1
|
van Duijn T, Button C, Cotter JD, Masters RSW. Energetic and Cognitive Demands of Treading Water: Effects of Technique and Expertise. J Sports Sci Med 2023; 22:726-738. [PMID: 38045755 PMCID: PMC10690517 DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2023.726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Being able to tread water effectively can improve the likelihood of survival following accidental immersion. People tread water in various ways, ranging from rudimentary 'doggy-paddle' to more elaborate techniques like the eggbeater, but little is known about the energetic and cognitive requirements of treading water. We therefore aimed to measure the demands of treading water techniques for people of different experience levels. Three cohorts, comprising 21 adult water treading experts (water polo players), 15 intermediate swimmers and 16 inexperienced swimmers, treaded water for 3 min each using four different techniques while cognitive and energetic economy measures were taken. For inexperienced swimmers, the flutter kick and breaststroke patterns produced the lowest self-reported physical and task load (rating of perceived exertion, NASA task load index), while cognitive (probe reaction time), cardiac (heart rate) and metabolic (oxygen consumption) load did not differ between techniques. In contrast, for expert water treaders, both breaststroke and eggbeater patterns produced lower cognitive, cardiac and metabolic loads. For intermediate swimmers, breaststroke resulted in the lowest cardiac and metabolic loads, as well as self-reported task load. Probe reaction time was highest while performing the eggbeater technique, indicating that this technique was challenging to coordinate and cognitively demanding. While the energetic demands of antiphase kicking patterns (such as eggbeater in experts or flutter kick in beginners) may be similarly low, the symmetric coordination of upright breaststroke may explain why this pattern's cognitive economy was favourable for all groups. As the eggbeater can be challenging to perform for many people, an upright breaststroke technique is an adequate alternative to adopt in survival situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina van Duijn
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Human Performance Research Center, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
| | - Chris Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - James D Cotter
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rich S W Masters
- Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Short-Term Head-Out Whole-Body Cold-Water Immersion Facilitates Positive Affect and Increases Interaction between Large-Scale Brain Networks. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12020211. [PMID: 36829490 PMCID: PMC9953392 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
An emerging body of evidence indicates that short-term immersion in cold water facilitates positive affect and reduces negative affect. However, the neural mechanisms underlying these effects remain largely unknown. For the first time, we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to identify topological clusters of networks coupled with behavioural changes in positive and negative affect after a 5 min cold-water immersion. Perceived changes in positive affect were associated with feeling more active, alert, attentive, proud, and inspired, whilst changes in negative affect reflected reductions in distress and nervousness. The increase in positive affect was supported by a unique component of interacting networks, including the medial prefrontal node of the default mode network, a posterior parietal node of the frontoparietal network, and anterior cingulate and rostral prefrontal parts of the salience network and visual lateral network. This component emerged as a result of a focal effect confined to few connections. Changes in negative affect were associated with a distributed component of interacting networks at a reduced threshold. Affective changes after cold-water immersion occurred independently, supporting the bivalence model of affective processing. Interactions between large-scale networks linked to positive affect indicated the integrative effects of cold-water immersion on brain functioning.
