Group Of Athletes Research Articles

Random measurement and prediction errors limit the practical relevance of two velocity sensors to estimate the 1RM back squat.

While maximum strength diagnostics are applied in several sports and rehabilitative settings, dynamic strength capacity has been determined via the one-repetition maximum (1RM) testing for decades. Because the literature concerned several limitations, such as injury risk and limited practical applicability in large populations (e.g., athletic training groups), the strength prediction via the velocity profile has received increasing attention recently. Referring to relative reliability coefficients and inappropriate interpretation of agreement statistics, several previous recommendations neglected systematic and random measurement bias. This article explored the random measurement error arising from repeated testing (repeatability) and the agreement between two common sensors (vMaxPro and TENDO) within one repetition, using minimal velocity thresholds as well as the velocity = 0m/s method. Furthermore, agreement analyses were applied to the estimated and measured 1RM in 25 young elite male soccer athletes. The results reported repeatability values with an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.66-0.80, which was accompanied by mean absolute (percentage) errors (MAE and MAPE) of up to 0.04-0.22m/s and ≤7.5%. Agreement between the two sensors within one repetition showed a systematic lower velocity for the vMaxPro device than the Tendo, with ICCs ranging from 0.28 to 0.88, which were accompanied by an MAE/MAPE of ≤0.13m/s (11%). Almost all estimations systematically over/ underestimated the measured 1RM, with a random scattering between 4.12% and 71.6%, depending on the velocity threshold used. In agreement with most actual reviews, the presented results call for caution when using velocity profiles to estimate strength. Further approaches must be explored to minimize especially the random scattering.

Comparative kinematic analysis of high-speed treadmill vs. overground sprinting across athletic levels and sex.

This investigation aimed to dissect the kinematic differences in sprinting between high-speed treadmill and overground conditions, examining how these variations are influenced by the athlete's training status and biological sex. A total of 40 participants, 20 NCAA Division 1 sprinters and 20 recreational runners, performed a series of maximal sprints on a high-speed treadmill and on a standardized competition overground track. Sprinting kinematic variables such as stride length, stride frequency, contact time, and flight time were collected via photoelectric sensors. Maximal sprinting kinematics were analyzed by linear mixed-effects models, considering the impacts of sprinting environment (treadmill vs. overground), training level, and sex, with leg length as fixed factors and individual athletes as random effects. Statistical significance was set at a significance level of 0.05. The statistical analysis revealed that high-speed treadmill sprinting significantly affects all measured kinematic variables, leading to increased stride frequency and contact time. Elite sprinters demonstrated enhanced kinematic efficiency over recreational runners, characterized by increased stride length and frequency and reduced contact time. Sex-based kinematic distinctions also emerged, with male athletes exhibiting superior stride length and frequency compared to female athletes. Leg length significantly influenced stride frequency, and an interaction effect was observed for flight time between sprint type and athletic group. These findings elucidate the distinct biomechanical profiles across sprinting modalities and athlete demographics, emphasizing the need for sprint training customization. This study's insights offer a valuable reference for coaches and athletes to refine training and performance assessment in varied sprinting environments.

Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis and track and field jump performance across different specialties: Sex differences and electrode configuration.

The assessment of athletic performance using non-invasive methods has been a significant focus in research aimed at measuring physiological parameters. This study explores the application of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) among track and field athletes, with a focus on sex differences, electrode configuration, and the correlation between BIVA parameters and jump performances. This cross-sectional study involved 61 Italian track and field athletes: 31 females and 30 males (age: 21.4 ± 3.8; 21.1 ± 2.6 years; stature: 166.1 ± 6.1; 180.1 ± 5.0 cm; body mass: 57.4 ± 9.7; 72.5 ± 10.5 kg, respectively). Anthropometric measurements, bioelectrical impedance analysis, and athletic jump performance were conducted. The RXc graph, two-sample Hotelling's T2 test for BIVA, and one-way ANOVA for specialty comparisons were employed. Pearson and Spearman's tests evaluated the correlations between BIVA parameters and jump performance. Differences in bioimpedance values were observed between athlete groups. Lateral asymmetries were more pronounced in females. Correlations between BIVA and jump performance also varied by sex and electrode configuration, ranging from r = -0.072, p = 0.699-r = 0.555, p = 0.001 in females, and from r = 0.204, p = 0.281-r = 0.691, p = 0.001 in males. This study highlights the utility of BIVA in providing rapid and non-invasive assessments of body composition and its relationship with jump performance, considering variations in athlete sex and electrode configuration.

