SportsPub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.3390/sports13090321
Walter Sapuppo, Davide Giacconi, Antonietta Monda, Antonietta Messina, Daniele Saccenti, Claudia Maria Mineo, Maria Casillo, Salvatore Allocca, Giovanni Michelini, Regina Gregori Grgič, Vincenzo Monda, Jacopo Lamanna, Mattia Ferro, Girolamo Di Maio, Marcellino Monda, Marco La Marra
{"title":"Health-Related Quality of Life and Dietary Supplement Use in Physically Active People and Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Walter Sapuppo, Davide Giacconi, Antonietta Monda, Antonietta Messina, Daniele Saccenti, Claudia Maria Mineo, Maria Casillo, Salvatore Allocca, Giovanni Michelini, Regina Gregori Grgič, Vincenzo Monda, Jacopo Lamanna, Mattia Ferro, Girolamo Di Maio, Marcellino Monda, Marco La Marra","doi":"10.3390/sports13090321","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090321","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of dietary supplements is widespread among athletes and physically active individuals, yet their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the associations between supplement use, physical activity patterns, and HRQoL in a heterogeneous sample of 537 adults engaged in sports at amateur, professional, or recreational levels. Participants completed an online survey assessing demographics, supplement use, physical activity habits, and quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and independent-samples t-tests to explore relationships between supplement use, body mass index (BMI), motivational variables, and HRQoL outcomes. Results indicated that 46.7% of participants reported consuming at least one supplement or substance, with an average of 1.91 products. The primary motivations included performance enhancement (30.7%) and combined performance and aesthetic goals (12.1%). A significant association emerged between supplement use and the consistency of physical activity over time, as well as the individual's motivation for engaging in exercise. Participants who maintained stable activity levels and those driven by performance or competitive motives were more likely to use supplements. In contrast, individuals exercising primarily for physical and psychological health were less likely to report supplement use. When comparing HRQoL scores, supplement users showed significantly lower levels of impairment due to emotional issues (RE), social functioning (SF), and bodily pain (BP). Among these variables, only Bodily Pain presented a small effect size, suggesting a meaningful difference between users and non-users. These findings highlight that while supplements are commonly used in athletic contexts, their association with improved quality of life is limited, and may even reflect attempts to manage physical discomfort. Further research is needed to clarify the directionality of these relationships and inform safe and evidence-based consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473454/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151944","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":"Knowledge of Targeted Muscles and Proper Form in Strength Training: A Cross-Sectional Survey of 1000 Adults Across Age, Sex, and Instructional Experience.","authors":"Yoshiki Kobayashi, Megumi Gonno, Kyosuke Oku, Yuki Mori, Noriyuki Kida","doi":"10.3390/sports13090322","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090322","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>With the growing availability of strength training information through online platforms and social media, there is an increasing need to ensure that individuals possess sufficient knowledge to train safely and effectively. Nonetheless, previous studies on strength training literacy have primarily focused on university students and have not adequately examined differences in knowledge across age groups or the roles of training experience and instruction. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of (a) targeted muscle groups and (b) proper form and movement among adults aged 20-69 years and to explore how this knowledge varies by age, sex, and experience in training and professional instruction. A total of 1000 adults (100 males and 100 females in each decade from their 20s to 60s) participated in an online survey. The participants were categorized into three groups according to their training and instructional experience. Knowledge was assessed using 10 items pertaining to targeted muscles and 18 items related to exercise form and movement. Three-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze the associations between age, sex, and experience. Overall, 75.5% of the participants reported strength training experience, whereas 29.3% had received instruction. Knowledge of the targeted muscle groups was significantly higher in participants in their 60s than in those in their 20s (<i>p</i> = 0.014); however, the overall accuracy remained below 60%. No significant effect of instruction on anatomical knowledge was observed. In contrast, both training and instructional experience were positively associated with knowledge of form and movement, although the accuracy remained modest among all groups (50-60%). Sex differences in instructional experience varied by age, with older females reporting higher rates than their male counterparts. In conclusion, knowledge of strength training among adults remains insufficient, particularly regarding anatomical targets. Although instruction enhances the understanding of form and movement, it does not guarantee anatomical literacy. To improve training outcomes and safety, instructional strategies should integrate clear, structured, and pedagogically informed approaches that emphasize movement execution and muscle engagement.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151610","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.3390/sports13090318
