Search Results (666)

The growth in the number of half-marathon participants reflects a transformation from performance-centred participation towards sporting experiences of a social and hybrid nature, with a great capacity to generate tourism flows. This study examines the social motivational structure of participants in the Bidasoa Half Marathon and identifies distinct profiles based on their social motivations. In this event, with a strong tourism appeal, 59.15% of respondents reside outside the Bidasoa region, a characteristic already recognised by the organisers, who promote parallel social activities aimed at enhancing the participant experience and encouraging overnight stays. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all runners registered for the 2025 edition (N = 1496), yielding 284 valid responses (an 18.98% response rate). The instrument measured three specific dimensions: event inclusivity, face-to-face socialisation, and digital interaction/validation. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses validated a robust three-dimensional model explaining 85.04% of the total variance, with adequate reliability and convergent and discriminant validity indices. Inclusivity emerged as the primary motivational driver, followed by digital interaction and physical socialisation. Furthermore, cluster analysis identified three segments: the Inclusive Runner (38.03%), characterised by a high valuation of inclusivity and low digital interest; the Connected Runner (31.34%), with high and balanced scores across the three dimensions and a peak score in digital interaction; and the Autonomous Runner (30.63%), displaying low levels across all social dimensions. Significant associations with age, gender, and educational attainment evidence the inherent heterogeneity of the participants. Consequently, the findings extend traditional models by integrating social and digital dimensions, thereby providing strategic implications for the contemporary management of sporting events. Full article

Participation in organized sports has been shown to enhance youths’ development, improve mental health symptoms, and maintain overall well-being. Research on the outcomes of bullying in the youth population shows the opposite. Youth from marginalized communities in particular—specifically sexual and gender minority or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth—are at an increased risk of being victims of bullying than their counterparts. However, there is a gap in the literature on the relationship between the three variables. Thus, this review explored the relationship between bullying among sexual and gender minority youth and its impact on the level of engagement in organized sports participation. Psychosocial risk factors and responses are identified, and suggestions for sports programs are proposed. A total of 16 articles, categorized by sexual and gender identity groups to further highlight the current literature on specific groups, were included in the final synthesis of this review. The findings revealed a range in the experiences of bullying and levels of sports participation among LGBTQIA+ youth, highlighting individual differences and impacts of various factors. The findings also emphasized the importance of involvement from schools, administrators, and policymakers in creating a safer, inclusive environment for LGBTQIA+ youth to increase engagement in sports, ultimately improving overall well-being and development. Full article

This study was developed within the framework of the GOLL (Green Olympic Living Lab and Environment Change) project, promoted by the Municipality of Coimbra, Portugal. The project uses the Mário Mexia Multisport Pavilion (MMMP) and the Olympic Swimming Pools Complex (OSPC) as living lab case studies for sustainability-oriented sports infrastructure management. The study combines a review of best practices in sustainable sports facilities with an applied case study focusing on infrastructure characterisation and the identification of intervention requirements (InRs). The review addresses the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable sports facilities, including energy and water efficiency, digital technologies, renewable energy integration, waste management, mobility, certification systems, and user inclusion. The adopted methodology integrates a literature review, technical inspections, and the analysis of building systems and resource consumption. The findings highlight the significant potential for improving operational performance, resource efficiency, and overall sustainability by adopting more integrated maintenance and management approaches. However, practical implementation remains dependent on overcoming challenges related to costs, data integration, and stakeholder engagement. The paper also discusses the potential adoption of integrated maintenance approaches, including the potential adoption of tailored digital management solutions and certification schemes, which may support more structured and proactive management. Within the GOLL living lab environment, this contributes to more informed technical, operational, and policy decision-making for the sustainable rehabilitation and management of sports facilities. Full article

Background and Objectives: Accelerated rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is widely implemented, yet its definition and distinguishing characteristics remain inconsistently described in the literature. This scoping review examined how accelerated rehabilitation after ACLR is defined, described common protocol features, and identified elements distinguishing it from conventional rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted using systematic searches of Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Web of Science from 1 April 1967 to 26 October 2025. Studies including patients aged 16 years or older who underwent primary ACLR that reported any form of accelerated rehabilitation or early progression relative to conventional protocols were eligible for inclusion. Results: Of 6002 screened records, 64 studies met the inclusion criteria. Accelerated rehabilitation was consistently characterized by early restoration of knee range of motion, early full weight-bearing, rapid gait normalization, early initiation of closed and open kinetic chain exercises, and avoidance of prolonged immobilization. However, definitions varied substantially across studies. Substantial heterogeneity was observed in progression timelines, bracing and crutch use, and return-to-sport criteria. Conclusions: Accelerated rehabilitation after ACLR appears to represent a brace-free, criterion-based, function-oriented approach emphasizing early restoration of knee extension, progressive loading, and individualized progression rather than simply shortened timelines. Establishing consensus definitions and standardized reporting is necessary to improve comparability across studies and facilitate translation into clinical practice. Full article

