Search Results (43)

Post-error slowing (PES) is commonly considered a behavioral marker of post-error adaptation. However, adaptive processes may also emerge through subtle modifications of motor preparation, particularly in combat sports such as taekwondo (TKD), where maintaining rapid motor execution is essential. This study examined post-error neuromuscular adjustments during a TKD-specific kicking task by comparing standard Go and post-error Go trials for changes in muscle onset latency, peak electromyographic amplitude, and co-contraction indices. Twenty-eight TKD athletes (14 novice and 14 advanced) performed a sport-specific Go/No-Go task while wearable wireless surface electromyography sensors recorded lower-limb neuromuscular activity from eight lower-limb muscles. Muscle onset latency, peak electromyographic amplitude, co-contraction indices, and reaction time were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Post-error Go trials showed significant alterations in muscle onset latency in posterior lower-limb muscles involved in propulsion and movement preparation (semitendinosus, biceps femoris, lateral gastrocnemius, and soleus), with muscle activation occurring closer to the foot take-off. No significant differences were observed in reaction time, peak electromyographic amplitude, or co-contraction indices, and expertise and age did not modulate these effects. These findings suggest that error-related motor adjustments may be expressed through changes in muscle activation timing rather than overt behavioral slowing. Full article

Background/Aim: Motor skill acquisition is the foundation of athletic performance, from the novice learning a new technique to the elite athlete executing complex movements automatically under pressure. Although classical models have defined the neural substrates of motor control—the cerebellum for error correction, the basal ganglia for action selection, and the primary motor cortex (M1) for execution—emerging evidence suggests that motor learning is the result of the dynamic interaction of multiple parallel processes rather than a linear hierarchy. This narrative review integrates classical neuroanatomical knowledge with contemporary findings on multisite plasticity, with a particular focus on sport-specific adaptations. Methods: We examined three core learning mechanisms operating in parallel: error-based learning (cerebellar-dependent, driven by sensory prediction errors), reinforcement learning (striatal-dependent, driven by reward prediction errors and dopamine), and use-dependent learning (cortical-dependent, driven by mere repetition). We also summarize the biochemical pathways supporting these learning processes, including glutamatergic LTP-like cortical plasticity, cerebellar mGluR1–PKC–LTD signaling, dopaminergic corticostriatal plasticity, BDNF–TrkB-dependent neurotrophic mechanisms, growth-factor signaling, and exercise-induced muscle–brain communication. Results: We then propose a spatiotemporal model in which the relative contribution of each network shifts dynamically across the three stages of skill acquisition, from the early cognitive/strategic phase to the late automatic phase characteristic of elite performance. At the molecular level, these stage-dependent adaptations are supported by synaptic strengthening and weakening mechanisms, reward-dependent dopamine signaling, neurotrophic and growth-factor-mediated remodeling, and peripheral metabolic/myokine signals that modulate brain plasticity during training and recovery. Special attention is given to contextual and sport-specific adaptations, using the paradigmatic example of elite swimmers who demonstrate enhanced short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) selectively in the aquatic environment, reflecting long-term sport-induced neuroplasticity. Conclusions: Understanding these dynamic network mechanisms has direct implications for coaching, training periodization, and the development of targeted neuromodulatory interventions to accelerate skill acquisition and optimize athletic performance. Full article

Introductory Java programming requires learners to reason about abstract computational concepts such as program state, control flow, and execution order, which often present substantial difficulties for novice programmers. These challenges may be further intensified for collegiate student athletes when programming instruction remains disconnected from the domain knowledge that shapes their prior experiences. This paper proposes a wrestling-inspired, state-based pedagogical framework that leverages the rule system of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) wrestling as an analogical knowledge domain for introducing foundational Java programming concepts. Within this framework, wrestling match states and scoring actions are systematically mapped to core programming constructs, which include variable assignment, conditional branching, loops, method invocation, and program termination. This paper is positioned as a conceptual and pedagogical framework study rather than an empirical intervention study. It focuses on the theoretical rationale, conceptual alignment, instructional mappings, and classroom implementation possibilities of a wrestling-inspired approach. This paper does not report participant data, learning assessments, or comparative outcome measures. Instead, it illustrates how sport-specific mental models can be transformed into structured instructional representations that may support learners’ reasoning about program execution. By integrating domain-aligned cognitive schemas with programming instruction, the proposed framework offers a structured knowledge scaffolding approach that is designed to support novice understanding of computational processes in introductory programming education. Full article

