Massey Documents by Type
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/294
Browse
5 results
Search Results
Item Relationship between experience and head kinematics in race riding jockeys(Springer Nature Limited, London, 2025-04-26) Legg KA; Cochrane DJ; Gee EK; Chin Y-Y; Rogers CWThoroughbred race-riding requires jockeys to attenuate horse movement and maintain postural stability whilst galloping at high speeds. This study aimed to investigate the head movement of jockeys in relation to race-riding experience. Accelerometer and heart rate data were collected from twelve apprentice and two senior jockeys during 85 exercise rides and 82 trial rides. Mean head displacements were determined for each jockey by double integrating the filtered acceleration data. A mixed effect multivariable linear regression model was used to investigate the relationship between jockey experience, physiological variables and head kinematics. The median (IQR) head displacement was higher for exercise riding (0.12 m, 0.09–0.14 m) than trial riding (0.06 m, 0.05–0.09 m). Jockey head displacement decreased with increasing speed of the horse (p < 0.001) and greater jockey experience (p = 0.007). Higher exercise load had a greater effect on head displacement with less experienced jockey’s (p = 0.02). The effect of speed was lower for trial riding than exercise riding (p < 0.001). More experienced jockeys had a greater ability to attenuate horse oscillation than inexperienced jockeys. This ability became more pronounced at higher exercise loads, reflecting a higher level of physical fitness and riding skill level. Measurement of jockey head displacement may provide a simple measure of assessing jockey race-riding ability or fitness.Item Shining a light on recovery : investigating the effectiveness of bright light therapy in mitigating fatigue after mild traumatic brain injury : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, New Zealand(Massey University, 2023) Connolly, Kathryn MarieFatigue is a common and debilitating symptom experienced by individuals following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Despite its prevalence, post-mTBI fatigue remains a challenging, and at times misunderstood condition, with a scarcity of scientifically evidenced treatment approaches. The complexity of fatigue's underlying causes in this population calls for further research. Recognising its significant impact on individuals' quality of life emphasises the need to identify effective interventions and enhance symptom management. This study aims to investigate the potential effectiveness of daily bright light exposure as a non-invasive intervention to alleviate fatigue in the post-mTBI population. While existing research has shown positive outcomes for bright light therapy in managing fatigue in broader traumatic brain injury populations, the current study focuses on individuals with injuries at the mild end of the spectrum, offering valuable insights into the efficacy of this treatment in a more targeted context. The primary objective of the research was to investigate whether daily bright light exposure effectively reduced fatigue symptoms in individuals with mTBI. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the impact of light exposure on secondary outcomes, including daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress, and circadian rest-activity cycles. To address recruitment challenges, a randomised multiple baseline controlled trial design was adopted. The results revealed that all nine participants consistently experienced significant fatigue throughout the study. Fatigue levels appeared to decrease during the bright light therapy sessions suggesting a potential positive impact of bright light exposure on fatigue, although this reduction was not statistically significant across the group. Due to limitations in data, the ability to confidently demonstrate efficacy was low and this prompted a shift in focus towards assessing the feasibility of conducting research of this nature. Moving forward, future studies can benefit from an understanding of the complexities involved in implementing intensive intervention protocols. The current study demonstrates a need for close collaboration with participants to monitor adherence and potential side effects, alongside coordination with colleagues in the mTBI field to ensure access to a sufficient participant pool for achieving statistically significant results. Overall, this research provides some limited evidence of positive effects from bright light therapy for select individuals and contributes to the expanding body of evidence investigating light as a potential intervention for alleviating fatigue symptoms post-mTBI. More importantly, by shedding light on the hurdles in implementing such interventions among individuals with mTBI, it contributes to the development of targeted and potentially effective interventions for improving the quality of life for individuals affected by this condition. It is hoped that this study contributes to the broader literature aimed at