Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: There has been a concerted effort by government departments and sport-for-development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to use sport as a vehicle for sustainable social development in previously disadvantaged areas in South Africa. South Africa, considered to be a developing country and also a country where sporting achievement and excellence is venerated, brings to the fore an intriguing intersection between sport and development. The exponential growth of the sport-for-development field in the past two decades, both on an international and local level, bears witness to the fact that sport has come to be seen as an instrument facilitating development among children and youth in historically disadvantaged regions in South Africa. International aid organisations, such as the United Nations and an array of sport-for-development NGOs are at the forefront of using sport as a vehicle for development purposes. It is against this brief background that this thesis investigates the relationship between sport and development. The research question that underpins this study is: What is the relationship between sport and development, but more specifically, how do adolescent black girls, experience being part of a sport-for-development program at the Mbekweni Community Sport Centre (MCSC)? This relationship is interrogated by drawing on fieldwork conducted at the MCSC amongst participants of the Women and Girls in Leadership (WGILS) sport-for-development program over a six month period. WGILS is a sport-for-development program that caters for the sporting needs of adolescent girls in Mbekweni, by providing them with sporting opportunities and life skill sessions. The WGILS program is operated by a sport-for-development NGO, SCORE in partnership with a UK charity, Hope Through Action (HTA). Hope Through Action is the charity responsible for building the nine million Rand Mbekweni Community Sport Centre in Mbekweni, a township 60km north of Cape Town. The central argument of this dissertation is that sport itself does not facilitate development, but serves as a point of entry for development work. I suggest that sport in this sense is a viable vehicle for development, as it creates conditions where social networks, meaningful relationships and norms of trust and reciprocity (antecedents of social capital) can prevail. The theoretical lens used to make sense of my six month field work period is that of social capital. In the classical sense social capital is thought to be an asset for the elite and wealthy, but this dissertation shows that there is a nuanced manner in which social capital shifts and is tapped into by black adolescent girls through a sport-for-development program in a township setting. In this respect social capital is malleable and used in a variety of ways for different purposes as a means to culminate trusting relationships and acts of reciprocity. Social capital is therefore not necessarily a static and unchanging concept and will vary considerably across space and time. The dynamics of this process are evident throughout the thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Daar bestaan 'n volgehoue poging deur regeringsdepartemente en spor –vir-ontwikkeling nie-regeringsorganisasies (NRO) om sport as 'n middel tot volhoubare sosiale ontwikkeling in voorheen benadeelde areas in Suid-Afrika aan te wend. Suid-Afrika wat as 'n ontwikkelende land beskou word en ook as 'n land waar sportprestasies en uitmuntendheid in sport hoog aangeslaan word, open 'n fassinerende interaksie tussen sport en ontwikkeling. Die vinnige groei van sport-vir-ontwikkeling die afgelope twee dekades op 'n internasionale sowel as nasionale vlak is tekenend daarvan dat sport as 'n instrument beskou word om ontwikkeling van kinders en die jeug in histories agtergeblewe streke te bevorder. Internasionale hulp organisasies soos die Verenigde Volkere en 'n verskeidenheid sport-vir- ontwikkeling NRO is op die voorpunt om sport op 'n opheffende wyse aan te wend. Dit is teen hierdie agtergrond dat die verhandeling poog om die verband tussen sport en ontwikkeling te ondersoek. Die kernvraag onderliggend aan die verhandeling is: wat is die verband tussen sport en ontwikkeling en meer spesifiek hoe ervaar jong swart meisies deelname aan die sport-vir-ontwikkeling program by die Mbekweni Gemeenskap Sportsentrum? Die verband word ondersoek deur middel van veldwerk wat by die sentrum oor 'n periode van ses maande gedoen is onder die deelnemers aan 'n sport-vir-ontwikkeling projek onder die vaandel van “Women and Girls in Leadership”(WGILS). WGILS maak voorsiening vir sport behoeftes van adolessente meisies in Mbekweni deur hulle sportgeleenthede te bied asook en lewensvaardighede sessies. Die program word geldelik gedryf deur die NRO, SCORE in samewerking met die Britse liefdadigheidsorganisasie, “Hope Through Action”. Laasgenoemde was verantwoordelik vir die bou van die nege miljoen rand Mbekweni Gemeenskap Sportsentrum in Mbekweni, 'n swart woonbuurt 60 km noord van Kaapstad. Die sentrale argument van die verhandeling is dat sport as sodanig nie ontwikkeling fasiliteer nie, maar wel as 'n beginpunt vir ontwikkelingswerk kan dien. Daar word gesuggereer dat sport op die wyse as 'n lewensvatbare instelling ter bevordering van ontwikkeling ingespan kan word aangesien dit die omstandighede skep waarbinne sosiale netwerke, betekenisvolle verhoudings en norme van betroubaarheid en wederkerigheid (voorlopers van sosiale kapitaal) kan gedy. Die teoretiese lens waardeur ek gepoog het om van die veldwerk sin te maak was dié van sosiale kapitaal. In die klassieke sin word sosiale kapitaal beskou as die prerogatief van die elite en welvarendes, maar die verhandeling demonstreer dat sosiale kapitaal op 'n genuanseerde wyse kan verskuif om jeugdige meisies in 'n sport-vir-ontwikkeling program in 'n swart woonbuurt te betrek. In die opsig kan sosiale kapitaal as aanpasbaar beskou word en met verskillende oogmerke aangewend word om vertrouensverhoudinge te stig en wederkerige dade te bewerkstellig. Sosiale kapitaal is derhalwe nie noodwendig 'n statiese en onveranderbare konsep nie, en kan oor tyd en plek aansienlik gewysig word. Die dinamika van die prosesse word deurgaans in die verhandeling aangetoon.