Search Results (5)

Background and Objectives: Musculoskeletal disorders affect a large portion of the population worldwide. The Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) is a helpful tool for assessing the health state of patients with these disorders. The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MSK-HQ-IT in a population of kitesurfers. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from September 2023 to July 2024. The questionnaire was completed using an online or paper form. Data were collected by submitting both the Italian and English versions of the MSK-HQ to a global sample of kitesurfers from various countries. Results: A total of 102 participants were recruited, consisting of 40 professionals and 62 non-professional kitesurfers. Cervical spine discomfort was significantly more prevalent among professionals (42.5%) compared to non-professionals (24%), as well as right shoulder pain (37.5% vs. 22.5%) and right wrist pain (12.5% vs. 3.2%). Non-professionals exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of functional limitations in the lumbar spine (25.8% vs. 5%) and reported more thoracic pain (21% vs. 17.5%). These findings indicate differing biomechanical stress patterns between the two groups, with professionals showing higher upper limb strain and non-professionals experiencing more lower back issues due to harness reliance. Conclusions: The MSK-HQ proved to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing musculoskeletal health in kitesurfers. The study highlights distinct injury patterns between professionals and non-professionals, with professionals being more prone to upper limb injuries and non-professionals showing a higher prevalence of lumbar and thoracic spine issues. These findings emphasize the need for targeted injury prevention strategies. Further research should focus on expanding the sample size and investigating long-term impacts of repetitive high-impact landings on musculoskeletal health in kitesurfers. Full article

In this study, the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intention is investigated within a specialised nautical sports centre that offers kitesurfing in Portugal. Using a path analysis model, this study aims to evaluate the effect of the dimensions of service quality on satisfaction and behavioural intention, as well as the effect of satisfaction on the customer’s behavioural intention. According to the results, customer satisfaction is influenced directly by service quality dimensions such as responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibility. This, in turn, positively impacts their behavioural intention to make future purchases. The responsiveness dimension directly affects behavioural intention, while empathy contributes to it indirectly through customer satisfaction. This study addresses a gap in current water sports research by examining the antecedents of customers’ behavioural intention, for the first time, to a nautical sports centre, deriving important managerial implications. Thus, to increase customer satisfaction and increase the likelihood of repeating their experience, it is advised that the sports centre implement clear work procedures, offer training to staff on responsiveness and empathy, and regularly gather feedback from customers to facilitate continuous improvement of their service design. Full article

Formula Kite is an Olympic sport that mainly differs from other kitesurfing modalities for the use of a hydrofoil. It is considered an extreme sport due to the great technical ability required. Regarding performance, the variables that determine performance in a real competition situation have not been studied, and even less so with Olympic sailors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the technical and tactical variables that differentiate elite sailors. The sample consisted of 42 Olympic sailors of the Formula Kite class, who were evaluated in three World Cups. Using a GPS device, the speed, distance traveled, maneuvers, and time spent on the courses of upwind, downwind, and beam reach were recorded. The highest-level sailors presented a higher speed in upwind/downwind/beam reach and a shorter time in upwind and beam reach. Performance seems to be more strongly influenced by technical variables, such as speed, than by tactical variables. Full article

Salinópolis in Pará State, Brazil, is a coastal city with a highly seasonal tourism industry. Despite the potentiality of the region, tourism is mainly focused on beach use for recreation. The purpose of this study was to analyze environmental conditions to provide a baseline for development strategies of additional tourism activities, decreasing unwanted impacts, and improving the local economy. We combined wind and pluviosity data, remote sensing, and wave model results for the environmental characterization. Wave climate analysis shows higher waves in the first part of the year, favoring sports like water-surfing. Winds are more intense and parallel to the coast in the second part of the year when rain is low, defining ideal conditions for wind sports, like kitesurfing. Apart from sport activities, appropriately designed beach accesses through mangrove forest would allow a more even distribution of tourists on the beaches. Sustainable walkways projects could include multipurpose structures for beach access and development of ecotourism activities such as environmental education or bird watching. Gastronomic and cultural tourism could also reduce seasonality effects, attracting tourists also during the rainy season. Full article

To minimize the costs of the current manufacturing of kitesurf hydrofoil wings, a workflow using a finite elements model was developed. By coupling a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis with a structural finite element analysis (FEA), an optimization based on a genetic algorithm is implemented. The design space of the optimization is defined by the manufacturing processes. This enables the algorithm to find wing shapes which are not only suitable for the rider’s weight and preferred take-off speed but can also be produced directly on a universal mold surface. To reduce the amount of cut-off material and sustain the mechanical stresses, the output of the optimization contains the required number and orientation of all fiber layers within the reinforcement structure. This research shows that a single mold can produce different wing shapes to satisfy the needs of a wide range of customers. Full article