| 1. |
- Andersson, Helena M., 1973-
(författare)
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The physiological impact of soccer on elite female players and the effects of active recovery training
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Female soccer is becoming more popular and professional in the world. There are, however, limited scientific data available on how elite female players respond to physical stress during soccer games. An effective recovery strategy following a game is important, because there are few recovery days between the games in international tournaments. The present thesis, which was designed to mirror a competitive situation, aimed to investigate changes in several physiological systems occurring in female elite players in response to two soccer games. It also aimed to investigate the effects of active recovery training on the recovery of several physiological systems. METHODS: Two elite female soccer teams played two 90-min games separated by 72 h active or passive recovery. The active recovery training (cycling at 60% HRpeak, resistance training at <50% 1RM) lasted one hour and was performed 22 and 46 h after the first game. Countermovement jump (CMJ), 20-m sprint time and isokinetic knee strength were measured before, immediately, 5, 21, 45, 51, and 69 h after the first game, and immediately after the second game. The physical stress markers (CK, urea), oxidative stress markers (e.g., GSSG, lipid peroxidation), endogenous (e.g., UA, thiols) and dietary antioxidants (e.g., tocopherols, carotenoids) and a large battery of cytokines (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) were analysed in blood. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the performance parameters, oxidative stress and antioxidant levels or inflammatory response between the active and passive recovery groups. Sprint and isokinetic knee strength were reduced by the same extent after both games. CMJ decreased after the first game and remained reduced throughout the study period. Blood physical stress markers, GSSG and endogenous antioxidants increased with similar amplitude after both games together with unchanged lipid peroxidation. The dietary antioxidants showed either a rapid and persistent change (e.g., tocopherols) or a delayed rise (carotenoids) after the first game. A transient increase occurred in several pro- (e.g., IL-12, TNF-a, MCP-1), anti-inflammatory (e.g., IL-4, IL-10, INF-a) and mixed (IL-6) cytokines after the first game. Fewer cytokines increased in response to the second game. CONCLUSION: Two repeated elite female soccer games separated by 72 h induced similar acute changes in several physiological parameters. After the first game, differences in the recovery pattern of the neuromuscular parameters occurred. In particular, the slow recovery of CMJ indicates that special attention should be devoted to the training of explosive force. Furthermore, the recruitment of antioxidants in response to the transient increase in GSSG resulted in the maintenance of the redox-balance in female players. Similarly, a strong and balanced pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine response occurred after one single female soccer game. The consequences of the dampened cytokine response during repeated soccer games are, however, unknown. In general, the majority of the parameters had recovered prior to the second game and the physiological alterations induced by the first game did not affect the performance of players in the second game. Finally, active recovery training conducted after a soccer game does not accelerate the recovery time for neuromuscular, oxidative stress, antioxidant and inflammatory responses in elite female players.
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| 2. |
- Andersson, Karin, 1972-
(författare)
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Naturmöten i pedagogiska verksamheter
- 2020
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The general public´s everyday encounters with nature have radically changed during the 20th century in industrial countries. Our relation towards nature in relation to environmental challenges is an important educational question, and this thesis investigates encounters with nature in educational practice. More specifically the aims are to investigate (i) how encounters with nature has been legitimated in the national curricula of Swedish school, and (ii) meaning making processes within pedagogical encounters with nature. In relation to the first aim a discourse analytical reading of the national curricula in Sweden is conducted. The results show that a scientific perspective of encounters with nature has been dominating during the last hundred years in the national curricula. In recent years, it is also more instrumental encounters that are expressed in the curricula, while students’ personal experiences and feelings are not focused in current curricula. Paper II and III examine moral meaning making in three different educational practices – Outdoor Education Centres, All-Weather Outdoor Schools and the Radical Outdoor movement. A multidisciplinary method is used in paper II, LEDmodel (Landscape, Ethical and Didactical). Paper III is based on the ethical tendency and language-game analyses. The results from these studies show that the educational purpose have an impact on moral processes in relation to nature. When the purpose is related to scientific knowledge there is often an instrumental relation towards nature in contrast to encounters that are more open. Open encounters instead seem to create relations that are built on a sense of responsibility and empathy. The results show that relations are created in different ways where some are more personal and built on emotion when other emotions are more based on stated rules or norms.
