Search Results (37)

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a Walking Football (WF) programme on physical fitness, body composition, health-related quality of life (QoL), and happiness in men and women over 60 years. WF is proposed as a safe and accessible activity to counteract physical inactivity and chronic conditions in ageing populations. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 120 participants (both sexes), assigned to either an experimental group (WF intervention) or a wait-list control group. The six-month intervention includes bi-weekly sessions with skills training, match simulations, and fitness exercises. Assessments will be performed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Primary outcome measures will be: body composition (weight, BMI, fat and lean mass), muscular strength, aerobic endurance, agility, range of motion, and subjective well-being (QoL and happiness scales). Linear mixed-effects models and ANCOVA will be used to analyse the data. It is expected that WF will lead to improvements in physical and mental health, contributing to active ageing. This study may also support WF as a tool for social inclusion and well-being in older adults. Full article

The increasing digitalization of the world underscores the critical importance of both social and technical aspects in software engineering practice. While prior research links socio-technical congruence (STC) to positive workstream outcomes, the current convergence of digital products, technologies, and social systems introduces novel and often unpredictable results, driven by the complex interplay of leadership, organizational culture, and software engineering practices operating as a complex adaptive system (CAS). This paper proposes a novel model for adopting socio-cultural practices to bridge the social and technical divide through the lens of STC. The innovation of the model lies in its socio-technical evolutionary journey, built upon dual systems: (1) an analytical System-I focused on enhancing robustness via compliance with Lean and Agile socio-cultural practices, and (2) a holistic System-II emphasizing resilience through an acceptance of interdependence of system actors that requires sense-making techniques. A methodology based on this model was piloted across six case studies: three in an Enterprise IT organization and three in two business units undergoing transformations on Lean and Agile plus DevOps adoption. System-I’s robustness was evaluated through surveys and structured STC maturity assessments (self and guided ones). System-II employed sense-making techniques to foster resilience within the system of work (SoW), laying the groundwork for their evolutionary journeys. The findings reveal a significant need for greater alignment between management (as transformation agents) and software engineering practices. However, the study suggests actionable guidelines, grounded in new principles and mental models for operating within a CAS, to cultivate enhanced resilience and robustness in a VUCA world. Full article

Background and objectives: Taekwondo is a physically intense martial art that demands strength, agility, and mental focus, often leading to physical and psychological strain. While massage therapy is recognized for enhancing muscle recovery, reducing injury risk, alleviating stress, and improving sleep quality in athletes, its specific effects on Taekwondo athletes remain underexplored. This review aims to evaluate the impact of massage therapy on physical recovery, injury prevention, and psychological well-being in Taekwondo athletes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across Science Direct, Google Scholar, Sport Discus, and PubMed, using MeSH terms including “massage therapy”, “Taekwondo athletes”, “muscle recovery”, “injury prevention”, “psychological well-being”, “Swedish massage”, “deep tissue massage”, “sports massage”, “performance optimization”, and “sleep quality”. Results: Thirteen peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that massage therapy improves muscle recovery, enhances flexibility and balance, supports injury prevention, and contributes positively to athletes’ psychological states, including mood and anxiety reduction. Conclusions: Massage therapy appears to be an effective intervention for enhancing both performance and well-being in Taekwondo athletes. Future studies should aim to standardize massage protocols and investigate long-term effects across training and competition periods. Full article

