Xiaowei Jiang, Brandon Mastromartino, Xin Li
et al.
This study adopts a mixed methods approach to investigate the realization process of value co-creation in participatory sports event tourism by examining the pathways linking predisposing factors, process factors, and outcome factors in event tourists’ value co-creation behaviors. The findings illuminate the unique dimensions of value co-creation in participatory sports event tourism. Governments and event organizers play a pivotal role by proposing value initiatives and fostering co-creation environments through proactive measures, thereby shaping the conditions conducive to co-creation behaviors among event tourists. Embedded in the value co-creation process, tourists’ behaviors are driven by the interplay of their intrinsic motivations and external environmental factors. Their co-creation activities follow patterns of interaction and resource integration, generating diverse experiential values. This study provides innovative strategies for value enhancement to event organizers and offers theoretical insights for governmental governance in sports tourism development.
Ashkan Sohrabi, Samaneh Ebrahimi, Ehsan Arabzadeh
et al.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem disease that may affect organ systems, including the respiratory system. Exercise training provides multiple benefits for people with CF. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three exercise-training programs on respiratory capacity and pulmonary function in patients with CF. Sixty CF patients (age 8–15 years, body mass index or BMI > 16 kg/m2) were randomly allocated to three experimental groups including: Endurance training (ET, n = 15), Resistance training (RT, n = 15), Concurrent Training (CT, n = 14) and control (C, n = 16). Trainings groups completed a 10-week moderate exercise programs (endurance, resistance and concurrent modality). Spirometry was performed both prior to randomization and following the intervention to assess first second of forced expiration (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC ratio. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the adolescent/adult version of the CF Questionnaire. The results show that 10-weeks of supervised ET, RT and CT improved FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC (%), peak expiratory flow (PEF) (l/s), forced mid-expiratory flow (FEF) 25–75 % (l/s), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) dimension, and HRQoL (p < 0.05). In addition, in the three exercise groups, a significant improvement in all variables at post-test was observed when compared to pre-test (p < 0.05). In CF patients, performing controlled endurance, resistance and combined exercises improved functional and respiratory parameters. However, it seems that combined exercises had a greater effect on these variables than resistance and endurance exercises alone.
Alessandro Carrozzo, Régis Pailhé, Ophélie Manchec
et al.
Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to compare implant survival, clinical outcomes and radiographic alignment between navigated and non‐navigated total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed with a single implant system. Methods A retrospective multicenter analysis of prospectively collected data from 6078 TKAs performed for primary osteoarthritis using a single implant system was performed. Procedures were divided into two groups: navigated (n = 3602) and non‐navigated (n = 2476). The primary outcome was implant survival. Secondary outcomes included re‐intervention rates, patient‐reported outcomes measures (PROMs, International Knee Society scores), and range of motion. Results Five‐year implant survival was similar between the non‐navigated (98.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 98.2%–99.3%) and navigated (98.3%; 95% CI, 97.6%–98.8%) groups (p = 0.505). After adjustment for potential confounders, navigated procedures showed a slightly higher risk of surgical reintervention excluding infection (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–1.96, p = 0.036). PROM analyses were restricted to patients with both baseline and 5‐year questionnaires (n = 470). The improvement of patient‐reported functional outcomes at 5 years was not significantly different between groups (p = 0.893 after adjustment for potential confounders). Conclusions Navigation was equivalent to conventional instrumentation TKA with respect to implant survival. After adjusting for confounders and excluding septic revisions, navigated procedures showed a slightly higher reoperation risk. No significant advantage in functional outcomes was observed at mid‐term follow‐up. These findings do not support a clear clinical benefit for routine use of navigation in this setting. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Abstract Maladaptive stress responses are associated with a variety of psychological and physical disorders, often characterized by molecular indicators of dysregulated stress pathways. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which play a key role in intercellular communication, may be critically involved in these processes. In this study, we quantified sEV concentrations (specifically CD9+, CD63+, and CD81+ markers) in the plasma of twenty young, healthy men before and after exposure to both acute psychosocial and physical stress, using imaging flow cytometry (IFCM). Both stressors induced significant increases in cortisol, catecholamines, and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in all participants. sEVs, however, were elevated only after physical stress, showing a rapid rise particularly in CD9- and CD63-positive vesicles, followed by a return to baseline within 40 min. In contrast, psychosocial stress elicited highly heterogeneous, non-directional sEV responses. Recursive partitioning further revealed clearly distinct sEV patterns for psychosocial and physical stress, with the highest discriminatory power observed for CD44⁺ sEVs. These findings support the existence of stressor-specific sEV signatures that could serve as future biomarkers of individual stress experience and act as effectors of distinct signal transduction pathways in both psychosocial and physical stress.
