Human Kinetics Sport, Health &amp; Fitness Blog

Paddle your way through the great outdoors

It is not hard to see why canoeing is one of the fastest- growing outdoor activities. The popular recreational sport leads you on water trails to explore new places and experience exciting adventures, allowing you to socialise with friends and family, whilst enjoying numerous fitness benefits and relaxing in the great outdoors.

Learning to canoe could not be easier with Canoeing, the special book and DVD package part of the Outdoor Adventures series. Canoeing not only provides you with the basic skills and knowledge you need to safely head out for adventures on a variety of water trails but also presents a strong foundational understanding of this recreational activity. Canoeing is written in association with the American Canoe Association (ACA), and expert instructors provide you with:

Indispensable advice on gear and equipment selection, food and nutrition, fitness, water trail etiquette and safety and survival skills;
Step-by-step instruction of fundamental paddling skills and techniques;
Informative consumer, technique and safety tips; and
Web-based resources to help you plan trips throughout the world.

The additional Quickstart Your Canoe DVD guides you through an introduction to paddle sports and basic safety and paddling techniques, so you can enjoy a safe boating experience.

Use Canoeing to get all the insider tips you will need to enjoy canoeing and have a successful adventure, while developing your skills to challenge yourself for more exciting adventures in the future.

PRICE: £13.00 (20.99 Euros)

Download your free catalogue

Human Kinetics 2008 Fitness catalogue

New and available direct to you, this year’s Human Kinetics fitness catalogue has all the most up- to-date information about all our products. Easily downloadable in PDF format and absoluteely free, it’s your essential guide to a world of fitness.

Governor urged to terminate ‘dangerous’ fatty food

First cigarettes, now flaky pastry: Arnold Schwarzenegger is being asked to train his sights on another health hazard by outlawing the use of trans fats from all restaurants in California.

There is rising concern that trans fats – a key ingredient in food such as margarine, biscuits, crisps and other snacks – poses a public health crisis on the scale of smoking.

Although there is a general scientific consensus that trans fats clogs arteries, other less conclusive studies have claimed links between the ingredient and cancer, diabetes, obesity, liver dysfunction and infertility.

If the California Governor signs off a law to ban trans fats, it could result in the ingredient disappearing from all American food…

The Times, July 16th 2008

Arnold Schwazenegger provides the foreward for ACSM Fitness Book-3rd Edition, our bestselling comprehensive plan for developing a personal fitness program and sticking with it. Find out more here

Read the full article

Fruit with six times the vitamin C of an orange heading for UK supermarkets

It is one of the strangest fruits under the sun and has been revered in Africa for thousands of years.

The fruit, which from the outside looks like a coconut, contains six times more vitamin C than oranges and twice as much calcium as milk.

In its native Africa, it has provided health benefits for generations.

The pulp, which is white, powdery and has a cheese- like texture, is extremely nutritious and high in anti- oxidants, iron and potassium.

The baobab (or upside-down tree, as it is also known) is cherished by locals who believe that its spirit protects villages. Only specially trained climbers are allowed to scale the branches to retrieve the fruit. Once the hard outer shell has been broken the flesh can be eaten straight away, although it has a slightly sour flavour…

Daily Mail, July 15th 2008

5-A-Day fruit bid falls flat

Just one in eight people is eating the recommended five portions of fruit and veg each day.

Despite growing awareness of the Government’s recommendations for a healthy diet, the message is still not getting across.

A report, from a study commissioned by the Fresh Produce Consortium in 2006, said most people eat just half the amount of fruit and vegetables they should.

Only 12 per cent eat five-a-day.

Although this is a slight increase on the previous year’s 11.3 percent, most people eat just 2.5 portions on average.

In 2005, most people were eating just 2.4 portions.

The consortium warns that at this rate it could take another 25 years before everybody reaches the five-a- day target…

Daily Express, July 14th 2008

How to think yourself better

Positive thinking can help ease pain, improve fitness and prevent illness. Anastasia Stephens explains how to harness the power of your mind

ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
A new Australian study suggests that the faster speed that athletes achieve when taking performance- enhancing drugs is all in the mind. The study compared athletes on growth hormones with those given a placebo. Those taking the dummy pills sprinted faster, jumped higher and were able to lift heavier weights than those taking the hormones. The results imply that if you think you will perform better, you really will. That’s not news to many professional athletes who for years have used creative visualisation to boost performance. “If you visualise being stronger, running faster or winning, you are priming your nervous system to do just that,” says Dr Aimee Kimball, the director of mental training in sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “Studies have found that the method can enhance physical performance significantly, sometimes by 20 per cent or more.”

What to do: Visualise your forthcoming race or match. See yourself win with ease, confidence and coordination, in as much detail as possible. Feel the appropriate emotions as you play and win, and get a sense that you really “know” you can do it…

The Independent, July 8th 2008

Human Kinetics has a wide range of titles on the fascinating subject of sports psychology. One of our most most popular titles can be found
here

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All prices in this email are valid until 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 (6 Euros) for first item and £1.50 (2.25 Euros) for each additional item.

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UKPE Newsletter July 08

July 11, 2008

Welcome to the July issue of the UKPE newsletter!

It’s been a scorching summer of sport so far and it’s not over yet…

Before the UKPE newsletter takes a well deserved holiday in August (Just like our teachers!) we’ve got one last offering of news from around the world of PE. We hope you enjoy it.

In the UKPE Newsletter this month…

	Product of the month… Move on up with Aerial Dancing Countdown to UK School Games Why little learners mean big business EU schools urged to stop offering snacks Sport IQ Magazine UKPE reader offer

Product of the month…

This year the inspirational Junior Wimbledon Champion, Laura Robson showed us just what Britain’s youth tennis players are capable of. The right coaching could help your students to follow in her world-beating footsteps.Revised and better than ever, this fourth edition of Coaching Youth Tennis gives you all the baseline information you need on coaching, communication and safety.It’s the ideal resource for inexperienced coaches and parents of youth tennis players alike. With it you’ll be able to create practice plans for teaching sport- specific techniques such as racket, ball-handling and stroke skills.

Learn how to coach matches and develop seasons. Implement step-by-step instructions for all technical and tactical aspects of singles and doubles tennis. Before you know it, you’ll be coaching youth tennis like a pro!

PRICE: £22.99 ( 34.49 Euros)

Move on up with Aerial Dancing

Aerial Dance is a legitimate art form gaining rapid popularity. This fascinating book traces the historical roots of the genre and defines its place in the lineage of modern dance.

Written by those who helped shape the medium into what it is today, Aerial Dance addresses aesthetic and philosophical approaches to teaching, with an emphasis on safety. Through this book and DVD package, novices, professionals, practitioners and educators, will:

Gain insight from essays written by leading choreographers in the field;
Gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for aerial dance choreography through “Look Up!” features that provide cross-references to video performance clips on the DVD; and
View high-quality photographs that illustrate the origins of aerial dance. Readers will find great insight and direction from seasoned experts in this innovative dance form. Aerial Dance captures the passion of the genre and helps readers appreciate the creative possibilities it offers.PRICE: £9.99 ( 14.99 Euros)
Read more about the book!

Countdown to UK School Games

Taking it’s lead from the Olympics, the UK School Games seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport. Now in it’s third year, the competition organised with the Youth Sport Trust (YST) will take place in Bristol and Bath, running from 28th to the 31st of August 2008.Human Kinetics has always tried to work closely with the Youth Sports Trust and is honoured to be invited to join their business honours club.‘These are exciting times for us; we’ve got lots of great new ideas and products in the pipeline. Working with the YST will help us to reach out to those who can benefit the most from our experience.’

Sara Cooper
Managing Director of Human Kinetics Europe

UK School Games official website

Why little learners mean big business

Being successful on the sports field could get you to the top of the corporate ladder, a fascinating new survey revealed last week. When 100 major decision makers in UK business were asked about their academic and sporting achievements, many believed their boardroom skills were honed on the playing field rather than in the classroom.

71 percent said they believed compulsory sports influenced their business careers, with 59 per cent saying their academic career was only moderately successful and 12 per cent believing it to be a relative failure.

The research results found that the majority of decision makers excelled highly at team sports, particularly football and rugby, which enabled them to develop the leadership skills, essential for running a company.

Dr David Lewis, eminent business psychologist and designer of the research said: ‘Chief executives are team players. They seek to achieve their ambitions by leading others rather than through their individual efforts. These strategies for achievement were acquired and polished while still at school.’

The survey appeared in the FT last week and was also picked up by the Scotsman as well as specialist publications like Management Today and the Institute of Directors magazine.
iomtoday.co.im, 03 July 2008.

You can help give your students a bright future by investing in Successful Coaching. It’s about coaching young people to become successful athletes-and successful human beings.

EU schools urged to stop offering snacks

Read the full article

The widespread availability of convenience and processed foods containing high levels of fat, sugar and salt, has been partially blamed for increasing levels of obesity by officials In Brussels this week.

Up to 27 percent of men and 38 percent of women in Europe are now considered obese. To combat a similarly alarming trend of obesity in children the EU has proposed a radical new scheme to finance handouts of fruit and vegetables across Europe’s schools.

In a blueprint due to be published this week, EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel would earmark 90 million euros (71.2 million pounds) a year in funding for the EU-wide scheme.

Each country would match the amount of cash it gets from Brussels, although economically poorer regions would be given special status with 75 percent of the cost paid by EU money.

If EU agriculture ministers agree, Fischer Boel’s funding scheme would enter into effect in the 2009/2010 school year.

Such a scheme could eventually see savoury and sugary snacks from vending machines being replaced by fresh fruit and vegetables in schools. The recommendations do not form part of the Commission’s formal plan to create a school fruit scheme but should ‘be taken into account’ by ministers during their negotiations.

The Mirror, 12th june 2008

Sport IQ Magazine UKPE reader offer

Sport IQ Magazines - train your body, exercise your mind Fantastic resources for GCSE, BTEC and A Level PE. Regular articles by Kirk Bizley, John Honeybourne and Mike Hill as well as interviews with famous sports personalities ensure this a teaching resource that never becomes dated. Special offer for UKPE readers ends July 15th 2008.

Click here for more details

All prices in this email are valid until 30/04/08 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 (6 Euros) for first item and £1.50 (2.25 Euros) for each additional item.

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FitNews May 08

May 19, 2008

Welcome to the May issue of FitNews.

The recent weather has given us a lovely start to the summer months, encouraging us to get outside and exercise in the sunshine. Although this is the way many of us would prefer to stay active, if this summer turns out to be a washout like last year, don’t fret just head to the shopping centre and we don’t mean for the summer sales! ‘Mallercise’ is the lasest craze sweeping the states, and where they lead the UK follow. Power walking through undercover shopping arcades, burning calories and all with a little window shopping provides a far more attractive option to the gym any day! Read on for more on this story…

This month we announce the new edition of the BASES career guide written in association with Human Kinetics. This fantastic guide gives all the necessary advice for those entering a career in sport and exercise science.

In FitNews this month…

	New career guide from BASES and Human Kinetics Make the right food choices with the best-selling sports nutrition guide! The Olympics: Politics and Protest The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops Forget the gym. Head for the shopping centre Bosses asked to wage war on obesity crisis by mixing work with play Gene sequence puts half of UK population at greater risk of obesity, researchers say Lack of exercise puts cancer survivors at risk Fat-but-fit is myth: Big women who exercise still have double risk of heart disease Have they really invented a miracle pill that will let you eat as much as you want and STILL lose weight? Fitness in the North Convention Tecar Verona-Ghirada Team Sport Conference, From the Laboratory to the Field

New career guide from BASES and Human Kinetics

The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) have published a new and fully updated edition of their career guide, 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.

