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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 4661

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adrian Escudero-Tena

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Guest Editor

Grupo de Optimización del Entrenamiento y Rendimiento Deportivo (GOERD), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: sport sciences

Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz Marín

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura, 10005 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: heat stress; sport performance; racket sports; oxidative stress; trace elements; health
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Prof. Dr. Sergio José Ibáñez Godoy

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Guest Editor

Grupo de Optimización del Entrenamiento y Rendimiento Deportivo (GOERD), Facultad de Ciencias del Deporte, Universidad de Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Interests: sports pedagogy; physical education; coach education; coaching science; sports; sports training; sports performance; performance analysis; notational analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This topic aims to present the latest research results on performance advances in different sports modalities and exercise.

Sports modalities and exercise are practiced intensely in order to improve performance. The growing interest in the quantitative and qualitative aspects of sports training is due to the fact that various training systems and new methodologies are appearing in all sports modalities and for exercise.

On the other hand, one of the main objectives of sports research is to describe the activity of the party and detect effective performance indicators. A better knowledge of the adaptations to the performance of the players and the dynamics of the game during the competition is very useful to optimize the training process. The need to develop training methodologies according to the actions that occur during the game is essential for each sport.

The results of the research in this area must be disseminated to facilitate the intervention that the coaches carry out with the athletes. Since a systematic and well-conducted sports practice is essential for performance, this topic is encouraged to present research centered on performance analysis in sports modalities and exercise.

Dr. Adrian Escudero-Tena
Dr. Diego Muñoz Marín
Prof. Dr. Sergio José Ibáñez Godoy
Guest Editors

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Keywords

sports science
exercise performance
sports performance
real-time monitoring of sport performance
behavior analysis

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Workloads Among Different Age Groups in Official Masters’ Basketball Matches: Implications for Physical Activity

by Dimitrios Pantazis, Theodoros Stampoulis, Dimitrios Balampanos, Alexandra Avloniti, Christos Kokkotis, Panagiotis Aggelakis, Maria Protopapa, Dimitrios Draganidis, Maria Emmanouilidou, Nikolaos-Orestis Retzepis, Anastasia Gkachtsou, Stavros Kallidis, Maria Koutra, Nikolaos Zaras, Maria Michalopoulou, Antonis Kambas, Ioannis G. Fatouros and Athanasios Chatzinikolaou

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4547; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084547 - 20 Apr 2025

Viewed by 202

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Master athletes in team sports represent a growing population of individuals who continue to engage in structured training and competition. Among these sports, basketball has primarily been investigated in older athletes; however, age-related effects on training load within the broader master athlete population remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine the age-related differences in workloads among master basketball athletes and determine whether game participation can facilitate the achievement of the recommended physical activity level. Methods: A total of 178 male athletes were divided into three age groups (35–45, 46–60, and ≥60 years) and participated in a national tournament. External load metrics, including accumulated acceleration load (AAL), mechanical load (ML), and jump load (JL), were recorded using tri-axial microsensors. Internal load (IL) was assessed via session ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE). Physical activity levels were categorized into light, moderate, and vigorous intensity using accelerometry-derived metabolic equivalents. Results: Significant age-related differences (p < 0.01) were observed in AAL, ML, and JL, with the youngest group showing the highest values. Likewise, the time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) displayed an age-dependent manner and decreased with age. Older athletes spent more time in low-intensity activities and employed energy-conserving strategies, avoiding high-speed and high-impact actions. Despite these variations, sRPE ratings were similar among groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, age is a crucial regulator of training load and physical activity and should be considered by practitioners and coaches who design training and physical activity plans for master basketball athletes. Despite the age-related differences, participation in basketball matches provides a substantial opportunity for increasing daily MVPA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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26 pages, 1726 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of the Relative Age Effect in Spanish Orienteering: An Analysis by Sex and Competitive Level

by Javier Montiel-Bonmatí, Javier Marco-Siles and Alberto Ferriz-Valero

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4102; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084102 - 8 Apr 2025

