Ropes Course Research Articles

METABOLIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO PERFORMANCE ON A HIGH ROPES COURSE1255

High ropes course (HRC) facilities are employed to promote self-esteem, stress management, and problem-solving skills. A small, yet, notable incidence of cardiac events during HRC work suggests that a high stress load is imposed upon the cardiovascular system, however, no previous research has described the nature of such work. The purpose of this study was to observe metabolic and cardiovascular responses during HRC work. Subjects (n = 17; age = 25.1±6.8 yrs) gave informed consent to complete a 5-element sequence on an indoor HRC. Elements included step-swings (SS), swinging tires (ST), a 4-inch balance beam (B1), a vertical cargo net (CN), and a second beam (B2). These elements were positioned in series approximately 20 feet above the floor. Expired air was analyzed continuously using a portable system(AeroSport) and averaged over 20-sec intervals. Heart rate (HR) was recorded via telemetry (Polar). Pre- and post-course blood samples were obtained via finger-prick and analyzed (YSI 1500) for lactate (BLA). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were taken via auscultation at orientations prior to each subject's test date and at pre-, mid-, and post-course points during each test session. Mean work time was 11.2±2.9 min. Mean averaged\peak oxygen uptake (VO2), HR, and energy expenditure (EE) were 13.9±2.3\21.6±3.7 ml·kg-1·min-1, 142±16\167±15 b·min-1, and 5.1±0.9\7.7±1.0 kcal·min-1 respectively. In descending order, mean EE was 6.2±1.1, 6.2±0.8, 5.4±1.0, 4.5±0.5, and 4.2±0.5 kcal·min-1 for B2, ST, CN, B1, and SS elements respectively. BLA increased (P<0.05) from 1.9±0.6 pre- to 5.0±1.1 mmol·l-1 post-course. SBP values at pre- (136.7±16.0), mid-(169.8±19.7), and post-course(154.1±19.2) were higher (P<0.05) than the orientation SBP of 126.2±14.7 mmHg. Mid- and post-course SBP means were significantly higher than the pre-course mean. A significant difference was found for DBP between the mid-course (86.3±8.9) vs orientation mean(79.1±6.8). Average work on a HRC can be classified as aerobically moderate, at just over 4 METs with peak periods over 7 METs, with a significant anaerobic contribution. Transient significant elevation in DBP may occur. HRC work does not present an unusually high physiological stress for healthy, physically fit individuals.

Effect of variation in perceived risk on the secretion of β‐endorphin

It is currently unknown why individuals opt to participate in risk taking as a form of recreation. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that β‐endorphin, a naturally produced opiatelike peptide, is secreted in response to a perception of risk, thereby reinforcing risk‐taking behaviors. A 2 × 2 factorial design (Time × Perceived Risk) with repeated measures across both factors was used. The two levels of time were pre‐and postexposure to a particular level of perceived risk. The two levels of perceived risk were high and low. Perceived risk was operationalized through the use of ropes course events of similar design but differing in exposure to height. The dependent variable was level of plasma β‐endorphin. Exploratory analyses of subjective arousal, pleasure, and desire to repeat were also undertaken. Results indicated that plasma β‐endorphin and arousal were significantly increased in the high perceived‐risk condition. A Time × Risk interaction was identified for subjective pleasure. Although t...

Wilderness Therapy for Women: The Power of Adventure

Contents Introduction * Nuestra Hermana * I. Theoretical Perspectives * Wilderness Therapy: What Makes It Empowering for Women? * Self Control: The Key to Adventure? Towards a Model of the Adventure Experience * Transforming Body Image Through Women's Wilderness Experiences * Ethical Considerations in Adventure Therapy: A Feminist Critique * II. Wilderness Therapy in Action * The Wilderness Solo: An Empowering Growth Experience for Women * Women on the Ropes: Change Through Challenge * Building Self-Efficacy Through Women-Centered Ropes Course Experiences * What is the Therapeutic Value of Camping for Emotionally Disturbed Girls? * Equine Psychotherapy: Worth More Than Just a Horse Laugh * III. Special Populations * Two Bears, Dancing: A Mid-Life Vision Quest * Therapeutic Considerations of Wilderness Experiences for Incest and Rape Survivors * Breaking Through Barriers: Wilderness Therapy for Sexual Assault Survivors * Women's Adventure Group: Experiential Therapy in an HMO Setting * So ... What Does Rock Climbing Have to Do With Career Planning? * IV: Voices of Experience: Personal Narratives * When I Reach the Place I'm Goin', I Will Surely Know My Way * Climbing for My Life * After the Next Full Moon * A New Generation of Women in the Wilderness * Reference Notes Included * Index

Prediction of Heart Rates on a Ropes Course from Simple Physical Measures

Prediction of Heart Rates on a Ropes Course from Simple Physical Measures

Ropes course training for youth in a rural setting: “At first I thought it was going to be boring ...”

Outdoor structured activities, such as Ropes Challenge Courses, are typically utilized as interventions for youth coming from urban settings. Evaluation of such programs is scanty at best. In this instance, the course experience is used as a prevention tool for high risk youth in a remote, rural setting of high unemployment, alcohol problems, and low income. The authors discuss the effectiveness of this approach, and the intended and unintended “consequences” for the rural community at large. The evaluation design relies on extensive qualitative methodology as well as quantitative methods to capture the unique nature of this rural project.

Building Self-Efficacy Through Women-Centered Ropes Course Experiences

This paper describes our experiences as facilitators in adventure-based ropes course training. It summarizes experiences with different groups that raise rich and complex issues about the use of adventure-based learning for personal growth and professional development. These groups include women executives, women living in public housing who have formed a women's resource group, adolescent women in treatment, adolescents from currently diverse backgrounds, graduate students, and women who have been sexually abused. These groups reflect the diversity of female participants who have engaged in ropes course training. Although participants are diverse, deep commonalities exist in the kinds of issues they are addressing in ropes course programs. Positive changes in women's abilities to take risks, practice assertive leadership, solve problems effectively, and feel more competent in general, can result from participation in a ropes course experience. In this article, the reader will see how one fixed ropes course element can be used to create a variety of metaphors for diverse groups of participants.

Women on the Ropes

Although the ropes course has been used for many special populations it can be used as a powerful tool for learning and increasing self-awareness and esteem for many women in our society. Sexism and oppression of women create internal and external fears and mistrust. Leadership development is stifled in some women while others feel the pressure of having to lead. The all-women's ropes course experience presents an opportunity forwomen to explore these fears, build trust in themselves and others, and try out their leaderhsip skills within a safe and supportive environment. Women gain a new sense of possibility through the experience of seeing other women do what society says we should not be doing.

Perspectives: Adding Organization Development to the EBTD Toolbox

The phone rings. You answer in your best phone voice: “ACME Experienced-Based Training and Development, how may I help you?” The caller excitedly begins. “A friend of mine did your ropes course experience with her company and really enjoyed it. We need a team building program. What do you have to offer?”

Three Approaches to Evaluation: A Ropes Course Illustration

Three Approaches to Evaluation: A Ropes Course Illustration

Utilizing a Ropes Course in Staff Orientation

Utilizing a Ropes Course in Staff Orientation