Search Results (240)

Background: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a physically demanding sport associated with a notable risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Understanding injury patterns, rehabilitation approaches, and psychological readiness to return to sport (RTS) is essential for prevention and management strategies. This study aimed to investigate injury characteristics among Italian BJJ athletes, assess their rehabilitation processes and psychological recovery, and identify key risk factors such as belt level, body mass index (BMI), and training load. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among members of the Italian BJJ community, including amateur and competitive athletes. A total of 360 participants completed a 36-item online questionnaire. Data collected included injury history, rehabilitation strategies, RTS timelines, and responses to the Injury-Psychological Readiness to Return to Sport (I-PRRS) scale. A Random Forest machine learning algorithm was used to identify and rank potential injury risk factors. Results: Of the 360 respondents, 331 (92%) reported at least one injury, predominantly occurring during training sessions. The knee was the most frequently injured joint, and the action “attempting to pass guard” was the most reported mechanism. Most athletes (65%) returned to training within one month. BMI and age emerged as the most significant predictors of injury risk. Psychological readiness scores indicated moderate confidence, with the lowest levels associated with playing without pain. Conclusions: Injuries in BJJ are common, particularly affecting the knee. Psychological readiness, especially confidence in training without pain, plays a critical role in RTS outcomes. Machine learning models may aid in identifying individual risk factors and guiding injury prevention strategies. Full article

The Relative Age Effect (RAE) refers to the advantage that relatively older athletes within the same age group may have in sports. While this phenomenon has been widely documented in numerous disciplines, its presence in orienteering remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to analyse the existence of RAE among Spanish orienteers selected for international competitions organised by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) between 1987 and 2023. A total of 384 participations (225 male, 159 female) were examined across the European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC), Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC), and the European and World Orienteering Championships (EOC + WOC). The distribution of birth dates by quartiles and semesters was compared using chi-square tests, Cramér’s V, Z-tests, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. The results revealed a significant RAE in male athletes, particularly in JWOC, where those born in the first quartile were up to 3.77 times more likely to be selected than those in the third quartile. In contrast, no significant associations were found in female athletes, which may reflect structural or developmental differences related to sex. These gender-based disparities highlight the importance of integrating sex-specific considerations into selection policies. Overall, the findings suggest a selection bias favouring relatively older males, which may hinder the development of late-born talent. Therefore, it is recommended that selection criteria be reassessed to ensure fairer and more inclusive talent identification and development in youth and elite orienteering. Full article

Background: Athletic success depends not only on physical performance and psychological well-being but also on the effective emotional regulation of adaptive processes to prevent sports injuries in stressful situations such as competition. This study analyzes the relationship between emotional state, pre-competitive anxiety, and injury incidence in female volleyball players throughout an entire competitive season. Methods: The POMS and CSAI-2 questionnaires were administered before 16 league matches to 21 high-performance players (mean age = 29.66 ± 5.19 years). Results: Players exhibited an iceberg mood profile with low levels of pre-competitive anxiety. Negative moods were higher at the start and decreased over time, while positive moods increased as matches progressed (p < 0.05). Anxiety remained stable throughout. Additionally, 28.6% of players experienced injuries; injured players showed higher cognitive anxiety, lower self-confidence, and emotional instability, suggesting a potential psychological risk profile for injury, even though group differences did not reach statistical significance. Significant correlations were found between Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) and cognitive anxiety (r = 0.49, p < 0.05) and between vigor and self-confidence (r = 0.52, p < 0.01), indicating a bidirectional relationship. A bidirectional relationship between mood and anxiety was confirmed, highlighting the POMS Total Mood Disturbance (TMD) index as a global emotional indicator. Conclusions: These findings suggest that managing worries, self-confidence, and emotional balance are key factors in injury prevention, emphasizing the importance of regularly monitoring and managing psychological indicators as part of injury prevention strategies. Full article

