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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2023) | Viewed by 15978

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jorge López-Fernández

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Guest Editor

School of Sports Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Spain
Interests: adolescents; children; exercise; physical activity; fitness centres; physical inactivity; leisure-time physical activity; public health; occupational health; sedentary behaviour; sitting behaviour; behaviour change

Dr. Alejandro López Valenciano

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Guest Editor

Centre for Sport Studies, King Juan Carlos University, 28028 Madrid, Spain
Interests: physical activity; health; sedentary behaviour

Dr. Marco Gervasi

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Guest Editor

Department of Biomolecular Science, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, Italy
Interests: sport physiology; biomechanics; endurance training; resistance training; sport nutrition

Dr. Eric Martin

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Guest Editor

Kinesiology Department, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93955, USA
Interests: rugby; sports; skill

Dr. George Beckham

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Guest Editor

Kinesiology Department, California State University Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93955, USA
Interests: biomechanics; force production; sports

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

High levels of sedentary behaviour (sitting- or screen-related activities) and low levels of physical activity are unhealthy behaviours adopted by much of the population that lead to major health, social and motor problems. Populations such as infants, children, women, disabled people, people with chronic pathologies and older adults are especially sensitive to these behaviours. Consequently, there is a growing interest from policymakers, practitioners and researchers to promote, invest in and research new actions aimed at unhealthy behaviours among these population groups (new technologies, innovative physical activity programs and preventive actions). Sports science aims to measure and analyze body movements to improve efficiency in sports and promote and merge physiology and psychology in sports settings, thus improving athletes’ performance.

Accordingly, this Special Issue has different topics of interest, as some of them might vary according to the target population. For instance, for the girls' group, potential studies might focus on addressing the Pediatric Inactivity Triad; analysing the impact of extracurricular sports on pubertal and prepubertal girls; studying school-related physical activity levels or sitting time; new technologies and equipment applied to increase PA levels in girls, etc.

In any case, regardless of the analysed population group, potential topics should fit or be related to the following fields: 1) the prevalence of one or more of the identified unhealthy behaviours; 2) the impact of one or more of the identified unhealthy behaviours on people’s health; 3) interventions targeting one or more identified unhealthy behaviours; 4) new tests, protocols or technologies to reduce unhealthy behaviours or increase physical fitness, or other health-related parameters; and 5) new instruments, technologies or equipment applied to sports sciences and health.

Dr. Jorge López-Fernández
Dr. Alejandro López Valenciano
Dr. Marco Gervasi
Dr. Eric Martin
Dr. George Beckham
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

sport and health
exercise and training
biomechanics
adolescents
adults
boys
children
extracurricular sports
engineering
fitness
girls
physical activity
older adults
physical inactivity
pediatric inactivity triad
public health
sedentary behaviour
screen time
sitting behaviour
technology
women
optimization of sports performance by training, technique and/or tactics enhancements
prevention and management of sport injuries
optimization of sports equipment to increase performance and/or decrease the risk of injury
innovations for sports performance, health, and load monitoring

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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10 pages, 5062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Concurrent Validity of Mobile Application for Tracking Tennis Performance

by Zlatan Bilić, Vedran Dukarić, Sara Šanjug, Petar Barbaros and Damir Knjaz

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6195; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106195 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

The SwingVision (SV) application represents software for the automatic analysis of movement and specific parameters in tennis, but no study evaluated its applicability so far. Therefore, the aim of this research is to determine the validity of SwingVision for monitoring speed and placement parameters when performing serve and the frequency, type, and rotation of each stroke in the game. The sample of participants (N = 5) consisted of elite male junior tennis players (mean age 15.6 ± 0.35 years, mean height 179.16 ± 5.71 cm, and mean weight 72.62 ± 3.89 kg). Video analyses of closed and open character exercises were used to compare real data and those obtained using SV. The placement results determined good and very good validity (ICC = 0.83–0.87). In terms of speed, the results were found to have good validity (Speed_AD-ICC = 0.76–0.80). SV provided very good validity (ICC = 0.97) in the stroke detection parameter and also presented good validity in recognizing the rotation of shots (ICC = 0.76). SV provides valid objective feedback on tennis performance. Thus, the results justify the use of SV as a helpful tool in the training process, both in training and matches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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16 pages, 2303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity after Cycling at Different Intensity and Duration

by D. Maryama Awang Daud, Fatimah Ahmedy, Dayang Marshitah Pg Baharuddin and Zainul Amiruddin Zakaria

