European journal of sport science最新文献

This study aimed to clarify changes in sprint ability and spatiotemporal variables with maturation in children and to identify key determinants from anthropometric and muscle strength perspectives. Ninety-eight young soccer players aged 7.6–17.9 years underwent a 30-m sprint test, anthropometric measurements, muscle thickness (MT) and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Maturity offset (MO) was calculated as the difference between the chronological age and estimated age at peak height velocity (PHV). Breakpoint (BP) in maximal sprint speed (MSS) development was identified at +1.1 years of MO, and the participants were classified into pre- and post-BP groups. A significant correlation was found between MSS and MO in the pre-BP group, but was no longer observed in the post-BP group. Although step length (SL) was positively correlated with MO in the pre-BP group, this correlation was not observed and step frequency (SF) showed a positive correlation in the post-BP group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that in the pre-BP group, leg length (LL) was the only significant predictor of MSS, primarily by influencing SL. By contrast, in the post-BP group, MVC and MT emerged as significant predictors of MSS, mainly by influencing SF. In conclusion, this study identified a key developmental BP at +1.1 years of MO and demonstrated a shift in the determinants of sprinting ability from reliance on anthropometric growth before this point to a dominance of neuromuscular factors.

Mental fatigue (MF) has been widely investigated in resistance exercise (RE). However, the results remain inconsistent, likely due to variability in the cognitive load across studies and, most importantly, the lack of individualized assessments of self-reported MF levels among participants before initiating the RE session. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the acute effect of different levels of MF induced by prior cognitive effort on the subsequent number of repetitions performed during an RE session. In a crossover trial, 20 participants were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: a control and two mentally fatiguing conditions. In the MF conditions, the participants performed a computerized Stroop word-color (ST) task until reaching 40 mm (moderate MF) and 80 mm (high MF) on the visual analog scale for MF. Following all three conditions, participants completed an RE session consisting of six sets of half back-squat performed to muscle failure with a fixed load of ∼45% 1RM (1.0 m.s⁻¹). Physical and perceptual parameters—including total repetitions, repetitions per set, repetitions per velocity loss, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE)—were measured during the RE session. Participants exhibited a lower number of repetitions and a higher RPE during RE in the high MF condition compared to the moderate MF and control conditions, with a significant difference also observed between the moderate MF and control conditions (p < 0.05). In summary, these findings suggest that a high level of subjective MF results in a greater magnitude of impairment in physical performance during an RE session.

This randomized crossover trial examined the effects of low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) versus high-carbohydrate low-fat (HCLF) isocaloric diets on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)-derived glucose metrics in trained, healthy male cyclists. Participants (n = 15) followed each dietary condition for 7 days, with glucose data continuously collected using CGM technology. The primary outcomes assessed were mean glucose levels, glucose variability, and time spent within specific glycemic ranges across wake, exercise, and nighttime phases. Results indicated that the LCHF diet significantly reduced mean glucose levels and glycemic variability (CV) compared to the HCLF diet. Mean glucose values were significantly higher during exercise compared to wake and night phases, irrespective of dietary conditions. Exercise intensity was positively associated with higher glucose concentrations during training sessions, independent of dietary conditions. Furthermore, nocturnal glycemia was significantly lower after exercise days, suggesting an influence of prior physical activity on overnight glucose regulation. Substantial interindividual variability in glucose responses was observed, highlighting the necessity of personalized dietary strategies for athletes. This study demonstrates that dietary carbohydrate manipulation significantly influences glucose metabolism, with implications for optimizing training, recovery, and metabolic health in endurance athletes. Future research should further explore individualized glucose responses and longer-term adaptations to dietary interventions in athletic populations.

Mood profiling is a longstanding strategy for assessing mental health risk and several distinct mood profile clusters have been identified in different cultural contexts. In this study, six previously identified mood profile clusters, namely, the iceberg, inverse iceberg, inverse Everest, shark fin, submerged and surface profiles, were investigated in Finnish individuals. The 24-item, 6-factor Finnish-language version of the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), referred to as the Finnish Mood Scale (FIMS) was completed by 652 Finnish-speaking participants (409 females and 231 males), of which 156 self-identified as athletes, 368 self-identified as regular exercisers and 128 self-identified as inactive. Participants were grouped into four age categories [15–25 (n = 238), 26–35 (n = 176), 36–45 (n = 108) and 46+ yr. (n = 129)]. Seeded k-means cluster analysis identified the six hypothesised mood profiles. A discriminant function analysis supported cluster strength. Chi-squared analyses showed differences between groups in cluster prevalence. Males were overpresented in the iceberg profile, associated with positive mental health, whereas females were overpresented in the inverse Everest and shark fin profiles, both of which are associated with risks to mental health. In physical activity categories, the inactive group was underrepresented and exercisers overrepresented in the iceberg profile. Exercisers were underrepresented, and athletes overrepresented in the inverse iceberg profile. Age comparisons showed the 46+ years group were overpresented in the iceberg profile. Findings indicate that the FIMS may have utility in identifying individuals with mood profiles associated with elevated risk to mental health in Finnish populations aged 15 years and older.

Improving the number of years lived in good health is an international priority. Walking sports offer an opportunity for adults of all ages and abilities to engage in physical activity. However, research on walking sport participation is limited. We aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of walking sport participants using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). This qualitative study used a descriptive phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 adults (mean age 62.9) participating in walking sports programmes in Australia. Interviews were coded and themed using thematic analysis and mapped to the TPB. Five themes pertaining to experiences and perceptions of walking sports were identified: (1) advantages of walking sports, (2) disadvantages of walking sports, (3) perceived social norms surrounding walking sports, (4) facilitators of walking sports participation and (5) barriers to walking sports participation. This study has important implications for strengthening current walking sports offerings to support engagement in such offerings and optimise population-level health outcomes.