Recent research in the area of physical literacy has revealed that the early years are a period that has not been well studied. Our research team designed a deductive review with the aim of investigating how preschool children’s physical literacy manifests across affective, physical, cognitive and social domains. The review includes scientific publications from the last four years, which investigate the elements of physical literacy in preschool children: motivation, confidence, motor competence, knowledge, understanding and use of physical activity. The characteristics of the elements were systematised into four domains, affective, physical, cognitive and social, as engagement in physical activities. Results. The majority of the articles explained physical literacy behaviours in 4- to 5-year-old children. The physical domain was most frequently described, mainly including the three basic motor skills of postural stability, object control, and locomotion, as well as physical qualities of movement. The second most frequently described domain was the social domain of the application of physical activities in preschool stages, including the types and amounts of physical activity used in both organised and leisure time. Conclusions. Physical literacy of preschool children is a purposefully organised and guided process, during which a child is given the opportunity to try and apply age-appropriate movement skills, without being limited by the child’s gender, parental attitudes, sporting choices, or the traditions of sport culture. Full article

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury (ACLI) is a prevalent sports injury. Genetic factors play a crucial role in determining the risk of ACLI. This systematic review aimed to identify the association between the COL5A1 rs13946 polymorphism and susceptibility to ACLI. Methods: Searches were performed in PubMed Central, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, Scopus, and CNKI. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess potential bias, and data from the included studies were analyzed using RevMan 5.4. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to determine the strength of the association between COL5A1 rs13946 and the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria for screening the association between COL5A1 rs13946 and ACL injury and were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed no significant heterogeneity across five genetic models. Statistically significant findings were observed in the recessive (OR = 1.29, 95% CI [1.06, 1.58], p = 0.01) and allele models (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.73, 1.00], p = 0.04). The TT genotype or T allele of rs13946 showed a distinct susceptibility to ACLI under the recessive model, particularly in Caucasians. This study supports the association between COL5A1 rs13946 and the risk of ACLI, particularly in Caucasians. More specifically, the C/- genotype of rs13946 provides protection against ACLI in Caucasians. Further research with larger sample sizes and well-balanced gender-specific cohorts is necessary to validate this association and strengthen our findings. Full article

Athletes engaged in dynamic sports experience a shortened red blood cell (RBC) lifespan and accelerated turnover due to RBC destruction. This accelerated RBC turnover might have a positive impact on exercise performance by increasing the number of young red blood cells with a high oxygen-carrying capacity. However, accelerated turnover might also be a result of intravascular haemolysis caused by RBC destruction during exercise, impairing RBC function and oxygen transport. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between reticulocyte count as an indicator of short-term RBC profile changes and exercise capacity. We retrospectively evaluated elite Italian athletes engaged in endurance or mixed sports disciplines selected for the 2023 European Games or 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes underwent blood tests, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise tests. We assessed the relationship between reticulocytes and the peak value of VO₂ (peak VO₂) and anaerobic threshold (AT). In addition, the effects of age, sex, haemoglobin concentration, stroke volume, peak heart rate, and reticulocytes on peak VO₂ and AT were assessed using multiple linear regression. Of the 105 athletes, reticulocyte count (0.059 ± 0.024 × 10¹²/L) negatively correlated with peak VO₂ (45.5 ± 9.1 mL/min/kg) (p = 0.022) and AT (27.6 ± 7.9 mL/min/kg) (p = 0.040). Using multivariate linear regression analysis, reticulocytes were independent predictors of peak VO₂ and AT (95% confidence interval: −192.3 to −45.9; p = 0.001; 95% confidence interval: −143.4 to −13.8: p = 0.018, respectively). Our findings indicated a negative relationship between reticulocyte count and peak VO₂ or AT. The life span of reticulocytes was close to the period of transient decline in RBC function that occurred after high-intensity exercise; therefore, the changes in reticulocytes might be related to the decline in exercise performance owing to this decline in RBC function. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although Osgood–Schlatter disease (OSD) is often self-limiting following apophyseal closure, it may cause persistent symptoms into adulthood, affecting physical and functional activities. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the current evidence on the efficacy of hyperosmolar dextrose injection for patients with OSD unresponsive to conservative treatment. Methods: Multiple databases were searched for studies investigating the efficacy of hyperosmolar dextrose injection in patients with OSD. Two reviewers independently extracted data and evaluated the risk of bias. Meta-analyses were performed to compare hyperosmolar dextrose injection with placebo injections. Results: Four studies including three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one case series involving a total of 166 (162 males and 4 females) patients with 184 knees were included in this review. At three months, there was no significant difference in patient-reported improvement from baseline between hyperosmolar dextrose injection and placebo injections (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.12 to 3.96; I² = 96.2%). However, a meta-analysis of two RCTs including athletic pediatric patients found a pooled risk ratio of 2.11 (95% CI: 1.12 to 3.98, I² = 30.73%) for pain-free return to sports at three months. In addition, at one year, a meta-analysis of two RCTs showed greater patient-reported improvement from baseline with hyperosmolar dextrose injection compared to placebo (SMD = 1.09, 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.56; I²= 0%). Conclusions: Based on the limited number of RCTs, although no improvement in patient-reported outcomes is seen at three months, hyperosmolar dextrose injection may safely facilitate a pain-free return to sports at three months and lead to patient-reported improvement at one year. However, further high-quality RCTs are needed to substantiate these findings. Full article

