Biomechanical Analysis of Change of Direction Movements in Women\u27s Collegiate Soccer Players

Change of Direction (COD) tasks are common in a variety of high performance sports. PURPOSE: This study aims to determine technique and kinetic differences between unexpected defensive COD tasks in women’s collegiate soccer players. METHODS: Eleven collegiate soccer players participated voluntarily in accordance with the local IRB, performing six 180°R and L , 135° L, and 225°R tasks, approaching from 5m and exiting 3m. Force (Kistler, 1200Hz) and timing information (Brower) data was collected. Repeated Measures ANOVA determined differences across the group between movement directions. RESULTS: Four categories of techniques emerged: natural step, shuffle, hop, and stomp. 135L COD tasks proved to be faster (1.866 ± 0.132 s) than 225R tasks (1.945 ± 0.159 s, p = 0.003), however no other significant differences were found between conditions. CONCLUSION: Athletes used varying self-selected techniques to complete COD tasks with similar biomechanical factors and performance outcomes. This may suggest players at the collegiate level have adjusted to their individual movement patterns. Further study of the kinetics of prior incoming or later outgoing steps is necessary. Change of direction movements are a necessary part of defensive play in women’s soccer and efficiency as outlined in this study could directly affect game performance. Natural step COD seems to be the most effective technique, therefore it would be interesting to analyze the incorporation of this method at the amateur level. Regardless, exposing athletes to situations which require differing COD techniques may best prepare players to move effectively during competition

Are there Balance Differences between Aquatic and Land Athletes?

Proficiency in static and dynamic balance tests is an indicator of both athletic proficiency as well as an indicator of movement deficiencies. Those movement deficiencies could be due to a neurological issue related to mild traumatic brain injury (i.e. concussion). Previous studies have studied single leg static balance using the BESS (Balance error scoring system) which is also used by the NCAA to pre-test for concussions (Riemann, 2012). Aquatic athletes could be at a predisposed disadvantage in NCAA concussion testing because there is a possibility of having differences in balance ability (as compared to land athletes) that may be mistaken as concussion-like symptoms. Examining the difference between aquatic and land athletes\u27 balance could help us find a better alternative for concussion testing aquatic athletes. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if land and aquatic athletes have different levels of inherent balance. We hypothesized that aquatic athletes would have worse balance compared to land athletes. METHODS: Thirty healthy NCAA DIII athletes (15 aquatic and 15 land athletes) volunteered in accordance with the California Lutheran University IRB. Subjects performed the BESS test while barefoot. Independent t-tests compared BESS scores for the land and aquatic athlete groups (jamovi v2.2.5). Paired samples t-test determined differences between surfaces (flat vs. foam) across the entire group. Significance for all tests was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference between total BESS scores for aquatic (17.13+5.35) versus land athletes (14.86+4.55, t(28)=1.25, p=.221). We found there was a difference in total BESS score between flat (4.3 +2.83) vs. foam (11.7+3.42, t(28) = 10.76, pCONCLUSIONS:The results of this study showed the BESS test is more difficult on a foam surface compared to a solid surface. The comparison of the BESS scores for land versus aquatic athletes could show differences with a larger subject pool as we saw aquatic athletes generally had higher overall BESS score. We plan to further study the BESS test with a larger sample population of athletes in a wider variety of sports

