European journal of sport science最新文献

{"title":"The Impact of Functional Movement Variability and Movement Creativity on Sport Climbing Performance","authors":"Nikki Geerte van Bergen,&nbsp;Dominic Orth,&nbsp;Nicolas Deschle,&nbsp;Robert Berkenbosch,&nbsp;Marthe van der Toorn,&nbsp;Geert Savelsbergh,&nbsp;John van der Kamp","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70024","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Expertise in sports is underpinned by the ability to adapt to changing individual, task and environmental constraints. The ecological dynamics approach positions movement variability as having functional properties thus enabling adaptation. Additionally, it holds that movement creativity emerges from movement variability in the process of exploration. To test these conjectures, we determined the relationships between movement variability, movement creativity and performance. Twenty-one male climbers, ranging from experienced to high elite level participated. Functional movement variability and climbing performance were assessed in two different tests. The primary goal of the functional movement variability test was to perform a boulder problem in as many different ways as possible, whereas in the performance test, participants had six attempts to progress as far as possible. 2D hip position data (derived from video recordings using Kinovea) were collected to determine the number of distinct successful trajectories performed (movement variability), the degree of originality of each successful trajectory (movement creativity) and the trajectory length of the best attempt in the performance test (performance). Results revealed that both the ability to exhibit functional movement variability (<i>p</i> = 0.005) and the exploration of movement creativity (<i>p</i> = 0.002) were strongly associated with performance. Movement creativity contributed to performance in addition to movement variability (<i>p</i> = 0.024). We propose that variability is more than just the number of different movements; it should also be understood in how distinctly different these movements are, since they may reflect different patterns of exploration and determine the range of novel adaptations within an individual's capacity to be discovered.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70024","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657670","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":"Is There a Performance-Injury Conflict Between Maximum Horizontal Deceleration and Surrogates of Noncontact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?","authors":"Junlei Lin,&nbsp;Thomas Dos'Santos,&nbsp;Wei Li,&nbsp;Xu Wang,&nbsp;Anthony Turner","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70014","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to examine the biomechanical determinants of horizontal deceleration and their correlations with noncontact ACL injury surrogates (e.g., knee joint moments). Thirty-two male team-sport players (Age: 21.85 ± 0.33 years; Height: 1.80 ± 0.11 m; Mass: 71.28 ± 1.39 kg) performed horizontal deceleration following 15 m sprints. Lower limb kinetics and kinematics of the first braking step were collected using 3D motion and force plates, and deceleration was assessed using radar gun. The Pearson correlation was used to determine correlations between selected variables and <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Greater peak and mean horizontal deceleration were significantly correlated (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) with greater mean horizontal braking GRF (<i>r</i> = 0.52 and 0.41) and greater mean horizontal braking GRF ratio (<i>r</i> = 0.43 and 0.48). Greater knee joint loading (knee flexion moment, knee abduction moment, and knee internal rotation moment) were significantly correlated (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) with greater peak and mean vertical braking GRF (<i>r</i> = 0.30–0.41) and greater peak resultant braking GRF (<i>r</i> = 0.33–0.48). There were nonsignificant correlations between mean and peak deceleration and knee joint loading variables (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Therefore, deceleration strategies that emphasize greater horizontal and posteriorly orientated forces during the first contact of deceleration appear effective for facilitating more effective deceleration, without concomitant increases in the loading of noncontact ACL injury surrogates.