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Applied Sciences
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Data-Driven Physiology in Sport: Optimizing Athlete Performance, Load & Recovery
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Data-Driven Physiology in Sport: Optimizing Athlete Performance, Load & Recovery

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 1598

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University Alfonso X El Sabio, 28691 Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
2. Faculty of Sports Science, European University of Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
Interests: basketball; load monitoring; team sports; most demanding scenarios
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alberto Lorenzo Calvo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: talent development; coach development; performance analysis in team sports
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to gather innovative research exploring the application of data-driven approaches to monitoring, interpreting, and optimizing physiological responses in sport. Advances in wearable technologies, sensor systems, and artificial intelligence now allow practitioners to collect and analyze vast amounts of information regarding athlete performance, training load, and recovery. By integrating physiological, biomechanical, and contextual data, our ability to understand adaptation processes, detect fatigue, and design individualized interventions has been enhanced. We welcome the submission of original studies, methodological papers, and reviews that address monitoring strategies, decision-support systems, recovery optimization, and practical applications across different sports and performance levels. Ultimately, this Special Issue aims to present novel insights and applied research that aids coaches, sport scientists, and health professionals in translating complex data into actionable strategies to enhance athlete performance, reduce the risk of injury, and improve recovery.

Dr. Enrique Alonso Perez-Chao
Dr. Alberto Lorenzo Calvo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • athlete monitoring 
  • data-driven approaches 
  • training load 
  • recovery strategies 
  • wearable technology 
  • decision-support systems 
  • sport performance

