by Michael Ora Powell, Aviv Elor, Mircea Teodorescu and Sri Kurniawan
Original Research
Upper limb injury often requires repetitive and long-term physical rehabilitation which can result in low adherence due to the repetitive and internally motivated nature of the exercises. Immersive Virtual Reality (iVR) systems enhanced with games can address these challenges. These systems provide a platform for adaptable sensing and analytical tools to track progress, personalize therapy, and increase long term engagement. This paper explores such a system, through an iVR-based experience for upper-extremity rehabilitation called “OpenButterfly,” where users follow movements to protect a virtual butterfly. OpenButterfly enables a dynamically controllable environment for individual exercise by utilizing motion capture, a biomechanical model of torque and angular momentum, and a biometric pipeline for brainwave, heartrate, and skin conductance analysis. We examine this experience for five adult users with varying degrees of injury over the course of eight weeks. Our results suggest that experiences like OpenButterfly provide strong platforms for long-term physical therapy engagement, analysis, and recovery. Lastly, this paper concludes with considerations for future research into adaptive iVR physio-rehabilitation.
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020, 8(1), 23-35. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-8-1-5
Pub. Date: June 23, 2020
4890 Views798 Downloads
by Onur ORAL, George NOMİKOS and Nikitas NOMIKOS
Original Research
Sports injuries may lead to severe consequences for athletes. Many athletes suffer from injuries of skeletal muscle. While these injuries may be minor, they may be quite serious [1]. An athlete needs to train on a regular basis. An injury causes her/his time to be wasted. Similarly, if the athlete is a member of a certain team, the injury affects multiple people. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a quite promising technique with significant potentials. PRP is an autologous blood product used in terms of sports medicine to treat acute and chronic tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries in over 86,000 athletes in the United States on annual basis [2]. PRP is a quite promising technique with significant potentials. It is expected to accelerate the healing process of tendon and ligament related injuries. This is particularly advantageous for athletes [3].
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020, 8(1), 20-22. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-8-1-4
Pub. Date: April 15, 2020
3908 Views923 Downloads1 Likes
by Onur ORAL, George NOMIKOS and Nikitas NOMIKOS
Original Research
Background: The aim of the research is to identify, study the effects of stem cell therapies on sports injuries and examine how stem cell therapies may benefit the healing process and improve the athletes' physical state. With an extensive literature review, the purpose of this article to investigate the true potentials of regenerative stem cell therapy and shed light on innovative ways of treatment for sports injuries. It is theorized that stem cell therapy is an efficient and effective treatment method for sports injuries. Stem cell therapy is an innovative way of treating musculoskeletal injuries to provide faster and safer treatment to athletes. As sports injuries are one of the major concerns of the athletes, stem cell therapies are quite promising with effective and safe results. It is possible to fully heal certain injuries, regain functions, and reduce symptoms. Stem cell therapy is a method that should be popularised and preferred particularly by athletes.
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020, 8(1), 16-19. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-8-1-3
Pub. Date: April 09, 2020
3768 Views770 Downloads
by Ratko Pavlovic, Kemal Idrizovic, Vladan Savic, Mensur Vrcic, Nikola Radulovic and Aleksandar Simeonov
Original Research
Background: Kinematic parameters are an indispensable segment in the analysis of all throwing disciplines, including javelin throw. They are also an indicator of possible differences between competitors of different or the same rank of the competition and are an important factor for achieving a good result. The aim of the study was to determine the spatial and temporal differences of kinematic parameters in the javelin throw between the male and female finalists of the World Championships. Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of finalists in the World Athletics Championships (Berlin 2009-Daegu 2011) with the aim of determining the differences between the kinematic parameters of the male and between the female javelin throwers. The sample included a total of 32 competitors in both categories. To obtain the necessary results, a t-test for independent samples was applied. Result: statistically significant differences were confirmed between male finalists in 60% of kinematic parameters: release velocity (t=3,504; p<0,004), angle of yew (t=4,664; p<0,000), length of delivery stride (t=2,444, p<0,028), distance to foul line (t=5,120), duration of impulse stride (t=-4,462, p<0,001), duration to release (t=-4,837, p<0,000). In women, significant differences in 40% of parameters were confirmed: angle of release (t=-,365, p<0,005), angle of yew (t=9,182; p<0,000), duration of impulse stride (t=-4,140, p<0,001), duration to release (t=-4,409, p<0,001). Conclusion: Generally speaking, this research showed that significant differences were observed between male finalists and between female finalists. Mostly, these are kinematic parameters that have proven to be paramount in the resultant performance of these championship throwers. One should not forget the influence of exogenous factors, above all air currents and javelin behavior as an aerodynamic device. An ideal biomechanical model of the thrower can be made based on the differences in the kinematic parameters of the top medal winners at the Berlin WCh in 2009 and the Daegu WCh in 2011.
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020, 8(1), 8-15. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-8-1-2
Pub. Date: March 19, 2020
1721 Views904 Downloads4 Likes
by Peter D. Hart
Original Research
Background: Grip strength is a measure of muscular fitness and is related to many health problems in women. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between grip strength and HRQOL in U.S. women. A secondary purpose was to examine the extent to which physical activity (PA), obesity, and smoking moderate the grip strength and HRQOL relationship. Methods: Data for this research came from women 20 years of age and older participating in the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Grip strength (kg) was measured in both hands using a handgrip dynamometer and the largest reading across all trials served as the participant’s score. HRQOL was assessed by a single question asking participants to rate their general health. Additionally, measures of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) (MVPA), TV time, sedentary time, and smoking were assessed. Multiple linear regression was used to model the relationship between HRQOL and grip strength while controlling for confounding variables. Results: Grip strength decreased proportionately in women with increasing age (p<.001). Conversely, grip strength increased proportionately in women with increasing BMI (p<.001). In the fully adjusted model, women with good HRQOL had greater grip strength (slope=2.04 kg, SE=0.26, p<.001) than their poor HRQOL counterparts. Additionally, HRQOL was significantly related to grip strength in women who were current smokers but not in those who were not current smokers. Conclusion: Results from this study indicate that grip strength and HRQOL are related in U.S. women. Furthermore, the grip strength and HRQOL relationship appears to remain in women who are current smokers.
American Journal of Sports Science and Medicine. 2020, 8(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.12691/ajssm-8-1-1
Pub. Date: December 23, 2019
6930 Views1541 Downloads