Search Results (80)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) experience on bone mineral density (BMD) and stress fractures (SFs) in female collegiate athletes. Overall, 492 female athletes from 16 competitive sports were included. Sports were categorized into four groups based on exercise load. Data on sports participation, RT experience, and SF history were obtained using a questionnaire. Total body and lumbar spine BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Athletes with RT experience in both senior high school (ages 15–18) and university (ages 18–22), as well as those with experience from junior high school (ages 12–15) through university, had significantly higher BMD than those with no RT experience or RT experience only in senior high school (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that athletes with RT experience had significantly lower odds ratios for SFs compared to those with no RT experience. In the adjusted model that included sport type and university year, athletes with RT experience in junior high school, senior high school, and university had a significantly lower OR for SFs compared with no RT experience (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.59, p = 0.016). No significant BMD differences were found between athletes with and without SFs (p > 0.05). The study findings suggest that initiating RT in junior high school may be associated with a reduced incidence of SFs during university. Full article

Sleep is critical for cognitive and psychomotor performance in demanding decision-making contexts such as sports officiating. Given the lack of research in the field, the cognitive complexity, and the high-pressure environment of judo refereeing, this study aimed to evaluate the sleep quality of active judo referees and examine differences based on gender, age, refereeing experience, and athletic background. This cross-sectional study included 73 active Turkish judo referees (42 male, 31 female; age = 29.8 ± 11.0 years). Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and data were analysed using t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, and mediation analyses. Data showed a mean sleep time of 7:43 + 1:27 and a total PSQI score of 7.21 + 3.53, and participants had been referees for a mean of 6.58 + 8.12 years. The overall sleep quality was suboptimal, with female referees reporting significantly poorer sleep than males. No significant differences in PSQI scores were found across referee seniority levels or educational levels. Correlation analysis showed significant negative associations between PSQI scores and both age and refereeing experience. The final hierarchical regression model with the age, gender, and athletic background significantly predicted PSQI scores. Mediation analysis further revealed that referee qualification level indirectly influenced sleep quality through age. The study is the first one in this area of judo referring, and it highlights poor sleep quality among judo referees, regardless of experience or qualification level, with gender, age, and athletic background emerging as key predictors. The lack of sleep education in both athletic and refereeing careers suggests a need for targeted interventions, especially for younger and female referees, to improve performance and prevent health issues. Further research is needed to explore these relationships over time and in elite-level referees. Full article

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the sleep characteristics and behaviours of senior male, senior female, and under 21 (U21) male elite soccer players using athlete-specific questionnaires. During the preseason/early season period, 74 players from the English Premier League (n = 26, age 26 ± 5 y), Women’s Super League (n = 22, age 25 ± 5 y), and English Premier League 2 (n = 26, age 19 ± 1 y) completed the validated Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ) to obtain a sleep difficulty score (SDS) and the Athlete Sleep Behaviour Questionnaire (ASBQ) to obtain a global score and individual behaviours. We found that sleep difficulty scores were higher in senior females (5.9 ± 1.9) than senior males (4.1 ± 1.7) and U21 males (4.3 ± 1.2) (p ≤ 0.006), but no severe clinical problems were noted. Global sleep behaviour scores from the ASBQ were worse in senior males (37.9 ± 6.5) and senior females (40.6 ± 7.1) than male U21 players (33.6 ± 4.7) (p ≤ 0.021). Senior players consumed more alcohol and stimulants and felt that travel disrupted sleep; females went to bed thirstier, woke more for the bathroom, and ruminated more prior to sleep (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, senior female players reported more sleep difficulties than male senior and male U21 players. Behaviours such as pre-bed rumination, nutrition, and travel plans could be targeted to improve sleep quality in soccer players. Study limitations include data drawn from a single club in the off-season. 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