Background/Objectives: The rise in unhealthy habits such as a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with increasing obesity rates among children and young people, presents a health problem that must be addressed from various perspectives. Thus, the educational context, and specifically physical education, offers a prime setting for implementing programmes that reduce the levels of physical inactivity and improve pupils’ nutritional behaviours. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review to collect and analyse the scientific literature addressing the effects of school-based intervention programmes on physical activity and nutrition. Methods: To this end, a systematic review was carried out, based on the PRISMA method, in the ERIC, PubMed, Scopus, SportDiscus and Web of Science databases, analysing the scientific literature that included school-based interventions combining physical activity and nutrition. A total of 410 articles were identified, with 16 studies ultimately included following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The results indicated that the implementation of school programmes combining physical activity and nutrition can bring benefits in both areas, or at least in one of them. Similarly, several of the studies analysed showed improvements within the community, which helped to increase health literacy. Conclusions: The main conclusion is that the educational setting can serve as a platform for implementing programmes that improve the physical activity and nutritional habits of pupils and their wider environment, and, crucially, enhance health literacy. Full article

Background: Suryanamaskar (Sun Salutation) is a dynamic sequence of yoga that incorporates movement, breath and mindfulness, and is known for its many potential multidimensional health benefits. Despite the increasing volume of research, a comprehensive and domain-specific synthesis examining the multidimensional effects of Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar remains limited. Hence, the present study was designed to systematically review and synthesize the existing evidence related to the effects of Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions using Suryanamaskar sequence on various populations and outcome domains. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement and Cochrane Handbook recommendations. Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from database inception to 31 December 2025. Studies involving human participants and Suryanamaskar-based interventions reporting measurable physical, physiological, or psychological outcomes were included. Fourteen studies met the eligibility criteria. Study characteristics, intervention protocols, and outcome measures were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 for randomized studies and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. Due to substantial heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 14 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar were associated with improvements in physical fitness, physiological health, psychological well-being, and body composition across diverse populations. Most included studies reported favourable changes in physical fitness, physiological, psychological, and body-composition outcomes; however, the magnitude and consistency of findings varied substantially across study designs, participant populations, intervention protocols, and outcome measures. Conclusions: Promising but heterogeneous evidence suggests that Suryanamaskar and yoga-based interventions incorporating Suryanamaskar may contribute to improvements in physical fitness, physiological function, psychological well-being, and body composition across diverse populations. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of variability in study designs, intervention protocols, participant characteristics, and risk of bias. Although Suryanamaskar appears to be a practical, low-cost, and holistic intervention with potential applications in educational, sports, and health-promotion settings, further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and larger sample sizes are required to strengthen the evidence base. Full article

This paper examines the relationship between urban green spaces and sport participation among Italian adults, using microdata from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) for the period 2014–2022. The analysis focuses on whether living within walking distance of equipped green areas is associated with individual physical activity behavior, as urban green infrastructure may represent a cornerstone of social and environmental sustainability and act as crucial determinants of active lifestyles and urban community well-being. Two binary indicators are constructed to identify individuals who practice sport either occasionally or regularly. Probit and logit regression models are used to estimate the association between access to public green spaces and sport participation, controlling for individual socio-demographic, economic and health characteristics, as well as geographical and time effects. The results reveal a statistically significant positive relationship between proximity to green spaces and physical activity. Average marginal effects indicate that living near a park increases the probability of practicing sport by 40.2 percentage points among occasional participants and by 27.3 percentage points among regular participants. These findings provide empirical evidence that accessible public green infrastructure plays a crucial role as an environmental determinant of healthier lifestyles. From a policy perspective, the results support the role of local governments in promoting physical activity through investments in accessible and well-designed urban green infrastructure, highlighting the prominent role of dedicated parks in promoting public health sustainability and inclusive urban planning frameworks. Full article

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the validity and accuracy of wearable technologies used for monitoring physiological metrics in team-sport athletes. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus databases, with additional studies identified through supplementary searching. Studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included if they assessed wearable devices in team-sport populations and compared their measurements with gold-standard methods. A total of eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that heart rate monitoring demonstrates consistently high validity across different wearable devices, particularly in controlled laboratory conditions. In contrast, energy expenditure estimation shows substantial variability and systematic underestimation, especially during high-intensity and intermittent activities typical of team sports. VO₂max estimation presents mixed validity depending on device type and testing protocol, while respiratory frequency measurement demonstrates high agreement with gold-standard methods when assessed using specialized devices. Overall, wearable technologies provide valuable insights into athlete monitoring; however, their accuracy varies considerably depending on the physiological parameter and testing environment. These findings highlight the need for improved validation protocols and caution in the application of wearable-derived data in high-performance team-sport settings. Full article

