Current trends in the United Kingdom

This paper surveys developments in Higher Education in the United Kingdom since the publication of the White Paper in December 1992. It considers in particular: (1) the progress made in the reorganisation of the public sector of Higher Education, in particular of the Colleges of Education; (2) the extent to which the pressure of student demand is slackening, with consequent reduction in the rates of growth envisaged in the White Paper; (3) the tendency for women to form a larger proportion of the applicants and of those admitted, both in arts-based and science-based courses; (4) the immediate financial problems faced by universities and other institutions as a consequence of inflation.This article by Sir Derman Christopherson is the second in a series of reviews of developments in different parts of the world. The next issue will include a review of developments in Japan.—Ed.     

The ‘worn-out athlete’: A clinical approach to chronic fatigue in athletes

Chronic fatigue in the athletic population is a common but difficult diagnostic challenge for the sports physician. While a degree of fatigue may be normal for any athlete during periods of high-volume training, the clinician must be able to differentiate between this physiological fatigue and more prolonged, severe fatigue which may be due to a pathological condition. As chronic fatigue can be the presenting symptom of many curable and harmful diseases, medical conditions which cause chronic fatigue have to be excluded. The clinician must then be able to differentiate between chronic fatigue associated with training or chronic fatigue from other medical causes, and also between the chronic fatigue syndrome and the overtraining syndrome. Once the clinician has excluded all of the above medical conditions which cause chronic fatigue in athletes, a significant proportion of fatigued athletes remain without a diagnosis. Novel data indicate that skeletal muscle disorders may play a role in the development of symptoms experienced by the athlete with chronic fatigue. The histological findings from muscle biopsies of athletes suffering from the ‘fatigued athlete myopathic syndrome’ are presented. We have designed a clinical approach to the diagnosis and work-up of the athlete presenting with chronic fatigue. The strength of this approach is that it hinges on the participation of a multidisciplinary team in the diagnosis and management of the athlete with chronic fatigue. The athlete, coach, dietician, exercise physiologist and sport psychologist all play an important role in enabling the physician to make the correct diagnosis.     

Developing Programmes to Promote Participation in Sport among Adolescents with Disabilities: Perceptions Expressed by a Group of South African Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy

Adolescents with disabilities in developing countries frequently have limited access to sporting opportunities and comparatively little is known of their lived experiences and preferences. We set out to understand what a group of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) living in South Africa perceive to be important components of programmes developed to increase their participation in sport. We conducted in-depth interviews with 15 adolescents with CP. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Congruent with existing research, our findings suggest that sporting programmes should allow participants choice, provide physical challenges and present opportunities to socialise and experience mastery. Participants ask for: variety and a wider range of sports; greater recognition; coaching; and competition within programmes which are inclusive and fair. The data highlights the need for advocacy work and draws attention to the challenges of responding to participants’ requests when developing sports programmes for adolescents with disabilities in resource-scarce countries.     

The Effect of Multiple Representations of Physical and Chemical Changes on the Development of Primary Pre-service Teachers Cognitive Structures

Research in Science Education - The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of multiple knowledge representations of physical and chemical changes on the development of primary pre-service...