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Healthcare
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Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance
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Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 19095

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amador García Ramos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: biomechanics; motor control; muscle function; resistance training
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Danica Janicijevic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. The Research Centre, Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
2. Faculty of Health Sciences, University Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain
Interests: resistance training; jump; athletes; motor control
Dr. Yaodong Gu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: sports science; physical activity; biomedical engineering; biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We all know that possessing high levels of physical fitness is a decisive factor for both health and athletic performance. Therefore, we as researchers have been tirelessly working on (I) developing and refining the testing protocols of the different attributes of physical fitness (e.g., muscle strength, endurance capacity, or range of motion), (II) determining the relationship of the different attributes of physical fitness with a range of health-related indicators and sport-related tasks, and (III) trying to identify feasible training methods to improve physical fitness with the expectation of simultaneously improving muscle function and athletic performance.

The aim of this Special Issue is to expand our knowledge regarding the impact of physical fitness levels on health-related indicators such as muscle function and sports performance. In this Special Issue, we welcome (I) intervention studies in which the changes in physical fitness following a training or detraining period is assessed, (II) crossover studies exploring the relationship of the attributes of physical fitness with different health-related indicators and/or sport-related tasks, and (III) methodological studies in which the properties of the measurement (objectivity, reliability, validity, and sensitivity) of the fitness tests are reported to refine their testing procedures.

Dr. Amador García Ramos
Dr. Danica Janicijevic
Prof. Dr. Yaodong Gu
Guest Editors

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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. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • endurance
  • fitness
  • performance
  • physical condition
  • range of motion
  • sport
  • strength
  • testing
  • training

