Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

Introduction: Despite the importance of sports bras for comfort during exercise in people with breasts, concerns persist regarding their potential effects on athletic performance. Discrepancies in previous studies necessitate a closer examination of the interaction between sports bras, breast volume, exertional symptoms, and exercise performance.

Methods: Twenty-three recreationally-active, normal bodyweight females completed three 10-km time-trials on a cycle ergometer on three separate occasions in a randomized order, while wearing a professionally fitted high-support sports bra, a professionally fitted low-support sports bralette, or a personal, self-selected sports bra. Performance was quantified as the time to complete the 10-km distance. Cardiorespiratory and symptom responses were measured throughout.

Results: Participants were grouped by their estimated breast volumes (small: mean ± SD 284 ± 38 ml, median bra size: 32C; large: 560 ± 97 ml, 34DD; p = 0.002, g = 3.84). The average time-trial duration was 23.1 ± 3.1 min and comparable across breast volume groups and sports bra conditions (between-group: p = 0.794, η _p ² < 0.01; between-bras: p = 0.273, η _p ² < 0.01). Notably, larger-breasted participants experienced stronger symptoms of chest tightness (p = 0.042, η _p ² = 0.18), which were associated with their ratings of perceived exertion and breathlessness (intensity and unpleasantness). Irrespective of breast volume, the high-support sports bra also evoked stronger symptoms of chest tightness (p = 0.039, η _p ² = 0.15).

Discussion: Stronger symptoms of chest tightness associated with larger breast volumes or high-support sports bras do not impede performance during self-paced non-weight-bearing exercise in recreationally-active females.

The present study examines the training environment and sponsorship dynamics in Hungarian artistic swimming, with a particular focus on competitiveness. Through the utilization of a linear regression method ample aspects were identified, such as coach qualifications, funding sources, and facilities, that positively impact the number of qualified competitors. The availability of funding sources, when coupled with governmental assistance, has a favorable effect on the number of competitors, whereas membership fees have a deleterious impact. Furthermore, the findings indicate that increased water availability and increased publicity enhance artistic swimming recognition, whereas improved land-based training conditions may lead to a decline in the number of competitors. This paper discusses how different aspects of training programs can be integrated to improve overall athleticism, prevent injury, and enhance the competitive ability of artistic swimmers.

Surfing is a high participation sport, yet little sport science research exists regarding competitive performance in surfing. Given surfing's inclusion as an Olympic sport from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics onwards, an examination of performance would seem useful. In numerous land-based sports, and in swimming, the importance of a warm-up and muscle heat is well documented. However, surfing is a unique sport in that it is undertaken both above and below water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of a warm-up in terms of readiness to perform in surfing. We discuss this in the context of thermal regulation, hormone profile change, and the subsequent expression of "power" on waves-a key criteria that surfers are scored for. Nineteen advanced level surfers (i.e., competitive at just below national level in Australia; n = 15 males and n = 4 females) with mean (±SD) age, height, and weight of 24.5 ± 11.6 years, 174.7 ± 9.1 cm, and 67.7 ± 10.2 kg, respectively, were recruited. We adopted a repeated measures pre- and post-design whereby participants engaged in several simulated surfing competitions in an artificial wave pool; once after an active warm-up combined with a passive heat retention strategy (i.e., wrapping themselves in survival blankets-treatment), and once after no warm-up (control). Saliva samples were collected pre- and post-active warm-up, or at equivalent times under control conditions, for the measurement of testosterone and cortisol. Increases in these hormones have previously been associated with an enhanced readiness to compete. Our results demonstrate a clear thermoregulatory benefit from the treatment, with the participants' core body temperatures typically higher from the end of the warm-up to the end of the surf session following treatment (p ≤ 0.03), and a magnitude of increase in core body temperature once in the water that is greater following treatment (p = 0.01). A small magnitude upward change in testosterone (p = 0.01) and cortisol (p ≤ 0.001) following warm-up was also observed. Finally, warm-up was associated with an improved wave performance compared with the control, with a 20% increase in the performance score typically observed (p ≤ 0.01). We argue that the improved thermal profile may have influenced power and, as such, surfing performance was enhanced.

Introduction: Since rowing became an Olympic sport in 1900, rowers have made significant performance gains, partly attributed to increased research, training, and competition knowledge. Rowing technique and biomechanics play an essential role in rowing performance. While some aspects can be quantified with modern tools, coaches' expertise remains essential for technical performance evaluation. Coaches often play a pivotal role in identifying and correcting technical faws; however, novice and intermediate coaches may struggle. This study examines how expert-level rowing coaches assess the technical performance of athletes during on-water rowing.

Methods: Four current and former national team coaches were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The repertory grid technique was employed to explore their initial foci when assessing the rowing technique. The acquired data were content-analysed and listed in a summarising table.

Results: We have detailed both the positive and negative aspects of rowing technique identified by these coaches. Three overarching themes were identified: perceived force application, perceived movement precision, and perceived rhythm and timing.

Discussion: Examining the categories revealed that the coaches with a shared federation background exhibited a relatively high level of similarity in their initial foci. However, looking into their subjective aspects revealed considerable differences. This leads to the hypothesis that a broad spectrum of unique coaches' criteria can lead to the same or similar technique executions from their athletes.

