Journal of Sports Sciences

This study investigates the impact of a training program on sleep among endurance runners and the benefits of chronically using a high-heat-capacity mattress topper (HMT). Twenty-one trained male athletes performed a 2-week usual training regimen, sleeping on a Low-heat-capacity Mattress Topper (LMT), followed by 2-week overload and taper periods. From overload, participants were assigned into two groups based on the mattress topper used: HMT ( n  = 11) or LMT ( n  = 10). Irrespective of the group, overload increased general stress and stress-reaction symptoms evaluated by questionnaires, with no decline in performance on a graded-exercise treadmill test, the majority of participant being "non-overreached" ( n  = 14)...

This study assessed the lead and trail arm peak and average extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU) muscle activity in association with tri-planar angular velocities of the lead and trail wrists during the golf swing. Fifteen sub-elite, male right-handed golfers ( M age  = 34.7 years ±13.3, M handicap  = 1.5 ± 2.2) were recruited to execute five shots each with their pitching wedge, 7-iron and driver clubs in an indoor golf simulator. Surface electromyography (EMG) sensors were placed over the ECU muscle belly and inertial measurement unit sensors were placed bi-laterally on the distal forearm and dorsum of the hand...

This study examined the immediate effects of multidirectional elastic tape (MET) on passive ankle joint torque in healthy adults. A randomised crossover trial evaluated four tape conditions (no-tape-NT, low-tension-LT, medium-tension-MT, and high-tension-HT) at two angular speeds on peak dorsiflexion torque, low- (stiffness 1) and high-torque stiffness (stiffness 2), area under the loading curve (AUC) and hysteresis. Twenty-two adults completed the study (17 females; mean (SD): age 26.0 (6.9) years, height 1...

Cycling time trial (TT) protocols have been shown to be reliable in trained cyclists, but their reproducibility in lesser-trained individuals is unknown. This study examined the reliability of a self-paced 15-minute cycling TT in recreationally active individuals. Twelve recreationally active males (age 27 ± 3 y; body mass 75.2 ± 8.9 kg; <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mover><mml:mrow><mml:mi>V</mml:mi></mml:mrow><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover></mml:mrow></mml:math>O2peak  = 51...

Adult elite rowers are at risk of developing low back pain (LBP). However, LBP data on adolescent elite rowers is currently insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess LBP prevalence, LBP intensity and training characteristics in male adolescent elite rowers and a healthy control group. Twenty rowers (mean age 15.8 ± 1.2 years) and a non-athletic control group matched by age and gender ( n  = 13) were prospectively enrolled and underwent LBP assessment with a validated questionnaire and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine muscles, which included a T2-mapping sequence...

The main purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a psychological training intervention based on emotional regulation on anxiety and climbing ability in women climbers with fear of falling. A secondary aim was to compare the outcomes of climbing ability, anxiety, self-confidence and interoceptive awareness (IA) between the psychological group (PG), a training (TG) and a control group. Self-reported climbing ability, anxiety and IA were assessed using Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire...

Increasing daily physical activity (PA) is a practical way to decrease the risk of cardiometabolic diseases, while the studies on exercise intensity remain limited. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of increasing light PA (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) for 12 weeks on cardiometabolic markers in Chinese adults with obesity. Fifty-three adults were randomly assigned to the 1) control group, 2) LPA group, and 3) MVPA group in free-living settings. The intervention effects on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiometabolic biomarkers were analysed using a generalized estimated equation model adjusted for baseline values and potential confounders...

Player interactions in Netball are critical during attacking phases of play to ensure possession is maintained and scoring opportunities are created. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of the passing networks of elite Netball teams and their association with performance outcomes (i.e., win/loss and final margin). Five network metrics used to represent the characteristics of teamwork were calculated for all team performances ( n  = 112) from one season of professional Netball in Australia...

Napping offers a strategy to manage sleep, aid recovery and enhance performance in elite sport. However, relatively little research attention has focussed on the natural history of athlete napping or tested the widely held assumption that athlete napping is mainly a consequence of degraded night-time sleep. Within a sample of 158 team ( n  = 76) and individual ( n  = 80) sport athletes, and 82 non-athlete controls, we analysed napping behaviour in relation to sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and pre-sleep somatic and cognitive arousal...

The validity of small-sided games (SSG) for assessing physical fitness was evaluated in 21 female basketball players from senior ( n  = 8), under-18 years ( n  = 6), and under-16 years ( n  = 7) age categories. Players underwent fitness testing (countermovement jump [CMJ], agility T-test, repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test, and Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test [YYIRT1]) and 3vs3-SSG before and after a 6-week preseason. Player demands were monitored during SSG using local positioning system and heart rate technology...

