Work and sports activities can be affected by motion sickness in unstable environments, such as at sea, with potential consequences for performance. Central manifestations of motion sickness have been reported in simulator studies, including changes in cortical oscillations (e.g., alpha suppression), heart rate, galvanic skin response, and skin temperature. To date, most EEG studies have used laboratory paradigms to induce motion sickness, whereas the present study adopts a field-based approach during real-world sea navigation. This exploratory observational field study aimed to identify quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) differences across postural and task conditions in mariners with a history of motion sickness during real-world sea navigation and to describe how these electrocortical patterns were associated with mild motion-related discomfort, without making causal inferences. EEG signals were recorded from nine professional Navy personnel (eight males, one female; age 20 ± 2 years, weight 72 ± 7 kg, height 176 ± 6 cm), while they maintained orthostatic (upright standing) and clinostatic (lying supine) postures with eyes open or closed, and during seated fine-dexterity tasks. Participants reported only mild motion-related discomfort during the voyage, based on brief ad hoc self-reports rather than standardized motion sickness scales. In a subset of trials, orthostatic EEG recordings were acquired simultaneously with stabilometric data on a force platform at the stern of the ship. EEG data were analyzed using ICA-based preprocessing and spectral power estimation; differences among the eight conditions were assessed with repeated-measures ANOVA on independent components, with FDR correction. Statistically significant differences in spectral power were observed across postural and task conditions, with clinostatic posture with eyes closed showing the lowest overall EEG amplitude across frequency bands, and fine-dexterity tasks showing the highest power. No statistically significant correlations were found between stabilometric sway metrics and electrocortical measures, indicating that in this field setting, the relationship between postural sway and cortical dynamics was limited. In motion-sickness-susceptible mariners, posture and eye condition were associated with distinct EEG spectral profiles during real-world sea navigation. The clearest electrocortical differences emerged in clinostatic posture with eyes closed and during fine-dexterity tasks. These findings support the feasibility of field EEG studies in maritime settings, but they remain preliminary because of the small sample size, mild symptom burden, and observational design.

This study aimed at investigating relationship between variations in fitness parameters, variations in somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load variables in Italian elite soccer players during pre/mid and post-puberty. Thirty-six Italian elite young soccer players (Under-14, U14: 18; Under-17, U17: 18) participated in study. Their somatic-anthropometric and fitness parameters were assessed and training load (Session-RPE) was monitored during 119 days in the sporty season. During the observational period meaningful variation in CMJ and 30-15IFT emerged in U17 and only in CMJ in U14. Meaningful correlations emerged between variations in CMJ and variations in numerous somatic-anthropometric parameters in U17 but only variations in ARM-GIRTH in U14. Meaningful correlations were found between variations in 30-15IFT and only variations in SUP-SKIN in U17, training load during match in U14 and U17 and training load during session training only in U17. During puberty, variation in fitness parameters are affected by variations in somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load parameters differently between U14 and U17. Variations of body shape have more influence in U17, match load more influence in U14 and intensity of training influence only in U17. This study offers new interpretations about the effect of anthropometric and somatic parameters, as well as on training dose (volume, intensity and typology) on the variation of fitness parameters during puberty.

In this study, the alpha and beta spectral frequency bands and amplitudes of EEG signals recorded from 10 healthy volunteers using an experimental cap with neoprene jacketed electrodes were analysed. Background: One of the main limitations in the analysis of EEG signals during movement is the presence of artefacts due to cranial muscle contraction; the objectives of this study therefore focused on two main aspects: (1) validating a tool capable of decreasing movement artefacts, while developing a reliable method for the quantitative analysis of EEG data; (2) using this method to analyse the EEG signal recorded during a particular motor activity (bi- and monopodalic postural control). Methods: The EEG sampling frequency was 512 Hz; the signal was acquired on 16 channels with monopolar montage and the reference on Cz. The recorded signals were processed using a specifically written Matlab script and also by exploiting open-source software (Eeglab). Results: The procedure used showed excellent reliability, allowing for a significant decrease in movement artefacts even during motor tasks performed both with eyes open and with eyes closed. Conclusions: This preliminary study lays the foundation for correctly recording EEG signals as an additional source of information in the study of human movement.

