Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"Stress Dynamics in a Basketball Game: Examining Stressors, Game-Specific Factors, and Players' Positions.","authors":"Ivan Perasović, Antonela Karmen Ivišić, Dario Vrdoljak, Nikola Foretić, Vladimir Pavlinović, Ratko Perić, Mia Perić, Zoran Nikolovski","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030293","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: This study investigates the psychophysiological stress profiles of professional basketball players by simultaneously analyzing two distinct neuroendocrine pathways: the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system, via salivary alpha-amylase (AA), and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, via salivary cortisol (C). While competitive environments are known to elicit significant stress, the interaction between game-specific variables-such as playing time (PT) and tactical position-and those biomarkers remains insufficiently explored in real-time, official match settings. <b>Methods</b>: Twelve professional male basketball players were monitored across four official matches. Salivary samples were collected, and stress biomarkers (AA and C) were analyzed at three timepoints: pre-match, half-time, and post-match. <b>Results</b>: Results indicate that stress responses are non-uniform and highly context-dependent. A significant spike in AA was observed during the first match (<i>p</i> < 0.001; ES = 0.82; 95% CI -0.01-1.66), where concentrations rose from a pre-match mean of 247.9 ± 232.59 U/mL to a post-match peak of 674.39 ± 693.33 U/mL. Cortisol responses did not vary significantly across matches but exhibited a strong positive correlation with PT (<i>p</i> = 0.01; R = 0.76), identifying that C may serve as a primary marker of individual physical workload. Positional analysis revealed significant divergence in HPA activation; guards (0.55 ± 0.31 µg/dL) and centers (0.51 ± 0.22 µg/dL) exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to forwards (0.24 ± 0.18 µg/dL), reflecting the high cognitive/decision-making load of guards and the mechanical/physical contact load of centers. <b>Conclusions</b>: The observed differences in AA and C liberation suggest that stress responses during matches are influenced by a complex interaction of physiological and psychological stimuli characteristic of competitive basketball. Consequently, these findings indicate the importance and value of a dual-biomarker approach which might provide a framework for optimized training load management and recovery protocols in elite basketball.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510919/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829305","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":"Structural and Potentially Modifiable Anthropometric Traits in Professional Kenyan and European Long-Distance Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Fabrizio Spataro, Camila Seewald, Jimena Moreira Lamas, Francis Holway, Francesco Campa","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030292","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030292","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> East African runners, particularly from Kenya, have long dominated long-distance running, whereas highly trained European runners represent an appropriate comparison population to investigate structural and potentially modifiable anthropometric characteristics. <b>Objective:</b> To compare structural and modifiable anthropometric traits between professional Kenyan and European long-distance runners and to investigate the relationship between local muscularity and skeletal robustness. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 52 male marathon runners (32 Kenyan and 20 European) were assessed according to the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Participants were 27.2 ± 5.2 years with a BMI of 18.4 ± 1.1 kg·m^-2 and a marathon time of 02:09:26 in the Kenyan group, and 30.9 ± 4.9 years, BMI 21.1 ± 2.1 kg·m^-2, and marathon time of 02:18:31 in the European group. Corrected girths were calculated to explore correlations between skeletal breadths and muscularity. <b>Results:</b> European runners exhibited significantly greater body mass, sitting height, girths, skeletal breadths, and muscle mass compared to Kenyan runners (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with large to very large effect sizes. In contrast, Kenyan runners showed lower adiposity and more linear body proportions, including a lower Cormic index and higher intermembral index. Differences in segment lengths were generally limited. Principal component analysis showed clearer group separation for modifiable than structural traits. Significant positive correlations were observed between humeral breadth and corrected arm girth (r = 0.41, <i>p</i> = 0.002), femur breadth and corrected thigh girth (r = 0.66, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and bimalleolar breadth and corrected calf girth (r = 0.72, <i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that Kenyan long-distance runners exhibit a lighter and more linear anthropometric profile than their European counterparts, whereas European runners display greater skeletal robustness and musculoskeletal development. Furthermore, local muscularity may be partly associated with underlying skeletal robustness.