Adapted sailing teaching methodology using vsail-trainer simulator as rehabilitation therapy. A feasibility study.

CONTEXT: Sailing is a sport that can help in the rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients and improve their quality of life. Teaching methodology in sailing has always been considered as complex, due to the great amount of uncertainty that this sport has. PURPOSE: To design a protocol for teaching adapted sailing in a simulated situation for people with SCI and to know the effect of the teaching protocol on learning, effort perception and heart rate. METHOD: Six adults were patients recruited at the National Hospital of Paraplegics of Toledo (Spain), aged between 31 and 54 years, who have passed the early subacute phase. Each subject underwent semi-immersive virtual reality sailing therapy for 40 min per session three times per week for six weeks, 18 sessions. A simulated adapted sailing initiation program VSail-Trainer® was used for the simulator therapy. During this session, the basic notions of sailing, wind direction, sheet trimming and control of the boat on different courses were explained. The variables assessed were: sailing learning, heart rate and effort perception. RESULTS: The comparison of performance variables between pretest and posttest resulted differences in boat speed, heel and Velocity Made Good (VMG). These improvements in the performance variables are also reflected in the average times taken by the subjects to complete the regatta. CONCLUSION: The methodology used in this study can be used as a guide for learning the activity by new SCI patients in rehabilitation who want to get into sailing sport.

Perfil de rendimiento de regatistas de élite de clase ILCA. Diferencias entre hombres y mujeres / Performance profile for ILCA class elite sailors. Differences between men and women

En la vela deportiva, tres son los pilares fundamentales del rendimiento de los regatistas de vela ligera (condición física, capacidad cognitiva y material). Uno de los momentos determinantes en una regata de vela ligera individual es la navegaciónen el rumbo de ceñida, ya que requiere de los regatistas una alta demanda física, para llevar la embarcación plana y tomarlas mejores decisiones según las condiciones tácticas de la regata. El objetivo de la investigación es (i) analizar el rendimientode regatistas de élite sobre la posición de sacar cuerpo en una situación dinámica de navegación virtual. (ii) medir la fatigamuscular del tren inferior en la acción de sacar cuerpo. La muestra fueron 10 regatistas de la clase Ilca de navegación ypertenecientes a los equipos olímpicos de las selecciones nacionales de Noruega, México y España, 6 de ellos hombres(Medad =31,67, SDedad =6,861) y 4 mujeres, (Medad =30,50, SDedad =4,655). El protocolo de fatiga estuvo compuesto por un testestático y un test dinámico de la posición de sacar cuerpo. Ambos test miden el esfuerzo de los regatistas hasta la fatigaextrema o hasta perder la posición. El test se realizó en el simular de vela vSail-Trainer®, el cual permite reproducir condicionesreales de navegación y muestras los datos sobre variables de control de la embarcación. Los resultados obtenidos muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre el grupo de mujeres y hombres sobre la velocidad de la embarcación(p =0,039), distancia navegada (p <0,001) y hiking (p =0,002). Existen diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la potenciadel tren inferior pre y post test de fatiga. Esto no lleva a concluir que el simulador es una herramienta válida para valorar lafatiga de forma específica en regatistas de clase Ilca.(AU)

In sport sailing, there are three fundamental pillars of performance for dinghy sailors (physical condition, cognitive abilityand equipment). One of the decisive moments in a single-handed dinghy race is sailing upwind, as it requires a high physicaldemand from the sailors to keep the boat flat and make the best decisions according to the tactical conditions of the race.The objective of the research is (i) to analyze the performance of elite sailors on the hiking position in a dynamic virtual sailingsituation and (ii) to measure the lower body muscle fatigue in the hiking action. The sample consisted of 10 sailors from theIlca sailing class and belonging to the Olympic teams of the Norwegian, Mexican and Spanish national teams, 6 of themmen (Mage=31.67, SDage=6.861) and 4 women, (Mage=30.50, SDage=4.655). The fatigue protocol consisted of a static test and adynamic test of the sac body position. Both tests measure the sailors’ effort up to extreme fatigue or loss of position. The testwas performed on the vSail-Trainer® sailing simulator, which allows to reproduce real sailing conditions and displays data onboat control variables. The results obtained show statistically significant differences between the group of women and menon boat speed (P=0.039), distance sailed (P<0.001) and hiking effort (P=0.002). There are statistically significant differences inlower body power pre and post fatigue test. This does not lead to the conclusion that the simulator is a valid tool to assessfatigue specifically in Ilca class sailors.(AU)

Effect of a semi-immersive virtual reality navigation therapy on quality of life in persons with spinal cord injury.

