Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"Anthropometric and Motor Profile of Table Tennis Players: A Systematic Literature Review.","authors":"Alessandro Guarnieri, Valentina Presta, Fabiana Laurenti, Salvatore Mazzei, Giuliana Gobbi, Giancarlo Condello","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030334","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030334","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: While the biomechanical, physiological, and nutritional determinants of table tennis (TT) performance have already been summarized, a dedicated synthesis of players' anthropometric and motor characteristics is still lacking. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence across different ages, genders, and competitive levels. <b>Methods</b>: BASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched for study selection. Cross-sectional studies investigating the anthropometric and motor characteristics of healthy TT players aged 7-40 years were considered eligible. <b>Results</b>: Thirty-one studies were included. Eighteen studies focused on motor characteristics, seven on anthropometric traits, and six examined both. <b>Conclusions</b>: Adult male TT players predominantly exhibit an endomorph-ectomorph profile with greater lean mass, whereas females show an endomorph-ectomorph somatotype. Moreover, higher-ranked athletes generally display greater lean mass. Compared to specific strength-based sports athletes, TT players tend to have lower limb circumferences and lower lean and muscle mass, while showing higher body fat than specific speed- and agility-based sports. Higher-level players tend to demonstrate faster reaction and movement times, as well as superior change-of-direction abilities. Compared to other racket sports, they tend to exhibit superior coincidence-anticipation timing under high stimulus velocities and distinctive motor coordination. In terms of strength, TT players show proficiency in horizontal jumps and dynamic back strength, despite lower vertical explosive power. The identified characteristics provide a descriptive profile of table tennis players and may inform future longitudinal research investigating their potential relevance for talent identification and development.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039014","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":"Robotic Training Using a Novel Upper-Limb Hybrid Assistive Limb After Brachial Plexus Injury: An Electrophysiological Observational Case Series Study.","authors":"Shigeki Kubota, Hideki Kadone, Yukiyo Shimizu, Masashi Yamazaki","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030332","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030332","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objectives:</b> The hybrid assistive limb (HAL) is a wearable robotic device used for rehabilitation that assists the voluntary movements of the user by detecting muscle action potentials and driving actuators positioned next to the hip and knee joints. Although upper-limb HAL training has been studied for brachial plexus injury (BPI), its electrophysiological influence remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the electrophysiological influences of upper-limb HAL-assisted biofeedback (BF) training during elbow flexion rehabilitation in patients with BPI. <b>Methods:</b> Five patients with BPI (average age, 37.2 years) were enrolled after undergoing elbow flexor reconstruction through intercostal nerve-to-musculocutaneous nerve transfer. All participants received outpatient elbow flexion training with the upper-limb HAL at frequencies ranging from once weekly to once monthly. All patients started upper-limb HAL training when re-innervation was observed, and a biceps brachii muscle strength of grade 1 was achieved. Muscle activity was measured using surface electromyography in five patients during upper-limb HAL training, when the biceps brachii muscle strength was graded as Medical Research Council grades 1 and 2, to compare activity with and without HAL. <b>Results:</b> In five patients, electromyographic activity of the biceps brachii during elbow flexion reached 74.9 ± 22.7% of maximal contraction while using the HAL device, compared with 60.3 ± 16.7% without HAL assistance, indicating significantly greater muscle activation during HAL-assisted movement. <b>Conclusions:</b> Robotic BF training for elbow flexion with the upper-limb HAL may serve as a high-quality electromyographic rehabilitation approach for patients recovering from BPI.