Sub-elite Athletes Research Articles

The Impact of Training Distances (20 m, 50 m, and 70 m) on Concentration and Anaerobic Endurance in Archery Sub-Elite Athletes

This study aims to investigate the effects of a new training method for archery athletes with different distances, namely 20 meters, 50 meters, and 70 meters, in improving concentration and anaerobic endurance. The pre- and post-control group design was used in this study with the sample selection method using the purposive sampling technique. The criteria for participants in this study include: actively practicing archery, aged 14-20 years, having at least 5 years of archery competition experience, domiciled in East Java Province, not injured, and willing to participate in the study until the end. 40 sub-elite archery athletes (20 males, 20 females) became participants in this study and were divided into 4 groups: conventional training (CON), training with a shooting distance of 20 m (NEAR), training with a shooting distance of 50 m (MID), and training with a shooting distance of 70 m (LONG) training groups. Each group underwent a 12-week training program specific to their assigned distance. The instrument used to measure concentration is the standardised archery mirror drawing test and to measure anaerobic endurance using the RAST test instrument. The results of the paired sample t-test analysis showed that in the anaerobic endurance variable, the NEAR, MID, and LONG groups had a p-value <0.05, while the CON group had a p-value > 0.05. In the concentration variable (time), all groups had a p-value <0.05, while in the concentration variable (error), there were only two groups (NEAR and CON) that had a p-value <0.05. The Anova Test results showed a significant difference between the CON and MID groups and CON and LONG (p <0.05) in the anaerobic endurance, while in the concentration (time) there was a significant difference between the CON and LONG groups and NEAR and LONG (p<0.05). In conclusion, the MID and LONG groups significantly improve anaerobic endurance and concentration, two important factors for archery success. Longer training distances appear to have a more pronounced effect on concentration.

Physical capacity and performance correlation in sub-elite Indonesian archery athletes

The aim of this research is to analyse the physical components that can support the proper archery performance of young Indonesian athletes. This research employed a quantitative descriptive design involving 18 athletes from the East Java and West Java Archery Training Centre as the research subjects. Each athlete carried out a physical test consisting of 9 physical test items (1' incline sit up, Bosy Right, Bosy Left, MFT, Hover, Superman Back Hold, Pinch Grip, standing balance test, standing archery hold), which the trainer has prepared according to the needs of archery. After that, archery performance assessment was done using the recurve division's individual qualification system, i.e., arrow athletes performed 72 arrow shots. The data were then analysed using descriptive tests, silhouette method tests, and K-means clustering analysis to classify physical components and simplify the data collection process. These processes increased the accuracy of changes needed in the training process to improve athlete performance. A correlation test was also conducted using a Spearman's rho with a significance p<0.05. The study's results revealed that the silhouette method divided the variables into six clusters. The K-means cluster analysis results showed that exercises focused more on the arms, while trunk and lower extremity exercises received less attention. The research also found two physical aspects that had a positive and significant correlation with archery performance, namely, left pinch grip and right pinch grip. In addition, this research showed that the archers’ physical aspects of pinch grip strength (left and right) were closely related to performance achievements or scores in archery. Keywords: Physical capacity, sub-elite athletes, archery, archery performance.

Tennis action recognition and evaluation with inertial measurement unit and SVM

Action recognition in tennis plays a crucial role for athletes and coaches, aiding in understanding and evaluating the players' skill levels to formulate more effective training plans and tactical strategies. To enhance the recognition and grading of tennis player actions, this study introduces the use of inertial measurement units and flexible resistive sensors for data collection. An improved Support Vector Machine is employed for data classification to achieve efficient action recognition. The results demonstrated that the proposed classification algorithm achieved an average accuracy of 95.35 % in recognizing actions of elite athletes, with the highest accuracy (96.38 %) observed in forehand strokes. In the case of sub-elite athletes, the algorithm achieved an impressive average accuracy of 97.67 %. For amateur enthusiasts, the algorithm exhibited an average accuracy of 94.08 %. Furthermore, elite athletes exhibited larger peak values in the three-axis acceleration waveform during ball striking. Specifically, the absolute peak value of acceleration in the Y-axis for elite athletes reached 78 m/s², representing an increase of 39 m/s² and 8 m/s² compared to the other two levels of athletes, respectively. Additionally, on the X and Z axes, elite athletes' acceleration peak values reached 59 m/s² and 78 m/s², significantly higher than those of sub-elite athletes and amateur enthusiasts. Moreover, the acceleration curves of elite athletes demonstrated a higher overall regularity. These findings indicate that the proposed action recognition method has a significant impact on recognition and evaluation, providing valuable insights for action recognition and assessment across various domains and advancing the application of artificial intelligence technology in the field of sports.

