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CIENCIAS
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medicina - fisioterapia - actividad física - psicología - etc.
A comparative study of some kinematic variables between the success and failure attempts of the cardiovascular posterior skill of stability in the Basrah Parkour players
Autor
Mohammed & Abdul-Salam
2021
|
Modern Sport
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Árabe
Palabras clave
Parkour, 3D, Kinematics, success and failure.
Resumen
Three-dimensional technology. We can see the athlete’s movements from any angle, for example these angles (back and front of the player as well as the corners of the top or the bottom) and we can measure the real angles of any part of the body as these angles express accuracy in the measurement and represent their true values and we can measure Also accurately accelerate linear, angular and on axes (x,y,z). The aim of this study is to compare the main kinematics factors between success and failure attempts in back somersault standing performance of Basra Parkour players. Four players participated in this study. three cameras were used in this study at a rate of 240 images per second. The success movement and failure movement were selected for each player for a three-dimensional analysis, and through the results, it appeared that the path of the attempt to succeed was longer than the attempt at failure in time. The velocity of the hand segment and the maximum velocity in the attempt to succeed were greater than those of the attempt to fail, and this result was an increase in the velocity of the projectile and an increase in the vertical height of the center of mass. When standing up in Event 2, the amount of flexion of the hip and knee joint angle contributed to the optimal state of advancement and at the peak point the hip and knee joint angle was bent to the maximum to reduce the moment of inertia. At this point, too, the higher parties in the attempt to succeed extended more than those in the attempt at failure.
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Effects of Functional Movement Skills on Parkour Speed-Run Performance
Autor
Strafford et al.
2021
|
Eur J Sport Sci
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
Parkour speed-runs require performers (known as Traceurs) to negotiate obstacles with divergent properties such as angles, inclinations, sizes, surfaces, and textures in the quickest way possible. The quicker the run, the higher the performer is ranked. Performance in Parkour speed-runs may be regulated through Parkour Traceurs' basic movement skill capacities given the physical requirements of the event. This study examined what functional movement skills correlate with Parkour speed-run performance. Nineteen male Parkour Traceurs undertook a physical testing battery inclusive of: agility T-test, maximal grip strength test, and maximal vertical and horizontal jumps across several jump modalities. For the speed-run, Parkour Traceurs navigated an indoor Parkour installation. Pearson's correlation analyses (r) revealed that agility T-test performance showed a significant negative correlation with Parkour speed-run performance, whereas standing long jump and counter movement jump (with and without arm swing) were significantly positively correlated with Parkour speed-run performance. Concurrent with the intrinsically-linked building blocks in the Athletic Skills Model, the data from the present study suggest that performance in Parkour-speed-runs are underpinned by functional movement skills (jumping, running; arm swinging) and conditions of movement (agility), all of which encapsulate elements of basic motor properties (speed; strength). From a practical perspective, the agility T-test, standing long jump, and counter movement jump without and without arm swing can form a basic battery to evaluate the physical effects of Parkour speed-run interventions on functional movement skills.
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Influencia del entrenamiento pliométrico en el desarrollo de la fuerza explosiva en el parkour
Autor
Torres Larrea & Romero Frómeta
2021
|
Lecturas: Educación física y deportes
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Español
Palabras clave
Entrenamiento, Pliometría, Fuerza explosiva, Parkour
Resumen
El estudio propone valorar las adaptaciones inducidas por un programa de entrenamiento pliométrico y cómo repercute sobre la dirección del entrenamiento denominada como fuerza explosiva en distintos atletas practicantes de Parkour, para lo cual se realizó un estudio muestra con un total de 25 atletas (n=25; edad=28,5±10,5 años; peso=63±11 kg), género masculino. La investigación se llevó a cabo con un grupo que realizo el programa de entrenamiento pliométrico durante ocho semanas (20 sesiones). Se realizaron cuatro test de saltabilidad para la valoración de la fuerza explosiva, para obtener una valoración inicial y final al terminar el programa. Los test que se aplicaron: test de salto de longitud sin carrera de impulso, test de salto de longitud con un paso de carrera de impulso, test de salto de longitud con tres pasos de carrera de impulso, test de saltabilidad vertical, para procesarlos y realizar una valoración del efecto de la fuerza explosiva del tren inferior de los distintos atletas de Parkour. En los atletas se produjo una mejora significativa en la prueba de salto sin carrera de impulso (p=0,000), el salto con un paso (p=0,000) y con tres pasos de carrera de impulso (p=0,000), mientras que en la prueba de saltabilidad vertical el grado de significancia no llegó a los valores que se esperaba (p=0,065). Se concluyó que a grandes rasgos la fuerza explosiva es directamente proporcional a la realización de un entrenamiento pliométrico con una duración de ocho semanas.
