Reducing injury and improving performance through Ergonomics.

Ergonomics in Sport and Physical Activity: Enhancing Performance and Improving Safety is the first text to provide an in-depth discussion of how the principles of ergonomics can be applied in the context of sport and other physical activities to reduce injury and improve performance.

The text blends concepts from biomechanics, physiology and psychology as it shows how ergonomics is applied to physical activity.

This comprehensive text outlines methods for assessing risk in and procedures for dealing with stress, eliminating hazards and evaluating challenges posed in specific work or sporting environments.

5th Edition of Directory of Sport Science

The Directory of Sport Science, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive reference work covering the entire field of exercise science.

Written by the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and a team of international scholars, this book gives readers an informed overview of the sport science field with discussion of key functions, methodology, history, organisations, and resources for each sub-discipline and thematic area.

This book will deepen the common understanding of each prominent area of sport science and strengthen the field as a whole. Readers will gain a clear view of the history and current status of each sub-discipline in exercise science, and they will receive essential information to expand their study of the field and explore their potential contributions to its development and success.

An invaluable reference for those currently working in the field of sports science and for those studying to do so.

Price: £38.00 I €41.80
Find out more >>

Remarkable anatomical animation at your fingertips!

Human Kinetics is pleased to offer an innovative range of interactive CD-ROMs and DVDs and a web-based subscription service that depict anatomy in remarkable new ways.

This series of anatomical and clinical pathology software features computer graphic models of human anatomy derived from MRI scan data. The fully interactive 3-D animations show function, biomechanics and surgical procedures.

Attention to detail, accuracy and clarity are at the cornerstone of all these amazing products, which were created by Primal Pictures and designed by experts in the United Kingdom and the United States.

A lifetime of motor development

Life Span Motor Development, Fifth Edition, is the only introductory textbook to use the model of constraints (or dynamical systems) approach in discussing reasons for changes in movement throughout the life span.

This fully updated edition encourages students to observe and examine how the interactions of the individual, environment and task affect changes in a person’s movements. The principles of motor development are presented in a clear and accessible manner so that even readers with minimal movement science background will comprehend the material. Life Span Motor Development, Fifth Edition, will give readers the foundation for continued study and real-world practice.

Academic News November 2008

In the November Issue there is news of important updates to two of Human Kinetics’ most popular titles and a brand new book designed to help those involved in recreation, events and tourism

Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport, Second Edition and Clinical Exercise Physiology, Second Edition, both contain updated and revised information to reflect recent advances in their respective areas.

The great news is that all three of these new titles along with all other Human Kinetics’ books and DVDs are now available at a really generous 20% discount until the 31st December 2008.

But please note, if you’re ordering books for use as Christmas gifts, orders should reach us no later than Wednesday 17th December

For deliveries to Europe you can contact us up to Monday 8th December to order for delivery by airmail.
Cost of delivery will be confirmed at time of ordering.

To claim your 20% discount you MUST quote Mail Code R651 when ordering. We need this to process your discount – you’ll be prompted for the Mail Code at the very top of the shopping cart page. Alternatively, call our order hotline on 0113 255 5665.

 

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Product of the month… Combining high-force strength training with aerobics helps diabetics Clinical Exercise Physiology updated Uncover the keys to business success in the commercial recreation, event and tourism sector London’s O2 Arena considered as an athletics venue When does a substance become performance enhancing? Dates for your diary Academic News inspection copy requests

Product of the month…

Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport, Second Edition is the textbook of choice for many students enrolled in sports science curriculums who have already completed a structural anatomy course, including future physical education teachers and coaches.It is also an invaluable reference for coaches, physical education teachers and sport scientists with an interest in studying components of athletic ability.This completely revised second edition concentrates on the various ways in which an athlete, whether the average participant or the elite competitor, can modify technique to achieve optimal performance.    The text also considers growth, development and gender and makes readers aware of mechanical overstresses that can impair performance and cause injuries. Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport, Second Edition is designed with practical application in mind. It includes chapter contributions by respected sport scientists presenting recent research and cutting-edge information on relevant topics. Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport relies on current research findings and proven methods in developing physical athletic performance to help readers learn to recognise and use appropriate methods to develop optimal physical qualities for skilled performance. The text categorizes 30 international sports into nine distinct groups organized by common features. The applied nature of the content is enhanced through a building-block approach that facilitates the understanding of the elements of human performance and how the interaction of those elements can be fine- tuned. Using this text, readers can integrate and apply the elements of body structure, body composition, assessment, physiology and Biomechanics to assess current capabilities and enhance the performance of athletes. Supplementary Instructional Materials To support the book, a number of ancillaries are available FREE to Course Adopters. See them here Test package Created with Respondus 2.0 and features more than 300 multiple-choice questions. Instructions for downloading a free version of Respondus are included. Image bank Features hundreds of full-colour PowerPoint slides that contain most of the figures, content photos, and tables from the text, sorted by chapter. The images can be used to develop a customised presentation based on specific course requirements. A blank PowerPoint template is also provided, along with easy-to-follow instructions for quickly creating a presentation. £32.00 (43.20 Euros)   Read more about the book   Applied Anatomy and Biomechanics in Sport covers the latest assessment techniques used by exercise and sport science specialists to evaluate human physiques, physical capacities and sport techniques.Within each group, techniques that improve performance are analysed with specific examples given from a variety of international coaches. Its emphasis on athletic assessment and physical capacity modification provides a unique perspective that will help coaches and other sport professionals appraise the body structure of their athletes so that strengths can be fully utilised and weaknesses improved.

