Athletic Events Research Articles

PAIN AND CATASTROPHIZING LEVELS IN TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES ACCORDING TO THEIR EVENT SPECIALIZATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

This study examined pain and catastrophizing in 124 track and field athletes, considering training characteristics and sex. Due to high physical demands, athletes often cope with pain, though its impact on performance was previously unexamined. During the preseason, 124 athletes responded an anonymous questionnaire to collect information about their socio-demographic (sex, age) and sports characteristics (volume training, event specialization, sport experience). Also, they informed about current pain (from 0 to 10 level, and location), and replied to the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS). Injuries from the previous season were also collected. From all participants, 35 athletes (28.2%) had current pain, mainly in the knee (18.6%) and ankle (16.3%), with higher prevalence in explosive event athletes (p = 0.041). Athletes with pain had higher training volumes (p = 0.007) and PCS values (p < 0.001). The average catastrophizing level was 14.52 ± 9.85 points, correlating with pain (r = 0.36, p < 0.001) and age (r = 0.25, p = 0.006). Female athletes reported higher helplessness scores than males (p = 0.011). In conclusion, one third of athletes affirmed to have pain, mainly in knee and ankle. Athletes specialized in explosive events seems to experience more current pain than endurance. Furthermore, volume of training could facilitate pain existence. Catastrophizing was related with age and pain, regardless the athletic event. Also, female athletes had higher values of helplessness than male athletes.

Differences of simulated ankle dorsiflexion limitation on lower extremity biomechanics during long jump takeoff.

The long jump is an athletic event that demands speed, power, force application, and balance, with each phase being critical to overall performance. However, previous research has neglected the limiting effect of the wedge pedals on ankle dorsiflexion range of motion. This cross-sectional study investigated biomechanical changes in the lower extremities during long jumps under varying degrees of ankle dorsiflexion. Thirty male Division II long jump athletes executed jumps under three conditions: no dorsiflexion, with 10° dorsiflexion restriction, and with 20° dorsiflexion restriction. A Vicon motion capture system with eight cameras and an AMTI force platform were used to collect biomechanical data simultaneously during the long jump. The angles, moments, and velocities of the ankle, hip, and knee joints during takeoff were simulated and calculated using a musculoskeletal model. Between-group variations were assessed using one-way repeated measures ANOVA, with statistical parametric mapping (SPM1D) applied for analysis. Results showed that as ankle restriction increased, vertical velocity gain increased: NW (3.34±0.21m/s), 10W (3.65±0.14m/s), and 20W (3.77±0.12m/s) (p<0.001). Horizontal velocity loss was significantly higher only at 20W (p=0.002). Peak extension angle, angular velocity, and power were highest at 10W for the knee and hip joints (p<0.05). Joint forces at the ankle, knee, and hip were significantly affected by different pedal angles (p<0.001). Athletes with a 10° ankle dorsiflexion limit showed increased vertical velocity with minimal horizontal velocity loss, potentially enhancing performance. This limit also increased muscle co-activation around the knee, possibly stabilizing it. Athletes should consider a 10° ankle dorsiflexion limit in training to improve performance and reduce injury risk.

Evidence on sex differences in sports performance.

Sex differences in sports performances continue to attract considerable scientific and public attention, driven in part by high profile cases of: 1) biological male (XY) athletes who seek to compete in the female category after gender transition, and 2) XY athletes with medical syndromes collectively known as disorders or differences of sex development (DSDs). In this perspective, we highlight scientific evidence that informs eligibility criteria and applicable regulations for sex categories in sports. There are profound sex differences in human performance in athletic events determined by strength, speed, power, endurance, and body size such that males outperform females. These sex differences in athletic performance exist before puberty and increase dramatically as puberty progresses. The profound sex differences in sports performance are primarily attributable to the direct and indirect effects of sex-steroid hormones and provide a compelling framework to consider for policy decisions to safeguard fairness and inclusion in sports.

