Helen M Binkley

Validity and reliability of the medicine ball throw for kindergarten children.

Davis, KL, Kang, M, Boswell, BB, DuBose, KD, Altman, SR, and Binkley, HM. Validity and reliability of the medicine ball throw for kindergarten children. J Strength Cond Res 22(6): 1958-1963, 2008-The purpose of this study was to establish validity and reliability evidence for the medicine ball throw test for kindergarten students, an underrepresented group in the literature. The subjects were 105 students, 5-7 years old, BMI 17.44 ± 3.17 kg·m−2, 43% female and 57% male. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to examine reliability, and Pearson correlation coefficients and a paired t-test were used to examine validity. To accomplish this, the kindergarten students completed the medicine ball throw test on two different days and the modified pull-up test, the “criterion” measure, on another day. For the medicine ball throw, each student sat on the floor before throwing the medicine ball forward like a chest pass three times. The medicine ball throw was highly reliable both within 1 day (ICCs = 0.93 and 0.94 for day 1 and day 2, respectively) and across 2 days (ICC = 0.88), with all reliability estimates over the acceptable level of 0.80. The medicine ball throw scores were positively related with height (r = 0.34) and weight (r = 0.34), and there was a significant difference between the 5-year-old group (mean ± SD; 111.78 ± 34.93) and the 6-year-old group (135.60 ± 39.77), t = −3.23, p = 0.002, which supports correlational and known-difference evidence of validity for the medicine ball throw test. Even though no correlation was found between the medicine ball throw test and the modified pull-up test, r = −0.04, other forms of validity evidence (i.e., known-difference and correlational) were apparent. In conclusion, the medicine ball throw test seems to be a valid and reliable measure of upper-body strength for kindergarten children.

Preseason Fitness Testing in National Collegiate Athletic Association Soccer.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO PROVIDE THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONAL WITH THE INFORMATION TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT A BATTERY OF SOCCER-SPECIFIC FITNESS TESTS DURING THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SOCCER PRESEASON PERIOD, YIELDING A DETAILED AND APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL EVALUATION OF THE ATHLETE. RATIONALE FOR THE CHOICE OF TESTS, DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EACH TEST, A TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION, AND REASONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE DISCUSSED.

Massage's effect on injury, recovery, and performance: A review of techniques and treatment parameters

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING SPECIALISTS NOT ONLY KNOW THE TYPES OF MASSAGE TECHNIQUES AND THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS USED FOR IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO KNOW HOW MASSAGE CAN BE USED FOR MUSCLE RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION OF INJURIES WITHIN THE ATHLETIC POPULATION.

Sports performance graduate program interest and need survey: a brief report from the NSCA Education Committee.

The Education Recognition Program (ERP) was developed to acknowledge academic institutions meeting departmental criteria established by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for having an area of concentration in undergraduate strength and conditioning. Since its inception, over 40 universities have received recognition status. The NSCA is currently examining the interest, need, and feasibility of creating an ERP for graduate curriculum specific to sports performance. The current investigation included a survey of Division I, II, and III strength and conditioning professionals. Surveys were mailed to 215 coaches, of which 53 responded (26% rate of return). Five factors were extracted from the questionnaire and were subsequently named: Application of Science to Strength and Conditioning, Professional Development, Graduate Curriculum Support, Graduate Program Requirements, and Graduate Assistantships. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) found significant differences on Application of Science to Strength and Conditioning and Professional Development when comparing highest degree earned. Pairwise analysis indicated that individuals with Masters degrees scored those factors higher compared with individuals with Bachelors degrees. The results from this survey provide initial information from current strength and conditioning professionals regarding the interest and need for developing formalized graduate curriculum specifically for sports performance.

Treatment and Prevention of Shin Splints

SHIN SPLINTS ARE AN OVERUSE INJURY OF THE LOWER LEG THAT AFFECTS A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE ATHLETIC POPULATION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COLUMN IS TO INTRODUCE THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROFESSIONAL TO THE ETIOLOGY OF SHIN SPLINTS. STATIC STRETCHING TECHNIQUES WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED THAT WHEN INCLUDED AS PART OF A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM WILL HELP IN THE REHABILITATION OF ATHLETES SUFFERING FROM MEDIAL TIBIAL STRESS SYNDROME AND WORK AS A PREVENTATIVE EXERCISE FOR OTHERS.

A Multi-Plane Hip Flexor Stretch

傷害の発生を防止または軽減するた めには、エクササイズ前後のストレッ チを奨励すべきか、それとも廃止すべ きであろうか。結論を下せるだけの十 分な証拠はないという見解を、最近の メタ分析が示しているにもかかわらず (6)、依然としてストレッチは包括的 なコンディショニングプログラムに欠 かせない要素として、一般に認められ ている。別の研究もメタ分析と同じ見 解を示しているが、一方で、ストレッ チを実施すべきかどうかは、アスリー トが行っている競技の種類によっても 異なってくると述べている(7)。 さらに重要なことは、ストレッチを 適切なテクニックで行うと、筋肉を適 正な位置に整え、ストレッチの効果を 得るのに役立つことである。筋肉が適 切にストレッチされなかったり、筋肉 が緊張していたりすると、肉離れを引 き起こすこともある。筋肉は複数の平 面で動くことが多く、したがって、ス トレッチは筋肉の多平面における機能 を考慮して行わなければならない。主 に大腰筋、腸骨筋、および大腿直筋か らなる股関節屈筋群は、下肢のスト レッチプログラムの対象部位に入って いることが多く、3つの動作平面すべ てにおいて動く筋群である。著者の経 験上、股関節屈筋群は、正しくストレッ チされないことが多い。矢状面でしか ストレッチされず、それも適切にスト レッチできていない場合が頻繁にあ る。さらに、アスリートはよく股関節 屈筋群に緊張を生じるため、ここでは 従来のストレッチ方法に代わる、また は導入されるべき効果的なストレッチ を提唱する。本コラムの趣旨は、股関 節屈筋群の解剖学的構造を説明し、股 関節屈筋群のための多平面ストレッチ を紹介することである。