This study explored the classification experiences and views of Para Alpine skiers with visual impairment. Data from 11 interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to generate three themes: Suitability—The skiers questioned the suitability of the visual measurements, testing environment, and the information they received regarding classification; Exclusivity—Skiers felt certain aspects of the system remain exclusive due to the restrictions of sport classes and lack of the athlete voice; and (Dis)trust—Skiers felt distrust in those implementing the system and in other athletes due to intentional misrepresentation. Speculation surrounding this resulted in the skiers’ feeling doubt in their own classification. While there is not a “one size fits all” approach to classification, understanding skiers’ experiences can be a vital first step and will help to guide future research into the evolution of this sport’s classification.
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Athletes’ Perspectives of the Classification System in Para Alpine Skiing for Those With Visual Impairment
Sara M. Douglas, Paul J. Kitchin, Andrew J. Jackson, Brendan T. Barrett, and Julie-Anne Little
Erratum. The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma, Exercise Addiction, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, and Basic Psychological Needs in Türkiye
Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology
Influence of Motor Imagery Modality on First-Serve Performance in Tennis Players
Dominique Laurent, Robbin Carien, and Nicolas Robin
Motor imagery (MI) is frequently used in tennis players. This pilot study aimed to assess whether the MI modality and preference of skilled tennis players could influence their service performance when using MI before serving first balls. Twenty expert players (M age = 18.6 years) completed the movement imagery questionnaire (third version) to assess their MI modality scores (internal visual, external visual, and kinesthetic) and their MI preference. Participants completed 4 experimental counterbalanced sessions spread over 4 weeks, each including the completion of 20 first-serve balls in match condition. The sessions included a control condition (i.e., only physical practice trials) and three MI conditions during which the players had to mentally imagine themselves performing a serve according to one of the imagery modalities, either internal visual, external visual, or kinesthetic, before serving. The percentage of success, the speed of the service balls (measured by a tablet with SWING VISION and a radar gun), and an efficiency score were recorded and then evaluated by experts and served as performance indicators and dependent variables. The results of this study showed that players benefited from MI before serving and that almost a third of the participants achieved a higher percentage of success and efficiency scores when using their preferred MI modality. These results lead us, in an applied way, to suggest to skilled tennis players to determine their MI preference and to have recourse to the mental simulation of a successful serve before serving the first balls in match condition.
A Study of the Effects of Motor Experience on Neuromuscular Control Strategies During Sprint Starts
Zhengye Pan, Lushuai Liu, Yuan Sun, and Yunchao Ma
Much of the current research on sprint start has attempted to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of elite athletes to provide guidance on the training of sprint technique, with less attention paid to the effects of motor experience gained from long-term training on neuromuscular control characteristics. The present study attempted to investigate the effect of motor experience on the modular organization of the neuromuscular system during starting, based on he clarification of the characteristics of muscle synergies during starting. It was found that exercise experience did not promote an increase in the number of synergies but rather a more focused timing of the activation of each synergy, allowing athletes to quickly complete the postural transition from crouching to running during the starting.
Response of Knee Joint Biomechanics to Landing Under Internal and External Focus of Attention in Female Volleyball Players
Lukáš Slovák, David Zahradník, William M. Land, Javad Sarvestan, Joseph Hamill, and Reza Abdollahipour
The aim of this study was to examine the effect of attentional focus instructions on the biomechanical variables associated with the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury of the knee joint during a drop landing task using a time series analysis. Ten female volleyball players (age: 20.4 ± 0.8 years, height: 169.7 ± 7.1 cm, mass: 57.6 ± 3.1 kg, experience: 6.3 ± 0.8 years) performed landings from a 50 cm height under three different attentional focus conditions: (1) external focus (focus on landing as soft as possible), (2) internal focus (focus on bending your knees when you land), and (3) control (no-focus instruction). Statistical parameter mapping in the sagittal plane during the crucial first 30% of landing time showed a significant effect of attentional focus instructions. Despite the similarity in landing performance across foci instructions, adopting an external focus instruction promoted reduced vertical ground reaction force and lower sagittal flexion moment during the first 30% of execution time compared to internal focus, suggesting reduced knee loading. Therefore, adopting an external focus of attention was suggested to reduce most biomechanical risk variables in the sagittal plane associated with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, compared to internal focus and control condition. No significant differences were found in the frontal and horizontal planes between the conditions during this crucial interval.
