Mechanical power output in rowing should not be determined from oar forces and oar motion alone

Mechanical power output is a key performance-determining variable in many cyclic sports. In rowing, instantaneous power output is commonly determined as the dot product of handle force moment and oar angular velocity. The aim of this study was to show that this commonly used proxy is theoretically flawed and to provide an indication of the magnitude of the error. To obtain a consistent dataset, simulations were performed using a previously proposed forward dynamical model. Inputs were previously recorded rower kinematics and horizontal oar angle, at 20 and 32 strokes?min^?1. From simulation outputs, true power output and power output according to the common proxy were calculated. The error when using the common proxy was quantified as the difference between the average power output according to the proxy and the true average power output (P?_residual), and as the ratio of this difference to the true average power output (ratio_res./rower). At stroke rate 20, P?_residual was 27.4 W and ratio_res./rower was 0.143; at stroke rate 32, P?_residual was 44.3 W and ratio_res./rower was 0.142. Power output in rowing appears to be underestimated when calculated according to the common proxy. Simulations suggest this error to be at least 10% of the true power output.     

Directionally compensated mechanical work provided by the shoulder leads to similar racket velocities during open and square stance forehand groundstrokes in tennis*

Abstract

The differences between the racket-arm acceleration mechanisms during open and square stance forehand groundstrokes in tennis were examined by quantifying the mechanical work done on the racket arm. We studied 13 advanced tennis players as they performed these strokes at maximum effort and calculated the work using inverse dynamics. The racket head speed was similar between the open and square stances. In the open stance, the lack of weight shifting towards the hitting direction resulted in a lower velocity for the shoulder joint centre in the hitting direction than in the square stance, and less work was done by the shoulder joint force in the hitting direction in the open stance than in the square stance (0.30?±?0.11?J·kg-1 vs. 0.38?±?0.16?J·kg-1; p?=?0.005). However, in the open stance, the torso rotated more towards the hitting direction and had more upward acceleration, which resulted in more work done by the sideways and upward shoulder joint forces than in the square stance (sideways: 0.07?±?0.09?J·kg-1 vs. 0.05?±?0.09?J·kg-1, p?=?0.046; upward: 0.08?±?0.09?J·kg-1 vs. 0.04?±?0.07?J·kg-1, p?=?0.002). Thus, the greater work done by the sideways and upward shoulder joint forces compensated for the lesser work done by the shoulder joint force in the hitting direction in the open stance. In both stances, mainly the horizontal flexion torque and internal rotation torque at the shoulder increased the energy of the racket arm.     

Running economy,mechanics, and marathon racing shoes

ABSTRACT

The choice of marathon racing shoes can greatly affect performance. The purpose of this study is to metabolically and mechanically compare the consumer version of the Nike Vaporfly 4% shoe to two other popular marathon shoes, and determine differences in running economy. Nineteen subjects performed two 5-minute trials at 4.44m/s wearing the Adidas Adios Boost (AB), Nike Zoom Streak (ZS), and Nike Vaporfly 4% (VP) in random order. Oxygen uptake was recorded during minutes 3–5 and averaged across both shoe trials. On a second day, subjects wore reflective markers, and performed a 3-minute trial in each shoe. Motion and force data were collected over the final 30 seconds of each trial. VP oxygen uptake was 2.8% and 1.9% lower than the AB and ZS. Stride length, plantar flexion velocity, and center of mass vertical oscillation were significantly different in the VP. The percent benefit of the VP over AB shoe was predicted by subject ground time. These results indicate that use of the VP shoe results in improved running economy, partially due to differences in running mechanics. Subject variation in running economy improvement is only partially explained by variation in ground time.     

基于曲率模型的斑马鱼C型转弯和逃逸的力能学比较

斑马鱼C型起动不仅发生于逃逸响应（C型逃逸）,而且发生于非逃逸响应（C型转弯）。它们具有不同的变形模式和周期,并且运动学性能各异。在相同的弯曲幅度下,C型转弯实现更大的转弯角度,而C型逃逸则具有更快的游动速度。但尚不清楚它们的水动力学机制和力能学特征。本文针对C型转弯和逃逸的变形特征,建立新的曲率模型,采用优化算法拟合模型参数。通过自主游动数值模拟,发现C型转弯实现大转弯的机制在于：弯曲阶段存在比较大的正向力矩,而回摆阶段存在比较小的反向力矩;而C型逃逸在回摆阶段存在比较大的推力,导致反向力矩增大和转弯角度变小。还发现周期对转弯角度的影响不大,但对逃逸速度和能量消耗影响显著。因此,C型转弯为了节省能量,周期通常在100 ms以上;而C型逃逸为了追求高速度,周期则在50 ms附近。     

浅议平衡常数的教学

讨论经验平衡常数K与标准平衡常数K 的导出、区别及其内在联系 .针对大一化学教科书对平衡常数处理比较混乱的状况 ,浅谈几点教学体会     

The construction of common treadmills significantly affects biomechanical and metabolic variables

