Evaluation of gait symmetry in poliomyelitis subjects : Comparison of a conventional knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) and a new powered KAFO.

Background: Compared to able-bodied subjects, subjects with post polio syndrome and poliomyelitis demonstrate a preference for weight-bearing on the non-paretic limb, causing gait asymmetry. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gait symmetry of the poliomyelitis subjects when ambulating with either a drop- locked knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) or a newly developed powered KAFO. Methods: Seven subjects with poliomyelitis who routinely wore conventional KAFOs participated in this study, and received training to enable them to ambulate with the powered KAFO on level ground, prior to gait analysis. Results: There were no significant differences in the gait symmetry index (SI) of step length (P=0.085), stance time (P=0.082), double limb support time (P=0.929) or speed of walking (p=0.325) between the two test conditions. However, using the new powered KAFO improved the SI in step width (P=0.037), swing time (P=0.014), stance phase percentage (P=0.008) and knee flexion during swing phase (p≤0.001) compared to wearing the dropped locked KAFO. Conclusion: The use of a powered KAFO for ambulation by poliomyelitis subjects affects gait symmetry in the base of support, swing time, stance phase percentage and knee flexion during swing phase

Resources for sports engineering education

This paper serves as a resource guide for Sports Engineering educators. The paper covers key topics in Sports Engineering, including ball impact, friction, safety and materials. A variety of resource types are presented to reflect modern methods of learning and searching for information, including textbooks, research and review papers, websites and videos. The field could benefit from more resources specifically designated for teaching Sports Engineering, particularly textbooks

Клінічний випадок успішного лікування синдрому Рея у дитини

A 6-year-old child with Reye's syndrome was successfully treated in the Department of Pediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. At admission to the hospital the child's condition was critical due to cerebral vascular insufficiency (semicoma, psychomotor agitation), endogenous intoxication syndrome, severe anemic syndrome (Hb — 78g/l), and coagulopathy. Due to the progression of type II respiratory failure, hepatic failure, hemorrhagic and anemic syndromes, and cerebral deficit tracheal intubation for the purpose of controlled ventilation was performed. In order to correct anemia, hypoproteinemia and hemorrhagic syndrome washed erythrocytes, a 10% albumin solution and fresh frozen plasma were transfused. Therapeutic bronchoscopy was performed due to the progression of the expectorant component secondary to ventilator!associated pneumonia. Nonspecific detoxification therapy with discrete plasmapheresis was used. On the 3rd day of treatment tracheal extubation was performed, on the 10th day the child was transferred to the gastroenterology department. On the 13th day of hospital stay in the gastroenterology department and on the 24th day of admission the child was discharged home in satisfactory condition. Key words: Reye's syndrome; endogenous intoxication.Представлены результаты лечения ребенка в возрасте шести лет из синдромом Рея, который лечился в отделении анестезиологии и интенсивной терапии областной детской клинической больницы г. Ивано-Франковска. При поступлении состояние ребенка тяжелое за счет церебральной недостаточности (сопор, психомоторное возбуждение), синдрома эндогенной интоксикации, анемии тяжелой степени (Нb — 78 г/л), коагулопатии. В результате прогрессирования вентиляционной дыхательной недостаточности по центральному типу, печеночной недостаточности, геморрагического, анемического синдромов, мозгового дефицита ребенку проведена интубация трахеи с переводом на искусственную вентиляцию легких. Для коррекции анемического, гипопротеинемического, геморрагического синдромов проведена трансфузия отмытых эритроцитов, 10% раствора альбумина, свежезамороженной плазмы. В связи с прогрессированием экспекторативного компонента на фоне вентилятор!ассоциированной пневмонии проведена санационная бронхоскопия. Проведена неспецифическая детоксикационная терапия с использованием дискретного плазмафереза. На третьи сутки лечения в отделении анестезиологии и интенсивной терапии ребенок экстубирован, на 10-е сутки — ребенок переведен в гастроэнтерологическое отделение. На 13-е сутки пребывания в гастроэнтерологическом отделении и на 24-е — в стационаре ребенок в удовлетворительном состоянии выписан домой. Ключевые слова: синдром Рея, эндогенная интоксикация.Проліковано дитину у віці шість років із приводу синдрому Рея, що знаходилась на лікуванні у відділенні анестезіології та інтенсивної терапії обласної дитячої клінічної лікарні м. Івано-Франківська. При госпіталізації стан дитини тяжкий за рахунок церебральної недостатності (сопор, психомоторне збудження), синдрому ендогенної інтоксикації, анемічного синдрому тяжкого ступеня (Нb — 78 г/л), коагулопатії. Через прогресування вентиляційної дихальної недостатності по центральному типу, печінкової недостатності, геморагічного, анемічного синдромів, мозкового дефіциту дитині проведено інтубацію трахеї з переведенням на керовану вентиляцію легень. Для корекції анемічного, гіпопротеїнемічного, геморагічного синдромів перелито відмиті еритроцити, 10% розчин альбуміну, свіжозаморожену плазму. Через прогресування експекторативного компонента на тлі вентилятор-асоційованої пневмонії проведено санаційну бронхоскопію. Здійснено неспецифічну детоксикаційну терапію із використанням дискретного плазмаферезу. На третю добу лікування проведено екстубацію трахеї, на 10-ту добу дитину переведено в гастроентерологічне відділення. На 13-ту добу перебування в гастроентерологічному відділенні та на 24-ту — у стаціонарі дитина в задовільному стані виписана додому. Ключові слова: синдром Рея, ендогенна інтоксикація

