Advances in Health and Exercise

Perceived and actual performance in female volleyball players: Vertical and horizontal jump

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Perception and action were so closely related that in many situations, affordance perception directly affected the control of movement. The aim of this study was to examine whether frequent practice and engagement, such as that which occurs for vertical but not horizontal jumps in volleyball, leads to more accurate perception of affordances. A total of 30 female volunteers, including 14 professional female volleyball players (age:18.71±5.41 years) and 16 female control participants (age:20.06±1.06 years), participated in two tasks. For the vertical jump-and-reach task, participants judged the maximum height they could attain if they were to run, jump up, and reach with their fingertips. For the horizontal jump task, participants judged the maximum distance they could leap using a standing broad jump. In both cases, participants first estimated their perceived ability and then performed the tasks. As expected given their greater height, jumping ability of volleyball players exceeded that of control participants for both vertical jump-and-reach (p<0.001) and horizontal (p<0.001) jumps. Volleyball players also exhibited smaller constant error (p<0.001) and absolute error (p<0.001) in their perceived maximum jumping ability for the vertical jump-and-reach task, but there were no differences between groups in either constant error (p=0.131) or absolute error (p=0.334) for the horizontal jump task. Thus, experience playing volleyball, a sport requiring frequent vertical but not horizontal jumping, was associated with judgement accuracy on the vertical but not horizontal jump task. The results suggest that volleyball training may be associated with improvement in opportunity perception, which leads also to improved athletic ability.

The relationship between heart rate responses and technical actions in 3-a-side small-sided games among young male football players

Yakup Zühtü Birinci, Serkan Pancar — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0300

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between heart rate (HR) responses and the technical actions of young male football players during 3-a-side small-sided games (SSGs). Twenty-four players (age: 17.42 ± 0.93 years, body height: 172.54 ± 6.21 cm, body mass: 64.19 ± 7.29 kg; fat percentage of body: 14.22 ± 3.62 %; VO_2max: 46.67±2.01 ml.min^-1.kg^-1) performed 3-a-side SSG consisting of four 3-minute bouts, separated by 2-minute passive rest intervals, during the 2022–2023 mid-season period. HR was continuously monitored throughout the SSGs, and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded after each bout. The critical technical actions selected for analysis include total passes, one-touch passes, two-touch passes, and shots (both successful and unsuccessful). Pearson correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between physiological and technical variables. The significance level of the data was determined as p<0.05. A significant positive relationship was found only between one-touch and two-touch successful passes (r = .442; p<0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between other variables (p>0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated no clear relation between HR responses or RPE levels and the technical performance of young male football players in 3-a-side SSG. The 3-a-side SSG can simulate HR responses that mimic the physiological demands of match play, irrespective of technical actions. Therefore, this format may be recommended as an efficient tool for compensatory training to optimize game-like physiological loads in players with reduced match exposure, without compromising technical performance.

The influence of Pilates reformer exercises on non-specific lumbar pain

Tamara Ratkovic — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study aims to determine the impact of basic Pilates exercises performed on Reformer machines to alleviate lumbar pain. The term lumbar pain implies different forms of pain in the lower back region, i.e., Low Back Pain (LBP), which can be caused by various mostly undetected factors and across all generations and gender groups. The research was conducted on a sample of 53 women aged 42.5 ± 8.1, divided into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group consisted of 32 women aged 41.5 ± 8.1, while the control group included 21 women aged 44.2 ± 7.9. The selection of exercises focused on strengthening the core muscles, concerning breathing techniques and body mechanics, is classified as beginner level, both in terms of intensity and complexity. The Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire (OLBPQ) was utilized to assess functional status and individual disability related to LBP before and after the experiment. Within the experimental group, Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests demonstrated statistically significant reductions in mean rank scores from pre‐ to post‐intervention for every item (for example, Q3: MR_pre= 24.70 vs. MR_post = 21.26; Z = –3.77; p < 0.001) and for the overall Oswestry Disability Index (MR_pre = 26.78 vs. MR_post = 22.82; Z = –4.47; p < 0.001), indicating a marked improvement in functional status following the eight‐week Pilates reformer program. A series of controlled exercises, in conjunction with a meticulously guided procedure for performing Pilates exercises on the reformer machines through core muscle strengthening, breathing techniques, and body mechanics, have been demonstrated to alleviate non-specific lumbar pain.

