This study aims to investigate the learning process of street dance in preschool children and to highlight its role in the development of coordinative abilities, rhythmicity, and spatial-temporal orientation. The research is based on the assumption that a structured and age-appropriate training program can significantly enhance the acquisition of fundamental street dance skills in early childhood. The study was conducted over a period of three months and involved a group of 19 preschool children aged 4 to 6 years, who participated voluntarily with parental consent. The methodological framework included observation, pedagogical experiment, statistical-mathematical analysis, and graphical representation of data. The intervention program comprised specific exercises aimed at developing motor rhythmicity, coordination, and spatial orientation, as well as simplified street dance movements adapted to the developmental level of preschoolers. The activities were designed to be engaging, interactive, and aligned with the psychomotor characteristics of this age group. The results indicate noticeable improvements in motor coordination, rhythm synchronization, and the ability to perform basic street dance sequences. These findings support the hypothesis that integrating street dance into early physical education contributes to children’s motor development. In conclusion, street dance represents an effective and attractive pedagogical tool for enhancing psychomotor skills in preschool children, with potential implications for educational practice and curriculum development in physical education.
Obesity is currently considered by the World Health Organization to be the most serious health problem in the world, as it is the main cause of increased morbidity, disability, mortality rate and deterioration of quality of life in society. Currently, BMI is the most popular measure of overweight and obesity, although it does not distinguish between fat and lean mass, which leads some researchers to question its usefulness as a measure of obesity. The aim of the study is to establish the prevalence of overweight among young students (n=158) and its consequences on quality of life. The evaluation involved anthropometric measurements (BMI, percentage of fat mass and bone density) and assessment of quality of life by applying the European Quality-of-Life Questionnaire-5D (EQ-5D-5L). The results indicated that 25.95% of the participants were overweight. In addition, the findings suggest that obesity classification based exclusively on BMI may overestimate the prevalence of excess adiposity, emphasizing the importance of incorporating complementary body composition assessments for a more accurate evaluation of weight status. Participants with a BMI of 25 or above were considered to have excess weight. It was not substantially associated with major functional and pain-related limitations, but the presence of levels of psychological impairment indicates that the emotional dimension remains a sensitive area in the case of overweight students.
This study aims to provide a preliminary examination of the reliability and factorial structure of the Satisfaction Scale for Athletes (SSA) in international football contexts. The SSA, originally validated within the Turkish football league, measures athletes’ satisfaction with key dimensions of the sporting environment, including satisfaction with the coach, team performance, and teammates. The present research focuses on two main objectives: (1) evaluating the internal consistency of the SSA subscales, and (2) exploring its structural organization using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) as an exploratory procedure. The sample consisted of 63 professional and semi-professional male athletes from various international football leagues. Sampling adequacy was supported by a satisfactory Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin index and a significant Bartlett’s test of sphericity. Results indicate satisfactory internal consistency across subscales and provide preliminary support for a three-component structure explaining a substantial proportion of total variance, broadly consistent with the original model. However, given the exploratory design, modest sample size, and absence of confirmatory factor analysis, findings should be interpreted cautiously and considered as an initial step in the international examination of the instrument rather than definitive evidence of cross-cultural equivalence. Overall, the study suggests the potential applicability of the SSA in international football contexts and highlights the need for further research employing larger, more balanced samples and confirmatory factor analysis to strengthen its structural validation and test measurement invariance across cultural groups.
Sports Social Media (SM) has become an essential platform for clubs, leagues, and sponsors aiming to promote sustainable practices and engage fans in an emotionally meaningful way. This study explores the predictive power of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in boosting SM communication by recognizing and interpreting emotional cues in images and video streams captured in sports contexts – live broadcasts, fan‑cams, and supporter‑generated content. CNNs contribute to tasks such as crowd sentiment analysis, content moderation, deepfake detection, and real‑time emotional feedback – all critical for ethical, emotionally intelligent sports marketing. This research presents a neural network model designed to quantify the impact of CNN-based emotion recognition on four key aspects of social media engagement: audience understanding, emotional content triggers, storytelling effectiveness, and responsiveness to social trends. Using a multilayer perceptron architecture trained on facial and webcam data, the model evaluates the relationship between CNN features and sustainability-focused communication outcomes. Findings indicate that CNN training iterations, facial image variability, and real-time webcam data are the most influential predictors of effective sports social media (SM), while emotional labeling and training data diversity play moderate roles. The model demonstrates practical utility for neuromarketing-driven campaign personalization and provides a foundation for ethical, data-informed sustainability messaging. Despite challenges related to privacy and bias, CNN-based AI systems hold significant potential to transform digital marketing strategies into adaptive, responsive, and emotionally intelligent frameworks.
