Annals of Applied Sport Science
Volume:11 Issue: 1, Spring 2023

In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the implementation of social restrictions has disrupted daily life routines, including physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and academic motivation for undergraduates. The interaction between the changes in PA and academic motivation has not been studied deeply.

The present study aims to determine the PA level and academic motivation during the restriction movement during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the correlation between PA influence and students’ academic motivation.

One hundred and five participants (male, n= 38 and female, n=67) aged between 22-and 26 years old of the Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia, participated in the study. The PA levels were evaluated using International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and the students’ motivation was evaluated using the eMpowerment, Usefulness, Success, Interest, and Caring (MUSIC) Model of Academic Motivation Inventory.

The findings showed gender differences between males and females with higher mean values for times per week for vigorous, moderate, and light intensity PA. Both genders displayed the highest rates on Caring (female=5.42, male=5.34), followed by Success (female=5.23, male=5.22) and Usefulness (female=3.96, male=3.92). The lowest motivation was rated on eMpowerment (female=3.42, male=3.30) and Interest (female=3.85, male 3.84). A significant difference was found between males and females in their rate of both eMpowerment and Caring subscales. The Pearson test demonstrated a strong correlation between PA (measured by IPAQ-SF) and academic motivation (accessed by MUSIC inventory) among students during the COVID-19 pandemic (r=0.912), suggesting that the reduction of total PA had a profound impact on the academic motivation among undergraduates.

They maintained that PA as routine is a key strategy for physical and mental health, specifically academic motivation during a forced rest period such as the current COVID-19 lockdown.

This study aims to develop a Health Education assessment module in the classroom for lower primary students.

This study aims to identify the effectiveness of the health education assessment module for lower primary students by implementing it in the classroom-based assessment. The methodology design used in this study is the design and development research (DDR). The paper focused on the third phase of the design, which is an assessment of the module. The instrument used in this phase is the quasi-experimental to identify the effectiveness of assessment material, the assessment module for lower primary students in classroom-based assessment. Sixty year-one students were used as a control group and experimental group for this study. Pre and post-tests are given to determine the effectiveness of the Health Education assessment module. The data of this study has been analyzed using ANCOVA.

Research findings show the effectiveness of the stated module in increasing lower primary students’ knowledge of Health Education subjects. Based on the findings, there was a significant difference between the experimental group (mean = 84.1, standard deviation = .605) and the control group (mean = 50.61, standard deviation = .605). The mean difference between the two groups was 34 points scale, with a 95% confidence interval range. Also, the effect of size between groups is high, with the statistical value of eta squared 𝜂𝜂2 = 0.952.

Therefore, based on the findings of this study, the Health Education assessment module that has been developed effectively improves students’ knowledge in the context of this study.

There has been growing interest among scholars to examine public discourses concerning obesity, physical activity (PA), and diets during the last couple of decades. Some of these studies appear to counter-discourse that identifies the take-ups of obesity as a ‘health problem’ to be socially and morally problematic.

The purpose of this study was to critically analyze social media posts on obesity as they intersected with PA and diets.

The current study was social media research employing big data analytics followed by a qualitative method. The data collection process took several stages. First, we created a set of terms commonly used to describe obesity and overweight, including laymen’s words in the big data analytical machine. The second stage of data collection involved qualitative data which we sampled from machine learning. Data analysis included strategies to describe demographic characteristics and the sentiments of the posts were performed by big data analytics through natural language processing (NLP) algorithms. We further analyzed the qualitative data through six steps of thematic analysis.

The analysis resulted in the development of three major themes. First, it clustered around the characteristics of social media users as the public of the public pedagogy under investigation along with the inactions of that pedagogy through social media. The second theme includes the meanings of healthy bodies as socially constructed through posts regarding body weight. The last theme revolved around discourses about the resolution of unhealthy bodies, especially through PA and diets.