Background/Objectives: The ergogenic effects of caffeine in team sports, particularly volleyball, have received significant research attention. This study sought to examine the effects of caffeine on both volleyball-specific and general performance outcomes. Methods: This systematic review comprises 11 studies, each utilizing a blinded crossover experimental design. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effect model to determine the standardized mean difference (SMD), estimated by Hedges’ g, with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Caffeine supplementation improved volleyball-specific outcomes, including attack and serve accuracy (SMD: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.11–0.90; p = 0.01). Regarding nonspecific outcomes, caffeine increased single-jump performance (SMD: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.02–0.44; p = 0.03), repeated-jump performance (SMD: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.05–0.96; p = 0.03), and handgrip strength (SMD: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.03–0.42; p = 0.02), while decreasing agility test completion time (SMD: −0.32; 95% CI: −0.60–0.03; p = 0.03). Furthermore, caffeine increased the frequency of positive game actions during simulated volleyball matches (SMD: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.26–1.43; p < 0.01). Conclusions: Caffeine supplementation enhances physical performance and volleyball-specific actions during competition, supporting its role as an effective ergogenic aid for volleyball players. Full article

The development of students’ skills, abilities, competences and knowledge is the basis for sustainable socio-economic development. Today we live in a world that is in continuous change, both economically and socially, which also determines a change in the requirements on the labor market and therefore graduates and higher education institutions must continuously adapt to these changes. Thus, higher education institutions must adapt their teaching strategies and educational offer, while students must develop new skills and competences. The main purpose of this article is to analyze the extent to which the information, skills, attitudes and competences acquired by graduates of physical education and sports faculties during their years of study influence their standard of living, job satisfaction and confidence. To achieve this objective, we asked the following research questions: 1. To what extent do the information, skills, abilities and competences acquired by students during their years of study influence their income level, standard of living, job satisfaction and level of confidence in the workplace? 2. What is the self-perception of students regarding the information, skills, abilities and knowledge that students possess? 3. What is the perception of employers regarding the information, skills, abilities and knowledge that students possess? 4. To what extent are there differences between students’ self-perception and employers’ perception regarding the information, skills, abilities and knowledge that students possess? Thus, data were collected through two questionnaires, one distributed among 333 graduates from physical education and sports faculties in Romania and one to 11 employers working in the sports industry in Romania. The data obtained from the students were analyzed using SPSS 24, and it was found that there is a small correlation between the information, skills, competences and knowledge acquired during the years of study and the standard of living, job satisfaction and the confidence in one’s own ability to successfully perform tasks at work. Among the skills, abilities and aptitudes that students consider themselves to excel in are a passion for sports, the continuous desire for improvement, conscientiousness, teamwork, openness to new things and respect for hierarchies and regulations. At the opposite end, graduates consider that they need to improve their public speaking skills, management skills, their ability to communicate in a foreign language, their ability to sell themselves and their ability to manage a project. Full article

