Effects of Hip Thrust Training on the Strength and Power Performance in Collegiate Baseball Players

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of hip thrust （HT） training on the strength and power performance of lower extremities. In total, 20 male collegiate baseball players participated in this study and were divided into a HT training group （HTT） and a control group （CON）. Participants in the HTT group added HTT movements to a regular baseball training regimen （3 times per week for 8 weeks）, whereas participants in the CON group only performed the regular baseball training regimen. Before and after the training sessions, strength performance was assessed via tests of squat strength and 3 repetition maximum （3RM） HT strength; power performance was assessed via vertical jump height, standing long jump distance, and 30-m sprint time. The results indicated significant improvement in squat strength （31% ± 15%） and 3RM HT strength （36% ± 16%） （P 〈 0.05）, but not in vertical jump height, standing long jump distance, and 30-m sprint time. Furthermore, the improvement in squat strength highly correlated with 3RM HT strength （r = 0.83, P 〈 0.05）, In conclusion, HTT plays a role in developing squat strength but does not appear to improve power performance.

Rebuilding motor function of the spinal cord based on functional electrical stimulation

Rebuilding the damaged motor function caused by spinal cord injury is one of the most serious challenges in clinical neuroscience.The function of the neural pathway under the damaged sites can be rebuilt using functional electrical stimulation technology.In this study,the locations of motor function sites in the lumbosacral spinal cord were determined with functional electrical stimulation technology.A three-dimensional map of the lumbosacral spinal cord comprising the relationship between the motor function sites and the corresponding muscle was drawn.Based on the individual experimental parameters and normalized coordinates of the motor function sites,the motor function sites that control a certain muscle were calculated.Phasing pulse sequences were delivered to the determined motor function sites in the spinal cord and hip extension,hip flexion,ankle plantarflexion,and ankle dorsiflexion movements were successfully achieved.The results show that the map of the spinal cord motor function sites was valid.This map can provide guidance for the selection of electrical stimulation sites during the rebuilding of motor function after spinal cord injury.