Athletes vs. Musicians: Perceptions and Preferences in Workplace Social Programs

ABSTRACTThis paper investigates the intrinsic preferences for athletic versus musical events in the context of workplace social programs and explores the differing outcomes these events are perceived to generate. Empirical evidence consistently shows that individuals with athletic backgrounds are favoured in the job market, receiving better wages and benefits than their nonathlete counterparts because of stereotypes about their managerial qualities, stress handling and team spirit. In contrast, music participation is often undervalued, with musicians facing wage disparities and discrimination despite the cognitive and emotional benefits associated with music playing and listening. Through a vignette study, this research identifies that participants prefer athletes for events aimed at team cohesion and musicians for events designed to enhance creative skills. The findings highlight a type of job market discrimination based on preferences for workplace programs, emphasizing the role of stereotypes in shaping these preferences. The study contributes to the understanding of how workplace social programs are designed and the underlying biases that influence these decisions, offering insights into the mechanisms of job market discrimination and the potential for more inclusive program design that recognizes the value of both athletic and musical participation.

Political tools or ‘supercrips’? Civilian interpretation of wounded veterans at the Canada army run

ABSTRACT The figure of the wounded veteran is a significant problem for the state as visual wounds make manifest the toll of war. If not appropriately mediated, veteran injury may communicate to the public that the cost of war is too high. The state and media organizations working on its behalf thus manage mediated representations in ways that rehabilitate the wounded veteran, communicating narratives of redemption, hope, and overcoming. Significant work has critiqued the political work of mediated depictions of wounded veteran-athletes at events like the Invictus Games and Paralympics, but little work has explored civilian responses. This paper explores civilian responses to the presence of wounded veterans at a military-themed amateur athletic event, the Canada Army Run, as determined through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 40 event participants. Though wounded veteran-athletes comprise a tiny minority of Army Run participants, their presence captures the imagination of many civilian runners. Analysing civilian participants’ interpretation of wounded veteran-athletes allows for insight into the degree to which rehabilitative discourses dominating media depiction of wounded veterans at the Invictus Games and Paralympics has permeated the popular imaginary. I found that while veteran injury was often taken for granted as inevitable, veterans’ wounds generated significant support for servicepeople specifically, and to a lesser extent the Canadian Armed Forces at large. However, affects of sympathy and support did not preclude critique of veteran treatment by the state, demonstrating that even at explicitly pro-military events space for dissent is possible.

Pregaming normalizes culture of drinking, drug use

Pregaming, tailgating, or other party activities revolving around alcohol before athletic events on college campuses can have dire and long‐lasting effects on students, according to a recent study from Texas A&amp;M University.

Pregaming normalizes culture of drinking, drug use

Pregaming, tailgating, or other party activities revolving around alcohol before athletic events on college campuses can have dire and long‐lasting effects on students, according to a recent study from Texas A&amp;M University.

Briefs

Pro‐Palestine walkouts, protests continue on campus Man charged with stalking female UConn basketball player University cancels athletics events after racist threats target Haitian community University pays faculty member after harassment claim

Emergency Action Planning in United States High Schools.

