Long-term Tai Chi exercise increases body stability of the elderly during stair ascent under high and low illumination*

The effects of long-term Tai Chi exercise on body stability of the elderly during stair ascent under high and low illumination were investigated. Forty-five healthy elderly women were divided into three groups, namely, Tai Chi exercise group, brisk walking group and no-exercise control group. All the participants ascended a staircase, during which force platforms and a motion capture system collected the data. Under the high illumination, Tai Chi exercise participants exhibited higher loading rate and anteroposterior centre of pressure (COP_ap) displacement as well as a lower braking impulse than no-exercise group. Under the low illumination, Tai Chi exercise participants demonstrated higher COP_ap and mediolateral centre of pressure (COP_ml) displacements as well as lower braking and lateral impulses compared with no-exercise participants. The centre of mass (COM)_ml sway in Tai Chi and no exercise participants were higher, the loading rates in Tai Chi and walking participants were higher, and the lateral impulse in no exercise participants was higher under low illumination than under high illumination. Thus, low illumination increases the risk of falling. Tai Chi participants increased their foot clearance, head inclination angle and COP_ap displacement under low illumination to increase their stability during stair ascent.     

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) in endurance sports: A review

While there is strong support of the usefulness of post-activation potentiation (PAP) phenomenon in power demanding sports, the role that PAP could play in endurance sports has received less attention. The aim of this review is to present evidence for a better understanding of PAP in endurance athletes; and to discuss the physiological basis and methodological aspects necessary for better practices and designing further studies. A search for relevant articles on PAP and endurance trained athletes was carried out using Medline and ISI Web of Knowledge databases. Twenty-two studies were included in the review. The current evidence suggests the possible influence of PAP for performance enhancement after appropriate conditioning activities during warm up. Evaluation of PAP responses during testing, training and competition may be also important for athletes monitoring. There are many unresolved questions about the optimum load parameters for benefiting from PAP in both training and competition; and the role that PAP may exert for optimal performance while interacting with central and peripheral factors associated with muscle fatigue. Further studies should elucidate the association between PAP responses and long-term adaptations in endurance athletes.     

Systematic review of the evidence to support expert practice in the education and care of children and young people with special educational needs and disability in the UK

Scopus, EBSCO, ERIC and British Education Index were interrogated in a systematic review of primary research since 2014 addressing expert practice and outcomes in education and care for young people with special educational needs and disability in the UK. Grey literature and studies of medical settings, preschool children, mainstream education or professional education were excluded. Quality was gauged by effect sizes, risk of bias and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. The search identified 7058 items. Twenty-eight studies were included, with 1839 participants of 4–22 years. Risk of bias was low, with effect sizes from small to extremely large. The qualitative studies were rigorous. Expert practice with positive outcomes was evidenced in comprehensive assessment, enhancing engagement and personalised interventions. Correction of visual problems, use of humanoid robots, and tested models were generally effective. There was rigorous evidence for efficacy of frameworks and reasonable evidence for creative approaches to physical activity. Drama lessons were valued. Standing frame use improved peer interaction or caused segregation. Disparity between problem identification and planned support in education health and care plans, and addressing personal and physical health factors were problematic. The voice of young people was lacking. More training was required in augmented and alternative communication.