Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"A Narrative Review of HRV Metric Selection for Applied Monitoring: RMSSD as the Default Metric for Sport and Exercise.","authors":"Michael R Esco","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030304","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring is commonly used in sport and exercise science to assess recovery, training adaptation, and performance readiness. However, the routine reporting of numerous HRV metrics with substantial conceptual and physiological overlap has created inconsistency regarding which indices should be prioritized for applied monitoring. This narrative review synthesizes the contemporary literature to provide practical recommendations regarding HRV metric selection in applied monitoring, with particular emphasis on whether the root mean square of successive differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD) may serve as the primary metric for routine HRV monitoring in many healthy sport and exercise populations. RMSSD demonstrates several characteristics favorable for applied monitoring, including strong physiological relevance, favorable reliability, compatibility with ultra-short recording durations, relative robustness during spontaneous breathing, computational simplicity, and suitability for longitudinal monitoring frameworks. Although additional HRV metrics remain valuable for addressing specific physiological, mechanistic, or research questions, the current evidence supports RMSSD as the primary metric for routine HRV monitoring in many sport and exercise settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510882/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829262","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":"Between-Quarter and Between-Position Variability of External Load Demands in a U19 Basketball Team: A 2024-2025 Hungarian Junior League Analysis.","authors":"Norbert Farago, David Horvath, Bence Kopper, Adam Hegedus","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030302","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: External load demands (ELD) for junior basketball players have primarily been investigated in senior championships, although the competition level influences the players' performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the between-quarter and between-position differences for U19 basketball players in their age-related championship throughout a whole competitive season. <b>Methods</b>: Data were collected from fifteen Hungarian U19 basketball players across eight home games via the WIMU PRO^TM local positioning system (Hudl, Nebraska, United States of America). Linear mixed models were used to evaluate omnibus main effects and position × quarter interactions for high-intensity accelerations (HIA), decelerations (HID), Player Load (PL), and vertical jumps (JUM), using Bonferroni adjustments and exploratory simple comparisons (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, model-based mean differences (MBMM) were also calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). <b>Results</b>: Significant game quarter omnibus main effect (<i>F</i> = 2.836, <i>p</i> = 0.043) and a borderline position × quarter interaction (<i>F</i> = 2.184, <i>p</i> = 0.050) were found in the JUM metric, with exploratory analyses revealing significant differences for centers between the second and third quarters and between the third and fourth quarters (<i>p</i> = 0.004, Mean Difference = -0.196, 95% CI = -0.345 to -0.046; <i>p</i> = 0.003, Mean Difference = 0.194, 95% CI = 0.049 to 0.338, respectively). A significant positional omnibus main effect (<i>F</i> = 4.917, <i>p</i> = 0.025) and a non-significant position × quarter interaction (<i>F</i> = 0.570, <i>p</i> = 0.753) was found for HID, with a significant difference between guards and forwards in the second quarter (<i>p</i> = 0.036, Mean Difference = 0.389, 95% CI = 0.019 to 0.742). PL and HIA did not show any significant differences. <b>Conclusions</b>: It is concluded that for the investigated sample, certain positional external load demands fluctuate between-quarter and between-position indicating that specific drills should be designed to maximize players' performance and minimize their risk of injury. However, our results cannot be generalized due to the specificity of our dataset.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511188/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829344","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":"Which Motor Competence Components Drive Early Motor Learning? A Phase-Based Analysis in Preschool Children.","authors":"Kristian Plazibat","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030303","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Motor competence is an important basis for early childhood motor development and for the acquisition of new motor skills. Previous work from this research perspective showed that structured kindergarten kinesiology programs and overall BOT-2 motor proficiency are associated with phase-based motor learning outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether individual motor competence components are related differently to distinct phases of early motor learning. The aim of this study was to examine associations between selected BOT-2 motor competence components and phase-based motor learning outcomes in preschool children. