Professional Sport Organizations Research Articles

COMPARATION OF KINESITHERAPY AND POWERPLATE IN PATIENTS WITH CERVICOARTHROSIS

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease of the musculoskeletal system, in which degeneration of the affected tissues is observed. Modern living conditions and immobility create favorable conditions for the spread of the disease. The cervical region of the spine is subjected to significant dynamic and static loads, which often leads to pain and limited mobility. Diagnosing cervical arthrosis at an early stage opens up opportunities for effective and timely complex treatment. Such treatment includes not only medicinal approaches, but also various physical therapies, balneotherapy, as well as massage and kinesitherapy. Improving and maintaining the functional status of patients with cervical arthrosis is essential for their quality of life. This disease is characterized by destruction of articular cartilage, in which the formation of new tissue at the edges of bones and tendons is observed. It has a progressive course and affects a significant part of the population. These changes are part of the aging process of the body and the musculoskeletal system. The patented technology of Power Plate is designed to trigger the body’s innate reflexive reaction to precise vibrations, stimulating muscles in a consistent and regulated fashion, thereby expediting the benefits of training. Power Plate’s efficacy has been substantiated through numerous medical and scientific investigations, alongside practical application in clinical recovery and wellness establishments, sports enhancement hubs, and widespread adoption by a multitude of professional and collegiate sports organizations in the United States, as well as numerous others globally. Vibration is defined as an oscillatory motion involving mechanical forces. Its intensity is influenced by biomechanical parameters such as amplitude, frequency, and the scale of the oscillations. Specifically, amplitude refers to the peak-to-peak displacement measured in millimeters, frequency relates to the rate at which oscillation cycles repeat and is measured in Hertz (Hz), and acceleration reflects the scale of the vibrations. This study aims to compare the efficacy of two therapeutic interventions, kinesitherapy (analytical exercises) and power plate, in enhancing muscle strength and improving cervical range of motion. Eighteen patients were divided into experimental (n=10) and control (n=8) groups. The control group received physical medicine and kinesitherapy, while the experimental group underwent physical medicine and power plate therapy, both for 21 days. Clinical assessments were conducted pre- and post-therapy. Results indicated symptom improvement in both groups, with better outcomes observed in the control group. Furthermore, the control group exhibited more significant improvements in range of motion compared to the experimental group. Kinesitherapy demonstrated greater efficacy than power plate therapy, likely due to its targeted muscle exercises and isotonic/ isometric contraction combination, as opposed to the rapid and numerous contractions induced by the power plate. These findings highlight the importance of tailored therapeutic approaches in enhancing muscle strength and cervical spine mobility.

Corporate social responsibility: the key to improving brand equity and reputation for local sports associations in Islamic countries

Purpose Attracting resources (financial and non-financial), supporters and the community’s attention to sports and physical activity has become essential for local sports associations (LSAs). Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are innovative and less imitable tools for strengthening relationships with customers (Lim et al., 2018), and there needs to be relevant research on CSR and the variables discussed in this study at the level of small sports organizations. Moreover, past research has focused on professional sports organizations in developed and non-Islamic countries. So, the following research questions are: What is the influence of CSR initiatives on the organizational reputation, brand equity and customer satisfaction of LSAs operating in the context of recreational sports, particularly in Islamic developing countries, and how does this relationship evolve within the framework of small sports organizations? Design/methodology/approach Participants (n = 290) consisted of all customers who used the services of LSAs in the Islamic Republic of Iran). This research seeks to measure the relationship between variables within a causal model based on structural equation modeling. Findings This study critically examines the connection between CSR, customer satisfaction, organizational reputation and brand equity in LSAs. This study presents a model that explores how CSR influences customer satisfaction, reputation and brand equity in LSAs in developing countries. Research limitations/implications Consequently, customers are likely to feel more satisfied with LSAs that demonstrate a commitment to CSR, and this leads to evaluations of the organization’s reputation and brand equity, ultimately resulting in outcomes for them. Originality/value This research presents a comprehensive theoretical model that examines the relationship between CSR, customer satisfaction, reputation and brand equity of LSAs in developing Islamic countries. LSAs must understand and recognize customer interests in social issues and their response to various CSR programs.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE FACTORS OF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE