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| 3. |
- Bergens, Oscar, 1991-
(författare)
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Chronic Systemic Inflammation, Body Composition and Physical Activity Behaviours in Older Adults
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ageing is associated with a gradual physical decline accompanied by changes in body composition. The occurrence of a low-grade yet chronic state of systemic inflammation has gained interest for its potential consequences in the ageing process. Importantly, a physically active lifestyle may promote the maintenance of muscle mass, reduction in adipose tissue, and alleviate progression of a chronic pro-inflammatory state. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore relationships between biomarkers of systemic inflammation, body composition, and physical activity behaviours in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 to 70 years.A main finding of the thesis is the existence of associations between body composition and systemic inflammation in older adults, where excess adipose tissue is adversely associated with levels of inflammatory biomarkers in older women. Inverse associations were also observed between muscle mass and levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in older women. This thesis also highlights sex-specific associations between systemic inflammation and physical activity behaviours. Longer time spent sedentary was also associated with higher levels of proinflammatory biomarkers in older women and lower level of antiinflammatory biomarkers in older men. Reallocating time spent in activities of lower intensities with higher intensities was associated with lower levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers in older women. Overall, the findings of this thesis support efforts promoting physical activity at the expense of sedentary time in order to combat age-related systemic inflammation and metabolic risk in older adults.
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| 4. |
- Caldeborg, Annica, 1973-
(författare)
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Intergenerational touch in PE : a student perspective
- 2018
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis takes its point of departure in the research field of intergenerational touch in Physical Education (PE). Previous research in the field have mainly been conducted from a teacher’s perspective and has shown that teachers of PE have become more cautious about using physical contact in recent years. The reasons for this more cautious attitude concerning physical contact is above all, the risk f being falsely suspected of sexual harassment. Previous research has, in a general way, also shown that physical contact in PE is a gendered issue with heteronormative points of departure The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate intergenerational touch in PE from a student perspective. More specifically the aims are to investigate physical contact between teachers and students in PE from a student perspective (paper I), and to investigate which discursive resources students draw on to conceptualize physical contact between teacher and student in PE in relation to heteronormativity (paper II). Six focus group interviews using photo elicitation have been conducted with students at an upper secondary school in Sweden. In paper I it is the concept of the didactic contract that is the theoretical starting point. The results show that, generally, the students support physical contact as a pedagogical tool if the physical contact has a good purpose according to the students. An implicit didactic contract is formed when student and teacher agree on when, how or why physical contact is used as a pedagogical tool. In paper II, the theoretical inspiration comes from Foucault and his work with discourses. The results show that the students’ talk is colored by the heteronormative discourse in society. This is especially expressed when young female students talk about male PE teachers. Heteronormativity is taken for granted and is not really challenged. Students generally support physical contact as a pedagogical tool in PE, however it is a very complex issue and puts high demands on PE teachers’ professionalism.
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| 5. |
- Caldeborg, Annica, 1973-
(författare)
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Physical contact in physical education : New perspectives and future directions
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis takes its point of departure in the research field of intergenerational touch in educational settings. Specifically, it is mainly the student perspective of physical contact between teachers and students in physical education (PE) that is of interest. In addition, a scoping review has also been conducted. The results are presented in four studies and offer different perspectives of physical contact in PE: students’ perspectives, students perspectives related to heteronormativity, immigrant students’ perspectives and a research field perspective. Two of the four studies that make up the thesis are analysed through the lens of the didactic contract, although a discourse analytical framework has also been used.The empirical data in Studies I-III consists of interviews with upper secondary school students, where photo elicitation has been used as a technique. The results suggest that students expect and appreciate physical contact in PE, as long as the purpose and intent of the physical contact is clear to the students. It is, however, evident that female students’ talk about physical contact can be related to heteronormativity. It is also shown that immigrant students take several negotiation aspects into consideration when determining whether or not physical contact is perceived as legitimate.The results of Study IV, the scoping review, indicate that research related to physical contact in educational settings centres around fears and anxieties among practitioners as a result of child safety and no touch guidelines. This has also had an effect on practitioners’ professional identity. In addition, the results centre around the functions and needs of physical contact as well as gender and cultural differences.The thesis contributes to the research field and to the teaching of PE by providing a student perspective on the issue of physical contact in PE, by its didactical reasoning and by discussing alternatives to the one-size-fitsall guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate touch.
