IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF POST-ISOMETRIC RELAXATION AND STATIC STRETCHING ON QUADRICEPS MUSCLE DURING VERTICAL JUMP IN VOLLEY BALL AND BASKETBALL PLAYERS

Background and Aim: In today sports such as volleyball and basketball, Vertical Jump is considered as important component that enhance the performance of athlete. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of muscle energy technique on vertical jump performance in volleyball and basketball players. Methodology: This Randomized Clinical Trial was conducted at Islamic International University Islamabad. Twenty-nine athletes of age 18 – 35 playing basketball and volley as part time/domestic level were included. Post isometric relaxation technique was applied on group A (n=15) and static stretching was applied on group B (n=14). Surface electromyography activity of quadriceps and abdominal muscle was recorded, Stable time, airtime and vertical jump height were measured using two-axis force platform and vertical jump height was measured by motion sensor. Measurements were taken at baseline and immediately after applying interventions to both groups. Data entry and analysis were done by using software SPSS version 22. Results:   Of the 29 athletes, 15 were in the group A and 14 were in the group B. Immediate assessment of vertical jump height was not significantly improved by post-isometric relaxation relative to static stretching (p=0.594). Muscle recruitment, ground reaction and vertical jump height improved apparently after post isometric relaxation but not significantly. Conclusion: It appears that post isometric relaxation and static stretching of quadriceps shows no significant difference in vertical jump height.

Sewage Treatment by an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor Uasb under Subtropical Conditions

The upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors seeded with cow dung manure and activated sludge of a dairy wastewater treatment plant, termed as UASBCD and UASBASDIT, were used to treat medium strength raw domestic wastewater. The start-up of UASBCD reactor required a period of 120 days. In case of UASBASDIT reactor, sludge bet was stabilized in a period of 80 days. The performance of both reactors to treat wastewater was enhanced with an increase in the sludge age and temperature. Under psychrophilic temperature (17 OC) and at early sludge age (60 days), COD and BOD removal by the reactors was in the range of 57-62% and 61- 66%, respectively. However, COD and BOD removal efficiency of the reactors elevated to the range of 79-81% and 77-83%, respectively at sludge age of 150 days and temperature of 30 OC. In short, overall performance of both reactors was optimal at sludge age ranging from 120-150 days and temperature varying between 25-30 O C. However, overall performance of UASBCD reactor was always relatively better than UASBASDIT reactor due to better granulation, biomass growth and settling characteristics of sludge with time in the former reactor. Both reactors were re-started after a long shutdown period of 12 months, and operated at HRT of 12 hrs and 30 OC temperature. The reactors restored normal performance in a time period of 30 days. Post-treatment of UASB wastewater was accomplished in order to improve the quality of wastewater in accordance with the permissible limits for irrigation water. The application of ozone, UV irradiation and H2O2 at their optimal exposure time (ozonation time varying between 26-30 min; UV irradiation time of 8-15 min) and dose (H2O2 dose in the range of 280-336 mg/L) showed 99.9% elimination of pathogens (total coliform, fecal coliform and E.coli) in wastewaters of both reactors. The disinfection efficiency of combined systems (O3/UV; H2O2/UV; O3/H2O2) was, however, spectacular. The application of these systems showed 99.9% removal of pathogens at very short contact time and less dose as compared to time and dose required in their individual application. There was no re-growth in wastewater samples disinfected at optimal contact time (ozonation time of 25 min; UV irradiation for 15 min) and maximum dose (H2O2 dose of 336 mg/L) in the presence of nutrients during a time period of 21 days. However, underdozed samples and wastewater samples exposed for inadequate time period showed re-growth, which was a function of nutrient content, temperature and light, and regrowth of pathogens was substantially increased with increasing temperature and adding nutrients.