Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

BACKGROUND: Previously, it was shown that elite soccer teams were 24% more likely to win matches if their passing effectiveness were increased by 1%. However, research interventions aiming to improve passing performance are scarce. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of a short technique-intense training period on side-foot kick performance among elite female soccer players. METHODS: Four side-foot kick tests were completed before and after a training period: kicking a stationary ball using match-relevant (SBRS) and maximal ball speed (SBMS), passing the ball on the move using match-relevant ball speed (RBRS), and repeated side-foot kicks onto a rebound-box with continuously increasing passing distance (RRB)...

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, interest in high intensity interval training (HIIT) has increased considerably. The objective of this study was to determine injury incidence coinciding with increased popularity of HIIT and identify ways physicians can advise patients prior to participation. METHODS: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried from 2007 through 2016 to estimate injury incidence related to exercises such as burpees, push-ups, and lunges and exercise equipment such as barbells, kettle bells, and boxes, which are representative of HIIT exercise programs...

BACKGROUND: Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common disease following ankle sprain and appears balance and gait problems, pain, and fatigue. This study aimed to examine the effect of therapeutic exercise performed on sea sand on pain, fatigue, and balance ability in patients with CAI. METHODS: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial. Subjects with a Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) score of less than 27 were selected. 22 subjects were randomly assigned to the sea sand (SS) group (n=11) or the self-management (SM) group (n=11)...

BACKGROUND: Young athletes need to consume an appropriate diet in order to maintain health and optimize growth and athletic performance. We evaluated nutritional habits of junior elite skiers. METHODS: Alpine junior elite skiers (n=68; 42 males and 26 females; age range 16-20 years) coming from 20 countries were recruited during the Alpine Junior World Ski Championship, Roccaraso, Italy. Nutritional habits were assessed using a 3-day food record and the NHANES Food Frequency Questionnaire...

INTRODUCTION: With the underlying mechanisms of fatigue shown to be task-specific, gaining an understanding of changes within the running profile due to fatigue may provide a greater task-specific method for monitoring neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) in elite team sport athletes. This review aimed to identify, review and summarise the literature to understand the effects of fatigue on the running profile of elite team sport athletes. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched...

BACKGROUND: Posture and somatic structure could positively influence athletic gestures for their biomechanical implications. Working on neuromuscular activity, offers the possibility of intervention on postural control. The aim is demonstrating the possibility of interacting with the human body system through the spinal reflex pathway, starting from the stimulation of cutaneous receptors. METHODS: In this study, developed inside the Chair in Physical and Rehabilitative Medicine, at G...

BACKGROUND: Mechanical loads exerted by soccer-specific actions increase bone remodeling activity. Nevertheless, little is known about the relationship between plantar pressure and bone structure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare bone geometry and strength between soccer players who exhibited different maximum values of the average pressures (MP) when performing a combination of soccer-specific tasks. METHODS: Forty male adolescent soccer players (mean age 13...

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide. Exercise has proven effective in treating NAFLD, and many clinical initiatives seek to increase uptake of exercise in this population. This study aimed to elucidate the physiological responses of individuals with NAFLD to graded exercise testing. METHODS: 17 participants with presumed NAFLD and 15 without were assessed through symptom-limited, Modified Bruce treadmill testing...

BACKGROUND: Cross-country runners experience high rates of injury. This prospective cohort study aimed to identify pre-season risk factors for in-season injury in a cohort of collegiate cross- country athletes. METHODS: Pre-season and post-season electronic surveys were designed and administered to 297 NCAA Division I and III runners in August and November 2016, respectively. Pre-season surveys queried athletes' training methods, lifestyle habits, and history of previous injuries...

BACKGROUND: The incremental test (with increasing load) is a method commonly used to evaluate the aerobic capacity in laboratory conditions. The aim of the study was to show the differences in maximal and sub-maximal values of physiological and biochemical parameters obtained in the ramp and step protocols of the incremental test on a cycle ergometer in road cyclist. METHODS: 57 road cyclists took part in the experiment. The tests included two visits to the laboratory during which the anthropometric measurements, incremental test on acycle ergometer, and examination of acid-base balance and blood lactate concentration were made...

