Browsing by Author "Rogers, G"

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    The effect of repeated bouts of downhill training on running performance and recovery after a 30-km time trial
    (2001) Schutte, Lynne; Lambert, Michael I; Rogers, G; Lombard, R
    Purpose: The present study was designed to examine the effect of repeated bouts of either downhill or level running on running performance in, and recovery from, a 30-km time trial. Methods: Sixteen male subjects with a mean (± SD) age of 33.8 ± 5.8 years, body mass of 72.0 ± 7.3 kg and a stature of 176.6 ± 4.5 cm were randomly allocated to either a downhill (n=9) or a level group (n=7). The protocol consisted of a training phase, followed by a 30-km time trial and a recovery phase. During the training phase subjects ran either at a -10% grade (downhill group) or a 0% grade (level group) on a treadmill for nine 40-minute training runs [70% of peak treadmill running speed (PTRS)]. Thereafter all the subjects participated in a 30-km time trial (70% of PTRS), where heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and stride length (SL) were recorded, followed by five 15-minute submaximal recovery runs. The first recovery run was performed before the start of the training phase and again on four occasions after the 30-km time trial. HR, RPE, SL, minute ventilation (Vi), oxygen consumption (VO₂), carbon dioxide production (VCO₂) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were recorded during these 15-minute runs. Plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity and muscular soreness were assessed for the duration of the study. Results: HR decreased in the downhill group during the training phase, suggesting a HR training effect. Muscle pain and plasma CK activity in the downhill group increased after the first 40-minute downhill training run. These indicators of muscle damage did not show any further increases during the training phase, suggesting a "repeated bout effect". Towards the end of the 30-km time trial the level group, showed a greater heart rate drift (HRD) and an increased RPE, suggesting that they were not able to resist fatigue to the same extent as the downhill group. HR and RPE recorded during the recovery phase suggested that the downhill group showed a better recovery after the 30-km time trial. During the recovery phase the downhill group experienced no increase in muscle pain after performing the 30-km time trial, in contrast to the level group who experienced muscle pain for five days after the 30-km time trial. Plasma CK activity, was blunted after the 30-km time trial in the downhill group in contrast to the level group. Conclusion: The results of the investigation support the hypothesis that the inclusion of downhill training into a training program cause changes, which can be interpreted as enhancing performance during an endurance event and recovery after the event.
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    Primary health eye care knowledge among general practitioners working in the Cape Town Metropole
    (South African Academy of Family Practice, 2011) Van Zyl, L; Fernandes, N; Rogers, G; Du Toit, N
    Aim: The main purpose of this study was to determine whether general practitioners (GPs) in the Cape Town metropole have sufficient knowledge to diagnose and treat primary care ophthalmic conditions correctly, and to assess their own perceptions of their levels of knowledge. Secondary objectives included identifying the need for courses to improve the ophthalmic knowledge of GPs and assessing whether there is a need to revise the undergraduate curriculum in ophthalmology in general. Method: A cross-sectional survey was done. A questionnaire of 10 primary care level ophthalmology questions, including a self-assessment section, was sent to each of 140 randomly chosen GPs in Cape Town. Results: A response rate of 79.2% was obtained. Respondents included graduates from all eight medical schools in South Africa. Most of the responding GPs were practising for more than 10 years (78.2%). The mean test score was 52.5% (standard deviation [SD]: 22.2). The mean self-rating was 51.9% (SD: 14.5). There was no statistically significant difference between the test score and the self-rating score (p = 0.5840). Responding GPs felt that there is a need for ophthalmology up-skilling courses and 99.9% of them would attend such courses. Also, 82% of GPs felt that primary care doctors, not optometrists, should deliver primary eye care. Conclusion: GPs appear to lack sufficient knowledge to manage primary health eye care problems, presumably due to a lack of adequate training in the field. Clinical up-skilling courses are needed to improve core knowledge in ophthalmology.
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    Open Access
    Primary health eye care knowledge among general practitioners working in the Cape Town Metropole
    (2011) Van Zyl, L M; Fernandes, N; Rogers, G; Du Toit, N
    Aim: The main purpose of this study was to determine whether general practitioners (GPs) in the Cape Town metropole have sufficient knowledge to diagnose and treat primary care ophthalmic conditions correctly, and to assess their own perceptions of their levels of knowledge. Secondary objectives included identifying the need for courses to improve the ophthalmic knowledge of GPs and assessing whether there is a need to revise the undergraduate curriculum in ophthalmology in general. Method: A cross-sectional survey was done. A questionnaire of 10 primary care level ophthalmology questions, including a self-assessment section, was sent to each of 140 randomly chosen GPs in Cape Town. Results: A response rate of 79.2% was obtained. Respondents included graduates from all eight medical schools in South Africa. Most of the responding GPs were practising for more than 10 years (78.2%). The mean test score was 52.5% (standard deviation [SD]: 22.2). The mean self-rating was 51.9% (SD: 14.5). There was no statistically significant difference between the test score and the self-rating score (p = 0.5840). Responding GPs felt that there is a need for ophthalmology up-skilling courses and 99.9% of them would attend such courses. Also, 82% of GPs felt that primary care doctors, not optometrists, should deliver primary eye care. Conclusion: GPs appear to lack sufficient knowledge to manage primary health eye care problems, presumably due to a lack of adequate training in the field. Clinical up-skilling courses are needed to improve core knowledge in ophthalmology.