BASES are the recognised UK professional body for promoting sport and exercise sciences in the UK. Founded in 1984, BASES represent sport and exercise sciences nationally and internationally. With sport and exercise science fast becoming one of the most popular subjects to study at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, this career guide has been created to help students shape their future career paths, with information on the following:

Important points to consider when choosing a sport and exercise science course at both school and college and undergraduate and postgraduate level,
Funding for postgraduate courses,
Common career paths that sport and exercise science graduates may follow,
Information on how to find a job,
A realistic overview of each of the careers and;
Profiles written by graduates to give an insight into what students need to know in order to get their dream job.

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 dream job.

The BASES A Guide to Careers in Sport and Exercise Sciences is free to download from the BASES website www.bases.org.uk/newsite/studentcareers.asp

Make the right food choices with the best-selling sports nutrition guide!

Boost your energy, manage stress, build muscle, lose fat and improve your performance with the excellent new fourth edition of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook! With over 500,000 copies sold, this book has become the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guide on the market.

An internationally known specialist in sports dietetics, Clark offers sound nutritional advice for active people. This updated edition includes the latest sports nutrition research on hydration and fluid intake, vitamins, supplements, energy drinks, organic foods and the role of carbohydrate and protein during exercise, as well as information on the new food pyramid.

Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook will assist you in making the right food choices in supermarkets, restaurants and your own kitchen. Whether preparing for competition or simply eating on the go, sport’s leading nutritionist will demonstrate how to get the maximum benefits from the foods you choose and the meals you make. You will also learn how to eat before exercise and events, as well as how to refuel afterwards for optimal recovery.

Whether seeking advice on losing weight, getting energised to exercise, or improving health and performance, Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook has the answers you can trust.

PRICE: £11.99 (17.99 Euros)

The Olympics: Politics and Protest

Leeds Metropolitan University’s Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education will be holding The Olympics: Politics and Protest, a conference which will take place at Leeds Met on 16th, 17th and 18th July 2008.

On the evening of 16th July, there will be a Round Table Discussion on the Olympics chaired by Professor Franco Bianchini.

On the 17th and 18th July, Keynote Speakers will present various talks. These include Professor John Horne from the University of Central Lancashire, presenting The Olympics: Power, Politics, Protest and Promotion and Professor Helen Lenskij from the University of Toronto, presenting Challenging Olympic Power and Propaganda.

Sessions at the conference include, The Olympics ‘Race’ and identity, Paralympic Issues and The Olympics and the Media. The cost is £70 for two days and £40 for one day. There is a 50% discount for students and accommodation is also available.

For more information, or to book onto the conference, please contact Anna Towers a.f.towers@leedsmet.ac.uk. The deadline for booking is 20th June 2008.

The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops

Advance or refresh your skills in sports massage with The London Massage Company’s Summer Skills Workshops, taking place in central London throughout June 2008.

Thirteen workshops will run back-to-back, giving attendees the flexibility to choose one or two workshops, or intensify their learning with the whole set. With each workshop attendees will receive an interactive workbook, as well as an attendance certificate.

Workshops will take place from 2nd – 20th June and include topics such as ‘Deep Tissue Techniques’, ‘Muscle Energy Technique’, ‘Soft Tissue Release’ and ‘Mechanical Massage’. The workshops are £100 a-day and many professional awarding bodies count one-day workshops as five continuing professional development (CPD) points.

For a full breakdown of all workshops and further information on dates and location, visit www.thelondonmassagecompany.com

Forget the gym. Head for the shopping centre

‘Mallercise’ – power walking while window shopping – is a craze sweeping the US and catching on here. It’s free, safe and, because the weather’s not a problem, you can wear what you want.

Shopping or the gym? If retail therapy comes top every time, then you might be the ideal candidate for mall- walking. It’s a fitness trend from the US that now seems to be catching on here. Losing pounds from your thighs, not your pocket, is the idea behind “mallercise”.

It involves power-walking around shopping centres and marching up stairs and escalators while simultaneously doing a spot of window-shopping. So popular have such sessions become in the US and Canada that manufacturers now market special “mall- walker” shoes “to give extra traction for smoother, slicker mall floors”.

Fans say the advantages of mall-walking include the fact that shopping malls are traffic free, weather resistant and safe. It can also get you reasonably fit. A 30-minute speed walk incorporating some stair climbing and lunges can burn around 200 calories. One of the first mall-walking schemes in the UK was at the White Rose shopping centre in Leeds where groups have been meeting every weekday morning since 2003.

Initially part of a joint venture with the South Leeds Health For All (SLHFA) programme and the national Walking the Way to Health project, it now attracts an average of 60 shoppers a week, many of whom are referred by their GP. “We hold the walks on Monday to Friday, before the shops open their doors,” says Liz Greenough, who runs the initiative. “The ground-floor of the centre measures a quarter of a mile from one end to the other and is perfect for people just wanting a little gentle exercise.” Similar programmes now run at shopping centres around the country.

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Bosses asked to wage war on obesity crisis by mixing work with play

Nipping out of the office for a game of tennis will no longer be considered bunking off under a government initiative to incorporate sport into the national working day.

Ministers are due to meet trade union leaders and captains of industry, The Times has learnt, to discuss ways that employees can be involved in high-level sport without jeopardising their careers. This includes being given paid leave to compete or coach.

Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, believes that employers could promote a more active lifestyle through their corporate social responsibility schemes. He will put his proposals, part of a broader Active England campaign before the London 2012 Olympics, to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and CBI in the next month. “A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce,” he said.

The idea harks back to the 1950s era of factory sports teams, when almost every company fielded its own football and cricket sides.

The corporate sector may argue that it already shoulders some of the responsibility for a fitter nation through subsidised gym membership and cycle-to-work schemes. And the City of London has a history of building state-of-the-art facilities; the Bank of England’s sports centre in West London is now home to the Lawn Tennis Association.

The Times, May 9th 2008

Gene sequence puts half of UK population at greater risk of obesity, researchers say

A section of genetic code that puts half the population at greater risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease has been discovered by scientists who say those carrying the sequence are on average 2kg (4.4lb) heavier than others, with 2cm larger waistlines and a tendency to become resistant to insulin and vulnerable to late-onset diabetes.

While 50% of the UK population carries the obesity-related sequence, it is a third more common among people of Indian Asian ancestry than among Europeans, the scientists said.

The finding raises hopes of new measures to curb the soaring obesity rates, including genetic screening programmes to identify children most at risk of what has become one of the leading causes of poor health and mortality in the developed world.

“A better understanding of the genes behind problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease means that we will be in a good position to identify people whose genetic inheritance makes them most susceptible,” said Professor Jaspal Kooner, lead author of the study at Imperial College London. “We can’t change their genetic inheritance, but we can focus on preventative measures, including lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.”

The Guardian, May 5th 2008

Lack of exercise puts cancer survivors at risk

Cancer survivors could be putting their health at risk by being obese and failing to take enough exercise, research suggested today. A study found that breast cancer survivors were among those likely to be fat, which could make their prognosis worse. Obesity and taking little exercise is generally linked to poor disease outcomes, the authors said.

In cancer patients, studies have have linked inactivity and being fat with recurrence of the disease, death and a reduced quality of life.

More than 114,000 people were questioned for the study, published in the journal Cancer, and asked if they had participated in any activities from a list in the past three months. The activities included walking, jogging, skiing and weight-training, and people were also asked to name activities not listed. They were also asked how often they took part in the activity and how long each session lasted.

The authors found that fewer than 22 per cent of survivors were physically active at the ideal level, with the lowest activity rates among female bowel cancer survivors (14 per cent), breast cancer survivors (17 per cent), female skin cancer survivors (19%), and male bowel cancer survivors (20 per cent). Just over 18 per cent of all cancer survivors reported being obese, with little variation among the cancer survivor groups. Obese breast cancer survivors were less likely to be active than obese women without a history of cancer.

The Daily Mail, April 21st 2008

Fat-but-fit is myth: Big women who exercise still have double risk of heart disease

New research challenges the notion that you can be fat and fit, finding that being active can lower but not eliminate heart risks faced by heavy women. “It doesn’t take away the risk entirely. Weight still matters,” said Dr Martha Gulati, a heart specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Previous research has gone back and forth on whether exercise or weight has a greater influence on heart disease risks.

The new study involving nearly 39,000 women helps sort out the combined effects of physical activity and body mass on women’s chances of developing heart disease, said Dr Gulati, who wasn’t involved in the research. The study by Harvard-affiliated researchers appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Participants were women aged 54 on average who filled out a questionnaire at the study’s start detailing their height, weight and amount of weekly physical activity in the past year, including walking, jogging, bicycling and swimming. They were then tracked for about 11 years. Overall 948 women developed heart disease.

Women were considered active if they followed government-recommended guidelines and got at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week, including brisk walking or jogging. Women who got less exercise than that were considered inactive.

Weight was evaluated by body mass index: A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, while obese is 30 and higher. Compared with normal-weight active women, the risk for developing heart disease was 54 percent higher in overweight active women and 87 percent higher in obese active women.

The Daily Mail, April 30th 2008

Have they really invented a miracle pill that will let you eat as much as you want and STILL lose weight?

It is every dieter’s dream – a pill that allows you to lose weight safely without actually going on a diet. But such fat-fighting drugs are already the stuff of reality, according to researchers. They say tablets widely used to lower blood pressure could help melt away unwanted pounds as well.

Experiments suggest that ACE inhibitor pills can speed up the metabolism, allowing excess weight to be lost quickly. The findings could lead to the pills, taken by millions to combat hypertension, being repackaged as fat-burners. Ultimately, they, or similar drugs, could allow the overweight to shed flab without even setting foot in a gym. With up to a quarter of Britons thought to be trying to lose weight and obesity rates the highest in Europe, such a pill would have mass appeal.

Australian researchers made the breakthrough in experiments on mice genetically altered to lack an enzyme found in fat cells. Those lacking this angiotension-converting enzyme, as it is known, weighed 20 per cent less than other mice and had up to 60 per cent less body fat.

The GM mice were no more active than the other creatures and ate just as much food but their metabolism was faster. They also processed sugar more quickly, suggesting they were at lower risk of diabetes, says a report in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The Daily Mail, April 29th 2008

Fitness in the North Convention

Northern Fitness & Education are pleased to announce the next Fitness in the North Convention on 21st June 2008, at Leeds Metropolitan University’s Headingley Campus. This year’s event is sponsored by Modern Pilates.

This one-day fitness convention for fitness instructors, personal trainers and fitness enthusiasts, will provide an inspirational action packed day of aerobics, dance, step, aqua, circuits, body conditioning, yoga, pilates, mind/body, workshops, masterclasses and specialist lectures.

The day is designed to give new ideas, motivate and educate and will ensure you can inject some enthusiasm into your teaching. Whether you are a group fitness instructor, gym instructor, aqua instructor, personal trainer or health professional there is something on offer for you.

There are over 40 sessions to choose from and the fantastic early bird price of £39 includes comprehensive session notes. There will also be a Trade Show with a wide range of companies selling sportswear, music and training courses. Reiki and Sports Massage will also be available to book on the day for £5 per session.

For more information, please call Northern Fitness & Education on 01943 879816

Tecar Verona-Ghirada Team Sport Conference, From the Laboratory to the Field

The Tecar Verona-Ghirada Team Sport Conference, From the Laboratory to the Field, will take place from 7-8 June 2008 in Treviso, Italy.