Genetic predisposition to vitamin D deficiency in Indian athletes: Role of CYP2R1 rs10741657 variant

Vitamin D deficiency can negatively impact the health and training efficiency of athletes. The rs10741657(G) allele in CYP2R1 gene has been associated with lower vitamin D status, potentially contributing to vitamin D deficiency observed across various populations, including Indians. This study aimed to investigate whether the CYP2R1 (rs10741657) polymorphism is contributing to the vitamin D status among Indian athletes. Blood samples were collected from 92 Indian elite and sub-elite athletes participating in weightlifting (29), badminton (32), athletics (14), and rowing (17) for laboratory analysis. PCR-RFLP of the CYP2R1 (rs10741657) SNP was performed, and vitamin D levels were measured. Statistical analysis was done to assess the association between genotype and vitamin D status. Vitamin D levels were comparable between genders but differed across sports, with indoor athletes, especially badminton players having higher levels. The AA genotype was associated with higher vitamin D levels compared to the GG and AG genotypes. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the athletes studied. This deficiency may be due to the higher prevalence of the alternate allele (G) of CYP2R1 polymorphism, suggesting that genetic predisposition plays a key role in determining the vitamin D status of athletes.

Sensorimotor Processing in Elite and Sub-Elite Adolescent Sprinters during Sprint Starts: An Electrophysiological Study.

Most studies on sprint performance have focused on kinematics and kinetics of the musculoskeletal system for adults, with little research on the central sensorimotor transmission and processes, especially for adolescent sprinters. This study aimed to determine whether differences in the integrity of the central auditory system and audiomotor transmissions between the elite and sub-elite adolescent sprinters may affect their performance in the 100 m time. Twenty-nine adolescent junior high school students, including elite national-class and sub-elite regional-class athletes, were assessed. Visual and auditory evoked potentials (VEP and AEP) as well as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) were recorded and analyzed during a sprint start. The electrophysiological results clearly reveal differences in central auditory transmission between elite and sub-elite groups, and between sexes. There were significant differences between elite and sub-elite groups, and during a sprint start, the EEG activities for elite female and male athletes showed significant time-dependent differences in peak amplitudes following the three auditory cues (ready, set, and gunshot). These findings can provide coaches with a more comprehensive consideration for sports-specific selection based on the athletes' individual conditions, e.g., sensorimotor neuroplastic training for providing precise and efficient training methods to improve young sprinters' performance.

Are Sub-elite Athletes at Higher Risk of Eating Disorders, Exercise Addiction, Depression, and Low Energy Availability Compared With Elite Athletes?

The main objective of this study was to investigate the risk of eating disorders, exercise addiction, depression, and low energy availability (LEA) in Danish female and male elite compared with sub-elite athletes. A cross-sectional study. An online survey. A total of 410 elite athletes (mean age 20.1 years, 51% females) and 206 sub-elite athletes (mean age 21.3 years, 52% females) from 15 different sports.Assessment of Risk Factors: Eating Disorders, exercise addiction, depression, and LEA. The Sick Control, One Stone (6.5 kg), Fat, Food, the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire, the Exercise Addiction Inventory, the Major Depression Inventory, and the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire or the Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire. We found that more female sub-elite athletes compared with elite athletes had risk of eating disorders (EDs) (37.4% vs 23.4%; P < 0.012) and the same was found for males (23.2% vs 10.4%; P = 0.005). More athletes with risk of EDs had risk of exercise addiction (12.8 vs 5.4%, P = 0.006), depression (27.3 vs 4.2%, P < 0.001), and LEA (females 55.1 vs 40.7%, P = 0.024, and males 29.4 vs 13.7%, P = 0.036, respectively) compared with athletes without risk of EDs. Sub-elite athletes have a higher risk of eating disorders compared with elite athletes. Regular screening of ED symptoms and associated conditions in elite and especially sub-elite athletes may ensure early identification.

