Search Results (230)

Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) is a joint condition characterized by damage to the surface of the joint and the underlying subchondral bone, leading to early-onset osteoarthritis. It predominantly affects the knee, elbow, and ankle, with higher prevalence in juveniles actively participating in sports, which complicates the condition due to slow healing processes and prolonged restrictions on physical activities. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on OCD in athletes, with emphasis on sport-specific risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment, to support clinical decision-making and future research. We conducted searches in the PubMed and Embase databases, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. The keywords used in the search covered most common sports in combination with term osteochondritis dissecans. This review examines the impacts of various sports on the development of OCD, analyzing prevalence and risk factors, with a focus on sports-specific risks across athletic disciplines like football, basketball, baseball, and gymnastics. The significance of early detection, intervention, and sport-specific conditioning is underscored to prevent the condition and manage it effectively. Moreover, the review highlights the positive prognosis for athletes, particularly adolescents, recovering from OCD, with a high rate of return to sport. Understanding the sports-specific risks, ensuring early intervention, and adopting a cautious, stepwise return to sport are critical for managing OCD effectively, thereby safeguarding the health and careers of athletes. Full article

Objectives: Shoulder injury prevalence appears to be the highest among all injuries in CrossFit (CF) athletes. Nevertheless, there is no evidence deriving from prospective studies to explain this phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to document shoulder injury incidence in CF participants over a 12-month period and prospectively investigate the risk factors associated with their demographic, epidemiological, and functional characteristics. Methods: The sample comprised 109 CF athletes in various levels. Participants’ data were collected during the baseline assessment, using a specially designed questionnaire, as well as active range of motion, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and sport-specific tests. Non-parametric statistical tests and inferential statistics were employed, and in addition, linear and regression models were created. Logistic regression models incorporating the study’s continuous predictors to classify injury occurrence in CF athletes were developed and evaluated using the Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) as the performance metric. Results: A shoulder injury incidence rate of 0.79 per 1000 training hours was recorded. Olympic weightlifting (45%) and gymnastics (35%) exercises were associated with shoulder injury occurrence. The most frequent injury concerned rotator cuff tendons (45%), including lesions and tendinopathies, exhibiting various severity levels. None of the examined variables individually showed a statistically significant correlation with shoulder injuries. Conclusions: This is the first study that has investigated prospectively shoulder injuries in CrossFit, creating a realistic profile of these athletes. Despite the broad spectrum of collected data, the traditional statistical approach failed to identify shoulder injury predictors. This indicates the necessity to explore this topic using more sophisticated techniques, such as advanced machine learning approaches. Full article

Background/Objective: This study aims to evaluate the predictive performance of three supervised machine learning algorithms—decision tree (DT), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) in forecasting key visual skills relevant to rhythmic gymnastics. Methods: A total of 383 rhythmic gymnasts aged 4 to 27 years were evaluated in various sports centers across Madrid, Spain. Visual assessments included clinical tests (near convergence point accommodative facility, reaction time, and hand–eye coordination) and eye-tracking tasks (fixation stability, saccades, smooth pursuits, and visual acuity) using the DIVE (Devices for an Integral Visual Examination) system. The dataset was split into training (70%) and testing (30%) subsets. Each algorithm was trained to classify visual performance, and predictive performance was assessed using accuracy and macro F1-score metrics. Results: The decision tree model demonstrated the highest performance, achieving an average accuracy of 92.79% and a macro F1-score of 0.9276. In comparison, the SVM and KNN models showed lower accuracies (71.17% and 78.38%, respectively) and greater difficulty in correctly classifying positive cases. Notably, the DT model outperformed the others in predicting fixation stability and accommodative facility, particularly in short-duration fixation tasks. Conclusion: The decision tree algorithm achieved the highest performance in predicting short-term fixation stability, but its effectiveness was limited in tasks involving accommodative facility, where other models such as SVM and KNN outperformed it in specific metrics. These findings support the integration of machine learning in sports vision screening and suggest that predictive modeling can inform individualized training and performance optimization in visually demanding sports such as rhythmic gymnastics. Full article

