Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

Background: Cerebellar maladaptive plasticity underlies postural deficits in chronic ankle instability (CAI), and we tested whether cerebellar-targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can provide a rapid, mechanism-specific postural benefit.

Research question: Would a single cerebellar tDCS session yield immediate improvements in postural control along with associated alterations in cerebellar activity?

Methods: In this randomized, sham-controlled laboratory study, 22 participants with CAI received active or sham cerebellar tDCS (20 min). Pre- and post-intervention assessments included: (1) laboratory-based center-of-pressure (CoP) sway during single-leg stance and clinic-based Balance Error Scoring System (BESS); (2) cerebellar regional homogeneity and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Results and significance: The tDCS group showed a significant reduction in the CoP length in the mediolateral direction (p = 0.020, Cohen's d = -0.963). However, no significant alterations were observed between the sham and tDCS groups in terms of other CoP sway or BESS outcomes. A strong association was observed between the tDCS-induced reduction in mediolateral CoP length and the improvement in activity coherence in superior lobe 3, which is involved in integrating sensory information into postural motor responses (r = -0.709, p = 0.018). Our study indicates that a single session of cerebellar tDCS can immediately alter postural control in patients with CAI and is correlated with increased coherence in the superior lobe of the cerebellum. However, the observed beneficial effects in laboratory-based CoP tests might be too subtle to be detected by clinic-based BESS outcomes.

Different task constraints such as possession play and goal scoring are regularly utilized in small-sided games (SSG) in order to train game specific situations. This narrative mini-review aimed to summarize how these two task constraints influence players' physiological, physical, technical and tactical parameters during SSG. Possession games increase the physiological load of players. Variables such as mean (+4.35%) and max heart rate (+6.43%) as well as duration >90%HRmax (+39.7%) were significantly higher compared to scoring format SSG. Players also felt significantly greater subjective exertion (+24.2%), mental challenge (+18.4%) and lower enjoyment (-6.45%) in comparison to scoring games, especially when goalkeepers participated. Possession games also increased physical strain for players during SSG, with total (+12.6%) and relative (+8.43%) running distance, average moving speed (+14.2%), number of low (+35.9%) and high ACC (+23.6%), and distances in high(er) speed bands (>14 km/h) being more prominent in possession games. Players are technically more engaged in possession format SSG. Significantly more total (+38.7%) and individual (+60.4%) ball touches, number of passes (+99.0%), and passes per player (+55.8%) were observed in possession compared to scoring games. The scarce scientific evidence regarding the effect of possession games on tactical variables suggests that more players are involved for a longer period of time exploring greater space during these types of games. Coaches should apply possession games to increase physiological, physical, and technical engagement of players during SSG.

Introduction: Distressing reports from research and practice illustrate the vital need for protection against interpersonal violence (IV) in sports. IV is defined as the intentional use of force or power between individuals and includes psychological, physical and sexual violence, and neglect. This study aims to illuminate the scope of this issue within German sports clubs by determining the prevalence of IV, both within and outside the sporting context, and to identify risk factors.

Methods: The cross-sectional online survey included questions about personal and sports-related demographics as well as experiences of IV within and outside the sports context. The questionnaire was developed based on existing measures of IV (including IVACS-Q and IVIS). The convenience sample consisted of 4,367 current or former members of German sports clubs (response rate 16.1%). Mean age was 41.4 years (SD = 17.6), and athletic level ranged from recreational to international, thus representing the full range of sport club members. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the prevalence of IV, and chi-squared tests, phi correlations, and logistic regression were used to determine associations between IV inside sports and gender, age, athletic level, early specialization, and experiences outside of sports.

Results: A majority (70.0%) of participants reported at least one experience of IV within a sports club. A large overlap with experiences outside of sports (59.0%) was found. Psychological violence was the most prevalent form (63.0%). All forms of IV were closely intertwined, especially psychological violence, which often co-occurred with other forms of IV. IV experiences outside of sports were strongly related to IV inside sports. Individual and sports-specific characteristics such as, gender or athletic level, partially proved to be risk factors for some forms of IV.

Discussion: Our findings suggest that sports club members are affected by IV, even at lower levels of performance and across all age groups. Results indicate that experiences of IV inside and outside sports are related, implying an increased risk of revictimization in either context. Individual and sports-specific characteristics need to be discussed as differentiated risk factors to improve prevention.

