The Fifth International Conference on Sport, Leisure and Ergonomics was held at Burton Manor, 19–21 November 2003. It followed the earlier conferences starting in 1987 when the Ergonomics Society resurrected its interest in this domain. The tradition of linking with the World Commission of Science and Sports was maintained, supporting the philosophy of the commission to build a bridge between theory and practice, between science and sport.
The present volume includes communications from the conference that passed successfully through the peer review process. Three invited lectures are included relating to activity and ageing, the exercise referral system and the impact of human cadaver studies. Whilst the topics covered at the conferences from 1987 embrace both elite sport and recreational exercise, the content of the present volume represents a shift from the highly competitive arena to favour the uses of exercise as a medium for health promotion in the population at large.
The early reports in this issue are focused on exercise at different ages of the lifespan and the effects of different exercise regimens. Issues associated with the promotion of physical activity are addressed in a public health context. Body composition and weight control are covered, as these are important factors in a healthy lifestyle. The environment in which the human operates is a central theme in classical ergonomics and issues addressed include heat, hypoxia and circadian factors. The later reports include studies in particular sports contexts and the uses of psychological and biomechanical techniques. The methodologies in the concluding manuscripts are qualitative in nature, confirming the broad spectrum of approaches to research projects that apply in the ergonomics of sport and leisure.
This special issue provides a flavour of the ergonomics work being applied currently in sport and leisure domains. It serves both as a record of communications to the Fifth International Conference in 2003 and an early alert for the sixth conference due to be held at the same venue in 2007. It is hoped that the content provides some ideas and challenges for active research groups to face in the forthcoming years.