Return to Running for Postpartum Elite and Subelite Athletes.

There is little evidence to guide elite athletes who desire returning to competition after giving birth to a child. Ultimately, this can result in decreased performance and increased risk of injury. This paper addresses aspects that must be considered when building and monitoring a return to running program for a postpartum elite or subelite athlete, including pelvic floor and core stability, progressive reloading of the musculoskeletal system, monitoring of nutritional parameters, and considerations for lactation. PubMed and CINAHL (Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature) were searched with the following search strategy: (extreme sports OR elite athletes OR running OR exercise) AND (breastfeeding OR lactation OR bone density OR fetal weight OR gestational weight gain OR postpartum or post-partum OR postnatal OR post-natal OR pregnancy OR childbirth). The following information is based on best available evidence and clinical experience. Clinical review. Level 4. Due to the interplay between cardiovascular fitness, postpartum nutrition, lactation, and progressive reloading of the muscular and skeletal system, we propose a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach to safely and successfully allow an athlete to return to an elite level of competition. Return to running in the postpartum period is a highly individualized process that benefits from multidisciplinary, individualized care. This includes monitoring of nutrition, core and pelvic floor function, bone reloading, muscle and tendon reloading, and breastfeeding care when applicable. C.

Acute effects of eccentric overload training with different loading doses in male sprinters

ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of two doses (Dose1 and Dose2,D1 and D2) of inertial Flywheel Eccentric Overload (FEOL), Eccentric Hook (EH), and High-intensity Half Squat (HHS) on muscle explosiveness in male sprinters. MethodsTwenty-one sub-elite male sprinters were randomly assigned to three groups: the FEOL group (n=7), the EH group (n=7), and the HSS group (n=7),Measurements of athletes' explosive jumps (CMJ, SJ, SLJ) heights, relative peak power indices, and 30-m sprint times were collected before and 6 min after the intervention. ResultsAt D1 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p < 0.05) after HHS training intervention, while there was no significant change in FEOL and EH training (p > 0.05). At D2 loading dose, CMJ, SJ jump height, and relative peak power increased significantly (p < 0.01) after FEOL and EH training intervention, but at D2HHS intervention, these indexes tended to decrease (p < 0.05). None of the three training protocols significantly improved SLJ performance (p > 0.05). CMJ vertical jump height and relative peak power were significantly higher after D2FEOL and D2EH interventions than after D1HHS (P < 0.05). ConclusionD1HHS, D2FEOL and D2EH3 intervention methods can all improve the performance of sub-elite athletes in the 30-m test, CMJ test and SJ test. in the CMJ test, FEOL training demonstrated a higher acute augmentation effect compared to EH training.

Which Polymorphism Is The Distinguishing Factor For Fitness Athletes: The Ace Indel or Actn3 rs1815739?

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the occurrence of ACE I/D and ACTN3 rs1815739 variations in sub-elite fitness athletes and to determine which gene is distinctive by comparing genotype and allele frequencies with sedentary individuals. Material and Methods: 41 sub-elite fitness athletes and 41 sedentary volunteers participated in the study. Genetic analyzes of the athletes were determined using molecular-based methods such as DNA isolation using a commercial kit, Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-Time PCR), and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after blood collection in EDTA tubes. The Chi-Square test was used to compare the genotype distribution and I, D, C, and T allele frequencies of ACE I/D and ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphisms for statistical significance. Results: Analysis of data from our study revealed no statistically significant differences in ACE I/D polymorphisms between groups (p=0.4438), but statistically significant differences in ACTN3 rs1815739 polymorphisms significant difference (p=0.0313). Conclusion: In conclusion, in our study, it can be said that the ACTN3 gene is a distinguishing factor in fitness.

