The influence of body position on load range during isokinetic knee extension/flexion.

ISOKINETIC RANGE OF MOTION (ROM) HAS THREE DISTINCT PHASES: rate of velocity development (RVD), load range (LR), and deceleration (DCC). The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in isokinetic knee extension/flexion LR exist between body positions. Ten subjects (4 males and 6 females, age 29.3 ± 5.4 yrs, ht 1.71 ± 0.10 m, wt 71.9 ± 12.9 kg) volunteered to participate in the seated vs. prone investigation and nine different subjects (4 males and 5 females, age 29.5 ± 6.9 yrs, ht 1.72 ± 0.09 m, wt 69.0 ± 13.8 kg) volunteered to participate in the seated vs. supine study. Each subject completed 3 maximal reciprocal concentric/concentric repetitions of dominant knee extension/flexion on a Biodex System 2 isokinetic dynamometer at 60, 120, 180, 240 and 360 deg·sec(-1) in the supine or prone and seated positions. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that only seated flexion at 360 deg·sec(-1) (57.6 ± 1.7 degrees) elicited significantly (p < 0.05) greater LR than prone (49.2 ± 2.8 degrees). No significant differences in LR extension or flexion existed at any velocity between the supine vs. seated positions. ANOVA also demonstrated differences between seated vs. prone torque, work and power at most velocities while there was no difference between seated vs. supine. LR is the only phase of an isokinetic repetition where quantifiable resistance is maintained and this data appears to support that it may not be position-dependent but position may alter traditional performance variables. Key PointsLoad range is the constant velocity phase where torque is collected.Load range has an inverse relationship with velocity.Load range may not be position dependent for the knee extensors or flexors.

Re-evaluation of a possible proximity effect on muscular strength.

Inconsistent findings of a proximity effect of sucrose on muscular strength and a potential interaction of nutritional status prompted the current study. Double-blind, counterbalanced assessments of grip strength were performed with and without 76 subjects holding a container of sucrose. No main effect was found for proximity of glucose, and no interaction was found for prandial status.

Evaluation of a possible proximity effect of aspartame and vitamin C on muscular strength.

Inconsistent findings of a proximity effect on muscular strength, using a neutral control substance, prompted the current study. Double-blind, counterbalanced assessments of grip strength were performed, with subjects holding either an envelope of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) or aspartame. No proximity effects were found despite the use of two substances believed by some applied kinesiologists to yield positive and negative results, respectively.

Training physical education students to self-regulate during basketball free throw practice.

The additive effects of self-regulation training in forethought, performance, and self-reflection phase processes on acquiring a novel motoric skill (i.e., basketball free throws) and self-reflective beliefs were studied with 50 college students. The results showed a positive linear trend between the number of self-regulatory phases, in which the participants were trained, and their free throw shooting performance and shooting adaptation. The two- and three-phase training groups displayed significantly more accurate free throws and were able to self-correct their shooting form more frequently following missed shots than all other groups. Participants who received three-phase training displayed the most adaptive motivational profile, characterized by making strategic attributions and adaptive inferences and by using self/process criteria during self-evaluations.