The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of different foot types (normal, flat and high arch) with regards to speed, roll-over and impact forces, thus attempting to indicate if a specific foot type is dominant amongst sprinters. The different foot types of ten junior sprint athletes and ten nonsprinters were determined by walking over a pressure platform (RSscan Internationalâs Footscan® 7.x plate system). The effects of foot roll-over and peak pressures during sprinting were determined for left and right feet respectively. The subjects ran barefoot at their top speed (sprinted) over 20 meters, crossing a pressure platform (RSscan Internationalâs Footscan® 7.x plate system) comprising the last two meters of the 20 meter distance. The initial contact, final contact, time to peak pressure and the duration of contact of the different sub-areas of the foot were measured. The results of the sprintersâ trials were averaged and compared to the non-sprintersâ averaged trials by performing a statistical T-test. The control group (non-sprinters) dominantly has a high arch foot type for both feet. In the sprinter group, the different foot types are all represented almost equally with regards to right feet, whereas the left feet are dominantly normal type, followed by high arch and then flat foot types. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) during the Foot flat phase (FFP) between the sprinter group (mean left: 4.04ms, mean right: 4.34ms) and control group (mean left: 26.40ms, mean right: 24.46ms), left: p=0.007; right: p=0.022. This indicates that the FFP time is significantly faster for the sprinter group than for the control group. The control group spent a higher percentage of time on the rear foot than the sprinters did (left: p=0.0057, right: p=0.0268). The control groupâs peak plantar pressures were predominantly on the sub-areas of the heel (mean:HL=Left: 327.69, right: 351.44; mean HM= Left: 434.08, right: 423.19) and M1, M2, M3, whereas the sprintersâ peak plantar pressures are predominantly on the subareas of the M1, M2, M3, mid-foot and T1, meaning that sprinters predominantly have peak pressures on forefoot contact whereas the nonsprinters predominantly have peak pressures on heel contact. The results of this study therefore indicate that in general, sprinters dominantly have a normal foot type whereas the non-sprinters have a high arch foot type, and sprinters predominantly have peak pressures on forefoot contact whereas the non-sprinters predominantly have peak pressures on heel contact during sprints.

This study compared the eflicacy of 4 ditlerent hamstring-stretching techniques. Flexibility can be achieved by a variety of stretching techniques, yet little research has been performed on the most effective method. The four most basic stretches includes: Static stretching where the limb is held stationary at and endpoint for a certain time period; Dynamic stretching, an active stretch where the limb is slowly moved from the neutral position to the endpoint; PNF hold-relax- and PNF contract-relax stretching which is also referred to as active stretches because of the concentric and isometric contractions throughout the stretch (Prentice) 2010: Ill). This studyâs aim was to determine which type of stretching technique IS most effective in improving hamstring length. One hundred female subjects between the ages of 13 and 17 years were enrolled in the study. The 90°/90° hamstring length measure was used for all measurements to measure knee extension angle. Alii 00 subjects were included in a randomized controlled trial of 5 different groups comparing different hamstring-stretching techniques. Outcorne measure (hamstring length) was recorded on all subjects initially, at 3 weeks and at 6 weeks. After 3 weeks of stretching, there was a statistically significant improvement in hamstring length (p<O.OOOl) using all stretches when compared to the control group. From weeks 3 through 6, hamstring length for all groups again showed statistically significant improvement when cOlnpared to the control group. No significant ditlerence was found comparing the intervention groups after 3 'weeks or after 6 weeks of stretching. After both 3 weeks and 6 weeks of stretching the straight-leg-raise (static stretching) group had the greatest improvelnent 111 hamstring length, although the difference was not statistically significant.

