The hip control test is a valid and reliable measure of hip neuromuscular control

Abstract

Insufficient hip neuromuscular control may contribute to non-contact sport injuries. However, the current evaluative test of hip neuromuscular control, the single-leg squat, requires hip abductor muscle strength to complete. The purpose of this study was to develop the hip control test (HCT) and determine the test’s reliability and construct validity. Nineteen healthy adults visited the laboratory twice. The HCT is a 10-s test of reciprocal toe-tapping accuracy. Both automated and manual HCT ratings were recorded simultaneously during each visit. Additionally, eccentric hip abductor torque was measured. HCT reliability was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Agreement between automated and manual ratings was determined with Bland–Altman plots. Construct validity was established if HCT performance significantly decreased with a secondary cognitive task (p < 0.05). Bivariate regression determined the relationship between HCT performance and eccentric hip abductor torque. Automated and manual HCT ratings both had moderate reliability (ICC = 0.72) and yielded similar results (limits of agreement = ?1 to 2 taps). The HCT had construct validity (p = 0.001), and no correlation with hip abductor muscle strength (r = 0.213). Thus, the HCT is a reliable and valid test. The HCT is simple to administer and measures hip neuromuscular control separately from strength.     

Ideological conflicts behind mutual belief: the termination of the ‘dual-registration policy’ and the collapse of an effective elite diving system in China

Abstract

This article presents a study of the rationale, particularly ideological factors, of a policy change, i.e. the termination of a ‘dual-registration policy’ of Chinese elite divers, through investigating the belief system of actors in the decision-making process and in its aftermath, which was the collapse of an effective elite diver development system. Besides policies documents and academic literature, research data are also collected through thirteen interviews. The analysis of data is conducted through employing Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) as the theory of the research. Through breaking down the belief system of different Advocacy Coalitions in the case, it is concluded that the policy change and the subsequent termination of the Tsinghua system could be recognized as natural consequences consistent with the belief and value of both Chinese elite sport and the Tsinghua university, and that structural elements are influential in shaping the belief system and the decision-making process.     

Student outcomes of the physical education and physical literacy (PEPL) approach: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of a multicomponent intervention to improve physical literacy in primary schools

ABSTRACT

Background: Health organisations such as the United Nations continue to place an expectation on school physical education (PE) programmes and wider school strategies to ensure students develop physical literacy and receive the well-established benefits of meeting physical activity guidelines. Barriers to meet this expectation such as lack of trained PE teachers, lack of time and greater emphasis on academic achievement are ongoing challenges to schools. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the multi-component Physical Education Physical Literacy (PEPL) intervention, designed to improve students’ fundamental movement skill, perceived physical abilities and level of physical activity.

Method: A qualified PE teacher implemented the PEPL intervention across seven schools, and another seven schools formed a control group as part of a randomised cluster-based trial. Grade 5 students (N?=?318, age 10.4 years?±?SD 0.4) completed assessments of physical activity, fundamental movement skill, attitudes towards PE, and self-perceptions of physical abilities before and after a 33-week intervention. Intervention effects were examined using general linear mixed models. Post-intervention focus groups with students were used to develop insights into experiences and outcomes.

Results: With no significant gender interactions, the PEPL approach led to enhanced object control skills (β?=?1.62; SE?=?0.61; p?=?0.008), with little evidence of any other fundamental movement skill improvements in excess of those in the control group. There was also modest evidence for an effect on accelerometer measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during school time (β?=?4.50; SE?=?2.39; p?=?0.058), but this was not accompanied by any significant intervention effect over the entire week. Questionnaires indicated students in the PEPL programme became less satisfied with their own sporting ability (β?=??0.20; SE?=?0.08; p?=?0.013) but qualitative data analyses suggested that they enjoyed the PEPL approach experience, becoming more motivated and confident in their physical abilities.

Conclusions: Evidence of enhanced object control skill, increased confidence and motivation to be physically active, and moderate evidence of more MVPA during school time, indicate that the introduction of the PEPL approach contributed to the development of student physical literacy. A decrease in perceived sporting competence warrants greater attention on student’s self-perceptions in future iterations of the intervention.

Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12615000066583.     

体育运动中的内部动机——认知评价理论的解释

认知评价理论认为,内部动机以人的能力需要和自我决策需要为基础,任何影响能力感和自我决策感的事件都可影响人的内部动机。象奖金、奖品一类的外部奖励由于其携带的控制性功能很强,往往会对内部动机产生破坏性影响。如果一项活动可提高人的能力感并满足人的自我决策需要,这一活动就因其携带的信息性功能十分突出而加强内部动机。     

The development of a performance evaluation instrument for upward evaluation of supervisors by subordinates

The performance evaluation of a supervisor usually relies solely on the observations and judgments of the supervisor's supervisor. However, the validity of performance evaluations could be unproved if a variety of sources were consulted: One of these sources is the supervisor's subordinate. This article provides a detailed discussion of how a valid and reliable instrument for upward appraisal was developed at the Dayton-Montgomery County (Ohio) Public Library.     

Financial returns,price determinants,and genre effects in American art investment

Past studies on art investment generally have found that returns are low and risk is high. In this study we find that the return to art investment is more in line with traditional investments and thus the cost for consumption associated with art seems fairly small. Employing a large sample of paintings by 66 American artists sold at auction between 1971–1992, average returns are found to be over 9 per cent and 3 per cent in nominal and real terms, respectively. The model employs a log linear price regression estimated by pooled cross section and time series data, and allows rates of return as well as hedonic values for various painting and auction attributes to be estimated. These include size, media, age of execution, authenticity of the work, and auction month and house. In addition, rates of return are differentiated by artist, time period of investment, price range and genre of the painting. The findings indicate significant sensitivity of rates of return to these data stratifications.This paper was presented at the 9th international conference of the Association for Cultural Economics, held in Boston, May 8–11, 1996.