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among athletes and significantly impact their knee stability and performance. Surgical reconstruction is the standard treatment. The modified transtibial technique has emerged as a promising surgical approach for optimal graft positioning and complication reduction. Methods: A retrospective study of athletes who underwent primary ACL reconstruction with the modified transtibial technique was conducted. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective scores and objective knee stability assessments. Return-to-sport rates and associated factors were analyzed. Results: Forty-four athletes were included (thirty-seven males, seven females; mean age 21.2 ± 5.0 years). At mean follow-up of 27.0 ± 12.2 months, significant improvements in the Lysholm and IKDC subjective scores were observed. Overall, 88.2% of athletes returned to sports, and 65.9% achieved their pre-injury levels. Return to pre-injury level was defined as regaining the same type, intensity, and frequency of sport participation as before the injury occurred. Professional athletes showed significantly higher return-to-pre-injury-sport rates (79.3%) than recreational athletes (40.0%, p = 0.0091). Concomitant meniscus injuries negatively impacted return-to-sport rates (92.9% versus 66.7%, p = 0.0397). The overall failure rate was 4.6% (2/44; 95% confidence level [CI]: 0.6–15.5%) with two cases of graft insufficiency or re-rupture. Conclusions: ACL reconstruction with the modified transtibial technique provides favorable clinical outcomes, high return-to-sport rates, and low failure rates, particularly among professional athletes. Meniscus preservation is crucial for optimizing post-operative recovery. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and comparative studies with other ACL reconstruction techniques. Full article

The rise of mental health concerns in today’s Higher Education (HE) students is a growing concern. Integrating mental health principles into curricular design can enhance the student experience and improve outcomes such as continuation, completion, and success. This paper aims to integrate mental health guidance into the design of a revalidated curriculum in sport, exercise, and health sciences. A further aim is to provide recommendations for future mentally healthy curricular design. A case study design exploring how mental health does, and might, feature across curricula was undertaken, employing a qualitative methodology. A range of stakeholders, including students, participated in workshops, interviews, and revalidation events over a 4-month period. The analysis and interpretation of the resulting transcripts proposed two main lines of action; ‘building students’ (centring on helping them navigate the nuances of the academic process and developing confidence in their university self, for example, through systematic scaffolding) and ‘building connections’ (focusing on enhancing social connections and psychological safety, for example learning student names). Recommendations proposed by this research highlight that induction should be primarily social, progressing to more fundamental skills, behaviours, and knowledge. Systematic scaffolding and mapping of relevant skills, behaviours, and knowledge throughout the course are fundamental to building students’ confidence. This could reduce both academic staff and students’ frustrations about a lack of ‘know-how’. Staff–student interactions and a focus on micro-behaviours could further enhance a student’s sense of belonging and desire to engage. Full article

This review examines the relationship between tennis participation and mental health, highlighting both the psychological benefits and challenges associated with the sport. Using a retrospective, citation-based methodology, peer-reviewed studies published in English, French, and Greek between 2000 and March 2025 were included. The findings indicate that tennis participation is associated with reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, improved self-confidence, and enhanced resilience. However, competitive tennis also presents significant psychological demands, including elevated stress levels and susceptibility to maladaptive coping behaviors. To address these complexities, this review introduces the Resilience Racket Model, a conceptual framework representing the integration of physical readiness, psychological resilience, and systemic support. The model uses the metaphor of a tennis racket: the handle reflects foundational physical skills; the strings represent resilience components; the frame denotes environmental and organizational support; and the sweet spot signifies the optimal balance between physical and mental readiness. The review also highlights the effectiveness of psychological interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness, in supporting athlete well-being. These findings advocate for a holistic approach to athlete development, emphasizing parity between mental health and physical training, and call for further research into tailored, sport-specific mental health interventions in tennis. Full article