Daniel Rojas-Valverde, Jose Pino-Ortega, Carlos Gómez-Carmona
et al.
El objetivo de la investigación fue identificar los indicadores de carga externa e interna en balonmano juvenil durante un torneo congestionado en Costa Rica, seleccionando variables a través de Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP) como técnica de reducción de datos, y determinar si existen diferencias entre sexo. Los datos se obtuvieron de 73 jugadores juveniles de balonmano (33 mujeres y 38 hombres) de ocho clubes locales durante un torneo de partidos congestionados de 3 días. Se analizaron doce partidos (seis masculinos y seis femeninos) utilizando ACP y una prueba t-Student independiente para las diferencias relacionadas entre sexos. Se identificaron seis indicadores principales de carga, cinco de carga externa [distancia relativa (DR); cantidad de aceleraciones (AceR), aceleración máxima (AceMáx), velocidad máxima (VMáx), y diferencia entre aceleraciones y deceleraciones (DfAce-Dec)] y uno de carga interna [frecuencia cardíaca media (FCmedia)]. En hombres, los indicadores más representativos fueron la DR, la FCmedia y AceMáx, explicaron el 39,6% de la varianza. En mujeres fueron la VMáx y AceMáx explicando el 44,4% de la varianza. AceR (p< 0,01), AceMáx (p< 0,01), VMáx (p< 0,01) fueron mayores en hombres respecto a las mujeres. Mientras que la FCmedia (p= 0,02) fue mayor en mujeres que hombres. Se concluye que la carga externa e interna mostró diferencias entre jugadores masculinos y femeninos. Hombres caracterizados por variables asociadas con el volumen, mientras que, para las mujeres fueron más comunes indicadores relacionados con la intensidad. Para torneos congestionados, es importante individualizar según sexo las cargas de entrenamiento, así como priorizar las cualidades físicas a entrenar.
General practitioners are regarded as athletic support personnel as they are involved in delivering supportive services such as treating athletes participating in or preparing for sports competitions. General practitioners play a vital role in influencing athletes to fulfill their mandate to adhere to clean sports and therefore, their additional knowledge in sports is required to comprehensively address their health needs without affecting the integrity of rules that govern fair play. General practitioners require sufficient doping knowledge to provide athletes with health needs consistent with anti-doping regulations. In Kenya, no studies have investigated or reported the doping knowledge, attitude or experience of General Practitioners, thus leaving a knowledge gap on their ability to treat competitive athletes harmonious with WADA requirements. Therefore, the study sought to unearth General Practitioners' doping knowledge, attitude, and experience in Kenya. The study's findings have implications on doping knowledge, attitude, and experience of Kenya General Practitioners’ essential to inform the current status of the concept. A cross-sectional analytical study design was selected because of its robustness in describing general practitioners' current doping knowledge, attitude, and experiences. Data was collected using a self-reported and validated questionnaire where 250 General practitioners completed the survey. Findings revealed that Kenyan general practitioners are well aware of doping regulatory agencies of WADA and ADAK. The findings demonstrated that General Practitioners had an average doping knowledge (47.77 ± 14.03) punctuated with limited knowledge of prohibited substances, methods, and substances in certain sports. Work experience significantly influenced General Practitioners knowledge, F (4,245) = 10.852, p< .001. General Practitioners had a negative doping attitude of 45.23 ± 13.64. As many as 22% (55) General Practitioners received doping requests for the last 12 months, where 35.7% (89) of requests are about drugs to aid recovery. Anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, and peptide hormones were among the most sought-after PEDs. General Practitioners in Kenya have inadequate doping knowledge, which could limit their efficacy in treating professional athletes in line with WADA guidelines. Additional anti-doping training could benefit them address this limitation. Although General Practitioners demonstrated a negative attitude, expanding their involvement through active participation in doping seminars, and programs can enhance their understanding of the doping concept necessary to develop and maintain a strong negative attitude.
