Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

{"title":"Physical fitness levels among children in northeast Italy by sex and age group: a comparison with teachers' assessments and children in other European countries.","authors":"Andrea Toscani, Arve Vorland Pedersen","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1383575","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1383575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Physical fitness is associated with health-related quality of life, especially among youth. Although schools play an important role in promoting children's physical activity, in Italy the lack of qualified physical education teachers in primary schools may be compromising children's achievement of recommended levels of physical activity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To test that possibility, we measured the physical fitness of 170 children (i.e., 79 boys and 91 girls) 6-10 years old in two schools in Cadore, Veneto, in northeast Italy, using the Physical Fitness Test, a tool developed in Norway and previously used among children there and in Lithuania. Teachers in Italy also assessed their students' physical fitness, and their rankings were correlated with the children's test results. The test battery included nine elements: a standing broad jump, hopping 7 m on both feet, hopping 7 m on one foot, throwing a tennis ball, pushing a medicine ball, climbing wall bars, a 10 × 5 m shuttle run, a 20 m run, and a 6 min Cooper test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Test scores generally increased with age and more steeply among boys than girls, and boys outperformed girls on most items. Children in Italy performed similarly to children in Norway but outperformed ones in Lithuania on nearly every item across sex and age groups. The correlation between teachers' predictions and the actual test results was rather low for boys (.538, <i>p</i> < .001) and even lower for girls (.360, <i>p</i> < .001).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Data revealed similar results in physical fitness between the three countries, albeit with some differences for individual items. However, primary school teachers in Italy assessed physical fitness rather poorly, possibly due to their lack of specific academic training in physical education and thus limited perception of physical fitness compared with academically trained physical education teachers. Last, because the procedure for categorizing children by age may significantly affect the results and subsequent between-group comparisons, researchers comparing children in different age groups should report their procedures for categorizing age.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1383575"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11653176/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142853318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The current physical activity in persons with disability in Qatar: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Uma Pandiyan, Ibin Kariyathankavil, Abderrahmane Rebbouh, Leila Khairallah Ep Grami, Asha Susan Thomas, Brijesh Sathian","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1394097","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1394097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The primary objective of this study was to measure and quantify the current level of physical activity among persons with disability in Qatar. The secondary objective was to assess and analyze the duration of sedentary behavior among individuals with disability in Qatar.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study of persons with disability living in Qatar. The study period was from October 2020 to December 2021.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>96 persons with disabilities participated in this study. They included individuals with amputations, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, and other developmental impairments. Of the respondents, 56% were male and 64% were Qataris. Of the respondents, 61.5%said that they felt psychologically and emotionally better when engaging in physical activity, and this difference was statistically significant. 71% of all those who reported feeling physically good after sport, 65% said that they enjoyed the social aspects of sports. This corroborates the beneficial effects of exercise, sports, and physical activity in persons with all types of disabilities.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There was a definite impact on the emotional and physical well-being of those who participated in the physical activities. There was less participation in team activities and two-thirds preferred to exercise alone. However, their numbers were not statistically significant because of low enrollment in the study.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1394097"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11649414/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142846464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stress, physical activity, and mindfulness practices among youth amidst COVID-19.","authors":"A El Hajj, M Noulhiane, B Andrieu, Natcha Heutte, O Sirost","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1493729","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1493729","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated stress and anxiety among young people, particularly university students, impacting their mental well-being and daily life. Given the rise in social isolation and economic uncertainty, the adoption of mindfulness practices such as sophrology, meditation, and yoga becomes essential for improving their mental health. This study aims to evaluate the impact of these practices on stress levels and their effect on engagement in physical activities among youths.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study employed a mixed methods design to assess the impact of different wellness and mindfulness practices on stress levels and physical activity (PA) engagement among university students. Quantitative data were gathered electronically from 218 students at the University of Rouen and the university of Paris-Cité through validated questionnaires, including custom tools on sports and mindfulness practices and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The sample consisted mainly of young adults aged 18 to 35, with a majority of 170 female and 48 male participants. Qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with three directors of the university's sports and physical activities department (SUAPS), as well as four wellness program instructors. Data analysis involved statistical techniques using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software for quantitative data, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically using Sphinx software, a tool for textual analysis. Ethical approval for the study was obtained, and confidentiality of all participants was maintained throughout the research.