Background and Objectives: While multiple studies have compared mechanical alignment (MA) and kinematic alignment (KA) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), the effect of alignment philosophy on the patellofemoral joint (PFJ) remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates PFJ-related outcomes following KA- versus MA-TKA indirectly through functional knee scores. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and Embase was undertaken in October 2025 using search strategies developed by two independent librarians. Screening and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. All primary studies, including randomised and non-randomised studies, comparing KA- and MA-TKA that included functional Knee Society Score (KSS-F) or the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Sports subscale were included. Results: Of the 1570 identified studies, 13 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis. KA demonstrated a significant improvement in KSS-F at 1-year follow-up compared with MA (p < 0.05). At longer follow-up intervals, differences did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.07); however, outcomes consistently favoured KA, suggesting maintenance of the early functional advantage over time. Conclusions: KA-TKA is associated with superior PFJ-related functional outcomes at 1 year and shows a sustained trend towards improved performance in longer-term follow-up based on the surrogate scores. Further prospective studies incorporating PFJ-sensitive outcome measures are warranted to clarify long-term benefits. Full article

Global urbanization and population aging urgently require cities to adapt to support older adults’ independence and well-being. While active mobility drives health and social equity, micro-scale proximity remains under-studied. This study evaluates ‘hyper-accessibility’ to essential daily services for older adults in Madrid and Munich, examining distributive spatial justice and its implications for healthy aging. Using quantitative spatial analysis, walking accessibility to seven key services was modeled at a strict 300 m threshold. These metrics were intersected with a sociodemographic disadvantage score to reveal urban disparities. Key findings expose structural contrasts. In Madrid, 50.82% of older adults achieve hyper-accessibility to daily services, though green areas (8.86%) and health facilities (15.82%) represent critical gaps. Conversely, Munich’s decentralized fabric yields hyper-accessibility for just 31.6% of seniors, with community centers (7.19%) and sports facilities (8.6%) being severely restricted. These spatial inequities highlight how restrictive walking thresholds function as invisible barriers to active mobility, isolating older populations. Ultimately, integrating hyper-accessibility metrics into local planning is vital for mitigating these baseline deficits and fostering age-inclusive, socially just urban environments. Full article

This bibliometric study examines the intellectual structure, evolution, and collaboration patterns of phytotherapy research within sports science to identify key themes and research gaps. Publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1991 to 2024 were analyzed using a search strategy combining phytotherapy and sports medicine terms, yielding 3404 records, of which 368 met the inclusion criteria after systematic screening. Performance analysis assessed publication trends, citation impact, and author productivity, while science mapping techniques—including keyword co-occurrence, bibliographic coupling, and co-authorship network analysis—were conducted using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer. Thematic positioning was evaluated through Callon’s centrality-density framework. Results indicate steady growth in the field, with a CAGR of 11.83% and peak output in 2021, involving 2103 authors across 199 sources. International collaboration reached 22.55%, led by the United States, United Kingdom, and China. Dominant research themes include exercise, inflammation, oxidative stress, and phytochemicals such as curcumin and resveratrol. Thematic mapping highlights exercise performance and supplementation as central topics. Overall, the field demonstrates significant expansion, though increased international collaboration and clinical translation are needed. Full article

Background: Return to play (RTP) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) is increasingly expected by younger and more physically active patients. Current activity recommendations remain heterogeneous and are largely derived from expert opinion and indirect biomechanical modelling approaches, rather than direct in vivo biomechanical evidence. The aim of this article is to systematically map and synthesize the evidence from instrumented hip implant studies and to clarify how direct in vivo telemetry data can inform RTP counselling after THA. Methods: A scoping review was conducted according to a predefined Open Science Framework protocol and reported following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus were searched from inception. Peer-reviewed clinical studies reporting direct in vivo biomechanical measurements obtained from instrumented hip implants were included. Conference proceedings, technical notes, reviews, and in vitro or computational-only studies were excluded. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively according to activity domain, biomechanical variables, and implant technology. Results: Fifty studies met the inclusion criteria. Early investigations established feasibility and evolved from wired strain-gauge systems to fully implantable telemetric prostheses capable of measuring three-dimensional forces, moments, and friction-related parameters. Across cohorts, level walking consistently produced peak hip contact forces of approximately 2–3 times body weight, serving as a clinically meaningful reference loading envelope. Several recreational activities—including cycling, aquatic exercise, Nordic walking, and most gym-machine exercises—generally remained within or close to this range when performed with controlled technique. In contrast, certain rehabilitation tasks, forward-bent postures, lifting maneuvers, and perturbation events generated loads equal to or exceeding those observed during walking. Importantly, frictional moments and load direction showed substantial variability and may be more relevant to implant fixation than peak force magnitude alone. Conclusions: Instrumented hip implants provide objective biomechanical benchmarks that support principle-based and individualized RTP counselling, grounded in directly measured mechanical exposure rather than sport classification alone. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to systematically review the association between the consumption of energy drinks and sports drinks with oral health. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and Embase) without any restrictions on publication year. Original studies (clinical trials, cohort, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies) reporting the association between energy drink or sports drink consumption and oral health or its impact on oral health were included. Results: The initial search found 1196 studies, and 10 studies with a total of 5805 participants (6–89 years old) met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Six studies investigated the association between energy drinks or sports drinks and dental erosion, whereas two studies reported dental caries outcomes and two studies reported saliva outcomes. Most (70%, 7/10) of the included studies were at high or serious risk of bias. Increased frequency or higher amounts of energy drink consumption were associated with a greater risk of dental erosion, whereas the relationship between sports drinks and dental erosion was inconsistent. Evidence regarding the association between dental caries experience and energy drink consumption was controversial, and no significant differences in caries experience were observed for sports drink consumption. Conclusions: There was limited and low-quality evidence suggesting that consumption of energy drinks may be potentially associated with dental erosion experience, whereas findings related to dental caries were inconclusive. The association between sports drinks and dental erosion was inconsistent and supported by limited evidence. More well-designed studies on energy or sports drinks and oral health are needed to clarify these relationships. Full article