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2696 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Starting Positions and Breathing Rhythms on Cardiopulmonary Stress and Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption after High-Intensity Metabolic Training: A Randomized Crossover Prospective Study
by Yuanyuan Li, Jiarong Wang, Yuanning Li, Dandan Li, Yining Xu and Yi Li
Healthcare 2024, 12(18), 1889; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12181889 - 20 Sep 2024
Viewed by 709
Abstract
Background: The exploration of optimizing cardiopulmonary function and athletic performance through high-intensity metabolic exercises (HIMEs) is paramount in sports science. Despite the acknowledged efficacy of HIMEs in enhancing cardiopulmonary endurance, the high metabolic stress imposed on the cardiopulmonary system, especially for amateurs, necessitates [...] Read more.
Background: The exploration of optimizing cardiopulmonary function and athletic performance through high-intensity metabolic exercises (HIMEs) is paramount in sports science. Despite the acknowledged efficacy of HIMEs in enhancing cardiopulmonary endurance, the high metabolic stress imposed on the cardiopulmonary system, especially for amateurs, necessitates a scaled approach to training. Objective: The aim of this study is to ascertain whether adjustments in the initiation posture and the adoption of an appropriate breathing strategy can effectively mitigate the cardiopulmonary stress induced by HIMEs without compromising training efficacy. Methods: Twenty-two subjects were recruited into this study. The post-exercise heart rate (PHR) and post-exercise oxygen consumption rate (POCR) were collected within 30 min after exercise. A two-way ANOVA, multi-variable Cox regression, and random survival forest machine learning algorithm were used to conduct the statistical analysis. Results: Under free breathing, only the maximum POCR differed significantly between standing and prone positions, with prone positions showing higher stress (mean difference = 3.15, p < 0.001). In contrast, the regulated breathing rhythm enhanced performance outcomes compared to free breathing regardless of the starting position. Specifically, exercises initiated from prone positions under regulated breathing recorded a significantly higher maximum and average PHR than those from standing positions (maximum PHR: mean difference = 13.40, p < 0.001; average PHR: mean difference = 6.45, p < 0.001). The multi-variable Cox regression highlighted the starting position as a critical factor influencing the PHR and breathing rhythm as a significant factor for the POCR, with respective variable importances confirmed by the random survival forest analysis. These results underscore the importance of controlled breathing and starting positions in optimizing HIME outcomes. Conclusions: Regulated breathing in high-intensity exercises enhances performance and physiological functions, emphasizing the importance of breathing rhythm over starting position. Effective training should balance exercise volume and technique to optimize performance and minimize stress, reducing overtraining and injury risks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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14 pages, 1782 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Effects of Microfiltered Seawater and Resistance Training with Elastic Bands on Hepatic Parameters, Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Blood Pressure of Older Women: A 32-Week, Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
by Carlos Babiloni-Lopez, Pedro Gargallo, Alvaro Juesas, Javier Gene-Morales, Angel Saez-Berlanga, Pablo Jiménez-Martínez, Jose Casaña, Josep C. Benitez-Martinez, Guillermo T. Sáez, Julio Fernández-Garrido, Carlos Alix-Fages and Juan C. Colado
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020204 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1838
Abstract
The bulk of research on microfiltered seawater (SW) is based on its short-term effects. However, the long-term physiological adaptations to combining SW and resistance training (RT) are unknown. This study aimed to analyse the impact of an RT program using elastic bands combined [...] Read more.
The bulk of research on microfiltered seawater (SW) is based on its short-term effects. However, the long-term physiological adaptations to combining SW and resistance training (RT) are unknown. This study aimed to analyse the impact of an RT program using elastic bands combined with SW intake on hepatic biomarkers, inflammation, oxidative stress, and blood pressure in post-menopausal women. Ninety-three women voluntarily participated (age: 70 ± 6.26 years; body mass index: 22.05 ± 3.20 kg/m2; Up-and-Go Test: 6.66 ± 1.01 s). RT consisted of six exercises (32 weeks, 2 days/week). Nonsignificant differences were reported for hepatic biomarkers except for a reduction in glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in both RT groups (RT + SW: p = 0.003, ES = 0.51; RT + Placebo: p = 0.012, ES = 0.36). Concerning oxidative stress, vitamin D increased significantly in RT + SW (p = 0.008, ES = 0.25). Regarding inflammation, interleukin 6 significantly decreased (p = 0.003, ES = 0.69) in RT + SW. Finally, systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in both RT groups (RT + placebo: p < 0.001, ES = 0.79; RT + SW: p < 0.001, ES = 0.71) as did diastolic blood pressure in both SW groups (RT + SW: p = 0.002, ES = 0.51; CON + SW: p = 0.028, ES = 0.50). Therefore, RT + SW or SW alone are safe strategies in the long term with no influences on hepatic and oxidative stress biomarkers. Additionally, SW in combination with RT positively influences vitamin D levels, inflammation, and blood pressure in older women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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10 pages, 1578 KiB  
Article
Strength Assessment of Trunk Rotator Muscles: A Multicenter Reliability Study
by Angela Rodríguez-Perea, María Dolores Morenas Aguilar, Raquel Escobar-Molina, Darío Martínez-García, Ignacio Chirosa Ríos, Daniel Jerez-Mayorga, Luis Chirosa Ríos, Danica Janicijevic and Waleska Reyes-Ferrada
Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2331; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162331 - 18 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1373
Abstract
Background: Trunk rotator strength plays an important role in sports performance and health. A reliable method to assess these muscles with functional electromechanical dynamometer has not been described. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were (I) to explore the reliability of different strength [...] Read more.
Background: Trunk rotator strength plays an important role in sports performance and health. A reliable method to assess these muscles with functional electromechanical dynamometer has not been described. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were (I) to explore the reliability of different strength variables collected in isokinetic and isometric conditions during two trunk rotator exercises, and (II) to determine the relationship of isometric and dynamic strength variables collected in the same exercise. Methods: A repeated measures design was performed to evaluate the reliability of the horizontal cable woodchop (HCW) and low cable woodchop (LCW) exercises. Reliability was assessed using t-tests of paired samples for the effect size, the standard error of measurement, the coefficient of variation (CV) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The Pearson’s (r) correlation coefficient was used to explore the association between isometric and isokinetic tests. Results: HCW exercise is more reliable than LCW exercise in assessing trunk rotator muscles. The strength manifestation that should be used is the average strength, and the most reliable evaluation was the HCW at 0.40 m·s−1 concentric (ICC = 0.89; CV = 10.21%) and eccentric (ICC = 0.85; CV = 9.33%) contraction and the dynamic condition that most correlated with the isometric was LWC at 0.50 m·s−1 (r = 0.83; p < 0.01). Conclusion: HCW is a reliable exercise to measure trunk rotator muscles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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13 pages, 2698 KiB  
Article
Simulation of Lower Limb Muscle Activation Using Running Shoes with Different Heel-to-Toe Drops Using Opensim
by Wenjing Quan, Linna Gao, Datao Xu, Huiyu Zhou, Tamás Korim, Shirui Shao, Julien S. Baker and Yaodong Gu
Healthcare 2023, 11(9), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091243 - 26 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3779
Abstract
Background: Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the acute effects of shoe drops on running kinematics and kinetic variables, their effects on muscle forces remain unknown. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to compare the muscle force, kinematics, and [...] Read more.
Background: Although numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the acute effects of shoe drops on running kinematics and kinetic variables, their effects on muscle forces remain unknown. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to compare the muscle force, kinematics, and kinetic variables of habitually rearfoot runners with heel-to-toe drops of negative 8 mm shoes (minimalist shoes) and positive 9 mm shoes (normal shoes) during the running stance phase by using musculoskeletal modeling and simulation techniques. Methods: Experimental data of lower limb kinematics, ground reaction force, and muscle activation from 16 healthy runners with rearfoot strike patterns were collected and analyzed in OpenSim. Using Matlab, the statistical parameter mapping paired t-test was used to compare the joint angle, moment, and muscle force waveform. Results: The results revealed differences in the sagittal ankle and hip angles and sagittal knee moments between the different heel-to-toe drops of running shoes. Specifically, it showed that the negative 8 mm running shoes led to significantly smaller values than the positive 9 mm running shoes in terms of the angle of ankle dorsiflexion, ankle eversion, knee flexion, hip flexion, and hip internal and hip external rotation. The peak ankle dorsiflexion moment, ankle plantarflexion moment, ankle eversion moment, knee flexion moment, knee abduction moment, and knee internal rotation also decreased obviously with the minimalist running shoes, while the lateral gastrocnemius, Achilleas tendon, and extensor hallucis longus muscles were obviously greater in the minimalist shoes compared to normal shoes. The vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and extensor digitorum longus muscles force were smaller in the minimalist shoes. Conclusions: Runners may shift to a midfoot strike pattern when wearing negative running shoes. High muscle forces in the gastrocnemius lateral, Achilleas tendon, and flexor hallucis longus muscles may also indicate an increased risk of Achilleas tendonitis and ankle flexor injuries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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Review