Anxiety is the most common and universal human emotion. It is a reaction of tension without an apparent cause, but more diffuse and less focused than fear. Anxiety, as a normal emotional sensation or state in certain circumstances, is a typical response to various stressful everyday situations. The problem arises when anxiety occurs continuously over time in situations that are not really threatening or when it is very intense. The present research aims to identify the role of recreational sports activities in combating anxiety among eighth graders. The study focuses on this category of students for two reasons: on the one hand, the demands placed on them throughout the school year because of the evaluation exam, which is particularly important for their school and even professional careers, and on the other hand, because most studies highlight the benefits of sports participation for adolescents in general, while our approach is aimed at 14-15 year olds who are preparing for an essential stage in their lives. The research involved a group of eighth graders from a mainstream school in Bucharest. The main tool used was the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale. It was completed by adolescent before and after application of the intervention programme lessons. The initial anxiety score (62.75 points) suggested a risk for anxiety disorder. After completion of the sports activity programme, the overall level of anxiety was within normal limits. This study has demonstrated that recreational sports activities have beneficial effects on anxiety disorders.
Volleyball is a high-intensity sport characterized by repeated jumps, sudden changes of direction, and rapid transitions between offensive and defensive phases. In such a dynamic context, reaction time becomes a decisive factor of performance, directly influencing the efficiency of technical and tactical actions and the players’ ability to adapt to the unpredictability of the game. The purpose of this study was to analyze changes in reaction time in U15 volleyball players following the implementation of a specific physical training program based on the principles of microperiodization. The sample consisted of 22 athletes, evaluated in two distinct stages: initial testing (February 2025) and final testing (September 2025). Between the two assessments, the participants followed a structured training program focused on developing speed ability and reaction time. Reaction time was measured using the Witty system under standardized conditions, with each athlete being evaluated individually. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two testing sessions, confirming the effectiveness of the implemented training program. The results show that a microperiodized training program, applied in the medium term, can generate measurable motor adaptations, contributing to the optimization of reaction speed in juvenile volleyball players. These findings support the importance of integrating specific exercises aimed at developing reaction time into the training methodology and provide a basis for developing training models adapted to age and performance level.
In recent years, social media platforms have significantly influenced university marketing strategies, with the aim of promoting educational offerings, increasing student retention, and strengthening the institutional brand. At the same time, the accelerated development of artificial intelligence has generated new opportunities for optimizing communication and administrative processes. Although the education sector is often perceived as conservative in adopting emerging technologies, integrating AI into university marketing strategies demonstrates high potential for improving workflows, personalizing messages, and attracting a larger number of students. The purpose of this research is to analyse the impact of using artificial intelligence in the creation and dissemination of digital content on the engagement indicators, by comparing the impact of different promotion materials published on the university’s social platforms (Facebook and Instagram). The research results highlight the significant contribution of AI in strengthening the visibility and attractiveness of educational offer, by developing a more efficient and dynamic relationship with the target audiences. At the same time, there were significant differences between the social network platforms, in terms of impact of dissemination materials (Facebook) and attracting new public (Instagram). For future research, the degree of international user satisfaction regarding the technological tool based on AI will be very important in relation to the educational offer, especially since the presence of international users underlines the need to adapt the content and communication to a multicultural audience.
The aim of our study was to conduct a literature review of studies in which mental training was used in shooting sports. To conduct this review, we used the PRISMA2020 schema, for new systematic reviews that included only database and journal searches. The exclusion criteria for the studies were as follows: mental training was studied in relation to other sports (n=121), mental training was not used for sports activities (n=93), mental training was used for other age groups (n=25), and studies that were not open access (n=17). The final articles that met all the inclusion criteria were 23 studies. The participants involved in the initial studies were performance athletes. The results of the included studies showed that the effects between the professional psychological support, performance shooting sports and effective coaching can promote higher performance in precision sports. Within the limits of the study, we note that there is not a very large number of research conducted in the direction of establishing the effects of psychological training in sports shooting. The practical implications of the study draw attention to the importance of the presence ofmental training in the preparation of athletes in precision sports, which require a high level of emotional stability and self-control.
