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Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool

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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2022) | Viewed by 24963

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Vaclav Bunc

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Praha 6, 162 52 Praha, Czech Republic
Interests: human physiology; exercise physiology; obesity; body composition; non-pharmacological intervention; NCD; physical training; motor skills; seniors; children
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is now well documented that physical inactivity increases the risk of several adverse health conditions—including major non-communicable diseases (NCD) such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, different types of cancers, respiratory disease, mental illnesses—and shortens life expectancy.

Physical inactivity is one of the main modifiable and preventable risk factors for NCD. Sport is very important for the improvement of the quality of life, positively impacting both psychological well-being and physical health. It is necessary to distinguish competitive sport from fitness programs, remedial gymnastics, and active recreation. Both the health and the economic benefits derived from performing regular physical activity have a potential to yield cost savings that would balance the expenses associated with the design and management of specific physical activity programs.

On the other hand, the inclusion of sport in everyday life means an increase in the probability of injuries for individuals who are insufficiently prepared. An estimated 20% of schoolchildren are absent from school at least one day a year due to sports injuries, and one in three youth seek medical attention for a sport-related injury annually. The solution is not to reduce the participation in physical activity programs, which will have an adverse effect on health by enhancing, for instance, obesity and post-traumatic osteoarthritis, but to design procedures that will minimize the risk of injury. Reducing the public health burden of sport injuries would promote physical activity and thus have a major positive impact on the quality of life.

The design and evaluation of the effect of sports activities requires effective diagnostics. We expect contributions on the topic of qualitative diagnostics with the aim of individualizing sport training programs that reduce the risk of muscle injuries.

This Special Issue of Applied Sciences will provide a forum for discussing current ideas and issues related to non-pharmacological interventions based on physical movement for the prevention of injuries and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Papers on these topics are invited. Also relevant are studies about non-pharmacological tools for health support based on physical activity, with long-lasting effectiveness.

Prof. Dr. Vaclav Bunc
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Sport and NCD
Sport and Obesity
Sport and Hypertension
Sport and Diabetes 2. Type
Sport and Dementia
Sport and Injuries Prevention
Sport and Diagnostics

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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9 pages, 240 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological Profiles of Recreational Runners and Cyclists Aged 20 to 60 Years

by Jan Heller, Ivana Kinkorova, Pavel Vodicka and Tomas Mika

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3252; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app12073252 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1389

Abstract

Human physical activities may bring potential health benefits. The aim of our study was to compare body composition, lung function and aerobic fitness as a function of age in a cross-sectional study of 277 recreational cyclists (men: n = 163, women: n = 114) and 377 recreational runners (men: n = 239, women: n = 138) aged 20 to 60 years, with a training volume of about 2000 to 4000 km per year for cyclists and 25 to 60 km per week for runners. The survey focused on comparing the values of body composition, lung function and aerobic fitness in dependence on age. The results suggest that recreational cycling and running is associated with a favorable body composition and increased physical fitness, where the percentage of body fat in athletes corresponds to about 70–90% of the population norm, while physical fitness indices, maximum oxygen consumption and maximum exercise performance corresponded at about 140 to 150% of the population norms. The study confirms the assumption that the decrease in physiological functions and/or physical condition with age is much slower in those who participate in recreational sports than in the general nonsports population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

22 pages, 1708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organization of Students and Total Task Time: External and Internal Load Recorded during Motor Activity

by Juan M. García-Ceberino, Sebastián Feu, Antonio Antúnez and Sergio J. Ibáñez

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(22), 10940; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112210940 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1622

