Sex differences in performance and pacing in the greatest Quintuple Iron ultra-triathlon race in history: The IUTA World Championship 2024 in France.

Background: Pacing in ultra-triathlon has been investigated by analyzing lap times from Double to Deca Iron ultra-triathlon for World Cup races but not for a World Championship. The present study aimed to investigate pacing in ultra-triathletes competing in the fastest and largest World Championship in Quintuple Iron ultra-triathlon ever held in history.

Methods: A total of 11 female and 24 male finishers who completed the 2024 Quintuple Ultra Triathlon World Championship in Colmar, France, were analyzed.

Shaping Training Load, Technical-Tactical Behaviour, and Well-Being in Football: A Systematic Review.

Football performance results from the dynamic interaction between physical, tactical, technical, and psychological dimensions-each of which also influences player well-being, recovery, and readiness. However, integrated monitoring approaches remain scarce, particularly in youth and sub-elite contexts. This systematic review screened 341 records from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, with 46 studies meeting the inclusion criteria ( = 1763 players; age range: 13.

Sex-specific differences in performance and pacing in the world's longest triathlon in history.

Sex differences in performance and pacing in triathlon have been studied for IRONMAN triathlons (3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling and 42.195 km of running) and ultra-triathlons (i.

Hierarchical clustering of the pre-exam anxiety levels in physically inactive and active adolescent students from 56 countries: an observational study using PISA program data.

Introduction: The relationship between physical activity and anxiety among students has been extensively studied, with research highlighting the protective effects of physical activity on mental well-being.

Methods: This article synthesizes existing literature on the topic and presents a novel analysis of pre-exam anxiety rates among physically inactive high school students from 56 countries. Using data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018, a hierarchical clustering method was applied to identify four clusters based on stratified country groups by the students' pre-exam anxiety levels.

Case Report: Case study of 100 consecutive IRONMAN®-distance triathlons-impact of race splits and sleep on the performance of an elite athlete.

Background: Long-distance triathletes such as IRONMAN® and ultra-triathletes competing in longer race distances continue to extend ultra-endurance limits. While the performance of 60 IRONMAN®-distance triathlons in 60 days was the longest described to date, we analysed in the present case study the impact of split disciplines and recovery in one athlete completing 100 IRONMAN®-distance triathlons in 100 days. To date, this is the longest self-paced world record attempt for most daily IRONMAN®-distance triathlons.

Resistance Training Before Hyperalgesia Induction Promotes Analgesic Effects Through Central and Peripheral Biomarker Modulation in an Experimental Fibromyalgia-like Model.

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by widespread pain and complex pathophysiology, requiring new therapeutic approaches. This study aims to investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) before hyperalgesia induction on pain sensitivity, IL-6 and IL-10 expression in skeletal muscle, and thalamic serotonin levels in a fibromyalgia (FM)-like rat model.

Methods: Wistar female rats aged 12 months were divided into four groups: untrained neutral saline (UNS), untrained acid saline (UAS), RT neutral saline (RTN), and RT acid saline (RTA).

Identifying Optimal Pitch Training Load in Elite Soccer Players.

Background: There are no data in the literature regarding the optimal pitch training load (PTL) for elite soccer teams during congested seasons.

Objectives: This study had three goals: (1) identify whether there is an adaptation in match physical performance (MPP) in response to PTL throughout a congested season in elite soccer players; (2) identify whether MPP adaptation is specific to the coach's PTL philosophy; and (3) identify the optimal PTL for MPP during a congested season.

Method: Over two seasons, we collected data from 11,658 PTL sessions and 3068 MPP data from 54 elite male soccer players.

Special Issue "Biomechanical Analysis in Physical Activity and Sports".

Biomechanics plays a vital role in helping us understand how the human body moves,especially in the context of sports and physical activity...

Reliability and Accuracy of Linear Position Transducers During the Bench Press and Back Squat: Implications for Velocity-Based Training.

Selecting the right linear position transducer (LPT) for velocity-based training monitoring sometimes presents uncertainties for coaches. This study rigorously examined the test-retest reliability of three LPT-Cs using a simultaneous triangulation method of the same device during bench press (BP) and back squat (SQ) exercises performed on a Smith machine. Forty university students-13 females (23 ± 2 years) and 27 males (31.

Associations Between Pain Intensity and Inflammatory Profile in Women with Android and Gynoid Obesity Diagnosed with Chronic Pain: An Observational Study.

There are different types of obesity, and the metabolic conditions associated with these phenotypes are also heterogeneous. Overweight and obesity are not only associated with pain but are also identified as risk factors for the development of pain. Objective: This study aimed to compare the levels of inflammatory biomarkers, counting of immune cells, and chronic pain between android and gynoid female patients with obesity.

Multicomponent Exercise and Functional Fitness: Strategies for Fall Prevention in Aging Women.

Aging is associated with physiological changes that increase the risk of falls, impacting functional independence and quality of life. Multicomponent exercise training has emerged as an effective strategy for mitigating these risks by enhancing strength, balance, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 30-week multicomponent training program on functional fitness and fall prevention in older women.

Women in the triathlon-the differences between female and male triathletes: a narrative review.

