School of Sport and Recreation

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https://hdl.handle.net/10292/1542
The School of Sport and Recreation has groups of academic researchers who conduct research in sport and activity-related areas. Research areas are:
  • Co-operative education
  • Outdoor education

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Now showing 1 - 5 of 401
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    Concussion-Related Biomarker Variations in Retired Rugby Players and Implications for Neurodegenerative Disease Risk: The UK Rugby Health Study
    (MDPI AG, 2024-07-17) Alanazi, N; Fitzgerald, M; Hume, P; Hellewell, S; Horncastle, A; Anyaegbu, C; Papini, MG; Hargreaves, N; Halicki, M; Entwistle, I; Hind, K; Chazot, P
    The health and well-being of retired rugby union and league players, particularly regarding the long-term effects of concussions, are of major concern. Concussion has been identified as a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), in athletes engaged in contact sports. This study aimed to assess differences in specific biomarkers between UK-based retired rugby players with a history of concussion and a non-contact sports group, focusing on biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s, ALS, and CTE. We randomly selected a sample of male retired rugby or non-contact sport athletes (n = 56). The mean age was 41.84 ± 6.44, and the mean years since retirement from the sport was 7.76 ± 6.69 for participants with a history of substantial concussions (>5 concussions in their career) (n = 30). The mean age was 45.75 ± 11.52, and the mean years since retirement was 6.75 ± 4.64 for the healthy controls (n = 26). Serum biomarkers (t-tau, RBP-4, SAA, Nf-L, and retinol), plasma cytokines, and biomarkers associated with serum-derived exosomes (Aβ42, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231) were analyzed using validated commercial ELISA assays. The results of the selected biomarkers were compared between the two groups. Biomarkers including t-tau and p-tau181 were significantly elevated in the history of the substantial concussion group compared to the non-contact sports group (t-tau: p < 0.01; p-tau181: p < 0.05). Although between-group differences in p-tau217, p-tau231, SAA, Nf-L, retinol, and Aβ42 were not significantly different, there was a trend for higher levels of Aβ42, p-tau217, and p-tau231 in the concussed group. Interestingly, the serum-derived exosome sizes were significantly larger (p < 0.01), and serum RBP-4 levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the highly concussed group. These findings indicate that retired athletes with a history of multiple concussions during their careers have altered serum measurements of exosome size, t-tau, p-tau181, and RBP-4. These biomarkers should be explored further for the prediction of future neurodegenerative outcomes, including ALS, in those with a history of concussion.
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    Pacific Youth Well Being: Diaspora Perspectives
    (Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, 2024-08-04) Enari, Dion
    Pacific youth in diaspora have faced many well-being challenges. This group has had to navigate the tensions between holding on to their Pacific values and participating in Western society, which at times can be contradictory. As this group comes of age in their host country, their well-being becomes ever more important. In this article, we explore the well-being journey of this cohort and their stories of resilience. We show how these groups have been able to use their Pacific culture(s) as a form of positive well-being. Through the sharing of Pacific youth experiences, by two Pacific researchers, we provide an insider’s perspective on how our youth have been able to positively navigate their respective host countries with a positive connection to their Pacific culture(s). As members of our communities, we highlight the importance of Pacific culture(s) among this cohort, in the hope that it will better inform government and non-government initiatives.
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    Development and Evaluation of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to Deliver Physical Activity in School Scale (COM-PASS)
    (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024-08-26) Verdonschot, A; Beauchamp, MR; Brusseau, TA; Chinapaw, MJM; Christiansen, LB; Daly-Smith, A; Eather, N; Fairclough, SJ; Faulkner, G; Foweather, L; García-Hermoso, A; Ha, AS; Harris, N; Jaakkola, T; Jago, R; Kennedy, SG; Lander, NJ; Lonsdale, C; Manios, Y; Mazzoli, E; Murtagh, E; Nathan, N; Naylor, PJ; Noetel, M; O’Keeffe, B; Resaland, GK; Ridgers, ND; Ridley, K; Riley, N; Rosenkranz, RR; Rosenkranz, SK; Sääkslahti, A; Sczygiol, SM; Skovgaard, T; van Sluijs, EMF; Smith, JJ; Smith, M; Stratton, G; Vidal-Conti, J; Webster, CA; Young, ES; Lubans, DR
    Background: Teachers are recognized as ‘key agents’ for the delivery of physical activity programs and policies in schools. The aim of our study was to develop and evaluate a tool to assess teachers’ capability, opportunity, and motivation to deliver school-based physical activity interventions. Methods: The development and evaluation of the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation to deliver Physical Activity in School Scale (COM-PASS) involved three phases. In Phase 1, we invited academic experts to participate in a Delphi study to rate, provide recommendations, and achieve consensus on questionnaire items that were based on the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model. Each item was ranked on the degree to which it matched the content of the COM-B model, using a 5-point scale ranging from ‘1 = Poor match’ to ‘5 = Excellent match’. In Phase 2, we interviewed primary and secondary school teachers using a ‘think-aloud’ approach to assess their understanding of the items. In Phase 3, teachers (n = 196) completed the COM-PASS to assess structural validity using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: Thirty-eight academic experts from 14 countries completed three rounds of the Delphi study. In the first round, items had an average rating score of 4.04, in the second round 4.51, and in the third (final) round 4.78. The final tool included 14 items, which related to the six constructs of the COM-B model: physical capability, psychological capability, physical opportunity, social opportunity, reflective motivation, and automatic motivation. In Phase 2, ten teachers shared their interpretation of COM-PASS via a 20-min interview, which resulted in minor changes. In Phase 3, CFA of the 3-factor model (i.e., capability, opportunity, and motivation) revealed an adequate fit to the data (χ2 = 122.6, p <.001, CFI =.945, TLI =.924, RMSEA =.066). The internal consistencies of the three subscale scores were acceptable (i.e., capability: α =.75, opportunity: α =.75, motivation: α =.81). Conclusion: COM-PASS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing teachers’ capability, opportunity, and motivation to deliver physical activity interventions in schools. Further studies examining additional psychometric properties of the COM-PASS are warranted.