Abstract

The organization of the students and the time taken to execute the learning tasks determine the physical (external load) and physiological (internal load) demands the students support during physical education classes. The aim of this study was to determine which organizational and pedagogical elements used to design different learning tasks for soccer provoke greater external (Player Load (PL)) and internal (Heart Rate (HR)) load and thus help the students to fulfil the adequate physical activity recommendations (moderate to vigorous physical activity for ≥50% of class time). The organizational elements studied were (1) the participation type and (2) total task time, and the pedagogical element of (3) the game situation. A total of 40 students from the fifth year of primary education participated in the study distributed into two class groups. The basic analysis units were the data on physical activity recorded in each of the tasks carried out by the students during the practical sessions (1500 records), and they were recorded using WIMU Pro^TM inertial movement devices. A descriptive and inferential analysis was performed with the Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H statistical tests. The results recommend the following types of tasks with simultaneous participation: individual games, numerical inequality SSG, numerical equality SSG lasting less than 6 min, numerical equality SSG, and full games lasting between 6 and 10 min. This type of learning task makes the students move more (medium Player Load between 0.80 and 1.20) and at greater intensities (Heart Rate zone 4, between 161 and 181 bpm). Therefore, physical education teachers must take into account the pedagogical and organizational elements studied to make the sessions more intense and associated with health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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14 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Fitness and Physical Activity Levels of Obese People with Hypertension

by Jana Krzysztoszek, Janusz Maciaszek, Michał Bronikowski, Monika Karasiewicz and Ida Laudańska-Krzemińska

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 10330; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app112110330 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1633

Abstract

This study assessed the relationships between the current level of physical activity (PA) and PA in childhood and the level of physical fitness (PF) of obese people aged 40+ with co-existing hypertension (HT). The study included 82 obese patients with co-existing HT in their history. In order to assess the level of PA, we used the IPAQ. PF was assessed by observing the performance of patients in a fitness test (a 30-s chair stand, a handgrip strength test, a sit-and-reach test, a one leg stand test, a plank test, a wall squat test, and a 2-min step-in-place test). According to the IPAQ category, 24.4% were classified as having a high level of PA, 45.1% a sufficient level of PA, and 30.5% an insufficient level of PA. We noted that the higher the level of PA, the higher the PF—even in obese participants with HT. On the other hand, co-existing diabetes lowered almost all analysed parameters, both biochemical and fitness. The current PA level, a deficiency in which seems to be related to low PF and/or HT, does seem to be related to the degree of PF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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14 pages, 693 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Introducing Rest Intervals in Functional Fitness Training

by Juan Hernández-Lougedo, Eduardo Cimadevilla-Pola, Tomás Fernández-Rodríguez, Jesús Guodemar-Pérez, Álvaro Otero-Campos, María del Carmen Lozano-Estevan, Ana María Cañuelo-Márquez, Fernando de Jesús-Franco, Manuel V. Garnacho-Castaño, Pablo García-Fernández and José Luis Maté-Muñoz

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(20), 9731; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11209731 - 18 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1795

Abstract

Background: Functional Fitness Training (FFT) is a new exercise modality prioritizing functional multi-joint movements executed at high intensity as a circuit. Objective: To examine the impacts of introducing rest intervals in a FFT workout compared to “rounds for time” (RFT) FFT. Materials and Methods: Participants were 25 resistance-trained adults who completed two FFT workouts 1 week apart. The study design was crossover such that in a given session half the participants completed the standard and the other half the adapted FFT (FFTadapted). The workouts consisted of the same exercises (circuit of four rounds of exercises), but one (FFTadapted) included preset rest intervals (three sets of 1 min after each completed round). Before and after the workouts, countermovement jump ability and blood lactate were measured. Heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured post-exercise. Results: For both the standard and adapted protocols, mean HR was 90% age-predicted maximum. Final RPE was also similar for both workouts (~15–15.5) and indicated a “hard” work intensity. Both FFTs took the same time to complete (~13 min). Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in jump ability between FFTs. In contrast, lactate (15.11 ± 3.64 vs. 13.48 ± 3.64 mmol·L⁻¹, p < 0.05), measured 3 min post-exercise, was significantly lower in FFTadapted. Conclusions: In FFTadapted, there was a significant reduction in RPE and blood lactate concentrations after exercise, while there were no significant differences in either HR or jumping ability, compared to a FFT workout in RFT methodology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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12 pages, 812 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Effect of Regular Physical Activity on Muscle and Adipose Tissue in Premenopausal Women

by Petr Kutac, Marek Buzga, Steriani Elavsky, Vaclav Bunc, Daniel Jandacka and Miroslav Krajcigr

