European journal of sport science最新文献

{"title":"Neuromuscular Alterations of Knee Extensors During Padel Match Play","authors":"Antonin Jamotte,&nbsp;Marie-Florine Michel,&nbsp;Machar Reid,&nbsp;Callum Beale,&nbsp;Olivier Girard","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70263","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70263","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite padel's growing popularity, its neuromuscular fatigue profile during prolonged match play remains poorly understood. This study examined the magnitude and etiology of neuromuscular alterations in the knee extensors using voluntary and evoked contractions during extended padel play. Sixteen trained padel players (14 males, 2 females) completed a 135-min match. Neuromuscular assessments (maximal and explosive force, twitch and doublet responses) and vertical jump tests were conducted pre-match (<i>Pre</i>) and after 45, 90, and 135 min (<i>Mid-1</i>, <i>Mid-2</i> and <i>Post</i>). Heart rate and match characteristics were continuously monitored. Maximal voluntary torque declined significantly across match play (−10% at <i>Post</i> vs. <i>Pre</i>, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Electrically evoked twitch and doublet torques decreased from <i>Mid-1</i> onward (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), while voluntary activation remained unchanged. Explosive force production and vertical jump performance were preserved (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Heart rate responses reflected moderate-to-high match intensity, with a progressive shift toward lower intensity zones despite stable technical activity patterns. Prolonged padel match play induces early peripheral neuromuscular fatigue without impairing voluntary activation or rapid force production. Although maximal knee extensor strength declined, players maintained explosive performance and jumping ability, suggesting effective compensation strategies during extended play.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70263","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149099953","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":"Young Investigator Award: Where Do We Start? A Conceptual Model for Implementing Menstrual Cycle Tracking in Sport","authors":"Mikaeli Carmichael,&nbsp;Alexandra Roberts,&nbsp;Kate Perry,&nbsp;Anthea Clarke","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70265","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsc.70265","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Menstrual cycle tracking is a much-discussed component of the ‘ female athlete’ research theme; however, more translational work is needed to meet practitioners' desire for further guidance on the implementation of tracking in applied settings. The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary conceptual model to inform practitioners' decision-making around menstrual cycle tracking and assist researchers in identifying and framing future research directions. The proposed model—Conducting and Navigating menstrual cycle Education, Communication and Tracking (ConNECT)—proposes that communication and education strategies may be utilised to affect social, organisational and individual level change, ultimately supporting the implementation of menstrual cycle tracking by increasing its uptake and impact. This model was developed based on the findings from a series of studies conducted by the authors, which considered the existing literature on tracking and the perspectives of athletes and practitioners. Therefore, the ConNECT model offers an ecologically sound starting point for sport scientists, coaches and other members of an athlete's support team to base their practice on.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70265","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149099952","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":"Enhancing the Interpretation of Competition Performance and Physical Characteristics in Male Youth Track and Field Athletes","authors":"James Baker,&nbsp;Paul Read,&nbsp;Philip Graham-Smith,&nbsp;Mauricio Monaco,&nbsp;Marco Cardinale,&nbsp;Thomas W. Jones","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70259","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70259","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This retrospective study examined the associations of maturity status and chronological age with competition and physical testing outcomes in youth track and field athletes, and evaluated corrective adjustment procedures for competition outcomes. Data were collected over five seasons from 75 male athletes (13.9 ± 1.3 years; percentage predicted adult height (%PAH) 93.3 ± 4.6%; height 164.1 ± 10.1 cm; body mass 51.4 ± 10.4 kg) for 60 m sprint, long jump (LJ), countermovement jump, isometric leg press, 10–5 repeated jump test, and 50 m sprint outcomes. Linear mixed models (LMMs) quantified the individual associations of maturity status and chronological age with each outcome. Model-derived fixed-effect coefficients were used to apply mean- and sample-maximum corrections to 60 m and LJ performances. Mean corrections were effective at reducing maturity-performance relationships for the 60 m (<i>r</i> = −0.78 to −0.11, <i>R</i>² = 0.61 to 0.01) and the LJ (<i>r</i> = 0.63 to 0.01, <i>R</i>² = 0.40 to &lt; 0.001) when the correction reflected the LMM findings. Sample maximum corrections demonstrated stronger agreement and lower error for the 60 m (<i>R</i>² = 0.80; RMSE = 0.19 s) than LJ (<i>R</i>² = 0.38; RMSE = 0.43 m). These findings support outcome-specific mean corrections for enhancing the interpretation of male youth track and field performance, while sample-maximum corrected performances should be treated as estimates and presented with an appropriate measure of prediction error.