Participatory research approaches are increasingly popular with geographers in developed as well as developing countries, as critical qualitative methodologies which at their best work with participants to effect change. This paper adds to recent debates over the methodologies, practices, philosophical and political issues involved. Drawing on a project on young people, exclusion and crime victimization in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, we discuss the limitations of participatory diagramming and illustrate some of the social and political barriers to meaningful participation in, and action from, this type of research.

Protein supplementation at breakfast and lunch for 24 wk in healthy older adults resulted in a positive (+0.6 kg) difference in LTM compared with an isoenergetic, nonnitrogenous maltodextrin control. These observations suggest that an optimized and balanced distribution of meal protein intakes could be beneficial in the preservation of lean tissue mass in the elderly. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02529124.

Age-related changes were investigated in the control of precision grip force during the lifting and holding of objects with slippery (silk) and nonslippery (sandpaper) surface textures. Two groups of active elderly adults comprising individuals aged 69-79 years (n = 10), and 80-93 years (n = 10) together with a group of young adults aged 18-32 years (n = 10) participated in the study. Each subject lifted a free weight (3N) during which time gripping and lifting forces were monitored. The elderly subjects, especially the individuals in the 81-93 year group, had a larger number of fluctuations in the grip force rate curve and longer force application time than the younger subjects during lifting. The effect of prior experience with one surface on the following different surface was more pronounced in the younger subjects than the elderly subjects. These results suggest a decline in programmed force production capacity with increased age. The fingers of the elderly subjects were more slippery and they exhibited a greater safety margin of the grip force while holding the object than the younger adults. The overall results demonstrated that precision grip force control capacity declines with advancing age. It is suggested that this decline is due mainly to age-related changes in skin properties, and cutaneous sensibility functions, and in part to central nervous system function.

Using 12 healthy male subjects, the dynamic motor ability of individual fingers was investigated under four different finger tapping conditions. These were: maximum speed tapping with one finger (single-finger tapping), alternate movement of two fingers (double-finger tapping), double-finger tapping in an unsupported condition, and submaximum constant speed tapping with one finger in a passive manner. Key-contact forces for all fingers and the movement velocity of the tapping finger were monitored. With the exception of the unsupported condition, non-tapping fingers were maintained in contact with designated keys during the tapping tasks. It was found that the index finger attained the fastest cadence and greatest movement velocity, followed by the middle, little and ring fingers, respectively. Subjective assessment of rank order of "difficulty" of tapping by the subjects was highly correlated with tapping cadence. Thus dynamic motor function, as indicated by rapid, repetitive movement, differs among the individual fingers. Parallel changes were observed in the key-contact force of the neighboring non-tapping fingers during tapping. The range of the non-tapping finger forces was largest during tapping by the ring finger. A similar trend was found for passive tapping, during which the magnitude of key-contact force was less than one-third of that observed during active tapping. The lower cadence achieved by the ring finger may be attributed more to a lack of independence at the level of voluntary neuromuscular control, than to innate mechanical interaction with the other fingers. Tapping cadence of each finger was lower for the double-finger mode than for the single-finger mode. The magnitude of the observed decrease in cadence during double-finger tapping was, on the other hand, strongly dependent on finger-combination. The decrease was smallest for the index-middle finger-combination, and greatest for the ring-little finger-combination. Compatibilities with other fingers can play an essential role in the dynamic motor function of individual fingers. During the unsupported task, in which interactions were diminished by allowing all fingers to move freely, tapping cadence increased markedly. Therefore, the lower cadences observed in specific finger-combinations may be partly attributed to anatomical and neural interdigit interactions.