Avelino Silva, Ricardo Ferraz, Ricardo Ferraz
et al.
IntroductionA multivariate training program could be a pedagogical choice to improve physical and tactical performance in a team sport taught during physical education classes at different levels of education. Thus, the aim of this study was to verify the effects of applying a multivariate training program on physical fitness and tactical performance during the teaching of a basketball didactic unit in basic and secondary education.MethodsSeventy-five students from a Portuguese school, with an average age of 15.02 ± 1.31 years, included forty-two students from basic school and thirty-three students from secondary school. The FITescola® test battery was used to assess physical fitness (i.e., sit-ups, push-ups, horizontal impulse, shuttle test, 40 m sprint, agility 4 × 10 m). The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used to assess students' tactical performance for each player's game performance during a 20-minute 3 vs. 3 match. The GPAI variables were decision making index (DMI), skill execution index (SEI), support actions index (SI), and adaptability index (AI). During a basketball didactic unit teaching, the students were randomly divided into two groups, a control group that will not carry out the training program and an experimental group that will carry out a strength training program, high intensity explosive exercises and activities based on small-sided games (SSG) for 6 weeks. The two groups were evaluated in two moments: before the application of the training program and after the application of the training program regarding changes in physical fitness and tactical performance. The independent samples t-test (samples from two groups) and paired sample Test (for the same group) were applied for pre and post-assessment comparisons.ResultsAll indexes present significant differences between basic and secondary students in the pre- and post-assessment tests with small effects (t = −6.54 to −4.82, Δ = −27.57 to −0.16, p<0.05–p< 0.001, d = 0.78–1.05).DiscussionThe results allow to conclude that in a school environment, a well-structured multivariate training program can effectively improve students' tactical skills, increasing their physical conditioning levels.
Tetsuya Tachibana, Hiroki Katagiri, Hideyuki Koga
et al.
Purpose: The advantage of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in an anterior approach compared with a posterior approach in terms of early postoperative pain and function and lowering dislocation risks is controversial. This study aimed to identify whether THA using the anterior approach lowers costs compared with the posterior approach. Methods: We identified 294 patients who underwent primary THA and compared the cost of total inpatient stay, inpatient length of stay (LOS), cost of operating room, and the rates of discharged patients, complications, and reoperation between the anterior and posterior approaches using propensity score matching analysis. Results: One-to-one matching resulted in 135 pairs of patients who underwent THA using both approaches. The cost of total inpatient stay was significantly lower in the anterior approach (anterior vs. posterior [1,322,800 vs. 1,445,219 yen]; p = 0.04). Furthermore, in the anterior approach, the inpatient LOS was shorter (anterior vs. posterior [19.9 vs. 25.0 days]; p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the cost of the operating room and the rates of patients discharged home, total complications (anterior vs. posterior [5.2 vs. 11.1 %]; p = 0.08), or revisions between the two approaches. Conclusions: Using propensity score matching, the current study demonstrated that THA in the anterior approach shortened inpatient LOS and rendered an 8 % reduction in the total inpatient cost compared with the posterior approach.
Damoon Ashtary-Larky, Reza Bagheri, Matin Ghanavati
et al.
