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Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics
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Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 8437

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Fotini Arabatzi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: the applied sport biomechanics and the effects of training on jump performance and in children

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity and sports training must be constantly evaluated in order to control their effectiveness. The development of athletes and their movement skills, motor abilities, and performance are assessed in training. For people who engage in various forms of physical activity recreationally, it is increasingly common to monitor the intensity and volume of their physical exertion in relation to health-related recommendations.

Sports biomechanics has proliferated in recent years due to the advancement of technology. Emerging technological developments enable us to not only measure motion but also the inertial forces of human movements in more practical settings. As a result, new areas, mainly related to the optimization of athletic performance and injury prevention, have emerged within sports biomechanics.

Sports biomechanics can be defined as the muscular, joint and skeletal actions of the body when executing a given task, skill and/or technique. Properly understanding biomechanics in relation to sports skill has a large impact on sports performance, rehabilitation, injury prevention and sport mastery.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a platform for scholars to share their latest achievements in this field and provide current information on performance-related sport biomechanics research and training practice. Original articles, reviews or case reports can be submitted to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Fotini Arabatzi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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

  • biomechanical analysis
  • injury biomechanics
  • joint biomechanics
  • sport science
  • motor skills
  • motor control
  • sports technique
  • kinematic
  • kinetic training proposal

