International Journal of Research and Health - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the International Journal of Research and Health. Answer: Introduction A research was conducted to evaluate the impact of the low 35 low dB and 65 high dB music played in the gyms and other fitness studios during 1997-98 and 2009-11. It was organized by Elizabeth Francis Beach who is associated with Macquarie University, New South Wales, Australia and Valerie Nie who is associated with University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. This study identifies the threat posed by high intensity music to the hearing ability of the instructors and suggests to innovate new ideas to minimize this risk (Gaeta Andrew, 2016). Assessment of the intensity of the noise during fitness sessions (WHO, 2015) The study was organized to assess the impact of high and low volume music on the clients and the trainers during the workout sessions for which the questionnaires were circulated. The object of the study is to determine the degree of noise in low and high intensity fitness classes, to find out the trainers and clients inclination for music during low and high intensity workouts as well as assessing if they found high volume music tough for their ears. Also audiometric evaluation was conducted to analyze the threshold limit of the trainers. In countries including Australia ,the standardized noise level at the workplace is 85 dB which is equivalent to noise level over 8 hours (LAeq,8h), which can be defined as 1.01 Pascal-square hours (Pa2h). For increase in every 3 dB, in LAeq, the exposure time is halved .During 1997-98; two gyms were chosen in New South Wales for research. The categories were divided into low intensity workouts including power exercises, constituted up t o 35 % and high intensity workouts including cardio fitness, constituted up to 65 %. Along with this, a microphone was placed on the trainers shoulder for measuring LAeq . Also the same parameters were experimented upon the client area, with the help of a precision sound level meter, type 2231 and type 4230. With the help of the same noise meter, the spot sound pressure levels (SPLs) in the 4 corners of the studio were recorded. In both the time periods, about 85 % of the trainers believed that high level of music was inspiring whereas one fifth of the clients found it stressful. In 2009-11 eight gyms were selected and 43 classes were assessed. In both the cases, the noise level was more than 85 dB (Packer, L. 2015) (Snow Harvey, 2015). Analysis of the research In 1997-98, the research emphasized on the trainers and the clients observations on the intensity of music and the degree of noise in the fitness classes. So, for this purpose the second author prepared two questionnaires, one for the trainers and the other for the clients. The former consisted of 35 questions including those related to personal details, profession as a fitness instructor, other work, leisureliness, hearing and health. The clients questionnaire consisted of 19 questions consisting of personal details, participation in the fitness classes and hearing and health. Among the trainers, 27 of them completed the questionnaire.77.8 % of them were females and their mean age was 26.4 years the length of their employment was 5 years and 3 months. Among the clients, 280 of them completed the questionnaire. 214 of them were females and their mean age was 35.6 years. Around 57 classes were conducted and two recordings were made in each class .The average duration of each of them w as 51.5 minutes. The noise levels of the Circuit Aerobic class were the loudest representing 98 dB and the Light and Low class were the quietest representing to 84 dB. In 2009-11, similar questionnaire were prepared which were available in online format. 49 instructors completed the questionnaire out of which 47 completed the online version whereas 2 completed the written version. Among 77.5 % of them were females with the average age of 35.9 years. They were employed for 6 years and 10 months approximately.137 clients were interested in answering the questionnaire and among them 125 of the them were females with the average age of 42 years. The average duration of the class was 52.8 minutes. The loudest class was the spin class with the LAeq of 98.8 dB and the quietest class was the body balance with the LAeq of 71.2 dB. For matching the degree of noise of both the periods, the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. The independent variables were the class types and the time p eriods and the repeated variable was the location of the dosimeter. There was no remarkable contrast between the degree of noise in both the periods (in 97-99 it was 89.9 and in 2009-11 it was 89.2).But the contrast was noted in the low (87.2) and high intensity (91.9) exercises. For the priorities of the volume, the independent variables were the time period and the respondent types and the repeated component was the exercise type. At all the times, the instructors preferred higher intensity of music than the clients. The intensity of music affected 20% to 30% clients more than the instructors .They found it more stressful than their instructors (Cheer, 2014). Conclusion (Welch Fremaux, G.2017) So, the results of the research show that the volume of the music in the high intensity classes is same in both the periods. Though the degree of noise has been decreased by 3.3 dB, but those of the high intensity are the same as that compared to the last period. In 1997-99, the trainers spent around 7.5 hours in a week in the fitness classes, which was raised to 9.8 hours in 2009-2011( Bronzaft ,2017).As a result, the weekly exposure per week raised from 4.4 to 7.9 Pa2h per week, thereby exceeding the exposure of the work place noise by 57 % as per Australian and New Zealand Standard. It can be concluded that the high intensity music can pose a threat to the hearing ability of the instructors who deliver more than 2 high intensity classes a day. The study reveals that the fitness industry should consider innovative ways to inspire their clients , rather than playing high volume music ,so that it doesnt get tough for the trainers ears and clients demands are met successfully(WHO, 2015). References Gaeta, L. Andrew, J., B (2016). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss and Leisure Activity. Audiology Today. 28(6). WHO(2015). Hearing loss due to recreational exposure to loud sounds :A review.[Online].Available at https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/154589/1/9789241508513_eng.pdf [Accessed on : 15 December,2017] Packer,L.(2015).Dangerous decibels and exercise classes.[Online].Available at https://www.healthyhearing.com/report/52418-Dangerous-decibels-and-exercise-classes[Accessed on : 15 December,2017] WHO(2015).Make Listening Safe. .[Online].Available at https://www.who.int/pbd/deafness/activities/MLS_Brochure_English_lowres_for_web.pdf [Accessed on : 15 December,2017] Welch,D. Fremaux,G.(2017).Why Do People Like Loud Sound? A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 14(908). Snow, K., N. Harvey,S.,B.(2015). Challenges facing fitness center designers in multifamily buildings. 170th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America .[Online].Available at https://phoenixnv.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/POMA_Architectural-Acoustics-and-Noise_Paper-2aAA9.pdf [Accessed on : 15 December,2017] Bronzaft,A.,L. (2017). Impact of Noise on Health: The Divide between Policy and Science.Journal of Social Sciences. 2017(5). Cheer,L.,(2014) Is your gym class making you deaf? New research has revealed that the music in gym classes reaches almost the same level as a jet engine. Mail Online. [Online].Available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2774452/Is-gym-class-making-deaf-New-research-revealed-music-gym-classes-reaches-level-jet-engine.html [Accessed on : 15 December,2017]