SCB-YOLOv5: a lightweight intelligent detection model for athletes' normative movements.

Intelligent detection of athlete behavior is beneficial for guiding sports instruction. Existing mature target detection algorithms provide significant support for this task. However, large-scale target detection algorithms often encounter more challenges in practical application scenarios. We propose SCB-YOLOv5, to detect standardized movements of gymnasts. First, the movements of aerobics athletes were captured, labeled using the labelImg software, and utilized to establish the athlete normative behavior dataset, which was then enhanced by the dataset augmentation using Mosaic9. Then, we improved the YOLOv5 by (1) incorporating the structures of ShuffleNet V2 and convolutional block attention module to reconstruct the Backbone, effectively reducing the parameter size while maintaining network feature extraction capability; (2) adding a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network into the multiscale feature fusion, to acquire precise channel and positional information through the global receptive field of feature maps. Finally, SCB-YOLOv5 was lighter by 56.9% than YOLOv5. The detection precision is 93.7%, with a recall of 99% and mAP value of 94.23%. This represents a 3.53% improvement compared to the original algorithm. Extensive experiments have verified that our method. SCB-YOLOv5 can meet the requirements for on-site athlete action detection. Our code and models are available at https://github.com/qingDu1/SCB-YOLOv5 .

Gender comparison of perceptual-cognitive learning in young athletes.

Elite athletes demonstrate higher perceptual cognitive abilities compared to non-athletes and those capacities can be trained. A recent study showed that differences were observed between male and female athletes in their cognitive abilities whereby male athletes showed superior perceptual abilities compared to female athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there were gender differences in athletes' perceptual cognitive learning using a 3D-MOT tracking task. The study was performed on 72 young people from 16 to 22 years of age; athlete males and females and non-athlete males and females were distributed in four distinct groups. Five sessions comprised of three thresholds were performed with each participant. Results indicated that all participants benefited from training and significantly increased their speed thresholds. Initial scores showed that male athletes achieved higher speed thresholds than any other groups. Furthermore, after 5 weeks, female athletes obtained higher speed thresholds in comparison to their non-athlete counterparts. In conclusion, engaging in sporting activity is associated with improved perceptual-cognitive abilities and learning. The results support the notion that competitive sport-related activity is beneficial for perceptual-cognitive functions and emphasizes the benefits of participating in sport-related activities for improved brain function with an even greater impact for females.

Impact of Melatonin Supplementation on Sports Performance and Circulating Biomarkers in Highly Trained Athletes: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5 methoxytryptamine) is an indolic neurohormone that modulates a variety of physiological functions due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to critically review the effects of melatonin supplementation in sports performance and circulating biomarkers related to the health status of highly trained athletes. Data were obtained by performing searches in the following three bibliography databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. The terms used were "Highly Trained Athletes", "Melatonin", and "Sports Performance", "Health Biomarkers" using "Humans" as a filter. The search update was carried out in February 2024 from original articles published with a controlled trial design. The PRISMA rules, the modified McMaster critical review form for quantitative studies, the PEDro scale, and the Cochrane risk of bias were applied. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 articles were selected out of 294 references. The dose of melatonin supplemented in the trials ranged between 5 mg to 100 mg administered before or after exercise. The outcomes showed improvements in antioxidant status and inflammatory response and reversed liver damage and muscle damage. Moderate effects on modulating glycemia, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine were reported. Promising data were found regarding the potential benefits of melatonin in hematological biomarkers, hormonal responses, and sports performance. Therefore, the true efficiency of melatonin to directly improve sports performance remains to be assessed. Nevertheless, an indirect effect of melatonin supplementation in sports performance could be evaluated through improvements in health biomarkers.

