European Journal of Sport Sciences

Carbon Racing Wheelchair Frames: Trespassing Technological Unfairness?

Santiago Sanz-Quinto, Gabriel Brizuela, Juan Manuel Alonso — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This study aimed to compare the performance at World Marathon Majors of three types of racing wheelchair frame materials: Aluminum (Alu), mixed Carbon-Aluminum (CA), and carbon (Carb). Three elite wheelchair athletes (wheelers) (1 male and 2 females) were chosen for the performance analysis, which was conducted on 117 marathons (Alu, n = 49; AC, n = 25; Carb, n = 43). Compared to Alu and CA, Carb was significantly faster (249.18 ± 168.39 s or 4.07%; p = 0.001; Effect size = 0.89) and (388.60 ± 224.06 s or 6.34%; p = 0.0001; Effect size = 0.93), respectively. In addition, no interactions were observed (p > 0.05) between the material of the frame and i) the course profile, ii) the steadiness of intensity, iii) the elevation gained from the start to the finish line, and iv) the surface quality. However, Carb frames behavior in Majors, in which there are remarkable descent sections were 6.9% faster or 412.4 s (effect size = 0.64) relative to Alu, showing an even greater advantage with CA (7.6% or 455.4 s; effect size = 0.63). In conclusion and considering the remarkable advantage in terms of performance that Carb frames confer to elite-wheelers compared to those who use Alu and CA frames, as also the unaffordable price of Carb racing wheelchairs for most elite-wheelers, we advocate for consideration of strict regulations (i.e., do not allow the use of Carb frames at sanctioned marathons) by the government body of this sport IPC Athletics.

Variation in Psychological Profiles of Young Tennis Players, Boys, and Girls Aged 11–14

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

This study aimed to investigate the psychological profile of young tennis players aged 11–14 years old. A total of 40 U’11 to U’14 category tennis players, 20 males and 20 females, participated in this study. The study used the ITF (International Tennis Federation) questionnaire to discover the psychological characteristics needed for a successful tournament play, and it was the following: motivation, commitment, fighting spirit, concertation, emotional control, control of behavior and thoughts, self-confidence, mental preparation for a match, psychological match momentum, and match analysis. The results for the answers of the boys showed a statistically significant interaction of the factors with (F₂₂, ₂₂ = 0.001, p < 0.05), with regard to the majority of responses, “Slightly good” was selected 39 times, accounting for 21.67% of the total, “Fairly good” was selected 75 times, accounting for 41,67%, and “Very good” was selected 43 times, accounting for 23.89%. The results for the answers of the girls showed a statistically significant interaction of the factors with (F₂₂, ₂₂ = 0.001, p < 0.05). With regard to the majority of responses, “Slightly good” was selected 40 times, accounting for 22.22% of the total, “Fairly good” was selected 70 times, accounting for 37.77%, and “Very good” was selected 53 times, accounting for 29.44%. Differences in responses were observed between boys and girls, and more specifically, the girls were more motivated to commit to the sport of tennis and to give their best effort when playing tennis. In terms of concentration, the boys showed that they could concentrate at a better level than the girls during the match, but the girls had higher grades to control their emotions while playing tennis. Also, the girls showed a higher ability to control their behavior than that of the boys. On the other hand, the boys showed with their answers more confidence and less anxiety than the girls. As well, the boys were more mentally prepared for the match than the girls and had the ability to control the momentum of a match with higher percentages. Finally, in the ability to analyze and learn from a match, boys and girls varied in the same percentages. Therefore, coaches and sports psychologists should take the results of our research seriously so they can help tennis athletes of these ages.

How Important is Tennis Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools? The Opinion of Teachers of Physical Education in Greece

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In many countries around the world, tennis is taught in schools. Is Greece ready to introduce the teaching of tennis in both primary and secondary education? Physical education teachers from all over the country answered this question after first attending a seminar that would help them teach the sport of tennis in their schools. Our research had two objectives. The first objective was to evaluate the seminar by the physical education teachers, and the second objective was to find out if they think tennis can be added to the physical education curriculum at school. The results of our study for the first purpose, which was to evaluate the seminar they attended, showed that physical education teachers were very positive in their response, with a percentage of 51.3% agreed and a completely agreed percentage of 43.2%. For the second objective, if they think tennis can be added to the physical education curriculum at school, the answers showed us a high percentage of 53,4% “Agree” and 34,9% “Strongly agree.” The results of our study showed in all the responses that physical education teachers “Agree” to all the questions with a percentage of 52.3% and “Strongly agree” with a percentage of 39.1%. Only 7% selected “Neither agree nor disagree,” 0.5% selected “Disagree,” and 1.1% selected “Strongly disagree.” This showed us that almost everyone was positive about both the seminar project and the teaching of tennis in the school. So, we believe that ways should be found to implement the project, which has only profit to offer to both students and teachers.

Assessment and Prediction of Energy Expenditure: One-Mile Walks and Runs Among African American

Xi Jin, Zhonghui Wang, Mark Loftin — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Among ethnicities, African Americans exhibit the highest prevalence of obesity. A more comprehensive grasp of energy expenditure while walking and running can be instrumental in managing and averting obesity. Regrettably, there is a scarcity of research dedicated to scrutinizing energy expenditure in African Americans during walking and running. Consequently, the primary objective of this study was to contrast energy expenditure disparities during a one-mile walk and run between African Americans of normal-weight and those classified as overweight. Additionally, the secondary aim was to formulate and validate a predictive equation for energy expenditure tailored specifically to African Americans. A total of 68 African American participants were involved in this study, comprising 21 individuals classified as normal-weight walkers, 27 as overweight walkers, and 20 as runners. Energy expenditure was assessed using indirect calorimetry. To compare energy expenditure across these groups, an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was conducted, followed by a post hoc Scheffe test. Linear regression analysis was employed for predicting energy expenditure. Additionally, a dependent t-test and a Chow test were utilized for cross-validating the predictive equation. The findings revealed that runners exhibited significantly higher energy expenditure compared to normal-weight walkers. When energy expenditure was normalized to body weight, runners expended significantly more energy than both normal-weight and overweight walkers. However, when expressed relative to fat-free mass, normal-weight walkers expended less energy than runners and overweight walkers. A prediction equation tailored specifically for African Americans was formulated as follows: EE = 1.012 BW − 9.233 Gender (M = 1, F = 2) + 47.188. The results from cross-validation tests confirmed the validity of this equation. Consequently, we recommend the use of this energy expenditure prediction equation for calculating energy expenditure during one-mile walks or runs for African American adults, whether they fall within the normal-weight or overweight categories.

The Role of Ultrasound Investigation in Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture

Bukola Veronica Bolarinwa, Darren P. Moloney, Evin Doyle, Thomas Bayer — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the reliability of ultrasound in differentiating between partial and complete TA ruptures. It also aims to establish whether ultrasound findings of TA ruptures are in accordance with intraoperative findings.
Method: The authors identified all cases of Achilles tendon rupture treated operatively in a unit over the course of the year. Charts were reviewed retrospectively to identify whether cases had undergone ultrasound. Intraoperative findings and ultrasound reports were compared.
Results: 49 cases of Achilles tendon rupture were diagnosed and treated operatively. 23 cases underwent ultrasound of the tendoachilles preoperatively. 8 were reported as partial ruptures. All cases were found to be complete rupture intraoperatively. The sensitivity of ultrasound in establishing completeness of tendoachilles rupture is 63.5%.
Conclusion: Ultrasound differentiation of complete vs partial ruptures is not a useful differentiator.