Scapulohumeral kinematic assessment of the forward kayak stroke in experienced whitewater kayakers

By understanding the normal humeral and scapular kinematics during the kayak stroke, inferences about the relationship of kayaking technique and shoulder injury may be established. The purpose of this study was to describe scapular and humeral kinematics and to compare dominant versus non-dominant symmetry in healthy whitewater kayakers performing the forward stroke. Twenty-five competent whitewater kayakers (mean age: 34.1 ± 9.4 years, mean height: 1.768 ± 0.093 m, mean mass: 78.2 ± 13.0 kg) underwent humeral and scapular kinematic assessment, using an electromagnetic tracking device, while kayaking on a kayak ergometer. Paired t-tests were used to determine symmetry. Scapular and humeral kinematic means and standard deviations at six time points during the kayak stroke were described. Scapular and humeral kinematics were shown to be similar upon bilateral comparison. The greatest potential for injury during the forward stroke may be at thrust paddle shaft vertical when the humerus is maximally elevated in internal rotation and adduction as subacromial structures may be mechanically impinged. The relationship between scapulohumeral kinematics related to injury at other time points are also described.     

Step width alters iliotibial band strain during running

This study assessed the effect of step width during running on factors related to iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome. Three-dimensional (3D) kinematics and kinetics were recorded from 15 healthy recreational runners during overground running under various step width conditions (preferred and at least ± 5% of their leg length). Strain and strain rate were estimated from a musculoskeletal model of the lower extremity. Greater ITB strain and strain rate were found in the narrower step width condition (p < 0.001, p = 0.040). ITB strain was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in the narrow condition than the preferred and wide conditions and it was greater in the preferred condition than the wide condition. ITB strain rate was significantly greater in the narrow condition than the wide condition (p = 0.020). Polynomial contrasts revealed a linear increase in both ITB strain and strain rate with decreasing step width. We conclude that relatively small decreases in step width can substantially increase ITB strain as well as strain rates. Increasing step width during running, especially in persons whose running style is characterized by a narrow step width, may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of running-related ITB syndrome.     

Organisational perception management in sport: The use of corporate pro-environmental behaviour for desired facility referenda outcomes

The subsidisation of professional sport facilities has inspired deeply contentious debates. In North America, these debates have culminating historically in a vote by referendum. In order to obtain a favourable outcome, sport organisations have relied largely on controversial means, including using the influence of urban regimes, disseminating unreliable economic impact analyses to the public, or using political influence to circumvent the democratic process. In this paper, organisational perception management is proposed as an alternative approach to these tactics. This strategy is defined and illustrated using corporate pro-environmental behaviour in sport to demonstrate professional sport organisations can protect their images, reputations, and identities and obtain favourable referenda outcomes. From this analysis, the Desired Voting Outcomes Framework is presented, illustrating that effective organisational perception management can interrupt anticipated no-voters’ decision-making processes, leading to a reconsideration of voters’ judgments. Furthermore, the organisation's longterm reputation is sustained due, in part, to the perceived legitimacy of referenda. Implications of this framework and directions for future research are discussed.     

Implications of intra-limb variability on asymmetry analyses

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intra-limb variability on the calculation of asymmetry with the purpose of informing future analyses. Asymmetry has previously been quantified for discrete kinematic and kinetic variables; however, intra-limb variability has not been routinely included in these analyses. Synchronized lower-limb kinematic and kinetic data were collected from eight trained athletes (age 22 ± 5 years, mass 74.0 ± 8.7 kg, stature 1.79 ± 0.07 m) during maximal velocity sprint running. Asymmetry was quantified using a modified version of the symmetry angle for selected kinematic and kinetic variables. Significant differences (P < 0.05) between left and right values for each variable were calculated to indicate intra-limb variability relative to between-limb differences. Significant asymmetry was present in only 39% of kinematic variables and 23% of kinetic variables analysed. Large kinetic asymmetry values (>90%) were calculated for some athletes that were not significant, due to large intra-limb variability. Variables that displayed significant asymmetry were athlete-specific. Findings highlight the potential for misleading results if intra-limb variability is not included in asymmetry analyses. The exclusion of asymmetry scores for variables not displaying significant asymmetry will be useful when calculating overall asymmetry for different participants and could be applied to future running gait analyses.     

The effects of student aid on recent college graduates

Using college graduates from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (N=3,136), this study reviews the relationships between student financial aid received during college and the types of activities pursued by students after graduating. Four areas of graduates' lives were examined: attending graduate school, choosing a job, forming a family, and forming personal values. Three types of student aid were included: loans, grants, and work, with emphasis on loans. Despite the expectation of a negative impact of loans, the results showed no support for this, and in general, the findings suggested that college graduates who received aid as undergraduates were little different from other graduates. The major implication is that the self-help forms of aid (loans and work) are not detrimental to the future plans of recipients.This paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Washington, D.C., April 1979.     

Q‐methodology in communication science: An introduction

Q‐methodology, traditionally a tool for phenomenological analysis, single‐subject or small sample research, and typological analysis, has potential for research in human communication. Unfortunately, q‐techniques have often been neglected or misunderstood by main‐stream social scientists. This article presents basic information regarding the construction of q‐sorts, discusses methods for analyzing q‐sort data in a variety of research contexts, and identifies resources which may be consulted by those wishing to learn more about the method.     

Comparisons of Self‐Efficacy,Mood, Effort,and Hope Between Students with Learning Disabilities and Their Non‐LD‐Matched Peers

The goals of this study were to compare self‐perceptions of self‐efficacy, mood, effort, and hope between 123 adolescents with learning disabilities (LD) and a group of 123 Non‐LD peers, who were matched for their level of academic performance and gender, and to explore the relations between measures of self‐perception and achievement. The results showed that students with LD reported lower academic self‐efficacy and lower social self‐efficacy. They also rated their mood as more negative and reported lower levels of hope and less investment of effort in their academic work. At the same time, no significant differences were found for emotional self‐efficacy in comparison to the Non‐LD peer group. In addition, among students with LD who were successful in their studies, a subgroup continued to report low levels of hope. The results demonstrated that even when the academic performance of students with LD is similar to their Non‐LD peers, their specific and global self‐perceptions continue to reflect their distress. It is not clear if these results represent past difficulties, day‐to‐day struggles, and/or future worries. Resilience models are proposed and research limitations are specified.