Collapse
|
3
|
van Duijn T, Ng JL, Burnay C, Anderson N, Uehara L, Cocker K, Button C. The Influence of Equipment and Environment on Children and Young Adults Learning Aquatic Skills. Front Psychol 2021; 12:733489. [PMID: 34690889 PMCID: PMC8531637 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.733489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Learning aquatic skills is an important component of developing physical literacy in children. Aquatic skills such as floating, swimming and safe entry/exit promote engagement in different water environments and may help preserve lives in an emergency. This scoping review was conducted to evaluate the influence of task constraints (i.e., equipment) and environmental constraints (i.e., physical and social) on how children learn foundational aquatic skills. In developed countries, children are typically taught in swimming pools under direct supervision. It is also not uncommon to see children and infants learning to swim with assistive equipment (e.g., buoyancy aids). However, perhaps surprisingly, the evidence on how and where children learn aquatic skills does not uniformly promote such practices. For example, the use of flotation devices has not been proven to aid skill learning. Some researchers have advocated that children should learn aquatic skills whilst wearing outdoor clothing. One benefit of children wearing clothing is an increased capacity to practice in colder water (such as the ocean, rivers, or lakes). Overall, whilst practitioners often use equipment for various reasons it seems that not all equipment is equally useful in promoting the acquisition of aquatic skills. In less developed countries, with limited access to swimming pools and fewer resources for private instruction, a range of different open water aquatic environments and practices, such as swimming in temporarily flooded areas, have been reported. Such strategies are in urgent demand of further research given that drowning rates in less developed countries around the world exceed those in developed nations. It can be argued that learning in pools does not afford the opportunities to develop the whole range of adaptive skills that may be required in different open water environments such as navigating currents and waves, floating whilst clothed, or making life-saving decisions. Consequently, a shift toward teaching in open water environments has occurred in several countries. This review provides an evidence-base upon which practitioners can design more effective aquatic education programs for children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina van Duijn
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Leo Ng
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Carolina Burnay
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Neil Anderson
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Luiz Uehara
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kane Cocker
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
van Duijn T, Button C, Masters RSW. A Multidisciplinary Comparison of Different Techniques Among Skilled Water Treaders. Front Physiol 2021; 12:719788. [PMID: 34489736 PMCID: PMC8417780 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.719788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In an immersion incident, a person may be required to tread water for extended periods of time in order to survive. Treading water, or maintaining a stable head position above the water surface, can be achieved in several different ways. Determining which treading water techniques are economic (energetically and cognitively) is an important first step in approaching evidence-based water safety instruction. The present study investigated the cognitive and metabolic demands associated with four main techniques for treading water in experienced water treaders. Skilled water treaders (n=21) performed four common treading techniques for 3min each: "running" in the water, "flutter kick" with hands sculling, "upright breaststroke," and "egg-beater." Self-reported rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and task load index (TLX) score, as well as objective measures of probe reaction time (PRT; i.e., response to auditory cues while treading), oxygen consumption and heart rate were assessed. The "egg-beater" technique and the "upright breaststroke" technique were linked to significantly lower cognitive and energetic demands compared to the other techniques (VO2: p<0.001 - "Running" M=29.02, SD=7.40/"Flutter kick" M=29.37, SD=8.56, "Breaststroke" M=23.47, SD=7.28, and "Eggbeater" M=23.18, SD=6.31). This study lays the groundwork for future research that may establish the ideal movement behavior in drowning situations and investigate movement instruction to less experienced treaders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tina van Duijn
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rich S W Masters
- Te Huataki Waiora School of Health, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dans PW, Foglia SD, Nelson AJ. Data Processing in Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Motor Control Research. Brain Sci 2021; 11:606. [PMID: 34065136 PMCID: PMC8151801 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