The focus related to Heart Rate (HR) knowledge in children in the aquatic environment already has some decades and continues to be an interest and constant research. This study intends to characterize and evaluate the level of cardiovascular responses regarding motor skills with aquatic exercises through the analysis of heart rate. The participants were 10 infants with a mean age of 17.6 months and all of them with 9 months of previous practice of water activities. Data collection was performed by a portable HR monitor with a band adjusted to the infant's chest. The highest heart rate value recorded was 194 bpm and the lowest one of 92bpm. Ventral, dorsal and vertical positions were analyzed, jumps and finally immersion. All sessions were recorded with a video camera at the same time it was made the heart rate assessments for synchronizing tasks times. For statistical analysis of the values, a comparison between infants’ activities was assessed, using the T-Test to compare means of the different aquatic skills. The higher mean recorded was in jump, with a mean value of 141.3±17.65 bpm, compared with the lowest mean the ventral position task with a mean value of 119.2±22.78 bpm. There were changes on the HR associated with the tasks performed, where each motor ability showed different cardiovascular responses.
Quality of life means different things to different people, according, also, to the area of application. The aim of the research was to capture the quality of life experienced by young athletes, according to gender, sport performance, and related to the type of sport practiced. 116 athletes participated in the research, practicing individual and team sports. Starting from the Quality of Life Inventory developed by Michael B. Frisch, fifteen life domains were measured. After applying the t test for independent samples, no gender-related differences were observed in terms of perceived quality of life. However, athletes practicing individual sports were significantly more satisfied by their work and creativity (manifested in daily activities), and, also, regarding love and children (as life domains), compared to athletes practicing team sports. Using one-way analysis of variance, the experienced life quality according to the practiced type of sport (football, other team sports, striking combat sports, respectively other individual sports) was examined. Furthermore, data analysis emphasized that athletes with international results express significantly higher levels of satisfaction regarding their self-esteem in life domains such as love and children, compared to athletes who attain local or regional performances. Additionally, they exhibit significantly greater satisfaction with their creativity in daily activities but express less satisfaction with their community, compared to athletes achieving national-level sports results. The findings provide important data to coaches, multi-disciplinary team members and parents on the areas of quality of life that athletes are currently more or less satisfied with. In-depth interviews with athletes are necessary to better understand the differences observed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome has long been considered a pathology requiring surgical intervention. Over the years, therapeutic management has become increasingly complex, with improvements observed in patients benefiting from orthopedic, surgical, ergotherapeutic and physiotherapeutic treatments, tailored to individual possibilities. The objective of this case study is to observe whether individualized and adapted kinetic treatment based on specific, non-specific and comprehensive means, succeeds in optimizing the results within the QuickDASH-Score for a 64-year-old patient following surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome. The QuickDASH analyses physical function, pain and other symptoms associated with various types of upper limb musculoskeletal pathologies and disorders. The initial evaluation score was 47 points, with the physiotherapy program carried out over a six-months period. The main objectives included pain, edema, and inflammation control; enhancing joint range of motion within physiological limits in affected areas; preventing muscle-tendon retractions; and fostering independence in daily activities. The final evaluation had 32 points, signifying a 15-point improvement and achievement of the objective, resulting in enhanced quality of life. Physiotherapy in carpal tunnel syndrome is a meticulously applied treatment that alleviates specific symptoms. It's crucial to educate patients on how physiotherapy contributes to full functional recovery, as premature ending can have significant adverse effects on quality of life.
Given the premise that dance is an activity suitable for integration in Physical Education and Sport classes, we aimed to test this by implementing teaching projects incorporating elements of Street Dance. Similar to other sports, which rely on motor skills and actions, only in this case mostly performed to music, Street Dance can bring countless benefits to a person's life. Whether we are talking about psychomotor or cognitive skills, the literature argues that dance can be a valuable tool for improving them. Considering the novelty that Street Dance represents, and its ongoing evolution, coupled with the increasing attraction of young people to this dance style, we considered this research to be beneficial. The study was carried out in a secondary school in Bucharest, Sector 3, and the 17 participants were 8th grade students. As part of the research, we used the RCMV computerized test, which helped us to investigate the reactivity, hand-foot coordination and vigilance of the subjects. Also, creativity was explored through a test consisting of geometric figures, adapted by Mihaela Roco. The statistically significant differences (Wilcoxon test was used) allow us to say that the improvements achieved are not random, but are also due to the exercise programme intervention.
