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Social media influence on sports content choice: the case of the TOPsport A league.
No full textBackground. Social media platforms have become one of the main sources for accessing sports information, shaping users’ perceptions of sports organisations and influencing their engagement and consumption decisions. With the increasing reliance on social media, users not only follow sports content but also participate in commu-nity building and public opinion shaping in the digital environment, which suggests a shift away from traditional media forms. Aim. This study aimed to determine how social media influences users’ decisions when choosing sports content, focusing on football-related content in the context of Lithuania’s TOPsport A League.Methods. The research employed scientific literature analysis and a quantitative survey method. A structured questionnaire (n = 384) was distributed to adult social media users interested in football. The survey assessed us-ers’ information-seeking habits, emotional engagement, and perception of community benefits. The collected data were statistically analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics.Results. The findings revealed that social media enables rapid access to relevant football information and strongly contributes to opinion formation about football clubs. Respondents emphasised emotional satisfaction, enhanced sense of belonging, and motivation to participate in sports communities. Visual and textual content quality was found to play a crucial role in user engagement. Additionally, respondents perceived practical benefits through easier access to ticket information, discounts, and rewards.Conclusions. Social media significantly influences sports content consumption by fostering informational value, emotional involvement, and community participation. It serves not only as an information channel but also as a communication and identity-building tool within football communities
Psychosocial factors at work, sleep quality and self-rated health among office workers in relation job satisfaction /
No full textПоширеність використання активного транспорту та фактори, що його зумовлюють.
No full textContext/Purpose. The importance of physical activity in achieving the goals of sustainable development is recognized, but there is still a lack of research that analyzes the factors that help to explain a person's behavior related to the use of active transport (AT; all forms of human travel by non-motorized means). The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of AT use and the individual factors that are associated with it among young Lithuanian adults. Methods. 250 respondents participated in the study. AT prevalence was measured by item based on Stages of Change model and identified the proportion of people in each of the stages of change in terms of AT. Theory of Planned Behavior-based questionnaire was used to identify attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and intention to use AT. Environmentally friendly attitudes were measured by the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire. Results. It was found that 12% of the respondents prefer AT when choosing a mode of travel and do so regularly. Unemployed and employed people more often regularly use AT than students and those on paternity leave (χ2=29.196; p<.05); respondents who are single choose AT more often than those with a spouse or partner (χ2=10.901; p<.05); respondents who have their own scooter use AT more often than those who do not (χ2=17.561; p<.05). Significant relationships were found between greater involvement in AT and attitudes favorable to AT (r=.170, p<.05), attitudes favorable to environmental protection (r=.134; p<.05), subjective norms regarding AT (r=.159; p<.05), perceived behavioral control (r=.351; p<.05) and intention to use AT (r=.445; p<.05). Interpretation. The increasing awareness of the health and environmental benefits of AT encourages people to replace motor vehicles with AT. Conclusion. The use of AT is associated with favorable attitudes towards sustainable development, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control
A dual-tech approach to measuring defensive physical demands in basketball pick-and-rolls during official games: inertial sensors and video analysis /
