Prof. ZHANG Ming, Director of the Research Institute for Sports Science and Technology (RISports), was featured in local newspapers including Sing Tao Daily and Wen Wei Po, introducing RISports’ studies on “Taichi-Run” and enhancing diving techniques, respectively.
Taichi-Run is an adaptive jogging style, with an exercise load starting at a lower speed and heart rate (“Yin” state), followed by a gradual increase to a higher speed and heart rate (“Yang” state), and then returning to the “Yin” state, allowing joggers to maintain a comfortable target heart rate. Prof. Zhang shared with Sing Tao Daily that RISports hopes to establish a database of human body data in the long term, using quick scan technology to obtain human characteristics and identify potential health issues for further follow-up. He further stated that the idea of “exercise prescription”, which aims at addressing heath issues through exercise rather than medication, has already been implemented in mainland China and overseas. RISports is now studying the effects of different exercises on humans, investigating whether appropriate exercise can alleviate chronic diseases, and identifying exercises suitable for prescription.
Prof. Zhang also gave an exclusive interview to Wen Wei Po, in which he described the use of research in sports science and technologies to improve diving techniques, thereby enhancing the safety and success rate of diving. He and his PhD student Ms WANG Xin, former member of the national diving team and the gold medallist in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, are utilising waterproof, wireless, flexible body sensors, cameras, etc., to record data on the impact and pressure experienced by various body parts, including joints and muscles, during the take-off, aerial phase, and entry of a dive. Their aim is to determine whether the force can cause injuries, so as to find methods for preventing injuries, and to enhance the difficulty and performance of the divers’ moves. Prof. Zhang explained that this research is still in its preliminary stage, and the team needs to conduct further basic research to ensure its accuracy. He hopes to eventually establish a digital model of the human body, which can be used to analyse the pressure on various body parts of athletes during the diving process.