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 161 preschool children participated in the study. Selected BOT-2 components were used to describe baseline motor competence. Motor learning was assessed using a standardized 7-week protocol involving previously unfamiliar kinesiology tasks and was operationalized through time to initial acquisition (F1), time to early refinement (F2), and final performance quality (K). Correlation analyses and hierarchical regression models were used, controlling for age, sex, and previous participation experience. <b>Results</b>: Motor competence components were positively interrelated and were significantly associated with learning outcomes. Higher baseline motor competence was generally associated with shorter F1 and F2 times and higher K scores. Participation experience showed the largest and most consistent associations across outcomes. Fine motor precision was independently associated with F1 and F2, while running speed and agility was retained as a predictor of F2. <b>Conclusions</b>: The findings indicate that previous structured movement experience and selected motor competence components are associated with phase-based motor learning outcomes in preschool children. These results should be interpreted as associative rather than causal and support the use of assessment-informed approaches in early childhood kinesiology programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829416","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":"Body Composition Differences Among Individual, Team, and Combat Sport Athletes Enrolled in a Spanish Sports Technification Program.","authors":"Jorge Alarcón-Jimenez, Alberto Pardo-Ibáñez, Nieves de Bernardo, Laura García-Martínez, Javier Gámez-Payá, Javier Bonastre-Férez, Benjamín Cuenca, José Miguel Soriano, Carlos Villarón-Casales","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030299","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030299","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Sports training induces functional and structural adaptations that may influence body composition, particularly during adolescence when growth and maturation are still occurring. Although anthropometric characteristics have been extensively studied within individual sports, comparative analyses among different sport categories remain limited. The aim of this study was to compare body composition characteristics among athletes participating in individual, team, and combat sports within a Spanish Sports Technification Program. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 118 young athletes (62 males and 56 females) from the Valencian Sports Technification Centre participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified into three sport categories: individual sports (athletics, swimming, and triathlon), team sports (handball and volleyball), and combat sports (karate and taekwondo). Anthropometric assessment was performed according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Body composition variables, including fat mass, muscle mass, and bone mass, were estimated using established anthropometric equations. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests, with significance set at <i>p</i> < 0.05. <b>Results:</b> After adjustment for multiple comparisons, significant differences remained between sport categories for several body composition indicators. Athletes from the individual sport group showed a higher muscle mass percentage and lower body fat percentages estimated using the Withers, Faulkner, and Carter equations than those from the team sport group. Similarly, estimated body fat percentages were lower in the individual sport group than in the combat sport group across all three equations. Team sport athletes presented higher absolute fat and muscle mass than combat sport athletes. However, some differences identified in the initial analyses, including fat mass and bone mass percentage between the individual and team sport groups and muscle mass percentage between the team and combat sport groups, did not remain statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. <b>Conclusions:</b> Body composition characteristics differed among the groups of young athletes participating in the specific individual, team, and combat sports included in this study. Within this cohort, athletes from the individual sport group generally exhibited lower body fat levels than those from the team and combat sport groups, whereas differences were also observed in other anthropometric characteristics. These findings should be interpreted within the context of the specific sports included and should not be generalized to