Pattern Recognition: Parameters of Body Inrun Position at the Beginning of Take-Off

The purpose of the paper is to determine the differences in the technique of body inrun position at the beginning of take-off in junior ski jumpers of different qualifications (athletic preparedness). Materials and methods. The study participants were 22 junior ski jumpers aged 14-15 (a group of junior ski jumpers) during the Ukrainian Ski Jumping Championship (October 9, 2010, Vorokhta, Ukraine) and 33 ski jumpers aged 16-17 (a group of senior ski jumpers) who took part in the international competitions “Lotos Cup” in January 2010. The study analyzed the videos of take-offs of 22 athletes aged 14-15 and 33 athletes aged 16-17. The parameters of ski jumping technique and sports results were processed on the basis of video materials of the first competition series. Results. There are significant differences (p < 0.001) in the mean values of corresponding parameters of the body position at the beginning of take-off. The data point to a tighter tuck of the body of the athletes aged 16-17. The structure coefficients of the first canonical discriminant function indicate that the function is most significantly related to the values of angles 10 (ν); 8 (ζ); 6 (θ): the inclination angle of the segment of the straight line passing through the axes of the hip and ankle joints (ν) towards the direction of the skier’s movement; the inclination angle of the segment of the straight line passing through the general center of body weight and the axis of the ankle joint (ζ) towards the direction of the skier’s movement; the inclination angle of the head towards the trunk (θ). The athletes aged 16-17 differ from the athletes aged 14-15 by the parameters characterizing the body’s tuck in the starting position – the position at the beginning of take-off. Conclusions. The unstandardized canonical discriminant function coefficients can be used to classify the levels of proficiency in the body’s tuck in the starting position – the position at the beginning of take-off in athletes aged 14-17

Validity of a portable force platform for assessing biomechanical parameters in three different tasks

The aim of this study was to determine the precision and accuracy of the vertical and anterior-posterior force components of the portable PASCO PS-2142 force plate. Impulse, peak force, and time to peak force were assessed and compared to a gold standard force plate in three different tasks: vertical jump, forward jump, and sprint start. Two healthy male participants performed ten trials for each task, resulting in 60 trials. Data analyses revealed good precision and accuracy for the vertical component of the portable force plate, with relative bias and root mean square (RMS) error values nearly the same in all tasks for the impulse, time to peak force, and peak force parameters. Precision and accuracy of the anterior-posterior component were lower for the impulse and time to peak force, with relative bias and RMS error values nearly the same between tasks. Despite the lower precision and accuracy of the anterior-posterior component of the portable force plate, these errors were systematic, reflecting a good repeatability of the measure. In addition, all variables presented good agreement between the portable and gold standard platforms. Our results provide a good perspective for using the aforementioned portable force plate in sports and clinical biomechanics