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13627884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149120790","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":"Examining the Impact of Supramaximal Eccentric and Long-Lever Isometric Training Protocols on Isometric Hamstring Strength, Nordic Hamstring Performance, and Sprint Speed","authors":"Adam E. Sundh,&nbsp;Devin S. VerVoort,&nbsp;Nicholas J. Ripley,&nbsp;A. J. Lamb,&nbsp;Paul Comfort","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70257","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70257","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a 6-week higher-volume eccentric training protocol with a combined lower-volume eccentric and long-lever isometric protocol on posterior chain strength and sprint performance. Thirty-three NCAA Division II soccer players (men: <i>n</i> = 17, age = 19.7 ± 1.2 years, height = 178.9 ± 6.6 cm, body mass 79.8 ± 8.1 kg; women: <i>n</i> = 16, age = 20.1 ± 0.9 years, height = 166.7 ± 5.2 cm, body mass = 67.0 ± 12.1 kg) were allocated to either group via exhaustive minimization. Nordic hamstring exercise break-point angle (NBPA), rapid isometric hamstring strength (LLB), 20m sprint performance, and continuous angular knee extension velocity waveforms were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and following a 2-week detraining period. A significant main effect of time was observed for sprint, NBPA, and rapid isometric strength (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05); however, Bonferroni-corrected within-group comparisons reached significance only for sprint performance in both groups, with no significant between-group differences for any outcome. Equivalence testing supported comparable sprint adaptations between protocols but could not be established for eccentric or isometric hamstring strength. All discrete outcome measures were largely maintained or continued to develop following the detraining period though range-specific eccentric strength appeared more sensitive to the training cessation. A combined low-volume eccentric and isometric training approach may represent a viable alternative to higher-volume eccentric programming for hamstring strength and speed development, although this should be approached cautiously to preserve neuromuscular qualities relevant to hamstring injury risk mitigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13621811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149076958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute Effects of Brief Exercise on Alcohol Craving Among Young Adults With Problematic Alcohol Use: A Systematic Review","authors":"P. Sampedro-Piquero,&nbsp;A. Cordellat-Marzal,&nbsp;M. Dragotti,&nbsp;L. Mandolesi,&nbsp;O. Gigliotta,&nbsp;R. D. Moreno-Fernández","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70258","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70258","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Alcohol craving is a key process in alcohol abuse, especially during young adulthood, a period of heightened vulnerability and continued brain development. Although acute physical exercise has been proposed as a potential strategy to reduce craving and modulate affective and cognitive processes, current evidence remains limited regarding its effectiveness and underlying mechanisms. This systematic review examined the effects of brief exercise interventions on alcohol craving in young adults with problematic alcohol use or alcohol use disorder (AUD) and explored available evidence on associated neurobiological responses. Four electronic databases were searched for studies published between 2016 and 2026 following PRISMA guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420261371036). Eligible studies included participants aged 18–29 years and assessed alcohol craving following a single bout of exercise. Random-effects meta-analyses using Hedges' <i>g</i> were conducted when sufficient data were available, while additional outcomes were synthesized narratively. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed a moderate and statistically significant reduction in alcohol craving following acute exercise compared with baseline or control conditions (<i>g</i> ≈ 0.55), with moderate between-study heterogeneity. Narrative findings indicated that acute exercise was often accompanied by reductions in anxiety and negative affective state, modulation of stress-related physiological markers, improvements in executive functioning, and changes in indices of brain and autonomic activity, although findings varied across studies. Overall, available evidence suggests that a single session of physical exercise may be associated with short-term reductions in alcohol craving in young adults, highlighting the need for further clinically focused and methodologically robust research.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13620218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149076980","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":"Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation Enhances Repeated High-Intensity Interval Training Performance and Time Above 90% of max in Well-Trained Cyclists","authors":"Joshua F. Feuerbacher,&nbsp;Marius Bjerkeset,&nbsp;Knut Sindre Mølmen,&nbsp;Moritz Schumann,&nbsp;Bent R. Rønnestad","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70253","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70253","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated the effects of sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation on physiological responses and performance during submaximal exercise, high-intensity interval training (HIT) and repeated Wingate sprints in well-trained cyclists. Twenty-four participants (♂ = 15, maximal oxygen uptake [<span></span><math></math>max] = 72 ± 5 mL·min⁻¹ kg⁻¹; ♀ = 