title: Proprioception and Performance: The role of below-knee compression garments and secondary tasks

authors: Ghai, Shashank

subjects: rehabilitation

abstract: Proprioception is an integral component of the voluntary and involuntary motor control processes of the body. Studies have suggested that proprioception plays an important prophylactic role in preventing injuries and can be disrupted by unnecessary conscious attention, imposed during high-stress conditions and/or due to physiological processes of ageing and injury. A systematic in-depth analysis of published literature was therefore conducted to evaluate the current state of literature pertinent to joint stabilizers (e.g. compression, taping, braces), secondary tasks and their effects on proprioception and stability. The first systematic review and meta-analysis revealed beneficial aspects of joint stabilizers, namely compression garments and taping on knee (Hedge’s g: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.35- 0.61) and ankle (0.42, 0.18- 0.65) joint proprioception. A second systematic review revealed a 1b level of evidence for the efficacy of secondary task training procedures to enhance postural stability amongst elderly participants. The review also demonstrated that secondary tasks are less efficient in enhancing postural stability among participants with prior history of falls. Following the literature review, gaps in literature were identified and experimental studies were designed to address these gaps. In the first quasi-experimental study, the effects of below-knee compression garments and secondary tasks on knee joint proprioception were studied. Statistical analysis revealed main effects of both compression (p<0.001) and secondary task (p=0.04). Thereafter, a second quasi-experimental study evaluated the effects of secondary tasks on proprioception (joint repositioning task), peak jump velocity, peak jump height, pre and post exercise. The study revealed a significant (p<0.05) enhancement of proprioception accuracy when a secondary task was implemented, pre and post exercise. Likewise, large and small effect sizes were calculated for proprioception and peak jump velocity, in between trails, pre and post exercise. The research carried out in the thesis is novel as it demonstrates that below-knee compression and secondary tasks can improve proprioception of the knee. Clinical implications are discussed with respect to proprioception in modern sports and rehabilitation settings.

text: Proprioception and Performance: The role of below-knee compression garments and secondary tasks Proprioception is an integral component of the voluntary and involuntary motor control processes of the body. Studies have suggested that proprioception plays an important prophylactic role in preventing injuries and can be disrupted by unnecessary conscious attention, imposed during high-stress conditions and/or due to physiological processes of ageing and injury. A systematic in-depth analysis of published literature was therefore conducted to evaluate the current state of literature pertinent to joint stabilizers (e.g. compression, taping, braces), secondary tasks and their effects on proprioception and stability. The first systematic review and meta-analysis revealed beneficial aspects of joint stabilizers, namely compression garments and taping on knee (Hedge’s g: 0.48, 95%CI: 0.35- 0.61) and ankle (0.42, 0.18- 0.65) joint proprioception. A second systematic review revealed a 1b level of evidence for the efficacy of secondary task training procedures to enhance postural stability amongst elderly participants. The review also demonstrated that secondary tasks are less efficient in enhancing postural stability among participants with prior history of falls. Following the literature review, gaps in literature were identified and experimental studies were designed to address these gaps. In the first quasi-experimental study, the effects of below-knee compression garments and secondary tasks on knee joint proprioception were studied. Statistical analysis revealed main effects of both compression (p<0.001) and secondary task (p=0.04). Thereafter, a second quasi-experimental study evaluated the effects of secondary tasks on proprioception (joint repositioning task), peak jump velocity, peak jump height, pre and post exercise. The study revealed a significant (p<0.05) enhancement of proprioception accuracy when a secondary task was implemented, pre and post exercise. Likewise, large and small effect sizes were calculated for proprioception and peak jump velocity, in between trails, pre and post exercise. The research carried out in the thesis is novel as it demonstrates that below-knee compression and secondary tasks can improve proprioception of the knee. Clinical implications are discussed with respect to proprioception in modern sports and rehabilitation settings.

year: 2016

title: Strategic liberalism and Kiwi maximalism

authors: Steff, Reuben

abstract: In recent decades a new international structure has emerged, dramatically increasing the incentives for co-operation. New Zealand should capitalise on this by adopting a new foreign policy paradigm. It should consider a new approach — strategic liberalism — as the foundational underpinning of New Zealand’s foreign policy. Bonded to ‘Kiwi maximalism’, it would provide a wellspring for visionary objectives that New Zealand could adopt. It might aim to transcend major regional security issues through a reinvigorated push for disarmament across the Asia–Pacific region and by acting as a catalyst for improved United States–China relations.