Background and Study Aim. Today, professional sports are a powerful social phenomenon that is developing at a high rate both in terms of sports and in terms of business. It is natural that various factors influence this process throughout the history of its formation and development. Study Aim: to identify the key factors that influenced and influence the formation and development of professional sport in Europe and North America. Material and Methods. The main materials for the research were data from historical and modern materials regarding various factors that determined and determine now the peculiarities of professional sport development in Europe and North America. Methods: analysis and synthesis, historical method, systematic approach, theoretical interpretation and explanation. Results. Given the global phenomenon of professional sport in the modern world, it should be noted that its structure and effectiveness depend from a wide range of factors, both the external environment and those related to the construction of internal mechanisms of professional sports organizations. Among them: globalization, geopolitical and economic trends, transformation of information and communication technologies, crisis social factors, sports migration, population and demographic ratios in the country, monopoly and competition in the professional sports arena in relation to the coexistence of different organizations in one sport, the focus of professional leagues on higher efficiency. Among the factors that have a negative impact on the development of professional sport today should be noted corruption aspects of professional sports activities. Conclusions. The nature of the influence of these factors is determined by the territorial affiliation of professional sport organizations, as there are certain traditions and legal frameworks of their operation in the United States and various European countries, which have significant differences. At the same time, today the North American remains a more effective model of professional sport development in terms of organizational and economic efficiency.

Constructing a social responsibility system for professional sports clubs based on the perspective of China

AbstractThe development of CSR reflects the level and characteristics of professional sports organizations, and the CSR of professional sports clubs varies among different countries and regions. In order to explore the content of the CSR of Chinese professional sports clubs in a more comprehensive and systematic way, this study organizes previous studies on the CSR of clubs in different countries and regions, and analyzes the differences between Chinese professional sports clubs and clubs in Europe, North America, Japan, and other countries and regions. We collected the opinions of 20 experts through semi‐structured interviews and combined them with the “Five in One” overall layout to construct and explain the CSR system of professional sports clubs in China in the new era, filling the gaps in research on this topic. Research suggests that social economic responsibility, social political responsibility, social cultural responsibility, social construction responsibility, and social ecological responsibility constitute the CSR system of professional sports clubs in China. Within a certain range, the larger the scale and stronger the comprehensive strength of a club, the stronger its ability to fulfill its responsibilities, the more targets it fulfills, and the richer its content. The institutional environment and social awareness may account for this difference, and in a government‐led social environment or in the case of nationalized club ownership, the Chinese plan may be more applicable. Our research not only provides theoretical reference for subsequent research on the CSR content of professional sports clubs but also helps guide the CSR practice of clubs of different sizes, thereby promoting the exploration of diversified CSR development patterns of professional sports clubs in the academic community.

