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1

Rotational Preference in Gymnastics

100%

Heinen T., Jeraj D., Vinken P., Velentzas K.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2012

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vol. 33

33-43

EN

In gymnastics, most skills incorporate rotations about one or more body axes. At present, the question remains open if factors such as lateral preference and/or vestibulo-spinal asymmetry are related to gymnast's rotational preference. Therefore, we sought to explore relationships in gymnast's rotation direction between different gymnastic skills. Furthermore, we sought to explore relationships between rotational preference, lateral preference, and vestibulo-spinal asymmetry. In the experiment n = 30 non-experts, n = 30 near-experts and n = 30 experts completed a rotational preference questionnaire, a lateral preference inventory, and the Unterberger-Fukuda Stepping Test. The results revealed, that near-experts and experts more often rotate rightward in the straight jump with a full turn when rotating leftward in the round-off and vice versa. The same relationship was found for experts when relating the rotation preference in the handstand with a full turn to the rotation preference in the straight jump with a full turn. Lateral preference was positively related to rotational preference in non-expert gymnasts, and vestibulo-spinal asymmetry was positively related to rotational preference in experts. We suggest, that gymnasts should explore their individual rotational preference by systematically practicing different skills with a different rotation direction, bearing in mind that a clearly developed structure in rotational preference between different skills may be appropriate to develop more complex skills in gymnastics.

2

Hemifacial asymmetries in age perception: the left cheek looks older for females, but not males

100%

Lindell A. K., Cianchetta R. O., Azim S. M., Freeman C. G., de Oliveira N. C., Saban S., Messina J. L., Wilson K. E., Egan A., Caspar M. D., Grey E. J., McDonald B. A., Croxford K. N., Bui T. T., Aiello A. A., Heywood-Smith V. M., Kidd A. J., Stanley S. C., Wakeling A., Hoggan S. A. L., Morriss A. S., Trinh T. P. M., Thai-Nguyen H., Fonte M., Agolli F.

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vol. 17(4)

417-426

EN

The left hemiface expresses emotion more intensely than the right. Because emotional expressions contract the facial muscles and wrinkle the skin, theoretically the left hemiface’s greater expressivity should prompt more pronounced expression lines and wrinkles on the left than right side of the face. As wrinkles are the most salient age cue, we investigated whether the left hemiface consequently appears older than the right. Two hundred and sixty participants (F=148; M=112) viewed booklets containing pairs of left-left and right-right chimeric faces of eight models (M=F). For each trial participants were asked to make a two alternative forced choice response indicating which image looked older. Results confirmed a left cheek bias, with participants more likely to select left-left than right-right chimeras. Whilst participant gender did not influence perceptions, model gender predicted cheek selections: responses to female models drive the overall left cheek bias. The left cheek (56.8%) appeared older than the right cheek (43.2%) for female models, whereas there was little difference in perceived age between male models' left (50.8%) and right (49.2%) cheeks. Given that youth influences perceptions of female beauty, these findings complement previous research and offer a potential explanation for why the left side of females’ faces are judged less attractive: the right cheek appears younger.

3

Effect of Leg Dominance on The Center-of-Mass Kinematics During an Inside-of-the-Foot Kick in Amateur Soccer Players

100%

Zago M., Motta A. F., Mapelli A., Annoni I., Galvani C., Sforza C.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2014

