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The purpose of this study was to examine the difference of kinematic skill characteristics between the Chinese and world elite female discus athletes. We used the methods of literature, three-dimensional video analysis, and mathematical statistics to compare and analyze the differences of some kinematic parameters between the three Chinese female discus athletes and four world female discus athletes. The result shows that the speed of discus release of the Chinese elite female discus athletes is lower (p < 0.05) than that of the world elite female discus athletes. Compared to the world elite female discus athletes, the height of release is higher (p < 0.05). But there was no significant difference in the angle of release (p > 0.05), rotation rhythm (p > 0.05), and discus speed increment (p > 0.05) in different stages during the throwing procedure from double support stage to delivery stage. The results may provide reference for the special technique training of the Chinese female discus throwers, so as to improve the discus throwing level of Chinese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study was designed to evaluate the function of the foot undergoing the procedure of percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (PAT) in case of clubfoot management in terms of gait analysis. Methods. Nineteen patients with unilateral clubfeet were retrospectively reviewed from our database from July 2012 to June 2016. The result in all the cases was rated as excellent according to the scale of International Clubfoot Study Group (ICSG). The affected sides were taken as Group CF and the contralateral sides as Group CL. Three-dimensional gait analysis was applied for the functional evaluation of the involved foot. Results. Statistical difference was found in physical parameters of passive ankle dorsiflexion and plantar-flexion. No statistical difference was found in temporal-spatial parameters. There was statistical difference in kinematic parameters of total ankle rotation, ankle range of motion, and internal foot progression angle and in kinetic parameters of peak ankle power. No statistical difference was found in other kinematic and kinetic parameters. Conclusions. It is demonstrated that the procedure of PAT is safe and efficient for correcting the equinus deformity in case of clubfoot management and preserving the main function of Achilles tendon at the minimum of four-year follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]