No full textThis study aimed to quantify the physical load of defensive pick-and-roll (PnR) actions according to court location (middle or side), defensive option employed (switch, drop/ice, or trap), and effectiveness (successful or unsuccessful) during official basketball games. Twenty-four male basketball players (age: 20.5 ± 1.1 years; stature: 191.5 ± 8.7 cm; body mass: 86.5 ± 11.3 kg; playing experience: 8.5 ± 2.4 years) from two teams competing in the Lithuanian third division were recruited, with data collected across six official games. Participants were monitored using a combination of video-based time–motion analysis (TMA) and inertial measurement units (IMUs), allowing the calculation of duration, PlayerLoad (PL), and PL·min−1 for each of the 364 defensive PnR actions identified. No significant differences were found based on court location or defensive option employed (p > 0.05). By contrast, unsuccessful plays resulted in significantly higher physical loads than successful ones (duration: p < 0.001, ES = 0.46; PL: p < 0.001, ES = 0.41; PL·min−1: p = 0.047, ES = 0.24). Overall, these findings highlight a consistent physical load based on court location and defensive option adopted and an increased physical load when the defensive effort failed. Therefore, basketball coaches are suggested to consider the physical load of different defensive PnR scenarios when planning training drills, defining performance profiles of defensive strategies, and managing team rotations during games
Multi-phase, multi-ethnic GWAS uncovers putative loci in predisposition to elite sprint and power performance, health and disease /
No full textThe genetic underpinnings of elite sprint and power performance remain largely elusive. This study aimed to identify genetic variants associated with this complex trait as well as to understand their functional implications in elite sprint and power performance. We conducted a multi-phase genome-wide association study (GWAS) in world-class sprint and power athletes of West African and East Asian ancestry and their geographically matched controls. We carried out genotype imputation, replications for the top GWAS signal rs10196189 in two European cohorts, and gene-based and tissue-specific functional network analyses. For the first time, we uncovered the G-allele of rs10196189 in the Polypeptide N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 13 (GALNT13) being significantly associated with elite sprint and power performance (P = 2.13E-09 across the three ancestral groups). Moreover, we found that GALNT13 expression level was positively associated with the relative area occupied by fast-twitch muscle fibers in the vastus lateralis muscle. In addition, significant and borderline associations were observed for BOP1, HSF1, STXBP2, GRM7, MPRIP, ZFYVE28, CERS4, and ADAMTS18 in cross-ancestry or ancestry-specific contexts, predominantly expressed in the nervous and hematopoietic systems. From the elite athlete cohorts, we further identified thirty-six previously uncharacterized genes linked to host defence, leukocyte migration, and cellular responses to interferon-gamma, and four genes – UQCRFS1, PTPN6, RALY and ZMYM4 – associated with aging, neurological conditions, and blood disorders. Taken together, these results provide new biological insights into the genetic basis of elite sprint and power performance and, importantly, offer valuable clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying elite athletic performance, health and disease
Socialinės atsakomybės veiklų įgyvendinimas sporto organizacijose.
No full textRelevance and novelty of the article. Sport organisations are increasingly faced with grow-ing expectations from the society, sponsors, and local communities to contribute to solving social and environmental problems. Fans particularly value corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives as an important part of forming their identity and loyalty (Tavares et al., 2023). In addition, CSR activities strengthen the financial stability of sport organisations and improve stakeholder satisfaction, which confirms their strategic value in the context of sustainable development (Chen, 2025). Finally, inter-national standards and national sport strategies require greater transparency and accountability – CSR becomes not only a means of maintaining reputation, but also an essential part of the organisation’s operating philosophy. Although comprehensive CSR models are proposed in the global literature (e.g., Yang et al., 2024), in the regional context – especially in Lithuania and organisations in similar mar-kets – there is a lack of empirical studies examining the real implementation of CSR initiatives in everyday practice. In addition, most studies are limited to declarations or retrospective reports, and grounded theory (grounded theory – measured theory), which refers to a qualitative research method-ology, the essence of which is to derive (“measure”) the theory directly from the collected data, rather than applying an already existing theoretical model in advance. Models developed on the basis of which