 

Combining high-force strength training with aerobics helps diabetics

Patients with diabetes who participate in a programme combining aerobic and high-force eccentric resistance exercise demonstrate improvements in glucose control, physical performance and body fat composition, according to a study published in the November 2008 issue of Physical Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association. “Although aerobic exercise is what is typically recommended for treating people with diabetes, this study shows that adding a high-force strength training component has significant advantages.” says APTA spokesperson Robin L. Marcus, PT, Ph.D., OCS, assistant professor at the University’s Department of Physical Therapy and the study’s lead researcher. The onset of type 2 diabetes – a chronic illness marked by decreased insulin sensitivity and overall poor glucose control – is known to be fostered by decreased physical activity. After 3 months, researchers found that both groups showed improved glucose control and physical performance in a 6-minute walk, as well as a decrease in fat composition within the leg muscles. However the patients who did both aerobic and resistance exercise had additional improvements, most notably a decreased overall BMI and a gain in leg muscle. ”Adding resistance training to the diabetes treatment regimen leads to improved thigh lean tissue which in turn may be an important way for patients to increase resting metabolic rate, protein reserve, exercise tolerance and functional mobility.” “Although aerobic exercise is still key in treating diabetes, it should not be used in isolation,” Marcus observes. “As people age, they lose muscle mass and, subsequently, mobility, resulting in a greater risk of falls.”The study evaluated 15 people with type 2 diabetes who participated in a 16-week supervised exercise training programme: seven in a combined aerobic and eccentric resistance exercise programme and eight in a programme of aerobic exercise only. Source: Medical News Today   Read the full article

Uncover the keys to business success in the commercial recreation, event and tourism sector

Recreation, Event, and Tourism Businesses: Start-Up and Sustainable Operations uncovers the keys to business success in the commercial recreation, event and tourism sector – one of the fastest-growing segments in the tourism and recreation industry. Until now, students, professors and professionals interested in this growing industry have been forced to rely on general business or basic recreation texts as their main reference source. With Recreation, Event, and Tourism Businesses, the authors have combined their expertise both as business owners and professors, to offer a comprehensive and industry-specific textbook and step-by-step guide for new business start-ups. Written from both entrepreneurial and operations management perspectives, the book provides a practical overview of the recreation, event and tourism (RET) field and the business planning process. A new conceptual model of the RET industry is presented and related to existing models. It explains how the industry works and examines the key components of commercial RET businesses. It also describes how companies are started, operated, and managed, including information on service issues, risk management, finance, and marketing. It also provides examples of how RET businesses can be operated in a more sustainable, environmentally friendly manner. Many of the topics covered in this book are key learning components for people wishing to obtain certification as a commercial recreation professional. Recreation, Event, and Tourism Businesses provides students with practical business concepts and content that link to the core principles of the RET field, so that they will be professionally prepared to deliver appropriate services. They will explore contemporary management practices while discovering the diverse career opportunities available in the RET industry.  Supplementary Instructional Materials Ancillaries A range of Free ancillaries are available to course adopters Instructor guide The instructor guide contains sample course syllabi, chapter outlines, discussion questions, and direct links to additional resources on the Internet. Test package The test package consists of over 200 ready-made multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, true-and-false, and essay and short-answer questions that cover content from all 13 chapters.   Presentation package The presentation package includes nearly 300 slides covering all 13 chapters in PowerPoint format.   Price: £29.00 (39.15 Euros) Find out more about this book

 

