Search results for "Sports Science"
showing 10 items of 111 documents
Playing tactics, contextual variables and offensive effectiveness in English Premier League soccer matches. A multilevel analysis.
2020
The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effects of tactical and contextual indicators on achieving offensive penetration and scoring opportunities in English Premier League (EPL) soccer matches. A total of 1971 team possessions from 20 random matches were evaluated by means of multidimensional observation. The EPL matches had a great proportion of fast attacks (36.0%) followed by combinative (29.6%), direct attacks (24.1%) and counterattacks (9.5%). Multilevel logistic regression models revealed that counterattacks (OR = 3.428; 95% CI: 2.004–5.864; P<0.001) were more effective to create goal scoring opportunities than combinative attacks, while direct attacks showed to be less…
Disability-related-distress in primary school learners with vision impairment due to uncorrected refractive error in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Af…
2020
Background Uncorrected refractive error (URE) is a major cause of vision impairment among children that impacts negatively on their lives including distresses. We aim to understand the disability-related distress among vision-impaired children due to URE in rural and semi-rural South Africa using qualitative techniques. Methods Structured focus groups of children (aged 5-12 years old) with normal vision and vision impairment due to URE from four schools in Pinetown, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, were performed (four mixed-gender group discussions and eight single gender group discussions). We recruited the study participants after the children underwent standardised vision screening. Criteri…
Blood-Borne Markers of Fatigue in Competitive Athletes – Results from Simulated Training Camps
2016
Assessing current fatigue of athletes to fine-tune training prescriptions is a critical task in competitive sports. Blood-borne surrogate markers are widely used despite the scarcity of validation trials with representative subjects and interventions. Moreover, differences between training modes and disciplines (e.g. due to differences in eccentric force production or calorie turnover) have rarely been studied within a consistent design. Therefore, we investigated blood-borne fatigue markers during and after discipline-specific simulated training camps. A comprehensive panel of blood-born indicators was measured in 73 competitive athletes (28 cyclists, 22 team sports, 23 strength) at 3 time…
Effects of work-interval duration and sport specificity on blood lactate concentration, heart rate and perceptual responses during high intensity int…
2018
The aim of this study was to examine the impacts on blood lactate concentration, measured heart rate and assessment of perceived exertion during split sessions of equal relative load, as also their relationship to the specific sport practised. Nineteen regional-level athletes (nine middle and long-distance runners (cyclic group) and ten field-sport team players (acyclic group)) performed four high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions with work-interval durations of 10 s, 50 s, 90 s and 130 s. The sessions were carried out at their usual training sites with a separation of at least 48 hours. Blood lactate concentration was measured at rest and 3 min after the completion of each protoc…
Differences in kinematic and match-play demands between elite winning and losing wheelchair padel players
2020
We aimed to compare the match-play and kinematic demands of the translation and rotation movements of elite wheelchair padel players as a function of match results. Twenty-two elite male players were video-analysed with a two-dimensional direct linear transformation (DLT) -corrected video system across seven matches of a professional tournament. Distance, turns, changes of direction, linear and angular speed, acceleration and the players’ heart rate (HR) were recorded. Losing couples in wheelchair padel covered greater distances than winners (P <0.001; r = 0.024) and did so at a higher speed (P <0.001; r = 0.06), while making greater efforts by accelerating (P <0.001; ∅ = -0.021), braking (…
The effects of a physical and cognitive training intervention vs. physical training alone on older adults' physical activity : A randomized controlle…
2021
BackgroundExecutive functions underlie self-regulation and are thus important for physical activity and adaptation to new situations. The aim was to investigate, if yearlong physical and cognitive training (PTCT) had greater effects on physical activity among older adults than physical training (PT) alone, and if executive functions predicted physical activity at baseline, after six (6m) and twelve months (12m) of the interventions, one-year post-intervention follow-up and an extended follow-up during COVID-19 lockdown.MethodsData from a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (PASSWORD-study, ISRCTN52388040) were utilized. Participants were 70-85 years old community-dwel…
Effect of mountain ultramarathon distance competition on biochemical variables, respiratory and lower-limb fatigue
2020
The study aimed at assessing the acute physiological effects of running a 65-km vs a 107- km mountain ultramarathon. Nineteen athletes (15 males and 4 females) from the shorter race and forty three athletes (26 males and 17 females) from the longer race were enrolled. Body weight, respiratory and lower limb strength were assessed before and after the race. Blood samples were obtained before, after and 24-h post-race. Body weight loss did not differ between races. A decrease in squat jump height (p<0.01; d = 1.4), forced vital capacity (p<0.01; d = 0.5), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p<0.01; d = 0.6), peak inspiratory flow (p<0.01; d = 0.6) and maximal inspiratory pressure (p<0.01; d = 0.…
Aortic Function's Adaptation in Response to Exercise-Induced Stress Assessing by 1.5T MRI : A Pilot Study in Healthy Volunteers
2015
AIM:Evaluation of the aortic "elastic reserve" might be a relevant marker to assess the risk of aortic event. Our aim was to compare regional aortic elasticity at rest and during supine bicycle exercise at 1.5 T MRI in healthy individuals. METHODS:Fifteen volunteers (8 men), with a mean age of 29 (23-41) years, completed the entire protocol. Images were acquired immediately following maximal exercise. Retrospective cine sequences were acquired to assess compliance, distensibility, maximum rates of systolic distension and diastolic recoil at four different locations: ascending aorta, proximal descending aorta, distal descending aorta and aorta above the coeliac trunk level. Segmental aortic …
Aerobic training and angiogenesis activation in patients with stable chronic heart failure: a preliminary report.
2013
The pathophysiology of chronic heart failure (CHF) involves multiple hystologic and molecular alterations. To determine the effects of physical training on circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), angiogenesis (angiogenin, angiopoietin-1 and -2, VEGF, Tie-2, SDF-1α) and inflammation (IL-6, CRP), we compared data obtained from 11 CHF pts before and after 3 months aerobic exercise training, to those from 10 non trained CHF pts (CHF-C group, age 64 + 2 years, NYHA 2). At the end of the study, EPCs count and AP-2 serum levels significantly increased in the CHF-TR group. These preliminary data suggest a significant effect of even a short program of physical training on angiogenic activat…
Piecing the puzzle together: case studies of international research in health-promoting sports clubs.
2015
This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries. In summary, there are two major research themes in this area, namely ‘research into HPSC activity’ and ‘research into HPSC networks’. The first theme investigates the extent to which sports clubs and/or national sports organisations invest in health promotion (HP) – both in policy and practice. The latter theme is driven by an intention to widen the…