The underlying principles of qualitative inquiry

Qualitative research is increasingly more common in the health professions, but most general research texts are limited in their discussion of the guiding principles of qualitative research.

As a result, it is difficult for students and practitioners in the fields of athletic training, physical education, fitness and health to identify and apply the concepts involved in this method of research.

Qualitative Research in Physical Activity and the Health Professions overcomes any confusion or misunderstanding about this type of research. The text clearly explains the underlying principles of qualitative inquiry, making it easy for students and practitioners to understand how to design, conduct and evaluate qualitative research studies.

Price: £26.50 I €29.20
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New Human Kinetics Website goes live

After almost twelve months of design, development and testing the new Human Kinetics website has at last gone live.

Anyone who has ever been involved in the production of website will know only too well that agreeing on the content and layout is just the start. The amount of fine tuning necessary to weed out all the bugs and glitches is almost beyond belief, but all the hard work and sleepless nights endured by the Human Kinetics ‘IT Crowd’ has really paid dividends.

We now have a website that is more comprehensive, attractive and easier to navigate than ever before.

It contains details and links to our facebook page, video downloads, new blog, authors’ podcasts, book extracts and many other features that I’m sure you will find of great interest.

The only way to appreciate fully the range of new features is to visit the site which I hope you will do on a regular basis and you can start by clicking here >>

New guidelines on young athletes’ concussions stir controversy

When it comes to concussions, children and teens require different treatment, according to international experts who recently published consensus recommendations.

New guidelines for the care of youth athletes who sustain concussions are causing controversy among brain-injury experts, reigniting the debate over whether strict rules regarding concussions can actually leave athletes at greater risk for injury.

An international panel of neurologists, updating their recommendations on concussion care in the May issue of The British Journal of Sports Medicine, said that any athlete 18 or younger who was believed to have sustained a concussion during a game or practice should never be allowed to return to the playing field the same day.

Association for Physical Education
National Conference 2009
24th – 26th June 2009
Four Pillars Cotswold Water Park Hotel
South Cerney, Gloucestershire, GL7 5FP

The conference attracts over 350 delegates nationally; these comprise of PESS professionals including Local Authority PE Advisers, Lecturers, Consultants, Partnership Development Managers, Directors in Sports Colleges, School Sport Co-ordinators, Teachers, Coaches and Adults Supporting Learners. The conference is supported by key partners including Government agencies such as DCSF and offers excellent opportunities to network and share best practice.

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British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Annual Conference
Leeds Met. University
1st – 3rd September, 2009

The annual conference brings together academic, education and practitioner experts in this field, from both the UK and overseas, to share knowledge, exchange ideas and encourage the spread of evidenced and innovative practice in the sport and exercise sciences.

Consequently, the aim of the conference is to deliver a programme that meaningfully engages all delegates and stimulates debate and discussion.

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Developing individual rehabilitation programmes

One of the most challenging tasks for the sports medicine clinician is rehabilitating an injured athlete for a successful return to competition.

Effective Functional Progressions in Sport Rehabilitation provides the strategies and tools they need to prepare clients for the physical demands required by their sport.

This complete reference helps clinicians understand the important concepts of functional progressions and equips them to develop rehabilitation programmes specific to the needs of individual clients.

Seven sports present case for 2016

The federations of the seven sports in the frame for inclusion in the 2016 Olympics have made their presentations to the International Olympic Committee.

Representatives from the governing bodies for baseball, softball, roller sports, golf, rugby sevens, karate and squash went before the IOC to try and claim one of the two spots available.

Each federation was given 45 minutes to present their case to the IOC Commission followed by a question and answer session.

Queen’s Birthday Honours list

Saturday 13th June saw the publication of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list containing names of the good and great who have received honours in recognition of their efforts for Queen and country.

It also contains more than a fair sprinkling of the not so well known heroes who toil endlessly and often without reward to keep amateur sport in the UK going. Here are some of them.

Look out for your new catalogue

Calling all schools – your new PE Catalogue from Human Kinetics is on its way and is bursting at the seams with details of over 175 books, DVDs and e-books including 21 new titles.

It also contains some excellent money saving offers and special promotional vouchers all designed to make your budget stretch further.

You should receive your copy within the next few days but if it hasn’t arrived by the 19th June and you would like a replacement or an additional copy for a colleague, contact our Customer Services Department at hk@hkeurope.com

Demystify the athletic taper

Athletes, coaches and sport scientists can at last abandon the trial-and-error method of developing tapering strategies thanks to the first-ever book devoted to the subject.

Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance explains current scientific data on tapering, physiological and psychological effects and how these effects relate to athletic performance.

Armed with the scientific and annecdotal information, coaches, athletes and sport scientists can now design optimal tapering plans specific to individual athletes and in relation to specific competitions. In doing so they can set realistic performance goals for competition and avoid the negative outcomes of a deficient tapering programme.

Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance offers tactics for individual endurance sports, power and sprint events and precision sports, providing sport-specific approaches for swimmers, triathletes, cyclists, gymnasts, archers, golfers and many others.

Team sport strategies for hockey, rugby and water polo are also discussed, addressing the challenges and nuances of tapering and peaking as a team for both regular-season and tournament play.

Reviews

“In Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance, competitive athletes will finally find the scientific answers to all their practical questions about tapering. This book will provide a substantial advantage to coaches and athletes.”
Professor Tim Noakes
MBChB, MD, DSc, FACSM
Author of Lore of Running

“Tapering and Peaking for Optimal Performance bridges the gap from science to competition. Inigo Mujika tackles the critical issues of performance with ease and excellence.”
Louise Burke, PhD, APD
Head of the department of sports nutrition
Australian Institute of Sport
Author of Practical Sports Nutrition

Price:£19.99 I €22.00
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Be a Pole Star

Walking with aid of poles is probably almost as ancient as walking without them but the modern version has its roots in the summer training methods developed by cross country skiers in the early part of the last century.

The sport of Nordic Walking was invented in Finland as recently as the 1980s but is now one of the fastest growing recreational fitness sports in the world with over 8 million walkers worldwide. But what exactly is it and what’s the appeal?

Nordic Walking

More than 8 million people worldwide have already picked up their poles and headed outside, but if you are not one of them you can find all the information you need for exploring everything from city streets to mountain tops in Nordic Walking.

Written by International Nordic Walking Association coach Malin Svensson, Nordic Walking provides the basics you need in order to get started right away. The book contains information on walking correctly both with and without the poles to ensure an injury-free experience as well as using the poles correctly so that you can reap all the physical benefits of the activity.

You’ll also learn techniques for climbing and descending during your walk. Once you’ve mastered the basics, Svensson helps you build your skills so you can move on to more challenging walks.

Global Perspectives: Research and Practice on Dance Pedagogy
Centre for Excellence for Performance Arts (CEPA)
De Montfort University, Leicester. 25 to 27th June, 2009

The conference is being organised in conjunction with the Congress on Research in Dance. This is CORD’s 42nd Conference, and the first ever in the UK. You don’t need to be a member of CORD to attend the conference but new members are always welcomed.

Understanding cycling anatomy

Cycling Anatomy will show you how to maximise cycling power, speed and endurance by increasing muscular strength and optimising the efficiency of every movement. It features 74 of the most effective cycling exercises, each with clear, step-by-step descriptions and full-color anatomical illustrations highlighting the primary muscles in action.

Cycling Anatomy goes beyond simply suggesting exercises by placing you on the bike and into the throes of competition. Illustrations of the active muscles involved in cornering, climbing, descending and sprinting show you how the exercises are fundamentally linked to cycling performance. From steep inclines to slick terrains, Cycling Anatomy will ensure you’re prepared for any challenge that comes your way.

Price: £14.99 I €19.50
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Cycling Anatomy is also available as an e-Book at a reduced price. It allows you to highlight, take notes and access all the material in the book in seconds. The e-Book is delivered through Adobe Digital Editions® and when purchased, access to the content is immediately granted once your order is received.

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How effective is after burn after exercise?

There is a long-held belief that exercise can turn you into a fat-burning machine. The idea is based on the suggestion that fat burning occurs not just during exercise but also long after your workout is over. Post-exercise burn, so the theory goes, is instrumental in losing unwanted weight.

As it turns out, however, like so many headlines touting weight-loss miracles, this one is probably more myth than fact according to an article titled ‘Exercise improves fat metabolism in muscle but does not increase 24-hour fat oxidation’ that appeared recently in Exercise and Sport Sciences Review

Edward Melanson, an exercise physiologist from the University of Colorado and lead author of the article said “To our surprise, we have found that moderate duration exercise has little, if any, effect on 24-hour fat oxidation (burning).”