Vartotojų suvokimas apie sporto interneto svetainių kokybę

Relevance of the topic. The 21st century is widely regarded as the age of technology. Nowadays, no one can imagine their life without browsing various websites. As Gonzalez et al. (2015) state, websites are a dominant place for users to obtain information. Many professional sports organisations use their websites to develop relationships with their fans by providing them with news and results (Alonso-Dos-Santos, Moreno, Ríos, & Alguacil, 2017). Sports websites are especially useful for sports enthusiasts, as sports is a very globalised activity and it is physically impossible to be at all desired events. Fans are not only more engaged and interested in their favourite teams but also in their websites, thus performing a kind of news distribution function for the club (Lewis, 2013). The problem. The widespread use of information technology in various felds has made research on the adoption or rejection of these technologies an important factor in every organisation (Mohammadi & Isanejad, 2018). The rapid change and development of websites mean that users’ perception of their quality is also changing. Therefore, it is important to track the constantly changing user expectations and their engagement. A newer and more up-to-date study can help organisations to further improve their websites, thus competing with other organisations in their market.
 The aim of the study is to investigate user perception of quality in sports websites.
 The subject of the study is user perception of quality in sports websites. Research methodology. A survey was used to investigate user perception of quality in sports websites. Respondents were given an anonymous online survey. The object of the study was user perception of quality in sports websites. The study was based on the WebQual questionnaire of Gonzalez et al. (2015). The purpose of the study is to investigate user perception of quality in sports websites. The data were collected in February and March 2023. A total of 303 respondents participated in the study. Results and conclusion. A comparison of the distribution of respondents according to which website they would prefer shows that all analysed categories reflect a trend. In all four question categories, the better-rated website was X website and when respondents were asked to choose between these websites, the vast majority (69.31%) would prefer X website, while 30.69% of respondents would choose Y website. This result means that among these competing basketball websites, X website seems to be more attractive and high-quality for most users. The results of the study allowed to understand what quality criteria affect the opinion and choice of sports websites by users. Comparing the results obtained with other previous studies, it was observed that individual categories or subcategories can not only influence the choice of a website but can also interact with each other, thus affecting each other. An analysis of the survey results showed that the accuracy of information, security, website understandability, security and website attractiveness are the main features that positively affect the user and help websites gain a competitive advantage over other websites in the same feld or market.
 Keywords: sports website, user perception of quality, engagement.

Professional Experiences, Leadership Growth, and Progression Approaches Adopted by Women Working Within Professional Sports Organisations in Ghana

The study explored experiences, leadership growth, and progression approaches adopted by women working within higher professional sports leadership organisations in Ghana. An interpretive research paradigm was adopted. The data was collected using interview guides and analysed with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The study revealed interest in a particular sport propelled women in sports leadership positions to select sports-related careers and accumulate the best knowledge and experience that placed them in such advantageous positions to make meaningful contributions to sports in Ghana. The study established that women with clear-cut career advancement pathways have it easy when it comes to assuming leadership positions. It was recommended that qualitative and quantitative examinations be made to understand the differences in the experiences of males in similar sporting positions. Keywords: leadership, progression, approach, professional sports, leadership.

Technology Meets Sport Psychology: How Technology and Artificial Intelligence Can Shape the Future of Elite Sport Performance

Data analytics have become increasingly popular within professional sport organizations. Big data exists upon which decisions are made in relation to athlete selection and performance analysis. The data draw upon vary from big data and more idiosyncratic data that is contextually focused. We consider the importance of data technology in relation to the prediction of athlete and team performance within high-performance sport. Here we expand upon existing approaches to analytics, and why the prediction of athletes’ behaviors is often found to be ineffective. Recommendations are provided how sport psychology can offer insights for analytics departments.

Research on the Economic Impact of the NBA Business League

The NBA is the acronym for the National Basketball Association, and is also the four major professional sports organizations in the United States, including the baseball league, the football league, the hockey league and the basketball league, with the strongest leadership, the highest level of globalization and the greatest international influence. This paper explains the connection between basketball and the economy, such as the broadcasting of basketball games and how it drives the formation and growth of the market for related products such as sneakers and jerseys, as well as analyzing how the NBA is profitable and, using the NBA as a template, whether Chinese basketball needs to learn from foreign countries. Through a search and review of relevant literature, this paper identifies strategic suggestions that the CBA, as an emerging local Chinese basketball league, can draw from the development history of the NBA.

Co-branding drivers between professional sport organizations and on-field sports apparel sponsors