The mission of the University of the Free State (UFS, 2010) is the pursuit of scholarship as embodied in the creation, integration, application and transmission of knowledge. This pursuit is acknowledged by promoting, among other things, community service and the development of the total student as part of the Universityâs academic culture. One of the reasons for having students participate in community service-learning (CSL) modules is that these modules address two components of the Universityâs mission: community service and the development of the total student. This links with the required transformation stipulated in the White Paper on the Transformation of Higher Education of 1997 (SA, 1997: 7â8). Many claims have been made as to the benefits students derive from participation in CSL modules (Astin & Sax, 1998; Bringle & Hatcher, 1996; Furco, 2002). These benefits can be divided into personal, interpersonal, academic and social benefits. Personal benefits include self-efficacy, self-knowledge, personal development (Simons & Cleary, 2006) as well as improved leadership skills, relationship skills and the definition of personal strengths and weaknesses (Mouton & Wildschut, 2005). Interpersonal benefits include interpersonal development, problem-solving skills (Simons & Cleary, 2006), working more effectively with others (Furco, 2002), awareness of cultural differences and awareness of cultural stereotypes (Mouton & Wildschut, 2005). Academic benefits include academic development, a better appreciation of academic work (Furco, 2002), the application of theory that improves skills such as critical observation, analysis and application (Winfield, 2005), as well as an increased understanding of the theoretical aspects (Erasmus & Jaftha, 2005). Social benefits include involvement in the community (Furco, 2002) and an increased awareness of community life and challenges (Erasmus & Jaftha, 2005). The literature highlights the diverse benefits of participating in CSL modules. However, the question arises whether the benefits derived are related to the competencies required by a person entering the recreation industry. The purpose of the study was to determine which competencies, if any, as seen from the studentsâ perspective, increased by participating in the CSL module offered by the Department of Exercise and Sports Sciences at the University of the Free State. The research was undertaken from a phenomenological viewpoint. Through a literature and job analysis study the competencies required in the recreation industry were identified. It was then determined what competencies students thought they would be able to gain by doing the module. Then the competencies that students perceived to have gained during the CSL module were obtained through student reflections. This data was then compared to the literature and job analysis information to determine how the perceived competencies gained by students through the CSL module relate to the competencies needed by a recreation specialist. Multimethod strategies of data collection were used. A literature study and a web search were undertaken to determine the required competencies. The nominal group technique (NGT) was used to determine studentsâ perceptions of competencies required. Structured and unstructured reflection and the NGT of interviewing were employed to determine the perceived gain of competencies. With regard to the competencies identified (through literature, job descriptions and student perceptions) that would be required in the recreation industry, results showed that students did indeed feel that their competencies increased. Four main themes were identified: communication, management skills, group dynamics and cultural diversity and self-evaluation. The findings indicate that CSL should be considered by lecturers in recreation as a pedagogical tool to impart competencies that are difficult, if not impossible, to teach to students in the normal classroom setup. When selecting CSL as an educational mode during the planning and conceptualisation of the module, it should be ensured that the module is designed in such a way that it imparts specific competencies that are required in the recreation industry.

Netball is a sport that places high physical demands on players. Quick acceleration, changing of direction, high jumps to receive a ball or to intercept an opponentâs pass is some of the tasks that players are required to perform. These requirements leave the players vulnerable to injury. From international studies it is clear that netball players have an increased risk to sustain injuries to the lower limbs. The ankle is the joint most likely to be effected. Injuries to the ankle can account for more than 80% of all netball injuries. The ligaments are the most commonly injured structures. Due to a lack of literature on injuries in South-African netball players, injury patterns in South-Africa cannot be compared to international trends. Epidemiological studies provide the proof on which risks for specific sporting codes are assessed as well as the success of therapeutic intervention programs. The aim of the study was therefore to assess the incidence and severity of injuries in a cohort of elite South-African netball players. The subjects were all the players (n = 1280) that participated in three elite netball tournaments during the 2009 season. The medical staff of each team completed a questionnaire for each player that sustained an injury during the three tournaments. The completed questionnaires were collected at the adjournment of each days play. For those players whose teams did not have their own medical officer, completed questionnaires were collected from the First Aid station where the players received medical attention. Most injuries occurred to the ankle joint (36%) followed by the knee (18%) and injuries to the fingers, hand and wrist (15%). There was a high total injury rate of 500.7 injuries per 1000 playing hours, but the severity of injuries were low, with the majority of the participants being able to continue play or being available for the next match. In order to reduce the amount of injuries to the lower extremities it is recommended that netball players follow a structured program aimed to enhance proprioception and optimize biomechanical execution of functional movement patterns. These exercises should not only be done as part of the pre-season program but continued throughout the remainder of the season.