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8655; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11188655 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1320

Abstract

Regular physical activity (PA) plays an important role in the prevention of several noninfectious chronic diseases, partly due to its positive effects on body composition. The relationship between the amount of weekly PA and body composition in premenopausal women, however, remains unclear. The objective of the study is to assess the relationship between body composition and the volume of PA in full-time employed premenopausal women. The study included 136 women (aged 41.07 ± 2.77 years). The women were divided into tertiles (T1–T3) according to the level of total reported weekly PA. T1 were women with the lowest volume of PA, T2 were women with a medium volume, and T3 were women with the highest PA volume. DXA was used to measure body mass (BM), body fat (BF), visceral fat (VFA), and fat-free mass (FFM). For the comparison of means, we used one-way ANOVA and a t test. Practical significance was verified with effect of size. Significant differences were found between women in T1 vs. T2 and T1 vs. T3. When compared with T2, T1 women had a higher BM (+6.10 kg), BF (+5.98 kg), BF (+5.42%), and VF (+17.49 cm²). When compared with T3, T1 women had a higher BM (+5.99 kg), BF (+6.42 kg), BF (+5.89%), and VFA (+20.71 cm²). We can conclude that a higher volume of weekly PA is associated with lower BF, but appears to have no effect on FFM. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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8 pages, 1385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomechanical Characteristics for Identifying the Cutting Direction of Professional Soccer Players

by Yo Chen, Tang-Yun Lo, Fei Xu and Jia-Hao Chang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7193; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11167193 - 04 Aug 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3574

Abstract

(1) Background: To understand the movement characteristics of soccer players when cutting in two directions (45° for the right and left cutting movements) through biomechanical analysis of the lower limbs to identify the cutting direction of the attacker; (2) Methods: A motion analysis system was used to capture the movements of 12 male professional soccer players dribbling to the left and right. Kinematics of the players’ cutting were analyzed, and the paired t-test was used for statistics, with a significant level of α = 0.05; (3) Results: When cutting towards the right, the height of the hip joint during the run-up was low (effect size, ES = 0.41, p = 0.031) at 91.8 ± 7.0 cm. When cutting towards the left, the value was 94.6 ± 6.7 cm. While cutting, the front foot was abducted by 4.3 ± 4.0° at landing when cutting towards the right and adducted by 2.7 ± 5.1° when cutting towards the left (ES = 0.38, p = 0.003); (4) Conclusions: When the attacker carries out the cutting action while approaching the defender, the cutting direction may be predicted by observing the attacker’s hip and foot movements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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12 pages, 889 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Rectus Abdominis Fatigue on Lower Limb Jumping Performance and Landing Load for Volleyball Players

by Hui-Ting Lin, Yin-Che Huang, Yen-Yi Li and Jia-Hao Chang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 6697; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11156697 - 21 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2105

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rectus abdominis (RA) fatigue on the jumping performance and landing loads of volleyball players during countermovement jumps (CMJs) and spike jumps (SPJs). Twelve healthy university volleyball players were evaluated using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, force plates, and surface electromyography (EMG). The lowest center of mass (Min-CoM), maximum jumping height (Max-JH), angles of joints at take-off and landing, joint moment of the lower limbs, and EMG parameters of the RA, erector spinae, and lower limb muscles, when performing the CMJs and SPJs, were recorded before and after a 10 min RA muscle fatigue intervention. After RA fatigue, the Max-JH was significantly reduced, and the lowest Min-CoM was significantly increased. The take-off angles changed significantly at the ankle (SPJ), knee (CMJ), and hip (SPJ), and the plantar flexion torque changed significantly at the SPJ touchdown. The contribution ratio of the feet during SPJs and CMJs changed after fatigue. Temporary RA fatigue decreases the jump height of athletes and causes a change in the landing strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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10 pages, 509 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Effects of a 10-Week Home-Based Exercise Programme in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

by Fuengfa Khobkhun, Jinjuta Suwannarat, Anuchai Pheungphrarattanatrai, Kanjana Niemrungruang, Sakaowrat Techataweesub, Suweena Khacharoen, Amornpan Ajjimaporn, Prachaya Srivanitchapoom and Jim Richards

