Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

{"title":"Effects of tDCS combined with TENS in relieving pain and improving gait patterns during stepping over obstacles among older adults with knee osteoarthritis.","authors":"Xinmeng Zhang, Dongmei Wang, Qingqing Song, Xin Luo, Yubin Ge, Peixin Shen, Qipeng Song","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1631357","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1631357","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Older adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) exhibit an elevated risk of falls during obstacle negotiation, primarily due to pain-induced gait deviations. While transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) offers modest pain relief and limited gait modulation, combining it with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may enhance the effects. This study evaluated the comparative efficacy of tDCS + TENS vs. TENS alone in mitigating pain and optimizing gait patterns during obstacle crossing in older adults with KOA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-three participants with KOA (mean age: 67.6 ± 5.0 years; BMI: 25.9 ± 2.4 kg/m²) were randomized to either tDCS + TENS (<i>n</i> = 12; 7F/5M) or TENS-only (<i>n</i> = 11; 7F/4M) groups. Both interventions involved 20-minute sessions, administered thrice weekly for six weeks. Outcome measures included pain intensity (visual analog scale, VAS) and gait variables (foot clearance height, crossing velocity) assessed pre- (week 0) and post-intervention (week 7). Data were analyzed using mixed-design two-way ANOVAs with Bonferroni corrections.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistically significant group-by-time interactions were observed for pain (<i>p</i> = 0.002, <i>η</i> ² _p = 0.378), foot clearance (<i>p</i> = 0.038, <i>η</i> ² _p = 0.190), and crossing velocity (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η</i> ² _p = 0.588). <i>post hoc</i> analyses revealed that the tDCS + TENS group (week0 = 4.72 ± 1.01, week7 = 1.98 ± 0.88, <i>p</i> < 0.001) experienced significantly greater reductions in pain scores compared to the TENS-only group (week0 = 5.02 ± 1.19, week7 = 3.56 ± 1.18, <i>p</i> < 0.001); tDCS + TENS group experienced significantly greater improvements in foot clearance (week0 = 0.19 ± 0.04, week7 = 0.20 ± 0.03, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and crossing velocity (week0 = 0.53 ± 0.11, week7 = 0.62 ± 0.08, <i>p</i> < 0.001), compared to the TENS-only group (week0 = 0.17 ± 0.02, week7 = 0.17 ± 0.02, <i>p</i> < 0.001; week0 = 0.52 ± 0.09, week7 = 0.54 ± 0.09).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The combination of tDCS and TENS significantly outperformed TENS-only in reducing pain and enhancing gait adaptability during obstacle negotiation in older adults with KOA. These findings support the integration of tDCS as an adjunctive neuromodulatory strategy to amplify the therapeutic benefits of TENS in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1631357"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12484165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212369","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":"Rethinking the strongest link: VAL, ratings, and team success in Hungarian basketball.","authors":"Benedek Ágost Nagy, Botond Ágoston Nagy, Ágoston Nagy, József Gáll, Tamás Sterbenz","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1658676","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1658676","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>This study evaluates the impact of individual player performance-particularly the VAL rating-on team success in professional basketball. It examines whether basketball operates as a \"strong-link\" sport, where outcomes depend primarily on top-performing players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A quantitative analysis was conducted on the 2022/2023 Hungarian NB I/A men's league, using 21 offensive and defensive statistical indicators. Data were collected from official league sources and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 28.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our findings reveal no significant correlation between individual VAL rankings and team standings. However, offensive and defensive ratings, as well as NET ratings (points scored over opponents per 100 possessions), were strongly associated with team performance, especially among foreign and young players. The VAL metric was more influenced by offensive than defensive performance. Limited playing time and experience may have affected the performance metrics of young players.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These results suggest that while basketball reflects strong-link sport characteristics, traditional metrics like VAL may not fully capture a player's contribution to team success. A more comprehensive approach-incorporating both offensive and defensive indicators-could offer a clearer evaluation of player impact. Future research should also explore psychological, tactical, and social factors to better understand individual roles in team performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1658676"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12483447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206130","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":"A machine learning approach for saddle height classification in cycling.","authors":"Fangbo Bing, Guoxin Zhang, Linjuan Wei, Ming Zhang","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1607212","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1607212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Saddle height is an important factor in bike fitting because it correlates with cycling efficiency and the risk of injuries. Conventional approaches use anthropometric parameters and joint angles as references to calculate the optimal saddle height, such as the greater trochanter height and knee flexion angle. However, these methods fail to consider individual dynamic differences in cycling.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study proposed a machine learning (ML) model for calculating saddle height based on easily measured kinematic data.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In total, 16 subjects participated in riding tests at three saddle heights. The motion capture system recorded the trajectories of markers attached to their lower limbs. Features were calculated using the hip, knee, and ankle joint angles. The optimal feature set was selected using forward sequential feature selection. The accuracies of four ML models were compared using leave-one-subject-out cross-validation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The optimal feature set contained 14 features related to the hip, knee, and ankle joint angles. The sagittal plane knee angle was the most sensitive to the saddle height, with a classification accuracy of 80%. The <i>k</i>-nearest neighbor model had the highest accuracy of 99.79% when using all the optimal features as inputs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proposed model compensates for the lack of consideration in traditional methods of individual dynamic variations in cycling, providing a more objective tool for data-driven personalization in bike fitting.