Rates of emergency action plan (EAP) implementation and compliance with EAP guidelines vary in United States secondary schools. There are limited data on emergency preparedness in schools without athletic trainers (ATs). Rural and high poverty schools have poor emergency preparedness for high school athletic events due to financial barriers and lack of ATs. Cross-sectional study. Level 5. A web-based questionnaire was emailed by each State High School Athletics Association to ATs, athletic directors, and coaches of recipient schools to assess emergency preparedness. A total of 686 responses were received (response rate ~3.5%). Schools with an AT on staff were more likely to have an EAP (P < 0.01). Schools with a higher enrollment were more likely to have an EAP (P < 0.01), an AT on staff (P < 0.01), require additional training for coaches (P < 0.01), and have an automated external defibrillator (AED) onsite for all events (P < 0.01). Urban (odds ratio [OR], 3.514; 95% CI [2.242, 5.507]; P < 0.01) and suburban (OR, 4.950; 95% CI [3.287, 7.454]; P < 0.01) districts were more likely than rural districts to have an AT on staff. High poverty districts were less likely to have an AED (OR, 0.660; 95% CI [0.452, 0.964]; P = 0.03) or EAP (OR, 0.511; 95% CI [0.306, 0.853]; P < 0.01) at athletic venues. Lower enrollment, high poverty, and rural schools are less prepared for athletic emergencies than their higher enrollment, low poverty, and suburban counterparts as these schools are generally less likely to have an AT on staff, AEDs, and EAPs and less likely to provide additional training to coaches and other staff. This study assesses athletic emergency preparedness-a critical component of ensuring athlete safety and recovery after injury.

Analyzing the Interplay Between Competition State Anxiety, Motor Motivation, and Coping Styles Among Adolescent Track and Field Athletes

The relationship between competition state anxiety, motor motivation and coping styles of adolescent track and field athletes in China was investigated using interview and questionnaire research methods. The results showed that the mean scores of cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety were lower in junior track and field athletes who had entered the echelon for a short period of time than in older athletes, and the opposite was true for state self-confidence; there were highly significant differences and significant differences in the identity regulation and introjection regulation dimensions of motor motivation; and there were significant differences in the focused problem-solving coping dimension of coping style. This paper proposes an algorithm for classifying athletic visual mirrors based on sequential model mining. This paper focuses on two issues – feature extraction and definition of semantic rules. In the feature extraction stage, the track and field video footage is automatically segmented into a series of identifiable sequences of athletic events, and then each type of behavioral event is identified using a mechanically learned algorithm. There were no significant differences between the three age groups in terms of race state anxiety, identity regulation and introjection regulation, and no significant differences in coping styles. There were no significant differences in the anxiety of competition status, motivation and coping styles among youth athletes of different sport levels. The results showed the effectiveness of the present algorithm for classifying track and field video cameras.

USING THE BACKFIX METHOD TO REHABILITATE ATHLETES’ INJURY IN TRIPLE JUMP – A CASE STUDY

The triple jump is a complex athletic event where performance relies on a combination of speed, strength, and advanced technique in executing the three phases that form the biomechanics of the event. Due to the specific forces exerted on the athlete's musculoskeletal system, along with potential weaknesses in physical training, athletes are at risk of injury. This case study presents the original approach used to rehabilitate and prevent new injuries usually experienced by the Romanian athlete G.R.C., a 25-year-old European junior vice-champion in the triple jump. He sought treatment at the MediSport SRL clinic for multiple chronic and acute injuries that were limiting his performance. Comprehensive clinical and functional evaluations revealed all these limitations, prompting an integrated approach to his rehabilitation and training program. After the kinesitherapy program consisting of 18 sessions focused on functional musculoskeletal balancing using an electronic dynamometer, a key component of the BackFix system and method, important improvements were observed in core stability, static balance, and posture. Additionally, muscle strength in the previously deficient areas increased, pain disappeared in all affected regions, and recovery time after competitive effort improved, laying the foundation for optimal performance in the 2024 summer season. The successful use of the BackFix method leads us to recommend it as an alternative to other traditional training and recovery methods, while also encouraging further research into its application in the triple jump and other sports branches.

War as a game: the pleasurable and playful aspects of the Italian Arditi’s military experiences in the First World War

This article proposes that several First World War Italian shock troops known as Arditi were strongly influenced in their wartime combat activities by fun and play. Even before becoming stormtroopers, various soldiers were guided by a tendency to see the Great War as ludic or athletic event. Such proclivity stemmed from these servicemen’s distinctive political cultures and ideologies. As a result of their viewpoints, these servicemen had already fought intensely in the initial stages of their military service. Additionally, the Italian army vastly increased the combat effectiveness and violent tendencies of recruits to the Arditi corps by making recourse to fun and play while training these prospective stormtroopers. An intense sports-based drilling regimen improved soldiers’ physical agility, while also nurturing their instinctive hostile behaviour. This article shows how Italian soldiers’ cultural and ideological milieus and military drilling increased their fighting power, including their propensity to enact violence against enemies.

