IntroductionAlthough numerous activity trackers have been validated in healthy populations, validation is lacking in chronic heart failure patients who normally walk at a slower pace, making it difficult for researchers and clinicians to implement activity monitors during physical activity interventions.MethodsSix consumer-level activity monitors were validated in a 3-day field study in patients with chronic heart failure and healthy individuals under free living conditions. Furthermore, the same devices were evaluated in a lab-based study during treadmill walking at speeds of 2.4, 3.0, 3.6, and 4.2 km·h-1. Concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) were used to evaluate the agreement between the activity monitors and the criterion, and mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) were calculated to assess differences between each device and the criterion (MAPE <10% was considered as a threshold for validity).ResultsIn the field study of healthy individuals, all but one of the activity monitors showed a substantial correlation (CCC ≥0.95) with the criterion device and MAPE <10%. In patients with heart failure, the correlation of only two activity monitors (Garmin vívofit 3 and Withings Go) was classified as at least moderate (CCC ≥0.90) and none of the devices had MAPE <10%. In the lab-based study at speeds 4.2 and 3.6 km·h-1, all activity monitors showed substantial to almost perfect correlations (CCC ≥0.95) with the criterion and MAPE in the range 1%-3%. However, at slower speeds of 3.0 and 2.4 km·h-1, the accuracy of all devices substantially deteriorated: their correlation with the criterion decreased below 90% and their MAPE increased to 4–8% and 10–45%, respectively.ConclusionsEven though none of the tested activity monitors fall within arbitrary thresholds for validity, most of them perform reasonably well enough to be useful tools that clinicians can use to simply motivate chronic heart failure patients to walk more.

ObjectiveThe unique foot morphology and distinctive functions facilitate complex tasks and strategies such as standing, walking, and running. In those weight-bearing activities, postural stability (PS) plays an important role. Correlations among foot type, PS, and other musculoskeletal problems that increase sport injury risk are known. However, long-term associations among the foot type, the PS, and body weight (BW) distribution are lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study was to longitudinally identify changes in foot morphology, PS, and symmetry in BW distribution during adolescence among elite male soccer players.MethodsThirty-five Czech elite male soccer players (age, 15.49 ± 0.61 years; BW, 64.11 ± 6.16 kg; body height, 174.62 ± 5.71 cm) underwent foot type, PS, and BW distribution measurements during 3 consecutive years (T1, T2, T3). The Chippaux-Smirak index (CSI), BW distribution, and centre of pressure (COP) displacement (total traveled way [TTW]) of each player for the preferred (PL) and non-preferred leg (NL) were acquired. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA), Bonferroni´s post hoc tests, and partial eta-squared (ηp2) coefficient were used for investigating the effect of time on selected variables and effect size evaluation.ResultsStatistically significant effect of time on CSI values (PL: F2,68 = 5.08, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.13 and NL: F2,68 = 10.87, p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.24) and COP displacement values (PL: F2,68 = 5.07, p <0.01, ηp2 = 0.13; NL: F2,68 = 3.53, p <0.05, ηp2 = 0.09) for both legs over 3-years period was identified. Furthermore, the Bonferroni´s post hoc analysis revealed a significant improvement of PS values in the PL (TTWT1 = 1617.11 ± 520.22 mm vs. TTWT2 = 1405.29 ± 462.76, p < 0.05; and between TTWT1 = 1617.11 ± 520.22 mm vs. TTWT3 = 1370.46 ± 373.94, p < 0.05). Only BW distribution parameter showed no significant differences, although slightly improved over time.ConclusionsWe observed changes in foot typology, PS, and BW distribution in young elite male soccer players during 3 consecutive years. Results demonstrated that changes in PS and body weight distribution under the high-load sport conditions during adolescence may improve with aging, except for foot morphology. Therefore, foot morphology should be carefully monitored to minimize sport injury risk in professional young soccer players during adolescence. Further research is necessary to determine more clear associations between these parameters, soccer-related injuries, and sport performances.

No abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in golf swing execution in terms of the parameters of the pelvis and thorax movement between the sexes in junior golfers and their relation to the golf club velocity. Elite female and male players (age: 15.4 ± 1.0 and 15.8 ± 1.7 years, respectively) performed 10 golf swings with a driver under laboratory conditions. Pelvis and thorax movement parameters and golf club velocities were measured using a three-dimensional motion capture system. Statistical parametric mapping analysis of pelvis–thorax coupling revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between boys and girls during backswing. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of sex on the parameters of maximal pelvic rotation (F = 6.28, p = 0.02), X-factor (F = 5.41, p = 0.03), and golf club velocity (F = 31.98, p < 0.01). No significant relationship was found between pelvis and thorax movement parameters and golf club velocity in the girls. We found a significant negative relationship between the parameters of maximal thorax rotation and golf club velocity (r = −0.941, p < 0.01) and between X-Factor and golf club velocity (r = −0.847, p < 0.05) in the boys. We suggest that these negative relationships in males were caused by the influence of hormones during their maturation and biological development, where there is decreased flexibility (lower shoulders rotation and X-factor) and growth of muscle strength (higher club head velocity).

Objective Natural independent walking mostly occurs during infant´s everyday explorations of their home environment. Gait characteristics of infant walkers at different developmental stages exist in literature, however, data has been only collected in laboratory environments, which may reduce gait variability, therefore mask differences between developmental stages of natural gait. The aim of the study was to provide the first data set of temporal and functional gait characteristics of novice and improver infant walkers in familiar environment conditions in their home. We hypothesised that familiar environment conditions may effectively demonstrate natural gait characteristics and real differences in gait variables differing between 2 groups of developing infant walkers. Methods In a cross-sectional design; we used open-source videos of infants in their home environments: twenty videos of 10 novice (5 girls, 5 boys, 7–12 months) and 10 improver (4 girls, 6 boys, 8–13 months) walkers were chosen from an open-source website. 2-D video gait analysis was undertaken for these parameters: falls frequency, frequency of stops, gait cadence, and time of stance phase, swing phase, and double support. Between groups comparison for novice versus improver was investigated by Mann-Whitney U tests ( p ≤ 0.05) with determination of effect size of Pearson r correlation. Results Statistically significant differences between groups with large effect sizes were found for these parameters: falls frequency ( p = 0.01, r = 0.56); cadence ( p = 0.01, r = 0.57); stance phase duration of right leg ( p < 0.01, r = 0.63); stance phase duration of left leg ( p = 0.01, r = 0.56); and double support phase duration ( p < 0.01, r = 0.69). Novices scored higher in comparison with improver walkers in all the parameters except cadence. Conclusions This study presents the first data set of functional and temporal gait parameters of novice and improver infant walkers in their home environments. As an addition to recent research, novice infants walk with lower cadence and higher falls frequency, stance phase time and double support in their familiar environments. With increasing experiences, infant´s cadence increases while the other parameters decrease.

The protocol describes guidelines and steps for taking repeated measurements of sportive population: postural stability, body weight distribution during quiet stance, and the foot type diagnostic. The parameters calculated from repeated measurements can be used for separate analyses: analysis of center of pressure displacement, represented by total travelled way parameter; analysis of body weight distribution and loading of the lower limbs; and foot typology. The guidelines are mostly based on recommendations of the literature, partly on our own research experiences. It is important to remain consistent during all of the measurements and follow the guidelines as they control important aspects of the measurements. Any changes of any aspects can signifficantly alter the final results.

In the case study, gait asymmetry changes in different speed of walking with ankle-foot prosthesis were identified for developmental tibial deficiency. Joint kinematic, spatial-temporal, and kinetic gait parameters were collected using 3D motion capture system and 3D treadmill simultaneously. Mean values, SD, and symmetry index were calculated for selected gait parameters and descriptively analysed. Results show gait asymmetry of all of the measured parameters. Kinematic joint angular ranges increase with increasing walking speed. Inverse dynamic results present changes in step length and duration which enhance changes in ground reaction force characteristics. The symmetry index shows gait asymmetry, which increases with faster gait speed. Further research is needed to verify this suspect gait asymmetry increasing tendency and to generalise results to ankle-foot prosthesis population with congenital tibial deficiency or transtibial amputation.

No abstract