Sport Science Research Articles

Preventive effect of yacon leaves capsule in reducing symptoms of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) is the disruption of skeletal muscle after high-intensity exercise, leading to decreased performance. Furthermore, it is a common condition following vigorous exercise, particularly in individuals unaccustomed to performance. This disruption results in a decrease in strength, muscle soreness, swelling, and the release of several cytokines, both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. Symptoms of EIMD include Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) and a loss of physical function. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a 14-day administration of yacon leaves capsule supplementation on DOMS and inflammation post-EIMD.To achieve this, an experimental pretest and posttest control group design with a randomized control trial approach was adopted. A total of 32 Recreational male students of the Sports Science Universitas Negeri Surabaya were randomly and double-blindly assigned to either yacon capsule supplementation (n=16) or placebo (n=16) group. Participants were instructed to take a yacon capsule or placebo after breakfast for 14 days. The study groups were subjected to a muscle-damaging protocol consisting of 7 sets of 10 eccentric single-leg press repetitions on a leg press machine. DOMS and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were determined at 0-h (baseline), 24-h, and 48-h post-exercise before and after 14-day supplementation periods.The results showed that DOMS and IL-6 serum increased at 24 hours post-EIMD when compared to baseline. Additionally, a significant reduction in both DOMS and IL-6 serum levels was observed within the yacon group compared to the placebo group (p<0.05).In conclusion, yacon leaves capsule supplementation was able to attenuate the risk of muscle damage by decreasing DOMS levels and IL-6 serum in the blood.

Heart Rate Variability in Elite Team Sports: A Systematic Review

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is recognized as a crucial indicator of autonomic nervous system function and is valuable in sports science for monitoring athlete health and performance. This systematic review investigates the use of HRV in elite team sports to monitor training adaptations, athlete status, and overall health. The purpose is to consolidate recent findings and provide a comprehensive understanding of HRV's application in elite team sports. Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023431208). A comprehensive search was performed across PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering studies from January 2013 to November 2023. Studies included involved elite team-sport athletes, with HRV measured immediately after waking. Exclusion criteria were underage athletes, injured athletes, and studies using HRV for different purposes. The review process involved screening titles, abstracts, and full texts, with a final inclusion of 12 studies. Results: Out of 277 identified articles, 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, involving sports such as water polo, rugby, football, basketball, volleyball, handball, futsal, hockey, and rowing. The studies highlighted HRV as a valuable tool for tracking training load adaptations, monitoring athlete readiness, recovery, and mental stress. Daily HRV measurements were commonly used, showing effectiveness in detecting overtraining and ensuring adequate recovery. Various HRV parameters and recording methods were discussed, emphasizing the need for individualized assessment. RMSSD and LnRMSSD were the most commonly used parameters, with variations in recording times and positions. Conclusions: HRV is an effective non-invasive marker for optimizing training regimens and improving athlete health, making it a significant tool in sports medicine. This review provides actionable insights for integrating HRV monitoring into daily training practices, ultimately enhancing athletic performance and preventing overtraining. Standardized protocols for HRV measurement are recommended to ensure consistency and reliability in data collection and interpretation. The findings highlight the need for further research to refine HRV applications and establish best practices in elite team sports

EXAMINING SPORTSPERSONSHIP ORIENTATIONS AND ANGER EXPRESSION STYLES OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE FACULTY OF SPORTS SCIENCES PHYSICAL APTITUDE TEST

Background/aim: This study aimed to examine the correlation between sportspersonship orientations and anger expression styles of candidates to enter sports sciences faculties via physical aptitude test. In addition, the study also examined the effect of gender, athlete license, monthly income, and sports experience of the participants on sportspersonship orientation and anger expression styles. Materials and methods: To collect data, the Personal Information Form, the Multidimensional Sportspersonship Orientation Scale, and the Trait Anger and Anger Expression Styles Scales were utilized. The study sample included 324 students, 178 (54.9%) female and 146 (45.1%) males, who were candidates to enter the faculty of sports sciences. Data were analyzed using frequency, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation analysis, t-test, and ANOVA analysis techniques. Results: The study's findings showed statistically significant results in the variables of monthly income and sportspersonship orientation history and an opposite relationship between sportspersonship orientation and anger expression styles. Conclusion: These concepts, examined in this study, are crucial factors that can significantly impact the participants' sporting lives and athletic performance, either positively or negatively.