Javier Pinilla-Arbex, Javier Pérez-Tejero, Yves Vanlandewijck
{"title":"Breaking Barriers: Understanding the Impact of Intellectual Impairment on Inductive Reasoning in Basketball.","authors":"Javier Pinilla-Arbex, Javier Pérez-Tejero, Yves Vanlandewijck","doi":"10.3390/sports13090318","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Access to high-performance sports is crucial for the holistic development and well-being of athletes with intellectual impairment (II). However, ensuring fair and equitable participation requires effective eligibility systems. This study investigates how basketball-specific inductive reasoning impacts athletes with II. A total of 92 elite male players with II (average age 26.3 ± 7 years) and 128 control players without II participated. This study used a tailored test to assess the ability to quickly and accurately arrange 12 photo series depicting basketball sequences. Athletes with II were hypothesized to require more time and arrange the image sequences less accurately compared to their peers. The results indicated that athletes with II took significantly more time (41.2 s ± 20.2 s) and arranged the image sequences less accurately than senior players without II (19.2 s ± 5.9 s). A discriminant function analysis classified 84.1% of players accurately, confirming that athletes with II performed at a lower level in basketball-specific activities that require inductive reasoning. These findings contribute to the development of Phase 3 of the classification model for athletes with II, which consists of 4 phases. This helps establish the eligibility system boundaries in basketball for individuals with II, promoting equitable access for athletes to high-performance sports.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473677/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151866","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.3390/sports13090316
Jordi Montraveta, Ignacio Fernández-Jarillo, Xavier Iglesias, Andri Feldmann, Diego Chaverri
{"title":"Physiological Predictors of Peak Velocity in the VAM-EVAL Incremental Test and the Role of Kinematic Variables in Running Economy in Triathletes.","authors":"Jordi Montraveta, Ignacio Fernández-Jarillo, Xavier Iglesias, Andri Feldmann, Diego Chaverri","doi":"10.3390/sports13090316","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090316","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examined the influence of physiological parameters on peak velocity (Vpeak) and of kinematic variables on running economy (RE) during an outdoor incremental VAM-EVAL test completed by eleven national-level triathletes. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2</sub>max), ventilatory thresholds, RE, and minimum muscle oxygen saturation (SmO<sub>2</sub>min) were obtained with a portable gas analyzer and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), while cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, and contact time were recorded with a foot-mounted inertial sensor. Multiple linear regression showed that VO<sub>2</sub>max and SmO<sub>2</sub>min together accounted for 86% of the variance in Vpeak (VO<sub>2</sub>max: r = 0.76; SmO<sub>2</sub>min: r = -0.68), whereas RE at 16 km·h<sup>-1</sup> displayed only a moderate association (r = 0.54). Links between RE and kinematic metrics were negligible to weak (r ≤ 0.38). These findings confirm VO<sub>2</sub>max as the primary determinant of Vpeak and suggest that SmO<sub>2</sub>min can be used as a complementary, non-invasive marker of endurance capacity in triathletes, measurable in the field with portable NIRS. Additionally, inter-individual differences in cadence, stride length, vertical oscillation, and contact time suggest that kinematic adjustments are not universally effective but rather highly individualized, with their impact on RE likely depending on each athlete's specific characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151861","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.3390/sports13090315
Anna Antonia Valenzano, Paride Vasco, Gabriella D'Orsi, Tommaso Cassano, Raffaella Marzovillo, Antonio Di Stasi, Giuseppe Cibelli
{"title":"Impact of Exercise Therapy in ERAS Prehabilitation for Major Surgery: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Anna Antonia Valenzano, Paride Vasco, Gabriella D'Orsi, Tommaso Cassano, Raffaella Marzovillo, Antonio Di Stasi, Giuseppe Cibelli","doi":"10.3390/sports13090315","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090315","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) This systematic review evaluates the role of structured exercise within the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, a multidisciplinary approach designed to reduce surgical stress and enhance recovery. Prehabilitation, primarily through controlled physical activity, is a fundamental component of ERAS, preparing patients, both physically and mentally, for major surgery. (2) A systematic search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Wiley databases to identify relevant studies published up to January 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta-analyses reporting postoperative complications, length of hospital stay (LOS), and overall recovery. (3) A total of 64 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings consistently demonstrate that structured exercise interventions-such as aerobic activities, resistance training, and flexibility routines-were associated with postoperative complications, shorten hospital stays, and enhance functional recovery. These interventions improve cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, and psychological well-being. (4) Despite potential limitations in the systematic search, as heterogeneity of protocols, publication bias, language restrictions, the evidence supports the integration of structured exercise as a cornerstone of ERAS prehabilitation. Future research should focus on standardizing exercise protocols and exploring personalized strategies to optimize surgical outcomes across diverse patient populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473367/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151942","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.3390/sports13090319
