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 400
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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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    Pedestrian Crossings: Design Recommendations Do Not Reflect Users’ Experiences in a Car-Dominated Environment in Auckland, New Zealand
    (Elsevier BV, 2024-09-01) Bozovic, T; Hinckson, E; Smith, M
    Pedestrian crossings are a staple of city design and a key feature both in terms of risk of road trauma and impacts on pedestrian experience. In car-dominated environments, the challenge is in retrofitting existing infrastructure to enable and encourage walking. It is unclear what diverse people might find difficult and to what extent existing design recommendations identify those needs. This study aims to provide a real-world perspective on local design guidelines and the Healthy Streets metrics, by triangulating them with objective measures of the built environment and users’ perceptions of unfeasibility or difficulty. The study builds on previous research having identified non-signalised crossing points experienced by interview participants (half of whom were disabled) as barriers to access. These non-walkable crossings are characterised objectively, using a range of potentially relevant metrics and specific thresholds. The study then sought the simplest way to describe those crossings, identifying the importance of three metrics: (a) peak-hour traffic; (b) complexity; and (c) turning radii for traffic. The results also identified important gaps in local design guidelines and Healthy Streets metrics, which are currently not set up to enable cities to easily identify these difficult crossings. These findings are important because they can be used to identify crossings that are likely to cause difficulties walking and should be retrofitted to support walking. They also provide indications of complementary information needed to improve local guidelines and Healthy Streets metrics to enable them to support proactive retrofit.
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    Adolescents’ Active Transport to School and Parental Perspectives in a School Choice Policy Environment
    (University of Westminster Press, 2024-07-03) Sandretto, Susan; García Bengoechea, Enrique; Wilson, Gordon; Kidd, Gavin; Mandic, Sandra
    Internationally many adolescents do not meet the recommended level of regular physical activity. Although active transport to school (ATS) is promoted to increase physical activity in adolescents, relying solely on ATS is not feasible for those who live beyond walkable or cyclable distance to school. School choice education policies complicate the potential of ATS when adolescents do not enrol in the closest school. This research contributes to sparse New Zealand and growing international literature to examine parental perspectives on school choice, travel to school decisions and modes of travel to school in adolescents enrolled in the closest versus non-closest school. .
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    Impacts of Digital Technologies on Child and Adolescent Health: Recommendations for Safer Screen Use in Educational Settings
    (Pasifika Medical Association Group, 2024-07-05) Cullen, J; Muntz, A; Marsh, S; Simmonds, L; Mayes, J; O’neill, K; Duncan, S
    The use of screen-based digital technologies (such as computers and digital devices) is increasing for children and adolescents, worldwide. Digital technologies offer benefits, including educational opportunities, social connection and access to health information. Digital fluency has been recognised as an essential skill for future prosperity. However, along with these opportunities, digital technologies also present a risk of harm to young people. This issue may be particularly important for young New Zealanders, who have among the highest rates of screen use in the world. Our recently published review examined the impacts of digital technologies on the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. Key findings revealed some positive impacts from moderate use of digital technologies; however, frequent and extended use of screen-based digital tools were associated with negative impacts on child and adolescent health in some areas, such as eye health, noise-induced hearing loss and pain syndromes. Conversely, in areas such as mental health, wellbeing and cognition, quality of screen media content and additional factors such as age may be more important than duration of use. These challenges gave us the impetus to develop pragmatic recommendations for the use of digital technologies in schools, kura kaupapa and early childhood education. Recommendations include interventions to lower risk across different ages and stages of development. Supporting young people to mitigate risk and develop safer screen behaviours will allow them to gain essential digital skills and access opportunities that will enable them to thrive.
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