The effect of the colour red in 20 years of Olympic taekwondo.

The objectives of this study were (1) to analyse the relationship between the colour of the protectors and the outcome of 895 matches in the six Olympic Games in which taekwondo has been included, and (2) to analyse the effect of confounding factors through the different degrees of asymmetry between contestants. Data were recorded on the colour of each athlete's protectors, the scoring system, the sex of the athlete, the weight category, the round of competition, the winner of the match, the method of victory and the points scored by each athlete. Among the main results, a relationship emerged between male athletes wearing red and winning the match (p = 0.034) under the manual scoring system. There were relationships between female athletes wearing blue and winning the match in the quarterfinal (p = 0.014) and last 16 rounds (p = 0.021) using the manual and electronic scoring systems respectively. In female athletes, relationships emerged between wearing blue and winning the match with small (p = 0.008) and medium (p = 0.047) asymmetry under the manual system and with large (p = 0.036) asymmetry under the electronic system. The electronic system had a positive impact on the fairness of Olympic competition. Red tends to gain in importance as the asymmetry between the two athletes decreases, but not enough to give a competitive advantage. The results for Olympic competition held in the now concluded era of the manual system confirmed the presence of the colour effect as a result of psychological factors attributable to referees and judges.

Efficacy of Electromyographic Biofeedback in Muscle Recovery after Meniscectomy in Soccer Players.

Electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) is a therapeutic technique that has been used successfully in the rehabilitation of injuries. Although it has been applied to athletes, its use in this field is not very widespread. The objective of this study is to analyze its effectiveness in the recovery of electromyographic activity of the quadriceps after meniscectomy, evaluated through isometric contraction of the vastus lateralis. The sample comprised ten professional footballers in the Spanish League (2nd Division A) who had previously suffered a meniscus injury in their knee and had undergone a meniscectomy. The intervention consisted of EMG-BF treatment lasting between 6 and 10 sessions. The electromyographic signal was recorded using a Thought Technology ProComp Infiniti 8-channel biofeedback unit with a sampling rate of 2048 samples/second. For each session, a within-subject ABA design of 6 or 10 trials per session was used, with three pre- and three post-measures, which determined the gain for each session. The results indicated (1) improvements in all cases, (2) EMG-BF was effective, (3) the working model was statistically significant with an explained variance of between 67% and 75%, and (4) the generalizability analysis showed that the results are reliable and generalizable. The results indicate that EMG-BF is effective in neuromuscular rehabilitation after this type of intervention.

The Relationship between the Color of Electronic Protectors and the Outcome in Taekwondo Matches: Is There Fairness in National Competitions?

Although research on the effect of color in taekwondo has involved several international competitions, no previous study has investigated the presence of this phenomenon in national-level competitions. The main objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between the color protectors and success in 1155 taekwondo matches of the Italian and Uzbekistan Senior Championships (ITA-SC and UZB-SC) (2019 and 2021). The results showed no relationship between the color protectors and the match outcome, in both ITA-SC and UZB-SC (p = 0.71, V = 0.01; p = 0.61, V = 0.02). Moreover, no relationship emerged between the color protectors and the match outcome in the four editions of the SC. Stratifying analyses by weight category and sex, males showed positive relationships between the color blue/red and winning the match in 3 and 1 of 16 weight categories, respectively. Contrary, females showed positive relationships between the color blue/red and winning the match in 1 and 3 of 16 weight categories, respectively. Analyzing the two national contexts found that, in both the Italian and Uzbek contexts, matches in 2 and 2 of 16 weight categories were won by athletes wearing blue and red protectors, respectively. Significant relationships emerged between the color blue and winning the match with small asymmetry in the men's UZB-SC and between the color red and winning the match with large asymmetry in the female ITA-SC. The implementation of the electronic point recording system for the body and head has had a positive impact on fairness in national taekwondo competitions, did not detect any effect of color related to cultural context, and did not allow for the color red to tip the scales between losing and winning in matches between athletes of similar ability and strength.

Design, validation, and testing of an observational tool for technical and tactical analysis in the taekwondo competition at the 2016 Olympic games.

