The purpose of this study is to document the scholarly influence of English-language books on knowledge advancement using publication and citation metrics. This bibliometric analysis focused on the most cited biomechanics books. Publication, citation, and library holdings for 199 books, classified into eight subject categories, were collected from Google Scholar and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Publication and citation data to indicate considerable academic usage, variability, skew, and growth in new first editions. Top-cited biomechanics in the graduate/research subject category were often higher than comparable age top-cited journal articles. The high citation totals (1,600–13,000) and citation rates (400–1,200 citations per edition) to biomechanics books in all subject categories are consistent with the knowledge synthesis role of books in biomechanics and confirm previous studies of scholar-nominated seminal books. Higher citations to books in the kinesiology category than in the physical education category parallel the trend in change of curriculum and program titles.
Physical inactivity is a critical challenge to global public health. Large language model (LLM) chatbots represent a paradigm shift in conversational agents, offering unprecedented capabilities for dynamic, personalized dialogue. The purpose of this scoping review is to map use of LLM chatbots for physical activity promotion, characterizing their application, their features, and functions, and their facilitation of behavior change techniques, to identify trends and gaps in the literature. Systematic searches of seven databases were performed for studies published between January 2017 and June 2025. Twelve studies satisfied this review’s inclusion criteria. LLM chatbots demonstrate significant potential for overcoming limitations of pre-LLM chatbots, enabling flexible physical activity interventions and facilitating complex behavior change techniques. However, the field remains nascent, evidenced by the prevalence of small-scale, pilot/feasibility studies. Future research should prioritize robust longer term effectiveness trials. Safeguards such as human–artificial intelligence oversight and retrieval-augmented generation should also be implemented in future work, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Sport and exercise science encompasses multiple disciplines (psychology, physiology, and motor behavior) and deals with human behavior issues that have multicausal explanations. Establishing causality in such complex topics is a challenging task as multiple underlying mechanisms typically contribute to a given outcome. The purpose of this theoretical article is to introduce Chamberlin’s method of multiple working hypotheses originally proposed in the late 19th century. We argue that researchers can enhance their understanding of their research topics by employing Chamberlin’s method. In this article, we describe this method, explain its relevance to sport and exercise science, provide two examples of its benefits, and outline practical implications for researchers seeking to incorporate this method into their study design workflow. Incorporating the method of multiple working hypotheses at the research design stage can improve the ability to show causation and account for multiple underlying mechanisms that explain a certain phenomenon.
This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of empirical research on whole-of-school physical activity (WOSPA) preparation for preservice teachers (PSTs). Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, a search across seven databases yielded 28 peer-reviewed articles from five countries focusing on PST involvement with WOSPA. Thematic analysis was used to summarize findings extracted from the selected literature. Research designs included qualitative (19), nonrandomized controlled trials (5), and mixed methods (4). PST experiences with WOSPA promotion addressed physical activity during school (22) and field-based implementation (21). PSTs valued WOSPA opportunities, developed physical activity leadership skills, and desired to lead future programs due to learning experiences. Future research is warranted to explore long-term transfer into the field; cross-institutional and international comparisons; scalable WOSPA learning experiences in teacher education; and their impact on PSTs’ (a) curriculum value orientations, (b) motivation, (c) role-breadth self-efficacy, and (d) perceived mattering.
Higher education classrooms face increasing challenges in student readiness as many students arrive distracted, fatigued, or cognitively taxed, creating barriers to engagement and academic performance. Faculty need evidence-based, efficient, and scalable classroom interventions. The Mindful Minute is a 1-min practice of intentional breathing at the start of class. Implemented consistently across kinesiology courses at Auburn University, it has evolved over nearly a decade into a defining instructional routine. Grounded in self-regulation, psychophysiology, and sport psychology, The Mindful Minute supports attentional reset, self-regulation, and present-moment awareness. Student feedback highlights improved focus, engagement, and perceived readiness. The purpose of this paper is to describe and contextualize The Mindful Minute as an evidence-informed teaching practice designed to support readiness in higher education kinesiology. The authors outline the conceptual rationale, implementation process, and pedagogical implications for adoption.
In response to the growing emphasis on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, Education for Sustainability has become an important agenda in schools. Physical education offers opportunities to support Education for Sustainability, yet its implementation remains limited. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine sustainability-oriented physical education programs published between 2015 and 2025 and to synthesize their characteristics, outcomes, and teaching strategies. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines five databases were searched, yielding 306 records, of which nine empirical studies met the inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using a structured extraction framework and a three-stage coding process. Programs, primarily conducted in Europe and South America, reported positive outcomes across cognitive, affective, psychomotor, and mental health domains. Teaching strategies were categorized as experiential, nature- and community-based, and mindfulness-based. The review underscores the need for stronger curricular integration and institutional support.