The aim of this study was to compare body composition characteristics of elite senior and U23 sprint kayak athletes and report body composition changes during the COVID-19-interrupted preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. A total of 32 Australian kayakers (Men: 20 (Senior = 13, U23 = 7); Women: 12, (Senior = 5, U23 = 7)) undertook body composition assessment using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) from 2017 to 2021. The first DXA assessment for each athlete was used for a cross-sectional analysis to compare senior and U23 sprint kayak athletes. Of the thirty-two kayakers, five senior men kayakers had repeat DXA scans over the data collection period which were used to monitor longitudinal changes in body composition. Senior men kayak athletes were heavier than U23 athletes (p = 0.017; 10.4 ± 1.9 kg; d = 1.23) but had similar body composition. In contrast, body mass was not different between senior and U23 women kayak athletes (p = 0.187), however senior women athletes had a significantly higher lean body mass (LBM; p = 0.048; 5.1 ± 1.3 kg, d = 1.32) and lower body fat percentage (p = 0.011; −4.3 ± 0.8%, d = 1.82). The five senior men kayakers exhibited a non-significant decrease in fat mass (p = 0.774; 2.9 ± 3.0 kg, d = 0.97) and increase in LBM (p = 0.234; 2.2 ± 5.9 kg, d = 0.38) across the Olympic quadrennial with little change in body mass. Senior men kayak athletes while heavier, have similar body composition compared to their U23 counterparts, whereas senior women kayakers are similar in body mass but differ in body composition compared to their younger counterparts. The relative influence of maturation, specificity of training, or dietary strategies on the observed differences in body composition between senior and U23 men and women kayak athletes are currently unknown and warrant further investigation. Full article

The introduction of the semi-professional Australian Rules Football League for Women (AFLW) in 2017 was indicative of a broader ‘boom’ for women and girls’ sport in Australia. The ‘boom’ promised not only newly created, or enhanced, professional pathways for elite women athletes but also a commensurate change in the community sport landscape, backed by a gender equality framework, that would offer women and girls new, and supported, opportunities to play sport. This paper investigates what happens when these opportunities are taken up by examining the experiences of a senior women’s football team in a community-level Australian Rules football club in Melbourne, Australia. Drawing on 11 semi-structured interviews with players, we consider the transformative potential, for these individuals and for gendered power relations, that might be generated from women’s participation in traditionally masculine sporting spaces. The findings reveal contradictory moments of both emancipation and empowerment on one hand with ambivalence and disempowerment on the other. Women’s participation in Australian Rules Football is a contested terrain that is simultaneously embodied, cultural, and social, and we note the experiences and strategies that women utilize to negotiate their engagement with football. We argue that increasing “opportunities” for women to play football is not enough for the transformative promise of the AFLW to be met, and as such, further highlight the ongoing contested terrain of women’s sport. Full article

This scoping review aimed to determine the somatotype of modern elite athletes across various sports. The literature search followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. Four databases were consulted, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Clarivate InCites, as well as platforms such as Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis Online, Books Ovid, CAB eBooks, MyiLibrary, and Core Collection. Eligibility criteria included articles published between 1995 and 2024 involving athletes at the elite level, such as junior, senior, Olympic, first-division professionals, world-class competitors, national competitors, black belts, master athletes, non-professional athletes with at least 10 years of experience, those ranked in the national or international top 10, and high-level collegiate athletes. A total of 66 studies were included. Modern male elite athletes predominantly exhibited an endomorphic mesomorphic somatotype, whereas female athletes were classified as central. The present study was the first to synthesize data from 66 articles, encompassing athletes of varying elite levels, both males and females, while providing detailed information on age, weight, height, BMI, somatotype and its classification, and complemented by somatoplot references. Future research is recommended to include a greater diversity of sports and a more significant number of elite female athletes to enhance the representativeness of elite athletes. Full article

This study aimed to assess the acute impact of a simulated kumite bout (WKF formula) on peak isometric strength performance of the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs in elite karate athletes of different age categories (U16, U18, Senior), in the context of inter-limb asymmetry. Sixty-one elite male and female athletes (age = 17.48 ± 3.26 [years], body height = 1.72 ± 0.08 [m], body mass = 63.79 ± 10.00 [kg]) participated in this study, which included a randomized crossover design (two experimental sessions under two different conditions). Inter-limb asymmetry was assessed based on the isometric mid-thigh pull test. Friedman’s test indicated significant differences in the mean values of the peak vertical force (PVF) between the assessed limbs (test = 10.8; p = 0.013; Kendall’s W = 0.059). Elite karate athletes, regardless of the age category, tend to have inter-limb strength asymmetries in the lower extremities; however, the impact of a simulated kumite bout was not fully confirmed. A kumite bout seems to have a favorable impact on bilateral asymmetries in U16 and U18 athletes, but not in Seniors, who seem to be at increased risk of injury after completing the bout (asymmetry > 15%). Limb dominance is not necessarily related to greater values of PVF. Full article

