Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

Background: This research aims to compare the differences in kinematic parameters associated with cross and uppercut punches between Sanda athletes (SA) and Boxing athletes (BA) to analyze their impacts on peak punching speed.

Methods: The punches of BA (n = 20) and SA (n = 20) were compared utilizing a three-dimensional (3D) framework and high-speed cameras in terms of 13 key parameters. An independent samples t-test (α = 0.05) was employed to analyze the differences in punching between BA and SA. Meanwhile, a stepwise multiple linear regression equation was developed to analyze the influence of selected parameters on peak punching speed.

Results: The results reveal that, among the 13 kinematic parameters, the six cross-related parameters and four uppercut-related parameters are significantly different (both p ≤ 0.05). The results of multivariate regression analysis unveils that the peak punching speed for the cross are influenced by the anteroposterior position of the center of gravity (in BA) and the maximum angular velocity of the shoulder (in SA). In contrast, for both BA and SA, the maximum angular velocity of the shoulder plays a critical impact on uppercut.

Conclusions: These findings indicate that trunk and upper limbs significantly influence the peak punching speed, which provides suggestions for daily training regimen of SA and BA as well as their coaches.

Introduction: 3 × 3 basketball is becoming more and more professionalized, which is leading to a growing interest in talent development and talent selection. Different studies have demonstrated relevant factors in the talent selection process of 5v5 basketball but not in 3 × 3 basketball. Therefore, this study investigated the main predictors in the talent selection process in 3 × 3 basketball athletes.

Methods: A total of 192 athletes (M _age = 16.11 ± 0.45 years; n = 85 were female) 3 × 3 basketball athletes were assessed for various anthropometric and motor performance variables as well as maturity status. All assessments were carried out during selection camps for the German "under 17" youth national team. Binomial logistic regression was conducted to determine which variables predicted selection (either 'selected', n = 30 female and n = 34 male, or 'non-selected', n = 55 female and n = 73 male).

Results: The regression model was statistically significant in female athletes (χ² (3) = 26.86, p < .001). It explains 37.9% (Nagelkerke's R ²) of the variance in selection status and suggests that the general motor-performance component (p < .001) and the anthropometric- and maturation-related component (p = .004) seem to be relevant for being selected. In male athletes, the binomial logistic regression model was also statistically significant (χ² (3) = 11.38, p = .010) with explaining 14.2% (Nagelkerke's R ²) of the variance in selection status but only the anthropometric- and maturation-related component (p = .004) predict selection.

Discussion: Anthropometric conditions (such as body height, body weight, and wingspan) and the maturity status are particularly important in talent selection in 3 × 3 basketball for both sexes. Regarding motor-performance variables, we found a predictive value for talent selection only in females (without sprinting), but not in males which means that more 'athletic' female athletes seem to be favoured in talent selection. The results suggest that the talent selection process might be biased by maturation status even in middle adolescence. Therefore, coaches who decide on athletes' selection should be aware of the temporal advantages induced by earlier maturation when evaluating talented athletes and should consider strategies such as bio-banding to evaluate the real and potential value of talented athletes.

Objective: Quantifying and managing the matches and training loads of players is important for injury prevention. As rugby union is a full-contact sport and frequent contact injuries occur, it might also be important to quantify and manage players' contact loads. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between contact load and injury incidence in elite rugby union players.

Methods: Forty-eight elite rugby union players (27.0 ± 3.5 years) in Japan were monitored during one season (8 months). The contact load, an index of training load, was evaluated as collision count and collision load measured using a global positioning system device, and then calculated using the acute:chronic workload ratio (ACWR) based on the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA). The association between the EWMA-ACWR of contact load and injury incidence was analyzed using generalized estimating equations.

Results: Of the 58 injuries during one season, 70.7% were contact injuries. Collision counts and collision load calculated by EWMA-ACWR were associated with the risk of injury (p < 0.01 both), with the odds ratios were 4.20 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74-10.11] and 4.44 (95% CI: 1.95-10.13), respectively.

Conclusion: Contact load calculated using EWMA-ACWR was associated with injury in elite rugby union players.

Background: The purpose of this qualitative research study was to interview current and retired Gaelic games athletes to understand the current landscape of concussion recovery in Gaelic sports from the athlete perspective.

Methods: A grounded theory methodology was employed to explore the experiences of a cohort of Gaelic games athletes (n = 22) regarding recovery from concussion, the levels of concussion awareness in Gaelic sports and their opinions on current concussion identification protocols. The study's data were gathered through semi-structured interviews.