Objectives: Taekwondo performance is influenced by a complex and dynamic interplay of physical, nutritional, and psychological factors, all of which contribute to competitive success. However, the gender-specific relationships among these factors in young high-performance athletes remain understudied. This study aimed to fill in this knowledge gap. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 35 elite taekwondo athletes (male: n = 20, female: n = 15, age: 13 ± 1 years). Participants underwent anthropometric assessments, dietary evaluations, and psychological skill assessments during an 8-week training camp before the World Taekwondo Championships. Physical performance was assessed using the Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT_mult) and the Taekwondo-Specific Agility Test (TSAT). Statistical analyses included independent t-tests, correlation analyses, and regression models. Results: Males exhibited significantly higher fat-free mass (FFM: 42.8 ± 2.9 kg vs. 36.3 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (SMM: 31.1 ± 2.2 kg vs. 28.2 ± 1.6 kg, p < 0.001), and energy intake (32.4 ± 4.6 kcal/kg vs. 29.3 ± 3.1 kcal/kg, p = 0.032) than females. Males also had greater dietary intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and iron (all p < 0.05). There were no gender differences in any psychological attributes associated with emotional intelligence, sport success perception, and mental toughness. Although the total kick count in the FSKT_mult was similar for male and female taekwondo athletes (100.2 ± 4.6 vs. 97.5 ± 5.9 kicks, p = 0.139), males outperformed females in round 4 (19.4 ± 1.1 vs. 18.6 ± 1.4 kicks, p = 0.048) and round 5 (18.2 ± 1.0 vs. 17.2 ± 1.0 kicks, p = 0.007) of this test, suggesting higher physical performance maintenance during the test. Regression models indicated that body mass (β = 0.901, p < 0.001) and calcium intake (β = 0.284, p = 0.011) predicted performance in males, while body mass (β = 1.372, p < 0.001), protein intake (β = 0.171, p = 0.012), and emotional regulation (β = 0.174, p = 0.012) were key predictors in females. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of an integrated approach to training, nutrition, and psychological preparation in optimizing taekwondo performance. While males and females demonstrated similar psychological resilience and total kick output in a taekwondo-specific test, males exhibited superior endurance in later test rounds of this test. Performance optimization in young elite taekwondo athletes may require the implementation of gender-specific training and nutrition strategies, emphasizing body weight control and calcium intake for males and protein intake for females. Full article

Dog trainers make widespread claims that training dogs to improve self-control is essential to solving behavior problems in domesticated dogs. We investigated whether one aspect of self-control, motor inhibition, covaries in dogs with varying levels and contexts of formal training. We tested pet dogs with little formal training and dogs with high levels of training who compete in scent work, barn hunt, and agility. All dogs were tested for motor inhibition on the cylinder task, a validated self-control task. First, in familiarization trials, dogs watched a piece of food placed inside an opaque cylinder and were subsequently allowed to retrieve it. Then, in test trials, dogs watched a piece of food placed inside a transparent cylinder. This transparent variation of the task requires dogs to inhibit the response to directly approach the now-visible food and instead detour to an open side. In contrast to the belief that highly trained dogs would uniformly demonstrate better self-control, trained dogs did not perform better than untrained dogs. In fact, dogs who competed in barn hunt performed significantly worse compared to untrained pet dogs. These findings suggest that self-control may involve a complex set of mental processes that do not uniformly generalize to multiple contexts. Full article

Background/Objectives: People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience sensory, psychomotor, and cognitive impairment, sphincter disturbances, and fatigue, which can affect their ability to perform work-related tasks, self-care, and daily activities. This study aimed to analyze the lifestyle changes, cognitive function, and disability outcomes over a seven-year follow-up period, exploring potential associations with predictive markers. Methods: At the end of the seven-year follow-up period, 32 participants returned for cognitive and clinical reassessment with the Twenty-Five-Foot Walk Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test, and Brief Repeatable Neuropsychological Battery. Lifestyle data were acquired via interviews regarding sleep quality, reading habits, technology use, physical activity levels, household responsibilities, and participation in leisure and cultural activities. Results: The occupational profile did not demonstrate significant changes, but 11 (34%) participants showed disability accumulation, and the number of relapses increased (p = 0.001). Over time, improvement was observed in verbal episodic memory and worsening in psychomotor speed. Better cognitive performance in mental agility was associated with higher levels of physical activity (p = 0.021) and technology use (p = 0.039). In addition, better cognition (verbal memory p = 0.038 and processing speed 0.015) and psychomotor speed (upper limbs p = 0.017 and lower limbs p = 0.003) and lower functional disability (p = 0.022) were associated with maintenance of household activities. Conclusions: The changes in verbal memory and psychomotor speed were more prominent over time, and verbal memory, psychomotor and processing speed, and mental agility were associated with good lifestyle habits, mainly household activities. The treatment strategies should include lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions. Full article