Differences of hamstring muscle strength between para-sprinter with upper and lower limb deficiency: Descriptive observational study

Mega Tia Nurfaiza, Sapta Kunta Purnama, Rony Syaifullah — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0300

This study aimed to analyze the differences in hamstring muscle strength between para-sprinters with upper limb deficiency and lower limb deficiency. Participation in para-sprinting provides physical and psychosocial benefits, yet the repetitive high-intensity movements increase the risk of hamstring injuries. Previous findings showed that hamstring injuries were most likely to occur during maximal sprinting, with sprinters experiencing the highest incidence. Among 109 runners examined, 12 sustained hamstring injuries, 9 cases in sprinters and 3 in non-sprinters demonstrating that approximately 75% of these injuries occurred in sprinters. Furthermore, half of all injuries sustained by sprinters involved the hamstring muscles. As hamstring strength is essential for sprint performance and athletes with limb deficiencies rely more on their remaining muscles, examining these differences is important. This research used a quantitative observational method with a purposive sampling technique. The sample consisted of 13 para-sprint athletes belonging to National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Indonesia, comprising 7 athletes with upper limb deficiency and 6 athletes with lower limb deficiency. Hamstring muscle strength was measured isometrically using the Diers Myoline device. Data were analyzed using an independent t-test. Based on the results of the independent t-test, it can be seen that the significance value for the difference in hamstring muscle strength was 0.887, the significance value for right hamstring muscle strength was 0.782, and the significance value for left hamstring muscle strength was 0.128. The results showed no significant difference in hamstring muscle strength between the two groups (p > 0.05). This indicates that both groups have relatively balanced neuromuscular adaptive capabilities. These findings highlight the importance of biomechanical compensation strategies in supporting performance and injury prevention, regardless of the type of limb deficiency.

The relationship between physical fitness and student learning outcomes in Indonesia: A meta-analysis study

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Physical fitness plays an important role in supporting student learning outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of physical fitness on student learning outcomes through a meta-analysis approach. This study uses a meta-analysis method, a statistical analysis technique that combines the results of various similar studies to obtain a more comprehensive quantitative picture. The data analyzed were obtained from scientific articles published on Google Scholar with the keywords "physical fitness" and "student learning outcomes". The population in this study consisted of 873 articles published from 2020 to 2025. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, namely: (1) discussing the relationship between physical fitness and student learning outcomes, (2) published in the 2020–2025 period, (3) using a quantitative research design with a correlational approach, and (4) limited by the author's institution of origin from Indonesia. From the selection process, 34 articles met the requirements for further analysis. Data were analyzed using the effect size test with the help of JASP software. The Random Effects model analysis showed a significant positive relationship between physical fitness and student learning outcomes (z = 5.015; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.315–0.718). The Rank Correlation results showed a Kendall's value of 0.151, and Egger's test produced a p-value of 0.186, indicating no publication bias. Forest plot analysis showed that the combined effect size was in the medium category, with a value of 0.52 (-1.79; 2.08). There was a significant relationship between physical fitness and student learning outcomes. These findings strengthen empirical evidence that good physical fitness can support academic achievement and is the basis for planning holistic and integrative educational programs.

Diabetes and exercise: Unlocking the potential for effective management and prevention

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0300

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive, chronic metabolic disorder predominantly defined by glucose dysregulation, insulin resistance, and defective insulin secretion. It affects more than 460 million individuals globally with a heavy burden on health sector, economy, and individual's life. This narrative review paper looks at a cost-effective intervention with a potential to contribute to prevention of the disease, regulate condition, and prevent complications. Exercising regularly has a positive impact on glycemic control, improved insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk factors like lipid profiles, blood pressure, and promoting overall cardiovascular and psychological well-being. It addresses critical function of exercise in the management of diabetes through consideration of its physiological mechanisms, exercise type, and clinical benefits of regular exercise. It investigated safe and effective exercise prescription protocols for diabetic patients from aerobic, resistance to flexibility and high-intensity interval training. Although the benefits have been demonstrated, barriers such as physical impairment, comorbidities, low knowledge and motivation prevent individuals from exercising. Addressing these barriers need a multi-sectoral solution to reconcile behavioral support, patient education, electronic health interventions, and policy advocacy. It calls for personalized exercise regimens, longer interventions focusing on diabetes complications, and interprofessional collaboration between healthcare, fitness, and mental health professionals. It highlights research gaps the impact of exercise on durable glycemic control.