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“I am going out!” – lifestyle sports and physical activity in adolescents
Autor
Janeckova et al.
2021
|
BMC Public Health
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Self-organized activities, Unstructured leisure, Sedentary behaviour, Youth, Inactivity, Lifestyle
Resumen
Lifestyle sport activities (e.g. parkour or skateboarding) are considered attractive and beneficial for a long-term commitment to physical activity (PA) and might be a great opportunity for adolescents who do not feel comfortable in an organized or competitive atmosphere. The purpose of the study was to assess whether participation in lifestyle activities is associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), out-of-school vigorous physical activity (VPA), and sedentary behaviour in adolescents aged 10–15 years, with major demographic variables (sex, age, socioeconomic status) being taken into account.
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Understanding children’s preference for park features that encourage physical activity: an adaptive choice based conjoint analysis
Autor
Veitch et al.
2021
|
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
Parks are a key setting for physical activity for children. However, little is known about which park features children prefer and which features are most likely to encourage them to be active in parks. This study examined the relative importance of park features among children for influencing their choice of park for engaging in park-based physical activity.
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Augmented reality-based rehabilitation of gait impairments: Case report
Autor
Held et al.
2020
|
JMIR mHealth and uHealth
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
HoloLens 2, gait, rehabilitation, stroke, augmented reality, sensors
Resumen
Background: Gait and balance impairments are common in neurological diseases, including stroke, and negatively affect patients' quality of life. Improving balance and gait are among the main goals of rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is mainly performed in clinics, which lack context specificity; therefore, training in the patient's home environment is preferable. In the last decade, developed rehabilitation technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality (AR) have enabled gait and balance training outside clinics. Here, we propose a new method for gait rehabilitation in persons who have had a stroke in which mobile AR technology and a sensor-based motion capture system are combined to provide fine-grained feedback on gait performance in real time. Objective: The aims of this study were (1) to investigate manipulation of the gait pattern of persons who have had a stroke based on virtual augmentation during overground walking compared to walking without AR performance feedback and (2) to investigate the usability of the AR system. Methods: We developed the ARISE (Augmented Reality for gait Impairments after StrokE) system, in which we combined a development version of HoloLens 2 smart glasses (Microsoft Corporation) with a sensor-based motion capture system. One patient with chronic minor gait impairment poststroke completed clinical gait assessments and an AR parkour course with patient-centered performance gait feedback. The movement kinematics during gait as well as the usability and safety of the system were evaluated. Results: The patient changed his gait pattern during AR parkour compared to the pattern observed during the clinical gait assessments. He recognized the virtual objects and ranked the usability of the ARISE system as excellent. In addition, the patient stated that the system would complement his standard gait therapy. Except for the symptom of exhilaration, no adverse events occurred. Conclusions: This project provided the first evidence of gait adaptation during overground walking based on real-time feedback through visual and auditory augmentation. The system has potential to provide gait and balance rehabilitation outside the clinic. This initial investigation of AR rehabilitation may aid the development and investigation of new gait and balance therapies.
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Effect of Eight Weeks Plyometric Training on Some Kinematic Parameters, Horizontal Jumping Power, Agility, and Body Composition in Elite Parkour Athletes
Autor
Abdolrasoul Daneshjoo
2020
|
Journal of Sport Biomechanics
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Plyometric exercise, Agility, Kinematics, Horizontal jump, Parkour
Resumen
Objective: A high correlation between lower limb explosive power and muscular strength, production of high power levels in the shortest time, and high level of agility are essential to achieve optimal performance in Parkour. It seems that polymetric exercises can make it possible to achieve the highest performance. In this regard, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an 8-week plyometric exercise program on knee kinematic parameters, body composition, agility and horizontal jumping power of Parkour athletes.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design, 20 elite Parkour athletes aged 19-26 years were selected and randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=10) and control (n=10). The exercise group carried out the program for eight weeks, three sessions per week, each for one hour. Before and after exercise, measurements of kinematic parameters of knee, agility, and horizontal jumping power, and body composition in subjects were performed. The collected data were analyzed using t-test considering a significant level of P≤0.05.
