What Makes an Effective Abstract in Sport Science?

Writing an efficient abstract is always a difficult and significant work in academic writing. What kinds of abstracts are well reputed in sport science? To answer this question, 20 abstracts from top journals of sport science were analyzed in the current research. The number of words and rhetorical moves were studied to assess the structures of the abstracts. Meanwhile, the key clauses, citations, the use of first person pronoun, the adoption of abbreviations and acronyms, hedging and the main tense were included in the analysis of the writing skills. Results have show: (1) Almost all of the abstracts were non-structured, and the length varied a lot, but the average word count was about 210-220; (2) the use of writing skills, such as key clauses, citations and hedging differed depending on the preference of the journal where the abstract appeared, and the main tense was selected based on the context of the abstract. In most cases, abbreviations and acronyms were allowed to be used, while the first person pronoun was always avoided

Acute effects of endurance exercise on jumping and kicking performance in top-class young soccer players

The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of endurance exercise on jumping and kicking performance in young soccer players. Twenty-one top-class young soccer players (16.1±0.2 years) performed a countermovement jump test and a maximal instep soccer kick test before and after running for 20 min on a treadmill at 80% of their individual maximum heart rate. Two force platforms were used to obtain the following parameters during the countermovement jump: jump height, maximum power, maximum power relative to body mass, maximum vertical ground reaction force, maximum vertical ground reaction force relative to body mass, and maximum vertical ground reaction force applied to each leg. Maximum vertical ground reaction force and maximum vertical ground reaction force relative to body mass applied to the support leg during the kicks were also calculated with a force platform. The kicking motion was recorded using a three-dimensional motion-capture system. Maximum velocity of the ball, maximum linear velocity of the toe, ankle, knee and hip, and linear velocity of the toe at ball contact during the kicks were calculated. Non-significant differences were found in the parameters measured during the countermovement jump and the maximal instep soccer kick test before and after running, suggesting that the jumping and kicking performances of top-class young soccer players were not significantly affected after 20 min treadmill running at 80% of their individual maximum heart rate.

Response timing in the lunge and target change in elite versus medium-level fencers.

The aim of the present work is to examine the differences between two groups of fencers with different levels of competition, elite and medium level. The timing parameters of the response reaction have been compared together with the kinetic variables which determine the sequence of segmented participation used during the lunge with a change in target during movement. A total of 30 male sword fencers participated, 13 elite and 17 medium level. Two force platforms recorded the horizontal component of the force and the start of the movement. One system filmed the movement in 3D, recording the spatial positions of 11 markers, while another system projected a mobile target over a screen. For synchronisation, an electronic signal enabled all the systems to be started simultaneously. Among the timing parameters of the reaction response, the choice reaction time (CRT) to the target change during the lunge was measured. The results revealed differences between the groups regarding the flight time, horizontal velocity at the end of the acceleration phase, and the length of the lunge, these being higher for the elite group, as well as other variables related to the temporal sequence of movement. No significant differences have been found in the simple reaction time or in CRT. According to the literature, the CRT appears to improve with sports practice, although this factor did not differentiate the elite from medium-level fencers. The coordination of fencing movements, that is, the right technique, constitutes a factor that differentiates elite fencers from medium-level ones.

Validez y fiabilidad del sensor láser del sistema BioLaserSport® para el análisis de la velocidad de la carrera

El análisis de la velocidad de carrera mediante sensores láser permite la obtención de datos en tiempo real siendo ventajosos frente a otros sistemas. El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar la validez y fiabilidad del sensor láser del sistema BioLaserSport® para el cálculo de velocidades medias y máximas mediante estadísticos relativos y absolutos. Los participantes fueron 17 varones (20.85 ± 1.54 años). Se utilizó un sensor láser tipo 1 (LDM301, Jenoptik, Germany) que registró posiciones de los deportistas a 2000 Hz. Los datos se trataron con la rutina DSL-30 creada con DasyLab v.10.0. Para la validación se utilizó un sistema de fotogrametría-2D con una cámara de alta velocidad (Exilim High Speed EX-F1, Casio) y SkillSpector v.1.3.2. (Video4coach, Grubbemollevej). Además, se utilizaron foto-células de doble haz (Polifemo Light, Microgate, Italy) y un cronómetro Racetime2 (Microgate, Italy). Se registraron, durante dos días, tres series de 30 m de carrera a máxima velocidad. El sensor láser proporcionó, con relación a la fotogrametría, diferencias en las velocidades medias y máximas de -0.11 m•s-1 y 0.14 m•s-1, respectivamente, con unos coeficientes de correlación superiores a 0.86, y mayores de 0.92 con las foto-células para las velocidades medias. Este mostró una excelente fiabilidad test-retest para las velocidades medias con un coeficiente de correlación intraclase (ICC) entre 0.7-0.9 y un error estándar de la media (SEM y SEM%), intrasesión e intersesión, menor de 0.05 m•s-1 y 0.12 m•s-1, respectivamente, y menores de 0.75% y de 2%, respectivamente. Para las velocidades máximas,los valores fueron menores de 0.10 m•s-1 y 0.17 m•s-1, respectivamente, y en ambos casos menores a 1.36% y 1,89%. El láser fue capaz de identificar mínimos cambios detectables (MDC y MDC%) intrasesión, para ambas variables, menores a 0.14 m•s-1 y 0.29 m•s-1, respectivamente (< 2.09% y < 3.76%) e intersesión, menores de 0.34 m•s-1 y 0.47 m•s-1 (< 5.56% y < 5.25%), respectivamente. En consecuencia, es un instrumento útil para el análisis de la evolución de la velocidad intrasujeto y entre sujetos en la carrera de velocidad entre 0-30 m, proporcionando resultados en tiempo real, pero se han de considerar los SEM, SEM%, MDC y MDC% para valorar la mejora del rendimiento.