Identification of specific injury-related SNPs in high-level athletes of Arab origin: A pilot study

Valuable insights for preventing sports injuries in athletes have been achieved through advancements in genetics. This study aimed to determine the allelic frequency of distinct single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a group of high-level athletes of Arab origin and to explore whether any significant relationship exists between specific genotypes in the selected SNPs with the prevalence and severity of non-contact soft tissue injuries (NCSTIs) and stress fracture injuries (SFIs). A cohort of 30 Arab male adult athletes trained at the same Sports excellence Centre from various individual sports was recruited and genotyped for collagen type 5 alpha 1 (COL5A1) rs12722 and vitamin D receptor (VDR) rs10735810 variants. The injury data of participant athletes were collected over two training seasons and categorized according to the site and type (muscle, tendon, ligament, or stress fracture) and severity (mild, moderate, or severe). For the COL5A1 rs12722, the examined genotypes were not related to the NCSTIs occurrence, while for VDR rs10735810, the CT and TT genotypes showed a prevalence for increased stress fracture injuries (RR = 7.72; 95 % CI: 1.66–35.87; p = 0.011 and RR = 9.93; 95 % CI: 2.83–34.89; p < 0.001, respectively), and increased odds for severe stress fractures (OR = 10.91, 95 % CI: 1.34–126.92, p = 0.033). This pilot study indicates a possible association between specific genotypes in the examined polymorphisms and the prevalence and severity of NCSTIs and SFIs. Given the constraints of the small sample size in the current study, additional research is required to gain a comprehensive understanding of this specific population.

Systematic mapping review of player safety, sport science and clinical care in lacrosse

ObjectiveThe objective is to comprehensively classify the types, topics and populations represented in the published lacrosse literature.DesignMapping review. Protocol registration at Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/kz4e6).Data sources10 electronic databases were searched...

Longevity of Polish top-class athletes compared to other social elites and well-known people in the years 2001-2021.

The aim of this work is to initiate or revive a scientific discussion on the impact of professional life on the parameters of human lifespan. Presented analysis is based on 8578 Polish elite or well-known person who died in 2001-2021. The results of the conducted analysis indicate that in the case of men the highest values of the median age at death were characteristic of freelancers (median [Me] ± quartile deviation [QD] 85.5±8.5 years), followed by scientists and academic teachers of the biological and medical specialty (Me±QD 84.0±7.5 years) and officers of power structures (Me±QD 83.5±8.5 years). Subsequently, the highest value of the median age at death was recorded for social activists (Me±QD 83.0±9.5 years), clergy (Me±QD 82.0±7.5 years) and scientists and academic teachers of specialties other than biological and medical (Me±QD 82.0±8.0 years). Significantly, at the very end of this list are athletes (Me±QD 77.0±9.0 years). Nevertheless, the results of the analysis confirm that professional athletes are characterized by higher median age at death compared to the general population. Analysis made only within athletes group demonstrated that the parameters of lifespan of athletes of endurance disciplines (Me±QD 78.0±8.0 years) are the most favorable compared to athletes of other disciplines, in particular in compare to team sports athletes (Me±QD 75.0±10.0 years) or combat sports athletes (Me±QD 75.0±7.1 years). What is new and innovative in this paper is comparing the lifespan characteristics of athletes in comparison to widely represented group of other professions with higher socio-economic status. Unexpectedly, the lifespan of athletes occurred to be lower than for fast all other analyzed occupational groups, except mainly of entertainment musicians. Finally, the results presented in this paper emphasize the need to analyze the lifespan characteristics of athletes in a broader scope than only in relation to the general population. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2024;37(3):335-50.

Rationale and Design of the Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes Project.