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate if any relationship exists between anthropometric measurements with average concentric velocity (ACV) at various intensities in the back squat and the number of repetitions able to be performed during a set to volitional fatigue at 70% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). It was hypothesised that short femurs and total height would be related to slower ACVs and lower total number of repetitions performed. 58 resistance trained subjects were recruited and attended one day of data collection. Subjects performed 1RM testing of the back squat followed by two single repetition sets at 30-90% of 1RM and a 70% of 1RM set to fatigue. There was no significant correlation between femur length and height with ACV at any intensity (p>0.05). A significant negative correlation existed between both height (r=-0.39, p=0.003) and femur length (r=-0.31, p=0.018) with total number of repetitions performed. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Evidence in humans suggests that men are especially competitive with other men over resources and, if successful, are valued as attractive mating prospects by women. Previous studies also show that men experience an increase in testosterone following a win and a decrease in testosterone following a loss. If an increase in testosterone following a victory is an evolved physiological response aimed at readying a man for an increase in mating opportunities, then experimentally manipulating competitive outcomes should differentially affect men’s sex-drive. One-hundred thirteen men were randomly assigned to experience a win, a loss, or no competitive feedback. Participants’ sex-drive was gauged by their responses to photographs of women of differential attractiveness. Results showed that only single men exhibited a higher sex-drive in the winning condition, followed by the control and losing conditions, respectively. Limitations and practical applications to decreasing instances of rape and sexual coercion are discussed. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Discordance in bone mass between young adult swimmers and soccer players may be a direct result of differences in bone loading patterns that influence bone mineralization during growth. Our aim was to evaluate whether sports participation (soccer and swimming) had an independent effect on bone mass accrual at the hip and lumbar spine in adolescent female athletes. We recruited boys and girls 10 to 14-years of age from Corvallis, Albany, Sweet Home, Salem, Eugene, and the greater Portland area. Bone mineral content (BMC, g) and bone mineral density (BMD, g/cm²) of the proximal left hip, spine, and whole body were assessed by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR 4500A; Hologic Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). We used ANCOVA and report that baseline BMC and BMD values of girl soccer players at the greater trochanter were significantly higher compared to controls and the swim group, and femoral neck BMC was significantly greater than the swimmers. At baseline, all boy groups were similar at the hip and spine. After 12-months, ANCOVA was also used to assess absolute change for BMC and BMD at the hip and spine. The girl soccer players had significantly more BMC and BMD at the greater trochanter as well as total hip BMD and lumbar spine BMC compared to the swimmers, but not the controls. The girl control group showed a significantly greater 12-month change for femoral neck and greater trochanter BMC than swimmers. Overall, the girl swimmers demonstrated a lower accumulation of bone mass during the 12-month study period. As for the boys, soccer players had a significantly higher 12-month change for femoral neck BMC than swimmers, but were similar at the spine. There were no differences between the boy control subjects and the swimmers for 12-month change values at the hip and spine. While preliminary and limited by the small sample size, our results indicate that after controlling for growth, soccer players gained significantly more BMC at the femoral neck than swimmers. Furthermore, exposing the young skeleton to impact loading exercise has site-specific benefits at the hip whereas prolonged training in a non-weight bearing environment may compromise skeletal acquisition. / Graduation date: 2004

Due to the lack of morphological data on prepubertal Indian male soccer players in South Africa, this study was undertaken on ninety male prepubertal subjects. The subjects were divided into three groups of thirty subjects each: Experienced "E" (those playing organized soccer for more than two years), beginners "8" (those playing organized soccer for less than two years) and sedentary "S" (those not participating in organized soccer). All subjects were measured according to Heath - Carter anthropometric somatotype methods. Fitness tests comprising power and strength tests (vertical jump height and standing broad jump) and muscle endurance tests (push - ups and sit - ups) were also done. The three groups were first compared to each other and then to available international data. There were no statistical differences among the three groups for: height, weight, age, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, calf and total skinfolds, humerus and biceps girth, ectomorphy, mesomorphy and endomorphy, suggesting a general homogenicity between groups. For fitness tests the "E" group performed significantly better than the others for standing broad jump and sit - ups (p = 0.005 and p = 0.036 respectively). For push - ups the "8" and "E" were significantly better than the "S" group, (p = 0.013, for "8" versus "S" group), indicating that in soccer muscle strength and explosive strength are important. The lack of difference between the groups for anthropometric criteria in this study may be explained by the experienced players' inadequate training. Other factors may include the lack of parental involvement, inadequate knowledge on fitness aspects and poor training methods. Furthermore, the sedentary group may be participating in unorganized activities which renders them at a level similar to the experienced group. Data on non - Indian South African junior players is required to help us understand the lack of significant Indian talent in the National team. Other factors such as diet, cultural differences, training methods, level of coaching, environmental factors and sport facilities need investigation and be addressed if we want to see an improvement in the South African Indian soccer players. