During swim competition, active recovery swimming (ARS) following the competitive event is often encouraged to hasten recovery prior to subsequent events. Often a single main competition pool precludes the opportunity for ARS, so alternative activities of active recovery cycling (ARC) or passive recovery (PR) are used. PURPOSE: To compare the rate of change in blood lactate using ARS, ARC and PR, following a maximal effort swim. METHODS: 8 (3 male, 5 female) masters level swimmers (age range 26-61) volunteered for the study. Each subject completed a 500 meter swim warm-up at moderate pace. After completion of the warm-up each subject completed a 100 meter freestyle maximal effort swim, followed by one of three randomly assigned 15 min recovery trials with blood lactate obtained by finger puncture at 3, 5, 10 and 15 min post swim. The three trials consisted of: PR (subject sat on the pool deck), ARS (swim freestyle @ a pace 30 sec/100 meter slower than the max effort), and ARC (airdyne cycling @ 60% HRR). Statistical analysis by ANOVA (p<.05) were applied to these data. RESULTS: At 3, 5, 10, and 15 min post swim, lactate values (mmol) were 6.5, 6.5, 6.2, and 5.4 for PR, 7.2, 6.3, 5.4, and 4.8 for ARS, and 7.1, 5.6, 4.7 and 4.1 for ARC, respectively. There were no differences (p >.05) among the three recovery modes in terms of % lactic acid clearance at 5 and 10 min post swim, however at 15 min ARC clearance of 42% was greater (p<.05) than PR (18%), but similar to ARS (34%). CONCLUSION: Large individual variation in lactate efflux, as well as swim technique may, in part, be responsible for heterogeneous recovery responses. Improved lactate clearance appears allied with active recovery regardless of the mode of exercise.
Plantar fasciitis (PF), which occurs in about 15% of the athletic population and 10% of the general population, is a painful inflammation of the plantar surface of the foot attributed to extreme tightness of the plantar fascia. Discomfort is felt on the underside of the heel and is typically most severe with the first steps of the day. PF treatments include orthotics, rest, stretching, anti-inflammatory medication, and chiropractic. Stress Relief Methods (SRM) is a manual technique designed to correct a patient's right sided contracture (Twist) through the application of 6 SRM manual procedures: Upper Thoracic, Lumbar-Thoracic, Lumbar-Pelvic, Anterior-Posterior Lumbar-Thoracic, Cranial-Thoracic, and the Spinal Rotation manipulations. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of SRM on PF in a double blind study. METHODS: 7 subjects (5 male, 2 females, age 51.9 yrs, body mass 76.2 kg) with a 19 month mean history of PF volunteered for the study. Following a medical screening, subjects were evaluated for the presence and severity of PF by physical examination, functional assessments (bilateral: leg length, hip and thoracic rotation, algometer P/F pressure/pain rating), and a pain scale for a total of 13 individual measures. Assessments were performed pre-intervention, and at 5 and 10 weeks, with pain scales ratings obtained each week at 24 hours post-treatment. Subjects were randomly assigned to either SRM or a placebo treatments (one/week) for the first five weeks and cross over to the other treatment for the final five weeks. The placebo involved six chiropractic spinal and peripheral manipulations, not involving the readjustment of the right sided twist. Statistical analysis by ANOVA was applied to these data (p<.05). RESULTS: The only significant difference among the 13 measures was the cumulative pain scale value of 18.6 vs 40.5 for the PF involved limb with treatment vs placebo, respectively. CONCLUSION: The absence of change in objective measures did not diminish the relief reported by subjects following SRM treatment. Additional objective measures, as well as a larger sample size are important to define the role of SRM in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.