Cardiac screening of elite athletes is widely recommended by Australasian sporting federations, but data are not structured to be shared. Data are lacking from underrepresented groups to inform ECG interpretation guidelines. The ARENA (Australasian Registry of Screening ECGs in National Athletes) project is a retrospective and prospective, multicenter, longitudinal, observational registry of athlete cardiac screening results and outcomes. The aim is to create a repository to improve our understanding of the diagnoses and outcomes of screening. Participating sports that conduct cardiac screening of athletes will contribute data. This includes an initial collection (retrospective data, waiver of consent) and future prospective data (opt-out consent). Data include sex, age, sport/event, screening date, ECG findings, cardiac test results, follow-up details, sport participation status, cardiac diagnoses, and major cardiovascular outcomes defined as sudden cardiac arrest/death, cardiac syncope or implanted cardioverter defibrillator shock, cardiac hospitalization, and arrhythmias requiring intervention. Comparisons will be made between diagnoses, outcomes, and ECG features and analyzed by sport and sex. The ARENA project was developed in collaboration with sporting bodies, team physicians, and players association representatives and endorsed by the Australasian College of Sport & Exercise Physicians and Sports Medicine Australia. The ARENA project will provide a long-term international data repository to improve our understanding of ECG interpretation, cardiac screening and diagnoses, and the prevalence of cardiovascular outcomes in screened athletes. A unique aim is to address evidence gaps in underrepresented athlete groups, specifically female athletes and Indigenous populations. Results will inform screening policies and guidelines.

Circulating miRNA Signaling for Fatty Acid Metabolism in Response to a Maximum Endurance Test in Elite Long-Distance Runners.

Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) is a determining indicator for cardiorespiratory capacity in endurance athletes, and epigenetics is crucial in its levels and variability. This initial study examined a broad plasma miRNA profile of twenty-three trained elite endurance athletes with similar training volumes but different VO2max in response to an acute maximal graded endurance test. Six were clustered as higher/lower levels based on their VO2max (75.4 ± 0.9 and 60.1 ± 5.0 mL.kg-1.min-1). Plasma was obtained from athletes before and after the test and 15 ng of total RNA was extracted and detected using an SYBR-based 1113 miRNA RT-qPCR panel. A total of 51 miRNAs were differentially expressed among group comparisons. Relative amounts of miRNA showed a clustering behavior among groups regarding distinct performance/time points. Significantly expressed miRNAs were used to perform functional bioinformatic analysis (DIANA tools). Fatty acid metabolism pathways were strongly targeted for the significantly different miRNAs in all performance groups and time points (p < 0.001). Although this pathway does not solely determine endurance performance, their significant contribution is certainly achieved through the involvement of miRNAs. A highly genetically dependent gold standard variable for performance evaluation in a homogeneous group of elite athletes allowed genetic/epigenetic aspects related to fatty acid pathways to emerge.

Alpha Neurofeedback Training in Elite Soccer Players Trained in Groups.

Neurofeedback training is applied in the world of sports as a means to improve athletes' performance. Training sessions are usually organized on an individual basis, one at a time. Here we investigated if the training could also be organized in groups. Forty-one national-level football (soccer) players (26 females, 15 males) carried out training sessions simultaneously in groups of up to 13, using a wearable device with Bluetooth connection, during their regular training hours at the club. It was possible to obtain good EEG measurements using this setup, albeit with a somewhat higher data loss than usual in standard laboratory sessions. The brain's alpha activity was trained using music-based neurofeedback in a crossover design. A training session consisted of alternating periods of neurofeedback and execution of cognitive tasks. EEG alpha (8-12Hz) activity was higher in the neurofeedback periods compared to the cognitive task periods, and the reverse was true for beta (13-30Hz) activity. The training program resulted in an increase of 34% in alpha activity associated with the training, and improved the athletes' performance on task switching and mental rotation tasks. In addition, self-reported sleep duration, as well as scores on the Being in Shape questionnaire (Feeling of Control and Flow) also improved. This study shows that neurofeedback training is feasible in groups of athletes, which can stimulate its application in team sports.

Interrelationships between stress, eating attitudes, and metabolism in endurance athletes across a competitive season.