This world-class conference presents the latest methods which have been proven to improve team-sport performance. The timing is perfect to provide you with new ideas for the upcoming competitive season.

International experts who have experience not only in research, but also working with elite team sport athletes will be speaking at the event. This conference is a must for all researchers, trainers, coaches and students who work with team sports.

For more information, please visit www.everywheretravel.it/vtsc2008/

The Olympics: Politics and Protest

On the evening of 16th July, there will be a Round Table Discussion on the Olympics chaired by Professor Franco Bianchini.

For more information, or to book onto the conference, please contact Anna Towers a.f.towers@leedsmet.ac.uk. The deadline for booking is 20th June 2008.

The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops

Advance or refresh your skills in sports massage with The London Massage Company’s Summer Skills Workshops, taking place in central London throughout June 2008.

For a full breakdown of all workshops and further information on dates and location, visit www.thelondonmassagecompany.com

Forget the gym. Head for the shopping centre

‘Mallercise’ – power walking while window shopping – is a craze sweeping the US and catching on here. It’s free, safe and, because the weather’s not a problem, you can wear what you want.

The Guardian, 29th April 2008

Bosses asked to wage war on obesity crisis by mixing work with play

Nipping out of the office for a game of tennis will no longer be considered bunking off under a government initiative to incorporate sport into the national working day.

The idea harks back to the 1950s era of factory sports teams, when almost every company fielded its own football and cricket sides.

The Times, May 9th 2008

Gene sequence puts half of UK population at greater risk of obesity, researchers say

While 50% of the UK population carries the obesity-related sequence, it is a third more common among people of Indian Asian ancestry than among Europeans, the scientists said.

The Guardian, May 5th 2008

Lack of exercise puts cancer survivors at risk

In cancer patients, studies have have linked inactivity and being fat with recurrence of the disease, death and a reduced quality of life.

The Daily Mail, April 21st 2008

Fat-but-fit is myth: Big women who exercise still have double risk of heart disease

Previous research has gone back and forth on whether exercise or weight has a greater influence on heart disease risks.

The Daily Mail, April 30th 2008

1 Comment | Fitnews | Tagged: Books, Exercise, Fitness, Fitnews, Health, Nutrition, Obesity | Permalink
Posted by humankinetics

FitNews April 2008

April 21, 2008

Welcome to the April issue of FitNews.

This month’s issue of FitNews is full of the latest stories on the many benefits of exercise. We all know exercise is good for our health, but in the month’s issue we discover how exercise can help with the ageing process, how it can improve your quality of life, help with stress and even make you smarter. So if you thought it is just your body that benefits from regular exercise, your wrong!

To celebrate International Dance Day on April 29th 2008, we have included a fantastic 10% discount off all dance books and DVDs for all our subscribers. Dance is a great way to exercise and is fun, so if you are a regular dancer or thinking of trying it out we will have a book to suit you. Read on for more details…

International Dance Day discount!

International Dance Day, UNESCO, is celebrated on April 29th every year. First celebrated in 1982 when it was established by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute, the date commemorates the birthday of Jean- Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.The intention of International Dance Day is to bring all dance together, to celebrate the art form, to cross all political, cultural and ethnic barriers and bring people together in peace with a common language – DANCE. As well as this, International Dance Day aims to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education, from primary to higher.In celebration of this year’s International Dance Day, Human Kinetics is offering all readers a 10% discount off all dance books and DVDs. To claim your discount, simply quote Mail Code R607. When ordering online, you’ll be prompted for the Mail Code at the top of the shopping cart page. Alternatively, call Human Kinetics order hotline on 0113 255 5665 (or +44 (0)113 255 5665 if outside the UK).

Below is just one new dance resource from Human Kinetics…

Whatever your motive, whether to get more exercise, to spend more time with a partner or because you have taken inspiration from Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars, dancing can be a fantastic experience. Gotta Ballroom, part of the Gotta Dance series, makes learning to dance fun and easy. From the waltz and the tango, to the foxtrot and the Viennese waltz, master instructors and professional dancers, Christine Zona and Chris George describe and demonstrate every movement, providing the skills necessary to glide across the dance floor like a pro.

Including a 64-minute DVD, Gotta Ballroom provides specific instruction for social success with the four most popular American style ballroom dances. This one-of-a-kind package breaks down both leader and follower roles to show basic footwork, body positioning, timing, styling and transitions.

With an interactive and structured approach, Gotta Ballroom will soon have you moving to the music, as you become immersed in the experience, pleasure and grace of American style ballroom dance.

PRICE: £18.99
(28.49 Euros)

In FitNews this month…

	International Dance Day discount! Make the right food choices with the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guidebook! The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations ‘Regular excercise can slow down ageing’ ‘10-minute walk can better quality of life’ A good night’s sleep the key to staying slim Fat risk even if you are healthy weight Train your brain: Can jogging make you smarter? Sport England reveals sports participation is increasing, with the over 55s leading the change Bad Breakfast Habits Could Harm Long-Term Health Cleaning ‘improves mental health’ EIPET Project

Make the right food choices with the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guidebook!

Boost your energy, manage stress, build muscle, lose fat and improve your performance with the excellent new fourth edition of Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook! With over 500,000 copies sold, this book has become the all-time best-selling sports nutrition guide on the market.

Whether seeking advice on losing weight, getting energised to exercise, or improving health and performance, Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook has the answers you can trust.

PRICE: £11.99 (17.99 Euros)

The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations

Hard Work: Defining Physical Work Performance Requirements focuses on physically demanding occupations that require strength, stamina or both; this includes occupations such as law enforcement, fire fighting, mining, forestry and the military. It is the first book to examine the relationship of recruitment practices, physical training and physical evaluation to the intricate environment of corporations, labour organisations, the legal system and employment rights.

Authors Brian Sharkey and Paul Davis have collectively spent over 70 years studying physically demanding work and the factors associated with performance and health. This book attempts to provide an approach for making intelligent and informed employment decisions that will result in a safer, healthier and more productive workforce.

Hard Work brings their perspective as exercise scientists to an examination of the following factors:

Work requirements and capacity for physically demanding jobs
Physical characteristics of the “athlete-worker”, including aerobic and muscular fitness
Test development, validation and utilisation in employee selection
Employee health and job-related fitness
Environmental factors affecting employee performance, such as heat, cold and altitude
Respiratory protection and lifting guidelines
Legal aspects of employment, consequences of legal decisions and a proposed alternative to litigation.

The first book of its kind in this field, Hard Work suggests how employees could benefit by working up to job requirements while maintaining their health, safety and job performance.

PRICE: £36.50 (54.75 Euros)

‘Regular excercise can slow down ageing’

Regular exercise can help slow down the effects of ageing by up to 12 years, a study claims. People may also be able to retain the ability to live independently for far longer if they exercise throughout middle age and into retirement, it found.

Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, improves oxygen consumption, which in turn improves the body’s ability to convert fat into fuel for muscles. The volume of oxygen we are able to consume is reduced with age, and therefore to maintain good health and the appearance of youth, more aerobic exercise is required.

Research by scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada has shown that high-intensity exercise, taken regularly for more than a year, can make someone as fit as a sedentary person who is 12 years younger. The results are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The Telegraph, 14th April 2008

‘10-minute walk can better quality of life’

Overweight people can make a significant improvement in their quality of life simply by doing 10 minutes of brisk walking every day, scientists have said.

A study of obese or overweight women found that those doing an average of 70 minutes of light exercise a week showed substantial improvements in health and enjoyed better social lives than those who did no exercise.

The findings contradict Government guidelines that suggest taking 30 minutes of exercise five times a week.

They were presented at an American Heart Association conference in Colorado Springs and claim that shorter, less strenuous sessions can lead to improvements.

Angela Thompson, of the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre, Louisiana, said: “Walking a little bit every day will help tremendously. That is an important public health message.”

The Telegraph, 16th March 2008

A good night’s sleep the key to staying slim

Sleeping for eight hours a night is the secret to not putting weight on, according to scientists. They found that those who slept for less than six hours a night – or more than nine – put on more weight than those who slept for seven or eight hours each night.

The research published in the Journal Sleep found those who did not get enough sleep gained almost 4.4lbs (2kg) compared to those who slept for the recommended number of hours. Those who had too much sleep gained 1.58 kilos (1.58kg) more than those who slept for the recommended number of hours over six years.

Short sleepers were 27 per cent more likely to become obese and long sleepers were 21 per cent more likely than those had an average night’s sleep.

The research also found that things were worse for people who got less sleep as they were 35 per cent more likely to gain 11lbs (5kg) over six years than those who had seven or eight hours sleep. Those who slept too long were 25 per cent more likely to gain 11lbs (5kg) in the same time.

The reason that the amount of sleep a person gets can govern their weight is because sleep affects hormones levels, especially those involved in appetite and feeling full after a meal.

The Telegraph, 3rd April 2008

Fat risk even if you are healthy weight

People not classed as overweight but who lack muscle are just as unhealthy as those who are considered obese, doctors are warning.

A study has found that half of those considered to be a healthy weight for their height were still obese because of the proportion of fat in their bodies. Experts say two thirds of the population are at risk because they weigh too much but the discovery of the new condition – dubbed “normal weight obesity” – suggests that eight in 10 face an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

The findings, presented at a scientific meeting in the United States, raise further doubt over the value of the body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of health. It is calculated by dividing weight in kilos by height in metres squared, and a range of between 18.5 and 25 is considered healthy.

But researchers at the Mayo Clinic, which has hospitals in three states, found that half of people in the range had a body fat percentage high enough to put their health at risk. To be healthy, women should be no more than 30 per cent fat and men no more than 20 per cent.

Body fat can be measured using scales available commercially or callipers to pinch flesh at the waist. The team said that using body fat to determine normal weight obesity was a more precise way of determining health risks than BMI.

The Telegraph, 1st April 2008

Train your brain: Can jogging make you smarter?

We don’t need to be told that exercise is good for us. We know that it combats cholesterol, we know boosts our hearts and we know it stops the pounds from piling on. But, beyond the obvious physical benefits of a good cycle, run or swim, a growing body of evidence suggests that getting breathless can also build the brain.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which is published later this year, shows how even regular brisk walks can boost memory, alleviate stress, enhance intelligence and allay aggression. John Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the book’s author, says that exercise stimulates our grey matter to produce what he calls “Miracle-Gro” for the brain. “I can’t understate how important regular exercise is in improving the function and performance of the brain,” he says. “It’s such a wonderful medicine.”

If the mere thought of trudging round ice-bound playing fields at school was enough to bring you out in a cold sweat, the idea that exercise makes us happy might sound perverse. But, beyond the (potential) mood-lifting effects of fresh air and scenery, evidence suggests that pounding the pavement can also change the way our brains work to make us happier, or even stave off depression. “Exercise is as good as any anti-depressant I know,” Ratey claims.

The Independent, 25th March 2008

Sport England reveals sports participation is increasing, with the over 55s leading the change

The number of adults* across England who regularly participate in sport and active recreation has increased, with the 55s and over showing the biggest growth spurt, a Sport England survey reveals.

Early results of Sport England’s second year of The Active People Survey show that the number of adults, aged 16 plus, participating in 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport or active recreation three times a week, has increased by 359,423.

This is a 0.7 per cent increase from 19.0% in the period mid September 2005 to mid December 2005 to 19.7% in the period mid September 2007 to mid December 2007.

It was the 55s and over who contributed the biggest leap in participation in sport and active recreation, with a 1.3 per cent increase, from 10.9% to 12.2%.