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1997.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether team and individual, male and female athletes, have different potentials for burnout, and to examine if these populations use different coping strategies. / One-hundred and sixteen male, and 57 female varsity and elite judo athletes completed the EABI and COPE inventories and a personal background form. T-tests confirmed individual sport athletes to be more prone to burnout than team sport athletes, high level athletes more prone to burnout than those at lower competitive levels and emotional social support as a coping strategy more prevalent among team than individual sport athletes. No differences were found between males and females in proneness to burnout or means of coping. The length of sport involvement was not found related to proneness to burnout. The importance of sport in athletes' lives gave mixed results when related to burnout. / These results, while confirming some earlier findings suggest also the need for further study.

Introduction The physiological effects of single and multiday road running races have been studied extensively and include the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis, reflected by significantly increased urinary myoglobin (uMb), as well as increased concentrations of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cortisol and cardiac troponin-T (cTnT), dehydration and compromised renal function. Furthermore, in hyperthermic athletes, a positive relationship has been noted between hyperthermia, muscle damage, dehydration and pacing. The physiological effects of a multiday trail run of similar duration to single day road races, however, are unknown. The side-effects of the use of statin medication for hypercholesterolaemia include muscle fatigue, cramping and increased muscle damage. These have been found to be aggravated in endurance athletes and it has been reported that females, especially when being medicated from a young age, are more susceptible to these side-effects. Objectives 1. To investigate the effect of a three-day trail run on systemic and urinary markers of muscle damage and inflammation in recreational runners and to establish the association of dehydration and hyperthermia with these markers. 2. To observe the effect of the three day trail run on systemic and urinary markers of muscle damage and inflammation on an additional hypercholesterolaemic female athlete using statin medication in combination with a lipid uptake inhibitor. Method Firstly, an observational cohort study was conducted on 19 recreational male (n=6) and female (n=13) athletes during a 95km trail run over three days. Pre-and post-stage and 24 and 72 h post-race concentrations of serum CPK, hsCRP, cortisol, cTnT, and osmolality (sOsm) as well as uMb, changes in body mass, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and thigh circumference (TC) were measured. Continuous recordings of heart rate (HR) and intestinal temperature (Tintest ) were made throughout each stage. In addition, a case report is included on one trained female endurance athlete currently being treated for familial hypercholesterolaemia with 20 mg Aspavor and 10 mg Ezetrol daily and not included in the above cohort, to investigate the degree of muscle damage and inflammation she experienced as a result of participation in the three-day event. Results: Heart rate ranged between 77 and 83% age-predicted-maximum (APmax) and Tintest between 36.1 and 40.2 ºC during the three stages. Significant rises in mean serum CPK, hsCRP, sOsm and blood neutrophil count reached peak concentrations of 1 488U/L, 8.91mg/l, 298mosm/L and 10.21 10^9/L (p≤0.001), respectively. No evidence of elevations in uMb and cTnT were detected. The stage-induced increments in DOMS correlated positively with CPK, r=0.71; 95% CI [0.62, 0.78]. TC decreased significantly post S1post and S2post (p≤0.05) and a maximum mean body mass loss of 3.09% (±1.04%) occurred during S2. There was no significant difference between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users and non-users in terms of serum CPK, hsCRP, cortisol, post race DOMS scores, running times, TC or sOsm (p>0.05). The post-pre change in sOsm during each stage correlated inversely with the changes in % body mass, r = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.57,-0.094] and the pooled data examining the relationship between the change of sOsm and change in serum CPK for the three stages (n=57), revealed an insignificant positive correlation (r= 0.034, 95% CI [-0.228, 0.291]. The maximum Tintest ranged between 38.3 º C and 40.2 º C and only exceeded 40º C in two of the 12 athletes monitored. The relationship between the change in Tintest and serum CPK was insignificant (p>0.05) for the 11 individuals from whom complete sets of data were available (r= 0.24, 95% CI [-0.42, 0.734]. In the hypercholesterolaemic athlete, the maximum serum CPK (665U/L), hsCRP (1.9mg/Ll) and cortisol (845nmol/L) concentrations corresponded with undetected uMb despite a maximum body mass loss of 4.5% Conclusion: Three consecutive days of 95km trail running resulted in low markers of muscle damage and inflammation, when compared to results obtained in previous single day road races of similar duration despite the maintenance of a heart rate above 77% APmax, Tintest rising above 39o C and mean body mass decrement of >2.0%. The unchanged concentrations of serum cTnT and uMb confirmed the low values of the markers of muscle damage and inflammation. An insignificant positive correlation between muscle damage and dehydration was noted. Furthermore the daily use of 0.4 mg/kg Atorvastatin in combination with 10mg Ezetrol did not result in the subject experiencing subjective myalgia, cramps, fatigue or increased markers of muscle damage following her participation in the trail run. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2012.

