Life Sciences Commons^™

Sequential Order Of Swing Phase Initiation In Baseball, Ethan Stewart, Megan Stewart, Jeffrey Simpson, Adam Knight, Harish Chander, Robert Shapiro

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

In order to successfully hit a baseball, hitters must utilize a series of preparatory movements (swing phases) which include shifting their body weight, stepping, landing, and swinging. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between start times for swing phases (shifting, stepping, landing, and swinging)for currently active baseball players. Participants (n = 12) were all current collegiate baseball athletes. Retroreflective markers, surface electromyography (EMG) and two force platforms were utilized to complete a swing analysis. Each participant completed five swinging trials off a tee. All dependent variables were compared using a repeated measures 1×4 ANOVA with …

Walking With A Robotic Exoskeleton Does Not Mimic Natural Gait: A Within-Subjects Study, Chad Swank, Sharon Wang-Price, Fan Gao, Sattam Almutairi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Background: Robotic exoskeleton devices enable individuals with lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with full weight-bearing and reciprocal gait. Limited information is available on how a robotic exoskeleton affects gait characteristics.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing a robotic exoskeleton affects temporospatial parameters, kinematics, and muscle activity during gait.

Methods: The study was completed by 15 healthy adults (mean age 26.2 [SD 8.3] years; 6 males, 9 females). Each participant performed walking under 2 conditions: with and without wearing a robotic exoskeleton (EKSO). A 10-camera motion analysis system synchronized with 6 …

Muscle Activation Analysis With Kinematic Comparison Between Wind-Up And Stretch Pitching With Respect To The Upper And Lower Extremities, Megan M. Smidebush

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Introduction: Baseball pitching is considered one of the most intense aspects within the game of baseball, as well as the most complicated dynamic throwing task in all of sports. The biomechanics of pitching have been heavily investigated in an attempt to identify optimal pitching mechanics in terms of pitching performance. Previous quantified upper body kinetics research has concluded that improved muscle strength is needed in attempting to achieve adequate upper body kinetics and efficient pitching performances. Therefore, it is the purpose of this research study to compare the lower extremity muscle and upper extremity muscle activation patterns and kinematic variables …

A Complete Kinematic, Kinetic, And Electromyographical Analysis Of The Football Throw In Collegiate Quarterbacks, Kyle R. Bohnert

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The biomechanics of the overhead throw has been extensively studied in regards to baseball pitching. However, an understanding of the proper mechanics needed to successfully throw a football has not previously been investigated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the kinematics, kinetics, and electromyography of the football throws in elite quarterbacks. Three collegiate quarterbacks were evaluated using a multi-camera motion capture system and electromyography electrodes. The results of this study are able to give a breakdown in the types of mechanics needed in each of the phases of the throw. This study demonstrated that during the early …

The Effects Of Seat Post Angle In Cycling Performance, Saori Hanaki-Martin

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Triathlon involves three different modes of endurance events, swim, bike and run, consecutively. Transitions between events are critical to be successful in the sport; however, many triathletes report impaired running performance due to adverse residual effects from cycling. One of the strategies that triathletes use to manage the adverse effects is to use a bicycle with a more vertical seat post angle. There is limited evidence that support the effectiveness of such bicycle geometry, but many of these studies lacks ecological validity.

Twelve triathletes and cyclists completed a 20-km simulated course with instrumentations for 3D motion, kinetic, and electromyographic analyses …

The Clinical Usefulness Of Vector Coding Variability In Female Runners With And Without Patellofemoral Pain, Tommy Joseph Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

It has been suggested that Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) may be the result of a coordinate state which exhibits less joint coordination variability. The ability to relate joint coordination variability to PFP pathology could have many clinical uses; however, evidence to support clinical application is lacking. Vector coding’s coupling angle variability (CAV) has been introduced as a possible analysis method to quantify joint coordination variability. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical usefulness of CAV measures from a dynamical systems perspective. This involved establishing the precision limits of CAV measures when physiological conditions are held constant, altering control …

Coordination Of Swimbench Freestyle In Elite And Non-Elite Swimmers: A Dynamical System Approach, Tracy H. Spigelman

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Elite swimmers can be distinguished from novice swimmers by freestyle stroke technique. Elite swimmers move through multiple coordination modes, increases in stroke lengths, stroke rates, and body roll allowing for a more symmetrical stroke and increased speed compared with novice swimmer during 100m freestyle.

Coaches strive to improve swimmers’ performance by providing feedback about stroke technique, mostly from the pool deck where view of the full stroke cycle is obstructed by the water. Tools to assess swimming are often expensive and require extra training, which does not provide a pragmatic solution. A dryland rotational swimbench would provide a means to …