Medics hosted engineers, and engineers medics as part of the #sportwspieramynaukowo action
How competitive sport affects human health, why modern technologies are so important in sports training and how to measure dance could be seen by the participants of two meetings as part of the "We support sport scientifically" campaign. The event took place on May 16 and 17 at the Silesian University of Technology and the Medical University of Silesia.
This year's event under the banner of "We support sport scientifically" took the form of mutual visits of employees and students of the Silesian University of Technology and the Medical University of Silesia. Therefore, the participants - secondary school pupils - could choose one of the dates - May 16 or 17 - as well as choose a convenient implementation - the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice or the European HealthTech Innovation Centre in Zabrze. The meetings were aimed at transferring knowledge about science, health and sport, as well as pointing out the interdisciplinarity of these three areas.
The first lecture – conducted by prof. Oskar Kowalski, vice-rector for postgraduate education and promotion of the Medical University of Silesia - was devoted to the impact of sport on human health. Beneficial for health - although of course requiring basic preparation - is undertaking recreational physical activity. Higher risk is associated with competitive sport, which is why professional athletes should regularly undergo examinations, as they may be exposed to e.g. heart disease. The lecture was also an opportunity to present the history of treatment of cardiac diseases, as well as the invention of pacemakers. Prof. Oskar Kowalski is the initiator of the pro-health action #kardiowyzwanie, which encourages people to take up recreational activities and take 7,500 steps a day.
Proper preparation for sports is also essential for preventing injuries. This, of course, applies not only to professional athletes, but also to other people who try their hand at sports disciplines. Examples of injuries and methods of their treatment were presented by Sławomir Dudko MD, Ph.D. from the Department and Clinic of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the Locomotor System.
Modern medicine and sport cannot do without the help of engineers. Modern technologies allow the introduction of solutions for medical treatments, rehabilitation and even sports training. Joint activities of engineers with medics and athletes, as well as work undertaken in the laboratories of the European HealthTech Innovation Centre in Zabrze were presented by prof. Robert Michnik, vice-dean for cooperation and development of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering.
Whether it is possible to "measure" dance was discussed by prof. Joanna Gorwa from the Academy of Physical Education in Poznań, whose lecture took place online. Thanks to the connection in the virtual space, the participants of the event could get to know the scientific work combining biomechanics and dance, the aim of which is, among others, analysis of dancers' movement, description of techniques for performing dance elements or research on the relationship between injuries and performed movements.
Workshops were planned between the lectures, which not only allowed participants to move a bit, but also to test their knowledge in practice. Young people took part in workshops conducted by Aleksandra Bańbor, a medallist of the Polish Academic Championships in many disciplines, who discussed the basics of warming up before running training. Pupils could also try their hand at sports competitions prepared by the AZS University Club of the Medical University of Silesia and in a competition prepared by a representative of the ReShape Fitness gym.
After reminding the rules and stages of first aid, the participants practiced cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
The meeting in Katowice and Zabrze ended with… dancing. The last of the workshops belonged to the Academic Dance Group of the Silesian University of Technology "Dąbrowiacy". Its members not only recalled the traditions of Silesian dances, but also introduced the participants to the sounds of folk music.
The event was organized by the Silesian University of Technology, the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, the Science Popularization Centre of the Silesian University of Technology and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Silesian University of Technology, and EURECA-PRO was a partner. The event was organized as part of the project "After COVID - Popularization of science and sport as an element of mitigating the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic".
“We support sport scientifically" is an action initiated by the Science Popularization Centre in order to popularize interdisciplinary activities conducted at the university, as well as to promote sport and a healthy lifestyle. As part of the campaign, scientists, students and doctoral students of the Silesian University of Technology encouraged to undertake everyday physical activities, and also invited them to participate in joint starts in competitions or weekly trainings with the "Silesian University of Technology & Friends" running group.
