Hartpury University

Commonly used since at least the middle of the 20th century, action research can bridge the gap between science and practice, but within the field of strength and conditioning (S&C), it is a novel research approach. The education and development of S&C practitioners is essential to their understanding of evidence-informed practice and the application of knowledge to improve athletic performance, fitness, and other outcomes, including athlete-centered outcomes, such as well-being. Using a novel, multi-method action research approach, the purpose of this study was to understand S&C stakeholders’ perceived value of learning psychosocial S&C coaching knowledge. In collaboration with the United Kingdom S&C Association (UKSCA), we designed, delivered, and assessed a workshop that included modules on psychological, pedagogical, philosophical, and sociocultural S&C psychosocial coaching competencies. A total of 11 UKSCA participants, including 6 S&C coaches (5 men, 1 woman) and 5 stakeholders (3 men, 2 women), between 38-57 years of age, attended one of the two workshops. Multiple learner-centered activities were completed in the workshop, and then, participants completed data collection methods, including reflection grids and semi-structured interviews. Researchers performed a thematic analysis on the interviews, reflection grids, and field notes that resulted in two overarching themes: participants’ learning and instructional approaches used in the workshop. Participants perceived value from the content and instructional approach used in the workshop, while expressing challenges and recommendations for improvement. This original action research study advances the knowledge about S&C through a novel methodological approach and the education of S&C stakeholders’ psychosocial competencies.

There is currently a lack of understanding surrounding how to quantify high-intensity deceleration actions in soccer. Therefore, this study sought to compare the use of arbitrary (ARB) and individualised (IND) high-intensity deceleration thresholds when examining the most demanding passages of play (MDP) and full matches. Fourteen male soccer players (age = 19.44 ± 1.13 yrs.; mass = 79.14 ± 7.88 kg; height = 184.16 ± 5.00 cm) were monitored during competitive matches using global positioning systems (WIMU Pro, RealTrack System SL, Almeria, Spain). IND thresholds were determined as 75% of a subject's peak deceleration ability from match data. ARB values were set as > 4m/s2 with the differences between these high-intensity deceleration thresholds analysed. ARB thresholds resulted in significantly (p < 0.01) larger distance and count metrics compared to IND during both MDP and full matches. These findings highlight the notable differences between ARB and IND high-intensity deceleration thresholds in matches. Thus, it is recommended a modified IND threshold approach is used when analysing the high-intensity deceleration demands of matches and MDP. Practitioners may be inclined to monitor high-intensity decelerations using IND thresholds, as is suggested when measuring other locomotor tasks during soccer training and matches.

ABSTRACT The Amazonian primate Chiropotes albinasus (red‐nosed cuxiu) is a specialist on seeds of hard‐husked unripe fruit. These are accessed with specialized processing behavior, involving highly modified canines and incisors. This is energetically demanding and carries a high dental damage risk. Hypothesizing that red‐nosed cuxiu process foods in ways that minimize both energetic expenditure and maximize dental safety, we predicted that individuals would selectively bite fruit husks at locations that were easiest to penetrate. Sutures were the easiest area to penetrate for all the 11 analyzed red‐nosed cuxiu diet species with functioning (non‐fused) sutures. Quantification of bite mark locations on these fruits showed significant clustering along the lower‐penetrability areas (sutures) in 8 of 11 species (72.7%). This pattern did not exist for another 10 species that lacked sutures; bites did not cluster on the thinnest (and most easily penetrated) parts of the husk for 9 of these 10 species (90%). For four species that were functionally indehiscent due to fused or thick sutures, penetrability was lowest at the face (2 species) and suture (2 species). Thus, despite robust crania, mandibles, and dentition that appear highly suited for resisting forces generated by powerful biting action, red‐nosed cuxiu deploy a more refined technique and often select the weakest areas of fruits for their seed‐accessing bite sites, especially when the fruits are dehiscent with unfused sutures.