The Inverted Swallow (IS) is a rare isometric upper-body skill in artistic gymnastics. Athletes use Preconditioning Strengthening Exercises (PSEs) to develop the strength necessary to hold the IS at competition rings. However, the specific muscle excitation and synergies typical of the IS and its PSEs remain unexplored. Thus, this study analyzed muscle excitations and synergies during the IS and its five common PSEs. Muscle excitation was recorded from the pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, triceps brachii, infraspinatus, trapezius, serratus anterior, biceps brachii and posterior deltoid muscles in six elite calisthenics athletes (age: 24.5 ± 3.0 years; height: 168.6 ± 5.8 cm; body mass: 65.0 ± 4.7 kg). Non-Negative Matrix Factorization was used to extract synergies. The results showed a predominant role of the posterior deltoid and triceps brachii during the IS. Significant differences were observed in the muscle excitation of the triceps brachii between the IS and its PSEs (p ≤ 0.001; W = 0.765), and in the posterior deltoid (p = 0.002; W = 0.629). Muscle synergy patterns also differed in simultaneous muscle activation between the IS and its PSEs. These findings provide the first detailed evidence of the characteristics of the IS element, providing insights for optimizing strength training and gymnastics performance. Full article

Background/Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare muscular strength and neuromuscular activation characteristics between male gymnasts and physical education (PE) students during isometric shoulder extension and flexion tasks. Methods: Thirteen competitive male gymnasts (age: 19.59 ± 1.90 years; body mass: 66.54 ± 6.10 kg; height: 169.38 ± 6.28 cm; mean ± SD) and thirteen male physical education (PE) students (age: 20.96 ± 2.30 years; body mass: 74.00 ± 8.69 kg; height: 174.96 ± 4.93 cm) voluntarily participated in the study. Peak torque (PT), rate of torque development (RTD), RTD normalized to body mass (RTD/BM), and muscle activation assessed via surface electromyography (EMG), normalized to maximal EMG activity (EMG/EMGmax), were evaluated during bilateral isometric shoulder extension and flexion at a joint angle of 45°. Measurements were analyzed across the following time intervals: −50 to 0 ms (pre-tension), 0–30 ms, 0–50 ms, 0–100 ms, and 0–200 ms relative to contraction onset. Custom MATLAB R2024b scripts were used for data processing and visualization. One-way and two-way multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) were conducted to test for group differences. Results: Gymnasts exhibit higher values of PT, PT/BM, RTD, and RTD/BM particularly within the early contraction phases (i.e., 0–50 ms and 0–100 ms) compared to PE students (p < 0.05 to <0.001; η² = 0.04–0.66). Additionally, EMG activity normalized to maximal activation (EMG/EMGmax) was significantly greater in gymnasts during both early and mid-to-late contraction phases (0–100 ms and 0–200 ms), (p < 0.05 to <0.001; η² = 0.04–0.48). Conclusions: These findings highlight gymnasts’ superior explosive neuromuscular capacity. Metrics like RTD, RTD/BM, and EMG offer valuable insights into rapid force production and neural activation, supporting performance monitoring, training optimization, and injury prevention across both athletic and general populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Internal training load has been widely used to monitor training intensity and to prevent injuries in different sports. This study aimed to analyze the association between internal training parameters and sports injury incidence in gymnasts based on different training week exposure levels during a sequential sports season. Methods: The participants consisted of 27 gymnasts, aged 8 to 17 years old, recruited into two gymnastics training centers. The subjects were allocated into two groups: medium exposure (ME) and low exposure (LE) athletes. The monitoring period totaled 28 weeks. A survey was conducted to monitor sports injury incidence. The Perceived Effort Scale and the Total Quality of Recovery were applied to monitor training load and recovery, respectively. Results: A total of 28 injury cases were reported, with a higher incidence (24) in the ME group than in the LE group. Furthermore, the ME group demonstrated a significant increase in the average weekly load, as well as higher values of monotony and strain compared to the LE group (p < 0.001). The acute: chronic workload ratio (ACWR) was lower in the ME than in the LE group in all training periods. The total quality recovery (TQR) exhibited a peak during the competitive training period in the ME group, whereas strain showed a direct effect on this result. Conclusions: Increased training load values were linked to the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in gymnasts submitted to different training week exposure levels. Likewise, the high values of internal training load were shown to be related to impaired recovery during a competitive period within a 28-week follow-up. Full article