Purpose Previous studies have suggested that beta-alanine supplementation may benefit exercise performance, but current evidence regarding its effects on body composition remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices. Methods Online databases, including PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, were searched up to April 2021 to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which examined the effect of beta-alanine supplementation on body composition indices. Meta-analyses were carried out using a random-effects model. The I2 index was used to assess the heterogeneity of RCTs. Results Among the initial 1413 studies that were identified from electronic databases search, 20 studies involving 492 participants were eligible. Pooled effect size from 20 studies indicated that beta-alanine supplementation has no effect on body mass (WMD: −0.15 kg; 95% CI: −0.78 to 0.47; p = 0.631, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.998), fat mass (FM) (WMD: −0.24 kg; 95% CI: −1.16 to 0.68; p = 0.612, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.969), body fat percentage (BFP) (WMD: −0.06%; 95% CI: −0.53 to 0.40; p = 0.782, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.936), and fat-free mass (FFM) (WMD: 0.05 kg; 95% CI: −0.71 to 0.82; p = 0.889, I2 = 0.0%, p = 0.912). Subgroup analyses based on exercise type (resistance training [RT], endurance training [ET], and combined training [CT]), study duration (<8 and ≥8 weeks), and beta-alanine dosage (<6 and ≥6 g/d) demonstrated similar results. Certainty of evidence across outcomes ranged from low to moderate. Conclusions This meta-analysis study suggests that beta-alanine supplementation is unlikely to improve body composition indices regardless of supplementation dosage and its combination with exercise training. No studies have examined the effect of beta-alanine combined with both diet and exercise on body composition changes as the primary variable. Therefore, future studies examining the effect of the combination of beta-alanine supplementation with a hypocaloric diet and exercise programs are warranted.
Sonam Hitendre, Rebecca Jordan, Christos Theodorakopoulos
et al.
Background Adequate nutritional intake plays a pivotal role in optimizing performance, recovery, and body composition goals. This study aimed to investigate the dietary intakes (DIs); nutritional knowledge (NK); and attitudes, perceptions, and challenges (APC) of semiprofessional rugby players in Scotland. Methods Dietary intakes and NK of 24 male semiprofessional rugby players of a Super6 club were evaluated using validated questionnaires. Players were categorized as having good or poor NK according to NK scores. Diet-related APCs were assessed using researcher-developed questionnaires and 1-1 semi-structured interviews. Results Mean ± SD total NK% was poor, 53.7 ± 11.9%. The ‘Good’ NK group scored significantly higher in the Weight Management (p = 0.014), Macronutrients (p < 0.001), Micronutrients (p = 0.001), and Sports Nutrition (p < 0.001) sections. Mean DIs from food sources were 26.3 ± 9.2 kcal/kg/day energy, 1.4 ± 0.4 g/kg/day protein, and 21.7 ± 10.1 g/day fibre. Median (25th,75th) carbohydrate intake was 3.0 (2.0, 3.0) g/kg/day, and 6.3 (2.3, 10.6) units/week alcohol. Mean ± SD fat and saturated fat (SFA) % total energy intake (EI) were 36.2 ± 3.7% and 12.8 ± 1.9%, respectively, and SFA %EI exceeded recommendations (p < 0.001). The ‘Good’ NK group had significantly higher intakes of all macronutrients (p < 0.05). Total NK% positively correlated with intakes of meat (r = 0.556, p = 0.011), cereals (r = 0.458, p = 0.042), dietary fat (r = 0.477, p = 0.034), vegetables (r = 0.487, p = 0.030), and alcoholic beverages (r = 0.541, p = 0.014). Supplement use was 68%. Players felt diet affected performance (94%) but 31% of them were unaware of any specific nutritional strategies. A healthy diet was perceived to be ‘balanced’ with ‘variety from all food groups. Lack of time for preparation was described as the main barrier to healthy eating. Conclusions Overall, players had poor NK, their fibre and carbohydrate intake was suboptimal, whereas saturated fat intake exceeded recommendations. Many lacked awareness of current sports nutrition guidelines. Further nutrition education may be needed to improve diet quality and aid performance goals.
The purpose of this study was to validate the Korean version of the Student-Athletes’ Motivation toward Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ) using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). A total of 412 (men 77%; women 23%) South Korean collegiate student-athletes competing in 27 types of sports from 13 different public and private universities across South Korea were analyzed for this study. ESEM statistical approach was employed to examine the psychometric properties of SAMSAQ-KR. To assess content validity, the SAMSAQ-KR was inspected by a panel of content subject experts. The Athletic Identity Measurement Scale was used to obtain convergent validity. The results of this study illustrated that the SAMSAQ-KR appears to be a robust and reliable instrument.
Lavanya Singh, Ugochukwu J. Anyaneji, Wilfred Ndifon
et al.