educational, health, communication, and ecological responsibility dimensions are distinguished (Zargar & Rynne, 2023) have not yet been practically tested in Lithuanian or Baltic sport organisations. Therefore, the orientation of this study towards the implementation and evaluation of social respon-sibility (SR) activities fills a clear scientific gap and provides practitioners with specific guidelines on how to effectively integrate CSR activities into their strategic management. Despite the increasing attention to this topic on a global scale, in Lithuania (or in the specific region) there is a lack of empir-ical research revealing the real practice of sport organisations, the content of activities, implementation challenges, and impact. This topic remains insufficiently researched at the local and national levels.Research problem. Does the implementation of SR activities have an impact on employees in a sport organisation?Research object. Implementation of SR activities.Research aim. To investigate how SR activities are implemented in sport organisations and what significance they have for the organisation’s activities and stakeholders.Objectives:1. To reveal the concept of SR.2. To discuss the content of SR activities in a sport organisation.Research methods:1. Analysis of scientific literature.2. Analysis of statistical data.3. Questionnaire survey The results. The concept of SR in a sport organisation has expanded from traditional chari-ty-based activities to a complex strategic approach that includes both external and internal responsibil-ity. Modern SR focuses not only on social projects or environmental protection, but also on employee well-being, emotional state, equal opportunities, work-life balance, and strengthening team culture. These measures are becoming an important part of the organisation’s strategy, especially in the sport sector, where employees experience greater emotional and physical stress. Analysis of research re-sults shows that integrating SR activities into organisational management helps create a more sustain-able, competitive, and ethical organisation, and the content of SR is constantly expanding in response to the expectations of employees and society. Employee well-being is a multifaceted phenomenon that encompasses physical, psychological, social, and professional well-being. A review of the re-search results has shown that areas such as emotional health, work-life balance, career opportunities, and a safe working environment are particularly important in the sport sector. Psychological capital, support from managers, and the involvement of organisational representatives in decision-making strengthen employee satisfaction, motivation, and loyalty to the organisation
Adolescent ACL reconstruction using quadriceps or hamstring tendon autografts: a comparative study of muscle strength and patient-reported outcomes /
No full textBackground and Objectives: A prominent area of research in adolescent ACL reconstruction (ACLR) involves graft selection, with particular interest in the quadriceps tendon (QT) as an alternative to hamstring tendon (HT) autografts, although comparative studies on muscle strength outcomes and patient satisfaction in adolescents remain limited. This study aims to evaluate the influence of QT and HT autografts on muscle strength and satisfaction outcomes post-ACLR in adolescents. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, enrolling 68 patients aged 12–17. ACLRs were performed using QT or HT autografts. Muscle strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex), while patient satisfaction was evaluated through IKDC, Lysholm, and ACL-RSI surveys preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Results: 54 patients (24 QT and 30 HT) completed the study. The data are non-parametric and are presented as median (IQR). Isokinetic measurements indicated that QT harvesting led to significantly lower extension strength compared to HT 6 months (p = 0.019) and 12 months post-op (p < 0.001) but showed better H/Q ratios 6 months (p = 0.019) and 12 months post-op (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the QT and HT groups in ACL-RSI and Lysholm scores. IKDC scores were significantly higher in the HT group (p = 0.009). Conclusions: QT autografts provide favorable H/Q ratios, yet they exhibit weaker extension strength and lower satisfaction outcomes compared to HT. These results suggest a need for individualized rehabilitation protocols and further research to optimize ACLR graft selection for adolescents
Aštuonių savaičių trukmės mankštos ir manualinės terapijos programos poveikis moterų po menopauzės, sergančių kelio osteoartritu, kelio skausmui ir sąnario funkcijai, palyginti su tik mankštos poveikiu.