</p><p><strong>Results and conclusion: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic had significant effects on French university students' PA, mental health, and stress levels. Lockdowns led to a decline in sports practices for many, while others adapted by increasing their engagement in fitness and wellness practices. The majority of participants (64.68%) reported moderate levels of stress. A significant correlation was found between motivations for mental health support and stress management, and higher levels of stress (<i>p</i> = 0.0000 and <i>p</i> = 0.0024, respectively). Regular participation in wellness activities was associated with lower stress (<i>p</i> = 0.0193). The findings reinforce the idea that incorporating wellness practices into educational environments can strengthen students' mental resilience and overall well-being, equipping them with essential tools to effectively cope with future stressors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1493729"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142835197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Nutrition for team and individual sport athletes.","authors":"Alvaro López-Samanes, Gina Trakman, Justin D Roberts","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1524748","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1524748","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1524748"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142835195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testosterone/cortisol ratio: gender effect and prediction of podium results in beach sprint master rowers.","authors":"Giovanni Ficarra, Michelangelo Rottura, Carmen Mannucci, Daniela Caccamo, Alessandra Bitto, Fabio Trimarchi, Debora Di Mauro","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1466619","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1466619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this study was to address the lack of data on the stress and motivation response in master athletes during competitions, as athletic performance in this age group can be significantly impacted by stress rather than appropriate training.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Coastal rowing beach sprint master athletes aged 43-57 years were examined to assess the saliva levels of stress biomarkers, cortisol, and testosterone. Specifically, samples were collected at awakening and before and after the boat race.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Mean values of cortisol remained unchanged from awakening and raised at the end of the competition, while testosterone levels increased before the race, suggesting an aggressive/competitive behavior. Cortisol levels were significantly higher when comparing pre-race levels with post-race (<i>p</i> = 0.001) levels and early morning with post-race (<i>p</i> = 0.006) levels. No gender effect was observed in this case. Testosterone values did not demonstrate significance when compared between time points, not even when stratifying by gender. Considering the 24 athletes, a higher testosterone/cortisol ratio was correlated with a worse podium position (B = 3.705; <i>p</i> = 0.009). When stratified by gender, the testosterone/cortisol ratio demonstrated an association with a worse outcome of the race only in female rowers (B = 4.012; <i>p</i> = 0.022). Male athletes demonstrated no significant correlation between hormone ratio and race results (B = 3.288; <i>p</i> = 0.292).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It emerged from this study that the amateur rowers who approach competitive sport during adulthood may have problems in coping with the race-related stress and thus the outcome of their performance might be affected, as in adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1466619"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646765/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142835198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of the opponent's head in perception of kick target location in martial arts.","authors":"M R Incognito, T Watson, G Weidemann, K A Steel","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1468209","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1468209","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Athletes in Martial Arts must anticipate the target of their opponent's kick or strike to avoid contact. Findings suggest that features, e.g., head and face may play a greater role in predicting opponent action intent compared to global movement information, however little research has explored the role of the head in action anticipation. The aim of this study was to examine the role of the head in predicting the target of a kicking action in martial arts. <i>N</i> = 76 volunteer participants (<i>n</i> = 32 athletes > 5 years of experience, <i>n</i> = 36 non-athletes with no experience) were asked to watch a series of video clips depicting various kicking techniques with differing levels of spatial occlusion of the head. These clips were also temporally occluded compelling participants to predict the landing target of each kick (i.e., head or chest). The hypothesis of the current study is that athletes would be more accurate than non-athletes, but there was no significant effect of expertise on accuracy. Both athletes and non-athletes performed well above chance level performance. Head occlusion did not significantly influence performance and did not interact with expertise, suggesting head and face information did not play a role in predicting opponent action intent. Across participants the landing target of the roundhouse kick was identified with greater accuracy than the front or the back kick. Additionally, participants identified kicks from the rear leg with greater accuracy than the front leg. These findings have significant implications for combat sports where athletes are required to anticipate the action intent of their opponent to formulate an effective defensive response.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1468209"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142835200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of motivation in selection processes-comparing sports and business.","authors":"Birte Brinkmöller, Dennis Dreiskämper, Oliver Höner, Bernd Strauss","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1463910","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1463910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Talent identification and selection in sports pose significant challenges, necessitating a nuanced understanding of factors influencing athletes' elite-level potential. While physical and physiological aspects have conventionally played roles in the selection process, also other constructs of talent development have to be considered. Various talent models have included psychological aspects, especially motivation, as either moderators or catalysts. Based on empirical evidence of the relationship between motivation and performance, different views are hold in which form motivation should be used for talent selection. Considering the hierarchical model of achievement motivation and self-determination theory, the importance of different motivational dimensions in talent selection is assessed. This study extends its focus beyond sports, exploring whether differences and similarities between sports and business in their selection processes