Panagiotis Antoniou

The impact of Nintendo Wii to physical education students' balance compared to the traditional approaches

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a difference between an exergame-based and a traditional balance training program, in undergraduate Physical Education students. Thirty two third-year undergraduate students at the Democritus University of Thrace were randomly divided into two training program groups of 16 students each, a traditional and a Nintendo Wii group. The two training program groups performed a specific balance program for 8 weeks, two times per week, and 24 min per session. The Nintendo Wii group used the interactive games Wii Fit Plus of the Nintendo Wii console, as a training method to improve their balance, while the traditional group used an exercise program with mini trampoline and inflatable discs. Before and after the completion of the eight-week balance program, participants completed a single leg static balance assessment for both limbs on the Biodex stability system. Two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs), with repeated measures on the last factor, were conducted to determine effect of training program groups (traditional, Nintendo Wii) and measures (pre-test, post-test) on balance test indices (SI, API, and MLI). Where initial differences between groups were verified, one-way analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were applied. Analysis of the data illustrated that both groups demonstrated an improvement in SI, API and MLI mean scores for the right and the left limp as well. Conclusively, findings support the effectiveness of using the Nintendo Wii gaming console as an intervention for undergraduate Physical Education students, and specifically, its effects on physical function related to balance competence.

Comparing hybrid learning with traditional approaches on learning the Microsoft Office Power Point 2003 program in tertiary education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a hybrid learning approach to deliver a computer science course concerning the Microsoft office PowerPoint 2003 program in comparison to delivering the same course content in the form of traditional lectures. A hundred and seventy-two first year university students were randomly assigned into two teaching method groups: traditional lecture instruction (TLI) and hybrid lecture instruction (HLI). Each group received six 95-min periods of instruction divided into 4 sections: a) 5-min brief outline of the key learning points, b) 40-min lecture on general knowledge c) 45-min constructivist-inspired learning activities and d) 5-min summary on key learning points. In the beginning and the end of this study students completed a 17-item multiple choice knowledge test. Two-way analysis of variances (ANOVA), with repeated measures on the last factor, were conducted to determine effect of method groups (TLI, HLI) and measures (pre-test, post-test) on knowledge test. The measures main effect was significant, as well as the groups x measures interaction effect. Two independent-samples t test were conducted to follow up the significant interaction. Differences in mean ratings of knowledge performance between the two teaching groups were not significantly different at first measure, while the TLI method group yielded a significantly lower mean rating at second measure. The findings indicated that HLI approach might be a superior option for undergraduate students on learning the Microsoft office PowerPoint 2003 program.

Psychological Skills of Greek Badminton Athletes

The purpose was to examine age and sex differences in psychological skills among Greek badminton players. 85 badminton players completed a Greek version of the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory-28 by Smith, Schutz, Smoll, and Ptacek, during the 2002 Greek Mens and Womens National Badminton Championship Tournament. Analysis yielded differences between age groups on two factors (adversity and coachability) but no statistically significant differences between sexes. Older athletes were better prepared to cope with the psychological distress involved in the game of badminton and reported better emotional self-control. Overall, results could help badminton athletes and coaches become more familiar with the sport-specific psychological skills involved in badminton.

Recreational services in resort hotels: customer satisfaction aspects.

Leisure, fitness and sport activities, as well as live entertainment, are the content of recreational services, attributed by European resort hotels as hotel animation. This paper reviews the nature of such services, as a component of the hotel product, in order to appropriately assess and standardize quality towards customer satisfaction. The majority of Greek resort hotels offer animation services free of charge, aiming at profits and other benefits. Evaluating those services appears critical, because they hold up autonomy and require greater human involvement compared with other hotel services. Instruments for measuring the quality of services, such as SERVQUAL and its modifications, have been in use by several organizations in the hospitality industry. However, they are subject to criticism and it is argued that these instruments are not suitable for international measurements. Literature on customer satisfaction in this area of services has been reviewed with the focus on experiential dimensions of this construct. A different approach of animation services as a marketing management tool is suggested.

Applying Multimedia Computer‐Assisted Instruction to Enhance Physical Education Students’ Knowledge of Basketball Rules

Research has shown that computer‐assisted instruction appears to be a highly promising mode for teaching cognitive concepts of physical education and sports. The purpose of this study wasto examine the effect of multimedia computer‐assisted (MCAI), traditional (Tl), and combined (traditional and multimedia computer‐assisted) (Cl) instruction on learning rule violations in basketball. Seventy female first year university students were randomly divided into three groups: MCAI, Tl and Cl’ and each followed five‐hours of instruction. A multimedia software program was created for the purpose of this study. All students completed a pre‐test a post‐test and a retention test For the assessment of knowledge of rule violations, students completed a 25‐item questionnaire (written test), and evaluated 10 basketball phases presented through video (video test). The scores from each of the tests were added to yield a total score. With regard to the written test, results indicated that students in all groups improved their knowledge of rule violations but only those in the Tl and Cl groups retained this knowledge since their scores in the retentiontest were greater than those in the pre‐test Also, the Tl group showed significantly greater retention than the MCAI group both in the written test and in total performance. On the contrary, the type of instruction did not affect performance in the videotest and students’ improvement was temporary. It appears that physical education students can learn basketball rules through Tl and Cl. However, for real‐game situations which require recall of information, more research is needed to identify which method results in better retention of information.

