Music and minds: Dr Anna Wong's keynote at HKASMSS
Dr Anna Wong discusses the relationship between musical activities and mental health during her keynote speech at the 8th HKASMSS Student Conference on Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science.
Dr Anna Wong, fourth from left, Dr Claudia Wong Ming-yu, first on left, take a group photo with members of the organising committee of the conference.
Dr Anna Wong, Assistant Professor from the Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE), was invited to give a keynote speech titled “Music for Our Health and Well-being” at the 8th HKASMSS Student Conference on Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science 2024 cum Lingnan SIS SCEM Research Day 2024 on 23 November 2024. In it, the HPE scholar explained how recent findings in areas like music medicine, music therapy, community music, and music education demonstrate that music plays an astonishing role in our lives, health, and wellbeing.
The student conference is organised annually by the Sports Medicine and Sports Science Association of Hong Kong, China (HKASMSS) to facilitate idea exchanges and collaborations among scholars and students in the fields of sports medicine and sports science. It provides an opportunity for students working in sports-related research to present their findings, engage in discussions with fellow students, and connect with peers from higher educational institutions in the city. Renowned scholars in sports and health sciences are invited to deliver keynote speeches, followed by student oral and poster presentations. The theme of this year’s conference is “Sports X Health X Music - An Interdisciplinary Approach”.
In her keynote address, Dr Wong emphasised the significance of exploring the meaning of music in our own lives. “A lot can be learned from examining our musical experiences. Extensive research on clinical and community populations has shown how music regulates physiological and emotional responses, creates social and cultural connections, and provides respite in the midst of stress and suffering. Researching health and wellbeing, whether in the field of music or sports, requires cross-disciplinary efforts and constantly connecting with what is human inside us all,” she said.
At the oral presentation section of the conference, HPE student Ms Lianne Chu Cheuk-ying presents findings from her collaborative research on the relationship between signs of burnout and the age of onset of specialisation of Hong Kong student-athletes.
Ms Lianne Chu Cheuk-ying receives the award for best oral presenter in the sports coaching and education section.
This year’s conference featured 49 poster presentations and 18 oral presentations covering four major areas: sports medicine, sports rehabilitation, sports science, and sports coaching and education. Two HPE students received awards at the conference. Ms Lianne Chu Cheuk-ying from the Bachelor of Education (Honours)(Physical Education) programme was recognised as the best oral presenter in the sports coaching and education section, while Ms He Zilin, who is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree at HPE, was awarded second runner-up in the poster presentation section. Both award winners are supervised by Dr Gary Chow Chi-ching, Assistant Professor and Associate Head of Department (Learning and Teaching) at HPE.
Ms He Zilin, left, poses with her research supervisor Dr Gary Chow Chi-ching, Assistant Professor and Associate Head of Department (Learning and Teaching) at HPE.
Ms He Zilin, second from left, is awarded second runner-up in the poster presentation section. Her presentation examines the accuracy of AI in analysing and assessing table tennis players’ posture, grip, and swing mechanics in real time, demonstrating a high level of agreement between AI system scores and professional coaches’ ratings.
The one-day conference was co-organised by the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) at Lingnan University. The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr Raymond So, Director of Elite Training Science and Technology at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and President-elect of the Asian Federation of Sports Medicine; Dr Gary Mak, cardiologist and HKASMSS’ Past President and Advisor; and Professor Jonathan Fong, Associate Dean (Administration and Education) of SIS.
Dr Claudia Wong Ming-yu from HPE, who served on the Organizing Committee and Scientific Committee of the 8th HKASMSS Student Conference, attended the conference. Dr Lobo Louie Hung-tak served as the Chairman of Organizing Committee of the conference.
Academic and teaching staff from HPE serve on various commissions within HKASMSS, including Dr Gary Chow serving on its Strength & Conditioning Commission, as well as Dr Louie, Dr Claudia Wong and Dr Bob Sun Fenghua on the Sports Science & Research Commission. Additionally, Dr Louie serves on the Sports Medicine in Community Commission of the association.
