Sport Sciences and Health Research

Background: In the past few years, the increasing importance of the impact of exercise on physical and mental health has caused mobility wave around the world. Nevertheless, in Iran, a few people participate in physical activities. Aim: This study aimed to assess the reasons of nonparticipation in physical activity in Iran. Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive and analytical approach conducted as a field study. The population of this research includes all people in Iran. Results: The results revealed that this factors are effective: three factors in individual characteristics variable (lack of sports skills, fatigue and impatience, fear of injury), four factors in inhibitor variable (lack of access to sports facilities and venues, poor quality of sports facilities and venues, being too busy, low income), four factors in environmental driving variable (lack of proper planning for sports, lack of awareness of the advantage of sport activities, feeling embarrassed after the loss, low number of exclusive sports facilities) and two factors in sports features variable (fear of winning and losing in sports, high intensity and duration of sport activities). Conclusion: Findings indicated that the environmental variable and inhibitor variable were more effective than two other variables, hence authorities and planners should pay more attention to these obstacles and problems with better management and provision of infrastructure facilities. These problems must be solved and strategies must be developed for promotion of sports in the country.

Background: Colors can play an effective role in the level of attention, arousal, anxiety, and motivation of learners in learning. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the color of educational tools and teaching aids and the role of trait anxiety on learning futsal inside kick skills. Materials and Methods: Sixty football school participants aged 10-12 years, who, had no experience in futsal matches, according to the type of color (warm and cool) and the level of anxiety (high and low) in four groups were selected. The participants performed 135 trials during three acquisition sessions including 3 blocks of 15 and they rested for 5 sec between each attempt and 2 min between each block. At the end of the last session, the acquisition test and after 48 hours, the retention test, and after 15 min, the transfer test were performed in the same session in the presence of the spectators. To analysis the data, from variance analysis tests with repeated measurements were used. For the effectiveness of color in the acquisition phase, the two-way variance analysis test was used to compare the groups at the significant level of P<0.05. Results: The effect of training sessions(P<0.001) and the interactive effect of color and anxiety (P<0.028) and test stages (P<0.001) are significant and the changes in the progress of the groups did not take place in the same way. In subjects with high anxiety, the cool color group had better progress than the warm color group, and in low anxiety subjects, the warm color group had better progress than the cool color group. Therefore, in learning futsal side kick skill in subjects with high and low trait anxiety, the color of the tool is known as an effective factor. Conclusion: The use of a variety of training programs along with the color of the tool can improve the learning of futsal inside kick in teenagers with high and low trait anxiety.

Background: The functional movement screen is developed to examine individual’s movement patterns through seven functional tasks.Aim: This study was conducted to examine the effect of core muscle fatigue on functional movement screening (FMS) scores in female athletes.Materials and Methods: The study has a pre-test-post-test design. The statistical population included female athletes (18-28 years old) in Tehran with at least two years of sports experience (3 days a week), of which 40 were selected as samples. In this study, core muscle fatigue was examined using the Plank test, before and after which the subjects performed the FMS test. After ensuring the normal distribution of the data through the Shapiro-Wilk test, the effect of core muscle fatigue on the FMS test was examined using Wilcoxon and paired t-tests, and Cohen's D measure was used to evaluate the effect size. The data were analyzed through SPSS 24 software. The significance level in all tests was P≤0.05.Results: According to the results, core muscle fatigue significantly decreased the scores of the deep squat (P=0.001), hurdle step over (P=0.002), in-line lunge (P=0.001), stability push-up (P= 0.001), and rotary stability tests (P= 0.001) but did not significantly affect the scores of the shoulder mobility (P=0.317) and active straight leg raise (SLR) tests (P=0.763). Moreover, core muscle fatigue affected the total score of the FMS test (P=0.001), with the average score decreased by 4.32 after applying the fatigue protocol.Conclusion: Core muscle fatigue significantly reduced the FMS test scores with a medium to large effect size in female athletes.