A competitive sport season represents a multidimensional stressor where physical and psychological stress may render an athlete susceptible to energy deficiency (ED). Downstream effects of ED can include a reduction in measured-to-predicted resting metabolic rate (RMRratio), indicating metabolic compensation. A pathway linking stress, eating attitudes, and metabolic compensation has not been explored. To test if sport-specific stress is associated with eating attitudes and metabolism in endurance athletes (18-22years) at different phases of a competitive season, we assessed two groups of athletes: 26 swimmers (15 female and 11 male) during peak season (PEAK), and 26 runners (female) across pre- (PRE) and off-season (OFF). Stress (RESTQ-52), eating attitudes (cognitive restraint (CR), drive for muscularity (DM), and body dissatisfaction), and metabolism (RMRratio) were assessed. In PRE, sport-specific stress and CR were negatively correlated with RMRratio (R = -0.58; p<0.05, and R = -0.57; p<0.05, respectively). In PEAK, sport-specific stress and DM were negatively correlated with RMRratio (R = -0.64; p<0.05; R = -0.40; p<0.05, respectively). DM was positively related to sport-specific stress (R=0.55; p<0.05). During OFF, there was no relation between RMRratio and sport-specific stress. In runners, there was a change in stress from PRE-to-OFF with highest reported stress during PRE (p<0.05) versus OFF. Regression analyses revealed that sport-specific stress and CR were significant predictors of RMRratio during PRE and PEAK (p<0.05), but not OFF (p>0.05). Associations between stress, eating attitudes, and metabolic compensation in endurance athletes during PRE and PEAK season suggest that during heavier training, metabolic compensation may be linked to upstream eating attitudes associated with sport-stressors.

Creating a postgraduate syllabus for a team care diploma examination: a Delphi study

ObjectivesThere is no agreed standard assessment of the minimum knowledge and skills that are required to provide healthcare to participants in individual or team sports. This study aims to develop...

Factors That Impact Time to Athletic Trainer Evaluation Following Acute Injury Among Secondary School Athletes: A Report from the Athletic Trainin Practice-Based Research Network.

Immediate athletic trainer (AT) availability for acute injuries is essential as worse long-term outcomes are associated with delays in receiving medical care. Several factors have been found to influence AT availability between secondary schools, but few studies have evaluated how medical coverage varies between athlete groups. The purpose of this project was to identify factors that impact the time to AT evaluation following acute sport-related injury in secondary school setting. Cross-Sectional Study. Retrospective analysis of de-identified patient records via the Athletic Training Practice-Based Research Network. High school athletes diagnosed with an acute sport related injury during in-season play from 2010-2023. Time to AT evaluation was measured as the number of days between injury onset, reported by the patient, to AT evaluation. This report consists of 17,354 patient cases representing 20 different sports. Overall, 46.9% (n=8,138) of patients who sustained an injury during in-season play were evaluated by an AT the same day (range=0-14days). Significant group differences were reported for sex (p <. 001), setting (p <. 001), and sport level (p < .01), with females and in-game injuries associated with longer times to AT evaluation. Freshmen were evaluated sooner than JV (p < .01) and varsity (p < .001) athletes. No difference was observed between JV and varsity athletes (p=0.34). Almost half of patients received medical care within 24 hours following an acute injury during in-season play, highlighting how qualified health care is accessible for many student athletes through ATs in the secondary school setting. Differences in time to AT evaluation may be attributable to sex discrepancies in immediate medical coverage between sports and injury reporting patterns among athletes.

Motivational determinants of athletes’ self-realisation depending on their professional qualification

