Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

Introduction: This study investigated whether velocity-based resistance training provides additional benefits to lower limb performance compared to standard exercise execution.

Methods: Twenty untrained adult women (37-55 years) were randomly assigned to two resistance training groups to perform resistance training with three sets of four lower body exercises per week for 6 weeks. The number of repetitions and lifting velocity differed between the groups. One group performed lower body exercises with maximal intent and a 10% velocity loss threshold termination (VB10%; n = 10), while the other group performed 10 repetitions at a standard 1:2 s concentric:eccentric tempo (STD; n = 10). The number of repetitions was recorded during the sessions. Before and after the intervention, power, muscular endurance and dynamic stability of the lower limbs were assessed using the mean propulsive velocity (MPV) and power (MPP) at 70% one-repetition maximum in the squat and deadlift, the Y-balance test (YBT) and the 30-second sit-to-stand test (STS), respectively. A two-way analysis of variance was used to assess the effects of time, group, and their interaction.

Results: The difference between 10 repetitions in the STD and repetitions in the VB10% was assessed using a one-sample t-test. Both groups significantly improved MPP, MPV, YBT and STS [mean difference (MD) ≥5.4%; effect size (ES) ≥0.6]. Although 2.5-2.7 less repetitions were performed in VB10%, the improvements in MPP and MPV were slightly greater (ES ≥ 1.2 vs. ≥ 0.8). Conversely, STS and YBT improved more in STD (ES ≥ 0.4 vs. ≥ 1.0).

Discussion: Regardless of the lifting method used, the training intervention improved lower limb power, muscular endurance and dynamic stability, indicating that resistance training is an effective strategy for enhancing these capacities in untrained adult women. Using 10% threshold may be a more time-efficient strategy for improving lower-limb power in this population and could represent a promising approach for mitigating early declines in power over time.

Purpose: Ultra-endurance performance involves complex neuromuscular demands, yet continuous in-race assessment of strength and power development is lacking. This study examined the first-ever continuous profile of neuromuscular fatigue throughout an entire ultra-trail race to understand fatigue mechanisms and inform training and pacing strategies.

Methods: Fifty-five participants (43 men, 12 women; 45.2 ± 13.6 years) attempted six identical 26 km laps with 1,000 m elevation gain and loss per lap, 14 did not complete the course. Maximum knee-extensor and handgrip strength, peak-power output, and jump-height were measured pre-race, after each lap, and 12 h post-race using standardized protocols and linear mixed models.

Results: Knee-extensor strength decreased by ∼41% from pre-race to finish (p < .001), with substantial recovery (Δ26%-27%) at 12 h post-race. Handgrip strength showed minimal overall decline (Δ∼2%-5%), suggesting fatigue localized to the lower limbs. Peak-power and jump-height declined gradually (Δ6%-7% from early laps; p < .001). Critically, no significant relationship existed between the magnitude of strength loss and final ranking (early and late finishers showed no differences in strength profiles). However, participants who withdrew at lap 5 displayed substantially lower baseline strength (Δ27%; p = .004) and progressive strength declines compared to finishers, suggesting baseline neuromuscular capacity may influence completion likelihood.

Conclusion: Continuous in-race profiling reveals that ultra-trail running induces substantial and predominantly peripheral neuromuscular fatigue in the lower limbs, with limited systemic effects. While strength loss magnitude does not predict race placement among finishers, lower baseline strength may increase non-completion risk. These findings underscore the importance of targeted strength training and metabolite-clearance strategies (e.g., glycogen replenishment, hydration, recovery) in ultra-endurance preparation.