Playing towards Motivation: Gamification and University Students in Physical Activity!

There is currently concern about the decrease in physical activity participation among university students. To address this issue, different pedagogical approaches have been developed to improve participants’ motivation, with gamification standing out among them. Gamification integrates game design elements into learning environments to increase responsibility, motivation, and engagement in physical activities in different educational stages through intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, although evidence is limited and diverse. Therefore, this study investigates how gamification affects the motivational profile of university students in the context of physical activity. The study was conducted with university students of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (n = 72), using an experimental design that included a gamified group (GG) and a control group (CG) without gamification. A questionnaire was used to measure motivation before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant increase in intrinsic motivation and a decrease in amotivation in the gamified group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. However, there were increases in extrinsic motivation in both groups. These findings suggest that gamification can be effective in improving intrinsic motivation and reducing amotivation in university students for physical activity as well as enhancing extrinsic motivation considering the rewards used.

Engineering Ergonomic Risk Assessment of Karate Choku Zuki Straight Punch

This study utilizes the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) technique to evaluate suggested improvements aimed at enhancing the safety and efficacy of the Choku Zuki (Straight Punch), a high-risk karate exercise. The primary objective is to identify and address potential musculoskeletal issues associated with this technique. Given the prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in sports, particularly in activities with high intensity like karate, the need for reliable ergonomic risk assessment tools such as RULA is paramount. By applying RULA to analyze the ergonomic aspects of the Choku Zuki punch, this study provides crucial insights into potential areas of concern. It identifies specific postures and movements that may predispose practitioners to injury, allowing for the development of targeted interventions to mitigate risks and enhance safety. Furthermore, this research underscores the importance of integrating ergonomic considerations into sports training regimens to optimize performance and minimize injury risks. Beyond its implications for karate training, the study emphasizes the broader significance of ergonomic assessments in sports science and engineering. It showcases how engineering methodologies can be leveraged to improve the safety, efficiency, and overall performance of sporting activities, fostering collaboration between sports scientists, engineers, athletes, coaches, and healthcare professionals to advance sports performance and safety standards.lities.

Level of Participative Leadership, Quality Culture, Job Satisfaction and Achievement Motivation Lecturer at the Faculty of Sports Science, Universitas Negeri Medan

This research aims to evaluate the level of participative leadership, quality culture, job satisfaction and achievement motivation of lecturers at the Faculty of Sports Sciences, Medan State University. The method used in this research uses descriptive methods and a survey research form. The population and sample in this research were 100 lecturers at the Faculty of Sports Science, Medan State University. The results of the research carried out showed that the participative leadership category showed that it was 80.20% in the "high" category. The quality culture category shows that it is 85.64% in the "high" category. The job satisfaction category shows that it is 70.30% in the "medium" category. The achievement motivation category shows that it is 73.27% in the "medium" category. This shows that although participative leadership and a culture of quality have been achieved well, there are challenges in increasing job satisfaction and achievement motivation of lecturers at the Faculty of Sports Science, Medan State University. These findings show the importance of strategic interventions to increase job satisfaction and achievement motivation, even though the basics of leadership and quality culture are already quite strong.

The moving wave: Applications of the mobile EEG approach to study human attention.

