Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

Background: The World Health Organization and the Australian physical activity guidelines, in line with contemporary research, recommend regular muscle-strengthening activities for optimal muscular fitness in children and adolescents. However, the extent to which muscle-strengthening or muscular fitness receives curricular emphasis is unknown in Australia. Objectives: To examine to what extent the Australian Health and Physical Education Curriculum, Foundation to Year 10 (AHPEC; F-10) addresses and/or promotes muscular fitness. Methods: This study involved a mixed-methods content analysis of the AHPEC F-10 using: (i) conceptual analysis to identify muscular fitness-related terms; and (ii) relational analysis to examine alignment between muscular fitness content and curriculum rationale/aims. A search of national and international physical activity guidelines and school-based muscular fitness intervention literature generated a keyword set to guide abstraction from the AHPEC. Curriculum aim, rationale, level descriptions, achievement standards and content were coded to determine the extent to which muscular fitness was embedded. Intercoder reliability was established via consensus meetings. Muscular fitness content coverage was quantified as the proportion of directly aligned muscular fitness relevant content points per stage and aggregated primary (F-6), secondary (7-10), and F-10 scores. Results: A review of 32 national and one international physical activity guidelines identified 88 muscular fitness activities in total, with some activities appearing in multiple guidelines; 53.1% of national guidelines did not provide explicit muscular fitness examples, and where examples existed, they emphasised accessible modes (e.g., climbing, bodyweight tasks, jumping, and lifting). Additionally, analysis of school-based muscular fitness intervention literature identified 22 distinct muscular fitness activities to guide abstraction. Muscular fitness was absent in the AHPEC rationale and aims, was largely inferred in primary years level description and achievement standards and became more explicit in secondary achievement standards. Direct alignment of content with muscular fitness was non-existent or low across stages of learning (Foundation = 0%, Stage 1 = 0%, Stage 2 = 6.1%, Stage 3 = 9.1%, Stage 4 = 8.6%, Stage 5 = 8.8%). Overall, muscular fitness content coverage averaged 3.8% in primary, 8.7% in secondary, and 5.4% across F-10. Conclusions: The AHPEC treats muscular fitness as a low priority in primary schooling and a minor content area in secondary, yielding developmental messaging that is less aligned with contemporary evidence and physical activity guidelines.

Background: Rowing performance in youth athletes is strongly influenced by anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and limb proportions; however, the combined contribution of these factors across developmental stages remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the relationships between key anthropometric variables and ergometer performance in a multinational cohort of young rowers. Methods: A total of 194 athletes (48 females, 146 males) from ten countries participated. Based on age and sex, participants were categorized into junior female (JF), junior male (JM), adult female (AF), and adult male (AM) groups. Body height, body mass, body fat (F%), relative muscle mass (M%), limb lengths, and body surface area (BSA) were measured. Rowing performance was assessed via maximal 2000 m ergometer trials. Results: Males outperformed females across all age groups (p < 0.001). Performance showed strong positive correlations with body height (r = 0.673, p = 0.003), body mass (r = 0.724, p = 0.005), arm span (r = 0.681, p = 0.002), lower-limb length (r = 0.394, p = 0.004), relative muscle mass (39.9 ± 5.2%; r = 0.531, p < 0.001), and especially BSA (1.94 ± 0.19 m²; r = 0.739, p < 0.001). Relative body fat was negatively associated with performance (17.6 ± 6.9%; r = -0.465, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Findings indicate that rowing performance in youth athletes reflects multidimensional anthropometric configurations rather than isolated traits, characterized primarily by the combined contribution of body surface area, relative muscle mass, and segmental body dimensions. From a practical perspective, higher-performing athletes typically exhibited body surface area values approaching or exceeding ~1.90 m² and relative muscle mass above ~40%, suggesting these ranges as indicative reference benchmarks rather than fixed selection thresholds. Integrating anthropometric profiling with physiological assessment may enhance early talent identification and support individualized training strategies in competitive youth rowing.

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Background: Quantitative assessment of proprioception in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is limited by methodological variability and the lack of developmentally appropriate protocols. Joint position sense (JPS) and force sense (FS) assessments are commonly used in adults; however, their reliability in pediatric populations has not been sufficiently established. The objective of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of adapted JPS and FS protocols in children with DCD and to determine whether the observed reliability supports the use of these methods in experimental research. Methods: A repeated-measurements reliability research design was employed. Twenty-eight children aged 10-15 years (mean age 12.86 years), with a mean body mass of 43.68 kg and a mean height of 149.32 cm, and with medically confirmed DCD, completed four proprioceptive tests: joint angle reproduction and differentiation, and force reproduction and differentiation. Absolute errors were calculated for each trial. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC2,k), standard error of measurement, and smallest detectable difference. Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement. Results: Reliability across all tests and movement directions ranged from good to excellent. Most ICC values exceeded 0.90, with only a small number falling between 0.86 and 0.90. Although differentiation tasks produced larger absolute errors than reproduction tasks, their reliability remained excellent. Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated acceptable bias, reasonable clustering around the mean difference, and only occasional outliers beyond the limits of agreement. Conclusions: The adapted JPS and FS protocols demonstrated high intra- and inter-rater reliability in children with DCD, supporting their use in experimental research.

