DIFFERENCES IN TENNIS SERVE KINEMATICS BETWEEN ELITE ADOLESCENT MALE AND FEMALE PLAYERS

The purpose of this study was to compare kinematic differences in elite adolescent male and female tennis serves. A 3D motion capture system was used to capture whole body, racquet and ball toss kinematics while twenty elite adolescent tennis players (male = 10, female = 10) performed flat and kick serves. Females had greater vertical front hip velocity (FS: 0.2 m/s, KS: 0.2 m/s greater than males), whilst males experienced larger peak shoulder external rotation displacements in both flat (10° greater) and kick (8° greater) serves compared to females. Females tossed the ball higher (FS: 18 cm, KS 19 cm) whilst males impacted the ball more laterally (across the body) (FS: 17cm, KS: 12) and more forward (FS: 10 cm, KS: 13 cm) into the court. Females had greater lower body kinematics whereas males tended to rely on shoulder external rotation to produce ball speed

IS THE KICK SERVE LINKED WITH PARS ABNORMALITIES IN ELITE ADOLESCENT TENNIS PLAYERS?

The purpose of this study was to compare lumbar kinetics in elite adolescent tennis players with and without pars abnormalities. A 3D motion capture system was used to capture lumbar spine kinetics while 24 right-handed elite adolescent tennis players (male = 14, female = 10, 9 players with pars abnormalities) performed kick serves. Players without pathology were found to have significantly greater peak lumbar posterior force (7.3 N/kg greater), left lateral flexion force (4 N/kg greater), right lateral flexion force (3.4 N/kg greater), flexion moment (2 Nm/kg greater) and left rotation moment (1.2 Nm/kg greater) during the drive phase. Interestingly, no differences were observed for peak kinetic values during the forward-swing phase. Those with pars abnormalities had lower lumbar loading overall compared with those without pars abnormalities

FRONTAL PLANE ALIGNMENT DURING FOREHAND AND BACKHAND LAWN BOWLS DELIVERIES

There is very little research on the biomechancis of the lawn bowls delivery. Bowls are commonly delivered using either a forehand or backhand technique. The purpose of this study was to compare the pelvis, trunk and upper limb kinematics of the forehand and backhand lawn bowls delivery. Elite lawn bowlers (n=18) who were competing at international level performed a series of forehand and backhand lawn bowls deliveries on a simulated indoor bowling rink. Differences were found between the delivery types for pelvis and trunk segment angles but there were no differences in upper limb frontal plane joint angles at the shoulder, elbow or wrist. It was concluded that the backhand delivery is executed with a more upright technique, possibly affecting weight transfer during the delivery stride. The similarity in upper limb kinematics suggests coaching drills that focus on the upper limb can benefit deliveries on both the forehand and backhand

ASSESSING THE ACCURACY OF INVERSE KINEMATICS IN OPENSIM TO ESTIMATE ELBOW FLEXION-EXTENSION DURING CRICKET BOWLING: MAINTAINING THE RIGID LINKED ASSUMPTION

The aim of this study was to determine how maintaining the rigid-linked assumption and employing inverse kinematics within OpenSim (OpenSim-IK) influences a model’s estimates of elbow flexion-extension (FE) during cricket bowling. To test this 1) estimates of elbow FE angles were calculated by OpenSim-IK and traditional models using markers attached to a mechanical linkage arm (both static and low velocity range of movement). 2) The same models were used to estimate elbow FE during cricket bowling. Under both static and low velocity dynamic conditions both models produced highly correlated elbow FE estimates (r2= 0.96 to 1.00). When comparing total elbow extension range between models, significant differences were not observed (p=0.87 to 0.96) indicating that both models produce similar recommendations for bowler legality

THE INFLUENCE OF KNEE JOINT FLEXION-EXTENSION ON WRIST JOINT SPEED IN CRICKET FAST BOWLERS

The purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of wrist joint velocity to manipulations of knee joint flexion–extension kinematic waveforms through the use of a forward kinematic approach. The bowling kinematics of twelve male cricket pace bowlers were entered into a forward kinematic model using MATLAB software. The participants‘ knee joint flexion-extension kinematics were manipulated in two ways: 1) offset by ± 20° and 2) amplified by a factor of ± 2. Both manipulations led to increases in resultant wrist joint velocity at the time of ball release. An offset of 20° extension increased wrist joint velocity by 5.6% whereas an amplification factor of 2 increased wrist joint velocity by 29.9%. These results support the notion that a flexor-extender knee joint technique is ideal for cricket pace bowlers

ACCURACY OF THE MOTUSBASEBALLTM WEARABLE SENSOR

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of the motusBASEBALLTM sensor. Trained/developmental male adult baseball pitchers (n = 10) threw ten pitches each from a regulation mound while kinematic and kinetic data were captured using an optical motion capture system and a motusBASEBALLTM sensor. Absolute and relative agreement were assessed. Outputs from the motusBASEBALLTM sensor were significantly different to the motion capture outputs for elbow varus torque, shoulder rotation, and arm speed (p \u3c .05). Data were similar for arm slot (p = .847). Correlations (r) between system outputs were not significant (p \u3e .05) and ranged from 0.312 to 0.630. The motusBASEBALLTM sensor is not a valid sensor for measuring elbow varus torque, shoulder rotation, and arm speed. Researchers and practitioners should use the device with caution

DIFFERENCES IN ACCURACY AND CONSISTENCY IN ELITE LAWN BOWLERS

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy and consistency of repeated lawn bowls deliveries across four different bowling conditions, as well as the bias in displacement of bowls that did not hit the target. Twenty-seven national and international representative lawn bowls athletes completed 16 forehand and backhand deliveries at two different bowling lengths. The resting position of each bowl in relation to the target was used to calculate width, length and absolute displacement of bowls from the target for each participant in each condition. Accuracy was not different between conditions, but athletes were less consistent in delivering forehand bowls. Athletes also had greater displacement in bowling width during forehand deliveries. The results of this study can be used as a guide for targeting training strategies that improve lawn bowling performance

The occupational role of the lay health trainer in England: a review of practice

Health Trainers constitute an emergent occupational group in the Public Health system in England with the key purpose to reduce health inequalities by helping or ‘nudging’ people in local communities to adopt healthier lifestyles. Whilst primarily supplying health-related information and support regarding smoking cessation, diet, alcohol, physical activity and mental wellbeing issues, the role also requires awareness of, and sensitivity toward the specific needs of local communities. This literature review charts current research on the occupational context of the Health Trainer role since its implementation in the English Public Health system. It provides a critical examination of current literature whilst highlighting the theoretical basis of Health Trainers’ roles, the potential boundary-crossing nature of their work, along with professional development issues