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9161; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189161 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3138

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effects of intensity (I) and duration (D) on the oxidative stress marker (malondialdehyde, MDA) and the responses of the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; superoxide dismutase, SOD) among sedentary adults. In a crossover design, 25 sedentary adults performed nine cycling exercise sessions with a constant load of 50%, 60%, and 70% VO₂peak for 10-, 20-, and 30-min each. Plasma MDA, CAT, GPx, and SOD activity were measured before and immediately after each exercise session. Results show that MDA concentration and SOD activity increased significantly immediately after exercise at all intensities and durations, except SOD decreased significantly at 70%

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O₂pk for 30 min. CAT activities also increased significantly after exercise at 50%

\dot{V}

O₂pk for 10 and 20 min but decreased at 60%

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O₂pk for 30 min and at 70%

\dot{V}

O₂pk for all durations. GPx activity decreased significantly after 20 and 30 min at all intensity levels. In conclusion, our results show that cycling at 50%, 60%, and 70%

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O₂pk for 10, 20, and 30 min increased oxidative stress and antioxidant activities, but with different responses. These findings suggest that the starting exercise intensity for sedentary adults should not exceed 70%

\dot{V}

O₂pk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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15 pages, 3147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing HapHop-Physio: An Exer-Learning Game to Support Therapies for Children with Specific Learning Disorders

by Carolina Rico-Olarte, Nathalia Narváez-Muñoz, Diego M. López, Linda Becker and Luz Ángela Tovar-Ruiz

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8281; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168281 - 19 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2024

Abstract

The HapHop-Physio exer-learning game is a cognitive rehabilitation solution for children with learning disorders to train memory and attention functions. Therefore, HapHop-Physio must be assessed as an appropriate tool developed to support the enhancement of essential cognitive skills. In this paper, we aim to establish the validity of HapHop-Physio in a healthcare setting with children receiving training with this tool. HapHop-Physio was developed through interaction between clinical experts, one graphic designer, and game developers. Following an assessment framework for serious games in healthcare, the game’s rationale, functionality, validity, and data safety are described. Particularly, the validity was assessed with experts through a case study conducted in three phases with 12 children diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorders. The baseline of the cognitive profile of the children was obtained and trained with HapHop-Physio. General trends and findings were obtained through an exploratory analysis of the gathered results from the phases. The validity aspects were achieved through continuous feedback from the experts, allowing to improve the game in five features: game structure, scoring system, avatars, login system, and clinicians’ dashboard. The application of the assessment framework in HapHop-Physio guarantees end users that the game is safe and effective enough to be used for supporting memory and attention training. One relevant finding from the case study was that cognitive performance improved in 11 out of 12 children at the end of the training. The positive outcomes of this assessment indicate the game’s appropriateness for a healthcare setting. However, the improvement in cognitive performance cannot be associated with HapHop-Physio in this case study. Consequently, it needs to be evaluated in a controlled experiment (including a control group) to ensure that it leads to cognitive rehabilitation in reality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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11 pages, 876 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Task Demands on Postural Control in Children of Different Ages: A Cross-Sectional Study

by Asiyeh Ghanbarzadeh, Elaheh Azadian, Mahdi Majlesi, Amir Ali Jafarnezhadgero and Mohammad Akrami

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12010113 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2088