No full text Background. The main cause of pain and functional impairment in postmenopausal women is knee osteoarthritis (KOA), which affects quality of life and reduces mobility. This research seeks to assess and contrast the impact of a combination of exercise and manual therapy against exercise on its own in relation to knee pain and functional out-comes in postmenopausal women with KOA. The objectives of this study are to assess the effect of exercise alone on knee pain and joint function, to determine the outcomes of exercise combined with manual therapy and compare the effectiveness of these two interventions in postmenopausal women with KOA. It is hypothesised that exercise com-bined with manual therapy would be more effective than exercise alone.Aim. This study aims to evaluate and compare the effects of exercise and manual therapy versus exercise alone on knee pain and functional outcomes in postmenopausal women with KOA.Methods. This randomised controlled trial recruited 40 participants divided into two equal groups. Both groups fol-lowed an eight-week physiotherapy programme, while one group also received manual therapy techniques. Pain (Visual Analogue Scale), joint function (WOMAC), range of motion (goniometry), and physical performance (Timed Up and Go Test) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results. The findings indicated that both treatment methods notably alleviated pain and enhanced overall mobility. The combination of exercise and manual therapy resulted in more substantial positive changes in pain relief, range of motion, and functional mobility in comparison to exercise by itself. Nonetheless, there was no notable difference between the groups in joint function as assessed by the WOMAC.Conclusions. Incorporating manual therapy into physiotherapy exercises can enhance the effectiveness of treatment for postmenopausal women suffering from KOA
The influence of short-term dance-oriented exergaming on cognitive skills and psychological well-being of adolescents /
No full textThe physical inactivity of adolescents and their sedentary lifestyle with profuse usage of screens has been a growing issue for the last few years. In contrast, there is some evidence that videogame-based exercising improves cognitive abilities and psychological well-being during growth and maturation. Therefore, there is a need for the wider exploration of innovation tools in physical education (PE) and extracurricular activities for schoolchildren. The aim of this study was to determine the change in psychological well-being and cognitive skills of adolescents when exercising is supplemented with videogame-based activity. The short-term physical activity (PA) program, initiated by in-service PE teachers (n = 3), involved 13–15-year-old adolescents (n = 63, of them 20 were boys) from one of biggest cities in Lithuania. The research subjects were participants of extracurricular exercise groups on a regular basis, attending their respective three-times-a-week sessions for 1 month. The first intervention group engaged in a 60 min functional training program (FT group, n = 31). The second group had 30 min of FT followed by 30 min of video-based dance class (FT + Just Dance group, n = 32). The Trail-Making test (part A and B), the Visual Digit Span test, and the Stroop test were performed to investigate students’ cognitive abilities. In addition, the WHO-5 questionnaire was used to analyse the respondents’ psychological well-being. When comparing pre- and post-intervention results, no changes were observed in the psychological state, visual–executive skills, and short-term visual memory in both groups. Reaction time improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.05). The working memory significantly improved in the FT + Just Dance group (p < 0.05). The implementation of videogame-based training, Just Dance, improved adolescents’ working memory, but had no effect on subjectively perceived psychological well-being
Lower calf raise efficiency in obesity is partially related to higher triceps surae MTU passive stiffness, hysteresis, and reduced relative strength /
No full textThe objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of calf raise exercise in individuals with obesity, and to what extent this is related to the structural and mechanical properties of the Triceps Surae muscle-tendon-unit (MTU). In 22 obese (BMI, 32.2 ± 1.5 kg/m 2 ) and 22 non-obese (BMI, 23.3 ± 1.5 kg/ 2 ) men we measured anthropometric parameters, gas exchange, heart rate, and rating of perceived exertion in sitting, standing and during a self-paced 30-sec calf raise exercise. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the plantar flexor muscles and passive resistive torque of the Triceps Surae MTUs were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. B-mode ultrasound imaging of plantar flexor muscles and Achilles tendon was also performed. Individuals with obesity exhibited a greater metabolic energy cost during standing and calf raise exercise, and a lower exercise efficiency and ankle mobility (p<0.05). Plantar flexor MTUs stiffness and hysteresis were greater, while gastrocnemius-medialis tendon strain was lower in subjects with obesity compared to controls (p<0.05). There was a negative correlation between calf raise exercise net efficiency, plantar flexor MTUs hysteresis (r=0.38; p<0.05) and the body mass by maximal voluntary isometric torque ratio (r=0.41; p<0.05). These observations indicate that increased musculotendinous stiffness and hysteresis, together with a lower strength to body mass ratio, are among the factors contributing to higher metabolic energy costs, and lower exercise efficiency in individuals with obesity