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For thousands of students this year alone, taking the physical fitness tests will be as much a part of the annual school routine as is the first day of school, lunch, and standardized tests in the classroom. Given this, it becomes relevant to gain some insights into what students think, feel, and know about these tests. For example, do students know why they take the test items? How to improve their performance on the test items? What do they think about taking the tests? Do students who perform well on the tests think differently than those who don't? To answer questions like the above, 54 students in the fourth and fifth grades from two different schools were interviewed two-at-a-time using a semi-structured interview format. Interviews with physical education and other school staff were also conducted to provide for multiple sources of data (triangulation). Audiotaped interviews were transcribed, numbered line-by-line, and analyzed according to qualitative methods. Assertions were developed which were supported by the data. Results indicate that most students have an incomplete, concrete understanding of the purposes and concepts pertaining to the physical fitness tests. Teacher's urging or encouraging behaviors during test administration have a large effect on students feelings about taking the tests, and many times students, especially those who tend to score poorly on the tests, receive negative feedback from their peers in the form of ridicule and embarrassment. / Master of Science

The purpose of this study was to explore how families would respond to a health-related, home-centered family fitness program designed to improve lifestyle exercise and eating behaviors. This program involved five families (eleven subjects) recruited from Park Road High School in Rural Virginia. The program was based on family systems theory, and social learning principles. The program consisted of a one-week baseline period and five two-week intervention periods. A changing criterion design was utilized; and incentives ($15 toward active sports equipment) were offered during the final two phases if all family members met their food goals for both weeks of the given phase. The entire group was tested regarding personal health measures (flexibility, resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, height, weight, and body composition); strength (bent knee sit-ups, modified pull-ups); knowledge (written test); and cardiovascular endurance (one mile or 1/2 mile run/walk) at baseline at the six week point (interim) of the intervention, and at the ten week point (final). / Master of Science

Several researchers report that object control skills, health-related physical fitness and physical activity are not optimally developed in children. It is also evident from the literature that children, especially girls, are not active enough these days. These trends are disturbing as these are important factors that play a role in the health and sports development later in the child's life. Firstly, this dissertation attempts to examine the relationship between object control skills and health-related physical fitness in nine to ten-year old girls in the North-West Province of South Africa. Secondly, the relationship between object control skills and physical activity levels and patterns in nine to ten-year old girls in the North-West Province of South Africa was investigated. Data were collected by means of a stratified randomised sample of 408 girls with a mean age of 9,86 years (±0,42) who participated in the NW-CHILD study. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005) strength sub-test (standing long jump, push-ups, sit-ups, wall sit and V-up) was used to determine the girls’ strength, the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) (Ulrich, 2000) was used to determine the learners’ object control skills and the FITNESSGRAM (Meredith & Welk, 2008) was used to evaluate the girls’ cardiovascular endurance. The Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey (CLASS) was used to evaluate the physical activity pattern of the girls. Stature, body mass and skinfolds (subscapular, triceps and calf) were measured according to standard kinantropometric protocols. The STATISTICA software package was used to analyse the data. Small but significant correlations were found between object control skills and strength, aerobic fitness and the body composition of the group. According to the healty fitness zone (HFZ) classification, 49.62% (n=198) of girls were categorised as being in the HFZ with regard to their BMI and 54.14% (n=216) in the HFZ with regards to the FAT%. This indicates that object control skills are influenced by factors that can contribute to the health of young girls. Participation in physical activities should therefore be increased. Appropriate development of object control skills (OC) and strength skills in girls is recommended to prevent delays in sports participation. Further investigation involved racial differences in activity performances. Ninety white and 318 black girls with a mean age of 9.86 years participated in this study. OC skills were assessed. Statistically (p≤0.001) and practically significant differences between the white and black girls were found, where the white girls participated more in ten of the moderate intensity physical activities than the black girls and the black girls participated more in three of these activities. Activities in which white girls mostly participated contributed significantly to higher moderate to high intensity. / MA (Kinderkinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Several researchers report that object control skills, health-related physical fitness and physical activity are not optimally developed in children. It is also evident from the literature that children, especially girls, are not active enough these days. These trends are disturbing as these are important factors that play a role in the health and sports development later in the child's life. Firstly, this dissertation attempts to examine the relationship between object control skills and health-related physical fitness in nine to ten-year old girls in the North-West Province of South Africa. Secondly, the relationship between object control skills and physical activity levels and patterns in nine to ten-year old girls in the North-West Province of South Africa was investigated. Data were collected by means of a stratified randomised sample of 408 girls with a mean age of 9,86 years (±0,42) who participated in the NW-CHILD study. