Relationship between performance-based and laboratory tests for lower-limb muscle strength and power assessment in healthy older women

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between performance-based and laboratory tests for muscular strength and power assessment in older women. Thirty-two women aged 68.8 ± 2.8 years were recruited. All participants were asessed for: (a) two performance-based tests – the box-stepping test (mean 296 ± 51 J) and two-revolution maximum test (mean 7.1 ± 2 kg) performed while pedalling on a cycle ergometer; and (b) muscular function tests – maximal instantaneous peak power jumping on a force platform (mean 1528 ± 279 W); maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during knee extension (mean 601 ± 571 N) and leg press (mean 626 ± 126 N), and leg press power (mean 483 ± 98 W) on a dynamometer. Using univariate analysis, performance-based tests were compared with laboratory muscle strength and power measurements. Muscle power correlated most strongly with the performance-based tests for both jumping and leg press power (r-values between 0.67 and 0.75; P < 0.01). The correlation with muscle strength measures ranged between 0.48 and 0.61 (P < 0.01). The proposed tests may have particular relevance in geriatric and rehabilitation environments as they represent an easy, practical, and inexpensive alternative for the assessment of muscular strength and power.     

Throwing performance in water polo is related to in-water shoulder proprioception

ABSTRACT

Water polo players require a high level of upper-extremity strength, flexibility and coordination to achieve a peak level of throwing performance. Increased levels of shoulder proprioceptive acuity, strength and range of motion (ROM) have been previously associated with higher sporting performance. A coach-rating scale, used to quantify an athlete’s kicking proficiency in soccer; was adapted in the current study to measure each coach’s subjective expert opinion regarding athletes’ throwing mechanics, velocity, and accuracy. To examine this hypothesis shoulder proprioception acuity of 18 water polo players was measured both in-water and on-land using an AMEDA apparatus and correlated with coach-rated throwing performance and clinical measures of shoulder strength and ROM. There was a moderate positive correlation between the in-water and the on-land proprioception acuity (r = 0.47, p < 0.05). The in-water score showing a strong positive correlation with coach rated throwing mechanics (r = 0.68, p < 0.05) and velocity (r = 0.75, p = 0.02), suggesting that superior proprioception acuity contributed to fast, mechanically-efficient throwing. These findings support the notion that in-water proprioceptive acuity is an important determinant of the throwing performance achieved by water polo athletes and its measurement may be a valuable adjunct to current athlete screening.     

A Critical Analysis of Current Indexes for Digital Divide Measurement

Several composite indexes grouping several variables into a single figure have been proposed for measuring the digital divide. In this article, the authors analyze shortcomings of extant indexes. Using multivariate analysis tools, they show that in the definition of composite indexes it is possible to individuate a limited set of more influencing and significant variables. This finding suggests the possibility of replacing some redundant variables with other dimensions that include other aspects of the digital divide that are not considered in extant measures.     

Innovation and firm value: An investigation of the changing role of patents, 1985–2007

This paper examines how the relationship between firm value and patent-based indicators of inventive activity has changed over time. We use data from more than 33,000 mergers and acquisitions deals between 1985 and 2007, and distinguish between American (USPTO) and European (EPO) patents. Our results indicate that over time EPO patents have become the dominant indicator of innovative activity, while USPTO patents have no effect on firm value near the end of the sample period. The results are robust to controlling for citations and are especially strong for small firms, for firms operating in the drug and chemical industries, and when target and acquiring firms operate in different industries or countries.     

Chemical apathy or hysteria: What role for education?

Emotional responses from local community groups to the establishment of new industrial activities, involving toxic chemicals, are common. The need for more public education about chemical hazards has often been stated. In the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, PCBs have been stored since 1985, pending their destruction. Council approval for the siting of a pilot plant for their treatment recently caused controversy. This paper presents an analysis of the situation, defines the knowledge needed by ordinary people to participate effectively and rationally in decision making and discusses the acquisition of that knowledge in a community setting. It is not the intention of the author to discuss the contribution that could be made through formal secondary education. Specializations: primary science teacher education, computers in education, environmental education, social responsibility in science.     

Young learners: mapping the beliefs and practices of preschool teachers in relation to early literacy development

This paper introduces the Young Learners?? Project, which is a large scale longitudinal study that aims to identify a number of factors associated with positive outcomes in literacy in the first year of school: the role of the preschool teacher, home life and child characteristics. In particular, it presents the design of one sub-study within the larger project that is focusing on the beliefs, theoretical constructs and literacy practices of 25 preschool teachers. The paper deliberates the methodological choices of a group of researchers who set out to represent in diverse ways, and for diverse purposes, the layered meanings inherent in preschool teachers?? beliefs and practices in relation to early literacy development. In particular, through reference to illustrative extracts of a single case analysis, the paper explores the possibilities and complexities of adopting mixed methods and in doing so, responds to a call for researchers to make explicit the purposes and challenges of case study methodologies.     

Teaching writing to middle school students: a national survey

A random sample of language arts, social studies, and science middle school teachers from the United States were surveyed about their preparation to teach writing, beliefs about responsibilities for teaching writing, use of evidence-based writing practices, assessment of writing, use of technology, and adaptations for struggling writers. The findings from this survey raised concerns about the quality of middle school writing instruction. Many teachers believed their preservice and inservice preparation to teach writing was inadequate. Middle school students spend little time writing or being taught how to write. While most teachers used a variety of evidenced-based writing practices and made adaptations for struggling writers, such methods were applied infrequently. Most teachers did not appear to use assessment data to shape how they taught writing, and computers played a relatively minor role in middle school writing instruction. Even though teachers generally agreed that writing was a collective responsibility, language arts teachers placed a greater emphasis on writing instruction than social studies and science teachers.     

Book review

Stay tuned. A history of American broadcasting, Third Edition written by Christopher H. Sterling and John Michael Kittross. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, New Jersey, London, 2002, 975 pages, ISBN 0–8058–2624–6, www.erlbaum.com

Media Ownership, written by Gillian Doyle. Sage, London, 2002, ISBN 007619–6680–3/007619–6681–1 (pbk)

Internet management issues: A global perspective, edited by John D. Haynes. Idea Publishing Group, 2002, 340 pages, ISBN 1–930708–21–1, www.idea-group.com