New seminar series looks at Successful Aging

by Professor Igor Grossmann, Department of Psychology.

Various faculty across the Waterloo campus conduct world-class research on aging (e.g., AHS, Kinesiology, Optometry, Psychology). In the eyes of the public, Waterloo researchers study aging-related decline and losses. Yet a growing number of Waterloo researchers study “Successful Aging," which focuses both on aging-related strengths and coping with aging-related limits. Until recently, there has not been a venue for researchers interested in a wide range of aging-related processes to share their work.

A campus-wide seminar series on "Successful Aging" aims to correct the vision of aging research at Waterloo and provide a venue for researchers and graduate students from all over campus to present new insights from their own work, foster collaborations with researchers from other departments, and invite guest speakers—leaders in the field of aging research—to learn about cutting edge research and promote Waterloo aging initiatives.

The seminar will kick off with a luncheon in October supported by the Department of Psychology and the uWaterloo Aging Initiative. In November and December, the seminar series will continue with invited speakers – world-class researchers on aging and cognition and aging and social stigma.

The Kick-Off Luncheon and information meeting about aging research on campus will take place on Friday, October 24, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in TC 2218A. Lunch will be provided by Vincenzo's.

The first seminar features Dr. Lynn Hasher from the University of Toronto, who will be exploring the neuroscience of aging. Dr. Hasher is one of the world leaders in research on aging and cognition. The seminar is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 3 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in DWE 3522.

The second seminar will feature Dr. Alison Chasteen from the University of Toronto, who will be talking about the social psychological aspects of aging. Dr. Chasteen does fascinating research on prejudice and social stigma across the adult lifespan. The seminar will take place on Friday, December 12 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Interested faculty are invited to RSVP/contact Professor Igor Grossmann for more information.

 

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Celebrating National Biotechnology Week

The Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology will be celebrating National Biotechnology Week from September 29 to October 1.

"Our goal is to highlight and increase the awareness of work that is being conducted in biotechnology through a panel discussion, faculty and industry representative talks, and presentations showcasing graduate student work," writes Krystina Bednarowski of the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology.

Highlights of National Biotechnology Week include:

• A panel talk on “Biofuels and Waste Treatment”
• Opportunities to network with other Waterloo researchers during the daily open showcases
• Special guest speaker Reda Fayek from Huron Technologies, who will speak about innovations in imaging in the biotechnology field
• 5-minute researcher presentations on biotechnology and imaging
• Faculty talks with researchers talking about their current research in biotechnology
• Student posters and presentations
• Networking opportunities with industry representatives

Attendance is free however please register for these events or contact Krystina Bednarowski by email for more information.

 

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When it comes to sex, put your back into it

Contrary to popular belief, spooning is not always the best sex position for those with a bad back, according to research from the University of Waterloo.

For the first time ever, scientists have successfully documented the way the spine moves during sex and discovered exactly why certain positions are better than others when it comes to avoiding back pain.

“Any family doctor will tell you that couples often ask them how to manage their back pain during and after sex. Many couples will remain celibate because one night of love-making can lead to months of back agony,” said Professor Stuart McGill, of Waterloo’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. “Until now, doctors have never had any hard science to base their recommendations upon.”

The pioneering study combined infrared and electromagnetic motion capture systems— like those used in the creation of video games—to track how 10 couples’ spines moved when attempting five common sex positions. The findings were used to create an atlas, or set of guidelines, that recommends different sex positions and thrusting techniques based on what movements trigger a patient’s pain.

“Before now, spooning was often recommended by physicians as the one position that fit all. But as we’ve discovered, that is not the case,” said Natalie Sidorkewicz, a PhD candidate at Waterloo and lead author on the paper. “Sex positions that are suitable for one type of back pain aren’t appropriate for another kind of pain.”

The atlas recommends that men who are flexion-intolerant—meaning those whose back pain is made worse by touching their toes or sitting for long periods of time, for example—replace spooning with doggy-style sex. The guide recommends that these men use a hip-hinging motion rather than thrusting with their spines.

“For the first time ever, we now have very solid science to guide clinicians on their recommendations for patients who suffer debilitating back pain, but still want to be intimate,” said Sidorkewicz. “This has the potential to improve quality of life—and love-life—for many couples.”

According to Statistics Canada, four of every five people will experience at least one episode of disabling low back pain in their lifetime. Up to 84 per cent of men with low back pain and 73 per cent of women report a significant decrease in the frequency of intercourse when suffering back pain.

The study also shed light for the first time on the mechanics of the male orgasm. Electrodes hooked up to the male participants' muscles revealed that it is abdominal and buttock, not back muscles, that are most active during orgasm. Spine motion, on the other hand, varied with the individual. For some males, a drastic increase in flexion or extension was seen, while for others spine motion did not change much at all.

"Many of the back pain patients that we see have told us that they experience elevated levels of pain during orgasm, to the point where they will avoid having one during sex with their partner," said Sidorkewicz. "These initial findings help us to begin to understand what might be provoking their pain during the moment of climax."

A paper documenting male spine movement was published on September 10, 2014 in the journal Spine. Female findings are expected to be published in the coming months. The next phase of the study will involve recruiting patients with hip pain and additional categories of back pain to further develop the guidelines.

 

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Roadmap to research, other roundabout routes

Applications are open for the Waterloo Unlimited program Road Map to Research. The program runs from November 12 to 14. Grade 12 students can expect an immersive, pre-university experience including an introduction to the art and science of reading academic papers, an opportunity to explore cutting-edge discoveries with professors, and the chance to engage with student researchers. Applications are due by Wednesday, October 8. Visit Waterloo Unlimited for more details.

Non-credit Korean language courses are now being offered at Renison University College. Beginning the week of October 2, you can register for Level 1 or Level 2 Korean language classes, sponsored by the King Sejong Institute. Register online or contact Brendan Elworthy for more information.

The Ontario government has provided a significant investment in entrepreneurship programming in Waterloo Region that will help the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University support young people in creating new jobs. The $3.3M grant is to be shared by the two universities in a partnership with Communitech as part of the Government of Ontario's campus-linked accelerators program (CLA).

The grant is part of the $20 million CLA introduced as a key part of the Government of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy. The program is managed provincially by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE).

This grant will be shared between the University of Waterloo’s Conrad Business Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre, the Velocity program, St. Paul’s Greenhouse and the Accelerator Centre. At Laurier, the funding will be shared between the university’s LaunchPad programs on its Brantford, Toronto and Waterloo campuses. More details are can be found on the Waterloo News page.

 

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