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70014","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657697","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":"Physiological Responses to High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Hypoxia Among Lean Males and Those With Overweight or Obesity","authors":"Zhenhuan Wang,&nbsp;Jia Li,&nbsp;Muhammed M. Atakan,&nbsp;Metodija Kjertakov,&nbsp;Hansen Li,&nbsp;Jujiao Kuang,&nbsp;Michael J. McKenna,&nbsp;Wentao Lin,&nbsp;Yanchun Li,&nbsp;David J. Bishop,&nbsp;Olivier Girard,&nbsp;Xu Yan,&nbsp;Li Peng","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70016","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to compare physiological responses to high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in hypoxia and normoxia across different body mass index (BMI) categories. Twenty-one males, classified as normal-weight (NW, <i>n</i> = 9 and BMI: 22.9 ± 2.3 kg · m⁻²) or overweight/obese (OW, <i>n</i> = 12 and BMI: 27.6 ± 2.0 kg · m⁻²), completed graded exercise tests (GXT) in normoxia (FiO₂ = 20.9%) and hypoxia (FiO₂ = 14.0%), followed by three randomised HIIE sessions: hypoxia (HY), normoxia matched to hypoxic relative intensity (NR) and normoxia matched to hypoxic absolute intensity (NA). Blood samples were collected at baseline, immediately post-HIIE and at 3 and 24 h post-exercise. Both NW and OW groups had significant reductions in peak heart rate and peak power output in hypoxic versus normoxic GXT (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). The NW group showed a greater decline in peak oxygen uptake <span></span><math></math> under hypoxia compared to OW (Δ = 9.88 ± 5.0 vs. 5.22 ± 3.3 mL · kg · min⁻¹; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). OW exhibited increased blood glucose levels post-hypoxic GXT compared to normoxic conditions (Δ = 0.358 mmol · L⁻¹; <i>p</i> = 0.025). During HIIE sessions, both groups showed similar heart rate, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and respiratory exchange ratio responses. However, blood lactate concentration immediately after normoxic HIIE (NR) was higher in NW compared to OW (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Fasting blood glucose significantly increased immediately after normoxic HIIE in NW and immediately after hypoxic HIIE in OW (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). HIIE in normoxia and hypoxia elicits similar physiological responses across BMI categories, though normal-weight individuals have greater reductions in <span></span><math></math> and higher lactate responses during normoxic HIIE (NR), whereas overweight/obese individuals exhibit higher glucose increases post-hypoxic exercise, indicating potential BMI-specific metabolic benefits. These findings suggest that BMI could influence physiological adaptations in response to high-intensity exercise in hypoxia, suggesting that this form of exercise could be a beneficial alternative for improving metabolic health, especially in individuals with overweight or obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70016","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144657601","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":"Prescribing Blood Flow-Restricted Cycling Using Rating of Perceived Exertion Balances the Physiological and Perceptual Demands in Young Healthy Adults","authors":"Nathan D. W. Smith,&nbsp;Brendan R. Scott,&nbsp;Olivier Girard,&nbsp;Jeremiah J. Peiffer","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70009","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To compare the physiological and perceptual responses during fixed-power and perceptually regulated cycling, both without and with blood flow restriction (CON_PWR, BFR_PWR, CON_RPE and BFR_RPE). Twelve recreationally active men cycled for 10 min at the power corresponding to the first ventilatory threshold or, for CON_RPE and BFR_RPE, the perceived exertion level reported during CON_PWR. Blood flow restriction was set at 60% of estimated arterial occlusion pressure. Ventilatory measures and heart rate were averaged into 2-min blocks. Perceived exertion, effort, muscular discomfort and cuff pain were recorded every 2 min (0–10 scale). Blood lactate was measured pre-exercise, post-exercise, and 2 min post-exercise. The BFR_PWR trial elicited greater physiological and perceptual responses compared to all other conditions. Oxygen consumption during BFR_RPE was lower than CON_PWR (−19.2 ± 20.6%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and CON_RPE (−6.7 ± 9.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.007). Heart rate during CON_PWR was greater than BFR_RPE (8.2 ± 9.8%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and CON_RPE (9.4 ± 6.5%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Blood lactate concentration was not different between CON_PWR, CON_RPE and BFR_RPE; yet was greater during fixed-power compared to fixed-RPE trials (31.5 ± 25.6%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Muscular discomfort was not different between BFR_RPE and CON_PWR (2.4 ± 1.1 au), yet both were greater compared to CON_RPE (1.8 ± 1.5 au, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Cuff pain was greater during BFR_PWR (3.3 ± 1.7 au) compared to BFR_RPE (2.2 ± 1.1 au, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Prescribing aerobic BFR cycling at a fixed power output increases physiological strain, yet discomfort and pain are also heightened, which may limit its use in healthy adults. The fixed-RPE method appears to balance the physiological and perceptual demands and thus could be a viable alternative if a fixed power output approach is intolerable.