Annals of Applied Sport Science
Volume:10 Issue: 3, Autumn 2022

Background: 

Four of the most relevant gestures in rugby (RU) are the pass, the tackle, the line out, and the scrum. RU is the third most common contact sport on the planet, and being a fast-paced collision game and carries a high risk of injury.
Objectives. To describe and compare plantar dynamics during four sports gestures in rugby players through speed, strength, and balance.

Methods:

Twenty-five male RU players were included who repeated four gestures three times using Moticon’s OpenGo sensor templates to assess seeding dynamics throughout the gestures. The data was stored in Microsoft Excel. An average of three gestures was calculated and used for statistical exploration using Wilcoxon and Friedman.

Results:

The four gestures’ highest mean total force (MTF) was on the left foot. On the right foot, the center of pressure (COP) tended to travel faster, and the COP stroke length was primarily larger on this foot. The line-out has generally been the gesture in which the foot had the greatest MTF, and the tackle and scrum were the gestures in which the COP moved the fastest and with the longest stroke length.

Conclusion:

The line out, in general, was the gesture in which the foot had the highest MTF. This pressure was predominantly concentrated in the posterior and medial parts of the left foot, and the tackle and the pass were the gestures in which the COP traveled with more velocity and with a longer trace length, especially in the right foot.

Background:

This study aimed to analyze core muscle fatigue effects on the kinematic parameters change during volleyball jump serve.

Methods:

The participants were sixteen experienced male volleyball players with average age, height, and body weight of 24.6 ± 1.8 years, 1.85 ± 1.6 m, and 79.5 ± 3.5 kg, respectively. This study utilized two high-resolution video cameras, a drone video, a lactate analyzer, and a radar speed gun. Meanwhile, the eight kinematics parameters analyzed at the approach, plant, and jump phases showed that the ball speed decreased significantly in the fatigue condition compared to the non-fatigue counterpart.

Results:

There was a significant difference in the jump phase duration, step length, and jump height variables for the fatigue and non-fatigue conditions during the jump serve in volleyball. Furthermore, the six kinematics parameters analyzed in the maximal shoulder external rotation phase showed a significant difference in fatigue and non-fatigue conditions found in the shoulder external rotation and trunk tilt backward parameters. Meanwhile, the maximum angular velocity phase at the upper limb joint during the jump serve showed that the variable shoulder internal rotation decreases significantly in the fatigue condition compared to the non-fatigue counterparts. Also, in the trunk rotation and trunk tilt forward, a significant decrease in the upper limb joint’s maximum angular velocity was observed in the fatigue condition during the volleyball jump serve.

Conclusion:

Fatigue reduces players’ performances during jump serve in volleyball, leading to slower ball speed and changes in body segment movements.

Background:

In order to minimize overtraining, a reliable method is required to analyze training loads.
Objectives. The objective of this study was to see if session Rate of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) is a valuable tool for tracking changes in perceived training load and strain among Malaysia rugby 15-a-side players during preparation for a significant game.

Methods:

Twenty-eight (n=28) elite rugby 15’s players completed an eight-week training program that included six weeks of intensive training (IT) and two weeks of reduced training (RT). They were put to the Bronco Test before IT (T0), after IT (T1), and after RT (T2). The sRPE approach was used to quantify the perceived training load and strain. Acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) was used to determine the training load sensitivity, monotony, and strain among players.

Results:

Results showed that the team stated a higher acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) during the first and second week of training and slightly reduced before entering the pre-competition phase and the following week (competitions phase). The result for Bronco Test has shown more remarkable improvement starting from the first week of training, the fourth week of training before entering the competition phase, and the sixth week of training during the competition phase. This study’s findings suggest a sensitive tool, ACWR, for monitoring changes in training load and strain in team-sport athletes. The change in session rate perceived exertion and total score of well-being/wellness correlated significantly over the training period (r =-0.41, P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

To conclude, combining the short fatigue questionnaire with the session-RPE approach for perceived changes in training load and strain may provide extra information on the athletes’ condition, helping coaches avoid overreaching or overtraining.

Background:

This study aimed to measure the alignment level, bone density, and body composition of the human body using DEXA and formetric 4D before and after applying the taping treatment and corrective exercise program for 8 weeks and to analyze the difference.

Methods:

This study was conducted in three different groups: those who applied exercise and taping (TCEG), those who only applied exercise (CEG), and the control group, who applied neither (CG). The correct exercise program for this study was constructed by referring to corrective exercise for dysfunction of the lumbopelvic-hip complex. After conducting overhead squat motion evaluation for the study participants, two upper and lower body programs were created and applied alternately, considering the compensation action.

