Mike Caine

Graduated compression stockings: Physiological and perceptual responses during and after exercise

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the effect of wearing graduated compression stockings on physiological and perceptual variables during and after intermittent (Experiment 1) and continuous (Experiment 2) running exercise. Fourteen recreational runners performed two multi-stage intermittent shuttle running tests with 1 h recovery between tests (Experiment 1). A further 14 participants performed a fast-paced continuous 10-km road run (Experiment 2). Participants wore commercially available knee-length graduated compression stockings (pressure at ankle 18 – 22 mmHg) beneath ankle-length sports socks (experimental trials) or just the latter (control trials) in a randomized counterbalanced design (for both experiments). No performance or physiological differences were observed between conditions during intermittent shuttle running. During the 10-km trials, there was a reduction in delayed-onset muscle soreness 24 h after exercise when wearing graduated compression stockings (P < 0.05). There was a marked difference in the frequency and location of soreness: two participants in the stockings trial but 13 participants in the control trial indicated soreness in the lower legs. Wearing graduated compression stockings during a 10-km road run appears to reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness after exercise in recreationally active men.

Accelerometer Profile Recognition of Swimming Strokes (P17)

The use of technology in sports performance analysis is a rapidly increasing practise. Tools for analysis aim to provide useful information to supplement coach knowledge and improve feedback in the development of athletes. In swimming the use of subjective video analysis is wide-spread, however, unlike some other sports, there are few quantitative measures of performance. Quantitative measures, such as intra cyclic variations of stroke characteristics, have the potential to provide more specific performance metrics from which to make improvements. Such measures are currently not widely available to coaches, support staff and swimmers, due to the infancy or lack of sufficiently developed technologies.

A Methodology to Investigate the Relationship between Lower-Limb Dynamics and Shoe Stiffness Using Custom-Built Footwear

It has been demonstrated that, by varying the mechanical properties of footwear, the sprinting performance can be improved. It has been hypothesized that, for maximal performance, tuning the shoe stiffness to the requirements of the athlete is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using sprint shoes constructed with selective-laser-sintered Nylon 12 sole units for sprint-related jump tasks and to examine whether adaptations to the mechanical properties of the footwear were sufficient to elicit changes to lower-limb dynamics during athletic performance. An internationally competitive sprinter completed sprint-related jump metrics in various selective-laser-sintered shoes with bending stiffnesses of 9 N, 24.5 N, and 38 N in flexion and 7.4 N, 14.7 N, and 26.1 N in extension. The participant performed best in the medium-stiffness shoe for squat jumps and the maximum-stiffness shoe for bounce drop jumps. This investigation has demonstrated that selective laser sintering can produce high-integrity footwear with markedly different mechanical properties. Such footwear, coupled with an appropriate test method, has been shown to be suitable for investigating the relationship between lower-limb dynamics and shoe stiffness.

A comparison of barefoot and sprint spike conditions in sprinting

The primary kinematic factors relating to sprinting performance may be influenced by the mechanical properties of the footwear worn. It was hypothesized that, compared with the barefoot condition, sprint spikes would influence sole angle to the ground, and metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) extension and flexion. High-speed video recording was used to analyse key kinematic variables of the foot segments and the MPJ in barefoot and shod running conditions. The stance phases of four sprinters (two male) were captured in the blocks, at 10 m and at 50 m into a maximal effort sprint. Angular range and angular velocity during MPJ flexion at 10 m and 50 m were reduced significantly when wearing sprint spikes. The mean angular range at 10 m was reduced by 11°, 13°, and 5° for the initial flexion phase, the extension phase, and the final phase of flexion respectively. This effect was larger during ground contact at 10 m versus 50 m. Sole angle to the ground at take-off was lower in the sprint spike shod condition than in the barefoot condition. Performance-related parameters such as degree of MPJ extension, MPJ extension velocity, and sole angle to the ground are influenced by sprint spikes when compared with the barefoot condition.