Viewed by 213

Abstract

This study investigates the relative age effect (RAE) in Spanish orienteering, comparing birth distributions between the general population and federated athletes, as well as across different age groups. A cross-sectional and retrospective observational analysis was conducted on data from 34,718 athletes federated (female: n = 12,338; male: n = 22,380) with the Spanish Orienteering Federation (FEDO) between 2005 and 2023. Birth distributions by quartiles and semesters were compared with birth data from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics. Chi-square tests, Z-tests for proportions, and odds ratio (OR) analysis were used to assess differences and the magnitude of the RAE. A significant RAE was found in the total population of federated athletes and the youth and male elite subgroups, with an over-representation of athletes born in the first semester of the year. The effect was small in magnitude but persistent in youth categories and intensified in the male elite category. In contrast, no significant RAE was observed in the female elite category. The RAE exists in Spanish orienteering, although its magnitude is smaller compared to other sports. The persistence of the RAE in the male elite category suggests that advantages accumulated in formative stages influence access to higher levels. Strategies to mitigate the impact of the RAE in talent identification and development are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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19 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health, Overweight, and Physical Exercise in Young Portuguese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Tânia Gonçalves, Diogo Monteiro, Rui Matos, Pedro Duarte-Mendes, Nuno Couto, Raul Antunes, Susana Diz, Nuno Amaro and Miguel Jacinto

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 4056; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15074056 - 7 Apr 2025

Viewed by 265

Abstract

The aim of this study was to see if there are any associations between mental health, Body Mass Index (BMI), and physical exercise (PE) in young Portuguese adults. The sample consisted of 414 people aged between 18 and 25 years old. A sociodemographic questionnaire designed for this study and the Mental Health Inventory were used. To analyze the results, the total sample was divided according to the criteria “BMI ≥ 5 kg/m²”; “BMI < 25 kg/m²”; “does not practice PE”; and “practices PE”, and sample groups were formed with these names. It was found that there was an association between the dimensions of the Mental Health Inventory and the average time spent practicing PE in the total sample (r from 0.099 to 0.160) and in individuals with a BMI < 25 kg/m² (r = 0.154 and 0.169). In individuals with a BMI ≥25 kg/m², there was an association between the ‘BMI’ and depression variables (r = −0.174). In all groups, associations were found between the variables of age and BMI (r from 0.120 to 0.216). There was also a significant effect of group (non-exercise vs. exercise groups) on the dependent variables, Λ = 0.972, F(5, 408) = 2.329, p = 0.042, η²p = 0.28. This study confirms the association between PE and mental health and suggests that BMI may have an influence on the appearance of depressive symptoms in young Portuguese adults. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

9 pages, 489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Training Protocol to Improve the Padel Smash: A Seven-Week Pilot Study on High-Level Male Players

by Rafael Conde-Ripoll, Álvaro Bustamante-Sánchez, Sergio J. Ibáñez, Diego Muñoz, Iván Martín-Miguel and Adrián Escudero-Tena

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3754; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073754 - 29 Mar 2025

Viewed by 313

Abstract

The aims of this pilot study were to design a training protocol to improve the padel smash, based on the practice of medicine ball throws (shot put) and smashes (powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence), and to test the effectiveness of the designed training protocol. Four high-level male Finnish players completed two weekly sessions, each consisting of four sets of five medicine ball throws (2 kg), followed by five smashes. Sufficient rest between sets and repetitions was ensured to minimize fatigue and reduce injury risk while maximizing power output. Performance was assessed through pre- and post-tests. A paired t-test analyzed the powerful smash, while contingency tables and the Chi-square test (χ²) evaluated the smash over the side fence. Three of the four players showed a significant increase in powerful smash distance, while the success rate of smashes over the side fence improved but did not reach statistical significance. These findings suggest that the designed training protocol improves powerful smashes and smashes over the side fence, potentially optimizing performance. Future research with larger samples is needed to refine training guidelines and explore broader implications for performance, injury prevention, and long-term athlete development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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16 pages, 501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sex-Based Kinanthropometric and Health Metric Analysis in Amateur Athletes Across Various Disciplines: A Comparative Study

by Daniel Jonathan Navas Harrison, Ana María Pérez Pico, Julia Villar Rodríguez, Olga López Ripado and Raquel Mayordomo Acevedo

