Inquiries in Physical Education and Sport

The Impact of Exercise Cessation on the Physical Fitness of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Glykeria Kyriakidou, George Tsalis, Christina Evaggelinou — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Regular physical activity (PA) has been linked to many health benefits in individuals with and without disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities (ID). Participation in exercise programs is considered necessary to maintain an adequate level of physical fitness (PF). A suggested way of exercise for individuals with ID is to participate in activities and sports provided by sports clubs preparing them to take part at either a recreational or competitive level. One of the most popular sports among athletes with ID is swimming. The benefits of regular participation in swimming are many as it contributes to various physiological and biomechanical adaptations. Cessation or reduction of training, known as detraining, causes partial or complete reversal of these adaptations, thereby reducing swimming performance. The aim of this research was to identify studies that have investigated the effects of exercise cessation in people with ID, focusing on those who participate in swimming, on biological parameters and performance. Studies were searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar and additionally in Academia and Research Gate databases from 1980 to 2023. The research question was developed using the PICO (Patient or Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) framework. Only four studies met the criteria for this research. Parameters associated with physical condition (PC) and performance in ID subjects after cessation of swimming or land-based exercise were assessed. The results revealed that the parameters were affected in many ways after different periods of exercise cessation. Losses in exercise-induced aerobic and respiratory fitness, mobility and functional capacity were found. The present study could be considered a useful guide for physical education teachers and coaches of people with ID to promote and maintain PC and improve their quality of life.

Students’ out-of-school physical activity and math performance

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study examined the relationship between students’ physical activity (PA) levels and their mathematical ability. For the implementation of this study, a total of 300 students from different schools in central Greece were asked to complete a weighted test of mathematical ability, the Youth Activity Profile questionnaire, as well as a series of demographic data. Cronbach's α reliability index was low for the Youth Activity Profile scale (α = .43 to .67), while the Mathematical Ability Test scale had an acceptable level of internal consistency (α = .78). Correlation analysis showed that out-of-school PA was positively related to mathematical ability, while sedentary behaviors were negatively related to mathematical ability. In addition, statistically significant differences in math ability and out-of-school PA were found due to gender, sports participation, parental education level, and family economic status. Finally, there were statistically significant differences in students’ mathematical competence due to gender, perception of the value of mathematics in everyday life, and interest in mathematics. To conclude, the findings revealed that students who participated in extracurricular sports activities had a better score on the mathematics test.

Keywords: physical activity, testing, math ability

Effect of Exercise Training on Liver Steatosis in Adults with Obesity and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is characterized by hepatic steatosis and can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD is associated with the obesity epidemic and comorbidities such as hyperlipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus, primarily affecting middle-aged men and postmenopausal women, although its prevalence is rapidly increasing among younger individuals. Current pharmacological treatment focuses on managing comorbidities, such as cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunctions, rather than directly addressing the liver disease itself. Lifestyle interventions, including diet and exercise, have been shown to be effective in managing steatosis and preventing its progression to cirrhosis. This review aims to synthesize studies examining the effects of various exercise protocols on hepatic steatosis in obese adults and to provide guidelines regarding the type and intensity of exercise for managing steatosis in this population. The results indicated a reduction in steatosis of 10,7% over 16 weeks with the implementation of aerobic training for 45-60 minutes at 60% of heart rate reserve (HRR) or 55% of maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), with a training frequency of five times a week. Additionally, reductions of 1-3% in steatosis were observed with both aerobic and high-intensity interval training protocols, as well as resistance exercise, at a training frequency of 3-4 times per week over durations of 4, 8 and 12 weeks, and up to 8 months. In conclusion, exercise can lead to significant improvements in hepatic steatosis in obese adults, with an emphasis on daily aerobic exercise. Further research is needed to explore the effects of different exercise protocols concerning intensity and duration to gain additional insights.

The Role of Sport and Sport Environment in promoting integration and multiculturalism

Eleftheria Morela — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Sport has been widely recognized as a social tool for encouraging intercultural contact and promoting intercultural dialogue in modern multicultural societies. However, sports context can exacerbate ethnic conflicts and cause tensions, thus highlighting ethnic and cultural differences. Therefore, how the sports environment is shaped can significantly influence the outcome of intercultural contact. The purpose of the present study was to spotlight the role of sports and sports environments shaped by the coaches, in the acculturation process, through which individuals or groups of different cultures actively interact and exchange practices, values, and ways of thinking. To this end, important theories in the field of acculturation will be presented, and the role of sports in maintaining ethnic and cultural identity and in interaction with the host society will be discussed, based on the existing literature. Next, a brief overview of studies exploring the relationship between sports environment factors and incoming and host populations' acculturation preferences will be presented. Finally, future research directions that could provide valuable insights into the better use of sport in promoting integration and multiculturalism

Enhancing Factors Influencing Athlete's Intention to Engage in Archery

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of motivation and coaching behavior on athletes' intentions toward participating in archery. A total of 246 archery athletes completed questionnaires assessing their attitude, intention to participate in archery, intrinsic motivation, coaching behavior, and the goal-setting process. The results revealed that athletes' intentions to dedicate themselves to training in archery were positively associated with their attitudes toward archery, high levels of enjoyment, supportive behavior of the coaches, and an appropriate goal-setting process. On the contrary, perceived pressure and negative coaching behavior were negatively correlated with the intention for systematic engagement with the sport, the attitude toward archery, motivation, and goal setting. The strongest predictors of athletes' intention to continue their engagement with the sport were attitudes toward archery, perceived behavioral control, enjoyment, and goal setting. Based on these findings, the study formulates specific suggestions for athletes and coaches.