A biomechanical evaluation of the combined elevation test

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Physical Therapy in Sport and the definitive published version us available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2016.11.001.Objectives: To biomechanically evaluate the relationships between the outcome of the Combined Elevation Test, its component joint motions, and thoracic spine angles. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 18 elite swimmers and triathletes (11 males and 7 females). Main outcome measures: Combined Elevation Test outcome in forehead and chin positions. Individual joint contributions to test outcome. Results: No sex differences were found in test components, or between head positions. Test outcome was greater in the forehead position than the chin position (34.3 cm vs 30.2 cm; p<0.001). The variables most strongly associated with test outcome were glenohumeral joint flexion (r = 0.86 – 0.97; p<0.001), and shoulder retraction (r = 0.75 - 0.82; p<0.001). Total thoracic spine angle related strongly to test outcome in females (r = -0.77 – -0.88; p<0.05), but not in males (r = -0.17 – -0.24; p>0.05). Conclusions: The Combined Elevation Test is an effective screening tool to measure upper limb mobility into shoulder flexion and scapula retraction in both sexes, and thoracic extension in women. It is recommended that the test be performed in the forehead position. If a subject performs poorly on the test, follow up assessments are required to identify the impairment location

‘Getting inside the wicket’: strategies for the social inclusion of British Pakistani Muslim cricketers

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are keen to increase the participation of British Asian groups, including those of British Pakistani Muslim (BPM) backgrounds, at mainstream levels of the game in order to meet their twin strategic aims of raising participation levels and fostering elite development. We argue that the potential to include BPM men in and through cricket is achievable, but strategies to engage them must address their social needs and circumstances rather than be superficial and tokenistic. Cricket agencies and bodies must be willing to adapt and change to become more inclusive, and indeed supportive of real meritocracy. Using research testimonies garnered from interviews with BPM men who play cricket at amateur mainstream and/or alternative formats of the game, we identify and forward strategies that can be activated by cricket development officers in order to create new possibilities for the social inclusion of BPM men

The Olympic Games and raising sports participation: a systematic review of evidence and an interrogation of policy for a demonstration effect

Research questions: Can a demonstration effect, whereby people are inspired by elite sport, sports people and events to actively participate themselves, be harnessed from an Olympic Games to influence sport participation? Did London 2012 sport participation legacy policy draw on evidence about a demonstration effect, and was a legacy delivered? Research methods: A worldwide systematic review of English language evidence returned 1,778 sources iteratively reduced by the author panel, on advice from an international review panel, to 21 included sources that were quality appraised and synthesised narratively. The evidence was used to examine the influence of a demonstration effect on sport participation engagement and to interrogate sport participation legacy policy for London 2012. Results and findings: There is no evidence for an inherent demonstration effect, but a potential demonstration effect, properly leveraged, may deliver increases in sport participation frequency and re-engage lapsed participants. Despite setting out to use London 2012 to raise sport participation, successive UK governments’ policy failures to harness the potential influence of a demonstration effect on demand resulted in failure to deliver increased participation. Implications: If the primary justification for hosting an Olympic Games is the potential impact on sport participation, the Games are a bad investment. However, the Games can have specific impacts on sport participation frequency and re-engagement, and if these are desirable for host societies, are properly leveraged by hosts, and are one among a number of reasons for hosting the Games, then the Games may be a justifiable investment in sport participation terms

Prediction of successful performance from fielding indicators in cricket : Champions League T20 tournament

The aim of this study was to examine the association between fielding indicators and successful performance in cricket. Ten teams qualified for competition in the Champions League T20 (2012, South Africa), which was observed and analysed. Looking at three fielding indicators including ground fielding, catching and return throw within the two different areas (inside and outside the 30yd circle). The Sportscode (Sportstec Ltd 3.5.3, Australia) software was used for data collection. A step-wise discriminant analysis was used for prediction of successful performance (winning and losing a match) from fielding indicators. The results showed that fielding indicators were significant predictors (χ2 = 10.60, df = 2, p < 0.01) of the match outcome. The results of a follow-up test showed that catches inside the 30yd circle (r = 0.81) and outside the 30yd circle (r = 0.85) were significant predictors of match outcome. In conclusion, the successful execution of the catching skill during a game, regardless of the location, could facilitate the team performance at the elite level. Implications of these findings for coaches include showing the importance of the catching skill to predict match outcome, therefore this should be focussed upon throughout the age groups to elite level in training