Gait variability and symmetry in world-class senior and junior race walkers

The aim of this study was to analyse gait variability and symmetry in race walkers. Eighteen senior and 17 junior athletes race walked on an instrumented treadmill (for 10 km and 5 km, respectively) at speeds equivalent to 103% of season’s best time for 20 km and 10 km, respectively. Spatio-temporal and ground reaction force (GRF) data were recorded at 2.5 km, and at 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 km for a subsection of athletes. Gait variability was measured using median absolute deviation (MAD) whereas inter-leg symmetry was measured using the symmetry angle. Both groups showed low variability for step length (< 0.9%), step frequency (< 1.1%), contact time (≤ 1.2%) and vertical peak force values (< 5%), and neither variability nor symmetry changed with distance walked. Junior athletes were more variable for both step length (P = 0.004) and loading force (P = 0.003); no differences for gait symmetry were found. Whereas there was little mean asymmetry overall, individual analyses identified asymmetry in several athletes (symmetry angle ≥ 1.2%). Importantly, asymmetrical step lengths were found in 12 athletes and could result from underlying imbalances. Coaches are advised to observe athletes on an individual basis to monitor for both variability and asymmetry

Reliability of the OptoJump Next system for measuring temporal values in elite racewalking

Racewalking is an Olympic event where athletes are not permitted a visible loss of contact, with the result that competitors try to minimise flight times. The accuracy of measurements taken during testing is dependent on valid and reliable systems to determine temporal values. The aim of the study was to compare different methodologies used to measure contact and flight times in overground and treadmill racewalking. Eighteen racewalkers completed overground and instrumented treadmill trials at 5 speeds, during which flight and contact times were measured using the OptoJump Next photocell system (1000 Hz), high-speed videography (500 Hz), and force plates (1000 Hz). Results from OptoJump Next were extracted using 5 settings based on the number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) activated (GaitIn_GaitOut), and annotated as 0_0, 1_1, 2_2, 3_3 and 4_4. Regarding flight time measurements for the overground condition, the 2_2 LED setting had the best 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) (0.978 – 0.988), the least bias (0.000 s), and the lowest random error (0.008 s). For the treadmill condition, the 0_0 LED setting had the best 95% CI for ICC (0.890 – 0.957), the least bias (0.004 s), and the lowest random error (0.017 s). Although high-speed videography also provided highly reliable results, the equally reliable and quicker availability of results using OptoJump Next is beneficial in laboratory-based testing. Coaches and researches are advised to alter the system’s LED settings as appropriate, and to report these settings with their findings

The Creation and Validation of a Large-Scale Computer Model of the Golf Swing

The aim of this study was to create and validate a full-body musculoskeletal model of a golfer performing a swing with their driver club. An elite female participant performed ten shots with her driver while wearing retro-reflective markers. An optical 3-D 6-camera system captured the kinematics of the markers at 400 Hz on the participant for each trial. A launch monitor device recorded the ball and club head conditions at impact. The kinematic data from one representative trial was selected to drive inverse and forward dynamics simulations of the created model. The validation results showed a very high level of agreement between experimental and simulated trajectories for selected markers (mean r = 0.966

The Effect of the Application of Different Levels of Movement Variability on Movement Outcome

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the application of a previously validated golfer computer model on different levels of movement variability relative to a shot outcome measure: club head velocity. Movement variability was applied to the computer model on six measures sequentially throughout the body of the computer model. Four different levels of variability, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% variability, were applied to x, y and z positional data of the aforementioned measures. Simulations were then performed with ADAMS/LifeMOD software for each level of movement variability applied to the measures in question. Club head velocity was measured during the simulation. The results suggest that movement variability application at these landmarks does not have an effect on outcome. These results potentially have implications for the coaching of the participant

Gait variability and symmetry remain consistent during high-intensity 10,000 m treadmill running

