Browsing by Author "Pillay, Tanushree"

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    Determining the effects of a short-term physical activity intervention programme on body mass index, blood pressure, pulse rate and percentage body fat among high school learners
    (University of the Western Cape, 2005) Pillay, Tanushree; Frantz, JM; Dept. of Physiotherapy; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    Physical inactivity is recognised as a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Current recommendations for participation in physical activity are 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, but preferably all days of the week. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of a physical activity programme on weight, blood pressure, body mass index and body fat classification among high school learners through a short-term physical activity intervention programme.
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    Determining the feasibility of a prehabilitative injury prevention programme for netball players in South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2013) Pillay, Tanushree; Frantz, Jose; De Clercq, Dirk
    Background: The South African government has taken a stance to prioritise sporting codes within South Africa that report high participation and is inclusive of the population demographic of South Africa. Netball has been highlighted as one of these sixteen named sporting codes. Linked to the high participation of netball players in the sport is a high prevalence of injuries, which is well documented throughout the literature. Injury management within a South African context presents a number of challenges due to the current environment of health care in the country as well as an array of barriers that directly impact the netball players themselves as well as netball as a federation. Injury prevalence results in a need to both manage and prevent sporting injuries. The purpose of this study was to develop an injury prevention programme for netball players in South Africa and to establish the feasibility of such a programme for implementation. Method: The study took place under the auspices of Netball South Africa and the injury prevalence data was collected at a national netball tournament at the University of Pretoria. Sequential mixed methods was used as a framework to guide the study, and included a range of research methods as part of that process. The problem was identified in two phases using a cross sectional self-administered questionnaire and a qualitative aspect using semi-structured interviews. The design of the injury prevention programme that aimed to address the problem was informed by a systematic review of literature. The process that guided the development of the injury prevention programme was intervention mapping. This process led to the development of an injury prevention programme that included a coach’s educational booklet, an injury prevention exercise protocol and an administrative structure of a National Physiotherapy Association. The evaluation for feasibility for the implementation of the injury prevention programme was evaluated via a Delphi study.
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    The effects of a short term physical activity intervention programme on body mass index, blood pressure, and percentage body fat among high school learners
    (Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of the Western Cape, 2009) Pillay, Tanushree; Frantz, Jose M.
    Introduction: The increase in physical inactivity is thought to be one of the main risk factors for the development of diseases of lifestyle. This has highlighted the need for prevention and intervention programmes that are thought to assist in influencing the modifiable risk factors. Physical activity programmes have been proven to positively influence risk factors such us blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Interventions by health professionals can assist in combating the problem. This study aimed to determine the effects of a short term physical activity programme on the BMI, body fat and blood pressure of high school learners in a local community in the Western Cape. Methods: The total number of learners who volunteered to participate in the study was 106. The study used a pre-test post-test design. The intervention programme was a 6 week programme run for 3 days per week for a period of 40 – 60 minutes per session. The intervention consisted of moderate to vigorous activities. Data was analysed by comparing learners who participated in the intervention and those who did not. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in this study. Results: Prior to the intervention it was found that 18% were found to be obese and at least 10% were hypertensive. Following the intervention it was reported that blood pressure as well as BMI and percentage body fat was influenced in positive way. Conclusion: One can conclude that, a short term physical activity intervention programme conducted three times a week with moderate activities can affect the BMI and blood pressure levels of adolescents.
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    Injury prevalence of netball players in South Africa: the need for injury prevention
    (SA Society of Physiotherapy, 2012) Pillay, Tanushree; Frantz, Jose M.
    This study aimed to establish baseline data for injury prevalence, mechanism of injury, injury severity and management of injuries in netball players in South Africa. A cross sectional descriptive design was employed to collect data by means of a questionnaire in 2010. Participants consisted of 254 netball players who participated in a netball tournament. Permission was obtained from all the relevant organizations and informed consent obtained from the participants. The general injury rate was 61.8% with an injury rate of 1.9 injuries per player for the past season. The most commonly injured structures were the ankle 37.5 % and the knee 28.6% with the most common mechanism of injury being landing, 19% and 29% respectively. Of those who sustained injuries, 86 (44%) of the injured athletes’ sustained severe injuries, 31(16%) sustained moderate injuries and 78 (40%) sustained mild injuries. 67% of players reported they were able to continue with the game and 33% received medical assistance losing game and training time. The most common form of management accessed was physiotherapy, which accounted for 31%. It is evident that the ankle and knee injury rates amongst South African netball players are high in comparison to other netball playing nations. Injury surveillance is an integral part of developing preventative measures. The article lays a platform for developing these strategies against the backdrop of its findings and comparison with other authors.
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    Introducing physical education into schools: the view of teachers and learners
    (University of the Western Cape, 2008) Frantz, Jose M.; Pillay, Tanushree
    INTRODUCTION: A number of initiatives were launched in various countries worldwide to provide quality physical education in schools. However, the promotion of participation in sport and specifically elite sport is still regarded to be economically more feasible, than the introduction of physical education in schools and "sport for all" programmes at community level. In order to improve the current situation, the conventional ideas of the school physical education programme needs to be reconsidered and more serious consideration should be given to the preferences and needs of the key stakeholders. METHODOLOGY: The aim of the study was to determine the views of teachers and learners with regards to physical education and the promotion of physical activity in a local community school. Participants included learners and teachers involved in life orientation and coaching of sport in a high school in a local community in the Western Cape, South Africa. The school was purposively selected as it caters for the previously disadvantaged learners in the area. Data was collected by means of focus group discussions. RESULTS: The results indicated that both the learners and teachers appreciated the benefits associated with participation in physical education but also highlighted significant barriers that prevented the effective implementation of physical education programmes in the school. CONCLUSION: South Africa needs a structured, cost effective approach to physical and health education in schools that stipulates national objectives and detailed strategies to realize the objectives.