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| 6. |
- Edholm, Peter, 1977-
(författare)
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Muscle mass and physical function in ageing : the effects of physical activity and healthy diet
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ageing is associated with a gradual deterioration in physical function, accompanied by a decrease in muscle mass, leading to loss of independency. In this respect, physical activity and healthy diet represent key lifestyle factors with potential to delay onset of age-related physical disability. The overall aim of the present thesis was to explore the effects of physical activity behaviours in general and resistance training (RT) in particular, with or without addition of a healthy diet (HD), on muscle mass and physical function in older community-dwelling women. A main finding was that physical activity of at least moderate intensity at old age infers beneficial effects on physical function, even in individuals with a previously sedentary lifestyle. Additionally, engagement in exercise-related activities during middleage years is linked to better physical function and higher muscle massat old age, regardless of present physical activity level. This thesis further highlights that in older women RT combined with HD rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids elicits significant gains in muscle mass, whereas no corresponding gain was induced by RT alone. Likewise, larger improvements in muscle strength and physical function were evident in response to combined effects by RT and HD compared to RT alone. Taken together, findings from this thesis support public health efforts aiming to promote physical activity of at least moderate intensity together with a healthy diet rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in order to combat age-related decline in muscle mass and physical function.
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| 7. |
- Eliason, Gabriella
(författare)
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Sceletal muscle characteristics and physical activity patterns in COPD
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Besides abnormities within the respiratory system COPD is also associated with effects outside the lungs, so called systemic effects. One systemic effect that has been highlighted is skeletal muscle dysfunction which has also been associated with reduced exercise capacity. Apart from changes in muscle morphology, low levels of physical activity have also been suggested as a plausible mediator of reduced exercise capacity in COPD. The aim of this thesis was to study muscle morphology and physical activity patterns in patients with different degrees of COPD and to examine the associations between muscle morphology, physical activity and exercise capacity in these patients. Skeletal muscle morphology was found to shift towards a more glycolytic muscle profile in COPD patients and changes in muscle morphology were found to be correlated to disease severity and to exercise capacity. Muscle capillarization was also found to be lower in COPD compared with healthy subjects and to be correlated to disease severity and exercise capacity. When studying signalling pathways involved in muscle capillarization, an overexpression of VHL was found in patients with mild and moderate COPD compared with healthy subjects. Furthermore, COPD patients were found to be less physically active compared with healthy subjects and the level of physical activity was associated with exercise capacity.In conclusion, changes in skeletal muscle morphology and low levels of physical activity are present in COPD patients and may partly explain the lower exercise capacity observed in these patients. The more glycolytic muscle profile in COPD is suggested to be mediated by hypoxia and low levels of physical activity in this patient group. Furthermore, increased levels of VHL may lead to impaired transduction of the hypoxic signalling pathway, which may contribute to the decreased muscle capillarization observed in COPD.
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| 8. |
- Ericson, Helena, 1980-
(författare)
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A Salutogenic perspective on resistance training : a study on healthy old adult women
- 2018
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The number of people aged 60 years and over has doubled since 1980and the World Health Organization predicts that the population of over60s will reach 2 billion by the year 2050. An ageing population poses bothchallenges and opportunities for society and for individuals. Whilst theseare positive statements, increases in life spans do not directly lead to increasesin health spans. The naturally occurring ageing process can leadto reductions in functionality and, in order to address this, scholars haveargued the benefits of regularly engaging in physical activity, and especiallyresistance training. Therefore, an important challenge for modernsociety is to develop strategies that delay the onset of disease, such as interventionsthat include physical activity. This licentiate thesis investigatesolder women’s physical activity in a resistance training context and howthis affects different aspects of their health.The overall aim of the thesis is to explore healthy and physically activeolder women’s experiences of what maintains and enhances their healthafter starting resistance training.This thesis used a quantitative and a qualitative approach to investigatea group of old adult women. Data collection was structured in questionnaires(n=32) with one intervention group and one control group for thepaper I, and focus group interviews (n=14) in paper II. Paper I studied theeffects of resistance training on physically active and healthy olderwomen. Paper II relates to the women who continued to exercise after theresistance training intervention ended in order to explore their health resources.The theoretical framework used in this thesis is a movement towardshealth as explained by salutogenic theory.This thesis showed that resistance training has positive effects on psychologicalwell-being and is important because it not only benefits thosewho are physically inactive, but also those who are already physically activeand healthy.From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity provides a meaningful,comprehensible and manageable way for older women to engage in theongoing process of maintaining health.