Results: Two major themes were identified, (1) Male and female athletes experience a range of acute and chronic symptoms post-SRC and (2) Gaelic sports athletes are expected to demonstrate constant allegiance and commitment to the GAA. These themes were further divided into categories and subcategories.

Conclusion: Based on the experiences of the cohort of Gaelic sports athletes, there exists a wide variation of SRC symptomology in the acute, and chronic (post-concussion syndrome) phases. In many cases, there are reports of long-term side effects associated with the perceived mismanagement or misdiagnosis of SRC in Gaelic sports. Gaelic sports athletes require a more robust SRC management system to support and manage SRC in the acute, chronic and long-term phases.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to investigate the importance of respiratory features, relative to heart rate (HR), when estimating rating of perceived exertion (RPE) using machine learning models.

Methods: A total of 20 participants aged 18 to 43 were recruited to carry out Yo-Yo level-1 intermittent recovery tests, while wearing a COSMED K5 portable metabolic machine. RPE information was collected throughout the Yo-Yo test for each participant. Three regression models (linear, random forest, and a multi-layer perceptron) were tested with 8 training features (HR, minute ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (Rf), volume of oxygen consumed (VO2), age, gender, weight, and height).

Results: Using a leave-one-subject-out cross validation, the random forest model was found to be the most accurate, with a root mean square error of 1.849, and a mean absolute error of 1.461 ± 1.133. Feature importance was estimated via permutation feature importance, and VE was found to be the most important for all three models followed by HR.

Discussion: Future works that aim to estimate RPE using wearable sensors should therefore consider using a combination of cardiovascular and respiratory data.

Purpose: The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the potential financial loss and a range of potential risk factors for hamstring muscle injuries in elite Brazilian soccer.

Methods: Thirty-four male players (age: 25 ± 6 years; stature: 180 ± 8 cm; body mass: 78 ± 9 kg; minutes played in matches: 2243 ± 1423 min) from an elite professional soccer club were monitored during a 12-month season. Muscle injury was identified by magnetic resonance imaging and the severity was defined according to the number of days away: minimal (1-3 days), mild (4-7 days), moderate (8-28 days), severe (>28 days). Potential financial loss due to the team's under achievements was determined. Dorsiflexion range of motion, eccentric knee flexor strength and isokinetic tests were performed during the pre-season. Association between dependent variables and the occurrence of injury was evaluated.

Results: Nine hamstring muscle injuries with moderate severity were found in 8 athletes. Recovery time was 22 days off the field on average. Potential financial loss was $-43.2 million USD and earnings on merit money was 21%. Previous injury, increased flexor deficit 60° /sec and increased flexor fatigue index 300°/sec were all associated with a greater chance of hamstring muscle injury. Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion was significantly lower in the injured group (35.6 ± 3° vs. 39.1 ± 4.9°; p = 0.017, effect size = -0.74).

Conclusion: High financial burden was found in elite Brazilian soccer during one full season. Injured athletes had high hamstring fatigue index, knee flexor strength deficit, ankle range of motion restriction and previous hamstring muscle injury when compared to non-injured athletes. Therefore, preventive approaches in professional soccer players with previous hamstring injuries should be a priority.

Objectives: High intensity exercise in individuals post solid organ transplant (SOT) remains a largely understudied phenomenon, with potential risks and benefits. Additionally, the optimal training protocols are still unclear. This narrative review aimed to explore the impact of high-intensity exercise training and strenuous sports on solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs).

Methods: We conducted a narrative review of intervention studies of any design that included high-intensity exercise training and cross-sectional studies of strenuous sports and activities. Additionally, we reviewed individual reports documenting post-SOT performance at highly competitive or physiological levels. We used MEDLINE to search for relevant articles followed by a manual search for additional articles. Data were extracted and results were summarized.

Results: High-intensity and strenuous exercise appears to be safe among stable SOTRs. High-intensity protocols consistently demonstrated improvements in VO2peak and a reduction in coronary artery disease prevalence, though findings related to body composition, health-related quality of life outcomes, and cardiovascular exercise variables were inconsistent. Pre-transplant athletes showcase notable achievements and physiological adaptations post-transplantation, highlighting the capacity for athletic performance among this population. However, caution is warranted in interpreting the findings from these studies due to limitations in generalizability and other methodological limitations.

Conclusion: As evidenced by current literature, high intensity exercise emerges as a promising exercise method for safely improving various physiological parameters, and reducing the prevalence of coronary heart disease in SOTRs. It can induce similar or greater effects to moderate intensity exercise, however follow-up studies indicate low retention. Further research of higher methodological rigor is warranted in this field to advance understanding, and to guide evidence-based practice.

