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Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications
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Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Athletic Training and Human Performance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 2993

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Javier Sánchez Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group PRENDE, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, 37002 Salamanca, Spain
Interests: soccer; post-activation potentiation; repeated sprints; injury prevention; warm-up; small-sided games load quantification; locomotor demand in team sports; physical conditioning in youth and elite athletes
Dr. Alejandro Rodríguez-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, University of Leon, 24404 Leon, Spain
Interests: soccer; basketball; repeated sprints; injury prevention; small-sided games; load quantification; locomotor demand in team sports; variability analysis in performance; physical conditioning in youth and elite athletes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Training for elite sports performance has rapidly advanced, evolving from traditional methods to include cutting-edge strategies aimed at both enhancing athletic performance and preventing injuries. This Special Issue seeks to examine how innovative training strategies, periodization techniques, and the integration of emerging technologies can impact not only sports performance but also injury prevention.

Along with conventional training practices, technology and data analytics are increasingly being used to customize training programs, offering more precise and effective ways to optimize results while minimizing risks. This also opens the door to exploring new devices that can enhance key athletic abilities such as strength, speed, and endurance—critical factors for competitive success.

We invite original research, reviews, and case studies that provide insights into these modern training methods and technologies and their potential to contribute to the advancement of sports science to ultimately benefit athletes, coaches, and conditioning professionals.

Prof. Dr. Javier Sánchez Sánchez
Dr. Alejandro Rodríguez-Fernández
Guest Editors

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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1800 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

  • sports performance
  • injury prevention
  • training strategies
  • technology in sports
  • periodization