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039122","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":"Special Issue \"Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Primary and Secondary Prevention\".","authors":"Giuseppe Caminiti","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030331","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030331","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and continue to impose a substantial burden on individuals, healthcare systems, and society [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608548/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149038232","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":"Injury Incidence in Professional Football Is Highest During Mid- and Late-Season: A Three-Season Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Mehmet Mesut Çelebi, Atilla Çağatay Sezik","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030333","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030333","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Injuries are a major concern in professional football because they may reduce player availability and affect team performance. Injury risk may vary across different phases of the season in relation to changes in training and competition demands, recovery, and cumulative workload. <b>Objectives:</b> To describe the epidemiology of injuries in a professional football team over three consecutive seasons and to evaluate seasonal variations in injury characteristics and injury-related time-loss. <b>Methods:</b> This retrospective study analyzed 260 time-loss injuries sustained by 78 of 96 registered male first-team players (mean age 27.0 ± 4.5 years) from a professional football club in Türkiye over three consecutive seasons (2022-2023 to 2024-2025). Total team exposure was 33,609 player-hours (2409 match player-hours and 31,200 training player-hours). Injuries were classified according to injury setting, seasonal period, anatomical location, injury type, and injury-related time-loss. Exploratory generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis accounted for repeated injuries within players. <b>Results:</b> A total of 260 injuries were recorded; 62.3% occurred during training and 37.7% during matches. The overall injury incidence was 7.7 per 1000 player-hours (95% CI, 6.8-8.7), with rates of 40.7 per 1000 match player-hours (95% CI, 33.0-49.6) and 5.2 per 1000 training player-hours (95% CI, 4.4-6.1). The groin-thigh-lower-leg region (52.7%) and the thigh (25.4%) were the most frequently affected anatomical sites, while muscle injuries accounted for 43.5% of all injuries. Estimated injury incidence was highest during the mid- and late-season (9.29 and 9.12 per 1000 player-hours, respectively) and lowest during the preparation period (2.55 per 1000 player-hours). Exploratory GEE analysis showed significant differences in injury counts across seasonal periods (Wald χ² = 41.35, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Compared with the late season, injury incidence was lower during the preparation period (IRR 0.17, 95% CI 0.09-0.33; <i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas no significant differences were observed for the early or mid-season. <b>Conclusions:</b> Injury incidence was lowest during the preparation period and highest during the competitive season. Because exposure estimates were based on team-level rather than individual player-level data, these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Prospective multicentre studies with individual exposure data are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608448/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039057","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":"Acute Effects of External, Internal, and Holistic Attentional Focus on Javelin-Throwing Performance in Novices: The Role of Visual Information.","authors":"Ayoub Asadi, Somayeh Bahrami, Mostafa Bahrami, Esmaeel Saemi","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030329","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030329","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objectives</b>: Sports performance is influenced by a variety of perceptual, cognitive, and motor factors. A better understanding of these factors can help coaches optimize training and improve athletic performance. The present study examined the acute effects of internal, external, and holistic attentional focus instructions on javelin-throwing performance under different visual conditions in novice performers. <b>Methods</b>: Twenty-four university students (12 females and 12 males; mean age: 21.50 ± 1.47 years) with no prior javelin-throwing experience completed 30 throws under six experimental conditions (5 throws per condition) based on three attentional focus instructions (internal, external, and holistic) and two visual conditions (vision-present and vision-absent) using a within-subject repeated-measures design. Throwing distance was measured as the primary performance outcome. <b>Results</b>: The results revealed significant main effects of both vision (F_{(1, 23)} = 14.49, <i>p</i> = 0.001, ηp² = 0.38) and attentional focus (F_{(2, 46)} = 5.73, <i>p</i> = 0.006, ηp² = 0.20). Overall throwing performance was superior when visual information was available compared to when vision was occluded (<i>p</i> = 0.001). In addition, both external and holistic focus conditions produced significantly greater throwing distances