9, <span></span><math></math>max = 57 ± 6 mL·min⁻¹ kg⁻¹) performed one screening and familiarisation session and two experimental sessions in a randomised, double-blind and crossover design. Participants ingested SB (∼0.26 g·kg⁻¹) or an appearance-matched placebo (PLA) 2 hours before the experimental session. Each session consisted of a step-test protocol followed by five 5 min HIT bouts (3 × 40 s maximal efforts with 60 s recovery at power output (PO) equal to 3 mmol·L⁻¹ [blood lactate]) and four 30 sec Wingate sprints. Cycling economy and fractional utilisation of <span></span><math></math>max were evaluated during a submaximal step test. During HIT bouts, PO was significantly higher in SB (2.0 ± 5.4%, mean difference (MD): 8.1 ± 22.1 W, <i>p</i> = 0.045, <span></span><math></math> = 0.171), accompanied by increased oxygen uptake (MD: 60.1 ± 124.7 mL·min⁻¹, <i>p</i> = 0.006, <span></span><math></math> = 0.281) and greater time spent above 90% <span></span><math></math>max (MD: 23.7 ± 52.6 s, <i>p</i> = 0.012, <span></span><math></math> = 0.246). In the Wingate sprints, cyclists demonstrated significantly greater PO following SB ingestion (2.0 ± 4.7%, MD: 11.6 ± 26.8 W, <i>p</i> = 0.002, <span></span><math></math> = 0.342). This was accompanied by higher blood levels of bicarbonate, pH and lactate (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <span></span><math></math> = 0.557; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <span></span><math></math> = 0.548; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001, <span></span><math></math> = 0.558, respectively). Cycling economy and fractional utilisation of <span></span><math></math>max were unaffected by SB supplementation (<i>p</i> = 0.977 and <i>p</i> = 0.818). SB supplementation increased PO and time above 90% <span></span><math></math>max during HIT and PO during repeated Wingate sprints. Whether this translates into superior long-term adaptations, such as enhanced <span></span><math></math>max and sprint performance, remains to be investigated.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70253","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993213","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":"Measurement Agreement and Reliability of the 6-m Gait Speed Test in Adult Population: The ADULT-FIT Project","authors":"José Castro-Piñero,&nbsp;Nuria Marín-Jiménez,&nbsp;Carolina Cruz-León,&nbsp;Francisco Javier Cies Valleras,&nbsp;Milkana Borges-Cosic,&nbsp;Daniel Camiletti-Moirón,&nbsp;Magdalena Cuenca-Garcia","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70207","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70207","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We aimed to examine: (i) measurement agreement between photoelectric cell system and manual stopwatch timing; (ii) inter-rater agreement between trained and untrained raters using manual stopwatch timing; and (iii) reliability of the 6-m gait speed test to assess motor fitness in adults, according to sex, age, and physical activity levels. 410 healthy adults (203 females) aged 18–64 years participated in this study. The time required to perform the 6-m gait speed test was recorded simultaneously by a trained (R1) and an untrained (R2) rater (inter-rater reliability), and by photoelectric cells (measurement agreement between timing methods). The test was repeated under the identical conditions (test-retest reliability) 48–72 h later. Systematic error between photoelectric cells and R1 was close to zero (0.015 s), whereas a larger difference was observed for R2 (∼0.2 s). The corresponding concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) were 0.966 and 0.861, respectively. There was a systematic error between R2 and R1 of ∼0.2 s, with a CCC of 0.872. Test-retest systematic error was −0.047 s (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), with an effect size of 0.067. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.984, and all error measurements reported low values, except the coefficient of variation that was 14.386. No heteroscedasticity was observed (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). Measurement agreements and reliability were not influenced by sex, age groups and physical activity levels. Manual timing by R1 demonstrated high agreement with photoelectric cells and high test–retest reliability for assessing 6-m gait speed test in adults. Rater training is strongly recommended to minimize measurement error.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70207","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148992711","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":"Impact of Sprint Duration With Fixed Recovery on Acute Physiological and Performance Responses to Repeated Cycle Sprints in Hypoxia in Male and Female Sprinters","authors":"Naoya Takei,&nbsp;Ryuji Muraki,&nbsp;Olivier Girard,&nbsp;Hideo Hatta,&nbsp;Yumiko Takahashi","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70244","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70244","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Repeated short sprints (≤ 10 s) in hypoxia are often used to enhance performance, but acute responses to longer sprints (&gt; 10 s) performed in a repeated-sprint format with short recovery periods (∼30 s) remain unclear. We examined performance and physiological strain during repeated short (10-s) and long (15-s) sprints with identical recovery (30 s) comparing acute responses between sexes. Sixteen highly trained sprinters (7 females) performed 7 × 10-s (10:30) and 15-s (15:30) sprints with 30-s rest in normobaric hypoxia (FiO₂: 0.15), using a randomized cross-over design. Average mean power output across the seven sprints was lower in 15:30 than 10:30 (6.30 ± 0.44 vs. 6.85 ± 0.82 W/kg; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Sprint decrement score (S_dec) was larger in 15:30 