The Practice of Weight Loss in Combat Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively assess the weight loss (WL) practices in different combat sports (CS). The review protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO [CRD42023487196]. Three databases were searched (Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and PubMed) until 8 December 2023. Eligible studies had to meet five criteria: they must have been (a) written in English, (b) published in a peer-reviewed journal, (c) used a survey design to investigate the WL practices of CS athletes, and (d) reported the WL methods used by athletes using a five-point scale. Twenty-six studies (3994 participants from 14 CS) were included. This review found that (1) WL is highly prevalent in CS athletes; (2) many CS athletes started losing weight for competition as teenagers two to three times a year; (3) CS athletes usually lose <5% body weight in 7-14 days before competition; (4) increasing exercise and gradually dieting are the most commonly used WL methods; and (5) the influence of scientific practitioners on athletes is negligible. The habitual practices of CS athletes may be relatively harmless, but in some special cases, CS athletes also perform extreme WL practices. Scientific practitioners have little influence on their WL practices, which may form a vicious cycle of non-qualified influence.

ASSESSMENT OF REACTIVITY TO THE BODY UNDER CONDITIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN STUDENTS AGED 17-20 YEARS.

Physical activity is such an essential socio-biological element, which provides a balance between the body and the external environment and contributes to the improvement of metabolic process regulation mechanisms. However, the abuse of physical activity often leads to unwanted changes in the basic physiological processes in the athletes' organism, due to the impact of a variety of reasons. The state of the organism's regulatory systems and the provision of the necessary adaptation of the organism to physical activity are crucial in assessing the athlete's physical fitness. It is known that during physical exertion, the functional state of the organism is determined by a reaction limiting the efficiency of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It was revealed that with long-term physical activity restriction, blood circulation regulatory mechanisms, as well as synocardial reflexes, are disrupted. This research is devoted to the study of students' organism adaptive capabilities depending on the central or autonomous type of vegetative regulation. Registration and analysis of ECG of students by the method of variational heart rate monitoring were carried out. With the help of a special program, the students' heart rate integral indicators were analyzed. All studies were carried out twice: before physical exertion and immediately after physical exertion. In this study, we aimed to explore the adaptive capabilities of students bodies depending on the central or autonomous type of autonomic regulation. Three types of response to physical activity have been identified: optimal, paradoxical, and atypical. In all types of reactions, a certain level and direction of intensity of the processes of regulation of the athletes' organism is expressed. The study of the distinctive features of vegetative regulation makes it possible to assess athletes' organism functional state better and determine violations of their adaptive capabilities. According to the research results, based on the primary signs of the athletes' organism adaptive capabilities and the corresponding reaction, it is possible to determine the optimal dose of physical exertion for athletes.

Semiconducting polymer dots based l-lactate sensor by enzymatic cascade reaction system.

BACKGROUND: l-lactate detection is important for not only assessing exercise intensity, optimizing training regimens, and identifying the lactate threshold in athletes, but also for diagnosing conditions like L-lactateosis, monitoring tissue hypoxia, and guiding critical care decisions. Moreover, l-lactate has been utilized as a biomarker to represent the state of human health. However, the sensitivity of the present l-lactate detection technique is inadequate. RESULTS: Here, we reported a sensitive ratiometric fluorescent probe for l-lactate detection based on platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) doped semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots-Pt) with enzymatic cascade reaction. With the help of an enzyme cascade reaction, the l-lactate was continuously oxidized to pyruvic and then reduced back to l-lactate for the next cycle. During this process, oxygen and NADH were continuously consumed, which increased the red fluorescence of Pdots-Pt that responded to the changes of oxygen concentration and decreased the blue fluorescence of NADH at the same time. By comparing the fluorescence intensities at these two different wavelengths, the concentration of l-lactate was accurately measured. With the optimal conditions, the probes showed two linear detection ranges from 0.5 nM to 5.0 µM and 5.0 µM-50.0 µM for l-lactate detection. The limit of detection was calculated to be 0.18 nM by 3σ/slope method. Finally, the method shows good detection performance of l-lactate in both bovine serum and artificial serum samples, indicating its potential usage for the selective analysis of l-lactate for health monitoring and disease diagnosis. SIGNIFICANCE: The successful application of the sensing system in the complex biological sample (bovine serum and artificial serum samples) demonstrated that this method could be used for sensitive l-lactate detection in practical clinical applications. This detection system provided an extremely low detection limit, which was several orders of magnitude lower than methods proposed in other literatures.