In the ever-evolving field of physically active learning, a growing body of research has drawn attention to the difficulties of translating research findings into sustainable practices in school. One reason for this may be that the field has been research-led and primarily underpinned by health discourses. To overcome these challenges, some researchers have proposed the reframing of physically active learning as movement-centred pedagogy. However, although movement-centred pedagogy was first introduced as a more holistic term envisioned to encompass broader movement, pedagogy, and educational purposes, there is still a need to frame the reframing. This article thus explores the empirical and theoretical foundations for moving from physically active learning to movement-centred pedagogy. Based on three aspects: (1) the research case, (2) the educational case, and (3) the agency case, the article proposes that movement-centred pedagogy can represent a more empirically neutral term with potential to extend the field's theoretical foundation and create a more coherent combination and synthesis of health and educational disciplines in schools. Based on this, the article proposes defining movement-centred pedagogy as the utilisation of movement in educational activities to support pupils' growth through the process of learning. The article discusses the term movement-centred pedagogy and its contribution as well as its limitations to the field.

Introduction: Monitoring youth football requires integrating physical, perceptual, recovery, and tactical dimensions. However, evidence in younger sub-elite cohorts (U11-U13) remains scarce. This study aimed to analyze intra and inter variation in external load, internal load, recovery, and technical-tactical indicators across a competitive microcycle, comparing U11 and U13 sub-elite players. We hypothesized that (i) the match would elicit the highest objective intensities, while training would be perceived as more demanding, and (ii) U13 players would outperform U11 in high-intensity and tactical outcomes, whereas U11 would show higher perceived exertion and greater motor irregularity.

Methods: Forty male sub-elite players (U11 = 30; U13 = 10) were monitored across a competitive microcycle (MD-4 to MD). External load was assessed via GPS (TD, AvS, HSR, HID, sprints, MRS, ACC, DEC), internal load through HR (U13 only) and session-RPE, recovery via TQR, and technical-tactical performance using FUT-SAT (DMI, MEI).

Results: The match elicited the highest intensities in HSR, MRS, AvS, and HID, while all training sessions were perceived as ∼400 AU more demanding in sRPE than MD. U13 players outperformed U11 in intensity-and velocity-based measures (HSR +166%, sprints +150%, MRS +5%), while U11 showed higher TD (+10%), ACC (+23%), DEC (+29%), and sRPE (+6%). HR data in U13 revealed greater Z5 exposure in MD-4 vs. MD-1 and higher Z2 time on MD-1. In the tactical domain, U13 displayed superior offensive coverage effectiveness in both DMI and MEI, with no differences in other principles.

Discussion: These findings demonstrate that the microcycle followed a structured pattern, with matches concentrating objective intensity and training sessions eliciting greater perceived effort. Practically, training for U11 should emphasize motor efficiency and load regulation, while U13 programs should target high-intensity capacity and tactical coordination. Over time, integrating multidimensional monitoring (GPS, sRPE, TQR, FUT-SAT) may guide coaches in aligning training stimuli with long-term development goals, bridging physical, perceptual, and tactical competencies in sub-elite youth football.

Objective: To evaluate the association between remote learning and physical activity levels among medical students in Latin America during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study conducted via an online survey during 2020, targeting medical students from multiple Latin American countries. Sociodemographic, academic, mental health, and physical activity data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S). Remote learning was the main exposure variable, and low physical activity level was the outcome. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results: Among 2018 medical students, the prevalence of low physical activity was 54.5% (95% CI: 52.3-56.7). In the multivariable analysis, remote/virtual learning was associated with a lower prevalence of high physical activity (PR = 0.81). Other factors associated with lower prevalence included female sex (PR = 0.89), obesity (PR = 0.69), trust in the government (PR = 0.79), and high-risk tobacco use (PR = 0.80). Factors associated with higher prevalence included perceiving the pandemic as mild/not serious (PR = 1.40), prior COVID-19 diagnosis (PR = 1.21), studying at a private university (PR = 1.17), and having diabetes (PR = 1.59).

Conclusions: Remote learning during the pandemic was associated with lower physical activity levels among Latin American medical students. These findings highlight the need for university-based interventions to promote physical activity, particularly in prolonged distance learning contexts.

Background: Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a crucial non-invasive marker of autonomic nervous system function, extensively applied in sports science for monitoring training load, fatigue, recovery, and performance optimization. The rapid expansion and diversification of HRV research necessitate a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the knowledge structure and emerging trends.