Results: Plyometric exercise for eight weeks had a significant effect on knee kinematic parameters of Parkour athletes (P=0.003) and significantly improved their horizontal jump, agility and reduced body fat percentage (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: Plyometric exercise can significantly improve kinematic parameters of the knee, increase the jumping power and agility, and reduce body fat percentage in Parkour athletes; however, since Parkour movements are very similar to plyometric exercises, more study is needed.
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A post-COVID-19 lifestyle sport research agenda: Communication, risk, and organizational challenges
Autor
Smith
2020
|
International Journal of Sport Communication
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
community; social media; stakeholders
Resumen
The cancellations and postponements of large-scale organized sport competitions provided the first indicators of the impact that COVID-19 would have on society. During the pandemic, sport media reporting has focused on cancellations. Although not receiving as much media attention, "lifestyle sports,"such as rock climbing, parkour, BMX, kayaking, or skateboarding, were also impacted by COVID-19 in ways that differ from organized team sports. In this commentary, the author draws upon select media reports and subcultural social media posts to highlight two primary impacts of COVID-19: (a) the civic organizational challenges of limiting lifestyle sport participation and (b) the influence on the social and risk-laden experience of these sports. The article concludes by detailing lifestyle sport stakeholder communication, digital sporting communities, the use of social media for organizing lifestyle sport communities, and sport risk communication as fruitful avenues for future research in a postpandemic lifestyle sports.
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Parkour and Intrinsic Motivation: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Self-Determination Theory in an Emerging Youth Sport
Autor
Carson & Larsen
2020
|
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
Physical activity is important for improving lifelong health and wellness, yet only a quarter of US children meet physical activity guidelines. Highly competitive youth sports may impact youth dropout and providing alternative options to be active may be a solution. Self-Determination Theory, a psychological theory around the idea of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, is an underutilized framework that may be helpful in addressing this issue. We employed a mixed method design to understand how Parkour, an emerging youth sport, may better address psychological needs as defined by Self-Determination Theory. Cross-sectional survey data from 38 children/adolescents (ages 7-17) enrolled in Parkour versus other sports were compared, and 15 of the Parkour participants were individually interviewed to gain a deeper understanding. There were significant differences between the two groups for their motivations and physical activity habits, and the addition of the qualitative data illustrates the potential advantages of Parkour to reach children who may be otherwise uninterested. This study provides an important background for future research into Parkour that has thus far been limited.
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Designing Parkour-style training environments for athlete development: insights from experienced Parkour Traceurs
Autor
Strafford et al.
2020
|
Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
afordances, athletic development, Athletic Skills Model, donor sport, free running
Resumen
Contemporary models of motor learning implicate the value of Parkour-style training as an activity to enrich athletic performance in different sports. We explored Parkour Traceurs’ experiential knowledge on the range of physical, perceptual, psychological and social skills that they perceive to be developed during Parkour practice and performance. We also investigated their recommendations on how to design Parkour practice to facilitate the development of foundational performance behaviours. Experienced male Parkour Traceurs (n = 14) were interviewed using an open-ended, semi-structured approach, with a two-stage thematic analysis being conducted to identify themes. The analysis identified two dimensions: Skills Developed Through Parkour and Recommendations for Designing Parkour Training Environments. Parkour Traceurs outlined numerous physical (locomotor skills; endurance; strength; agility; balance), perceptual (multi-limb coordination; control precision; rate control; response orientation), psychological (problem-solving; stress relief; self-efficacy; risk management) and social (networking; initiative; social perceptiveness; receptiveness to feedback) capacities and skills that could be augmented through Parkour training. Parkour Traceurs explained how indoor Parkour environments should promote creative and exploratory movement behaviours that enable physical conditioning, whilst enhancing decision-making and action functionality. Responses suggest that these aims are often achieved by designing a modular practice landscape where Parkour Traceurs manipulate the spacing, orientation and angles of bars and wall set-ups to facilitate the development of different perceptual, cognitive and physical skills. In conclusion, this study provides insights on how affordances offered by a Parkour environment could be integrated into practice to enhance athlete self-regulation and transfer of functional behaviours to team sport performance.