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1607212"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12483900/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145212474","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":"Confronting gender stereotypes in sports vocational education: a case study.","authors":"Celia Marcen, Violeta Gil-Pablo, María Isabel Cuadrado-Santañes, Marta Rapún-López","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1673199","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1673199","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study explores the impact of a training workshop on gender equality among vocational training students in teaching and social and sports activities in Aragon, Spain. The evaluation of attitudes, beliefs and gender stereotypes related to leadership in sports was conducted on the basis of an analysis of pre- and post-intervention surveys. The methodology incorporated participatory techniques such as brainstorming, killer data and gamified interactive tools, with the objective of encouraging critical reflection and active learning. The results indicate that, although no statistically significant changes were observed, there was an improvement in the Egalitarianism Index (+0.51) after the workshop, especially among female participants. Furthermore, cluster analysis revealed a shift towards attitudes that are more homogeneous and favourable towards equality. The study concludes that this type of intervention has the potential to raise awareness among future sports professionals about structural inequalities and gender stereotypes, and highlights the importance of incorporating specific equality content into vocational training curricula. Notwithstanding the constraints imposed by the sample size and duration, this experience is presented as a promising pedagogical proposal that can be replicated in other educational contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1673199"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479542/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206200","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":"Bilateral strength asymmetry in knee extension: a reliability and consistency analysis for scientific and practical applications.","authors":"Manfred Zöger, Alfred Nimmerichter, Arnold Baca, Klaus Wirth","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1635685","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1635685","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Muscular strength imbalances are associated with musculoskeletal injuries and performance deficits. This study aimed to assess the reliability and consistency of bilateral strength asymmetry (BSA) in quadriceps muscles as determined by dynamometry.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-nine physically active participants underwent a familiarization and two test sessions, assessing isometric (100°, 140° knee angles) and isokinetic (30° s^-1, 400° s^-1) knee extension. BSA was calculated from Peak torque (PT), and reliability was evaluated using paired <i>t</i>-test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimum detectable change (MDC), and Kappa coefficients for limb dominance consistency. Bland-Altman plots assessed agreement between sessions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences in mean PT or BSA were found between sessions. However, considerable individual variability was observed, with 21%-38% of participants showing between session limb dominance reversals. ICC values ranged from 0.33 to 0.70 (poor to moderate reliability), SEM from 5.0% to 8.3%, and MDC from 13.9% to 22.9%. Kappa coefficients indicated less than chance to moderate agreement for limb dominance between sessions (0.19-0.59) and within sessions (-0.05-0.50). Bland-Altman analyses revealed small bias but wide limits of agreement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>BSA measurements demonstrated low reliability and inconsistency, with significant individual variability and frequent limb dominance reversals. These findings raise concerns about the use of fixed asymmetry thresholds for injury risk assessment. Task-specificity and individual motor control variations may contribute to these inconsistencies. Future studies should consider habituation and standardized training protocols before evaluating BSA reliability. The results emphasize the need for cautious interpretation of BSA data and highlight limitations in its direct clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1635685"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479436/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145206197","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":"Impact of course length on swimming performance across age groups and swimming strokes.","authors":"Javier Iglesias García, Francisco Hermosilla-Perona, Tomohiro Gonjo, Daniel Juárez Santos-García","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1631870","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1631870","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Swimmers typically achieve faster times in the same distance events in short course (SC) than in long course (LC) due to the higher number of turns in SC; however, the influence of age and sex on performance differences between SC and LC events remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aimed to examine the differences in the top 200 seasonal times between SC and LC in the 50, 100 and 200 m backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle and individual medley events (200 and 400 m). Top 200 Spanish seasonal times of four age groups were considered for both sexes between two seasons. A three-way ANOVA with <i>post-hoc</i> analysis was performed to assess the impact of age, sex, and event type on the time differences between SC and LC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results indicated that older swimmers showed greater differences between SC and LC times compared to other age groups in males and females (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In backstroke and breaststroke events, similar patterns were observed with higher differences between SC and LC compared to butterfly and freestyle, especially in 100 m and 200 m events (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>These differences should be taken into consideration by coaches and swimmers when establishing differences in performance depending on the pool length.