We conclude that social media is extensive in spreading out messages concerning living a healthy life. This becomes a discursive process of constructing what constitutes a healthy body and how to resolve undesirable bodies. The roles of authorities are also central in producing the discourse. Therefore, authorities should carefully examine all possible consequences of the health messages being circulated in the community while conclusive understanding has not been achieved yet. Because the impacts on our society could be profound, in ways through which social injustice could be reproduced through negative stigmatization that is based on body size.

The importance of predicting talents in children is so that hidden sports talents have opportunities to be developed.

This study aims to predict the talent level of children 12-15 years old in athletics.

The research used the ex-post facto descriptive method. The population is 507 children, consisting of 283 boys and 224 girls in two cities, Salatiga City and Lombok City. Samples were selected by random cluster sampling. The instrument uses ten kinds of predictive tests, including height, weight, the span of the arm, length of leg, sit & reach, standing broad jump, 40 m sprint, 10-second step frequency, shaken, and 800 m run. Data collection techniques using talent prediction tests. Data analysis using Criterion-Referenced Standards.

The results showed that there were 17 children (2%) in the very talented category, 30 children (9%) talented, 91 children (16.5%) moderately gifted, and 349 children (72.5%) under-talented. Prediction test results from Salatiga showed that there were four talented in sprint and jump, two talented in jump, and one expert in throw numbers. The distribution of talent shown from Lombok is five proficient in sprint and jump, three capable in a sprint, and two talented in throw numbers. Talent identification prediction tests are proven to predict the potential talent of children in athletics. The cities of Salatiga and Lombok are the centers of athletic seedlings that are used as benchmarks for achievement.

This test can predict the level of athletic talent in children aged 12-15 years old.

Today, the trend of maintaining good health and exercise has become very popular in Thailand, but from the document studied by the researcher, many sports facilities were abandoned. Some were not ready to use, and others were damaged.

This research aimed to study the actual conditions and expected conditions of people who used the field services, the equipment, and the sports facilities in Thailand's sports field and facilities management under the supervision of local administrative organizations and create their management model.

This study utilized mixed-method research. The quantitative phase was characterized by an initial quantitative step of data collection through the questionnaire with 420 participants by selecting through the Multi-Stage sampling method and analyzed with the descriptive statistic and a T-test. In the qualitative phase with the focus group interview research method, 11 experts in sports facilities used purposive sampling with semi-structured interviews.

The quantitative process identified the seven components of the management model of field equipment and sports facilities in Thailand consisted of 1) Property; 2) Service; 3) Technology; 3) Security; 4) Maintenance; 5) Support; system; and 6) Sustainable Management, and the result found a significant relationship between the actual conditions and expected conditions towards the seven components (P < 0.05). The qualitative part confirmed the quantitative findings.

The considerable gap difference between the actual and the expectation of the customers created the awareness of the policymakers to change something in a good way for developing all dimensions in the sports facility in Thailand. Nevertheless, the result of this research with the POLC principle could be helpful for the benefit of those policymakers in the field.

The effects of exercise intensity on the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) have been widely studied. However, in most of these studies, the contraction intensities were provided in a randomized order.

This study aimed to examine the influence of intensity order on RPE.

During the first period, three trials of isometric contractions were performed at three different target intensities in the following order: 25%, 50%, 75% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in group A and in the reverse order: 75%, 50%, 25% of MVC in group B. Each group’s intensity order provided during the first period was reversed during the second period. The RPE was measured at each target intensity.

There was a significant difference in the perceived intensity at 75% of MVC between groups during the first period. The perceived intensity of 75% of MVC in group A during the second period and group B during the first period was significantly lower than the target intensity.

The order of exercise intensity affected the perceived exertion responses in this study. When establishing an exercise program consisting of varying intensities, practitioners should consider the order of intensity implementation.

Chronic ankle instability has a detrimental impact on joint proprioception and muscle strength and negatively influences balance. Kinesio tape is gaining popularity among athletes as a technique to prevent ankle injuries while engaging in sports, although its efficiency in treating those limitations has been questioned.

The study aimed to measure how Kinesio tape influenced static and dynamic balance and ankle proprioception in CAI patients.

