SportsPub Date : 2024-10-31DOI: 10.3390/sports12110297
Hannah Humphries, Gabrielle Marchelli, Jennifer A Bunn
{"title":"The Influence of Menstruation and Hormonal Birth Control on the Performance of Female Collegiate Lacrosse Players.","authors":"Hannah Humphries, Gabrielle Marchelli, Jennifer A Bunn","doi":"10.3390/sports12110297","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compared the mechanical and physiological load placed on Division I female collegiate lacrosse athletes (1) with and without hormone contraceptive (HC) use and (2) with and without menstruation during training and games. Athletes' (20.6 ± 1.5 years, HC users = 9, naturally cycling (NC) athletes = 9) workloads-total distance traveled (TD, m), max speed (km∙h<sup>-1</sup>), accelerations (repetitions), decelerations (repetitions), and high-intensity distance (HID, m)-were measured through VX Sport wearable microtechnology in training sessions (<i>n</i> = 87/athlete) and games (<i>n</i> = 17/athlete). Analyses showed no statistical group differences based on HC use or not, and no differences during menstruation versus non-menstruation for training or games. However, while not statistically different, athletes taking HCs performed worse during menstruation, with a 5.1% decline in decelerations, 3.4% decline in TD and HID, 1.2% decline in max speed, and 1% decline in accelerations. NC athletes did not show this same decline with menses. Given that withdrawal bleeding exacerbates performance reduction of HC users, it may be beneficial for these athletes to consider skipping their withdrawal bleed if it is likely to coincide with a game. Further research needs to be carried out to see if these trends are consistent across other female athletes in other sports.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598620/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142733753","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 : 2024-10-31DOI: 10.3390/sports12110296
Gréta Csilla Sinka, Ágnes Mayer, András Tállay, Miklós Tátrai, Lilla Tábori, Eszter Papp, Attila Pavlik
{"title":"Effects of a Specific Trunk and Shoulder Strength Training Program on Throwing Velocity and Accuracy: A Study Among Hungarian First-League Female Handball Players.","authors":"Gréta Csilla Sinka, Ágnes Mayer, András Tállay, Miklós Tátrai, Lilla Tábori, Eszter Papp, Attila Pavlik","doi":"10.3390/sports12110296","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of the study was to record shoulder and trunk stability of elite female handball players and to investigate their effect on throwing velocity and accuracy. 151 female handball players (9 teams in total) from the Hungarian first league participated in a mid-season conditional survey. The study included tests of trunk and shoulder stability, and measurements of factors affecting shoulder stability, as well as throwing speed and throwing accuracy. After the conditional survey, 18 players were selected for the intervention group (IG) and 18 players for the control group (CG). Significant relationships were found between the medial stability of the shoulder joint (Y-balance) and throwing accuracy (upper right corner) (r = 0.766; <i>p</i> < 0.001), throwing accuracy (upper left corner) (r = 0.729; <i>p</i> < 0.001), total throwing accuracy (r = 0.907; <i>p</i> < 0.001). The IG showed significant improvement in trunk stability (<i>p</i> < 0.001), shoulder joint stability (<i>p</i> < 0.001), throwing velocity (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and throwing accuracy (<i>p</i> = 0.002), compared to the CG. These findings support the idea that trunk and shoulder stability are related to throwing performance of female handball players. Measuring and training these aforementioned factors, particularly medial shoulder stability, may be a valuable adjunct to improving throwing accuracy and throwing velocity.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734583","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 : 2024-10-28DOI: 10.3390/sports12110295
Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos, Mariana C Kotzamanidou, Vasiliki Manou
{"title":"Sex Differences Exist in the Relationship Between Vertical Jump Performance Biomechanical Parameters and Hamstring/Quadriceps Ratio in Adolescent U18 Track and Field Athletes.","authors":"Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos, Mariana C Kotzamanidou, Vasiliki Manou","doi":"10.3390/sports12110295","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110295","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isokinetic metrics are suggested to be related to vertical jump performance, but little is known about the possible sex differences in this relationship in adolescent track and field athletes. The aim of the study was to examine the possible sex differences in the strength of the relationship between the kinetic parameters of the vertical squat jump with arms akimbo, the countermovement jump with arms akimbo, and the countermovement jump with free arm swing with the isokinetic parameters of the knee extensor and flexor muscles (angular velocities: 60°/s and 300°/s). In total, 35 (males: 21, females: 14) U18 track and field athletes were examined. The results revealed that the Men U18 group had higher vertical jump performance, higher values in the kinetic parameters of the vertical jump tests, higher knee extensor torque, and higher knee flexor torque in the non-dominant leg compared to the Women U18 group. Significant (<i>p</i> < 0.05) sex differences were observed in the relationship between the isokinetic parameters and the vertical jump performance metrics, as the Women U18 athletes relied more on the knee flexor torque than Men U18 athletes, and demonstrated a stronger negative relationship between selected isokinetic metrics and the pre-stretch gain in the vertical jump tests. In conclusion, it is recommended that young female track and field athletes minimize interlimb asymmetry and improve the convention ratio in their non-dominant leg to optimize vertical jump performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734608","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 : 2024-10-28DOI: 10.3390/sports12110294
