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Asymmetry During Maximal Sprint Performance in 11- to 16-Year-Old Boys
Get PDFPurpose:
The aim of this study was to examine the influence of age and maturation upon magnitude of asymmetry in the force, stiffness and the spatiotemporal determinants of maximal sprint speed in a large cohort of boys.
Methods:
344 boys between the ages of 11 and 16 years completed an anthropometric assessment and a 35 m sprint test, during which sprint performance was recorded via a ground-level optical measurement system. Maximal sprint velocity, as well as asymmetry in spatiotemporal variables, modeled force and stiffness data were established for each participant. For analysis, participants were grouped into chronological age, maturation and percentile groups.
Results:
The range of mean asymmetry across age groups and variables was 2.3–12.6%. The magnitude of asymmetry in all the sprint variables was not significantly different across age and maturation groups (p > .05), except relative leg stiffness (p < .05). No strong relationships between asymmetry in sprint variables and maximal sprint velocity were evident (rs < .39).
Conclusion:
These results provide a novel benchmark for the expected magnitude of asymmetry in a large cohort of uninjured boys during maximal sprint performance. Asymmetry in sprint performance is largely unaffected by age or maturation and no strong relationships exist between the magnitude of asymmetry and maximal sprint velocity
Creating a Tool for Measuring the Social Value of Design
Get PDFSocial value has been measured for many years predominantly for values created by NGOs, social enterprises, social ventures, and social programmes. However, because ‘value’ is a highly subjective concept that often has ‘soft’ outcomes, it is challenging to find a measurement tool which satisfies all parties involved in social value creation, especially in the commercial sector. In this complex environment, a viable means of measuring the social value of design will enable organisations to use design more effectively to increase their societal contribution and competitiveness. This research aims to identify key considerations to produce a guideline which can be used to create desirable tools for measuring social value of design, by conducting in-depth interviews with companies and two workshops with postgraduate students and professionals from a range of backgrounds. It is recommended that the tool should have three levels: (i) an overview with a qualitative approach, (ii) a financial level with a quantitative approach, and (iii) a balanced level with both a qualitative and a quantitative approach
Knowledge of and attitudes to sports drinks of adolescents living in South Wales, UK
Get PDFBackground: The UK sports drinks market has a turnover in excess of £200M. Adolescents consume 15.6% of total energy as free sugars, much higher than the recommended 5%. Sugar sweetened beverages, including sports drinks, account for 30% of total free sugar intake for those aged 11-18 years.
Objective: To investigate children’s knowledge and attitudes surrounding sports drinks.
Method: 183 self-complete questionnaires were distributed to four schools in South Wales. Children aged 12 - 14 were recruited to take part. Questions focussed on knowledge of who sports drinks are aimed at; the role of sports drinks in physical activity and the possible detrimental effects to oral health. Recognition of brand logo and sports ambassadors and the relationship of knowledge to respondent’s consumption of sports drinks were assessed.
Results: There was an 87% (160) response rate. 89.4% (143) claimed to drink sports drinks. 45.9% thought that sports drinks were aimed at everyone; approximately a third (50) viewed teenagers as the target group. Over 2/3rds recognised the brand logos, yet less than a 1/3rd could identify brand ambassadors.
About half were aware that dental erosion may result from consumption and approximately 2/3rds knew that they were linked to dental caries and energy provision. Despite this the majority claimed to drink them. As previously reported most of those drinking sports drinks did so because of the taste.
Conclusion: Whilst most of the respondents had some understanding of the detrimental effects on health the majority of them were drinking them regularly despite this knowledge. Work is therefore needed at a macro level, with soft drink manufacturers, to consider marketing and reformulation of products for adolescent consumers who appear to enjoy them
Facilitating collaborative learning between two primary schools using large multi-touch devices
Get PDFThis paper presents a technical case study and the associated research software/hardware underpinning an educational research trial in which large touchscreen interfaces were used to facilitate collaborative interactions between primary school students at separate locations. As part of the trial, an application for supporting a collaborative classroom activity was created which allowed students at either location to transfer resources to the students at the other via a ‘flick’ gesture. The trial required several novel innovations to the existing SynergyNet software framework to enable it to support synchronous remote collaboration. The innovations enabled the first successful classroom collaboration activities between two separate locations within the United Kingdom using large touchscreen interfaces. This paper details the challenges encountered in implementing these innovations and their solution
The influence of adrenergic stimulation on sex differences in left ventricular twist mechanics
Get PDFBackground. Sex differences in LV mechanics exist at rest and during acute physiological stress. Differences in cardiac autonomic and adrenergic control may contribute to sex differences in LV mechanics and LV hemodynamics. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate sex differences in LV mechanics with altered adrenergic stimulation achieved through post handgrip exercise ischemia (PEI) and ß1-adrenergic receptor (AR) blockade.
Methods and Results. 20 males (23±5 yr) and 20 females (22±3 yr) were specifically matched for LV length (males: 8.5±0.5 cm, females: 8.2±0.6 cm, p=0.163), and 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was used to assess LV structure and function at baseline, during PEI and following administration of 5mg bisoprolol (ß1-AR antagonist). During PEI, LV end-diastolic volume and stroke volume were increased in both groups (p<0.001), as was end-systolic wall stress (p<0.001). LV twist and apical rotation weren’t altered from baseline or different between the sexes, however basal rotation increased in males (p=0.035). During ß1-AR blockade, LV volumes were unchanged but blood pressure and heart rate were reduced in both groups (p<0.001). LV apical rotation (p=0.036) and twist (p=0.029) were reduced in males with ß1-AR blockade but not females, resulting in lower apical rotation (males: 6.8±2.1º, females: 8.8±2.3º, p=0.007) and twist (males: 8.6±1.9º, females: 10.7±2.8º, p=0.008), and slower untwisting velocity (males: 68.2±22.1º⋅s-1, females: 82.0±18.7º⋅s-1, p=0.046) compared to females.