Although historically confined to traditional research laboratories, electroencephalography (EEG) paradigms are now being applied to study a wide array of behaviors, from daily activities to specialized tasks in diverse fields such as sports science, neurorehabilitation, and education. This transition from traditional to real-world mobile research can provide new tools for understanding attentional processes as they occur naturally. Early mobile EEG research has made progress, despite the large size and wired connections. Recent developments in hardware and software have expanded the possibilities of mobile EEG, enabling a broader range of applications. Despite these advancements, limitations influencing mobile EEG remain that must be overcome to achieve adequate reliability and validity. In this review, we first assess the feasibility of mobile paradigms, including electrode selection, artifact correction techniques, and methodological considerations. This review underscores the importance of ecological, construct, and predictive validity in ensuring the trustworthiness and applicability of mobile EEG findings. Second, we explore studies on attention in naturalistic settings, focusing on replicating classic P3 component studies in mobile paradigms like stationary biking in our lab, and activities such as walking, cycling, and dual-tasking outside of the lab. We emphasize how the mobile approach complements traditional laboratory paradigms and the types of insights gained in naturalistic research settings. Third, we discuss promising applications of portable EEG in workplace safety and other areas including road safety, rehabilitation medicine, and brain-computer interfaces. In summary, this review explores the expanding possibilities of mobile EEG while recognizing the existing challenges in fully realizing its potential.

Think fast, stay healthy? A narrative review of neurocognitive performance and lower extremity injury

BackgroundLower extremity (LE) injury has been problematic in athletic populations. While previous research has identified biomechanical and neuromuscular risk factors, more recent efforts have determined that neurocognitive performance (NP) may influence LE injury risk. ObjectivesTo describe the present findings pertaining to the relationship between NP and LE injury. This review described potential cerebral neural mechanisms underpinning LE injury with a particular emphasis on the role of vision in sensorimotor integration. Lastly, newer technology such as stroboscopic eyewear, smartboards, and virtual/augmented reality were discussed for their utility in assessing and training NP. MethodsNarrative review that described NP and LE injury, as well as plausible mechanisms and training interventions. ResultsNP appears to influence both LE biomechanics and LE injury risk. Athletes with worse NP demonstrated decreased knee flexion and increased frontal plane knee loading compared to better performing athletes. Most studies determined an association between NP and LE injury risk. Visual motor reaction time, processing speed, and working memory appear to be useful NP measures for identifying athletes at risk for LE injury. Various brain regions including the precuneus and lingual gyrus may be implicated as neural signatures for LE injury. While recently developed technology offer promise, far-transfer effects to LE injury risk reduction have yet to be substantially investigated. ConclusionsNP should be considered an important component for identifying LE injury risk. Sports scientists and clinicians may consider a variety of assessments and interventions to quantify and train NP in conjunction with previously established protocols.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia updated position statement on exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community

BackgroundsFalls affect a significant number of older Australians and present a major challenge to health care providers and health systems with over 380 older Australians hospitalised for a fall each day. ObjectivesThis statement seeks to inform and guide exercise practitioners and health professionals in safe and effective prescription of exercise to prevent falls amongst community-dwelling older people. Exercise prescription to prevent fallsExercise is crucial for preventing falls in older age. Research evidence has identified that programmes which include functional balance and muscle strength training are the most effective in preventing falls. It is also important for exercise to be progressively challenging, ongoing and of sufficient dose to maximise its benefits in reducing falls. Additional (non-exercise) interventions are necessary for people with complex medical conditions, recent hospitalisation and/or particular risk factors not improved by exercise. People at a higher risk of falls may need greater support to undertake safe and effective fall prevention exercise. SummaryGlobal guidelines for fall prevention and management recommend that all older adults should receive advice about exercise to prevent falls. Qualified exercise professionals are well placed to prescribe and supervise functional balance and muscle strength training to older people with varied functional abilities, including those with co-morbidities.

S02-4: How does the Hungarian Active Lifestyle Strategy address social inclusion?