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4518; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11104518 - 15 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2817

Abstract

Current restrictions on clinical visits as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for home-based exercise regimes to facilitate useful, long term patterns of behaviour in individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week home-based exercise program designed to target improvements in axial rigidity and gait. The Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), motor scale and rigidity items, Functional axial rotation–physical (FAR-p), functional reach test (FRT), and time up and go (TUG) test were recorded. In addition, the 10-metre walk test, the fall efficacy scale international (FES-I) and the global rating of change score (GROC) were also recorded. Eighteen individuals were divided randomly into two groups: a home-based exercise group (n = 10) and a traditional physiotherapy control group (n = 8). Participants in the 10-week home-based exercise group showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in the MDS-UPDRS rigidity item, FAR-p, step length, gait velocity, FRT and FES-I when compared with the control group. This study supports the use of home-based exercises in individuals with PD. These preliminary results also support the hypothesis that targeting axial deficits may be an effective approach for improving gait and reducing falls. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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Review

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24 pages, 4987 KiB

Open AccessReview

Collection and Advice on Basketball Field Tests—A Literature Review

by Anna Gál-Pottyondy, Bálint Petró, András Czétényi, János Négyesi, Ryoichi Nagatomi and Rita M. Kiss

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(19), 8855; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11198855 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4403

Abstract

We conducted a review to collect the validated basketball-specific physical field tests and to provide practical advice for their appropriate selection and application. A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed via three electronic databases (PubMed, GoogleScholar, and SportDiscuss). Results of 93 studies provided recommendations for seven test packages and eighteen individual tests that have already been validated for basketball players. Although there is a lack of standardized, widely, and systematically used test protocols for testing the fitness levels of basketball players, standardized, normative data from NBA Combine Testing and other basketball-specific tests have the potential to help coaches compare their players with elite basketball players. Our review indicated that agility and reactive agility are fundamental skills in basketball; however, linear sprinting ability should not be considered a determining factor of success for basketball players. Finally, the countermovement jump test can help experts monitor fatigue, loss of explosive force, and interlimb asymmetries. In general, we found that identifying and developing a talented player is a complex task and requires experts from different fields, including trainers, coaches, performance- and movement analyzers, and physiotherapists. We found that during the testing of basketball players, experts always have to normalize their data with anthropometric measures for valid results. Most importantly, although experts always need to define an aim of testing and should follow the protocol of the chosen test, they also have to be open to making adjustments if the actual circumstances require it. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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15 pages, 2667 KiB

Open AccessReview

Field Testing Protocols for Talent Identification and Development in Basketball—A Systematic Review

by Anna Gál-Pottyondy, Bálint Petró, András Czétényi, János Négyesi, Ryoichi Nagatomi and Rita M. Kiss

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4340; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/app11104340 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3101

Abstract

Basketball is one of the most popular team sports in the world. A wide variety of athletic skills can be valuable indicators of a talented player. Testing these skills help trainers and scouts to make the best decisions during both youth and adult player selection of different competitive levels and field positions. However, scientific data regarding the association between field tests results and match statistics is sparse. We conducted a systematic review to logically summarize the physical field tests of athletic abilities and anthropometric measures used in basketball in different player positions at different levels, and to determine whether test results may correlate with match statistics. A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed via three electronic databases (PubMed, GoogleScholar, SportDiscus). The CASP checklist was used for checking the quality of reporting for all included articles. Based on 39 studies, it could be supported that the agility, speed and jumping test values seem to be crucial measures for basketball players. Anthropometry appeared to be the strongest discriminative factor between basketball positions, therefore, these values need to be significantly considered during selection. Moreover, the maturity status is also an important influencing factor for U-18 teams. In general, we found that successful players can be identified by their nonplanned agility and reactive power, considering that these factors affect match outcomes the most at the same competitive level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sport Activity for Health Improvement and as an Injury Prevention Tool)

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