individual, team, or combat sports as a whole. The findings may assist coaches, sports scientists, and health professionals in the monitoring and development of young athletes participating in similar sports and development programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829411","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":"Pre-Season Changes in Physical Performance and Early Competitive Squad Inclusion in Under-15 Male Soccer Players.","authors":"Artur Avelino Birk Preissler, Filipe Manuel Clemente, Júlio Brugnara Mello, Ana Filipa Silva, Rui Miguel Silva, Pedro Schons","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030300","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030300","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Pre-season physical monitoring may help coaches understand short-term changes in youth soccer players and examine whether physical indicators are associated with early squad inclusion. This study aimed to analyze changes in physical performance during the pre-season period and to examine whether pre- and post-assessment physical performance differed between squad-included and non-included under-15 male soccer players in the first five official matches of the main competition. <b>Methods</b>: Thirty-seven male outfield players were assessed using the Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), 20 m linear sprint (Sprint-20 m), 20 m change-in-direction test (COD-20m), and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IRL1). Squad-included players were those listed in at least one of the first five official match reports, whereas non-included players were not listed in these reports but remained part of the broader under-15 program. <b>Results</b>: Significant increases were observed in SJ (+1.44 cm, <i>p</i> = 0.007), CMJ (+1.36 cm, <i>p</i> = 0.006), and COD-20m (+0.38 km·h^-1, <i>p</i> = 0.002), whereas Sprint-20 m and Yo-Yo IRL1 did not change significantly. Fourteen players were squad-included and 23 were non-included. Squad-included players presented higher pre-assessment values for SJ, CMJ, COD-20m, and the exploratory composite physical score, and higher post-assessment values for SJ, CMJ, Sprint-20 m, COD-20m, and the exploratory composite physical score. The largest between-group difference was observed for post-assessment COD-20m (14.19 ± 0.49 vs. 13.40 ± 0.74 km·h^-1, <i>p</i> < 0.001, d = 1.25). <b>Conclusions</b>: Early squad inclusion was associated with higher absolute physical performance, particularly post-assessment COD-20m, whereas the magnitude of pre-to-post changes was not clearly associated with squad inclusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148828888","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":"Ginger Supplementation Improves Performance and Attenuates Perceived Exertion and Neuromuscular Fatigue in CrossFit^® Athletes.","authors":"Erick Barbalho Lage, Naiara Ribeiro Almeida, Sebastian Sepúlveda González, Felipe Inostroza-Rios, José Raimundo Fernandes, Michele Andrade de Brito, Diego Valenzuela Pérez, Dany Alexis Sobarzo Soto, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz, Felipe J Aidar, Ciro José Brito","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030301","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> To investigate the effects of short-term ginger supplementation on physical performance, perceived exertion, and neuromuscular fatigue in CrossFit^® practitioners. <b>Methods:</b> Thirty-two CrossFit^® practitioners were randomly assigned to a Ginger group (n = 17) or a Placebo group (n = 15) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants consumed 2 g·day^-1 of ginger or placebo for 9 days. Performance was assessed using a 10 min As Many Repetitions As Possible (AMRAP) test. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and countermovement jump (CMJ) variables were evaluated before and after exercise. <b>Results:</b> Ginger supplementation significantly improved AMRAP performance compared with placebo (241.6 ± 18.2 vs. 225.9 ± 17.5 repetitions; F_1,29 = 5.95, <i>p</i> = 0.021, ηp² = 0.17). Participants in the Ginger group also reported lower RPE values (F_1,29 = 24.11, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.001, ηp² = 0.45). Regarding neuromuscular fatigue, ginger attenuated the decline in CMJ peak force following exercise (F_1,29 = 6.62, <i>p</i> = 0.015, ηp² = 0.18). No significant between-group differences were found for peak power and center of mass displacement. <b>Conclusions:</b> Short-term ginger supplementation improved AMRAP performance, reduced perceived exertion, and attenuated the decline in peak force following exercise in CrossFit^® practitioners. These findings suggest that ginger supplementation may have potential as a natural ergogenic strategy for high-intensity functional exercise; however, further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829361","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 Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Exercise on Vastus Lateralis