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16 pages, 1139 KiB  
Review
Chronic Resistance Training Effects on Serum Adipokines in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review
by Pablo Jiménez-Martínez, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo, Carlos Alix-Fages, Javier Gene-Morales, Amador García-Ramos and Juan C. Colado
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040594 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2641
Abstract
(1) Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are an important concern for public health because of their high rates of morbidity and mortality. A prevalent lifestyle-linked NCD is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Recently, molecular biomarkers secreted by adipocytes, called adipokines, have been linked with [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are an important concern for public health because of their high rates of morbidity and mortality. A prevalent lifestyle-linked NCD is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Recently, molecular biomarkers secreted by adipocytes, called adipokines, have been linked with T2D and muscle function disturbances. However, the effects of resistance training (RT) interventions on adipokine levels in patients with T2D have not been systematically studied. (2) Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed. Searches for the studies were performed in the PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science electronic databases. Eligibility criteria included: (i) participants with T2D; (ii) RT interventions; (iii) randomized controlled trials; and (iv) measurement of serum adipokines. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the selected studies. Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) and effect size were screened for each variable. (3) Results: Of the initial 2166 records, database search extraction yielded 14 studies to be included. The methodological quality of the included data was high (median PEDro score of 6.5). Analyzed adipokines in the included studies were leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, apelin, resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), vaspin, chemerin, and omentin. RT interventions (6–52 weeks; minimal effective duration >12 weeks) exert a meaningful effect on serum adipokine, (e.g., leptin) levels in T2D patients. (4) Conclusions: RT may be an alternative, but not an optimal, option in adipokine disruptions in T2D. Combined (i.e., aerobic and RT) long-term training may be considered the optimal intervention for treating adipokine level disturbances. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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15 pages, 3537 KiB  
Review
The Relationship between Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome and Hip Biomechanics: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis
by Pingping Xie, Bíró István and Minjun Liang
Healthcare 2023, 11(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11010099 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5788
Abstract
(1) Background and purpose: Muscular control and motor function in a patient with Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) have not yet been investigated systematically. Therefore, this review synthesis the previous results about the association of PFPS with gluteus muscle activation, hip strength, and kinematic [...] Read more.
(1) Background and purpose: Muscular control and motor function in a patient with Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) have not yet been investigated systematically. Therefore, this review synthesis the previous results about the association of PFPS with gluteus muscle activation, hip strength, and kinematic characteristic of the hip and knee joint, to deepen understanding of the PFPS etiology and promote the establishment of an effective treatment strategy. (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted from January 2000 to July 2022 in four electronic databases: Medline, Embase, Google scholar, and Scopus. A total of 846 articles were initially identified, and after the screening process based on the inclusion criteria, 12 articles were eventually included. Means and SDs of gluteus medius (GMed), gluteus maximus (GMax), hip strength, and kinematic variation of hip and knee were retrieved from the present study. (3) Results and conclusion: Regarding kinematic variation, moderate evidence indicates that an increased peak hip adduction was found in PFPS groups during running and single leg (SL) squat activities. There is no difference in the GMed and GMax activation levels between the two groups among the vast majority of functional activities. Most importantly, strong evidence suggests that hip strength is weaker in individuals with PFPS, showing less strength of hip external rotation and hip abduction compared to the control group. However, without prospective studies, it is difficult to determine whether hip strength weakness is a cause or a result of PFPS. Therefore, further research is needed to evaluate the hip strength level in identifying individuals most likely to associated with PFPS development is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