Abstract Purpose The purpose of Sarolta MONSPART Active Lifestyle Strategy is to raise proportion of physically active people with a healthy lifestyle in Hungary. There is special focus on the engagement of senior citizens and people with disadvantaged background. Project description The Strategy is the first ever national policy document dedicated to the field of overall promotion of health-enhancing physical activities. Methods The development of the Strategy had been initiated by the State Secretary for Active Lifestyle. The University of Sport Sciences had been invited for the coordination of the Strategy’ development, which is based on outcomes of international policy document analysis and national stakeholder consultations. The Strategy identifies ten priority target areas and eight horizontal priorities. “Active seniors” and “Activation of socially disadvantaged groups”, which includes people with disabilities and people with unfavourable socio-economic background are also priority areas. The implementation of the Strategy is planned to happen on the base of the proposed actions in all priority target areas. Respective governmental and non-governmental organisations have been involved into the drafting of the Strategy. Based on their proposals for implementing actions, an action plan has been drafted. Respectively these organisations are also important actors during the delivery of the proposed initiatives. The evaluation of the implementation of the Strategy will be based on the proposed indicators, that are part of the Strategy in relation to each proposed action, also reflecting on the number of successfully implemented actions and number of participants. Dissemination of the strategy has already started during the drafting phase, by the involvement of ca. 50 organisations as consultative partners. After the official approval of the Strategy, communication will be ensured by the State Secretariat for Active Lifestyle and the implementing partners. Conclusions The State Secretariat for Active Lifestyle will monitor the implementation of the action plan and collect the well-functioning methods and practices. It is expected that a relevant network of professional organisations will be created in all priority target fields and those networks will be able to provide data and feedback on the proposed actions.

Current Development and Future Trends on Taiwan Precision Sport Science Research

<p>目的：運動科技研究及產業應用是目前臺灣主要推動的政策項目之一，國科會人文處推動「精準運動科學研究專案計畫」，支援及促進臺灣各學術領域參與運動科學及運動科技的研究風潮。本文目的在藉由分析國科會人文處運動科學研究相關專案計畫推動歷程，闡述臺灣精準運動科學研究的精神、推動策略、推動成效等面向，並提出精準運動科學研究的未來展望。結果：「精準運動科學研究專案計畫」立案精神為知識轉譯，將實驗室所進行的科學研究成果轉譯成教練與選手、運動產業、社會大眾可用的知識；著重跨領域研究、產學研合作、成果落實應用、擴散運科知識等推動策略；推動成效除學術報告外，更強調運科技術產品研發成果、運動員轉譯成果、社會大眾轉譯成果。民國107-111年推動之第1期「精準運動科學研究專案計畫」著重於教練與選手的成果轉譯，業已順利完成；現正進行著重於運動產業成果轉譯的第2期「精準運動科學研究專案計畫」(民國112-115年)，期待未來展望於臺灣運動文化研究、創新性運動科技研究、運動心理研究、永續運動生態研究…等，成果轉譯能全面擴展至社會大眾，以建構具臺灣特色及價值的全民健康運動生態系。</p> <p> </p><p>Purposes: The research and industrial application of sports technology is one of the major policy initiatives currently promoted in Taiwan. The “Precision Sports Science Research Project” which supports and encourages various academic fields in Taiwan to participate in the sports science and technology research. This article aims to analyze the progress of sports science research projects of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), elucidating aspects such as the spirit, promotion strategies, and outcomes of Taiwan’s precision sports science research, while also proposing future prospects for this research area. Conclusions: The foundational concept behind the "Precision Sports Science Research Project" is knowledge translation, which aims to transform scientific research outcomes from laboratories into practical knowledge for coaches, athletes, the sports industry, and the general public. The project emphasizes interdisciplinary research, industry-academia collaboration, results application, and sports science knowledge dissemination. In addition to academic reports, the outcomes emphasize the development of sports technology products, the translation of research findings for athletes and the public. The first phase of the "Precision Sports Science Research Project" (2018-2022) focused on the translating results for coaches and athletes and has been successfully completed. The second phase (2023-2026) is currently underway, which focuses on translating results for the sports industry. Future prospects for Taiwan might include research in sports culture, innovative technology, sports psychology, and sustainable sports ecology, with the aim of building a Taiwan-specific, value-driven ecosystem for public health and sports.</p> <p> </p>

