Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

Music and Dance-Based Physical Activity (MDPA) is an emerging, exercise-centered therapy that integrates artistic expression with structured physical movement, offering significant benefits for cancer rehabilitation. By combining dance with music therapy, MDPA enhances motor coordination, emotional regulation, and physiological resilience. Advances in multi-omics technologies, such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying these benefits, establishing a solid scientific foundation for its clinical application. MDPA modulates neuroendocrine function, inflammatory signaling, and metabolic reprogramming, promoting immune balance and neuroplasticity. Omics-based analyses further reveal the regulation of genes related to stress response, cellular remodeling, and mitochondrial metabolism in patients engaged in music and dance programs. These findings suggest that MDPA is a promising strategy for precision rehabilitation, with the potential to complement conventional cancer treatments. Importantly, integrating MDPA into patient education could enhance its impact, as patients become more informed about the molecular mechanisms at play and how MDPA can complement traditional therapies. Future research should focus on establishing clear links between molecular changes and clinical outcomes, validating MDPA through multicenter trials, and creating personalized implementation frameworks to integrate it effectively into routine oncology care.

Introduction: This study explores the potential of prospective qualitative methods, specifically the combination of the Delphi technique and scenario planning, to guide innovation processes in traditional sports, using the professional modality of Basque hand-ball as a case study.

Methods: Employing a three-round design, the research gathered evaluations from 23 experts embedded within the sport's ecosystem (including players, referees, coaches, organizers, and media representatives) regarding a series of structured proposals linked to key elements of the game (e.g., scoring systems, service, equipment, rest times).

Results: Findings reveal that the most viable innovations are not necessarily the most disruptive, but rather those that balance spectacle, competitive fairness, and symbolic fidelity to the internal logic of the sport. Proposals such as the "short games" system, time limits between serves, and neutral selection of equipment received strong support and have already been incorporated into the current configuration of the professional league.

Discussion: Furthermore, perceived viability varied according to stakeholder profiles, underscoring the relevance of participatory and deliberative approaches in designing culturally legitimate reforms.

This study aims to explore the coping mechanisms of high school female volleyball players, including the associations between four factors (strategies, psychobiosocial experiences, sports emotions, and recovery-stress balance) and competition performance. A total of 96 valid participants were recruited from the girls' division of the 1st National Secondary School Volleyball Regional League Finals, and their psychological states were assessed using the Athletic Coping Skills Inventory (ACSI-28), Psychobiosocial Experience Semantic Differential Scale in Sport (PESD-Sport), Sport Emotion Questionnaire (SEQ), and Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport). Network analysis was adopted to analyze the relationships between the four factors and competition performance: (1) Confidence and achievement motivation (EI = 1.207, bridge EI = 0.423) is identified as the most influential nodes in the network and simultaneously function as bridge nodes, linking multiple communities. In addition, dejection (weight = 0.146), sports recovery (weight = -0.097), (2) and goal setting/mental preparation (weight = 0.048) are closely associated with competition performance, with dejection showing the strongest connection to competition performance. These findings yield empirical, data-driven implications for coaches and sport psychologists, indicating that targeted interventions designed to boost athletes' confidence and achievement motivation may generate comprehensive benefits spanning emotional regulation and competitive performance. Moreover, the proactive monitoring and regulation of negative affective states (e.g., dejection) could facilitate more precise psychological interventions, thereby optimizing the competitive performance of female high school volleyball players.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of lateral dominance (eye/leg dominance and ipsilateral/crossed dominance patterns) on bilateral turning performance in alpine skiers, analyzing its mechanistic role across different skiing phases to provide theoretical support for training optimization.

Methods: Twenty-two alpine skiers (age: 23.14 ± 1.75 years; national level 1 or above) performed slalom tests on an indoor ski simulator (slope: 20°; speed: 27.3 km/h). 4 K cameras recorded kinematics and time metrics during initiation phase, and turning phases. Post-test, eye dominance was determined via hole-in-card and electrooculography tests, while leg dominance was assessed through single-leg vertical jumps. Participants were categorized into ipsilateral/crossed dominance groups based on eye-leg combinations. Mixed linear models analyzed within-group differences across phases.

