Browsing by Author "Amaro, Catarina M."
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- Comparative Analysis of Pressure Platform and Insole Devices for Plantar Pressure AssessmentPublication . Amaro, Catarina M.; Paulino, Maria F.; Valvez, Sara; Roseiro, Luis; Castro, Maria António; Amaro, Ana M.Foot plantar pressure refers to the pressure or force that the foot generates in contact with the ground, varying across different regions of the foot. This parameter is essential in static and dynamic analyses to access accurate diagnoses, study the human body biomechanics, create functional footwear designs, aid in rehabilitation and physiotherapy, and prevent injuries in athletes during sports practice. This study presents an experimental comparison between two different plantar pressure measurement devices, Pedar® (sensorized insoles) and Physiosensing® (pressure platform). The devices were selected based on their capacity to measure contact area and peak pressure points. Results showed that Physiosensing® provided a more uniform measurement of the contact area, proving its efficiency for weight distribution and stability analysis applications, particularly in posture assessment and balance studies. The Pedar® system showed higher capacity in peak pressure point detection. Therefore, the insole system is more suitable for applications requiring precise high-pressure zone localization. Comparative analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of each device and offers insights regarding its optimal usage in clinical, sports, and research settings.
- Visual Fixations in Basketball Shooting: Differences between Shooting ConditionsPublication . Amaro, Catarina M.; Castro, Maria António; Mendes, Rui; Gomes, Beatriz B.Basketball is a sport where shooting is one of the most important factors that determines the success or failure of the teams. Therefore, basketball players need to shoot the ball accurately. The present study aimed to evaluate whether different shooting conditions influence the visual behavior of athletes. For this, the Tobbi Pro Glasses 3 equipment was used to evaluate the time of the first fixation, the number of fixations, and the total time of fixations in the basket, during the shooting movement. Different distances to the basket, simulated gym audience noise, and shooting with opposition were considered. A group of 18 athletes with an average age of 22 ± 3.72 years and an average basketball practice experience of 12.5 ± 4.52 years performed 10 valid shots from different distances and different shooting angles, with different restrictions, namely, shooting with simulated opposition and gym audience noise. Statistically significant differences between shooting with opposition and baseline, in terms of the number of fixations and the total time of fixation, were found. Regarding shooting with gym audience noise, differences only occur for the total time of fixations in one position. Despite this, in all variables and positions, the values were lower in shooting with constraints compared to the baseline.