Bioethics in Sport

Whether recreational or professional, sport is an integral part of human life, so its daily impact on society is undeniable. It is, therefore, important to recognise the role of moral values and ethics in sport, which can help to ensure fairness and preserve the integrity of professional sports. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of implementing these values in professional sport, as it is crucial to enable physical performance without compromising the very essence of sport. However, using prohibited substances and methods in professional sports today has become an increasingly worrying ethical issue, particularly in sports medicine. The primary aim of sports science, especially sports physiology, is to help athletes improve their performance and prevent and overcome injuries, while the primary goal of sports management and some athletes is often to win, which can lead to unethical means to achieve this goal. This behaviour raises many ethical doubts and highlights the need for a framework to address these contemporary challenges increasingly facing professional sport today. Bioethics can effectively address these challenges by examining medical and scientific advances’ ethical, social, moral, and legal implications. By considering the values, principles, and norms underlying medical and scientific practices, bioethics in the context of sport can provide guidance and recommendations for bioethical decision-making concerning (bio)ethical doubts or controversies that may arise, such as the use of performance-enhancing drugs, non-therapeutic use of gene therapy and ethical considerations related to using new technologies. This paper, therefore, aims to emphasise the importance of bioethics as a bridging science in sport in the context of the (bio)ethical challenges that increasingly characterise the professional practice of sport today.

Integrating Sport and Exercise Science in Sport Coaching : Perceptions and Practices

Integrating Sport and Exercise Science in Sport Coaching : Perceptions and Practices

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...

Determining the Speed Reaction Time to the Lower Limbs in a Women’ a Volleyball Team (CSU Medicina Tg. Mures)

Speed reaction is an important concept in various fields like physiology, psychology and sports science. It refers to the time it takes to respond to a specific stimulus visual, auditory, tactile. Reaction speed is an important and fundamental measure in the study of human performance and cognitive processes. Methods. The testing was conducted on the female volleyball players, members of the CSU Medicine Târgu Mureș team. This testing took place at the beginning of the 2023-2024 competitive season. Objective. The objectives of this study are to identify the reaction time values obtained during the testing of the CSU Medicine Târgu Mureș team. Results. The analysis of the results was conducted after downloading the data from the Optojump software as follows: Test 1 Range: 0.532 - 0.393 = 0.139 seconds, test 2. Range: 0.531 - 0.425 = 0.106 seconds Test 3 Range: 0.750 - 0.597 = 0.153 seconds Conclusion. This statement suggests that, based on the data collected from the three tests, there is consistency in the performance of individual subjects. Some subjects consistently have low reaction speed values across all three tests, while others consistently have high reaction speed values. Keywords: Volleyball, Optojump, Speed Reaction

A garment-integrated textile stitch-based strain sensor device, IoT-Enabled for enhanced wearable sportswear applications

The field of wearable technology is undergoing a transformative shift with the integration of IoT-enabled, AI-assisted sensors into sportswear, bringing sophisticated performance analysis within reach for a broader audience. Despite advancements in stitch strain sensors, there is a significant research gap in developing high-performance, stable, and IoT-connected complete stitch strain wearable sensor systems. These advanced sensors are essential for enhancing wearable technology and meeting the growing demands for improved user experience and functionality. In this study by utilizing conductive sewing threads and innovative stitching techniques, we fabricated textile strain sensors that offer high sensitivity, flexibility, and durability. Extensive calibration tests revealed strong linear relationships between resistance and tensile strain, with highest sensor sensitivity (2.08 Ω/mm during loading and 2.72 Ω/mm during unloading). These sensors demonstrate reliable performance with minimal hysteresis, particularly in shorter lengths. The wearable sportswear device, tested in gym environments, demonstrated the sensor's capability to provide real-time feedback on knee flexing/bending and body movement during exercise. This functionality supports injury prevention and enhances workout efficiency. The sensor system is IoT-enabled, powered by an ESP8266 microcontroller, facilitating data transmission to the Thing Speak platform for advanced analysis and remote monitoring. This comprehensive approach not only advances wearable technology but also opens new avenues for remote health monitoring and smart e-textiles, contributing significantly to the fields of sports science and fitness technology.