The study analysed the difference in change of direction (COD) deficit among young male basketball players of different age groups and biological ages and analysed the relationships in COD performance (time and deficit) across single and multiple CODs depending on their biological age. Fifty-four highly-trained male players (U-13 and U-17) were tested on sprinting (25-m) and COD ability over single and multiple CODs through total times and the percentage-based COD deficit (CODD). Results showed that older age groups performed significantly (ES = 0...

Several studies explored the links between perfectionism and sport performance. However, only a few studies examined this relationship in the context of real sport competition and with a focus on the possible interactive effects of the dimensions of perfectionism. The present study aimed to investigate whether the two higher-order dimensions of perfectionism - perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns - interact in predicting performance in mountain trail running competitions. 167 athletes (54 females, 113 males) aged 19 to 65 ( M  = 39...

Growing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury incidence is reported in countries across Europe, North America and in Australia for 5-14-year-olds, yet research on injury risk reduction predominantly focuses on populations aged > 13 years. For injury risk reduction, it is crucial to understand (i) which modifiable risk factors are associated with ACL injury in children (6-13 years) and (ii) how these risk factors are assessed. Articles were grouped according to sex/gender and/or maturational/age differences and examined modifiable risk factors during different physical screening tasks...

Physical activity (PA) participation is prone to decline during childhood and adolescence. In Australia, this decline has been shown to particularly occur in active play. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic moderators of change in active play between 10-11y and 12-13y among Australian youth. The data were sourced from Waves 6-7 of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children ( n  = 3567). Active play participation was measured using one-day time-use diaries (TUDs) completed by youth...

The aim was to use a combination of video analysis and microtechnology (10 Hz global positioning system [GPS]) to quantify and compare the speed and acceleration of ball-carriers and tacklers during the pre-contact phase (contact - 0.5s) of the tackle event during rugby league match-play. Data were collected from 44 professional male rugby league players from two Super League clubs across two competitive matches. Tackle events were coded and subject to three stages of inclusion criteria to identify front-on tackles...

PURPOSE: The short-term scaling exponent alpha1 of detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA-a1) of heart rate variability (HRV) has shown potential to delineate the first ventilatory threshold (VT1). The aims of this study were to investigate the accuracy of this method for VT1 determination in runners using a consumer grade chest belt and to explore the effects of acute fatigue. METHODS: We compared oxygen uptake (V̇O2 ) and heart rate (HR) at gas exchange VT1 to V̇O2 and HR at a DFA-a1 value of 0...

This study compared the influence of match status (drawing, losing, or winning) and possession status (in-possession, out-of-possession, or ball-out-of-play) on the physical and technical characteristics of U14 and U16 elite youth female soccer match-play. Data were collected from 189 female academy players during 45 competitive matches, resulting in 387 match observations. Linear mixed models estimated relative; total distance, high-speed running (≥3.00 m·s-1 ), very high-speed running (≥4...

This study examined the processes of perceptual-motor calibration/recalibration of defensive football players in a 1-vs-1 scenario. Ankle weights were used to reduce the acceleration capabilities of players performing an anticipation test, with the aim being to examine the player's response to the disturbance in terms of when movement was initiated and the impact on the mechanisms that underpinned anticipation, namely gaze behaviour. The ankle weights disturbed the perceptual-motor system and players initiated movement significantly earlier in the 1-vs-1 anticipation test...

The importance of coach leadership to athlete development and performance has been identified in the literature. We respond to the call to investigate antecedents of coach transformational leadership and their indirect effects on athlete outcomes. We propose that coach extraversion as an antecedent of coach transformational leadership can indirectly impact follower cohesion and satisfaction. Building on this mediation model, we assert that educational environment (i.e., high school and university) may serve as a first-stage moderator between coach extraversion and transformational leadership...

Experiencing mental fatigue (MF) before an orienteering race can lead to a slower completion time. This study aimed to explore the changes in perceived MF, mood and other psychological responses during an orienteering competition. Sixteen national level orienteering athletes (20.8 ± 4.9 years) provided informed consent and completed the online surveys, before and immediately after each race, and 24- and 48-hours post competition (48POST). This study measured MF, physical fatigue, stress, tiredness and motivation using 0-100 Visual Analogue Scale, and the mood was assessed using The Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS)...