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 2851 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Mechanical Variables in Different Exercises Performed with a Rotational Inertial Device in Professional Soccer Players: A Pilot Study
by Álvaro Murillo-Ortiz, Luis Manuel Martínez-Aranda, Moisés Falces-Prieto, Samuel López-Mariscal, Francisco Javier Iglesias-García and Javier Raya-González
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030279 (registering DOI) - 18 Jul 2025
Abstract
Background: Soccer performance is largely dependent on high-intensity, unilateral actions such as sprints, jumps, and changes of direction. These demands can lead to strength and power differences between limbs, highlighting the importance of individualised assessment in professional players. Rotational inertial devices offer a [...] Read more.
Background: Soccer performance is largely dependent on high-intensity, unilateral actions such as sprints, jumps, and changes of direction. These demands can lead to strength and power differences between limbs, highlighting the importance of individualised assessment in professional players. Rotational inertial devices offer a valuable method to evaluate and train these mechanical variables separately for each leg. The aim of this study was twofold: (a) to characterise the mechanical variables derived from several lower-body strength exercises performed on rotational inertial devices, all targeting the same muscle group; and (b) to compare the mechanical variables between the dominant and non-dominant leg for each exercise. Methods: Twenty-six male professional soccer players (age = 26.3 ± 5.1 years; height = 182.3 ± 0.6 cm; weight = 75.9 ± 5.9 kg; body mass index = 22.8 ± 1.1 kg/m2; fat mass percentage = 9.1 ± 0.6%; fat-free mass = 68.8 ± 5.3 kg), all belonging to the same professional Belgian team, voluntarily participated in this study. The players completed a single assessment session consisting of six unilateral exercises (i.e., quadriceps hip, hamstring knee, adductor, quadriceps knee, hamstring hip, and abductor). For each exercise, they performed two sets of eight repetitions with each leg (i.e., dominant and non-dominant) in a randomised order. Results: The quadriceps hip exercise resulted in higher mechanical values compared to the quadriceps knee exercise in both limbs (p < 0.004). Similarly, the hamstring hip exercise produced greater values across all variables and limbs (p < 0.004), except for peak force, where the hamstring knee exercise exhibited higher values (p < 0.004). The adductor exercise showed higher peak force values for the dominant limb (p < 0.004). The between-limb comparison revealed differences only in the abductor exercise (p < 0.004). Conclusions: These findings suggest the necessity of prioritising movement selection based on targeted outcomes, although it should be considered that the differences between limb differences are very limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
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17 pages, 2134 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Movement Variability During the Spike Jump Action in Young and High-Level Female Volleyball Players: Differences Between Categories and Playing Positions
by Jordi Català, Gerard Moras, Víctor Toro-Román, Carla Pérez-Chirinos Buxadé, Silvia Tuyà-Viñas and Bruno Fernández-Valdés
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030268 - 16 Jul 2025
Viewed by 60
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare movement variability (MV) during the spike jump (S) action with and without a ball in volleyball players of different categories and playing positions. Methods: A total of 48 volleyball players [...] Read more.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare movement variability (MV) during the spike jump (S) action with and without a ball in volleyball players of different categories and playing positions. Methods: A total of 48 volleyball players participated in this study. The players were divided according to the following categories: under-14 (U-14) (n = 12); U-16 (n = 12); U-19 (n = 12); and SENIOR (n = 12). Also, they were divided according to playing position: hitters (n = 24); liberos (n = 5); middle blockers (n = 12); and setters (n = 7). The S action with and without a ball was analyzed. Acceleration was analyzed using an IMU device. Acceleration was used to calculate MV through sample entropy (SampEn). Results: Differences were observed in all categories when comparing the S action with and without the ball (p < 0.001). SampEn was higher in the U-14 category (p < 0.001). Regarding playing positions, SampEn was lower in the hitter position compared to the middle blocker (p < 0.001) and libero (p < 0.001). There were significant inverse correlations between years of experience and SampEn (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The inclusion of a ball during the S action increases MV. MV is higher in the U-14 category compared to the rest. The hitter position showed lower MV compared to the other playing positions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
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13 pages, 1930 KiB  
Article
Light-Based Reaction Speed Does Not Predict Field-Based Reactive Agility in Soccer Players
by Adele Broodryk, Filip Skala and Retief Broodryk
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030239 - 24 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background: The motor response to human visual stimuli is unique and differs from the reaction to light-based visual stimuli. While laboratory-based tests offer valuable insights into athletes’ basic perceptual–motor abilities, their translation to actual sports-specific tests is limited. Methods: Following a thorough warm-up, [...] Read more.
Background: The motor response to human visual stimuli is unique and differs from the reaction to light-based visual stimuli. While laboratory-based tests offer valuable insights into athletes’ basic perceptual–motor abilities, their translation to actual sports-specific tests is limited. Methods: Following a thorough warm-up, 44 collegiate-level male soccer players (age: 24.4 ± 2.5 y, mass: 63.01 ± 7.3 kg, stature: 167.62 ± 6.3 cm) from a tertiary institution completed the following tests: Sports Vision Test (20-light proactive speed test), 40 m sprint test (split times over 5, 10, 20 and 40 m), and a live Reactive Agility Test (RAT) entailing them to sprint, change direction either towards their dominant limb or non-dominant limb in response to a live tester, and sprint again. Results: Numerous moderate correlations were seen between the RAT and various sprint distances (r > 0.3, ES > 0.3, p < 0.05). The reaction speed relationship between the light-based (SVT) and live stimuli (RAT) test yielded a weak relationship (r > 0.4, ES > 0.5, p < 0.05). Furthermore, the light-based hand–eye coordination speed did not predict acceleration or top speed, while the total RAT time did explain 10.5% of top speed (40 m). No significant differences in the SVT average and total time were found among playing positions. Conclusions: The limited correlations observed indicate that light-based reaction training alone may not be sufficient to translate to field-based reactive agility; therefore, training should integrate perceptual–cognitive and motor demands. Future research should refine laboratory-based tests by incorporating contextual elements to enhance ecological validity and further investigate the transferability of these skills from controlled settings to real-world game scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