During the same period, men’s participation in sport and active recreation increased by 1.1 per cent, from 21.5% to 22.6%. There was no significant change in women’s sport participation.

Sport England, 9th April 2008

Bad Breakfast Habits Could Harm Long-Term Health

Skipping breakfast and snacking on sugary and fatty foods could be fuelling Britain’s rising obesity rates among the under 25s. A new survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK into the nation’s breakfast habits discovered that nearly half the 16-24 age group miss breakfast – the first and most important meal of the day – at least twice a week.

The survey, commissioned to raise awareness of the charity’s annual Britain’s Biggest Breakfast campaign, also showed that 85 per cent of under 25s questioned admitted to snacking, with fatty and sugary foods, such as crisps, biscuits, cakes and sweets favourites to keep mid-morning hunger at bay.

Professor Jane Wardle, director of Cancer Research UK’s health behaviour research centre, said: “There is still widespread ignorance that being overweight or obese increases the risk of a number of cancers. We know obesity rates are rising in the UK and research has shown that this trend begins early in life. Children who are overweight or obese are likely to grow into obese adults whose risk of cancer and other diseases is increased because of the extra weight they are carrying. This survey reflects the worrying trend that too many young people miss breakfast only to resort to sugary and fatty snacks when they get hungry. These habits can be hard to break.”

Cancer Research UK carried out the survey of over 2,000 people to promote Britain’s Biggest Breakfast. The charity is calling for people across the UK to celebrate Britain’s Biggest Breakfast’s tenth anniversary by throwing a breakfast ‘party’ to raise money for research into all types of cancer.

Medical News Today, 31st March 2008

Cleaning ‘improves mental health’

Working up a sweat while performing household chores may not just improve the cleanliness of your home, but your mental health too, a survey suggests.

Just 20 minutes of sustained exercise a week – from cleaning to jogging – can impact upon depression, the British Journal of Sports Medicine study found. The more strenuous and frequent the activity, the greater the effect.

University College London researchers looked at a survey of 20,000 people on weekly exercise and state of mind. Another study in the journal also found such exercise among the middle-aged and elderly may delay the ageing process.

In the Scottish Health Survey, 3,000 people reported stress or anxiety. The more active they were, the less likely they were to be suffering in this way. Taking part in sports at least once a week lowered the risk by 33%, while housework and walking could cut it by as much as 20%.

However, light dusting or meandering to the bus stop strictly did not count. The activity needed to be for at least 20 minutes at a time, and had to induce breathlessness.

BBC News, 9th April 2008

Experience sport science by the sea at ECSS Estoril’ 08

EIPET Project

The EIPET project is a two year project, beginning 1st November 2007, supported by the Leonardo da Vinci fund through Léargas, the National Agency for Ireland. The project aims to tackle difficulties that arise and are associated with the inclusion of people with disabilities into mainstream education; and associated current deficiencies in initial and continued physical education teacher training to deal with same.

A functional map of the physical education teacher’s role will be developed through the project and the knowledge, competence and skill requirements of PE teachers, given the rapidly changing work environments resulting from the aforementioned changes, will be detailed. An International Conference in Tralee in 2009 will launch the project results and a resource pack.

Other EIPET project aims include:

To empower teacher training providers and PE teachers with the knowledge, skills and competence to operate effectively in the work environment.
To facilitate equity of opportunity in Physical Education for all.
To develop a resource pack to accompany the model and modules and make it available for download from the project website or available on CD.

The EIPET project is asking FitNews subscribers to let them know your thoughts or dissemination activities in relation to the project in order to engage you in the project consultation process. For more information, please contact Matt Fisher mfisher@sportscoachuk.org

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Academic News April 08

April 5, 2008

Welcome to the April issue of Academic News. The coming months will see a number of events in the sports and academic arena happening all over the UK and Europe, and we have been inundated with details of the very best, so we have decided to make this issue of Academic News an ‘Events Special’!

In this month’s issue you will find details of all the latest workshops and conferences happening over the coming months, and don’t worry we have still managed to squeeze in some of our latest products and a few news stories!

A new approach to understanding the biomechanics of human movement

The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations

UK Strength & Conditioning Association 4th Annual Conference

The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops

Royal Society of Medicine Conference – The Many Facets of Back Pain

‘Regular exercise can slow down ageing’

Obese women ‘50pc more likely to die of breast cancer’

The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference

Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers

The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio”

Academic News inspection copy requests

Experience sport science by the sea at ECSS Estoril’ 08

ECSS logo

The ECSS Estoril’ 08 Congress, organised by the Faculty of Human Kinetics, at the Technical University of Lisbon (FMH), will take place at the Estoril Congress Centre, Portugal, from 9th to 12th July 2008.The scientific programme will offer a broad and interdisciplinary spectrum of current research work in sport science. Internationally well-known scientists will present their keynotes and colleagues from all over the world will discuss their scientific findings in oral or poster presentations.In addition to the outstanding scientific work, the programmed social activities will provide many opportunities to make friends, to enjoy Portuguese hospitality and enjoy what summer has to offer on this wonderful coast.

Please visit www.ecss-congress.eu for more information on the congress.

A new approach to understanding the biomechanics of human movement

It is only in recent human existence that laws of movement of bodies, human or otherwise, have been formulised. We are now in a position to be able to take a scientific approach to the understanding of human movement and this area of study is known as biomechanics – a name that indicates the application of scientific principles and laws towards an understanding of biological systems.

The fantastic Biomechanical Analysis of Fundamental Human Movements deals specifically with biomechanics of human movement, just a small part of the whole range of investigation in human biomechanics. Unlike previous biomechanics texts that have taken a mechanical concept and identified activities in which the concept is implicated, Biomechanical Analysis of Fundamental Human Movements takes a different approach by focusing on the activities and then identifying the biomechanical concepts that best facilitate understanding of those activities.

Superbly illustrated and featuring more than 140 figures depicting the critical points of biomechanical analysis, this is an invaluable tool for those pursuing the study of advanced quantitative biomechanics, as well as teachers of human movement, safety equipment designers and rehabilitation specialists.

PRICE: £45.00 (67.50 Euros)

Read more about the book!

The first book of its kind to focus on physically demanding occupations

Hard Work: Defining Physical Work Performance Requirements focuses on physically demanding occupations that require strength, stamina or both; this includes occupations such as law enforcement, fire fighting, mining, forestry and the military. It is the first book to examine the relationship of recruitment practices, physical training and physical evaluation to the intricate environment of corporations, labour organisations, the legal system and employment rights.

Authors Brian Sharkey and Paul Davis have collectively spent over 70 years studying physically demanding work and the factors associated with performance and health. This book attempts to provide an approach for making intelligent and informed employment decisions that will result in a safer, healthier and more productive workforce.

Hard Work brings their perspective as exercise scientists to an examination of the following factors:

Work requirements and capacity for physically demanding jobs

Physical characteristics of the “athlete-worker,” including aerobic and muscular fitness

Test development, validation and utilisation in employee selection

Employee health and job-related fitness

Environmental factors affecting employee performance, such as heat, cold and altitude

Respiratory protection and lifting guidelines

Legal aspects of employment, consequences of legal decisions and a proposed alternative to litigation

The first book of its kind in this field, Hard Work suggests how employees could benefit by working up to job requirements while maintaining their health, safety and job performance.

PRICE: £36.50 (54.75 Euros)

Read more about the book!

UK Strength & Conditioning Association 4th Annual Conference

The UK Strength & Conditioning Association’s 4th Annual Conference will take place from 6th – 8th June 2008. This year’s conference is hosted by the Sports Institute Northern Ireland and will run over 3 days at the new High Performance Centre, University of Ulster, Belfast.

The programme once again brings together a mixture of science and practical coaching sessions from some of the top UK and international names in strength & conditioning including:

Dr Greg Haff – Periodisation: let the science guide our programme design

Jan Hoff – Research and practice in strength & conditioning for Elite Norwegian Soccer

Liam Hennessy – Contrast training: principles into practice at the IRFU

Kelvin Giles – The role of physical competence in athletic development

Leo Totten – Olympic lifting masterclass

Incredible value all-inclusive accommodation packages are available as well as one day passes. For full programme details and booking forms please visit the UKSCA website www.uksca.org.uk or call 0870 116 1566.

Places are limited and early booking is recommended to ensure your place at the top networking event for strength & conditioning in the UK.

The London Massage Company Summer Skills Workshops

Advance or refresh your skills in sports massage with The London Massage Company’s Summer Skills Workshops, taking place in central London throughout June 2008.

Thirteen workshops will run back-to-back, giving attendees the flexibility to choose one or two workshops, or intensify their learning with the whole set. With each workshop attendees will receive an interactive workbook, as well as an attendance certificate.

Workshops will take place from 2nd – 20th June and include topics such as ‘Deep Tissue Techniques’, ‘Muscle Energy Technique’, ‘Soft Tissue Release’ and ‘Mechanical Massage’. The workshops are £100 a-day and many professional awarding bodies count one-day workshops as five continuing professional development (CPD) points.

For a full breakdown of all workshops and further information on dates and location, visit www.thelondonmassagecompany.com

Royal Society of Medicine Conference – The Many Facets of Back Pain

The Royal Society of Medicine Conference – The Many Facets of Back Pain, organised by the Royal Society of Medicine, Ireland in association with University of Ulster, will take place on Friday 16th May 2008 at University of Ulster, Belfast.

The meeting will focus on the varied clinical presentation of back pain and the multidimensional nature of its management.

For more information and to register online, please visit http://www.rsm.ac.uk/academ/backpainire.php For further information and assistance, please contact Chloe Waite 020 7290 3844 oe email chloe.waite@rsm.ac.uk

‘Regular exercise can slow down ageing’

Regular exercise can help slow down the effects of ageing by up to 12 years, a study claims. People may also be able to retain the ability to live independently for far longer if they exercise throughout middle age and into retirement, it found.

Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, improves oxygen consumption, which in turn improves the body’s ability to convert fat into fuel for muscles. The volume of oxygen we are able to consume is reduced with age, and therefore to maintain good health and the appearance of youth, more aerobic exercise is required.

Research by scientists at the University of Toronto in Canada has shown that high-intensity exercise, taken regularly for more than a year, can make someone as fit as a sedentary person who is 12 years younger.

The results are published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

The Telegraph, 14th April 2008

Read the full story…

Obese women ‘50pc more likely to die of breast cancer’

Significantly overweight women are almost 50 per cent more likely to die of breast cancer within five years of diagnosis, experts warned yesterday.

Doctors at the 6th European Breast Cancer Conference in Berlin warned that it was more difficult to diagnose the disease in obese patients who also risked getting poorer treatment because doctors feared giving them a high enough dose of chemotherapy for their body weight.

Almost 1,500 patients a year in the UK could be diagnosed earlier if they were not obese, research at the conference suggests. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, and almost 45,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK every year, around 9,000 in clinically obese patients.

However, that percentage is predicted to increase because of lifestyle factors that have led to a quarter of women being diagnosed as obese.

Professor Emiel Rutgers, a from the Netherland Cancer Institute and a breast cancer surgeon, said the findings showed “the importance of losing weight, even after you have been diagnosed”.

The Telegraph, 21st April 2008

Read the full story…

The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference

The British Society of Gerontology (BSG) Scotland & Centre for Gerontological Practice, at Glasgow Caledonian University, will host The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference on the 20th June in the Govan Mbeki Building, Glasgow Caledonian University.

This one day conference aims to rethink how we talk about the future of aging and to consider the implications for policy and practice.

