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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: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 2811

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jose Manuel Jimenez-Olmedo

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Guest Editor

Physical Education and Sport Area, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: sport technology; validity; reliability; performance analysis; sport training; sport biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Lamberto Villalón Gasch

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Guest Editor

Departamento de Didáctica General y Didácticas Específicas, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
Interests: sports

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Technological advancements have revolutionized the realm of sports and physical activity. Innovative tools and methodologies are essential for effectively training diverse age groups, competitive levels, and specific participant characteristics. The formal objective is to optimize training by meticulously planning, designing, executing, and monitoring tasks within a given environment. Achieving training objectives necessitates the comprehensive assessment of physical activity and movement. This assessment is critical for developing preventive training plans, rehabilitating injuries, and enhancing sports techniques.

The measurement process in physical activity and sports relies heavily on precise instruments capable of evaluating kinetic, kinematic, and physiological variables, among others. Ensuring the validity and reliability of these instruments is paramount, as new technological devices emerge annually, aiming to produce meaningful, consistent, and accurate outcomes. The common denominator across these topics in sports performance is the attainment of sporting success. Sports performance analysis involves extracting valid, accurate, and reliable data to provide relevant feedback to coaches, players, and other stakeholders invested in the pursuit of excellence.

This Special Issue seeks to gather practical papers that establish new advancements in the integration of technology in the study of physical activity and sport. Contributions should highlight innovative applications, methodological advancements, and the impact of technology on enhancing training efficiency, injury prevention, and overall sports performance.

Dr. Jose Manuel Jimenez-Olmedo
Dr. Lamberto Villalón Gasch
Guest Editors

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Keywords

sport training
sport biomechanics
performance analysis

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1599 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Acceleration and Acceleration-Initial Speed Profiles on Team Success in LaLiga

by José Luis Quintero-Illera, Fabio Nevado, Raúl Zarzuela-Martín, Roberto López-Del Campo and Víctor Cuadrado-Peñafiel

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(8), 4344; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15084344 - 15 Apr 2025

Viewed by 240

Abstract

Acceleration and Acceleration-Initial Speed Running are important factors in soccer performance. The aims of the study were (a) analyze by playing position the acceleration-initial speed (AS₀) profile and (b) analyze the relevance of the number of accelerations > 3 m·s⁻² according to final league position. The subjects (n = 309) from the Spanish First Division during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 seasons were classified in six positions: Central Defenders (CD), Full Backs (FB), Central Midfielders (CM), Offensive Midfielders (OF), Wingers (W), and Forwards (F). A total of 6180 match observations were recorded using the Mediacoach System. The parameters analyzed were accelerations > 3 m·s⁻² and AS₀ profile variables, maximal theoretical acceleration (A_0Int), and maximal theoretical initial running speed (S_0Int). The AS₀ profile was calculated using a linear regression model. Welch’s analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a consistent relationship between the A_0Int variable of the AS₀ profile and team success in CM, FB, and W positions. Moreover, the successful teams for CD, CM, FB, OM, and W positions showed a statistically higher number of accelerations > 3 m·s⁻² than unsuccessful teams. In conclusion, these findings suggest the importance of enhancing acceleration abilities, particularly for lower-performing teams, to achieve the physical standards of successful teams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technologies in Sports and Physical Activity)

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10 pages, 38813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Dual-Tech Approach to Measuring Defensive Physical Demands in Basketball Pick-and-Rolls During Official Games: Inertial Sensors and Video Analysis

by Abdelaziz Qarouach, Daniele Conte, Pierpaolo Sansone and Marco Pernigoni

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(7), 3860; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15073860 - 1 Apr 2025

Viewed by 243

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify the physical load of defensive pick-and-roll (PnR) actions according to court location (middle or side), defensive option employed (switch, drop/ice, or trap), and effectiveness (successful or unsuccessful) during official basketball games. Twenty-four male basketball players (age: 20.5 ± 1.1 years; stature: 191.5 ± 8.7 cm; body mass: 86.5 ± 11.3 kg; playing experience: 8.5 ± 2.4 years) from two teams competing in the Lithuanian third division were recruited, with data collected across six official games. Participants were monitored using a combination of video-based time–motion analysis (TMA) and inertial measurement units (IMUs), allowing the calculation of duration, PlayerLoad (PL), and PL·min⁻¹ for each of the 364 defensive PnR actions identified. No significant differences were found based on court location or defensive option employed (p > 0.05). By contrast, unsuccessful plays resulted in significantly higher physical loads than successful ones (duration: p < 0.001, ES = 0.46; PL: p < 0.001, ES = 0.41; PL·min⁻¹: p = 0.047, ES = 0.24). Overall, these findings highlight a consistent physical load based on court location and defensive option adopted and an increased physical load when the defensive effort failed. Therefore, basketball coaches are suggested to consider the physical load of different defensive PnR scenarios when planning training drills, defining performance profiles of defensive strategies, and managing team rotations during games. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technologies in Sports and Physical Activity)