International student-athletes in collegiate sport face stressors related to migration, cultural adjustment, and competitive demands placing them at elevated risk for mental health challenges. Despite their growing presence, they remain underrepresented in sport and mental health research. The purpose of this scoping review was to provide an overview of the research that has examined mental health and help-seeking experiences of international student-athletes within the U.S. collegiate sport context. Guided by PRISMA-ScR, a database search identified 19 studies for thematic analysis. Although few studies directly assessed mental health outcomes, many reported stressors like loneliness, discrimination, and academic pressure. Social support particularly from teammates and fellow international students, was the most frequently reported coping strategy. Some relied on self-endurance or emotional suppression, reflecting stigma and cultural norms that may discourage help-seeking. Limited attention to formal mental health services underscores research gaps and need for culturally responsive mental health programming.
The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the occupational socialization literature that explores how physical educators learn about and utilize pedagogical models. The authors followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and identified 21 English-language articles that were published between 1982 and 2024. Each article meeting eligibility criteria was descriptively analyzed through data charting. Qualitative analytic procedures were then applied to the articles’ key findings, resulting in four major themes: (a) Missing in Acculturation Action: “We had never heard of . . . models like that,” (b) Model Training in Professional Socialization: “A package of pedagogical techniques, methods, and strategies,” (c) Organizational Socialization Factors that Promote Model Implementation: “This . . . is something I am interested in doing,” and (d) Model Implementation Hindrances in Organizational Socialization: “An incomplete application of the model.” Implications of the findings are discussed.
The promotion of physical activity has been a key public health priority for decades; however, it has proven challenging to implement or enhance programs, policies, and practices in community settings to create population shifts in physical activity. The National Physical Activity Plan provides a robust set of strategies and tactics that could be employed at state levels to guide and support change; however, capacity-building strategies are ultimately needed at the local level to impact population health. An established axiom of public health is that "All health is local," so the focus in this paper is on the importance of community engagement and implementation science strategies in building capacity in community settings for coordinated physical activity programming.
This essay proposes a puzzle analogous approach to understanding and extending the field of adapted physical activity (APA) for the enrichment of health and wellness for all, regardless of ability. This approach is called 4D APA because it considers four dimensions in discussing the vast APA field and related scholarship. The first two dimensions are the topics of physical activity and ability. The third dimension involves implementation in practice. The fourth dimension is time. This approach accounts for the fact that our perspectives and knowledge base, the questions that we ask, the needs of individuals and communities, and the conditions in which we work are dynamic and ever changing. In presenting this analogy, I argue that now is a crucial time to accept APA as a justice issue and one that the broader field of kinesiology and the National Academy of Kinesiology in particular need to champion.
Individuals with spinal cord injury often have low physical activity due to barriers such as transportation challenges, inaccessible facilities, and lack of adapted programs. Technology-enabled interventions (e.g., synchronous tele-exercise, smartphone apps, and wearable monitors) are emerging as scalable strategies to overcome these barriers. These programs are grounded in behaviorchange frameworks (e.g., self-determination and social cognitive theories) and employ goal setting, feedback, and peer support to boost self-regulation skills. Recent studies indicate that supervised tele-exercise (live video-guided strength and aerobic training) is feasible and effective, yielding improved adherence and significant gains in fitness and health. Similarly, theory-driven apps and peer-coaching models have increased activity levels and reduced sedentary time. Importantly, implementation science approaches (e.g., stakeholder codesign) guide integration of these digital solutions into clinical practice. By aligning these innovations with kinesiology principles and implementation frameworks, such interventions can substantially enhance exercise participation in the spinal cord injury population.
Mobility is often evaluated based on what a person can do in clinical settings, particularly in rehabilitation contexts. However, clinical assessments rarely capture real-world mobility or the environmental, psychological, and behavioral factors that shape it. Framed in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, in this paper I explore the dual role of movement, as both a target outcome of rehabilitation and a predictive biomarker of recovery and adaptation. Using spinal cord injury as a case example, current approaches emphasizing capacity are highlighted in how they fall short of understanding actual performance. Drawing on predictive modeling, pilot data, and engagement with individuals with lived experience, a conceptualization of mobility is presented that prioritizes context, choice, and real-life performance.
Kinesiology scholars have called for justice to be pursued, yet traction has been slow. Anti-Black racism remains a noticeable feature of kinesiology, despite advancements. Moving from performative gestures to collective contempt, kinesiology continues to gatekeep the movement for justice for Black people and other underrepresented groups. Employing a liberatory narrative approach, this essay aims to challenge members of the kinesiology community to advance the field by seeking truth and justice via radical intervention through liberatory praxis.
