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Sports
Special Issues
Biomechanics and Sports Performances
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Biomechanics and Sports Performances

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 12927

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Antonino Patti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90144 Palermo, Italy
Interests: physical activity; exercise; gait analysis; dynamic postural; fitness; balance; posture; biomechanics; human movement
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Valerio Giustino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Interests: health professions; sport; exercise training; quality of life; health promotion; public health; aging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Postural control is a topic of growing interest in the scientific field. Many factors contribute to good postural control, and the various receptors of the nervous system have a significant influence on the postural control system. Biomechanics is the study of body systems using the methods of mechanics. Human biomechanics emphasizes how forces act on the musculoskeletal system and how the body reacts to these forces. Both coaches and athletes will have a clear advantage if they can clarify how the forces acting on the muscles influence movements and performances. Improving technique with the help of biomechanics can ultimately be a useful tool in optimizing performance, preventing injuries, and heightening the general well-being of athletes. Interestingly, some studies have suggested that only specific exercise trainings can stimulate the postural system. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks original research articles and reviews on any subject related to specific exercise trainings for aiding balance and posture in athletes in order to summarize the most important biomechanics parameters influencing human performance. However, of particular interest will be articles that examine how to use new technologies to evaluate the deficits and improvements obtained post-training regarding biomechanics. All manuscripts will be peer-reviewed by experts in the field and will be held to the highest level of academic and scientific integrity. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Antonino Patti
Dr. Valerio Giustino
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. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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

  • biomechanics
  • sports
  • posture
  • physical activity
  • gait analysis
  • performances
  • dynamic postural
  • fitness
  • balance

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2419 KiB  
Article
ISAK-Based Anthropometric Standards for Elite Male and Female Soccer Players
by Cristian Petri, Francesco Campa, Francis Holway, Luca Pengue and Luis Suarez Arrones
Sports 2024, 12(3), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12030069 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2333
Abstract
This study aimed to provide reference values for anthropometric characteristics of elite male and female soccer players, considering a group of individuals from the general population as controls. The anthropometric profiles of 357 elite soccer players [184 males (age 24.3 ± 4.3 y) [...] Read more.
This study aimed to provide reference values for anthropometric characteristics of elite male and female soccer players, considering a group of individuals from the general population as controls. The anthropometric profiles of 357 elite soccer players [184 males (age 24.3 ± 4.3 y) and 173 females (age 25.2 ± 5.1 y)] participating in the first Italian league (Serie A) and 363 subjects from the general population [188 males (age 24.2 ± 4.8 y) and 175 females (age 25.0 ± 5.1 y)] were measured according to the guidelines of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Reference percentiles for stature, body mass, circumferences, eight skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, supraspinal, abdominal, front thigh, and calf), breadths, and somatotype were calculated and stratified by player position and sex. No difference (p > 0.05) was found in age between the two groups. Soccer players showed lower values for the sum of the eight ISAK skinfolds than individuals from the general population of the same sex. This suggests lower adipose tissue, as indicated by a lower endomorphic component. The somatotype was endomorphic mesomorph and mesomorphic endomorph for the male and female individuals from the general population, respectively. The male soccer players were ectomorphic mesomorphs, while the females were balanced mesomorphs, defining a sport-specific morphology. This study provides sex- and role-specific anthropometric standards for elite soccer players. Raw anthropometric reference values may be useful for evaluating body composition without using any predictive equations or assumptions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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11 pages, 1433 KiB  
Article
Excessive Knee Internal Rotation during Grand Plié in Classical Ballet Female Dancers
by Aspasia Fotaki, Athanasios Triantafyllou, Panagiotis Koulouvaris, Apostolos Z. Skouras, Dimitrios Stasinopoulos, Panagiotis Gkrilias, Maria Kyriakidou, Sophia Stasi, Dimitrios Antonakis-Karamintzas, Charilaos Tsolakis, Olga Savvidou and Georgios Papagiannis
Sports 2024, 12(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12020054 - 07 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1193
Abstract
Classical ballet dancers are exposed daily to physically demanding movements. Among these, the Grand Plié stands out for its biomechanical complexity, particularly the stress applied to the knee joint. This study investigates the knee kinematics of healthy professional classical ballet dancers performing the [...] Read more.