Objective: This study employed innovative bibliometric visualization to quantitatively analyze the literature landscape, research hotspots, and evolutionary trends in HRV applications within sports from 2010 to 2025. It aimed to identify key contributors, delineate major research themes, uncover nascent directions, and identify emerging research trajectories.

Method: Utilizing CiteSpace 6.3.R1 and VOSviewer, we conducted a comprehensive visual analysis of 1,660 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. This study performed co-authorship, co-citation, keyword co-occurrence, cluster analysis, and burst detection to unveil publication trends, collaborative networks, influential works, core authors, research hotspots, and emerging trends.

Results: Publication volume showed a significant growth trend, peaking in 2022 with 209 articles. The USA and Brazil were the most productive countries, with the University of São Paulo leading institutionally. Document co-citation analysis identified five major research hotspots: Athlete Monitoring, Biofeedback, Sport-related Concussion, Anxiety, and Endurance Exercise. Keyword burst analysis revealed three dominant future trends: "Sleep," "Machine Learning," and "Anxiety".

Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis delineates the evolution of HRV research in sports, confirming established domains while highlighting the importance of HRV's role in concussion management and psychological assessment. Critically, it highlights the field's evolving trajectory, emphasizing the growing integration of sleep interactions, machine learning-driven personalization, and the dynamics of HRV and anxiety. These findings provide a structured roadmap for future research and practical applications.

Introduction: This study aimed to elucidate specific muscle coordination patterns in a Paralympic gold medal wheelchair tennis player. Recent neuroscience has proposed the concept of the "Paralympic brain", referring to use-dependent and impairment-specific plasticity observed in some Paralympians. Although the present study does not directly assess neural reorganization, this framework provides context for interpreting motor coordination strategies.

Methods: We applied muscle synergy analysis of electromyographic (EMG) activities during the tennis serve to quantify muscle coordination in two male players: one a Paralympic and world champion (P1; osteosarcoma with hip and abdominal resections), and the other nationally ranked sub-elite player (P2; spina bifida with paralysis of the lower limbs and trunk). EMGs from 14 muscles and high-speed video were recorded during three flat serves.

Results: Serve velocity was markedly higher in P1 (167 ± 11.3 km/h) than P2 (80.0 ± 8.9 km/h). Four synergies were identified in P1 and three in P2. A specific synergy (Syn1), dominant in the early takeback phase and involving lower trapezius and triceps brachii, was found only in P1 and may contribute to greater trunk rotation and serve velocity. In addition, the sparseness of muscle synergies was also higher in P1 than in P2.

Discussion: These results indicate that elite serve performance is supported not only by muscular strength but also on specialized neuromuscular coordination strategies optimizing trunk rotation and energy transfer. They may be consistent with broader ideas of use-dependent and impairment-related adaptation described in the "Paralympic brain" framework. This study provides new insights into adapted motor strategies in Paralympic sport, underscoring the role of trunk control and residual function as key factors in training and performance optimization.

Introduction: Body tracking systems are utilized in various areas such as health and sports. In these areas, it is crucial to identify the most accurate and appropriate system for the intended design of the study.

Methods: This study evaluates the reliability of markerless motion capture systems compared to a marker-based system (OptiTrack) as the gold standard. The systems assessed include StereoLabs ZED 2i, MediaPipe (2D and 3D), and YOLOv8 Pose (8n and 8x-p6). Simple upper and lower limb movements were analyzed under controlled conditions in a single participant. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) values and Bland-Altman analysis were mainly used to evaluate agreement between systems, with some other techniques explored to provide additional perspective.

Results: The results indicate that StereoLabs ZED 2i achieved the highest reliability among markerless systems (ICC: 0.92 for multi camera, 0.88 for single stereo camera), while MediaPipe 2D showed competitive performance (ICC: 0.85).

Discussion: In providing comprehensive evaluations and uncovering performance differences that have been largely overlooked in the literature, our work not only questions existing paradigms but also lays a foundation for future research aimed at developing precise and scalable motion-tracking technologies. These findings contribute to understanding the applicability of markerless technologies in biomechanics.