DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE THE „QUASI-STATIC“ SENCE OF BALANCE

INTRODUCTION: A measuring instrument was developed to record oscillations with regard to the projection of the center of gravity of the body (on an axis to the position where the subject stands). The measuring instrument works like a seesaw. The axis runs along the standing position. Variations are recorded by two linear positional sensors placed under the construction. The standing surface can be rotated up to 5.6°, and additionally, swaying is dampened by springs. METHODS: In the study the above-mentioned construction was compared with the Kistler force platform, with which the body’s center of gravity is projected onto the base ground. Nineteen subjects took part in the study, which required them to stand on one foot for 40 seconds with closed eyes; each subject repeated this five times, each time trying to maintain his balance. The test was repeated one week later. Different features of both measuring instruments were compared. These were among other things the mean variation of measurements, the average of the mean, the length of the curve of the projection and the greatest divergence from the mean. RESULTS: As a result it can be stated that each feature states a different aspect of the motor quality ‘quasi-static balance’. The degree of definiteness among features of one measuring instrument differed between 2% and 95%. A significant correlation between the features of both measuring instruments was detectable in a significant way for two features. Retest reliability could be detected for almost all features with high significance (p < .01). Quality criteria were fulfilled, in the sense of classical test theory, i.e., reliability, validity and objectivity. Furthermore, the measuring system weighs only 5 kg and is thus easy to transport. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the developed measuring instrument is suitable as an alternative measuring system to the Kistler force platform in the measuring of quasi-static balance on one axis. REFERENCES: Bös, K. (1987). Handbuch sportmotorischer Tests. Göttingen: Dr. C. J. Hogrefe. Fetz, F. (1994). Sensomotorisches Gleichgewicht im Sport. Vienna: Österreichischer Bundesverlag

CONSTRUCTION OF AIRBORNE MOVEMENTS AND MODEL APPROACH FOR LEARNING

The purposes of this research were a) to identify differences in the biomechanical description of movements between the biomechanist (external view), the athlete (internal sight) and the coach system (internal sight from external view; Lippens, 1997) and b) to supply applicable and relevant information for learning sport skills. The research consists of biomechanical modelling, collection of anthropometric and kinematic data, analysis, construction of a learning model and its application to practice. Results of the research are: (a) The inertial and the non-inertial system as well as coupling of body segments establish the differences between the views 1 to 3. (b) Joint rotations are not identical with the muscular moments, passive rotations (McGeer. 1990) can occur. (c) Knowledge of muscular moments, "critical phases" and passive phases simplify learning of motor skills

Single Doses up to 800 mg of E-52862 Do Not Prolong the QTc Interval--A Retrospective Validation by Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Modelling of Electrocardiography Data Utilising the Effects of a Meal on QTc to Demonstrate ECG Assay Sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: E-52862 is a Sigma-1 receptor antagonist (S1RA) currently under investigation as a potential analgesic medicine. We successfully applied a concentration-effect model retrospectively to a four-way crossover Phase I single ascending dose study and utilized the QTc shortening effects of a meal to demonstrate assay sensitivity by establishing the time course effects from baseline in all four periods, independently from any potential drug effects. METHODS: Thirty two healthy male and female subjects were included in four treatment periods to receive single ascending doses of 500 mg, 600 mg or 800 mg of E-52862 or placebo. PK was linear over the dose range investigated and doses up to 600 mg were well tolerated. The baseline electrocardiography (ECG) measurements on Day-1 were time-matched with ECG and pharmacokinetic (PK) samples on Day 1 (dosing day). RESULTS: In this conventional mean change to time-matched placebo analysis, the largest time-matched difference to placebo QTcI was 1.44 ms (90% CI: -4.04, 6.93 ms) for 500 mg; -0.39 ms (90% CI: -3.91, 3.13 ms) for 600 mg and 1.32 ms (90% CI: -1.89, 4.53 ms) for 800 mg of E-52862, thereby showing the absence of any QTc prolonging effect at the doses tested. In addition concentration-effect models, one based on the placebo corrected change from baseline and one for the change of QTcI from average baseline with time as fixed effect were fitted to the data confirming the results of the time course analysis. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of this study to detect small changes in the QTc interval was confirmed by demonstrating a shortening of QTcF of -8.1 (90% CI: -10.4, -5.9) one hour and -7.2 (90% CI: -9.4, -5.0) three hours after a standardised meal. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EU Clinical Trials Register EudraCT 2010 020343 13