Ergonomic aspects of sport and recreation

Human factors engineering or ergonomics originated in military technology from the team-work of engineers and specialists in the human sciences. The central focus is on the human operator upon whom the task and environment impose specific loadings. Intransigence of task demands in sport tends to shift emphasis to training and selection. Heredity seems to play the more important role in the evolution of the champion athlete. An integrated interdisciplinary approach is advocated in assessing task demands and individual capacity to meet them. Improving equipment and facility design promotes safety and performance efficiency. Environmental stresses may be simulated in laboratory conditions to provide opportunity for prior adaptation. Stresses associated with urbanized civilization present novel risks to social health. Quality of life can be enhanced from an ergonomics input into the design of sports facilities and exercise programmes and their subsequent monitoring.