Alice Higounenc, Alice Carvalhais, Ágata Vieira, Sofia Lopes
{"title":"Urinary Incontinence in Young Gymnastics Athletes: A Scoping Review.","authors":"Alice Higounenc, Alice Carvalhais, Ágata Vieira, Sofia Lopes","doi":"10.3390/sports13090319","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090319","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Urinary incontinence (UI) is increasingly reported among young nulliparous women, especially those engaged in high-impact sports. This may increase the risk of developing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) later in life. This scoping review aims to synthesise current evidence on UI in gymnasts, identify the gymnastics modalities with the highest prevalence of UI, and examine the outcomes measures and interventions considered for UI.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A scoping review was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Scielo, EBSCO, PEDro, and NIH. Studies published in English or Portuguese between January 2012 and May 2023 were included. Review articles, qualitative studies, and conferences abstracts were excluded. Studies were analysed according to the PRISMA-ScR framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 169 identified studies, 4 were included. SUI emerged as the most prevalent type of UI, particularly in artistic and trampoline modalities. All the studies used the ICIQ-UI-SF to assess UI. Reported outcomes included prevalence of UI and SUI, impact on quality of life and athletic performance, as well as knowledge about UI and pelvic floor. No studies investigated treatments for UI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The prevalence of SUI is high among gymnasts (70%), especially in artistic and trampoline disciplines. Although there is outcome heterogeneity across studies, all used the ICIQ-UI-SF. There is a critical gap regarding interventions for UI in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473545/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151894","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.3390/sports13090317
Adem Kocak, Ekavi Georgousopoulou, Catherine R Knight-Agarwal, Raymond Matthews, Michelle Minehan
{"title":"The Effect of Consuming Caffeine Before Late Afternoon/Evening Training or Competition on Sleep: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Adem Kocak, Ekavi Georgousopoulou, Catherine R Knight-Agarwal, Raymond Matthews, Michelle Minehan","doi":"10.3390/sports13090317","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Many athletes consume caffeine before late afternoon/evening training sessions or competition, yet the impact on subsequent sleep remains unclear. This systematic review with meta-analysis examined the effects of late afternoon/evening caffeine consumption on sleep in athletes. Ten studies (<i>n</i> = 128 athletes) involving randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs were included if caffeine was consumed prior to late afternoon/evening training and subsequent sleep was measured. Meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines with risk of bias assessed using RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials revealed a small reduction in sleep efficiency with evening caffeine consumption: mean difference -4.87%, 95% CI -7.45 to -2.29, <i>p</i> = 0.04, though this effect was not robust in leave-one-out sensitivity analyses. Total sleep time showed a non-significant trend toward reduction: mean difference -32.47 min, 95% CI -69.93 to 4.99, <i>p</i> = 0.08, I<sup>2</sup> = 0%. Athletes consistently reported substantial subjective sleep impairment following evening caffeine intake (3-6 mg/kg BM), creating a pronounced objective-subjective disconnect. The most notable finding is that athletes consistently perceive substantial sleep disruption despite inconsistent objective changes, highlighting the importance of subjective sleep experience in athletic populations. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of studies and predominance of male participants, limiting generalisability.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473705/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151882","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-09DOI: 10.3390/sports13090314
Alejandro López-Hernández, Juan Ángel Simón-Piqueras, David Zamorano-García, David B Pyne, José María González Ravé
{"title":"Impact of Psychosocial Intervention on Performance Determinants in Competitive Swimmers: Roles of Coach, Family, Environment, and Athlete Characteristics.","authors":"Alejandro López-Hernández, Juan Ángel Simón-Piqueras, David Zamorano-García, David B Pyne, José María González Ravé","doi":"10.3390/sports13090314","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090314","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: This study analyzed the effects of intervention programs conducted between 2021 and 2025 as part of the \"Aula UCLM-FNCLM\" initiative-a partnership between a regional swimming federation and the university-on psychosocial factors in trained swimmers. This program presents interventions for swimmers, their coaches, their families, and their sports environment. (2) Methods: The effects of a 4-year intervention program on the Castilla-La Mancha swimming team, classified as Tier 3 (Tier 3: Highly Trained/National Level), according to the McKay classification framework (2021 team with 55 swimmers, 25 men, and 30 