First conference for better health

More than 100 scientists and practitioners from across the world will soon get together to attend the first international Biokinetics conference that will take place on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

According to Prof Cilas Wilders, head of the Institute for Biokinetics, this conference – presented in collaboration with the Biokinetics Association of South Africa (BASA) – is absolutely necessary. “It very important that we empower the public with rapid recovery processes after, for example, a big operation or injury and of course to promote general fitness and health. We live in a very busy and stressful time where exercise is of cardinal importance.”

The “Life through movement” conference will take place from 26-29 September this year, during which the latest technology and research will be discussed so that practitioners will be able to provide the man on the street with the best possible advice and exercise techniques for a healthier lifestyle. The typical topics up for discussion are divided into three categories, and general conditioning, clinical conditions and health promotion will come under the spotlight.

According to Prof Cilas, who is also the president of BASA, several well known and controversial speakers will address the congress – such as Dr Tim Noakes, the well-known dietician, Mr Derick Coetzee, former biokineticist and conditioning coach of the Springbok rugby team and Prof Anita Pienaar, who established kinderkinetics in South Africa. Mr David Grier, the first man to walk the 5 000-kilometre Great Wall of China in four months, will also address the congress-goers.

“The benefit that the man on the street will gain from this is that he will have a better equipped expert to treat him. Health aspects such as medication and medical funds are becoming more and more expensive. The better one is equipped to live healthily and the better one can apply prevention, the better for his health and his pocket. Just think: the longer a sportsman is absent from the sports field, the more money he loses. Practitioners will be equipped with the latest research, thus being in the position to better diagnose and rehabilitate in order to cultivate a healthier lifestyle among the public.”

Feel free to listen to the sound clip of Prof Cilas Wilders, head of the Institute for Biokinetics at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus.

For more details about the conference, visit www.ltmic.co.za or contact Ms Ronelle Barnard at 018 299 1054 or ronelle.barnard@nwu.ac.za.