Results:

As for the post-mortem results of TECG, the change in the torso slope and the average value were the highest, and the left and right results were significant in the torso imbalance. As a result of measuring pelvic tilt and torsion, the most corrected value in TECG was confirmed.

Conclusion:

We think it is necessary to correct the body shape through corrective exercise. Although various studies on corrective exercise have been conducted, they do not provide a clear standard, and body imbalance is related to several factors, so it is necessary to conduct research at a more systemic level. Various factors must be considered, such as attempts to correct the alignment of the spine and pelvis and the differences in body composition. A complex and diverse follow-up study of corrective exercise programs and body imbalance will be needed in the future.

Background:

Low back pain is one of the ten most common causes of disability, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction is one of the most common causes of it.

Objectives:

This study aimed to find if there is any association between hip adductor tightness with sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
Methods. Sixty people who had attended our Sports Medicine Clinic took part in this study (30 in each group). The case group contains patients who had sacroiliac joint dysfunction based on physical examination, and the control group was patients with similar characteristics who attended for reasons other than spinal or lower limb problems. A fixed sports medicine specialist assessed both groups' tenderness and tightness of adductor muscles.

Results:

The level of tenderness (Kendall Tau correlation coefficient equal to 0.440 and P<0.001) and tightness (Kendall Tow correlation coefficient equal to 0.479 and P <0.001) of the hip adductor muscles in the case group were significantly higher. More people in the case group reported hip adductor muscle pain than the control group (P <0.001).

Conclusion:

This study showed more hip adductor muscle involvement in people suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction.

Background:

Recent research has revealed the importance of psychological skills training and various physiological exercises to improve sporting performance. In light of all these facts, knowing that psychological skills training is necessary to improve sporting performance, and knowing the importance of the psychological performance program to develop these skills and ensure the control and stability of emotions, particularly in adolescence, led to the emergence of this study.

Objectives:

This study aimed to understand the effect of 10-week psychological skills training and positive feedback on handball players’ self-efficacy beliefs and shot accuracy.

Methods:

Thirty-eight female handball players aged between 15 and 19 were included in two study groups and one control group. Whereas the first study group received psychological skill training, the second group received planned positive feedback and psychological skills training. The data were collected through a personal information form, a self-efficacy scale (five-point Likert-type scale), and a shot accuracy measurement scale. Then the pretest-posttest controlled group patterned model was used to determine the differences between the groups. GraphPad Prism 8 was used for statistical analysis with the conventional method.

Results:

10-week psychological skills training increased the self-efficacy performance of young handball players in both study groups compared to their pretest results (P<0.01), and the increase was significant in study group 2 compared to the control group (P<0.01). The results also showed that the psychological skills training increased the performance of the shot accuracy of the handball players in both study groups compared to their pretest results. Still, the increase was significant in the study group receiving positive feedback (P<0.001). Moreover, the increase in the shot accuracy test performance of the positive feedback-receiving group was higher than the control and non-receiving group (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this study determined that the psychological skills training program increased the handball players’ self-efficacy and shot accuracy. Positive feedback strengthened the effect of the training even more on the self-efficacy beliefs and shot accuracy performance of the young athletes.

Background:

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of two exercise programs on patients undergoing the implantation of intraarticular stem cells.

Objectives:

We performed a randomized trial on sixteen patients under 65 years old with moderate knee OA after stem cell therapy.

Methods:

Patients were randomly divided into two groups of exercise therapy: weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (non-WB). This program lasted 12 weeks, with follow-ups at 1 and 3 months. Primary outcomes were knee pain (visual analog scale (VAS)) and physical function (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)). Secondary outcomes included: standing time, walking distance, pain-free walking distance, time to jelling, and a subscale of stiffness and pain of WOMAC.

Results:

Fifteen patients were retained. No adverse effect was reported. There was a significant improvement in pain and physical function in both groups compared to the baseline. VAS: from 55±7.6 to zero (effect size of 1.34), total WOMAC: from 93.75±1.39 to 30.87±5.22 at 1-month and 21.87±6.99 at 3-month (1.88 and 2.73, respectively). For secondary outcomes, walking distance (from 750.0±267.26 meter to 2000.0±0.0 meter and 2500.0±0.0 meter, respectively, and time to jelling (at 3 months, from 5.00±0.0 minute to 35.00±16.90 minute) improved significantly better in WB group.

Conclusion:

Both types of exercises were safe and improved primary and secondary outcomes. WB exercise has additional benefits of more pain reduction and functional improvement.