Introduction: Roller skating shares biomechanical similarities with other sports, but specific studies on speed skaters are limited. Injuries, particularly to the groin, are frequent and related to acute and chronic muscle stress. Technology, particularly surface electromyography, can now be used to monitor performance and prevent injuries, especially those caused by muscular asymmetries. Such studies can be used to enhance training and for educational purposes. Materials and Methods: This pilot study was conducted on three subjects: two cadet-athletes and a novice, compared with the performance model of an elite athlete. Surface electromyography and kinematic analysis monitored the lower limb muscles during the propulsion and recovery phases of skating. Electrodes were placed on specific muscles, and triaxial accelerometers were used to detect kinematic differences and asymmetries. The results: Cadet 1 was closest to the elite athlete’s performance model compared to Cadet 2, especially in kinematics and muscle efficiency. However, both cadets showed electromyographic differences compared to the elite athlete, with uneven muscle co-activations. The novice exhibited more oscillations and earlier propulsion compared to the elite athlete. Discussion: Using electromyography and kinematic analysis made it possible to identify differences between elite athletes, cadets, and novices. These observations provide useful data for developing personalized training and educational plans and preventing injuries related to muscle overload. Full article

Volleyball referees, as athletes and staff members, are exposed to different stress levels which can be determined by measuring pre- and post-match levels of salivary cortisol (C) and alpha-amylase (AA). This study aimed to determine the dynamics of stress biomarkers in referees during official volleyball matches and the connection to the roles or level of competition. The participants in this study were nine international volleyball referees (three females and six males) with a mean chronological age of 48.23 ± 2.31 years. In this study, saliva samples were collected during 24 official matches during the European championship for senior women’s teams (Eurovolley 2021). The AA activity and C concentrations were determined from saliva samples. When the referees’ roles were assessed in line with their duties, the first referees’ salivary C levels showed a significant increase between the pre- and post-match measurements (p = 0.01), while in the second referees remained low. The reserve and challenge referees demonstrated a significant drop in their C concentrations (p = 0.00 and p = 0.02, respectively). Additionally, when assessing AA which accounts for the responsibilities of referees and the intensity of competition, the first (p = 0.06 and p = 0.07) and second referees (p = 0.01 and p = 0.00) showed an increase between the pre- and post-match measurements, respectively. At the same time, the AA activity did not show any significant change concerning the reserve and challenge referees. Our results indicate that referees’ roles and the level of competition may cause higher responses in “active referee roles”—mainly the first and second referees—while reserve and challenge referees showed no increase or even a decrease in the measured biomarkers. The observed changes in the stress markers can be explained by psychological or emotional effects and are dependent on the level of competition and the role referees are fulfilling. Full article

(1) Background: The advancement of technologies has made morphological assessment rapid and reliable. A combination of 3D body scanning (3D-BS) and bioelectrical impedance (BIA) could be essential in monitoring the morphological status of athletes and the general population and their symmetries for coaches, researchers and medical professionals. (2) Methods: The current study presents the use of Inbody-720 BIA and 3D-BS NX-16 for analyzing the asymmetry profile of an athlete in 2 min on a sample of 106 male judo competitors from the following age categories: older boys—U14 (N = 24), younger cadets—U16 (N = 31), cadets—U18 (N = 17), juniors—U21 (N = 19) and seniors (N = 15). Variables observed were arm lean mass, upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist girth, leg lean mass, thigh length, thigh, knee and calf girth. The paired sample t-test, asymmetry index (AI) and Kruskal–Wallis analysis were used at p ≤ 0.05; (3) Results: Morphological asymmetries were detected in all age categories: seniors—three, U21—four, U18—three, U16—five and U14—four. The most common asymmetrical variable in all categories was the forearm girth, while thigh length, knee girth and upper arm girth presented symmetrical variables in all age categories. AI showed that the size of the asymmetries did not differentiate between the age groups. (4) Conclusions: The current study demonstrated great potential for combining BIA and 3D-BS for rapid asymmetry detection that would allow for monitoring and quick adjustments to the training process in youth to senior age categories. Full article

