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The study purpose was to determine the dynamics of training effects of orthogonal modes of strength training in boys aged 8 years. Materials and methods. The study participants were 48 boys aged 8 years. The experiment was performed using a 22 factorial design. The study materials were processed using the IBM SPSS 22 statistical analysis program. Discriminant analysis was performed. The study examined the impact of four variants of strength training loads on the immediate (ITE) and delayed (DTE) training effects of orthogonal modes of strength exercises and rest intervals in 8-year-old boys. Results. In the first variant of strength training, the largest contribution to the dynamics of training effects is made by the work performed at the first place "exercises to strengthen arm and shoulder muscles"; in the second variant, the largest contribution to the dynamics of training effects is made by the work performed at the third place "exercises to strengthen back muscles"; in the third variant, the largest contribution to the dynamics of training effects is made by the work performed at the first "exercises to strengthen arm and shoulder muscles" and the third "exercises to strengthen back muscles" places; in the fourth variant, the largest contribution to the dynamics of ITE is made by the work performed at the first "exercises to strengthen arm and shoulder muscles" and the third "exercises to strengthen back muscles" places. The most significant changes in the DTE are associated with the fourth place's work "exercises to strengthen leg muscles". Conclusions. The response to strength training load includes immediate and delayed training effects. Thus it can be argued that training effects can be classified using the given battery of tests based on discriminant analysis. The efficiency of discriminant analysis increases when using 2k FFE active experiments. © 2020 Asociacion Mexicana de Maestros de Ingles MEXTESOL A.C. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The purpose of the articles was presentation of modern bioengineering technology in order to help people with severe disabilities. Methods: Bioengineering industry can offer for people with severe disability several devices in order to take part in the competition different than Paralympics. The first international competition for people with disabilities supported by modern assistive technology, such as sensors, motors, displays were allowed to compete in Cybathlon held in Zürich in 2016. About 70 athletes and their teams from 25 countries appeared at the event. Results: There were six disciplines (races): 1) Powered Arms (Upper Extremities) Prostheses Race, 2) Powered Leg (Lower Extremities) Prostheses Race, 3) Powered Wheelchair Race, 4) Powered Exoskeleton Race, 5) Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike Race, 6) Brain-Computer Interface Race. About a quarter of the teams represented industry and the rest represented university laboratories. Conclusions: The competition was a success. It will be organized every four years as the Olympic Games for able bodied competitors. The main inventor of the event professor Robert Riener from Zürich Polytechnic (ETHZ) said assistive technology should: a) be user-friendly b) to function well, c) be affordable, d) to be used within the barrier-free environment. © 2020, Institute of Machine Design and Operation. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to study the timeline evolution of walking, as well as the Pacing Strategy Profiles of high-level women in the 20 km of race walking. Material: The practical example of applying the theoretical basis was made during the Women’s Greek Championship (Megara 2016), in which 12 athletes aged 19 to 40 participated (28.50 ± 7.20). The certified distance of the 20km route was divided into 10 sections of 2 km each. The same happened with the times (intermediate, final) corresponding to the individual sections (2 km) of the route. The athletes were divided into 4 groups: the first 3, those who finished 15% slower than the first, those who finished 15%-30% slower, and those who finished more than 30% slower than the winner. Finally became comparison of the first 6 and last 6 athletes’ groups. Results: The individual pace strategies that describe the tactics of the athletes in this race have been calculated. It was found that the winners of the race used Even Pacing Strategy, maintaining a steady speed on most of the route. As the level of women athletes became lower, Variable Pacing Strategy was used, while the athletes who finished last did not seem to be able to maintain any particular pacing strategy. Conclusions: It is suggested that athletes should follow Even Pacing Strategy during the race in order to improve their performance. © Panagiotα Fitili, Vasilios Giovanis, 2020.