FNIRS pre-processing and processing methodologies are very important-how a researcher chooses to process their data can change the outcome of an experiment. The purpose of this review is to provide a guide on fNIRS pre-processing and processing techniques pertinent to the field of human motor control research. One hundred and twenty-three articles were selected from the motor control field and were examined on the basis of their fNIRS pre-processing and processing methodologies. Information was gathered about the most frequently used techniques in the field, which included frequency cutoff filters, wavelet filters, smoothing filters, and the general linear model (GLM). We discuss the methodologies of and considerations for these frequently used techniques, as well as those for some alternative techniques. Additionally, general considerations for processing are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W. Dans
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| | - Stevie D. Foglia
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| | - Aimee J. Nelson
- Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Knechtle B, Waśkiewicz Z, Sousa CV, Hill L, Nikolaidis PT. Cold Water Swimming-Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8984. [PMID: 33276648 PMCID: PMC7730683 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cold water swimming (winter or ice swimming) has a long tradition in northern countries. Until a few years ago, ice swimming was practiced by very few extreme athletes. For some years now, ice swimming has been held as competitions in ice-cold water (colder than 5 °C). The aim of this overview is to present the current status of benefits and risks for swimming in cold water. When cold water swimming is practiced by experienced people with good health in a regular, graded and adjusted mode, it appears to bring health benefits. However, there is a risk of death in unfamiliar people, either due to the initial neurogenic cold shock response or due to a progressive decrease in swimming efficiency or hypothermia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beat Knechtle
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, 9000 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Zbigniew Waśkiewicz
- Institute of Sport Science, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, 40-065 Katowice, Poland;
- Department of Sports Medicine and Medical Rehabilitation Moscow, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 19c1 Moscow, Russia
| | - Caio Victor Sousa
- Bouve College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Lee Hill
- Division of Gastroenterology & Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada;
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Button C, Brouwer L, Schnitzler C, de Poel HJ. Exploratory Analysis of Treading Water Coordination and the Influence of Task and Environmental Constraints. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2579. [PMID: 31866887 PMCID: PMC6907394 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The radical embodied cognition approach to behavior requires emphasis upon how humans adapt their motor skills in response to changes in constraint. The aim of this exploratory study was to identify how the typical coordination patterns used to tread water were influenced by constraints representative of open water environments. Twenty-three participants were measured while treading water (TW) in a swimming flume in four conditions: (1) in still water, wearing a bathing suit (baseline); (2) wearing typical outdoor clothing (clothed); (3) with an additional cognitive task imposed (dual task); and (4) against a changing current (flow). Mixed methods kinematic analysis revealed four different TW coordination patterns were used across the conditions. The four TW patterns used represent a hierarchy of expertise in terms of the capacity to generate continuous lift forces, where pattern 1 (the lowest skill level) involved predominantly pushing and kicking limb movements (N = 1); pattern 2 was a movement pattern consisting of legs pushing/kicking and arms sculling (N = 7); pattern 3 was synchronous sculling of all four limbs (N = 6); and pattern 4 was the “eggbeater kick” (the highest skill level), with asynchronous sculling movements of the legs (N = 9). The four TW patterns were generally robust to the modified constraints. The higher skilled patterns (i.e., patterns 3 and 4) appeared to be the most stable coordination patterns. These results suggest that learning to perform more complex patterns to tread water might be an asset to survive in life-threatening situations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Luka Brouwer
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.,Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Christophe Schnitzler
- Equipe d'accueil en Sciences Sociales (E3S, EA n°1342), Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Strasbourg University, Strasbourg, France
| | - Harjo J de Poel
- Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Barwood MJ, Corbett J, Massey H, McMorris T, Tipton M, Wagstaff CRD. Acute Anxiety Predicts Components of the Cold Shock Response on Cold Water Immersion: Toward an Integrated Psychophysiological Model of Acute Cold Water Survival. Front Psychol 2018; 9:510. [PMID: 29695988 PMCID: PMC5904285 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death. In cold-water, sudden skin cooling triggers the life-threatening cold shock response (CSR). The CSR comprises tachycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction, hypertension, inspiratory gasp, and hyperventilation with the hyperventilatory component inducing hypocapnia and increasing risk of aspirating water to the lungs. Some CSR components can be reduced by habituation (i.e., reduced response to stimulus of same magnitude) induced by 3–5 short cold-water immersions (CWI). However, high levels of acute anxiety, a plausible emotion on CWI: magnifies the CSR in unhabituated participants, reverses habituated components of the CSR and prevents/delays habituation when high levels of anxiety are experienced concurrent to immersions suggesting anxiety is integral to the CSR. Purpose: To examine the predictive relationship that prior ratings of acute anxiety have with the CSR. Secondly, to examine whether anxiety ratings correlated with components of the CSR during immersion before and after induction of habituation. Methods: Forty-eight unhabituated participants completed one (CON1) 7-min immersion in to cold water (15°C). Of that cohort, twenty-five completed four further CWIs that would ordinarily induce CSR habituation. They then completed two counter-balanced immersions where anxiety levels were increased (CWI-ANX) or were not manipulated (CON2). Acute anxiety and the cardiorespiratory responses (cardiac frequency [fc], respiratory frequency [fR], tidal volume [VT], minute ventilation [E]) were measured. Multiple regression was used to identify components of the CSR from the most life-threatening period of immersion (1st minute) predicted by the anxiety rating prior to immersion. Relationships between anxiety rating and CSR components during immersion were assessed by correlation. Results: Anxiety rating predicted the fc component of the CSR in unhabituated participants (CON1; p < 0.05, r = 0.536, r2= 0.190). After habituation immersions (i.e., cohort 2), anxiety rating predicted the fR component of the CSR when anxiety levels were lowered (CON2; p < 0.05, r = 0.566, r2= 0.320) but predicted the fc component of the CSR (p < 0.05, r = 0.518, r2= 0.197) when anxiety was increased suggesting different drivers of the CSR when anxiety levels were manipulated; correlation data supported these relationships. Discussion: Acute anxiety is integral to the CSR before and after habituation. We offer a new integrated model including neuroanatomical, perceptual and attentional components of the CSR to explain these data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin J Barwood
- Department of Sport, Health and Nutrition, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Corbett
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Massey
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Terry McMorris
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Tipton
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Schnitzler C, Button C, Seifert L, Armbrust G, Croft JL. Does water temperature influence the performance of key survival skills? Scand J Med Sci Sports 2017; 28:928-938. [PMID: 29059478 DOI: 10.1111/sms.12997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic survival skills may be compromised in cold water thereby increasing the likelihood of drowning. This study compared physiological, psychological, and behavioral responses of humans treading water and swimming in cold and temperate water. Thirty-eight participants were classified as inexperienced (n = 9), recreational (n = 15), or skilled (n = 10) swimmers. They performed 3 tasks: treading water (120 seconds), swim at "comfortable" pace, and swim at "fast" pace in 2 water conditions (28°C vs 10°C). Heart rate, oxygen uptake, psychometric variables, spatio-temporal (swim speed, stroke rate, and stroke length), and coordination type were examined as a function of expertise. Tasks performed in cold water-generated higher cardiorespiratory responses (HR = 145 ± 16 vs 127 ± 21 bpm) and were perceived about 2 points more strenuous on the Borg scale on average (RPE = 14.9 ± 2.8 vs 13.0 ± 2.0). The voluntary durations of both treading water (60 ± 32 vs 91 ± 33 seconds) and swimming at a comfortable pace (66 ± 22 vs 103 ± 34 seconds) were significantly reduced in cold water. However, no systematic changes in movement pattern type could be determined in either the treading water task or the swimming tasks. Water temperature influences the physical demands of these aquatic skills but not necessarily the behavior. Training treading water and swimming skills in temperate water seems to transfer to cold water, but we recommend training these skills in a range of water conditions to help adapt to the initial "cold-shock" response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Schnitzler
- URePSS, EA 7369, University of Lille 2, Lille, France
| | - C Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - L Seifert
- Faculty of Sport Sciences, CETAPS EA3832, University of Rouen Normandy, Rouen, France
| | - G Armbrust
- URePSS, EA 7369, University of Lille 2, Lille, France
| | - J L Croft
