This study was aimed to analyse the lower limb kinematics during the change of direction (COD) performance with the dominant (DL) and non-dominant (NDL) leg using linear (traditional kinematics) and nonlinear (Self Organising Map-based cluster analysis) approaches. Three 5-0-5 COD performances with the DL and three with the NDL were performed by 23 (aged 21.6 ± 2.3 years) collegiate athletes. No significant difference was observed between the COD duration, and approach speed of DL and NDL. Significantly greater ankle abductions, knee and hip external rotations were identified in COD with DL, compared to NDL (p < .001, d > 0.8). Self Organising Maps portrayed a completely different coordination pattern profile during change of direction performance with the DL and NDL. The cluster analysis illustrated similar inter-individual coordination patterning when participants turned with their DL or NDL. No visible relationship was observed in the cluster analysis of the lower limb joint angles and angular velocities. Outcomes of this study portrayed that coordination patterning (combination of joint angles and the rate of change of angles) could portray the movement patterning differences in different tasks, while a sole investigation on the joint angles or angular velocities may not reveal the underlying mechanisms of movement patterning.

• MeSH
• bérec * fyziologie   MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• dolní končetina * fyziologie   MeSH
• funkční lateralita * fyziologie   MeSH
• kotník fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• motorické dovednosti * fyziologie   MeSH
• nelineární dynamika MeSH
• pohyb fyziologie   MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• sportovní výkon * fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Understanding the intricacies of human movement coordination and variability during running is crucial to unraveling the dynamics of locomotion, identifying potential injury mechanisms and understanding skill development. Identification of minimum number of cycles for calculation of reliable coordination and its variability could help with better test organization and efficient assessment time. By adopting a cross-sectional study design, this study investigated the minimum required cycles for calculating hip-knee, hip-ankle and knee-ankle coordination and their variability using a continuous relative phase (CRP) method. Twenty-nine healthy adults ran on a treadmill at speeds of 9, 12.5, and 16 km.h-1 while 3D kinematic data of their lower limbs were recorded using 6 optoelectronic cameras. Using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analysis, reliability between CRP and its variability (CRPv) in different gait cycles (3, 5, 10, 20, 30) was assessed for each speed. A minimum of 10 cycles was required for CRP calculation across all speeds, whereas CRPv necessitated a minimum of 30 cycles for moderate to good reliability. While increasing the number of cycles improved ICC values for inter-joint CRP, the same trend was not consistently observed for CRPv, emphasizing the importance of separately assessing CRP and its variability metrics.

• MeSH
• běh * fyziologie   MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• chůze (způsob) * fyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hlezenní kloub * fyziologie   MeSH
• kolenní kloub * fyziologie   MeSH
• kyčelní kloub fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Task and environment-related constraints can influence spike performance in volleyball players. This study was designated to investigate the impact of awareness of the presence or absence of a defensive block by the opponents on the performance and coordination pattern of spikes in elite volleyball attackers. Simulating a real-game scenario, 10 elite youth attackers (aged 15.5 ± 0.7 years) executed six spikes each with prior notification about the presence/absence of defences and six spikes without any notification. In each condition, they were blocked by two opponents in three trials. The coordination patterning of the attackers was explored using cluster analysis based on a Self-Organising Map (SOM). The SOMs and the cluster analysis showed that the coordination pattern of the spike execution was very individual-specific; however, in the third layer of the cluster analysis, it was revealed that the movement pattern of spike execution had similarities in the scenario wherein the players had prior awareness of the defences. Providing the attackers with information on the opponents' condition or performance could shift the attackers' focus from a game-oriented condition to the rivals' behaviour, which consequently resulted in deterioration of their spike performance.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• sportovní výkon * MeSH
