Ergonomie in der Sportwissenschaft: Entwicklung eines Konzepts der Sportergonomie am Beispiel des Radfahrens unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Gesundheit, Wohlbefinden und Komfort

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Abstract

Abstract Keywords: Ergonomics, sport ergonomics, technique, technology, socio-technological system, compatibility, interface, sports ware, equipment, health, well-being, comfort, bicycle, cycling, contact points, saddle, handle bar, questionnaire, electromyography, pressure mapping, field research, mountain bike stage race In the world of sports sciences, ergonomics is still a little used term. The first step of this study will be the presentation of the founding principles of the term ‘ergonomics’ and the ways that it transfers into sport and sports sciences. The meaning of ergonomics is often understood as an invented term describing the science of work. This meaning isn’t only something that it has evolved into, but is also something that must be redefined, particularly in relation to sports. Ergonomics contemporarily has come to be understood as the compatibility of people and technology. Technology in this respect, particularly in the field of sports, goes far beyond a piece of technology, e.g. the sport’s apparatus, and encompasses the complete socio-technological system. The aim of ergonomics in the field of sports can therefore be defined as the formation of a humane form of this socio-technological system. Within this the key criteria are performance, health and well being. Above all, health and well being are areas that within sport lurk just below the surface, as they do in society in general. The area of improving the well being of a person through the use of a technical artefact has been termed as comfort. This term seems to contradict the classical understanding of what a competitive sport is about, however with sport becoming more and more about enjoyment of free time and a way to look after one’s health, the comfort aspect has appreciably grown in its significance. On the scientific level there has been little research with this aspect as the subject. Following the theoretical contemplation and the development of the concept of sports ergonomics, different studies concerning themselves with the example of cycling have shown how empirical research can look in this area. The bicycle and cycling as a sport unite through the high level of technically challenging measurement needed to present them in relation to sports ergonomics. Additionally the meaning of ‘cycling’ is different throughout the large section of society who partakes and extremely fragmented, mainly due to the conscious efforts of the cycling industry. This study will investigate three different areas. The sociological aspect will be assessed through an online questionnaire, looking at the current state of and demand for ergonomic inventions. In laboratory studies the effectiveness of ergonomic products will be investigated. The third area will investigate the effect of ergonomic products in a mountain bike stage race, and thereby looks directly at usage, closing the gap left by the other two elements. What all of the studies that have been carried out have shown is that there is clear requirement for further research into ergonomics, and the developments which result. The concluding resume discusses the studies in relation to the concept of sports ergonomics. It finds that it is clear that ergonomically optimised products can improve health, well being and comfort in sport. Beyond this, it is clear that it is not enough to simply focus on technology, like the apparatus. The system’s high level of compatibility is far more dependent on soft factors, such as skeletal structure of the subject and their experience. This also includes an educational area and information exchange. To advance the idea of ergonomics in sport further political will is needed, alongside that of industry and academics. It is a vision which sees sports ergonomics developing into a separate subject within sports sciences, and in order to force the subject into the forefront of discussions in universities, it is a topic that should be incorporated into lectures. This would see through a multidiscipline approach the relevance of ergonomics applied to and go beyond sports sciences. This dissertation is the first glimpse at this.
Original languageGerman
PublisherDeutsche Sporthochschule Köln
Number of pages363
Publication statusPublished - 2017

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