First international consensus statement on sports psychiatry.

Sports psychiatry is a young field of medicine and psychiatry that focuses on mental health among athletes, and sports and exercise within psychiatry and mental disorders. However, the development of sports psychiatry and its fields of activity vary from region to region and are not uniform yet. Sports psychiatry and the role of sports psychiatrists have also already been discussed in the field of sports and exercise medicine, and within medical teams in competitive and elite sports. A uniform definition on sports psychiatry, its fields of activity, sports psychiatrist, and the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities (plus attitudes, eKSA+A) of the sports psychiatrist were developed as part of an International Society for Sports Psychiatry (ISSP) Summit, as well as First International Consensus Statement on Sports Psychiatry. Three fields of activity can be distinguished within sports psychiatry: (i) mental health and disorders in competitive and elite sports, (ii) sports and exercise in prevention of and treatment for mental disorders, and (iii) mental health and sport-specific mental disorders in recreational sports. Each of these fields have its own eKSA+A. The definitions on sports psychiatry and sports psychiatrists, as well as the framework of eKSA+A in the different fields of activity of sports psychiatrists will help to unify and standardize the future development of sports psychiatry, establish a standard of service within sports psychiatry and together with the neighboring disciplines, and should be included into current, and future sports psychiatry education and training.

The effect of repeated concussions on clinical and neurocognitive symptom severity in different contact sports.

INTRODUCTION: The potential consequences of repeated concussions in sport are well documented. However, it remains unclear whether the cumulative impact of sports-related concussions differs between different contact sports. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the cumulative effects of sports-related concussions on clinical and neurocognitive health in different contact sports. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective multicenter study, we examined 507 (74 females) active professional athletes between 18 and 40 years of age from five different contact sports (soccer, handball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey). Data collection involved concussion history, clinical symptom evaluation, neurocognitive assessment, and the collection of other sports-related information. Composite scores were built for clinical symptoms (such as neck pain and balance disturbances) and for neurocognitive symptoms (such as memory and attention impairments). RESULTS: Athletes having suffered 3+ concussions in the past showed disproportionally higher clinical symptom severity than athletes with less than three concussions across all sports. The level of clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions indicated mild impairment. The number of past concussions did not affect neurocognitive performance. DISCUSSION: Repeated sports-related concussions appear to have a cumulative impact on clinical-but not cognitive-symptom severity. Although clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions in the past was not alarmingly high yet in our sample, increased caution should be advised at this point. Despite few exceptions, results are similar for different contact sports, suggesting a similar multidisciplinary concussion management across all types of sport.

Clavicle fracture and triathlon performance: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Collarbone fracture is a common injury, particularly among athletes involved in contact sports and participating in endurance activities. Conventional treatment requires surgery and postoperative immobilization, resulting in an average return-to-sport timeframe of approximately 13 weeks. This case challenges the established treatment protocols, aiming to expedite recovery and enable a quicker resumption of high-intensity athletic activities. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old Caucasian athlete completed a Half-Ironman Triathlon (70.3) merely three weeks post-collarbone fracture. Utilizing Extracorporeal Magneto-Transduction Therapy (EMTT) alongside surgical intervention, the patient achieved accelerated healing and remarkable performance outcomes without encountering any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The integration of EMTT into the treatment paradigm for bone fractures alters the traditional understanding of recovery timelines and rehabilitation strategies. This case highlights the potential benefits of electromagnetic wave therapy in expediting the healing process and enabling athletes to resume high-level sports activities at an earlier stage.