Background: Moderate physical activity (PA) exerts powerful systemic and neuroprotective effects, reducing chronic disease risk and enhancing cognitive and psychological well-being. PA promotes brain plasticity by upregulating neurotrophic factors and stimulating neurogenesis. Given the established role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) in neuronal survival, differentiation, and anti-apoptotic signaling, we aimed to investigate whether moderate PA modulates the endogenous expression of PACAP and its specific receptor PAC1R in the DG and cerebellar cortex. Methods: To this end, twenty-four rats were distributed into sedentary or exercise groups. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed to assess PACAP and PAC1R expression. Co-expression with doublecortin (DCX), a marker of immature neurons, was evaluated to explore the direct relationship between PACAP signaling and neurogenesis. Results: Our results showed that moderate PA induced a significant up-regulation of PACAP and PAC1R in both the DG and cerebellar cortex compared to sedentary controls. Moreover, high co-expression of PACAP and DCX was detected in these regions, suggesting an involvement of PACAP in exercise-induced neurogenic processes. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that moderate physical activity is associated with enhanced PACAP/PAC1R signaling and DCX expression in neurogenic regions, warranting further investigation into its specific contribution to exercise-induced brain plasticity.

Background: Treatment of chronic painful insertional Achilles tendinopathy is known to be challenging. If non-surgical treatment does not give sufficient relief of symptoms, surgery may be indicated. Treatment with ultrasound (US)- and colour Doppler (CD)-guided wide-awake-local-anaesthetic-no-tourniquet (WALANT) surgery for insertional Achilles tendinopathy is a new approach with promising clinical results. This study aimed to evaluate clinical results of this new approach on patients suffering from insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Methods: Forty-eight consecutive patients with 53 symptomatic tendons (33 men with 34 tendons, mean age 49.3 ± 12.0 years; 14 women with 18 tendons, mean age 55.0 ± 7.4 years) and a duration of more than 12 months with painful insertional Achilles tendinopathy (including tendon, bursae, bone, and plantaris pathology) were included. US- and CD-guided WALANT surgery with removal of pathological bursae, bone, and tendons was used. Immediate weight-bearing loading was allowed, followed by a structured rehabilitation protocol for the first 12 weeks after surgery. VISA-A scores before and after surgery and a questionnaire that evaluated subjective satisfaction with the treatment and current activity level were used. Results: In total, 42/48 patients with 46/53 tendons participated in a 3-year follow-up (mean 34 ± 9 months) by an independent examiner; 39/42 patients with 43/46 tendons were satisfied (n = 37) with the treatment. The mean VISA-A score increased significantly from 41.9 ± 18.2 pre-operatively to 87.7 ± 18.2 post-operatively (p < 0.001). There were three surgical complications, two superficial wound infections, and one minor wound rupture. Conclusions: Patients who suffered from chronic painful insertional Achilles tendinopathy treated with US- and CD-guided WALANT surgery followed by immediate weight-bearing showed high patient subjective satisfaction rates and better functional scores at the 3-year follow-up with a low complication rate. This novel treatment approach warrants more study, including randomised trials comparing it against traditional surgical procedures according to Nunley and Keck and Kelly.

Background: Long-distance hiking usually requires carrying a backpack, adding external load to the lower limbs and modifying plantar loading patterns. Excessive loads may contribute to overuse injuries, but quantitative evidence to support current recommendations on backpack weight is still scarce. This study aimed to examine how different backpack loads influence plantar pressure in long-distance hikers. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in adults who had walked at least 20 km during the previous 24 h. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were recorded, and barefoot plantar pressure was assessed using the Podoprint^® system under four conditions: without a backpack, with the habitual backpack, and with backpacks loaded to 10% and 20% of body weight. Static and dynamic plantar pressure parameters were analyzed using repeated-measures comparisons. Results: A progressive increase in plantar force was observed in both feet as backpack load increased. Compared with the unloaded condition, static forefoot pressure rose by 5.41% with a 10% load and by 8.73% with a 20% load (p = 0.005); rearfoot pressure increased by 5.01% and 10.17% (p = 0.015); and total foot pressure by 5.04% and 9.61% (p = 0.002). Loads above 10% of body weight significantly modified static plantar pressures and were associated with measurable changes during dynamic assessment. Conclusions: In long-distance hikers, carrying a backpack that exceeds approximately 10% of body weight leads to a clear, load-dependent increase in plantar pressure. These findings provide biomechanical support for recommendations that advise limiting backpack load to around 10% of body weight to reduce plantar stress during hiking.

