Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Performance Implications Of Rear Foot Movement In The Swimming Kick Start, Amber C. Hutchinson

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The performance implications of changing rear foot joint angles in the kick start were evaluated using a replicated version of the Omega OSB11 starting block. Maximal effort dives were collected for twenty-six competitive swimmers. The block was equipped with two tri-axial force plates to differentiate between forces applied to the rear foot rest and forces applied to the block. Two high-speed video cameras recorded hind-foot eversion and dorsiflexion angles. Competitive swimmers with larger hind-foot eversion movement have larger lateral kick plate forces, longer kick plate times, and larger contributions of the kick plate to total impulse. These swimmers also have …

The Effects Of Oar-Shaft Stiffness And Length On Rowing Biomechanics, Brock Laschowski

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This work investigates the effects of oar-shaft stiffness and length on rowing biomechanics. The mechanical properties of the oar-shafts were examined using an end-loaded cantilever system, and theoretical relations were proposed between the mechanics of the oar-shafts and rowing performance. On-water experiments were subsequently conducted and rowing biomechanics measured via the PowerLine Rowing Instrumentation System. The PowerLine system measures force and oar angle on the oarlock, as well as proper boat acceleration. The convergent validity and test-retest reliability of the PowerLine force measurements were determined prior to the on-water experiments. Thereafter, rowers were tested over a set distance using oar-shafts …

Quantifying And Comparing The Head Impact Biomechanics Of Different Player Positions For Canadian University Football, Kody Campbell

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Differences between Canadian and American football could affect the magnitudes of head impacts and risk of concussion to Canadian players. This study sought to quantify and compare the number, magnitude, and location of impacts that Canadian University football players of different positions experienced during games and practice in a season. A kinematic measuring device collected the linear accelerations and rotational velocities of the head from impacts experienced by players competing in practices and games. The impact magnitudes that were experienced in games were significantly larger than in practice. The offensive back position and wide receiver position had significantly larger peak …

Unveiling The 'Olympic Kidnapping Act': Examining Public Policy And Homelessness In The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games, Sophy Chan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This thesis examines how the 2010 Olympic Games contributed to the issue of homelessness in Vancouver. Specifically, this thesis: 1) investigates how local and provincial ordinances were exploited by landlords to displace tenants and used to mobilize spaces for Olympic consumption so that unwanted behaviours related to homelessness were criminalized, and 2) documents and analyzes the arguments put forward by advocacy groups that contested what was happening to low-income and homeless residents because of Olympic development. Throughout, I argue that homelessness was exacerbated in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in two ways. First, landlords and building owners who wanted …

Quantifying The Effect Of Age And Contraction Mode On The Force-Velocity-Power Relationship In The Knee Extensors, Justin R. Paturel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

PURPOSE: To assess and compare the force-velocity-power relationship (F-V-P) using isotonic and isokinetic knee extensions in 11 younger (19-30y) and 11 older (69-81y) men. METHODS: The construction of the F-V-P curves were attained with each participant performing maximal, explosive knee extensions at 8 different loads (isotonic) and 8 different velocities (isokinetic) on a Cybex HUMAC NORM dynamometer. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC or P_o), maximal shortening velocity (V_max), maximum power, optimal torque (P_opt) and velocity (V_opt) were assessed and compared. RESULTS: The older men were 43% weaker, 18% slower and ~54% less powerful …

The Nature Of Conflict In Sport: Development And Validation Of The Group Conflict Questionnaire, Kyle F. Paradis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The purpose of the present dissertation was to develop a questionnaire to assess intra-group conflict in sport teams. To this end, the current dissertation consisted of three phases which followed a logical progression that is typical in the questionnaire development process. A total of (N = 752) participants took part in the three phases (Phase 1: N = 10; Phase 2: N = 437; Phase 3: N = 305).

Phase 1 was a qualitative investigation of athletes’ (N = 10) perceptions of the nature of conflict in sport. This phase was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the conflict …