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Impairments to Thermoregulation in the Elderly During Heat Exposure Events
Get PDFHeat waves represent a public health risk to elderly people, and typically result in an increased rate of hospital admissions and deaths. Studies of thermoregulation in this cohort have generally focused on single elements such as sweating capacity. Sweating capacity and skin blood flow reduce with age, reducing ability to dissipate heat. Perception of effort during heat exposure is emerging as an area that needs further investigation as the elderly appear to lack the ability to adequately perceive increased physiological strain during heat exposure. The role of the gut and endotoxemia in heat stress has received attention in young adults, while the elderly population has been neglected. This shortcoming offers another potential avenue for identifying effective integrated health interventions to reduce heat illnesses. Increasing numbers of elderly individuals in populations worldwide are likely to increase the incidence of heat wave-induced deaths if adequate interventions are not developed, evaluated, and implemented. In this narrative-style review we identify and discuss health-related interventions for reducing the impact of heat illnesses in the elderly
Viewing physical education from a different perspective – an alternative approach to planning for learning
No full textFundamental movement skills (FMS) as the start point for learning – Development of social and cognitive learning through diversity – Making the connection between FMS, social and cognitive development – Learning through alternative activities and different environment
FALSE BELIEF UNDERSTANDING: ON COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, COGNITIVE COMPETENCE & COGNITIVE SYSTEMS
No full textCognitive developmental changes in belief understanding, particularly how and when children come to first appreciate false beliefs, occupy the bulk of research on human mindreading. Given apparently conflicting evidence from direct and indirect false‐belief tasks, there is much debate over whether there is a major conceptual breakthrough in belief reasoning sometime around children's 4th birthday and whether infants should be credited with abstract belief understanding. Focusing on who has belief concepts and when they have them, however, is only part of the developmental story. The contradiction could also reflect how the mature belief reasoning that children grow into involves two kinds of mindreading solutions: a flexible cognitive system for making sophisticated but effortful ascriptions about others' beliefs and an efficient cognitive system for tracking others' beliefs in an efficient but limited manner
What future/s for outdoor and environmental education in a world that has contended with COVID-19?
Get PDFThis is an unusual article in that it brings together the perspectives of many on this journal’s editorial board, around the issue of contending with COVID-19. Twenty statements showcase a range of thoughts and experiences, highlighting the differences and similarities in the way the pandemic is impacting on the educational practice of outdoor and environmental education. The future is not yet written, of course, so it is worth thinking about how the current moment may impact on the months and years to come. The aim of this article is to influence and support such thinking
Intoxication and Harm Reduction
No full textThis chapter revolves around the premise that drinking alcohol or taking drugs (from here in referred to simply as substance use) is generally a pleasurable activity that most people do throughout their lives without sustaining much in the way of personal harm, inflicting harm on those around them or harming society at large. However, it also recognises that any form
of intoxication potentially carries with it harms and costs, and that in some cases harms and costs are directly attributable to substance use. ‘Dealing with’ the negatives of intoxication, especially in a policy sense, often needs state interventions. Accordingly, this requires political decisions around which aspects of substance use the state needs to focus on , how and by whom intoxication is measured and defined, who is best placed to address and reduce harms and costs related to intoxication, and how this can be achieved. As such, policy-based reaction to intoxication and substance use is as much about politics as
it is about legal, scientific, therapeutic or medical interventions (Barton and Johns 2013). For policy change to be effected, happen politicians need to be aware of scientific and medical advances, although this evidence base is often but often weighed against or alongside these with changes in public attitude. It would appear in recent decades, that there is or has been
this is happening at the moment as, globally, there is some movement away from the strict prohibitionist approach towards illicit drug use. Rigid, abstinence based approaches to substance use, are is being gradually eroded, in some contexts. More nuanced models which recognises the potential and actual harms of substance use, but equally recognises that intoxication is an embedded and pleasurable part of life for many people are being adopted. These approaches are referred to generically as ‘harm reduction’
Implementing physically active teaching and learning in primary school curricula in the United Kingdom
Get PDFThere currently exists worldwide concern around obesity, inactivity and sedentary school curricula. EduMove (Education through Movement) offers physically active and movement-based teaching and learning promoting crosscurricula delivery in schools. This research assessed effectiveness of mechanisms and processes underpinning the claims of EduMove, stakeholder relationships and Student Practitioner delivery. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with Teachers and Student Practitioners relating to physical activity, delivery methods and enjoyment levels to gauge understanding and engagement with the EduMove philosophy. Findings demonstrated increases in pupil concentration and confidence, although wider outcomes relating to school-wide physical activity, health and educational attainment need further exploration. Students as delivery agents was positive in relation to stakeholder interaction, although further training is required to achieve more sustainable outcomes. Embedding movement within cross curricula planning has potential after evidence of enthusiasm and acceptance although further professional development is required to deliver activities that address complex societal and curricula issues
(Chapter 11) PERFORMING IN CHAOS: COACHING TRANSITION TO YOUNG TRIATHLETES USING POSITIVE PEDAGOGY
No full textThis chapter provides insight into the first author’s experiences of using Positive Pedagogy for Sport Coaching (Light and Harvey, 2019) as part of an empirical study conducted in part fulfilment of her Sport Coaching: Children and Young People Master’s Degree, at a University in the UK. During this study she was supervised by Dr Kass Gibson, who is co-author of this chapter, even though it is written in the first person, following the introduction. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Positive Pedagogy for sport coaching (PPed) in facilitating a holistic, child-centred approach to coaching children and young people in triathlon clubs. During the study, Juliet’s coaching considerations in planning, delivery and reflection were structured by the PPed framework (Light and Harvey, 2019) to inform and advance her own coaching practice.