The purpose of the paper is to propose a new framework for physical education (PE) in the United States. This framework advocates for a holistic approach to PE, integrating PE and health education and implementing social and emotional learning. A holistic approach emphasizes educating the whole child through the physical, cognitive, emotional, mental, and social domains. To support a holistic approach to education in the United States, I present three international examples: (a) Hauora (Maori, the Aotearoa [New Zealand] PE and health education curriculum), (b) Bildung (the student-centered approach to education, Germany), and (c) Humanities (the holistic approach to PE and life, South Korea). By addressing the full spectrum of human and cultural development (eg, Hauora, Bildung, and Humanitas), a holistic approach equips students with the knowledge, skills, disposition, and health behaviors that they need to not only survive but thrive in this complex, interconnected, ever-challenging world.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent immune-mediated, neurodegenerative disease resulting in neuroaxonal damage in the central nervous system and secondary manifestations of the disease. Mobility disability and physical activity are common, cooccurring, and relevant outcomes in people with MS. In this paper, I describe the worsening of mobility disability and declining of physical activity in MS and then examine the nature of association between those two variables. I conclude with a discussion of the relevance of the association between mobility disability and physical activity for guiding future research and the clinical management of MS in conjunction with disease-modifying therapies and/or rehabilitation.
Social justice was a timely theme for the 2025 National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) annual meeting. For active and athletic women, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 is one of the most important laws ever written. Given the influence of Title IX on girls' and women's participation in sport, the purpose of this paper is to (a) briefly explain my own experiences with Title IX (to provide context for the approach taken with this paper), (b) discuss the influence of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women on Title IX, (c) highlight major accomplishments attributed to Title IX, (d) elucidate historical and current challenges to Title IX, and, last, (e) offer a proposed course of action for NAK members to support Title IX as a social justice issue. I consider this one of the most important papers I have ever written-at this time in our herstory-given what is at stake.
Some of the National Academy of Kinesiology's heritage is missing. In this article, we address one such matter, the roster of Academy Fellows. In previous versions, elected Academy Fellows were missing. Through extensive searches of primary and secondary sources, we have identified 109 of them and now account for all known Academy Fellows (N = 922). In this article all Fellows are identified, appropriately classified by their Fellow type, their year of induction, and, for those from outside the United States, the country they represent. Misspelled names and name variations have also been attended to, as were changes in a Fellow's status (e.g., International to Active). With the Academy's 100th anniversary approaching, it is important to appropriately account for all who have been inducted into this esteemed body. This new roster of Academy Fellows supersedes previous listings; it should be used as the basis for future additions, corrections, and updates.
At the National Academy of Kinesiology meeting in Pittsburgh, PA (United States), in September 2025, the lead author, Doune Macdonald, presented, with input from several international scholars, the C. Lynn Vendien International Lecture around the theme Advancing (in) Kinesiology: Movement, Disability and Justice. This paper explores universities' "social licence to operate" in our respective countries and argues how inclusive practices present avenues for enhancing the profiles and purposes of universities in what are considered, in many countries, to be turbulent times. After introducing the concept of social licence, we unpack the policies and practices related to inclusion in our universities, noting tensions and contradictions. We then argue that can showcase the legitimacy, credibility, and trust of institutions that are accorded a social licence to operate. Social theories on governance, inclusion, and power frame these tensions and opportunities.
The current paper provides suggestions to disability sport and exercise science researchers to improve the quality of their research across 11 key areas. First, I urge researchers to become familiar with the open science movement and, in particular, consider the value of preregistration. Second, I explain researcher degrees of freedom and indicate how many of them are considered questionable research practices and distort the knowledge base. Third, I discuss the value of replication and how questionable research practice, among other reasons, makes replication challenging. Fourth, I advocate for power analyses as small sample sizes can lead to false positives and replication failures. Fifth, reliability and validity evidence should always be reported and should be considered adequate. Strong measurement is also another way to ensure adequately powered studies. Sixth, alpha coefficient is criticized, and alternatives options are offered. Seventh, researchers are reminded to always report, interpret, and discuss effect sizes. Eighth, I review null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST) and p values and attendant criticisms. Ninth, I provide broader suggestions, beyond p-value-linked decisions, to judge research. Tenth, I briefly overview a prior procedure and gain probability analyses as alternatives to traditional NHST approaches, which avoid the many criticisms of NHST. Last, I critically examine the role of reflexivity and positionality statements in qualitative research.
