Department of Sports Science and Physical Education

Health, Fitness and Physical Activity

Objectives

The objective of the research laboratory is to advance the knowledge and practice of exercise prescription and physical fitness to health and performance through quality research, so as to enhance the quality of life of human beings. Research focus lies in physical fitness (both health-related and performance-related) and physical activity investigations. Recent projects include Exercise-is-Medicine: promoting health of diabetes and hypertension patients through community exercise programme; Tai-chi and walking for mental health via EEG analysis; Taichi and walking for cardiovascular health and metabolic rate; Virtual Trainer: improving health through wearable technology, IT, and mobile technology; Asia-fit Study: comparison of fitness, obesity, and physical activity between 8 metropolitan cities in Asia; Yijinbang (易筋棒) exercise for improving shoulder pain; Evaluation of physical fitness and physical activity patterns of school students (primary & secondary); Development of physical fitness screening tests for pre-employment recruitment for Disciplinary Departments (Customs & Excise; Immigration; Correction Services, & Police); Community Fitness Evaluation and Sports-for-All Study on Sports Participation and Patterns of Hong Kong citizens supported by the Leisure and Cultural Service Department, etc.

Themes

Exercise Prescription & Promotion

Promoting exercise prescription to the special population through medical and fitness professionals
Physical and Health Promotion to the public

Health & Fitness Assessments

Validity and reliability evaluation of physical fitness testing protocols (e.g. PACER test, walking test, rope skipping test, skinfold measurements …etc) and physical activity measurements
Application of technology in fitness assessment and exercise promotion
Cross-sectional fitness surveys in schools and the local community

Key Projects

Exercise is Medicine: A Pilot Project at General Out-Patient Clinics in New Territories East Cluster and Related Training Programmes
Taichi and Walking For Mental Health: Application of EEG Analysis
Virtual Trainer for Improving Health and Fitness of Middle-aged Adults
Yijing Bang Exercise for Improving Shoulder Pain & Mobility
Community Fitness Survey

Key Facilities and Equipment

Metabolic Measuring Systems

COSMED K4B2 breath-by-breath portable Metabolic measuring system (Rome, Italy). There are two completed units
Treadmill, maximum elevation 25%, capable of handling 500 pounds of weight (SCIFIT, AC7000, Tulsa, USA)
12-leads Electrocardiogram (EKG) (Quinton Q-stress, USA)
32-channels Electroencephalogram (EEG) (EB-Neuro Be-Plus, Italy)
Monark Cycle-ergometers
Polar electronic heart-rate monitors (basics and advanced models with PC interface)
Motion and activity sensors, such as digital pedometers, CalTracks, TriTracks, Actigraph

Body Composition Measuring Systems

Hydrostatic Weighing (Underwater weighing) system, integrated with digital measuring scale and PC interface
Bod-PoD plethysmography body composition measury system
Bio-electrical impedance analysis scales (Tanita, TBF-543, Tokyo, Japan)
Anthropometry measuring equipments such as skinfold calipers (Harpenden, Lafayette, and Slimguide), Lafayette large and small anthropometers, stadiometers

Other Fitness Measuring Systems

Fit-lights (USA)
Electronic Isometric strength dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd., T.K.K. 5102 Back D, Tokyo, Japan)
Electronic hand-grip dynamometer, (Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd., T.K.K. 5101 Grip D, Tokyo, Japan)
Goniometers for flexibility and range-of-motion assessments (Lafayette Instrument Company, 01130, Layfayette, Indiana)
Flexometers for flexibility measurements
Sit-and-reach boxes for flexibility measurements
Curl-up testing boards