Enhancing Health Through Physical Activity and Sports Science: Innovations in Applied Research

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 1371

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education and Sports Performance, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania
Interests: sport science; physical activity public health; physical education and sport; sport injuries; human performance

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Guest Editor
Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacău, 600115 Bacău, Romania
Interests: health promotions; sports science; physical education; human balance; rehabilitation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity and its role in overall health will always remain key topics in scientific fields. Sports science, as a multidisciplinary field, explores the physiological, biomechanical and psychological aspects of physical activity and sport. Promoting health and preventing diseases through regular physical activity, carried out on the basis of scientific rigor and recommendations, will always be important in maintaining the health of the global population.

Today, experts from entire sectors, from different interdisciplinary fields, argue for the well-documented health benefits of regular physical activity, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health disorders) or the prophylaxis of well-being, especially improving mobility, flexibility, strength and cognitive functions, particularly in certain categories of the population.

Wearable technology, biomechanics and motion capture, genetics and personalized training, etc., are all becoming increasingly used in the modern era to monitor physical activity and health metrics, to understand movement patterns and how they help with prevention, improve human performance and support rehabilitation, to uncover the mechanisms by which exercise affects cellular health, muscle growth, energy systems and much more.

How applied research informs public health campaigns aimed at increasing physical activity in different populations and community sports programs, school physical education and workplace health initiatives and how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are used to predict training outcomes, optimize physical performance and monitor health status all can represent benchmarks for those who wish to further their studies and research in this Special Issue.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how advances and applied research in sports science improve health.

Dr. Cristina Ioana Alexe
Dr. Dan Iulian Alexe
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • health through physical activity
  • applied research
  • innovation for health
  • sports

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 399 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Basketball Referee Decision-Making Using the DMQ-II Questionnaire
by Raúl Nieto-Acevedo, Carlos García-Sánchez, Moisés Marquina Nieto, Daniel Mon-Lopez, Andrea Hortiguela-Herradas and Jorge Lorenzo-Calvo
Sports 2025, 13(8), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13080270 - 15 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Basketball is a sport whose regulations require quick and complex refereeing decisions. Since the inception of sports, research on sports judgment and refereeing has been consistently present in the scientific literature. However, decision-making and the psycho-emotional factors that influence it remain somewhat unexplored [...] Read more.
Basketball is a sport whose regulations require quick and complex refereeing decisions. Since the inception of sports, research on sports judgment and refereeing has been consistently present in the scientific literature. However, decision-making and the psycho-emotional factors that influence it remain somewhat unexplored in studies. The decision-making of the basketball referee has been analyzed using the DMQ II questionnaire. To achieve this, 58 referees from the Spanish Basketball Federation collaborated, comprising 45 men and 13 women, all between the ages of 18 and 38 (M = 26.5, SD = 5.5). Participants completed the 31-question DMQ II questionnaire online, yielding results with significant differences based on age and gender about stress in decision-making. A modification of the referee’s teaching methodology that includes psychological strategies is proposed both in the initiation course and throughout the refereeing career. The findings highlight the need for mental health support systems for referees, particularly addressing stress management in young and female officials. This aligns with global efforts to safeguard psychological well-being in sports professionals. Full article
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13 pages, 827 KiB  
Article
Cardiac Autonomic Function in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis: The Impact of Exercise Training and Detraining
by Maria Anifanti, Andriana Teloudi, Alexandros Mitropoulos, Niki Syrakou, Eleni Pagkopoulou, Eva Triantafyllidou, Carina Boström, Louise Pyndt Diederichsen, Tiziana Nava, Theodoros Dimitroulas, Markos Klonizakis and Evangelia Kouidi
Sports 2025, 13(8), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13080267 - 13 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Adverse cardiovascular events and increased mortality are associated with cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction in the early stages of the systemic sclerosis (SSc), even prior to the development of cardiac fibrosis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a [...] Read more.
Adverse cardiovascular events and increased mortality are associated with cardiac autonomic nervous system dysfunction in the early stages of the systemic sclerosis (SSc), even prior to the development of cardiac fibrosis. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a three-month exercise training regimen and a subsequent comparable period of detraining on the activity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in patients with SSc. A total of forty patients with SSc were randomized to either the control group (Group COΝ) or the exercise training group (Group ET). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed at baseline, three months later, and six months later to assess peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). They also had 24 h electrocardiogram monitoring for heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence analysis. The following time-domain indices were evaluated in the context of HRV analysis: the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN), the root mean square of successive RR interval differences (rMSSD), and the percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (pNN50). Additionally, regarding the frequency-domain indicators, the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components, as well as the LF/HF ratio, were evaluated. Independent t-tests and Chi-square tests were used for baseline comparisons, while two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests assessed changes over time and between groups. Linear and multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore relationships among variables and identify predictors of HRV indices and VO2peak. Group ET implemented a three-month mixed-type exercise training program, while Group COΝ received standard care. Group ET improved indices of vagal activity [rMSSD by 32.6% (p = 0.017), pNN50 by 57.1% (p = 0.01) and HF by 20.1% (p = 0.01)] and sympathovagal activity [SDNN by 15.5% (p = 0.002) and LF/HF by 12.03% (p = 0.004)] after three months. Exercising patients also increased their VO2peak by 20.8% (p = 0.001). A robust positive correlation was observed between ΔVO2peak and ΔSDNN (r = 0.754, p < 0.001). After three months, there was no statistically significant difference in the VO2peak or any HRV index in the group COΝ. Compared to the baseline values, there was no statistically significant difference in group ET at 6 months, whereas the control group exhibited a decline. In summary, a three-month mixed-type exercise training program can enhance the cardiorespiratory efficiency and cardiac autonomic nervous system function of patients with SSc, as well as alleviate the deterioration that arises following the detraining period. Full article
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