than the internal focus condition (<i>p</i> = 0.03; <i>p</i> = 0.04, respectively), with no significant differences observed between external and holistic focus (<i>p</i> > 0.05). No significant interaction was found between attentional focus and vision (F(_{2, 46}) = 0.74, <i>p</i> = 0.48, ηp² = 0.03), indicating that the effect of attentional focus did not significantly differ between the visual conditions. <b>Conclusions</b>: The present findings extend the attentional focus literature to a complex, whole-body ballistic skill, demonstrating that the adoption of external and holistic attentional focus instructions resulted in greater throwing distances than the internal focus condition in novice javelin throwers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608315/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149038171","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 Effects of Social Dance on Muscular Fitness and Longevity-Related Circulating Biomarkers in the Elderly.","authors":"Annamaria Mancini, Francesca Greco, Daniela Vitucci, Federico Quinzi, Maria Grazia Tarsitano, Loretta Francesca Cosco, Andreina Alfieri, Domenico Martone, Sara Dei, Rosa Ghirelli, Luca Gentile, Giulia Scalia, Pasqualina Buono, Gian Pietro Emerenziani","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030330","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Aging is characterized by functional decline in different organs and systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of 6-month low-to moderate intensity supervised Social Dance (SD) program on muscular fitness, and clinical-biochemical and hematological parameters associated with healthy aging. Circulating CD34+ and serum antioxidant potential were assessed as exploratory outcomes. <b>Methods</b>: Seventy-nine elderly (aged > 65 years) were enrolled and randomized. Analyses included 49 participants who provided baseline and follow-up data and were assigned to the SD group (SDG, n = 24) or control group (CG, n = 25). Clinical-biochemical and hematological profiles, oxidative stress markers, circulating CD34+ cells, Physical fitness components and Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D) questionnaires were assessed at T0 and T1 to both groups. <b>Results</b>: Significant group × time interactions favored the SDG for HDL cholesterol (p=0.003), Hemoglobin (<i>p</i> = 0.031), and Hematocrit (<i>p</i> = 0.005). A significant increase in BAP (∆% = 33.3; <i>p</i> < 0.001) and PASE (∆%= 79.6 vs. 56.9; <i>p</i> < 0.05) were observed among the SDG; conversely, only a positive trend (∆% = 12.9 SDG vs. -5.1 CG) was observed for EQ-VAS at T1; these findings were not supported by significant group × time interaction. CD34+ cells increased significantly only in the CG. Isometric muscular performance declined in both groups. <b>Conclusions</b>: a 6-month SD program may provide beneficial effects on selected biochemical markers (i.e., a positive impact on HDL, hematological profile, antioxidant defenses) and perceived health outcomes in the elderly. However, it appears insufficient to preserve isometric muscular performance, suggesting that complementary resistance-based strategies may be needed to optimize neuromuscular adaptations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039140","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":"Using the Relative Pitch Size, Internal Floaters, and External Floaters During Different Small-Sided Games in Professional Soccer in the Return-to-Play Process.","authors":"Michael C Rumpf, Johannes Jäger, João Renato Silva, Matthias Lochmann","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030327","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030327","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objectives</b>: The aim was to investigate the external load of different types of floaters and regular players in small-sided games (SSG) with different relative pitch sizes to inform the return-to-play process. <b>Methods</b>: Twenty-four professional soccer players from a Greek top-tier soccer club played SSG as regular players, internal floaters, and external floaters. Global-positioning units were utilized to investigate total distance (TD), as well as high-intensity running distances (HID), which was further divided into HID1 (15.0-19.9 km/h and HID2 (20.0-24.9 km/h). High-intensity running (HIR) was analyzed by distance and number of efforts (HIRnb) greater than 19.8 km/h. Velocity zones were categorized into zones such as 10.8-14.4 km/h (Zone3), 14.5-19.8 km/h (Zone4), 19.9-24.9 km/h (Zone5), >25 km/h (Zone6). Sprint metrics included number of sprints (Sprint/Nm) and sprint distance (Sprint/Dist). Acceleration bands were defined as high >4 m/s² (ACC4), moderate 3-3.9 m/s² (ACC3), and low 0-2.9 m/s² (ACC2); and decelerations were defined as high <-4 m/s² (DEC4), moderate -3.9-3 m/s² (DEC3), and low -2.9-0 (DEC2 m/s²). All data were reported as relative value (standardized over a 1 min playing period). <b>Results</b>: Regular players showed