title: The use of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression for recovery following exercise.

authors: Cranston, Adam

subjects: fatigue

abstract: The modern athletic training schedule requires athletes to regularly complete intense training sessions that induce muscular damage. Recovery strategies are thought to reduce post-exercise fatigue and enhance subsequent performance, leading to the investigation and development of many different recovery strategies and protocols. Intermittent sequential pneumatic compression (ISPC) is a relatively new recovery strategy that has been proposed to enhance recovery post-exercise in the sport setting. However, the limited amount of current research on ISPC has returned contrasting findings, requiring further research to determine its efficacy for exercise recovery. Furthermore, technological advances in this area have seen the introduction of new devices, including the yet to be evaluated ISPC arm-sleeves. The first section of this thesis briefly examines the literature on commonly used recovery methods. It then provides an overview of the possible mechanisms for which ISPC is proposed to enhance recovery; compression, massage, temperature, and potentially via the placebo effect. Finally, it reviews the existing literature on ISPC in the sport and exercise-recovery setting. Part two of the thesis includes an original investigation whereby the efficacy of an ISPC device on the upper-body following a fatiguing exercise circuit was examined.  Fifty resistance-trained athletes (37 male/13 female, mean ± SD; age = 27 ± 24 yrs) performed three physical performance tests (grip strength dynamometer, single arm medicine ball throw, preacher bench bicep curls to failure) pre and post exercise, and following a 30-minute recovery period. During the recovery period, participants were randomly assigned an experimental arm, which was placed in the ISPC device, and a control arm (no device). Participants completed a perceptual muscle soreness rating of four upper-body landmarks at the same time points and also 24 hours post-recovery. There was a statistically significant interaction between conditions for the single arm medicine ball throw (p < 0.01) following the recovery period, however the effect size was deemed trivial. There was a small, non-significant effect (d = 0.22) for the bicep curls in favour of ISPC. The perceptual muscle soreness scales resulted in significant differences between conditions immediately post and 24 hours post across all muscle groups (p  < 0.05), in favour of the ISPC condition. This study supports the use of an upper-body ISPC device to reduce muscle soreness for up to 24 hours following exercise, and may provide small benefits to strength-endurance when compared to a control trial. In conclusion, this thesis adds to the body of knowledge on ISPC as a recovery strategy in athletes. While the experimental study adds to the existing body of research already completed on ISPC, it is similar to previous literature outlined in the review, with conflicting results. Further research is required to investigate the efficacy of ISPC when compared to a sham condition.

text: The use of intermittent sequential pneumatic compression for recovery following exercise. The modern athletic training schedule requires athletes to regularly complete intense training sessions that induce muscular damage. Recovery strategies are thought to reduce post-exercise fatigue and enhance subsequent performance, leading to the investigation and development of many different recovery strategies and protocols. Intermittent sequential pneumatic compression (ISPC) is a relatively new recovery strategy that has been proposed to enhance recovery post-exercise in the sport setting. However, the limited amount of current research on ISPC has returned contrasting findings, requiring further research to determine its efficacy for exercise recovery. Furthermore, technological advances in this area have seen the introduction of new devices, including the yet to be evaluated ISPC arm-sleeves. The first section of this thesis briefly examines the literature on commonly used recovery methods. It then provides an overview of the possible mechanisms for which ISPC is proposed to enhance recovery; compression, massage, temperature, and potentially via the placebo effect. Finally, it reviews the existing literature on ISPC in the sport and exercise-recovery setting. Part two of the thesis includes an original investigation whereby the efficacy of an ISPC device on the upper-body following a fatiguing exercise circuit was examined.  Fifty resistance-trained athletes (37 male/13 female, mean ± SD; age = 27 ± 24 yrs) performed three physical performance tests (grip strength dynamometer, single arm medicine ball throw, preacher bench bicep curls to failure) pre and post exercise, and following a 30-minute recovery period. During the recovery period, participants were randomly assigned an experimental arm, which was placed in the ISPC device, and a control arm (no device). Participants completed a perceptual muscle soreness rating of four upper-body landmarks at the same time points and also 24 hours post-recovery. There was a statistically significant interaction between conditions for the single arm medicine ball throw (p < 0.01) following the recovery period, however the effect size was deemed trivial. There was a small, non-significant effect (d = 0.22) for the bicep curls in favour of ISPC. The perceptual muscle soreness scales resulted in significant differences between conditions immediately post and 24 hours post across all muscle groups (p  < 0.05), in favour of the ISPC condition. This study supports the use of an upper-body ISPC device to reduce muscle soreness for up to 24 hours following exercise, and may provide small benefits to strength-endurance when compared to a control trial. In conclusion, this thesis adds to the body of knowledge on ISPC as a recovery strategy in athletes. While the experimental study adds to the existing body of research already completed on ISPC, it is similar to previous literature outlined in the review, with conflicting results. Further research is required to investigate the efficacy of ISPC when compared to a sham condition.

