درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Background: Superstitions and rituals have long been a part of sports culture, with many athletes believing that they can bring good luck or improve their performance. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between superstitions and sports success in Iraqi football league players. Materials and Methods: This study used a descriptive-correlational analysis method, with data collected in the field from a sample of 200 players randomly selected from the population of players in the Iraqi football premier league. Two standard questionnaires, Superstition in Sports and Sports Success Questionnaire, were used to collect data, both of which were designed based on the Likert five value range. Results: The study found that there is a significant relationship between superstitions and sports success, with the most important priority related to the component of "team ritual" (5.58) in superstitions and "commitment" (4.58) in sports success. The study also found that 37% of changes in sporting success are related to superstitious components. Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it can be concluded that the use of superstitious rituals can have a positive effect on the sports success of athletes.

This study aimed to examine the challenges and opportunities of sports stakeholders in social media use. This study uses thematic analysis to analyze the literature on the research topic. Furthermore, semi-structured interviews were conducted with three groups of sports stakeholders, including players (N=15), teams managers (N=14), and fans (N=26) that were chosen from three professional football teams. The phenomenological method was used to explore the research questions. The study addressed seven categories of sport stakeholders' challenges and opportunities in social media: informing sports stakeholders, sharing information, advertising, shopping, dialogue, and facilitation of communication, which are offering opportunities. Moreover, two challenges, including unpleasant feelings and time consumption, are recognized as dilemmas. The findings showed common challenges and opportunities of all three sports stakeholders in using social media.  

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stability (DNS) training on performance (lower limb strength, flexibility, fall risk) and quality of life in the elderly. Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. This research was performed on 30 elderly males, aged 60-70 years in Qom Province, Iran in 2021. The examined elderly were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups (n=15/group). Furthermore, the experimental group participated in three 45-minute weekly sessions of DNS training for 6 weeks. To collect the necessary information before and after applying the training protocol, tint tests, 30-second seat sitting test, sitting and delivery test, TUG test, and SF-36 questionnaire were used. The obtained data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Paired Samples t-test at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The ANCOVA results indicated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in motor function, fall risk, quality of life, lower limb strength, and flexibility (P<0.05). The collected mean scores outlined that the experimental group performed better than the control group. Conclusion: Due to the effectiveness of DNS training on physical function and the very high importance of the elderly lifestyle, it is recommended that the provided training protocol be used for prevention and rehabilitation, increase the level of physical fitness and quality of life as a low-cost treatment, among the elderly.

The present research examined the effects of the affective and cognitive benefits of exercise in Instagram on users' physical activity through two consecutive studies. The results of the first study showed that the designed content provided sufficient cognitive and affective benefits. Similarly, the second study found that after adjusting the basic PA level, the affective and cognitive groups had more PA than the control group, and the cognitive group had more than the control group. Consecutively, 45.75% of subjects who were inactive were turned into active after one week of being taught of the benefits of exercise, with 71.43% in the affective group and 28.57% in the cognitive group. In terms of gender, 84.12% were women and 15.78% were men. As a result, visual exposure to sports participation might have led to an increase in positive feelings among users, especially women, which may have led to increased PA levels. The results of this study are useful for health professionals who are trying to communicate information about the benefits of exercise to their target audience based on a combination of evidence, gender, and PA level.

Given the importance of desert sports in the development of sports tourism in desert areas, the purpose of this study was to assess the effect of destination image on satisfaction and revisit the intention of desert sport tourists in the Lut desert of Iran as a desert sport destination. The research population was sport tourists who had visited the Lut desert (in Iran) in 2020. 208 valid and reliable questionnaires were distributed among the research samples that were selected through a convenience sampling approach. The model validity and the relationships among research variables were verified by using structural equation modeling with PLS. The research findings demonstrated that destination image of a desert sport destination has influenced desert sport tourists’ satisfaction and their revisiting intention. Moreover, tourists’ satisfaction had a significant effect on tourists’ revisit intention. The findings of this study can lead to a better understanding of behavioral mechanisms that can provide reliable principles for maintaining and developing sport tourism in desert sport destination destinations.    

Background: Balance is a critical physical factor for achieving independence, and children with spastic cerebral palsy often experience motor and balance difficulties. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of game therapy on the balance of children with cerebral palsy, with a focus on basic abilities. Materials and Methods: This study utilized a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest controlled approach. Twenty children aged 4-10 years, diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy with levels 1 and 2 according to SCFMG standards, with a minimum IQ of 80 (to be able to perform the required tasks), and possessing the basic ability to stand and maintain posture balance, as well as communicate and understand linguistic concepts, were randomly selected from rehabilitation clinics in Tehran. Subjects were randomly divided into the control and game therapy groups. The pediatric balance scale (PBS) test was used to evaluate the balance level using a WII device with a wireless controller and a motion controller. The exercise program consisted of nine different games targeting various areas with the common goal of improving the child's balance. After 20 game therapy sessions, (four 20-minute sessions per week,) tests were repeated in the post-test. The data were analyzed with tow way ANOVA Test and paired T-test by SPSS, 20. Results : The results of the paired t-test indicate a significant improvement in static balance in the post-test for the game therapy group when compared to the pre-test ( P <0.0001). Moreover, the dynamic balance of the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the post-test when compared to the pre-test ( P =0.042). Conclusion: The study findings indicate that game therapy is a viable method for enhancing both static and dynamic balance in children with cerebral palsy. Given that the games used in the therapy are intended to be played at home with parental supervision, it is advised that these games be utilized to improve the balance of children with cerebral palsy.