The effect of task load, information reliability and interdependency on anticipation performance.

In sport, coaches often explicitly provide athletes with stable contextual information related to opponent action preferences to enhance anticipation performance. This information can be dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information that only emerges during the sequence of play (e.g. opponent positioning). The interdependency between contextual information sources, and the associated cognitive demands of integrating information sources during anticipation, has not yet been systematically examined. We used a temporal occlusion paradigm to alter the reliability of contextual and kinematic information during the early, mid- and final phases of a two-versus-two soccer anticipation task. A dual-task paradigm was incorporated to investigate the impact of task load on skilled soccer players' ability to integrate information and update their judgements in each phase. Across conditions, participants received no contextual information (control) or stable contextual information (opponent preferences) that was dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information (opponent positioning). As predicted, participants used reliable contextual and kinematic information to enhance anticipation. Further exploratory analysis suggested that increased task load detrimentally affected anticipation accuracy but only when both reliable contextual and kinematic information were available for integration in the final phase. This effect was observed irrespective of whether the stable contextual information was dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information. Findings suggest that updating anticipatory judgements in the final phase of a sequence of play based on the integration of reliable contextual and kinematic information requires cognitive resources.

Eccentric Hamstring Strength Imbalance among Football and Soccer Athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) are common among football and soccer athletes. Eccentric strength imbalance is considered a contributing factor for HSI. There is, however, a paucity of data on hamstring imbalances of soccer and American football athletes as they age and advance in skill level. High school athletes will display greater interlimb discrepancies compared with collegiate and professional athletes. In addition, soccer athletes will exhibit greater hamstring asymmetry than American football athletes. METHODS: Hamstring testing was performed on soccer and American football athletes using the NordBord Hamstring Testing System (Vald Performance, Albion, Australia). Age, sex, weight, sport specialization, and sport level were recorded. Maximum hamstring forces (N), torque (N · m), and work (N · s) were measured. Hamstring imbalance (%) was calculated by dividing the absolute value of the difference in leg forces divided by their sum. One-way analysis of variance and independent sample t tests compared measurements between athlete groups. RESULTS: A total of 631 athletes completed measurements, including 88 high school male soccer, 25 college male soccer, 23 professional male soccer, 83 high school female soccer, 28 college female soccer, 288 high school football, and 96 college football athletes. High school soccer players displayed significantly greater imbalances for torque (P = 0.03) and work (P < 0.01) than football athletes. Imbalances for maximum force (P = 0.035), torque (P = 0.018), and work (P = 0.033) were significantly higher for male soccer athletes in high school compared with college- and professional-level athletes. Female high school soccer players had significantly higher imbalance in torque (P = 0.045) and work (P = 0.001) compared with female collegiate soccer players. Football athletes did not experience significant changes in force imbalances between skill levels. CONCLUSIONS: High school soccer athletes exhibit greater hamstring imbalances than football athletes. Higher levels of play in soccer, for both male and female athletes, correlate with less hamstring asymmetry.

Changes in red blood cell parameters during incremental exercise in highly trained athletes of different sport specializations.

Background: During physical exercise, the level of hematological parameters change depending on the intensity and duration of exercise and the individual's physical fitness. Research results, based on samples taken before and after exercise, suggest that hematological parameters increase during incremental exercise. However, there is no data confirming this beyond any doubt. This study examined how red blood cell (RBC) parameters change during the same standard physical exertion in athletes representing different physiological training profiles determined by sport discipline. Methods: The study included 39 highly trained male members of national teams: 13 futsal players, 12 sprinters, and 14 triathletes. We used multiple blood sampling to determine RBC, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) before, during (every 3 min), and after (5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min) an incremental treadmill exercise test until exhaustion. Results: There were no significant exercise-induced differences in RBC parameters between athletic groups. No significant changes were recorded in RBC parameters during the low-intensity phase of exercise. RBC, Hb, and Hct increased significantly during incremental physical exercise, and rapidly returned to resting values upon test termination. Conclusions: The general pattern of exercise-induced changes in RBC parameters is universal regardless of the athlete's physiological profile. The changes in RBC parameters are proportional to the intensity of exercise during the progressive test. The increase in hemoglobin concentration associated with the intensity of exercise is most likely an adaptation to the greater demand of tissues, mainly skeletal muscles, for oxygen.

