Sports & Health
Sports are a bridge between mental and physical health. People can improve their physical functions by exercising, maintaining a balance between mind and body, and adding vitality and happiness to their daily lives. Sports also serve as a social event, such as the Olympics, that energizes not only the individual but also society as a whole. The following is an introduction to the research for a healthy and prosperous future being conducted by the University of Hyogo.
Creating a society where everyone can enjoy sports
Katsuhiro Ito
Professor, School of Economics and Management
In Japan, many people seem to think that sports are done in physical education classes or club activities at school. As a result, many people still have a sense of aversion to the word “sports” due to memories of “bad grades in physical education” or “exercise was too hard. ”
However, sports are supposed to be fun. I believe that we should enjoy them freely in various ways. For example, “watching” sports. Many people may not like to “play” sports, but they may like to “watch” sports in stadiums or on TV at home. Others may not be interested in “playing” sports themselves but may be interested in “supporting” those who play sports by serving as volunteers or trainers.
Learning about sports is a great way to enjoy sports. I have been participating as an instructor in the “Leadership in Sports Workshop” held by Kobe City since 2010 for junior high school students in the city. At this workshop, representative students each of 81 junior high schools in Kobe gather to learn leadership and knowledge of sports. Sports knowledge is conveyed from various perspectives, including coordination training to develop the ability to move the body skillfully, sports nutrition, and how to play sports safely. I hope that students who have received training will return to their schools and share what they have learned with their teammates and others, spreading the know-how and creating an environment where students can teach each other, thereby activating sports at their schools.
As you can feel from watching the Olympics and Paralympics, sports have the power to enthuse and inspire people. I will continue to research how to promote sports and how to get people interested in them. By spreading the appeal of sports and teaching people how to enjoy them freely, I aim to realize a society where everyone can feel a sense of richness and fulfillment in their lives.
Expanding Research
The key is "hypoxia training," an approach that makes it easy for anyone to become healthy
Hisashi Mori
Associate Professor, School of Human Science and Environment
In 2019, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for research that elucidated the mechanism of the cellular hypoxic response. Research on hypoxia is under way in a various fields, and recently, "hypoxic training" has gained attention in the sports field as well as in the health and medical fields. Unlike the conventional method of staying at high altitude, I am engaged in research on developing a method of creating a temporary hypoxic environment using specialized hypoxia equipment to increase efficiency even for a short period. In fact, when it was conducted as training for the university's swimming team, I confirmed that even a short period had a significant effect. Since a hypoxic environment can be reproduced anywhere with this device, it should be useful not only for athletes but also for the general public to boost their health. Although challenges to practical application remain, I look forward to the day when this research progresses and supports the health of more people.
Biomechanics reveals the mechanisms of the body
Masaru Higa
Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering
From the viewpoint of biomechanics, I am conducting research on calculating muscle force by computer simulation. For example, it is well known that the hip joint is subjected to forces three times body weight during walking and nearly five times body weight during running. By simulating these forces, I provide manufacturers and physicians with indicators of strength and methods for fixing medical devices such as artificial hip joints. This work contributes to the development of safer, high-performance devices. Understanding how the body works is also important in the field of sports. By visualizing these forces inside the body, it is possible to improve performance, prevent injuries, and accelerate recovery. Furthermore, when combined with motion capture systems, the simulation can be customized to individual athletes' movements, improving support performance. I will continue my research to advance people's health and sports activities.
Focus on Person
Simulation study to reduce anxiety about surgery
At the request of doctors, I am conducting simulations and experiments to prove the effectiveness of surgery for crushed patella fracture. 3D models and self-made devices are used to measure the forces applied to the patella under various conditions. I utilize these numbers to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgery. In addition to improving reliability in the medical field, this research is expected to have a wide range of benefits in sports, such as helping injured athletes to return quickly to competition through optimal treatment. By demonstrating the effectiveness of surgery and eliminating patients' anxiety, I aim to create an environment in which patients can relax and focus on recovery.
Simulation study to reduce anxiety about surgery
Kyosuke Nakagawa
2nd year master's program student, Graduate School of Engineering
Pursuing optimal training for each person
Concurrent training is a method of performing muscle training and aerobic training in the same session, and it is said to be effective for improving health. However, there is concern that when focusing on increasing muscle strength, the effect is less than muscle training alone. I am researching ideal training methods, believing that it is possible both to optimally improve health and increase muscle strength by devising the parts and styles of exercise. Training is widely used in school settings for top athletes and the elderly, and understanding the theory is also important for people's health. To make exercise suitable for as many different people as possible, I will continue to learn from past cases and results from many fields.
Pursuing optimal training for each person
Jun Kuge
1st year master's program student, Graduate School of Human Science and Environment