Background and Objectives: Volleyball demands high levels of anaerobic strength, flexibility, agility, and mental focus. Adequate sleep has been shown to enhance athletic performance and cognitive function. This study investigates the impact of post-lunch naps of varying durations (25 and 45 min) on the physiological performance and cognitive focus of elite volleyball players. Materials and Methods: Sixteen elite volleyball players (8 male, 8 female) with at least 7 years of competitive experience participated in a randomized crossover study. They underwent three experimental conditions: no nap (No-Nap), a 25-min nap (N25), and a 45-min nap (N45). Physical performance was measured through counter-movement jumps (CMJ) and volleyball agility tests, while cognitive function was assessed using the D2 attention test. Statistical analysis included repeated measures ANOVA to examine the differences between nap conditions and gender-specific responses. Results: Significant improvements in both physical performance and cognitive focus were observed in the N25 and N45 conditions compared to the No-Nap condition (indicating the effectiveness of short naps in enhancing both physical and mental performance). Males outperformed females in most physical metrics, while females scored higher on the D2 attention test (suggesting possible gender-specific responses to napping). The 25-min nap showed slightly better results in terms of sleep quality and subsequent performance (confirming that shorter naps may be more beneficial). Conclusions: Post-lunch naps, especially of 25 or 45 min, enhance both physiological and cognitive performance in elite volleyball players. These findings suggest that integrating short naps into athletes’ training regimens can improve performance and focus, with potential gender-specific benefits. Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and variations across other sports. Full article

Pregnancy involves various physiological, physical, and social changes that can impact the mental health of the woman, causing her to have a stressful experience. Physical fitness (PF) is postulated as a powerful marker of health in this population. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined the association of PF with maternal emotional well-being and ill-being outcomes at 16th and 34th gestational weeks (g.w.) in a sample of 158 pregnant women (32.9 ± 4.7 years old). Self-reported PF was assessed with the valid and feasible International Fitness Scale [i.e., overall PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular strength, speed–agility, and flexibility]; positive and negative affect, emotional intelligence, and resilience were measured using validated questionnaires specifically designed for this purpose. The results showed that women with greater overall PF and its components showed higher positive affect and lower negative affect (all, p < 0.05); greater emotional intelligence (all, p < 0.05); and greater resilience (all, p < 0.05), with similar results both in the 16th and the 34th g.w. These findings underscore the pivotal role of PF in promoting emotional health and resilience during pregnancy, thereby highlighting the need for integrating PF enhancement strategies in prenatal care programs. Full article

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that significantly affects the quality of life (QoL) of individuals, causing motor, physiological, social, and psychological impairments. Physical exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and functional capacity of these individuals, helping to minimize the negative impacts of SCI. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of detraining (DT) (reduction or cessation of physical exercise) during the pandemic on five individuals with thoracic SCI. We assessed muscle strength using strength tests, functional capacity using a functional agility test, mental health using anxiety and depression inventories, and body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). The results after 33 months of DT showed significant losses in functional agility and MS, as well as a worsening in symptoms of anxiety and depression. It was observed that total body mass and fat mass (FM) exhibited varied behaviors among the individuals. Similarly, the results for lean body mass were heterogeneous, with one participant showing significant deterioration. It is concluded that DT caused by the pandemic worsened the physical and mental condition of individuals with SCI, highlighting the importance of continuous exercise for this population and underscoring the need for individual assessments to fully understand the impacts of DT. Full article