Co-creation of injury prevention measures for competitive adolescent distance runners: knowledge, behavior, and needs of athletes and coaches enrolled on England Athletics' Youth Talent Programme.

This study assessed the knowledge, behavior, and needs of competitive adolescent (16-18 years) distance runners and distance running coaches enrolled as part of England Athletics' Youth Talent Programme in relation to the prevention of running-related injury (RRI). Two online surveys were developed and distributed to the distance runners (survey one) and coaches (survey two). Both surveys included sections related to: (1) current knowledge; (2) current behavior; (3) need and support for RRI prevention measures; and (4) possible content and form of RRI prevention measures. A total of 39 distance runners (36% of total possible sample) completed survey 1, and 29 coaches (32% of total possible sample) completed survey 2. Key findings included that the majority of distance runners and coaches: (1) agreed that it is 'very important' to try to prevent RRI; (2) are currently implementing something in practice (e.g., strength training) to prevent RRI; and (3) view the creation of RRI prevention measures as an important initiative. Differences between distance runners and coaches were identified in relation to their understanding of the most common causes of RRI. Interestingly, distance runners identified a modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., too much training) as the most common cause of RRI, while coaches selected a non-modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., growth and maturation). These key findings were supplemented by competitive adolescent runners and distance running coaches detailing their delivery preferences for such RRI prevention measures. Results from this study will help inform subsequent steps of the larger co-creation process, with an emphasis on developing multifaceted and context-specific RRI prevention measures that are deemed to be feasible and acceptable for real-world implementation.

The majority of competitive adolescent distance runners and distance running coaches who took part in this study agreed that it is 'very important' to try to prevent RRI and view the creation of RRI prevention measures as an important initiative.Alongside this support, interesting differences between the distance runners and coaches were also identified, including, for example: (1) their understanding of the most common causes of RRI and (2) their preferences about where and when to complete RRI prevention measures.Results from this study will help inform subsequent steps of the larger co-creation process, with an emphasis on developing multifaceted and context-specific RRI prevention measures that are deemed to be feasible and acceptable for real-world implementation.

The results of the corrective rehabilitation program on the gait of amateur athletes with long-term consequences of brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study the results of the quality of life, the state of vestibular disorders and the nature of walking of amateur athletes with the consequences of a combat craniocerebral injury after rehabilitation treatment according to a correctional program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on the basis of the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Prosthetics in Kharkov. Under observation were 38 men aged 25-42 years with long-term consequences of a closed craniocerebral injury in the late long-term period. In all patients, complications after TBI were persistent headache, decreased muscle strength in the lower extremities, impaired coordination and balance, and walking patterns. All patients were involved in amateur sports before injury. The following research methods were used during the examination: visual analogue pain scale (VAS), Lovett manual muscle test, Bohannon test, ≪Timed Up and Go test≫. RESULTS: Results: All patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients Gr.1 (n=20) were trained according to the developed program, which included training according to the PNF method, kinesiotherapy, classes on the C-mill sensory treadmill and the Hunova computer device, segmental reflex massage. Patients Gr. 2 (n=18) underwent a course of physical rehabilitation according to the generally accepted methodology of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. After working with patients according to the developed correction and rehabilitation program, the following dynamics were observed: the quality of life on the VAS scale in Gr.1 patients had a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) compared to the primary indicator. The dynamics of the Lovett manual muscle test indicated an increase in the muscle strength of the extensor and flexor muscle groups of the lower extremities, the dynamics of the balance indicator in the standing position behind Bohann in all Gr.1 patients and acquired statistical significance (p<0,05). According to the test "Timed Up and Go" patients Gr.1 approached the standard value (p<0,05). In all patients of Gr. 2, the studied characteristics had a positive trend (p>0,05). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Individual selection of physical exercises, development of correctional and rehabilitation programs, multidisciplinary approach has a positive impact on changes in the functional state of amateur athletes, quality of life and contributes to the return to an active social life.