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70009","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144646874","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 Time Restricted Feeding and Meal Timing on An 8-Week Aerobic Exercise Training Programme on Psychological Parameters—A Randomised Controlled Trial","authors":"Florian Hofstätter,&nbsp;Martin Niedermeier,&nbsp;Linda K. Rausch,&nbsp;Justin S. Lawley,&nbsp;Martin Kopp","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70017","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Exercise and short-term fasting may have positive effects on psychological health. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of combining daily time restricted feeding and aerobic exercise on longer-term psychological health parameters. Fifty-two participants were randomised into three groups. (1) Training sessions were performed in the fasted state. (2) Training sessions were performed after consuming a standardised carbohydrate-based snack. (3) Exercise training with an ad libitum diet as a control group. The 8-week intervention consisted of daily time restricted feeding (16/8h) for both fasting groups and 3x/week à 60-min aerobic training (∼73% of maximal heartrate) for all groups. Data were collected during pre- and post-test using psychological questionnaires. A 3x2 mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyse pre to post differences. Thirty-six participants were included in the analyses. No group-by-time interactions were found in any of the investigated parameters, suggesting that fasting groups showed similar effects as the control group. Significant main effects indicate increases in the <i>positive</i> subdomain of the Positive and Negative Affective Scale (<i>p</i> = 0.033; η²_p0.130) and the subdomain <i>vital body dynamics</i> of the Body Image Questionnaire (<i>p</i> = 0.002; η²_p 0.022) over all groups. No significant main effects were observed in quality of life, eating behaviour, and mood. Data suggest that combining daily time restricted feeding and aerobic exercise similarly effects quality of life, mood, affect, as well as eating behaviour compared to exercise alone. Different combinations may be considered as a safe dietary option in conjunction with personal preferences.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70017","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144646875","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 “Living High-Training Low and High” on Sleep, Heart Rate Variability, and Psychological Responses in Elite Female Cyclists","authors":"Thibaud Pirlot,&nbsp;Thibaud Mihailovic,&nbsp;Philippe Gimenez,&nbsp;Gregoire P. Millet,&nbsp;Franck Brocherie,&nbsp;Eric Fruchart,&nbsp;Gilles Ravier,&nbsp;Bertrand Baron,&nbsp;Romain Bouzigon,&nbsp;Sandrine Guirronnet,&nbsp;Emmanuel Brunet,&nbsp;Alain Groslambert","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.12320","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.12320","url":null,"abstract":"<p>“Living High-Training Low and High” (LHTLH) is an altitude/hypoxic training method used to improve physical performance at sea level. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the effects of LHTLH on sleep, heart rate variability (HRV), and psychological stress in 10 elite/international level female cyclists (mean age: 17.3 ± 1.2 years). Participants were monitored for 19 days divided into 3 periods: (i) normoxia (5 days preceding LHTLH), (ii) early acclimatization (day 1–4 of LHTLH), and (iii) middle acclimatization (day 5–14) performed in hypoxic rooms (F_iO₂ = 15.09%). Questionnaires of psychological stress and sleep disturbance, sleep architecture (determined through an electroencephalography sleep headband), and HRV (measured at rest with a chest strap) were recorded during the 3 periods. The results found that, compared to normoxia, there was no significant difference in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, latency, or waking during the early acclimatization period. However, a significant increase in sleep disturbance (2.5 ± 1.1 vs. 4.9 ± 2.5 a.u. and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), alterations of HRV, and sleep architecture with a significant increase in stages 1 (21.8 ± 3 vs. 25.9 ± 3.6 min and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.007) and 2 (201.2 ± 55 vs. 238.5 ± 55 min and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.008) of sleep was observed. During the middle acclimatization period, the athletes had restorative sleep but HRV remained altered, with a significant increase in external tension (1.24 ± 0.4 vs. 2.83 ± 1.8 a.u. and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). All these findings suggest that an acclimatization period of at least 4 days is required to recover restorative sleep during LHTLH intervention.