In December 2019, the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in China, and the virus spread rapidly all over the world. In this context, Romanian public authorities implemented specific social distancing measures to prevent or slow down the transmission of the virus, imposing quarantine (16 March to 14 May 2020), travel restrictions, closure of educational institutions and certain work sectors, and banning artistic and sports events. Research has highlighted changes in the lifestyle of the entire population during the COVID-19 pandemic through the emergence of unhealthy behaviours, including among university students worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is one of the most important risk factors for various diseases, hence its recommendations for adult people to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity per week. These recommendations for weekly physical activity were often not fulfilled during the pandemic, especially in lockdown periods, as shown by numerous studies conducted on samples of different nationalities. This research aims to emphasise the status of aerobic endurance in female students after attending exclusively online courses for 21 months. The research was conducted at the Politehnica University of Bucharest, and the participants were 125 young women aged 19-21 from the pre- and post-pandemic generations. The assessment was indirectly performed through the 2-Km Walk Test with the purpose of outlining possible gaps between the two generations. Analysing the research results, we could conclude that the pandemic had an impact on raising awareness of the need for movement among young women.
The research analyses the performance of the CSM Bucharest women’s team during the current competition season across all four competitions in which the team participates. At the time of the paper’s elaboration, 38 games had been played, and the analysis of the games was conducted by reviewing recorded matches, scrutinizing the "match papers" completed by the team's assistant coach in real time during each game, and also using the statistics provided by the European Handball Federation and the Romanian Handball Federation. Offense performance: The team averaged 57 possessions per game, scoring an average of 31.5 goals with an overall shooting efficiency of 53%. Out of a total of 1224 goals scored, when analysing the goals scored by each player from the perspective of the position occupied in the field, left-back players accounted for the highest percentage at 28%. Left wing players and right back players scored 15% each, closely followed by the line players, with 14%. The middle back player scored 8% of all goals, the same percentage being registered also for the penalty shoots. Défense performance: The team achieved an average saving percentage of 34,5%. The average number of goals received per game was 26.2. Out of 996 received goals, the team received the most from the 6-meter line, 28%, followed by fast breaks (21%) and long-distance shots (20%).
Bodybuilders in Limpopo Province adhere to various training and dietary routines to attain their desired physique. However, the anthropometric status and macronutrient intake of these athletes remain unknown. A total of ninety-three bodybuilders from the Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, who were members of IFBBSA, participated in the study. Ethics approval was granted by the University of the Free State Health Science. Athletes signed informed consent before participation Measurements of weight and height were taken to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), and body fat percentage (BF%). Three 24-hour-recall questionnaires were completed. The SAMRC FoodFinder-3 was used to analyse macronutrients, with the mean values considered. Data were exported to the SPSS (v28), and descriptive statistics were applied. Pearson’s correlation test was used to determine the relationship between variables. The BMI was 25.8±4.4 kg/m2 in males and 24.9±3.6 kg/m2 in females, while MUAC was 35.6 cm for males and 28.3 cm for females. About half of both genders exhibited excess BF% (9.9% for males and 17.3% for females). Most males (81.6%) and all females had acceptable WC. Energy intake was 148 kJ/kg/day and 142 kJ/kg/day while carbohydrate intake was 4.7 g/kg/day for males and 4.3 g/kg/day for females. Fat intake was high in both genders. However, protein intake was optimal in males (1.4 g/kg/day) and suboptimal in females (1.1 g/kg/day). About half of the bodybuilders exceeded the sport-specific recommendations for BF%. However, the energy and carbohydrate intakes were suboptimal, while protein and fat intakes were optimal and high respectively.
The purpose of the research was to highlight the correlations between the level of social behaviour and the level of involvement in sports activities for citizens living in the neighbourhoods of Târgoviste municipality. The study was carried out from October 2022 to February 2023 and involved a sample of 368 people from Târgoviste municipality, of which 84 men and 284 women. The research took place in the 12 neighbourhoods of Târgoviște municipality: Centre, Suseni, Matei Voievod, Micro 3, Micro 4, Micro 5, Micro 6, Micro 9, Micro 11, Micro 12, Aleea Trandafirilor and CFR (Micro 2 neighbourhood is included in Suseni, and Prepeleac area is included in Micro 11). As part of the research, a questionnaire was applied to find out respondents’ opinions on their degree of involvement in both social life and sports activities. The research results showed the existence of a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.542; p < 0.001) between the level of social behaviour and the level of involvement in sports activities. The study reveals that men participate in sports activities in a significantly higher proportion than women. On the other hand, civic behaviour is at significantly lower levels among young people aged 19-30 and under 18 than among older people. In addition, significantly lower levels of civic/social behaviour were observed among those who did not participate in sports activities at all, compared to those who were involved in such activities.
