A survey of chartered physiotherapists\u27 knowledge and current clinical practice regarding concussion in sport.

Abstract Background: There is currently much discussion in the sports medicine literature and mainstream media regarding diagnosing and managing concussion and the appropriate criteria to guide return-to-play decisions. In amateur sport, the chartered physiotherapist is often the primary healthcare professional present at sporting events. At present, there is no research to guide management of the concussed player by physiotherapists, which negatively impacts the consensus of concussion management. Objective: To identify current knowledge and clinical practice patterns (assessment and management) regarding concussion in sport among Irish chartered physiotherapists. Methods: Members of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine with active email addresses (n=370) were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional survey consisting of four sections: demographics; knowledge; assessment; and, management of concussion. Results: A 26% (n=95) response rate was achieved. Of the participants, 35.8% (n=34) were aware of the current Concussion in Sport consensus statement. The mean score for knowledge about concussion was 61.6% (σ=11.1%) and mean score for management of concussion was 81.2% (σ=13.0%). There was no correlation between years of experience and knowledge scores (p=0.45) or management scores (p=0.86). Similarly, years of sports physiotherapy experience did not correlate with knowledge scores (p=0.91) or management scores (p=0.82). Conclusion: Respondents have a high level of knowledge regarding the assessment and management of concussion. It is important that sporting bodies regularly update their guidelines and that chartered physiotherapists look for future Concussion in Sport consensus statements as research in concussion continues to evolve

Examination of the role of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus in the control of behavioural processes

The role of the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPTg) in the control of behavioural processes was investigated in this thesis. This was achieved through examination of: (1) Conditioned place preference formation: PPTg lesioned rats were not impaired in forming an appropriate place preference, regardless of their deprivation state. (2) Reward-related responding: both food deprived and non-deprived lesioned rats displayed disinhibited intake across a gradient of sucrose rewards, the degree of disinhibition increasing as the reward became stronger. This disinhibited responding was disassociated from simple approach behaviour as shown by similar runway completion times across control and lesioned rats. (3) Radial arm maze performance: PPTg lesioned rats were impaired in their ability to retrospectively plan and forage in a random foraging task. This impairment was seen in both acquisition and retention tasks. PPTg lesioned rats were also impaired in the acquisition of a spatial working memory task in which they had to prospectively plan and execute responses. (4) These behavioural tasks are related to striatal output. To complement them anatomical experiments examining altered striatal outflow on neurotransmitter expression in the PPTg were conducted. Neither dopamine receptor blockade nor 6- hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of striatal dopamine produced changes in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase expression in the PPTg. This work did, however, lay the foundation for future experimentation to address this question. The combination of these findings extends current literature to outline a role for the PPTg in the control of complex behaviours that have been previously associated with sites higher up the neuraxis. This thesis demonstrates that removal of the PPTg results in behaviours that are inappropriate and disinhibited. In conclusion the PPTg is important for both accurate response selection and execution of goal directed behaviours, elements crucial for effective behavioural responding

From bipartite to tripartite devolved HRM in professional service contexts: evidence from hospitals in three countries

This article explores the devolution of HRM in a hospital context. Based on secondary data and 128 interviews conducted in nine hospitals across three European countries (Ireland, the Netherlands and UK), we examine roles and responsibility for HRM under devolution and coordination between those delivering it. Findings challenge bi-partite conceptions of devolution, identifying a tripartite model with: (1) HR practitioners, (2) line managers and, (3) senior professionals (managers and specialists) implementing HRM. Involving senior professionals in HRM reflects longstanding concern regarding managerial legitimacy in overseeing professional work. In the tripartite relationship each party has scope to contribute to people-management: HR practitioners to formulate a strategic framework, HR practices, and provide advisory services; line managers to implement HR practices and interface between HR and front-line professionals and; senior professionals to act as line managers’ advocates and provide expert knowledge and credibility to inform people-related decision-making. However, lack of role clarity and tensions in coordination relate to the differing goals of, and distance between, the HR function, line managers and senior professionals. Our theoretical reframing of devolution notes potential for tripartite relational involvement to enhance HR performance in professional service contexts, the contingencies affecting this and potential implications for the HR architecture

Proximity Study of a UWB Directional Conformal Antenna on Water Pipe

A preliminary study on the conformal properties of an antipodal exponentially tapered antenna placed on the surface of a flow meter system in the UWB range is presented. It was observed that the water effect can be mitigated by shifting the antenna away from the pipe surface

Anatomical Loading on a UWB Antenna for Shoe Toe Box

A UWB 6.0-8.5 GHz monopole antenna for mounting on the toe­box area of footwear is designed using a detailed model of a running shoe and a foot-shaped phantom. Variation of anatomical features between individual people gives rise to different proximity and permittivity loads on the antenna. To take account of environment, the antenna design optimization considers different proximity distances for impact on the reflection coefficient and on the radiation efficiency

Footwear Antennas for Body Area Telemetry

Antennas designed to link footwear sensors within body centric networks are introduced with two small UWB antennas, one directional and another quasi-omnidirectional. The radiating characteristics are evaluated for three positions on a sample sports shoe using a detailed simulation model and measurements with a homogenous foot phantom. Antenna performance is assessed for resilience to close proximity loading by the footwear materials and the phantom foot

Insole Antenna for On-Body Telemetry

A 433 MHz antenna is proposed for integration with the insole of footwear for a body area network. The folded dipole design with an asymmetric groundplane radiates from its edges and considers the close proximity of the human foot and ground surfaces. It functions for different ground conductivity conditions and an on-body communication link with an Inverted F Antenna in the upper body area was evaluated on a static and dynamic human subject. The antenna solution was compliant with Specific Absorption Rate requirements, remains matched and links with upper-body nodes regardless of the body posture and node location

Footwear-Centric Body Area Network with Directional UWB Antenna

A footwear-centric body area network employing a directional antenna is compared with waist-centric systems using omnidirectional and directional antennas. The impact of body movements on path gain is analysed for two bands at 3.99 GHz and 7.99 GHz. The path gain and data rate results demonstrate that footwear-centric configurations are equivalent or better than waist-centric body area networks