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1631870"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199106","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":"Platform power, athlete branding, generative AI, and the future of sport governance-a systematic review.","authors":"Hans Westerbeek, Thomas van Schaik","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1642180","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1642180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review examines how elite athletes are leveraging digital platforms, generative artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain to build autonomous brands, bypass traditional sport gatekeepers, and develop athlete-owned business models. Drawing on 47 peer-reviewed studies (2016-2025), we synthesise evidence across five domains: athlete branding and self-production, disintermediation, platform-enabled empowerment, AI-driven content innovation, and emerging commercial structures. The findings reveal a decisive shift in sport's power balance, with athletes acting as media producers, cultural influencers, and entrepreneurial actors. Digital platforms enable direct-to-fan engagement, while AI tools lower content production costs whilst personalising interactions and extend global reach. Blockchain facilitates decentralised monetisation and data sovereignty, supporting ventures such as athlete-owned leagues and non-fungible tokens. However, these developments embed new dependencies on platform algorithms and volatile digital markets. From a platform capitalism perspective, athlete autonomy is constrained by corporate-controlled infrastructures; from a value co-creation lens, fan relationships become participatory spaces for shared cultural and commercial value creation. The review highlights governance challenges, including ethical implications of synthetic media, data ownership, and the regulation of AI-enabled branding ecosystems. We argue that sport governance must evolve from a control-oriented model to one that positions athletes as co-creators of value and strategic partners in decision-making. Future research should address equity in digital visibility and sustainable athlete-led business ecosystems. Governance mechanisms that reconcile technological opportunity with autonomy protection should be explored as well. Athletes are no longer peripheral actors in sport's commercial order, they are emerging as its architects, with significant implications for the future of sport governance.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1642180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199070","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: Schools as an arena for health-promoting physical activity.","authors":"Svein Barene, Domenico Martone, Ole Petter Hjelle, Malte Nejst Larsen","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1697382","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1697382","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1697382"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12477265/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145199098","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":"Advancing NFL win prediction: from Pythagorean formulas to machine learning algorithms.","authors":"Caroline Weirich, Jun Woo Kim, Youngmin Yoon, Seunghoon Jeong","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1638446","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1638446","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluates the predictive performance of traditional and machine learning-based models in forecasting NFL team winning percentages over a 21-season dataset (2003-2023). Specifically, we compare the Pythagorean expectation formula-commonly used in sports analytics-with Random Forest regression and a feedforward Neural Network model. Using key performance indicators such as points scored, points allowed, turnovers, rushing and passing efficiency, and penalties, the machine learning models demonstrate superior predictive accuracy. The Neural Network model achieved the highest performance (MAE = 0.052, RMSE = 0.064, <i>R</i> ² = 0.891), followed by the Random Forest model, both of which significantly outperformed the Pythagorean method. Feature importance analysis using SHAP values identifies points scored and points allowed as the most influential predictors, supplemented by margin of victory, turnovers, and offensive efficiency metrics. These findings underscore the limitations of fixed-formula models and highlight the flexibility and robustness of data-driven approaches. The study offers practical implications for analysts, coaches, and sports management professionals seeking to optimize strategic decisions and competitive performance. Ultimately, the integration of advanced machine learning models provides a powerful tool for enhancing decision-making processes across the NFL landscape.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1638446"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12463883/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185467","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":"Enhancement of post-activation performance enhancement by blood flow restriction following specific on-ice exercise program in ice hockey players.","authors":"Tomasz Gabrys, Radoslaw Chruscinski, Urszula Szmatlan-Gabrys, Michal Garnys, Marta Bichowska-Paweska, Ladislav Cepicka","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1659724","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2025.1659724","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Due to the requirements for research on motor skills in elite hockey players, an attempt was made to assess the skills following the application of PAPE and BFR-enhanced PAPE to enhance lower limb power.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An on-ice exercise program was used to determine PAPE factors that included three sets of 3 repetitions of specific on-ice effort, 15 s of work, 15 s of rest, separated by 90 s of free skating. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the PAPE program was measured at the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th, and 15th minutes after its application. The flight time during the CMJ and SJ jump was recorded with the OptoJump system, and the jump height (JH) and peak power (PP) were determined. The study involved 20 professional male hockey players aged 17 ± 1 years with 11 ± 2 years of training experience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No differences between JH and PP values in CMJ and SJ before and after PAPE and PAPE with BFR intervention were statistically significant. The BFR application during specific effort showed a statistically significant <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001 increase in work time.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Significant individual differences in the magnitude of the PAPE and BFR effect between the subjects were also found. The individualization of exercise stimuli should consider the individual athlete's profile in terms of susceptibility to the PAPE and BFR program, considering the amount of fatigue it may cause.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"7 ","pages":"1659724"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12464350/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185554","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}