London’s O2 Arena considered as an athletics venue

The venue on the River Thames at Greenwich, which was formerly known as The Millennium Dome, will stage gymnastics and the basketball finals at London 2012 and is already used to hosting world championship boxing. The O2 Arena, one of Europe’s premier concert venues, is adaptable enough for Phil Beard, the chairman of sport for the owners, AEG Europe, to consider the possibility of cricket, rugby and even swimming to join athletics in moving indoors. Ed Warner, the chairman of UK Athletics, claims the time could be right for looking at new ways to present running, jumping and throwing without the necessity of having a 200m track, the type used for conventional indoor athletics. He added: “People are getting choosier about what they watch and have to believe that what they are seeing is important. That is true for all sports.” Warner and Beard are still discussing ideas and any move to take athletics into the O2 Arena would not be confined to the winter months. Source: Daily Telegraph Read the full article

When does a substance become performance enhancing?

Why would healthy twenty-something professional athletes need to take an average of nearly two doses of (legal) drugs or ‘nutritional supplements’ before every match?   A study commissioned by Fifa and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine raises that question.   The team doctors of each nation competing in the past two Football World Cups were asked to list all medicines and supplements given to players in the 72 hours before a game. The results reveal the kind of pill-popping of which Hunter S. Thompson would have been proud. The average player took 0.8 doses of legal pharmaceuticals (including analgesics, corticosteroids and psycho-tropic drugs) and one dose of nutritional supplements before every game. The study doesn’t break the data down by country or players, although it does indicate that reserves took fewer substances than starters. Also, because we only know the averages, it’s entirely possible that some countries hardly administered anything to their players, while others gave them in much higher numbers. Indeed, one unidentified national team gave each of their players an average of 7.4 nutritional supplements a match in the 2006 competition. Some pieces of data are considered worrying. For example NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), are usually prescribed as pain-killers. Some players were given as many as five preparations of NSAIDs before a match, despite the long-term intake of these substances being linked to dehydration, kidney problems and complications in the healing process. But, as NSAIDs reduce inflammation and muscles that are not inflamed perform more efficiently, could this be interpreted as being a case of performance enhancement? From a medical perspective, it’s a rather grey area, the study finds. It is also worth noting that the data covers only substances administered in the 72 hours before a game and that it was voluntarily submitted by the team doctors. Therefore it’s entirely possible that some of these physicians might have been unaware of the range of substances given to the players. This is especially the case when it comes to nutritional supplements, which according to the study are often taken at the urging of the coach and not the team doctor or dietician. As the report highlights, sustained and continued use of legal pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements can have ‘detrimental effects’. But then so too can illegal performance-enhancing drugs, which is why they are banned in the first place. So, while the former are OK, the latter are banned. But why? Quite simply because we have to draw the line somewhere, but on what basis do we draw that line? By how much the athletes stand to gain? By how much damage they potentially do to their bodies?   The scale of the whole thing leads you to one of two possible conclusions. Either World Cup footballers are an inherently sickly bunch who need supplements and medicines to stay healthy, or some team doctors are following the letter – not the spirit – of the law when it comes to using drugs to boost performance.   Source: The Times   Read the full article

Dates for your diary

BASES On-line Q&A Sessions A unique online opportunity to join sport and exercise science experts and benefit from their experiences and opinions. The Q&A sessions are like instant messaging, but designed for groups. The sessions will last for an hour and each one will take up to 50 simultaneous guests and advance registration is required. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Find out more or register The NWHPAF’s Annual conference for 2008 This year’s conference will focus on inspirational ideas, programmes, networks and partnerships and aims to stimulate information sharing, networking and learning. Thursday 27th November 2008 The Contemporary Urban Centre (CUC), Novas Scarman Building, 41 – 51 Greenland Street, Liverpool, L1 0BS For more information tenniscoachUK Annual Conference 24th – 25th November Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Buckinghamshire, Limited availability remains for this event which features top class speakers such as Brett Hobden, Steve Green, Mike Walker and Mark Cox. Coaches can attend both days as resident or non- resident and can also choose to attend just one of the two days. Further Information The Annual Newsletter of the British Heart Foundation This informative newsletter is now available for downloadtenniscoachUK Annual Conference 24th – 25th November Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, Buckinghamshire, Limited availability remains for this event which features top class speakers such as Brett Hobden, Steve Green, Mike Walker and Mark Cox. Coaches can attend both days as resident or non- resident and can also choose to attend just one of the two days. Download the newsletter

Academic News inspection copy requests

If you wish to arrange an appointment to discuss our latest texts and your course needs, or you would like to enquire about an inspection copy of any book featured in Academic News, please call Sian Partridge on 0113 255 5665 ext. 204 or e-mail sianp@hkeurope.com

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _All prices in this email are valid until 01/05/09 and include VAT where applicable. Postage & Packing within UK – add £2.75 for first item and 75p per additional item. Rest of Europe – add £4.00 for first item and £1.50 for each additional item.