Background: In football, research on halftime recovery methods is limited. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three different recovery postures during the half-time break on blood lactate and pH, RPE and body temperature of football players. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four male division I Tabriz football players, with an average age of 25.82±4.1 years and Vo2max of 56.30±8.61 ml/kg/min were randomly assigned to three recovery posture groups: (1) seated posture (Sit, n=11), (2) supine posture (Sup, n=11), and (3) supine posture with elevated legs (Sup Lu, n=12). Each group followed their specific recovery protocol 10 min after a simulated half-football game. Measurements were taken before (T1), immediately after (T2), and five minutes after (T3) recovery. Results: Both the Sup and Sup-Lu groups exhibited a significant decrease in blood lactate and an increase in pH from T1 to T3, but there was no significant difference between these two groups (P> 0.05). Body temperature did not show significant variation within or between the groups (P>0.05). A significant difference was observed in the mean changes of RPE from T1 to T3 between the groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both the Sup and Sup Lu recovery postures were found to effectively reduce the fatigue level of football players during the half-time break compared to sitting, without lowering body temperature.

Background: Neuromuscular training (NMT) and supplementation with essential minerals such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn) may enhance muscular reaction time (RT) and electromechanical delay (EMD). However, research on this topic, particularly among taekwondo athletes, is limited.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of NMT and Cal-Mg-Zn supplementation on RT and EMD in taekwondo athletes.Materials and Methods: Sixty athletes from a single taekwondo club in Tabriz, Iran, were randomly assigned to four groups of fifteen: Control, Ca-Mg-Zn, NMT, and Cal-Mg-Zn + NMT. NMT was conducted in 60 min sessions, four times a week, for six consecutive weeks, prior to main taekwondo training. RT and EMD were measured using electromyography before the intervention (T1), three weeks after (T2), and six weeks after (T3). Data were analyzed using SPSS with a confidence level greater than 0.95, employing repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.Results: No significant differences in RT and EMD were observed among the groups at baseline (P> 0.05). In both post-test assessments, the Cal-Mg-Zn + NMT group exhibited significantly lower RT and EMD compared to the other groups (P< 0.05).Conclusion: The inclusion of NMT with zinc supplementation can effectively improve RT and EMD, thereby enhancing the athletic performance of taekwondo athletes.

Background: The research showed that having high scientific intelligence in students does not necessarily imply higher emotional intelligence or better motor efficiency, and these relationships may vary among individuals with different levels of intelligence.Aim: The present study was conducted to compare the motor efficiency and emotional intelligence of ordinary and gifted girls’ students aged 12-15 years.Materials and Methods: The present research was a causal-comparative study. This study was conducted on 100 participants two equal groups (50 gifted girls’ students from National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talant (NODET) and 50 ordinary girls’ students from ordinary schools) using random sampling method from 6 ordinary schools and 3 NODET schools in the first secondary level in Shiraz. The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire– Adolescent Short Form (TEIQue-ASF) and the Bruininks- Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2) were used to measure emotional intelligence and motor efficiency, respectively.Results: The results showed that the motor performance of gifted students was significantly better than ordinary students (P=0.029). However, there was no significant difference in the emotional intelligence variable between the two groups (P<0.05).Conclusion: The research results indicated a significant difference in motor efficiency between gifted and ordinary students. This finding underscores the need for a more in-depth investigation into the potential causes of this disparity. Factors to consider include variations in the physical environment of schools, access to sports facilities, the role of physical activity and sports outside of school, and the differing social and economic backgrounds of families.

