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Measuring recovery in elite rugby players: The Brief Assessment of Mood, endocrine changes and power
No full textPURPOSE:
There is demand in applied sport settings to measure recovery briefly and accurately. Research indicates mood disturbance as the strongest psychological predictor of mental and physical recovery. The Brief Assessment of Mood (BAM) is a shortened version of the Profile of Mood States that can be completed in less than 30 s. The purpose of this study was to examine the BAM as a quick measure of mood in relation to recovery status in elite rugby players alongside established physiological markers of recovery.
METHOD:
Using elite rugby union players (N = 12), this study examined the utility of BAM as an indicator of mental and physical recovery in elite athletes by exploring pattern change in mood disturbance, energy index, power output, cortisol, and testosterone 36 hr before and 12 hr, 36 hr, and 60 hr after a competitive rugby match.
RESULTS:
Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant changes in all variables across the 4 time points (p < .05, η(2) range = .20-.48), concurrent with previous study findings. Although visual inspection of the graphs indicated that the pattern of change for mood disturbance and energy index mapped changes in all physiological variables, only a low correlation was observed for power output (r = - .34).
CONCLUSIONS:
Although BAM scores changed significantly over time in accordance with the hypotheses, further testing is required to confirm the utility of the BAM as a measure of recovery. The results indicate that the BAM could be used as 1 indicator of recovery status alongside other measures
Collective efficacy in sport: A social neuroscience perspective
No full textIn the last decade, collective efficacy has received increasing attention in the sport psychology literature. However, despite considerable focus on the antecedents and consequences of the construct (e.g., Magyar, Feltz, & Simpson, 2004), no research has considered the specific neuropsychological mechanisms that underpin the levels of collective efficacy perceived by individuals within sports teams. In this respect, neuroscience research outside sport psychology has identified cortical structures linked to socio-cognitive thought processes (e.g., Gallese, Keysers, & Rizzolati, 2004). Therefore, the purpose of this review is to provide evidence for potential neurological processes that underpin collective efficacy perceptions. Specifically, we discuss these processes in relation to how collective efficacy is conceptualized, measured, and analyzed. We then discuss pertinent neuroscience research that indicates both imagery and observation based interventions are suitable for increasing individual collective efficacy perceptions. Finally, based on the neuroscience mechanisms discussed, future directions for research are suggested that aim to increase our understanding of the nature and influence of collective efficacy perceptions upon individual and team behavio
Factors contributing to student nurses’/midwives’ perceived competency in spiritual care.
No full textBackground: The spiritual part of life is important to health,well-being and quality of life. Spiritual care is expected
of nurses/midwives, but it is not clear how students can achieve competency in spiritual care at point of
registration as required by regulatory bodies.
Aim: To explore factors contributing to undergraduate nurses'/midwives' perceived competency in giving
spiritual care.
Design: A pilot cross-sectional, multinational, correlational survey design.
Method: Questionnaires were completed by 86% (n = 531) of a convenience sample of 618 undergraduate
nurses/midwives from six universities in four countries in 2010. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were
performed.
Results: Differences between groupswere small. Two factorswere significantly related to perceived spiritual care
competency: perception of spirituality/spiritual care and student's personal spirituality. Students reporting
higher perceived competency viewed spirituality/spiritual care broadly, not just in religious terms. This association
between perceived competency and perception of spirituality is a new finding not previously reported. Further
results reinforce findings in the literature that own spirituality was a strong predictor of perceived ability to
provide spiritual care, as students reporting higher perceived competency engaged in spiritual activities, were
from secular universities and had previous healthcare experience. They were also religious, practised their
faith/belief and scored highly on spiritual well-being and spiritual attitude/involvement.
Conclusions: The challenge for nurse/midwifery educators is how they might enhance spiritual care competency
in students who are not religious and how they might encourage students who hold a narrow view of spirituality/
spiritual care to broaden their perspective to include the full range of spiritual concerns that patients/clients may
encounter. Statistical models created predicted factors contributing to spiritual care competency to some extent
but the picture is complex requiring further investigation involving a bigger andmore diverse longitudinal sample.Research Institut
Impact of the Nordic hamstring and hip extension exercises on hamstring architecture and morphology: implications for injury prevention
No full textThe architectural and morphological adaptations of the hamstrings in response to training with different exercises have not been explored. PURPOSE: To evaluate changes in biceps femoris long head (BFLH) fascicle length and hamstring muscle size following 10-weeks of Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) or hip extension (HE) training. METHODS: Thirty recreationally active male athletes (age, 22.0 ± 3.6 years, height, 180.4 ± 7 cm, weight, 80.8 ± 11.1 kg) were allocated to one of three groups: 1) HE training (n=10), NHE training (n=10), or no training (CON) (n=10). BFLH fascicle length was assessed before, during (Week 5) and after the intervention with 2D-ultrasound. Hamstring muscle size was determined before and after training via magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, BFLH fascicles were lengthened in the NHE and HE groups at mid- (d = 1.12 – 1.39, p < 0.001) and post-training (d = 1.77 – 2.17, p < 0.001) and these changes did not differ significantly (d = 0.49 – 0.80, p = 0.279 – 0.976). BFLH volume increased more for the HE than the NHE (d = 1.03, p = 0.037) and CON (d = 2.24, p < 0.001) groups. Compared to the CON group, both exercises induced significant increases in semitendinosus volume (d = 2.16 – 2.50, ≤ 0.002) and these increases were not significantly different (d = 0.69, p = 0.239). CONCLUSION: NHE and HE training both stimulate significant increases in BFLH fascicle length, however, HE training may be more effective for promoting hypertrophy in the BFLH
Problematising the concept of 'sustainability‘ in the supply chain through systematic literature review
No full textThe authors contend that there are two broad 'senses' in which 'sustainability' is currently understood in supply chain research and practice – responsibility (in terms of environmental and social practices) and continuity (in the face of twenty-first century uncertainty and disruption). Systematic review is used to illustrate the predominance of the responsibility 'sense' of sustainability in academic literature labelled 'sustainable supply chain.' The authors propose that parallel research into strategies for supply chain continuity (e.g. agility and resilience) be brought within the fold of the 'sustainable supply chain' research label for the sake of clarity of the 'sustainability' concept and the development of a truly sustainable supply chain, because a responsible supply chain might not necessarily be a resilient supply chain in the twenty-first century global environment
Training of residential social care staff to meet the needs of older people with intellectual disabilities who develop age related health problems: an exploratory study
No full textAbstract:
Background: Despite awareness of the age related health needs of people with intellectual disabilities little is known regarding how residential social care staff are prepared to meet such needs.
