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Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement
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Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 5603

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Javier García-Rubio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Optimization of Training and Sport Performance Research Group, Faculty of Sports Science, University of Extremadura, 10005 Caceres, Spain
Interests: sports performance; notational analysis; basketball; youth sport
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sport is always evolving, and new technologies drastically impact performance in all domains of sport. It is mandatory for researchers, coaches and technical staff to be aware of the new directions and small variations in sport. Performance in sport can be influenced in different domains, such as tactical, technical, situational, physiological, physical, etc. All of these aspects must be known and mastered by the technical staff in order of improve performance. Therefore, new trends in data measurements and analysis have to be accounted to improve performance in all of these domains.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest evidence in sport performance measurement and analysis in any of its domains, technical, tactical, physiological, conditional, etc., and how these can help to improve all the of the training and competition processes involved in technical staff’s daily routines. 

Knowing the latest trends in all of the parameters of their sport will allow coaches to improve training and competition plans and chose the best strategies and players to face competition in any circumstance. Also, longitudinal studies will make it possible for us to continue evolving and improving performance, both in training and in competition.

We are pleased to invite you to present your latest research to this Special Issue. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of different topics of sport performance analysis;
  • Comparative studies of different competitions measuring the same sport;
  • Research in different sports or competitions;
  • Recovery treatments after competitions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Javier García-Rubio
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • data adquisition
  • practical cases
  • competition
  • training