Alternative Concussion Balance Testing Between Land & Aquatic Athletes

Sports related concussions have been a global and community health issue, with up to 3.8 million occurring in the U.S each year (Langlois et. al. 2006). Impaired postural control is one of the most common symptoms. Balance assessments have been an integral part of concussion analysis to assess if an athlete can return to play (RTP). Swimmers show significant differences in Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) performance compared to a normal population (Sugiura et. al. 2021). PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine if the SEBT (Plisky et. al. 2009) can assess differences in dynamic balance between land and aquatic athletes as a measure of dynamic postural stability in RTP protocols. We hypothesized that land athletes will outperform aquatic athletes on the SEBT. METHODS: Thirty healthy NCAA DIII athletes (13 male, 17 female athletes) volunteered to participate in accordance with the local IRB. Subject height, mass, and leg length were measured. Participants completed the following warm-up: 10 anterior tibialis raises, 10 squats, and 10 single leg Romanian deadlifts on each leg. After a 3-minute recovery, participants proceeded with 3 trials on each leg of the SEBT. Reach in each direction was normalized by leg length and averaged across trials. Paired t-tests in each direction compared land and aquatic athletes (jamovi v2.2.5). Repeated measures ANOVA compared all directions across both groups for each leg. Significance was set at α = 0.05. RESULTS: Athletes were (Mean±SD) 21±1.25 years old, 1.70±0.10 m tall, mass of 73.48±15.95 kg, and leg length of 0.92±0.06m. Both left (F=47.5, p\u3c.001) and right leg (F=52.1, p\u3c.001) revealed differences in directional leg excursions (Fig. 1 & 2). Left leg anteromedial excursions (Fig. 1) were greater for aquatic (85.92%) versus land athletes (81.39%, t(14) = 2.53, p=0.024). CONCLUSION: The SEBT was able to determine differences in excursion direction and between athlete populations. Land and aquatic athletes performed approximately equal in each direction, except for when aquatic athletes reached further in the anteromedial direction with the left leg. In the future, we plan to recruit a larger group and include center of pressure with the SEBT n analysis to further evaluate dynamic postural control as part of pre- and post-concussion protocol

Positive Health Promotion: Orienting Health Promotion within a Wellness Framework to Improve Public Health Quality

While health professions often purport a multidimensional and holistic view of health, these views typically do not translate into practice. In public health, best practices are not positioned to lead population-based approaches focused on a holistic perspective of health. The public health field continues largely to emphasize physical constructs and health problems rather than positive health dimensions. In order to move toward an authentic adoption of holistic health, two things need to happen: (1) more focus on a full range of health domains in proportion to physical health, and (2) a greater emphasis on optimum health versus health problems across all domains. Health promotion efforts oriented toward wellness offer a context for shifting health approaches towards a positive framework for optimal health. The purpose of this paper is to advance holistic health and wellness by clarifying concepts and constructs for “positive” health as a means for improving public health quality. A wellness paradigm shifts health status towards optimum human potential and thriving instead of an overreliance on deficits or status quo functioning. From a public health perspective, wellness is not only limited to individual capacity but also applies to population health. Public health quality is explored as a reference point for incorporating the aforementioned concepts.Master of Public Healt

The Globe Program and the Essential Academic Learning Requirements: Joining Together to Help Washington Students Achieve Higher Academic Standards

The purpose of this project was to develop a guide that aligned the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) with the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program for teachers in Washington State. To accomplish this purpose, a review ofrelated current literature was conducted. Additionally, related information/materials from selected sources were obtained and analyzed

Classification and Biogeography of New World Grasses: Chloridoideae

Subfamily Chloridoideae (Poaceae) in the New World includes 72 genera (61 native, 11 introduced), 678 species (607 native), and, including intraspecific taxa, 817 total taxa. The five largest genera are Muhlenbergia (147 species), Eragrostis (111), Sporobolus (76), Bouteloua (57), and Chloris (35). Three tribes are recognized in this study: Cynodonteae, Eragrostideae, and Zoysieae, with ten, three, and two subtribes, respectively. Cynodonteae, the largest tribe, comprise 58 genera and 451 species (67% of all New World chloridoids), including 25 genera (98 species, 22% of all New World Cynodonteae) with unknown affinities (incertae sedis). In Mexico, the USA, and Canada there are 477 native and introduced chloridoid species (70% of all New World species), whereas in Central America (including the Caribbean) and South America there are 196 and 304 species, respectively. Mexico is the center of diversity with 343 species (51%). There appear to be five biogeographical patterns exhibited by New World chloridoid species: (1) North America, centered in northern Mexico and the southwestern USA, (2) southern South America, centered in northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, (3) northwestern South America, centered in Ecuador and Peru, (4) amphitropical disjuncts, occurring in North America and southern South America, and (5) widespread species, occurring in North America, Central America, and South America. Subtribes Boutelouinae (Bouteloua) and Muhlenbergiinae are predominantly North American, whereas Eragrostidinae (Eragrostis) and Chloridinae are better represented in the southern South American center. Two subtribes of Cynodonteae, Gouiniinae and Hilariinae, are described as new, and two others, Orcuttiinae and Traginae, are newly treated at that rank