Within this chapter we reflect on a session focussing on transition. After setting the context briefly and explaining the study upon which this chapter draws, we provide detail on the planning and delivery – as well as reflections on the experience - of a training session aimed at improving awareness and decision-making during transition. Moreover, Juliet reflects on her continued use and refinement of PPed when working with young athletes of differing ages, abilities and experiences, at various stages along the competitive regional pathway and on how this framework has guided her in her role as British Triathlon’s South West regional Lead for ‘Skills School’ as the national initiative supporting the development of coaches working with children and young people in triathlon clubs and school settings
Vascular endothelial function is improved after active mattress use
Get PDFObjective:
Active mattresses are used to prevent, treat and relieve pressure ulcers (PU) by intermittent contact pressure/relief. However, no studies have directly assessed the vascular endothelial response to long-term active mattress use. This study investigated the hypothesis that eight weeks use of an active mattress would lead to improvements in vascular endothelial function in healthy participants.
Methods:
Physiological parameters of baseline skin temperature (BskT), resting blood flow (RBF) and endothelial function as measured using post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH), were assessed at baseline (week 0); following eight weeks of sleeping on an active mattress, and after an eight week washout period (at week 16).
Results:
We recruited 10 healthy participants (four male, age 52.7±8.5 years, six female age 51.8±17.5 years). Following active mattress use RBF, PORH and BskT at the hallux pulp increased by 336%, 197% and 3.5°C, respectively. Mean values increased from 24.3±38.3 perfusion units to 106.0±100.3 perfusion units (p=0.021) and from 13,456±10,225 to 40,252±23,995 perfusion units x seconds (p=0.003) and from 22.9±2.5°C to 26.4±1.9°C (p<0.001), respectively.
Conclusion:
Active mattress use for eight weeks leads to significant improvements in RBF, PORH, and BskT. These results suggest that active mattress use can improve endothelial function. Future research is required to explore the potential of active mattress use in the treatment and management of diseases and conditions that would benefit from an improved endothelial function
Effects of deceptive footwear condition on subjective comfort and running biomechanics
Get PDFComfort is a major criterion for footwear selection. Previous studies have suggested that physical properties were not enough to predict comfort and psychological factors could also affect the perception. To understand comfort, this study examined the effect of controlled shoe description and price cue on the perception of comfort. Furthermore, this study also examined the running biomechanics in response to footwear conditions of differing comfort. Fifteen runners completed treadmill running tests in two conditions: Shoe A and Shoe B. The same pair of neutral running shoes was used in both conditions, yet, Shoe B was described to be the “latest model designed to maximize comfort” and more expensive than Shoe A. Comfort assessment was conducted after the running trial of each condition. Participants reported significantly greater comfort in Shoe B than Shoe A (p=0.011, Cohen’s d=0.70). There were no significant differences found among the temporal-spatial parameters (p>0.916) and the vertical loading rates (p>0.161) when comparing the more and less comfortable conditions. In conclusion, runners exhibited a biased perception of footwear comfort when presented with different shoe description and price information. However, such a difference in perceived comfort alone is not likely to affect running biomechanics
Outdoor education: The Romantic origins at the University of St Mark and St John
Get PDFPurpose: This paper discusses the history of outdoor education at a university in the south west of England, starting in 1840. Methodology: This research uses secondary sources of data; original unpublished work from the university archive is used alongside published works on the university founders and first principals, as well as sources on the developments of outdoor education in the UK. Findings: Both founding principals were driven by their strong values of social justice and their own experiences of poverty and inequality, to establish a means for everyone to access high quality education regardless of background or means. They saw education as key to providing a pathway out of poverty and towards opportunity and achievement for all with outdoor education as an essential part of that process. Kay-Shuttleworth, founder of St John’s, wrote that “the best book is Nature, with an intelligent interpreter”, whilst Derwent Coleridge, St Mark’s first principal, had a profound love of nature and reverence for his father's poetic circle. His father, the famous English Romantic poet Samuel Taylor-Coleridge, made the first recorded use of the verb “mountaineering”. Coleridge was using a new word for a new activity; the ascending of mountains for pleasure, rather than for economic or military purposes. Originality: The Romantic influence on outdoor education, the early appreciation of nature and the outdoors for physical and psychological well-being, and the drive for social justice have not been told in one case study before