Niamh Whelan | University of Limerick (original) (raw)
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Papers by Niamh Whelan
A popular method for measuring initial contact (foot-strike) during running is the force platform... more A popular method for measuring initial contact (foot-strike) during running is the force platform. It has been proposed that the foot contact events can be estimated using peak impact related accelerations of the leg using accelerometers. Various studies have been conducted to compare force platform and accelerometer methods in walking and running. The aim of this study was to develop a method for identifying peak impact accelerations in the anterior-posterior axis using the Delsys Trigno System during running and compare this with initial contact via force plates. Seven national and international sprinters completed runs across a force platform with an accelerometer fixed to their shin. The results showed the acceleration of the anterior-posterior axis approximated footstrike within ±0.017 s of the foot-strike event detected by the force plate.
The aim of this study was to examine the differences in trunk and lower limb kinematics between t... more The aim of this study was to examine the differences in trunk and lower limb kinematics between the front and back squat. 2D kinematic data was collected as participants (n = 12) completed three repetitions of both front and back squat exercises at 50 % of their back squat one repetition maximum. Stance width was standardised at 107(±10) % of biacromial breadth. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to examine significant differences in dependent variables between both techniques. Results showed that the back squat exhibited a significantly greater trunk lean than the front squat throughout (p < 0.05) with no differences occurring in knee joint kinematics. The results of this study in conjunction with other squat related literature (Russell et al., 1989) suggest that the back squat gives rise to an increased risk of lower back injury.
Resistance sprint training with sledges and harnesses is often used by athletes to induce an acut... more Resistance sprint training with sledges and harnesses is often used by athletes to induce an acute enhancement in performance during recovery. Such enhancements are similar to post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects found in complex training. The methods used to detect PAP are variable across studies. The aim of this study was to compare the results of the typical error method of analysis with conventional repeated measures ANOVA on data obtained from a resisted sprint training. The results showed that the ANOVA method found many significant differences between pre test and post test means but the typical error method showed relatively few incidences of fatigue- potentiation patterns across any subjects. This suggests that the ANOVA
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2013
Sprinting speed is a vital component of successful performance in many sports. Long-term resisted... more Sprinting speed is a vital component of successful performance in many sports. Long-term resisted sprint training has been shown to improve early acceleration performance, but the acute post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects of resisted sprinting on subsequent performance remain unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of resisted sprinting on sprinting and factors related to sprint performance. Twelve active males participated in a pretest involving ten 10-m sprints through dual-beam timing gates and 10-m Optojump Next System with full recovery. This provided baseline data on step rate, step length, ground contact time, and running speed over the first 6 steps of a maximum effort sprint. One week later, the participants performed three 10-m resisted sprints using a sled loaded to 25-30% body mass followed by a 10-m sprint at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes after the final resisted sprint. The data were analyzed using an adapted typical error analysis and repeated measures analysis of variance. The results using analysis of variance provided evidence of significant initial fatigue followed by the enhancement of mean step rate, contact time, reactive strength index, and running speed in 10-m sprints performed after the resisted sprinting (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 0.05). By contrast, the typical error analysis showed that this enhancement was limited and unsystematic in nature with little clear evidence of fatigue followed by potentiation. The results using typical error data do not provide strong evidence of PAP in 10-m sprint performance after resisted sprinting.
Coaches' knowledge of drills and their specificity to sprint movement patterns and muscle activat... more Coaches' knowledge of drills and their specificity to sprint movement patterns and muscle activations has become increasingly important. Drills are used to encourage the development of optimal movement and coordination. They are prescribed to help the athlete develop sprint technique and it is generally assumed that the drills are the parts within a whole-part-whole learning strategy. Previous literature has suggested some drills may be questionable as they may not replicate the muscle activations or movement pattern of sprinting [6]. 209 coaches completed an online questionnaire which examined coaches' choice of drills; reasons for using drill and reasons for changing drills used. The results were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results showed that coaches believed that drills are vital part of training to improve performance but that they should be specific to sprinting technique. INTRODUCTION Research on coaching and coach knowledge has become increasingly popular,
A popular method for measuring initial contact (foot-strike) during running is the force platform... more A popular method for measuring initial contact (foot-strike) during running is the force platform. It has been proposed that the foot contact events can be estimated using peak impact related accelerations of the leg using accelerometers. Various studies have been conducted to compare force platform and accelerometer methods in walking and running. The aim of this study was to develop a method for identifying peak impact accelerations in the anterior-posterior axis using the Delsys Trigno System during running and compare this with initial contact via force plates. Seven national and international sprinters completed runs across a force platform with an accelerometer fixed to their shin. The results showed the acceleration of the anterior-posterior axis approximated footstrike within ±0.017 s of the foot-strike event detected by the force plate.