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    Criteria and Guidelines for Returning to Running Following a Tibial Bone Stress Injury: A Scoping Review
    (Springer, 2024-08-14) George, Esther; Sheerin, Kelly; Reid, Duncan
    Tibial bone stress injuries (BSIs) are common among long-distance runners. They have a high recurrence rate, and complexity emerges in the wider management and successful return to running. Following a tibial BSI, a critical component of complete rehabilitation is the successful return to running, and there is a lack of consistency or strong evidence to guide this process. The objectives of this review were to outline the criteria used in clinical decision-making prior to resuming running, and to establish evidence-based guidelines for the return to running process following a tibial BSI. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and AMED were searched for studies that stated criteria or provided guidelines on the objectives above. Fifty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Thirty-nine were reviews or clinical commentaries, three were retrospective cohort studies, two were randomised controlled trials, two were pilot studies, one was a prospective observational study, and three were case studies. Therefore, the recommendations that have been surmised are based on level IV evidence. Decisions on when an athlete should return to running should be shared between clinicians, coaches and the athlete. There are five important components to address prior to introducing running, which are: the resolution of bony tenderness, pain-free walking, evidence of radiological healing in high-risk BSIs, strength, functional and loading tests, and the identification of contributing factors. Effective return to running planning should address the athlete’s risk profile and manage the risk by balancing the athlete’s interests and reinjury prevention. An individualised graduated return to running programme should be initiated, often starting with walk-run intervals, progressing running distance ahead of speed and intensity, with symptom provocation a key consideration. Contributing factors to the initial injury should be addressed throughout the return to run process.
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    Clinical Determinants of Knee Joint Loads While Sidestepping: An Exploratory Study with Male Rugby Union Athletes.
    (SAGE Publications, 2024-07-29) Brown, Scott R; Hume, Patria A; Brughelli, Matt
    BACKGROUND: While several clinical factors have independently been linked to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk factors, their collective impact on knee loading during the sidestep maneuver is unknown. To better understand these factors, we assessed the relationship between strength, balance, and sprint kinetics and external knee abduction moments during sidestepping on each leg. METHODS: Sixteen male academy-level rugby union athletes (age, 20 ± 3 years; body-height, 186 ± 9 cm; body-mass, 99 ± 14 kg) were bilaterally assessed in single-leg: isokinetic concentric and eccentric knee and concentric hip strength, balance at 2 difficulty levels, vertical and horizontal force production during maximal sprinting, and 3-dimensional motion capture while sidestepping on the preferred and non-preferred leg. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis based on this theoretical approach of the mechanics of ACL injury risk was performed. RESULTS: When sidestepping on the preferred leg, larger abduction moments were explained by less concentric hip extension strength and vertical force production during maximal sprinting (R 2 = 41%; ES = 0.64); when sidestepping on the non-preferred leg, larger abduction moments were explained by more concentric hip flexion strength (R 2 = 8%; ES = 0.29). Larger symmetry scores between the legs (representing greater abduction moments) were explained by more horizontal force production during maximal sprinting and less eccentric knee flexion strength (R 2 = 32%; ES = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Independently, the preferred and non-preferred legs contribute to increased knee abduction moments via unique distributions of strength and/or sprint kinetics. The allocations of strength and sprint kinetics appear interrelated through weaker posterior muscular strength and may be modifiable through a targeted strength training approach.
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