European Journal of Sport Sciences

A Physiological Approach to Cardio-endurance Training: Indicators of Optimal Parasympathetic Input on Cardiovascular Regulation are Better Predictors of Running Performance of Distance Runners

2023-07-26T00:40:16-04:00

Poorly organized training schedules that are not focused on optimizing the cardiopulmonary fitness of the runner may lead to negative outcomes in their performance. Further, reduced cardiopulmonary fitness of a distance runner may lead to an imbalance of sympathetic and parasympathetic inputs of cardiac autonomic regulation. This altered balance of the regulation of the heart may recur as a vicious cycle, further hampering the runner's performance. The study assessed the effects of specialized training programs on the remodeling of cardiac autonomic regulation in relation to improving cardiopulmonary fitness and running performance of Sri Lankan male distance runners (N = 22). Before the intervention, runners were found to have more sympathetic dominancy on cardiac autonomic regulation along with suboptimal cardiopulmonary fitness level and suboptimal performance. After the intervention, more parasympathetic dominancy in cardiac autonomic regulation and improved cardiopulmonary fitness parameters were achieved. Post-intervention race timing of long-distance runners was significantly improved (p < 0.05) compared to the pre-intervention race timing irrespective of lower VO_2peak level. The specialized training program used in this study optimized the parasympathetic dominancy of the autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system of the Sri Lankan national long-distance runners. The runners were able to record significantly improved race timing after the specialized training intervention even though their VO_2peak level was dropped. Thus, it is concluded that achieving parasympathetic dominant cardiac autonomic regulation is a better indicator than achieving higher VO_2max levels given the performance of distance runners.

The Image of Physical Education Teachers and Their Class as Seen by Teachers of Other Disciplines

2023-08-05T05:27:43-04:00

The image of a given professional group is the way they are perceived by members of another group, which translates directly into relations as well as attitudes towards them. How teachers and the discipline they teach are perceived is a significant factor that influences relations and atmosphere in the small school community. In the case of Physical Education (PE) teachers in Cypriot secondary schools, things might be different since they are dressed differently, they spend most of the time in the schoolyard or in the gym, they never carry books or homework, and so on. Various opinions are expressed, from time to time, about themselves and their class by teachers of other disciplines. These opinions vary from negative on one end to positive on the other. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the image of PE teachers and their classes in Cypriot secondary schools, as seen by teachers of other disciplines. For that purpose, 132 secondary school teachers (78 women and 54 men) of various disciplines were randomly selected to participate in this study. Teachers were recruited from secondary schools from all over Cyprus and were interviewed in their school settings during their free time. For the conduct of the interviews, a questionnaire was prepared with open-closed type questions, which consisted of 2 parts: The first part concerned the teacher, and the second concerned the physical education class. The duration of each interview was approximately 30 minutes. In the first part, teachers were asked about their relationships with the PE teacher, how they see him/her as a professional, how easy he/she is in his/her relationship with them, etc., while in the second part, they were asked about the importance of physical education, whether they believed that the class was as important as other disciplines in students’ education and others. The data were analyzed using the method of continuous comparison and analytical induction and showed that three different views prevail about PE teachers and their class: 1) They are colleagues who have no difficulties in their work, are somewhat distant from other colleagues and their class does not have much to offer, 2) They are colleagues who easily develop good relationships with colleagues of other disciplines. However, their contribution to students’ education through their class is not like that of other disciplines, and 3) They are well-intentioned colleagues, always available, easy to work with, who contribute significantly through their class like any other colleague, but with different duties, due to the nature of their class. Teachers of other disciplines are often influenced either by personal experiences of the past, forming a positive or negative image, or by individual cases in their school. Although PE teachers do not have anything to prove at school, since they have to be transferred to a different school every eight years, according to the Cypriot Education System and colleagues of other disciplines do not know them as professionals, many times they have to prove themselves in other colleagues’ eyes through their work, in order to allow them to form positive perceptions of themselves as professionals and the contribution of their class to the overall student education.

Attitudes towards Concussion among Elite Irish Track Cyclists

2023-09-23T16:10:43-04:00

Concussion has become a widely discussed topic within scientific research and mainstream media in recent years due to the associated potential adverse health outcomes (McCrory et al., 2017). Within cycling, it is estimated that between one and 9% of injuries are concussions (Decock et al., 2016). O’Reilly et al. (2020) examined behaviour towards concussion among cyclists from various disciplines, including track cycling. Their study identified a lack of knowledge as a barrier to medical attention. In the absence of exclusive research, in addition to the high-risk nature of the sport, the barriers and facilitators affecting concussion reporting among track cyclists were investigated in this study. Underpinned by a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were carried out with eight track cyclists competing internationally for Ireland (duration between 20 to 25 minutes). Interview questions focused on participants’ experiences with and attitudes towards concussion and perceived barriers and facilitators influencing concussion reporting behaviours. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, which included an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach. Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Athlete Mindset, (2) Concussion Awareness, (3) Support Systems, and (4) Screening Protocol. Practical applied recommendations include increasing access to education amongst track cyclists in addition to coaches, swannies and medical personnel. Future interventions should also seek to reduce negative perceptions towards reporting concussions and increase awareness of the dangers of concussion and the necessity of appropriate concussion protocol and management among athletes, coaches, swannies and medical personnel. Future research should seek to (1) examine coaches’ perceptions of concussion and how these perceptions are communicated and expressed to athletes and (2) explore concussion management protocol compliance within track cycling.