Background and Objectives: Persistent quadriceps weakness, muscle atrophy, and functional deficits are common following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and may compromise return to sport and increase the risk of reinjury. Eccentric-oriented strength training has been widely used to enhance muscle strength and hypertrophy in various musculoskeletal conditions; however, its specific application within ACL rehabilitation remains insufficiently explored. The aim of this scoping review was to map the existing evidence on the use of eccentric-oriented strength training in ACL rehabilitation, identify gaps in the current literature, and provide suggestions for future research. Materials and Methods: A scoping review search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and PEDro from inception to February 2026 using the following keywords and Boolean operators: (“anterior cruciate ligament”, “ACL”, “anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction”, “ACLR”) AND (“eccentric training”, “eccentric exercise”, “eccentric loading”, “flywheel training”, “isoinertial training”). Eligible studies included studies that investigated eccentric exercises as part of ACL rehabilitation and reported outcomes related to muscle strength, muscle morphology, functional performance, or return to sport. Data were extracted and synthesized descriptively in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated using the PEDro scale (RCTs) and the ROBINS-I tool (non-randomized studies). Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The included literature primarily examined isokinetic eccentric exercise, eccentric cycling, early progressive eccentric resistance training, Nordic hamstring exercise, eccentric ergometry, and flywheel strength training. Most studies reported improvements in quadriceps strength and muscle morphology, with additional benefits observed in functional performance measures (i.e., hop tests), gait mechanics, and limb symmetry. Evidence was unevenly distributed across rehabilitation phases, with relatively few studies focusing on the mid-phase of ACL rehabilitation. Conclusions: Eccentric-oriented strength training represents a promising but underexplored component of ACL rehabilitation. However, the existing literature lacks standardized protocols, comprehensive outcome measures, and phase-specific guidance, particularly during the mid and late stages of rehabilitation. Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify the optimal timing, dosage, and integration of eccentric training across rehabilitation phases. Full article

As smart city approaches increasingly extend to public open spaces, understanding what urban park users expect from digital park applications has become a critical issue for sustainable urban management. This study examines park users’ expectations of smart park applications through an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design. In the first phase (Study I), semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 purposively selected participants representing four user groups—parents with children, sport-oriented users, older adults, and general adults—in urban parks in Eskişehir, Türkiye. Thematic analysis identified eight user expectation themes, which were subsequently operationalized into a seven-factor quantitative structure. In the second phase (Study II), a seven-factor scale derived from the qualitative findings was administered to 374 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good overall model fit, and the scale exhibited strong reliability and convergent validity. One-way ANOVA revealed significant between-group differences in six of the seven dimensions, with sport-oriented users consistently reporting higher expectations than older adults. Safety and Activity Diversity was the only dimension showing no significant group differences, indicating a universal expectation across all user profiles. Multiple regression analysis showed that Independent Functionality was the strongest predictor of use intention, followed by Centrality and Communal Function and Safety. Integration of both phases through a joint display revealed that expectations are both universal and user profile-specific, underscoring the need for user-sensitive smart park design. By linking digital park services to user expectations, well-being-oriented park design, and the sustainable use of urban green spaces, these findings contribute to the literatures on smart cities, urban green spaces, and well-being, providing an empirically informed and user-centred framework for digital park applications that may inform efforts toward healthier, more inclusive, and more sustainable urban public spaces in line with SDGs 3 and 11. Full article