PurposeThis study aims to investigate drivers of co-branding, and the relative strength of these drivers within the Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL). The study examines sport sponsorship, and specifically the relationship between professional football teams and on-field apparel sponsors.Design/methodology/approachSixteen experts participated in semi-structured interviews and ranked the co-branding drivers. The expert opinions were organized into estimates and triangular fuzzy numbers were established before the Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System converted the fuzzy outputs into crisp output values using the Centroid method. Next, the rankings of the drivers by the same 16 participants were analyzed using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP).FindingsThe study identified four main factors with 19 indicators: brand management (i.e. enhancing brand value, utilizing the knowledge and experience of partner brands, brand position, brand identity, brand equity and brand image), partner relationships (i.e. satisfaction, mutual trust, commitment, common interest, product reliability and innovative strategies), marketing factors (i.e. marketing mix, market position, competitive advantage and entry into new domestic markets) and supporting factors (i.e. copyright, contracts and social media law). The AHP identified the most influential factors as marketing, partner relationships, brand management and support.Originality/valueBased on the study’s findings, the authors recommend that PGPL teams adopt a partnership mindset, seek alignment of values and recognize the plurality of stakeholders to a sponsorship and their relationships to each other. The study highlights the challenges of co-branding activities in a developing country where trademark laws are not well developed.

Bet on It

Legalized sports gambling is relevant for professional sport stakeholders in the United States (U.S.). With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sport Protection Act, U.S. professional sport teams are now partnering with sports betting entities. Through the framework of sport entrepreneurship (Ratten, 2020), this study explores sports betting partnerships in professional sport teams and organizations (PSTO). Findings of the 10 semi-structured interviews with current employees involved with PSTOs suggest that the partnerships are mutually beneficial and supported by employees driven by consumer interest. For PSTOs, lead generation for potential ticket memberships, influx of advertising dollars, and the expansion of premium seating locations were derived from these partnerships. For the sports betting platforms, increased visibility and association with local professional teams were the primary benefits. Moreover, this study provides further insight

The impact of a new women's professional sport league on pre-existing sport organisations: a modified, integrative approach to examining change

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the process of change in existing professional sport organisations as they initiate a women's team.Design/methodology/approachThree Australian Football League clubs with licenses for professional women's teams were examined, with semi-structured interviews held with three key department managers from each club.FindingsThe findings suggest organisations adopt either a community-focused or commercially focused approach, the selection of which is a response to the interplay of institutional pressures (e.g. league demands), resource demands (e.g. human and financial) and the strategic choices of a few, key “idea champions”.Originality/valueThis study provides insight into the approach change taken by clubs as they introduce a women's team into their existing organisational structure.

Pittsburgh Pirates Mental Wellness Initiative

A goal of most professional sport organizations is to minimize factors that contribute to negative psychological and emotional outcomes and maximize factors that support more positive outcomes. In order to address these concerns in professional sport, a mental wellness initiative was created for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball club. This paper provides an overview of the initiative. The model includes the following dimensions: mental health education, skill building, identification of at-risk athletes, access to clinical professionals, crisis management procedures, and reducing stigma. Suggestions are provided for other organizations to consider and adopt.

Sports Organizations and Their Defensive Mediatization Strategies: The Sports Journalist’s Perspective

This article provides empirical evidence of ‘defensive mediatization strategies’ in the field of sport. These are strategies used by actors individually and collectively to control and sometimes avoid media publicity—for example, by refusing requests for media interviews, or in the case of an organization, by making media literacy training available to its staff. In this article, we use the concept of defensive mediatization strategies to identify and illuminate some of the challenges facing professional sports journalists in the postbroadcast era. The article draws on findings from an ongoing study of the relationships between professional sports organizations, athletes, and journalists, but reports only on interviews conducted with experienced sports journalists in Ireland and Britain (n = 16). Our analysis identifies a number of defensive mediatization strategies used by sports organizations, including increased levels of in-house media, differential treatment of journalists, and an increasingly competitive stance towards journalism generally. We also consider a potentially more pernicious strategy: the hiring of professional sports journalists as internal communications advisers—a switching of role positions that might be termed ‘poacher turned gamekeeper’. The article organizes findings according to the three categories of defensive mediatization strategies identified in the extant literature (persistence, shielding, and immunization) and proposes a fourth category, which we label steering.