the highest value, followed by internal floaters and external floaters for all variables, except for Zone5 distance. The majority of variables differed significantly between the regular players and the internal floaters except for TD, distance in Zone3 and Zone6, and number of ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4. ACC4 was the only variable found to be not significantly different between the regular players and the external floaters. In games with both floater types, internal floaters showed significantly higher values in all variables except for HIR, Zone6 distance, Sprint/Dist, Sprint/Nm, ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4. The comparison of external load variables between internal and external floaters when each player type was playing against regular players only revealed significantly higher values for all variables except for Sprint/Dist, Sprint/Nm, Zone6 distance, ACC3, and ACC4 for the internal floaters. Regression analyses were provided for all player types in the appropriated game format (RP with IF, RP with EF, RP with IF and EF). <b>Conclusions</b>: The on-field return-to-play process for individual players in the final stages incorporating SSG with different relative pitch sizes benefits from the utilization of different types of floaters. Increasing external load is ensured through starting with external floaters followed by internal floaters easing into the final role, the regular player role.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039198","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":"Intra-Cyclic Variation of Velocity in Swimming: Association and Consistency Between the Most-Used Measurements.","authors":"Jorge E Morais, Tiago M Barbosa","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030328","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030328","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objectives</b>: Intra-cyclic variation in swimming velocity is one of the variables most commonly used to assess swimming performance, providing simple, straightforward information for coaches and swimmers. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to assess the consistency and association between the two most commonly used methods for calculating the intra-cyclic variation in velocity in swimming (coefficient of variation-dv1; and range: the difference between the maximum and minimum instantaneous velocities-dv2). <b>Methods</b>: Twenty-one young butterfly swimmers (11 males and 10 females) with an average age of 17.3 ± 2.8 years were recruited for analysis. The measurements were done in the butterfly stroke at maximal velocities. The consistency and association criteria included the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and simple linear regression between the two methods. <b>Results</b>: The ICC between dvs was excellent for the overall sample (ICC = 0.972, <i>p</i> < 0.001), males (ICC = 0.978, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and females (ICC = 0.955, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The linear regression between methods was very high (overall: R² = 0.93, <i>p</i> < 0.001; males: R² = 0.91, <i>p</i> < 0.001; females: R² = 0.86, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: Overall, coaches and researchers should be aware that although both methods yielded highly concordant results, they are based on different mathematical formulations and quantify distinct characteristics of the velocity signal. Therefore, their consistency and association should not be interpreted as mathematical equivalence or universal interchangeability.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13608873/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149039075","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":"Comparison of Anthropometric Equations to Estimate Body Composition in Chilean Male Adolescent Soccer Players.","authors":"Álvaro Farfán-Díaz, Miguel Alarcón-Rivera, Marcelo Andrade Oyarzun, Daniel Tapia-Villanueva, Exal Garcia-Carrillo, Iván Molina-Márquez, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda, Dario Barrera-González, Felipe Montalva-Valenzuela","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030326","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030326","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Anthropometric body-composition assessment in youth soccer commonly relies on equations developed in different source populations and based on distinct body-composition models, potentially altering nutritional and sport-related interpretation. This study compared body-fat estimates from equations intended to report the same outcome, body fat percentage, but based on different operational models, and quantified muscle-mass outputs from anthropometric approaches targeting total-body skeletal, whole-body, and tissue-level muscle compartments in a cohort of Chilean male U-15 and U-16 players. <b>Methods</b>: This secondary cross-sectional method-comparison study analyzed anonymized