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The degree to which traditional play equipment, Parkour play elements, and Aldo van Eyck’s play sculptures have an open function
Autor
Van Der Schaaf et al.
2021
|
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Affordances, open functions, Parkour play elements, traditional play equipment, van Eyck’s play sculptures
Resumen
The concept of open functions was introduced to capture an intended feature of van Eyck’s seminal play sculptures – they do not suggest a specific action. In a recent study, Van der Schaaf, A. L., S. R. Caljouw, and R. Withagen. (2020. “Are Children Attracted to Play Elements with an Open Function?” Ecological Psychology 32: 79–94) aimed to determine the degree of openness of Parkour play elements by asking participants what behavior children will mainly perform on them. In the present study, we used this method to determine the degree of openness of traditional play elements (e.g. a slide), van Eyck’s play sculptures, and Parkour play elements. In addition, we measured the time participants needed to answer the question of what action children will mainly perform on the different elements. We found that generally the Parkour elements have the highest degree of openness. Interestingly, van Eyck’s play elements appeared not to be that open. Moreover, the reaction time proved to be an alternative measure for the degree of openness.
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Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on the psychomotor, cognitive, and motor performances of power athletes
Autor
Grosprêtre et al.
2021
|
Sci Rep
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
In sports science, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has many unknown effects on neuromuscular, psychomotor and cognitive aspects. Particularly, its impact on power performances remains poorly investigated. Eighteen healthy young males, all trained in a jumping sport (parkour) performed three experimental sessions: anodal tDCS applied either on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC, cathode in supraorbital area) or on the primary motor cortex (M1, cathode on contralateral shoulder), and a placebo condition (SHAM), each applied for 20 min at 2 mA. Pre and post, maximal vertical and horizontal jumps were performed, associated to leg neuromuscular assessment through electromyography and peripheral nerve stimulations. Actual and imagined pointing tasks were also performed to evaluate fine motor skills, and a full battery of cognitive and psychomotor tests was administered. M1 tDCS improved jump performance accompanied by an increase in supraspinal and spinal excitabilities. dlPFC stimulation only impacted the pointing tasks. No effect on cognitive tests was found for any of the tDCS conditions. To conclude, the type of performance (maximal versus accurate) affected depended upon the tDCS montage. Finally, athletes responded well to tDCS for motor performance while results to cognitive tests seemed unaffected, at least when implemented with the present rationale.
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Lesiones y síntomas musculoesqueléticos en practicantes de Parkour.
Autor
Silva
2021
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Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás
Tipo de publicación
Trabajo Fin de Grado/Máster o similar
Idioma
Portugués
Palabras clave
Resumen
Introducción: El parkour es una práctica corporal que consiste en movimientos rápidos, fluidos y eficientes en medio de los obstáculos presentes en un recorrido. Recluta diversas estructuras musculares y articulares del cuerpo, que están sometidas a un entrenamiento intenso y pueden provocar lesiones graves. Objetivo: Verificar las lesiones y síntomas musculoesqueléticos de los practicantes de Parkour, describiendo los tipos de lesión, ubicación anatómica, mecanismos de lesión, momento de la lesión y superficie referida por los participantes. Metodología: Estudio observacional, transversal y descriptivo, con 55 traceurs. Los participantes fueron sometidos a la Encuesta de Morbilidad Referida (IMR) y al Cuestionario Nórdico de Síntomas Musculoesqueléticos (QNSO), para evaluar las lesiones y los síntomas causados por el Parkour, respectivamente. Resultados: La edad promedio de los participantes de la investigación fue 25,44 años y el índice de masa corporal fue 23,48 kg/m2. El valor promedio del número de lesiones musculoesqueléticas fue de 3,09, de síntomas musculoesqueléticos en 12 meses fue de 5,44 y de síntomas musculoesqueléticos en los últimos 7 días fue de 3,51. Conclusión: Respecto a las principales lesiones, destacan luxación articular, contusión y esguince, ocurridas en tobillo, rodilla y pie. En cuanto al mecanismo de lesión, el aterrizaje fue el mecanismo más común, seguido de las caídas y los saltos, durante el entrenamiento en tierra, bajo una superficie de concreto.