Triathlon has had a rapid evolution from its origins 25 years ago in the United States to becoming a full summer Olympic sport in Sydney 2000. It is a sport that combines the three disciplines of swimming, cycling and running linked together with two transitions. It is this combination of events that gives triathlon its uniqueness in the area of exercise science. As a very young sport, the body of knowledge is somewhat limited, but is steadily growing. The following document aims to shed some new light on a range of aspects within the sport of triathlon and highlight triathlon as a sport in its own right with very specific demands when compared with each of the three individual sub-disciplines

Thesis (M.A.(Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Background: The musculoskeletal demands placed on the lower limb musculature of fast bowlers over time have not received much attention. In particular, measures of muscle recruitment changes have, to the author’s knowledge, not been considered. Objective: The present study, therefore sought to establish any associations between an eight over, simulated fast bowling spell, and muscle activation patterns, power output, perceptual demands, and changes in performance. This will enable improvements in the development of training programmes. Methods: Players’ were required to attend two sessions in total. The purpose of the initial session was to collect specific demographic, anthropometric and physiological data and injury history information from each player. In addition, this first session allowed for habituation with the treadmill, the jump meter and all other equipment involved in experimentation. The second testing session involved electrode attachment sites being identified on player’s dominant leg. The areas were then shaved, wiped with an alcohol swab and left to dry, to ensure good connectivity. Pre- and post- measures of muscle activity and functional strength of the lower limbs were recorded in the Department of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics. The protocol took place at the Kingswood High Performance Centre, which is in close proximity to the initial testing site. The protocol involved players bowling eight overs (48 balls). During the protocol, accuracy, ball release speed and perceptual measures were recorded at the end of each over. After the protocol, players were driven back to the Human Kinetics and Ergonomics Department where post-testing measures were completed. The dependable variables of interest were muscle activation, functional strength of the lower limbs, ‘local’ ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), body discomfort, accuracy, and ball release speed. Results: For all muscles it was shown that, as the speed increased so did the muscle activity in players’ lower limbs. There were no significant changes in muscle activity preversus post-protocol. There was however, a general trend of decreasing muscle activity post protocol at higher testing speeds. There were significant (p<0.05) decreases in peak power following the simulated eight over bowling spell. ‘Local’ RPE displayed a significant (P<0.05) increase with each additional over and were observed to reach the ‘heavy’ category. The players’ highest discomfort area was in the lower back, with 13 players perceiving discomfort in this region following the eight over spell. The shoulder and chest were another two areas player’s indicated discomfort with eight players selecting the dominant shoulder. Seven players complained of the dominant side pectoral muscle, leading foot and dominant latissimus dorsi muscle being uncomfortable. Interestingly, the dominant pectoral showed the highest body discomfort ratings amongst players. There were no significant changes in accuracy between overs although there were large interindividual differences in accuracy points between players. The decrease in ball release speed observed during over seven was shown to be significantly (p<0.05) lower than overs one to four. Conclusion: The power output and perceived strain results of the players, appears to indicate the presence of fatigue in players. However, the results are not conclusive, as the fatigue was not shown in muscle recruitment patterns, as well as the body discomfort ratings. There was a non-significant trend observed in the lower limb muscle activation decreasing at higher speeds. Players were able to maintain accuracy. However, the significantly lower ball release speed observed during over seven showed players performance decreasing.