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510595/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829259","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":"Hitting the Wall in Marathon Running: An Integrative Psychophysiological and Durability-Based Review.","authors":"Gerasimos V Grivas, Walaa Jumah Alkasasbeh, Adam Tawfiq Amawi","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030291","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives</b>: Hitting the wall (HTW) is a common and performance-limiting phenomenon in marathon running, traditionally attributed to glycogen depletion and reduced carbohydrate availability. However, the persistence of late-race performance collapse despite advances in fueling strategies suggests that HTW may not be explained by a single metabolic mechanism. Instead, HTW may represent a psychophysiological performance-collapse phenomenon arising from the interaction between physiological strain, perceived exertion, pacing regulation, and the athlete's capacity to preserve function under prolonged stress. <b>Methods</b>: This narrative review aimed to synthesize the physiological and psychophysiological mechanisms contributing to HTW and to propose an integrative durability-based framework for understanding late-race performance deterioration during marathon running. <b>Results</b>: Current evidence indicates that HTW may emerge from the cumulative interaction of metabolic stress, thermoregulatory strain, dehydration, gastrointestinal dysfunction, neuromuscular fatigue, biomechanical deterioration, perceptual responses, and pacing errors. These stressors may progressively increase perceived effort, impair pace regulation, and reduce the athlete's capacity to preserve physiological function and sustain the intended race pace. Within this framework, durability represents the ability to resist deterioration in physiological characteristics and performance capacity during prolonged exercise and may help explain why runners with similar fitness levels experience different late-race outcomes. <b>Conclusions</b>: HTW should therefore not be viewed simply as running out of fuel. Rather, it may represent the manifestation of reduced durability and psychophysiological dysregulation arising from multiple interacting stressors during marathon running. Strategies aimed at improving durability through marathon-specific training, optimized fueling, gastrointestinal tolerance, thermoregulatory preparation, neuromuscular resilience, pacing regulation, perceptual awareness, and individualized monitoring may reduce susceptibility to HTW.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510482/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829369","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":"Non-Surgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Silviya P Nikolova, Altsek Naydenov","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030294","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Rotator cuff tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal disorder associated with shoulder pain, functional limitations, and reduced quality of life. A wide range of non-surgical interventions have been investigated, and uncertainty remains regarding their comparative effectiveness. <b>Objective</b>: This study aimed to summarize recent evidence on non-surgical treatments for rotator cuff tendinopathy and evaluate their reported clinical outcomes. <b>Methods</b>: A structured narrative review was conducted using Google Scholar to identify studies published between 2020 and 2025 involving adult patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy. Studies investigating exercise therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), laser therapy, kinesiotaping, and percutaneous electrolysis were considered. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. <b>Results</b>: Exercise therapy was the most extensively investigated intervention and consistently improved pain, function, and shoulder mobility. PRP injections were associated with favorable effects on pain and functional outcomes, although treatment protocols varied substantially. Several studies reported improvements following ESWT in pain reduction and functional recovery. Evidence from a limited number of studies suggests that high-power laser therapy may improve clinical outcomes, whereas evidence supporting low-level laser therapy remained inconclusive. Kinesiotaping and percutaneous electrolysis demonstrated potential benefits, although the available evidence remains limited. <b>Conclusions</b>: Exercise therapy remains the cornerstone of conservative management for rotator cuff tendinopathy. Adjunctive interventions, including PRP, extracorporeal shockwave therapy, and high-power laser therapy, may provide additional benefits in appropriately selected patients. However, methodological heterogeneity and differences in treatment mechanisms limit direct comparisons between modalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511432/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829379","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":"Benefits and Importance of Early Rehabilitation in Patients After Stroke.","authors":"Harieta Elkova, Galina Mratskova","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030290","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this