European journal of sport science最新文献

This study aimed to (a) establish the test-retest reliability of the water polo intermittent shuttle test (WIST) in elite female water polo players, (b) investigate the validity of the WIST to determine positional differences in WIST scores within this population and (c) distinguish between competitive female playing standards. Part one involved 14 elite female water polo players (24.2 ± 3.2 years, experience > 5 years) completing the WIST on two separate occasions, separated by 48 h. In part two, 18 elite (24.4 ± 3.5 years), 7 highly trained (21.6 ± 3.2 years) and 34 trained (13–17 years) female water polo players completed the WIST. The coefficient of variation (CV), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), smallest worthwhile change (SWC) and minimal detectable change 90% CI (MDC₉₀) were calculated. The WIST demonstrated acceptable reliability (ICC = 0.93, CV = 6.7%) and usefulness to detect performance changes with SWC_0.2 (22.3 m) > TE 90% CI [(17.5 m (11.6, 23.3))], quantifying practically meaningful changes in performance (MDC₉₀ = 54.8 m or ∼ 4 shuttles). No significant positional differences were evident. Very large, positive, statistically significant differences were found between highly trained and trained (U14 to U17) players (p < 0.01, g = 3.1) and between elite and trained (U14 to U17) players (p < 0.01, g = 2.4). The WIST is a reliable and useful high-intensity intermittent performance test suitable for elite female water polo players. Differences across standards of competition confirmed the sensitivity and validity of the WIST. Practitioners can quantify practically meaningful changes in WIST performance using MDC₉₀.

Glycemic control is vital to health and disease prevention. A randomized crossover design assessed the effects of fasting alone, fasting with exercise, and fasting with a pre-exercise snack on beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and glucose concentrations, hunger, mood, physical activity, and sleep in 30 participants (16 male). BHB concentrations were elevated in the exercise condition compared to the control at 24 h (p < 0.01), continuing through the end of the intervention (p < 0.01). BHB concentrations were also elevated in the exercise condition compared to the pre-exercise snack condition at 22 h (p < 0.01) and 24 h (p = 0.01) with no differences in BHB between the pre-exercise snack condition and control. There was no main effect of condition on glucose concentrations during the 30-h fast (p = 0.48). However, a condition by time interaction (p < 0.01) revealed elevated glucose levels immediately after exercise (p < 0.01) and lower glucose levels at hour 24 in the exercise-only condition compared to control (p < 0.05). Hunger ratings were lower at 21 h in both exercise conditions immediately following the bout (p < 0.01), but similar at all other time-points. Moderate physical activity was greatest during the pre-exercise snack condition (p = 0.02). Sleep and mood parameters did not differ between conditions. Snacking before exercise produced comparable levels of BHB to a water-only fast. After fasted exercise, BHB decreased, and glucose increased compared to water-only fasting. Hunger was lower following exercise. Snacking before exercise could be a viable alternative for maintaining glycemic control while temporarily reducing subjective hunger compared to a water-only fast.

Physiological markers of endurance performance include the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O_2peak), its fractional utilisation at lactate threshold (FU_LT), and running economy (RE), which are closely tied to the speed eliciting the lactate threshold (sLT). These parameters deteriorate during prolonged exercise, and the ability to resist such declines (i.e., durability) is now also considered a marker of marathon performance. This study investigated the durability of markers of endurance performance (V̇O_2peak, FU_LT and RE), and whether the durability of these markers was associated with marathon performance. Eighteen participants of the 2024 London Marathon (11 males, age: 41 ± 12 years, marathon finish time: 3:17 ± 0:32 h:min) completed two separate visits to determine V̇O_2peak, FU_LT, RE and sLT in a ‘fresh’ state (PRE) and following a 90-min run at sLT (POST). Reductions in V̇O_2peak (PRE: 56.7 ± 7.2 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ vs. POST: 53.4 ± 6.3 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, p < 0.001) and sLT (PRE: 12.8 ± 2.0 km·h⁻¹ vs. POST: 12.1 ± 2.2 km·h⁻¹, p < 0.001) were evident, but RE and FU_LT were unchanged (both p > 0.05). The percentage change in sLT between POST and PRE (r = 0.680, p < 0.01) was significantly associated with marathon performance, whereby small deteriorations of sLT were associated with faster marathon times. Prolonged running impairs key physiological markers of endurance performance, and the degree of this deterioration, that is, durability, is associated with marathon performance. Marathon runners and practitioners should consider quantifying durability to complement existing physiological markers.

Parents have arguably a significant impact on athletes' experiences favoring mental health of elite adolescent athletes. However, parents can have negative effects in adopting regular pressure and directive behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between directive and pressure behaviors from mothers and fathers with athletes' burnout, positive and negative emotions, and motivation. Additionally, this study aimed to compare athletes' psychological variables exposed to higher versus lower frequencies of these parental behaviors. One hundred-five girls and 114 boys semi and competitive elite athletes completed self-reported questionnaires to measure mothers' and fathers' behaviors and athletes' motivation, emotions, and burnout indicators. Correlations and three separate multivariate analyses of covariance were conducted. Athletes' perceptions of parental pressure and directive behaviors were significantly (a) positively related to their anger (r = 0.14 to 0.15), anxiety (r = 0.14), controlled motivation (r = 0.29 to 0.49), amotivation (r = 0.20 to 0.44), and burnout (r = 0.14 to 0.35) and (b) negatively related to their autonomous motivation (r = −0.24 to −0.49). Moreover, significant differences in self-perception were found between athletes exposed to lower versus higher frequencies of parental behaviors. Athletes who perceived a higher frequency of parental behaviors reported significantly greater level of burnout (η² = 0.02 to 0.04), controlled motivation (η² = 0.11), and amotivation (η² = 0.07). This study highlights the inappropriateness of directive and pressure behaviors and the value of measuring the frequency of use by both parents for the athletes' mental health.

