European journal of sport science最新文献

The positive impact of physical activity on cognitive functions is well established and varies by exercise type, with open-skill sports—activities involving high uncertainty—offering distinct advantages. Although team sports are traditionally considered open-skill activities, parkour provides a dynamic and varied environment. This study compared the effects of indoor team sports (consistent environment) and parkour (varied environments) on cognitive functions. Forty healthy young adults (mean age: 21.5 ± 3 years) were divided into a team sports group (TS, n = 19) and a parkour group (PK, n = 21). Both groups trained twice a week for 4 weeks, with sessions lasting 2 hours each. Cognitive performance was assessed pre- and posttraining using the Trail Making Test (TMT), Letter Cancellation Test (LCT), Change Blindness Test (CB), visual memory tests, and short- and long-term memory recall. The PK group significantly improved in TMT and CB tests (p < 0.001), whereas the TS group showed no significant changes (p > 0.05). Both groups improved similarly in the LCT and working memory tests (p < 0.001). However, the PK group outperformed the TS group in long-term memory tasks (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that parkour's exploratory nature enhances observation skills, visuospatial attention, and long-term memory more effectively than indoor team sports. Training in diverse environments appears to yield greater benefits for visual and cognitive capacities than practice in static settings.

Basic motor competencies (BMC) are foundational skills essential for children's participation in sports and physical activities. While normative data exist in countries like Germany and Switzerland, benchmarks for Italian children are lacking. This study addresses this gap by establishing normative data for Italian schoolchildren aged 5–11 years using the MOBAK test battery, which assesses self-movement (balancing, rolling, jumping, running) and object movement (throwing, catching, bouncing, dribbling) competencies. A total of 1626 children (838 boys, 788 girls) from kindergarten to 10–11 years in Northern Italy were assessed using the MOBAK tests battery. Descriptive statistics, percentile ranks, z-scores, and T-scores were used to establish normative values, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences by sex and grade level. The normative data and the comparison between sexes highlight developmental trends in motor skills, with raw scores increasing steadily across age groups. Boys consistently outperformed girls in object movement tasks, while girls excelled in self-movement tasks, particularly in grades 5 and 6. Notably, boys had increasing difficulty in achieving high scores with age, as seen in the changing percentile ranks for the same raw scores. In contrast, girls exhibited more stable development, maintaining or improving percentile ranks over time. This study provides the first normative data for BMC in Italian children, highlighting sex-based differences and developmental trajectories. The benchmarks offer a vital tool for educators and policymakers to design tailored interventions, supporting children's motor competence and promoting lifelong physical activity.

Athletes with patellar tendinopathy (PT) seem to have superior jumping performance compared to asymptomatic counterparts. However, previous studies have primarily assessed bilateral tasks which does not capture unilateral impairments. Hence, this study aimed to assess the patellar tendon properties and unilateral jump performance, and their associations in volleyball athletes with and without PT. Lower extremity injury assessment, patellar tendon properties using shear wave (SW) elastography and comprehensive jump performance analysis were performed. From 27 athletes (16 females) included in the study, 13 had unilateral PT. Three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate the influence of PT. Differences between asymptomatic and symptomatic athletes were examined using simple contrasts. Moreover, we explored associations between patellar tendon properties and performance. Jump performance did not differ between or within asymptomatic and symptomatic athletes. In unilateral PT, the painful limb had lower SW velocity compared to the non-painful limb with a mean difference of −1.7 m × s⁻¹ (95% CI −3.32 to −0.013 m × s⁻¹) and compared to asymptomatic athletes −1.4 m × s⁻¹ (95% CI −2.59 to 0.20). Regardless of condition, patellar tendon cross sectional area (CSA) was negatively correlated with jump height in both sexes. In males, CSA correlated negatively with SW velocity (r = −0.55, p = 0.008), while in females, SW velocity was negatively correlated with countermovement jump unweighting duration (r = −0.45, p = 0.023) and peak braking phase power (r = −0.60, p = 0.001). Jumping performance was not different in volleyball athletes with unilateral PT from their asymptomatic counterparts. Athletes with inferior jumping performance had larger patellar tendon CSA while tendinopathic tendons had worse patellar tendon properties.

