, 2010 ). It can be applied theoretically to any muscle or joint of the body, and it can be worn up to four days selleck chemicals Gefitinib without interfering with the daily hygiene and without modifying its adhesive properties ( Kase et al., 2003 ). The elimination of perspiration and freedom of motion are special KT characteristics that athletes appreciate ( Huang et al., 2011 ). Kase et al. (2003) proposed several taping mechanisms with various intended outcomes depending on how the tape was applied. Using these mechanisms, different beneficial effects could be achieved, including: (1) increasing proprioception, (2) normalizing muscle tension, (3) creating more space for improving circulation, (4) correcting muscle functioning by strengthening muscle weakness, and (5) decreasing pain.

Unfortunately, the limited research on the purported benefits of the KT has yielded contradictory results ( Garcia-Muro et al., 2010 ; Kaya et al., 2011 ; Paoloni et al., 2011 ; Thelen et al., 2008 ). Duathlon is a popular sports discipline that combines running, cycling and running in one event. Ankle mobility is essential for proper running technique, especially when pushing off ( Cejuela et al., 2007 ). During duathlon competitions it is quite common to experience soreness and cramping in the calf muscles due to overuse ( Merino-Marban et al., 2011 ). The fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds and covers muscles, which increases its tension in response to the mechanical load applied to the tissue during exercise ( O��Sullivan and Bird, 2011 ; Schleip et al., 2010 ).

One theory suggests that the KT could improve sports performance by unloading the fascia, thereby relieving pain, by reducing the mechanical load on free nerve endings within the fascia ( O��Sullivan and Bird, 2011 ; Schleip et al., 2010 ). Research based on samples of healthy athletes in order to test the effect of the KT on some aspect of performance are scarce and contradictory, and all conducted in laboratory settings ( Briem et al., 2011 ; Chang et al., 2010 ; Fu et al., 2008 ). To our knowledge, no randomized controlled research examining the effects of the KT on calf pain and ankle range of motion during competition has been carried out. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of the KT on calf pain and ankle dorsiflexion in duathletes immediately after its application and after a duathlon competition.

Material and Methods Participants A sample of 28 duathletes (6 females and 22 males) (age 29.11 �� 10.35 years; body height 172.57 �� 6.17 cm; body mass 66.63 �� 9.01 kg; body mass index 22.29 �� 2.00 kg/m 2 ) were recruited from the competitors in a duathlon sprint (5 km running + 20 km cycling + 2.5 km running). The participants were GSK-3 recreational duathletes involved in regular training and competition (mean training 15.59 �� 6.56 hours per week, mean competition experience 6.41 �� 6.47 years).

The rest interval between exercises was 10 seconds. Figure 1 Experimental Protocols Table 1 Dynamic Stretching Exercises The participants executed GW, DS and passive static stretching (SS) on Day 4. Seven static stretching exercises for 7 minutes were performed (Table 2). SS followed the same volume as in DS. Table 2 Static Stretching Bicalutamide IC50 Exercises However, for unilateral stretching exercises, the first set was performed using the left limb followed by the right limb in the next set. All interventions involving SS were executed to the point of discomfort when stretching. SS was performed on Day 5. SS and GW protocol was administered during Day 6. Lastly, SS, GW and DS were executed by the participants on Day 7. Measures With regard to anthropometrics data, body height (BH) was measured to the nearest 0.

01m with a portable stadiometer (Astra scale 27310, Gima, Italy). Body mass (BM) and body fat percentage (%BF) were measured by a bioelectric body composition analyzer (Tanita TBF-300 increments 0.1%; Tanita, Tokyo, Japan). Countermovement Jump Performance (CMJ) was assessed according to the protocol described by Bosco et al. (1983). Players were asked to start from an upright position with straight legs and with hands on hips in order to eliminate contribution of arm swing on jump height. The players executed a downward movement before the jump. Players performed a natural flexion before take-off. The participants were instructed to land in an upright position and to bend the knees on landing. Each player performed three maximal CMJ jumps, allowing three minutes of recovery between the trials.

The highest score was used for analysis. The jumps were assessed using a portable device called the OptoJump System (Microgate, Bolzano, Italy) which is an optical measurement system consisting of a transmitting and receiving bar (each bar being one meter long). Each of these contains photocells, which are positioned two millimeters from the ground. The photocells from the transmitting bar communicate continuously with those on the receiving bar. The system detects any interruptions in communication between the bars and calculates their duration. This makes it possible to measure flight time and jump height during the jump performance. The jump height is expressed in centimeters. Statistical Analysis Data are expressed as means and standard deviations.

