Relationship of Dynamic Balance with Kinematic Pitching Parameters in Collegiate Baseball Pitchers

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Validation of a New Assessment of Surfer’s Performance

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The Reliability and Validity of an Accelerometer to Measure the Pop-Up Phase of Surfing

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Sleep habits and sleep disturbances in Dutch children: a population-based study

Sleep disorders can lead to significant morbidity. Information on sleep in healthy children is necessary to evaluate sleep disorders in clinical practice, but data from different societies cannot be simply generalized. The aims of this study were to (1) assess the prevalence of sleep disturbances in Dutch healthy children, (2) describe sleep habits and problems in this population, (3) collect Dutch norm data for future reference, and (4) compare sleep in children from different cultural backgrounds. A population-based descriptive study was conducted using the Children’s sleep habits questionnaire and the sleep self-report. One thousand five hundred seven proxy-reports and 262 self-reports were analyzed. Mean age was 8.5 years (95% confidence interval, 8.4–8.6), 52% were boys. Sleep problems in Dutch children were present in 25%, i.e., comparable to other populations. Sleep habits were age-related. Problem sleepers scored significantly higher on all scales. Correlations between parental and self-assessments were low to moderate. Dutch children had significantly more sleep disturbances than children from the USA and less than Chinese children. Cognitions and attitudes towards what is considered normal sleep seem to affect the appraisal of sleep, this probably accounts partly for cultural differences. For a better understanding of cultural influences on sleep, more information on these determinants and the establishment of cultural norms are mandatory

Adolescents' reactions to participating in ethically sensitive research: A prospective self-report study

Background: Conducting psychological research with adolescents is imperative for better understanding, prevention and treatment of mental illness. However there is concern that research addressing topics such as mental illness, substance use and suicidality has potential to distress participants, particularly youth. Method: We administered a questionnaire to 1973 adolescents (13-18 years) at two time points, one year apart. Participants responded to items regarding nonsuicidal self-injury, psychological distress, history of physical and/or sexual abuse, adverse life events, alcohol use, suicidal behaviour, self-efficacy, and coping skills as well as two open-ended questions regarding whether they enjoyed participating in the research and whether participation worried or upset them. Results: Most youth (74 %) enjoyed participation and cited altruistic reasons and a greater self-awareness as reasons. Those reporting being upset by the questionnaire (15 %) reported poorer psychological functioning than their peers. Youth who were upset by their participation at baseline, but who reported enjoying the questionnaire at follow-up reported improved psychosocial functioning over time, while the reverse was true for those who initially enjoyed participation but later reported the questionnaire upset them. Conclusions: Results suggest researchers acknowledge benefits for young people who participate in research, but also be mindful of the potential for distress among the most at risk youth

Non-suicidal reasons for self-harm: a systematic review of self-reported accounts

Background: Self-harm is a major public health problem yet current healthcare provision is widely regarded as inadequate. One of the barriers to effective healthcare is the lack of a clear understanding of the functions self-harm may serve for the individual. The aim of this review is to identify first-hand accounts of the reasons for self-harm from the individual's perspective. Method: A systematic review of the literature reporting first-hand accounts of the reasons for self-harm other than intent to die. A thematic analysis and ‘best fit' framework synthesis was undertaken to classify the responses. Results: The most widely researched non-suicidal reasons for self-harm were dealing with distress and exerting interpersonal influence. However, many first-hand accounts included reasons such as self-validation, and self-harm to achieve a personal sense of mastery, which suggests individuals thought there were positive or adaptive functions of the act not based only on its social effects. Limitations: Associations with different sub-population characteristics or with the method of harm were not available from most studies included in the analysis. Conclusions: Our review identified a number of themes that are relatively neglected in discussions about self-harm, which we summarised as self-harm as a positive experience and defining the self. These self-reported “positive” reasons may be important in understanding and responding especially to repeated acts of self-harm

Effects of arch taping on peak force, surface contact area and neuromuscular activity at midstance

This study investigated two different arch taping techniques in the treatment of athletes with medial tibia1 stress syndrome (MTSS). Peak force (PF), surface contact area (SCA). surface electromyography (EMG) at peak and average were analyzed in 8 college aged Ss (5 F, 3 M) during untaped (NT), traditional arch taped (TAT), and experimental arch taped (XAT) walking and running. A foot switch was used to mark time to analyze peak EMG and average EMG during midstance for the tibialis anterior (TA). The EMED SF system was used to collect force and surface area data at 70 Hz. Novel software was used to analyze the data. Statistical analysis using repeated measures ANOVA and a Bonferroni's post hoc indicated there were no significant differences between conditions for walking. Mean PF on the medial aspect of the middle 1/3 of the foot in the TAT condition was significantly (p<_ 0.05) greater than the NT condition during running. The mean SCA of the lateral aspect of the middle 1/3 of the foot was significantly less in the TAT than the other conditions. Trends in the data, indicated that in running there was a similar shift of PF and SCA to the lateral aspect of the foot in the XAT condition. In walking, muscle activity of the tibialis anterior (TA) was greatest in the XAT condition, which may be interpreted as a shift of muscle activity from the TA to the tibialis posterior. The data may support the use of the XAT over the TAT to relieve MTSS, due to the unfavorable results for the TAT condition