As athletes pursue excellence, training techniques continue to advance, making structured physical activity an essential tool for enhancing performance. To optimize athletic performance in modern competitive sports, the balance of physical performance and mental clarity is required. This study seeks to examine the effects of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on cognitive and physical skills in basketball and soccer players. A 3-week HIIT protocol was incorporated based on the Wingate technique. This study included 10 soccer players and 10 basketball players with an average age of 22.79 ± 1.90 years. Participants performed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Physical proficiency was assessed using 20 m sprint, change-of-direction (COD) and dribbling tests, while cognitive skills were assessed using motion object tracking (MOT), working memory, perceptual load (PL), and attention window (AW) tests. The HIIT intervention significantly improved cognitive performance in particular; noteworthy observations were a 15% improvement in motion object tracking test scores and a 16% increase in working memory test scores for basketball players. The attention window test scores showed a 32% increase, and perceptual load test scores were 31% decreased for soccer players post-intervention. There were significant improvements in physical skills; for example, sprint times were decreased by 6%, and change-of-direction and dribbling times were reduced by 8% and 7%, respectively, indicating improved agility, speed, and ball control abilities. In conclusion, both groups performed significantly better on cognitive and physical skill tests post-HIIT intervention. Full article

Tennis can be a mentally challenging sport, and emotional intelligence (EI) contributes significantly to an athlete’s psychological well-being. Thus, this study investigated the effects of 6 weeks of a combined Change of Direction (CoD) and reactive agility (RA) intervention program on emotional intelligence (EI) in pubertal tennis players. A total of 28 youth tennis players, aged 11 to 14 years, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EXP-G, n = 15, 13 boys [age = 13.34 ± 0.98 years, maturity offset (MO) = −0.19 ± 0.96], and 2 girls [age = 12.77 ± 0.23 years, MO = 0.78 ± 0.04]) or a control group (CON-G, n = 13, 8 boys [age = 13.37 ± 0.75 years, MO = 0.00 ± 0.71], and 5 girls [age = 13.50 ± 0.92 years, MO = 1.41 ± 1.07]). The EXP-G performed combined CoD and RA training across the 6-week intervention period. The CON-G continued with the normal five 20 min regular tennis-specific training sessions per week, including technical and tactical drills and a small-sided games format. The overall training volume was similar between groups. Pre- and post-training, Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC, [EC TOTAL: global score of emotional competence level; EC INTRA: score of intra-personal emotional competence; EC INTER: score of inter-personal emotional competence]) and d2 attention tests were assessed. The present study employed an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with pre-test covariance to assess between-group differences (EXP-G vs. CON-G) at the post-test phase, utilizing baseline values as covariates. Noteworthy outcomes were observed, indicating statistically significant and substantial between-group disparities at post-test for various measures. Specifically, these differences were evident in the attention domain (effect size, d = 1.08 [Large], p = 0.001), the EC TOTAL test (effect size, d = 0.70 [Medium], p = 0.017), the EC INTA (effect size, d = 1.35 [Large], p = 0.001), and the EC INTER (effect size, d = 0.83 [Large], p = 0.009) tests. Due to the importance of agility training for overall competitive performance in tennis, our results suggest that young players should perform such training programs as part of conditioning training if the goal is to improve emotional intelligence and mental well-being. Full article

Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. This study aimed to describe the types and frequencies of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Dog handlers provided information on competition-level dogs (n = 1582) through a cross-sectional survey. The overall proportion of dogs sustaining any injury during their lifetime, whether it was during competition, training, or outside of sport, was 58.7% (n = 928). Muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. According to multivariate analysis, Border Collie (adjusted OR 1.93), Belgian Malinois (adjusted OR 2.51) and higher age at the time of report (adjusted OR 1.81–9.67) increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare. Full article