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3076 KiB  
Article
Oxygen, Hormones, and Performance: A Case Study of Menstrual Cycle Effects on Athletic Physiology
by Almudena Martínez-Sánchez, Amalia Campos-Redondo, Sergio J. Ibáñez and Javier García-Rubio
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3749; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073749 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
The menstrual cycle represents a fundamental biological rhythm in a woman’s life. This study aims to analyse the potential influence of the menstrual cycle on female athletic performance, specifically focusing on variations in body composition, muscle oxygen saturation, and post-exertion recovery. The sample [...] Read more.
The menstrual cycle represents a fundamental biological rhythm in a woman’s life. This study aims to analyse the potential influence of the menstrual cycle on female athletic performance, specifically focusing on variations in body composition, muscle oxygen saturation, and post-exertion recovery. The sample consisted of a 21-year-old female athlete (a former elite-level basketball player), who performed a Bulgarian Split Squat test once a week throughout a complete menstrual cycle. In the data analysis, the menstrual cycle was verified using biological and hormonal markers, the coefficient of variation in muscle oxygen saturation was calculated, and visual inspection was employed to assess the observed curves. The results indicated minor variations in muscle mass (ranging from 38.8 kg to 40.4 kg) and fat mass (10.7 kg to 11.9 kg) across different phases of the cycle. Additionally, an increase in force production (4–5 repetitions increasing to 13–14) was observed, likely due to elevated oestrogen levels in the bloodstream. In conclusion, the menstrual cycle should be considered when designing training programmes for female athletes, ensuring an individualised approach that accounts for hormonal fluctuations and their impact on performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement)
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8 pages, 1593 KiB  
Article
Home-Court Advantage and Home Win Percentage in the NBA: An In-Depth Investigation by Conference and Team Ability
by Adrián López-García, Enrique Alonso-Pérez-Chao, Rafael M. Navarro Barragán and Sergio L. Jiménez-Sáiz
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9989; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219989 - 1 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2483
Abstract
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the major professional basketball league in the United States. Home-court advantage (HA) and home win percentage (HW) have been identified as decisive factors in determining the final outcome of a game. This study analyzes a total of [...] Read more.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the major professional basketball league in the United States. Home-court advantage (HA) and home win percentage (HW) have been identified as decisive factors in determining the final outcome of a game. This study analyzes a total of 24 regular seasons, with two main objectives: (i) comparing HA and HW within the two conferences and (ii) examining the influence of team ability on HA and HW. HA (%) was calculated as (total home wins/total wins) × 100, and HW (%) as (total home wins/total home games) × 100. Teams were categorized into four different groups based on their season win percentage using cluster analyses. Regarding the first aim, we used an Independent Samples T-test and Mann–Whitney to assess differences between conferences. Subsequently, we evaluated the second objective using one-way ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis. The results indicated no significant differences in HA within conferences. However, Western teams tended to have a higher HW than Eastern teams. The analyses revealed significantly higher HA in contender teams compared to the rest of the team abilities (p < 0.001). High–medium-ability teams also showed a significantly higher HA (p < 0.001) compared to low-ability teams. However, non-significant differences were found between the remaining groups for HA. Regarding HW, we observed significantly higher values in the contender teams compared to the teams with other ability levels (p < 0.001). Additionally, the high–medium-ability teams also exhibited significantly higher HW values (p < 0.001) when compared to the medium–low- and low-ability teams. Furthermore, the medium–low-ability teams showed significantly higher HW values (p < 0.001) when compared to the low-ability teams. Those findings suggest that team ability influences HA and HW in the NBA, where contender teams have significantly higher HW and HA values compared to the teams with other team ability levels. Understanding these dynamics provides valuable insights for team strategies, particularly during playoff stages where home-court advantage can be critical for success. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement)
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14 pages, 772 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Effect of Attributional Versus Non-Attributional Negative Normative Feedback on Motor Tasks: A Double-Blind Study
by Eduardo José Fernández-Ozcorta, Félix Arbinaga, Irene Checa, Nehemías Romero-Pérez, Pablo Cano-Manzano and Débora Godoy-Izquierdo
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9865; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219865 - 28 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1051
Abstract
Augmented feedback can alter motor performance. We examined if presenting attributional versus non-attributional negative normative feedback differently impacted short-term motor performance. With a double-blind experimental design, 49 students (36.7% female, Mage = 17.14 and SD = ±0.35) were assigned to the following two [...] Read more.
Augmented feedback can alter motor performance. We examined if presenting attributional versus non-attributional negative normative feedback differently impacted short-term motor performance. With a double-blind experimental design, 49 students (36.7% female, Mage = 17.14 and SD = ±0.35) were assigned to the following two groups: G1: Attributional Negative Normative Feedback group (n = 24) and G2: Non-Attributional Negative Normative Feedback group (n = 25), with the dependent variable being the score obtained on a dart-throwing test. The results showed that those participants who received negative social comparative feedback presented in an attributional way (internal, controllable, and unstable) obtained higher scores in the dart throwing task than those who received negative social comparative feedback presented in a non-attributional way. Furthermore, these differences were maintained in the retention and transfer tests conducted 24 h after the practice phase. These findings have practical implications in motor behavior learning and performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement)
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15 pages, 2409 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Effectiveness of Vibration Therapy and Passive Rest on the Recovery of Muscular Strength and Plasma Lactate Levels in the Upper Limbs after Intense Anaerobic Exercise in Elite Boxers and Kickboxers
by Wiesław Chwała, Wacław Mirek, Tadeusz Ambroży, Wojciech Wąsacz, Klaudia Jakubowska and Łukasz Rydzik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 7820; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177820 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1289
Abstract
Background: High-intensity anaerobic physical training frequently leads to muscle fatigue among boxers and kickboxers. Vibrational therapy (VT) and passive rest (PR) have been employed as methods to enhance muscular recovery and performance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of these two recovery methods on [...] Read more.
Background: High-intensity anaerobic physical training frequently leads to muscle fatigue among boxers and kickboxers. Vibrational therapy (VT) and passive rest (PR) have been employed as methods to enhance muscular recovery and performance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of these two recovery methods on upper limb muscle strength and lactate levels in plasma after high-intensity exertion. Methods: Eighteen elite boxers and kickboxers, aged 19–32 years, underwent tests employing VT and PR as recovery methods in a controlled, crossover study. Muscle performance was assessed via isokinetic dynamometry, and lactate levels were measured pre-exercise, post-exercise, and post-recovery. The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines and was approved by the relevant bioethics committee. Results: The results showed that VT led to a faster recruitment of muscle fibers and improved muscle endurance as indicated by decreased fatigue work indices compared to PR. However, no significant differences were observed in peak torque or lactate levels between the two recovery methods. The VT group exhibited quicker recovery times in torque generation and better performance in fatigue resistance. Conclusions: VT appears to provide superior muscular recovery compared to PR following intense anaerobic effort, particularly in terms of muscle strength endurance and activation speed. These findings support the potential of VT in sports recovery protocols, although similar lactate response suggests that metabolic recovery rates are not significantly affected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Performance: Data Measurement, Analysis, and Improvement)
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