ABSTRACT

Surface compliance has been shown to affect leg stiffness and energetics. It is unknown if compliance differences between common treadmills would elicit such changes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if compliance design differences of common treadmills would affect the mechanics and energetics of running. Eleven runners ran at moderate, self-selected, matched belt speeds for three minutes on two treadmills: compliant (CT) and rigid (RT) decks. During the last minute of each trial, oxygen consumption and six markers describing the torso, thigh, shank and foot, and one marker to determine treadmill deflection were recorded. Leg stiffness, continuous relative phase (CRP) and CRP variability were calculated. Compared to RT, running on CT resulted in a significantly more compliant leg (8.591 kN?m^?1 > 9.063 kN?m^?1), lower oxygen consumption (34.69 ml?kg^?1?min^?1 < 36.86 ml?kg^?1?min^?1), different coordination patterns and greater variability, particularly during the push-off phase. These results are inconsistent with the literature because the deck of CT rebounds back at the runner during the absorption phase and away from the runner during the push-off phase. Therefore, care should be taken when using treadmills for research and comparing mechanical and energetic measures between studies.     

Musculoskeletal demands of progressions for the longswing on high bar

Kinetic analyses of the chalked bar longswing on high bar and its associated progressions were used to explain musculoskeletal contributions during the performance of these skills. Data on four international male gymnasts performing three series of chalked bar longswings and eight progressions were recorded. Customized body segment inertia parameters, two-dimensional kinematics (50 Hz), and bar forces (1000 Hz) were used as input to inverse dynamic modelling. The analysis focused on the relative contributions of the knees, hips, and shoulders with root mean squared differences between the chalked bar longswing and the progressions being used to rank the progressions. Seventy per cent of the total work occurred between 200° and 240° of angular rotation in the longswing, 67% of which was contributed by the shoulders. The shoulders were also dominant in all progressions, with the largest such contribution occurring in the looped bar longswing with “no action”. The least similar progression was the looped bar pendulum swing, while the most similar was the chalked bar bent knee longswing. This study provides a useful means for ranking progressions based on their kinetic similarity to the chalked bar longswing and builds on earlier research in identifying that progressions can be classified into those similar in physical demand (kinetics) and those similar in geometry (kinematics).     

浪漫主义文学的两种形态——以郭沫若和华兹华斯为例

以英国浪漫主义诗人华兹华斯和中国现代诗人郭沫若为例,详细分析了两种不同的浪漫主义文学的形态：华兹华斯的诗是朴素的,不追求新奇,不喜夸张,重视细节的真实,惯于写小人物和微贱的田园生活;而郭沫若的诗,气势如大江狂澜,情境离奇,把“奇人、奇事、奇境”推向极致,感情放纵到了扼杀诗真和诗美的地步。     

Using the interaction of speed and acceleration to detect repeated-sprint activity in team sports

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To compare the occurrence and characteristics of repeated-sprint (RS) activity in elite team sport competition when classified according to speed and/or acceleration, and their interaction via metabolic power (P_met). Methods: Elite male hockey players (N = 16) wore player-tracking devices in six international matches. Sprint efforts were defined using four separate classifications: speed >5.5 m?s^?1, acceleration >1.5 m?s^?2, speed-or-acceleration, and P_met >25.5 W?kg^?1. RS bouts were defined as ≥3 efforts with mean recovery ≤21 s. For P_met, RS bouts were also classified using a maximal recovery period ≤21 s. The number of sprint efforts and RS bouts, and the number of efforts, effort durations and recovery periods within RS bouts, were compared across each classification method, and between mean and maximal recovery criteria. Results: More RS bouts were identified via P_met (8.5 ± 2.8) than either speed and/or acceleration, and comprised more efforts (4.0 ± 0.4) with shorter recovery periods (11.5 ± 1.8 s). Fewer RS bouts (7.3 ± 2.8 vs. 8.5 ± 2.8) were identified with a maximum rather than mean recovery criterion. Conclusions: Definitions of sprint efforts and recovery periods which reflect ATP depletion and replenishment via P_met suggest that RS activity occurs frequently in team sport competition, and is more demanding than when speed and/or acceleration are used to define RS activity in variable-speed locomotion.     

Biomechanical energetic analysis of technique during learning the longswing on the high bar

Biomechanical energetic analysis of technique can be performed to identify limits or constraints to performance outcome at the level of joint work, and to assess the mechanical efficiency of techniques. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical energetic processes during learning the longswing on the high bar. Twelve male, novice participants took part in a training study. Kinematic and kinetics data were collected during swing attempts in eight weekly testing sessions. Inverse dynamics analysis was performed from known zero forces at the toes. Joint work, total energy, and bar energy were calculated. Biomechanical constraints to action, that is, limits to novice performance, were identified as “total work” and “shoulder work”. The most biomechanically efficient technique was associated with an onset of the hip functional phase and joint work that occurred between 10–45° before the bottom of the swing. The learning of gross motor skills is realised through the establishment of a set of techniques with task specific biomechanical constraints. Knowledge of the biomechanical constraints to action associated with more effective and efficient techniques will be useful for both assessing learning and establishing effective learning interventions.