Introduction: Technology advancements have enhanced artificial intelligence, leading to a user shift towards virtual assistants, but a human-centered approach is needed to assess for acceptability and effectiveness. The AGILE chatbot is designed in Kenya with features to redefine the response towards gender-based violence (GBV) among vulnerable populations, including adolescents, young women and men, and sexual and gender minorities, to offer accurate and reliable information among users. Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study through focus group discussions (FGDs) targeting 150 participants sampled from vulnerable categories; adolescent girls and boys, young women, young men, and sexual and gender minorities. The FGDs included multiple inquiries to assess knowledge and prior interaction with intelligent conversational assistants to inform the user-centric development of a decision-supportive chatbot and a pilot of the chatbot prototype. Each focus group comprised 9–10 members, and the discussions lasted about two hours to gain qualitative user insights and experiences. We used thematic analysis and drew on grounded theory to analyze the data. Results: The analysis resulted in 14 salient themes composed of sexual violence, physical violence, emotional violence, intimate partner violence, female genital mutilation, sexual reproductive health, mental health, help-seeking behaviors/where to seek support, who to talk to, and what information they would like, features of the chatbot, access of chatbot, abuse and HIV, family and community conflicts, and information for self-care. Conclusion: Adopting a human-centered approach in designing an effective chatbot with as many human features as possible is crucial in increasing utilization, addressing the gaps presented by marginalized/vulnerable populations, and reducing the current GBV epidemic by moving prevention and response services closer to people in need. Full article

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant challenges for health systems globally, with medical professionals at the forefront of this crisis. Understanding their organizational expectations and well-being implications is crucial for crafting responsive healthcare environments. Methods: Between 2021 and 2022, an online survey was conducted among 852 medical professionals across four provinces in Poland: Mazovia, Łódź, Świętokrzyskie, and Lublin. The survey tool, based on a comprehensive literature review, comprised dichotomous questions and specific queries to gather explicit insights. A 5-point Likert scale was implemented to capture nuanced perceptions. Additionally, the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C) was utilized to ascertain the correlation between workplace organization and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results: A noteworthy 84.6% of participants believed their employers could enhance safety measures, highlighting a discrepancy between healthcare workers’ expectations and organizational implementations. Major concerns encompassed the demand for improved personal protective equipment (44.6%), structured debriefing sessions (40%), distinct building entrances and exits (38.8%), and psychological support (38.3%). Statistical analyses showcased significant variations in ‘Avoidance’ and ‘Overall PTSD Score’ between individuals who had undergone epidemic safety procedure training and those who had not. Conclusions: The results illuminate the imperative for healthcare organizations to remain agile, attentive, and deeply compassionate, especially during worldwide health emergencies. Despite showcasing remarkable resilience during the pandemic, medical professionals ardently seek an environment that underscores their safety and mental well-being. These findings reinforce the call for healthcare institutions and policymakers to champion a forward-thinking, employee-focused approach. Additionally, the data suggest a potential avenue for future research focusing on specific demographic groups, further enriching our understanding and ensuring a more comprehensive readiness for impending health crises. Full article

The present research study focuses on exploring the effects of horticultural activities on the health outcomes of residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs). The study utilizes evidence-based nursing and a systematic literature review. A search for relevant articles was conducted on databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane. Randomized controlled trials in English and Chinese were included in the analysis, with two researchers independently evaluating the selected articles. The synthesis of results revealed that horticultural activities for residents of LTCFs had positive effects on physical aspects, such as increasing physical agility and aerobic endurance. Moreover, they had positive influences including happiness, positive mental health. In terms of social aspects, horticultural activities for older adults helped reduce aggressive behaviors, promoted goal-oriented living, and enhanced quality of life. Evidence of the impact of horticultural activities on the positive mental health of residents of LTCFs is relatively scarce compared to community-dwelling older adults, where psychological states are often studied in negative contexts. It has been suggested that LTCFs should integrate horticultural activities into their regular programs to foster positive mental health outcomes. Horticultural activities show promise in promoting positive mental health among residents of LTCFs and warrant further exploration. Full article