International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports (IJPEFS)
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Energy Expenditure of Ecuadorian Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of Group and Individual Responses
Full text linkThis study aimed at determining changes in physical activity (PA) and energy expenditure of Ecuadorian students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 1033 students completed the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to estimate energy expenditure in metabolic equivalents of task (MET) in MET·min-1·week-1. Absolute reliability and the smallest worthwhile change (SWC) were computed. Men reduced vigorous-intensity energy expenditure (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -410.8, -698.6 MET·min-1·week-1) and moderate-intensity (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -283.6, -138.4 MET·min-1·week-1). Walking energy expenditure was higher at the beginning than during the pandemic (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= -379.6, -303.0 MET·min-1·week-1). Men and women reduced their total energy expenditure (p≤ 0.0001; Men CI95% diff.= -1311.7, -894.1 MET·min-1·week-1; Women CI95% diff.= -654.0, 290.0 MET·min-1·week-1). Sitting time was lower at baseline than during the pandemic (p≤ 0.0001; 95%CI diff.= 0.48, 0.74 h). The 85.8% of the participants did not change their vigorous energy expenditure, 5.0% increased it, and 9.2% reduced it. The 86.6% of the sample did not change the energy expenditure of moderate intensity, 4.6% increased it, and 8.7% reduced it. Indeed, 84.6% did not change walking energy expenditure, 1.4% increased it, and 14.0% reduced it. The total energy expenditure did not change in 84.2% of the participants, 4.3% increased it, and 11.5% reduced it. The sitting time did not change in 79.3% of the participants, 15.0% increased it, and 5.7% reduced it. In conclusion, the energy expenditure from PA was reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuadorian university students. More than 79% of the students maintained their habits, confirming that changing behavior remains challenging. These findings are significant given the deleterious effects of reduced physical activity on cardiometabolic health
Kinematic Analysis of the Serve Toss and its Impact on Serve Outcome in Competitive and Recreational Tennis Players: A Case Study
Full text linkThe serve toss is crucial for executing a successful and effective serve in tennis. The aim is to determine the relationship between the toss and the success of the flat serve between the female recreational and competitive tennis players. We observed 2 recreational and 8 competitive female tennis players who served 40 flat serves. They were videotaped on a high-speed camera (200Hz) from a side view. We used kinematic data and observed the toss peak and racket-ball contact. Based on the 2D kinematic analysis, we evaluated the toss peak and the racket-ball contact of the serves: 1) in (good serves) 2) into the net 3) fault-long 4) fault-wide. Recreational players contacted the balls slightly higher and reached slower serve speed compared to competitive players. The competitive players had racket-ball contact about 40 cm closer to the net compared with the recreational players. In addition, the toss variability was bigger for the recreational players. Toss training is very important for players, especially in relation to their own coordination for serving, so it is important to pay a lot of attention to the toss and its practice
Supportive vs. Unsupportive Coaching: Correlating Leadership Approaches with Injury Rates in Elite Athletes
Full text linkThis quantitative, longitudinal analysis leverages post hoc data from the National Football League (NFL) and Fox Sports to investigate the influence of coaching style on injury dynamics among elite athletes. By categorizing coaching behaviors as supportive, neutral, or unsupportive, the study examines how these styles correlate with both the frequency and type of injuries sustained by professional football players. The findings offer valuable insights for athletes, athletic trainers, medical personnel, and coaches engaged in injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as for leadership researchers interested in performance outcomes under varying guidance styles. Guided by existing literature, three hypotheses were proposed: (a) athletes coached by unsupportive leaders will experience a higher injury incidence compared to those under supportive leadership; (b) unsupportive coaching will be associated with a greater number of chronic injuries across teams; and (c) unsupportive styles will correlate with increased injury counts and extended recovery durations among NFL athletes. Quantitative trend analysis confirms that unsupportive coaching is significantly associated with elevated incidence rates for specific injury categories. However, this correlation does not extend to all injury types. Conversely, teams led by supportive or neutral coaches exhibited significantly lower injury incidences during regular season play. Additionally, unsupportive coaching was linked to a higher prevalence of chronic injuries compared to the other styles. Overall, the study identifies robust correlations between coaching style, injury type, and occurrence, thereby underscoring the potential impact of leadership behavior on athlete health outcomes in professional football
Assessing the Effect of High Intensity Interval Training and Fast Continuous Training on Resting Heart Rate and VO2 Max of Adult Athletes