The conference will examine the future landscapes of aging, drawing on the expertise of older people, academics and practitioners. It will be of interest to older people and all those who work with them – such as nurses, care workers, social workers, doctors and therapists, as well as academics and students of social gerontology and gerontological practice.

A Scottish Minister with responsibilities for older people will be invited to address the conference and keynote speakers will include Professor Alison Bowes and Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling, who will give a presentation on the ageing population and policy implications and Professor Alan Newell from the University of Dundee, who will talk about new technologies and older people. Lunch time will include poster sessions where authors will speak about their posters, and throughout the day participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the future of aging and contribute to wide ranging discussions on aging and later life.

For more information contact Susan Tester, email susan.tester@stir.ac.uk or Margaret McLay, telephone 0141 331 8492.

More information…

Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers

The Narrative Research in Sport and Exercise: Exploring the Themes of Story Analysts and Storytellers workshop, will take place at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday 24th June (5-8pm) and Wednesday 25th June (9am-3pm).

The workshop, based around an evening and day timetable, is a collaborative event between the Cardiff School of Sport, UWIC and the recently established ‘Network for Performative Research in Sport and Exercise’. This innovative venture explores research-led performance and offers critical reflections and ideas on the procedures and challenges associated with story analysis and storytelling.

The storytelling element of the workshop illustrates and reviews formative approaches to representation. Sports-based qualitative research data (collected from focus-group processes, semi-structured interview protocols, life-history projects, ethnographic, auto-ethnographic writing and action research projects) will be presented through drama, poetry, music and photographic essays.

Invited speakers will also review narrative analysis techniques and consider how performative and narrative research impact on the representation of body and identity.

Delegate Fees (includes attendance at all sessions, tea/coffee, wine reception (Tues evening) and lunch (Wednesday) are £75.00 for full delegate and £55 for Students (reduced fee available for all Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral students subject to confirmation by an accompanying Full Delegate).

Contact ysaker@uwic.ac.uk to register interest and receive more details.

The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio”

The 2nd Annual Conference “Laura Sperandio” – Physical Activity in the Primary Prevention of Breast Cancer: Mechanisms and Scientific Prescription, will take place on Tuesday 29th May, Mumicipal Room, Castagnaro, Italy from 9.00pm. Conference speakers include J.Modenese and G.Bovo. For more information visit http://digila nder.libero.it/bovoginetto or contact bovoginetto@yahoo.it

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

Leave a Comment » | Academic News | Tagged: Academic News, Adacemics, Books, Exercise, Fitness, Health, Obesity, Olympics, Research, Sport | Permalink
Posted by humankinetics

Academic News March 2008

March 28, 2008

Welcome to the March issue of Academic News. Spring is nearly here and although that may imply exams and marking for many, its also means the possibility of some sunshine to look forward to, so we can get outside and enjoy some fresh air.

In this month’s issue we bring you the latest news on the 2012 Olympics, featuring stories on funding and the Paralympics. We also bring you our latest products, updates on the latest events, and as well as all of this, we are giving you a fantastic 10% discount on all Human Kinetics books and DVDs!

In Academic News this month…

	Product of the month…. Promoting an understanding and exposing the issues of muscle damage and repair Discover the best ways to manage your property The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference Equality and Human Rights Commission to use its legal powers to overturn International Paralympic Committee ban for the 2012 Paralympic Games Young adults’ inactivity puts them at risk of heart attack Spin-off enters race to treat obesity Funding concern for 2012 Olympics UK Sport encouraged as national audit office highlights “Significant Progress” to 2012 success Academic News inspection copy requests

Product of the month….

Neurophysiological Basis of Movement, Second Edition, has been thoroughly updated and expanded, making it more comprehensive and accessible to students.By emphasising the neurophysiological mechanisms relevant to the processes of generating voluntary movements, this text is designed for upper-level undergraduate or postgraduate students, who want to better understand how the brain generates control signals and how the peripheral apparatus executes them.This second edition contains eight new chapters and 130 pages of fresh material, covering a wide range of topics, including movement disorders and current theories of motor control and co-ordination. The text is designed so that instructors can cover all chapters or select the topics most relevant to their specific courses.

Neurophysiological Basis of Movement also offers:

A new reference section with more than 700 references, providing supplemental resources that encourage students to read and understand research literature on the neurophysiology of movements
A more reader-friendly presentation of material with improved illustrations and introductions to the chapters that provide better transitions
Six tests to help students perform experiments to address typical ‘template’ research problems and one-minute drills and self-test questions that encourage students to think independently and test their knowledge as they read
A new PowerPoint presentation package that includes 8 to 15 slides of art and text for every chapter, helping instructors prepare for lectures and allowing students to better understand the material

PRICE: £42.00
(63.00 Euros)

Promoting an understanding and exposing the issues of muscle damage and repair

Skeletal Muscle Damage and Repair is a uniquely comprehensive text suitable for those both interested in basic physiological and applied clinical factors in skeletal muscle damage and repair. This includes health professionals and clinicians, kinesiologists, physiotherapists and researchers, as well as post-graduate and undergraduate students.

Presenting both research-based information and applied clinical topics, this outstanding book will assist you in understanding the inter-relationships of basic physiology, specific populations and practical treatments for muscle injury and damage. Written by internationally acclaimed researchers and research groups, who are experts in their field, this book covers a broad spectrum of topics, including:

The scientific methods used to investigate exercise-related muscle damage and repair
A review of current research related to the mechanisms of muscle damage, physiological responses to damage and subsequent muscle repair methods
An examination of issues specific to various populations, including the elderly, diabetics, people with muscular dystrophies and elite athletes
An evaluation of other practical topics as they apply to muscle damage and repair, such as gender and hormonal influences, effects on gait mechanics, the impact in workplace settings and the issue of “high- responder” individuals who seem extraordinarily susceptible to muscle damage
A critical analysis of the efficacy of various popular treatment modalities

Skeletal Muscle Damage and Repair promotes an understanding of the physiological mechanisms of skeletal muscle damage and repair, and exposes a range of issues related to this area. As well as this, it also encourages communication between researchers interested in the mechanisms of muscle damage and repair, and practitioners who treat muscle injury in various populations.

PRICE: £42.50 (63.75 Euros)

Discover the best ways to manage your property

Outdoor Site and Facility Management, Tools for Creating Memorable Places, is a comprehensive resource for staff, board members, management and owners charged with the complex and challenging task of managing and maintaining properties. Whether your property consists of a building, a campsite or a natural park, this book offers a step-by- step property management plan and provides the creative strategies to manage day-to-day operations, such as:

Planning and forecasting
Board and administrator responsibilities
Working with volunteers
Hiring staff
Budgeting and financial oversight
Risk management

This resource also comes with a bound-in CD-ROM, which includes 65 editable forms and checklists, a list of editable job descriptions, plus a comprehensive list of resources.

With Outdoor Site and Facility Management you will discover the best way to manage your property. Nowhere else can you find a comprehensive, one-stop source of information, best practice, guidance and practical tools which you can begin using today.

PRICE: £27.50 (41.25 Euros)

The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference

The British Society of Gerontology (BSG) Scotland & Centre for Gerontological Practice, at Glasgow Caledonian University, will host The Future Landscapes of Aging Conference on the 20th June in the Govan Mbeki Building, Glasgow Caledonian University.

This one day conference aims to rethink how we talk about the futures of ageing and to consider the implications for policy and practice.

The conference will examine future landscapes of ageing, drawing on the expertise of older people, academics and practitioners. It will be of interest to older people and all those who work with them – such as nurses, care workers, social workers, doctors and therapists, as well as academics and students of social gerontology and gerontological practice.

A Scottish Minister with responsibilities for older people will be invited to address the conference and keynote speakers will include Professor Alison Bowes and Professor David Bell from the University of Stirling, who will give a presentations on the ageing population and policy implications and Professor Alan Newell from the University of Dundee, who will talk about new technologies and older people. Lunch time will include poster sessions at where authors will speak about their posters, and throughout the day participants will have the opportunity to reflect on the future of ageing and contribute to wide ranging discussions on ageing and later life.

For more information contact Susan Tester, email susan.tester@stir.ac.uk or Margaret McLay, telephone 0141 331 8492.

More information…

Equality and Human Rights Commission to use its legal powers to overturn International Paralympic Committee ban for the 2012 Paralympic Games

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have unequivocally stated their support for the removal of the International Paralympic Committee ban on people with learning disability competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Liz Sayce, member of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s disability committee stated: “I think The Youth Sports Trust decision to now include children with learning disability in the UK School Games as a result of the Commissions intervention, exerts pressure on the 2012 London Organising Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to include people with learning disability in the 2012 Games”.

She went on to say: “We hope a resolution will be reached without resorting to legal action, but if necessary the Commission will consider using its legal powers to ensure the removal of the ban. The Commission will be looking at the point when the Games are handed to LOCOG from Beijing”.

The ban on athletes with learning disability was imposed by the IPC following an incident at the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000 when a group of adult non-disabled athletes infiltrated the Spanish learning disability basketball team. The IPC banned every athlete with learning disability across the world from competing at future Paralympics and IPC sanctioned competitions as a result. This has had the additional impact of funding being stopped across the UK and some athletes not having the financial means to continue in their sport.

The UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability, working with its members and other organisations across the UK, has been leading a campaign since 2001 for the ban to be lifted.

UK SPORTS ASSOCIATION For People with Learning Disability, 18th February 2008

Young adults’ inactivity puts them at risk of heart attack

The worsening trend in heart disease despite improving treatments is because of lifestyle factors such as smoking and lack of exercise, experts say.

Between 1993 and 2003 the largest relative increase in obesity has been in adults under 45, while cholesterol levels have changed little or even increased among the younger age groups. At the same time the decline in smoking, which is a key risk factor for heart disease, may be levelling off among young adults. A quarter of adults still smoke.

Any change in the trend is likely to be seen soonest in younger people. The younger age group suffers relatively few heart attacks or deaths, so has yet to have any impact on overall figures, which continue to decline. But as this group gets older, the risk is that heart disease deaths will increase again.

Simon Capewell, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Liverpool and an expert on heart disease statistics, said: “We think this recent flattening of heart disease death rates is a real phenomenon. It has also been reported by us in the US, and by colleagues in Australia. We also think that increases in obesity and diabetes may contribute, but do not provide the whole answer.”

The Times, 25th February 2008

Spin-off enters race to treat obesity

The latest British contender in the race to develop a safe and effective treatment for obesity is beginning its first clinical trial in human volunteers this week.

The drug, developed at Imperial College London, is based on a gut hormone that controls sensations of hunger and satiety. It tricks patients into feeling they have eaten enough before their stomach is full.

With the world facing a big public health crisis from rising levels of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, a market worth many billions of pounds a year awaits the first company to make an effective slimming drug with minimal side- effects. About one-third of adults in the US and UK are seriously overweight, according to the World Health Organisation.

Steve Bloom, a medical professor at Imperial, originally discovered in 2005 that injections of a hormone called oxyntomodulin helped obese volunteers to lose weight by reducing their appetite and food intake. His work was hailed at the time as a breakthrough.

But the natural hormone was not suitable for commercial development so Prof Bloom and Imperial College set up Thiakis, a spin-off company, to develop a synthetic “analogue”.

FT.com, 12th March 2008

Funding concern for 2012 Olympics

Elite British athletes competing at the 2012 Olympics in London are set to face uncertainty over funding, says a report from the National Audit Office (NAO).

The NAO said plans to raise £100m as part of a seven-year, £700m, private sector package may be hit due to delays in fundraising and sponsor demands.