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| 9. |
- Ericson, Helena, 1980-
(författare)
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The art of ageing well : a salutogenic perspective on physical activity for older adults
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis examines older adults’ participation in physical activity, and is framed within a salutogenic theory regarding ageing well, or as others say, healthy ageing. Ageing well can be studied in numerous ways. Since this thesis is within the field of Sport Sciences, different physical activity initiatives for older adults are in focus. Population ageing is a global trend andrepresents a major societal challenge. Societies that adapt to this changing demographic situation and invest in healthy ageing or in how people can age well may enable people to live longer and healthier lives and reduce the burden of disease and disabilities. Therefore, strategies that offer environments that contribute to keeping people active are something that societies should prioritize. Current knowledge on issues relating to an ageing population are often based on an understanding of what causes illness, rather than what promotes health. Against this backdrop, it is essential to investigate those who are regularly physically active. The overall aim of the thesis is to contribute knowledge about older adults’ participation in sport and physical activity initiatives. The thesis will further contribute knowledge about who participates in the initiatives and what characterizes the different initiatives they participate in. This will be explored using salutogenic theory in relation to ageing well. Main findings are that older adult women and men are partly drawn to different physical activities and social relations were the most meaningful health resource. In conclusion, engaging in physical activity increases the odds of maintaining well-being in later life and of ageing well. Thus, offering and increasing physical activity is one way of meeting the challenge of an ageing population in society. From a salutogenic perspective, physical activity carried out to provides a meaningful, comprehensible and manageable way for older adults to engage in the ongoing process of maintaining health.
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| 10. |
- Folkesson, Mattias, 1972-
(författare)
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Heat shock proteins in exercised human skeletal muscle
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Exercise is considered as an important stressor accompanied by concerted molecular and cellular changes leading to adaptations at the level of skeletal muscle size and function. An important protein family produced by cells in response to stressful conditions is the heat shock proteins (HSPs). It is suggested that the different HSPs play specific roles in acute and longterm responses to exercise-induced stress. The overall aim of this thesis was to explore the expression of four different HSPs (αB-crystallin, HSP27, HSP60 and HSP70) in human skeletal muscle exposed to exercise, with a special emphasis on the role played by HSP27 in the hypertrophy of human skeletal muscle.One of the major findings was the fibre type-specific expression of HSPs in resting human skeletal muscle, including the preferential expression of HSP27 in fast type II muscle fibres. Another finding was the occurrence of training background-related differences in the expression of HSPs. Also, a cytoplasmic relocation of HSP27, occurring specifically in type II muscle fibres, was shown in response to a single bout of resistance exercise. Interestingly, there were no corresponding changes in response to an endurance exercise bout, suggesting that HSP27 may be specifically involved in the adaptations to resistance exercise. In order to test this hypothesis, an in-vitro exercise model based on the electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) of muscle cells was developed. The EPS protocol, including an 8 h restitution period, induced a significant hypertrophy of muscle cells together with molecular changes similar to those previously described in response to exercise in humans. The role of HSP27 in the hypertrophy of human muscle cells was examined through the downregulation of HSP27. Based on data from morphological and microarray analyses, findings indicate that HSP27 is not mandatory for the hypertrophy of human muscle cells. Overall, the present thesis clarified the expression of different HSPs in human skeletal muscle and provided an in-vitro-based approach for the elucidation of the exact role played by HSPs in the adaptations of human skeletal muscle to exercise.
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