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2 (BOT-2) (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005) strength sub-test (standing long jump, push-ups, sit-ups, wall sit and V-up) was used to determine the girls’ strength, the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2) (Ulrich, 2000) was used to determine the learners’ object control skills and the FITNESSGRAM (Meredith & Welk, 2008) was used to evaluate the girls’ cardiovascular endurance. The Children’s Leisure Activities Study Survey (CLASS) was used to evaluate the physical activity pattern of the girls. Stature, body mass and skinfolds (subscapular, triceps and calf) were measured according to standard kinantropometric protocols. The STATISTICA software package was used to analyse the data. Small but significant correlations were found between object control skills and strength, aerobic fitness and the body composition of the group. According to the healty fitness zone (HFZ) classification, 49.62% (n=198) of girls were categorised as being in the HFZ with regard to their BMI and 54.14% (n=216) in the HFZ with regards to the FAT%. This indicates that object control skills are influenced by factors that can contribute to the health of young girls. Participation in physical activities should therefore be increased. Appropriate development of object control skills (OC) and strength skills in girls is recommended to prevent delays in sports participation. Further investigation involved racial differences in activity performances. Ninety white and 318 black girls with a mean age of 9.86 years participated in this study. OC skills were assessed. Statistically (p≤0.001) and practically significant differences between the white and black girls were found, where the white girls participated more in ten of the moderate intensity physical activities than the black girls and the black girls participated more in three of these activities. Activities in which white girls mostly participated contributed significantly to higher moderate to high intensity. / MA (Kinderkinetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa. 2015. / Low back stability and low back strengthening exercises have emerged as popular techniques related to optimal athletic/occupational performance and the rehabilitation of painful backs (McGill 2001). The core provides local strength and balance as well as reduces the risk of low back injury (Kibler, Press and Sciascia 2006). Core strength is important in providing a solid base for the body to exert or resist forces. According to Anderson and Behm (2005), however, it is still uncertain as to which type of training is most effective in providing trunk and joint stability in its role in injury prevention and its contribution to balance. Aim: To determine if exercises performed on an unstable surface would result in greater balance improvements in healthy female participants when compared with exercises performed on a stable surface. Methods Forty asymptomatic females between the ages of 18 and 30 were recruited via self-selection. The study was a randomised clinical trial where all participants underwent a case history, a physical examination and a lumbar spine regional examination. Thereafter, participants were asked to stand on the Biosway Portable Balance System where baseline readings of the Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (CTSIB) and the Postural Stability Test were taken. The CTSIB has four test conditions – Condition 1: eyes open firm surface, Condition 2: eyes closed firm surface, Condition 3: eyes open foam surface, and Condition 4: eyes closed foam surface. The Postural Stability Test was presented in terms of overall postural stability, anterior/posterior stability and medial/lateral stability. Participants were then taught how to activate their core muscles by means of the prone coactivation exercise. A Pressure Biofeedback Unit was used to provide an objective measurement of the successful execution of the exercise. Participants were then allocated to either Group A or B and were taught how to perform the various core strength exercises. Participants in Group A performed the side bridge and single leg extension hold on a stable surface; participants in Group B performed the prone bridge and the quadruped reach on a Swiss ball. Participants were instructed to perform their respective exercises daily at home and they were also told the required number of sets repetitions they were to do. During the first week the participants were to perform three sets of 30 second holds daily, for the bridge exercises and three sets of 60 seconds for the extensor exercises. During the second week the participants were to perform four sets of 30 and 60 second holds, respectively. In the third and fourth weeks the participants were expected to perform five sets of 30 and 60 second holds respectively. The study participants reported to the Chiropractic Day Clinic once a week for four weeks and performed their exercises in the presence of the researcher. In the fourth week, however, the participants were asked to stand on the Biosway Portable Balance System and final readings of their CTSIB and Postural Stability Test were taken. All data was collected by the researcher. SPSS version 21 was used to analyse the data. A p value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Intra-group analysis was done on each treatment group individually to assess the effect of the treatment over time using repeated measures ANOVA for each outcome separately. Inter-group analysis was achieved using repeated measures ANOVA with a between group effect of the intervention. A significant time x group intervention effect would signify a treatment effect. Inter-group correlations between changes in outcomes over time were achieved using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The mean (± SD) age of the participants was 22.1 years. In terms of the CTSIB test under condition 1 there was no statistically significant effect of the intervention (p=0.431), group B showed a decrease in their sway index after the intervention. Under condition 2 group A participants showed a decline in their sway index, however results were statistically insignificant (p=0.129). Both groups showed a decrease in sway index overtime under conditions 3 and 4 with group B showing a faster decline in sway index overtime under condition 3. Results remained statistically insignificant for both conditions (p=0.171) and (p=0.766) respectively. In terms of the Postural Stability Test the intervention was found to have no effect on the balance of study participants (p=0.548). Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated a statistically insignificant improvement in the core strength and balance of the participants in both study groups. Taking into account the nature of the study population there is a possibility of a clinically significant effect were this study to be conducted on older individuals instead of younger individuals. For some of the outcomes measured there was a non-statistically significant trend towards an effect of the intervention, however for others both groups displayed the same trend over time. The power of the study to show a significant effect where one might have existed was low and thus the study should be repeated with a larger sample size using the outcomes which showed differential results between the treatment groups.

Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is safe for both mother and fetus in the majority of cases, including for women who have undergone in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment; however, this population is likely to face unique barriers to PA. Currently, there is a paucity of research exploring the qualitative experiences and decision-making processes surrounding PA for women who have undergone IVF treatment. Eight women, who had undergone successful IVF treatment and given birth within the last two years, participated in semi-structured interviews about their experiences of PA during pregnancy. Interview transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Three super-ordinate themes emerged from the data: ‘experiences of loss and opportunities for hope’, ‘navigating risks and obstacles’, and ‘PA can be a valuable part of pregnancy’. Women’s experiences of PA during pregnancy varied. For some, it was a way to keep hold of their active pre-pregnancy selves, for others PA was experienced as a risk to pregnancy, thus influencing the decision-making process. Limitations of the study are considered, as well as implications for clinical practice and directions for future.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A 5 km cycling time trial (TT) demands high, sustained muscle power output and substantial oxidative and glycolytic energy delivery. The aims of this study were to firstly use the novel approach of using Peak Sustained Power Output (PSPO) as a predictor of cycling performance for variable fixed-workload testing and 5 km time trialing and whether oral creatine supplementation would affect 5 km time trial performance and metabolism. The effect of oral creatine supplementation with 20 g/day for 7 days on 5 km time trial performance and metabolism after a random-variable workload protocol (stochastic test) was investigated in a single-blind placebo controlled study. Thirteen trained male cyclists volunteered for the study that was approved by the University of Stellenbosch Research Ethics Committee. We hypothesized that Cr supplementation would affect time trial performance as well as the appearance of breakdown products of adenine nucleotides in the plasma. Baseline: the subjects' peak power output was measured and they underwent a baseline stochastic test followed immediately by a 5 km time trial (STI) and on a different day, a single 5 km time trial test (Tl) was undertaken. Study 1: In the following week the subjects repeated the stochastic test with 5 km time trial (ST2) and on a different day a 5 km time trial (T2). During T2 blood samples were taken at regular intervals as well as during recovery. A muscle biopsy was taken after T2 in the recovered state. The major performance predictors were the 5-km time trials (TTl and TT2) with a coefficient of variation between the thirteen trained male cyclists of 0.6%. The 5 km time trials in the fatigued state (STI and ST2) had a coefficient of variation of 0.7%. Results: There was a significant difference between 5 km TT performed fresh and 5km TT performed fatigued (P=0.0001). The decrement in time ranged between 1.0 sec to 38.0 sec. The relationship between two different high intensity endurance performance tests: PSPO and 5 km TT (TT mean) had a correlation ofr=-0.79 P<O.OI. The correlation between PSPO and the 5 km TT performed in the fatigued condition (ST mean) was r= -0.60 P<0.05. There was also a relationship between age and PSPO (F 0.73; P<0.05). Age showed a good negative relationship with TT mean (F- 0.71; P<0.05). Mass and PSPO were also correlated (FO.85; P<O.OI). Plasma lactate concentrations were significantly different from rest at all other time points P<O.OOOIup to 20 minutes post-exercise. Hypoxanthine (P<O.OOOI)and urate (P=O.05) concentrations were also significantly different from rest at all other time points. There was a significant change in plasma hypoxanthine concentrations over time (P<0.0001). There was a significant correlation between plasma lactate concentration at time 0 in recovery and % Myosin Heavy Chain (MHC) I (FO.59, P<0.05) and % MHC na (F -0.61, P<0.05). Area