Background: Motivation is a crucial factor in maintaining athletic performance and preventing dropout among competitive athletes. This process is influenced by both physical and psychosocial factors, which interact and shape decision—making regarding continued participation or withdrawal from sports. Aim: This study examines the motivational level of competitive swimmers in Romania, related to the dropout perspective. Methods: In order to conduct the research, the AMI (Achievement Motivation Inventory)—a validated psychometric tool was used in two distinct phases, conducted six months apart. The study included N = 20 swimmers, finalists and medalists in national swimming competitions. The intervention consisted of motivational coaching, personalized training plans, and the development of mental skills. Results: The results highlighted significant improvements in dimensions such as success confidence, compensatory effort, and goal-setting, indicating the positive effects of the intervention on athletes’ motivation. Inferential analysis using Student t-test confirmed significant differences between the initial and final assessments, for eagerness to learn (p = 0.035), status orientation (p = 0.03) and the Wilcoxon test revealed significant difference for general motivational index (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of psychological approaches in training high-performance athletes, showing that maintaining motivation and clarifying goals are essential factors in preventing sports dropout. The conclusions of this research can serve as a foundation for developing coaching strategies aimed at supporting continuity in performance swimming and reducing the dropout rate among competitive swimmers. Our findings confirm similar studies emphasizing the role of the training patterns and coach influence not just on the performing athlete, but also on his psychosocial individual development. Full article

This study investigated the causes of incorrect judgments in a motor task and examined differences between students with varying levels of judgment accuracy. Twenty-two seventh graders participated. Based on their estimated and actual scores in two volleyball serve trials, students were categorized into two groups: “low accuracy” and “high accuracy”. Before each trial, they estimated their scores according to the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance test. Following the trials, students were interviewed about their justifications and their confidence in the accuracy of their judgments. Independent sample t-tests indicated that both “low accuracy” and “high accuracy” students appeared to use metacognitive skills (t(20) = 0.82, p > 0.05). However, the “low accuracy” group lacked the declarative and procedural knowledge (t(20) = 4.59, p < 0.001) necessary for accurately evaluating their performance. Findings suggest that students focused more on outcome-based rather than process-based assessments when evaluating their performance. Enhancing students’ access to both theoretical and experience-based cues in sports may improve their ability to accurately judge their performances and foster greater confidence in lifelong participation in physical activities. Full article

The measurement of tidal volumes via respiratory-induced surface movements of the upper body has been an objective in medical diagnostics for decades, but a real breakthrough has not yet been achieved. The improvement of measurement technology through new, improved sensor systems and the use of artificial intelligence have given this field of research a new dynamic in recent years and opened up new possibilities. Based on the measurement from a motion capture system, the respiration-induced surface motions of 16 test subjects were examined, and specific motion parameters were calculated. Subsequently, linear regression and a tailored convolutional neural network (CNN) were used to determine tidal volumes from an optimal set of motion parameters. The results showed that the linear regression approach, after individual calibration, could be used in clinical applications for 13/16 subjects (mean absolute error < 150 mL), while the CNN approach achieved this accuracy in 5/16 subjects. Here, the individual subject-specific calibration provides significant advantages for the linear regression approach compared to the CNN, which does not require calibration. A larger dataset may allow for greater confidence in the outcomes of the CNN approach. A CNN model trained on a larger dataset would improve performance and may enable clinical use. However, the database of 16 subjects only allows for low-risk use in home care or sports. The CNN approach can currently be used to monitor respiration in home care or competitive sports, while it has the potential to be used in clinical applications if based on a larger dataset that could be gradually built up. Thus, a CNN could provide tidal volumes, the missing parameter in vital signs monitoring, without calibration. Full article