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Parkour-Based Activities in the Athletic Development of Youth Basketball Players
Autor
Williams et al.
2021
|
Front Physiol
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
affordance landscape; fundamental movement skills; non-linear pedagogy; strength training; youth athletes.
Resumen
While ideas from long-term athlete development (LTAD) models have been adopted and integrated across different sports, issues related to early specialization, such as increased risk of injury and burnout, are still common. Although some benefits may be associated with early sport specialization, sports sampling is purported to be a more effective approach to the long-term health and wellbeing of children. Furthermore, the concept of developing what are commonly referred to as "fundamental movement skills" (FMS) is central to the rationale for delaying single sports specialization. However, in place of sports sampling, it appears that the practice of strength and conditioning (S&C) has become a driving force behind developmental models for youth athletes, highlighted by the growing body of literature regarding youth athletic development training. In this perspective piece, we explore how conventional S&C practice may insufficiently develop FMS because typically, it only emphasizes a narrow range of foundational exercises that serve a limited role toward the development of action capabilities in youth athletic populations. We further discuss how this approach may limit the transferability of physical qualities, such as muscular strength, to sports-specific tasks. Through an ecological dynamics lens, and using basketball as an example, we explore the potential for parkour-based activity within the LTAD of youth basketball players. We propose parkour as a training modality to not only encourage movement diversity and adaptability, but also as part of an advanced strength training strategy for the transfer of conventional S&C training.
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Luxation sous talienne interne pure ouverte: à propos d´un cas
Autor
Mmai
2020
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PAMJ Clinical Medicine
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Francés
Palabras clave
Luxation, sous talienne interne, accident de sport
Resumen
La luxation sous talienne est une lésion traumatique rare du pied dans laquelle le calcanéum et l'os naviculaire sont déplacés par rapport au talus qui conserve sa position normale au sein de la mortaise de la cheville. Elle doit être considérer comme une urgence thérapeutique, et aucun traitement n´est spécifique à cette lésion Les auteurs rapportent un cas de luxation sous talienne interne pure ouverte stade 2 de Gustillo et Anderson suite à un accident de sport: Parkour. Le patient a bénéficié d´une réduction urgente suivie d´une stabilisation avec arthroryse par deux broches calcanéo-astragaliennes et deux broches talo-naviculaires, et d´une immobilisation pendant six semaines. Après un recul de 12 mois, les résultats fonctionnels étaient satisfaisants.
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Epidemiología de las lesiones en el parkour y revisión de la literatura
Autor
Giner
2020
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Sport Tk-Revista Euroamericana De Ciencias Del Deporte
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Español
Palabras clave
prevalence; epidemiology; injury; musculoskeletal system; parkour; traceur; prevalencia; epidemiología; lesión; sistema músculo-esquelético; parkour; traceur
Resumen
El parkour es una actividad física cada vez más popular que continúa atrayendo practicantes. El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar la prevalencia de lesiones en el parkour así como la naturaleza, zona anatómica, procedimiento requerido, lugar dónde sucedió y movimiento de parkour. Se analizó a los practicantes de la Comunidad de Madrid, un total de 161 sujetos con una experiencia mínima de 12 meses y una práctica regular de al menos 1 vez por semana, empleando un cuestionario ad hoc. Los resultados muestran una prevalencia de lesión del 70,2%, siendo más frecuentes: esguinces (22,3%) y contusiones (21,1%), extremidad inferior (69,9%) y superior (24,7%), no precisaron pruebas médicas ni cirugía (68,6%), parque/plaza (60,9%) y calle (28%), salto de precisión (18,8%) y salto de longitud (11,1%). Por consiguiente se confirma que el parkour es susceptible de sufrir lesiones, en su mayoría esguinces, en la extremidad inferior y no resultan graves.
