Biological Basis of (Human) Movement Assignment Brief | MMU

Learning Outcomes of This Assignment

• Critically appreciate the theoretical basis of muscle contraction.
• Critically review the nervous control of skeletal muscle contraction.
• Explain the mechanisms involved in the adaptability of the musculoskeletal system to altered functional demands and conditions.
• Critically reflect on how different lifestyle status (e.g., ageing, hormonal levels, physical activity type) may affect skeletal muscle phenotype and function.
• Conduct tests of skeletal muscle function and tendon mechanical properties, and of neuromuscular control, relevant to the study of human movement.

Task Details and Instructions:

Each student must propose a research question relevant to the biological basis of human movement, specifically how a particular status or intervention affects the neuromuscular-tendinous complex. The research question should be novel, highlighting its importance and outlining a proposed study.

Presentation Title Format:

Neuromuscular-Tendinous Properties and [Selected Topic]: a study utilising [Randomly allocated laboratory]

Topic Options:

• Maturation
• Ageing
• Biological Sex Effects/Differences
• Time-of-Day Impact
• Resistance Training and Detraining
• Hypoactivity (e.g. bed rest, limb immobilisation, hypogravity, sedentarism)

Presentation Requirements / Assessment Criteria:

1. Clinical, exercise, or sports relevance of the topic/study. (5%)
2. Clarity in presenting current understanding of the topic (key knowns- 15%) and gaps in knowledge (main unknowns- 10%). 
3. Detailed research study proposal, based on a laboratory session (randomly allocated after the final lab session of the unit). 

• Justification for the research question and its importance. (5%)
• Feasibility/repeatability (10%) and scientific rigour of the analysis (10%) and data interpretation of the proposed method. (10%)

4. Strength of overall conclusions and future research recommendations. (5%)
5. Presentation skills, including adherence to timing, scientific expression, minimal reliance on slides/notes, selection criteria for journals/books references, and quality of audiovisual material. (10%)
6. Response to reviewer(s) questions. Accuracy, depth. (20%)

Guidance on size of submission/duration of presentation

• You will be required to present a synopsis (orally) on one of the topics listed above (NB. topic allocation to each student is during week 2 of the unit)
• Submission of files on Moodle is at least 2 hours before the presentation
• Time allocation per student is 15 mins of presentation, and ~5 mins of Questions & Answers
• Slots: TBC
• Ensure that all presentations are loaded before the beginning of your session
• Presentations will also serve as a further 15-minuteopportunity for learning
• Other members of the SES staff and/or students may also be in attendance

Penalties for overlong submissions/presentations/non-disclosure of AI use

Presentations will be halted after the 15 mins allocation. If you did not complete by then (or completed more than 2 minutes early), the penalty is 10% off your final mark

If you have used AI and not disclosed this, it will be considered academic fraud and will be delt with accordingly.