Full text linkBackground: Cardiovascular fitness, measured through Resting Heart Rate (RHR) and Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2 Max), is critical for optimizing athletic performance. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and Fast Continuous Training (FCT) are two aerobic conditioning modalities widely used to improve cardiovascular efficiency, but their comparative effects remain insufficiently studied in adult competitive athletes. Aim: This study aimed to compare the effects of an 8-week HIIT and FCT program on RHR and VO2 Max in adult athletes, thereby evaluating the efficacy of each training modality in enhancing aerobic performance. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was employed involving 90 adult athletes (45 males and 45 females, aged 21-26), randomly located into three groups: HIIT (n=30), FCT (n=30), and Control (n=30). RHR and VO2 Max were assessed during pre- and post-intervention using Polar H10 monitors and Vmax Encore Metabolic Cart, respectively. Data were analysed using ANCOVA (Analysis of Covariance) to control for pre-test differences, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc comparison. Results: Post-intervention results revealed statistically significant improvements in both RHR and VO2 Max across the training groups (p < 0.05). The HIIT group exhibited the most significant reduction in RHR (62.72 bpm) and the highest increase in VO2 Max (52.12 ml/kg/min), outperforming both FCT (RHR = 65.06 bpm; VO2 Max = 49.40 ml/kg/min) and the Control group (RHR = 70.32 bpm; VO2 Max = 41.28 ml/kg/min). Effect sizes were large for both RHR (η² = 0.950) and VO2 Max (η² = 0.982), indicating robust model fit. Conclusion: The findings confirm that both HIIT and FCT are effective in improving cardiovascular parameters among adult athletes, with HIIT demonstrating superior efficacy in a shorter duration. These results support the strategic incorporation of HIIT in training regimens aimed at maximizing aerobic performance and cardiovascular health
A Phenomenological Study of Parental Involvement in Youth Soccer Following a Parent Education Program
Full text linkThis qualitative study examines parents' changing views on their children’s participation in organized sport, focusing on shifts before and after a structured parent education program. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), data were collected through pre- and post-focus group interviews with 17 parents (average age 47.6) of football players aged 10–12. The program, held bi-monthly near the training venue, included ten sessions on communication, parental roles, anxiety, and child development. The study investigates how targeted pedagogical support influences parental attitudes, expectations, and behaviours. Findings showed changing parental interpretations of youth sport. Prior to the intervention, parents reported feelings of pride and enthusiasm, as well as concerns about injury, fairness, and coaching influence. Gender stereotypes influenced their views on participation and goals. After the program, parents noted three main changes: (a) better communication with children, (b) increased awareness of sport's psychosocial aspects, and (c) greater recognition of their influence on sports experiences. However, they also faced challenges in guiding children’s health habits and performance, prompting broader debates on responsibility and adult boundaries in youth sport. The program encouraged parents to rethink their views of sport beyond competition, recognizing its role in personal growth, social skills, and values. Despite challenges with motivation, routines, and norms, parents showed more reflexivity, autonomy-supportive communication, and openness to change. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of well-structured educational programs in enabling parents to develop the skills and perspectives needed to navigate the complex realities of youth sport, thereby encouraging constructive, supportive, and ethically grounded involvement
Reactive Strength Index Modified Differentiates Starters and Non-Starters in Female Volleyball National Team Players
Full text linkJumping ability is crucial in volleyball, where both jump height and execution speed significantly influence performance. Previous research has yielded mixed findings on the role of jump force-time characteristics in determining starting status among female volleyball players. This study examined the relationship between countermovement jump (CMJ) force-time metrics and starting status in elite female volleyball players to identify key performance indicators. Nine national team athletes (five starters, four non-starters) performed CMJs on a force platform. Force-time variables from distinct jump phases were analyzed. Reactive strength index modified (RSImod)—the ratio of jump height to time to take-off—was used to assess lower-body explosiveness and reactive strength. Starters demonstrated significantly higher RSImod scores and relative propulsive mean force, indicating superior ability to generate force rapidly. Moderate-to-large effect sizes favoring greater relative strength (force and power normalized to body mass) were observed but were not statistically significant. Reactive strength, as reflected by RSImod, is a key differentiator of starting status in elite female volleyball players. Relative strength also appears to contribute to performance but requires further exploration. Training programs should prioritize lower-body power and reactive strength through targeted plyometric and resistance exercises to enhance volleyball performance