Conclusions. LV twist mechanics are reduced in males compared to females during reductions to adrenergic stimulation, providing preliminary evidence that LV twist mechanics may be more sensitive to adrenergic control in males than in females
Exploring an absent presence: Wayfinding as an embodied sociocultural experience
Get PDFWayfinding has often been seen as being about the quickest or shortest possible route between two points (Hölscher et al 2011; Tam 2011; Haque et al 2006). Moreover, this process has very often been seen as a cognitive one, with the experiential nature of wayfinding and with the embodied, emotional and sociocultural aspects of this experience conspicuously absent. We argue that wayfinding is rarely a purely cognitive process that involves an individual person, who is entirely instrumental in navigating a direct and precise route, but instead that this is a process almost always directed according to embodied and sociocultural needs. We propose a reassessment of present wayfinding definitions and suggest an alternative understanding that includes sociocultural elements, embodied individuals and experience through their embodied senses, as crucial elements of the concept. Seeing wayfinding from this different sociocultural ontological viewpoint, opens up new ways of understanding and planning wayfinding systems
Young people’s experiences of fashion modelling: An exploratory phenomenological study
Get PDFResearch about fashion modelling within Psychology remains sparse. Rare empirical studies which do exist exhibit a tendency to pathologise models, and provide only a superficial insight into this career. Little is known about who a fashion model really is, what a young person who models experiences in their careers, or how they make sense of this role. With this in mind, the current study sought to explore the lived experience of young people who are fashion models. Three participants offered experiential accounts of modelling in the fashion industry, and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) revealed superordinate themes: ‘Growth and Development’, ‘Changes in Self-Perception’, and ‘A Job? Or a Way of Life?’. Change was found to be an integral part of the participants’ experiences, which led to both positive and negative developmental outcomes, including a self-reported growth in confidence and maturity, yet a potentially more self-critical view of one’s appearance. The role seemed to be an all-encompassing lifestyle rather than a job, and it is argued that modelling at a young age may act as a catalyst for a transition into adulthood. This study is exploratory in nature but provides an initial insight into the experiences of fashion modelling. The discussion identifies ways in which cognate sub-disciplines of Psychology may contribute to this area of research, thus developing and extending further the Psychological literature base in the field of fashion studies
Protective effects of acute exercise prior to doxorubicin on cardiac function of breast cancer patients: A proof-of-concept RCT
Get PDFBackground: Preclinical studies have reported that a single treadmill session performed 24 h prior to doxorubicin provides cardio-protection. We aimed to characterize the acute change in cardiac function following an initial doxorubicin treatment in humans and determine whether an exercise session performed 24 h prior to treatment changes this response. Methods: Breast cancer patients were randomized to either 30 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise 24 h prior to the first doxorubicin treatment (n=13), or no vigorous exercise for 72 h prior to treatment (control, n=11). Echocardiographically-derived left ventricular volumes, longitudinal strain, twist, E/A ratio, and circulating NT-proBNP, a marker of later cardiotoxicity, were measured before and 24-48 h after the treatment. Results: Following treatment in the control group, NT-proBNP, end-diastolic and stroke volumes, cardiac output, E/A ratio, strain, diastolic strain rate, twist, and untwist velocity significantly increased (all p≤0.01). Whereas systemic vascular resistance (p<0.01) decreased, and ejection fraction (p=0.02) and systolic strain rate (p<0.01) increased in the exercise group only. Relative to control, the exercise group had a significantly lower NT-proBNP (p<0.01) and a 46% risk reduction of exceeding the cut-point used to exclude acute heart failure. Conclusion: The first doxorubicin treatment is associated with acutely increased NT-proBNP, echocardiographic parameters of myocardial relaxation, left ventricular volume overload, and changes in longitudinal strain and twist opposite in direction to documented longer-term changes. An exercise session performed 24 h prior to treatment attenuated NT-proBNP release and increased systolic function. Future investigations should verify these findings in a larger cohort and across multiple courses of doxorubicin
Patients with established cancer cachexia lack the motivation and self-efficacy to undertake regular structured exercise
Get PDFObjectives
Patients with advanced cancer frequently suffer a decline in activities associated with involuntary loss of weight and muscle mass (cachexia). This can profoundly affect function and quality of life. Although exercise participation can maintain physical and psychological function in patients with cancer, uptake is low in cachectic patients who are underrepresented in exercise studies. To understand how such patients’ experiences are associated with exercise participation we investigated exercise history, self-confidence and exercise motivations in patients with established cancer cachexia, and relationships between relevant variables.
Methods
Lung and gastrointestinal cancer outpatients with established cancer cachexia (n=196) completed a questionnaire exploring exercise history and key constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour relating to perceived control, psychological adjustment and motivational attitudes.
Results
Patients reported low physical activity levels and few undertook regular structured exercise. Exercise self-efficacy was very low with concerns it could worsen symptoms and cause harm. Patients showed poor perceived control and a strong need for approval but received little advice from healthcare professionals. Preferences were for low intensity activities, on their own, in the home setting. Regression analysis revealed no significant factors related to the independent variables.
Conclusions
Frequently employed higher intensity, group exercise models do not address the motivational and behavioural concerns of cachectic cancer patients in this study. Developing exercise interventions which match perceived abilities and skills are required to address challenges of self-efficacy and perceived control identified. Greater engagement of health professionals with this group is required to explore potential benefits of exercise