Association of Hand Grip Strength and Physical Fitness Parameters in Middle-Aged and Older Korean Men.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether hand grip strength (HGS) could be an effective indicator to estimate other physical fitness parameters in middle-aged and older men using large population data. Data for this study were obtained from the National Fitness Center operated by the Korea Institute of Sport Science (n = 429 572). The following were excluded from this study: women aged 44 years or younger (n = 238 257), repeated measurement data (n = 130 466), and errors or missing data (n = 6 497). The final sample included 54 352 participants (27 878 middle-aged and 26 474 older-aged). The highest overall physical fitness grade among participants was 5.6% (4.7%, middle-aged men; 6.6%, older men), the lowest was 52.1% (59.0%, middle-aged men, 43.9%, older men). HGS was positively correlated with flexibility (r = 0.183, P < .001), muscular endurance (r = 0.354, P < .001), and power (r = 0.463, P < .001) in middle-aged men. In older men, flexibility (r = 0.227, P < .001) and 30SCS (r = 0.385, P < .001) were positively correlated; Timed Up and Go (r = -0.405, P < .001) and F8W (r = -0.433, P < .001) were negatively correlated. All physical fitness parameters were significantly higher in participants with normal HGS than those with low HGS. Our finding suggests that HGS is a predictive method for physical fitness variables and a useful biomarker for global public health.

Study on Coaches’ and Athletes’ Attitude Towards the Consumption of Doping Substances

Doping continues to attract the attention of specialists in the field of Sports Science due to its frequency of occurrence and the need for scientific substantiation of educational interventions. In all the conditional factors of doping behaviour, coaches and athletes are the key factors. Coaches are often identified as a potential enabler in athletes' doping, but precisely for this reason, they continue to be identified with their status as important potential agents in doping prevention. In turn, the athlete is the product of his own development and social-educational-cultural factors. The behavior of rejection or acceptance of the use of prohibited substances is determined by internal, subjective factors and external, social-environmental factors. An extensive model of risk factors, at international level, shows that interventions are needed at different levels for the educational effect to increase. In order to identify the attitude of coaches and athletes working in the Romanian sports system, between February and April 2022, online, with the help of Google forms, two questionnaires about anti-doping knowledge and attitudes were applied, one for athletes and one for coaches. The analysis of the results found that experienced coaches are better informed and have objective views on the impact of doping in sport. On the other hand, athletes resort to doping under peer pressure, lack of time required for training and as a result of competition pressure. Knowledge of these attitudinal peculiarities allows the formulation of recommendations on educational activities in the field of anti-doping education. Keywords: coaches, athletes, anti-doping, doping substances

Validação do analisador i-STAT® cartucho CG8+ para análise hemogasométrica

The aim of this study was to compare values arterial blood gas values obtained by laboratory technical reference with values obtained by the i-STAT® CG8+ analyzer, in order to confirm their validity and thus extrapolate its applicability in academic research in the context of physical activity. Were collected 22 samples of blood from the radial artery of the non-dominant arm of patients admitted to the ITU of the Hospital São João Batista, located in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, in the period from February to March 2013. Were compared between the reference method Ciba Corning Gas System 278 and i-STAT® CG8+ portable analyzer the result of the following variables: pH; PO2 and PCO2 expressed in mmHg; HCO3, and TCO2 BE (base excess) expressed in mmol / L; sO2 and expressed as a percentage of saturation. The student t test, correlation test, and Bland-Altman analysis were used. For all blood parameters monitored in the comparison of mean values between the two methods, no significant difference was found for any of the variables. There was a significant correlation (p&lt;0.0001) and strong, with all correlation coefficients (r) above 0.93, between the two methods for all variables. The Bland-Altman analysis showed that there was agreement between the two methods, with over 90% of the sample between the limits of agreement for all variables. The i-STAT® CG8+ analyzer presented acceptable validity in the resting situation by reference to the Ciba Corning 278 Gas System device, and its use is an excellent strategy for research in the area of sport and health sciences that require fast results in the resting situation and that ensure the effectiveness of decision making.

Frontiers in applied implication and research on combining sports science and cognitive neuroscience: Where are we heading?

Frontiers in applied implication and research on combining sports science and cognitive neuroscience: Where are we heading?