year: 2020

title: The influence of sociocultural and interpersonal factors on body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in female adolescents

authors: McClintock, Joanna Marie

abstract: Body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in adolescent females are areas of particular concern for mental health professionals, teachers, and parents. Many theories have been developed to explain body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting, in which sociocultural pressure and interpersonal influences are prominent. However, there is still no clear understanding of how these influences interrelate or how they impact upon body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting. In addition, very little research has been conducted in New Zealand examining the role of such pressures, or investigating body image or dieting. 
This thesis explores the role of social evaluation, incorporating both sociocultural and interpersonal variables, in the development of body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in New Zealand adolescent females. The research programme incorporated three studies, firstly focus group discussions, followed by a survey study, and finally an experimental paradigm. 
Focus group discussions were conducted with female teenagers to explore their conceptualisations of dieting, and to identify areas of social evaluation that were of particular import to New Zealand teenagers. Need for approval, appraisal sensitivity, media influence, appearance evaluation, and peer comparison emerged as dominant themes in the teenagers discussions. 
The second study extended the focus group data through a survey with 190 female high school students about the social evaluation themes identified in the focus group discussions as well as body image disturbance, unhealthy dieting, and low mood. Structural equation modelling was utilised to test a model of interrelationships between these variables. The survey study established that there were indirect and direct relationships between the variables of social evaluation, body image disturbance, unhealthy dieting, and low mood. Specifically appearance-related feedback and appearance-related comparison emerged as having pivotal roles in the model of interrelationships. 
The final stage of the research programme further extended the findings of the focus group discussions and the survey study by using an experimental paradigm. A pilot study was conducted with 33 high school students to ensure that the methodology of a mood induction procedure intended to reflect negative appearance-related feedback and negative appearance-related comparison was powerful enough to elicit changes in body image and negative affect. For the final study, a further 33 female high school students participated in the imaginal mood induction procedure and completed questionnaires assessing appraisal sensitivity and sociocultural ideals. Repeated measures analyses demonstrated that participants' body image disturbance increased after exposure to the imagined social situations. Negative affect also increased after the imaginal mood induction procedure. Peer feedback had a stronger influence on levels of anger, happiness, and inferiority/'stinkness'. Unexpectedly, dispositional levels of appraisal sensitivity and internalisation of the thin-ideal did not moderate the effects of the mood induction procedure on participants ratings of body image disturbance. 
This research programme demonstrated that social evaluation has an important and influential role in the development of body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in female adolescents. This thesis highlights the importance of considering how the interrelationships between sociocultural and interpersonal variables affect body image disturbance. The research programme also provides many opportunities for future research and clinical investigations in the areas of models of interrelationships, body image disturbance, and unhealthy dieting.

text: The influence of sociocultural and interpersonal factors on body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in female adolescents Body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in adolescent females are areas of particular concern for mental health professionals, teachers, and parents. Many theories have been developed to explain body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting, in which sociocultural pressure and interpersonal influences are prominent. However, there is still no clear understanding of how these influences interrelate or how they impact upon body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting. In addition, very little research has been conducted in New Zealand examining the role of such pressures, or investigating body image or dieting. 
This thesis explores the role of social evaluation, incorporating both sociocultural and interpersonal variables, in the development of body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in New Zealand adolescent females. The research programme incorporated three studies, firstly focus group discussions, followed by a survey study, and finally an experimental paradigm. 
Focus group discussions were conducted with female teenagers to explore their conceptualisations of dieting, and to identify areas of social evaluation that were of particular import to New Zealand teenagers. Need for approval, appraisal sensitivity, media influence, appearance evaluation, and peer comparison emerged as dominant themes in the teenagers discussions. 
The second study extended the focus group data through a survey with 190 female high school students about the social evaluation themes identified in the focus group discussions as well as body image disturbance, unhealthy dieting, and low mood. Structural equation modelling was utilised to test a model of interrelationships between these variables. The survey study established that there were indirect and direct relationships between the variables of social evaluation, body image disturbance, unhealthy dieting, and low mood. Specifically appearance-related feedback and appearance-related comparison emerged as having pivotal roles in the model of interrelationships. 
The final stage of the research programme further extended the findings of the focus group discussions and the survey study by using an experimental paradigm. A pilot study was conducted with 33 high school students to ensure that the methodology of a mood induction procedure intended to reflect negative appearance-related feedback and negative appearance-related comparison was powerful enough to elicit changes in body image and negative affect. For the final study, a further 33 female high school students participated in the imaginal mood induction procedure and completed questionnaires assessing appraisal sensitivity and sociocultural ideals. Repeated measures analyses demonstrated that participants' body image disturbance increased after exposure to the imagined social situations. Negative affect also increased after the imaginal mood induction procedure. Peer feedback had a stronger influence on levels of anger, happiness, and inferiority/'stinkness'. Unexpectedly, dispositional levels of appraisal sensitivity and internalisation of the thin-ideal did not moderate the effects of the mood induction procedure on participants ratings of body image disturbance. 
This research programme demonstrated that social evaluation has an important and influential role in the development of body image disturbance and unhealthy dieting in female adolescents. This thesis highlights the importance of considering how the interrelationships between sociocultural and interpersonal variables affect body image disturbance. The research programme also provides many opportunities for future research and clinical investigations in the areas of models of interrelationships, body image disturbance, and unhealthy dieting.

year: 2003

title: Ko wai tēnei e tū ake nei? Activating collectivity and accountability through grounded positioning

authors: Rata, Arama

abstract: Building on conference conversations about positionality—about who we are and how our identities shape our views of the world, about the connections and disconnections experienced between us, and about our proximities to place, power, and privilege—this piece brings together four conference participants to continue to reflect on what positionality means, on why it is important, and on how to practice it in non-performative, well-developed, and mutually nourishing ways. Their dialogue reflects active and critical positioning in process and practice, creating opportunities for acknowledging our relationships and activating both collectivity and accountability in the various spaces where we live, work, create, and hope.

text: Ko wai tēnei e tū ake nei? Activating collectivity and accountability through grounded positioning Building on conference conversations about positionality—about who we are and how our identities shape our views of the world, about the connections and disconnections experienced between us, and about our proximities to place, power, and privilege—this piece brings together four conference participants to continue to reflect on what positionality means, on why it is important, and on how to practice it in non-performative, well-developed, and mutually nourishing ways. Their dialogue reflects active and critical positioning in process and practice, creating opportunities for acknowledging our relationships and activating both collectivity and accountability in the various spaces where we live, work, create, and hope.

year: 2021-12