Muscle Torque–Velocity Relationships and Fatigue With Reduced Knee Joint Range of Motion in Young and Older Adults
Zoe H. Smith, R. Anthony Martin, Erica Casto, Carol Bigelow, Michael A. Busa, and Jane A. Kent
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of knee joint range of motion (RoM) on the torque–velocity relationship and fatigue in the knee extensor muscles of 7 young (median = 26 y) and 7 older (68 y) adults. Each leg was assigned a RoM (35° or 75°) over which to perform a torque–velocity protocol (maximal isokinetic contractions, 60–300°·s−1) and a fatigue protocol (120 maximal contractions at 120°·s−1, 0.5 Hz). Six older participants were unable to reach 300°·s−1 over 35°. Therefore, the velocity eliciting 75% of peak torque at 60°·s−1 (V 75, °·s−1) was calculated for each RoM from a fit of individual torque–velocity curves (60–240°·s−1), and ΔV 75 (35°–75°) was determined. Fatigue (final torque/initial torque) was used to calculate Δfatigue (35°–75°). ΔV 75 was not different from 0 in young (−28.3°·s−1 [−158.6 to 55.7], median [range], P = .091) or older (−18.5°·s−1 [−95.0 to 23.9], P = .128), with no difference by age (P = .710). In contrast, fatigue was greater for 75° in young (Δfatigue = 25.9% [17.5–30.3], P = .018) and older (17.2% [11.9–52.9], P = .018), with no effect of age (P = .710). These data indicate that, regardless of age, RoM did not alter the torque–velocity relationship between 60 and 240°·s−1, and fatigue was greater with a larger RoM.
Addressing the Critical Need for Holistic Mental Health Support in Rugby: Reflections on Systematic Review Findings
Lien-Chung Wei
Mentoring Philosophy as a Guide to Navigate Challenges From the Lens of Certified Mental Performance Consultant Mentors
Janaina Lima Fogaça and Leilani Madrigal
The purpose of this paper is to show how philosophies and guiding theoretical models have helped develop the mentoring practices of a master’s degree program with students seeking to become Certified Mental Performance Consultants. We present a series of challenges that we have encountered as mentors in this program. These challenges center around the consulting student, coach interactions, situations that have warranted a need for referrals, and mentor burnout. In each challenge, we discuss how our philosophy and models of supervision helped guide our decisions and the lessons learned from these various situations. Ultimately, these challenges and experiences helped us improve the program through changes in our mentorship structure and general logistics. We hope that our lessons, ideas for program improvement, and the rationale of how our mentoring philosophy supported our decision making at the time may be useful to mentors who oversee graduate-level programs.
Effect of Neurofeedback Training Along With Swimming Exercise on the Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Severity of Dependence, and Craving in Methamphetamine-Dependent Patients
Atefeh Fadaei, Mahmoud Najafi, Hossein Miladi-Gorji, Mohammad Ali Tajik-Mansoury, and Mohammad Afkar
This study investigated whether neurofeedback (NFB) training and swimming exercise (Swim) would reduce the stress, anxiety, depression, severity of dependence, and cravings in patients addicted to methamphetamines. Participants were allocated randomly to four groups: control group, NFB, Swim, and NFB/Swim. All groups completed the study questionnaire before and after treatment. The NFB, Swim, and NFB/Swim groups reported significantly less stress, cravings, and severity of dependence than the control group. The Swim and NFB/Swim groups had significantly lower depression scores than the control group. Also, the NFB/Swim group experienced less anxiety than the control group. However, the NFB/Swim group had lower levels of stress than the Swim group, and lower levels of anxiety and severity of dependence than the NFB group. These findings suggest that NFB training along with swimming exercise was effective in managing methamphetamine-related behavioral disturbances, which may help patients to manage their cravings.
The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma, Exercise Addiction, Emotion Regulation Difficulties, and Basic Psychological Needs in Türkiye
Sema Gültekin Arayici and Serap Tekinsav Sutcu
Exercise addiction manifests as a behavioral compulsion where physical activity becomes excessively pursued, leading to potential harm to both physical and mental well-being, as well as interpersonal connections. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of basic psychological needs and emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between childhood trauma and exercise addiction. The study sample consisted of 386 regular exercisers who completed several questionnaires, including the Childhood Trauma Scale, Exercise Dependence Scale, Basic Need Satisfaction Scale, and Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale. The results of the analyses revealed that basic psychological needs and emotion regulation difficulties were significant predictors of exercise addiction symptoms, and they mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and exercise addiction. The findings contribute to the understanding of the factors that may lead to exercise addiction and have implications for prevention and treatment. In this context, the results and limitations are discussed in light of the relevant literature.
