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: E-learning for CPD for medical physicists

authors: Round, W. Howell

abstract: The internet is increasingly being used for as a platform for providing learning opportunities to meet medical physicists’ continuing professional development (CPD) needs. But as a profession we do not take full advantage of its capabilities with only a few medical physicists’ professional organisations (MPPOs) providing educational on-line material suitable for CPD. METHODS: An on-line search was carried out of all the web site of MPPOs in the International Organization of Medical Physics. Those sites that were not in English were translated with Google Translator. Those MPPOs that had educational material that was made available only to its members, or who made it generally available for payment of a fee were approached for permission to access the material. The surveyed material was collated and reviewed. Also all open-access medical physics journals were surveyed. RESULTS: Apart from the well-known Emerald and EMIT sites, there was surprisingly little e-learning material to be found. The AAPM provides excellent resources to its members and to non-members who wish to pay for access. The ACPSEM contribution to e-learning is also notable and is developing strongly. The Biomedical Imaging and Interventional Journal site also contains a lot of materials. But the lack of material to be found elsewhere was quite disappointing and that which is available is quite hard to find. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: As a profession we have not taken full advantage of the possibilities that it provides for giving access to our members for CPD. The material can be hard to find or has restricted access. There is no one central site where the material can be found and accessed easily and without cost. The establishment of such a site would require significant sponsorship for its establishment and maintenance. However, such a site would be a global asset and could coordinate the production of medical physics e-learning materials for CPD.

text: E-learning for CPD for medical physicists The internet is increasingly being used for as a platform for providing learning opportunities to meet medical physicists’ continuing professional development (CPD) needs. But as a profession we do not take full advantage of its capabilities with only a few medical physicists’ professional organisations (MPPOs) providing educational on-line material suitable for CPD. METHODS: An on-line search was carried out of all the web site of MPPOs in the International Organization of Medical Physics. Those sites that were not in English were translated with Google Translator. Those MPPOs that had educational material that was made available only to its members, or who made it generally available for payment of a fee were approached for permission to access the material. The surveyed material was collated and reviewed. Also all open-access medical physics journals were surveyed. RESULTS: Apart from the well-known Emerald and EMIT sites, there was surprisingly little e-learning material to be found. The AAPM provides excellent resources to its members and to non-members who wish to pay for access. The ACPSEM contribution to e-learning is also notable and is developing strongly. The Biomedical Imaging and Interventional Journal site also contains a lot of materials. But the lack of material to be found elsewhere was quite disappointing and that which is available is quite hard to find. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS: As a profession we have not taken full advantage of the possibilities that it provides for giving access to our members for CPD. The material can be hard to find or has restricted access. There is no one central site where the material can be found and accessed easily and without cost. The establishment of such a site would require significant sponsorship for its establishment and maintenance. However, such a site would be a global asset and could coordinate the production of medical physics e-learning materials for CPD.

year: 2013

title: Empowerment evaluation of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start: Improving service delivery

authors: Little, Gaylene Robina

subjects: Family Start

abstract: This thesis explores child maltreatment in New Zealand by considering service delivery of the Family Start programme at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga through an empowerment evaluation. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the service delivery process of the Family Start programme at this site to inform the organization and other Family Start key agents of possible improvements to service delivery so that the Family Start programme is best able to reduce the risk factors that are known to influence child maltreatment in New Zealand. The best possible service delivery by kaupapa providers supports sustainability and the continuity of service with Māori through continual funding. The two objectives of this research are to look at how well the Family Start programme is implemented at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and to consider the cultural appropriateness of service delivery. Community psychology is the paradigm within which I position myself. I respect the values of community psychology that aim to improve the position of disadvantaged people through their participation in social change and community development. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is a kaupapa Māori provider and I see an empowerment evaluation as a tool for internal evaluation to assist organizations who value self determination in their own practice. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. There are two objectives to consider service delivery; firstly process aspects of service delivery are looked at and secondly the cultural relevance of service delivery to the population receiving the Family Start programme at this site. These are described as nine points about service delivery. The aim is to provide an empowerment evaluation for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga to inform, assist and improve service delivery of the Family Start programme in a culturally appropriate manner. The findings suggest better understanding is needed by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start staff, about the programme intentions, the use of tools such as Born to Learn/Ahuru Mōwai, individual family plans, service delivery levels, maintaining health records and ways to encourage collaboration between agencies. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga are shown in this research to be reaching the intended population for the Family Start programme, and service delivery appears to be culturally relevant to the clients on the programme at this time. The findings are limited by the fact that access to some information was restricted by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start management. Consequently, this research looked only at service delivery, and not the benefits of or barriers to the actual programme. The effectiveness of the programme in reducing child maltreatment is important but could not be measured in this research. Reducing child maltreatment is the main aim of the Family Start programme and would be measured through client outcomes. This research considered service delivery to see if the Family Start programme is offered optimally to assist the aim of reducing child maltreatment.

text: Empowerment evaluation of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start: Improving service delivery This thesis explores child maltreatment in New Zealand by considering service delivery of the Family Start programme at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga through an empowerment evaluation. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the service delivery process of the Family Start programme at this site to inform the organization and other Family Start key agents of possible improvements to service delivery so that the Family Start programme is best able to reduce the risk factors that are known to influence child maltreatment in New Zealand. The best possible service delivery by kaupapa providers supports sustainability and the continuity of service with Māori through continual funding. The two objectives of this research are to look at how well the Family Start programme is implemented at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and to consider the cultural appropriateness of service delivery. Community psychology is the paradigm within which I position myself. I respect the values of community psychology that aim to improve the position of disadvantaged people through their participation in social change and community development. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is a kaupapa Māori provider and I see an empowerment evaluation as a tool for internal evaluation to assist organizations who value self determination in their own practice. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. There are two objectives to consider service delivery; firstly process aspects of service delivery are looked at and secondly the cultural relevance of service delivery to the population receiving the Family Start programme at this site. These are described as nine points about service delivery. The aim is to provide an empowerment evaluation for Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga to inform, assist and improve service delivery of the Family Start programme in a culturally appropriate manner. The findings suggest better understanding is needed by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start staff, about the programme intentions, the use of tools such as Born to Learn/Ahuru Mōwai, individual family plans, service delivery levels, maintaining health records and ways to encourage collaboration between agencies. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga are shown in this research to be reaching the intended population for the Family Start programme, and service delivery appears to be culturally relevant to the clients on the programme at this time. The findings are limited by the fact that access to some information was restricted by Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga Family Start management. Consequently, this research looked only at service delivery, and not the benefits of or barriers to the actual programme. The effectiveness of the programme in reducing child maltreatment is important but could not be measured in this research. Reducing child maltreatment is the main aim of the Family Start programme and would be measured through client outcomes. This research considered service delivery to see if the Family Start programme is offered optimally to assist the aim of reducing child maltreatment.

year: 2010