PeerJ
August 2024
Background: Jumping and landing tests are frequently used as a tool to assess muscle function. However, they are performed in a controlled and predictable environment. The physical tests commonly used as part of the criteria for return to sport after injury are often performed with little or no cognitive load and low coordinative demand compared to game-specific actions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere are several tests that provide information about physical fitness and functionality in older adults. The aims of this study were: (i) to analyze the differences between sex and age in functional, strength and cardiorespiratory tests; and (ii) to study the correlations between functional, strength and cardiorespiratory tests according to sex and age. A total of 171 older adults (72.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of an affordable wireless force sensor in measuring mean and peak forces during resistance training.A Suiff Pro wireless force sensor (Suiff, Spain) and a MuscleLab force platform (Ergotest, Norway) were used concurrently to assess tensile load and the ground reaction force resulting from an upright row exercise. Thirteen participants (28.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of a low-cost friction encoder against a criterion measure (strain gauge combined with a linear encoder) for assessing velocity, force and power in flywheel exercise devices. Ten young and physically active volunteers performed two sets of 14 maximal squats on a flywheel inertial device (YoYo Technology, Stockholm, Sweden) with five minutes rest between each set. Two different resistances were used (0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to identify between-position (forwards vs. backs) differences in movement variability in cumulative tackle events training during both attacking and defensive roles. Eleven elite adolescent male rugby league players volunteered to participate in this study (mean ± SD, age; 18.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall differences in turn cycle structure, invisible to the naked eye, could be decisive in improving descent performance. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of turn cycle structure on the performance of elite alpine skiers using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) in different slalom (SL) course settings. Four SL courses were set: a flat-turned (FT), a steep-turned (ST), a flat-straighter (FS) and a steep-straighter (SS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInertial measurement units (IMUs) represent a technology that is booming in sports right now. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a new application on the use of these wearable sensors, specifically to evaluate a magnet-based timing system (M-BTS) for timing short-duration sports actions using the magnetometer built into an IMU in different sporting contexts. Forty-eight athletes (22.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to identify the changes in movement variability and movement velocity during a six-week training period using a resistance horizontal forward-backward task without (NOBALL) or with (BALL) the constraint of catching and throwing a rugby ball in the forward phase. Eleven elite male rugby union players (mean ± SD: age 25.5 ± 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFQuantifying game and training demands in basketball allows to determine player's readiness and optimizes preparation to perform and reduce injury risks. Available research is using tracking technology to perform general descriptions of the game activities at professional levels, but somehow, is not exploring the possibilities of gathering data from new variables that can contribute with complementary information for the coaching staffs. The aim of this study was to identify changes in locomotor ratio, at higher and lower speeds, during the game quarters from elite under-18 basketball teams.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The aim of this study was to describe the physical demands during U18 elite basketball games according to the game quarter and to identify a smaller subset of variables and threshold scores that distinguish players' physical performance in each quarter.
Methods: Data was collected from ninety-four players who participated in the study (age: 17.4 ± 0.
The aims of this study were (a) to compare players' physical demands between different playing positions in elite U18 basketball games and (b) to identify different clusters of performance. Data were collected from 94 male subjects (age: 17.4 ± 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of unstable surfaces during resistance training has demonstrated a maintenance or reduction on force production. However, the use of unstable surface on force variability has not been assessed using non-linear methods that may be better suited to detect changes in movement variability throughout a given movement. Consequently, this study compared the use of stable vs unstable surfaces on force variability during bilateral squats performed with an inertial flywheel device (Eccoteck, Byomedic System SCP, Spain).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study described the variability in acceleration during a resistance training task, performed in horizontal inertial flywheels without (NOBALL) or with the constraint of catching and throwing a rugby ball (BALL).
Design And Methods: Twelve elite rugby players (mean±SD: age 25.6±3.