Unilateral Hamstring Muscle Strengthening Exercises Can Improve Hamstring Asymmetry and Increase Jumping Performance in Sub-Elite Badminton Athletes

This study aimed to determine the effect of 10 weeks of unilateral training on asymmetry and jumping performance in sub-elite badminton athletes. 23 out of 41 badminton athletes who met the inclusion criteria were taken as samples in this study. Selected samples will be given unilateral exercise interventions in the form of Swiss ball hamstring curl exercises and single leg bridge for ten weeks with a frequency of exercise 3 times a week. Data were collected two times before the intervention (pretest) was given and after the intervention (posttest). The measurement uses the Norbord test to determine the condition of hamstring asymmetry and the Counter Movement Jump (CMJ) jump test to determine jump height. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in the percentage of hamstring asymmetry p ≤ 0.001 (Pretest: 20.26±10.25 % to Posttest: 9.20±3.51 %) and has a large effect size with a Cohen's d value of 1.443, and an increase in jump height p ≤ 0.001 (Pretest: 33.06±4.93 cm to Posttest: 35.17±4.54 cm) and has a medium effect size with a Cohen's d value of 0.447. The conclusion is that 30 unilateral exercises for ten weeks can improve hamstring asymmetry above 10% and increase jumping performance in badminton athletes. Keywords: Hamstring Asymmetry, Jump performance, Unilateral exercise

Unraveling athletic performance: Transcriptomics and external load monitoring in handball competition.

This study aims to comprehend the impact of handball practice on sub-elite athletes by investigating transcriptomic changes that occur during a match. The primary focus encompasses a dual objective: firstly, to identify and characterize these transcriptomic alterations, and secondly, to establish correlations between internal factors (gene expression), and external loads measured through Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS variables). Ultimately, this comprehensive analysis seeks to evaluate both acute and chronic responses to exercise within the context of handball training. The study included sixteen elite male athletes from the FC Barcelona handball second team. Blood samples were extracted at three different time points: before the match at baseline levels (T1), immediately upon completion (T2), and 24 hours after completion (T3). Differential gene expression, Gene Ontology Term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were conducted in two comparisons: Comparison 1 (T1 vs T2) and Comparison 2 (T1 vs T3). Further, the correlation between gene expression levels and training variables (external load) was conducted. In T1 vs T2, 3717 of the 14632 genes detected were differentially expressed (adjusted p-value < 0.05), and enrichment of terms related to the immune system, mitochondria, and metabolic processes was found. Further, significant linear correlations were obtained between High-Speed running (HSR) and high-intensity variables such as acceleration ACC and deceleration DEC values with amino acids, and inflammatory and oxidative environment-related pathways, both in chronic and acute response. This research highlights the effects of external workload on elite athletes during a handball match and throughout the season. The study identifies deregulation in the immune system, mitochondrial functions, and various metabolic pathways during the match. Additionally, it establishes correlations between the external load and pathways associated with amino acids, inflammation, oxidative environment, and regulation. These findings offer insights into the immediate and chronic responses of athletes to physical effort.

Association between ACTN3 (R577X), ACE (I/D), BDKRB2 (-9/+9), and AGT (M268T) polymorphisms and performance phenotypes in Brazilian swimmers