under the curve for hypoxanthine showed significant relationships of F -0.53 (P=O.05) and F 0.56 (P<0.05) respectively for %MHC I and %MHC ITa. Study 2 - Supplementation: following T2 the subjects received Cr or placebo powder containing sachets to be ingested 4 times daily for the next week with carbohydrate also provided. Post-supplementation testing: the subjects returned and conducted another variable fixedworkload test with 5 km time trial (ST3) as well as a single 5 km time trial (T3). They once again underwent the same blood sampling routine and had another muscle biopsy in the rested state. The average of ST1 and ST2 was used as the major measure for performance under fatigued conditions and TTmean. Results: there was a significant difference between 5 km TT performed fresh and 5 km TT performed fatigued (P=0.0001). Plasma lactate, hypoxanthine and urate samples were taken at the postloading 5 km time trial (TT3). The levels of these plasma metabolites were compared to the concentrations of those sampled at TT2 and between the creatine and placebo groups. The plasma hypoxanthine levels were significantly different from rest for both the creatine and placebo groups (P<0.0001). Plasma urate had significant change in concentrations over the time points (P<0.005). Another significant difference was found between the creatine and placebo groups for the pre-and post tests conducted (P<0.005). The creatine group showed a non-significant increase (7%) in mean total intramuscular creatine concentration. No significant differences were found in the mean values for total nucleotide concentration pre- and post loading in the creatine and placebo groups. Conclusions: The 5 km performance test resulted in high values for plasma lactate, hypoxanthine and urate, an indication of fatigue induced by this performance test. Oral creatine supplementation did not improve performance significantly in the variable fixedworkload protocol 5 km time trials or the individual 5-km time trials and had an effect on adenine nucleotide metabolism in both the variable fixed-workload protocol 5-km time trial and individual 5 km time trial performance tests. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die 5 km fietsry tyd toets (TT) verg hoëvolgehoue, spierkrag en wesenlike oksidatiewe en glikolitiese energie verskaffing. Die doelwitte van hierdie tesis was eerstens om 'n nuwe fietsergometer toets te ontwerp vir die voorspelling van kompetisie prestasie. Die toets was 'n veranderlike, voorafvasgestelde werkladingstoets (VVWT). Dit is vergelyk met 'n maksimale volgehoue kraguitsetingstoets (MVKT) en 'n 5 km TT. Daarna is bepaal ofkreatien supplementasie 'n effek sou hê op enige van hierdie oefeningstoetse of metabolisme tydens die 5 km TT. Die supplementasie eksperiment was 'n enkelblinde, plasebo-gekontroleerde studie ontwerp. Dertien manlike fietsryers het vrywilliglik deelgeneem. Resultate: Daar was 'n statisties betekenisvolle verskil tussen die 5 km TT wat vars onderneem is en die wat direk na die VVWT onderneem is (P=O.OOOl). Daar was ook 'n betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen die twee verskillende hoë intensiteit korttydsvak oefeningstoetse (r=-0.79 P<O.Ol vir TT en MVKT). Plasma laktaat konsentrasies was betekenisvol verhoog met vergelyking van die monsters geneem tydens rus en all ander onteledings tydspunte (P<0.0001) tot en met 20 minute na oefening. Hypoxantien (P<O.OOOl) en uraat (P=0.05) konsentrasies was ook betekenisvol verskillend van rus by alle ander tysdpunte. Daar was 'n betekenisvolle korrelasie tussen plasma laktaat direk na oefening en die % Myosien Swaarketting (MIlC) I (r=0.59, P<0.05) en % MHC ITa (r= - 0.61, P<0.05). Studie 2 - Na supplementasie was daar geen verskil in oefeningsprestasie nie maar wel in plasma metaboliet waardes van nie. Gevolgtrekkings: Die 5 km TT het baie hoë waardes vir plasma laktaat tot gevolg gehad, asook hypoxantien en uraat, 'n indikasie van die hoë mate van vermoeienis deur hierdie oefeningtoets berwerkstellig. Kreatine supplementasie kon nie oefeningsprestasie verbeter nie.

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science