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 407 KB  
Article
Effects of a 12-Week Aquatic Exercise Program Incorporating Multiple Immersion Depths on Muscle Strength, Postural Alignment, and Balance in Middle-Aged Women
by Byungkwan Kim, Kihong Kim, Geonseok Ra, Sunhee Lee and Jongmin Woo
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4976; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104976 - 16 May 2026
Viewed by 287
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of a 12-week structured aquatic exercise program incorporating multiple immersion depths on muscle strength, postural alignment, and static balance in middle-aged women. Eighteen women in their 40s were randomly allocated to an aquatic exercise group (AG, n = [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of a 12-week structured aquatic exercise program incorporating multiple immersion depths on muscle strength, postural alignment, and static balance in middle-aged women. Eighteen women in their 40s were randomly allocated to an aquatic exercise group (AG, n = 9) or a control group (CG, n = 9). The AG participated in a 12-week aquatic exercise program twice weekly in an indoor rehabilitation pool with progressively increased intensity (RPE 11–13 for weeks 1–6 and 14–16 for weeks 7–12) and multiple immersion depths (knee, waist, and xiphoid process levels). The CG was instructed to refrain from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for 12 weeks. Outcomes included dominant handgrip strength, a 60-s abdominal curl-up test, postural alignment (3D posture analysis), and static balance (single-leg stance test). Data were analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVA. Significant group × time interactions were found for handgrip strength (p = 0.003), 60-s abdominal curl-up performance (p < 0.001), pelvic tilt alignment (p = 0.017), and single-leg stance time (p < 0.001). The AG improved handgrip strength (25.62 ± 2.81 to 27.57 ± 2.13 kg), 60-s abdominal curl-up performance (26.89 ± 2.93 to 41.56 ± 3.05 repetitions), pelvic tilt alignment (10.94 ± 3.46 to 7.63 ± 0.17), and single-leg stance time (29.49 ± 2.81 to 34.65 ± 2.60 s), whereas the CG showed no meaningful changes. No significant interaction effects were observed for head displacement, shoulder asymmetry, hip alignment, or knee alignment (all p > 0.05). These preliminary findings suggest that a structured aquatic exercise program incorporating multiple immersion depths may improve muscle strength, trunk muscular endurance, pelvic tilt alignment, and static balance in middle-aged women compared with a non-exercise control group. However, because this study did not include a fixed-depth aquatic exercise comparator, the findings should not be interpreted as evidence that exercise incorporating multiple immersion depths is superior to fixed-depth aquatic exercise. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Physiology in Sport: Optimizing Athlete Performance, Load & Recovery)
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22 pages, 7232 KB  
Article
One Squat Fits All? Most Likely Not… but Allometric Scaling Might Compare Them All: An Exploratory Study
by Michail Grigoris, Analina Emmanouil, Ioannis Tsinikas and Elissavet Rousanoglou
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(9), 4392; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16094392 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 484
Abstract
The squat exercise is one of the most widely practiced globally, prompting an investigation into the interplay among dimensional (particularly body height, BH), kinematic, and kinetic metrics. The study involved physically active men (n = 18, age: 23.8 ± 5 years, BH: 177.3 [...] Read more.
The squat exercise is one of the most widely practiced globally, prompting an investigation into the interplay among dimensional (particularly body height, BH), kinematic, and kinetic metrics. The study involved physically active men (n = 18, age: 23.8 ± 5 years, BH: 177.3 ± 10 cm, body mass: 78.1 ± 9 kg, body mass index: 24.9 ± 2.3 kg/m2, at least 6 months of squat training experience). They performed five squat repetitions (hands at midwaist) while being recorded with a Basler camera (100 Hz, sagittal plane) to estimate kinematic metrics (segmental inclination and joint angles at the lowest descending position), in synchronization with vertical ground reaction force and center of pressure recording (forceplate 1000 Hz, Kistler Type-9286AA, Bioware v. 5.5.1.0 software). Statistical analysis (SPSS 30.0, p ≤ 0.05) included one-way ANOVA to test the BH effect and allometric analysis to produce scaling exponents for the squat performance indices (Force, Leverage, and Stability Index) used to rank participants’ performance efficiency while neutralizing the influence of body size. The body-dimensional metrics differed significantly among the 3 BH groups, except for segmental proportions (p > 0.05). Apart from the more upright shank (about 6 degrees) in the Tall than in the Medium and Short BH groups (p < 0.05), no significant BH effect was observed in the kinematic and kinetic metrics (p > 0.05). Allometric scaling allowed us to rank participants’ performance across geometrically similar body sizes and underpinned the overall mechanical disadvantage of taller participants, as well as the role of the trunk-to-thigh body proportion in postural stability during squatting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Physiology in Sport: Optimizing Athlete Performance, Load & Recovery)
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13 pages, 465 KB  
Article
Agreement Between Face-to-Face and Tele-Assessment of Shoulder Function and Clinical Impairment in Female Handball Players with Previous Shoulder Injury
by Javier Martín Núñez, Andrés Calvache Mateo, Laura López López, Rafael Jiménez López, Jiawi André Guo Liang, Marie Carmen Valenza and María del Carmen García Ríos
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083858 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 426
Abstract
Background: Shoulder injuries are highly prevalent in handball due to repetitive overhead actions and high mechanical demands, particularly in athletes with a history of previous injury who remain at increased risk of recurrence. Reliable monitoring of shoulder function is essential, and tele-assessment [...] Read more.
Background: Shoulder injuries are highly prevalent in handball due to repetitive overhead actions and high mechanical demands, particularly in athletes with a history of previous injury who remain at increased risk of recurrence. Reliable monitoring of shoulder function is essential, and tele-assessment has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional face-to-face evaluation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of agreement between face-to-face and tele-assessment methods for measuring shoulder range of motion, dynamic stability, muscular endurance, and scapular dyskinesia in female handball players with a history of shoulder injury. Methods: A cross-sectional agreement study was conducted in 25 competitive female handball players with a history of shoulder injury. Each participant underwent two evaluations (face-to-face and videoconference-based) performed by experienced physiotherapists in randomized order within the same session. Outcomes included shoulder range of motion, dynamic stability assessed by the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test, muscular endurance, and scapular dyskinesia. Agreement between methods was analyzed using two-way random-effects intraclass correlation coefficients. Results: Excellent agreement was observed for range of motion, dynamic stability, and muscular endurance (ICC = 0.96–1.00), with narrow confidence intervals. Scapular dyskinesia demonstrated good agreement (Cohen’s Kappa coefficient 0.59 (p < 0.05)). Mean differences between face-to-face and tele-assessment were minimal, ranging from 0.04° to 0.31° for ROM and 0.10 cm to 0.16 cm for stability measures. Conclusions: Tele-assessment provides clinically comparable results to in-person evaluation and may represent a feasible and reliable tool for remote monitoring of shoulder function in female overhead athletes with a history of injury. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Data-Driven Physiology in Sport: Optimizing Athlete Performance, Load & Recovery)
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