Introduction: While the gender gap in ambitions and motives in sports has been widely studied, less attention has been paid to the potential discrepancies between the perspectives of youth athletes, their coaches, and their parents. This study examines the extent to which youth football players' ambitions and motives for participation are accurately perceived by two key socializers: coaches and parents. Furthermore, it investigates whether systematic gender differences exist in these perceptions.

Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey, we collected data from youth football players, age 13-16 yrs (N = 593, 44.8% female), their coaches (N = 99, 11.1% female), and their parents (N = 528, 59.8% female).

Results: Our findings reveal significant misalignments between the views of players, coaches, and parents regarding the players' level of ambition and main motives to participate in organized football. Females' motives and ambitions are in particular underestimated by their parents and coaches. These misalignments could reinforce gendered narratives in sports, potentially leading to unequal resource allocation.

Discussion: Our study highlights the need for better alignment between the perceptions of coaches and parents and the actual ambitions and motives among youth players to promote equal support and development opportunities for all.

Creating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) free environments remains a significant challenge in the fields of physical activity, sport, and higher education. This study examines the perceptions, experiences, and proposals of university teaching staff regarding GBV within a Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (PASS) programs. Three focus groups were conducted with 17 faculty members (eight women and nine men). Data was analyzed through a reflexive thematic analysis complemented by 7P model as an analytical framework. Findings show that while teaching staff can identify overt forms of violence such as sexual and physical abuse, and recognize the existence of structural and organizational inequalities within PASS programs. However, participants report significant uncertainty regarding how to intervene in GBV cases involving students, limited knowledge of institutional protocols, and insufficient procedural guidance. Across the dimensions of Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Provision, Prevalence, and Partnerships, the results reveal uneven institutional development, with particular weaknesses in prevention strategies, dissemination of policies, reporting processes, and victim support mechanisms. Faculty discourses also highlight tensions between victim protection and the prioritization of alleged perpetrators' rights. The study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive training programs for academic staff and students, clearer governance structures, and coordinated support systems to address GBV in sport-related higher education. By applying the 7P framework to the PASS context, this research contributes empirical evidence to inform more coherent, accountable, and gender-responsive institutional policies and practices.

Background: Sustainable athletic performance requires maintaining motor intent stability under physiological stress. Current injury prediction approaches focus on isolated biomechanical markers rather than integrated physiological system dynamics.

Objective: To develop and validate through comprehensive simulation the Wesam Al Attar Singularity evaluation-infinity (WASe-∞) framework for predicting motor intent collapse by integrating neuromuscular, cognitive, and coordination factors into a unified risk assessment model with clear pathways for empirical validation.

Methods: A rigorous simulation-based approach was employed using parameters derived from published biomechanics datasets. The WASe-∞ framework integrates five physiological domains through a weighted convergence equation with coefficients derived through systematic three-stage optimization including comprehensive sensitivity analysis. The foundational model was validated using 60 simulated athlete profiles across four sports over 60-minute sessions, generating 360,000 data points for analysis with built-in AI integration capabilities.

Results: The WASe-∞ framework achieved strong predictive performance within the controlled simulation environment with an area under the curve of 0.930 and 95% confidence interval of 0.915-0.946. Risk stratification revealed realistic distributions: 20.5% low-risk, 58.2% moderate-risk, 20.0% high-risk, and 1.4% critical-risk measurements. Sport-specific differences emerged with swimming showing highest mean scores (0.727 ± 0.210) and running lowest (0.605 ± 0.178), consistent with epidemiological data indicating elevated shoulder injury risk in competitive swimmers (40%-70% prevalence). Strong factor correlations supported theoretical foundations with comprehensive sensitivity analysis confirming framework robustness (AUC remained >0.90 for coefficient variations up to ±15%).

Conclusion: This foundational study establishes the WASe-∞ framework as a theoretically robust foundation for future empirical validation with human athletic populations. The simulation-based validation demonstrates strong theoretical validity while providing clear performance benchmarks and detailed protocols for subsequent real-world validation studies. The framework's architecture positions it for integration with emerging multimodal sensor technologies, representing a critical step toward transforming injury prevention from reactive treatment to proactive risk management.