“There is a risk that raising all this money is not achievable,” it warned. But British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan insisted there will not be a problem.

“The British Olympic Association believes that the Prime Minister will deliver on his promise made in 2006 to secure the full £600m for the British team,” he said. “This is despite the concerns raised by the NAO report that the Government is entering a crowded market place in their attempt to raise part of the promised funding for our Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the private sector.”

Moynihan’s statement comes after the NAO suggested “UK Sport should avoid distributing too high a proportion of the extra funding to those sports with no medal potential”.

BBC Sport, 20th March 2008

UK Sport encouraged as national audit office highlights “Significant Progress” to 2012 success

UK Sport, the Government agency responsible for investing in and supporting the nation’s elite sport ambitions, has welcomed the key findings of a National Audit Office report into its work preparing sports and athletes for London 2012 and beyond.

The National Audit Office found that UK Sport has made “significant progress” in developing effective performance monitoring of the sports and in its wider management of the World Class Performance system in this country.

It also determined that UK Sport has developed a strategy to deliver its goals for London 2012 and beyond, in particular highlighting ‘Mission 2012′, UK Sport’s recently launched performance management process, as an effective means by which “to improve the governance and accountability of national governing bodies, whilst keeping them focused on the goal of delivering medals and ensuring their performance is measured and reported transparently.”

John Steele, UK Sport Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased with the key findings of this report, which gives us real confidence that we are on the right track in terms of our strategy and approach. I would like to thank the NAO for their valuable insights and we will take on their thoughts and recommendations and make sure they help us in our continual drive to deliver our twin ambitions for 2012: medal success at the Games and the lasting legacy of transformed and sustainable elite sporting system.”

UK Sport, 20th March 2008

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Academic News February 2008

March 12, 2008

Welcome to the February edition of Academic News. In this month’s issue we bring you an abundance of the latest events in the academic arena. As well as the latest events, we also bring you some fantastic new products, and as usual we also have the latest news on sports research, coaching and the Olympics, so take ten minutes out and enjoy this month’s Academic News!

Product of the month….

An invaluable resource for sports management students and professionals alike

Loughborough findings on sports coaching

Extra two stones boosts risk of cancer

GPs turn to exercise for treating depression

Scientists claim cure for tired muscles

UK Leads ”International Inspiration” as Developing Countries Get Sporting Boost

Academic News inspection copy requests

Product of the month….

Dynamics of Skill Acquisition: A Constraints-Led Approach, provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the constraints-led perspective, a recognised theory in motor learning and control.

Practitioners and students will appreciate the applied focus of Dynamics of Skill Acquisition, which outlines a conceptual model of co-ordination and control within a multidisciplinary framework.

Dynamics of Skill Acquisition provides specific strategies of the constraints-led approach that address skill acquisition across a variety of professions, including teaching, coaching and rehabilitation.

This book incorporates several learning features to assist readers, including:

Chapter outlines listing major topics and subtopics.
Self-test questions at the end of each chapter.
Key Concept boxes in each chapter to remind students of the chapters’ important concepts.
Glossary terms bold-faced in text and defined in a glossary at the end of the book.
Chapter summaries offering a compilation of important concepts.

With the increased interest in the role of constraints to shape motor learning, Dynamics of Skill Acquisition provides a timely analysis of the constraints-led approach, helping readers to understand how co-ordination patterns are assembled, controlled and acquired. No other book presents the theoretical roots and development to the constraints-led perspective quite like this one.

PRICE: £39.00
(58.50 Euros)

An invaluable resource for sports management students and professionals alike

Sport Promotion and Sales Management, Second Edition, presents a wide-ranging view of what it takes to be successful in the field of sport marketing and management. Moving from theoretical foundations of sport promotion and sales to fundamental roles of sport sponsorship. It examines incentives for sport consumers, licensing, sales management and the role of technology in sport promotion and sales.

This text is intended for both students on sport management courses who wish to effectively prepare for the industry, and with its complete and current coverage of pertinent issues, this text is also an invaluable resource for sports marketing and sales professionals.

In keeping pace with the changing times in the world of sport, this book features new material, including:

Two new chapters (and three in total) on sport sponsorship with information on how to negotiate, nurture and activate sponsorships
A detailed exploration of a nine-step “edu-selling” process, an emerging sales model created by author William Sutton that will help readers increase product utilisation and satisfaction by teaching how to use tickets and sponsorships to achieve business objectives
Greater emphasis on the roles of sales and sponsorship as integral parts of developing a successful sport business
A radically updated technology chapter that places great emphasis on e-commerce and gives an overview of the rapid changes that technological innovations are bringing to the industry

Whether you are new to the sports industry or an experienced industry veteran, Sport Promotion and Sales Management, Second Edition will be an invaluable resource in creating a successful sales culture in your sports organisation.

PRICE: £39.50 (59.25 Euros)

Loughborough findings on sports coaching

Researchers at Loughborough University have warned that the lack of paid opportunities and professional pathways for coaches undermines the Government’s aim to make the UK the world’s number one coaching nation by 2016.

Loughborough Staff at the University’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences (SSES) undertook the three-month project on behalf of sports think-tank Sportnation, and uncovered a shortfall of paid coaching positions and limited career progression for home grown coaches which placed an unfair burden on unpaid volunteers. They called for better support for coaches at all levels, and greater appreciation of their role.

Professionals from 12 sports – athletics, badminton, cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rowing, swimming, tennis, triathlon and volleyball – were consulted in the study which was designed to examine the issues within coaching and current coaching structures.

Utilising the expertise of research team Dr Tess Kay, Professor Kathy Armour, Dr Chris Cushion and Dr Rod Thorpe the study included analysis of existing published material as well as one-to-one interviews with Performance Directors and senior representatives from the identified sports.

According to the research, 69% of the 1.2m to 1.5m sports coaches in the UK are unpaid volunteers and in a sport such as athletics for example there are as few as 12 full-time paid performance coaches in the UK, with some disciplines having no full-time coach at all.

Loughborough News, 29th January 2008

Extra two stones boosts risk of cancer

The chance of developing five different types of cancer increases by 50 per cent if your weight goes up by more than two stones, according to new research.

A study at the University of Manchester found that those who put on weight equivalent to a five-point increase in the body mass index (BMI) were at significant risk of contracting cancer of the colon, breast, skin and thyroid.

The increase in BMI is equivalent to two-and-a-half stones (18.9kg) for a healthy man of average height, 5ft 9ins (1.75m), and almost two stones (12.6kg) for a healthy woman of average height, 5ft 4ins (1.63m).

Men who gained that amount of weight were 50 per cent more likely to develop oesophageal cancer and a third more likely to suffer thyroid cancer. Their chances of getting colon and kidney cancer increase by 24 per cent; they are also at a smaller but significant risk of rectal and skin cancer.

Women who are similarly overweight increase their chances of cancer of the womb lining and gallbladder by 59 per cent. They also have more than a 50 per cent increased risk of oesophageal cancer and are a third more likely to develop kidney cancer. The chances of women getting pancreatic, thyroid, and colon cancer increased significantly if they were overweight, but were not as great as the risk for men.

The Telegraph, 15th February 2008

GPs turn to exercise for treating depression

Doctors are increasingly prescribing exercise for people with depression, mental health campaigners have found. In a survey of 200 English GPs, the Mental Health Foundation found 22% suggest exercise to help people with milder forms of the condition. This compares with just 5% in a similar survey three years ago. The foundation said it was important that doctors did not just prescribe antidepressants for patients, and looked for other options.

Research has shown that exercise can help people with mild forms of depression by improving self-esteem – through better body image or achieving goals, and by relieving feelings of isolation which can fuel their depression. It also releases feel-good brain chemicals such as endorphins.

Celia Richardson, campaigns director for the Mental Health Foundation, said: “It can help people physically, socially and biologically. They often meet others who have been in the same situation as them, but are now further down the line and feeling better.”

The survey found there is now a wider belief by GPs that exercise therapy can be beneficial. Three years ago, 41% thought it was “effective or very effective”, rising to 61% now. But half of the GPs questioned did not have access to an exercise referral scheme. Two thirds of these doctors said they wished they had. More patients are also interested in how exercise can help them – one in six GPs say they have noticed an increase in the number of people asking whether exercise could help them.

BBC News, 8th February 2008

Scientists claim cure for tired muscles

The Victor Contes of this world will be keeping a close eye on Columbia University in New York, where a team of scientists claim that they have not only discovered the reason for muscle fatigue but have designed a drug that reduces it.

The experimental drug has been tested on mice and has apparently allowed them to continue swimming long after they should have stopped with exhaustion. But yesterday a scientist in Britain questioned the method, motivation and results of the tests.

For a century, scientists believed that the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle cells was the reason for fatigue and decreased athletic performance.

The Columbia study claims that muscle fatigue is the result of the leak of calcium ions that reduces the force of muscle contraction. Working on the hunch that the fatigue suffered by victims of heart failure was the same as that suffered by marathon runners, members of the Columbia team found a similarity in the leaking calcium. They then gave the drug, which plugs the leak, to mice and put them on an intensive 21-day swimming programme.

The Times, 15th February 2008

UK Leads ”International Inspiration” as Developing Countries Get Sporting Boost

The Prime Minister has announced a £9 million investment programme to support sporting projects in five developing countries around the world. The pilot is the start of a larger programme called “International Inspiration” which will deliver on the promise made to the IOC in Singapore of engaging and inspiring the youth of the world through sport.

The pilot programmes are taking place in Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia and project work has already started in each of these countries. In India, the Prime Minister is visiting Delhi where he attended an event featuring young schoolchildren playing mixed sex football matches and met with Lakshmi, a tribal girl archer from Jharkhand who is now a world class athlete. He also met UK teachers from schools involved in the programme.

Funding for the pilot programme, which runs until 2010 and is being led by UK Sport, the Government’s international sports agency, includes contributions from DFID, UNICEF, the British Council, the FA Premier League and the DCMS. Further announcements on how the programme will develop beyond the pilot will be made in the coming months.

UK Sport, 21st January 2008

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FitNews Newsletter February 2008

March 12, 2008

Welcome to the January issue of FitNews.

At this time of year many of us pledge to begin a new healthy lifestyle, resolutions have been made, diets planned and gym memberships purchased. According to recent research in this month’s newsletter, we have more reasons then ever to carry on living a healthy and active lifestyle in 2008, as research shows that a poor diet kills 70,000 people a year and a healthy lifestyle can add 14 years to your life! So if the new year is the kick start you need to get healthy so be it, but don’t forget the importance of carrying it on throughout the year and beyond.

Product of the month…

We all know how important it is to exercise regularly to keep in shape, and with the growing threat of obesity forcing us to be aware of our physical activity levels, we are constantly looking for ways to keep fit. Working out in the water is an excellent way to exercise as it offers numerous benefits that not only include keeping in shape and burning calories.If you are looking for a way to exercise that you can stick to and one that will benefit your mind as well as your body then have fun, get fit and stay healthy with Fantastic Water Workouts.With more than 130 exercises that use the natural resistance of water, you will improve your body’s composition and tone, strengthen muscles, increase aerobic and muscular endurance and improve flexibility, co-ordination and agility – all with minimal stress on your body.

Fantastic Water Workouts also includes 14 step-by-step programmes that can be tailored to your personal needs. Whether you’re seeking general programmes for overall fitness or more specific routines for pregnancy, physical rehabilitation, cardiac recovery, or older adults, it’s all in this fantastic book.