Cristian Mendoza-Arranz, Omar López-Rebenaque, Carlos Donato Cabrera-López, Alejandro López-Mejías, José Fierro-Marrero, Francisco DeAsís-Fernández
{"title":"Effects of Apnea-Induced Hypoxia on Hypoalgesia in Healthy Subjects.","authors":"Cristian Mendoza-Arranz, Omar López-Rebenaque, Carlos Donato Cabrera-López, Alejandro López-Mejías, José Fierro-Marrero, Francisco DeAsís-Fernández","doi":"10.3390/sports12110294","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Exercise-induced hypoalgesia is a phenomenon in which exercise bouts induce a reduction in pain sensitivity. Apnea training involves similar characteristics that could potentially induce hypoalgesia.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objectives of this study are to explore the effect of apnea training on hypoalgesia; assess the correlation between conditioned pain modulation (CPM) response and apnea-induced hypoalgesia; and examine the association between hypoalgesia with hypoxemia, and heart rate (HR) during apnea.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A randomized controlled trial was conducted comparing a walking protocol employing intermittent apnea compared with normal breathing in healthy volunteers. Hypoalgesia was tested with pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and CPM. Oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) and HR were also tested.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Relevant but not significant changes were detected in the thumb (MD = 0.678 kg/cm<sup>2</sup>), and tibialis (MD = 0.718 kg/cm<sup>2</sup>) in favor of the apnea group. No significant differences were detected in CPM. The apnea group presented lower SpO<sub>2</sub>, but HR values similar to those of the control group during the intervention. Basal CPM and intrasession hypoxemia significantly correlated with the PPT response. However, HR did not correlate with the PPT response.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The current results suggest a trend, though not statistically significant, toward an improvement in the PPT in favor of apnea training compared to normal breathing. Nevertheless, subjects who presented greater basal CPM and lower oxygen saturation during the session presented a greater PPT response, suggesting the possibility of mediators of response. Future investigations should clarify this phenomenon.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598293/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734584","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":"Pain Candidate Genes 5-HTTLPR and COMT Affect Anxiety and Mood in Japanese Ballet Dancers: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study.","authors":"Kanaka Yatabe, Kohei Ashikaga, Ryota Muroi, Shu Somemura, Masahiro Takemoto, Kazuo Yudoh, Hisao Miyano, Hiroto Fujiya","doi":"10.3390/sports12110293","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The balance of mental, physical, and technical aspects is essential in improving ballet performance. Ballet dancers' emotional and behavioral characteristics vary, even under identical stress conditions. This study aimed to investigate the association between the pain candidate genes 5-HTTLPR and COMT and anxiety in Japanese ballet dancers. Participants were 18 youth elite ballet students with professional aspirations (Y-Elite) and 16 dancers in a professional ballet company (Pro). We administered psychological questionnaires, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), to participants under the following four different stress conditions: standard practice day, cast decision day, rehearsal day, and one week before competition day. In addition, the genotypes of 5-HTTLPR and COMT Val158Met were examined. The distribution of 5-HTTLPR was not different between Y-Elite and Pro dancers, although one of the COMT genotypes was different. Y-Elite dancers had higher trait anxiety scores than Pro dancers for these genotypes before competition (ps < 0.03), although no significant association was observed between both genotypes and scores on the STAI across conditions. Their moods were significantly different through the four conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.004). Pro dancers' moods were also more stable than those of the Y-Elite dancers in the presence of pain. The results indicate that 5-HTTLPR and COMT play a crucial role in dancers' anxiety and mood during pain (ps < 0.05). Pro dancers are probably predicted by their lower neuroticism and mood scores and their better adaptation to stress than Y-Elite dancers. The 5-HTTLPR and COMT genes may be influencing the sensitivity to the environment. Youth elite ballet dancers need to understand the relationship between pain and physical activity from an early stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598313/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734603","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 : 2024-10-24DOI: 10.3390/sports12110290
Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman, Ali Aloui, Nidhal Jebabli, Iyed Salhi, Jihen Khalfoun, Mohaned Omar, Cain C T Clark, Bogdan-Constantin Ungurean, Urs Granacher, Hassane Zouhal
{"title":"The Effects of Combined Versus Single-Mode Resistance and Repeated Sprint Training on Physical Fitness, Hematological Parameters, and Plasma Volume Variations in Highly Trained Soccer Players.","authors":"Abderraouf Ben Abderrahman, Ali Aloui, Nidhal Jebabli, Iyed Salhi, Jihen Khalfoun, Mohaned Omar, Cain C T Clark, Bogdan-Constantin Ungurean, Urs Granacher, Hassane Zouhal","doi":"10.3390/sports12110290","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>We examined the effects of eight weeks of single-mode resistance, repeated sprint training, and the combination of the two programs on selected measures of physical fitness (muscle power, speed, and body composition), hematological parameters, and plasma volume variations in highly trained soccer players. Sixty male soccer players from the Tunisian national Ligue were randomly allocated to a resistance training group (RTG), a repeated sprint training group (RSTG), a combined resistance and repeated sprint training group (CTG), or an active control group (CG, soccer training only). The training volumes were similar between groups. Before and after training, we examined body composition, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint 30 m (S30), repeated-sprint sequences (RSSs), hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean hemoglobin concentration (MHC), and plasma volume. Significant group-by-time interactions were recorded for the RSS indices, SJ, and S30 (<i>p</i> < 0.039], 0.1< ηp<sup>2</sup> < 0.49]), as well as the hematological parameters (<i>p</i> = 0.0001-0.045, 0.11 < ηp<sup>2</sup> < 0.46). In terms of physical fitness, using post hoc tests, the CTG showed significantly greater gains compared to the RSTG, RTG, and the CG on the best time index of the RSSs (<i>p</i> = 0.008; d = 4.1), SJ (<i>p</i> = 0.004; d = 4.18) and 30 m linear sprint time (<i>p</i> = 0.008; d = 3.84). Body fat percentage also decreased significantly in the CTG compared to all other groups (<i>p</i> < 0.005, 0.21 < d< 0.35). Regarding hematological parameters (i.e., hemoglobin and hematocrit), the CTG, RSTG, and RTG showed significant decreases (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in their hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared to the CG (<i>p</i> < 0.05, 0.11 < d< 2.22]). Eight weeks of combined training compared to single-mode training was found to be more effective in improving fitness measures in highly trained soccer players. However, there appeared to be no consensus regarding the effect of single and combined repeated-sprint and resistance training on the hematological system.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598751/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734624","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 : 2024-10-24DOI: 10.3390/sports12110292
Károly Dobos, Dario Novak, János Péter Tóth, Csaba Ökrös
{"title":"Rate of Force Development During a Handgrip Task Is Correlated with the Post-Impact Ball Speed of the Flat Serve.","authors":"Károly Dobos, Dario Novak, János Péter Tóth, Csaba Ökrös","doi":"10.3390/sports12110292","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110292","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of the present research was to test the hypothesis that rate of force development (RFD) during a handgrip task of the dominant arm in three different positions is associated with maximal post-impact ball speed of flat serve (PIBS). Altogether 23 elite junior boys (aged 14.84 ± 2.47 years; weight 59.51 ± 13.83 kg; height 170.47 ± 16.34 cm) tennis players participated in the study. To assess the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and RFD during the task, four handgrip tests and a serve test were applied to estimate PIBS. Spearman's rank correlation showed a significant positive correlation between RFD of dominant arm in each three position and PIBS (r = 0.82-0.86; <i>p</i> < 0.001). A very large, significantly positive correlation was also found between MVC of the dominant arm and PIBS (r = 0.88; <i>p</i> < 0.01). The result of the present study indicated that rapid force generation of muscles in the forearm and wrist may probably play a role in the formation of a stable contact point, and it is in connection with PIBS. It is in contrast to the slow maximal force exertion that much rather characterizes the general strength state of players. Therefore, measurement of the RFD during a handgrip task is suggested in the testing session of the flat serve of junior tennis players.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598185/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734606","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 : 2024-10-24DOI: 10.3390/sports12110291
Cristina Comeras-Chueca, Pablo J Bascuas, César Berzosa, Eduardo Piedrafita, Juan Rabal-Pelay, Héctor Gutiérrez, Ana Vanessa Bataller-Cervero