BackgroundThe influence of genetic polymorphisms on athletic performance has been widely explored. This study investigated the interactions between the polymorphisms ACTN3 (R577X), ACE (I/D), BDKRB2 (-9/+9), and AGT (M/T) and their association with endurance and strength phenotypes in Brazilian swimmers.Methods123 athletes (aged 20–30 years) and 718 controls participated in the study. The athletes were divided into elite and sub-elite (N = 19 and 104, respectively) and strength and endurance experts (N = 98 and 25, respectively). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in all groups.ResultsConsidering the ACE polymorphism, it was observed a higher frequency of the DD genotype than expected in the strength experts of the elite group, whereas the strength experts sub-elite athletes had a higher frequency of the ID genotype (χ2 = 8.17; p = 0.01). Subjects with XX genotypes of ACTN3 are more likely to belong to the athlete group when compared to the control group (OR = 1.79, p = 0.04). The DD homozygotes of the ACE are more likely to belong to the elite group with strength phenotypes than the group of sub-elite (OR = 7.96, p = 0.01) and elite strength experts compared to elite endurance (OR = 18.0, p = 0.03). However, no significant differences were observed in the allelic distribution of the polymorphisms evaluated when comparing Elite, sub-elite athletes and controls.ConclusionACE and ACTN3 allele frequencies should be considered with regard to performance influencing factors in Brazilian swimmers.

Peculiarities of the formation of psychological signs of masculinity and femininity in athletes (on the example of sports acrobatics)

The article presents a study of determining the degree of manifestation of inversion of sexual dimorphism using the study of psychological types (behavioral indicators of masculinity/femininity) according to the method of Sandra Bem (S. Bem) in acrobats of various roles and genders and non- athletes. Athletes specializing in pair and group sports acrobatics and persons of the same age who do not play sports took part in the research. Acrobatic girls were divided into 2 groups: 1) roles at the top (n=32), puberty age (13.96±1.02), 2) roles in the middle and at the bottom (n=42), youth age (19.36±2.86). Young acrobats: 1) roles above (n=32), average age 14.88±2.32; 2) roles in the middle and below (n=48), average age 20.38±2.89. Sports qualification of athletes: beginners, sub-elite and elite athletes. All subjects were offered the method of determining a person's gender identification (psychological sex) according to S. Bem, which is based on determining the degree of masculinity, femininity and androgyny of an individual. It was found that 10% of female respondents, 12-25 years old (the roles above), specializing in pair-group acrobatics, belong to the masculine type of gender identity, and 90% to the andromorphic type. In those who do not do sports: masculinity – 3%, femininity – 10%, androgyny – in 87% of the subjects. 45% of male acrobats showed signs of masculinity, 55% – androgyny. In people who do not do sports: masculinity – 30%, androgyny – 70%. Acrobats aged 16-23 (the roles in the middle and below: masculinity – 20%, androgyny – 80%. Feminine personality type was not found in any of the athletes. In female acrobats of both roles, the test data obtained using the psychological gender method indicate a shift from the feminine type of gender identification to the masculine and androgynous types.

The study of sexual dimorphism based on the values of the finger index “2D:4D” in pair-group acrobatics

Aim: Research and determination of the degree of manifestation of the inversion of sexual dimorphism using the study of the “2D:4D” index finger in acrobats of various roles and genders and non-athletes. Materials and Methods: Pair-group acrobatics athletes, as well as peers who do not play sports, were studied. Acrobatic girls: roles at the top (n=32), age 13.96}1.02; roles in the middle and at the bottom (n=42), age19.36}2.86. Young acrobats: roles above (n=32), age 14.88}2.32; roles in the middle and elow (n=48), age 20.38}2.89 (beginners, sub-elite and elite athletes). Statistical processing was performed using the STATISTICA 10.0 computer program: arithmetic mean (X), standard deviation (SD), standard error of the arithmetic mean (m), Brave-Pearson correlation analysis (r), the non-parametric U-Mann-Whitney statistical test, the Wilcoxon T test. Results: In female athletes, in the middle and below, the female and equal type of hand bone was found in 76.20% of athletes, the male type of hand bone –in 23.80% of the subjects. In the male acrobats of those in the middle and below the male hand bone type was found in 100% of the athletes and the female hand bone type was found in none of those studied. Conclusions: In male acrobats, not a single case of female hand bone type was found according to the “2D:4D” index finger, all subjects with male hand bone type. The feminine and equal type is found in a small percentage of young men who do not play sports.