Results: During initiation phase, dominant eye-turn consistency showed a significant effect, where turns towards the non-dominant side yielded superior performance (β = -0.010, P = 0.015). In the completion phase, interaction effects indicated that ipsilateral dominance yielded superior performance specifically when turns were consistent with the dominant side P = 0.021, partial η² = 0.021; P < 0.001, partial η² = 0.027). Cross-dominant skiers demonstrated the poorest performance in single-turn metrics (P < 0.05), potentially due to interhemispheric integration delays. Laterality influences slalom performance through visuomotor coupling mechanisms, with ipsilateral dominance showing neural efficiency advantages during initiation.

Conclusion: Coaches should incorporate dual-task training to improve visual-motor coordination and bilateral symmetry, thereby mitigating technical asymmetries and enhancing competitive outcomes.

Purpose: The popularity of women's international rugby has grown significantly over the past decade. The impact of this growth on player welfare, however, has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to increase the level of epidemiological information available for women's international rugby-15s.

Methods: Anthropometric and injury data were reported by the medical staff working with 20 national teams taking part in the 2023 and 2024 WXV international rugby competitions. Data related to the incidence, severity, burden, nature and cause of injuries were collected according to the international consensus statement for conducting injury surveillance studies in rugby.

Results: The overall incidence of injury was 49.5 injuries/1,000 player-match-hours with a mean severity of 42.2 days. As two-thirds of all injuries were sustained during the second half of matches, player fatigue is a probable injury risk factor in women's rugby. Concussion (23.3%) and knee-ligament (16.3%) injuries were the most common injuries sustained by backs; whereas, knee-ligament (15.5%) and ankle-ligament (14.0%) injuries were the most common for forwards. Knee-ligament injuries were responsible for most time-loss by both backs (36.8%) and forwards (60.2%).

Discussion: The risk of injury in rugby is defined by the incidence and nature of injuries sustained by players together with the match and training load that players experience. Results obtained from this study enhance the evidence-base available for identifying injury risk factors and developing mitigation priorities for women's rugby-15s.

Man-marking (MM), and pressure on the ball are task constraints frequently manipulated by coaches during small-sided games (SSG). Man marking seemed to increase the physiological load of SSG measured through heart rate measures [average and percentage heart rate (HR), time spent >80% maximum HR] and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Additionally, MM increased the physical parameters in soccer players. Total distance covered, as well as the relative distance and other related variables with higher intensity such as distance in velocity bands at high-intensity >13 km/h as well as sprinting increased in comparison to non-MM. Players also experienced greater work rate, as reported through the work-to-rest ratio. Pressure on the ball increased players' physiological intensity (e.g., percentage of time spent in 90%-100% HR max) and physical load (e.g., number and distance of high-speed runs). Tactical changes through pressure on the ball was expressed as higher number of ball recovery, lower decision making and execution with a lower spatial exploration index. Utilizing offside during SSG did not change the physiological load of players whilst decreasing total distance and low(er) speed running such 7-16 km/h). Offside affected players depth positioning, consequently the length-per-width ratio and players' spatial exploration. As a result, coaches can utilize MM and pressure on the ball to increase intensity of SSG. Offside, however, diminishes physicality of games whilst restricting tactical behaviour of players.

Introduction: Sleep is a critical component of normal bodily function as well as for peak performance in athletes. This study examined the associations between quality and quantity of sleep, sleep disturbances, head injuries, and headaches in current and former association football (soccer) players in the United Kingdom (UK).

Methods: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey was sent to members of the Professional Footballers' Association with questions relating to sleep, concussion history, and headaches.

