Selecting the Common Book: Anarchy and Ambiguity in Action

Using a framework derived from institutional theory, this study investigated the purposes and motivations behind selections of common books during the last three years. Thirty-one face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted with selection committee members at three public, flagship institutions. The overarching takeaway from this study was that common book selection procedures exhibited characteristics of organized anarchies. That is, interviewed selection committees felt that common books were supposed to achieve multiple, ambiguous goals; selection committees had difficulty describing how selected common books achieved those goals; and participation in the common reading experiences (e.g., by selection committee members, organizations who sponsored book-related events, and readers) fluctuated each year. I also found that interviewed faculty, staff, and students described similar yet idiosyncratic procedures for selecting common books. Interviewed selection committee members felt that the common books they selected reflected unique characteristics of their institutions and included symbolic messages about institutions’ aspirations. The findings add to what is known about how and why institutions choose common books

A comparison of hip joint kinetics during the barbell hip thrust, deadlift and back squat.

The barbell hip thrust, deadlift and back squat are all exercises designed to strengthen the hip extensor muscles. The aim of this study was to directly compare hip joint kinetics in the lifting phase of the barbell hip thrust with those in the deadlift and back squat. Six resistance-trained men performed one set of three repetitions at 90% 1RM of each exercise. Kinematic (250 Hz) and kinetic data (1000 Hz) were used to calculate hip angle and moment throughout each lifting phase. Analysis of continuous data revealed that the hip extensor moment was significantly greater early in the lifting phase in the deadlift and later in the lifting phase in the hip thrust. All three exercises clearly facilitate the strengthening of the hip extensors, and careful consideration of the specific desired adaptation is recommended when selecting exercises for this purpose

Hip joint kinetics during the barbell hip thrust

The barbell hip thrust is thought to overload the hip extensors near full extension. The aim of this study was to quantify the hip joint kinetics of a full repetition of the barbell hip thrust. Seven participants performed 3x3x70% 1RM barbell hip thrusts, during which external force (1000 Hz) and full body kinematics (250 Hz) were captured. Inverse dynamic analysis revealed a double peak in the hip extensor moment through the repetition, with maximum hip extensor moment (3.13 ± 0.48 Nm/kg) occurring early in the movement, when the hip joint was close to 90° flexion. Despite the changes in magnitude of hip extensor moment during the repetition, the moment remained extensor dominant throughout, which provided some support for the force vector theory and the previous suggestion that the hip thrust effectively overloads the hip extensors near full extension

COMPARISON OF THE BILATERAL AND UNILATERAL BARBELL HIP THRUST

The purpose of this study was to quantify the kinetics and kinematics of the unilateral (UL) barbell hip thrust and compare UL biomechanics with the bilateral (BL) barbell hip thrust. Ten resistance trained males performed three sets of three repetitions UL and BL at 10 repetition maximum intensity. The biomechanics of each lift were analysed using 3D motion capture and force plates that were floor mounted and instrumented in to a bespoke rig. Joint kinetics and kinematics were calculated in the sagittal, frontal and transverse planes. It was concluded that UL loaded the hip joint to a greater extent than the BL across all three planes. The current study offers novel insight to the biomechanical demand of the unilateral hip thrust and has implications for exercise selection within the physical preparation of athletes

A novel method for comparing vector coding profiles

The aim of this study was to present a new method for comparing intra-limb coordination profiles utilising vector coding and coordination binning approaches. Three-dimensional kinematic data (250 Hz) were collected from six male sprinters performing bilateral and unilateral 30 cm drop jumps. Vector coding techniques were applied to sagittal plane angle-angle plots for the hip-knee, hip-ankle and knee-ankle joint couples and resulting coupling angles were binned into eight distinct coordination patterns. A ‘difference score‘ was calculated to provide discrete and continuous comparison of coordination profiles between each task. The method presented offers a simple, practical way for researchers and practitioners to understand and compare movement coordination between tasks and could be applied to any inter- and intra- individual comparison

SPECIFIC-OVERLOAD CHARACTERISTICS OF HORIZONTAL JUMP EXERCISES IN COMPARISON TO THE BLOCK START

The aim of this study was to compare kinetic data at the ankle, knee and hip joint between the block start and three variations of horizontal jump exercises. Eight male sprinters (100 m PB 10.88 ± 0.18 s) performed each exercise whilst external force (1000 Hz) and 3D kinematics (250 Hz) were collected. Internal kinetics at the ankle, knee and hip joint were calculated using inverse dynamics. Key results indicated significantly increased moment and power at the ankle joint in the horizontal jumps compared with the block start, but no differences in power at the knee and hip joint. The present study highlighted specific-overload at the ankle joint but also similarity in the organisation of power across all joints. The information provides coaches and athletes with key biomechanical information to inform exercise selection for physical preparation programmes

MAGNITUDE AND TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTERNAL FORCE PRODUCTION IN THE STARTING BLOCKS: RELATIONSHIP WITH PERFORMANCE

The aim of this study was to investigate magnitude and technical characteristics of external force production in the block phase of the sprint start. Nine male sprinters (100 m PB 10.48 ± 0.28 s) performed five to six maximal effort block starts. External force applied to the front and rear blocks were measured using customised instrumented blocks. Average horizontal, vertical and resultant force, and the angle of the resultant force vector underwent correlational analyses with block performance (normalised average horizontal power). Results revealed that front block average horizontal, vertical and resultant force, and rear block angle of the resultant force vector possessed significant relationships with performance, and highlighted that both magnitude and technical characteristics were related to block performance

Magnitude and technical characteristics of external force production in the starting blocks: relationship with performance.

The aim of this study was to investigate magnitude and technical characteristics of external force production in the block phase of the sprint start. Nine male sprinters (100 m PB 10.48 ± 0.28 s) performed five to six maximal effort block starts. External force applied to the front and rear blocks were measured using customised instrumented blocks. Average horizontal, vertical and resultant force, and the angle of the resultant force vector underwent correlational analyses with block performance (normalised average horizontal power). Results revealed that front block average horizontal, vertical and resultant force, and rear block angle of the resultant force vector possessed significant relationships with performance, and highlighted that both magnitude and technical characteristics were related to block performance