From the Ancient Greek Gymnasium to The Fit Stop: A Genealogy of Fitness Discourses in the Philippines
Full text linkThis article traces the genealogy of fitness culture in the Philippines by examining how discourses of physical training have traveled, changed, and taken root over space and time. It follows these ideas from their early articulation in ancient Greece, through their reinterpretation in Medieval and Renaissance Europe, into modern forms shaped by colonial and postcolonial conditions. Rather than moving in a linear fashion, discourses on exercise and bodily cultivation were repeatedly translated, adapted, and contested as they circulated across historical periods and geographical spaces. The case of The Fit Stop, a pseudonym for a contemporary gym in the Philippines, provides a concrete illustration of this process. Its practices and promotional language reflect the local uptake of global fitness ideals, showing how long-standing discourses of health, strength, and bodily improvement are reworked within a specific social context. Read genealogically, The Fit Stop can be understood as a localized globalism, rooted in earlier traditions of physical training while shaped by local histories and conditions
Characterizing the Physiological Demands & Serum Cortisol Levels of Thru-Hiking the Continental Divide Trail
Full text linkThe popularity of thru-hiking is expanding within the outdoor recreation industry, drawing attention to the physiological demands of prolonged endurance activities in natural environments. This study examined the effects of a long-distance thru-hike on circadian rhythm regulation, body composition, and physical fitness parameters in two adult subjects who undertook the Continental Divide Trail in 2021. Serum cortisol concentrations were measured in the morning and evening at four time points: pre-hike, mid-hike, post-hike, and 16 weeks post-hike. Physical fitness testing included assessments of body composition, maximal oxygen uptake, and muscular endurance were conducted at pre-hike, post-hike, and 16 weeks post-hike. Both subjects demonstrated significant physiological adaptations, including changes in evening serum cortisol concentrations and alterations in adipose tissue and muscle mass. The female subject showed marked improvements in lower body muscular endurance and maximal oxygen uptake, while the male subject experienced reductions in muscle mass and muscular endurance, while maintaining aerobic capacity. These findings suggest that thru-hiking may influence endocrine function and physical fitness dependent on initial fitness status and individual physiological characteristics. This study highlights the need for further research to better characterize the health impacts of thru-hiking
Combined Exercise Methods in Resistance Training: A Brief Review of Acute Responses and Long-Term Adaptations
Full text linkThe purpose of this article was to review and synthesize the scientific literature on the acute effects and long-term adaptations of combined exercise methods (CEM) compared to traditional strength training (TST), with a focus on performance outcomes, physiological responses, strength gains, and muscle hypertrophy. A literature search was conducted in the PubMed, BIREME/BVS, and Google Scholar databases using the following search terms: ‘strength training’ OR ‘resistance training’ AND ‘paired-set’ OR ‘bi-set’ OR ‘tri-set’ OR ‘superset’ OR ‘agonist-antagonist’, in various combinations with the Boolean operators “OR” and “AND”. Studies published in English that compared the effects of combined exercise training with traditional resistance training, evaluated acute physiological or performance-related responses, and investigated adaptations following a training period were included in this review. A total of 49 studies were included in this review, comprising 40 acute studies and 9 longitudinal studies. These studies evaluated metabolic and hormonal responses, electromyographic activity, performance outcomes, strength gains, and muscle hypertrophy. Overall, the findings suggest that CEM produce similar or, in some cases, superior responses compared to TST across several parameters. Thus, such methods represent a valuable alternative for athletes and individuals with limited time availability, as they can still promote significant training adaptations
Scanning Differences between Small-Sided and Full-Sized Games in Elite Youth Footballers
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to compare the scanning activity of elite youth footballers across 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11 game formats. The participants were outfield under 12 footballers (N = 60) born between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012 from a Premier League category 1 football academy in the UK. Observational analysis on scan frequency as well as critical scan frequency, the scan situation, the play type and technical action outcomes from the scan were all undertaken. As game formats decreased in player number and pitch size, scanning activity increased. Positional, situational and technical action scanning differences were found between game formats. The most meaningful differences in scan activity across game formats were highlighted during defensive actions and between positions. This study is the first known to explore scanning differences between small-sided and full-sized games, with results suggesting small-sided games may not replicate the scanning situations found in full-sized games. Until further research is conducted, coaches should be aware that small-sided games may influence skill transfer