20 pages, 511 KiB  
Systematic Review
Lumbo-Pelvic Rhythm Monitoring Using Wearable Technology with Sensory Biofeedback: A Systematic Review
by Miguel García-Jaén, Sergio Sebastia-Amat, Gema Sanchis-Soler and Juan Manuel Cortell-Tormo
Healthcare 2024, 12(7), 758; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12070758 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1526
Abstract
As an essential lower-back movement pattern, lumbo-pelvic rhythm (LPR) during forward trunk flexion and backward return has been investigated on a large scale. It has been suggested that abnormalities in lumbo-pelvic coordination are related to the risk of developing low back disorders. However, [...] Read more.
As an essential lower-back movement pattern, lumbo-pelvic rhythm (LPR) during forward trunk flexion and backward return has been investigated on a large scale. It has been suggested that abnormalities in lumbo-pelvic coordination are related to the risk of developing low back disorders. However, considerable differences in the approaches used to monitor LPR make it challenging to integrate findings from those investigations for future research. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize the use of wearable technology for kinematic measurement with sensory biofeedback for LPR monitoring by assessing these technologies’ specific capabilities and biofeedback capacities and exploring their practical viability based on sensor outcomes. The review was developed following the PRISMA guidelines, and the risk of bias was analyzed using the PREDro and STROBE scales. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and IEEEXPLORE databases were searched for relevant studies, initially returning a total of 528 articles. Finally, we included eight articles featuring wearable devices with audio or vibration biofeedback. Differences in protocols and limitations were also observed. This novel study presents a review of wearable tracking devices for LPR motion-mediated biofeedback for the purpose of correcting lower back posture. More research is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of these devices, as well as their most appropriate corresponding methodologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Fitness—Effects on Muscle Function and Sports Performance)
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