The aim of this study was to examine the differences in trunk and lower limb kinematics between t... more The aim of this study was to examine the differences in trunk and lower limb kinematics between the front and back squat. 2D kinematic data was collected as participants (n = 12) completed three repetitions of both front and back squat exercises at 50 % of their back squat one repetition maximum. Stance width was standardised at 107(±10) % of biacromial breadth. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used to examine significant differences in dependent variables between both techniques. Results showed that the back squat exhibited a significantly greater trunk lean than the front squat throughout (p < 0.05) with no differences occurring in knee joint kinematics. The results of this study in conjunction with other squat related literature (Russell et al., 1989) suggest that the back squat gives rise to an increased risk of lower back injury.
Resistance sprint training with sledges and harnesses is often used by athletes to induce an acut... more Resistance sprint training with sledges and harnesses is often used by athletes to induce an acute enhancement in performance during recovery. Such enhancements are similar to post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects found in complex training. The methods used to detect PAP are variable across studies. The aim of this study was to compare the results of the typical error method of analysis with conventional repeated measures ANOVA on data obtained from a resisted sprint training. The results showed that the ANOVA method found many significant differences between pre test and post test means but the typical error method showed relatively few incidences of fatigue- potentiation patterns across any subjects. This suggests that the ANOVA
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2013
Sprinting speed is a vital component of successful performance in many sports. Long-term resisted... more Sprinting speed is a vital component of successful performance in many sports. Long-term resisted sprint training has been shown to improve early acceleration performance, but the acute post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects of resisted sprinting on subsequent performance remain unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of resisted sprinting on sprinting and factors related to sprint performance. Twelve active males participated in a pretest involving ten 10-m sprints through dual-beam timing gates and 10-m Optojump Next System with full recovery. This provided baseline data on step rate, step length, ground contact time, and running speed over the first 6 steps of a maximum effort sprint. One week later, the participants performed three 10-m resisted sprints using a sled loaded to 25-30% body mass followed by a 10-m sprint at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes after the final resisted sprint. The data were analyzed using an adapted typical error analysis and repeated measures analysis of variance. The results using analysis of variance provided evidence of significant initial fatigue followed by the enhancement of mean step rate, contact time, reactive strength index, and running speed in 10-m sprints performed after the resisted sprinting (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 0.05). By contrast, the typical error analysis showed that this enhancement was limited and unsystematic in nature with little clear evidence of fatigue followed by potentiation. The results using typical error data do not provide strong evidence of PAP in 10-m sprint performance after resisted sprinting.
Coaches' knowledge of drills and their specificity to sprint movement patterns and muscle activat... more Coaches' knowledge of drills and their specificity to sprint movement patterns and muscle activations has become increasingly important. Drills are used to encourage the development of optimal movement and coordination. They are prescribed to help the athlete develop sprint technique and it is generally assumed that the drills are the parts within a whole-part-whole learning strategy. Previous literature has suggested some drills may be questionable as they may not replicate the muscle activations or movement pattern of sprinting [6]. 209 coaches completed an online questionnaire which examined coaches' choice of drills; reasons for using drill and reasons for changing drills used. The results were analysed using qualitative and quantitative methods. Results showed that coaches believed that drills are vital part of training to improve performance but that they should be specific to sprinting technique. INTRODUCTION Research on coaching and coach knowledge has become increasingly popular,