Electromyographic Activity in Healthy Young Adults: A Pilot Randomized Study.","authors":"Rafael Gómez-García, María de Los Ángeles Cardero-Durán, Luis Espejo-Antúnez, Carlos Fernández-Morales","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030298","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030298","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) may increase neuromuscular stimulation while reducing external load. This pilot study examined the acute effects of unilateral knee extension at 20% one-repetition maximum (1RM) with BFR at 80% estimated arterial occlusion pressure (AOP), compared with the same protocol without BFR, on vastus lateralis surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity in healthy young adults. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty participants were randomized to receive BFR on either the dominant (<i>n</i> = 10) or non-dominant limb (<i>n</i> = 10); the contralateral limb completed the non-BFR condition. Both conditions were performed in randomized order during one session, separated by 10 min. Each limb completed 75 repetitions (30-15-15-15) at 20% of its limb-specific 1RM. The prespecified primary outcome was normalized RMS amplitude across 12 protocol windows, analyzed using a linear mixed model. <b>Results:</b> Normalized RMS amplitude was higher under BFR (between-condition difference, 21.12%MVIC; 95% CI, 14.54 to 27.71; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Exploratory analyses showed higher global mean and peak RMS under BFR, whereas within-protocol RMS change and temporal slope did not differ. The post-exercise percentage reduction in MVIC-derived RMS amplitude was smaller under BFR (-0.6 ± 14.1% vs. -15.4 ± 12.3%; <i>p</i> = 0.002). Significant secondary findings remained significant after Holm adjustment. No adverse events were spontaneously reported or observed immediately. <b>Conclusions:</b> Under this acute laboratory protocol, individualized BFR was associated with higher vastus lateralis sEMG amplitude than unrestricted exercise. MVIC-derived findings were exploratory and should not be interpreted as evidence of preserved strength or reduced neuromuscular fatigue. Larger studies, including clinical populations, are required.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829268","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":"Effects of Different Warm-Up Strategies on Intermittent Performance and Physiological Responses in High-Level Water Polo Players.","authors":"João N A Dias, Daniel A Marinho, Luís B Faíl, Konstantinos Papadimitriou, Henrique P Neiva","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030297","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: This study aimed to examine the effects of three different warm-up protocols on performance, physiological, and perceptual responses in high-level water polo players. <b>Methods</b>: Ten international-level athletes (Tier 4; mean ± SD: age 22.4 ± 3.53 years; height 1.78 ± 0.06 m; body mass 75.83 ± 6.44 kg) completed three experimental conditions in a randomized, counterbalanced design: dryland, in-water, and combined warm-up. Following each warm-up condition, participants performed the Water Polo Intermittent Shuttle Test (WIST), while performance (distance covered and average speed), blood lactate concentration ([La^-]), heart rate (HR), tympanic temperature, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Statistical significance was set at <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05. <b>Results</b>: Players covered greater distances following the in-water (331.5 ± 151.24 m) and combined (358.5 ± 134.06 m) warm-ups compared to dryland (226.5 ± 129.51 m; <i>p</i> < 0.01; ES = 2.00 and 1.53, respectively), with no significant differences between in-water and combined conditions (<i>p</i> = 0.381; ES = 0.29). Physiological responses following the WIST were largely similar between conditions, although [La^-] was higher in the dryland condition (12.46 ± 4.46 mmol·L^-1) compared to the combined condition at 10 min post-exercise (8.66 ± 2.47 mmol·L^-1; <i>p</i> = 0.03; ES = 0.80). No differences were found for HR, tympanic temperature, or RPE. <b>Conclusions</b>: These findings suggest that warm-up protocols including an in-water component are more effective than dryland-only routines for optimizing intermittent performance in water polo players. However, combining dryland and in-water exercises does not appear to provide additional benefits compared to in-water warm-up alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511443/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829393","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":"Multisport vs. Single-Sport Training and Motor Coordination in Children: A Quasi-Experimental Pre-Post Comparison.","authors":"Nicola Mancini, Rita Polito, Giovanni Messina, Marcellino Monda, Francesco Paolo Colecchia, Vlad Teodor Grosu, Simone Lombardi, Antonietta Messina, Siria Mancini, Fiorenzo