- Centre of Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tipton MJ, Harper A, Paton JFR, Costello JT. The human ventilatory response to stress: rate or depth? J Physiol 2017. [PMID: 28650070 DOI: 10.1113/jp274596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Many stressors cause an increase in ventilation in humans. This is predominantly reported as an increase in minute ventilation (V̇E). But, the same V̇E can be achieved by a wide variety of changes in the depth (tidal volume, VT ) and number of breaths (respiratory frequency, ƒR ). This review investigates the impact of stressors including: cold, heat, hypoxia, pain and panic on the contributions of ƒR and VT to V̇E to see if they differ with different stressors. Where possible we also consider the potential mechanisms that underpin the responses identified, and propose mechanisms by which differences in ƒR and VT are mediated. Our aim being to consider if there is an overall differential control of ƒR and VT that applies in a wide range of conditions. We consider moderating factors, including exercise, sex, intensity and duration of stimuli. For the stressors reviewed, as the stress becomes extreme V̇E generally becomes increased more by ƒR than VT . We also present some tentative evidence that the pattern of ƒR and VT could provide some useful diagnostic information for a variety of clinical conditions. In The Physiological Society's year of 'Making Sense of Stress', this review has wide-ranging implications that are not limited to one discipline, but are integrative and relevant for physiology, psychophysiology, neuroscience and pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Tipton
- Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, UK
| | - Abbi Harper
- Clinical Fellow in Intensive Care Medicine, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Julian F R Paton
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences, University Walk, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Joseph T Costello
- Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, UK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Button C, Croft JL. Sports science needs more interdisciplinary, constraints-led research programmes: The case of water safety in New Zealand. Hum Mov Sci 2017; 56:157-159. [PMID: 28502384 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2017.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
In the lead article of this special issue, Paul Glazier proposes that Newell's constraints model has the potential to contribute to a grand unified theory of sports performance in that it can help to integrate the disciplinary silos that have typically operated in isolation in sports and exercise science. With a few caveats discussed in this commentary, we agree with Glazier's proposal. However, his ideas suggest that there is a need to demonstrate explicitly how such an integration might occur within applied scientific research. To help fill this perceived 'gap' and thereby illustrate the value of adopting a constraints-led approach, we offer an example of our own interdisciplinary research programme. We believe our research on water safety is ideally suited to this task due to the diverse range of interacting constraints present and as such provides a tangible example of how this approach can unify different disciplinary perspectives examining an important aspect of sport performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Button
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - J L Croft
- School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
"Float first and kick for your life": Psychophysiological basis for safety behaviour on accidental short-term cold water immersion. Physiol Behav 2015; 154:83-9. [PMID: 26592137 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Accidental cold-water immersion (CWI) evokes the life threatening cold shock response (CSR) which increases the risk of drowning. Consequently, the safety behaviour selected is critical in determining survival; the present advice is to 'float first' and remain stationary (i.e. rest). We examined whether leg only exercise (i.e., treading water; 'CWI-Kick') immediately on CWI could reduce the symptoms of the CSR, offset the reduction in cerebral blood flow that is known to occur and reduce the CSR's symptoms of breathlessness. We also examined whether perceptual responses instinctive to accidental CWI were exacerbated by this alternative behaviour. We contrasted CWI-Kick to a 'CWI-Rest' condition and a thermoneutral control (35°C); 'TN-Rest'. METHOD Seventeen participants were tested (9 males, 8 females). All immersions were standardised; water temperature in cold conditions (i.e., 12°C) was matched ±/0.5°C within participant. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv) and cardiorespiratory responses were measured along with thermal perception (sensation and comfort) and dyspnoea. Data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA (alpha level of 0.05). RESULTS MCAv was significantly reduced in CWI-Rest (-6 (9)%; 1st minute of immersion) but was offset by leg only exercise immediately on cold water entry; CWI-Kick MCAv was never different to TN-Rest (-3 (16)% cf. 5 (4)%). All CWI cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses were different to TN-Rest but were not exacerbated by leg only exercise. DISCUSSION Treading water may aid survival by offsetting the reduction in brain blood flow velocity without changing the instinctive behavioural response (i.e. perceptions). "Float first - and kick for your life" would be a suitable amendment to the water safety advice.
Collapse
|