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Kinematic Analyses of Parkour Landings from as High as 2.7 Meters
Autor
Dai et al.
2020
|
Journal of Human Kinetics
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
jump-landing, impact, injury, performance, lower extremities
Resumen
Developing effective landing strategies has implications for both injury prevention and performance training. The purpose was to quantify the kinematics of Parkour practitioners' landings from three heights utilizing four techniques. Seventeen male and three female Parkour practitioners landed from 0.9, 1.8, and 2.7 m utilizing the squat, forward, roll, and stiff landing techniques when three-dimensional kinematics were collected. The stiff landing demonstrated the shortest landing time, and the roll landing showed the longest landing time for 1.8 and 2.7 m. Roll landings demonstrated the greatest forward velocities at initial contact and at the end of the landing. Stiff landings showed the greatest changes in vertical velocity during the early landing, while roll landings showed the least changes for 0.9 and 1.8 m. Both roll and stiff landings generally resulted in decreased changes in horizontal velocity during the early landing compared to squat and forward landings. The four landing techniques also demonstrated different lower extremity joint angles. Stiff landings may increase injury risk because of the quick decrease of vertical velocities. Roll landings allow individuals to decrease vertical and horizontal velocities over a longer time, which is likely to decrease the peak loading imposed on the lower extremities.
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Parkour jako nový gymnastický sport
Autor
Vašurová
2020
|
Charles University
Tipo de publicación
Trabajo Fin de Grado/Máster o similar
Idioma
Checo
Palabras clave
Parkour, somatotype, sport, discipline, abilities, competition
Resumen
The aim of this work is to introduce parkour as a new gymnastic sport and, based on the somatotypes measurements, define optimal profile of an athlet for this kind of sport with expressing differences in somatotypes with respect to individual parkour disciplines.
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Are Children Attracted to Play Elements with an Open Function?
Autor
Lynn van der Schaaf et al.
2020
|
Ecological Psychology
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
Resumen
The present study aimed to determine the degree to which play elements have an “open function”, and whether children are attracted to them. The architect van Eyck hypothesized that play elements with an open function attract playing children because such elements do not suggest a certain type of behavior and are, thus, likely to stimulate the children’s creativity. Children of three different age groups (5-6, 7-8, and 11-12years of age) played freely in a Parkour
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Sport Practice Enhances Athletes’ Observation Capacity: Comparing Scenic Change Detection in Open and Closed Sports
Autor
Grosprêtre & Gabriel
2020
|
Perceptual and Motor Skills
Tipo de publicación
Artículo de revista
Idioma
Inglés
Palabras clave
change blindness, gymnastics, parkour, perception, rock climbing, skill
Resumen
Domain-specific knowledge guides our attention and thus influences our perception. Prior change-blindness research has shown that expert athletes can spot meaningful scene changes more quickly than novices, but less is known of whether this expertise is modulated differentially between open and closed sporting activities. We presented 81 individuals (20 gymnasts, 19 rock climbers, 22 parkour practitioners, and 20 control participants) with alternating sequences of images that corresponded to the habitual training landscapes of each group (gymnasiums, rock cliffs, and urban environments, respectively). We included contextual and non-contextual scenic changes to evaluate whether athletes were generally aware of their environments, or whether their observation strategies only targeted sport-related environmental elements. Among these three athletic endeavors, we found that gymnasts were faster at detecting changes in their environment, irrespective of whether or not these changes were contextual to the sports involved. Expert rock climbers presented a domain-specific expertise that was improved even further for contextual changes. Parkour practitioners presented the fastest reaction times in the urban environment and some of the best reaction times for all types of changes. These results confirm that an ability to read the environment is an integral aspect of practice in open-skilled sports, while skills of athletes in closed-skilled sports are more closely related to motor skill repetitions in constant environments. Thus, open skill training may benefit athletes’ guidance of attention. Our finding that parkour practitioners appeared to have developed the widest perceptual abilities was probably linked to these athletes’ extremely wide range of practice environments and with the constant demands of this sport to find solutions in random natural environments that that are not purposely designed for the sport.
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