Sport Sciences and Health Research
Year:2012 | Volume:- | Issue:7|Papers Count:6

The aim of this study was to compare static and dynamic balance of dominant and non-dominant legs in gymnasts, soccer players, basketball players and swimmers. For this purpose, 40 female athletes with 5 years of athletic experience (gymnasts n=10, age 14.50±0.31 years, height 155.20±7.75cm, weight 49.70±3.91 kg), soccer players (n=10, age 22.80±1.47 years, height 160.60±5.12 cm, weight 52.95±4.87 kg), swimmers (n=10, age 23.30±1.63 years, height 163.5±5.46 cm, weight 55.50±4.42 kg) and basketball players (n=10, age 21.60±1.07 years, height 165.5±6.75 cm, weight 57.43±6.27 kg) participated in this study as subjects. Static balance was assessed using the balance error scoring system (BESS) and dynamic balance was assessed using the star excursion balance test (SEBT). Data were analyzed by paired – sample t test (P£0.05). Results showed no significant difference in static balance as well as dynamic balance between dominant and non-dominant legs (p>0.05) and it is not necessary to stand on the dominant leg to achieve the highest balance. This finding is particularly interesting for the clinicians who commonly use single leg postural control evaluations to assess an athletes’ progress in rehabilitation programs.

Anatomical alignment of the lower extremity has been proposed as a risk factor for lower extremity injuries. Although, functional performance tests are dynamic tests are dynamic measures used to assess lower body function, there are limited researches on the functional performance deficits in patients with excessive pronated foot. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare functional performance deficits in female athletes with excessive pronated foot. 20 subjects with excessive pronated foot participated in this study. Inclusion criteria consisted of no injury of lower extremities within three mounts prior to the study, no history of neuromusculoskeletal diseases, and no prior surgery. Each subject completed a demographic questionnaire, and then the measurement protocol began, with the participant’s neutral foot serving as the control. Figure 8 hop and side hop tests were used to assess the functional performance deficits in both limbs. The total time of protocol was recorded with a handheld stopwatch to the nearest 0.01 second. Navicular drop was then measured using a modified Brody technique. ANOVA test was used to compare functional performance deficits in excessive pronated and neutral feet of dominant vs. non-dominant legs (p£0.05). The results of functional performance tests indicated that the mean of total time of functional performance was lower in the neutral foot than excessive pronated foot and a significant difference was observed in functional performance deficits between neutral and excessive pronated foot (p£0.05). No significant difference was observed between dominant and non-dominant legs as well as in interaction between the neutral–excessive pronated feet and dominant – non-dominant legs (p£0.05). These findings indicated the effect of excessive pronated foot on functional performance of foot.

The aim of the present study was to compare myoelectric activity of some selected lower limb muscles during squat, leg press and hack squat exercises performed with different loads. 10 male power lifters (age: 27±4.85 yrs; height: 177±5.98 cm; weight: 80±12.13 kg) participated in the study. Subjects performed all three exercises, namely, squat, leg press and hack squat at 70% and 90% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM). Surface electromyographic signals from peroneus longus, medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, adductor longus and tensor fascia muscles were recorded using ME 6000 system at a sampling frequency of 2000 HZ while performing each exercise. ANOVA with repeated measures were employed for statistical analysis (p<0.05). The results indicated a greater myoelectric activity for vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles during performing hack squat and the squat exercises in comparison with the leg press exercise at different loads. The hack squat machine takes the pressure off the back and hips so it can be used as a safe exercise to strengthen the quadriceps muscles. Therefore, hack squat exercise could be recommended as a suitable replacement for both squat and leg press exercises among athletes and individuals with low back pain and sport injuries.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the rate of internal longitudinal foot arch with cardiorespiratory endurance and agility in male students aged between 12 and 14. The research was a kind of correlation-descriptive and the statistical population consisted of all guidance schools in Shahrekord and some of these schools were selected by cluster sampling. Statistical sample of this research consisted of 90 male students from these schools who were selected randomly and intentionally. First, the test of foot print was performed and the subjects’ foot arches were classified quantitatively by Staheli index (SI). Then, the subjects were classified intentionally (with mean and standard deviation of age 13±0.82 years, weight 46±7.19 kg and height 1.54±0.086 m) into three groups (30 subjects in each group): group 1 (foot arch SI<0.44), group 2 (foot arch 0.44³SI³0.89) and group 3 (foot arch SI>0.89). Each group performed 1600 meters speed test to evaluate their cardiorespiratory endurance and 4´9 meters Shuttle run test to evaluate agility. The data were analyzed by SPSS17 and correlation test and one-way ANOVA. The results indicated a significant relationship between the rate of longitudinal foot arch and cardiorespiratory endurance (p=0.002) while there was no significant relationship between the rate of longitudinal foot arch and agility (p=0.216). It can be concluded that the foot arch deformities especially flat foot is an important factor in cardiorespiratory endurance of students though it is not important in their agility.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of core stabilization training program on balance in hearing impaired students. 27 deaf male students (mean age 17.47+1.03 yrs, height 170.5+5.05 cm and weight 60.25+6.21 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into experimental (n=14) and control (n=13) groups randomly. The static balance was measured with the balance error estimate system (BESS) and the dynamic balance was measured with the star excursion balance test (SEBT). Experimental group performed a core stabilization program for eight weeks and three times per week. Independent and dependent t tests were used to analyze the data. The results indicated a significant increase in static and dynamic balance after eight weeks for the experimental group (P£0.05). Also, the results indicated significant differences in four excursions (medial, posteromedial, posterior and postero lateral) for experimental group (P£0.05). In conclusion, core stabilization training can improve static and dynamic balance in hearing impaired students and can be used along with other training programs.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and performance of elite female swimmers in 50m freestyle swimming. 50 elite female swimmers who had participated in Iran Women’s Championships in 1388 (mean age=15.92±1.12 years, height=164.75±6.69 cm and weight=51.50±4.10 kg) participated in this study as the sample. Anthropometric characteristics including height, weight, biacromial width, chest width, chest depth, chest circumference, waist circumference, buttocks circumference, arm circumference, thigh circumference, calf circumference, forearm circumference, biiliac width, thigh length, calf length, length of the foot sole, width of the foot sole, arm length, forearm length, hand length, hand width and hand grip strength were measured. Pearson product moment correlation was used to analyze the data (P£0.05). The results showed a significant negative correlation between the subjects’ performance and height (P=0.005) and arm length (P=0.01). It seems that swimmers with more height and arm length have a better performance. Swimming coaches can use these findings for talent identification in 50m freestyle swimming.