Background: The study of notable people as advocates for raising cancer awareness began in the latter decades of the 20th century. This research aimed to identify Pan-American notable people with head and neck cancer (HNC) and to explore senior health professionals’ perspectives on communicating stories of notable patients with HNC to promote prevention. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using an online questionnaire designed in REDCap and administered to 32 senior health professionals with long-standing academic and clinical backgrounds in HNC. In addition, a structured literature review was performed on PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, LILACS, and gray literature. Results: 18 notable figures were successfully identified from the survey, and 24 from the literature review. These individuals came from the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, and were recognized primarily for their performances as actors, artists, musicians, and athletes. The professionals’ outlooks were positive, with 31 (96.9%) agreeing that disseminating these stories can contribute to reducing risk behaviors. Furthermore, all participants (100%) agreed that such stories can promote early detection of HNC, primarily through social media, followed by the internet, and television. Conclusions: The study identified notable individuals and gathered positive perspectives from professionals. Our results suggest that notable people could serve as potential advocates for HNC prevention. Further research is warranted to explore the potential of this prevention strategy. Full article

Rowing races require extreme physical and psychological effort from every athlete. This study aimed to determine the dynamics of the salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase, as well as blood lactate throughout the specific load represented by a 6 km rowing race, conducted on a rowing ergometer. The sample consisted of 11 junior and senior rowers from HVK Gusar in Split (n = 11) who actively competed at club and international levels. Variables consisted of three repeated oral samples of the hormone cortisol and the enzyme alpha-amylase determined in saliva and three repeated blood lactate samples. Potential differences in the levels of the studied variables at different time points were determined using a repeated-measures ANOVA test. The results showed different dynamics of hormonal (cortisol) and metabolic (alpha-amylase and lactates) variables. All variables experienced a significant post-race increase, while other changes were not significant. The results highlighted that high-intensity rowing causes an increase in the body’s cortisol, alpha-amylase, and lactate levels. This should be implemented in rowing training to find the right balance between high and low-intensity rowing, enabling athletes’ progression while reducing the risk of overtraining. Full article

The study assessed vastus lateralis oxygen desaturation kinetics (SmO₂) in 32 male cyclists (16 Seniors, 16 Juniors) during a 30 s sprint, examining effects of age and performance. An incremental test was used to determine ventilatory thresholds (VT1, VT2) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2kg), followed by a sprint test to evaluate anaerobic performance. Cyclists’ performance phenotype was determined as the ratio of power at VT2 to 5 s peak sprint power. Juniors exhibited sprinter-like traits, excelling in all functional tests except for lactate levels post-sprint. SmO₂ data showed no age-related or bilateral differences across participants. The combined mean response time (MRT) revealed stronger bilateral goodness of fit (R² = 0.64) than individual time delay (TD) and time constant (τ). Higher VO_2kg at VT2, peak power, and maximal uptake were linked to longer TD, while shorter TD correlated with higher lactate production and increased fatigue. Bilaterally averaged SmO₂ kinetics distinguished between sprint and endurance athletes, indicating the potential to reflect the alactic anaerobic system’s capacity and depletion. Age did not affect desaturation rates, but younger cyclists showed greater response amplitude, attributed to a higher initial baseline rather than maximal desaturation at the end of the exercise. Full article

The purpose of this study was to identify the asymmetries between the dimensions of the upper limbs, in relation to manual laterality, of the athletes who practice team sports with a ball and those who practice other sports without a ball. We consider the fact that ball handling influences the development of anthropometric parameters at the level of the upper limbs and especially at the level of the hand in correlation with the execution technique and with the characteristics of the practiced sport. This study included 161 student-athletes, who were male and right-handed, divided into two groups: the group of athletes practicing ball sports (G_BS) with 79 (49%) subjects and the group of athletes practicing non-ball sports (G_NBS) with 82 (51%) subjects. The anthropometric measurements of the upper limbs were performed on both sides (right and left): upper limb length, hand length, palm length, hand breadth, hand span, pinky finger, ring finger, middle finger, index finger and thumb. The most relevant symmetries, between the two groups, were recorded in the following anthropometric parameters on the right side (recording the smallest average differences): ring finger 0.412 cm and thumb 0.526 cm; for the left side, they were the ring finger 0.379 cm and thumb 0.518 cm. The biggest asymmetries between the two groups were recorded, for both the right and left sides, for the following parameters: upper limb length > 6 cm; hand span > 2 cm; and hand length > 1 cm. For all the anthropometric parameters analyzed, the athletes from the ball sports group (G_BS) recorded higher average values than those from the other group (G_NBS) for both upper limbs. The results of this study reflect the fact that handling the ball over a long period of time, starting from the beginning of practicing the sport until the age of seniority, causes changes in the anthropometric dimensions of the upper segments, causing asymmetries between the dominant (right) and the non-dominant (left) side. Full article