ContextThe influence of methodological parameters on the measurement of muscle contractile properties using Tensiomyography (TMG) has not been published.ObjectiveTo investigate the; (1) reliability of stimulus amplitude needed to elicit maximum muscle displacement (Dm), (2) effect of changing inter-stimulus interval on Dm (using a fixed stimulus amplitude) and contraction time (Tc), (3) the effect of changing inter-electrode distance on Dm and Tc.DesignWithin subject, repeated measures.Participants10 participants for each objective.Main outcome measuresDm and Tc of the rectus femoris, measured using TMG.ResultsThe coefficient of variance (CV) and the intra-class correlation (ICC) of stimulus amplitude needed to elicit maximum Dm was 5.7% and 0.92 respectively. Dm was higher when using an inter-electrode distance of 7cm compared to 5cm [P = 0.03] and when using an inter-stimulus interval of 10s compared to 30s [P = 0.017]. Further analysis of inter-stimulus interval data, found that during 10 repeated stimuli Tc became faster after the 5th measure when compared to the second measure [P<0.05]. The 30s inter-stimulus interval produced the most stable Tc over 10 measures compared to 10s and 5s respectively.ConclusionOur data suggest that the stimulus amplitude producing maximum Dm of the rectus femoris is reliable. Inter-electrode distance and inter-stimulus interval can significantly influence Dm and/ or Tc. Our results support the use of a 30s inter-stimulus interval over 10s or 5s. Future studies should determine the influence of methodological parameters on muscle contractile properties in a range of muscles.

SummaryMuscle quality is defined as strength per unit muscle mass. The aim of this study was to measure the maximal voluntary isometric torque of the knee extensor and flexor muscle groups in healthy older women and to develop an index of muscle quality based on the combined knee extensor and flexor torque per unit LTM of the upper leg. One hundred and thirty six healthy 50 -70y women completed an initial measurement of isometric peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors (Con-Trex MJ; CMV AG, Dubendorf, Switzerland) that was repeated 7 days later. Subsequently, 131 women returned for whole and regional body composition analysis (iDXA TM ; GE Healthcare, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks., UK). Isometric peak torque demonstrated excellent withinassessment reliability for both the knee extensors and flexors (ICC range: 0.991 -1.000). Test-retest reliability was lower (ICC range: 0.777 -0.828) with an observed mean increase of 5% in peak torque (6.2 (17.2) N·m) on the second day of assessment (p<.001). The relative mean decrease in combined isometric peak torque (-12.2%; p=.001) was double that of the relative, non-significant, median difference in upper leg LTM (-5.3%; p=.102) between those in the 5 th and 6 th decade. The majority of difference in peak isometric torque came from the knee extensors (15.1N•m, p<.001 vs. 2.4N•m, p=0.234). Isometric peak torque normalised for upper leg LTM (muscle quality) was 8% lower between decades (p=.029). These findings suggest strength per unit tissue may provide a better indication of age-related differences in muscle quality prior to change in LTM.

Additional information: Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the current incidence and location of injury in English professional football. Design: Prospective cohort study conducted over one competitive season (2015/16). Setting: Professional football players competing in the English Football League and National Conference. Participants: 243 players from 10 squads (24.3 ± 4.21 per squad). Main Outcome Measure: Injury incidence, training and match exposure were collected in accordance with the international consensus statement on football injury epidemiology.Results: 473 injuries were reported. The estimated incidence of injury was, 9.11 injuries/1000h of football related activity. There was a higher incidence of injury during match play (24.29/1000h) compared to training (6.84/1000 hours). The thigh was the most common site of injury (31.7%), muscle strains accounted for 41.2% of all injuries. The hamstrings were the most frequently strained muscle group, accounting for 39.5% of all muscle strains and 16.3% of all injuries.Moderate severity injuries (8-28 days) were the most common (44.2%).Conclusions: Incidence of injury has increased over the last 16 years with muscle strains remaining the most prevalent injury. The hamstrings remain the most commonly injured muscle group.

The shock absorbing characteristics of the heel pad in vivo were examined in two groups of active elderly individuals whose ages ranged between 60 and 67 years (n = 10) and between 71 and 86 years (n = 10). For comparative purposes, young adults (n = 10) aged between 17 and 30 years were also examined. A free-fall impact testing device which consisted of an instrumented shaft (mass 5 kg), accelerometer and position detection transducer was used to obtain deceleration and deformation of the heel during impact. The data were obtained from impact velocities of 0.57 m.s-1 (slow) and 0.94 m.s-1 (fast). Peak values of the deceleration and deformation, as well as the time to these peaks from onset of impact, and energy absorption were evaluated. At the slow impact velocity, no age effect was found for the parameters examined except for the energy absorption. At the fast impact velocity, there was higher peak deceleration and smaller deformation for the elderly than for the younger adults. The energy absorbed was less for the elderly than for the younger adults. It was concluded that the capacity for shock absorbency of the heel pad declines with age.