Moscatelli","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030295","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> This study aimed to compare changes in motor coordination associated with two different motor practice models-multisport and single-sport soccer training-in children, without implying causal effects of one training context over the other. <b>Methods:</b> A quasi-experimental pre-post study (T0-T1) was conducted over 10 weeks in non-randomized, pre-existing groups. A total of 143 children (mean age: 6.21 ± 0.55 years; 107 males) were allocated to a Multisport Group (MG; <i>n</i> = 79) and a Single-sport Group (SG; <i>n</i> = 64). Motor coordination was assessed using the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), and raw scores (RAW SCORE) were used for analysis. Statistical analyses included <i>t</i>-tests, change-score (Δ) and effect-size analyses, and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. <b>Results:</b> Both groups showed significant improvements over time (<i>p</i> < 0.001; d = 0.75 for MG, d = 0.77 for SG). However, the MG showed significantly greater improvements than the SG (Δ = 16.68 ± 6.14 vs. 12.28 ± 4.08; <i>p</i> < 0.001; d = 0.83). At T1, the SG still showed slightly higher absolute RAW SCORE values than the MG (<i>p</i> = 0.049; d = -0.33), although this between-group difference was markedly reduced compared to baseline (d = -0.59). The ANOVA revealed a very large effect of Time (F(1,141) = 1092.31, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η²p = 0.886), a small-to-medium effect of Group (F(1,141) = 7.51, <i>p</i> = 0.007, η²p = 0.051), and a large Time × Group interaction (F(1,141) = 24.18, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η²p = 0.146). A sensitivity analysis (ANCOVA) confirmed that, after adjusting for baseline scores, sex, and anthropometric variables, the Multisport group showed significantly higher adjusted T1 scores than the Single-sport group (adjusted mean difference = 3.96 points, 95% CI: 1.93-5.99), reversing the direction observed in the unadjusted T1 comparison. Given the non-randomized design and baseline group differences, findings reflect observed associations rather than causal effects. <b>Conclusions:</b> Both practice models were associated with improved motor coordination, with multisport participation associated with greater observed change over 10 weeks. These findings are consistent with a possible role of diversified motor experiences in coordination development, though this study cannot establish causality.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510616/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829447","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 FITP: A Controlled Intermittent Running Test for Futsal Athletes.","authors":"João Nuno Ribeiro, Farzad Yousefian, Raul Filipe Bartolomeu, Faber Martins, Konstantinos Spyrou, Bruno Travassos, Carolina Vila-Chã, Pedro Tiago Esteves","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030296","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Futsal is a high-intensity, intermittent team sport, yet laboratory protocols that reproduce its substitution-based running demands remain scarce. This study examined the physiological, neuromuscular, and perceptual responses to the Futsal Intermittent Treadmill Protocol (FITP), a laboratory-based protocol designed to replicate the intermittent high-intensity running demands of futsal. <b>Methods</b>: Ten male, national-level (Tier 3) futsal players completed four bouts of intermittent running (6-20 km·h^-1) reflecting typical substitution patterns. Measurements included oxygen consumption (<i>VO</i>₂), heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration ([BLa^-]), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), total quality recovery (TQR), and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Responses were analyzed using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. <b>Results</b>: HR and %HRmax increased significantly across bouts (<i>p</i> < 0.001; η²<i>p</i> = 0.84 for both), reaching values typical of competitive matches. Relative <i>VO</i>₂ and %<i>VO</i>₂max remained stable, while RPE increased and TQR decreased progressively (<i>p</i> < 0.001; η²<i>p</i> = 0.59-0.62). Blood lactate levels and the CMJ mechanical variables showed no significant changes, indicating no systematic neuromuscular fatigue pattern. <b>Conclusions</b>: The FITP induces substantial cardiovascular and perceptual strain that is physiologically comparable to high-intensity futsal, while metabolic and neuromuscular responses remain stable. The protocol may provide a controlled, repeatable method for assessing intermittent running tolerance; however, optimizing its role in physical evaluation, top-up conditioning, and return-to-play monitoring will benefit from future research confirming its ongoing consistency and field application.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510556/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829398","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}