The Effect of Nitrate Supplementation on Sportive Performance

Beetroot juice is typically used as a source of dietary nitrate supplementation, which has been hailed as a potential new ergogenic aid for athletic and exercise performance. A 0.6% performance boost is now deemed adequate to make a difference due to the rise in competitive equality in top-level sport especially. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of nitrate supplementation on sports performance and to reveal the mechanisms of action. For that, information from the publications evaluated throughout the scope of SCI, SCI-Expanded, and ESCI were collected by scanning the literature in the SportDiscus, EMBASE, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases over a 10-year period. According to literature, it has been stated that nitrate supplementation provides vasodilation, triggers mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose uptake, and calcium transport from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Nitrate supplementation has been demonstrated to have physiological effects that may be advantageous for improving exercise performance, at least in recreationally active or sub-elite athletes.

English

Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities that could endanger the lives of elite and sub-elite professional athletes based on normal, borderline, and abnormal findings described in international recommendations. Material and method: This retrospective observational study was performed only on men elite football players, men elite baseball players, men elite basketball players, and men sub-elite football players (second division, third division, U-15, U-17, and U-20). Data were collected from pre-competition ECGs performed by team-affiliated physicians in the 2012 – 2019 preseasons of active-roster athletes and sub-elite players. The qualitative characteristics of each ECG were analyzed using the international recommendations for electrocardiographic interpretation in athletes to detect accepted training-related ECG findings and findings classified as borderline and abnormal. Results: A total of 716 ECGs were included. Common training-related ECG changes were found in 63.1%; sinus bradycardia was the most prevalent training-related ECG change (47.2%). The prevalence of borderline ECG readings among all the participants was 3.9%; the most frequent change was right axis deviation. The prevalence of abnormal ECG findings overall was 4.2%. Conclusion: Electrocardiographic changes in athletes are frequently seen; however, a constant review of changes within abnormal or borderline parameters is recommended. It is suggested that further research studies should study the electrocardiographic changes in elite and sub-elite athletes and compare these changes considering the biological sex of the athletes to see if there are any differences.

Association between “cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36)” and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise training: a systematic review

Fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the scavenger class B receptor family and is encoded by the cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) gene. This receptor has a high affinity for fatty acids and is involved in lipid metabolism. An abundance of FAT/CD36 during exercise occurs in mitochondria and solitary muscles. As such, we aimed to systematically review the evidence for the relationship FAT/CD36 and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise training. Five electronic databases were selected for literature searches until June 2022: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, science direct, and Google Scholar. We combined the different synonyms and used the operators (“AND”, “OR”, “NOT”): (CD36 gene) OR (CD36 polymorphism) OR (cluster of differentiation 36) OR (FAT/CD36) OR (fatty acid translocase) OR (platelet glycoprotein IV) OR (platelet glycoprotein IIIb) AND (adipose tissue lipolysis) OR (fatty acids) OR (metabolism lipid) OR (adipocytes) AND (physical effort) OR (endurance exercise) OR (high-intensity training). All published cross-sectional, cohort, case-control, and randomized clinical trials investigating CD36 polymorphisms and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise in subjects (elite and sub-elite athletes, non-athletes, sedentary individuals and diabetics), and using valid methods to measure FAT/CD36 expression and other biomarkers, were considered for inclusion in this review. We initially identified 476 publications according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and included 21 studies investigating FAT/CD36 and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise in our systematic review after examination of titles, abstracts, full texts, and quality assessments using the PEDro scale. There were nine studies with male-only participants, three with female-only participants, and nine studies included both female and male participants. There were 859 participants in the 21 selected studies. Studies were classified as either low quality (n = 3), medium quality (n = 13), and high quality (n = 5). In general, the data suggests an association between FAT/CD36 and adipose tissue lipolysis during exercise training. Improvements in FAT/CD36 were reported during or after exercise in 6 studies, while there were no changes reported in FAT/CD36 in 4 studies. An association between fat oxidation and FAT/CD36 expression during exercise was reported in 7 studies. No agreement was reached in 5 studies on FAT/CD36 content after dietary changes and physical interventions. One study reported that FAT/CD36 protein expression in muscle was higher in women than in men, another reported that training decreased FAT/CD36 protein in insulin-resistant participants, while another study reported no differences in FAT/CD36 in young, trained individuals with type 2 diabetes. Our analysis shows an association between FAT/CD36 expression and exercise. Furthermore, an association between whole-body peak fat oxidation and FAT/CD36 expression during exercise training was demonstrated.Systematic Review Registration: [PROSPERO], identifier [CRD42022342455]