In sequential, repetitive motor tasks such as opening a stack of drawers, we tend to reuse prior motor plans to reduce cognitive load. This persistence, termed motor hysteresis, has been demonstrated in discrete reaching movements but not in discrete full-body movements. If hysteresis reflects a general principle of cost reduction, it should also manifest in full-body movements. To test this, we asked participants to perform a discrete full-body posture selection task: passing through apertures of varying widths. Width was varied in ordered sequences to induce hysteresis and body rotation was measured. To test whether full-body tasks, which require considerable space, scientific equipment, and personnel, could be conducted more efficiently in a virtual reality (VR) setup, we faithfully reproduced the task in VR with a second group of participants. Results showed that participants walked straight through wider apertures but initiated body rotation below a critical width. The critical width shifted with order, suggesting an inverse hysteresis effect. This inverse hysteresis was confirmed in the second participant group in the virtual environment. However, VR participants rotated at wider apertures, indicating a more cautious behavior. Comparable behavioral patterns across environments support the feasibility of VR for full-body movement studies. Nevertheless, validating critical findings in a real environment seems advisable. The observed inverse hysteresis has only been described in perception research so far, where it indicates repetition suppression. Our findings suggest that repetition suppression may also apply to motor planning, especially when mechanical costs are high.

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, are 17 interrelated objectives designed to promote a sustainable future for people and the planet. These goals are operationalized through 169 specific targets, 25 of which this paper demonstrates can be meaningfully integrated into physical education (PE) teaching practice. Models-based practices (MBPs), such as Cooperative Learning, Sport Education, and Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility, offer effective pedagogical frameworks for advancing the SDGs within PE. The paper discusses these existing models and emerging alternatives that broaden the pedagogical repertoire available to educators. Furthermore, this paper identifies key challenges in the discipline and proposes solutions, including curriculum reform, a reorientation toward transformative learning perspectives, and a reconceptualization of health and well-being. The crucial role of universities and service-learning initiatives is emphasized in preparing future PE teachers to align their practice with the SDGs. Finally, the analysis highlights persistent global and local barriers to implementation, such as inadequate infrastructure, heavy academic workloads, and limited recognition of the holistic benefits of PE and physical activity.

Introduction: Obesity impairs physical and mental health; exercise training is a crucial intervention strategy. We examined the effect of an 8-week individualized FATmax training program on mental health in children with obesity.

Methods: Thirty-six school-aged children with obesity (13.1 ± 0.9 years; BMI: 33.4 ± 2.3 kg/m²) were randomized to experimental (EXPG, n = 20) or control (CONTG, n = 16) groups. EXPG completed 4 × 90-min weekly FATmax sessions for 8 weeks; CONTG maintained usual activity. Anthropometrics, cardiopulmonary fitness (VO₂ peak, FATmax rate), and psychological outcomes (self-esteem, anxiety, depression) were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Results: EXPG showed significant improvements vs. CONTG: VO₂ peak (+23%), FATmax rate (+66%), and large reductions in central adiposity (all p < 0.001). Mental health significantly improved in EXPG (self-esteem +59%, anxiety -12%, depression -28%; all p < 0.01), with large effect sizes (η _p² = 0.78-0.94). Changes in mental health strongly correlated with reduced waist circumference (r = 0.74-0.89) and enhanced VO₂ peak and FATmax rate (r = 0.72-0.91; all p < 0.01).

Discussion: A short, supervised, individualized FATmax intervention substantially improves mental health and cardiometabolic health in school-aged children with obesity, plausibly mediated by decreases in central adiposity and improvements in aerobic fitness.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among older adults, with sedentary behavior (SB) as a key modifiable risk factor. While physical activity (PA) is associated with cardiovascular health, evidence remains limited on the specific effects of replacing SB with PA of varying intensities.

Objective: To systematically review evidence on the cardiovascular effects of substituting SB with PA in adults aged 65 and older using isotemporal substitution modeling (ISM).

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, seven databases were searched up to April 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI tool, and a narrative synthesis was conducted.

Results: Eighteen observational studies (15 cross-sectional, 3 cohorts) using ISM were included. Replacing 10-60 min of SB with moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) was associated with more favorable in blood pressure, triglycerides, waist circumference, inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, GDF-15), and insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS, Matsuda-ISI). Light-intensity PA (LPA) showed modest associations, particularly among frail or mobility-limited individuals. A daily substitution of 30 min was identified as a feasible reference window, with ≥60 min linked to additional vascular and autonomic benefits.

Conclusions: Replacing SB with PA, especially MVPA, was consistently associated with favorable cardiovascular profiles in older adults. Even brief substitutionsmay be beneficial, supporting intensity-stratified public health strategies and refinement of physical activity guidelines for aging populations.Because most included studies were cross-sectional, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than definitive causal effects, and reverse causation remains a plausible concern.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/view/CRD420251021829/1/0, PROSPERO CRD420251021829.