exist. The objective is to discern whether scouts, coaches and recruiters prioritize motivational dimensions differently. Along with the statistical analyses [conjoint analysis, analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) and constant-sum procedures], this research aims to provide insights into the weighted importance of diverse motivational dimensions and their influence on the decision-intention of decision-makers. The study aims to provide exploratory insights into how motivational dimensions could inform talent selection processes by comparing different contexts. This research may offer a first step to further investigate practical applications for talent identification and selection processes with insights from other contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1463910"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11646711/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142835199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Training loads and practices of competitive organ-recipients at the British and World Transplant Games.","authors":"Thomas Hames, Sheila Leddington-Wright, C Douglas Thake, Stefan De Smet, Mike Price","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1445491","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1445491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Little information is available regarding the TL and training practices of competitive athletes who are solid-organ recipients. This study characterized TL and practices of competitive organ-recipients at the British and World Transplant Games, 2017.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Questionnaire data was gathered from 220 participants regarding sporting events and type, frequency, duration and intensity of training sessions undertaken. TL for each training session (session duration × session rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) and total TL were determined.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall participants trained 5 ± 3 times per week at an RPE of 5 ± 2 AU for between 60 and 75 min per session (TL ∼1,500-1,875 AU). Most participants (<i>n</i> = 176; 79.7%) reported training three or more times each week. Approximately half (49%) the participants reported undertaking resistance training each week (3 ± 2 sessions per week, RPE of 6 ± 2 AU, 45-60 min per session; TL ∼810-1,080 AU, respectively). Of those participants undertaking resistance training 75% undertook two or more sessions each week. Participants generally undertook most events within a predominant sport with one or two events in a secondary sport. Typical weekly TL for the whole group was 2,762 ± 3,583 AU with considerable variation within and across sports (cycling 4,383 ± 4,005 AU; field athletics 3,671 ± 6,181 AU; court-based sports 2,645 ± 3,308 AU; high physical demand sports [e.g., skiing, triathlon] 2,595 + 2,247 AU; track athletics 2,547 ± 2,664 AU; swimming 2,091 ± 1,070 AU; low physical demand sports [e.g., darts, petanque, walking] 1,182 + 801 AU). Sports-specific TL for predominant and secondary sports was ∼1,500 AU. Resistance training and gym-based aerobic training were the most frequent non-specific training components undertaken. Most competitors (79%) were active in sport prior to transplant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The wide range of TL and components undertaken by athletes with solid-organ transplants likely reflects the multiple and diverse event participation of competitive organ-recipients as well as the diverse physical fitness profiles and incentives to participate. Optimization of TL both for multiple competitive sports and maintenance of health should be considered for these athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1445491"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11637886/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142828196","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Afrocentric frameworks in recreation and leisure research: a perspective article.","authors":"Michael Sakala","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1491824","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1491824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This perspective article re-imagines and proposes key Afrocentric frameworks that can contribute towards animating the recreation and leisure discourse in Africa. The article foregrounds Afrocentricity, Sankofa, African Social Ontogenesis and Ubuntu as pertinent lenses through which recreation and leisure phenomena can be explored to respond to African realities. The article analytically draws on relevant scholarship to describe and interpretively glean implications for recreation and leisure research. The article's contribution to the discourse lies in its call for a re-think on how recreation and leisure research should engage with African realities.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1491824"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11637847/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142828192","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking the potential of neuromuscular electrical stimulation: achieving physical activity benefits for all abilities.","authors":"Paul W Ackermann, Robin Juthberg, Johanna Flodin","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1507402","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2024.1507402","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) uses electrical impulses to induce muscle contractions, providing benefits in rehabilitation, muscle activation, and as an adjunct to exercise, particularly for individuals experiencing immobilization or physical disability. NMES technology has significantly progressed, with advancements in device development and a deeper understanding of treatment parameters, such as frequency, intensity, and pulse duration. These improvements have expanded NMES applications beyond rehabilitation to include enhanced post-exercise recovery, improved blood glucose uptake, and increased lower limb venous return, potentially reducing thrombotic risks. Despite its benefits, NMES faces challenges in user compliance, often due to improper electrode placement and discomfort during treatment. Research highlights the importance of optimizing stimulation parameters, including electrode positioning, to improve both comfort and treatment efficacy. Recent innovations, such as automated processes for locating optimal stimulation points and adaptable electrode sizes, aim to address these issues. When combined with wearable technologies, these innovations could improve NMES treatment adherence and deliver more consistent, long-term therapeutic outcomes for patients with various physical limitations. Together, these developments indicate a promising future for NMES, presenting a valuable tool to enhance the benefits of physical activity across diverse populations, from rehabilitative care to broader health and wellness applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"6 ","pages":"1507402"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11660796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142876954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}