Pregaming normalizes culture of drinking, drug use

Pregaming, tailgating, or other party activities revolving around alcohol before athletic events on college campuses can have dire and long‐lasting effects on students, according to a recent study from Texas A&amp;M University.

Sex-Specific Differences in Cardiovascular Adaptations and Risks in Elite Athletes: Bridging the Gap in Sports Cardiology.

The growing participation of women in competitive sports necessitates a comprehensive understanding of sex-specific cardiovascular adaptations and risks. Historically, research has predominantly focused on male athletes, leaving a gap in knowledge about the unique cardiovascular dynamics of female peers. we hypothesized that female athletes exhibit distinct cardiovascular adaptations and face different risks, influenced by physiological, hormonal, and structural differences. A systematic review of the literature was conducted, analyzing studies on cardiovascular responses and adaptations in athletes. Data were extracted on hemodynamic changes, autonomic and neural reflex regulation, cardiac remodeling, and arrhythmias. Comparative analyses were performed to identify sex-specific patterns and discrepancies in cardiovascular health outcomes. We revealed considerable sex differences in cardiovascular adaptations to athletic training. Female athletes generally have longer QT intervals, greater sinoatrial node automaticity, and enhanced atrioventricular node function compared to males. They also exhibit lower sympathetic activity, lower maximal stroke volumes, and a tendency toward eccentric cardiac remodeling. Conversely, male athletes are more prone to concentric hypertrophy and higher incidences of bradyarrhythmia and accessory pathway arrhythmias. Female athletes are more likely to experience symptomatic atrial fibrillation and face higher procedural complications during catheter ablation. Our findings underscore the necessity for sex-specific approaches in sports cardiology. Recognizing and addressing these differences could enhance performance and reduce adverse cardiac events in athletes. Future research should focus on developing tailored screening, prevention, and treatment strategies to bridge the knowledge gap and promote cardiovascular health in both male and female athletes.

Assessing the Impact of the 2017 Tax Reform on College Athletic Donations Related to Ticket Sales

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 affected many traditional tax deductions for a variety of organizations. One that went under the radar for many, except those in the college sport ecosystem, was the removal of a deduction for donations related to college sport ticket sales. Developed from the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, IRC §170(l) provided individual taxpayers the ability to claim 80% of the amount paid over the value of tickets to college athletic events as a charitable contribution. TCJA eliminated this itemized deduction, which concerned several university athletic directors about the long-term effects of this change on their program’s revenue generation. This article assesses the history of the development and application of IRC §170(l) and determines whether these contributions should have been allowed as a charitable deduction overall. The article also examines the impact of IRC §170(l) after TCJA’s implementation, finding the athletic directors’ collective feared impact of reduced contribution revenues was not significant based on available data. Donors appear motivated by more than just the tax benefit, and the removal of the deduction did little to affect overall contributions.

Effects of pacing strategy on metabolic responses to 2-min intense exercise in Thoroughbred horses