Classical ballet dancers are exposed daily to physically demanding movements. Among these, the Grand Plié stands out for its biomechanical complexity, particularly the stress applied to the knee joint. This study investigates the knee kinematics of healthy professional classical ballet dancers performing the Grand Plié. Twenty dancers were evaluated with a motion analysis system using a marker-based protocol. Before measurements, the self-reported Global Knee Functional Assessment Scale was delivered for the knees’ functional ability, and the passive range of knee motion was also assessed. The average score on the Global Knee Functional Assessment Scale was 94.65 ± 5.92. During a complete circle of the Grand Plié movement, executed from the upright position, the average maximum internal rotation of the knee joint was 30.28° ± 6.16°, with a simultaneous knee flexion of 134.98° ± 4.62°. This internal rotation observed during knee flexion exceeds the typical range of motion for the joint, suggesting a potential risk for knee injuries, such as meniscal tears. The findings provide an opportunity for future kinematic analysis research, focusing on the movement of the Grand Plié and other common ballet maneuvers. These data have the potential to yield valuable information about the knee kinematics concerning meniscus damage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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10 pages, 1674 KiB  
Article
Effects of External Abdominal Pressure Support on Dynamic Balance: A Randomized Crossover Study
by Yuki Nakai, Takara Kijimuta, Yasufumi Takeshita, Ryoji Kiyama, Sota Araki, Takasuke Miyazaki and Masayuki Kawada
Sports 2023, 11(11), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11110217 - 07 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1440
Abstract
Abdominal pressure is vital in protecting the lumbar spine and controlling postural balance. Dynamic balance is associated with movement stability, adaptation to load, and reduced injury risk. Although trunk stability has been examined using belts and braces, the effects of external abdominal pressure [...] Read more.
Abdominal pressure is vital in protecting the lumbar spine and controlling postural balance. Dynamic balance is associated with movement stability, adaptation to load, and reduced injury risk. Although trunk stability has been examined using belts and braces, the effects of external abdominal pressure support (APS) on balance control remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of external APS on dynamic balance. Overall, 31 young adults participated in this randomized crossover study. External APS was provided using a device that could be pressurized and decompressed by inflating a cuff belt wrapped around the trunk. The modified Star Excursion Balance Test was performed under external APS and non-APS conditions. The maximum anterior, posterolateral, and posteromedial values normalized to the spinal malleolar distance and their respective composite values were compared between the two conditions with and without APS. Posterolateral, posteromedial, and composite values were significantly higher in the APS condition than in the non-APS condition (p < 0.001). The external APS was effective in immediately improving dynamic balance. Furthermore, APS was effective in dynamic balance control as it improved stability during anterior trunk tilt, which displaces the center of gravity forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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13 pages, 1706 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Training Session in Elite Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes Based on Biomechanical and Thermal Indicators
by Larissa Christine Vieira Santos, Felipe J. Aidar, Rodrigo Villar, Gianpiero Greco, Jefferson Lima de Santana, Anderson Carlos Marçal, Paulo Francisco de Almeida-Neto, Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinoco Cabral, Georgian Badicu, Hadi Nobari, Raphael Frabrício de Souza and Walderi Monteiro da Silva Júnior
Sports 2023, 11(8), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11080151 - 10 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1020
Abstract
Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) is performed on a bench press, aiming to lift as much weight as possible in a single repetition. Purpose: To evaluate thermal asymmetry and dynamic force parameters with 45 and 80% 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) in PP athletes. [...] Read more.
Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) is performed on a bench press, aiming to lift as much weight as possible in a single repetition. Purpose: To evaluate thermal asymmetry and dynamic force parameters with 45 and 80% 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) in PP athletes. Methods: Twelve elite PP male athletes were evaluated before and after a training session regarding skin temperature (thermography) and dynamic force indicators (Average Propulsive Velocity-MPV, Maximum Velocity-VMax, and Power). The training consisted of five series of five repetitions (5 × 5) with 80% 1 RM. The force indicators and dynamics before and after (45% 1 RM) were evaluated in series “1” and “5” with 80% 1 RM. Results: The temperature did not present asymmetry, and there were differences between the moment before and after. In MPV, Vmax, and Power, with 45% 1 RM, there were differences both in asymmetry and in moments (p < 0.005). With 80% 1 RM, asymmetry was observed, but no differences between moments (p < 0.005). Conclusion: No thermal asymmetry was observed. There were reductions in MVP and VMax at 45 and 80% 1 RM but without significant differences between time points (before and after). However, there was asymmetry in the moments before and after within a safety standard, where Paralympic powerlifting was safe in terms of asymmetries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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13 pages, 2278 KiB  
Article
The Effect on Flexibility and a Variety of Performance Tests of the Addition of 4 Weeks of Soleus Stretching to a Regular Dynamic Stretching Routine in Amateur Female Soccer Players
by Mohammad Alimoradi, Mansour Sahebozamani, Elham Hosseini, Andreas Konrad and Sajad Noorian