 

 

Recreation, Event, and Tourism Businesses: Start-Up and Sustainable Operations uncovers the keys to business success in the commercial recreation, event and tourism sector – one of the fastest-growing segments in the tourism and recreation industry.

 

 

In this Month’s Issue

Academic News August 2008

Welcome to the August issue of Academic News. This month is a BASES Special
We preview the forthcoming BASES Conference 2008 being held at Brunel University, West London in early September and invite you along to see us. We also take a look at research that suggests that the Alexander Technique brings relief to back pain sufferers. With the Beijing Olympics drawing to a close we pose the question, were the fears over air quality genuine or over hyped? And, as ever, we bring you the very latest information on the latest Human Kinetics titles.

Product of the month… Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning Neuromechanics of Human Movement 4th Edition The Clinical Orthopedic Assessment Guide 2nd Edition Come visit us at the BASES Conference 2008 An old cure for a modern malaise Italian Conference on Cancer and Innovative Physical Activity The effects of Beijing Smog – real or imagined? Careers guide from BASES and Human Kinetics Academic News inspection copy requests Product of the month… Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury, Second Edition, presents clear, accessible explanations of the biomechanical principles of injury and how injuries affect the normal function of muscles, connective tissue and joints.Almost 10 years after the publication of the first edition, this much-needed second edition has been vastly improved. Packed with more than 400 illustrations, including graphs and anatomical art (nearly twice as many as in the previous edition), Biomechanics of Musculoskeletal Injury, Second Edition, is an indispensable reference offering perspectives on and appreciation of the intricacies of injury mechanisms By providing an understanding of injury mechanisms in all body regions, this publication serves as a comprehensive resource to assist health professionals, researchers, and students with the proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries. PRICE: £40.00 (54.00 Euros) Read more about the book!

Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning

Now in its third edition, Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is the most comprehensive reference available for strength and conditioning professionals. In this text, 30 expert contributors explore the scientific principles, concepts and theories of strength training and conditioning as well as their applications to athletic performance. Developed by the NSCA Certification Commission, the certifying agency of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning is the most-preferred preparation text for the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam. The research-based approach, extensive exercise technique section and unbeatable accuracy of Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning make it the text readers have come to rely on for CSCS exam preparation. The third edition presents the most current strength training and conditioning research and applications in a logical format designed for increased retention of key concepts. The text is organised into five sections. The first three sections provide a theoretical framework for application in section 4, the programme design portion of the book. The final section offers practical strategies for administration and management of strength and conditioning facilities. PRICE: £45.00 (67.50 Euros) Read more about the book

Neuromechanics of Human Movement 4th Edition

Drawing on the disciplines of neurophysiology and physics, Neuromechanics of Human Movement, Fourth Edition, explores how the nervous system controls the actions of muscles to produce human motion in relation to biomechanical principles. This contemporary approach is much different from the traditional one, which focuses solely on mechanics and does not consider the role of the sensory system in the control of human movement.Neuromechanics of Human Movement, Fourth Edition, provides a scientific foundation to the study of human movement. The content is visually reinforced with more than 750 illustrations, many of which are new or upgraded from the previous edition and include specific illustrations of the neuromechanics involved in sport and rehabilitation movements. Finally, the text contains more than 1,500 updated references and suggested reading lists for each chapter. To encourage a comprehensive learning experience, this updated edition follows a logical progression where each part builds on the material from the previous section. Once readers have grasped the basic laws of motion, the text continues by considering the essential neurophysiological concepts that help to explain movement produced by the nervous system and muscle. Finally the text concludes by describing the ways in which the motor system adapts to various types of physical stress. PRICE: £44.50 (60.10 Euros) Read more about the book