text: Strategic liberalism and Kiwi maximalism In recent decades a new international structure has emerged, dramatically increasing the incentives for co-operation. New Zealand should capitalise on this by adopting a new foreign policy paradigm. It should consider a new approach — strategic liberalism — as the foundational underpinning of New Zealand’s foreign policy. Bonded to ‘Kiwi maximalism’, it would provide a wellspring for visionary objectives that New Zealand could adopt. It might aim to transcend major regional security issues through a reinvigorated push for disarmament across the Asia–Pacific region and by acting as a catalyst for improved United States–China relations.

year: 2016

title: How Pākehā in not-for-profit organisations implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi

authors: Newcombe, Nicolina Isabel

subjects: Decolonisation

abstract: The aims of this research are to understand what is happening in not-for-profit organisations in relation to our obligation to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to describe some strategies Pākehā can use to implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our work in the not-for-profit sector.  

The history of, and current circumstances affecting, the not-for-profit sector have formed a disabling context, diverting energy away from deepening relationships with local hapū (subtribe). Compounding this situation, the core texts about Te Tiriti and not-for-profit organisations are inconsistent and mainly focus on the first steps of the journey: Treaty education and self assessment.  

After writing about my own experiences with Te Tiriti and working in the not-for-profit sector and comparing my stories with the stories of other Pākehā, I recorded and transcribed conversations with six anonymous Pākehā not-for-profit workers and analysed our commonalities. All participants and their organisations wanted to enact best practice, although 
this aspiration was challenged by many factors, including: a spectrum of understandings about Te Tiriti which often led to piecemeal attempts at power sharing; concerns about the effectiveness of self-assessment by Pākehā about our own Treaty work because of inevitable and inbuilt biases; experience of minimisation or exclusion for speaking up about Te Tiriti at work; box ticking Treaty policies; Māori employees being treated differently to other staff; and confusion between cultural expression and genuine power sharing.  

Protective factors that came through in interviews included: cultural practices that were woven through organisations in a way that was beneficial and welcoming to Māori; relationships with kaumātua (elders); appropriate and emotionally engaging Treaty education; Māori governance members, Māori led research in the community, and Māori involvement in all projects; te reo (Māori language) being a commonly used language in the work place; acknowledgment of our own privilege as Pākehā; and engagement in continuous dialogue about racism. 

Reflections on these issues led to recommendations for how to move forward with implementing Te Tiriti in not-for-profit organisations. These recommendations hinge on a set of actions underpinned by a set of values. Three change management strategies are also described to assist organisations with this transformation. 

This research is intended to be a building block towards empowering Pākehā allies to identify practices, policies, and power structures that could be developed to transform our organisations, and embody our obligations to Te Tiriti, leading to more effective outcomes for all New Zealanders.

text: How Pākehā in not-for-profit organisations implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi The aims of this research are to understand what is happening in not-for-profit organisations in relation to our obligation to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to describe some strategies Pākehā can use to implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi in our work in the not-for-profit sector.  

The history of, and current circumstances affecting, the not-for-profit sector have formed a disabling context, diverting energy away from deepening relationships with local hapū (subtribe). Compounding this situation, the core texts about Te Tiriti and not-for-profit organisations are inconsistent and mainly focus on the first steps of the journey: Treaty education and self assessment.  

After writing about my own experiences with Te Tiriti and working in the not-for-profit sector and comparing my stories with the stories of other Pākehā, I recorded and transcribed conversations with six anonymous Pākehā not-for-profit workers and analysed our commonalities. All participants and their organisations wanted to enact best practice, although 
this aspiration was challenged by many factors, including: a spectrum of understandings about Te Tiriti which often led to piecemeal attempts at power sharing; concerns about the effectiveness of self-assessment by Pākehā about our own Treaty work because of inevitable and inbuilt biases; experience of minimisation or exclusion for speaking up about Te Tiriti at work; box ticking Treaty policies; Māori employees being treated differently to other staff; and confusion between cultural expression and genuine power sharing.  

Protective factors that came through in interviews included: cultural practices that were woven through organisations in a way that was beneficial and welcoming to Māori; relationships with kaumātua (elders); appropriate and emotionally engaging Treaty education; Māori governance members, Māori led research in the community, and Māori involvement in all projects; te reo (Māori language) being a commonly used language in the work place; acknowledgment of our own privilege as Pākehā; and engagement in continuous dialogue about racism. 

Reflections on these issues led to recommendations for how to move forward with implementing Te Tiriti in not-for-profit organisations. These recommendations hinge on a set of actions underpinned by a set of values. Three change management strategies are also described to assist organisations with this transformation. 

This research is intended to be a building block towards empowering Pākehā allies to identify practices, policies, and power structures that could be developed to transform our organisations, and embody our obligations to Te Tiriti, leading to more effective outcomes for all New Zealanders.

year: 2019