Ethnic Differences in Survival among Brazilian Modern-era Olympic Medalists from 1920 to 1992: A Cohort Study. / Diferenças Étnicas na Sobrevida entre Medalhistas Olímpicos Brasileiros da Era Moderna de 1920 a 1992: Um Estudo de Coorte.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in health outcomes among racial groups warrant investigation, even among elite athletes. Therefore, understanding the impact of race upon post-medal survival in Brazilian Olympians becomes essential. OBJECTIVE: To compare post-medal survival between white and non-white Brazilian Olympic medalists from 1920 to 1992. METHODS: This study used publicly available data for a retrospective cohort study on all Brazilian Olympic medalists from 1920 to 1992 (males only). Athletes were classified into white and non-white groups using structured ethnicity determination. Kaplan-Meier analyses computed the restricted mean survival time (RMST) for each ethnic group. A Cox proportional hazards analysis assessed ethnicity-based survival differences, adjusting for medal-winning age and birth year (p<0.05). RESULTS: Among 123 athletes (73.9% white), the mean age of medal achievement was 25.03±4.8 years. During the study, 18.7% of white and 37.5% of non-white athletes died (p=0.031). White athletes had a mean age at death of 75.10±18.01 years, while non-white athletes had an age of 67.13±14.90 years (p=0.109). The RMST for white athletes was 51.59 (95% CI 49.79-53.39) years, while for non-white athletes, it was 45.026 (95% CI 41.31-48.74) years, resulting in a ΔRMST of 6.56 (95% CI 2.43-10.70; p=0.0018). Multivariate analysis showed that non-white athletes had a higher mortality risk than did white athletes (HR 5.58; 95% CI, 2.18-14.31). CONCLUSION: Following their first medal, white Brazilian Olympians typically enjoy a six-year longer lifespan than their non-white counterparts, illustrating a marked mortality gap and health disparities among healthy individuals in Brazil.

FUNDAMENTO: As disparidades nos resultados de saúde entre grupos raciais merecem investigação, mesmo em atletas de elite. Portanto, compreender o impacto da raça na sobrevida pós-medalha em atletas olímpicos brasileiros torna-se essencial. OBJETIVO: Comparar a sobrevida pós-medalha entre medalhistas olímpicos brasileiros brancos e não brancos de 1920 a 1992. MÉTODOS: Utilizamos dados disponíveis publicamente para um estudo de coorte retrospectivo de todos os medalhistas olímpicos brasileiros de 1920 a 1992 (somente homens). Os atletas foram classificados nos grupos brancos e não brancos usando determinação estruturada de etnia. As análises de Kaplan-Meier calcularam o tempo médio de sobrevida restrito (TMSR) para cada grupo étnico. Uma análise de riscos proporcionais de Cox avaliou as diferenças de sobrevida baseadas na etnia, ajustando para a idade da conquista da medalha e ano de nascimento (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: Entre 123 atletas (73,9% brancos), a idade média da conquista de medalhas foi de 25,03 ± 4,8 anos. Durante o estudo, 18,7% dos atletas brancos e 37,5% dos atletas não brancos morreram (p=0,031). Os atletas brancos tiveram média de idade ao óbito de 75,10 ± 18,01 anos, enquanto os atletas não brancos tiveram idade média de 67,13 ± 14,90 anos (p=0,109). O TMSR para atletas brancos foi de 51,59 (IC 95%, 49,79 - 53,39) anos, e para atletas não brancos foi de 45,026 (IC 95%, 41,31 - 48,74) anos, resultando em um ΔTMSR de 6,56 (IC 95%, 2,43 - 10,70; p=0,0018). A análise multivariada mostrou que atletas não brancos apresentavam maior risco de mortalidade do que atletas brancos (RC 5,58; IC 95%, 2,18 - 14,31). CONCLUSÃO: Após a primeira medalha, os atletas olímpicos brasileiros brancos normalmente desfrutam de uma expectativa de vida seis anos mais longa do que seus colegas não brancos, ilustrando uma acentuada diferença de mortalidade e disparidades de saúde entre indivíduos saudáveis no Brasil.

