The impact of community notification policies on the management of sex offenders

The overarching aim of this thesis was to examine the perspectives and implementation experiences of the police who are responsible for administering the first (and currently only) scheme in Australia that authorises the controlled release of information about convicted sex offenders to the general public (what is termed &ldquo;community notification&rdquo;).<br /

Professional attitudes to sex offenders: implications for multiagency and collaborative working

Recent years have seen the development and implementation of a range of multi-disciplinary and partnership approaches to managing risk in known sex offenders, involving collaboration between justice and human services agencies. Potential barriers to the development of effective multidisciplinary practices arise when participating professionals hold different attitudes about those they are responsible for managing. This paper examines differences in attitudes towards sex offenders in two professional groups &ndash; police officers and allied health workers. The results suggest that police officers tend to hold more negative views than those who deliver treatment and support services. They are more likely to believe that offenders cannot change their behaviour and should be subject to more punitive sanctions. These findings are discussed in relation to judgements of both risk and dangerousness and associated decisions about the appropriate management of sex offenders in multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working forums

Residual Force Enhancement Is Present in Consecutive Post-Stretch Isometric Contractions of the Hamstrings during a Training Simulation

Residual force enhancement (rFE) is observed when isometric force following an active stretch is elevated compared to an isometric contraction at corresponding muscle lengths. Acute rFE has been confirmed in vivo in upper and lower limb muscles. However, it is uncertain whether rFE persists using multiple, consecutive contractions as per a training simulation. Using the knee flexors, 10 recreationally active participants (seven males, three females; age 31.00 years &plusmn; 8.43 years) performed baseline isometric contractions at 150&deg; knee flexion (180&deg; representing terminal knee extension) of 50% maximal voluntary activation of semitendinosus. Participants performed post-stretch isometric (PS-ISO) contractions (three sets of 10 repetitions) starting at 90&deg; knee extension with a joint rotation of 60&deg; at 60&deg;&middot;s&minus;1 at 50% maximal voluntary activation of semitendinosus. Baseline isometric torque and muscle activation were compared to PS-ISO torque and muscle activation across all 30 repetitions. Significant rFE was noted in all repetitions (37.8&ndash;77.74%), with no difference in torque between repetitions or sets. There was no difference in activation of semitendinosus or biceps femoris long-head between baseline and PS-ISO contractions in all repetitions (ST; baseline ISO = 0.095&ndash;1.000 &plusmn; 0.036&ndash;0.039 Mv, PS-ISO = 0.094&ndash;0.098 &plusmn; 0.033&ndash;0.038 and BFlh; baseline ISO = 0.068&ndash;0.075 &plusmn; 0.031&ndash;0.038 Mv). This is the first investigation to observe rFE during multiple, consecutive submaximal PS-ISO contractions. PS-ISO contractions have the potential to be used as a training stimulus

Surfboard Paddling Technique and Neuromechanical Control: A Narrative Review

Surfboard paddling is an essential activity when surfing. Research investigating surfboard paddling, especially as it pertains to neuromechanical control and techniques used, is limited. Previous research made use of swim ergometers to examine surfboard paddling demands. The validity of using swim ergometers in surfboard paddling research and training deserves further analysis. To establish ecologically valid findings, researchers have begun to use swim flumes and still-water paddling environments to investigate paddling efficiency and technique. This emerging body of research has reported that muscle activation patterns, intensities, and timings differ as surfers move through different paddle stroke phases. A deeper understanding of paddling\u27s neuromechanical control may help enhance the understanding of how to improve paddle performance and perhaps reduce injury risk. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to identify the gaps in the existing literature to help identify future research directions in relation to surfboard paddling techniques and neuromechanical control

Restrictions in Ankle Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Alter Landing Kinematics But Not Movement Strategy When Fatigued

Context: Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF ROM) has been associated with a number of kinematic and kinetic variables associated with landing performance that increase injury risk. However, whether exercise-induced fatigue exacerbates compensatory strategies has not yet been established.Objectives: i) explore differences in landing performance between individuals with restricted and normal ankle DF ROM, and ii) identify the effect of fatigue on compensations in landing strategies for individuals with restricted and normal ankle DF ROM. Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: University research laboratory.Patients or Other Participants: 12 recreational athletes with restricted ankle DF ROM (restricted group) and 12 recreational athletes with normal ankle DF ROM (normal group).Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants performed five bilateral drop-landings, before and following a fatiguing protocol. Normalized peak vertical ground reaction force (vGRF), time to peak vGRF and loading rate were calculated, alongside sagittal plane initial contact angles, peak angles and joint displacement for the ankle, knee and hip. Frontal plane projection angles were also calculated. Results: At baseline, the restricted group landed with significantly less knee flexion (P = 0.005, effect size [ES] = 1.27) at initial contact and reduced peak ankle dorsiflexion (P < 0.001, ES = 1.67), knee flexion (P < 0.001, ES = 2.18) and hip flexion (P = 0.033, ES = 0.93) angles. Sagittal plane joint displacement was also significantly less for the restricted group for the ankle (P < 0.001, ES = 1.78), knee (P < 0.001, ES = 1.78) and hip (P = 0.028, ES = 0.96) joints. Conclusions: These findings suggest individuals with restricted ankle DF ROM adopt different landing strategies than those with normal ankle DF ROM. This is exacerbated when fatigued, although the functional consequences of fatigue on landing mechanics in individuals with ankle DF ROM restriction are unclear