Sports 2023, 11(7), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11070138 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2411
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of soleus stretching on ankle flexibility and dynamic balance, as well as selected monitoring and performance tests in soccer. Forty-five healthy female soccer players were randomly divided into a regular [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 4 weeks of soleus stretching on ankle flexibility and dynamic balance, as well as selected monitoring and performance tests in soccer. Forty-five healthy female soccer players were randomly divided into a regular stretching group, a regular stretching group with soleus stretching, and a control group. Dynamic stretching protocols were performed for 4 weeks during three sessions per week as part of routine exercises. The regular group stretched three muscle groups (i.e., gastrocnemius, quadriceps, and hamstrings), while the regular + soleus group also stretched the soleus muscle. Before and after the stretching intervention, the ankle range of motion test, Y-balance test, drop jump test, dynamic knee valgus test, and Illinois Agility Running Test were performed. Ankle ROM, Y-balance, and DJ significantly improved in both intervention groups compared to controls. Only the regular + soleus group showed improvement in the Illinois Agility Running Test. Additionally, athletes performing the additional soleus stretching had greater improvements in ankle ROM and DJ but not in DKV or Y-balance. The results showed that adding soleus stretching into regular protocols can provide benefits for female soccer players in terms of performance parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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11 pages, 1367 KiB  
Article
Electromyographic and Stabilometric Analysis of the Static and Dynamic “Standing Bird Dog” Exercise
by Raffaele Losavio, Samuele Contemori, Stefano Bartoli, Cristina V. Dieni, Roberto Panichi and Andrea Biscarini
Sports 2023, 11(6), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11060119 - 16 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2403
Abstract
(1) Background: The “bird dog” exercise is considered one of the most effective therapeutic exercises for lumbopelvic rehabilitation and the prevention and treatment of low back pain. The “standing bird dog” (SBD) exercise, executed in a single-leg stance, constitutes a natural and challenging [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The “bird dog” exercise is considered one of the most effective therapeutic exercises for lumbopelvic rehabilitation and the prevention and treatment of low back pain. The “standing bird dog” (SBD) exercise, executed in a single-leg stance, constitutes a natural and challenging variation in the “bird dog”; nevertheless, this exercise has not yet been investigated. This study provides a stabilometric and electromyographic analysis of the SBD performed in static and dynamic conditions and in ipsilateral and contralateral variations; (2) Methods: A time-synchronized motion capture system, wireless electromyography sensors, and triaxial force platform were used to analyze the selected SBD exercises; (3) Results: In dynamic conditions, the gluteus maximum, multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, and gluteus medius reached a mean activation level higher than in the static condition, with peak activation levels of 80%, 60%, 55%, and a 45% maximum voluntary isometric contraction, respectively. In the static condition, balance control was more challenging in the mediolateral compared to the anteroposterior direction. In the dynamic condition, the balance challenge was higher in the anteroposterior direction and higher than the static condition in both directions; (4) Conclusions: The SBD was proved to be effective for strengthening the hip and lumbar extensor muscles and provided a powerful challenge to single-leg balance control in both mediolateral and anteroposterior directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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21 pages, 3196 KiB  
Review
A Systematic Review of Dynamic Forces and Kinematic Indicators of Front and Roundhouse Kicks across Varied Conditions and Participant Experience
by Michal Vagner, Daniel John Cleather, Vladan Olah, Jan Vacek and Petr Stastny
Sports 2023, 11(8), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports11080141 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1317
Abstract
Impact force and maximum velocity are important indicators of kick efficiency. Therefore, this systematic review compared the front kick (FK) and roundhouse kick (RK), including their impact force, maximum velocity, angular velocity, and execution time, considering various target types and experience levels. Following [...] Read more.
Impact force and maximum velocity are important indicators of kick efficiency. Therefore, this systematic review compared the front kick (FK) and roundhouse kick (RK), including their impact force, maximum velocity, angular velocity, and execution time, considering various target types and experience levels. Following PRISMA guidelines, the Web of Science, SportDiscus, and PubMed were systematically searched for articles published from January 1982 to May 2022. Normalized kicking values were compared using one-way ANOVA. Eighteen articles included FKs (sample: 113 elite men, 109 sub-elite men, and 46 novices), and twenty-five articles included RKs (sample: 238 elite men, 143 sub-elite men, and 27 novice men). The results indicate that the impact force of the FK were 47% (p < 0.01), 92% (p < 0.01), and 120% (p < 0.01) higher than those of the RK across novice, sub-elite, and elite groups, respectively. Moreover, the maximum foot velocity of the RK was 44% (p < 0.01) and 48% (p < 0.01) higher than that of the FK for the sub-elite and elite groups, respectively. Furthermore, the elite group had 65% (p < 0.01) higher knee extension angular velocity with the RK than with the FK and 138% (p < 0.01) higher hip extension angular velocity with the FK than with the RK. In summary, the findings suggest that the FK is more effective in generating forceful kicks, while the RK has the potential for rapid execution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics and Sports Performances)
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