Fitting the appropriate prosthesis to a transtibial amputee athlete is a complex process that involves repeated modification and alteration to ensure the appropriate size, residual limb/prosthesis interface, carbon fiber foot stiffness (CFFS) and athletic performance. A less than optimal fit may attenuate performance and lead to injury. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate biomechanical changes of running resulting from a range of CFFS stiffness. METHODS: 12 transtibial amputee runners (run experience of 6 yrs) volunteered to perform steady state bouts of exercise at 107, 134, 161, and 188 m/min using five randomly assigned CFFS including their normal stiffness, plus two of greater CFFS and two CFFS below their personal standard. All athletes were fitted by the same prosthetist and changes in carbon fiber feet were performed by a trained technician. Biomechanical analysis included video filming and analysis with Dartfish software. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between body mass and CFFS (.754), and VO2 and run speed (.790). At speeds of 107, 134, 161, and 188 m/min, there were no significant differences among stride length (91, 91.6, 92.1, and 93.3 cm), % CFF compression (24.5, 22.8, 19.3, and 19.7%), and flight time (.113,.102,.102, and.098 sec), respectively. CONCLUSION: The small heterogeneous sample did not reveal significant difference among the CFFS, however individual differences may be important for comfort, performance, and reduced injury potential.
The cardiovascular and metabolic stimulus derived from upper body cycling exercise is purportedly altered with different movement patterns. Asymmetrical single arm cycling (SA), double arm cycling (DA [both arms matched at identical points in the range of motion]) and split crank pattern (SP [180 degrees of separation between hands]) may require different muscle recruitment patterns, which could alter the intensity of specific muscles. This investigation used an arm crank exercise cycle with independent crank arms, a short (170 mm) crank arm length and a narrower crank axis, than most upper body exercise cycles. These cycle characteristics allow the aforementioned movement patterns. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the energy cost and hemodynamic response to arm cranking using three movement patterns at a fixed cadence of 80 rpm at a fixed resistance. METHODS: Familiarization trials were conducted to ensure compliance to the different movement patterns. One female and nine male subjects (age 26.2 ± 7.1 yr, body mass 92.4 ±15.7 kg and ht. 179.5 ± 6.7 cm.) were randomly assigned to perform steady state trials of SA, DA and SP using open circuit spirometry. Pilot testing revealed that smaller subjects (<70 kg) fail to achieve steady state at any cadence at the fixed resistance (∼40% of maximal resistance). RESULTS: ANOVA revealed no significant difference (p>.05) in any variable among all trials (i.e VO2 2.2, 2.6, and 2.4 L/min for SA, DA, and SP trials, respectively). CONCLUSION: Regardless of the arm movement pattern (SA, DA, or SP), a similar metabolic and hemodynamic response occurs at the same workload. The inclusion of a variety of movement patterns at the same resistance can provide a similar stimulus, yet keep the exercise experience novel. 2920 Board #67 May 30 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Improvements In Balance And Agility After High Intensity Water Exercise For Land-based Athletes John Whitehill, Jr, Nora L. Constantino, FACSM, Mary E. Sanders, FACSM, Mary E. Sanders, FACSM, Minggen Lu, Minggen Lu. University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV. (No relationships reported) The extent to which water training affects athletic performance on land is unclear. Agility and balance performance responses to water exercise are not well documented. PURPOSE: To determine effectiveness of water-based exercise on agility and balance performance by land-based competitive athletes during off-season training. METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy, competitive athletes (23.7 + 6.5 years) were recruited to either a water exercise (WE, n= 14), or control (C, n=15) group. The WE group trained 9 weeks, a minimum of 3 days per week, 90 minutes a session. WE exercises included: cardiovascular resistance and stretching in shallow and deep water using running, jumping, cadence and interval sets; aquatic cycling; underwater running. The control group maintained land-based, off-season training and recorded activity. Agility and balance were measured at, baseline, midway and at the end of training. RESULTS: No injuries were reported for either group. For all measures the WE group significantly improved greater than the C group. Wilcoxon Rank Sums Test was used to test the difference between EX and C groups for compass clockwise, compass counter clockwise, hexagon clockwise, hexagon counter clockwise, sway and stability. CONCLUSION: This water exercise program conducted during off-season for a variety of competitive land-based athletes resulted in greater improvements in all measures for agility and balance when compared to controls. While both groups had improvements, the WE group improved significantly more than the C group. Water exercise appears to show promise as an effective training option for healthy competitive athletes who want to improve balance and agility.