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background </bold>Breastfeeding is subject to social inequality with short-term education and young age being important risk factors of early breastfeeding cessation. Breastfeeding support can be offered reactively, with mothers reaching out, or proactively where a health professional or peer supporter contacts the mother. Reactive support alone may be inadequate for those with the greatest need for support as they are the least likely to ask for it. An evidence-based breastfeeding intervention was implemented in Denmark with the purpose of prolonging breastfeeding and reducing social inequality in breastfeeding. To address breastfeeding challenges timely, intervention elements were proactive telephone calls by a health visitor combined with home visits. <bold>Methods </bold>We applied a realist evaluation approach embedded in a cluster randomized trial carried out in 20 municipalities. In the intervention arm, we observed 35 home visits delivered by health visitors, interviewed 16 mothers and conducted six focus groups with a total of 34 health visitors to examine how the proactive telephone calls functioned, specifically among mothers at increased risk of early breastfeeding cessation. The theoretical concept of Candidacy was applied to unfold how access to breastfeeding support was negotiated and socially patterned. <bold>Results </bold>Mothers experienced various barriers for accessing breastfeeding support; one being to determine when a breastfeeding issue would be deemed relevant by the health visitor while fearing to be an annoyance, another related to the sensitive nature of breastfeeding. Proactive telephone calls improved access to breastfeeding support through three different mechanisms: 1) timely handling of breastfeeding issues, 2) bringing the health visitor and family closer together, and 3) increased rapport and trust. <bold>Conclusions </bold>Proactive telephone calls may function as a tool to mitigate social inequalities in breastfeeding if combined with home visits and if it is person-centered with attention to relationships rather than just practical assistance. <bold>Trial registration</bold> Clinical Trials: NCT05311631. First posted April 5, 2022.

Water treadmill (WT) exercise has become a popular tool for equine training and rehabilitation. However, few studies describe the long-term effects of WT exercise in low water on muscle development (MD). This study's objectives were to compare MD changes over a 40-week period in sport horses that regularly used WT in low water within training (Group WTH, n = 55) and a control group that did not (control, n = 28). Subjective MD assessments were undertaken using an adaptation of a previously published method at weeks 0, 20 and 40. For Group WTH, MD significantly increased in the neck, pelvis and hindlimb adductor and abductors between weeks 0 and 20. Neck, thoracic, thoracic trapezius, lumbar, pelvis, quadriceps, hindlimb adductor and abductor, and hamstring musculature increased between weeks 0 and 40. Thoracic musculature only increased between weeks 20 and 40 (p ≤ 0.001 for all). In the control horses, MD did not significantly change between weeks. Regular WT exercise appears to increase MD, particularly for musculature used to create movement patterns seen on the WT. WTs may be appropriate for use under veterinary guidance as part of a directed rehabilitation/training programme to increase core and hindlimb MD.

The assessment of nutrition knowledge, alongside the enablers and barriers to optimal dietary intake, in youth football players has previously been documented. However, there is comparatively little research on either of these within parents or host families, which is of value to understand given the vital role that these stakeholders play as the primary food provider to young football players. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition knowledge of these caregivers and explore their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to nutrition provision for male academy football players. A validated 35-item online questionnaire (A-NSKQ) was completed by 30 parents and 31host family providers of youth academy football players from 16 different professional football clubs in England. The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions (total), 11 of which focussed on the assessment of general nutrition knowledge (GNK) and the remaining 24 assessed sports nutrition knowledge (SNK). Scores are presented as a percentage for total and each sub-section (GNK & SNK) and classified by the following rating: "poor" (0-49%); "average" (50-65%); "good" (66-75%); and "excellent" knowledge (76-100%). Differences in Total, GNK and SNK were compared between parents and host families using Independent-samples t-tests, with the alpha value set at p < 0.05 for all tests. A series of focus groups was also conducted with six parents and twelve host family representatives from four clubs to explore their perspectives of the enablers and barriers to providing nutrition support to youth football players. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. Host family providers demonstrated significantly better total nutrition knowledge than Parents (49.95 ± 11.64% vs. p = 42.67 ± 14.43%; p = 0.035), although the knowledge of both groups is classed as "poor." For the sub-sections of GNK & SNK, GNK was considered "average" and significantly better than SNK, which was classed as "poor" (GNK = 58.12 ± 16.87% vs. SNK = 40.98 ± 14.91%; p < 0.001). Host family providers reported significantly better SNK than parents (44.89 ± 13.21% vs. 36.94 ± 15.69%; p = 0.037) whilst no significant differences were observed in GNK between groups (61.00 ± 15.07% vs. 55.15 ± 18.33%; p = 0.180). Three key themes were generated relating to the caregivers' perceptions of the barriers and enablers to their food provision: 1) Club Support and Communication; 2) Time and Financial Resources; 3) Player-specific Characteristics. These findings suggest a clear need for football clubs to educate caregivers in the fundamental principles of healthy nutrition and football-specific nutrition requirements and encourage clubs to develop initiatives to better support caregivers in helping to young players to meet their dietary requirements.

