Development of static-active flexibility specific to Shotokan karate foot techniques

Flexibility is an essential quality for an athlete, which is why a high level of flexibility is required to increase efficiency and economy of movement, which interests all sports disciplines.The purpose of this scientific approach is to show that the development of static flexibility specific to foot techniques in karate, for practitioners between the ages of 14 and 18, is not done at random. The drive systems, applied within the programme proposed in this study for the development of flexibility, are subject to anatomically determined laws of motion, are functional and succeed in a methodical sequence.The experiment performed on karate practitioners - Shotokan emphasizes the importance of developing specific mobility which will allow them to execute foot techniques at a higher level and achieve outstanding performance.The application of the tests and the implementation of carefully selected drive systems that contribute to the development of mobility specific to karate techniques substantiates the working hypothesis and validates through its results the correctness of the experimental operation.

HoloPointer: a virtual augmented reality pointer for laparoscopic surgery training

Purpose In laparoscopic surgery training, experts guide novice physicians to desired instrument positions or indicate relevant areas of interest. These instructions are usually given via verbal communication or using physical pointing devices. To facilitate a sterile work flow and to improve training, new guiding methods are needed. This work proposes to use optical see-through augmented reality to visualize an interactive virtual pointer on the laparoscopic. Methods After an interdisciplinary development, the pointer’s applicability and feasibility for training was evaluated and it was compared to a standard condition based on verbal and gestural communication only. In this study, ten surgical trainees were guided by an experienced trainer during cholecystectomies on a laparoscopic training simulator. All trainees completed a virtual cholecystectomy with and without the interactive virtual pointer in alternating order. Measures included procedure time, economy of movement and error rates. Results Results of standardized variables revealed significantly improved economy of movement (p = 0.047) and error rates (p = 0.047), as well as an overall improved user performance (Total z-score; p = 0.031) in conditions using the proposed method. Conclusion The proposed HoloPointer is a feasible and applicable tool for laparoscopic surgery training. It improved objective performance metrics without prolongation of the task completion time in this pre-clinical setup.

Man with a Movie Camera: Economy of Movement and ASMR Videos on Youtube

The article examines the ASMR phenomena through the perspective of early USSR philosophy of technic, especially, of the constructivist movement (Gan, Ginzburg) and of works of film director Dziga Vertov. Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a tingling sensation that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine. The aim of research is to reconstruct the notion of «movement», «machine» and «technique» in constructivist writings and to transfer this notion on contemporary media culture. For the analysis authors use ASMR videos on Youtube in order to discover new possible connotations of the term «movement» in a constructivist perspective. The ASMR phenomena could be considered as a merge of Haraway’s cyborg metaphor and the constructivist conception of domestic life, movement and technique.

Mechanical properties, physiological behavior, and function of aponeurosis and tendon

During human movement, the muscle and tendinous structures interact as a mechanical system in which forces are generated and transmitted to the bone and energy is stored and released to optimize function and economy of movement and/or to reduce risk of injury. The present review addresses certain aspects of how the anatomical design and mechanical and material properties of the force-transmitting tissues contribute to the function of the muscle-tendon unit and thus overall human function. The force-bearing tissues are examined from a structural macroscopic point of view down to the nanoscale level of the collagen fibril. In recent years, the understanding of in vivo mechanical function of the force-bearing tissues has increased, and it has become clear that these tissues adapt to loading and unloading and furthermore that force transmission mechanics is more complex than previously thought. Future investigations of the force-transmitting tissues in three dimensions will enable a greater understanding of the complex functional interplay between muscle and tendon, with relevance for performance, injury mechanisms, and rehabilitation strategies.

Objective assessment of surgeon’s psychomotor skill using virtual reality module

<span>This study aims to identify measurable parameters that could be used as objective assessment parameters to evaluate surgical dexterity using computer-based assessment module. A virtual reality module was developed to measure dynamic and static hand movements in a bimanual experimental setting. The experiment was conducted with sixteen subjects divided into two groups: surgeons (N = 5) and non-surgeons (N = 11). Results showed that surgeons outperformed the non-surgeons in motion path accuracy, motion path precision, economy of movement, motion smoothness, end-point accuracy and end-point precision. The six objective parameters can complement existing assessment methods to better quantify a trainee’s performance. These parameters also could provide information of hand movements that cannot be measured with the human eye. An assessment strategy using appropriate parameters could help trainees learn on computer-based systems, identify their mistakes and improve their skill towards the competency, without relying too much on bench models and cadavers.</span>

OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT FOR SURGICAL SKILL EVALUATION

The purpose of this study was to identify measurable parameters that can be used to quantitatively assess psychomotor skills, specifically for surgical skills assessment. Sixteen participants were recruited from two groups: surgeon (N = 5) and non-surgeon (N = 11). Both groups underwent a psychomotor test using a custom developed ‘Green Target’ module which was designed using a virtual reality system. Six parameters were used to compare the psychomotor skills between the two groups. The results showed that surgeons outperformed the non-surgeons in five out of six parameters investigated and the difference was statistically significant. The average normalised comparison values for surgeons and non-surgeons for motion path accuracy, motion path precision, economy of movement, end-point accuracy and end-point precision were 0.13+0.12 and 0.17+0.12, 0.08+0.11 and 0.10+0.10, 3.76+1.76 and 4.08+2.24, 0.12+0.10 and 0.17+0.11, 0.04+0.10 and 0.07+0.10 respectively, p < 0.05). These parameters can potentially be used to objectively assess the performance of surgical skill.

Validating the Use of Smartphone-Based Accelerometers for Performance Assessment in a Simulated Neurosurgical Task

BACKGROUND: Reductions in working hours affect training opportunities for surgeons. Surgical simulation is increasingly proposed to help bridge the resultant training gap. For simulation training to translate effectively into the operating theater, acquisition of technical proficiency must be objectively assessed. Evaluating “economy of movement” is one way to achieve this. OBJECTIVE: We sought to validate a practical and economical method of assessing economy of movement during a simulated task. We hypothesized that accelerometers, found in smartphones, provide quantitative, objective feedback when attached to a neurosurgeon's wrists. METHODS: Subjects (n = 25) included consultants, senior registrars, junior registrars, junior doctors, and medical students. Total resultant acceleration (TRA), average resultant acceleration, and movements with acceleration &gt;0.6g (suprathreshold acceleration events) were recorded while subjects performed a simulated dural closure task. RESULTS: Students recorded an average TRA 97.0 ± 31.2 ms−2 higher than senior registrars (P = .03) and 103 ± 31.2 ms−2 higher than consultants (P = .02). Similarly, junior doctors accrued an average TRA 181 ± 31.2 ms−2 higher than senior registrars (P &lt; .001) and 187 ± 31.2 ms−2 higher than consultants (P &lt; .001). Significant correlations were observed between surgical outcome (as measured by quality of dural closure) and both TRA (r = .44, P &lt; .001) and number of suprathreshold acceleration events (r = .33, P &lt; .001). TRA (219 ± 66.6 ms−2; P = .01) and number of suprathreshold acceleration events (127 ± 42.5; P = .02) dropped between the first and fourth trials for junior doctors, suggesting procedural learning. TRA was 45.4 ± 17.1 ms−2 higher in the dominant hand for students (P = .04) and 57.2 ± 17.1 ms−2 for junior doctors (P = .005), contrasting with even TRA distribution between hands (acquired ambidexterity) in senior groups. CONCLUSION: Data from smartphone-based accelerometers show construct validity as an adjunct for assessing technical performance during simulation training.