The present study explored acute responses of heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) metrics, incorporating the nonlinear index alpha 1 of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFAa1) during passive recovery, providing information about correlation properties of HR time series during the regulation of recovery processes. Recreationally active female (n = 13) and male (n = 13) participants participated. In a first session, a graded exercise test was conducted to determine peak HR (HR_PEAK) and peak oxygen consumption (VO_2PEAK). In a second and third session, participants completed an endurance training with moderate intensity (MOD) on a treadmill and an exergaming training with vigorous intensity (VIG), randomized and counterbalanced. Before and up to 45 min after the respective exercise sessions, RR-interval and hemodynamic measurements (peripheral systolic, SBP; diastolic blood pressure, DBP; and pulse wave velocity, PWV) were conducted. Internal load analysis of MOD versus VIG revealed significant differences and appropriate prescription of intensity domains during exercise (%HR_PEAK: ∼66% vs. 86% and %VO_2PEAK: ∼48% vs. 66%). The present data showed significant main effects of time, intensity, and their interaction for all RR-interval outcomes, PWV, and SBP. DFAa1 demonstrated a stronger correlated reorganization and overcompensation after VIG, with higher values and therefore increased correlation properties throughout the recovery process. The present data suggest that VIG transiently delays the recovery of cardiac parasympathetic activity and the normalization of correlation properties of HR time series. Regarding acute early and delayed recovery processes, higher correlation properties may reflect more order (less complexity) and interaction of involved physiological subsystems, supporting the assumption of increased systemic control to process the demands of higher exercise intensity.

The order of strength or ballistic exercises in complex training with similar movement patterns may affect performance outcomes. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether the order (random vs. progressive block) of ballistic exercise within a complex training protocol influences throwing performance and muscular strength in resistance-trained males. Twenty resistance-trained males (age: 21.1 ± 3.2 years; height: 177.1 ± 7.7 cm; and body mass: 76.6 ± 12.9 kg) with a minimum of 3 years of resistance training experience were randomly assigned to either a random-order, independent weight-order group (Rnd: e.g., 5,3, and 7 kg–7,3, and 5) or a blocked-order, progressive weights-order group (Blc: 3,5, and 7–3,5, and 7 kg) during medicine ball throwing. Subjects performed the training protocol three times per week for 4 weeks in addition to their normal training. Each training session included three repetitions of the bench press at 65% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM), followed by medicine ball throws for 10 sets. Both groups improved strength and throwing distance (p = 0.001). However, the Rnd group showed greater improvements (interaction effect) compared to the Blc group in 3 kg (p = 0.001; 52 VS. 115 cm) and 5 kg (p = 0.001; 32 VS. 95 cm), but not 7 kg throw distance (p = 0.10; 40 VS. 70 cm). These findings suggest that coaches and strength practitioners should consider performing ballistic exercises in random order rather than a progressive block ordering when designing complex training protocols as the unpredictable sequence appears to improve neuromuscular adaptations and translates more effectively to throwing performance.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 1-week block of moderate-intensity interval training (MIT) and high-intensity interval training (HIT) in well-trained cyclists. Cyclists (♀ = 1; ♂ = 21; maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O_2max) = 69.5 (6.0) mL·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹) performed both a MIT block involving 6 sessions over 7 days (5–7 × 10–14-min work intervals, rate of perceived exertion (RPE): 14.5 (0.3)) and a HIT block involving 5 sessions over 6 days (5 × 8.75-min with multiple short intervals, RPE: 17.1 (0.4)). Post-testing was performed after 6 days of active recovery, and blocks were separated by 2 months. Testing included 15-min maximal cycling power (PO_15min), 10 s maximal sprint power (PO_10sec), and power output at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol·L⁻¹ (PO_4mmol). Both the MIT and HIT block improved PO_15min (4.9 (8.7)% and 2.8 (5.3)%, respectively), with no difference between blocks (p = 0.44). MIT displayed greater improvement than HIT in PO_4mmol (4.5 (4.5)% vs. 2.1 (2.7)%, respectively, p = 0.03, moderate effect size (ES)), while HIT had a moderate ES compared to MIT for improvement in PO_10sec (1.5 (3.7)% vs. −1.5 (7.3)%, respectively), that was not significant (p = 0.08). No differences were observed between blocks in changes in V̇O_2max (p = 0.43) or measures of gross efficiency (p range = 0.43–0.79). However, MIT induced a larger increase in % of V̇O_2max at PO_4mmol compared to HIT (1.2 (3.4)%-points vs. −0.9 (2.5)%-points, respectively, p = 0.02, moderate ES). In conclusion, both a MIT block (lower work interval intensity but longer work duration) and a HIT block (higher work interval intensity but shorter work duration) can improve endurance performance determinants and PO_15min with some work intensity-specific adaptations.

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.