and educational purposes was reduced entirely.

Assistance exoskeletons are among the requirements for those suffering from strokes, post-polio complications, injuries, osteoarthritis and multiple other health issues. These exoskeletons could also be beneficial for individuals who exert heavy physical activities on a regular basis. Consequently, various academic as well as commercial projects are available in the market in the field of lower limb exoskeletons. The purpose of this article is to investigate passive and quasi-passive lower limb exoskeletons with a focus on knees and categorize these exoskeletons and moreover introduce their basic structures. It is concluded that ppassive exoskeletons are among the most essential subjects of this field due to their simplicity and cost efficiency. The basis of these types of exoskeletons is grounded on energy storage while the knee is in flexion (stored energy to be released in the extension phase). Furthermore, passive exoskeleton designs endeavor to sustain/endure some of the weight force with the aim of reducing pressure on the knee joint. One of the important parameters in choosing an exoskeleton is the user's comfort when using the exoskeleton, which depends on two factors, the first is how the exoskeleton connects to the body and the second is the changes in metabolic energy consumption as a result of using this exoskeleton.

In this study, the effect of linear and non-linear training methods on kinetic variables in basketball landing was investigated, and changes in force and moment from pre-test to post-test were evaluated. The present study was a quasi-experimental experiment, and clinical research method. Participants were 24 students who were selected from Kharazmi University by available methods. They practiced basketball skills in two groups of linear and non-linear for 16 sessions. In the linear method, the presentation of patterns and feedback was used for training, and in the non-linear method, the manipulation of constraints was used. The variables measured included VGRF, knee flexion/extension moment, knee valgus moment, and ankle dorsiflexion moment. The results of the covariance analysis showed that the nonlinear method has a significantly better effect on all kinetic variables compared to the linear method (p<0.05). The results of this study consider nonlinear methods as an effective strategy in clinical settings, and emphasize on the role of constraint manipulation in practice and learning environments, and highlight that nonlinear methods, with focusing on exploration and search for solutions, to prevent ACL injuries efficiently by affecting kinetic variables.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the kinovea software in assessing the position sense of shoulder joint in female volleyball players.

15 females of women's volleyball team of University of Tabriz (19-23 aged) participated at this study voluntarily. The active flexion and abduction range of motion of the shoulder joint at three different angles of 45, 80 and135 degrees were assessed using goniometer and photography (kinovea software) methods. All tests were done in both eyes open and eyes closed conditions. The reconstruction angle and reconstruction error were calculated and used for proprioception analysis. The obtained data were analyzed using spss26 software and Pearson correlation method with significance level of 0.05. To evaluate the validity of kinova software, the correlation between the results of kinovea and goniometer was calculated. The test-retest method was also used in the investigation of reliability of kinova measurements. The results showed significant positive correlations between the two measurement methods in all three flexion angles of shoulder joint while open and closed eyes conditions. A similar result was seen in shoulder abduction. Also, the results showed that kinovea measurements had high reliability for investigating the proprioception of shoulder joint (P<0.05).

The kinovea software is a valid and reliabel method to measure the shoulder joint position sense. So, the use of kinovea software is recommended at medical and rehabilitation centers and sport’s environments as a free open access and suitable method for position sense measurement of shoulder joint.