Kinematic characteristics of the stroke and orientation of the hand during front crawl resisted swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the acute effect of front crawl sprint resisted swimming with different added resistances on the kinematic characteristics of the stroke and the orientation of the hand. Ten female swimmers swam four maximal trials (25 m) with small, moderate, large, and no added resistance respectively. Four camcorders were used to record the underwater motion of the right hand and digitizing was undertaken using the Ariel Performance Analysis System. Stroke rate, the stroke length, and mean swimming velocity were significantly decreased, whereas the total duration of the stroke and the relative duration of the pull and push phases were significantly increased during resisted swimming. The increase in the total duration of the stroke was accompanied by an increase in absolute pull length, while no alterations were observed in relative pull length or medial-lateral displacements of the hand. Moreover, the mean resultant velocity of the hand, as well as the pitch and the sweepback angles of the hand were not modified. In conclusion, resisted swimming appears to be a specific form of training, at least regarding its acute effect, although long-term effects should be investigated further.

The effect of leg kick on sprint front crawl swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine the influence of leg kick on the pattern, the orientation and the propulsive forces produced by the hand, the efficiency of the arm stroke, the trunk inclination, the inter-arm coordination and the intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation of the hip in sprint front crawl swimming. Nine female swimmers swam two maximal trials of 25 m front crawl, with and without leg kick. Four camcorders were used to record the underwater movements. Using the legs, the mean swimming velocity increased significantly. On the contrary, the velocity and the orientation of the hand, the magnitude and the direction of the propulsive forces, as well as the Froude efficiency of the arm stroke were not modified. The hip intra-cyclic horizontal velocity variation was also not changed, while the index of coordination decreased significantly. A significant decrease (13%) was also observed in the inclination of the trunk. Thus, the positive effect of leg kick on the swimming speed, besides the obvious direct generation of propulsive forces from the legs, could probably be attributed to the reduction of the body’s inclination, while the generation of the propulsive forces and the efficiency of the arm stroke seem not to be significantly affected.

The influence of hand paddles on the arm coordination in female front crawl swimmers.

Gourgoulis, V, Aggeloussis, N, Kasimatis, P, Vezos, N, Antoniou, P, and Mavromatis, G. The influence of hand paddles on the arm coordination in female front crawl swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 23(3): 735-740, 2009-The purpose of the research was to determine the influence of hand paddles on the arm coordination in female front crawl swimmers. Ten female swimmers swam at a maximal intensity 25 m without, with small hand paddles (116 cm2), and with large hand paddles (286 cm2). Four S-VHS cameras were used to record the underwater motion of both arms, and the digitizing of selected points onto the subjects body was undertaken using the Ariel Performance Analysis System. The mean swimming velocity, the stroke length, the stroke rate, the relative duration of the separate phases of the stroke, and the index of coordination were then calculated. The index of coordination was defined as the time interval between the propulsive phases of the 2 arms expressed as a percentage of the mean duration of the stroke cycle. The results showed that when the hand paddles were worn, the mean swimming velocity (p < 0.05) and the stroke length (p < 0.05) were significantly increased, whereas the stroke rate was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). When large paddles were worn, the relative duration of the whole propulsive phase was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and the relative duration of the nonpropulsive phase was significantly increased (p < 0.05). However, the index of coordination was remained unchanged under the 3 measurement conditions (p = 0.895). It was concluded that in front crawl hand-paddled swimming, significant increases of the swimming velocity was not caused by modifications in the pattern of arm coordination. Thus, hand-paddled swimming should not be used as a tool to alter the time sequence of the application of propulsive forces generated from the 2 arms.

The influence of the hand’s acceleration and the relative contribution of drag and lift forces in front crawl swimming

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the hand’s acceleration on the propulsive forces and the relative contribution of the drag and lift on their resultant force in the separate phases of the front crawl underwater arm stroke. Ten female swimmers swam one trial of all-out 25-m front crawl. The underwater motion of each swimmer’s right hand was recorded using four camcorders and four periscope systems. Anatomical landmarks were digitised, and the propulsive forces generated by the swimmer’s hand were estimated from the kinematic data in conjunction with hydrodynamic coefficients. When the hand’s acceleration was taken into account, the magnitude of the propulsive forces was greater, with the exception of the mean drag force during the final part of the underwater arm stroke. The mean drag force was greater than the mean lift force in the middle part, while the mean lift force was greater than the mean drag force in the final part of the underwater arm stroke. Thus, swimmers should accelerate their hands from the beginning of their backward motion, press the water with large pitch angles during the middle part and sweep with small pitch angles during the final part of their underwater arm stroke.

Non linear analysis of magnetoencephalographic signals as a tool for assessing malignant lesions of the brain: first results.

SummaryBackground and purpose: Non linear signal analysis is a powerful technique that reveals qualitative and quantitative differentiations between different dynamical systems (biological or otherwise). Presented here are the first results of a work in progress to investigate the Magnetoencephalograms (MEG) from patients with malignant CNS lesions and from healthy volunteers. Methods: We present MEG recordings of 10 patients diagnosed with malignant CNS lesions and the corresponding ones from 10 healthy volunteers. A 122-channel SQUID biomagnetometer in an electromagnetically shielded room was used to record the MEG signals and the Grassberger-Procaccia method for the estimation of the correlation dimension was applied on the phase space reconstruction of the recorded signal from each patient. Results: Evidence linking MEG signal characteristics (existence of low dimensionality chaotic dynamics) with the existence of the tumour was found from this analysis. Conclusion: The obtained results substantiate our hypothesis of a relation between tumours of the brain and the mathematically chaotic nature of the neural dynamics derived from their MEG recordings.