Diet and exercise adherences correlations by sexes in weight loss programs

Correlación entre adherencia a la dieta y el ejercicio en programas de perdida de peso en función del sexo

Do body mass index, sex, treatment and age influence the body weight loss?

¿Influye el índice de masa corporal, el sexo, el tratamiento y la edad en la pérdida de peso?

Do I train to lose body weight if I am already following a diet?

Importancia del ejercicio en un tratamiento de pérdia de peso

Changes in the relationships between aerobic capacity and hematological variables after a diet and exercise intervention.

Relación entre los cambios de las variable hematolóicas y la capacidad aeróbica

Kinematic and heart rate demands in 4x4 vs 7x7 small sided games in professional soccer players

Comparación de las variables cinemáticas y de frecuencia cardiaca en dos posesiones en fútbol

Sex and age differences on lipid profile changes after intervention of weight loss: the Pronaf study.

Diferencias en el perfil lipídico tras un tratamiento de pérdida de peso con dieta y ejercicio por sexo y edad.

Quantification of impacts in artistic gymnastics with accelerometry: an approximation

Intensity and volume of training in Artisti Gymnastics are increasing as the sooner athlete's age of incorporation creating some disturbance in them.

Physical activity quantification in elder women

Cuantificación de la actividad física en mujeres mayores.

Effects of coaches' timeouts on basketball teams' offensive and defensive performances according to momentary differences in score and game period.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of game timeouts on basketball teams? offensive and defensive performances according to momentary differences in score and game period. The sample consisted of 144 timeouts registered during 18 basketball games randomly selected from the 2007 European Basketball Championship (Spain). For each timeout, five ball possessions were registered before (n?493) and after the timeout (n?475). The offensive and defensive efficiencies were registered across the first 35 min and last 5 min of games. A k-means cluster analysis classified the timeouts according to momentary score status as follows: losing ( ?10 to ?3 points), balanced ( ?2 to 3 points), and winning (4 to 10 points). Repeated-measures analysis of variance identified statistically significant main effects between pre and post timeout offensive and defensive values. Chi-square analysis of game period identified a higher percentage of timeouts called during the last 5 min of a game compared with the first 35 min (64.999.1% vs. 35.1910.3%; x ?5.4, PB0.05). Results showed higher post timeout offensive and defensive performances. No other effect or interaction was found for defensive performances. Offensive performances were better in the last 5 min of games, with the least differences when in balanced situations and greater differences when in winning situations. Results also showed one interaction between timeouts and momentary differences in score, with increased values when in losing and balanced situations but decreased values when in winning situations. Overall, the results suggest that coaches should examine offensive and defensive performances according to game period and differences in score when considering whether to call a timeout.

Habilidades adaptativas y reactivas implicadas en el resto de servicio en el tenis

Se realizó un análisis cronométrico del split-step y del tiempo de respuesta en restadores experimentados para corroborar de forma cuantitativa las observaciones cualitativas que notificó Nick Saviano hace algunos años. También, se estudió el vínculo existente entre las diferentes fases del split-step con la reacción de los jugadores. Para ello, se empleó una cámara de alta velocidad a 250 fps. Los resultados obtenidos confirman parcialmente la caída con el pie contrario. La habilidad para adaptar la caída de los pies de forma funcional fue realizada por tres de los cinco participantes. Se constató que los jugadores más rápidos en caer también fueron los más rápidos en reaccionar. También se encontró una relación entre la clasificación nacional de los participantes y la habilidad para reaccionar ya que el mejor jugador (M1) y la mejor jugadora (F1) obtuvieron los tiempos de respuesta más cortos.

Habilidades adaptativas y reactivas implicadas en el resto de servicio en el tenis.

El siguiente artículo presenta una revisión de las características fisiológicas más importantes del tenis, atendiendo a datos de frecuencia cardiaca, concentración de ácido láctico, consumo de oxígeno y percepción subjetiva del esfuerzo, en función de la edad,el nivel, el sexo de los jugadores, etc. Estos datos permitirán a los entrenadores poder realizar diseños de sesiones de entrenamiento en función de estos parámetros.