women; 17.3 ± 5.3 years), and the same sample in 2025 (42 swimmers, 19 men, 23 women-17 ± 2.8 years-and 11 dropouts). A self-perception questionnaire on performance in sport (CAED) was used. (3) Results: The results showed higher ratings (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>η<sup>2</sup></i> = 0.30) from the swimmers of the 2025 CLM team in the coach factor, and moderate changes in the roles played by family (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>η</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.12) and environment (<i>p</i> < 0.05, <i>η</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.11). The only factor that did not improve was personal characteristics. (4) Conclusions: The UCLM-FNCLM program has contributed to improving the role of factors related to performance in sport (coach, family, and sports environment) in a cohort of regional-based swimmers.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145150613","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.3390/sports13090313
Miłosz Drozd, Jakub Chycki, Adam Maszczyk, Hiago L R Souza, Adam Zajac, Moacir Marocolo
{"title":"Ischemic Preconditioning Attenuates the Decline in Repeated Anaerobic Performance Under Simulated Altitude: A Randomized Crossover Study.","authors":"Miłosz Drozd, Jakub Chycki, Adam Maszczyk, Hiago L R Souza, Adam Zajac, Moacir Marocolo","doi":"10.3390/sports13090313","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study examined the effects of repeated ischemic preconditioning (IPC) combined with normobaric hypoxia on anaerobic performance and physiological stress markers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fourteen physically active males (22.3 ± 3.1 years) completed three randomized, single-blind crossover sessions under the following conditions: (1) normoxia (NOR), (2) normobaric hypoxia (HYP; FiO<sub>2</sub> = 14.7%), and (3) hypoxia with IPC (IPC-HYP). Each session included three 30 s cycling Wingate tests separated by four minutes of passive recovery. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 15 min post-exercise to assess lactate, pH, bicarbonate (HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup>), and creatine kinase (CK) activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Peak power output was highest under NOR during Wingate II and III. IPC-HYP attenuated the decline in peak power compared to that under HYP (e.g., Wingate II: 15.56 vs. 12.52 W/kg). IPC-HYP induced greater lactate accumulation (peak: 15.45 mmol/L, <i>p</i> < 0.01), more pronounced acidosis (pH: 7.18 post-exercise), and lower bicarbonate (9.9 mmol/L, <i>p</i> < 0.01). CK activity, measured immediately and then 1 h and 24 h post-exercise, was highest under IPC-HYP at 24 h (568.5 U/L).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>IPC-HYP mitigates the decline in peak anaerobic power observed under hypoxia, despite eliciting greater metabolic and muscular stress. These findings suggest that IPC may enhance physiological adaptation to hypoxic training, potentially improving anaerobic performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473594/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151619","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}
SportsPub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.3390/sports13090312
Juan Francisco Maggiolo, Alejandro Caña-Pino, Manuel Moya-Ramón, Iván Peña-González
{"title":"Match vs. Training Physical Requirements and Their Association with Field-Based Physical Tests in International CP Football.","authors":"Juan Francisco Maggiolo, Alejandro Caña-Pino, Manuel Moya-Ramón, Iván Peña-González","doi":"10.3390/sports13090312","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090312","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objetives: </strong>This study aimed to (1) describe and compare the external physical requirements of international cerebral palsy (CP) football players during training sessions and official matches at the 2024 IFCPF World Cup, and (2) analyze the relationships between standardized field-based physical performance tests and the physical requirements recorded in both contexts.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve international outfield players from the Spanish national CP football team were monitored throughout the tournament. Physical performance was evaluated two weeks prior using 5-m and 30-m sprints, a Modified Agility Test (MAT), a dribbling test, and the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (vIFT). Match and training physical requirements were assessed using inertial devices, including total and relative distances, velocity metrics, and acceleration/deceleration outputs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Matches imposed significantly greater demands than training sessions in terms of peak velocity, total distance per minute, and distance at moderate (>12-18 km/h) and high (>18 km/h) intensities (t = 2.79 to 8.06; <i>p</i> = 0.01; ES(d) = 0.50 to 1.45). Training sessions exhibited greater variability in load while match requirements were consistent across games. Performance in the MAT and dribbling tests correlated with several physical indicators in both training and competition. In contrast, vIFT and sprint tests showed limited associations, especially with match variables.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Match play elicits higher and more stable physical requirements than training. The MAT and dribbling tests appear to be ecologically valid tools for assessing functional readiness in CP football. These findings support the integration of specific physical tests and tailored training designs to better replicate the competitive requirements of international CP football.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151711","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}