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vol. 42

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issue 1

51-61

EN

Soccer kicking kinematics has received wide interest in literature. However, while the instep-kick has been broadly studied, only few researchers investigated the inside-of-the-foot kick, which is one of the most frequently performed techniques during games. In particular, little knowledge is available about differences in kinematics when kicking with the preferred and non-preferred leg. A motion analysis system recorded the three-dimensional coordinates of reflective markers placed upon the body of nine amateur soccer players (23.0 ± 2.1 years, BMI 22.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2), who performed 30 pass-kicks each, 15 with the preferred and 15 with the non-preferred leg. We investigated skill kinematics while maintaining a perspective on the complete picture of movement, looking for laterality related differences. The main focus was laid on: anatomical angles, contribution of upper limbs in kick biomechanics, kinematics of the body Center of Mass (CoM), which describes the whole body movement and is related to balance and stability. When kicking with the preferred leg, CoM displacement during the ground-support phase was 13% higher (p<0.001), normalized CoM height was 1.3% lower (p<0.001) and CoM velocity 10% higher (p<0.01); foot and shank velocities were about 5% higher (p<0.01); arms were more abducted (p<0.01); shoulders were rotated more towards the target (p<0.01, 6° mean orientation difference). We concluded that differences in motor control between preferred and non-preferred leg kicks exist, particularly in the movement velocity and upper body kinematics. Coaches can use these results to provide effective instructions to players in the learning process, moving their focus on kicking speed and upper body behavior

4

Prevalence at birth of congenital abnormalities of external ears in Hungary

86%

Paput L., Bánhidy F., Czeizel A.

Open Medicine

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2011

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vol. 6

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issue 3

341-348

EN

The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence at birth and epidemiologic characteristics of patients/cases with both isolated and multiple “syndromic” external ear congenital abnormalities (CAs) in Hungary. The Hungarian Congenital Abnormality Registry, 1980–1996, included 649 cases with isolated external ear CAs, while the number of cases with unclassified multiple CA, including ear CAs, was 331. Thus the prevalence at birth of cases with isolated external ear CAs and unclassified multiple CAs was 0.30 and 0.15, respectively, for a total 0.46 per 1000 births. After reevaluation of reported 354 cases with isolated external ears CAs in the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 74 (20.9%) and 236 (66.7%) were affected with mild and severe microtia, while 24 (6.8%) had anotia. The fourth group included 20 cases with the combination of anotia/microtia and external/middle ear CAs. Isolated ear CAs showed a slight male excess (54.0%) and strong predominance of unilateral manifestation (93.4%). Multiple ear CAs showed a stronger male excess (65.4%) and less frequent unilateral affection (62.2%). In conclusion, ear CAs had a low diagnostic validity; thus it was necessary to reassess the data and to reclassify several cases.

5

Posture, Flexibility and Grip Strength in Horse Riders

86%

Hobbs S. J., Baxter J., Broom L., Rossell L.-A., Sinclair J., Clayton H. M.

Journal of Human Kinetics

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2014

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vol. 42

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issue 1

113-125

EN

Since the ability to train the horse to be ambidextrous is considered highly desirable, rider asymmetry is recognized as a negative trait. Acquired postural and functional asymmetry can originate from numerous anatomical regions, so it is difficult to suggest if any is developed due to riding. The aim of this study was therefore to assess symmetry of posture, strength and flexibility in a large population of riders and to determine whether typical traits exist due to riding. 127 right handed riders from the UK and USA were categorized according to years riding (in 20 year increments) and their competition level (using affiliated test levels). Leg length, grip strength and spinal posture were measured and recorded by a physiotherapist. Standing and sitting posture and trunk flexibility were measured with 3-D motion capture technology. Right-left differences were explored in relation to years riding and rider competitive experience. Significant anatomical asymmetry was found for the difference in standing acromion process height for a competition level (-0.07±1.50 cm Intro/Prelim; 0.02±1.31 cm Novice; 0.43±1.27 cm Elementary+; p=0.048) and for sitting iliac crest height for years riding (-0.23±1.36 cm Intro/Prelim; 0.01±1.50 cm Novice; 0.86±0.41 cm Elementary+; p=0.021). For functional asymmetry, a significant interaction was found for lateral bending ROM for years riding x competition level (p=0.047). The demands on dressage riders competing at higher levels may predispose these riders to a higher risk of developing asymmetry and potentially chronic back pain rather than improving their symmetry

Refine search results

Rotational Preference in Gymnastics

Hemifacial asymmetries in age perception: the left cheek looks older for females, but not males

Effect of Leg Dominance on The Center-of-Mass Kinematics During an Inside-of-the-Foot Kick in Amateur Soccer Players

Prevalence at birth of congenital abnormalities of external ears in Hungary

Posture, Flexibility and Grip Strength in Horse Riders