European Journal of Sport Sciences

The Effects of Chiropractic Care Combine with a Three-Month Physical Training Program on the Development of Adolescent Basketball Players

2024-07-23T06:07:11-04:00

This study assessed the effect of routine chiropractic care combined with a three-month strength and conditioning program on the physical performance of adolescent basketball players. Thirty-one male athletes, aged 16-19, from elite Chinese national basketball camps, were divided into experimental and control groups. All subjects received cervical adjustment one time per week done by a team chiropractor. The program aimed to enhance agility, muscular strength, endurance, and speed through professional training. Measurements were taken at baseline, at six weeks, and after twelve weeks, using tests such as the ¾ court sprint, box agility, 1RM back squat, 1RM bench press, 65kg bench press for maximum reps, and 17-line shuttle run. The experimental group showed significant improvements in all metrics except the box agility test, while the control group exhibited fewer substantial changes. Results indicate that structured strength and conditioning programs combined with chiropractic adjustment significantly enhance adolescent athletes’ physical performance. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The study concludes that consistent chiropractic care and professionally supervised training are beneficial for adolescent athletes’ development, suggesting the integration of such programs into training routines for adolescent athletes to improve their physical capabilities and minimize injury risks.

Public Perceptions on Elite Sport’s Societal Outcomes: A Validated Scale in a European Context

2024-07-03T09:58:19-04:00

Studies have demonstrated the potential positive (e.g., inclusion) and negative (e.g., pollution) outcomes that elite sport has on society. Over the years, the interest in measuring these societal outcomes has grown. This research extends previous studies that emphasize the need for a validated scale to accurately measure public perceptions of elite sport’s outcomes on society. The purpose of this study was to validate the Mapping Elite Sport’s potential Societal Impact (MESSI) scale in a European context. Using a quantitative research design, the MESSI scale was administered to 10,400 European citizens from seven countries (i.e., Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, The Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the measurement instrument. Results indicated a psychometrically acceptable 68-item 10-dimension MESSI scale. The European population perceived more positive than negative potential societal outcomes of elite sport. The study confirms that the MESSI scale is a valid, reliable, and robust instrument for measuring the perceptions of the potential positive and negative societal outcomes of elite sport. The use of this scale might provide valuable insights for sport policymakers.

The Influence of the Beiring Sorenson Hold and the Barbell Back Squat on Running Cadence in Military Ruck Marching: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

2024-07-12T13:25:45-04:00

Ruck marching is a key performance indicator for tactical preparation; however, marching under load causes changes in biomechanics, which can increase injury risk. Although this risk of injury from changes is known, current methods commonly used for assessing physical fitness have not adequately identified how to minimize these changes. In this observational study, 14 ROTC cadets underwent a series of physical muscular fitness tests prior to performing a six-mile ruck march. These included an evaluation of postural endurance via the Biering Sorenson hold, lower body strength via the back squat, and upper body strength via bench press. After the tests were performed, ruck march performance was evaluated by total time to completion and running dynamics. Multiple regression analysis was performed to determine if bench press maximum, back squat maximum, or Sorenson hold were predictors of the performance of the ruck March.

Average cadence shared a positive significant relationship with the Sorenson hold (r = 0.76, p = 0.02) and a negative significant relationship with the back squat (r = -0.76, p = 0.02). Additionally, the Sorenson hold did not share any significant relationships with total ruck time (r = -0.3, p = 0.29) or ground contact time (r = -0.41, p = 0.31). The back squat did not share significant relationships with ground contact time (r = -0.37, p = 0.37) or average smoothness (r = -0.38, p = 0.31). This study highlights the potential relationship that the Sorenson hold and back squat can have on running cadence, which has shown significant changes in previous research evaluating the changes in running performance and characteristics from weight ruck marching. Further investigation of the relationship of these assessments on the performance of ruck marching should be performed with larger numbers of cadets in the future.