BACKGROUND: Within several investigated endurance sport disciplines the distribution of load of the best competitors has a manner of evenly or slightly rising velocity values. Unfortunately many other competitors have usually diminishing values or when they are very poor they have evenly values. The aim of this study was to investigate distribution of velocity within 30-km cross-country female skiers. METHODS: Cross-country skiing runs were investigated of Olympic Games 2002-2014 (Salt Lake City, Turin, Vancouver, Sochi). At every race two 15 km or three 10 km loops of the same vertical profile were taken into account. The competitors were divided onto: A) winners; B) medalists; C) competitors who obtained places 4 to 10 at the finish line (medium runners); and D) competitors who obtained places 11 to 30 at the finish line (poor runners). Velocity data presented on the web pages of several institutions were utilized. RESULTS: The competitors had their velocity distributed in a manner with usually diminishing values. While comparing velocity of sequential loops with the mean velocity the difference for the poor runners reached the value of almost 6%, which was too high. There was significant (usually negative) correlation coefficient between values of velocity deviation for the first and second loops and the mean value of velocity for the entire distance for the better runners and mixed, i.e. positive and negative values for the poorer runners. CONCLUSIONS: It was postulated investigations of velocity distribution should be introduced in coaching in order to inform competitors about their running. This advises is especially important for the poorer runners. Up to now cross-country skiers run for themselves. It should be discussed whether the tactics used by road and track runners, i.e. running with pace makers, can be introduced in cross country skiing. Also the use of a drone during training can be used in order to maintain proper pace. © 2017 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Nordic Walking is a total body type of exercise that can be performed by nonathletes as a health-promoting physical activity. Aims: In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of a Nordic Walking interventional program in older adults, with regard to the potential improvements in functional parameters. Methods: Thirty-five women (mean age: 67.86 years, SD: 4.44 years) participated in a 25-week Nordic Walking program, while 25 women (control group, mean age: 76.97 years, SD: 8.14 years) did not engage to any type of exercise during the same period. Functional parameters were assessed using the Senior Fitness Test and the Bosco Counter-Movement Jump Test at baseline and after the completion of the program. Results: In the experimental group, improvements were observed in all functional parameters assessed by the Senior Fitness Test, including strength, flexibility, movement coordination, dynamic balance, and aerobic capacity. No such correlations were found in the control group. Similarly, with regard to the parameters recorded using the Counter-Movement Jump Test, there was an improvement in strength from baseline to the final measurements. Conclusions: Our findings confirmed previous evidence regarding the beneficial effects of Nordic Walking on functional parameters in older adults. © 2019 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to record the characteristics of Poland’s alpine skier’s (students) in relation to the frequency of accidents. In this research 66 skiers participated (50 men and 16 women). Material: The specimens came by recreational skiers (beginners - advanced) in the ski resort in Passo Tonale (Italy). The research material came from analysis of completed questionnaires from 66 Polish skiers. They have recorded four categories of factors: a) individual factors b) factors of preparation in the snow in relation to injuries c) factors of preparation in dry ground in relation to injuries d) factors of injuries. Results: About 6,3% Polish skiers respondents had in the past, an accident in alpine skiing. In the Polish population the number of beginner skiers is overriding, with a few years of training in skiing, however with several days training a year using a ski instructor teacher for warming up and individual form of learning. Conclusions: Skiers who don’t had physical fitness preparation before the winter season, had a greater percentage of accidents and injuries. Polish skiers usually had limb injuries lower extremities (sprains) due to the reckless of the skiers.

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to record the characteristics of Greek athletes of race walking in relation to the incidence of injuries. Material: The research material was derived from the analysis of the completed questionnaires by 42 male and female athletes of race walking (9 men, 9 women and 24 female teenagers). Four categories of factors have been recorded: a) individual factors of the sample in relation to the injuries, b) factors of race and preparation in relation to the injuries, c) factors of the injuries. Results: Based on the results, female athletes by preparing the physical condition (experience, training hours) had the highest percentage of injuries (22% - women, 33% - female teenagers), while male athletes had 11%. Concerning the choice of the type of training, the highest percentage of injuries was observed in the group training (33%), while the lesser percentage was the individual form of training (17%). Conclusions: Inexperienced male and female athletes, who had few hours of training and wore sunglasses, had possibility of injuries. The location of lesions were usually the lower extremities, while the common type of lesion was collectively tendonitis, while the usual causes of the lesion were overtraining and hard ground. Finally the majority of male and female athletes (28.6%) needed a time period up to 21 days for rehabilitation. The result of this research may helpful to create a prevention model that can protect the race walking athletes from this unfavorable phenomenon.