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15 pages, 1925 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sagittal Posture Measurement in Adolescent Athletes: Which Parameters Are Reliable over the Course of a Day?

by Oliver Ludwig, Jonas Dully, Edwin Baun and Michael Fröhlich

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(6), 3277; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15063277 - 17 Mar 2025

Viewed by 281

Abstract

Analyzing the posture of athletes is an important preventive diagnostic tool, especially because some posture parameters appear to be associated with risk of muscle injury and complaints. So far, it is unclear how these parameters change during the day under sport-related stress. In this pilot study, the posture parameters of pelvic tilt, body lean, trunk lean, and pelvic displacement were analyzed in 20 soccer players (16.61 ± 0.28 years, 179.38 ± 6.40 cm, 70.35 ± 7.79 kg, playing in the German Youth Academy League) at three points in time on one day, in each case with habitual posture and active posture with eyes open and closed. Intensive sporting activities took place between the measurement points. A repeated two-factor ANOVA was calculated for each posture parameter with the factors of measurement time and posture. Cohen’s d was determined as a measure of the effect size, and the intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated for the three measurement times. Only pelvic tilt and body lean remained stable throughout the day. We therefore recommend using both parameters to assess the posture of athletes, especially because studies show that they can be associated with possible complaints and injuries. However, since the examined posture parameters change significantly depending on whether a habitual or actively tense posture is adopted, particular attention must be paid to reproducible postures and clear instructions to the test subjects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technologies in Sports and Physical Activity)

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16 pages, 1555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Combined 7-Week Strength and Power Training: Effects on Body Composition, Strength, Speed, and Agility in U14 and U16 Youth Elite Soccer Players

by Manuele Ferrini, José Asian-Clemente, Gabriele Bagattini and Luis Suarez-Arrones

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(5), 2470; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15052470 - 25 Feb 2025

Viewed by 1398

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a 7-week combined strength and power training program on body composition, aerobic capacity, strength, sprint, and agility in elite youth soccer players. Twenty-one players, divided into age groups (U14 and U16), participated in this study. In addition to four training sessions per week (plus matches), the two groups completed a strength training session on Match Day 4 (MD-4) and a power training session on Match Day 2 (MD-2). Before and after the intervention, various tests were conducted, including skinfold measurements, submaximal intermittent shuttle run, eccentric hamstring strength (EHS), countermovement jump (CMJ), single-leg jump (SLJ), sprint test with split times at 10 and 30 m, agility t-test, push-ups, and pull-ups. Our results indicate that a seven-week program of combined strength training led to significant improvements in body composition, EHS, jump performance, and pull-up tests for both groups of players (p < 0.05). Moreover, the U14 group also demonstrated an improvement in the agility test (p < 0.01). The U14 group experienced more substantial gains than the U16 group in agility and push-up performance (p < 0.05). The sprint performance remained unchanged for both groups (p > 0.05), suggesting that specific training is required to improve this quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technologies in Sports and Physical Activity)

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13 pages, 4076 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydraulic Resistance Device for Force, Power, and Force–Velocity–Power Profile Assessment During Resisted Sprints with Different Overloads

by Matic Sašek, Oskar Cvjetičanin and Nejc Šarabon

Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1064; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031064 - 22 Jan 2025

Viewed by 514

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a hydraulic resistance device (HRD) to assess the force and power output and force–velocity–power profile of short sprints, while examining the effects of hydraulic overload on these outcomes. Twenty-eight amateur athletes performed 20 m sprints under minimal (MiL), moderate (MoL), and high (HiL) overloads. Sprint velocity was measured with the HRD, while resistance force (F_r) was assessed from the pressure via the HRD and from the reaction force via the force plate (FP). Using velocity and F_r during the sprints, maximal velocity (v_max), average horizontal force (F_avg), average power (P_avg), and FvP profile variables (F₀, v₀, and P_max) were calculated. A two-way ANOVA analysed the effects of overload and calculation method. In addition, a correlation between the HRD and FP measurements was evaluated. For all variables, very high to excellent correlation between the HRD and FP was observed (r ≥ 0.96). However, the F_avg, P_avg, F₀, and P_max calculated by the HRD were lower than the FP across all overloads (η² ≥ 0.51; p < 0.001). Regardless of the method used, F_avg, P_avg, and F₀ were highest at HiL (η² ≥ 0.38; p < 0.001), and v₀ was highest at MiL (η² = 0.35; p < 0.001), whereas overload had no significant effect on P_max (η² = 0.01; p = 0.770). The HRD is a feasible means for monitoring force and power output during hydraulic resisted sprints but should not be directly compared to other resistance devices. HiL produced the highest F_avg, P_avg, and F₀ and may be optimal for increasing power output and improving acceleration performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Technologies in Sports and Physical Activity)

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