Doctoral Degrees (Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine) by browse.metadata.advisor "Barnard, J. G."

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    An adapted rehabilitation programme for a cross section of South African chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-03) De Klerk, Danelle Ria; Barnard, J. G.; Joubert, J. R.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    The benefits of exercise training for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are well-documented. In South Africa, exercise programmes for COPD patients are limited and often expensive and inaccessible to the broader community. The purpose of this study was to assess the responses of COPD patients to an exercise programme and to determine if the same results can be obtained through a less costly programme. In the primary programme of the study, 22 subjects were subjected to 12 weeks of exercise training. Each subject underwent comprehensive pre- and post-intervention assessments, which included the measurement of overall health status by a physician, level of dyspnoea, forced expiratory lung function, exercise capacity, body mass index and health-related quality of life. Exercise sessions included aerobic and strength training exercises and involved three, hour-long exercise sessions a week. In the modified programme, 18 subjects were randomly divided into an experimental and control group. Eleven subjects were included in the experimental group and seven subjects in the control group. Subjects had to complete 32, hour-long exercise sessions in a 10-week period. The experimental group’s exercise programme was adapted so that no specialised equipment was used, while the control group exercised in a well-equipped exercise- and rehabilitation centre.
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    Die invloed van 'n intervensieprogram op omkeerbare gesondheidsrisikofaktore by 'n geselekteerde groep adolessente dogters
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006-12) Africa, Eileen Katherine; Van Deventer, K. J.; Barnard, J. G.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    The continued integration of our global society has caused a shift in human social interaction and redefined the contexts of adolescents’ lives. Adolescents are inundated with a variety of choices at a stage of their lives where they are trying to create their own identity. This critical period of development is highlighted by an increased desire to experiment with adult life. Thus is experimentation not uncommon. The study examines the prevalence of a range of health risk behaviours amongst adolescent girls. It focuses on the identification of behaviours such as violence, smoking, alcohol and drug use and abuse, sexual behaviours, dietary behaviours and physical inactivity that place adolescents at increased risk for premature morbidity and mortality. An intervention programme was launched at the schools concerned in an effort to address these behaviour patterns and to inform learners regarding the dangers of these health risk factors. The sample population was selected from three previously disadvantaged high schools in the Worcester region. Due to restrictive circumstances at the schools, the sample could not be randomly selected and therefore the study is based on a quasi-experimental research approach. A sample of 1805 adolescent girls in Grades 8 to 10 completed a questionnaire, which assessed a range of health risk behaviours. This questionnaire was based on the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey (YRBS) and completed by all the respondents during the pre-test. A control and experimental group was selected from the Grades concerned, at the different schools. The experimental group was subjected to a six-months long intervention programme. At the end of the intervention programme a post-test was conducted on both the control and experimental groups. Four months after the post-test the respondents were subjected to the same test, which is now known as the follow-up test. The girls who dropped out of the study as it progressed are referred to as the drop-out group. Information regarding the socio-economic background of the girls, as well as permission to take part in the study, was obtained from the parents by means of a questionnaire. A self-designed questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding the state and status of Physical Education (PE) and movement programmes within Life Orientation at the schools. Teachers who were responsible for Grades 8, 9 and 10, completed the questionnaire. To keep track of body size and growth, mass and length were determined and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Blood pressure was measured to determine to what extend these girls suffer from hypertension. Skinfold measures were taken to determine the fat percentage. The 20m shuttle run (Bleep test) was used to indirectly determine the physical activity levels of the respondents. The main results are discussed next. The results indicate that more respondents in the post-test (64%) reported that learners carry weapons on school grounds than in the pre-test. According to the results 64% of the respondents indicated in the post-test that learners carry weapons on school grounds compared to 29% of the respondents in the follow-up test (p<0.01). The pre-tests results indicate that 11% of the respondents smoke cigarettes in comparison to 14% in the post-test (p<0.01). Approximately 9% of the respondents in the pre-test indicated that they drank at least one alcoholic drink in the week before the study was undertaken in comparison to the 22% of the post-test (p<0.01). Regarding the smoking of dagga 2% of the respondents indicated in the pre-test that they smoked dagga whereas 9% in the post-test indicated that they did. More sexual active respondents during the follow-up test (57%) indicated that they used condoms during their last sexual experience than in the post-test (46%). The results of the pre-test indicate that approximately 49% of the respondents did something to loose weight or to prevent weight-gain in comparison to the 25% of the post-test and the 31% of the follow-up test. According the results, 35% of the respondents purported to have PE at their school in comparison to 30% during the post-test and 54% during the follow-up test. Although there were some exceptions, in most cases a tendency existed that indicated an increase in the variables measured between the pre-test and post-test. In most cases the results remained constant between the post-test and the follow-up test. This study can therefore be a starting point for further research into the process to combat health risk behaviours amongst adolescent girls. This can be done with educational programmes in cooperation with several role-players in the community.