This investigation aimed to evaluate sleep of young rugby union players during a 10-day training camp accounting for the potential influence of prior daily training load and the morning appointment time. Twenty-six elite male under-20 rugby union players were monitored each day during a 10-day training camp including two exhibitions matches. Sleep-wake patterns and sleep architecture were assessed using actigraphy and a reduced-montage dry-electroencephalographic headband device, respectively. Training load and perceived wellness were, respectively, evaluated using GPS trackers and 10-score visual analogue scales. The prevalence of nights with sleep duration < 7 h, wake after sleep onset > 40 min and sleep efficiency < 85% was 30.3%, 77.8% and 43.4%, respectively. Every 100-m increase in high-speed running distance increased sleep duration (β = +4.9 min, p < 0.05) and reduced the number of sleep stage shifts (β = −1.1, p < 0.05). The shortest sleep duration (06:52 ± 00:34 h) occurred on the day of Match 1, when the morning appointment was the earliest, that is, 7:30. Sleep duration (−19.3 min, p = 0.01) and efficiency (−2.2%, p < 0.01) were impaired when the morning appointment was scheduled at 8:30 compared to 8:00. This study supports that the training camp is a vulnerable period for sleep, but a controlled, non-excessive training load promotes sleep quantity and continuity of sleep architecture. The organisational aspects of the camp strongly influence the sleep-wake patterns. Coaches should be aware of the putative impact of earlier and/or unusual morning appointment times on sleep, especially in proximity to a match.

Visual exploration, or scanning, is a key perceptual skill in football, enabling players to collect environmental information. It was shown that elite players scan more frequently than less experienced players and make better decisions in subsequent actions. However, to date, it is not clear how to improve and develop scanning behavior. This study examines the immediate effects of verbal instructions on scanning behavior and performance in 4v4 small-sided games among 25 elite youth female football players (mean ± SD age: 17.6 ± 0.7 years). Participants completed two training sessions: one with and one without verbal instructions. Verbal cues were specifically designed to encourage players to scan for teammates, opponents, and free spaces before receiving the ball. Scanning behavior and performance were analyzed using video footage, and data were statistically evaluated through multilevel generalized linear models. Verbal instructions increased the number of scans before ball reception by 27% (rate ratio: 1.27 and 95% CI [1.12, 1.44]), demonstrating their effectiveness in enhancing scanning behavior. Players who performed at least one scan were significantly more likely to achieve successful subsequent actions compared to those who did not scan (e.g., 1 scan: odds ratio = 3.40 and 95% CI [2.59, 4.62]). Notably, the additional scans did not negatively impact the relationship between scanning and the success of subsequent actions. The findings suggest that verbal instructions are a promising coaching tool for increasing the number of scans. Integrating scanning-focused instructions with broader tactical and decision-making training could further optimize perceptual skill development in elite youth football players.

Exercise addiction is studied along with behavioral addictions but has no diagnostic criteria mainly because dysfunctional cases have incomparable etiologies, and research is based on a presumed risk assessment that may never turn into dysfunction. The scalar measurements of the risk of exercise addiction (REA) share substantial variance with passion, perfectionism, and sports commitment. However, the extent to which their subdomains jointly determine the REA is unknown. Consequently, this study aimed to fill this gap and then evaluated possible group differences (gender, competition status, and individual vs. team sports), intending to emphasize the need to control these covariates of REA to avoid false interpretations based on simple group comparisons. An international sample (mean age 31.65 (± SD = 14.48) of 1003 regular exercisers (46.86% males)) completed validated instruments to assess the REA, its predictors, and exercise characteristics. Although all measures showed medium to strong correlations with the REA, a bootstrapped hierarchical regression yielded six predictors (exercise volume and intensity, harmonious and obsessive passion, rigid perfectionism, and constrained commitment), sharing 42.7% of the variance with the REA. Three bootstrapped univariate tests yielded gender, competition status, and sports-form differences in REA when the predictors were not included in the model as covariates. However, all group differences vanished when the predictors were controlled. Our results suggest a conceptual unclarity between what is currently conceptualized as REA and its covariates. More of the latter could entirely obscure the impact of REA. Hence, research should develop more specific tools to assess exercise addiction as a potential dysfunction.

This study aimed to clarify the biomechanical adaptations recreational runners experience during a half marathon. Thirty-seven healthy runners completed a half marathon as fast as possible on a laboratory-instrumented treadmill. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected every 5 km from 0 to 20 km. As mileage accumulated, peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) decreased from 5 km onward (p < 0.005) and impulse declined from 10 km (p < 0.05). Ground contact time increased from 10 km (p < 0.05). Joint-level adaptations included an increased hip extension moment (p < 0.005) and hip adduction angle from 10 km (p < 0.05), decreased knee abduction moment from 5 km (p < 0.005), and greater knee flexion angle at 10 km (p < 0.001) and 15 km (p = 0.031). Additionally, the symmetry angle of peak vertical GRF decreased at 20 km, suggesting improved interlimb symmetry under fatigue. These findings provide insight into fatigue-related biomechanical adaptations during long-distance running. Further research is needed to clarify how these changes relate to injury development.