Background: CrossFit is a high-intensity training modality experiencing global growth, but its injury risk profile remains debated. Existing epidemiological studies show a significant geographical bias, with a complete lack of data from North Africa, including Libya. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first epidemiological data on CrossFit injuries in Libya, addressing this geographical gap. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and associated risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries among CrossFit athletes in Tripoli, Libya. Study Design: This descriptive, cross-sectional study utilized a convenience sample of CrossFit athletes. Data were collected via a self-administered, paper-based questionnaire adapted from validated epidemiological surveys. Methods: A total of 137 male CrossFit athletes from four affiliated gyms in Tripoli were enrolled. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire collecting sociodemographic data, training characteristics, and injury history based on a time-loss definition (missing ≥1 training day or seeking medical attention) over a 12-month recall period. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression was used to identify injury predictors. Results: The injury prevalence was 40.6%. The shoulder (33.3%) and lumbar spine (25.3%) were the most frequently injured anatomical locations. The primary mechanism of injury was sudden movement (38.6%), and the most common type of injury was tendinopathy (34.5%). The cohort was characterized by relatively young athletes with high training frequency, nearly half of whom had less than six months of training experience. Longer training duration was the only significant independent predictor of injury (OR = 0.136, 95% CI [0.034–0.543] for beginners vs. experienced athletes; p = 0.009), indicating that experienced athletes were at higher risk. Conclusions: Libyan CrossFit athletes experience high injury rates, with longer training duration—not novice status—predicting injury. These findings underscore the urgent need for standardized coaching and gym affiliation in developing fitness markets to mitigate technique-related injuries and ensure safe sport participation. Full article

The purpose of this study was to characterize the inter-segmental coordination of hip, knee, and ankle movement of the kicking leg during instep kicking for experienced athletes and novices, using vector coding as a non-linear technique. Motion capture and electromyographic data were collected for 14 soccer-majored college students and 32 novices performing the instep kicking task. The percentage of time spent on the coordination patterns, defined based on hip–knee and knee–ankle coupling angles, was calculated and compared. The agonist–antagonist activity ratio was calculated and compared. The time percentages of the knee–ankle shank dominance of the experienced athletes during the whole kicking movement were significantly greater than those of the novices (p < 0.050). Athletes achieving greater maximum ball speed had more knee flexion dominant coordination patterns in the back swing and leg-cocking, and knee extension dominant coordination patterns in the leg acceleration phase. The lower activity ratio of the tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles contributed significantly to increasing kicking accuracy. These results underscore the value of vector coding in identifying key inter-segmental coordination features and directly support targeted soccer kick training. The dynamic stability exercises involving knee flexion and extension to optimize power transfer for speed, as well as activation and relaxation control exercises of the lower leg muscles to improve the kicking accuracy, may be effective ways to enhance instep kicking motor control ability and performance for soccer athletes. Full article