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Lower Extremities Power, Movement, Position and Effectiveness in Volleyball
by Gabriel Bobula, Joanna Piech, Artur Płonka, Paweł Król, Wojciech Czarny, Rui Pinto, Damian Pawlik, Łukasz Rydzik and Wojciech Bajorek
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 10065; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142110065 - 4 Nov 2024
Viewed by 572
Abstract
Background: This paper presents research on the comparison and evaluation of lower limb power, movement, position on the court, and effectiveness in the players of men’s volleyball. The study involved professional players in the first division of a men’s volleyball team. The main [...] Read more.
Background: This paper presents research on the comparison and evaluation of lower limb power, movement, position on the court, and effectiveness in the players of men’s volleyball. The study involved professional players in the first division of a men’s volleyball team. The main aim of this paper was to show the correlation between lower limb power, movement, position on the pitch, and volleyball efficiency. Methods: The authors presented basic somatic characteristics of anthropology metrics, advanced research results obtained with the Optojump measuring system, players’ results statistics obtained with the Data Volley software (v.4.2024.01), and by applying scientific statistical methods and graphics interpretation. Results: The analyses with the Kruskal-Wallis test showed statistically significant differences in all the variables studied. Flight time (TF, H = 122.967; p < 0.001.) was the shortest for the players in the libero position, then the setter, attacker, middle and longest flight time was shown by the receiving players. The height of the jumps (JH, H = 123.018; p < 0.001) was the highest for receiving and mid players, and then attackers and setters, and the lowest jumps were recorded by libero players. The highest power of lower limbs (P, H = 20.392; p < 0.001) was characteristic for receivers, setters, mid-players and, curiously, libero achieved a better result than attackers. Conclusions: The analysis shows that the power of the lower extremities in volleyball players is associated with the function they perform on the court. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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13 pages, 752 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Elite Race Walkers’ Year-Long Training on Changes in Total Energy and Energy Cost While Walking at Different Speeds
by Wiesław Chwała, Andrzej T. Klimek, Wacław Mirek, Tadeusz Ambroży and Łukasz Rydzik
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(19), 8805; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14198805 - 30 Sep 2024
Viewed by 595
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the influence of year-long training of race walkers on physiological cost and total energy center of mass (CoM). The assessment performed was based on indicating the differences between the resulting energy cost in a group [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to assess the influence of year-long training of race walkers on physiological cost and total energy center of mass (CoM). The assessment performed was based on indicating the differences between the resulting energy cost in a group of elite race walkers walking at technical, threshold, and racing speeds calculated by physiological and biomechanical methods before beginning and after finishing a year-long training cycle. The study involved 12 competitive race walkers who had achieved champion or international champion level. Their aerobic endurance was determined by means of a direct method, applying an incremental exercise test on the treadmill. The gait of the participants was recorded using the 3D Vicon analysis system. Changes in mechanical energy amounted to the value of the total external work of the muscles needed to accelerate and lift the center of mass during a normalized gait cycle. The highest influence on the total external work increase for increasing speeds of gait in both examinations was attributed to the changes in the kinetic energy resulting from the center of mass movement. A statistically significant decrease of the mean value of total external work for racing speed was observed in the second examination (p < 0.001). An approx. 8% decrease (NS) of EE energy cost, standardized by body mass and distance covered, was found between the first and second examinations. The energy cost and total external work were significantly differentiated by the walkers’ gait speeds (p < 0.05–0.001). The energy cost significantly differed from the total external work at p < 0.001. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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15 pages, 4119 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a Congested Competition Schedule on Load, Recovery, and Well-Being in Under-16 Female Soccer Players: A Comparison between Starters and Non-Starters during a Development Tournament
by Jaime González-García and Blanca Romero-Moraleda
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(17), 8066; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14178066 - 9 Sep 2024
Viewed by 870
Abstract
Monitoring training load, recovery, and wellness in maturation ages is even more relevant than in adulthood, especially during congested schedules. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the differences in external and internal load, recovery, and perceived wellness in elite [...] Read more.
Monitoring training load, recovery, and wellness in maturation ages is even more relevant than in adulthood, especially during congested schedules. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the differences in external and internal load, recovery, and perceived wellness in elite under-16 female players during a period of three competitions in seven days based on their participation during matches. An observational design was used to quantify the external load (total distance, high-speed distance, and PlayerLoad) and internal load (differential sRPE), as well as the recovery and wellness of 18 international under-16 players during a development tournament. The external load pattern of the starting players was undulating, with matches showing the highest internal load values compared to training sessions and non-starters. Non-starter players (whether training or matches) showed similar external load and differential sRPE values throughout the tournament (p > 0.05). Starting players experienced higher internal load than non-starters during matches (p < 0.037), without differences between training sessions (p > 0.05). No changes were seen in wellness or recovery (all p-values > 0.05), except for non-starters in Session 3 compared to Session 7 (p = 0.024). Starting players had more weekly total minutes (p = 0.018), differential sRPE (breath: p = 0.002; leg: p = 0.002; cognitive: p = 0.003), total distance (p = 0.003), and PlayerLoad (p = 0.008) than non-starters. Our results indicate differing load patterns between starters and non-starters, which do not affect wellness and recovery differently. Starters accumulate more weekly total load. Coaches can use these findings to guide decisions and load compensations in high competition contexts for young female soccer players. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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15 pages, 1565 KiB  
Article
Effects of Age and Sex on the Kinematics of the Sprinting Technique in the Maximum Velocity Phase
by Ioannis Chatzilazaridis, Vassilios Panoutsakopoulos, Eleni Bassa, Mariana C. Kotzamanidou and Georgios I. Papaiakovou
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6057; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146057 - 11 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1152
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the step parameters, the Body Center of Mass (BCM) kinematics, as well as the angular and linear kinematics of the lower extremities’ joints of prepubescent and adult sprinters of both sexes. A total of forty-two [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to compare the step parameters, the Body Center of Mass (BCM) kinematics, as well as the angular and linear kinematics of the lower extremities’ joints of prepubescent and adult sprinters of both sexes. A total of forty-two athletes were examined, including adult men (AM) and women (AF) as well as preadolescent boys (PPB) and girls (PPG). A 2D-DLT analysis was conducted on video recordings (sampling frequency: 100 fps) of the participants’ maximum effort trial while in their maximum sprinting velocity phase. A 2 (age) × 2 (sex) ANOVA revealed significant (p < 0.05) effects of the factors age and sex, and an interaction of age × sex in the sprint running velocity. It was also found that the spatiotemporal structure of the step parameters was significantly (p < 0.05) different between AM and AF but not between PPB and PPG. Also, a significant (p < 0.05) main effect of age was evident mainly for the ankle joint of both legs, as well as for the angular kinematics of the swing leg’s knee joint. In conclusion, apart from the possible disparities in training experience, differences due to age and sex exist in the step parameters and the kinematics of the sprinting technique due to differences in the technical elements related to coordination, strength application capability, and stiffness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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14 pages, 4893 KiB  
Article
Measurement of the Impact Loads to Reduce Injuries in Acrobatic Gymnasts: Designing a Dedicated Platform
by Maria F. Paulino, Beatriz B. Gomes, Amílcar L. Ramalho and Ana M. Amaro
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(9), 3661; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093661 - 25 Apr 2024
Viewed by 724
Abstract
Background: The main objective of this study was the development of a specific load platform that would meet the needs of gymnasts and acrobatic coaches. This new platform has larger dimensions and is an identical structure to the plywood floor surface normally used; [...] Read more.
Background: The main objective of this study was the development of a specific load platform that would meet the needs of gymnasts and acrobatic coaches. This new platform has larger dimensions and is an identical structure to the plywood floor surface normally used; it was designed to make competitions with gymnasts safer and more like a real training situation. During a landing, there is high body stiffness, especially in the knees and ankles, which can cause injuries due to the number of repetitions performed in this gymnastics specialty. Methods: A group of 10 volunteers, with a mean age of 14.7 ± 2.4 years, performed at least 10 valid vertical jumps on each platform. Results: Despite being a preliminary study, this specific platform was shown to be more suitable for gymnastic use, compared to the industrial one, which represents a significant advantage for the modality. In fact, this platform is similar to the surface used for training and competition, allowing athletes to perform the jump in a similar way, and for the results to be replicable during the practice of the sport. The standard deviation values were lower, which shows that the new platform was more suitable for acrobatic gymnastics. Conclusions: As the maximum vertical load induced during landing after a jump has a significant effect on the likelihood of gymnasts suffering injuries, the development of a new load platform specifically for acrobatic gymnastics is clearly an improvement in this discipline. Knowledge of the load transmitted to the body can help coaches and athletes in defining training, and avoiding the possible occurrence of injuries. Therefore, it is necessary to use a platform that can accurately evaluate the load transmitted to the acrobatic gymnasts during real training and competition conditions, which is achieved with this new platform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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10 pages, 494 KiB  
Article
Acceleration Capacity and Vertical Jump Performance Relationship in Prepubertal Children
by Baptiste Chanel, Nicolas Babault and Carole Cometti
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(8), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14083535 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1750
Abstract
Sprint and jump abilities are considered basic skills that are regularly evaluated in training and school contexts. The correlations between these two skills have previously been established in adults and adolescents, but they have not been fully assessed in children. The present study [...] Read more.
Sprint and jump abilities are considered basic skills that are regularly evaluated in training and school contexts. The correlations between these two skills have previously been established in adults and adolescents, but they have not been fully assessed in children. The present study aimed to explore sprinting and jumping ability in prepubertal boys and girls. Thirty-one prepubertal individuals (aged 8–11 years) were assessed during sprinting for different distances (5, 10, and 20 m) and using different vertical and horizontal jump modalities (squat jump, countermovement jump, broad jump, and hop test). Correlations between the different results were tested. Strong correlations were found between vertical jump and sprint performances, especially over short distances. These results suggested that vertical jump tests are more sensitive than horizontal jumps to reveal acceleration capacity in children. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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Review

