Journal of Sports Science and Medicine最新文献

Tissue flossing involves wrapping a rubber band around a muscle group for a few minutes while performing joint motion, enhancing ankle joint torque and range of motion. As limited ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and plantar flexion muscle weakness are risk factors for sports injury, assessing the therapeutic effects of tissue flossing is important. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of calf tissue flossing on enhancing ankle joint torque and dorsiflexion range of motion. We conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial involving 19 healthy adult males who received two interventions (low and high-pressure tissue flossing bands) and a control condition (underwrap). Each intervention was applied for 2 minutes on the non-dominant calf, with 5-10 days between sessions. A pressure sensor placed on the posterior calf monitored the wrapping compression force. The intervention exercise comprised six voluntary isometric contractions of the ankle at three angles (20° plantar flexion, neutral 0°, and 10° dorsiflexion) for 3 seconds each using a dynamometer. The maximal isometric ankle plantar flexion torque and dorsiflexion range of motion were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. Significant interactions were observed in ankle plantar flexion torque at 10° dorsiflexion (p < 0.01) but not at 0° or 20° plantar flexion. The low- and high-pressure bands significantly enhanced ankle plantar flexion torque by 4.3 Nm (effect size [ES]: 0.14, p = 0.02) and 4.9 Nm (ES: 0.15, p < 0.05), respectively, and also enhanced the ankle dorsiflexion range of motion by 1.7° (ES: 0.43, p < 0.01) and 1.3° (ES: 0.35, p = 0.02), respectively, compared to the control. The low- and high-pressure band conditions had comparable effects on torque and range of motion. A few minutes of the calf tissue flossing intervention significantly enhanced ankle plantar flexion torque and dorsiflexion range of motion, although the effect sizes were trivial to small.

Motor imagery (MI) or post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) have shown acute benefits for sports performance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cumulative effects of MI and PAPE when combined within a warm-up routine. Ten men boxers participated in this study. They underwent four experimental sessions composed of a standardized warm-up followed by 1) maximal leg press extensions (CONTROL-PAPE), 2) mental imagery of force and sprint tasks (CONTROL-MI), 3) maximal leg press extensions followed by mental imagery of force and sprint tasks (PAPE-MI) and 4) mental imagery of force and sprint tasks followed by then maximal leg press extensions (MI-PAPE). Post-tests consisted of boxing reaction time, average and maximal boxing force, maximal handgrip strength, repeated sprint ability and the NASA-TLX fatigue questionnaire. No difference was obtained between PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE for the different measurements. Compared to CONTROL-PAPE and CONTROL-MI, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE significantly enhanced boxing average force (P < 0.05) and repeated sprint ability (P < 0.01). Compared to CONTROL-PAPE, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE increased boxing reaction time (P < 0.05), PAPE-MI increased the handgrip strength (P < 0.05) and MI-PAPE increased boxing maximal force (P < 0.01). Compared to CONTROL-MI, both the PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE increased boxing maximal force (P < 0.001), handgrip strength (0 < 0.01) and MI-PAPE increased boxing reaction time (P < 0.05). The NASA-TLX questionnaire was not affected by the warm-up modalities (P = 0.442). Combining PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE protocols within the warm-up produced cumulative positive effects on acute muscular performance without increasing subjective fatigue. PAPE-MI and MI-PAPE are both interesting modalities for optimizing warm-up routines.

Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is caused by high, repetitive, and continuous traction exerted by the quadriceps on the tibial tuberosity, primarily occurring in adolescents. Infrapatellar straps are commonly recommended for its prevention and treatment, yet their impact on quadriceps forces in adolescents remains unstudied. Furthermore, current research on OSD predominantly focuses on adolescent males, with limited attention to adolescent females, despite similar incidence rates in both groups. This study aimed to quantify the quadriceps forces during running, both with and without infrapatellar straps, in adolescent females. Kinematic data, ground reaction forces, and electromyography (EMG) data of knee muscles from 16 adolescent females were recorded as they ran at self-selected speeds with and without infrapatellar straps. OpenSim was employed to estimate quadriceps activations and forces, from which accumulated forces were derived. The simulation's reliability was validated by calculating the correlation between muscle activations obtained from OpenSim and EMG data, which revealed a strong correlation. Wearing infrapatellar straps during running decreased the peak and accumulated forces of the quadriceps (p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The significant reduction in accumulated forces was associated with decreased vastus muscle forces during the stance phase (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, and p = 0.016 for vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius, respectively). The use of infrapatellar straps had limited effect on the rectus femoris muscle forces. The reliability of the simulation was validated through EMG data. Wearing infrapatellar straps may reduce the load exerted on the tibial tuberosity by decreasing vastus muscle forces during the stance phase. Adolescents aiming to reduce excessive rectus femoris muscle forces due to a shortened or tight rectus femoris, which may contribute to the occurrence of OSD, might experience limited benefits from wearing infrapatellar straps.

Interventions involving exposure to nature can increase self-regulatory resources. However, this improvement has never been examined in mentally fatigued soccer players who have insufficient resources to self-regulate and maintain specific performances. The present study aims to investigate how exposure to nature influences the self-regulation capability of university soccer players who are mentally fatigued. The participants aged 18-24 years (M = 20.73 ± 2.00), with an average training duration of 5.14 ± 1.31 years, were randomly divided into six different groups (three experimental groups and three control groups). Each experimental group was compared with its corresponding control group using three different intervention durations: 4.17 min, 8.33 min, and 12.50 min. A forty-five-minute Stroop task was used to induce mental fatigue, followed by the intervention. The indicators of self-regulation, both physiological (heart rate variability, or HRV) and psychological (competitive state anxiety), were recorded. Experimental Group 3 (12.50 min intervention) only showed significant improvement in HRV (p = 0.008, d = 0.93), competitive state anxiety (cognitive and somatic anxiety p = 0.019, d = 0.86; state confidence p = 0.041, d = 0.797) compared to control group 3. Nature exposure significantly improves self-regulation in mentally fatigued soccer players. Specifically, the 12.50 min intervention showed the greatest improvements in both HRV and competitive state anxiety, suggesting that a longer duration of nature exposure enhances mental restoration more effectively.

This study aimed to identify relationships between external and internal load parameters with subjective ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Consecutively, these relationships shall be used to evaluate different machine learning models and design a deep learning architecture to predict RPE in highly trained/national level soccer players. From a dataset comprising 5402 training sessions and 732 match observations, we gathered data on 174 distinct parameters, encompassing heart rate, GPS, accelerometer data and RPE (Borg's 0-10 scale) of 26 professional male professional soccer players. Nine machine learning algorithms and one deep learning architecture was employed. Rigorous preprocessing protocols were employed to ensure dataset equilibrium and minimize bias. The efficacy and generalizability of these models were evaluated through a systematic 5-fold cross-validation approach. The deep learning model exhibited highest predictive power for RPE (Mean Absolute Error: 1.08 ± 0.07). Tree-based machine learning models demonstrated high-quality predictions (Mean Absolute Error: 1.15 ± 0.03) and a higher robustness against outliers. The strongest contribution to reducing the uncertainty of RPE with the tree-based machine learning models was maximal heart rate (determining 1.81% of RPE), followed by maximal acceleration (determining 1.48%) and total distance covered in speed zone 10-13 km/h (determining 1.44%). A multitude of external and internal parameters rather than a single variable are relevant for RPE prediction in highly trained/national level soccer players, with maximum heart rate having the strongest influence on RPE. The ExtraTree Machine Learning model exhibits the lowest error rates for RPE predictions, demonstrates applicability to players not specifically considered in this investigation, and can be run on nearly any modern computer platform.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a strategy that may enhances endurance performance in thermoneutral environments. Exercising in the heat increases thermoregulatory and cardiovascular strain, decreasing endurance performance. The current study aimed to determine whether IPC administration improves endurance performance in the heat. In a randomized crossover design, 12 healthy subjects (V̇O_2max: 54.4 ± 8.1 mL·kg^-1·min^-1) underwent either IPC administration (220 mmHg) or a sham treatment (20 mmHg), then completed a moderate-intensity 6-min running (EX1) and a high-intensity time-to-exhaustion running test (EX2) in a hot environment (35 °C, 50 % RH). Cardiac function, oxygen consumption (V̇O₂), and core body temperature (T_CORE) were measured. During EX2, IPC administration increased the total running time in the heat compared to the sham treatment (IPC: 416.4 ± 61.9 vs. sham 389.3 ± 40.7 s, P = 0.027). IPC administration also increased stroke volume (IPC: 150.4 ± 17.5 vs. sham: 128.2 ± 11.6 ml, P = 0.008) and cardiac output (IPC: 27.4 ± 1.7 vs. sham: 25.1 ± 2.2 ml min^-1, P = 0.007) during 100% isotime of EX2. End-exercise V̇O₂ (IPC: 3.72 ± 0.85 vs. sham: 3.54 ± 0.87 L·min^-1, P = 0.017) and slow phase amplitude (IPC: 0.57 ± 0.17 vs. sham: 0.72 ± 0.22 L·min^-1, P = 0.016) were improved. When compared with the baseline period, an increase in T_CORE was less in the IPC condition during EX1 (IPC: 0.18 ± 0.06 vs. sham: 0.22 ± 0.08 °C, P = 0.005) and EX2 (IPC: 0.87 ± 0.10 vs. sham: 1.03 ± 0.10 °C, P < 0.001). IPC improves high-intensity endurance performance in the heat by 6.9 %. This performance benefit could be associated with improved cardiac and thermoregulatory function engendered by IPC administration.