Background: Many studies examine young adolescents’ motivation for physical activity (PA), but few explore the problem in depth, considering the self-assessment of sport skills or the impact of additional PA. Insufficient PA among adolescents is a significant global issue. This study aimed to analyze the differences in types of motivation, the self-assessment of sports skills, and overall fitness among young adolescents with regard to additional PA. Material and Methods: A sample of high school students (n = 355) was assessed using an MPAM-R questionnaire, a self-developed sport skills competency test, and an IFIS questionnaire. Results: There are significant differences in types of motivation between genders: girls achieved higher results in terms of appearance, whereas boys were mostly focused on enjoyment and competence. Additionally, participants who reported engaging in additional PA, regardless of gender, achieved higher results in nearly all types of motivation, except for social. The findings consistently highlight a strong emphasis on appearance among young adolescents. The self-assessments of sports skills and overall fitness were also higher in the group of participants with additional PA. The study revealed further differences between boys and girls in the assessment of tactical and technical skills. Boys rated themselves higher in team sports, whereas girls in individual activities such as gymnastics. Conclusions: These results provide new insights into teenagers’ motivations and self assessment of sport skills and can serve as a solid foundation for further research for developing activities aimed at increasing leisure-time PA among youth. Full article

The relative age effect (RAE) refers to the advantage often observed in sports selection processes, where athletes born earlier in the calendar year are favored over those born later. While the RAE has been widely studied in various sports, little is known about its presence in rhythmic gymnastics (RG), a female-dominated esthetic sport characterized by early specialization. This study investigated the presence of the RAE among elite rhythmic gymnasts (RGs) at the international level, focusing on differences in birth quarter distribution across age categories and performance levels. The sample included 578 RGs—356 juniors and 222 seniors—competing in individual and group events. Birthdates were categorized into four quartiles (Q1–Q4). Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests and standardized residuals as post hoc tests were used to analyze the RAE. No significant RAE was found in the overall sample or when analyzed by geographic region (p > 0.05). However, a significant under-representation in Q4 occurred for Group RGs (SR = −2.17), and among all juniors (SR = −2.54) (χ²[3, 356] = 9.833, p < 0.05, w = 0.17), particularly in the subgroup of 15-year-old gymnasts, who were over-represented in Q3 (SR = 2.55; χ²[3, 183] = 10.027, p < 0.05, w = 0.23). Finalists—especially those in group events—also showed a higher proportion of Q3 athletes and a lower proportion of those born in Q4. Among junior finalists, Q4 was significantly under-represented (p < 0.05). These novel sport-specific findings suggest the presence of an atypical RAE pattern in RG, particularly in younger age groups and among high-performing athletes. RG coaches and policymakers should consider alternative selection models and adapt training approaches for Q4-born gymnasts in order to prevent early deselection. Full article

Rhythmic and artistic gymnastics expose athletes to a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain (LBP), often caused by repetitive and intensive training demands. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 12-week postural treatment using the Mézières method, focused on posture correction and vertebral movement assessed with the Spinal Mouse system, in elite rhythmic gymnasts with LBP. A randomized controlled trial with two parallel groups was conducted, comparing the Mézières method to an equivalent isostretching intervention under similar conditions. Seventeen elite gymnasts with LBP participated, receiving two weekly sessions for 12 weeks. Frontal stand posture (upright, left, and right) was measured at baseline, post-treatment, and at 2, 6, and 12 weeks using the Spinal Mouse system. The experimental group (n = 8) received Mézières therapy; the control group (n = 9) received isostretching. Significant differences in pain reduction were found between the groups (p = 0.000). In the frontal upright position, lumbar and sacral segmental angles (p = 0.021) and regional inclination (p = 0.000) also showed significant group differences. Similarly, in the frontal left position, all vertebral variables except LSpTH12 also demonstrated significant differences between the groups, with p-values ranging from 0.001 to 0.017. Both treatments reduced pain and improved flexibility, but the Mézières group showed significantly greater improvements than the isostretching group. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pressure to stay lean may lead adolescent athletes to dietary restraint and disordered eating. Lack of nutrition awareness can also contribute to suboptimal dietary habits, increasing the risk of eating disorders and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport [RED-S], though evidence in competitive athletes is limited. This study explored eating disorder symptoms and RED-S knowledge in adolescent artistic gymnasts. Methods: Eighty-four female artistic gymnasts, thirty-nine international and national level gymnasts [high-level; 14 [14, 15] y] and forty-five recreational and club level gymnasts [low-level; 14 [13, 15] y] completed the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire [EDE-Q 6.0], the RED-S knowledge Questionnaire and provided training details. Results: Seventeen gymnasts (20.2%) scored above the cutoff point on the EDE-Q. In addition, high-level gymnasts scored higher than low-level on EDE-Q [2.21 ± 1.37 (35.9%) vs. 1.19 ± 0.79 (6.7%), respectively; p < 0.001] and on its subscales: Restraint, Eating Concerns, Weight Concerns, and Shape Concerns [p < 0.001 to 0.009], thus indicating more severe disordered eating symptoms. No group differences were found in binge eating and compensatory behaviors. An important percentage of gymnasts reported at least one episode of binge eating and excessive training [39.3–58.3%], while four gymnasts reported self-induced vomiting. RED-S knowledge did not differ between groups. On average, gymnasts were unaware of correct answers related to RED-S [51.5%], its definitions [79.8–92.9%], and its association with menstrual disturbances and bone health [54.8–86.9%]. However, gymnasts reported better awareness of the impact of food restriction on illness and performance [47.6–84.5%]. Conclusions: Elite artistic gymnasts exhibited a higher prevalence of eating disorder symptoms than lower-level peers. Gymnasts at all levels demonstrated limited knowledge of the effects of RED-S on menstrual and bone health. Failure to recognize these risks may influence gymnasts’ eating behaviors and delay RED-S detection and management. Full article