Background: Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is caused by sensitive spot in muscles that are known as trigger points (TPs) which can have complications that can affect person's quality of life. Massage and self-myofascial-release (SMR) are two non-invasive techniques which are used to reduce the side effects of TPs. Aim: The present study is intending to compare the effect of the two mentioned techniques in reducing complications caused by TPs such as reduced ROM and pain in women with MPS of the trapezius muscle. Materials and Methods: 45 women aged 20-25 years with active TPs in the trapezius muscle were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The research process was one week which consists of pretest, 5 days intervention and post-test. The variables included pain measured by OBER questionnaire and ROM of neck measured by goniometer. Results: The results of the study showed that massage can have a significant effect on the ROM of neck including neck flexion (P= 0.00), extension (P= 0.00), left (P= 0.00) and right (P= 0.004) lateral flexion and left (P=0.00) and right (P= 0.04) rotation (P<0.05). Both massage and SMR interventions had a significant effect on reducing pain measured by OBER questionnaire (P<0.05). Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that myofascial release massage can have better effects on increasing neck ROM. Both treatment modalities are useful in reducing pain. Based on the obtained results, we recommend that specialists use massage intervention instead of myofascial self-release (SMR) for individuals suffering from MPS and neck pain, in order to achieve quicker and more extensive results.

Background: Research shows that new technologies have increased the tendency to use electronic sports in physical education activities. Studies on physical education activities and e-sports are relatively new and scattered in their focus. However, universities and professionals are growing interested in further research in this area. Aim: The purpose of this study is to systematically review the research done in e-sports and physical education. Materials and Methods: A search was made using EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to collect information on the articles. More than 250 scientific articles from 2000 to 2024 were reviewed. The keywords used were: ("Internet sports" or "electronic sports" or "online sports" or "virtual sports" or "E-sport) and ("physical training" or "sports training" or "fitness training" or "Exercise instruction" or "Sports education" or "physical education"). After removing duplicates, 200 articles were screened by reviewing titles and abstracts, resulting in the exclusion of 100 articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria related to integrating electronic sports and physical education. The full texts of the remaining 100 articles were assessed, leading to the exclusion of 36 more articles due to insufficient data or lack of relevance, leaving 64 articles selected for detailed analysis based on their comprehensive coverage and relevance to the study. Then, the selected items were fully studied and finalized, and the items that were more complete than the others were chosen as references. Conclusion: The study identified critical organizational, technological, individual, and environmental factors influencing the implementation of e-sports. It also highlighted nine mediators’ factors essential for effective execution. Strategies like gamification, e-sport fitness challenges, cross-training, team building, health education, e-sport analysis, and smartening education were proposed to support the model's implementation. The expected outcomes of applying this model in physical education include improved cognitive skills, increased physical activity, enhanced social interaction, inclusivity, and technology skill integration. The study emphasizes that considering these factors and strategies will aid in successfully implementing the conceptual model.

Background: Identifying the practice conditions that optimize the learning of motor skills is one of the main objectives in the area of human motor learning research. Aim: The present study aims to explore the effect of success criteria in high-error practice conditions on motor learning, self-efficacy, and mood states among female students. Materials and Methods: This practical quasi-experimental study was conducted in a field setting. The participants were 30 female students from Yazd University, selected through convenience sampling. Completing the consent form, the selected participants were randomly divided into three groups: high-error practice with a large target (n= 10), high-error practice with a small target (n= 10), and a high-error control group (n= 10). Then, mixed ANOVA was applied in order to test the hypotheses. Results: The results revealed that both of the large and small target groups significantly outperformed the control group regarding the difference in performance accuracy. Moreover, considering mood states, in the small target group, significant differences were observed in the calmness, happiness, and total mood state subscales, while in the large target group, significant differences were found in the vigor, happiness, depression, and total mood state subscales. In terms of self-efficacy, significant differences were observed in the level and power dimensions in small target group; however, the power dimension was the mere aspect revealing significant difference in the large target group. Conclusion: The use of success criteria in high-error practice methods is beneficial, and it is recommended to adopt this approach to improve accuracy and stability in the practice sessions.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) as a non-invasive indicator measures the activity level of the autonomic nervous system. Exercise has significant positive effects in increasing HRV indicators, which ultimately leads to cardiovascular health. People with panic disorder (PD) generally have low HRV indices and are more exposed to cardiovascular risks. Aim: The aim of the present study is investigating the effect of 12 weeks of hiking training on HRV of women with PD. Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental clinical trial, 18 women with PD with average panic scores (45.00±19.55) as determined by Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ) in two training group (12 weeks of hiking training with 70% to 80% MHR, three sessions a week, each one an-hour, and control group (without any regular physical activity) participated randomly. HRV of subjects was measured by Holter monitoring device (with 7 leads VX3+ SN 17570 made in USA) while resting and lying back for 20 min before and after 12 weeks. Results: The results of covariance analysis showed that panic scores (P≤0.001) and HRV factors including: SDNN (P≤0.05), SDNN index (P≤ 0.01) and TP (P≤0.03) of the subjects in the training group improved significantly but HF, LF, LF/HF, did not show significant changes (P≥0.05). Conclusion: It seems that 12 weeks of hiking training improves some of the HRV indices of women, which prevents the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and also reduces the symptoms of panic in women.