Design and testing of a novel interactive playground device

The concept of an interactive playground was born out of the specific need to tackle increasing levels of childhood obesity in the UK. A worryingly high proportion of children are inactive, preferring to spend their leisure time playing sedentary computer games or other electronic gaming devices. To engage this specific user group, an interactive, whole-body outdoor play device was devised. The device is intended to promote ‘stealth fitness’ with an aim to improve users reaction time, coordination, agility, and cardiovascular fitness. This paper describes the design and experimentation phases undertaken to develop the device from an initial concept to a final product. Fifteen healthy children completed an experimental study consisting of three 5-min sessions. Heart rate was continuously monitored and ratings of enjoyment, competence, and perceived exertion were recorded after each session. The results indicate that using the new device elicits a large cardiovascular response while providing high levels of enjoyment.

Materials and technology in sport

An evolution from natural to highly engineered materials has drastically changed the way in which athletes train and compete. Thanks to challenging technological problems and unconventional commercialization pathways, universities can make a direct impact on the development of sporting goods.

A Novel Approach to Personalising the Mechanical Properties of Sprint Footwear (P179)

A novel method for adapting the mechanical properties of sprint shoe sole units is explored. Five different ratios of glass to nylon were mixed and laser sintered to produce standard test samples and sprint shoe sole units. Samples were subjected to standard tensile test procedures and sole units were tested in a purpose built fixture. In-filling nylon-12 with higher ratios of glass increased longitudinal bending stiffness. The mean force in extension over the tested range was 8.9 and 16.0 N for the 0% and 50% glass filled sole units respectively. The mean force in flexion over the tested range was 11.6 and 17.7N for the 0% and 50% glass filled sole units. However, increased stiffness comes at the expense of ductility and mechanical evaluation over the shoes functional range resulted in mechanical failure for the sole units in-filled with 50% glass. Further work on alternative base and infill materials needs to be conducted before the technique is suitable for functional footwear.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Technology for Sports Recovery

Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) technologies are widely used in clinical populations to aid the reduction of limb oedema and for the prophylaxis of deep vein thromboses (DVT). IPC application within athletic populations is not however widespread. The main mechanism for the effectiveness of IPC is that it augments venous and arterial blood flow via the periodic inflation of external cuffs. We believe that this may be beneficial to the warmdown activities of athletes. The removal of waste products may help to reduce injury risk and the phenomenon of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A new implementation of the technology has been developed to test the extent of any potential warm-down effects induced by IPC treatment in athletes. This paper presents a pilot study in which male participants were exposed to IPC following intensive exercise. The specific treatment comprised 60sec inflation and 60sec deflation of a calf-thigh three compartment sequential compression garment (ratio 70∶65∶60mmHg) on each leg. This cycle was implemented by an electric pump with the participants in the partially supine position. The recovery protocol was designed to assess the ability of IPC to reduce the symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) elicited by a high intensity repeated shuttle run. A 1 hour IPC treatment was implemented in this case. Vertical jump was used to identify any change in performance pre and post trial. Visual analogue scales were used +1, +24 and +48 hours after the tests to assess the presence of DOMS. During these tests, heart rate and blood pressure measurements were recorded.

Business Process Modelling and its Use Within an Elite Training Environment (P15)

In this paper the Computer Integrated Manufacture Open System Architecture (CIMOSA) business process modelling approach has been used in the development of a module to support coaches and athletes in swimming. A review of existing modelling approaches was carried out and it was decided that the CIMOSA approach was the most appropriate for this application as it is a stand alone, integrated technique which can be used in both system planning and analysis.

Benchmarking Stiffness of Current Sprint Spikes and Concept Selective Laser Sintered Nylon Outsoles

Stefanyshyn and Fusco (2004) demonstrated that sprint performance can be improved if the stiffness of standard running spikes is increased. The authors concluded that in order to maximise performance individual tuning of the athlete’s shoe stiffness to the athlete’s particular characteristics is required. Rapid manufacturing processes, such as selective laser sintering (SLS) of nylon, offer numerous advantages over conventional manufacturing techniques. Key advantages include the ability to produce complex geometries and internal structures in a single process. Of particular relevance to sprint shoe design is the ability to produce customised outsoles that are specific to the requirements of individual athletes. Sprint spike mechanical performance values were measured using a standard test and the data obtained used to produce benchmark values. The results were catalogued into an incremented range of outsole stiffness responses. Additionally, a range of SLS outsoles were subjected to the same benchmarking procedure, their performance is compared to that of commercially available spikes. The future potential to maximise sprint performance by tuning shoe stiffness to the individual characteristics of an athlete is discussed.