Formula One (F1) racing has recently grown in popularity, extending well beyond its traditional European roots. However, there has been a paucity of scholarly research dedicated to the health of drivers and even less discussion of the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, risk factors, and types of psychopathology in F1. This is notable given advancements in sports psychiatry and evidence of psychiatric disorders emerging across other sports. Accordingly, this perspective paper details the physiological conditions in F1 and the socioenvironmental pressures that a driver may encounter during their career, including heat stress, weight restrictions, harassment, and other factors. These extreme physiological and psychological stressors, both in racing and non-racing environments, alongside sport-specific psychosocial pressures, may cause HPA axis dysregulation and other issues in drivers, heightening vulnerabilities for mental health concerns. Additionally, F1 is still affected by stigmatizing attitudes and regressive sociocultural norms, which could inhibit progress toward promoting sustainable wellbeing. Consequently, drivers may be at risk for mental disorder and a decrease in overall health and wellbeing. Against this background, we thereby recommend mental health programs and regulatory actions that could better address these challenges and promote mental wellbeing across F1.

Introduction: The tennis serve is a complex motion with numerous rotations which are important to manage for performance. The main aim of this study was to investigate kinematic parameters, including the evolution of the center of gravity, and kinetic parameters correlated with racket velocity over all phases of the tennis serve. The secondary objective was to find out which of the correlated parameters differed between a slow and a fast serve. The advantage of such an approach would be to propose biomechanical parameters that coaches and teachers could use to optimize performance or learn how to serve.

Methods: Quantitative analysis was carried out on 5 flat serves performed by four ranked players using an optoelectronic system (82 markers located on whole body and racket) composed of 10 infrared cameras (150 Hz) and two force platforms (750 Hz).

Results: A descriptive statistical analysis highlighted 11 very large and almost perfect correlations with racket velocity: vertical ground reaction force of back foot in release backward, trunk axial rotation during loading phase, back and front knee flexions, dominant shoulder and hip mediolateral rotation during cocking phase, and center of gravity vertical velocity, dominant shoulder medial rotation velocity, dominant elbow flexion, trunk flexion/extension and axial rotation during acceleration phase. Differences were observed for some of the correlated parameters between slow and fast serve.

Discussion: Consequently, all these correlated kinematic and kinetics parameters constitute information that coaches, instructors and athletes can use to improve, optimize or teach the tennis serve.

Background: In basketball training, self-evaluation plays a crucial role in the decision-making and execution of movements of players. The self-evaluation of players is influenced by their perception of own basketball ability and self-confidence state. This study aimed to explore potential discrepancies between self-confidence levels of players and their decision-making performance, while also characterizing different types of players.

Method: Data was collected from 20 youth basketball players who participated in a decision-making video task and a self-confidence assessment. Based on data from their self-confidence and decision-making awareness assessment, the K-means cluster analysis was used to categorize the players into different groups. Then, ANOVA and post hoc Scheffe test were conducted to compare these clusters.

Results: The cluster analysis identified four distinct profiles of players and the results of the ANOVA and post hoc Scheffe tests revealed significant differences between the four clusters. The "High Self-confidence & Low Decision-making Awareness" players might display an overconfident mindset, while the "High Self-confidence & High Decision-making Awareness" players potentially demonstrated the better performance and maintained a consistent and confident attitude. The "Low Self-confidence & High Decision-making Awareness" players appeared to lack confidence and needed to foster greater faith in their abilities. Finally, the "Low Self-confidence & Low Decision-making Awareness" players required a long-term and comprehensive training program to improve their skills.

Discussion: These preliminary findings informed the development of a self-evaluation matrix, designed to help coaches better understand player profiles and design tailored interventions. Moreover, this study contributes on sport calibration and enhances understanding of the behavioral and psychological states of players.

Objectives: Recently, the stereotype of elite athletes' invulnerabilty has begun to be challenged by an increasing number of elite athletes who talk openly about struggling with mental health. Relatedly, previous research has focused primarily on specific incidents like the media's portrayal of personal disclosures. The purpose of this study was to expand this perspective and give a systematic overview of media coverage related to elite athletes' mental illness by examining more than one decade (2010-2023) of German print media reporting. Specifically, we were interested in changes over time and between broadsheet and tabloid press regarding content-related and formal aspects.

Methods: Based on a systematic search and screening process in eleven German newspapers and magazines, 699 print media articles were analyzed with a codebook, forming a framework of content-related (reported mental disorder; central thematic focus; sources of comments and quotations; perspectives on the high-performance sports system) and formal categories (article genre; elements of responsible journalism). Univariate analyses and binary logistic regression models were used to examine changes over time (2010-2016 vs. 2017-2023) and differences between types of press (tabloid vs. broadsheet press) regarding content-related and formal characteristics.

Results: The results indicate an enhanced awareness towards the topic of mental illness and those affected in recent years within German print media. This was demonstrated by the increased integration of responsible reporting elements, the inclusion of diversified perspectives and the considerate selection of content. Despite this positive trend over time, the findings also suggest that media reporting in the tabloid press bears an increased risk for inappropriate storytelling, focusing primarily on personal tragedies.

Conclusion: As personal fate of prominent figures like elite athletes will always meet great interest in the public, it is of utmost importance that the media report responsibly and promote critical thinking in society. The study shows the media's willingness to question conventional ideals embedded in the sports culture and take a more critical approach to the topic of mental illness in high-performance sports. By demonstrating a greater understanding of the importance and the seriousness of the issue, the media might also contribute to improved mental health awareness in society.