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24 pages, 2933 KiB  
Review
A Systematic Review of Insole Sensor Technology: Recent Studies and Future Directions
by Vítor Miguel Santos, Beatriz B. Gomes, Maria Augusta Neto and Ana Martins Amaro
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(14), 6085; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14146085 - 12 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1983
Abstract
Background: Integrating diverse sensor technologies into smart insoles offers significant potential for monitoring biomechanical metrics; enhancing sports performance; and managing therapeutic interventions, diseases, disorders, and other health-related issues. The variation in sensor types and applications requires a systematic review to synthesize existing evidence [...] Read more.
Background: Integrating diverse sensor technologies into smart insoles offers significant potential for monitoring biomechanical metrics; enhancing sports performance; and managing therapeutic interventions, diseases, disorders, and other health-related issues. The variation in sensor types and applications requires a systematic review to synthesize existing evidence and guide future innovations. Objectives: This review aims to identify, categorize, and critically evaluate the various sensors used in smart insoles, focusing on their technical specifications, application scopes, and validity. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a search was conducted in three major electronic databases, namely, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for relevant literature published from 2014 to 2024. Other works not located in the mentioned databases were added manually by parallel searches on related themes and suggestions from the website of the databases. To be eligible, studies were required to describe sensor implementation in insoles, specify the sensor types, and report on either validation experiments or practical outcomes. Results: The search identified 33 qualifying studies. Proper analysis revealed a dominance of pressure sensors, with accelerometers and gyroscopes also being widely used. Critical applications included gait analysis, posture correction, and real-time athletic and rehabilitation feedback. The review also examined the relative effectiveness of different sensor configurations. Conclusions: This systematic review comprehensively classifies sensor technologies within smart insoles and highlights their broad application potential across various fields. Future research should aim to standardize measurement protocols, enhance sensor integration, and advance data processing techniques to boost functionality and clinical applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sports Training and Biomechanics)
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