Contributing to the Draft Process in Professional Sport Organizations in the United States and Canada: Perspectives and Guidelines for Sport Psychology Practitioners

Sport psychology practitioners may be asked by general managers and coaches of professional sport organizations to contribute to the draft process by providing psychological information about athletes they want to select for their respective teams and organizations. Although it seems that this request for psychological information is increasing in professional sport organizations in the United States and Canada, little guidance has been forthcoming about how sport psychology practitioners can contribute to the draft process. This article provides perspectives on the nature and scope of the draft process based on guidelines for psychological assessment and evaluation, consultation theory and research in sport psychology, and the professional experiences of the authors. It also offers guidelines for how sport psychology practitioners can engage in the draft process in professional sport organizations in the United States and Canada.

Does Headgear Prevent Sport-Related Concussion? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Including 6311 Players and 173,383 Exposure Hours.

A sport-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury that is caused by biomechanical stresses and results in a complex pathophysiological process in the brain. Some in the sporting community believe that headgear (HG) can prevent SRC, and several professional Australian sports organizations, including rugby, football, and soccer clubs, recommend its use. The purpose of this study is to determine whether HG is effective in lowering the prevalence of SRC in sports. A systematic search for related studies published between 1985 and 2023 was conducted using the following databases: Cochrane Library, AMED, PubMed, Web of Science, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of HG in reducing SRC rate were included. Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs. Level 1a. Two researchers independently completed the title and abstract search and performed full-text reviews. A third reviewer was consulted to reach a consensus if any discrepancies were noted. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included RCTs. Data recorded from each study included authors, year of publication, type and number of players, study design, duration of the study, injury rate, compliance (%), sports/level, and exposure hours. The pooled results of 6311 players and 173,383 exposure hours showed 0% SRC reduction per 1000 hours of exposure in the experimental group compared with the control group, with an injury risk ratio of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.82-1.30; P = 0.79). This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrates that HG does not prevent SRC among soccer and rugby players, and therefore the findings from this meta-analysis do not currently support the use of HG to prevent SRC in soccer or rugby.

Innovations in global sports brands management: the case of FC Barcelona’s Barça Museum

ABSTRACT Purpose Ongoing improvements in sports management, marketing, fan experience, as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) must be implemented by professional team sport organisations (PTSO). Yet, little is known about how and why PTSOs account for the impacts of their CSR initiatives. Design This case study analyses a one-of-a-kind sport for development museum. Curated by FC Barcelona’s Barça foundation, this innovative museum was designed to showcase, and account for, Barça’s social impacts. Findings Four main sections of the Museum are leveraged to translate the claim that Barça programs provide positive social impact. Research Contribution This paper illustrates how a museum becomes a significant asset for convincing and activating both fans of a PTSO as well as sponsors of a sport-related foundation. Practical Implications This study invites CSR practitioners to reflect about innovations in how they account for the impact of their programs. Value How this unique SfD museum contributes to FC Barcelona’s efforts of becoming més que un club, or more than a club – and therefore allowing FC Barcelona to escape market logic on a planetary scale – is also discussed.

Does time matter? How major league baseball secondary market sellers make ticket pricing decisions

PurposePricing studies have largely focused on sellers' pricing strategies and price determinants. To expand earlier work on sellers' pricing decisions, this study considers time as a major factor driving sellers' ticket prices in the secondary market. Specifically, because most secondary market transactions occur in the last moments before a game, this study considers how resellers adjust ticket prices within a few days prior to a game day including an actual game day.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the impact of time on secondary market ticket prices for Major League Baseball (MLB), ticket prices were collected from StubHub (one of the largest secondary ticket markets) four times per game: from 3 days to 1 day prior to a game day and on the actual game day. Additionally, 10 control variables were obtained from previous research on price determinants (N = 19,155). A multiple regression model was created based on the extant literature regarding secondary market ticket prices.FindingsResults indicate the number of days before a game negatively influenced ticket prices: resellers decreased ticket prices consistently during the last few days prior to a game's first inning. Specifically, secondary market ticket prices decreased relatively dramatically on an actual game day. Time had no significant effects on ticket prices 2 days prior to a game day. In addition to the role of time, league affiliation and the number of all-star players were identified as key price determinants in the secondary market. Moreover, changes in weather forecasts and the home team starting pitcher's ERA played significant roles in price changes.Research limitations/implicationsDespite containing a relatively high number of data observations compared with prior pricing studies, this study's findings were limited to certain teams. Additionally, as only MLB secondary market ticket pricing was considered, different outcomes and implications may apply in other major sport ticket markets (e.g. NBA, NFL, NHL and MLS) featuring distinct league structures, policies and demand.Practical implicationsThis study offers practical guidance for sellers' pricing decisions. Most secondary ticket market sellers lowered their ticket prices relatively dramatically on an actual game day. Reducing ticket prices prior to a game day can lead to greater chances to avoid unsold tickets that compromise revenue management. This study's results also afford professional sport organizations and secondary ticket market consumers a clearer understanding of the factors resellers consider when setting ticket prices.Originality/valueAlthough previous studies have uncovered essential elements influencing ticket prices and consumer demand in the secondary ticket market, little work has examined how time affects sellers' pricing decisions within a few days prior to a game day. Little is known about the elements that significantly influence sellers’ decisions to adjust (i.e. increase or decrease) ticket prices in the secondary market as well. This topic deserves ongoing attention, as new outcomes can supplement previous studies' findings due to changing market environments.