Efficiency of movement (energy cost/kg body mass) is an important ingredient for athletic success. The athlete with the highest efficiency can use his/her "saved energy" for increased speed of movement or to move at the same speed at a decreased physiological demand. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the energy cost of the Flex Run by Ossur prosthetic carbon fiber foot at multiple prosthetic stiffness's (PS) performed at anaerobic threshold (AnT). METHODS: 12 athletic subjects (7 male, 5 females, body mass 67.2 kg, ht 174 cm, max VO2 48.5 mL/kg-m [range 35-59.7]) with unilateral transtibial amputation performed a treadmill max VO2 speed protocol with increments of 14.3 m/min per 3 min stage to volitional exhaustion, while using their prescribed prosthetic carbon fiber foot stiffness. AnT occurred at 85% of max VO2 between 188-255 m/min. All subjects were fitted by the same prosthetist and randomly assigned three PS in a blinded cross over design protocol. Statistical analysis by ANOVA was applied to these data (p<.05). RESULTS: The following data were obtained at PS of 5, 6, and 7, respectively: stride count 92.6, 95.3 & 94.4 /m; energy cost 46.4, 46.6, & 46.6 mLO2/kg-m; HR 177, 177, & 178 b/m. No significant difference was noted among any PS trial. CONCLUSION: Although mean values fail to reveal an ideal PS for all subjects, small but possibly clinically significant differences in efficiency were noted within the same athlete. Individual testing, with at least five PS and at various speeds (i.e. AnT, 10K race pace, marathon race pace, etc.) is necessary to determine one's optimal race performance efficiency.
Intense training, along with the advent of new materials and technology available for development of prosthesis, are allowing amputee athletes to reach greater success in sport. To improve run performance, trans-tibial amputee athletes strive to improve efficiency of movement, which in part, is attributed to the amount of rebound provided through their prosthetic. The popular carbon fiber Ossur running foot, Flex Run, is manufactured with nine specific categories of stiffness, each with a difference in the coefficient of restitution. Currently, guidelines are provided by the manufacturer for fitting the appropriate running foot stiffness to the athlete based on body mass and fitness. PURPOSE: To objectively quantify run efficiency based on the energy cost of different running feet. METHODS: A sub- 3:10 marathon BK runner (age 40 yr, body mass 74.5 kg and ht.175 cm) participated in a treadmill run GXT to Max VO2 (62.2 mL/kg-m-1) starting at 187.6 m/min with increments of 13.4 m/min every 3 min. AnT was determined from the max GXT at 262.6 m/min (52.4 mL/kg-m-1or 87% max VO2). The subject completed three randomly assigned double blind trials at AnT with three consecutive categories of running foot stiffness. The running foot stiffness categories included one standard category recommended by the manufacturer (S), as well as one category above (S+) and one below (S-) the standard. RESULTS: The following data were obtained: Ve (106.4, 108.5, & 113.4 L/m), HR (164, 159, 165 b/m) and VO2 (58.5, 57.6 & 59.5 mL/kg-m-1) at S-, S, and S+ trials, respectively. All trials resulted in the same 186 foot strikes/min and the same stride length. His energy cost was 4.4%, 2.8%, and 6.2% greater than the ACSM prediction equation for S-, S, and S+ trials, respectively. Although the athlete reported the greatest comfort during the S+ trial, his VO2 was elevated 3.2% above the S trial. CONCLUSION: The prosthesis does not appear to offer any advantage in terms of efficiency. The evaluation of additional subjects and running speeds are necessary to effectively quantify running efficiency attributed to prosthetic running foot stiffness.
There is a widely held belief that a horse can be accurately aged by an examination of its teeth but this belief has recently been questioned. In this study photographs were taken of the dentition of 434 thoroughbreds of known age. Four experienced equine clinicians provided estimates of the ages of the horses from the photographs. A comparison of the estimated and true ages showed large discrepancies in many cases and the discrepancies increased as the horse's true age increased. The results show that the ageing of horses from their dentition is an imprecise science. It is suggested that written records of the dental features are made on each occasion when a dental examination is made and that veterinary surgeons advise clients that estimating a horse's age from dental criteria can provide no more than an 'informed guess'.
'%3e%3cpath fill='%23012169' d='M0 0v30h60V0z'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='6' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='4' d='m0 0 60 30m0-30L0 30' clip-path='url(%23b)'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23fff' stroke-width='10' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3cpath stroke='%23C8102E' stroke-width='6' d='M30 0v30M0 15h60'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)