American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine

Mega-sporting events can be described by their leveraging and intricacy in management and delivery. This article reviews the literature on the characteristics of such events and, drawing specific models from almost recent Olympic Games, it identifies the character and dimension of their leveraging on the host country and society. The paper finalizes that while the perspective of economic development is the driving power behind bids for hosting the Olympic Games, the heritages that pursuit their hosting are hard to measure, prone to political explanation and multifaceted. The mega-sporting events are in essence, only the catalyst for the efforts.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2016, 4(2), 44-56. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-4-2-4
Pub. Date: May 19, 2016

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Comparision of Communication Levels and Personality Characteristics of the Students Who Study at İstanbul Gelişim Universty

by Kubilay Çimen, Türker Bıyıklı, Ünsal TAZEGÜL and Özdemir ATAR

Original Research

The main aim of this study is to compare the students of physical education and sport college communication skills and characters with the other students who study the other department at İstanbul Gelişim Universty. In order to collect data, communication skills inventory and scanned Eysenck personality questionnaire-shortened is used in the study. While the students of Fine Arts, Physical Education and Sport College and Architecture compose the population of this study, 130 Artchitecture, 133 Fine Arts and 164 Physical Education and Sport College compose the sample of this study. SPSS 15 packets program were used for interpreting data. “Kolmogorov-Smirnov” test is used to specify wherever the data has normal distribution or not, ''Anova-Homogenety of variance” test is used to specify whether it is homogenous or not and it has been specified that the data has normal distribution and homogenous. Definer statistical was used to analyze data, one way variance analysis test is used to identify between more than one varying and the Tukey test was used to specify the relation of varying. At the end of the study it was examined that the students of Physcal Education and Sport College have better communication skills and they are the most extroverted individuals.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2016, 4(2), 39-43. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-4-2-3
Pub. Date: May 12, 2016

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Inhibitory Effect of the Kinesio Taping® Method on the Gastrocnemius Muscle

by Elizabeth A. Davison, Christopher T. Anderson, Blake H. Ponist, Drew M. Werner, Mary E. Jacobs, Adam J. Thompson and Melissa R. Cook

Original Research

The Kinesio Taping® method has been studied widely for its claims as a therapeutic taping technique designed to enhance performance and treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. The applications of the Kinesio Taping® method are numerous and this intervention offers a broad range of research inquiry into its effectiveness. This study focuses on the performance benefits of the application of the Kinesio Taping® method. Specific attention was given to the inhibitory effects of the tape application on the gastrocnemius muscle group. Taping for muscle inhibition is indicated when a muscle is overactive as seen in muscular spasm. This study found that the Kinesio Taping® method was effective in inhibiting the muscle activity of the gastrocnemius muscle group without decreasing the performance output of the participants. This is clinically significant for clinicians who are progressing return to activity in patients who are recovering from a lower extremity injury, but still have some functional limitations from their injury. Purpose: This research study attempted to determine the effect of Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape on muscle inhibition when the tape is externally applied to a muscle group. Method: The participating athletes were measured by a Vertec© vertical jump device to determine height jumped as well as the BIOPAC Systems, Inc. (Goleta, CA) MP150 electromyography (EMG) machine to determine the amount of muscular activity. The participants were asked to complete nine single leg jumps on their dominant leg before being taped with Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape. The initial three jumps were performed as a warm-up, three more were performed while using the Vertec© to measure jump height, and the final three were performed while attached to the EMG machine to measure electrical activity in the gastrocnemius muscle group. After the initial jumps, each participant’s dominant calf was then taped with Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape. The tape was applied from insertion to origin to test the inhibitory effects of the Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape. After the tape was applied, each participant completed six more maximal vertical jumps on their dominant leg. The first three jumps measured muscular activity, and the last three jumps measured vertical jump height. Results: EMG results demonstrated a significant decrease in electrical activity. Electrical activity decreased for 20 participants (74%) while it increased for 7 participants (26%). The decrease in electrical activity found was (t (26) = 2.551, p = .017). The results of the vertical jump test using the Vertec© showed that in the 27 participants, 52% showed an increase in vertical jump height after the Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape was applied, 37% showed a decrease in vertical jump height after the application of the tape, and 11% of the participants had no change in vertical jump height. No significant difference was found in the vertical jump height between the without tape and with tape trials (t (26) = -1.120, p = .273). Conclusion: Based on this research, it can be concluded there is statistical evidence to show a difference in muscle activity after application of Kinesio® Tex Gold™ Tape. The values obtained from the EMG showed a majority of the participants had a decrease in muscle activity during a single leg vertical jump after being taped. The data found during the study supports the inhibitory basic application technique .

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2016, 4(2), 33-38. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-4-2-2
Pub. Date: April 26, 2016

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Progressive Resistance Training Modulates the Expression of ACTN2 and ACTN3 Genes and Proteins in the Skeletal Muscles

by Neda khaledi, Rana Fayazmilani, Abbas Ali Gaeini and Arash Javeri

Original Research

Purpose: Mammalian skeletal muscle has the two isoforms of actin binding protein, α-Actinin-2 and α-Actinin-3, which are located in the skeletal muscle Z-line where they cross-link the actin thin filaments. There is a common stop codon polymorphism R577X in the ACTN3 gene. Several association studies have demonstrated that the ACTN3 R577X genotype influences athletic performance. The response of α-Actinins to resistance exercise training is little understood. Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to control (C; n = 10) and resistance training (T; n = 12) groups. Training consisted of climbing a ladder carrying a load suspended from the tail. After training, fast (Flexor halluces longus, FHL) and slow (Soleus) hind limb muscles from each group was examine to study the effect of resistance training on muscle mass. Gene expression and protein levels of both Actn3, Actn2 were examined. Results: The resistance trained group had a significantly greater absolute muscle mass in FHL (P=0.011). We also found that Actn3 and Actn2 gene expression levels increased significantly in FHL and Soleus muscles by mean factors of 2.16, and 2.91, respectively. α-Actinin-2 protein expression increased significantly in training group (P=0.025) while, α-actinin-3 protein expression remained similar in training & control groups (P=0.130). The most important finding of this study showed that both α-actinin-3 and α-actinin-2 mRNA levels were up-regulated after 8wk of resistance training (P≤0.05). Conclusion: Our results provide a new insight into the impact of progressive resistance training and evaluating the role of α-actinins responsiveness.

American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2016, 4(2), 26-32. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-4-2-1
Pub. Date: April 25, 2016

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