Twenty-eight men with chronic ankle instability were randomly assigned to one of three taping treatments: Kinesio tape (KT), placebo tape (PT), or no taping (NT). Isokinetic dynamometry was used to test joint position sense (JPS) and threshold for detecting passive motion (TTDPM). The static and dynamic balances were assessed using the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT). The differences in JPS, TTDPM, and static and dynamic balance test results across the three conditions were investigated using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA.

In the BESS test, the use of KT resulted in a much lower number of errors than the use of NT. The passive JPS maximum inversion test revealed that KT had better proprioception than PT and NT conditions. There were no significant differences in the other assessed variables across the tape.

In CAI participants, KT may aid preserve static balance and enhance proprioception.

Background

This study aimed to provide patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with an intervention based on whole-body vibration training (WBVT), examine pulmonary function and electroencephalograms (EEGs) to improve the physical capacity of these patients, and suggest an efficient approach to managing these patients in practice.

A clinical sample of 22 patients with severe COPD was randomly assigned to either Experimental Group I (n=12), which performed squat exercises in combination with WBVT, or Experimental Group II (n=10), which served squat exercises alone. The intervention programs were administered over four weeks, with ten repetitions per set, three sets per session, one session per day, and three days per week.

In Experimental Group I, within-group changes pre-and post-intervention were significant for the alpha waves in Fp1, Fp2, F3, and F4, whereas no within-group changes in pulmonary function, EEG, or 6-minute walk test (6MWT) performance were observed in Experimental Group II. Significant between-group differences were observed in the alpha waves in Fp1, Fp2, and F4 (P<0.05).

Exercise combined with WBVT was a safe and effective strategy to counteract the loss of musculoskeletal function in patients with COPD. Additional research is needed to develop protocols for the combination of WBVT and pulmonary function intervention programs.

Muslim archers need to fast during Ramadan, starting from sunrise to sunset, adhering to their religious calling while still needing to continue their training or competition. This situation is very challenging as archery is a sport that requires high concentration and focuses. The available evidence indicates that physical and non-physical aspects of sporting performance were impacted in a small magnitude by fasting. Thus, understanding the impact fasting has specifically on archers’ moods, and performance is crucial.

This study compares archers' shooting performance and mood during fasting and non-fasting periods.

Participants were male adolescent archers from the Terengganu State Sports Council and Malaysia Pahang Sports School (n=13; Mean age: 16.0±1.53 years). Participants were recruited through the purposive sampling method. This study was conducted a month before and during the Ramadan fasting month. The mood was evaluated using the 24-item Brunel Mood Scale Questionnaire before the scoring session. The total score of 36 arrows assessed the archery shooting performance.

The Mann-Whitney test showed that shooting performance and mood did not show any significant difference except for tension which showed a significant difference (p<0.05).

The results showed that fasting did not affect the shooting performance and mood of the archers. Moreover, fasting helps in reducing the tension of the archers.

Football clubs' strategic performance should be evaluated as an essential subject in strengthening competitive advantage rather than concentrating on the financial elements of a club's operations, as has traditionally been the case. Sports managers are now looking for strategic technologies that will assist them in obtaining precise and dependable information on how their teams are genuinely doing. This helps them improve customer satisfaction and strengthen their relationship, which leads to more money for football teams.

The goal of this study was to use the Balanced Score Card in Najaf Football Club to show financial and non-financial indicators in evaluating the club's long-term performance.

An empirical quantitative research approach based on economic and non-financial data was applied in this case. The club's strategic success may be evaluated based on non-financial data and information to move away from the conventional assessment based solely on financial data and information. The Balanced Score Card, which Kaplan and Norton made, was used to look at how well we did.

Although the measures of customer perspective (16.55%), internal operations (43%), education, and growth (32.84%) for Najaf Football Club decreased, the measures of financial perspective rose (31.93%). But because the football business is unique, it needs to pay more attention to customers and internal processes (such as training and recruiting professional players) to reach a level of customer satisfaction that improves the rest of the balanced scorecard. Although the financial perspective measures increased in the study, other perspectives, such as customer service, internal operations, education, and growth, showed disappointing results. This highlights the sports managers' narrow concentration on the financial element alone rather than on improving the rest of the perspectives, which is one of the most important components in achieving success and being competitive.

