Authors:Schneider; Friedemann, Runer, Armin, Burkert, Francesco, Aspang, Jesse Seilern Und, Reider, Simon, Schneider, Holm, Pocecco, Elena Abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sport practice and to identify measures adopted by individuals and sports organizations to allow a safe return to community sports. An electronic survey was launched worldwide in June 2020 in the German and English languages. The questionnaire collected anonymous data on sporting activity before, during, and after pandemic-induced confinement. Participants classified themselves as either recreational, competitive, or professional sports level athletes. A total of 1336 adults (30.5±11.7 years; 54.0% women) participated in the survey; 68.5% were active athletes, 10.1% coaches, 2.1% officials and 4.3% related medical staff, 3.6% had another function, and 11.4% indicated no regular sports activity. Most participants practiced their sport in Europe (93.8%); the majority (61.0%) was amateur athletes. During confinement, 15.7% could perform their main sport unrestricted, 43.5% stated a reduced amount of time spent on sporting activities, 46.4% a reduced intensity level. Most participants (77.5%) were neither aware of screening measures nor of guidelines for dealing with infected athletes (80.0%) or for return to sports after a coronavirus infection (88.6%). Preventive measures mentioned included basic hygiene, measures to reduce personal contacts or virus transmission, or to improve traceability of infections. During confinement, a higher age (p=0.004) and training in a club setting (p Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2022; 6: E18-E24 PubDate: 2022-04-21T00:00:00+01:00 DOI: 10.1055/a-1734-5457 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 01 (2022)
Authors:Engel; Tilman, Schraplau, Anne, Wochatz, Monique, Kopinski, Stephan, Sonnenburg, Dominik, Schomoeller, Anne, Risch, Lucie, Kaplick, Hannes, Mayer, Frank Abstract: Eccentric exercise is discussed as a treatment option for clinical populations, but specific responses in terms of muscle damage and systemic inflammation after repeated loading of large muscle groups have not been conclusively characterized. Therefore, this study tested the feasibility of an isokinetic protocol for repeated maximum eccentric loading of the trunk muscles. Nine asymptomatic participants (5 f/4 m; 34±6 yrs; 175±13 cm; 76±17 kg) performed three isokinetic 2-minute all-out trunk strength tests (1x concentric (CON), 2x eccentric (ECC1, ECC2), 2 weeks apart; flexion/extension, 60°/s, ROM 55°). Outcomes were peak torque, torque decline, total work, and indicators of muscle damage and inflammation (over 168 h). Statistics were done using the Friedman test (Dunn’s post-test). For ECC1 and ECC2, peak torque and total work were increased and torque decline reduced compared to CON. Repeated ECC bouts yielded unaltered torque and work outcomes. Muscle damage markers were highest after ECC1 (soreness 48 h, creatine kinase 72 h; p Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2022; 6: E9-E17 PubDate: 2022-03-19T00:00:00+0100 DOI: 10.1055/a-1757-6724 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 01 (2022)
Authors:Baptista; Eduardo, André Arriel, Rhai, de Castro Carvalho, Ana Luiza, Bispo, Matheus M. C., Rodrigues, Alex Batista, Souza, Hiago, Mota, Gustavo R., Marocolo, Moacir Abstract: We analyzed the effects of wearing blue lenses on melatonin level, physical and cognitive performance. Fifteen youth volleyball players (15.0±1.5 yrs) attended the laboratory on 3 occasions (48-h interval): on the 1st visit they were familiarized with the procedures of the study, and on 2nd and 3rd visits they were submitted to the testing protocol wearing transparent (control) or blue lens glasses in a counterbalanced crossover design. The protocol consisted of 10 min in “total darkness,” 30 min of light stimulation (wearing blue or transparent lenses), followed by an attentional test, and an agility T-test (without wearing the glasses). Samples of saliva (to determine melatonin concentration) were obtained pre- and post-exposure (30 min) to artificial light, wearing the lenses. Sleepiness, alertness, attention, mood, and perceived recovery status and performance variables (reaction time and T-test) were assessed after lens exposure. Melatonin levels did not differ within and between groups (blue lenses, pre: 0.79±0.73 and post: 1.19±1.374 pg/dl, p=0.252, effect size (ES)=0.38; control, pre: 0.97±1.00 and post: 0.67±0.71 pg/dl, p=0.305, ES=–0.35). Nonetheless, melatonin differences were significantly correlated with physical sedation for glasses with blue lenses (r=−0.526; p=0.04). No other variables differed (p>0.05) between protocols, including T-test performance (p=0.07; ES=0.41). Blue lenses do not influence melatonin levels, cognitive/physical performance, and mood status in amateur youth volleyball players. Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2022; 6: E1-E8 PubDate: 2022-02-21T00:00:00+0100 DOI: 10.1055/a-1720-6083 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 01 (2022)
