The aim of this project is to study the effects of a shotgun’s recoil within the anatomical area of the shooter directly affected by this phenomenon by defininf specific protocols based on the use of different biomedical techniques such as IR Imaging and Ultrasound. The study also proposes a new method of analyzing the comfort of the weapon that can assess the real effectiveness of the Progressive Comfort System in reducing the effects of recoil and, at the same time, may be able to quantify the pain and effort perceived by shooters after having concluded the shooting series. Finally, through the sEMG technique and the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises, a potential decrease of the district muscular strength during the sport practice is investigated. Initially, in order to select a suitable sample for the study, an evaluation questionnaire and a Compak Sporting competition simulation based on 50-clays have been proposed aimed at assessing both the specific features and the technical level of the test subjects. After selecting the shooters, three pilot studies were carried out on a single subject to understand which evaluation techniques were more effective and less invasive. The aim of the first pilot study was to evaluate the effects of the shotgun recoil by using the thermography technique, which allowed to obtain results in terms of temperature variation both in the upper body part in contact with the stock of the shotgun and in the opposite part. The aim of the second one was to identify the areas most involved in the recoil through the ultrasound technique and the possible traumatic effects on muscle and skin tissues. Finally, the third study allowed to evaluate any eventual phenomenon of muscular fatigue through the use of the sEMG and the strength measurement by means of load cells, which required the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises. Based on the collected results, two widened studies were carried out to a greater number of shooters (specifically 6 shooters) and that envisaged the use of different shotguns in order to also evaluate the influence of the weapon on the phenomenon under examination. In the first study the selected shooters fired with 3 shotguns: two hunting shotgun versions that differ only in the presence or absence of a damping device (model: 828U, Benelli Armi S.p.A.), and one sportive shotgun (model: 828U SPORT, Benelli Armi S.p.A.), which has increased weight and no damping system. The thermographic technique was used in combination with the pain (VAS) and effort scales (RPE CR-10) as qualitative tests in order to analyze the effects of recoil in terms of temperature variation within two regions of interest of the upper body of the shooters and to quantify any possible appearance of muscles trauma, effort and pain. In the second study, the selected shooters fired with 3 sportive shotguns differing in balancing and ergonomics. Here the effects of the recoil, effort and muscular pain in shooters were assessed through qualitative (VAS, RPE CR- 10, PDT) and quantitative (HGT, ET and IMVC exercises) tests. In conclusion, the experimental procedures defined during this research were found to be effective in assessing the effects of the shotgun recoil on the shooters and the dependence of these effects on the weapon used. In particular, muscle fatigue was assessed through the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises. The muscle activation was analyzed by means of the sEMG technique, while the use of the Ultrasound and the IR Imaging gave quantitative and qualitative information about the effects of the recoil and the specific localization on the upper body of the analyzed shooters. Furthermore, the correlation between what was measured with biomedical techniques and the results obtained using the VAS and RPE CR-10 scales for the assessment of pain and fatigue perceived by the shooters proved to be consistent.
Definition of experimental procedures for the analysis of the sportive shotgun recoil effects on the shooters
Monzoni, Riccardo
2018
Abstract
The aim of this project is to study the effects of a shotgun’s recoil within the anatomical area of the shooter directly affected by this phenomenon by defininf specific protocols based on the use of different biomedical techniques such as IR Imaging and Ultrasound. The study also proposes a new method of analyzing the comfort of the weapon that can assess the real effectiveness of the Progressive Comfort System in reducing the effects of recoil and, at the same time, may be able to quantify the pain and effort perceived by shooters after having concluded the shooting series. Finally, through the sEMG technique and the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises, a potential decrease of the district muscular strength during the sport practice is investigated. Initially, in order to select a suitable sample for the study, an evaluation questionnaire and a Compak Sporting competition simulation based on 50-clays have been proposed aimed at assessing both the specific features and the technical level of the test subjects. After selecting the shooters, three pilot studies were carried out on a single subject to understand which evaluation techniques were more effective and less invasive. The aim of the first pilot study was to evaluate the effects of the shotgun recoil by using the thermography technique, which allowed to obtain results in terms of temperature variation both in the upper body part in contact with the stock of the shotgun and in the opposite part. The aim of the second one was to identify the areas most involved in the recoil through the ultrasound technique and the possible traumatic effects on muscle and skin tissues. Finally, the third study allowed to evaluate any eventual phenomenon of muscular fatigue through the use of the sEMG and the strength measurement by means of load cells, which required the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises. Based on the collected results, two widened studies were carried out to a greater number of shooters (specifically 6 shooters) and that envisaged the use of different shotguns in order to also evaluate the influence of the weapon on the phenomenon under examination. In the first study the selected shooters fired with 3 shotguns: two hunting shotgun versions that differ only in the presence or absence of a damping device (model: 828U, Benelli Armi S.p.A.), and one sportive shotgun (model: 828U SPORT, Benelli Armi S.p.A.), which has increased weight and no damping system. The thermographic technique was used in combination with the pain (VAS) and effort scales (RPE CR-10) as qualitative tests in order to analyze the effects of recoil in terms of temperature variation within two regions of interest of the upper body of the shooters and to quantify any possible appearance of muscles trauma, effort and pain. In the second study, the selected shooters fired with 3 sportive shotguns differing in balancing and ergonomics. Here the effects of the recoil, effort and muscular pain in shooters were assessed through qualitative (VAS, RPE CR- 10, PDT) and quantitative (HGT, ET and IMVC exercises) tests. In conclusion, the experimental procedures defined during this research were found to be effective in assessing the effects of the shotgun recoil on the shooters and the dependence of these effects on the weapon used. In particular, muscle fatigue was assessed through the execution of maximal isometric voluntary contraction (IMVC) and resistance contraction (ET) exercises. The muscle activation was analyzed by means of the sEMG technique, while the use of the Ultrasound and the IR Imaging gave quantitative and qualitative information about the effects of the recoil and the specific localization on the upper body of the analyzed shooters. Furthermore, the correlation between what was measured with biomedical techniques and the results obtained using the VAS and RPE CR-10 scales for the assessment of pain and fatigue perceived by the shooters proved to be consistent.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