BackgroundIn the contemporary era, there is a growing emphasis on understanding the self-realization of personality, encompassing individual-psychological traits, abilities, knowledge, skills, and motivation, extensively studied in psychology. Notably, limited attention has been given to exploring motivational determinants influencing athlete self-realization based on their professional qualifications. This gap is particularly pertinent in Kazakhstan, where significant efforts are directed towards athlete preparation.MethodsEmploying a systemic approach by Bagadirova and Kudinov, the study views athlete self-realization as a multi-level phenomenon with interconnected components. A total of 180 athletes participated, including 60 professionals (average age 23.9), 60 amateurs (average age 31.1), and 60 Paralympians (average age 24.4). The methodological toolkit comprises four diagnostic techniques: E.A. Kalinin’s “Motives of Sports Activities” (MSA) questionnaire, S. Maddi’s resilience test adapted by D.A. Leontiev and E.I. Rasskazova, and S.I. Kudinov’s multidimensional questionnaire on self-realization.ResultsSignificant differences in motivational determinants and self-realization attitudes emerge across athlete groups based on their sports qualifications. Noteworthy aspects include declining in motivation among professional athletes of masters of sports and masters of sports of international class, and rigidity in life resilience among Paralympic athletes. Overall, self-realization levels are not high, with extremely low levels of professional self-realization in all three athlete categories.ConclusionsThe study’s scientific novelty lies in systematically organizing knowledge on fundamental motivational determinants impacting athlete self-realization according to professional qualifications. This research addresses the acute shortage of psychological studies in sports psychology for Kazakhstan, which is still in its early stages. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions by coaches and sports psychologists to enhance motivation levels, especially among elite athletes, and foster resilience, particularly in Paralympic athletes, ultimately advancing the field in the country.

The state of the biogeometric profile of the posture of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat as a prerequisite for the development of corrective and preventive measures

Purpose: The purpose of the presented scientific research was, on the basis of somatoscopic indicators, to substantiate the biological prerequisites for the introduction of corrective and preventive measures into the educational and training process of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat. Material and Methods: The scientific study involved 150 athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat, aged 8–14 years. The problems identified during the study were solved using generally accepted methods: theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the chosen research topic; the Torso program was used to determine the types of posture, visual screening of the state of the biogeometric profile of the posture of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat included a focus on the tribal system and the use of a method for comparing individual posture on a photogram and methods of mathematical statistics. Results: It has been established that poor posture of various types is common among athletes aged 8-14 years, specializing in hand-to-hand combat, covering a contingent of 46.7 to 60% in different age groups. Based on the results of screening the biogeometric profile of posture of an experimental contingent of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat, a general tendency was traced to a decrease in the average values of the number of points at high and medium levels of the state of the biogeometric profile of posture of martial arts athletes with normal posture, and at low and medium levels - the state of the biogeometric profile of the posture of athletes with a stooped back, flat back, round back and scoliotic posture. In addition, a generalized examination of these results showed that some of the tested athletes who had a normal type of posture received the same scores (from 19 to 21 points) as those who had a certain type of posture disorder. We define the risk zone as the zone of overlap of assessments of the level of the biogeometric profile of posture, although theoretically it may appear wider if it is determined by values below the center of the distribution for athletes with normal posture. Since the distribution of all three indicators according to the test data in the group of athletes with normal posture and with various types of musculoskeletal disorders does not correspond to Gauss’s law, its center was determined by the median, which in this case was equal to 22 points. Conclusions: Understanding the findings and results of a wide range of scientific studies reveals the recent intensification of the dynamics of the occurrence of deviations in the state of posture of young athletes. Scientists are convinced that monitoring the state of athletes’ posture will make it possible to control the effect of physical exercise on the musculoskeletal system of young athletes and minimize the risk of injury. In the course of the study, the features of the biomechanics of posture of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat were determined. Differences (at the level of trends) between athletes of all ages have been identified, which indicate a certain deterioration in the state of the biogeometric profile of posture with increasing age, but such differences have not received statistical confirmation. The theoretical and practical aspects of the scientific work presented above will be the basis for the theoretical substantiation of the biological prerequisites for the introduction of corrective and preventive measures into the educational and training process of young athletes specializing in hand-to-hand combat.

Pupil light reflex in young elite athletes: autonomic nervous system activity and viscoelastic properties.