In men’s gymnastics, to build strength for static strength elements on rings (e.g., the Inverted Cross on Rings: ICR), general and ring-specific conditioning exercises are used. We aimed to examine the differences between elite and junior athletes in ring-specific strength in the ICR and the one-repetition maximum (1RM) in two conditioning exercises (Inverted Cross with Dumbbells: ICD; Seated Overhead Barbell Press: SOBP), to analyze the relationship between strength in the ICR and ICD and SOBP, and to establish preparatory strength benchmarks for ICR. Nine elite (20.97 ± 1.91 years, 66.01 ± 5.03 kg) and ten junior athletes (16.72 ± 0.55 years, 61.10 ± 7.9 kg) performed a maximum strength test for the ICR (five-second hold with pulley) and a 1RM test for the SOBP and ICD. Elite athletes were significantly stronger in the ICR and SOBP (22.36% and 33.2%; p < 0.001) but not in ICD (p = 0.13). Strong correlations (r > 0.65, p < 0.01) suggest that these exercises support strength development for the ICR. Although, the transfer into ring-specific strength must be trained separately, the benchmarks (SOBP: 150% body weight; ICD: 66%) offer coaches guidelines for optimizing training, prevent injury and promote physical resilience of elite athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Aquagym is a form of practicing aerobic gymnastics to stay fit, which is constantly progressing in line with the dynamics of market growth and the fitness industry, bringing benefits to physical and mental health. The purpose of the study was to identify the level of popularity of this sport among people aged 20–65 years and to highlight the benefits of practicing aquagym. Methods: This quantitative research study was designed to use a structured questionnaire to collect data from 150 participants. The sample was chosen to reflect various age groups and to ensure representativeness for the general population interested in physical activity. Participants were divided by gender into two age categories, under 45 and over 45, in order to examine differences in preferences and perceptions between these age segments. For the analysis of between-group differences, we used the Chi-Square and Cramer’s V tests, and for the profile of respondents, a Two-Step Cluster Analysis was applied. Results: Regarding knowledge of the aquagym concept, there is a notable discrepancy between females and males, with significantly more women (54%) than men (18%) stating that they are familiar with this concept. Among the perceived benefits of water gymnastics, most responses indicate maintaining muscle tone (25% women and 14% men) and a fun way to stay fit (20% women and 11% men). Young people under 45 years of age tend to attach more importance to the social and entertaining aspects of aquagym. As for the improvement in quality of life by practicing water gymnastics, a large number of respondents (82%) rated this contribution with a score of 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale, meaning that the positive impact of this activity was highly appreciated. Conclusions: Aquagym lessons are perceived as both an effective form of exercise for health improvement and a means of socialization. The outcomes of the study highlight the opportunity to continuously promote and develop gymnastics in the aquatic environment as an accessible and enjoyable form of physical activity for all ages. Full article