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    A model for psychophysiological regeneration of elite team athletes
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2008-12) Venter, Rachel Elizabeth; Potgieter, Justus R.; Barnard, J. G.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    There is general consensus that athletes, striving to compete and perform at the highest level, should optimally balance training and competition stress with adequate regeneration. Although a well-planned training programme is of utmost importance, the time between training sessions and competitions is critical for the modern-day athlete. It is suggested that athletes should apply a variety of recovery methods to enhance the regeneration process. Although team sport is a popular entity throughout the world, there is limited published research on the regeneration process in team athletes and recovery methods to enhance the regeneration process. The aim of this study was to develop a model that could serve as a guideline for the regeneration of team athletes within the South African context. Two phases were involved in the process of developing a model. Phase one involved a research of literature in order to assess which strategies can be implemented for athletic regeneration, and what information team athletes are given for regeneration. The second phase involved an investigation into the recovery strategies that are currently used for regeneration by elite South African team players during the competitive phase of the year. Research questions focused on the recovery methods used by players, the perceived importance of various recovery methods to the players, and the relationship between sport and level of participation in the use of recovery strategies. This study did not attempt to assess the knowledge of the players on recovery methods.
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    The validity and reliability of a biofeedback system during segmental stabilisation in patients with low back pain
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009-12) Pienaar, Andries Willem; Barnard, J. G.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Worldwide epidemiological findings strongly indicate low back pain as a growing epidemic despite the latest diagnostic and treatment methods used (Jellema et al., 2001:377; Woolf & Pfleger, 2003:646; Kopec et al., 2004:70; Frost & Sullivan, 2006; Dagenais et al., 2008:9). From this clinical problem, a need arose to quantify lumbar muscle performance for the safe monitoring of rehabilitation programmes and assessments. The quantification of muscular strength is especially important from a kinematic viewpoint, because activities of daily living are dependent on muscular strength (Nobori & Maruyama, 2007:9). Furthermore, it is of utmost importance to combine the complex muscular system with the complexity of motor control (Richardson et al., 2005) and biomechanics (McGill, 2007), to specifically address the problem of low back pain. Scientists have developed a better understanding of muscle function or dysfunction pertaining to low back pain and highlighted the clinical importance of quantitative muscle testing of the lumbar spine. Various clinical assessment devices and methods such as ultrasound, kinesiologic electromyography, isokinetic dynamometry and the Biering-Sorensen test are being used to record muscle atrophy and dysfunction of the m. lumbar multifidi at L5. However, some of these assessments are very costly and some are clinically unsafe, and therefore the need for reliable and valid low back tests still exists. In the study presented, a system called the pressure air biofeedback (PAB) device was developed, to scientifically assess m. lumbar multifidus’ isometric contraction in asymptomatic (n=24) and low back pain (n=18) subjects. A closed chain test model with a neutral spine posture in zero degrees upright sitting was used. This study compared results of m. lumbar multifidus’ isometric contraction between tests of pressure air biofeedback, electromyography and real-time ultrasound.