Essential elements of physical fitness analysis in male adolescent athletes using machine learning.

Physical fitness (PF) includes various factors that significantly impacts athletic performance. Analyzing PF is critical in developing customized training methods for athletes based on the sports in which they compete. Previous approaches to analyzing PF have relied on statistical or machine learning algorithms that focus on predicting athlete injury or performance. In this study, six machine learning algorithms were used to analyze the PF of 1,489 male adolescent athletes across five sports, including track & field, football, baseball, swimming, and badminton. Furthermore, the machine learning models were utilized to analyze the essential elements of PF using feature importance of XGBoost, and SHAP values. As a result, XGBoost represents the highest performance, with an average accuracy of 90.14, an area under the curve of 0.86, and F1-score of 0.87, demonstrating the similarity between the sports. Feature importance of XGBoost, and SHAP value provided a quantitative assessment of the relative importance of PF in sports by comparing two sports within each of the five sports. This analysis is expected to be useful in analyzing the essential PF elements of athletes in various sports and recommending personalized exercise methods accordingly.

Developing and implementing survivor-centred approaches for college student-athletes: perspectives from athletic department, Title IX, and campus advocacy personnel.

ABSTRACTBackground: Sexual violence (SV) is a persistent issue on US college campuses, particularly among college student-athletes. Strategies to address SV are urgently needed. Yet, prior research shows that many university practices can be more harmful than helpful to SV survivors and necessitates a reimagination of how institutions support SV survivors. Survivor-centred approaches may be one way to effectively address SV for students, including student-athletes, across college campuses.Objective: This qualitative study explored campus personnel experiences with and perceptions of survivor-centred SV prevention and intervention policies and practices on college campuses and examined how these approaches serve SV survivors, including college student-athletes.Methods: As part of a larger study on campus SV and student-athletes across four institutions, semi-structured interviews with 22 representatives from athletic departments, campus advocacy, and Title IX were conducted. Guided by phenomenology, a thematic analysis approach was used to identify key patterns in survivor-centred SV prevention and intervention policies and practices. Participant demographic data were analysed descriptively.Results: Most participants identified as white (72.2%), heterosexual (63.6%), women (68.2%), and were an average of 41.8 years old (SD = 10.2). The majority were in positions associated with athletic departments (63.6%), and they had been in their role for an average of 5.6 years (SD = 6.6). Through thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: (1) education & accessibility; (2) interpersonal relationships & individual well-being; and (3) campus and societal norms.Conclusions: The findings from this study highlight clear policy and practice recommendations for survivor-centred SV prevention and intervention on college campuses, such as accessible, applicable SV training and the implementation of survivor-centred approaches. Further research is needed to understand existing survivor-centred practices and the facilitators and barriers to their implementation across institutions and within athletic departments.

Sexual violence is a persistent issue on US college campuses, particularly among college student-athletes. Strategies to address SV are urgently needed. Survivor-centred approaches may offer solutions to better serve survivors of sexual violence, including student-athletes.Through interviews with athletic department, Title IX, and campus advocacy personnel, three themes were identified related to developing and implementing survivor-centred approaches: (1) education & accessibility; (2) interpersonal relationships & individual well-being; and (3) campus and societal norms.Further research is needed to understand existing survivor-centred practices and the facilitators and barriers to their implementation across institutions, particularly for college student-athletes.

