Massimiliano Balduzzi: Research in Physical Training for Performers

This essay begins the process of contextualizing and analyzing Massimiliano Balduzzi’s solo physical training practice by introducing six newly created video documents. It locates Balduzzi’s work in a wider historical and artistic context – touching upon the work of Konstantin Stanislavski, Jerzy Grotowski, and Eugenio Barba, as well as acrobatics, martial arts, and Balinese dance – while arguing that the documented physical training constitutes an original research contribution to the field of embodied technique. The essay has three main purposes: First, to give verbal articulation to some important aspects of Balduzzi’s practice, as he begins to teach more widely in New York City and beyond. Second, to test and develop a theoretical framework that conceives of embodied technique as a field of knowledge in which rigorously framed research can and does give rise to new knowledge in the form of new technique. Third, to explore the epistemological status of multimedia documentation through a focused case study. Each of these goals has the potential to expand and clarify current discussions of actor and performer training, movement analysis and documentation, and practice-as-research

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PROFESSIONAL TRAINING TRAINING)

Мета дисципліни - формування фізичної культури особистості та здатності до використання різноманітних засобів фізичної культури, спорту у хореографії: для збереження і зміцнення здоров'я; психофізичної підготовки та самопідготовки до майбутнього життя в цілому; професійної діяльності педагога, хореографа-постановника та тренера; підняття технічного рівня хореографів в Україні і в цілому.Цель дисциплины - формирование физической культуры личности и способности к использованию разнообразных средств физической культуры, спорта в хореографии: для сохранения и укрепления здоровья; психофизической подготовки и самоподготовки к будущей жизни в целом; профессиональной деятельности педагога, хореографа-постановщика и тренера; поднятия технического уровня хореографов в Украине и в целом.The purpose of the discipline - the formation of physical culture of the individual and the ability to use various means of physical culture, sports in choreography: to preserve and promote health; psychophysical preparation and self-preparation for the future life in general; professional activity of teacher, choreographer, director and trainer; raising the technical level of choreographers in Ukraine and in general

Cost-effectiveness of physical fitness training for stroke survivors

Background Physical fitness is impaired after stroke, yet fitness training after stroke reduces disability. Several international guidelines recommend that fitness training be incorporated as part of stroke rehabilitation. However, information about cost-effectiveness is limited. Methods A decision tree model was used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a fitness programme for stroke survivors vs. relaxation (control group). This was based on a published randomised controlled trial, from which evidence about quality of life was used to estimate Quality Adjusted Life Years. Costs were based on the cost of the provision of group fitness classes within local community centres and a cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year was calculated. Results The results of the base case analysis found an incremental cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year of £2,343. Conclusions Physical fitness sessions after stroke are a cost-effective intervention for stroke survivors. This information will help make the case for the development of new services

Physical education (professional training training)

Мета дисципліни - формування фізичної культури особистості та здатності до використання різноманітних засобів фізичної культури, спорту у хореографії.Цель дисциплины - формирование физической культуры личности и способности к использованию разнообразных средств физической культуры, спорта в хореографии.The purpose of the discipline is the formation of physical culture of the individual and the ability to use various means of physical culture, sports in choreograph

Physical activity programs for balance and fall prevention in elderly: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic changes the world's population is progressively ageing. The physiological decay of the elderly adult may lead to a reduction in the ability to balance and an increased risk of falls becoming an important issue among the elderly. In order to counteract the decay in the ability to balance, physical activity has been proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify physical activity programs able to increase balance in the elderly. METHODS: This review is based on the data from Medline-NLM, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss and includes randomized control trials that have analyzed balance and physical activity in healthy elderly over 65 years of age during the last decade. A final number of 8 manuscripts were included in the qualitative synthesis, which comprised 200 elderly with a mean age of 75.1 ± 4.4 years. The sample size of the studies varied from 9 to 61 and the intervention periods from 8 to 32 weeks. RESULTS: Eight articles were considered eligible and included in the quantitative synthesis. The articles investigated the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise, balance training, T-bow© and wobble board training, aerobic step and stability ball training, adapted physical activity and Wii Fit training on balance outcomes. Balance measures of the studies showed improvements between 16% and 42% compared to baseline assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Balance is a multifactorial quality that can be effectively increased by different exercise training means. It is fundamental to promote physical activity in the aging adult, being that a negative effect on balance performance has been seen in the no-intervention control groups

The response of Physical Science post-graduates to training courses and the connection to their PhD studies

Training in both employability and discipline-specific skills has been provided and expanded over a number of years for post-graduate research students, (PGRs) in the Faculty of Physical Sciences administered by the Physical Sciences Graduate School (PSGS) at the University of Glasgow. This project explored the training provided in 2005/06 with a view to further developing a programme that students and faculty alike consider appropriate, timely and developmental for the needs of research students. The training provided by the PSGS had grown over a number of years in response to suggestions from academic staff in the Faculty of Physical Sciences. Data were collected from Postgraduate Research students (PGRs) from all the stages of the 3 year PhD process to enable a complete map of views to emerge. In particular, the way PGR students perceive the training they undergo in relation to their core PhD research and career progression was examined. The students in our study also identified clearly where they perceived they were developing such transferable skills, and training sessions are not seen as the sole or even major source; the research group itself would appear to play a major role. The authors believe the finding could inform the provision of PGR training in other UK institution

Child protection training in sport-related degrees amd initial teacher training for physical education: an audit

This article reports on the results of an online survey of child protection training for students on sport-related degrees and Initial Teacher Training Physical Education courses, and on the views of recently-graduated teachers of the usefulness of such training in their everyday work. The results indicate that child protection training is provided on most courses but in varying amounts. Respondents to the survey reported positively, in the main, about the effects of new requirements for teacher training (Every Child Matters: Change for Children, DfES, 2004). Reasons given for not including child protection in courses were: lack of time; the perceived vocational nature of the topic; lack of fit with course aims and objectives; lack of relevance; and, the research rather than professional orientation of the course. Recently graduated teachers’ views on their pre-service child protection training differed from the claims made about this in the survey. In particular, they raised concerns about their lack of preparation for reporting and dealing with potential child protection situations. The paper concludes that child protection training within sport-related higher education courses is deficient in both consistency of delivery and in content, and that, in addition to preparing students to recognise signs and indicators of abuse, curricula should also address undergraduates’ confidence and skills for responding to abuse issues in their everyday professional practice

The return to firm investment in human capital

In this paper we estimate the rate of return to firm investments in human capital in the form of formal job training. We use a panel of large firms with unusually detailed information on the duration of training, the direct costs of training, and several firm characteristics such as their output, workforce characteristics and capital stock. Our estimates of the return to training vary substantially across firms. On average it is -7% for firms not providing training and 24% for those providing training. Formal job training is a good investment for many firms and the economy, possibly yielding higher returns than either investments in physical capital or investments in schooling. In spite of this, observed amounts of formal training are very small