facilitating better outcomes for individuals with mTBI and related fatigue symptoms.Item Daytime fatigue as a predictor for subsequent retirement among older New Zealand workers(Elsevier Inc on behalf of National Sleep Foundation, 2021-12) Myllyntausta S; Gibson R; Salo P; Allen J; Gander P; Alpass F; Stephens CObjectives There is limited information on the role of fatigue on retirement, either independently or in association with poor sleep. The aim of this study was to examine the prospective association between daytime fatigue, measured as feeling tired or feeling worn out, independently and in relation to dissatisfaction with sleep, and subsequent retirement among 960 older workers in New Zealand. Methods Data from 2 consecutive surveys (2008 and 2010) of the New Zealand Health, Work, and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. Poisson regression was used to investigate whether feeling tired and feeling worn out in 2008, along with dissatisfaction with sleep, were associated with self-reported retirement either due to health reasons or other reasons by 2010. Results The risk for retirement due to health reasons during a 2-year follow-up was 1.80-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-2.45) among those who felt tired and 1.99-fold (95% CI 1.34-2.64) among those who felt worn out when compared to those not tired or not feeling worn out after adjusting for several sociodemographic, work characteristics and self-rated health. The risk for retirement due to health reasons was even higher when participant experienced both tiredness and feeling worn out. Dissatisfaction with sleep did not predict retirement due to health or other reasons. Conclusions Our results highlight that workers at risk of subsequent retirement due to health reasons may be identified with rather simple questions on tiredness and feeling worn out even among generally healthy older workers.Item Neuropsychological symptoms in workers handling cargo from shipping containers and export logs(Springer-Verlag GmbH, 2022-10) Hinz R; 't Mannetje A; Glass B; McLean D; Douwes JPURPOSE: Acute poisonings of workers handling shipping containers by fumigants and other harmful chemicals off-gassed from cargo have been reported but (sub)-chronic neuropsychological effects have not been well studied. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed, using standardised questionnaires, current (past 3-months) neuropsychological symptoms in 274 container handlers, 38 retail workers, 35 fumigators, and 18 log workers, all potentially exposed to fumigants and off-gassed chemicals, and a reference group of 206 construction workers. Prevalence odds ratios (OR), adjusted for age, ethnicity, smoking, alcohol consumption, education, personality traits and BMI, were calculated to assess associations with the total number of symptoms (≥ 3, ≥ 5 or ≥ 10) and specific symptom domains (neurological, psychosomatic, mood, memory/concentration, fatigue, and sleep). RESULTS: Compared to the reference group, exposed workers were more likely to report ≥ 10 symptoms, statistically significant only for retail workers (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.9-24.3) who also reported more fatigue (OR 10.7, 95% CI 2.7-42.7). Container handlers with the highest exposure-duration were more likely to report ≥ 10 symptoms, both when compared with reference workers (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.4-11.7) and with container handlers with shorter exposure duration (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.7-32.8). The duration of container handling was particularly associated with symptoms in the memory/concentration domain, again both when compared to reference workers (OR 8.8, 95% CI 2.5-31.4) and workers with the lowest exposure-duration (OR 6.8, 95% CI 1.5-30.3). CONCLUSION: Container handlers may have an increased risk of neuropsychological symptoms, especially in the memory/concentration domain. Retail workers may also be at risk, but this requires confirmation in a larger study.Item Nutritional Compounds to Improve Post-Exercise Recovery(MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2022-12) O'Connor E; Mundel T; Barnes MThe metabolic and mechanical stresses associated with muscle-fatiguing exercise result in perturbations to bodily tissues that lead to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), a state of fatigue involving oxidative stress and inflammation that is accompanied by muscle weakness, pain and a reduced ability to perform subsequent training sessions or competitions. This review collates evidence from previous research on a wide range of nutritional compounds that have the potential to speed up post-exercise recovery. We show that of the numerous compounds investigated thus far, only two—tart cherry and omega-3 fatty acids—are supported by substantial research evidence. Further studies are required to clarify the potential effects of other compounds presented here, many of which have been used since ancient times to treat conditions associated with inflammation and disease.