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Introduction: Cultures of combat - Body, culture, identity
Get PDFAs well as introducing the articles in the ERQ special issue on «Cultures of Combat. Body, Culture, Identity», this extended editorial provides a conceptual discussion of the idea of cultures of combat and how, through these, embodied cultural identities emerge. First we highlight a composite term «cultures of combat» as an alternative way of articulating the common ground between martial arts cultures and combat sports. In so doing, we identify the «body problem» of interpersonal physical conflict as universally experienced, which gives rise to particularised cultures of combat emerging as solutions to this problem across culture and history. Following this, we bring together the largely parallel literatures of physical culture and body cultures to highlight their combined importance in understanding how we might study cultures of combat. Finally, we consider the diffusion of cultures of combat through mobility, globalisation, glocalisation and reinvention. These dynamics help explain the transformation of cultures of combat and the identities emerging from them across time and space
Association of Daily Workload, Wellness, and Injury and Illness During Tours in International Cricketers
Get PDFPurpose: To examine the relationship between player internal workloads, daily wellness monitoring, and injury and illness in a group of elite adolescent cricketers during overseas competitions. Methods: A total of 39 male international adolescent cricketers (17.5 [0.8] y) took part in the study. Data were collected over 5 tours across a 3-y period (2014–2016). Measures of wellness were recorded and daily training loads were calculated using session rating of perceived exertion. The injury and illness status of each member of the squad was recorded daily. Acute and chronic workloads were calculated using 3-d and 14-d moving averages. Acute workloads, chronic workloads, and acute chronic workload ratios were independently modeled as fixed effects predictor variables. Results: In the subsequent week, a high 3-d workload was significantly associated with an increased risk of injury (relative risk = 2.51; CI = 1.70–3.70). Similarly, a high 14-d workload was also associated with an increased risk of injury (relative risk = 1.48; CI = 1.01–2.70). Individual differences in the load–injury relationship were also found. No clear relationship between the acute chronic workload ratios and injury risk was found, but high chronic workloads combined with high or low acute chronic workload ratios showed an increased probability of injury compared with moderate chronic workloads. There were also trends for sleep quality and cold symptoms worsening the week before an injury occurred. Conclusion: Although there is significant individual variation, short-term high workloads and change in wellness status appear to be associated with injury risk
Altered Resting-State EEG Microstate in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss Patients with Tinnitus
Get PDFIn order to clarify the central reorganization in acute period of hearing loss, this study explored the aberrant dynamics of electroencephalogram (EEG) microstates and the correlations with the features of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) and tinnitus. We used high-density EEG with 128 channels to investigate alterations in microstate parameters between 25 ISSNHL patients with tinnitus and 27 healthy subjects. This study also explored the associations between microstate characteristics and tinnitus features. Microstates were clustered into four categories. There was a reduced presence of microstate A in amplitude, coverage, lifespan, frequency and an increased presence of microstate B in frequency in ISSNHL patients with tinnitus. According to the syntax analysis, a reduced transition from microstate C to microstate A and an increased transition from microstate C to microstate B were found in ISSNHL subjects. In addition, the significant negative correlations were found between Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) scores and frequency of microstate A as well as between THI scores and the probability of transition from microstate D to microstate A. While THI was positively correlated with the transition probability from microstate D to microstate B. To sum up, the significant differences in the characteristics of resting-state EEG microstates were found between ISSNHL subjects with tinnitus and healthy controls. This study suggests that the alterations of central neural networks occur in acute stage of hearing loss and tinnitus. And EEG microstate may be considered as a useful tool to study the whole brain network in ISSNHL patients
Pragmatic Conventionalism and Sport Normativity in the Face of Intractable Dilemmas
Get PDFWe build on Morgan’s deep conventionalist base by offering a pragmatic approach (‘transitionalism’) for achieving normative progress on sports most intractable problems (e.g. performance enhancement restrictions, collision sport dangers, competitive classification discord). Our account picks up where Morgan suggests disparate normative communities 'default' to inferior yet functionally 'pragmatic' resolutions to conflict. Pragmatic resolutions, we contend, offer normative substance by providing the means to move beyond intellectual stalemates by re-orientating our normative efforts relative to the three cornerstones of Morgan’s deep conventionalism: the nature and status of different sporting conventions; the difference between conflicts of an ‘intramural’ and ‘extramural’ kind; and what constitutes a resolution to sporting disagreements
Young athletes under pressure?