anthropometric records collected in 2018 from 50 male players. Slaughter, Faulkner, Carter, Deurenberg, and Sloan-Siri estimates of body fat were compared, together with Poortmans, Lee, Doupe, and Kerr muscle-mass approaches. Absolute agreement among adiposity equations was evaluated using a two-way random-effects, absolute-agreement, single-measure ICC [ICC(A,1)] and Bland-Altman analyses. Muscle-mass approaches were compared with repeated-measures analysis; pairwise difference-versus-mean summaries across different muscle constructs were interpreted descriptively rather than as formal agreement tests. Sensitivity analyses excluded Deurenberg and examined a maturation-related Slaughter scenario. <b>Results</b>: Deurenberg yielded the highest body-fat estimate (18.97 ± 3.07%), followed by Slaughter (13.32 ± 3.35%), Faulkner (10.84 ± 1.40%), Sloan-Siri (8.01 ± 2.80%), and Carter (7.91 ± 1.49%). Global differences were large (χ²(4) = 182.96; <i>p</i> < 0.001; Kendall's W = 0.915), and individual absolute agreement was low [ICC(A,1) = 0.157; bootstrap 95% CI 0.102-0.212]. Excluding Deurenberg did not remove the between-method differences (χ²(3) = 124.44; <i>p</i> < 0.001; W = 0.830). For muscle mass, mean estimates ranged from 25.11 ± 3.07 kg with Poortmans to 31.26 ± 4.94 kg with Doupe, with a significant method effect after Greenhouse-Geisser correction (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions</b>: The adiposity equations yielded substantially different numerical estimates of the same reported outcome, body fat percentage, and showed low individual-level absolute agreement. Muscle-mass approaches also produced large numerical differences, partly expected because they target different compartments. Outputs from different equations or constructs should not be treated as numerically interchangeable. Because no criterion reference method was included, this study quantifies method dependence rather than validity and cannot identify the most accurate equation.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511747/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829407","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":"Intra- and Inter-Rater Reliability of Primitive Reflex Assessments in Youth Football Athletes.","authors":"Julie Bastiere, Aurélien Patoz, Thibault Lussiana, Marvin Subryan, Cyrille Gindre, Laurent Mourot","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030324","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030324","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Primitive reflex (PR) assessments based on the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) framework are increasingly used in developmental and athletic populations. However, the reproducibility of these observer-based assessments remains insufficiently documented. This study investigated the intra- and inter-rater reliability of subjective PR assessments and examined the potential influence of evaluator expertise in elite youth football athletes. <b>Methods</b>: Sixty-nine male youth football players from an elite academy (age: 18 ± 2 years) participated in this study. PR assessments included the Moro reflex, asymmetrical tonic neck reflex, symmetrical tonic neck reflex, and tonic labyrinthine reflex, evaluated using standardized INPP procedures (0-4 ordinal scoring scale). Intra-rater reliability was assessed by an experienced examiner across three testing sessions performed over six months. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated using standardized video recordings independently scored by two novice raters. Relative reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), while absolute reliability was quantified using the standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change at the 95% confidence level (MDC95). <b>Results</b>: <i>Good</i> to <i>excellent</i> intra-rater relative reliability (ICC = 0.86-0.98; 95% CI = [0.81-0.99]) was observed, with SEM values of 0.1-0.6 and MDC95 values of 0.3-1.7 points. <i>Moderate</i> to <i>excellent</i> video-based inter-rater reliability was found (ICC = 0.69-0.99; 95% CI [0.56-0.99]), with SEM values of 0.1-0.7 and MDC95 values of 0.3-2.0 points. Pairwise comparisons among raters showed <i>moderate</i> to <i>excellent</i> relative reliability (ICC = 0.57-0.99; 95% CI [0.35-0.99]), with SEM values of 0.1-0.5 and MDC95 values of 0.2-1.3 points. <b>Conclusions</b>: Subjective PR assessments performed using the INPP framework demonstrated <i>good</i> to <i>excellent</i> intra-rater relative reliability and <i>moderate</i> to <i>excellent</i> video-based inter-rater relative reliability, together with generally low absolute measurement error in elite youth football athletes. These findings provide preliminary psychometric support for the use of standardized PR assessments in research and applied sport settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510787/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829357","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}