Introduction: The pupil light reflex (photomotor reflex) has a duration of 3.5s and is a highly reproducible measurement. Conventionally, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity evaluated by this reflex does not consider the viscoelasticity of the iris muscles. This study aims to detect differences in reflex autonomic activity in a supine position with parameters derived from the Kelvin-Voigt viscoelastic model in two distinct groups of elite athletes. Method: Groups formed using a dendrogram analysis based on basal autonomic activity assessed with heart rate variability. Heart rate variability was measured, and the photomotor reflex was modeled. Results: The model showed a high degree of adjustment to the photomotor reflex (r2 = 0.99 ± 0.01). The impulse 3, an indicator of reflex sympathetic activity, revealed a significantly higher activity (ρ ≤ 0.05) in the [sympa/para]+ group compared to the [sympa/para]⁻ group. This result was further supported by a greater relative total redilation amplitude (ρ ≤ 0.05) and a shorter duration of 75% redilation (ρ ≤ 0.01). Finally, the relative total redilation amplitude exhibited a significant correlation with the linear stiffness constant (ρ ≤ 0.001) and the maximum redilation speed with restoring force (ρ ≤ 0.001). Discussion: These results indicate that (i) the photomotor reflex can detect an alteration of the reflex autonomic activity specific to each of the two branches of the ANS (ii) the viscoelastic properties of the iris muscles play a significant role in the energy storage-restitution mechanisms during the photomotor reflex. This approach could allow athletes to benefit from reduced time spent in the analysis of ANS activity, potentially making it an almost daily and automated process.

Effects of training load on heart rate variability and blood pressure in track and field athletes and skiers

BACKGROUND: Adaptation of human body to the harsh conditions of the European North remains a topic of ongoing interest, despite numerous studies on the subject. There is a need to study population groups whose daily activities involve physical activity in extreme northern conditions. One such group includes athletes who participate in endurance sports. For athletes engaged in cyclical sports, competitive activities becomes can be particularly demanding, requiring sustained physical exertion and maximum power generation. Training and competing in harsh conditions place significant strain on the body’s cardiovascular regulation mechanisms. Over time, this may result in detrimental structural and biochemical changes in the cardiovascular system. AIM: To identify the patterns of changes in heart rate regulation among track and field athletes and skiers after a training load. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Athletes from the Arkhangelsk region, including skiers and track and field athletes in the mass sports categories, who regularly compete in regional events, took part in the study. The studies took place in the medical offices of sports complexes, where the UPFT-1/30“Psychophysiologist” device was used to record and analyze cardiointervalograms. Blood pressure was recorded before and after training sessions using the Criticare System 8100H monitor. RESULTS: The initial variational span (VR) values of the duration of cardio intervals before exercise were slightly lower than the reference values in both the group of skiers and the group of athletes. At the same time, the mean square deviation (SD) values initially fell within normal range. Following the training load, both groups experienced a statistically significant decrease in SD and VR values, falling below the lower limit of the permissible range. Furthermore, spectral analysis of the cardiac intervals before exercise indicated a high level of neurohumoral regulation. After exercise, there was a statistically significant decrease in the initial values of TP in both groups, aligning with the average level of neurohumoral regulation. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in track and field athletes with a predominant anaerobic training load and skiers with a predominant aerobic load suggest that the training load of a predominantly aerobic nature may lead to less pronounced stress on the regulatory systems. This hypothesis was further supported by the results of the changes in blood pressure.

Influence of the Type of Physical Training on the Physical Fitness of Army Cadets.

Military Physical Training programs represent a constant challenge for the Armed Forces to improve body composition indices and physical fitness levels. This study aimed to verify the influence of the type of training on the physical fitness and body composition of army cadets, using 2 strategies: a sports program (Athletes group) and conventional physical training (Traditional group). This study involved new entrant male cadets who were selected for the Athletes group (n = 243, 19.08 ± 1.23 years) or the Traditional group (n = 356, 18.89 ± 0.97 years), with assessments occurring before and after the period of training (31.4 ± 3.9 weeks). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to measure the bone mineral content (BMC), fat mass (FM), percentage of fat mass (%FM), and lean soft tissue (LST). The physical tests evaluated the 3,000 m run (RUN), 50 m swim (SWIM), pull-ups (PULL) on the horizontal bar, push-ups (PUSH) on the ground, and abdominal flexion (SITUP). Time × group interaction effects were observed for BMC (P < .001), LST (P < .023), RUN (P < .001), PULL (P = .006), PUSH (P < .001), SITUP (P = .007), and SWIM (P < .001). A significant effect of time was noted for all variables analyzed in both groups, except %FM. The Athletes group achieved better results in body composition and in PULL, PUSH, RUN, and SWIM at baseline and after the training period. The Traditional group demonstrated higher relative changes (%) after the training period in the LST (P = .001), PULL (P < .001), PUSH (P < .001), SITUP (P < .004), and SWIM (P < .001) compared to the Athletes group. Both physical training programs improved body composition and physical performance.