• volejbal * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Mobile phone use affects the dynamics of gait by impairing visual control of the surrounding environment and introducing additional cognitive demands. Although it has been shown that using a mobile phone alters whole-body dynamic stability, no clear information exists on its impacts on motor variability during gait. This study aimed at assessing the impacts of various types of mobile phone use on motor variability during gait; quantified using the short- and long-term Lyapunov Exponent (λS and λL) of lower limb joint angles and muscle activation patterns, as well as the centre of mass position. Fourteen females and Fifteen males (27.72 ± 4.61 years, body mass: 70.24 ± 14.13 Kg, height: 173.31 ± 10.97 cm) walked on a treadmill under six conditions: normal walking, normal walking in low-light, walking while looking at the phone, walking while looking at the phone in low-light, walking and talking on the phone, and walking and listening to music. Variability of the hip (p λS = .015, λL = .043) and pelvis (p λS = .039, λL = .017) joint sagittal angles significantly increased when the participants walked and looked at the phone, either in normal or in low-light conditions. No significant difference was observed in the variability of the centre of mass position and muscle activation patterns. When individuals walk and look at the phone screen, the hip and knee joints are constantly trying to adopt a new angle to regulate and maintain gait stability, which might put an additional strain on the neuromuscular system. To this end, it is recommended not to look at the mobile phone screen while walking, particularly in public places with higher risks of falls.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• chůze (způsob) fyziologie   MeSH
• chůze fyziologie   MeSH
• kolenní kloub fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• užívání mobilních telefonů * MeSH
• zátěžový test MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Ankle Kinesio-taping (KT) is being globally used an intervention to provide the ankle joint complex with sufficient support against sudden excessive mechanical stress during various activities. However, its effects on proximal joints are unclear. This study investigated the impact of ankle KT on ankle-knee joint coupling in sagittal, frontal and transverse planes. METHODS: Adopting a pretest post-test study design, 30 collegiate athletes with chronic ankle instability performed 3 single-leg drop landings in each non-taped and Kinesio-taped conditions and their movement kinematics were recorded using 6 optoelectronic cameras. RESULTS: The ankle angular velocities in sagittal (P=0.038, d=0.64) and transverse planes (P=0.001, d=0.95) decreased after KT application, while the knee internal rotation velocities increased (P=0.020, d=0.51). The coupling angles revealed that the ankle movement ratios significantly decreased in 3 planes in comparison with knee movement ratios. CONCLUSIONS: Outcomes of this study illustrated that application of ankle KT leaves the individuals with a stiffer ankle joint, which increases the mechanical stresses to this joint and decreases its stiffness in absorbing the applied shocks. Further, ankle KT application resulted in more knee internal rotation moments and may increase the risk of knee injuries during landing after a long-term usage in patients with instability ankle sprain.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hlezenní kloub fyziologie   MeSH
• kolenní kloub fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nestabilita kloubu prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• poranění kolena etiologie   MeSH
• poranění kotníku prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• rotace škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• tejpovací páska škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Adaptation of the walking pattern to uphill walking demands immediate coordination between the lower limb segments. Nonetheless, knowledge about individual joints' responses and variability in response to the new slope angles are missing. AIMS: This study investigated the impacts of uphill walking on the ankle, the knee and the hip joints angles and their variability. METHODS: Twenty-three collegiate athletes (age: 22.04 ± 3.43years, body mass: 62.14 ± 9.26Kg, height: 168.29 ± 7.06 cm) walked on an inclined treadmill at 0 ° (level walking -LW), 5 ° (low-slope-walking -LSW), and 10 ° (high-slope-walking -HSW) slopes at their preferred walking speed (4.2 ± 0.51 km.h-1). The ankle, knee and hip joints angles and their variability (standard deviations) were calculated and analysed throughout the gait cycles in LW, LSW, and HSW. RESULTS: Repeated measure ANOVA portrayed significant differences between the ankle joint angles in sagittal (p < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .005, .14 < ηp2>.01) planes. In the knee joint, the sagittal (p < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .05, ηp2>.14) angles were significantly different (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the hip joint, the sagittal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), frontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14), and transverse (p < .05, ηp2>.14) angles were significantly different. Ankle angle variability was significantly different in sagittal (P < .001, ηp2>.14), frontal (p = .002, ηp2>.14) and horizontal (P < .001, ηp2>.14) planes, as well as knee joint angle variability in sagittal, frontal and horizontal planes p < 0.001, ηp2>.14. The hip joint variability was considerably different in sagittal (p = .031, ηp2>.14) and horizontal (p < .05, ηp2>.14) planes. CONCLUSION: Uphill walking involves further modifications in the ankle, knee and hip joints angle to adjust the whole-body movements to a new slope. This adjustment resulted in a firm base of support, provided by the ankle, to regulate the knee and hip joints modifications. Nevertheless, it caused less ankle movement variability and could end up with injuries over long-term uphill walking.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• chůze (způsob) * MeSH
• chůze * MeSH
• dolní končetina MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hlezenní kloub MeSH
• kolenní kloub MeSH