Background: This study investigates differences in muscle co-contraction and peak electromyography (EMG) activity between novice and advanced Taekwondo athletes during consecutive roundhouse (bandal chagui) kicks, examining the influence of body composition and experience level. Methods: Sixteen Taekwondo athletes (12 males, 4 females; mean age: 20.5 ± 4.3 years) were divided into novice (n = 8) and advanced (n = 8) groups. Muscle co-contraction indices and peak EMG activity across 15 consecutive kicks were assessed in key lower limb muscles, including the biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), rectus femoris (RF), soleus (SO), semitendinosus (ST), tibialis anterior (TA), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM). Results: Advanced athletes exhibited significantly higher co-contraction indices in BF–RF, VM–BF, and SO–TA pairs (p < 0.05) and increased peak EMG trends in the BF and LG (p < 0.05). Novice athletes showed significantly reduced peak EMG increases in the RF, VM, and VL. EMG trends were influenced by body composition, with principal component analysis indicating that higher fat mass and lower muscle mass were associated with greater variations in muscle activation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that advanced athletes refine motor control through increased co-contraction, improving stability and efficiency, while novices exhibit less optimized coordination patterns. This study provides insights into the neuromechanical adaptations associated with expertise development in Taekwondo. Full article

Long-term participation in marathon running involves complex psychological processes, yet existing research predominantly focuses on static, single-time-point analyses. This study addresses the gap by longitudinally examining the psychological evolution of an elite Chinese marathon runner (119 marathons completed) to uncover dynamic shifts from novice to master(s) level athlete stages. A longitudinal single-case study was conducted using inductive thematic analysis. Data included in-depth interviews, observational records, and archival materials spanning three life stages (youth, middle age, maturity). Five experts validated the credibility and validity of the findings. The results show that the runner’s psychological trajectory followed a three-phase model: competitive drive (youth: external achievement motivation), reflective transformation (middle age: health prioritization and identity reconfiguration), and value reconstruction (maturity: legacy mission and lifelong running). These stages were shaped by the interplay of achievement motivation, social roles, and physiological changes. Notably, the transition mirrored China’s marathon culture shift from elitism to mass participation. This study proposes a novel “motivation-physicality-society” interaction model, challenging static theories of sports psychology. It highlights how long-term runners dynamically balance extrinsic and intrinsic motivations while embedding personal growth within socio-cultural transformations. The findings offer theoretical foundations for optimizing psychological support systems and promoting sustainable marathon engagement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Various studies have investigated the importance of perceptual–cognitive skills in decision-making and the expert performance of athletes. However, bibliometric study has yet to identify research trends on this topic. The objective of this study was to perform a bibliometric review to identify the research trends in the study of soccer decision-making. Method. A total of 172 studies were included in the databases. Results. The year 2021 was the year with the highest number of published studies (n = 23), and 2016 was the year with the highest number of citations (n = 692). The average number of citations per document was 19.79. The concepts that have the greatest occurrence in the investigations are performance (n = 68), decision-making (n = 54), expertise (n = 32), skill (n = 23), and anticipation (n = 22). The journals with the highest number of published documents are the Journal of Sport Sciences (10 documents and 437 citations) and PLoS One (11 documents and 349 citations). The countries with the highest number of published documents and citations are England (n = 46 documents and 996 citations), Germany (n = 32 documents and 749 citations), and Spain (n = 38 documents and 597 citations). German Sport University Cologne is the organization that has the most publications and citations (n = 19 and 531). Conclusions. Existing knowledge production on decision-making in soccer has a preference for the study of two major categories: one related to the analysis of the factors associated with perceptual–cognitive skills, mental fatigue, anticipation, creativity, and memory, whereas the second is more related to the study that has decision-making in the manifestations of specific game performance, between experts and novices, in the precision of technical actions, such as the pass, as well as in a methodology for the selection of athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: Eye-tracking technology has gained increasing attention in sports science, as it provides valuable insights into visual attention, decision-making, and motor planning. This systematic review examines the application of eye-tracking technology in basketball, highlighting its role in analyzing cognitive and perceptual strategies in players, referees, and coaches. Methods: A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Studies published up until December 2024 were retrieved from PubMed and Web of Science using keywords related to basketball, eye tracking, and visual search. The inclusion criteria focused on studies using eye-tracking technology to assess athletes, referees, and coaches. A total of 1706 articles were screened, of which 19 met the eligibility criteria. Results: Eye-tracking studies have shown that expert basketball players exhibit longer quiet eye (QE) durations and more efficient gaze behaviors compared to novices. In high-pressure situations, skilled players maintain more stable QE characteristics, leading to better shot accuracy. Referees rely on efficient gaze strategies to make split-second decisions, although less experienced referees tend to neglect key visual cues. In coaching, eye-tracking studies suggest that guided gaze techniques improve tactical understanding in novice players but have limited effects on experienced athletes. Conclusions: Eye tracking is a powerful tool for studying cognitive and behavioral functioning in basketball, offering valuable insights for performance enhancement and training strategies. Future research should explore real-game settings using mobile eye trackers and integrate artificial intelligence to further refine gaze-based training methods. Full article