For a great way to exercise, no matter what your individual needs or goals, jump into Fantastic Water Workouts and discover the complete water workout guide.

PRICE:
£10.99 (16.49 Euros)
Read more about the book!

Achieve success as a personal trainer with this vital resource

Personal trainers are passionate about motivating and guiding others to a healthy and fit lifestyle. However, it can sometimes be a challenge to shape that passion into knowledgeable, consistent and qualified assistance. To succeed as a personal trainer, turn to Can-Fit-Pro’s Foundations of Professional Personal Training, a resource which will help build fitness expertise, assessment prowess, communication skills and business knowledge.

Written by Can-Fit-Pro, a continuing education provider for Canadian fitness professionals, the text includes the essentials of fitness theory and practical application, client assessment and screening, safety considerations and programme design. This information is complemented by chapters on the business of personal training, the psychology of personal training, plus two photo-rich appendices providing exercises to share with clients.

Included with the book is a special bonus CD-ROM titled Essentials of Interactive Functional Anatomy (IFA Essentials). Using a 3-D model of the human musculature, IFA Essentials provides a vivid and detailed review of the components of structural anatomy. It is a valuable guide to structural anatomy for personal trainers at any stage of their career.

To guide others in leading a healthy lifestyle, every personal trainer should invest in Foundations of Professional Personal Training, to help develop their career in this vital area.

PRICE: £40.00 (60.00 Euros)

Poor diet kills 70,000 every year, report says

Almost 70,000 deaths could be avoided every year if Britons followed healthy eating guidelines, a wide-ranging government report says.

The nation’s poor diet costs the economy £10 billion, of which £7.7 billion comprises NHS treatment that could be avoided if people cut down on fatty and salty foods and ate more fresh fruit and vegetables. Those who die prematurely would have lived for almost 10 years longer if they adhered to dietary advice, the report says.

The figures are contained in the Cabinet Office report Food: an analysis of the issues, commissioned by the Prime Minister as a precursor to a government review of food policy and a new strategy on tackling obesity.

It includes grim predictions about the growth of obesity in Britain, with 60 per cent of the population expected to be overweight by 2050, compared with 28 per cent today, and 70 per cent of girls and 55 per cent of boys expected to be overweight or obese in 40 years’ time.

The report also shows that children are being badly let down by parents who feed them far too much saturated fat, sugar and salt and not enough fruit and veg.

The Telegraph. 7th January 2007

Healthy life ‘can give you another 14 years’

A healthy lifestyle can increase a person’s lifespan by as much as 14 years, scientists have claimed.

Researchers have calculated people can extend the length of their lives by up to 17 per cent by not smoking, drinking only moderately, eating healthily and keeping physically active.

Many studies have highlighted the health risks associated with cigarettes, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet and lack of exercise. However, few have looked at the combined effects of all four on longevity.

Prof Kay-Tee Khaw, a gerontologist at Cambridge University who led the new study, said: “There were substantial differences in mortality associated with the four health behaviours combined. The results strongly suggest that these four achievable lifestyle changes could have a marked improvement on the health of middle-aged and older people, which is particularly important given the ageing population in the UK and other European countries.”

Prof Khaw and colleagues, whose study is published in the journal PLoS Medicine, surveyed 20,244 men and women living in Norfolk in the mid-1990s. The participants, none of whom had known cancer or heart disease, were aged between 45 and 79.

The Telegraph, 8th January 2008

Most Britons feel overweight and unfit

Almost three-quarters of Britons in a survey believe they are overweight and have vowed to start a health campaign in the New Year.

But it appears only the young are concerned about controlling their weight, with just a quarter of older Britons seeing getting fit as a priority, the poll for the Community Service Volunteers (CSV) charity found.

Despite almost 70 percent of Britons saying they want to get healthy, experts said other evidence into people’s behaviour suggests that repeated warnings about the dangers of obesity is falling on deaf ears.

The survey, commissioned by CSV subsidiary Dare to Care and based on an ICM poll of 1,032 adults, showed that those in the northeast and Scotland are most concerned about their weight.

Reuters UK, 8th January 2008

Study finds both drinking and exercise healthy

Drinking is healthy, exercise is healthy, and doing a little of both is even healthier, Danish researchers reported.

People who neither drink nor exercise have a 30 to 49 percent higher risk of heart disease than people who do one or both of the activities, the researchers said in the European Heart Journal.

“The main finding is there seems to be an additional beneficial effect of drinking one to two drinks per day and doing at least moderate physical activity,” said Morten Gronbaek of the University of Southern Denmark, who led the study.

Several major studies have found that light to moderate drinking – up to two drinks a day on a regular basis – is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and some have also found this leads to a lower risk of some cancers.

But the Danish study, one of the largest of its kind to examine the combined effect of drinking and exercise, found there were additional protective effects gained from doing both.

Reuters UK, 9th January 2008

Obesity soars as hundreds are treated for health related problems each day

More than 230 people are treated at hospital every day for health problems associated with obesity, Department of Health figures revealed. And the problem is soaring at an alarming rate with the number of hospital consultations soaring almost 30 per cent in the last year alone.

In nine years the effect of obesity on hospital consultants has trebled as the numbers needing treatment has risen from 23,961 in 1997/98 to 85,302 in 2006/07.

The statistics reveal the number of people who were seen by a consultant where either the main source of illness was classified as excessive body weight or where obesity had contributed to some other ailment.

The number of obese children has also soared in recent years. In 1997/98 just 689 children were seen by hospital consultants as a result of their obesity. However by 2006/07 this had risen to 2,307 children.

National Obesity Forum chairman Dr Colin Waine said: “We badly need a public health approach to alter the environment and make it less obeseogenic. This has to be led by the government.”

The Daily Mail, 11th January 2008

Help children find joy in movement

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UKPE Newsletter February 2008

March 12, 2008

Welcome to the February edition of the UKPE newsletter!

It is hard to believe we have already reached the first half-term of 2008. We will all take comfort in the fact that the summer is now only a few months away, and we can soon get outside for some fresh air and physical activity. Pupils will be able to enjoy a PE lesson on the sports field and with some fantastic resources included in this issue, we can make teaching these lessons a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.

In this month’s newsletter we are pleased to bring you the news that over 300,000 children with learning disabilities will now be able to take part in the UK School Games, thanks to action taken by Mencap, the UK’s leading learning disability charity and Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe. Other news in this jam-packed issue includes the Goverment’s most recent attempts to curb childhood obesity with some interesting tactics, read on to find out their latest attempts to slow down the obesity epidemic…

In the UKPE Newsletter this month…

Product of the month…

Set the foundations for children to continue a lifetime of physical activity

Gerry Sutcliffe and Mencap gain School Games concession

Ex-Olympian Dame Kelly calls for ‘cool’ PE kits

Meet the latest answer to child obesity: the Wii

Government may ban fast food near schools

Food, glorious food – and now learning how to cook it is compulsory

Product of the month…

Coaching young people is an exciting way to be involved in sport, but preparing young athletes both physically and mentally to compete effectively, fairly and safely in their sport, and providing them with a positive role model can be challenging.

Coaching Youth Track and Field will assist you in meeting these challenges, and enable you to reap the rewards of coaching young athletes.

Coaching Youth Track and Field is a fantastic new book which will help you to acquire all of the fundamental skills necessary to be a successful coach.

As well as many activities specifically aimed at coaching children in the sport of track and field, there is an entire section dedicated to the principles of coaching – including coaching philosophy, communication, team management, training and sport first aid. The book also includes 73 activities and 32 age-specific coaching tips.

Coaching Youth Track & Field is the only resource available today aimed at coaches of athletes aged fourteen and under.

This book is a superb introduction to youth coaching and a reliable resource, not only for coaching the fundamentals of track and field events, but also for creating an environment to promote learning and help children enjoy their sporting experience year after year.

PRICE: £9.99
(14.99 Euros)

Academic News January 2008

March 12, 2008

Welcome to the January edition of Academic News. It is hard to believe another year has begun and the second semester has slowly crept upon us. In between marking all those exam papers and preparing yourself for the new semester, we hope you find a spare minute to take a break and read this month’s Academic News, as it is jam-packed with all the latest news, events and products from the world of academia.

In this month’s issue we bring you news of the value of sport to our economy, offer you an insight into our latest products on sport finance, motor learning and health and wellness, plus we give you one last chance to join BASES on a three month trial for only 97p!

In Academic News this month…

Product of the month….

Equip students with fundamental finance and accounting concepts

Christian principles used to teach health and wellness

Sport worth over 15 billion a year to nation’s economy

Gordon Brown to unveil £9m Olympic project

Healthy life ‘can give you another 14 years’

Academic News inspection copy requests

Product of the month….

Motor Learning and Performance: A Situation-Based Learning Approach, expands on the fundamentals of motor performance and learning, providing valuable supporting literature and current research results in an accessible and engaging format.Motor Learning and Performance outlines the principles of motor skill learning, develops a conceptual model of human performance and shows students how to apply the concepts of motor learning and performance to a variety of real-world settings.More than 76 new references, exercises, updated figures and photos and improved chapter features make the fourth edition of this book, the most user- friendly edition to date.

New to the fourth edition is access to an online student study guide with lab activities that bring the material to life. The online study guide will help students understand and apply theories and research findings with the use of a number of tools included in the study guide.

The ancillary materials include an expanded instructor guide with chapter summary notes and additional situation-based exercises for class discussion, a presentation package of PowerPoint slides for lectures and a test bank.

There is no better introduction to the fascinating field of motor learning and its many applications in the real world, then the student-friendly Motor Learning and Performance: A Situation-Based Learning Approach.

PRICE: £47.00
(70.50 Euros)

Equip students with fundamental finance and accounting concepts

Sport Finance, Second Edition, grounds students in the real world of financial management in sport, showing them how to apply financial concepts and appreciate the importance of finance in sound sport management and operations.

Designed for sport finance courses in a sport management curriculum, this text:

allows students to apply information in whatever segment of the sport industry they will be working in;
includes expanded coverage of business structures, the time value of money and ethical guidelines and issues in auditing;
presents updated examples, references and case studies, giving students contemporary examples and adequate coverage of core concepts; and
helps students new to sport finance comprehend the subject by including chapter objectives, easy-to- follow figures and tables, summaries and discussion questions.

As an added benefit to instructors, this second edition includes a wealth of ancillary materials conveniently offered online, to help make the topics more comprehensive to students.

Sport Finance, Second Edition, will provide students at all levels with the fundamental finance and accounting concepts they need to help raise, manage and spend money in sport settings.

PRICE: £39.50 (59.25 Euros)

Christian principles used to teach health and wellness

Christian Paths to Health and Wellness provides an exciting new approach to teaching health and wellness. Driven by 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” this practical text is based on sound, cutting-edge scientific research and Christian principles.

From this book, readers will gain:

A solid foundation in health and wellness theory and research.
Multiple Christian Perspectives that create a balanced approach to health and wellness across a broad spectrum of Christian beliefs.
Study aids, including vocabulary lists, glossary definitions, chapter-opening objectives and chapter- ending questions, which foster learning and application of the material.

Christian Paths to Health and Wellness also comes with free instructional aids for course adopters, including Web support with sample course syllabi, a presentation package and a test package.

The main goal of this book is to help empower readers to take responsibility and initiative for their own health and well-being. Readers will become aware of physical wellness issues and develop a passion for proactive and permanent lifestyle changes, and they will do it all with a Christian approach.

PRICE: £22.50 (33.75 Euros)

Sport worth over 15 billion a year to nation’s economy

Research commissioned by Sport England shows that sport-related economic activity in England reached a record high of £15.47 billion in 2005. This includes everything from sales of sports clothing and equipment to jobs in the sports industry.