Background:

Sports events are activities carried out in a specific schedule to handle all sports competitions and activities, such as seminars, meetings, courses, panels, and camps, organized for sports purposes.

Objectives:

In this study, we aimed to discuss sports events during the pandemic.

Methods:

In this context, the present study targeted the 16th NKolay Istanbul Half Marathon on April 4, 2021, and recruited the randomly selected 125 female (23.1%) and 417 male (76.9%) marathon runners in this event. We gathered the data using a demographic information format and a 14-item scale.

Results:

We sought answers to four hypotheses by employing a descriptive survey model. Initially, we carried out a pilot study with a sample of 30 people to explore the scale’s validity and replicated the validity study for the primary sample. We performed exploratory factor analysis with the varimax rotation method for the validity study and attempted to confirm the resultant factorial structure using confirmatory factor analysis. We utilized a T-test and one-way analysis of variance to investigate whether the survey subscales differed significantly by the participants’ demographics. We ran statistical analyses on SPSS 20.0 at the 95% confidence interval.

Conclusion:

The findings confirmed our first two hypotheses. We were able to confirm the third hypothesis partially. Accordingly, the participants significantly differed in the race destination subscale by only income. Finally, our results rejected the fourth hypothesis. Overall, we may assert that COVID-19 is a prime concern for half marathon runners.

Background:

Evidence shows that obesity negatively influences children’s physical, physiological and musculoskeletal well-being.

Objectives:

This study examined the relationship between triponderal mass index (TMI), blood pressure (BP), and musculoskeletal fitness (MSF) in a cross-sectional sample of school children in Ado-Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria.

Methods:

Body weight, stature, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP & DBP), and three components of musculoskeletal fitness, comprising sit and reach (SR), sit-up (SUP), standing broad jump (SBJ), and 20-meter shuttle runs, were assessed in 1229 (boys=483, 39.3%; girls=746, 60.7%) school children (age range: 9-13 years).

Results:

A significant positive correlation was found between TMI and SBP (r= 0.182, P < 0.01), and DBP (r= 0.090, P < 0.01), while TMI and SR (r= -0.067, P < 0.05) and SBJ (r= -0.246, P < 0.01) yielded a substantial inverse relationship. Children with severe underweight were significantly less probable to perform well in SBJ (OR= 0.96, CI= 0.94; 0.99) and 20-meter shuttle run (OR= 1.39, CI= 1.22; 1.61). Childhood overweight was associated with increased SBP (OR= 1.03, CI= 1.02; 1.05) and poor SBJ (OR= 0.98, CI= 0.97; 0.99). Obese children were significantly associated with increased SBP (OR= 1.04, CI= 1.02; 1.06), poor SR (OR= 0.92, CI= 0.87; 0.98) and SBJ (OR= 0.94, CI= 0.93; 0.96) scores compared to age- and sex-specific norms.

Conclusion:

Elevated BP and poor musculoskeletal fitness could adversely affect the well-being of undernourished, overweight, and obese Nigerian children. Findings implicate the need to implement dietary and physical activity intervention programs to promote desirable health-related quality of life in school-going children.

Background:

It is known that recreational awareness and physical activities are essential in increasing society's happiness.

This study aims to determine the relationship between the recreational awareness levels and happiness levels of children between the ages of 14-20, determine whether demographic variables affect recreational awareness levels, and examine the relationship between them.

Methods:

The study sample consists of 448 children (16.04±2.79), 272 males and 176 females, residing in two regions in Turkey. As a data collection tool in the research, “The recreation Awareness Scale (RFS)” and “Oxford Happiness Scale” were used. Pearson correlation, independent sample t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data. Quantitative research methods ıt is a research conducted with a relational screening model.

Results:

It was determined that the recreational awareness levels of the participants and social success, self-development, and pleasure-entertainment sub-dimensions were high, and their happiness levels were moderate. There was no significant difference between the recreation awareness sub-dimensions of the children participating in the study and the gender variable. There were statistically significant differences in pleasure-fun (P=0.001), social success (P=0.000), and self-development (P=0.000) in all sub-dimensions according to the living area variable. While there was no difference in the self-improvement (P=0.188) sub-dimension of the recreational awareness scale according to the monthly income variable, significant differences were found in the social-achievement (P=0.017) and pleasure-entertainment (P=0.015) sub-dimensions. As a result of the Pearson correlation analysis, it was determined that there was a weak positive correlation between the recreational awareness levels of the participants and their happiness levels (r= .610, P> 0.24).

Conclusion:

As a result of the analysis made between the recreation awareness levels of the children participating in the research, the recreation awareness levels of children in the age group participating in the research can be increased, and their happiness levels can be directly affected.