PURPOSE: This study aims to develop a sailing simulation-based therapeutic rehabilitation program for individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) during the subacute phase of the injury. METHODS: Participants were 11 patients, aged between 20-56 years (Mage = 42.36, SDage=12.90), who were randomly assigned into experimental group and control group, within a pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental design. While both groups followed the rehabilitation programmed by the hospital, experimental group participants were enrolled in an interactive rehabilitation exercise (The vSail-Access®, Virtual Sailing Pty Ltd). For this intervention, each subject underwent a semi-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) navigation therapy for 30-40 min per day, three times per week for six weeks. Quality of life (QoL), functionality and balance variables were measured for both groups one week before and after the intervention. Data was generated based on patients' responses using validated questionnaires and tests. A 2 (groups) × 2 (test-time) MANOVA was performed to detect between-group and within-group differences. RESULTS: Significant improvements were obtained in the experimental group in the mobility and balance variables, and in the global result of QoL. CONCLUSIONS: The sailing simulation program, included as a therapy within the rehabilitation process after a SCI, provides participants with an overall increase in QoL and functionality.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILIATIONVirtual reality is a therapy that can be part of the rehabilitation process of spinal cord injuries in the acute phase, improving functional capacity.The initiation to recreational sailing in a virtual way is a safe tool for the initiation to the practice of sports.The practice of a dynamic sport, such as sailing, helps to improve the quality of life in spinal cord injuries.

Measuring Residents' Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility at Small- and Medium-Sized Sports Events.

Due to the increase of sports events in local communities, it has become essential to organize such events in a socially responsible way at the environmental, social, and economic levels. The aim of this research was to develop a measurement tool to help determine the degree of social responsibility perceived by residents at small-medium scale sports events, to guide sports managers towards the design of socially responsible sports events. From the elaboration of a questionnaire developed ad-hoc, the perception of the residents was analyzed (n = 516). The psychometric properties of the tool, composed of 35 items, were analyzed by means of an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. As main conclusions, we were able to contrast the validity and reliability of the questionnaire on the perception of corporate social responsibility in small-scale sports events, around the dimensions of Sustainable Sports Activity, Social Cohesion, and Well-Being. As a consequence, it allowed us to identify three strategic management areas towards which the organizers of these events should focus special attention if they want to progress towards the achievement of socially responsible sports events.

Visual Search Strategy During Regatta Starts in a Sailing Simulation.

In a sport conditioned by natural elements such as sailing, visual perception is a key factor for the performance. Research has shown that the visual behavior of athletes at different skill levels varies, which may cause differences in the performance achieved. The aim of this research was to examine the visual behavior of sailors from different ranking positions at the start of a race in a simulated situation. Twenty junior sailors (N = 10 top and N = 10 bottom ranking) participated in this study. The visual behavior was recorded at the start of a sailing simulation. The top-ranking sailors performed more visual fixations on the locations that have more highly relevant information, such as "telltales" and "rivals," than do bottom-ranking sailors (p < .005). The top-ranking sailors are closer to the start line at the time of the start signal. The analysis of the visual search strategy shows that top-ranking sailors employed a more active visual search strategy. More experienced athletes can make better use of the information obtained from the important locations.

A probabilistic model for analysing the effect of performance levels on visual behaviour patterns of young sailors in simulated navigation.

The visual behaviour is a determining factor in sailing due to the influence of the environmental conditions. The aim of this research was to determine the visual behaviour pattern in sailors with different practice time in one star race, applying a probabilistic model based on Markov chains. The sample of this study consisted of 20 sailors, distributed in two groups, top ranking (n = 10) and bottom ranking (n = 10), all of them competed in the Optimist Class. An automated system of measurement, which integrates the VSail-Trainer sail simulator and the Eye Tracking System(TM) was used. The variables under consideration were the sequence of fixations and the fixation recurrence time performed on each location by the sailors. The event consisted of one of simulated regatta start, with stable conditions of wind, competitor and sea. Results show that top ranking sailors perform a low recurrence time on relevant locations and higher on irrelevant locations while bottom ranking sailors make a low recurrence time in most of the locations. The visual pattern performed by bottom ranking sailors is focused around two visual pivots, which does not happen in the top ranking sailor's pattern. In conclusion, the Markov chains analysis has allowed knowing the visual behaviour pattern of the top and bottom ranking sailors and its comparison.