Identity, Safety, and Information Management within Communities of Practice in Location-based Augmented Reality Games: A Case Study of Ingress

This research examines play communities of the location-based AR game Ingress to identify and describe community practices specific to these kinds of games. The unique features of location-based AR gameplay result in several novel community standards, behaviors, and practices that impact player safety, privacy, and information security in the Ingress community. We discuss practices related to preserving physical safety and privacy, addressing bullying and harassment, information and operational security, and player apprenticeship. In addition, we identify critical ways that individuals’ real-world identity impacts their play behavior in public spaces, resulting in self-imposed play limitations

Measuring Population Transmission Potential for HIV: An Alternative Metric of Transmission Risk in Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in the US

Background Various metrics for HIV burden and treatment success [e.g. HIV prevalence, community viral load (CVL), population viral load (PVL), percent of HIV-positive persons with undetectable viral load] have important public health limitations for understanding disparities. Methods and Findings Using data from an ongoing HIV incidence cohort of black and white men who have sex with men (MSM), we propose a new metric to measure the prevalence of those at risk of transmitting HIV and illustrate its value. …See full text for complete abstract

The Comparability of Men Who Have Sex With Men Recruited From Venue-Time-Space Sampling and Facebook: A Cohort Study

Background: Recruiting valid samples of men who have sex with men (MSM) is a key component of the US human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) surveillance and of research studies seeking to improve HIV prevention for MSM. Social media, such as Facebook, may present an opportunity to reach broad samples of MSM, but the extent to which those samples are comparable with men recruited from venue-based, time-space sampling (VBTS) is unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the comparability of MSM recruited via VBTS and Facebook. Methods: HIV-negative and HIV-positive black and white MSM were recruited from June 2010 to December 2012 using VBTS and Facebook in Atlanta, GA. We compared the self-reported venue attendance, demographic characteristics, sexual and risk behaviors, history of HIV-testing, and HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence between Facebook- and VTBS-recruited MSM overall and by race. Multivariate logistic and negative binomial models estimated age/race adjusted ratios. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess 24-month retention. Results: We recruited 803 MSM, of whom 110 (34/110, 30.9% black MSM, 76/110, 69.1% white MSM) were recruited via Facebook and 693 (420/693, 60.6% black MSM, 273/693, 39.4% white MSM) were recruited through VTBS. Facebook recruits had high rates of venue attendance in the previous month (26/34, 77% among black and 71/76, 93% among white MSM; between-race P=.01). MSM recruited on Facebook were generally older, with significant age differences among black MSM (P=.02), but not white MSM (P=.14). … See full text for complete abstract

Clinical evaluation of the Life Support for Trauma and Transport (LSTAT) platform

INTRODUCTION: The Life Support for Trauma and Transport (LSTAT™) is a self-contained, stretcher-based miniature intensive care unit designed by the United States Army to provide care for critically injured patients during transport and in remote settings where resources are limited. The LSTAT contains conventional medical equipment that has been integrated into one platform and reduced in size to fit within the dimensional envelope of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) stretcher. This study evaluated the clinical utility of the LSTAT in simulated and real clinical environments. Our hypothesis was that the LSTAT would be equivalent to conventional equipment in detecting and treating life-threatening problems. METHODS: Thirty-one anesthesiologists and recovery room nurses compared the LSTAT with conventional monitors while managing four simulated critical events. The time required to reach a diagnosis and treatment was recorded for each simulation. Subsequently, 10 consenting adult patients were placed on the LSTAT after surgery for postoperative care in the recovery room. Questionnaires about aspects of LSTAT functionality were completed by nine nurses who cared for the patients placed on the LSTAT. RESULTS: In all of the simulations, there was no clinically significant difference in the time to diagnosis or treatment between the LSTAT and conventional equipment. All clinicians reported that they were able to manage the simulated patients properly with the LSTAT. Nursing staff reported that the LSTAT provided adequate equipment to care for the patients monitored during recovery from surgery and were able to detect critical changes in vital signs in a timely manner. DISCUSSION: Preliminary evaluation of the LSTAT in simulated and postoperative environments demonstrated that the LSTAT provided appropriate equipment to detect and manage critical events in patient care. Further work in assessing LSTAT functionality in a higher-acuity environment is warranted