The Effect of Plyometric Training on Biomotoric Characteristics of 10-13 Age Taekwondo Athletes

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of plyometric training on the biomotoric characteristics of 10-12-year-old taekwondo athletes. The control group of taekwondo athletes in the 10-13 age category in Isparta province, 5 male, 7 female, total 12, and the experimental group of 7 male, 6 female, total 13 competitive athletes participated in the study by obtaining 'parental information and consent form'. The experimental group in the study received regular plyometric training in addition to routine taekwondo training for 8 weeks, while the control group continued their routine taekwondo training programs. In the study, pre-test measurements were taken before the athletes started their training programs and post-test measurements were taken after the 8th week of the training programs were completed. Height and body weight measurements, BMI measurements, jump test, filamingo balance test, sit-reach-extend flexibility test, right and left hand grip test, leg strength test, back strength test, 20 meter sprint test and 20 meter shuttle run (Max.VO2) tests were applied to the athletes. Statistical package program was used to evaluate the statistical analyses of the study. In our study, age and gender frequency values and descriptive statistics values of age, height, weight, BMI and sport age of taekwondo athletes in the control group and experimental group were presented in tables. Paired Samples t-Tests were used to compare the pre-test and post-test values of weight, BMI, and biomotoric measurement test values of taekwondo athletes within groups, and One-Way ANOVA tests were used to compare the pre-test and post-test values between groups. As a result, it was determined that plyometric training with a taekwondo theme caused a significant improvement in the physical and biomotoric characteristics of the athletes. In this regard, it is believed that the training and competition performances of the athletes will also improve at a certain level.

Do high-risk head trauma sports athletes have impaired vestibular function?

PurposeThe primary aim of this study was to examine the vestibular function of athletes involved in high-risk head trauma sports by means of complete vHIT testing of all six semicircular canals (SCCs). The secondary objective was to investigate whether the vestibular function is significantly reduced among athletes within certain high-risk sports. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study of 137 adult athletes in football, handball, boxing, horseback riding, and ice hockey with a minimum of one reported sports-related head injury within the past five years. All subjects underwent screening with a complete examination of all six SCCs with vHIT and fulfillment of the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI). ResultsTwo subjects (1.5 %) fulfilled the criteria of having a pathological vHIT. Some degree of impairment of the vestibular function was seen when data was divided into individual sports and time since the last head injury. Likewise, no subjective dizziness was seen in the group of athletes when evaluated by total DHI scores. This score did not differ significantly between groups when subgrouped into number of head injuries or time since the last head injury. When divided into type of sport, total DHI scores differed significantly between groups. These total DHI-scores did, however, all fall within the range of the “no dizziness handicap” classification. ConclusionThe results suggest that the vestibular function of athletes in high-risk head trauma sports is unaffected by the practice of a high-risk head trauma sport. Therefore, vHIT has no clinical utility in the assessment of a sports-related concussion (SRC) in athletes with no subjective feeling of dizziness.

Characteristics of the participants in mass sporting events in Vietnam

This study aimed to examine the characteristics of athletes and spectators at mass sports competitions, focusing on aspects such as quantity, age, gender, educational level, occupation, and income to provide a comprehensive demographic overview. The study employed a sociological survey method, sampling 10 localities out of 63 provinces and cities across Vietnam. The survey included 520 spectators (Group 1) and 220 athletes (Group 2), resulting in a total sample size of 740 participants. The results are illustrated using graphical representations. The majority of spectators at mass sport events are aged 23 to under 60, whereas athletes show a more even age distribution, indicating lower student participation in spectating. Men significantly outnumber women. Most participants hold high school or university degrees, with the largest group being unskilled workers. Students, freelancers, and retirees are more evenly distributed. Professional field participants make up 35.5% of the total. Income-wise, most participants are middle to high-income earners, with nearly half earning between 5 and 10 million VND per month, and 42.3% earning over 10 million VND. Low-income and very high-income individuals are mostly spectators, while medium to high-income individuals are more likely to be athletes.