OpenPose-based motion analysis (OpenPose-MA), utilizing deep learning methods, has emerged as a compelling technique for estimating human motion. It addresses the drawbacks associated with conventional three-dimensional motion analysis (3D-MA) and human visual detection-based motion analysis (Human-MA), including costly equipment, time-consuming analysis, and restricted experimental settings. This study aims to assess the precision of OpenPose-MA in comparison to Human-MA, using 3D-MA as the reference standard. The study involved a cohort of 21 young and healthy adults. OpenPose-MA employed the OpenPose algorithm, a deep learning-based open-source two-dimensional (2D) pose estimation method. Human-MA was conducted by a skilled physiotherapist. The knee valgus angle during a drop vertical jump task was computed by OpenPose-MA and Human-MA using the same frontal-plane video image, with 3D-MA serving as the reference standard. Various metrics were utilized to assess the reproducibility, accuracy and similarity of the knee valgus angle between the different methods, including the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (1, 3), mean absolute error (MAE), coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) for waveform pattern similarity, and Pearson's correlation coefficients (OpenPose-MA vs. 3D-MA, Human-MA vs. 3D-MA). Unpaired t-tests were conducted to compare MAEs and CMCs between OpenPose-MA and Human-MA. The ICCs (1,3) for OpenPose-MA, Human-MA, and 3D-MA demonstrated excellent reproducibility in the DVJ trial. No significant difference between OpenPose-MA and Human-MA was observed in terms of the MAEs (OpenPose: 2.4° [95%CI: 1.9-3.0°], Human: 3.2° [95%CI: 2.1-4.4°]) or CMCs (OpenPose: 0.83 [range: 0.99-0.53], Human: 0.87 [range: 0.24-0.98]) of knee valgus angles. The Pearson's correlation coefficients of OpenPose-MA and Human-MA relative to that of 3D-MA were 0.97 and 0.98, respectively. This study demonstrated that OpenPose-MA achieved satisfactory reproducibility, accuracy and exhibited waveform similarity comparable to 3D-MA, similar to Human-MA. Both OpenPose-MA and Human-MA showed a strong correlation with 3D-MA in terms of knee valgus angle excursion.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) has been suggested as a potential therapeutic target for insulin resistance in health-related metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Despite the metabolic effects of resistance (RT) and aerobic training (AT) on diabetes symptoms, uncertainty exists regarding the superiority of effects manifested through these training approaches on FGF-21 and biochemical and physiological variables associated with metabolic disorders in men diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week RT and AT on FGF-21 levels and symptoms associated with metabolic disorders in male individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Thirty-six sedentary obese diabetic men (40 to 45 years old) were matched based on the level of FGF-1. They and were randomly divided into two training groups (RT, n = 12 and AT, n = 12) performing three days per week of moderate-intensity RT or AT for 12 weeks and an inactive control group (n = 12). Both training interventions significantly improved FGF-21, glucose metabolism, lipid profile, hormonal changes, strength, and aerobic capacity. Subgroup analysis revealed that RT had greater adaptive responses (p < 0.01) in fasting blood sugar (ES = -0.52), HOMA-IR (ES = -0.87), testosterone (ES = 0.52), cortisol (ES = -0.82), FGF-21 (ES = 0.61), and maximal strength (ES = 1.19) compared to AT. Conversely, AT showed greater changes (p < 0.01) in cholesterol (ES = -0.28), triglyceride (ES = -0.64), HDL (ES = 0.46), LDL (ES = -0.73), and aerobic capacity (ES = 1.18) compared to RT. Overall, both RT and AT interventions yielded significant moderate to large ES in FGF-21 levels and enhanced the management of biochemical variables. RT is an effective method for controlling FGF-21 levels and glucose balance, as well as for inducing hormonal changes. On the other hand, AT is more suitable for improving lipid profiles in overweight men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study aimed to explore the impact of functional training on the physical fitness of young elite field hockey players. The study comprised 40 young elite male field hockey players with the following characteristics (mean ± SD age: 21.5 ± 0.8 years; height: 176.9 ± 2.6 cm; weight: 68.4 ± 5.1 kg; BMI: 21.8 ± 1.3; training experience: 51.2 ± 5.4 months). Twenty participants were allocated to two groups: the functional training group (FTG) and the control training group (CG). Each group received 60-minute training sessions three times per week for 12 weeks. Generalized estimating equation analysis and a Bonferroni test for pairwise comparisons were used to assess the intervention's efficacy. Before the start of the exercise program, no statistically significant differences were observed in physical fitness measures between the FTG and CG (p > 0.05). However, by the sixth week, a significant difference appeared in both the T-Agility test (p < 0.001) and endurance (p = 0.024) between the two groups, while no notable distinctions were detected in other fitness parameters (p > 0.05). After a 12-week training program, the FTG demonstrated improvements in all physical fitness measures [flexibility (p < 0.001); Illinois agility test (p < 0.001); T-agility test (p = 0.020); endurance (p < 0.001)] except speed, which exhibited no significant impact (p = 0.175). Notable enhancements in T-agility and endurance were evident after just six weeks of functional training, and a 12-week functional training regimen showed superiority over standard training approaches in young elite male field hockey players. These findings encourage the efficacy of functional training exercises over traditional methods in enhancing athletes' fitness parameters.