The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to test the data for normality. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated to assess Dacomitinib reliability of the three vertical jump trails. One way repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to determine a significant difference in performance among the interventions. Effect size was established using eta squared. Bonferonni post hoc contrast was applied to determine pairwise comparison between interventions. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

, 1999); 1090 W in young endurance athletes (Chamari et al., 1995), 813 W in subjects with recreational activities (Vandewalle et al., 1985); 879 W in untrained students (Linossier et al., 1996)). The measured with the F-v test rPmax for upper limbs is 4.7 W?kg?1, while other studies selleck Sorafenib reveal higher values (10.7 W?kg?1 (Nikolaidis, 2006); 10.7 W?kg?1 in 44 year-olds and 12.3 W?kg?1 in physical education students (Adach et al., 1999); 10.7 W?kg?1 in swimmers (Mercier et al., 1993)). The corresponding value for lower limbs (12.2 W?kg?1) is lower than previous reports; 16.4 W?kg?1 (Nikolaidis, 2006); 13.0 W?kg?1 in untrained students (Linossier et al., 1996); 13.2 W?kg?1 in physical education students, 13.7 W?kg?1 in 44 year-olds (Adach et al., 1999). The ratio upper to lower limbs Pmax (0.

40) is lower than the 0.65 (Nikolaidis, 2006), 0.78 in 44 year-olds and the 0.93 in physical education students (Adach et al., 1999). Two possible explanations for the discrepancy of our results in comparison with previous data (lower values in all the F-v characteristics) might be the age of participants and the sport. All the characteristics measured by F-v test (force, velocity and power) correspond to age-dependent sport-related fitness parameters (muscular strength, speed and anaerobic power). Potential differences between arms and legs could be explained primarily due to muscle mass and muscle fibre type distribution. Muscle strength or force generating capacity is found closely related to muscle mass (Lanza et al., 2003; Metter et al., 2004) and muscle cross-sectional area (Maugha et al.

, 1984). It is proposed that upper limbs muscle mass is 22% (Abe et al., 2003) to 25% of lower limbs (Zatsiorsky, 2002). Our data additionally suggest that other factors, e.g. sport discipline in swimming, training, individualized technique and injuries, might also influence these differences. As shown in the Figure 2, there was a case of three female swimmers who had similar force in legs (120 N, 121 N and 122 N), but their corresponding force in arms differed (84 N, 66 N and 36 N) resulting in a wide range of ratio between upper and lower limbs (0.70, 0.54 and 0.30). A drawback of our study was the inherent limitation of laboratory methods to reproduce the real movements of swimming.

In addition, arms and legs�� power output was examined separately, which did not correspond to the complex movements of the sport that involve the coordination of upper and lower limbs. On the other hand, the laboratory methods provided valid and reliable measures of anaerobic power. Moreover, the distinction between arms and legs�� power came to terms Anacetrapib with the training practice, in which many exercises, either in pool or in the gym, focus on specific body parts. A remarkable observation from the present study was the variability of the ratios of mechanical characteristics between arms and legs in swimmers.

This competition took place two days before spinal segment mobility was measured. Spinal mobility was determined by the electrogoniometric method using a Penny & Giles electrogoniometer (Biometrics Tofacitinib alopecia Ltd, Gwent, UK) that took measured angular movements in individual spinal articulations (Troke and Moore, 1995; Thoumie et al., 1998; Christensen, 1999; Lewandowski, 2006). This method is characterized by high reliability and precision, and the obtained results are comparable to those determined radiologically and to Polish population normative values (Lewandowski, 2006). The measurements were taken in cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal segments.

Spinal mobility was determined in coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes, and the respective asymmetry coefficients were calculated based on the following formula (Siniarska and Sarna, 1980): A=Xp?Xl(Xp+Xl)2*100% A �C asymmetry coefficient; Xp �C the value of a given characteristic determined on the right side; Xl �C the value of a given characteristic determined on the left side. Direct values of asymmetry coefficients (Am) were calculated for the mobility of individual spinal segments, and coefficients of correlation were calculated between those parameters and the paddling speed. This method enabled us to analyze the potential associations between the degree of asymmetry and the racing speed, irrespective of the side of the boat chosen by the canoeists for paddling. All the procedures of this study were approved by the Local Ethics Committee by the Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland.

Analysis All calculations were carried out using the Statistica 9.0 package (StatSoft, Inc. 1984, 2011, license no. AXAP012D837210AR-7). The results were presented as arithmetic means (M), �� standard deviations (�� SD), and the normality of their distributions was verified. Mean values of analyzed parameters determined in athletes paddling on the right and left side of a canoe were compared using ANOVA. Post-hoc tests were used for detailed comparisons of parameters with normal distributions. Due to high variability in the sample size of canoeists paddling on the right or the left side, the Tukey test for unequal samples was used as a post-hoc test. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparisons of variables with non-normal distribution.

Additionally, Pearson��s and Spearman��s coefficients of correlation were calculated between the asymmetry coefficients and paddling speed. Statistical Brefeldin_A significance was defined as p<0.05. Results No significant differences were observed between mean V of right- and left-paddling athletes (Table 1). The only observed significant difference in spinal mobility pertained to the maximal left rotation of the cervical spine (CTL): it was lower in right-sided paddlers (RP) than in left-sided paddlers (LP), 60.38 and 67.7, respectively, for RP and LP left side of the canoe.