Results: The survey was completed by 600 participants (18 women, 582 men; aged 17-92 years, mean age 44.12 years ± 15.33 SD), comprising 195 current and 405 retired players. Significant clinical sleep disruption was reported in 17.0% of participants, with 22.5% achieving six hours or less of sleep per night. Odds ratios (OR) demonstrated that sleep disruption was associated with headaches [2.66 OR, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.61-4.38; p < 0.001], suspected concussions (1.84 OR, 95% CI: 1.03-3.36; p = 0.040), and short sleep (4.06 OR, 95% CI: 2.56-6.44; p < 0.001). Both diagnosed and suspected concussions were significantly associated with waking up feeling tired or worn out (diagnosed: p = 0.019; suspected: p < 0.001).

Discussion: A large proportion of former and current footballers experience clinically significant sleep disturbance, which is significantly associated with headaches and concussion history. Further research is needed to explore the long-term relationship between brain health and sleep in this population.

Background: Autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) is an effective technique for treating complex osteochondral injuries of the talus. However, there is still controversy regarding the imaging assessment of its postoperative efficacy. MRI, as a non-invasive examination, is the primary method for evaluating surgical outcomes, while invasive secondary arthroscopic surgery provides a more direct and accurate evaluation of intra-articular results. The correlation between these two assessment methods and clinical outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation between MRI findings assessed using the MOCART scoring system and functional outcomes, as well as arthroscopic second look, in patients undergoing (AOT) for osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 47 patients. All patients were followed for a minimum of two years postoperatively. Functional evaluations were performed at one and two years after surgery using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Imaging assessments utilized the Magnetic Resonance Observation of Cartilage Repair Tissue (MOCART) MRI scoring system. All patients underwent secondary arthroscopy for internal fixation removal at the two-year mark, during which the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) scores were recorded.

Results: There was a low correlation between the MOCART scores and both functional scores and arthroscopic scores postoperatively. At one year post-surgery, the MOCART score showed a low correlation with the AOFAS score (r = 0.27, p = 0.07, 95% CI: -0.01-0.36). By two years post-surgery, the MOCART score demonstrated a low correlation with the AOFAS score (r = 0.34, p = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.05-0.49), VAS score (r = -0.46, p < 0.05, 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.02), and ICRS score (r = 0.36, p < 0.05, 95% CI: 0.40-3.11). ICRS and AOFAS scores (r = 0.56, p < 0.05, 95% CI: 1.19-3.07), indicating a moderate correlation.

Conclusion: In autologous osteochondral transplantation (AOT) for the talus, the MOCART scores showed a low correlation with clinical function or secondary arthroscopic scores. The MRI assessment of talar cartilage repair requires more detailed evaluation.

Level of evidence: 4.

Many veterans experience a decline in their physical activity following their separation from service. Contributory factors include changes in lifestyle, routines and occupational activities, or physical injury, disability, or mental ill health; whether service-related or otherwise. Low physical activity increases risk of serious health consequences, including cardiometabolic disease, which veterans experience at more than two-fold-higher rates than their general population counterparts. Psychological and social factors such as social identities, group norms and social support are important for physical activity uptake and maintenance, but are understudied in veteran populations and their families, especially alongside the incorporation of co-design principles and methods. This protocol paper presents a three-study research program aimed at improved management of cardiometabolic risk for veterans-with a focus on understanding barriers and enablers of physical activity, and culminating in the co-design of a physical activity toolkit. First, a cross-sectional survey will identify risk and protective factors associated with physical activity for veterans and their close family members, including psychosocial factors, such as norms about physical activity within veterans' families. Second, semi-structured interviews with at-risk veterans and family members will further examine perspectives and lived experience of barriers and enablers of physical activity uptake and maintenance. Third, focus group workshops will be undertaken to co-design a toolkit on physical activity that is evidence-based and acceptable for veterans with cardiometabolic risk and their families. Together, the research is expected to generate a new understanding of how best to support veterans and their families with uptake and maintenance of physical activity, particularly those with cardiometabolic risk indicators.