It is possible to conclude from the findings that the managers of Najaf Football Club should pay more attention to non-financial measures related to the customer and seek to achieve his satisfaction, with the need to increase the focus on internal operations such as increasing productive training hours while attracting experienced and efficient players as a result. It is essential for all club staff, including managers and players, to have the appropriate degree of education and development for the club to maintain a competitive edge over the long term.

Investigations in talent identification are mostly based on determining effective parameters, more specifically the determination of norms for Indonesian junior rowing athletes.

This research aimed to design a smart model in talent identification and selection for rowing athletes based on the weighting of priority criteria generated from the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) of anthropometric, biomotor, psychological, physiological, and technical variables from fuzzy logic.

The method was mixed methods research (MMR), it involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods in a study. Furthermore, it selected important criteria through a hierarchical analytical process of anthropometric, biomotor, psychological, physiological, and technical variables. The norms of elite rowing junior athletes aged 16-18 years were used as a comparative index. Furthermore, the smart model is designed based on fuzzy logic using MATLAB software.

The athletes were categorized into unmatched, semi-matched, matched, brilliant, and rare groups. The fuzzy testing of all talent identification and selection criteria for rowing athletes shows that Indonesian rowing male athletes must be in the "brilliant" classification or equal to 88.5% supported by anthropometric criteria, 10.6% supported by physiological criteria, and 89.4% supported by biomotor criteria.

Leg height and length, muscle power and leg strength, self-confidence and motivation, specific endurance, catch, drive, and recovery parameters were demonstrated as the main criteria and weighted by the analytic hierarchy process. This smart model analyzes these variables on the norms of elite rowing junior athletes and makes specific results from player talent. Therefore, It is a reliable and useful method for decision-making in talent identification and the selection of rowing athletes at a young age.

Prudent Governance is Important in Fine-tuning Performance Levels and Enhancing Administrative Quality Therefore, Good governance is associated with efficient and effective administration.

The study aims at exploring the importance of prudent governance in fine-tuning performance levels and enhancing administrative quality from Jordan Higher Council for Youth and Sports workers' perspective.

To achieve the objectives of the study, the questionnaire as a study instrument is adopted. The study sample consisting of 80 administrators working in different locations of the Jordan Higher Council for Youth and Sports is used. A two-domain questionnaire: The impact of applying governance in fine-tuning performance level and the impact of applying governance in enhancing performance quality is designed.

The impact of applying governance on the performance level is at a medium level while the impact of applying governance on enhancing the performance quality is at a medium level. The findings also show that there are no statistically significant differences due to the variable of gender, academic qualification, and years of experience on the impact of applying governance in fine-tuning the performance level and enhancing administrative quality.

The study mainly recommends applying governance in sports institutions, updating the regulations, instructions, laws, and legislation governing the sports domain, matching them with the regulations and instructions in force in the country, and working to enable sports federations to launch a sports governance project in Jordan.

Apoptosis is a kind of regulated cell death involved in the normal growth, development, immune response, and elimination of abnormal cell proliferation in living organisms. In contrast, regular exercise protects against aging, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and apoptosis.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on HIF-1α levels in lung tissues and apoptosis of the pulmonary system in male Wistar rats.

Ten male Wistar rats were divided into training and control groups for this purpose. They performed six weeks of HIIT conducted in 5 sessions per week, each session for 30 minutes at a speed of 15 to 70 m/min. Then, animal lung tissue was extracted, and HIF-1α levels and lung tissue apoptosis index were measured via ELISA and immunohistochemical methods, respectively.

showed that HIIT significantly increased HIF-1α level (p = 0.001) and lung and pulmonary duct apoptosis (p = 0.001) despite a significant improvement in exercise performance (p = 0.001).

According to the results, HIIT enhances athletic performance, HIF-1α level increases, and the rate of apoptosis rises.