{"title":"Quantifying Trunk Impact Dynamics and Workload with Inertial Sensors in Goalball Players.","authors":"Cristina Comeras-Chueca, Pablo J Bascuas, César Berzosa, Eduardo Piedrafita, Juan Rabal-Pelay, Héctor Gutiérrez, Ana Vanessa Bataller-Cervero","doi":"10.3390/sports12110291","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aim of this study was to quantify trunk impact dynamics in goalball players using inertial sensors and evaluate the goalball players' workloads, focusing on changes between the first and second halves of a match to enhance understanding of the demands experienced throughout the game. Utilizing inertial technology, trunk impacts during goalball gameplay were analyzed to provide a holistic insight into how these impacts influence athletes' dynamic stress loads, which refers to the physical demands placed on the body during dynamic movements. Six goalball players were recruited to wear an accelerometer during a whole goalball game to quantify trunk impacts. The results showed a higher number of total impacts and a higher number of impacts at higher levels during the first half, compared to a higher percentage of impacts at a low impact level in the second half. These results suggest that the intensity of gameplay is related to the number of impacts sustained, with players experiencing significantly more impacts, particularly at very low, low, and very high impact levels, in the first half compared to the second half. This decline in impacts aligns with the reduction in game intensity as the match progressed, as indicated by a lower heart rate and a trend towards a lower dynamic stress load in the second half. Future research could explore targeted training interventions aimed at optimizing workload and performance in goalball players.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598380/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734605","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":"Incidence of Elbow Injury Patterns in Japanese Adolescent Judo Players: Analysis from a Nationwide Insurance Database.","authors":"Akira Ikumi, Eiji Sasaki, Naoki Sakuyama, Yasuo Mikami","doi":"10.3390/sports12110289","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Elbow injuries are common in judo, particularly among adolescents. This study investigated the incidence and patterns of three types of elbow injuries (sprain, dislocation, and fracture-dislocation) among Japanese adolescent judo players (12 to 18 years old) using data from a nationwide insurance database, covering the period from 2010 to 2019. A total of 4614 elbow injuries were recorded, with sprains being the most frequent (67.6% of cases). Female players had a 20% higher incidence of sprains than male players (6.8 vs. 5.4 per 1000 athlete-years). Severe injuries, such as dislocations and fracture-dislocations, were more common in high school players, with male middle school students exhibiting a higher rate of elbow fracture-dislocations (+15%) compared with female students. Elbow injuries frequently occurred during te-waza techniques, particularly seoi-nage, when players extended their arms to prevent being thrown. Peripheral nerve injuries, predominantly ulnar nerve injuries, accompanied elbow dislocations in 74% of the cases. This study highlights the importance of proper instruction in defensive and ukemi techniques, particularly those that discourage the use of hands to prevent falls during throws, to reduce the risk of elbow injuries.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734600","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 : 2024-10-22DOI: 10.3390/sports12110287
Nikolaos-Orestis Retzepis, Alexandra Avloniti, Christos Kokkotis, Maria Protopapa, Theodoros Stampoulis, Anastasia Gkachtsou, Dimitris Pantazis, Dimitris Balampanos, Ilias Smilios, Athanasios Chatzinikolaou
{"title":"Identifying Key Factors for Predicting the Age at Peak Height Velocity in Preadolescent Team Sports Athletes Using Explainable Machine Learning.","authors":"Nikolaos-Orestis Retzepis, Alexandra Avloniti, Christos Kokkotis, Maria Protopapa, Theodoros Stampoulis, Anastasia Gkachtsou, Dimitris Pantazis, Dimitris Balampanos, Ilias Smilios, Athanasios Chatzinikolaou","doi":"10.3390/sports12110287","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports12110287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maturation is a key factor in sports participation and often determines the young athletes' characterization as a talent. However, there is no evidence of practical models for understanding the factors that discriminate children according to maturity. Hence, this study aims to deepen the understanding of the factors that affect maturity in 11-year-old Team Sports Athletes by utilizing explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) models. We utilized three established machine learning (ML) classifiers and applied the Sequential Forward Feature Selection (SFFS) algorithm to each. In this binary classification task, the logistic regression (LR) classifier achieved a top accuracy of 96.67% using the seven most informative factors (Sitting Height, Father's Height, Body Fat, Weight, Height, Left and Right-Hand Grip Strength). The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) model was instrumental in identifying the contribution of each factor, offering key insights into variable importance. Independent sample <i>t</i>-tests on these selected factors confirmed their significance in distinguishing between the two classes. By providing detailed and personalized insights into child development, this integration has the potential to enhance the effectiveness of maturation prediction significantly. These advancements could lead to a transformative approach in young athletes' pediatric growth analysis, fostering better sports performance and developmental outcomes for children.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"12 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11598806/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142734599","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}