Methods: Data were gathered via semi- structured interviews from 14 managers of supported living settings. Transcripts were thematically analysed.
Findings: Staff may work in supported living settings with no prior experience of care work, and previous knowledge/ experience of supporting people in relation to their health is not required. Whilst health related training is provided there is a lack of specific training regarding healthy ageing, and training seems to be reactive to changing needs of tenants meaning that proactive monitoring for changes in health status may not occur.
Conclusions: Whilst some training is provided for residential social care staff in relation to health and ageing a more proactive approach is required which should include a focus on healthy ageing.This is the final version that was accepted by the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual DisabilitiesThis project was funded by Health and Care Research Wale
Perfect commuting graphs
No full textWe classify the finite quasisimple groups whose commuting graph
is perfect and we give a general structure theorem for finite groups whose
commuting graph is perfect
Impact of exercise selection on hamstring muscle activation
No full textObjective To determine which strength training exercises selectively activate the biceps femoris long head (BFLongHead) muscle.
Methods We recruited 24 recreationally active men for this two-part observational study. Part 1: We explored the amplitudes and the ratios of lateral (BF) to medial hamstring (MH) normalised electromyography (nEMG) during the concentric and eccentric phases of 10 common strength training exercises. Part 2: We used functional MRI (fMRI) to determine the spatial patterns of hamstring activation during two exercises which (1) most selectively and (2) least selectively activated the BF in part 1.
Results Eccentrically, the largest BF/MH nEMG ratio occurred in the 45° hip-extension exercise; the lowest was in the Nordic hamstring (Nordic) and bent-knee bridge exercises. Concentrically, the highest BF/MH nEMG ratio occurred during the lunge and 45° hip extension; the lowest was during the leg curl and bent-knee bridge. fMRI revealed a greater BF(LongHead) to semitendinosus activation ratio in the 45° hip extension than the Nordic (p<0.001). The T2 increase after hip extension for BFLongHead, semitendinosus and semimembranosus muscles was greater than that for BFShortHead (p<0.001). During the Nordic, the T2 increase was greater for the semitendinosus than for the other hamstring muscles (p≤0.002).
Summary We highlight the heterogeneity of hamstring activation patterns in different tasks. Hip-extension exercise selectively activates the long hamstrings, and the Nordic exercise preferentially recruits the semitendinosus. These findings have implications for strategies to prevent hamstring injury as well as potentially for clinicians targeting specific hamstring components for treatment (mechanotherapy)
Addiction in extreme sports: An exploration of withdrawal states in rock climbers
No full textBackground and aims Extreme sports athletes are often labeled "adrenaline junkies" by the media, implying they are addicted to their sport. Research suggests during abstinence these athletes may experience withdrawal states characteristic of individuals with an addiction (Celsi, Rose, & Leigh, 1993; Franken, Zijlstra, & Muris, 2006; Willig, 2008). Despite this notion, no research has directly explored withdrawal experiences of extreme sports athletes. Methods Using semi-structured interviews, we explored withdrawal experiences of high (n = 4) and average-ability (n = 4) male rock climbers during periods of abstinence. We investigated the psychological and behavioral aspects of withdrawal, including craving, anhedonia, and negative affect; and differences in the frequency and intensity of these states between groups. Results Deductive content analysis indicated support for each of the three categories of anhedonia, craving, and negative affect. Consistent with existing substance addiction literature, high-ability climbers recalled more frequent and intense craving states and negative affect during abstinence compared with average-ability climbers. No differences in anhedonic symptoms between high and average-ability participants were found. Conclusions Rock climbing athletes appear to experience withdrawal symptoms when abstinent from their sport comparable to individuals with substance and behavioral addictions. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.non
The influence of match location, quality of opposition, and match status on technical performance in professional association football
No full textThe aim of this study was to examine the effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status on the technical aspects of performance within a single professional British football team. Forty matches from the 2002--2003 and 2003--2004 domestic league seasons were notated post-event using a computerized notational analysis system with 13 on-the-ball behaviours and corresponding outcomes (successful or unsuccessful) assessed. Log-linear modelling procedures indicated that the incidences of all on-the-ball technical behaviours, with the exception of "set-pieces", were influenced by at least one of the three situation variables, with both independent and interactive effects found. In contrast, logit modelling suggested that there was no general influence of the situation variables on the outcomes of the on-the-ball behaviours. The findings emphasize the need for notational analysts and coaches to consider the potential independent and interactive effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status when assessing the technical components of football performance, particularly those relating to behaviour occurrence. Future research should consider the effects of additional situation variables purported to influence the mental, physical, technical, and tactical components of football performance