Backward walking (BW) is commonly employed as a physiotherapeutic exercise for horses based on anecdotal evidence for improving hindlimb strength, coordination, and range of motion. However, limited scientific evidence supports these assumed benefits. This study aimed to measure and compare equine hindlimb muscle activity and movement during BW and forward walking (FW). Three-dimensional kinematic and surface electromyography (sEMG) data were synchronously collected from unilateral (left) hindlimb and hip extensor (biceps femoris and gluteus medius) and flexor (tensor fasciae latae) muscles of ten horses during FW and BW. Normalised average rectified value (ARV), peak amplitude (PA), and muscle activity duration were calculated from sEMG data. Spatiotemporal and angular parameters were calculated from kinematic data. Wilcoxon signed rank tests or paired t-tests assessed differences between FW and BW. Compared to FW, significant (p<0.001) increases in hip extensor and decreases in hip flexor muscle ARV and PA were observed during BW. Muscle activity duration was significantly (p<0.001) longer for biceps femoris, and shorter for gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae during BW. Hindlimb pro/retraction and sagittal plane hip and stifle joint movement cycles were time-reversed between BW and FW. Hindlimb joints were significantly less flexed and extended (p<0.001) during BW, except for peak stifle and hock flexion during swing, and MTPJ extension during stance, which were significantly greater (p<0.001) during BW. Findings support BW as a physiotherapeutic exercise to target increased hip extensor activity during weightbearing and to facilitate increased stifle and hock joint flexion during non-weightbearing phases of the gait cycle. • Horses significantly modify hindlimb muscle activity and movement in backward walk. • Biceps femoris and gluteus medius activity increases in backward vs. forward walk. • Tensor fascia latae activity decreases during backward compared to forward walking. • Greater stifle and hock joint flexion occur during backward walking swing phase. • Backward walk targets increased hip extensor activity and stifle and hock flexion.

Small mammals are particularly dependent on owner-provided housing and husbandry yet are frequently kept in conditions that do not meet their welfare needs. This study used the COM-B model (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation = Behaviour) to identify behavioural drivers influencing housing provision among 723 UK small mammal pet owners. This model of human behaviour proposes that behaviour occurs when individuals have the capability, opportunity, and motivation to act. Owners of the eight most commonly kept small mammal species were surveyed: rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), hamsters (Cricetinae), gerbils (Gerbillinae), rats (Rattus norvegicus), mice (Mus musculus), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), and degus (Octodon degus). Opportunity, particularly the availability of suitable enclosures, emerged as the primary barrier, while Capability and Motivation were identified as facilitators, with most pet owners willing and able to provide good levels of welfare. Owner approaches to assessing health and welfare at home were examined through qualitative word frequency analysis, with responses mapped to the Five Domains model. This analysis focused on rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and hamsters due to limited data availability for other species. Overall, behavioural indicators were most commonly used to identify positive health and welfare, while nutritional and physical signs were cited most frequently for negative states. Changes in eating behaviour were the most frequently cited indicators of ill health or poor welfare across all four species, suggesting this may serve as a practical health and welfare indicator for owners. Improving access to suitable housing and further exploring eating behaviour as an early health and welfare indicator may together support better husbandry for small mammal pets.