Modern sport technology is a rapidly evolving scientific field utilizing leading techniques, such as the internet of things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and the use of many kinds of sensors. The feedback and the support provided by technology seem to have the potential to bring sufficient changes in sports training following a new trend, which is trying to integrate modern technology into sports. The aim of this study is to integrate responsive feedback and internet of things (IoT) technology into sports mainly in order to support the training of novice bowling athletes, raise their engagement with their sport and boost their performance. Following this direction, this research utilizes a system of sensors to apply step tracking of a bowling athlete during a throw ball attempt. The proposed solution is a European-funded project (ERASMUS+) supporting the “Europe 2020 strategy” to motivate people to transform their learning experiences into a beneficial way of constructing better performance. The results of the proposed system evaluation showed that bowlers and their coaches highlighted its usability and its usefulness. Thus, the proposed system may prove a valuable tool supporting athletes in general, and more particularly, novices’ training in bowling. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the concurrent validity and test–retest reliability of wheelchair racing performance metrics. Thirteen individuals without disabilities and experience in wheelchair racing were evaluated twice while performing maximal efforts on a racing wheelchair. Three wheelchair athletes were also assessed to compare their performance with novice participants. The wheelchair kinematics was estimated using an inertial motion unit (IMU) positioned on the frame and a light detection and ranging (Lidar) system. The propulsion cycle (PC) duration, acceleration, average speed, speed gains during acceleration, and speed loss during deceleration were estimated for the first PC and stable PCs. The test–retest reliability was generally moderate (0.50 ≤ ICC < 0.75) to good (0.75 ≤ ICC < 0.90), while few metrics showed poor reliability (ICC < 0.50). High to very high correlations were obtained between both systems for 10 out of 11 metrics (0.78–0.99). Wheelchair athletes performed better than novice participants. Our results suggest that integrated accelerometer data could be used to assess wheelchair speed characteristics over a short distance with a known passage time. Such fine-grain analyses using methods usable in the field could allow for data-informed training in novice and elite wheelchair racing athletes. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Athletic Shoulder Test (ASH) has been described as one of the most promising upper-extremity tests to assess performance in overhead athletes. Its high reliability rates, short testing period, and applicability in any environment with portable and cheap equipment have been highlighted as some of the advantages of the test. However, it has yet to be evaluated in a non-adult athletic population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the ASH test’s psychometric properties in a sample of young tennis players. Methods: A total of 33 adolescent tennis players were evaluated among two sessions with a week interval. Intra-rater, inter-rater, and test-retest reliability were investigated. Additionally, possible correlations with measures of rotational shoulder strength and upper-extremity performance were examined. Two novice physiotherapists performed all the measurements following appropriate training. Results: The relative reliability scores, as calculated by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) indices, were found to be excellent (ICC = 0.924–0.988). Standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change scores have been estimated per position (SEM = 2.74–7.06 N, MDC = 7.55–19.42N). Test-retest reliability provided slightly higher SEM and MDC scores on average (SEM = 3.33–6.47, MDC = 9.32–18.04) than intra-rater and inter-rater reliability. Associations between ASH and the two tests were found to be moderate to strong (r = 0.584–0.856), with the dominant arm providing higher correlation scores (r = 0.605–0.856) than the non-dominant one (r = 0.584–0.823). Absolute values were collected and are provided for all three upper-limb tests; normalized values were calculated for ASH and rotational strength and peak torque only for the ASH measurements. Conclusions: The excellent reliability rates establish the ASH test as a highly recommended testing protocol for adolescent tennis players. Full article