The aim of this study was to analyze changes in gait variability and symmetry in distance runners. Fourteen competitive athletes ran on an instrumented treadmill for 10,000 m at speeds equivalent to 103% of their season's best time. Spatiotemporal and ground reaction force data were recorded at 1500, 3000, 5000, 7500 and 9500 m. Gait variability and inter-leg symmetry were measured using median absolute deviation (MAD) and the symmetry angle, respectively. There were no overall changes during the running bout for absolute values, symmetry angles or variability, and there were only moderate changes in variability between successive testing distances for three variables. Even with these few changes, variability was low (1.2%) for at least one variable, no one was asymmetrical for more than four of the seven variables measured. Being asymmetrical in a few variables is therefore not abnormal and not indicative of asymmetrical gait and given many practitioners analyze symmetry (and variability) on an individual, case-study basis, caution should be taken when assessing the need for corrective interventions

Differences between motion capture and video analysis systems in calculating knee angles in elite-standard race walking

Race walking is an event where the knee must be straightened from first contact with the ground until midstance. The aim of this study was to compare knee angle measurements between 2D videography and 3D optoelectronic systems. Passive retroreflective markers were placed on the right leg of 12 race walkers and 3D marker coordinate data captured (250 Hz), with 2D video data (100 Hz) recorded simultaneously. Knee angle data were first derived based on the markers’ coordinates, and separately by using a 3D model that also incorporated thigh and shank clusters; the video data were analysed using both automatic tracking and manual digitising, creating four conditions overall. Differences were calculated between conditions for stance (using root mean square values), and at discrete events. There were few differences between systems, although the 3D model produced larger angles at midstance than using automatic tracking and marker coordinates (by 3 – 6°, P < 0.05). These differences might have occurred because of how the 3D model locates the hip joint, and because of the addition of marker clusters. 2D videography gave similar results to the 3D model when using manual digitising, as it allowed for errors caused by skin movement to be corrected

The Thermal Design, Characterization, and Performance of the SPIDER Long-Duration Balloon Cryostat

We describe the SPIDER flight cryostat, which is designed to cool six millimeter-wavelength telescopes during an Antarctic long-duration balloon flight. The cryostat, one of the largest to have flown on a stratospheric payload, uses liquid helium-4 to deliver cooling power to stages at 4.2 and 1.6 K. Stainless steel capillaries facilitate a high flow impedance connection between the main liquid helium tank and a smaller superfluid tank, allowing the latter to operate at 1.6 K as long as there is liquid in the 4.2 K main tank. Each telescope houses a closed cycle helium-3 adsorption refrigerator that further cools the focal planes down to 300 mK. Liquid helium vapor from the main tank is routed through heat exchangers that cool radiation shields, providing negative thermal feedback. The system performed successfully during a 17 day flight in the 2014-2015 Antarctic summer. The cryostat had a total hold time of 16.8 days, with 15.9 days occurring during flight.Comment: 15 pgs, 17 fig

The Exoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE)

Although there are a large number of known exoplanets, there is little data on their global atmospheric properties. Phase-resolved spectroscopy of transiting planets – continuous spectroscopic observation of planets during their full orbits – probes varied depths and longitudes in the atmospheres thus measuring their three-dimensional thermal and chemical structure and contributing to our understanding of their global circulation. Planets with characteristics suitable for atmospheric characterization have orbits of several days, so phase curve observations are highly resource intensive, especially for shared use facilities. The Exoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE) is a balloon-borne near-infrared spectrometer designed to observe from 1 to 5 μm to perform phaseresolved spectroscopy of hot Jupiters. Flying from a long duration balloon (LDB) platform, EXCITE will have the stability to continuously stare at targets for days at a time and the sensitivity to produce data of the quality and quantity needed to significantly advance our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres. We describe the EXCITE design and show results of analytic and numerical calculations of the instrument sensitivity. We show that an instrument like EXCITE will produce a wealth of quality data, both complementing and serving as a critical bridge between current and future space-based near infrared spectroscopic instruments