Introduction: Triathlon events have gained popularity in recent years. With the increasing participation of women, aspects that influence performance and physiology, as well as differences between women and men, are of interest to athletes and coaches. A review of the existing literature concerning differences between women and men in triathlon is lacking.

Mapping football tactical behavior and collective dynamics with artificial intelligence: a systematic review.

Football, as a dynamic and complex sport, demands an understanding of tactical behaviors to excel in training and competition. Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the tactical performance analysis in football, offering unprecedented data analytics insights for players, coaches, and analysts. This systematic review aims to examine and map out the current state of research on AI-based tactical behavior, collective dynamics, and movement patterns in football.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Measure of Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP) Measure into Brazilian Portuguese for Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis.

A comprehensive understanding of chronic pain is crucial for assessing its impact on knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the ICOAP into Brazilian Portuguese for individuals with KOA. A total of 133 individuals with KOA participated.

Relationship Between Quality of Life, Level of Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Body Composition on the Academic Performance of High School Students in an Integrated Educational System.

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of physical and cognitive health. Understanding how lifestyle and physical health parameters relate to academic performance and quality of life may inform school-based interventions. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between physical activity level (PAL), quality of life (QoL), physical fitness (PF), strength, speed and agility, body composition, and academic performance (AP) in high school students.

Blueberry Extract and Resistance Training Prevent Left Ventricular Redox Dysregulation and Pathological Remodeling in Experimental Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Objective: To investigate whether the regular administration of blueberry extract and low-intensity resistance exercise training (RT), either alone or in combination, during the development of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats protect the left ventricle (LV) from redox dysregulation and pathological remodeling.

Methods: Groups of seven male Wistar rats were formed for the experiment: sedentary control; sedentary hypertensive; sedentary hypertensive blueberry; exercise hypertensive; and exercise hypertensive blueberry. PAH was experimentally induced through a single intraperitoneal administration of MCT at a dose of 60 mg/kg.

Influence of Sleep Quality on Recovery and Performance in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Runners: Sex Differences Identified Through Hierarchical Clustering.

Assessing sleep quality is essential in sports science, particularly in ultra-endurance sports, where recovery is critical for performance and health. This study aimed to identify sleep quality patterns among endurance and ultra-endurance athletes using hierarchical clustering analysis, with comparisons by sex and modality. Data were collected during the La Misión Brasil competitions in 2023 and 2024, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Understanding the bullying phenomenon through the eyes of the youth football coaches in the Portuguese region of Tâmega e Sousa.

Introduction: Bullying is a serious social problem affecting, primarily, children and adolescents in educational and sports environments. Analyzing this phenomenon in contexts where children meet and interact, like football schools/clubs, is critical. The study aims to investigate how youth football coaches perceive bullying and their role in addressing it, as well as to explore bullying as a social phenomenon through the lens of coaches' knowledge and experiences.

Cycling and Running are More Predictive of Overall Race Finish Time than Swimming in IRONMAN Age Group Triathletes.

Background: Several studies have evaluated the most predictive discipline (swimming, cycling, and running) of performance in elite IRONMAN triathletes. However, no study has ever determined the most decisive discipline for IRONMAN age group triathletes. The present study analyzed the importance of the three disciplines on the overall race times in IRONMAN age group triathletes, in order to try and determine the most predictive discipline in IRONMAN for age group triathletes, and whether the importance of the split disciplines changes with increasing age.

Analysis of the 50-mile ultramarathon distance using a predictive XGBoost model.

Although the 50-mile ultramarathon is one of the most common race distances, it has received little scientific attention. The objective of this study was to assess how an athlete's age group, sex, nationality, and the race location, affect race speed. Utilizing a dataset with ultramarathon races from 1863 to 2022, a machine learning model based on the XGBoost algorithm was developed to predict the race speed based on the aforementioned variables.

"I Know What I Have to Do, but I Don't Do It": The Relationship Between Knowledge and Adherence to Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings.

This study aims to analyze the correlation between healthcare professionals' knowledge of hand hygiene protocols and their actual adherence to these practices. Specifically, we investigate whether higher knowledge levels correspond to better compliance, and we examine potential influencing factors such as professional role, gender, and prior training in infection control. A non-probabilistic, convenience sample was composed of 51 healthcare professionals working in patient care.

Comparative Effects of Resistance Training Modalities on Mental Health and Quality of Life in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

Background: Anxiety and depression are prevalent after spinal cord injury, impairing social participation and quality of life.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of traditional resistance training (TRT), flywheel resistance training (FWRT), and high-velocity resistance training (HVRT) on the mental health and quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injury.

Methods: Thirty-two participants were divided into TRT (n = 12), FWRT (n = 8), and HVRT (n = 12) groups, undergoing 8 weeks of upper-limb training twice weekly under super-vision.

Correlation between body composition variables, plantar pressure and pain level.

From a current perspective, it is understood that body posture is influenced by individual asymmetries, cultural context, habitual body patterns, etiological factors and psychosocial factors allocated to the individual. Clarifying the musculoskeletal cause that originated the postural alteration is considered the clinical challenge in the treatment of pain or discomfort. Recent studies have shown the influence of changes in body weight on the distribution of plantar pressure and foot pain, emphasizing the importance of understanding these relationships.