Introduction: Women's sport has been experiencing continuous growth, yet the low levels of women coaches in the United Kingdom (UK) suggests that the sport is missing out on potential talent. Guided by empirical research, a women-only leadership development programme was designed and implemented by UK Sport to a cohort of 20 coaches from January to June 2021. The main characteristics of the programme included raising awareness of gender bias while at the same time focusing on women coaches' leadership purpose and skills within a safe environment that supports coaches to build their leader identity.

Methods: Kirkpatrick's (1998) four-level model was employed to guide the evaluation of programme effectiveness: reactions, learnings, applications and results. Interviews were conducted with 17 participating coaches.

Results: Content analysis of the qualitative data revealed five general categories (a) evaluations were mainly positive highlighting the aspects of the programme they liked, enjoyed and made most impression onto them; (b) learnings that impacted their work directly and immediately emerged as was the importance of on-going development; and (c) the majority of the women desired progression and transitioning to senior coach leadership positions was felt within their grasp; nonetheless, (d) challenges emerged and were described as organisational (e.g., recruitment, remuneration) and personal (e.g., work-life balance, childcare).

Discussion: Overall, the effectiveness of the programme was captured in its capacity to raise awareness, develop knowledge, build connections, and inspire so much so that its effects translated to many of these women moving to more senior leadership positions post-programme. Practically, this evaluation highlights that investment in individual coaches is part of the systemic change required to bring about gender balance in the coach workforce.

Knowing the specific physical demands of basketball players can provide useful information for clinical decision making when rehabilitating athletes following injury. The purpose of this observational study was to describe the physical demands of basketball play at the Division I collegiate level using video-based time-motion analysis and introduce a time-efficient alternative method of quantifying demands. Eleven NCAA Division I basketball players (6M, 5F; 4 guards, 4 centers, 3 forwards) participated in the study. Video footage was collected from four practices (2 men's, 2 women's) and used to quantify the types and frequencies of player movements based on definitions from seminal work. A second and simpler method was also used to classify movement. A two-way ANOVA was used to assess significant differences in movement by team (men's, women's) and position (guard, forward, center). There were significant differences in counts of stand/walk (p < 0.001), jog (p = 0.012), run (p = 0.001), stride/sprint (p = 0.04), and medium-intensity shuffling (p < 0.001) per minute and proportion of practice time spent in bodyweight (p < 0.001) or above-bodyweight (p < 0.001) loading between teams. There were significant differences for jog (p = 0.001) and transition (p = 0.07) rates across positions. Position and team are important considerations for rehabilitation and return-to-sport clearance. Quantification of these demands can be reliably acquired through video analysis using a simplified method (estimated foot load) or using traditional methods of movement classification and counts, particularly when applying descriptors that better capture the current style of play.

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a supervised physical training program with controlled cadence on functional fitness parameters, quality of life perception, and physical activity level in older adults.

Methods: Sixty physically independent older adults were randomly divided into three groups: Supervised Training (ST, n = 20), Unsupervised Training (UT, n = 20), and a Control Group (C, n = 20). The ST and UT groups participated in a 12-week program, performing exercises three times a week for 30 min. The ST group had structured weekly sessions consisting of a 5-minute warm-up (walking at 60% of max heart rate), 20 sets of 30 s at a moderate pace controlled by a metronome with 30 s of passive recovery, and a 5-minute cool-down on non-consecutive days. The UT group trained spontaneously using senior gym equipment, including elliptical machines, rowing machines, air skiers, and leg press machines. The control group maintained their usual daily routines throughout the study. Parameters evaluated included body mass, body mass index (BMI), muscle thickness (biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and vastus lateralis), and functional capacity tests (walking 10 m [W10 m], rising from a sitting position [RSP], rising from the prone position [RVDP], sitting and rising from a chair and moving around the house [SRCW]). Quality of life was assessed across physical, psychological, environmental, and social domains, and physical activity levels were also measured.

Results: No significant changes (p > 0.05) in body mass, BMI, or muscle thickness were observed between groups before and after the intervention. However, significant time effects in functional fitness tests were found only in the ST group for W10 m (p = 0.0469), RVDP (p < 0.0004), RSP (p < 0.0001), and SRCW (p < 0.0001). Quality of life improved significantly over time in the ST and UT groups across all domains (p < 0.0001). Both ST and UT groups also showed significant increases in weekly physical activity time (p > 0.0001).

Conclusion: 12 weeks of training improved quality of life perception and physical activity levels in older adults.