Get PDFRegular participation in exercise has long been known to result in cardiovascular adaptation. Historically, the ‘athlete’s heart’ hypothesis has encouraged a dichotomised view of the heart’s adaptation to sport, depending on whether the physical activity was either of isotonic activity (runners and swimmers) resulting in ‘cardiomegaly’ or of isometric effort (wrestlers and shot putters, ie, ‘strength’ athletes) with clear peripheral adaptations and an ‘obvious increase in cardiac size’. Today, the classification of sports according to their physiological demands acknowledges a greater diversity of exposure, depending on the physical activity, with an emphasis on a ‘graded transition’ between the main categories: dynamic, static and impact. Still, our understanding of the determinants of structural and functional cardiovascular adaptation to exercise are limited, and the consequences for health remain a matter of debate
Kinematics in lateral plyometric jumping exercise at different distances
Get PDFJump-based exercises, such as plyometrics, are reported to be an effective method for the
development and enhancement of physical qualities in the legs, for example power and reactive strength, for
change of direction movements. The purpose of the study was to examine a unilateral jump over different
distances, with the aim of quantifying the changes that occur to joint displacement at the hip, knee and ankle
joints, as well as changes to ground contact time (GCT). Eight healthy participants took part in the study,
each of whom had previous experience of sports, which included change of direction movements. Results of a
repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences to GCT on the right leg (P < 0.05) but not on the
left (P > 0.05) as jump distance increased. For joint displacement, significant differences were observed at
the right ankle and right knee but not at any other joint. The results of the study confirm that this particular
activity is not suited for training to improve change of direction speed (CODS) performance. Group means
and the discussion can aid practitioners in an appropriate exercise selection for training programming
The top 5 Selling UK Energy Drinks implications for dental and general health
Get PDFAim
Energy drinks are widely consumed worldwide, and are recognised for their adverse health effects,
usually due to their high caffeine content. However,
little is known about their impact on oral and
general health
. The aim of this investigation was to review the
most popular
energy drinks
sold
in the
UK, for their possible effect on oral
health and contribution to obesity.
Materials and Method
s
Five drinks constituting 75% of the UK energy drinks market were purposively selected (
Lucozade,
Redbull, Monster, Rockstar and Relentless)
. pH and sugar content were measured and their
ingredients reviewed
in the context of oral and general health, focussing on dental caries and
erosion and obesity
.
Results
All 5 energy drinks investigated
had pH values below the critical value (5.5)
associated with dental
erosion; t
he lowest pH
was 2.7
2 (Lucozade
), the highest pH was 3.37 (Monster).
The drinks also
contained
excessive
amounts of free sugars, ranging from 25.5g (Red Bull) to 69.2g (Rockstar).
Differences in sugar content were mainly explained by portion size. Other ingredients contained
within
the energy drinks, caffeine and various acids
are also linked to
oral
and general health.
Conclusion
Regular consumption of energy drinks could contribute to dental
erosion and the development of
obesity. Lucozade and Rockstar were found to potentially have the greatest impact on oral health and
obesity
.
Achieving a healthy product by reformulation is highly unlikely
due to the very high initial free sugar
content. Thus health professionals need to acknowledge the popularity of these products and help
their clients to reduce their use. This is the first study which compares in detail the potential oral and
general
health consequences of overuse of a selection of energy drinks popular in the UK
A professional development programme to enhance primary school teachers’ knowledge and operationalisation of physical literacy
Get PDFIntroduction: Despite increases in research and implementation, physical literacy continues to be largely misinterpreted by practitioners. The purpose of this study was to devise, implement, and evaluate a professional development programme that works in a primary school environment to enhance their knowledge and operationalisation of physical literacy.
Methods: Following a three-month needs assessment phase, data were collected from structured observations, reflections, and semi-structured interviews with the teachers, before, during and after an introductory workshop and six-month physical literacy intervention. Thematic analysis was used to evaluate perceptions of programme effectiveness.
Results: The needs assessment phase identified notable differences between teachers’ classroom and physical education practice. Results of the physical literacy workshop and intervention detailed an increase in teachers’ knowledge of, and operationalisation of, physical literacy.
Discussion/Conclusions: Applying established principles of effective professional development in a contextually sensitive manner was viewed as effective in enhancing primary school teachers’ knowledge and practice regarding physical literacy
‘Defnyddiwch y Gymraeg’: Community sport as a vehicle for encouraging the use of the Welsh language
Get PDFDespite cultural and statutory changes, including significant investment in Welsh medium education, latest census data show a drop in the percentage of Welsh speakers. Moreover there is a concern that many of those who are able to speak Welsh are not using it – the language is not ‘alive’. The Welsh Language Commissioner has identified sport as a space where Welsh can be used, encouraged and promoted. The aim of this study was to investigate whether community sport clubs can provide a space to encourage the use of Welsh. Using qualitative methods we found that strategies to promote Welsh in sports clubs are potentially divisive. The dominant and ‘operational’ language of many community sport clubs is English. Increasing the use of Welsh in these clubs risks excluding non-Welsh speakers, but ignoring the language denies Welsh speakers the opportunity to participate in Welsh
The Professional's experience with causes of delay in the diagnosis and management of children with a congenital hearing loss in Libya
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to collect and interpret narrative and observational data from Audiologists and ENT doctors' experiences of delays in the identification and management of congenital hearing loss (CHL) in Libya. This qualitative study sought to explore and understand the reasons behind the delay. Participants were three Audiological Physicians and five Otolarngologists (ENT) working in public hospitals in four large cities in Libya. They were interviewed to explore the causes of such delays and themes were generated from their experiences. All participants revealed that the main causes might be associated with limited facilities and availability of audiology services, lack of awareness and knowledge of the magnitude of the issue and the importance of early detection and intervention for CHL in Libya. In contrast to other developing countries, the financial situation and poverty were not considered to be the main cause in Libya. Furthermore, socioeconomic status of the children's families appears relevant