Observational methodology uses validated observational tools to collect information in sports with multiple variables that interact in the sporting context. Given the importance of data quality for observational tools, the purpose of this study was to design, validate, and test the reliability of a mixed observational instrument combining field formats and category systems for analyzing technical and tactical actions in an Olympic taekwondo (TKD) tournament. The instrument collects information of six criteria and 25 categories of the tactical and technical actions, kicking zone, laterality, kicking leg, guard, and score. A total of 2 374 actions were analyzed from 10 bouts involving 12 competitors in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. The coefficients derived from the generalizability analysis (G coefficients) were used to check the accuracy, validity, and reliability of the tool created, while lag-sequential and polar-coordinate analysis were used to determine technical and tactical patterns of TKD athletes. The results showed optimal G coefficients and provide us with objective, valid, and reliable information on the bout situation analyzed, allowing us to extrapolate the data from our results to the sample population. The lag-sequential and polar-coordinate analyses showed that the competitors scored one point through direct attacks with linear techniques to the chest and performed circular actions with the back leg before and after scoring one point. Three points are scored by indirect attacks and subsequent counterattacks with spinning kicks to the trunk and head (using linear and circular techniques). These results reveal technical and tactical implications derived from the latest modifications of the regulations of this sport, as well as the need to adapt athletes' training for the next Olympic Games.

Efectividad del biofeedback electromiográfico en la rehabilitación de lesiones deportivas / Electromyographic biofeedback effectiveness in rehabilitation of sports injuries

The use of electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) in injury rehabilitation is amply referenced in psychological literature. Despite the pioneering work in the early eighties, in sports, it has hardly transcended its usage in sports injury rehabilitation. A study of twelve cases on professional players from the Spanish league grouped into two different types of pathologies (fractures in the upper limbs and knee injuries) that have been treated to EMG-BF parallel with an established rehabilitation plan is presented by each club’s medical team. An ABA design is used. Each session is recorded online pre and post to determine the EMG gain reached at each point of the session. The procedure is considered to be completed when the player stably reaches criteria established by the hemilateral member. In all cases more than one session tracking is outtaken. All cases include notoriously stable improvements. The overall results support the conclusion that the EMG - BF is effective in these pathologies (AU)

La utilización del biofeedback electromiográfico (BF-EMG) en la rehabilitación de lesiones está sobradamente referenciada en la literatura psicológica. A pesar de los trabajos pioneros en la década de los años ochenta, en el ámbito deportivo, apenas ha transcendido su utilización en la rehabilitación de lesiones deportivas. Se presenta un estudio de doce casos de futbolistas profesionales de la liga española agrupados en dos tipos de patologías distintas (fracturas en los miembros superiores y lesiones de rodilla) que han sido sometidos a un tratamiento de BF-EMG, paralelo al plan de rehabilitación establecido por los servicios médicos de cada club. Se utiliza un diseño ABA. En cada sesión se registra una línea pre y post que permite determinar la ganancia EMG adquirida en cada punto de la sesión. La intervención se da por finalizada cuando el futbolista alcanza de forma estable el criterio establecido por el miembro hemilateral. En todos los casos se realiza una sesión más de seguimiento. Todos los casos presentan mejorías notorias y estables. Los resultados globales permiten considerar que el BF-EMG es eficaz en estas patogías (AU)

Psicología y fútbol profesional: caracterización de un reto pendiente / Psychology and professional football: characterization of a hanging challenge

La relación entre la psicología y el fútbol debe ser revisada con el fin de lograr un ajuste óptimo. En este trabajo se hace una revisión y carazterización de la misma desde el trabajo desarrollado por el autor en distintos clubs de fútbol profesional. en este trabajo sa apuntan también las cuestiones pendientes que debe resolver la psicología en relación al fútbol y viceversa(AU)

The relation between the psychology and the football must be checked in order to achieve an ideal adjustment. In this work a review is done and carazterización of the same one from the work developed by the author in different clubs of professional football. In this work sa aim also at the hanging questions that the psychology must solve in relation to the football and vice versa (AU)