Background: Sexual characteristics in brain neurophysiological activity are a significant area of research in cognitive neuroscience. As a sport that involves minimal physical movement, shooters remain largely stationary during aiming, facilitating the collection of their neural activity compared to athletes in other sports. Objectives: To investigate the neural characteristics of novice shooters of different genders under competitive conditions. Methods: Sixteen subjects participated in a shooting competition following four weeks of training. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data and behavioral data (shooting scores, aiming curves, and pressure curves) were recorded during the competition, and the power spectral density (PSD) and phase-locking value (PLV) network features were extracted to explore further the correlation between the shooting scores and neural activity. Results: In our sample, (1) there were no significant differences in shooting scores between males and females; (2) there were differences in PSD values across the theta, alpha, alpha-2, beta, and gamma frequency bands between males and females; and (3) there were differences in PLV network properties in the theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands between males and females. Correlation analysis revealed associations between shooting scores and neural activity in male and female novices. Conclusions: The case study demonstrated that males and females exhibited different neural activity characteristics in the shooting competition, providing a foundation for further investigation into the sex differences in neural activity in shooting competition. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rock climbing is a multifaceted athletic activity that requires both psychological and physiological resilience. This study aimed to examine the differences in psychological factors and fatigue predictors between novice and advanced climbers, with a focus on the interplay between experience and performance. Methods: The study included 60 participants categorized based on climbing experience (novice or advanced). Psychological and physiological assessments were conducted, including heart rate variability (HRV), grip strength, rate of force development (RFD), subjective perceived stress (SPS), and anxiety levels using validated questionnaires. Results: Advanced climbers exhibited lower anxiety levels and better sympathetic modulation compared to novices. Significant differences in HRV parameters, grip strength, and RFD were observed, reflecting the impact of experience on physiological responses. Advanced climbers demonstrated notable strength decreases post-climbing, supporting the utility of a force sensor on a 20 mm edge for assessing forearm fatigue. Correlations between cortisol levels, anxiety, and self-confidence during climbing were also identified. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of psychological and physiological factors in climbing performance. Forearm fatigue emerged as a critical predictor, suggesting that portable force sensors can optimize training and injury prevention. Insights from this study may enhance training protocols and improve real-time performance monitoring in climbers. Full article

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of external (EXT) versus internal (INT) focus of attention on acquiring and transferring simple and complex motor skills in novice female volleyball players. Methods: Fifty-seven participants were assigned to one of the three groups: The external focus (EXT), the internal focus (INT), and the control group (CON). Over a 6-week intervention, participants practiced a simple skill (volleyball passing) and a complex skill (overhead tennis serve). Pre-tests, post-tests, and transfer tests (conducted two weeks later) assessed movement form and accuracy. Results: The results showed a statistically significant interaction among focus methods, skill complexity, and testing periods for movement form and performance outcome. The EXT group showed higher movement form and performance outcome improvements during the simple skill (passing) compared to the INT and CON groups. For the complex skill (serving), the EXT group outperformed the INT and CON groups regarding movement outcome; however, no differences in movement form were observed between the EXT and INT groups. Post hoc Tukey tests indicated that the EXT group scored higher than the INT and CON groups in the post-test and transfer test for the simple skill, with movement form improving from 1.68 ± 0.48 to 2.32 ± 0.58. In the complex skill, the EXT group’s movement outcome improved from 11.32 ± 6.83 to 44.47 ± 16.57. Conclusions: External focus significantly enhances movement form and outcome in simple tasks and performance outcomes in more complex skills among novice athletes. Full article