Abstract The rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals remains a key strategy for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Frequent testing of populations to detect infection early in asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals can be a powerful tool for intercepting transmission, especially when the viral prevalence is low. However, RT-PCR testing—the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis—is expensive, making regular testing of every individual unfeasible. Sample pooling is one approach to lowering costs. By combining samples and testing them in groups the number of tests required is reduced, substantially lowering costs. Here we report on the implementation of pooling strategies using 3-d and 4-d hypercubes to test a professional sports team in South Africa. We have shown that infected samples can be reliably detected in groups of 27 and 81, with minimal loss of assay sensitivity for samples with individual Ct values of up to 32. We report on the automation of sample pooling, using a liquid-handling robot and an automated web interface to identify positive samples. We conclude that hypercube pooling allows for the reliable RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, at significantly lower costs than lateral flow antigen (LFA) tests.
José Pino-Ortega, Asier Los Arcos, Petrus Gantois
et al.
Ultra-wide band (UWB) based local positioning systems (LPS) are based on devices and a portable antenna set. The optimal installation height of the antennae is crucial to ensure data accuracy. Collective variables are metrics that consider at least two pairs of coordinates, which may lead to lower precision than an individual one. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the influence of antenna height with collective metrics using a UWB (i.e., IMU; WIMU PRO™, RealTrack Systems, Almeria, Spain) based LPS. Data acquisition was carried out in a basketball court measuring 28 × 15 m. Five devices were used; one of which was carried by a healthy and well-trained athlete (age: 38 years, mass: 76.34 kg, height 1.70 m), while each of the remaining four was positioned on a tripod in one of the four corners of the court. Four kinds of variables were extracted: (1) static distances, (2) dynamic distances, (3) static areas and (4) dynamic areas in all antenna installation modes of 0.15, 1.30 and 2.00 m. The results showed that the antenna of 1.30 m provided better accuracy for all measures (% difference range from −0.94 to 1.17%) followed by the antenna of 2.00 m (% difference range from −2.50 to 2.15%), with the antenna of 0.15 m providing the worst accuracy level (% difference range from −1.05 to 3.28%). Overall, the measurements of distance metrics showed greater accuracy than area metrics (distance % difference range from −0.85 to 2.81% and area % difference range from −2.50 to 3.28). In conclusion, the height of the antennae in basketball courts should be similar to the height at which the devices are attached to a player’s upper back. However, as the precision is sensitive to the magnitude of the measure, further studies should assess the effects of the relative height of antennae in team sports with greater playing spaces.
This study aims to clarify oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) kinetics of body mass-based squat exercise (SQBM) with relation to age. Fourteen healthy adults and 19 healthy children performed SQBM 200 times as well as an incremental loaded bicycle test to determine maximal VO2 and HR. The VO2 and HR during SQBM were normalized to maximal VO2 (%VO2peak) and HR (%HRmax), respectively. Electromyograms (EMGs) were recorded from the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus medialis and biceps femoris muscles from the right leg. In the VO2 and HR during SQBM, the time constant in children was faster than adults, whereas the physiological load (%VO2peak and %HRmax) was almost the same between children and adults. In both groups, %VO2peak was significantly related to %HRmax during SQBM. The slope of the %VO2peak-%HRmax relationship was 0.92 for children, and 0.73 for adults. The current results demonstrate that, compared to adults, the rise in VO2 and HR after initiation of SQBM is faster in children, and the physiological load during SQBM partially depends on individual maximal aerobic capacity.
Combat sports have been practiced for millennia and today are predominant sports at the Olympic games, with international organizations that host world, continental and national championships at amateur standard. There are also an increasing number of professional combat sports with global audiences. The growing popularity of professional combat sports and their importance at the Olympic games have led to an increase in scientific studies that characterize the physical, physiological, nutritional, biomechanical and training strategies of combat sports athletes. These studies characterize combat sports as high-intensity sports which require training strategies to develop the high-intensity capabilities of athletes. Therefore, the aim of this article is to (i) summarize the physiological demands of combat sports; (ii) present the primary considerations required to program high-intensity conditioning for athletes; (iii) define and present key high-intensity conditioning methods; and (iv) provide guidance for scientists and coaches to help prepare athletes under common but differing circumstances.