Darbo objektas: baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų liemens raumenų statinė jėgos ištvermė. Darbo tikslas: palyginti baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų ir fiziškai aktyvių vyrų liemens raumenų statinę jėgos ištvermę. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Palyginti baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų liemens raumenų statinę jėgos ištvermę priklausomai nuo sportininkų specializacijos. 2. Palyginti baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų liemens raumenų statinę jėgos ištvermę priklausomai nuo sportininkų amžiaus. 3. Palyginti baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų liemens raumenų statinę jėgos ištvermę priklausomai nuo sportininkų meistriškumo. Hipotezė: Kanojininkų liemens raumenų statinės jėgos ištvermės rodikliai bus didesni nei baidarininkų bei kontrolinės grupės tiriamųjų. Išvados: 1. Baidarių ir kanojų irkluotojų liemens raumenų statinės jėgos ištvermės rodikliai skiriasi nežymiai, tačiau yra ženkliai didesni nei kontrolinės grupės (išskyrus dauginio ir skersinio pilvo raumenis). 2. Nepriklausomai nuo amžiaus (jauniai: vid. 17 metų, jaunimas: vid., 21 metai), liemens raumenų statinė jėgos ištvermė buvo didesnė nei kontrolinės grupės tiriamųjų (vid., 22 m., išskyrus kairės pusės liemens bei dauginio ir skersinio pilvo raumenis). 3. Aukšto meistriškumo sportininkų liemens raumenų statinė jėgos ištvermė buvo didesnė nei žemo meistriškumo irkluotojų. Tuo tarpu žemo meistriškumo sportininkų rezultatai buvo didesni nei kontrolinės grupės (išskyrus skersinio pilvo raumens ištvermės gulint ant nugaros bei dauginio ir skersinio... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The object of thesis: static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers The aim: to compare the static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers and control group men. The goals: 1. To compare static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers depending on specialisation of the athletes 2. To compare static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers in relation to the age of the athletes 3. To compare static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers in relation to the performance of the athletes . Hypothesis: The indicators of the static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe rowers will be higher than kayakers and testing group. Conclusions: 1. The indicators of static strength endurance of trunk muscles of canoe and kayak rowers in regard to the specialisation of athletes do not differ significantly, yet they are significantly higher than those of the control group (except for multiple and transverse abdominal muscle endurance test). 2. Despite the age of the rowers (juniors: 17 years of age, the youth: 21-year-olds), the static strength endurance of trunk muscles was higher than that of the control group (22 years old) (except for the left side trunk muscles endurance and multiple and transverse abdominal muscle endurance test). 3. Static strength endurance of trunk muscles of high-performance athletes was higher than that of the rowers with lower performance... [to full text]

I explore how recreational canoeists develop sense of place developed and ecological identity through experience. The intersection between artefact and narrative is the entry-point of exploration of understandings of how recreational canoeists learn through experiences. There are three structural elements. A factional narrative arc of a canoe trip frames the work. Fragments of collective narratives: weave into this story and add richness and depth of experience. Participants’ interwoven narratives form the second element of this work. Finally, footnotes underpin this text to explain and support the research. They emerge to reflect the complexity of telling, and understanding, experience. This is a story of stories. This is a story of a trip that never happened. It holds real participants’ narratives based in lived experiences that shape this story. Narratives emerge between artefact and experience, between experience and ecological identity, between ecological identity and place, and between place and story.

I explore how recreational canoeists develop sense of place developed and ecological identity through experience. The intersection between artefact and narrative is the entry-point of exploration of understandings of how recreational canoeists learn through experiences. There are three structural elements. A factional narrative arc of a canoe trip frames the work. Fragments of collective narratives: weave into this story and add richness and depth of experience. Participants’ interwoven narratives form the second element of this work. Finally, footnotes underpin this text to explain and support the research. They emerge to reflect the complexity of telling, and understanding, experience. This is a story of stories. This is a story of a trip that never happened. It holds real participants’ narratives based in lived experiences that shape this story. Narratives emerge between artefact and experience, between experience and ecological identity, between ecological identity and place, and between place and story.

Water-related disease is a problem faced by many communities in the Mngeru and Msunduzi River valleys, both those living in a rural setting, and those within thedty bounds. Treatment and management of water-related diseases such as SchistosorrUasis and Hepatitis are, however, overshadowed by the priority management of more serious illnesses such as HIV/ AIDS, and are therefore at risk of spreading unchecked. These diseases, while not often fatal, have a high morbidity and place unnecessary burden on communities and individuals that could otherwise make a positive contribution to the social and economic structure of the country. The impacts of water-related disease are felt by all water-users, including those recreational users such as fishermen, swimmers and canoeists. Following a discussion of the issues and impacts of water-related disease at both a global and local scale, the research formulated a survey of the impact of water-related disease on canoeists training and racing on the Mngeni and Msunduzi Rivers as a starting point in determining the impacts on all communities using the resource. The methods employed were twofold, a Schistosoma haematobium infection- survey was conducted using urine samples; and a questionnaire-type survey of participants in the 2006 Dusi Canoe Marathon was conducted. The results of the Schistosomiasis survey revealed that 4.07% (20/491) of the respondents were positive in this survey. Analysis of the questionnaire filled in by all participants further revealed that 73% of respondents tested positive for Schistosomiasis infection at some point in their canoeing career. The post Dusi Marathon questionnaire survey was answered by 941 (54 %) participants. A total of 588 (63 %) reported experiencing illness as a result of taking part in the 2006 event. A further 362 individuals reported having experienced water-related illness on previous Dusi Marathons, indicating that 77% of the respondents have been ill on the Dusi in this and previous years' events. In addition, water quality samples were taken during the race and were shown to be significantly higher than the guidelines for safe recreational use of water resources. The results also showed a radical overnight change in the E.coli levels following a heavy rain event on the evening before the start of the race. The research revealed that there is a serious problem of water contamination and resultant spread of disease among canoeists using the rivers for recreational and professional sport. Contamination resulting from failure of sewage processing facilities during high rainfall events and industrial discharge into the river system results in excessive and unacceptable levels of E.coli and other water-related pathogens that are a severe health risk not only to canoeists but to all communities utilising this water resource. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.