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BACKGROUND: To investigate if the cyclic hypoxia exposure combined with Repeat- sprints training would be more effective in reducing body fat of health women than the same protocols performed in normoxia. METHODS: Twelve female volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: (1) Repeated-sprint in hypoxia (RSH; n=6; FiO2: 17.2%) and (2) Repeated-sprint in normoxia (RSN; n=6; FiO2: 20.9%). During 6 weeks, both groups undertook 30 seconds of all-out (130%Wmax) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery at 55-65%Wmax on a cycle ergometer...

BACKGROUND: CrossFit training is performed at high intensity and with limited or no recovery time between sets, being associated to increased injury risk. That is why this study determined injury epidemiology and risk factors for injury in Portuguese CrossFit practitioners. METHODS: The sample included 270 CrossFit practitioners, aged 15 to 53, being 152 (56.3%) males. The measurement instrument was a questionnaire concerning characterization of the population, and aspects related to the modality and injuries...

BACKGROUND: Lack of physical activity (PA) is becoming an issue in younger populations. Trampoline parks are newly popular environments for PA yet research on their use is scarce. Thus the present study compared heart rate, energy expenditure, and affective responses in children participating in trampoline park sessions compared with extracurricular sports clubs. METHODS: Children (aged 6-11 years; n = 16 females, n = 10 males) participated in 3 trampoline park sessions and 3 extracurricular sports club sessions lasting ~45 minutes over 3 weeks...

AIM: To analyse the short-term response to three resistance training (RT) protocols: RT protocol leading to failure (MaxRep), half-maximal repetitions protocol in untrained condition (U-HalfRep), and half-maximal repetitions protocol in trained condition (T-HalfRep). METHODS: Ten males without RT experience performed 3 sets of 5 vs. 10 repetitions with their estimated 10RM load, U-HalfRep vs. MaxRep, in the bench press and squat exercises before a 10-week RT period...

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to quantify the relationship between the velocity at which lacrosse players can shoot a lacrosse ball (shot velocity) with a lacrosse stick and a variety of physical strength attributes. METHODS: Twenty lacrosse athletes were recruited to participate in the study. We measured shot velocity with a microwave, speed-measuring apparatus. RESULTS: Shot velocity showed significant and moderate correlations with the distance a player can throw a medicine ball (r = 0...

BACKGROUND: Stereopsis is the most important part of depth perception, especially in athletic population. At present, there are few studies on how to comprehensively evaluate athletes' stereoscopic function and how the impairment of stereoscopic function affects sports performance. METHODS: 22 professional table tennis players from Si-Chuan Province Team were recruited as player group and 23 age-matched students were recruited as the controls. All subjects were measured the habitual visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, dominant eye, retinoscopy and three stereo acuity tests...

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the influence of modifiable (training) & non- modifiable factors (age & gender) on cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels post-marathon. METHODS: 13 female and 9 male recreational runners participated in the 2015 Hartford Marathon. A venous blood draw was taken from each subject at 24 hours pre-race, immediately post-race and 24 hours post-race. RESULTS: Weekly mileage and weekly long runs were recorded for a 12-week period prior to the marathon...

BACKGROUND: The high injury rate in football has highlighted the need to research strategies that allow the modification of the dynamic risk factors. Most of the preventive proposals have focused on standardized protocols. However, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a multifactorial injuries prevention program (MC-7) in Spanish football players. METHODS: A total of 219 Spanish football male players aged 16-23 were studied. The study was conducted over two consecutive seasons (2012-2013, 2013-2014)...

BACKGROUND: Exposure to cold is associated with increased energy expenditure to maintain thermal equilibrium. The Cool Fat Burner vest and Gut Buster are chilling devices used to induce shivering and increase calorie use. Drinking chilled water has a similar effect. METHODS: Indirect calorimetry was performed on volunteers at rest with induced shivering. VO2 (oxygen uptake), Rf (respiratory frequency), VT (tidal volume), VE (minute ventilation), R (respiratory quotient, VCO2/VO2), energy expenditure (EE) (kcal/min), and fuel source (% from carbohydrate and % from fat) during rest (resting metabolic rate-RMR) were determined...