Abstract

This study evaluates the effect of dual tasks on balance during manipulation of visual information, the base of support, and cognitive tasks in 7–12-year-old children and adults. An equal number of girls (210) and boys (210) were selected from the schools by the cluster random sampling method (within the 7–12 age groups). Twenty young adults were also selected. Postural sway (PS) was measured in the anterior–posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions using a force plate in eight standing positions, including standing with closed eyes versus standing with open eyes and standing with feet together versus on a single limb, under the interference of cognitive dual tasks (DT) or a single task (ST). PS was found to decrease with advancing age. PS was also greater in men than women in both AP and ML directions (p < 0.05). PS was greater in the 7–12-year-old participants compared to adults under the manipulation of the base of support (p < 0.05). However, PS increased in all participants regardless of their age while manipulating both the base of support and visual information (p < 0.05). Children (within the 9–12 years age range) and adults could keep their balance while performing basic tasks; however, children had difficulty in maintaining their balance with higher task demands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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11 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Extracurricular Sports in Prepubertal and Pubertal Girls

by María Luisa Martín-Sánchez, Samuel Manzano-Carrasco, Jorge López-Fernández, Jorge García-Unanue, Antonio Hernández-Martin, María Jesús Marín-Farrona, Enrique Colino, Manuel León-Jiménez, Carlos Majano, Marcos Celada-Gómez, Leonor Gallardo, Javier Sánchez-Sánchez and José Luis Felipe

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(24), 11795; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112411795 - 12 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2659

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of the type of extracurricular sport on the body composition, respiratory parameters, and physical condition in prepubertal and pubertal girls. Four hundred and eighty-five female athletes (aged 8–14) from different sports participated in this study. They were gathered into four groups according to the sport typology and maturity level: ‘prepubertal girls who practise collective sports’ (PRE-CS), ‘prepubertal girls who practise individual sports’ (PRE-IS), ‘pubertal girls who practise collective sports’ (PUB-CS), and ‘pubertal girls who practise individual sports’ (PUB-IS). The cardiorespiratory fitness (the 20 m shuttle run test, 20 mSRT), anthropometry, respiratory capacity (forced spirometry), handgrip, CMJ test, and stabilometry were collected. Prepubertal girls showed a lower muscle mass (kg) and fat mass (kg) than pubertal girls regardless of the extracurricular sports typology. PRE-CS and PRE-IS also showed a lower respiratory fitness and physical fitness than pubertal girls (p < 0.05). Pubertal girls did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) in any of the body composition, respiratory fitness, and physical fitness variables when comparing between collective sports and individual sports. The results show that extracurricular participation in these types sports by prepubertal girls can influence their body composition, respiratory fitness, and physical condition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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20 pages, 1467 KiB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

“ACTIVE VALUES”: An Interdisciplinary Educational Programme to Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Encourage Education in Values—A Rationale and Protocol Study

by José Francisco Jiménez-Parra, Noelia Belando-Pedreño, Jorge López-Fernández, Antonio Joaquín García-Vélez and Alfonso Valero-Valenzuela

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(16), 8073; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12168073 - 12 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3074

Abstract

Numerous investigations show the need to intervene with school children and young students in order to mitigate socio-educational difficulties such as social conflict, and public health problems such as sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity. This study seeks to explain the rationale and protocol of an educational programme called “ACTIVE VALUES” as an intervention strategy for the reduction of sedentary lifestyles and the promotion of education in values in schools. The present research used a mixed methods approach with a quasi-experimental design of repeated measures (pre-test and post-test), with a non-randomised control group (CG) and an experimental group (EG). The sample was composed of approximately 250 students and 30 teachers from different autonomous communities in Spain, divided into EG and CG. The EG implemented a teaching methodology based on the incorporation of Active Breaks (AB) into the structure of the Teaching Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model, during one academic year, while the CG used conventional teaching based on the direct instruction teaching technique. A specific two-stage professional development procedure was followed: (1) initial training and (2) continuing professional development (CPD). The fidelity of the programme was checked by observational analysis of the sessions which were analysed by two observers with expertise in educational research and active methodologies. Currently, “ACTIVE VALUES” is the first study that examines the effectiveness of an educational programme that integrates into the teaching methodology, elements that foster education in values and promote healthy lifestyle habits through physical-sports activity within the classroom. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports and Health Science, Technology and Engineering)

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