The Clinical Orthopedic Assessment Guide 2nd Edition

The Clinical Orthopedic Assessment Guide, Second Edition, is the foremost reference for comprehensive patient assessment. Conveniently packaged and competitively priced, it provides techniques for accurate patient assessment and functional information about normal and abnormal static and dynamic motions. This second edition has a smaller format, streamlined layout, and lay-flat binding to make it an even more practical addition to your collection. Like the previous edition, the text takes a regional approach but now also includes material on the upper cervical spine, pelvis and sacroiliac joint, and information on the assessment of peripheral nerve injury and treatment techniques (adverse neurodynamics). The streamlined organisation of The Clinical Orthopedic Assessment Guide, Second Edition, makes it simple to find the information you need. The book flows through a regional presentation of clinical assessments and functional tests (including 40 new tests that were not featured in the first edition), a section on gait and posture, and a new section on adverse neurodynamics. The regional sections are further broken down into specific joints and each joint-specific chapter follows a common layout so you can easily find exactly what you need. Additionally, a suggested examination sequence for the history, test and measures is provided for each peripheral and spinal joint. Many of the tests are also accompanied with sensitivity and specificity values to help determine test utility. PRICE: £26.00 (35.10 Euros) Read more about the book

Come visit us at the BASES Conference 2008

The British Association of Sport and Education (BASES) annual Conference and Exhibition is being held this year at Brunel University, West London between Tuesday 2nd and Thursday 4th September. Delegates to the Conference can take advantage of a packed programme of events and presentations covering a wide range of relevant topics presented by leading experts in their fields. Running in conjunction with the Conference is an Exhibition. Located in the Indoor Athletics Centre, it is here that the Human Kinetics display will be located. It is always gratifying to meet our customers face to face and to hear their views and opinions on both our existing products and how we might expand our ranges in the future. In addition to catching up with the latest titles on offer, visitors can also take advantage of a generous 25% discount offer to purchase books directly off the stand. We look forward to seeing you there. Find out more

An old cure for a modern malaise

A method of relaxation developed more than 100 years ago can help ease chronic back pain, researchers say. The Alexander Technique, formulated by an Australian actor after he lost his voice, has been proved to be effective in clinical trials. A study of almost 600 patients suffering chronic or recurrent back pain found significant improvements after a year among those having lessons in the Alexander Technique. They spent just three days in pain each month, compared with 21 days for those getting normal NHS care, with a short course of six lessons, combined with exercise, producing almost as much benefit as a full regime of 24. The technique has been taught in the UK since 1904, but until now there has been no thorough investigation into its long-term effectiveness and doctors have complained of the lack of evidence to support it. In the latest study, published online in the British Medical Journal, a team from Southampton and Bristol Universities recruited 579 patients with chronic or recurring back pain from 64 GP areas in the south and west of England. Daily Mail Read the whole article

Italian Conference on Cancer and Innovative Physical Activity

A conference aimed at starting a ‘Prevention Public Institutional Sports System in Italy’ is to be held in Castagnero, Verona in early November. It will take as its main topic ‘Cancer and Innovative Physical Activity in the primary prevention and after the L. Hayflicks Limit’. The main conference speakers will include Susan D Carter (Denver, USA), J. Modenese, Sport Counsellor and G. Bovo with P.E. Prampero (Udine). For further information go to http://digilander.libero.it/bovoginetto/ (Please note this site is in Italian) or email: bovoginetto@yahoo.it Find out more

The effects of Beijing Smog – real or imagined?

With the Beijing Olympics drawing to a successful close, fears that the air quality in Beijing would seriously affect the performance of competitors seem to have been largely unfounded as world and national records have fallen like dominoes. But were the warnings of serious health problems over hyped or did the organisers just get lucky? There certainly seemed to be a degree of hysteria in the media about the subject and who can forget the images of American swimmers arriving in Beijing wearing face masks? But the concerns raised by sports and health professionals around the world were genuine enough and had it not been for a combination of extreme measures taken by the Chinese authorities and favourable weather conditions then things might have been very different. However, once the spotlight of world attention moves away from the Olympics, will there be a lasting improvement in air quality for the ordinary citizens of Beijing or will it once again become the world’s most polluted city? We would appreciate your comments on any aspect of this article and we will try and publish a selection of them in the next edition. Send them to grahams@hkeurope.com

Careers guide from BASES and Human Kinetics

A reminder that The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) has published a new and fully updated edition of A Guide to Careers in Sport and Exercise Sciences. The free, downloadable guide for prospective and current sport and exercise science students has been written in association with Human Kinetics, the leading information provider in the physical activity field. Complete with useful websites and practical information, this easy-to-read guide will provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about careers in sport and exercise science, helping students on the journey to achieving their ideal job. The BASES A Guide to Careers in Sport and Exercise Sciences is free to download from the BASES website. For further information click here

Academic News inspection copy requests

If you wish to arrange an appointment to discuss our latest texts and your course needs, or you would like to enquire about an inspection copy of any book featured in Academic News, please call Sian Partridge on 0113 255 5665 ext. 204 or e-mail sianp@hkeurope.com