Purpose: The purpose of the present research was the study and evaluation of the theodolite’s (topographic speedometer) use in tracing a path in slalom racing on snow conditions with 58 gates and also to record the optimal method of tracing a slalom route in relation to: a) the “velocity” of the race track (degree of difficulty of slalom), b) safety of tracing the slalom route. Material: This research was based on methodology and measurements of a race track in giant slalom with 35 gates in the ski resort “3-5 Pigadia” of Naoussa-Greece. The topographic speedometer was fixed in place at the start of the route. From this point, measurements were taken, for the placement of all 58 gates throughout the route. The measurement was taken using the pole-prism, placed in each interior gate turn, at which the theodolite was aimed. With the help of topographic speedometer the following geometrical parameters have been registered: distance between the gates (Delta s), altitude difference of points (Delta h) with an accuracy up to 1cm, terrain slope (theta), gate angular deviation (delta) with an accuracy of up to 1 minute of the angle (degrees). This allows the creation of the top-view, side-view (profile) and three-dimensional aspect of the track, under race conditions on snow and not on dry ground. Results: The correlation coefficient (r) between the geometry factor (V.gs) and average the above geometry parameters had the following respective values: V.gs -Ms = 0,15, V.gs -M theta = -0,52, V.gs -M delta = -0,29 for 58 gates on a level of statistical significance of p < 0,05. Conclusions: The first part comprised of 10 gates was the “fastest” (V.gs = 18 degrees) of the total slalom route in Naoussa with 58 gates (V.gs = 14 degrees). With the above criteria, slaloms will be compared to each other and will be evaluated against age and safety.

The aim of this study was: 1) the recording and analysis of anthropometric characteristics of Alpine ski athletes divided into three different categories based on age, 2) determination of the anthropometric profile of the Greek skier in a pilot stage compared to other countries, 3) to check the impacts age and ski training experience might have on the extent of the body proportions or asymmetry. 21 athletes from Arachova ski club (Greece) participated in the research. Based on age the athletes were divided in three groups: Group A (12-13 years old 12.6, ± 0.55), Group B (14-15 years old 14.7 ± 0.49), Group C (over 16 years old 17.6 ± 1.88). The anthropometric parameters are recorded in a protocol included the following measurements: somatometric, skinfolds, body proportions or asymmetry, body composition, body type and body profile using the Heath & Carter method. A one way ANOVA (F-test) have used for all the three group categories. The three body types of the athletes (endomorph, ectomorph and mesomorph respectively) are defined by the following parameters: the body fat index (sum of 3 body fat measurements), the ponderal index and the 5 somatometric parameters (height, elbow width, knee width, arm perimeter, tibia perimeter). The asymmetries of the body in all three age groups showed large lower limbs and large width of the pelvis. Whereas the length of the body was normal, with respect to the age of the athletes.. The waist-hip ratio (WHR) in all three age groups showed a "perimetric type." Group C (over 16 years old) tended towards the mesomorph type, Group B (14-15 years old) towards the ectomorph type and Group A (12-13 years old) towards the endomorph type. Also, there was a significant correlation between age and the following body types: mesomorph and ectomorph type. © JPES.

Purpose: This paper aims at the description and comparison of methods of topographic analysis of racing courses at all disciplines of alpine skiing sports for the purposes of obtaining: terrain geomorphology (snowless and with snow), course geometry, and competitors’ runs. Methods: The review presents specific methods and instruments according to the order of their historical appearance as follows: (1) azimuth method with the use of a compass, tape and goniometer instruments; (2) optical method with geodetic theodolite, laser and photocells; (3) triangulation method with the aid of a tape and goniometer; (4) image method with the use of video cameras; (5) differential global positioning system and carrier phase global positioning system methods. Results: Described methods were used at homologation procedure, at training sessions, during competitions of local level and during International Ski Federation World Championships or World Cups. Some methods were used together. Conclusions: In order to provide detailed data on course setting and skiers’ running it is recommended to analyse course geometry and kinematics data of competitors’ running for all important competitions. © 2017, Institute of Machine Design and Operation. All rights reserved.

The paper presents a study on leg strength as a balance control ability contributor. 9 seniors with the average age of 69.8 years participated in the experimental study. A psychomotor efficiency timer and a standard stabilograph were used in the study. The timer consisted of a computer, a controller and an arm and leg strength measurement station. The subjects performed stepping up movements with the left and right leg in response to two audio-visual signals. The strength of legs was measured indirectly by the time of straightening the first leg put on the step-box. The balance control ability was tested on the basis of the length of the line of center pressure oscillations in the standing position on a force platform. The relationships between the tested factors were examined on the basis of Pearson's correlation. We have found a strong correlation between the balance control ability and the left (0.77) and the right (0.83) leg relative strength and correlation between the strength of the left and the right leg (0.95). Our study has shown that relative leg strength may be treated as a contributor to postural balance control ability.

Acta of Bioengineering and Biomechanics; 03/2012; ISSN 1509-409X

The result of the training is mastering the skiing technique by the students. It is subject to the instructors' subjective evaluation. The video analysis and calculation of biomechanical coefficients may supply objective evaluation and specify the errors committed.