Background: Caffeine is widely recognized as a potent ergogenic aid commonly used to enhance exercise performance and recovery. However, individual responses to caffeine can vary significantly, a variability that might be explained by genetic differences.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the influence of the CYP1A2 rs762551 SNP on the effects of caffeine (CAF) consumption on growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TS) levels response to resistance exercise (RE) in male athletes.Materials and Methods: Thirty resistance-trained men (mean age 21.72±4.06 years, weight 77.31±14.07 kg, height 179.31±5.08 cm) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. They consumed either CAF (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PL; 6 mg/kg maltodextrin) one hour before performing a RE protocol including three sets with 85% of 1RM and two-minute rest. CYP1A2 genotyping categorized participants as AA homozygous ("fast" metabolizers) or AC heterozygous ("slow" metabolizers). GH and TS levels were measured by ELISA methods.Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant differences in GH levels across time (F=10.94, P=0.000), with significant time-group (F=4.3, P=0.019) and time-genotype-group interactions (F=3.83, P=0.024). One-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in GH levels between CAF and PL conditions in AA individuals, but not in AC/CC genotypes. For testosterone, significant effects of time (F=14.88, P=0.000) and time-group interaction (F=3.197, P=0.045) were observed. Post-RE CAF supplementation significantly increased serum GH and TS levels in AA individuals compared to PL. Both CAF and PL groups showed increased serum hormone concentrations post-exercise.Conclusion: In conclusion, the study demonstrated that caffeine consumption significantly increased serum levels of growth hormone and testosterone in individuals with the AA genotype of the CYP1A2 rs762551 SNP. These findings suggest that genetic variations play a role in the hormonal response to caffeine, which may have implications for exercise performance and recovery strategies.

Background: In recent years, the examination of the impact of various types of different exercises as the key influential components on balance has gained considerable popularity. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of diverse exercise modalities on the enhancement of balance abilities. Aim: The aim of this research was to compare the effects of different types of learning (explicit and implicit) on the balance of elderly individuals. Materials and Methods: Forty-two elderly participants (both women and men), after initial health assessments and medical history reviews, voluntarily participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to three groups: explicit learning group (14 participants), implicit learning group (14 participants), and control group (14 participants). Before the implementation of the targeted learning exercises, the static balance of the participants was assessed using the Flamingo Test, and dynamic balance was measured using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. After two sessions of learning exercises, the participants were reassessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (ANCOVA and Shapiro-Wilk test) at a significance level of P<0.05. Results: The findings indicated that there was no significant difference between the groups in the pre-test, but after performing the learning exercises, the static balance of the implicit learning group showed a statistically significant improvement compared to the explicit learning group and the control group. However, there was no significant increase in dynamic balance performance in any of the groups. Conclusion: The results of this study support the claim that implicit learning exercises can have a positive and significant impact on the static balance performance of elderly individuals. It was also shown that implicit cognitive training had no effect on dynamic balance, which may indicate the important role of other variables such as motor control abilities.