Statistical shape analysis and computational modeling reveal novel relationships between tibiofemoral bony geometry and knee mechanics in young, female athletes.

Young female athletes participating in sports requiring rapid changes of direction are at heightened risk of suffering traumatic knee injury, especially noncontact rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Clinical studies have revealed that geometric features of the tibiofemoral joint are associated with increased risk of suffering noncontact ACL injury. However, the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) tibiofemoral geometry and knee mechanics in young female athletes is not well understood. We developed a statistically augmented computational modeling workflow to determine relationships between 3D geometry of the knee and tibiofemoral kinematics and ACL force in response to an applied loading sequence of compression, valgus, and anterior force, which is known to load the ACL. This workflow included 3D characterization of tibiofemoral bony geometry via principal component analysis and multibody dynamics models incorporating subject-specific knee geometries. A combination of geometric features of both the tibia and the femur that spanned all three anatomical planes was related to increased ACL force and to increased kinematic coupling (i.e., anterior, medial, and distal tibial translations and internal tibial rotation) in response to the applied loads. In contrast, a uniplanar measure of tibiofemoral geometry that is associated with ACL injury risk, sagittal plane slope of the lateral tibial plateau subchondral bone, was not related to ACL force. Thus, our workflow may aid in developing mechanics-based ACL injury screening tools for young, active females based on a unique combination of bony geometric features that are related to increased ACL loading.

Eating Disorders Risk Assessment and Body Esteem among Amateur and Professional Football Players.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of eating disorders and attitudes toward one's own body among football players at amateur and professional levels. METHODS: The study included 90 players from football clubs located in the Upper Silesia Metropolitan Area, participating in the 4th and 5th leagues in Poland. A survey questionnaire was used to conduct the study, which consisted of a metric section, an Eating Attitudes Test, and Body Esteem Scale questionnaires. The players were divided into two groups according to their sports level. RESULTS: Results showed that 24.4% of players were overweight, while 75.6% had a normative body weight. Approximately 16.7% met the criteria indicating susceptibility to an eating disorder. Body Esteem Scale interpretations revealed moderate body appraisal among players. CONCLUSIONS: Both amateur and professional athletes showed no significant difference in eating disorder risk, but professionals rated their bodies higher. Social media use, particularly on Twitter and Instagram, is correlated with eating disorders, with longer daily use associated with lower body ratings.

Training strategies of 10,074 athletes from 121 countries based on human development index in early COVID-19 lockdown.

The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between changes in training practices and human development index (HDI) levels, and identify strategies employed by athletes who consistently maintained their training quantity during the first 100 days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 10,074 athletes (5290 amateur and 4787 professional athletes from 121 countries) completed an online survey between 17 May to 5 July 2020. We explored their training practices, including specific questions on training frequency, duration and quantity before and during lockdown (March-June 2020), stratified according to the human development index (HDI): low-medium, high, or very high HDI. During the COVID-19 lockdown, athletes in low-medium HDI countries focused on innovative training. Nevertheless, women and amateur athletes experienced a substantial reduction in training activity. Performance-driven athletes and athletes from higher HDI indexed countries, were likely to have more opportunities to diversify training activities during lockdowns, facilitated by the flexibility to perform training away from home. Factors such as lockdown rules, socioeconomic environment, and training education limited training diversification and approaches, particularly in low-medium and high HDI countries. Athletes (amateurs and professionals) who maintained the quantity of training during lockdown appeared to prioritize basic cardiovascular and strength training, irrespective of HDI level. Modifying training and fitness programs may help mitigate the decrease in training activities during lockdowns. Customized training prescriptions based on gender, performance, and HDI level will assist individuals to effectively perform and maintain training activities during lockdowns, or other challenging (lockdown-like) situations.