Comparative Study of the Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Nutritional Practices Among International Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes: A Sample of 1420 Participants from 14 Countries

BackgroundAlthough several studies have shown that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown has had negative impacts on mental health and eating behaviors among the general population and athletes, few studies have examined the long-term effects on elite and sub-elite athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health and eating behaviors in elite versus sub-elite athletes two years into the pandemic. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and April 2022, involving athletes from 14 countries, using a convenient non-probabilistic and snowball sampling method. A total of 1420 athletes (24.5 ± 7.9 years old, 569 elites, 35% women, and 851 sub-elites, 45% women) completed an online survey-based questionnaire. The questionnaire included a sociodemographic survey, information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21) for mental health assessment, and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (REAP-S) for assessing eating behavior.ResultsThe results showed that compared to sub-elite athletes, elite athletes had lower scores on the DASS-21 (p = .001) and its subscales of depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .007), and stress (p < .001), as well as a lower REAP-S score indicating lower diet quality (p = .013).ConclusionIn conclusion, two years into the pandemic, elite athletes were likelier to have better mental health profiles than sub-elite athletes but surprisingly had lower diet quality.

Prediction of Running Performances for World Class, Elite, Sub-elite, and Collegiate Athletes based on Maximal Aerobic Speed and Running Energy Reserve Index

Prediction of Running Performances for World Class, Elite, Sub-elite, and Collegiate Athletes based on Maximal Aerobic Speed and Running Energy Reserve Index

Biomechanics research on laterality effect between dominant and non-dominant during double roundhouse kick in the competitive taekwondo

BackgroundThe Double Roundhouse Kick (DRK) is one of the major scoring tools and athletes employ the leg of the dominant side (DS) or the non-dominant side (NS) for always attacking in an alternating state. The purpose is to examine the discrepancies in the biomechanical characteristics of the DS and NS of the leg of the DRK skills of sub-elite taekwondo athletes. MethodsUsing the Vicon, Kistler, and Daedo brand Electronic Body Protector (EBP), collection of the DRK data (attack time, joint angle, joint angular velocity, joint moment, ground reaction force, etc.) of 12 sub-elite taekwondo athletes (19.6 ± 2.0 yr, 180 ± 7.3 cm, 70 ± 9.8 kg) with the DS leg and NS leg. The measured data analyses via Visual3D, and statistical methods using nonparametric tests paired with samples based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test (The significance level is set as significant for P<0.05, and very significant for P<0.01). Results(i) There is no statistically significant discrepancy between the DS and NS at the time of hit (P>0.05) and shift of the center of gravity (P>0.05). (ii) Attacking leg (AL): the maximum knee flexion angle (Knee-MFA) (P<0.05) and the peak linear velocity of attack of the foot in the vertical hitting direction (P<0.01) on the DS was greater than that on the NS during the first hit phase (P1). (iii) Supporting leg (SL): the peak hip extension moment (P<0.05) on the DS was reported to be higher than that of the NS during the second hit phase (P2). (iv) Symmetry Index (SI): In the P1, the vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) of the SL leads to SI = 10.19 %, and in the P2, the vGRF of the SL results in SI = 18.48 %. ConclusionsThe DRK requires more and more symmetry between the DS and NS. The Knee-MFA of the AL and the line of attack speed of the foot in the vertical striking direction of the SL exhibited significant discrepancies. The DS has higher striking speed, athletes need to improve the striking speed of the NS leg in training, achieving more scoring opportunities in the game. Both the DS and NS revealed strong symmetry in the peak SI of the ground reaction force of the SL stirrup; however, weak symmetry was attained in the peak SI of the vGRF of the SL landing cushion.