• kyčelní kloub MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This study investigated the whole-body coordination patterning in successful and faulty spikes using self-organising map-based cluster analysis. Ten young, elite volleyball players (aged 15.5 ± 0.7 years) performed 60 volleyball spikes in a real-game environment. Adopting the cluster analysis, based on a self-organising map, whole-body coordination patterning was explored between successful and faulty spikes of individual players. The self-organising maps (SOMs) portrayed whole body, lower and upper limb coordination dissimilarities during the jump phase and the ball impact phases between the successful and faulty spikes. The cluster analysis illustrated that the whole body, upper limb and lower limb coordination patterning of each individual's successful spikes were similar to their faulty spikes. Range of motion patterning also demonstrated no differences in kinematics between spike outcomes. Further, the upper limb angular velocity patterning of the players' successful/faulty spikes were similar. The SPM analysis portrayed significant differences between the normalized upper limb angular velocities from 35% to 45% and from 76% to 100% of the spike movement. Although the lower limb angular velocities are vital for achieving higher jumps in volleyball spikes, the results of this study portrayed that the upper limb angular velocities distinguish the differences between successful and faulty spikes among the attackers. This confirms the fact that volleyball coaches should shift their focus toward the upper limb velocity and coordination training for higher success rates in spiking for volleyball attackers.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• dolní končetina MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• pohyb MeSH
• rozsah kloubních pohybů MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• sportovní výkon * MeSH
• volejbal * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of ankle Kinesio-taping (KT) on postural sway, lower limb ROM, and muscle activity during a unilateral balance tasks. DESIGN: Case control study design. SETTING: Data were collected at the human movement analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 30 collegiate athletes with chronic ankle sprain (11 females and 19 males, 23.91 ± 2.58 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Hip, knee and ankle joints ranges of motion (ROMs); postural sway area and velocities in both anteroposterior and mediolateral directions; and muscular activity amplitudes (% peak) of lateral and medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior and peroneus longus in a 20s single leg balance test in two non-taped (control) and KT (intervention) conditions. RESULTS: Significant decrease observed in ankle lateral ROM (p = 0.048, d = 0.52), mediolateral postural sway velocity (p = 0.029, d = 1.25), and peroneus longus activity amplitudes (p = 0.042, d = 0.55) after KT application. CONCLUSION: Acute application of KT among athletes with chronic ankle instability could provide lateral mechanical support to the ankle, potentially decreasing the velocity of frontal plane sway, and decreasing the magnitude of muscle activation. These data suggest that KT may be beneficial for improving static joint stability among individuals with chronic ankle sprain, and thus could be considered an option to allow safe return-to-activity.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• hlezenní kloub patofyziologie   MeSH
• kosterní svaly patofyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• nestabilita kloubu etiologie   patofyziologie   rehabilitace   MeSH
• pohyb fyziologie   MeSH
• poranění kotníku komplikace   patofyziologie   rehabilitace   MeSH
• posturální rovnováha fyziologie   MeSH
• rozsah kloubních pohybů fyziologie   MeSH
• sportovci * MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• tejpovací páska * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

This study was designated to investigate the kinematical differences between successful and faulty spikes, in order to identify the best strategies leading to better spike performance. Simulating a real-game condition, 13 elite youth attackers performed 6 spikes in the presence of 2 blocks. The kinematic variables of the spike performances were recorded using 6 optoelectronic cameras (Vicon Motion systems, Oxford, UK). The paired sample t-test was used to compare the kinematic variables recorded during the delivery of successful and faulty spikes. Among the successful trials, both the angular velocities of the knees (≈12.4%) and hips (≈13.3%), and the vertical velocity of the centre of mass at take-off (≈6.5%) and arm swing (≈8.2%) were considerably higher during the plant phase. Consequently, the jump (≈4.3%) and spike (≈1.5%) heights, as well as the wrist velocity (≈5.5%), were significantly higher during the jump phase of successful spikes. In successful spike performances, the attackers adopted higher hip and knee angular velocities, combined with efficient arm swings, to produce higher take-off velocities and reach higher jump heights. This approach provides them with the better position regarding the ball and the blockers to find the best path and hit the ball with higher arm velocities.

• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• koleno fyziologie   MeSH
• kyčel fyziologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• loket fyziologie   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• motorické dovednosti fyziologie   MeSH
• paže fyziologie   MeSH
• rameno fyziologie   MeSH
• sportovní výkon fyziologie   MeSH
• studie pohybu a času MeSH
• volejbal fyziologie   MeSH
• zápěstí fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH