ABSTRACT
This report provides an overview of the effectiveness of objectively measured physical activity, sports participation, and outdoor play on outcomes related to mental health and social skills in children and adolescents. Findings based on observation studies of longitudinal and cross-sectional design are inconsistent. On the other hand, several intervention studies with high intensity exercise programs indicated that intensity and amount of physical activity might provide a short-term benefit against depressive symptoms and anxiety. However, there are reports that psychosocial approaches confer effects similar to exercise programs. The effects of participation in organized sports clubs on mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, self-esteem, self-efficacy, health-related quality of life, social skills (e.g., relationship skills), and coping ability were diverse. Notably, there could be unfavorable relationships in athletes exhibiting a higher performance. Meanwhile, participation in sports could represent a predictor of escalation in alcohol use as evidenced by longitudinal observation studies in adolescent, although there could also be effectiveness in terms of preventing use of illicit drugs. Lastly, active outdoor play under natural conditions without supervision also represented an effective approach to promote mental health (e.g., reducing depressive symptoms and building social skills such as self-regulation and coping skills in the face of difficult human relationships). We recognize that not only sports participation but also outdoor play under abundant nature environment could represent a significant physical activity to maintain mental and social health from childhood to adolescence.
ABSTRACT
Europe has a long history with its own traditional medicines. In Germany, the practice of traditional European and Asian medicine along with modern medicine is called Integrative Medicine. The pain clinics at Munich University, TCM Klinik Bad Kotzting, Immanuel Klankenhaus and Zen Haus Klinik are well-known centers of Integrative Medicine in Germany. We visited these hospitals and clinics and report on the state of their treatment.<BR>Four-week programs in chronic pain, traditional Chinese medicine, natural therapy, and traditional Japanese medicine with aromatherapy are given at these facilities. Moreover, Complementary and Alternative medicines are widely covered by public or private insurance. And one reason for the spread of Integrative Medicine may be these social conditions, in addition to historical background.
ABSTRACT
The Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami disaster that occurred on March 11, 2011 seriously destroyed Japanese social activities the medical system included. We provided medical support to the damaged area, and mainly performed Oriental medicine. Traditional methods using physical diagnoses and the treatments with herbs, acupuncture, and massage were effective, where any infrastructure had suffered or any modern medical facilities had been destroyed. Acute phase infectious disease, common colds, and hypothermia were dominant. Allergies increased two weeks later, and there was much mental distress, and chronic pain symptoms one month later. We prescribed Kampo herbal medicines for common colds, hypothermia, allergies, and mental distress. Moreover, we also performed acupuncture and kneaded patients' body to reduce pain, stiffness, and edema. These treatments were effective for both physical and mental distress. Thus we believe that Oriental medicine is valuable in disaster situations.
ABSTRACT
This study was intended to clarify factors that contribute to swimming performance, and to determine the extent to which these factors change with respect to junior swimmers' development. Participants were 114 boys and 130 girls, 8-18 years old, who belonged to swimming clubs. They were classified into four groups : 8-10 years, 11-12 years, 13-14 years, and 15-18 years. We selected four factors - body size, muscle strength, flexibility, and stroke efficiency - which are putatively related to swimming performance. Swimming performance was identified as standardized 50 m records. We applied simultaneous analysis of multiple groups to multiple regression models and thereby examined the relationship between those four factors and swimming performance with respect to age and sex.Stroke efficiency was the salient explanatory factor for swimming performance of swimmers of both sexes under 14 years. For the over-15 age group, muscle strength was the most effective parameter in boys, whereas body size was the most influential factor of swimming performance in girls. The influence of swimming career was small. These results suggest that stroke efficiency contributes strongly to the swimming performance in subjects who are less than 14-years-old, but that body size and muscle strength do not. For swimmers over 15-years-old, stroke efficiency was less important, but muscle strength was an important explanatory factor of swimming performance.