article is to provide a literature review of current approaches and recommendations for medical rehabilitation in stroke patients, with the goal of achieving the best possible outcomes for their condition and improving their quality of life. <b>Materials and Methods</b>: A narrative review was conducted of articles published in the databases available to us (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PEDro, ResearchGate) that contain information regarding therapeutic management of stroke and, in particular, interventions aimed at motor recovery and improving quality of life. Included in this literature review were: scientific articles, guidelines on stroke and motor rehabilitation, clinical studies, longitudinal clinical studies, controlled clinical studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published before April 2026, covering a ten-year period. <b>Results</b>: Data showing a trend toward higher patient survival rates following acute stroke were identified. For this reason, existing non-pharmacological approaches to motor recovery should be optimized. The rehabilitation process must begin as early as possible. Motor recovery depends on the establishment of motor control and the neuroplastic processes occurring in brain tissue. Rehabilitation is conducted by a rehabilitation team with the patient's active participation, while monitoring motor rehabilitation potential. <b>Conclusions</b>: Rehabilitation is an essential component of post-stroke treatment. When timely and adequate medical rehabilitation is provided to stroke patients, there is a significant improvement in their overall condition and motor functions, as well as in their independence, self-care, and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510413/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829271","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":"Physical Exercise and Gut Microbiota: Implications for Alzheimer's Disease in Experimental Models: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"María Merino-País, Susana López-Ortiz, Enzo Emanuele, Camillo Imbimbo, Bruno P Imbimbo, Simone Lista, Alejandro Santos-Lozano","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030287","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background and Objectives</b>: The concept of the gut-muscle-brain axis encompasses the intricate, multidirectional interactions between the gut microbiota (GM), physical exercise (PE), and the central nervous system. Within this framework, gut dysbiosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given that cognitive functions in AD appear to benefit from PE, it is plausible to hypothesize that these improvements may be partially mediated by PE-induced alterations in GM taxonomy. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential effects of PE in the GM and their implications for AD. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus following the PRISMA guidelines up to July 2025 for preclinical controlled trials that assessed the effects of PE on the GM of AD animal models. A random-effects model meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled effect of PE on GM frequency or composition. This study received no external funding. <b>Results</b>: Eight studies were included in the systematic review (sample size, <i>n</i> = 126), of which two could be meta-analyzed. We found that PE significantly reduced Actinobacteria abundance (MD = -0.005%; 95% CI, -0.008 to -0.002; <i>p</i> = 0.001) with no statistically significant evidence of heterogeneity (I² = 89.60%, Q = 0.102, <i>p</i> = 0.950) or publication bias observed (Begg's test, <i>p</i> = 0.296), but no significant effects were found for other phylums or genera. <b>Conclusions</b>: PE appears capable of modulating the GM of animal models with AD in a selective and heterogeneous manner. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms by which this is possible and to determinate its impact on the pathogenesis of the disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829428","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 Evidence of Physiotherapy Scoliosis-Specific Exercises in Treating Secondary Postural Deviations in Mild and Moderate Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Shkurta Rrecaj Malaj, Mejdi Aliu, Ardiana Murtezani, Tine Kovačič","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030288","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a three-dimensional spinal deformity often associated with secondary postural deviations (pelvic asymmetry, altered kyphosis/lordosis, and postural imbalance), which may negatively affect psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL). Physiotherapy interventions designed specifically for scoliosis, known as Physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE), have shown effectiveness in improving primary structural outcomes such as Cobb angle (CA) and angle of trunk rotation (ATR); however, their influence on secondary postural deviations is still unclear. This scoping review aimed to summarize current evidence of PSSE on secondary postural deviations in children, adolescents, and young adults with mild to moderate IS: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searches were conducted in PEDro, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for studies published in the last 10 years. Eligible studies were appraised using study design-specific quality assessment tools. