CHARACTERISING SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL AERIAL MANOEUVRES IN PROFESSIONAL SURFING COMPETITIONS

Although aerials are an effective way for a competitive surfer to increase their score during surfing competitions, less than half of aerial attempts are landed successfully during competition. This study aimed to identify which characteristics of performing an aerial during competition were associated with either a successful or unsuccessful landing. Video images of 121 aerials performed during the finals series of the 201 5 World Championship Tour season were qualitatively analysed. The Frontside Air Reverse was found to be the most commonly performed aerial, with critical features of landing, particularly features that improved a surfer's balanced landing position, significantly associated with successful aerials. These results provide evidence upon which coaches can modify a surfer's technique to encourage higher successful aerial completion rates

Effect of work boot type on work footwear habits, lower limb pain and perceptions of work boot fit and comfort in underground coal miners

Lower limb injuries are highly prevalent in underground coal mining. Wearing gumboots with inadequate ankle support was thought to contribute to these injuries. Despite the uptake of leather lace-up boots, which provide more ankle support, no recent research could be found investigating the effect of this alternative work boot in underground coal mining. Consequently, this study aimed to determine whether boot type (gumboot, leather lace-up boot) influenced work footwear habits, foot problems, lower limb pain, lower back pain, or perceptions of work boot fit and comfort in underground coal miners. Chi-squared tests were applied to 358 surveys completed by underground coal miners to determine whether responses differed significantly (p \u3c 0.05) according to boot-type. There were no significant between-boot differences in regards to the presence of foot problems, lower limb pain or lower back pain. However, the types of foot problems and locations of foot pain differed according to boot type. Gumboot wearers were also more likely to state that their work boot comfort was either uncomfortable or indifferent, their work boot fit was poor and their current boot did not provide enough support. The introduction of more structured leather lace-up boots appears to have positively influenced the support and fit provided by mining work boots, although foot problems, lower limb pain and lower back pain continue to be reported. Further investigation is recommended to identify which specific boot design features caused these observed differences in work boot fit, comfort and locations of foot pain and how these design features can be manipulated to create an underground coal mining work boot that is comfortable and reduces the high incidence of foot problems and lower limb pain suffered by underground coal miners

Acute rotator cuff tendinopathy: does ice, low load isometric exercise, or a combination of the two produce an analgaesic effect?

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Parle PJ, Riddiford-Harland DL, Howitt CD, et al. 'Acute rotator cuff tendinopathy: does ice, low load isometric exercise, or a combination of the two produce an analgaesic effect?.' Br J Sports Med 2017;51:208-209, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2016-096107.Rotator cuff tendinopathies are the most commonly diagnosed musculoskeletal shoulder conditions and are associated with pain, weakness and loss of function.1 Tendon swelling may be associated with tendinopathy and may result from acute overload.2–3 An increase in tendon cells (tenocytes) and upregulation of large molecular weight proteoglycans, such as aggrecan, may increase tendon water content.2 There is uncertainty as to whether the swelling is related to the pain or is instead an observed but unrelated phenomenon. Weakness detected clinically may be due to pain inhibition.4–5 Early treatment of acute rotator cuff tendinopathy involves patient education and relative rest, and may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. Subacromial corticosteroid injections are also used to achieve the same purpose. These techniques show low to moderate evidence of reducing short-term pain but they do not improve function.6 The medications have side effects such as gastrointestinal tract complaints,7 and corticosteroids may damage tendon tissue.8 Identifying alternative ways to control pain and inflammation may be warranted. Two clinical procedures to manage RC tendinopathy include ice wraps and isometric exercise, however, there are no empirical data supporting their use. This pilot study, conducted at the Illawarra Sports Medicine Clinic, NSW, Australia, was designed to test (1) the short term analgaesic effect of these interventions and (2) the feasibility of a larger clinical trial for adults diagnosed with acute rotator cuff tendinopathy (<12 weeks).Peer reviewe

Childhood foot structure and function: is this influenced by obesity?

Obesity in childhood has been associated with numerous negative health consequences, which can contribute to a reduced quality of life and poor long-term health prognosis. Although compromise to the musculoskeletal system of children as a result of habitually carrying excess adiposity has been reported, it is not clear how obesity affects the developing feet of young children. Identifying possible negative effects of excess body mass on the feet of overweight and obese children could assist in preventing future foot complications and in the design of appropriate interventions to promote healthy outcomes for these children. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to systematically investigate the effects of overweight and obesity on foot structure and function in school-aged children. This thesis aim was achieved through a series of studies, the first of which established a reliable protocol to quantify the midfoot structure of young children’s feet. Once this protocol was established four studies were conducted to examine structural and functional characteristics of the feet of prepubertal school-aged children (aged between 5 and 9 years) of varying body mass index. Parameters quantified in these studies included height, body mass, external foot dimensions, medial midfoot fat pad thickness, internal arch height, dynamic plantar pressure distributions and physical activity participation. The combined results of these studies revealed that overweight and obese children’s feet are fatter and flatter than those of their non-obese counterparts. The medial midfoot fat padding in these overweight and obese children was thicker than that of non-obese children, although it did not appear to provide any functional protection for the feet of these overweight and obese children during walking. Dynamic plantar pressures generated by these school-aged children were positively associated with body mass and inversely associated with physical activity intensity. After these children participated in a weight-bearing physical activity intervention, their body mass and plantar pressure distributions were stabilised with no apparent effect of the program on their foot structure and function. Plantar pressures, however, remained high at program completion and the pressure-time integrals significantly increased from pre- to post intervention. Based on the results of this thesis it is postulated that the developing feet of overweight and obese children may be at risk of foot pain, discomfort or dysfunction due to the high plantar pressures generated by these children due to their excess bodymass. Interventions designed to reduce pressures generated beneath the feet of overweight and obese school-aged children while still encouraging these children to participate in adequate levels of physical activity are warranted