than 10:30 (−17.9 ± 4.8% <i>vs</i>. −13.1 ± 4.6%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Average pulse oximetry-derived peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) across the seven sprints was lower in 15:30 than 10:30 (87.1 ± 4.2% vs. 89.7 ± 2.7%; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), whereas the magnitude of change from sprint 1 to sprint 7 did not clearly differ between conditions. Heart rate increased across sprints (Δsprint1-7: +9.2 ± 5.3% and <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), independently of condition (<i>p</i> = 0.652). ΔSpO₂ correlated with ΔS_dec (<i>r</i> = 0.609 and <i>p</i> = 0.012). Female athletes experienced smaller performance declines than males in both conditions (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Longer repeated sprints with identical rest in hypoxia impair mechanical output while inducing greater physiological strain, with comparatively smaller performance reductions in females.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70244","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148992678","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 Maximal Concentric Contractions on Myotendinous Mechanical Properties in Prepubertal Boys","authors":"Baptiste Chanel,&nbsp;Nicolas Babault,&nbsp;Carole Cometti","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70212","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70212","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aimed to compare the effects of a fatiguing concentric exercise on the myotendinous mechanical properties of the knee extensors between men and prepubertal boys. Ten prepubertal boys and 10 men performed a fatiguing exercise consisting of five sets of 20 maximal isokinetic concentric knee extensor contractions. Before the exercise, the mechanical properties of the vastus lateralis (VL), the rectus femoris (RF), and the patellar tendon (PT) were assessed using shear wave elastography to measure the shear wave velocity (SWV) at 70° of knee joint flexion for PT and 70° and 110° for VL and RF. The tests also included maximal voluntary isometric (MVIC) and concentric (MVCC) contractions. These measurements were repeated after the exercise (Post), 30 min after (Post30), and 48 h after (Post48 h). Significant main time effects were observed for SWV VL 70° (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and RF 70° (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with lower values at Post compared to Pre. No age effect or interaction were observed for VL and RF SWV 70°. For SWV PT, a main age effect was observed, highlighting lower values for boys (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), without a time effect or interaction. A significant decreased MVIC was observed for men at post, returning to baseline at Post30, whereas no changes in MVIC were observed in boys. These findings suggest that, under acute conditions, maximal concentric contractions induce comparable changes in myotendinous mechanical properties between prepubertal boys and men, while men exhibit a greater force production decline.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70212","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993255","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":"Context is Queen: The Good, the Bad and the Rugby: Understanding Engagement With Injury Surveillance in Women's Rugby Union","authors":"Molly F. McCarthy-Ryan,&nbsp;Elin James,&nbsp;Stephen D. Mellalieu,&nbsp;Gemma M. Robinson,&nbsp;Simon Roberts,&nbsp;Debbie Palmer,&nbsp;Isabel S. Moore","doi":"10.1002/ejsc.70230","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ejsc.70230","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To address the gender imbalance in rugby union research by exploring barriers and facilitators to injury surveillance participation among female community players, thereby providing insight into how psychological needs shape engagement. This study examines how knowledge of injury surveillance and practical barriers influence engagement with injury surveillance systems in women's community rugby. Cross-sectional. An online survey was completed by 242 women's community rugby union players (age: 29 ± 9 years; experience: 7.1 ± 5.2 years) from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The questionnaire covered demographics, rugby environment, injury surveillance knowledge, and motivation to play rugby (adapted SMS-II). Barriers and facilitators were rated on a 7-point Likert scale. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, regression models and chi-square tests (SPSS v29; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Coach presence was high (&gt; 94%), but medical support was limited (26% training; 49% matches). Women's community rugby was perceived as the lowest priority for NGBs. Earlier rugby initiation predicted greater experience (<i>p</i> = 0.002) and higher likelihood of injury surveillance collection (OR = 1.23 per year; <i>p</i> = 0.012). Perceived lack of expertise reduced engagement (<i>p</i> = 0.024). Intrinsic motivation negatively predicted playing experience (<i>p</i> = 0.048), whereas agreement with ‘I just want to play rugby’ was associated with lower surveillance participation (<i>p</i> = 0.013). Engagement with injury surveillance is shaped by motivation, experience and structural support. Athlete-centred strategies, such as inclusive policy, tailored education and female-specific data systems, are essential to improve player welfare and advance evidence-based practice in women's rugby union.</p>","PeriodicalId":93999,"journal":{"name":"European journal of sport science","volume":"26 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ejsc.70230","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148984358","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}