\u0000 </p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.12320","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144635373","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":"Falling and Landing Framework (FLF): A Consensus on a Novel Falling and Landing Video Analysis Framework for Use Across Rugby Codes","authors":"Freja J. Petrie,&nbsp;James Stephen Woodward,&nbsp;Shreya McLeod,&nbsp;Stephen William West,&nbsp;Danielle Salmon,&nbsp;Andrew J. Gardner,&nbsp;Isla J. Shill,&nbsp;Janelle Romanchuk,&nbsp;Kathryn Dane,&nbsp;Matthew Kitchin,&nbsp;Ben Jones,&nbsp;Kelly A. Mackintosh,&nbsp;Chelsea Starbuck,&nbsp;Sharief Hendricks,&nbsp;Gemma Philips,&nbsp;Sam Jones,&nbsp;Gregory Tierney,&nbsp;Melitta A. McNarry","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70015","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding how players experience head-acceleration events (HAE) whilst playing rugby is a priority area of research. In both rugby union and league, video analysis frameworks have been developed to comprehensively define key features of contact events. However, these frameworks were developed prior to recent advances in our understanding regarding the proportion of HAEs that occur due to head-to-ground mechanisms and do not consider important post-contact variables. Therefore, there is a need to supplement the existing frameworks in order to capture how players fall and land post-tackle. This study used the Delphi method with an interdisciplinary, international team of researchers, coaches and video analysts (working with a variety of playing levels in rugby union and league) to establish a consensus for defining falling and landing events. Subsequently, a draft framework was developed on which the research team provided feedback via online meetings, culminating in the falling/landing framework that each member of the research team rated agreement on, via a nine-point Likert-type scale, with consensus deemed to be reached when the median score was ≥ 7. The median scores were 8.0 (7.8–8.0), 8.0 (7.0–9.0) and 8.0 (8.0–9.0) for ‘Additional Contextual Characteristics for Carry and Tackle Events,’ ‘Falling Characteristics of Tackle and Carry Events,’ and ‘Landing Characteristics of Tackle and Carry Events,’ respectively. This novel framework defines more comprehensive falling and landing variables to capture post-contact injury and performance markers in both rugby union and league, through a standardised approach.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70015","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606645","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":"Tackle Height and Tackle Success—An Analysis of 52,204 Tackle Events","authors":"S. Hendricks,&nbsp;K. Till,&nbsp;S. Scantlebury,&nbsp;N. Dalton-Barron,&nbsp;S. den Hollander,&nbsp;N. Gill,&nbsp;S. Kemp,&nbsp;A. Kilding,&nbsp;M. Lambert,&nbsp;P. Mackreth,&nbsp;J. O’Reilly,&nbsp;C. Owen,&nbsp;K. Spencer,&nbsp;K. Stokes,&nbsp;J. Tee,&nbsp;R. Tucker,&nbsp;L. Vaz,&nbsp;D. Weaving,&nbsp;S. W. West,&nbsp;K. Dane,&nbsp;F. McKnight,&nbsp;B. Jones","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70003","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To compare the probability of tackle success (the tackler preventing the ball-carrier and ball from progressing towards the tackler try-line) when contacting the ball-carrier at different heights (shoulder, mid-torso and legs) for different types of tackles (active, passive, smother and arm) while accounting for other tackler situational factors within seven playing levels. Video footage of 271 male rugby union matches were analysed across seven playing groups (Under [U] 12, <i>n</i> = 25 matches; U14, <i>n</i> = 35; U16, <i>n</i> = 39; U18 Amateur <i>n</i> = 39; U18 Elite <i>n</i> = 38; Senior Amateur, <i>n</i> = 40 and Senior Elite, <i>n</i> = 50) across England, New Zealand, South Africa, Portugal and USA (a total of 51,106 tackles). A multi-level logistic regression model with tackle success as the outcome variable and first point of contact and type of tackle as the explanatory variables were computed. Included in the model as cofounders were the situational variables tackle direction, tackle sequence, number of players in the tackle and attacker intention. Post-estimation marginal effects were used to calculate the probabilities (expressed as a percentage %) of tackle success for each interaction between tackle type (active shoulder, smother, passive shoulder and arm) and the first point of contact (shoulder, mid-torso and legs). The probability of tackle success in relation to where the ball-carrier is contacted varied by tackle type and within each age group. The probabilities (Pr) for contacting the shoulder versus mid-torso at the senior levels (elite and amateur) did not differ in relation to tackle success (for instance, for active shoulder tackles within senior elite; shoulder Pr 86% 95% CI 82–89 and mid-torso Pr 82% 95% CI 77–86), whereas at the junior levels, contacting the shoulder had a higher probability than other points of contact. Active shoulder tackles had the highest probability of tackle success across the different playing levels across the different contact heights, whereas arm tackles had the lowest probability (for instance, for mid-torso tackles within senior elite, active Pr 82% 95% CI 77–86 vs. arm Pr 69% 95% CI 64–75). Coaches and practitioners can use this information to improve tackle training design and planning within the different age groups and facilitate player development.