Authors:Emmanouil; Analina, Rousanoglou, Elissavet, Georgaki, Anastasia, Boudolos, Konstantinos D. Abstract: A musical accompaniment is often used in movement coordination and stability exercise modalities, although considered obstructive for their fundament of preferred movement pace. This study examined if the rhythmic strength of musical excerpts used in movement coordination and exercise modalities allows the preferred spatio-temporal pattern of movement. Voluntary and spontaneous body sway (70 s) were tested (N=20 young women) in a non-musical (preferred) and two rhythmic strength (RS) musical conditions (Higher:HrRS, Lower:LrRS). The center of pressure trajectory was used for the body sway spatio-temporal characteristics (Kistler forceplate, 100 Hz). Statistics included paired t-tests between each musical condition and the non-musical one, as well as between musical conditions (p≤0.05). Results indicated no significant difference between the musical and the non-musical conditions (p>0.05). The HrRS differed significantly from LrRS only in the voluntary body sway, with increased sway duration (p=0.03), center of pressure path (p=0.04) and velocity (p=0.01). The findings provide evidence-based support for the rhythmic strength recommendations in movement coordination and stability exercise modalities. The HrRS to LrRS differences in voluntary body sway most possibly indicate that low-frequency musical features rather than just tempo and pulse clarity are also important. Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2021; 5: E81-E90 PubDate: 2021-10-04T00:00:00+01:00 DOI: 10.1055/a-1553-7063 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 03 (2021)
Authors:Nishida; Masaki, Yamamoto, Kei, Murata, Yusuke, Ichinose, Atsushi, Shioda, Kohei Abstract: This study explored the effect of long naps on handball-related performance and assessed the role of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in this process. Eleven male collegiate handball players performed a repeated sequential trial consisting of a 20-m consecutive turnaround run, 10-m run with a load, and shooting the ball into a target. Participants were allocated randomly and sequentially to have a short (20 minutes) nap, long (60 minutes) nap, or no nap. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess regular sleep quality. Subjective sleepiness before and after napping was measured using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. Heart rate variability was recorded to assess cardiac autonomic nervous function during napping. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was correlated with shot accuracy only after long naps (ρ=0.636, r=0.048). A negative correlation was observed between the root mean square of successive differences and average load run time (ρ=−0.929, p Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2021; 5: E73-E80 PubDate: 2021-09-15T00:00:00+01:00 DOI: 10.1055/a-1551-8054 Issue No:Vol. 5, No. 03 (2021)
Authors:Bauer; Julian, Schwiertz, Gerrit, Muehlbauer, Thomas Abstract: Handball playing positions can be differentiated between first line players who position themselves near the 6-m line and second line players who typically play outside the 9-m space. Handball is characterized by a high number of throwing actions that cause adaptations in the throwing shoulder. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess whether the specific physiological positional demands in handball lead to functional performance differences between the playing positions (N=196; goalkeepers: n=25; backcourt: n=99; pivots: n=21; winger: n=51) in terms of shoulder mobility and stability in any reach direction as assessed through the Upper Quarter Y Balance Test (YBT-UQ). Contrary to our hypothesis, the results did not show significant differences between the playing positions in shoulder mobility and stability in youth handball players, irrespective of reach arm and reach direction. The obtained effect sizes (η p 2) were solely small and ranged between 0.01 and 0.03. The adaptations following the demands of the diverging playing positions do not lead to significant differences in shoulder mobility and stability on the basis of the YBT-UQ. The overall training load of youth handball players may not be sufficient to lead to significant position-specific differences in shoulder mobility and stability. Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2021; 05: E99-E103 PubDate: 2021-12-21T00:00:00+0100 DOI: 10.1055/a-1647-7174 Issue No:Vol. 05, No. 03 (2021)
Authors:Osakabe; Jumpei, Kajiki, Masanobu, Kondo, Kiho, Matsumoto, Takaaki, Umemura, Yoshihisa Abstract: The present study investigated the effects of half-time (HT) break cooling using a fan and damp sponge on physiological and perceptual responses during the 2nd half of a repeated-sprint exercise in a hot environment. Eight physically active men performed a familiarization trial and two experimental trials of a 2×30-min intermittent cycling exercise protocol with a 15-min HT break in hot conditions (35°C, 50% relative humidity). Two experimental trials were conducted in random order: skin wetting with a fan (FANwet) and no cooling (CON). During the 2nd half, a repeated-sprint cycling exercise was performed: i. e., 5 s of maximal pedaling (body weight×0.075 kp) every minute, separated by 25 s of unloaded pedaling (80 rpm) and 30 s of rest. Rectal temperature, skin temperature (chest, forearm, thigh, and calf), heart rate, physiological strain index, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and comfort were significantly improved in the FANwet condition (P Citation: Sports Med Int Open 2021; 05: E91-E98 PubDate: 2021-10-25T00:00:00+01:00 DOI: 10.1055/a-1588-3126 Issue No:Vol. 05, No. 03 (2021)
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