Drop jump (DJ) and squat jump (SJ) exercises are commonly used in rhythmic gymnastics training. However, the acute effects of DJ and SJ on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance have not been investigated. This study aimed to verify the post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) responses induced by DJ and SJ with optimal power load and evaluate the relationship between peak PAPE effects and strength levels. Twenty female rhythmic gymnasts completed the following exercises in a randomized order on three separate days: 6 repetitions of DJs; 6 repetitions of SJs with optimal power load; and no exercise (control condition). Jump height was assessed before (baseline) and at 30 seconds and 3, 6, and 9 minutes after each exercise. DJs significantly improved jump height by 0.8 cm (effect size (ES) = 0.25; P = 0.003) at 30 seconds post-exercise compared with baseline. Jump height significantly decreased by -0.14 cm (ES = -0.61; P = 0.021) at 9 minutes after the control condition. SJs significantly improved jump height by 1.02 cm (ES = 0.36; P = 0.005) at 9 minutes post-exercise compared to the control condition. Jump height and relative back squat one-repetition maximum were positively related after performing DJs (r = 0.63; P = 0.003) and SJs (r = 0.64; P = 0.002). DJ and SJ exercises effectively improved countermovement jump height. DJ improved jump height early, while SJ produced greater potentiation effects later. Athletes with a higher strength level benefited the most from these exercises.