The study is an attempt to reveal and describe the main directions of digital transformation of business models of professional sports organizations through the example of the US National Football League. Based on the Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann’s approach to describe four main components of a successful business model, the authors analyzed the National Football League business model and studied

This study examines the relationship between state ownership and internationalization in Russian companies. International expansion of state firms from emerging markets is the topic frequently addressed in the research community of international business and strategic management, whereby the studies on emerging markets state-owned enterprises internationalization provide contradictory results. One of the reasons is the difference between the contexts of countries where state-owned enterprises operate which affects the way how state ownership is related to internationalization. Russian state-owned enterprises are the least studied companies in terms of their international expansion, and the examination of the relationship between state ownership and internationalization of firms can fill in the gap in the emerging market state-owned enterprises internationalization puzzle. The paper shows the study of the internationalization of the Russian state-owned enterprises spanning a five-year period 2013–2017. The results show that the more the degree of state ownership in a Russian company is, the less its internationalization is. The study contributes to the discussion of the role of state ownership for the internationalization of emerging market firms by emphasizing the importantce of the contextual country specifics. The study also discusses the role of a state in the internationalization of companies.

Digital transformation of professional sports organizations’ business model: The case of the US National Football League

The study is an attempt to reveal and describe the main directions of digital transformation of business models of professional sports organizations through the example of the US National Football League. Based on the Johnson, Christensen and Kagermann’s approach to describe four main components of a successful business model, the authors analyzed the National Football League business model and studied digital technologies impact on the business model components. With reference to the results of analysis as well as the available materials published in foreign mass media, the authors defined the main directions of digital transformation for business models of professional sports organizations. The first direction of transformation is to change the customer value proposition by means of fan engagement into value added chain. The second direction relates to the creation of new revenue channels through business model transformation into D2C type. The results of the current study contribute to the existing research on of business models of sports organizations and can be applied by sports managers in building a digital marketing strategy and a strategy for business model transformation.

Career transitions from the English Premier League: Cooling out the mark with possible selves

Achieving and then maintaining a career as a professional athlete is hard. Saturated labour markets and the ever-present risk of deselection or injury means that career transitions are an inevitable feature of all athletes’ biographies. Like many other professional sports organisations, English Premier League (EPL) clubs have been called upon to provide adequate support to players upon their release from their club. This investigation will examine the experiences and attitudes of EPL players during their career transitions and contextualise the support that EPL club Education and Welfare Officers (EWOs) offer players during this process. Vignette interviewing was employed to engage a purposive sample, consisting of ten EPL players and five EWOs. A combination of Goffman's cooling-out metaphor and notions of Possible Selves is used to unpack the experiences of both players and EWOs. This study offers the proposition that players are Cooled Out as part of their career transitions by EWOs encouraging players to engage with Possible Selves both in and away from footballing environments. Such a process contributes to the empowerment of individuals to manage and successfully navigate their career transition from one club to another or away from the professional game entirely.