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale (PEDro), the retrospective cohort study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and the prospective observational study was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist. Outcomes included pelvic asymmetry, spinal deviations, mobility, trunk symmetry/morphology, balance, proprioception, sensorimotor control, and QoL. Six studies involving 230 participants with mild-to-moderate IS were included. PSSE was associated with improvements in CA, ATR, postural alignment, spinal mobility, and QoL. Adjunctive interventions, including manual therapy (MT), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and hippotherapy, generally produced greater improvements in postural symmetry, pelvic alignment, proprioception, and sensorimotor control than PSSE alone. PSSE appears to improve structural, postural, and functional outcomes in individuals with IS, with adjunctive interventions potentially enhancing these effects. However, current evidence is limited by heterogeneity, highlighting the need for high-quality RCTs with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829283","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":"Supraclavicular Foramina in Dry Clavicles: An Observational Study and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence and Laterality.","authors":"Vasileios Papadopoulos, Vagia Tourtouri, Andromachi Navrozidou, Athanasios Markou, Petros Siakavellas, Aliki Fiska","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030289","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030289","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; The supraclavicular foramen (SCF) is a rare anatomical variant formed when a branch of the supraclavicular nerve traverses the clavicle through a complete transclavicular canal. Published studies differ substantially in study material, denominators, and reporting of side-specific and bilateral data, so bilateral anatomy is often synthesized as if pairing were irrelevant. &lt;b&gt;Objectives&lt;/b&gt;: This study aimed to describe SCF in a Greek osteological sample and to apply a meta-analytic framework distinguishing per-clavicle prevalence, marginal laterality, paired laterality, and separately observed bilateral prevalence. &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt;: We examined 115 dry clavicles of Greek origin for SCF frequency, size, and topography. Measurements were obtained independently by four observers using stainless-steel wires and digital calipers, with inter-rater agreement assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were then conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and SciELO were searched from inception to 11 April 2026, supplemented by Google Scholar and backward and forward citation tracking, without language restrictions. Quantitative synthesis included pooled per-clavicle prevalence, conventional marginal left-versus-right comparison, and feasibility-based paired laterality analysis under explicit dependence assumptions when bilateral information was incomplete. Observed bilateral prevalence was analyzed separately using only studies with directly reported body-level bilateral counts. Risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Anatomical Quality Assessment tool, while the review itself was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Tool for Anatomical Meta-Analysis. &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt;: Complete transclavicular canals, identified by two external openings connected by a complete transosseous passage, were present in 3/115 clavicles (2.6%), with a mean aggregate transverse wire span of 1.5 ± 0.8 mm and a mean relative acromial position of 0.44 ± 0.01. Inter-rater reliability was excellent. Pooled per-clavicle prevalence was 2.2%, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.4-3.0% and I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 71%. Conventional marginal laterality supported left-sided predominance, with an odds ratio of 1.76 (95% CI: 1.16-2.66; I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0%), while feasibility-based paired laterality yielded a stronger effect (paired OR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.30-3.94). The main observed bilateral-prevalence model yielded 0.95% (95% CI: 0.33-2.70%). The Doi plot and Luis Furuya-Kanamori index indicated minor asymmetry. &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt;: Complete transclavicular canals occurred in 2.6% of the examined clavicles and occupied a reproducible mid-to-lateral position. The meta-analysis confirmed that the variant is uncommon, supported left-sided predominance, and showed that directly observed bilateral occurrence is rare. Separating clavicl","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510322/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829290","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":"Manual vs. Automatic Segmentation in Infrared Thermography: Inter-Rater Reliability and a Longitudinal Single-Case Feasibility Illustration of Agreement for Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Monitoring.","authors":"Lorenzo Accurso, Vincent Couturier, Tristan