Background: Whole-body electromyostimulation (WB-EMS) is a training technology that enables the stimulation of all the main muscle groups with dedicated intensity, attracting many sportspeople and athletes of various disciplines. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effect of WB-EMS on maximum jump, sprint, and agility performance in exercising cohorts. Methods: Systematic literature research of five electronic databases up to March 2025, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) scheme and including interventional trials with at least one WB-EMS and one active or inactive control group that focus on maximum jump, sprint, and agility performance in sportspeople and athletes. Applying a random-effect model that includes the inverse heterogeneity model (IVhet), effects sizes (SMD), and calculates 95% confidence intervals (95%-CIs). Subgroup analyses addressed superimposed WB-EMS application vs. underlying voluntary exercise. Results: Twelve studies with 145 participants in the WB-EMS and 148 participants in the control group were included. Most trials on jumping (10 of 12) and all trials on sprinting and agility performance applied superimposed WB-EMS protocols compared with underlying voluntary exercise. We observed no significant positive effects of WB-EMS on maximum jump (12 studies, SMD: 0.34, 95%-CI: -0.35 to 1.03), sprint (8 studies, SMD: 0.07, 95%-CI: -0.66 to 0.80), and agility performance (5 studies, SMD: -0.11, 95%-CI: -1.28 to 1.06). Heterogeneity between the trial results was considerable (I² > 80%) in all cases. Conclusions: Superimposed WB-EMS compared to the underlying predominately near-maximum to maximum intensity voluntary exercise provides only limited additional effects on jumping, sprinting, and ability performance.

Objectives: This study investigates empathy levels among the public safety personnel and their relationship with current selection indicators (morphological, neuromuscular, and psychological characteristics), highlighting the importance of the topic and its potential for further research. Methods: The research was conducted on a sample of 136 police and national security students. The cross-sectional design was applied. Empathy was assessed with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Basic morphological characteristics were measured with a portable stadiometer and the InBody 720 device. Neuromuscular characteristics were measured using a handgrip strength test with a sliding device that measures isometric finger flexor force. Psychological characteristics were assessed using the Big Five Plus Two, the Mental Toughness Index, and the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen questionnaires. Results: Numerous significant differences between female and male participants, as well as gender-specific correlation patterns, were revealed. Female participants expressed more fantasy (3.23 ± 1.05), empathic concern (3.71 ± 0.75), and personal distress (1.76 ± 0.67) than males (2.84 ± 0.84; 3.37 ± 0.71; 1.5 ± 0.53). Among them, negative correlations of psychological distress with conscientiousness (ρ = -0.66) and mental toughness (ρ = -0.59) stand out. Conclusions: This study indicates the possible existence of correlations between empathy, neuromuscular, morphological, and psychological characteristics in public safety personnel of both genders, with gender-specific patterns. Results indicate opportunities for further research aimed at improving the efficiency of the existing selection system.

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the absolute and relative reliability intersession for a maximal isometric muscle strength protocol in the bilateral seated bench press (BSBP), bilateral seated row (BSR), unilateral seated knee right extension (USKER) and unilateral seated knee left extension (USKEL) in a population of older adults. Methods: Eighteen older adults (age = 69.38 ± 5.06 years; weight = 75.79 ± 14.18 kg; height = 1.61 ± 0.08 m; BMI = 28.98 ± 5.04 kg/m². The maximal isometric muscle strength assessment was performed in a seated position. Participants were asked to exert maximum effort during the exercise. The BSBP and BSR assessments were performed bilaterally with shoulders and elbows at 90°, while the USKER and USKEL assessments were performed unilaterally. Three sets of 5 secondswere performed with a 3 minutes rest between measurements until maximum isometric strength was reached in all four measurements. Results: In the inter-session reliability measurements, acceptable absolute reliability was presented for BSR and USKER, and extremely high reliability for the BSBP and USKEL measures. In addition, extremely high relative reliability was reported for all assessments of maximum isometric muscle strength, with no significant differences were observed (p > 0.05) and an ES classified as null (ES < 0.12). Conclusions: The main results of this study show that maximal isometric muscle strength in bilateral seated bench press, bilateral seated row, and unilateral seated right and left knee extension, assessed using the Chronojump Force Sensor Kit, is reliable and reproducible for the elderly population.