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70003","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606526","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 Hidden Challenge: Pelvic Floor Symptoms and Their Impact on Performance and Well-Being in Elite Female Rugby Players","authors":"Jodie Dakic,&nbsp;Luke Perraton,&nbsp;Jessica Lindstrom,&nbsp;Elana Hain,&nbsp;Shinyi Chuah,&nbsp;Sharon Stay","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70013","url":null,"abstract":"<p>More than half of female ball-sport athletes experience urinary leakage including 60% of Australian rugby union players. Beyond urinary incontinence (UI), the prevalence and impact of other pelvic floor (PF) symptoms in elite female athletes remains largely unknown. This study investigated PF symptom prevalence and impact on performance in elite female rugby players. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Australian elite female rugby players (<i>n</i> = 56) completed a PF questionnaire during annual medical screening. Validated questionnaires established: presence/severity of UI (ICIQ-UI SF), presence and bother of PF symptoms (PFBQ), urinary tract infection, constipation, voiding difficulty (APFQ) and pelvic pain (adapted UDI-6). Purpose-designed questions established symptom impact on performance and well-being. Data were analysed descriptively. Response/questionnaire completion rates were &gt; 95%. Participants were on average: 22.4 years (SD: 5.9); BMI 26.3 kg/m² (SD: 4.6); mostly nulliparous (94%) and played 6.5 years of rugby (SD: 4.4). More than half (57%) experienced PF symptoms during sport, most commonly UI (41%). Other PF symptoms experienced during sport included: AI (29%), bladder urgency (21%)/frequency (14%) and pelvic pain (12%). One in two symptomatic players reported an impact on performance (53%) including training reductions (34%); activity avoidance (25%) and concentration loss (9%). Players restricted fluid intake to avoid provoking symptoms. A quarter of players reported PF symptoms that impacted their sports performance. This is the first study to establish that, beyond UI, AI, bladder urgency/frequency and pelvic pain are also prevalent in elite rugby players. Elite female rugby players require assessment and management of PF symptoms to maximise performance and well-being.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70013","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144606525","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":"Self-Regulated Moderate Intensity Habitual Exercise and Next-Day Resting Metabolic Rate in Male Endurance Athletes: Implications for Athlete Testing","authors":"Jack Eoin Rua O’Neill,&nbsp;Riona Joyce,&nbsp;Niamh Mc Loughlin,&nbsp;Jennifer Robinson,&nbsp;Ciara Mc Phillips,&nbsp;Barry O’Connell,&nbsp;Katy Horner","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Best practice guidelines for resting metabolic rate (RMR) testing are to avoid moderate to vigorous physical activity for 12–48 h beforehand, the upper limits of which can be difficult for athletes to adhere to. We investigated the effect of self-regulated moderate intensity exercise in a free-living setting on next-day RMR in endurance athletes. Thirteen male endurance athletes participated, alternating between rest and exercise conditions in randomised order. For the exercise condition, participants were instructed to complete a habitual moderate intensity training session (rated 3–4 on the CR-10 rate of perceived exertion scale) on the day before RMR measurement. Recovery markers (blood urea and subjective wellness) were assessed, and intra-individual variation in RMR was explored. Mean (SD) habitual exercise session duration was 111 ± 71 min, heart rate was 128 ± 16 bpm and RPE score was 3.3 ± 0.5. Next-day RMR did not statistically differ between exercise and rest conditions (1979 ± 289 vs. 1958 ± 251 kcal/day, mean Δ = 21 ± 227 kcal/day [95% CI = −116 to 158 kcal/day], <i>p</i> = 0.74, intra-individual inter-day CV 3.8% ± 3.4%). There were no significant correlations between changes in RMR and recovery markers. The findings suggest habitual moderate intensity exercise may be feasible on the day prior to RMR testing in male endurance athletes. Further investigation to perform equivalence testing between conditions is warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"25 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598750","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}