Currently, patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy manage to reach the fourth or fifth decade of life due to advances in the management of different specialties that are involved through evaluations and anticipatory therapies based on a type of suitable approach for identifying specific medical complications as early as possible. The progressive decrease in muscular strength that affects the cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal systems needs to be constantly managed. The purpose of this case study is to observe to what extent physiotherapy contributes to the modification of North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSSA), NM-Score and Vignos Scale in a 27-year-old patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. NSAA is used to monitor disease progression and treatment effects but also to measure various motor skills. The NM-Score classifies functional abilities into three main motor domains. The Vignos Scale measures lower limb function. The scores obtained in the initial assessment were 11/34, 2/4, 1/4, 1/4 and 3/10, and the functional recovery treatment was carried out over a period of 6 months. Specific, non-specific and complex physiotherapy methods were used with the main objectives of improving joint range of motion, gait and balance, reducing muscle contractures, increasing endurance and promoting independence in carrying out daily activities. The final assessment showed improvements in all scores, so the objectives were accomplished. Along with the other medical specialties that help dystrophic patients improve their quality of life, physiotherapy plays an important role because movement is the key to a healthy and long life.
The main purpose of the study is to assess the development level of coordination abilities in 61 water polo players aged 10-12 years using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition (BOT-2). This test battery was designed for specialists, providing them with an effective and reliable tool to measure fine and gross motor skills. After analysing the test battery, we applied only five out of the eight subtests (the other three were considered irrelevant for the game of water polo). The tests used in our study aimed at measuring: fine motor precision (FMP), fine motor integration (FMI), bilateral coordination (BC), balance (BAL), upper limb coordination (ULC). The results were statistically interpreted using IBM SPSS v. 12, SmartPLS and Microsoft Excel. We chose these programs for their accurate calculation of mean differences between the obtained scores but also for their interpretations of the t-Test at the significance thresholds required for each subtest. Most of the selected athletes achieved below-average scores for: FMI (score = 2.54), BC (score = 2.85), BAL (score = 2.84), FMP (score = 3.07), ULC (score = 3.23). In order to achieve superior performance, athletes whose scale score is 20-24 and ideally over 25 should be selected. In conclusion, the testing provided essential and relevant information on the level of manifestation of coordination abilities in athletes, allowing specialists to implement specific exercises for the development of coordination abilities in the training process.
The present research is part of the project “Sustainable social and educational integration by sport activities”. The project aims to lower truancy rates and enhance educational attainment up to ISCED3 levels. Vrancea county is characterised by a prominent level of impoverishment (below the national level) and a notablerate of school dropout during the middle school years (above the national level). Our study aims to outline the multifaceted difficulties experienced by middle school students in Vrancea County, which can be categorized into eight distinct groups. These categories include Roma students, students with one or both parents working abroad, remigrated students, students from disorganized or single-parent families, students from child protection institutions, student coming from a family of immigrants/refugees in Romania, students with disabilities, and students at risk of early school dropout. This research is of an applied nature and was carried out over a period of 3 years, focusing on students enrolled in two schools with a moderate ISCED3 transition level, comprising a total of 204 students, including 124 boys and 80 girls. It is worth noting that specific difficulties and vulnerabilities differ between genders. The risk of early school leaving, mainly due to poverty, is more prevalent among g, while belonging to the Roma ethnicity poses a greater challenge for boys. The findings from this study serve as a foundational resource for guiding the counselling activities within the project
This research aims to identify the performance factors in completing a training course in European funds by sports managers. Starting from the idea according to which there are features that guide sports specialists towards this area of specialisation, the study highlights that, within the occupational profile, some of these features can be enhanced through a systematic, coherent and consistent intervention in the field of writing European-funded projects. The research methods used in this paper were the following: experiment, testing and mathematical statistics. The study was conducted with a group of 46 people from sports structures in Romania, who attended a training course in European funds for sport, which lasted two months and covered approximately 40 hours in total. The course was designed from the perspective of the Eurodesign theory. The conclusions of the study emphasise that the profile of a highly-effective participant in the training course generally contains elements similar to those of a manager’s profile, but also a number of specific elements. On the other hand, some features considered by us as prerequisites can form the basis for the decision to specialise in this field, while other features, such as the knowledge and skills acquired during the training course, seem to have been decisive for the participants’ professional development.