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15 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
Lung Function Changes with Swim Training in Healthy and Allergic Endurance Athletes
by João Rodrigues, Bárbara Jesus, Paulo Caseiro, António Jorge Ferreira and Luís Rama
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 231; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020231 - 18 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 420
Abstract
Background: It is thought that swimming might elicit remarkable chronic lung function improvements that were not observed in land-based sports. However, there is no consensus on whether this is mainly attributable to genetic predisposition or specific training. This study aimed to characterize athletes’ [...] Read more.
Background: It is thought that swimming might elicit remarkable chronic lung function improvements that were not observed in land-based sports. However, there is no consensus on whether this is mainly attributable to genetic predisposition or specific training. This study aimed to characterize athletes’ lung function according to their swimming experience. Methods: The sample consisted of 45 male athletes, including 15 swimmers, 15 triathletes, and 15 runners. Spirometry tests were conducted under four conditions: seated on land, prone on land, seated while immersed in water, and prone while immersed in water. The tests were performed on the pool deck and pool, with the order of conditions randomized for each participant. Conclusions: The results of this study do not support the idea that there is a window of opportunity for greater lung function adaptations during childhood due to swim training. The accumulated years of swim training are the reason for the increased measurements of FVC and FEV1 of swimmers. The immersed seated condition measures differences in lung function more accurately relative to swim training experience. Swim training appears to primarily enhance FVC in healthy athletes, while in allergic and asthmatic athletes, it mainly promotes improvements in FEV1/FVC and FEF25–75%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
10 pages, 1549 KiB  
Article
Who Shoots Better: Are Left-Handers at an Advantage?
by Antonela Karmen Ivišić, Nikola Foretić, Dario Vrdoljak and Miodrag Spasić
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020128 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 577
Abstract
Background: Handedness dominance can be observed in the tactical aspects of a handball match geometry. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the asymmetry between shooting velocity and distance in left- and right-handed handball players, and also to see if there is a [...] Read more.
Background: Handedness dominance can be observed in the tactical aspects of a handball match geometry. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the asymmetry between shooting velocity and distance in left- and right-handed handball players, and also to see if there is a difference between scored and missed shots. Methods: The data were obtained from players participating in the EHF European Championship 2024, held in Germany. Results: In this study, 238 players were analyzed during the whole championship. They were divided into two groups: left- (N = 112) and right-handed players (N = 126). A total of 5710 shots taken by the players were collected and analyzed. The results show that the left-handed players had a higher score percentage (63.08%) than the right-handed players (57.86%). The right-handed players shot at a higher velocity (101.38 ± 18.00 km/h) than the left-handed players (99.36 ± 18.89 km/h) (p < 0.001). A similar difference was observed in the distance of the shots (7.61 ± 2.23 m; and 7.42 ± 2.59 m, respectively) (p < 0.001). The distance of the shots differed between the scored and missed shots (right-handed, p < 0.001; left-handed, p < 0.04). Conclusions: These findings suggest that an asymmetry in left- and right-handed players is present for both parameters. Also, the higher efficiency of the right side of a handball team could lead to asymmetry in the geometry of a handball match. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
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14 pages, 2287 KiB  
Article
Focus on One Swimming Stroke or Compete in Multiple: How Much Specialization Is Needed to Become a World-Class Female Swimmer?
by Dennis-Peter Born, Jenny Lorentzen, Jesús J. Ruiz-Navarro, Thomas Stöggl, Michael Romann and Glenn Björklund
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010064 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1016
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate performance development and variety in swimming strokes of female swimmers from early junior to elite age. Methods: A total of 194,788 race times of female 200 m swimmers representing 77 nations were ranked at peak performance age and clustered [...] Read more.
Objectives: To investigate performance development and variety in swimming strokes of female swimmers from early junior to elite age. Methods: A total of 194,788 race times of female 200 m swimmers representing 77 nations were ranked at peak performance age and clustered into world-class finalists (>850 swimming points), international-class (750–850), national-class (650–750) and regional-class swimmers (550–650). Annual best times for each swimming stroke were retrospectively extracted throughout adolescence from 13 years of age. Longitudinal performance development and differences between the swimmers’ main and their secondary swimming strokes were analyzed using linear mixed model. Results: World-class freestyle swimmers show significantly (p ≤ 0.042) higher swimming points across all age categories compared to international-, national- and regional-class swimmers. Linear mixed model analysis indicates a significant performance progression for international- and national-class freestyle swimmers up to the 19–20-year-old category (p ≤ 0.038), but an earlier plateau was observed for regional-class swimmers (p = 0.714). Comparing main and secondary swimming strokes, freestyle swimmers show the highest degree of specialization. For breaststroke and individual medleys, specialization increases with increasing performance level and the closer an athlete is to elite age. World-class butterfly and backstroke finalists show the lowest specializations in terms of the smallest number of significant differences compared to performances in their secondary swimming strokes. Conclusions: Higher ranked swimmers show a greater degree of specialization. As different specialization patterns are evident for the various swimming strokes, decision makers and talent specialists should align development guidelines accordingly and base them on the most advantageous combinations of swimming strokes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Specific Conditioning: Techniques and Applications)
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