Verónica Morales-Sánchez

Baseline Mechanical and Neuromuscular Profile of Knee Extensor and Flexor Muscles in Professional Soccer Players at the Start of the Pre-Season

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the mechanical and neuromuscular profile of knee extensor and flexor muscles in professional soccer players at the start of the pre-season, and to calculate percentages for symmetry, as well as examine differences according to the player’s positional role. The vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) of 16 professional soccer players were evaluated by means of tensiomyography (TMG) on the first day of the pre-season. A paired-samples t test (p < .05) was used to compare the dominant and non-dominant lower limb. One-way ANOVA was applied, with the positional role as an independent factor. No differences were observed between the dominant and non-dominant leg. The highest degree of symmetry corresponded to the VM (92.5 ± 2.7%), and the lowest to the BF (80.7 ± 10.9%). The positional role was associated with significant differences in some of the variables for the BF, RF and VM, although only the half-relaxation time in the BF and the time to sustain force in the VM differed across all the playing positions considered. TMG was shown to be a useful way of evaluating the neuromuscular characteristics of soccer players at the start of the pre-season, and of establishing baseline values for individual players.

APORTACIONES PSICOMÉTRICAS EN EL DESARROLLO DE UN CUESTIONARIO PARA EVALUAR LA CALIDAD PERCIBIDA DE SERVICIOS DEPORTIVOS

Resumen es: El objetivo del estudio consistio en analizar las propiedades psicometricas (fiabilidad y estructura factorial) del Cuestionario de Evaluacion de la Cali...

EVALUACIÓN DE LA CALIDAD EN EL ÁREA DE EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA EN UN CENTRO DE ENSEÑANZA SECUNDARIA Y BACHILLERATO

En este trabajo se presenta una adaptacion del modelo SERVQUAL al ambito de la ensenanza secundaria, concretamente al area de educacion fisica. Los resultados encontrados apoyan la existencia de una estructura factorial estable y parsimoniosa, con indices de ajuste aceptables. El cuestionario fue administrado a 175 alumnos-as de segundo ciclo de ESO y de bachillerato de un Instituto de Ensenanza Secundaria de Malaga-Espana(74 alumnos-as de 3° ESO; 56 alumnos-as de 4° ESO; 45 alumnos-as de 1° bachiller.)

Decision-Making by Handball Referees: Design of an ad hoc Observation Instrument and Polar Coordinate Analysis

Referees are essential for sports such as handball. However, there are few tools available to analyze the activity of handball referees. The aim of this study was to design an instrument for observing the behavior of referees in handball competitions and to analyze the resulting data by polar coordinate analysis. The instrument contained 6 criteria and 18 categories and can be used to monitor and describe the actions of handball referees according to their role/position on the playing court. For the data quality control analysis, we calculated Pearsons (0.99), Spearmans (0.99), and Tau Kendalls (1.00) correlation coefficients and Cohens kappa (entre 0.72 y 0.75) and Phi (entre 0.83 y 0.87) coefficients. In the generalizability analysis, the absolute and relative generalizability coefficients were 0.99 in both cases. Polar coordinate analysis of referee decisions showed that correct calls were more common for central court and 7-meter throw calls. Likewise, calls were more likely to be incorrect (in terms of both errors of omission and commission) when taken from the goal-line position.

Observación automatizada: la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y su relación con las variables psicológicas determinantes del rendimiento en nadadores jóvenes

Resumen: La correcta interpretación de los marcadores de rendimiento desde una perspectiva psicofisiológica es importante para el desarrollo de los atletas en etapas formativas. Este trabajo contiene dos objetivos. El primero es analizar la relación de la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca (VFC) con las variables psicológicas: calidad de sueño, autoestima y estados de ánimo en jóvenes nadadores de una escuela profesional. El segundo objetivo es estudiar la relación de la VFC y determinantes psicológicos con el rendimiento. Esta se compuso 9 nadadores (11.7 ± 1.4 años) basada en un método de muestreo a propósito. Las mediciones fueron efectuadas una vez por semana durante tres semanas de entrenamiento. El análisis estadístico muestra como la dimensión de ansiedad correlacionó negativamente con el logaritmo natural de banda de alta frecuencia (Ln HF) y positivamente con el logaritmo natural de la banda de muy baja frecuencia (Ln VLF) de forma significativa. No se encontraron relaciones para las variables autoestima y calidad de sueño. El tiempo en la prueba de rendimiento fue asociado negativamente con indicadores de la actividad parasimpática. Estos resultados sugieren que la VFC podría ser una herramienta válida para la predicción del rendimiento y mejora de la interpretación de la ansiedad. Palabras clave: Calidad de sueño; estados de ánimo; autoestima; rendimiento. Title: Automated observation: heart rate variability and its relationship with performance-related psychological variables in young swimmers. Abstract: Correct interpretation of performance markers from a psychophysiological perspective is important in young developing athletes. This study had two objectives. The first was to analyze the relationship between heart rate variability (HRV) and the psychological variables sleep quality, self-esteem, and mood states in young swimmers from a professional swimming club. The second was to study the relationship between performance and HRV and psychological determinants. The sample was composed of nine swimmers (11.7±1.4 years) base on purposive sampling method. Data were collected once a week during training sessions for 3 weeks. The statistical analysis showed that anxiety was negatively correlated with the high frequency component of HRV (Ln HF) and positively correlated with the very low frequency component (Ln LVF). No significant correlations were observed for self-esteem or sleep quality. Performance in a 200-m freestyle event was negatively correlated with the parasympathetic HRV indices. Our results suggest that HRV could be a valid tool for predicting performance and improving interpretation of psychometric tests.