This study aimed to investigate the independent and combined effects of caffeine and static stretching (SS) on maximal ball velocity and 30-m sprint performance. Sixteen male amateur football players performed 30-m sprint and an instep kicking ball velocity test under six conditions. The six conditions were control, SS only, placebo only, placebo combined with SS (PLA + SS), caffeine only, and caffeine combined with SS (CAF + SS). A repeated measures ANOVA revealed no significant main effect of condition on maximal ball velocity (F(5, 75) = 1.11, p = 0.36, η²_p = 0.069). In contrast, a significant main effect of condition was observed for 30-m sprint performance (F(5, 75) = 4.57, p = 0.001, η²_p = 0.23). Our findings showed that the SS condition resulted in similar sprint performance compared to all other conditions (p ≥ 0.093) except the caffeine condition (p = 0.009). In contrast, the caffeine condition led to faster sprint performance compared to all conditions (p ≤ 0.010) except CAF + SS (p = 0.184). Additionally, sprint performances in the SS and CAF + SS conditions were similar (p = 0.093). A large effect size (0.94) was observed between the control and CAF conditions, whereas a moderate effect size (0.54) was found when comparing caffeine and CAF + SS conditions. These findings indicate that caffeine intake enhances sprint performance; however, the CAF + SS combination appears to reduce this effect, making it less effective. Although SS does not directly impair sprint performance, it may have the potential to diminish the ergogenic effects of caffeine.

This study aimed to elucidate the relationships between sectional velocity, pedaling rate, and gear ratio with performance outcomes in the 200-m qualifying race in track cycling (200mTT). High-speed video footage (120 Hz) was collected at three Japanese championships in 2024, analyzing 38 male cyclists. Sectional velocities, pedaling rates, and gear ratios were derived from the footage. The track was divided into ten 20-m segments for the timed section; flying-start segments were estimated using visual markers and cubic spline interpolation. Cyclists were categorized into four performance groups based on 200mTT times: top (TG), middle-high (MHG), middle-low (MLG), and low (LG). The TG exhibited significantly higher velocities than other groups from −135 m onward and maintained this advantage throughout the trial (P < 0.05). They also achieved a steady 2% velocity increase during the flying-start phase and demonstrated more consistent pacing with reduced velocity fluctuations across curved and straight segments. Despite comparable gear ratios between TG and MHG, differences in acceleration timing and strategy led to divergent outcomes. Partial correlation analysis controlling for initial velocity confirmed that higher gear ratios independently contributed to greater maximum velocity. In contrast, the magnitude of velocity decrement had minimal influence on race time. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing both technique and conditioning to enhance maximal velocity. The trend toward higher gear ratios highlights the need for earlier well-timed acceleration during the flying-start phase. These insights offer guidance for aligning gear selection and acceleration strategies with cyclists' physical characteristics to improve 200mTT performance.

Early sport specialization during adolescence has been linked to overuse injuries in several sports, yet its long-term impact in American football remains underexplored. The purpose of this study is to examine whether early specialization in football during high school is associated with higher injury rates and shorter careers than multi-sport participation. This is a retrospective cohort study with level of evidence 3. We analyzed all NFL players drafted from 2011 to 2023 (n = 2556) who played ≥ 16 career games. Athletes were classified as multisport or single-sport based on high school varsity participation using public records. Injury data were obtained from validated online databases. The primary outcome was injury incidence, measured as injuries per 1000 snaps (defined as individual plays participated in). Secondary outcomes included career length, total games played, and weighted career approximate value (AV). Injury rates were compared with position-stratified incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Multisport athletes (63.6%) sustained fewer total injuries (IRR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.76–0.85, and p < 0.001) and major injuries (IRR, 0.77, 95% CI, 0.71–0.82, and p < 0.001) compared to single-sport athletes. Multisport athletes also played 12.2 more NFL games (95% CI, 9.2–15.1, p < 0.001, and d = 0.32) and had 0.7 additional career years (95% CI, 0.5–0.9, p < 0.01 and d = 0.28). NFL players who participated in multiple sports during high school had significantly lower injury rates and greater career durability. These findings support the body of evidence discouraging early sport specialization.

Whether fat oxidation (FATox) is altered during exercise in hypoxia remains equivocal due to differences in experimental protocols. Furthermore, to date no investigation has reported the effect of hypoxia on maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess substrate utilization in normoxia and hypoxia and determine MFO. Seventeen active adults (12 M/5F) performed ramp and step incremental testing in normoxia (FiO₂ = 0.209; NORM) and normobaric hypoxia (FiO₂ = 0.135; HYPO). Respiratory compensation point (RCP) determined from ramp testing was used to normalize relative intensity across 6 constant workrate steps in the moderate and heavy domain. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure cardiorespiratory responses and estimate substrate utilization and MFO. Linear mixed modeling was used to compare measurements in NORM and HYPO, where intensity was expressed as a function of absolute or relative workrate. Cardiorespiratory responses to exercise were similar in NORM and HYPO when the workrate was expressed as a function of relative intensity. FATox was decreased across all stages in HYPO (p < 0.001), which was associated with a 22% decrease in MFO (HYPO: 0.26 ± 0.07 g·min⁻¹, NORM: 0.34 ± 0.07 g·min⁻¹; p < 0.001, d = 1.16). MFO occurred at a similar percentage of $$O_2max in both NORM (38 ± 8%) and HYPO (38 ± 8%; p = 0.89, d = 0.04). MFO was decreased in HYPO regardless of whether the workrate was expressed as a function of relative or absolute intensity. This suggests that hypoxia may exert a direct effect on regulation of fuel selection during exercise, independent of the reduced absolute workrate when normalizing relative intensity to RCP.