Purpose: Investigate fitness parameters, somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load variations in Italian elite soccer players during pre/mid and post-puberty. Methods: 36 Italian elite young soccer players (GIOVANISSIMI: 18; ALLIEVI: 18) participated in study. Their somatic-anthropometric and fitness parameters were assessed and training load (Session-RPE) was monitored during 119 days in the sporty season. Results: During the observational period meaningful variation in CMJ and 30-15IFT emerged in ALLIEVI and only in CMJ in GIOVANISSIMI. Meaningful correlations emerged between variations in CMJ and variations in numerous somatic-anthropometric parameters in ALLIEVI but only variations in ARM-GIRTH in GIOVANISSIMI. Meaningful correlations were found between variations in 30-15IFT and only variations in SUP-SKIN in ALLIEVI, training load during match in GIOVANISSIMI and ALLIEVI and training load during session training only in ALLIEVI. Conclusions: During puberty variation in fitness parameters are affected by variations in somatic-anthropometric parameters and training load parameters differently between GIOVANISSIMI and ALLIEVI. This study offers new interpretations about the effect of anthropometric and somatic parameters, as well as on training dose (volume, intensity and typology) on the variation of fitness parameters during puberty.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the heart rate adaptations during deep dave diving with MCCR (mechanical closed circuit rebreather). Previous studies on this matter have not been conducted to the depths reached in this study and most of them have been conducted inside hyperbaric chambers trying to recreate the immersion conditions. The data collection took place during the exploration of two hydrogeological sites by a professional cave diver. The recordings were made using a SCUBAPRO GALILEO SOL® dive computer capable of monitoring the heart rate, with a sampling interval of 0,25 Hz. The data collected confirm a direct relationship between the increase in diving depth and the increase in the detected heart rate.

Prediction of physiological time series is frequently approached by means of machine learning (ML) algorithms. However, most ML techniques are not able to directly manage time series, thus they do not exploit all the useful information such as patterns, peaks and regularities provided by the time dimension. Besides advanced ML methods such as recurrent neural network that preserve the ordered nature of time series, a recently developed approach of genetic programming, VE-GP, looks promising on the problem in analysis. VE-GP allows time series as terminals in the form of a vector, including new strategies to exploit this representation. In this paper we compare different ML techniques on the real problem of predicting ventilation flow from physiological variables with the aim of highlighting the potential of VE-GP. Experimental results show the advantage of applying this technique in the problem and we ascribe the good performances to the ability of properly catching meaningful information from time series.

The purpose of our study was to monitor a well-trained master athlete who competed in the race, keeping under review his performance outcomes. TransPyrenea (La Grande Traversee des Pyrenees) is an Ultra Trail 13-16-d race, 866 km long, 53200 meters of elevation gain, performed for the first time in 2016, becoming the longest race in the world. At every checkpoint, a member of the team ascertained total macronutrients intake and body composition. A wearable device was used to monitor glycemia during all the race. The athlete completed the race with an average speed of 2.6 km/h, including 26 hours and 30 minutes of sleeping. Multiple regression analysis showed that the increase of the speed (beta: 0.5 km/h, 95% CI: 0.07 vertical bar 1.02 km/h, p-value:.035 and beta: 1.32 km/h, 95% CI: 0.53 vertical bar 2.11 km/h, p-value:.004) was related to the increase of one hour of sleep and one kg of weight respectively. This evidence could induce the use of specific nutritional supplements and the analysis of body composition on the management strategies of the race, with eventually the planning of a greater number of hours of sleep to acquire greater speed.

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of protracted intake of chlorophyll on blood counts’ parameters and iron levels in endurance athletes, investigating supposed anti-anemic properties.

Background Accurate measurement devices are required to objectively quantify physical activity. Wearable activity monitors, such as pedometers, may serve as affordable and feasible instruments for measuring physical activity levels in older adults during their normal activities of daily living. Currently few available accelerometer-based steps counting devices have been shown to be accurate at slow walking speeds, therefore there is still lacking appropriate devices tailored for slow speed ambulation, typical of older adults. This study aimed to assess the validity of step counting using the pedometer function of the ADAMO Care Watch, containing an embedded algorithm for measuring physical activity in older adults. Methods Twenty older adults aged ≥ 65 years (mean ± SD, 75±7 years; range, 68–91) and 20 young adults (25±5 years, range 20–40), wore a care watch on each wrist and performed a number of randomly ordered tasks: walking at slow, normal and fast self-paced speeds; a Timed Up and Go test (TUG); a step test and ascending/descending stairs. The criterion measure was the actual number of steps observed, counted with a manual tally counter. Absolute percentage error scores, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), and Bland–Altman plots were used to assess validity. Results ADAMO Care Watch demonstrated high validity during slow and normal speeds (range 0.5–1.5 m/s) showing an absolute error from 1.3% to 1.9% in the older adult group and from 0.7% to 2.7% in the young adult group. The percentage error for the 30-metre walking tasks increased with faster pace in both young adult (17%) and older adult groups (6%). In the TUG test, there was less error in the steps recorded for older adults (1.3% to 2.2%) than the young adults (6.6% to 7.2%). For the total sample, the ICCs for the ADAMO Care Watch for the 30-metre walking tasks at each speed and for the TUG test were ranged between 0.931 to 0.985. Conclusion These findings provide evidence that the ADAMO Care Watch demonstrated highly accurate measurements of the steps count in all activities, particularly walking at normal and slow speeds. Therefore, these data support the inclusion of the ADAMO Care Watch in clinical applications for measuring the number of steps taken by older adults at normal, slow walking speeds.

