Search

Featured Application: Knowing kinematics and muscular recruitment in ski mountaineering gestures could be useful in providing evidence-based recommendations for training, injury prevention, and performance enhancement in this sport. Ski mountaineering (Skimo) combines mountain climbing and skiing, with ascents on skis or by carrying them, followed by ski descents. Despite its popularity, the literature lacks integrated biomechanical analyses during indoor training, limiting evidence-based recommendations for training, injury prevention, and performance improvement in this sport. This study analyzed four Skimo athletes during uphill walking and running on a 9° inclined treadmill at 7 km/h and 8 km/h. Kinematics was assessed by an optoelectronic system, and surface electromyography recorded the muscular activity of twelve bilateral muscles (Erector Spinae, Rectus Abdominis, Rectus Femoris, Biceps Femoris, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Lateralis). Rectus Femoris and Biceps Femoris co-activation supported knee stability during the load support phase, especially while running. Running at 8 km/h was the most demanding condition, with increased knee flexion throughout the task cycle. Switching from 7 to 8 km/h reduced the maximum extension and increased the maximum flexion of both hip and knee and required the Gastrocnemius' recruitment in the swing phase. Regardless of task and speed, Rectus Abdominis and Erector Spinae played a key role in stabilizing the trunk. This study provided a biomechanical characterization of two motor gestures typical in Skimo, highlighting how task typology and velocity could influence kinematics and muscle activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper a research programme aimed at investigating both the bending and contact fatigue properties of an austempered ductile iron applied to gears is presented, in order to determine reliable values of the limits, which take into account the influence of the production process, to be applied in the design of gearboxes. The bending fatigue tests are performed according to the single tooth fatigue approach and the pitting tests are performed with a back-to-back rig. Metallurgical analysis is performed on the failed specimens, in order to understand the origin and the propagation of the failures and to appreciate the influence of the micro-structure on the performances obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]