Castonguay, Julie Lamoureux, Geoffrey Dover","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030285","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Infrared thermography (IRT) offers a non-invasive means to monitor skin temperature and physiological changes during rehabilitation. However, variability in image segmentation methods limits its broader clinical use. This study assessed the inter-rater reliability of a manual thermal image segmenatation protocol using FLIR Thermal Studio Pro™ and presents a longitudinal single-case feasibility illustration evaluating the agreement between this manual method and automatic segmentation using ThermoHuman^®. <b>Methods</b>: Two regions of interest (ROI) were analyzed throughout the study: the frontal knee and vastus medialis oblique (VMO). For the inter-rater reliability analysis, thermal images from 20 professional athletes were used. For the agreement analysis, 50 lower extremity thermal images were captured from a single athlete recovering from a meniscal repair over a four-month rehabilitation period. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC _(2,1)) were used to assess agreement and reliability. <b>Results</b>: Inter-rater reliability was excellent for all frontal knee measurements (ICC _(2,1) = 0.991, 0.995, and 0.964 for maximum, average, and minimum temperature, respectively) and for VMO maximum and average temperature (ICC _(2,1) = 0.967 and 0.981, respectively), with VMO minimum temperature as the exception demonstrating good reliability (ICC _(2,1) = 0.779). Excellent agreement was found between methods for all frontal knee (ICC _(2,1) = 0.967, 0.949, and 0.985) and VMO measurements (ICC _(2,1) = 0.971, 0.973, and 0.980) for maximum, average, and minimum temperature, respectively. <b>Conclusion</b>: Manual segmentation using FLIR Thermal Studio Pro™ provides highly reliable results across multiple subjects, supporting its use as a practical and consistent clinical tool. Furthermore, our single-case feasibility illustration suggests it provides comparable results to automatic segmentation using ThermoHuman^®, supporting its potential feasibility for accessible rehabilitation monitoring in injured athletes. Further multi-subject research is warranted to confirm the broader applicability of the agreement findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510409/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829385","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":"First-Repetition Mechanical Performance Retention During Repeated Bench Press Following Standard- and Cambered-Bar Warm-Ups.","authors":"Dawid Koźlenia","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11030286","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk11030286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Exercise-specific warm-up may influence fatigue-related performance decline and the restoration of performance between repeated resistance-training sets. This study examined whether a cambered-bar warm-up, compared with a standard-bar warm-up, affected first-repetition velocity and power retention and acceleration-time characteristics. <b>Methods</b>: This randomized parallel-group study included twenty resistance-trained men randomly allocated to a cambered-bar condition (CAM; <i>n</i> = 10) or a standard-bar condition (ST; <i>n</i> = 10). The warm-up comprised four sets at 30%, 50%, 60%, and 70% of one-repetition estimated maximum (1RM). After 10 min, participants completed four sets of five standard-bar repetitions at 75% of 1RM, with 2 min inter-set recovery. First-repetition mean concentric velocity retention was the principal outcome. First-repetition power retention, acceleration index, range of motion (ROM), peak velocity, time to peak velocity, and inter-set velocity rebound were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. <b>Results</b>: During the loading protocol, first-repetition mean concentric velocity and power retention were greater in CAM than ST by 9.82 and 11.65 percentage points, respectively (exact participant-level permutation <i>p</i> = 0.044 and <i>p</i> = 0.012, respectively). No condition × target-set interactions were observed, indicating overall between-condition differences averaged across L2-L4 rather than different set-to-set trajectories. No condition effect was observed for inter-set velocity rebound. CAM increased warm-up ROM by 6.34 cm compared with ST. No condition effects or condition × stage interactions were observed for warm-up acceleration index, peak velocity, or time to peak velocity. The acceleration index increased across loading sets independently of condition. <b>Conclusions</b>: A cambered-bar warm-up increased movement range and was associated with greater retention of first-repetition mean concentric velocity and power during repeated bench press sets. However, no evidence was found for a between-condition difference in immediate inter-set velocity rebound. These findings suggest that the cambered-bar warm-up condition may support the maintenance of first-repetition mechanical performance across repeated sets, although confirmation in larger randomized crossover studies is required.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13511500/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148829410","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}