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031030 - 21 Jan 2025

Viewed by 861

Abstract

Kinanthropometry is the study of body dimensions and composition measurements, which are influenced by factors such as age and nutritional status, establishing a relationship between static measurements and dynamic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the kinanthropometric differences among 403 individuals (aged 18–42), categorized by biological sex and the recreational sport they practiced. The main objective of this study was to clarify whether or not there were statistically significant differences between these groups. All of the measurements and indices were obtained following the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) protocol. Significant differences were found in most variables among the different sports. In general, the men showed higher values in terms of weight, height, body circumference, body mass index (BMI), relative index of the lower limbs (RILLs), percentage of muscle mass (%M), and percentage of residual mass (%R). The women exhibited higher values in terms of skinfold thicknesses, Cormic index (CI), body density index (BDI), percentage of fat mass (%F), and percentage of bone mass (%B). These findings can guide individuals in selecting sports based on their morphotype, optimizing their physical performance in recreational activities and improving their health and quality of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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17 pages, 609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Plyometric Training on the Performance of Three Types of Jumps and Jump Shots in College-Level Male Basketball Athletes

by Wei-Yang Huang, Cheng-En Wu and Hsuan Huang

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 12015; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142412015 - 22 Dec 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1849

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that lower-limb plyometric training can effectively enhance muscle strength and explosiveness, which are particularly important for improving jumping ability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of plyometric training on vertical, lateral, and horizontal jumping abilities, and their subsequent impact on basketball shooting performance and sports injury prevention. A quasi-experimental design was used, recruiting 30 male college-level basketball players from Taiwan, who were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). Both groups participated in 2 h of basketball training daily, while the experimental group additionally engaged in plyometric training twice a week. The results revealed significant improvements in the experimental group in several key areas, including rate of force development (RFD), ground reaction force (GRF), jump height, jump distance, and both horizontal and vertical forces, across vertical, lateral, and horizontal jumps. Specifically, vertical jumps required the highest ground reaction force, followed by lateral jumps, with horizontal (step-back) jumps requiring the least. The optimal angles for the resultant force during take-off were found to be between 66.1° and 66.8° for lateral jumps, and between 56.2° and 57.2° for step-back jumps, while vertical jumps did not show significant variation in take-off angle. In terms of basketball performance, the experimental group demonstrated significantly better post-test results in all three types of jump shots, with the highest accuracy observed in the vertical jump shot, followed by the lateral jump shot, and the lowest in the step-back jump shot. Furthermore, the experimental group experienced a substantial reduction in sports injury rates, with the injury rate decreasing to 6%. These findings indicate that plyometric training not only enhances jumping performance, but also contributes to injury prevention by strengthening lower-limb muscles. This study provides a theoretical basis for coaches to develop comprehensive training programs that improve athletic performance and reduce injury risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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11 pages, 1731 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Analysis of Methodological Aspects in the Practice of Nautical Activities in Educational Centers

by Daniel Medina-Rebollo, Pedro Saenz-Lopez Buñuel, Pedro Jorge Paulino da Silva Bento, Jesús Fernandez-Gavira and Eduardo José Fernández-Ozcorta

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11648; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411648 - 13 Dec 2024

Viewed by 670

Abstract

Currently, physical and sports activities in natural environments are viewed as valuable resources for combatting sedentary lifestyles, with water sports and related activities offering significant educational potential. However, these activities are not fully integrated into physical education programs, largely due to a lack of training in methodological approaches. This qualitative study interviewed ten stakeholders (including instructors, managers, and teachers from three countries) to analyze key methodological aspects necessary for effective implementation. The results revealed three main findings: (1) direct instruction emerged as the primary teaching approach, incorporating demonstrations and level-appropriate activities; (2) optimal learning occurs in small groups of 8–12 students per instructor; and (3) technical skill development should focus on sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. This study identified weather conditions as a key challenge, necessitating flexible planning. Based on these findings, this study provides practical guidelines for implementing water sports in educational settings, emphasizing the importance of structured teaching approaches, appropriate group sizing, and environmental considerations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances in Performance Analysis and Technologies for Sports)

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