Background: Adherence to nutritional recommendations in groups of adolescents practicing various sports, including esthetic disciplines, is insufficient. Hence, the authors of this study attempted to design, implement and evaluate a nutritional education program for girls aged 10–12 attending a ballet school and artistic gymnastics classes. Methods: The study was conducted with 60 female students at the state ballet school and artistic gymnastics classes (professionally practicing ballet and artistic gymnastics). The nutritional education program was implemented by all students for a period of 4 weeks. The program consisted of three parts: group sharing and discussing the educational brochure, group nutritional workshops, and providing and discussing individual nutritional recommendations. Information provided to students during the nutritional education program concerned the principles of proper nutrition contained in the Pyramid of Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity for Children and Youth, the most important sources of nutrients in the diet and their role, and the principles of nutrition of people practicing sports/training. Before starting the nutritional education program and 3 months after its completion, the level of nutritional knowledge was assessed in the group of ballerinas and artistic gymnasts to evaluate the program. Results: The proposed nutritional education program had a significant impact on the level of nutritional knowledge of students aged 10–12 attending the ballet school and artistic gymnastics classes. Conclusions: The presented nutritional education program may be used as a source of information for specialists for the preparation of educational and repair programs in the group of ballet dancers or artistic gymnasts aged 10–12. Full article

This study investigates the kinematic characteristics of the free vertical split with 720° turn (C 807). C 807 is the international designation in rhythmic gymnastics for a free vertical split with a 720° turn. This research holds significant importance in enhancing the technical proficiency of gymnasts and reducing their risk of injury. Eight national-level female gymnasts (age = 20 ± 3 years) performed the C 807. Kinematic data were collected using a 3D motion capture system. The movement was divided into four phases, and Visual 3D (V6.0, CMotion, Germantown, MD, USA) software was used for data processing and analysis. The joint angles of the upper and lower limbs, as well as the torsion angles of the lower limb joints, were analyzed. Key findings included tibial torsion, knee hyperextension in the support leg, and changes in elbow flexion during each phase. The center of mass (COM) trajectory showed that, during the backward preparatory swing phase, COM height gradually decreased and slightly increased before the initiation phase. In the initiation phase, COM height initially decreased and then increased, while the rotation phase showed fluctuating but stable COM height. The results highlight the importance of joint angle control and COM fluctuations during movement. Training should focus on leg swing speed, lower limb strength, knee stability, and upper limb coordination to enhance balance, improve rotation speed, and prevent injuries. Full article

Background and Objectives: Sport practice, performance satisfaction, and interoception influence physical and mental health. Motor imagery (MI) training improves sensorimotor and cognitive–emotional functions. This study aimed to (a) compare sedentary and artistic gymnastics-practicing young females and (b) evaluate the changes in interoception and performance satisfaction occurring in gymnastics-practicing participants after one month of motor imagery training. Materials and Methods: The difference in interoceptive accuracy (IA) and sensibility (IS) between young sedentary females (Control group, C, n = 27) and age-matched females practicing artistic gymnastics (Experimental group, E, n = 27) were studied using the Interoceptive Accuracy Scale (IAS), the Multisensory Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), and Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ). The capacity for focusing one’s attention on specific tasks (absorption) was assessed by the Tellegen Absorption Scale (TAS). Groups were compared at T0 (before motor imagery training). In group E, the same variables and satisfaction with performance were rated before and after 1 month of motor imagery training. The years of practice and absorption were used as covariates in analyses. Results: (a) Group E exhibited significantly higher scores in the MAIA dimensions than group C and similar BPQ and IAS scores; (b) group E’s satisfaction with performance, MAIA, IAS, and BPQ scores increased significantly from T0 to T1. The increase in performance satisfaction became non-significant when using years of practice as the control. The improvement in MAIA dimensions became non-significant when using TAS as the control. Conclusions: Despite the limitations as a result of the absence of an objective evaluation of the performance and physiological correlations of mental imagery and interoceptive accuracy, the baseline differences between the two groups confirm that practicing artistic gymnastics improves interoception. The experience undergone by group E of better performance after training is associated with further improvement in interoceptive intermingled pathways and shared relay stations of sensorimotor and interoceptive information. The results are relevant to the setting up of personalized mental training to improve physical and mental health. Full article