Evidence suggests that positive pacing strategy improves exercise performance and fatigue tolerance in athletic events lasting 1–5 min. This study investigated muscle metabolic responses to positive and negative pacing strategies in Thoroughbred horses. Eight Thoroughbred horses performed 2 min treadmill running using positive (1 min at 110% maximal O2 uptake [V̇O2max], followed by 1 min at 90% V̇O2max) and negative (1 min at 90% V̇O2max, followed by 1 min at 110% V̇O2max) pacing strategies. The arterial-mixed venous O2 difference did not significantly differ between the two strategies. Plasma lactate levels increased toward 2 min, with significantly higher concentrations during positive pacing than during negative pacing. Muscle glycogen level was significantly lower at 1 and 2 min of positive pacing than those of negative pacing. Metabolomic analysis showed that the sum of glycolytic intermediates increased during the first half of positive pacing and the second half of negative pacing. Regardless of pacing strategy, the sum of tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites increased during the first half but remained unchanged thereafter. Our data suggest that positive pacing strategy is likely to activate glycolytic metabolism to a greater extent compared to negative pacing, even though the total workload is identical.

Determining factors of performance in middle/long distance events in university athletics

Determining factors of performance in middle/long distance events in university athletics

The effect of overlapping the two exercise styles accompanied by scheduling the distributed random practice for learning and retention on the technical performance of the discus throw

The educational process, in its modern sense, aims to involve the student in the vocabulary of its curricula and in its practical applications, and to give him the opportunity to participate in making teaching decisions according to Muston’s methods, and to contribute to teaching behavioral decisions from the minimum to the maximum, and to have better access to effective teaching, as well as developing methods. Learning exercises are organized and scheduled to suit the learners’ abilities, and their objectives are consistent with the objectives of the chosen teaching methods. In order to address the problem, the researchers resorted to organizing rest periods between practice periods using random exercise and interfering with distributed exercise for the purpose of arriving at the best appropriate rest suitable for athletics events by choosing the best overlap between groups and using performance evaluation tests to find out the effect of the interaction between the educational method and the exercise method

Optimal Deep Neural Network Modified by Advanced Seasons Optimizer for Classification of Olympic Sports Images

Sports image classification has gained increasing significance in various domains, including athlete training, event management, and broadcasting. Nonetheless, accurately classifying these images remains a formidable challenge due to factors such as variations in lighting conditions, pose, and attire. This paper proposes an advanced deep learning approach to address this issue. The proposed method uses a modified Inception-V4 (IV4) architecture, which has exhibited remarkable success in image classification tasks. To further enhance the performance of the IV4 model, an advanced version of the seasons optimizer (ASO), a potent optimization algorithm, has been introduced, which adjusts the learning rate during training. This modified optimizer enables the IV4 model to converge more rapidly and achieve higher accuracy. An evaluation of the proposed method has been conducted using a comprehensive dataset comprising Olympic sports images. The experimental results demonstrate significant enhancements over existing approaches, attaining superior performance across multiple evaluation metrics. These findings underscore the potential of combining cutting-edge deep neural networks with advanced optimization techniques for the precise and efficient classification of sports images.

Modernizing sports an intelligent strategy for entertainment through internet of things in sports

A significant transformation towards a more engaging and entertaining viewer experience is provided by the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) innovation into the ever-changing world of current sports. With an emphasis on real-time tracking and assessment of athletic achievement, this study presents an extensive IoT-based strategy designed for the modern sports industry. Athlete tales, halftime displays and the general spectacle of big athletic events contribute to the entertainment value of the game. To provide a thorough assessment of athlete achievement in a timely manner, this research proposes a unique decision-making approach built on Adaptive Coral Reefs Optimized Xgboost (ACRO-XB). In particular, sport-specific characteristics are obtained through the use of electronic devices and an energy-effective procedure. To provide monitoring experts and competitors with efficient decision-making solutions, the ACRO-XB framework was developed. To validate the ACRO-XB approach, the simulation was run on a difficult dataset of 22,500 instances which is cricketers. Many modern analytical methods were used to undertake a comparison study. The simulation outcomes demonstrated that the ACRO-XB approach performed superior in conditions of recall, accuracy, f1-score and specificity by leveraging IoT data effectively for precise and timely athlete performance assessments, surpassing traditional methods in sports analytics. Furthermore, the suggested ACRO-XB approach was found to result in increased cell efficiency and stability.