Work boot design affects the way workers walk: A systematic review of the literature

Safety boots are compulsory in many occupations to protect the feet of workers from undesirable external stimuli, particularly in harsh work environments. The unique environmental conditions and varying tasks performed in different occupations necessitate a variety of boot designs to match each worker\u27s occupational safety and functional requirements. Unfortunately, safety boots are often designed more for occupational safety at the expense of functionality and comfort. In fact, there is a paucity of published research investigating the influence that specific variations in work boot design have on fundamental tasks common to many occupations, such as walking. This literature review aimed to collate and examine what is currently known about the influence of boot design on walking in order to identify gaps in the literature and develop evidence-based recommendations upon which to design future research studies investigating work boot design

The three-dimensional shapes of underground coal miners\u27 feet do not match the internal dimensions of their work boots

Mining work boots provide an interface between the foot and the ground, protecting and supporting miners\u27 feet during lengthy coal mining shifts. Although underground coal miners report the fit of their work boots as reasonable to good, they frequently rate their boots as uncomfortable, suggesting that there is a mismatch between the shape of their feet and their boots. This study aimed to identify whether dimensions derived from the three-dimensional scans of 208 underground coal miners\u27 feet (age 38.3 ± 9.8 years) differed from the internal dimensions of their work boots. The results revealed underground coal miners wore boots that were substantially longer than their feet, possibly because boots available in their correct length were too narrow. It is recommended boot manufacturers reassess the algorithms used to create boot lasts, focusing on adjusting boot circumference at the instep and heel relative to increases in foot length. Practitioner Summary: Fit and comfort ratings suggest a mismatch between the shape of underground coal miners\u27 feet and their boots exists. This study examined whether three-dimensional scans of 208 miners\u27 feet differed from their boot internal dimensions. Miners wore boots substantially longer than their feet, possibly due to inadequate width

Are underground coal miners satisfied with their work boots?

Dissatisfaction with work boot design is common in the mining industry. Many underground coal miners believe their work boots contribute to the high incidence of lower limb injuries they experience. Despite this, the most recent research to examine underground coal mining work boot satisfaction was conducted over a decade ago. This present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by assessing current mining work boot satisfaction in relation to the work-related requirements for underground coal mining. 358 underground coal miners (355 men; mean age = 39.1 ± 10.7 years) completed a 54-question survey regarding their job details, work footwear habits, foot problems, lower limb and lower back pain history, and work footwear fit and comfort. Results revealed that underground coal miners were not satisfied with their current mining work boots. This was evident in the high incidence of reported foot problems (55.3%), lower back pain (44.5%), knee pain (21.5%), ankle pain (24.9%) and foot pain (42.3%). Over half of the underground coal miners surveyed believed their work boots contributed to their lower limb pain and reported their work boots were uncomfortable. Different working roles and environments resulted in differences in the incidence of foot problems, lower limb pain and comfort scores, confirming that one boot design cannot meet all the work-related requirements of underground coal mining. Further research examining the interaction of a variety of boot designs across the different underground surfaces and the different tasks miners perform is paramount to identify key boot design features that affect the way underground coal miners perform. Enhanced work boot design could improve worker comfort and productivity by reducing the high rates of reported foot problems and pain amongst underground coal miners

Effects of wearing gumboots and leather lace-up work boots on plantar loading when walking on a simulated underground coal mine surface

This study investigated the effects of wearing two standard underground coal mining work boots (a gumboot and a leather lace-up boot) on plantar pressures when participants walked across a simulated underground coal mine surface. In-shoe plantar pressures were recorded as 20 male participants walked at a self-selected pace across a hard dirt surface while wearing each boot type. Walking in a gumboot, compared to a leather lace-up boot, resulted in increased plantar pressures and forces, particularly under the heel and forefoot areas. Increased plantar pressures and forces over a long time period is not only a risk factor for painful foot conditions, such as ulcers but also overuse injuries such as stress fractures. The leather lace-up boot might be a better safety footwear option for underground coal miners working under these conditions

Effect of underground coal mining work boot preference on boot satisfaction and discomfort

Workplace injuries in mining are highly prevalent (Smith et al., 1999) and, in Australia, occur most frequently in underground coal mines (Government of Western Australia, 2011). The most common of these injuries are to the lower limbs, contributing to almost 18,900 lost working days and incurring $28 million in compensation claims annually. Approximately, 40% of miners who sustained lower limb injuries identified their work boots as the main causal factor. As a consequence, laced leather work boots were introduced as an alternative to the steelcapped gumboot (Marr, 1999; see Figure 1). Despite the uptake of this recommendation, no research has investigated whether the introduction of a leather lace-up boot for underground coal miners has positively influenced work boot satisfaction

Effects of wearing gumboots and leather lace-up boots on lower limb muscle activity when walking on simulated underground coal mine surfaces

This study aimed to investigate the effects of wearing two standard underground coal mining work boots (a gumboot and a leather lace-up boot) on lower limb muscle activity when participants walked across simulated underground coal mining surfaces. Quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis) and hamstring (biceps femoris, semitendinosus) muscle activity were recorded as twenty male participants walked at a self-selected pace around a circuit while wearing each boot type. The circuit consisted of level, inclined and declined surfaces composed of rocky gravel and hard dirt. Walking in a leather lace-up boot, compared to a gumboot, resulted in increased vastus lateralis and increased biceps femoris muscle activity when walking on sloped surfaces. Increased muscle activity appears to be acting as a slip and/or trip prevention strategy in response to challenging surfaces and changing boot features