This is nearly a 50% increase since 2000. The growth in England’s sport economy has outstripped that of the economy as a whole, as well as comparable sectors such as gambling.

Karren Brady, CEO of Birmingham City Football Club and Board Member of Sport England, said: “This research shows the sporting pound is very important to the economic health of the nation. More people are using their wages to go and watch matches, buy sports clothing or splash out on the latest sports equipment. More importantly, new jobs are being created and sports clubs are benefiting from increase in subscriptions.”

The research was carried out by the Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC) at Sheffield Hallam University on behalf of Sport England.

Sport England, 10th January 2008

Gordon Brown to unveil £9m Olympic project

The Prime Minister Gordon Brown will announce a new £9 million international development project designed to start delivering on the promises made by London when the city won the right to host the 2012 Olympics.

Sebastian Coe told members of the International Olympic Committee during the dramatic election victory in Singapore in July 2005 that, as well as regenerating a large part of east London, the 2012 Games would be used to inspire a new generation of sports enthusiasts around the globe.

Now, 2½ years later, London Olympic organisers have joined forces with the Government, UK Sport, the Premier League, Unicef and the British Council to develop ‘International Inspiration’, starting with five pilot schemes which will try to spread the Olympic message to some of the world’s poorest countries.

The pilots, which will take place in India, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Palau and Zambia, will run until 2010. Organisers hope they will be able to build on the success of the schemes to expand the programme in the two years before the London Games and beyond.

The Telegraph, 20th January 2008

Healthy life ‘can give you another 14 years’

A healthy lifestyle can increase a person’s lifespan by as much as 14 years, scientists have claimed.

Researchers have calculated people can extend the length of their lives by up to 17 per cent by not smoking, drinking only moderately, eating healthily and keeping physically active.

The Telegraph, 8th January 2008

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 Paul Mills on 0113 255 5665 ext.224 or e-mail paulm@hkeurope.com

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Posted by humankinetics

FitNews newsletter January 2008

March 12, 2008

Welcome to the January issue of FitNews.

In FitNews this month…

	Product of the month… Achieve success as a personal trainer with this vital resource Poor diet kills 70,000 every year, report says Healthy life ‘can give you another 14 years’ Most Britons feel overweight and unfit Study finds both drinking and exercise healthy Obesity soars as hundreds are treated for health related problems each day

Product of the month…

With more than 130 exercises that use the natural resistance of water, you will improve your body’s composition and tone, strengthen muscles, increase aerobic and muscular endurance and improve flexibility, co-ordination and agility – all with minimal stress on your body.

For a great way to exercise, no matter what your individual needs or goals, jump into Fantastic Water Workouts and discover the complete water workout guide.

PRICE:
£10.99 (16.49 Euros)
Read more about the book!

Achieve success as a personal trainer with this vital resource

To guide others in leading a healthy lifestyle, every personal trainer should invest in Foundations of Professional Personal Training, to help develop their career in this vital area.

PRICE: £40.00 (60.00 Euros)

Poor diet kills 70,000 every year, report says

Almost 70,000 deaths could be avoided every year if Britons followed healthy eating guidelines, a wide-ranging government report says.

The report also shows that children are being badly let down by parents who feed them far too much saturated fat, sugar and salt and not enough fruit and veg.

The Telegraph. 7th January 2007

Healthy life ‘can give you another 14 years’

A healthy lifestyle can increase a person’s lifespan by as much as 14 years, scientists have claimed.

Researchers have calculated people can extend the length of their lives by up to 17 per cent by not smoking, drinking only moderately, eating healthily and keeping physically active.

The Telegraph, 8th January 2008

Most Britons feel overweight and unfit

Almost three-quarters of Britons in a survey believe they are overweight and have vowed to start a health campaign in the New Year.

The survey, commissioned by CSV subsidiary Dare to Care and based on an ICM poll of 1,032 adults, showed that those in the northeast and Scotland are most concerned about their weight.

Reuters UK, 8th January 2008

Study finds both drinking and exercise healthy

Drinking is healthy, exercise is healthy, and doing a little of both is even healthier, Danish researchers reported.

People who neither drink nor exercise have a 30 to 49 percent higher risk of heart disease than people who do one or both of the activities, the researchers said in the European Heart Journal.

But the Danish study, one of the largest of its kind to examine the combined effect of drinking and exercise, found there were additional protective effects gained from doing both.

Reuters UK, 9th January 2008

Obesity soars as hundreds are treated for health related problems each day

In nine years the effect of obesity on hospital consultants has trebled as the numbers needing treatment has risen from 23,961 in 1997/98 to 85,302 in 2006/07.

National Obesity Forum chairman Dr Colin Waine said: “We badly need a public health approach to alter the environment and make it less obeseogenic. This has to be led by the government.”

The Daily Mail, 11th January 2008

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November Academic News – November 2007

November 29, 2007

Welcome to the November edition of Academic News. This semester has flown by and it is hard to believe we are nearly at the end of the 2007! As we approach the new semester you may be thinking of re-stocking your bookshelves and updating your university libraries and with a generous Christmas discount you have even more reason to do so, as we are offering 10% discount on all of our books and DVDs until the 31st December 2007. Please read on for more details.

This month’s issue continues to keep you up-to-date with all the latest in the sporting arena, including the latest on the 2012 Olympics and why Britain has another reason to celebrate as Glasgow will be hosting the 2014 Commonwealth Games!

In Academic News this month…

	Bold new book addresses the state of black sport participation London Olympic stadium design unveiled Glasgow to stage 2014 Commonwealth Games Lack of time, off-putting PE lessons, social pressure … why women face a fitness crisis Woodward unveils £20m vision for 2012 Olympians Working Group established to aid doping battle Christmas is coming… Notice of Changes to Inspection Copy Policy

Bold new book addresses the state of black sport participation

Written 40 years after the American Civil Rights Movement took place, which set the stage for greater participation and integration of black people in sport, distinguished, award-winning American author Shaun Powell releases his fantastic new book, Souled Out? How Blacks are Winning and Losing in Sports. A book that dares to answer tough questions concerning the state of black sports participation today.

In this brutally honest portrayal, Powell boldly address a number of dilemmas that black athletes still face, including:

The reluctance of black athletes to engage in black activism or their indifference to larger black community concerns,
The representation of black athletes among the media and how black athletes conform to the persona assigned to them,
Why with tremendous role models such as Serena Williams, participation by black females is not more widely encouraged.

Ultimately this book challenges black sports figures to take greater responsibility and action, and prompts all readers to re-examine their views to become less preoccupied with difference, and more focused on mutual respect and hard-earned achievement.

Souled Out? How Blacks are Winning and Losing in Sport is also available online in an E-version.

PRICE: £13.99 (20.99 Euros)

London Olympic stadium design unveiled

Olympic Stadium

Dubbed the ’stadium bowl,’ the new Olympic home has a track and field area and a lower tier of permanent seating for 25,000 people, sunk into the ground. A further 55,000 temporary seats will make up the higher covered section.

The temporary seating will be removed after the Games. Furthermore, the roof will be lifted off, reconfigured and replaced to cover the remaining 25,000 seat bowl.

Construction is due to start three months ahead of schedule in April 2008, the stadium will also be designed to be sustainable and attract other businesses and investment to the communities surrounding the Olympic Park.

Appointed by the ODA, the team submitted their designs a few months later than the forecasted date of February 2007.

‘Team Stadium’ is a joint project between Sir Robert McAlpine, HOK Sport and Buro Happold.

Scenta, November 8th 2007

Glasgow to stage 2014 Commonwealth Games

glasgow commonwealth games logo

Britain’s run of success in securing major sporting events was maintained as Glasgow earned the right to stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a clear victory over its only rival, the Nigerian capital of Abuja.

The 2010 Ryder Cup is already destined for Wales and due a return to British shores four years later at Gleneagles. London will host the 2012 Olympics and the Rugby Football Union intends to bid for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The Football Association has officially announced that it will bid to host the 2018 Fifa World Cup and a year later the cricket version will again be held in England.

Welcoming yesterday’s result, the prime minister Gordon Brown said: “It’s looking like a great sporting decade for our country.”

The Glasgow bid secured 47 votes against Abuja’s 24 at the Commonwealth Games Federation’s general assembly in Colombo to decide the location of the 20th edition of this quadrennial event and set off noisy celebrations both in the Sri Lankan capital and the victorious city itself.

The Independent, November 10th 2007

Lack of time, off-putting PE lessons, social pressure … why women face a fitness crisis

Women’s fitness is in crisis in the UK, with fewer than one in five doing enough exercise to be healthy, a report will has revealed, prompting Gordon Brown to call for a cultural change to transform girls’ attitudes to sport.

Social pressures which portray sport as unfeminine and encourage girls to be thin rather than fit are an important barrier preventing girls and women from taking part in exercise, according to the study by the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation.

Negative experiences of sport in school and low body confidence also put women off exercise, the research found.

The prime minister, in a recorded address at the report’s launch, warned of a “critical under-representation of women and girls in sport” at all levels, and will urge “a cultural change that allows girls to see sport and physical activity as aspirational”.

“Sport needs to change so that it becomes as much a place for women and girls as it is for men and boys,” he will say, telling sports bodies to “work harder to understand women’s lives”.

The Guardian, November 15th 2007

Woodward unveils £20m vision for 2012 Olympians

Sir Clive Woodward

Up to 25 British Olympians will receive bespoke support from as many as 10 specialist coaches in a £20m programme announced by Sir Clive Woodward yesterday. Woodward, the British Olympic Association’s elite performance director, has assembled a team of specialists in nutrition, physiology, medicine, conditioning, motor skills and sports science who will work with those selected at a cost of £150,000 per athlete a year.

Among the specialists who will work under Woodward are several who played a part in England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign, including Jonny Wilkinson’s kicking and performance coach Dave Alred, the vision specialist Sherylle Calder, who worked for South Africa at the recent World Cup, and Dave Reddin, England’s former conditioning coach.

The BOA hopes the cost of the scheme, which has caused some tension with the government’s elite sport funding body, UK Sport, will come from existing London 2012 or International Olympic Committee sponsors. UK Sport had feared Woodward’s programme might duplicate or overlap with work already being done by performance directors in individual sports, but after a series of meetings this week and the intervention of the sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, both parties insisted they would work in harmony.

Athletes will be selected to join the Woodward programme only with the approval of their sports’ performance director, and the final decision will be taken by UK Sport’s Mission 2012 panel, of which Woodward is a member.

The Guardian, November 9th 2007

Working Group established to aid doping battle

Sutcliffe

On the second day of the World Conference on Doping in Sport, Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe announced the establishment of a Working Group to consider how law enforcement agencies can work with UK Sport to combat drugs in sport.

The Working Group will focus on how relevant organisations can work together to help investigate ‘non-analytical’ doping offences, such as trafficking, possession and supply.

It was set up following a recent meeting Sutcliffe chaired with the Home Office, UK Sport, the Association of Chief Police Offices, Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in attendance. All parties are expected to be represented in the Working Group.

“It is increasingly the case that testing alone isn’t enough to prevent doping in sport,” said Sutcliffe. “We have seen in other counties how partnerships between law enforcement agencies, other relevant public authorities and sports bodies can be effective in getting to the root of doping, namely the possession and supply of prohibited substances. It is timely for us to assess how such partnerships could work in the UK, how existing legislation can be used, and any potential gaps that might need addressing.”

UK Sport, November 16th 2007