To evaluate timing and characteristics of electrocortical activity during stretch reflex evocation of the quadriceps femoris at different body postures.

The evaluation of electrocortical activity (EEG) during visual stimuli may reveal differences depending on experience level.

Changes in electrocortical activity during motor imagery are among the most interesting findings in the recent neuroscientific studies; existing studies, however, do not focus specifically on Alpha and Beta rhythms, in relationship with the motor experience and verifying if the style of music can influence the cortical activity during motor imagery task. Power spectra analysis was used to compare the EEG activity during dance imagery tasks in a group of dancers and in a control group.

Providing an explanatory, unambiguous and definitive discussion on the role of the speculative and practices components in the teaching of a discipline is complex. It might seem obvious that scientific and technical disciplines require different learning activity, sometimes more practical, sometimes more theoretical. But these conventional approaches actually are not fully proven.Regarding Human Movement Sciences, historically assigned to the technical-scientific branch, for long time the need to support the practical experiential with theoretical notions was discussed about, with a proper crosscutting approach. The present study aims to investigate these characteristics, specifically trying to clarify some aspects of teaching a practical matter, Artistic Gymnastic, in the course of study in Science of motor and sports activities. Specifically, the results show that students who attend classes getting a final vote higher than non-attending, and those who believe in the utility of active learning of this discipline have a final vote higher than those who believe that the matter has little or no utility. The study tries to provide an objective analysis in a highly subjective area, highlighting details purely related to the conduct of practical exercises in the teaching of science technique matter.

Providing an explanatory, unambiguous and definitive discussion on the role of the speculative and practices components in the teaching of a discipline is complex. It might seem obvious that scientific and technical disciplines require different learning activity, sometimes more practical, sometimes more theoretical. But these conventional approaches actually are not fully proven. Regarding Human Movement Sciences, historically assigned to the technical-scientific branch, for long time the need to support the practical experiential with theoretical notions was discussed about, with a proper crosscutting approach. The present study aims to investigate these characteristics, specifically trying to clarify some aspects of teaching a practical matter, Artistic Gymnastic, in the course of study in Science of motor and sports activities. Specifically, the results show that students who attend classes getting a final vote higher than non-attending, and those who believe in the utility of active learning of this discipline have a final vote higher than those who believe that the matter has little or no utility. The study tries to provide an objective analysis in a highly subjective area, highlighting details purely related to the conduct of practical exercises in the teaching of sciencetechnique matter.

Neuromuscular assessment of rock climbers has been mainly focused on forearm muscles in the literature. We aimed to extend the body of knowledge investigating on two other upper limb muscles during sport-specific activities in nine male rock climbers. We assessed neuromuscular manifestations of fatigue recording surface electromyographic signals from brachioradialis and teres major muscles, using multi-channel electrode arrays. Participants performed two tasks until volitional exhaustion: a sequence of dynamic pull-ups and an isometric contraction sustaining the body at half-way of a pull-up (with the elbows flexed at 90°). The tasks were performed in randomized order with 10 minutes of rest in between. The normalized rate of change of muscle fiber conduction velocity was calculated as the index of fatigue. The time-to-task failure was significantly shorter in the dynamic (31 ±10 s) than isometric contraction (59 ±19 s). The rate of decrease of muscle fiber conduction velocity was found steeper in the dynamic than isometric task both in brachioradialis (isometric: -0.2 ±0.1%/s; dynamic: -1.2 ±0.6%/s) and teres major muscles (isometric: -0.4±0.3%/s; dynamic: -1.8±0.7%/s). The main finding was that a sequence of dynamic pull-ups lead to higher fatigue than sustaining the body weight in an isometric condition at half-way of a pull-up. Furthermore, we confirmed the possibility to properly record physiological CV estimates from two muscles, which had never been studied before in rock climbing, in highly dynamic contractions.

In order to investigate the behaviour of athletes in choosing sports, we analyse data from part of the We-Sport® database, a vertical social network that links athletes through sports. In particular, we explore connections between people sharing common sports and the role of age and gender by applying “network science” approaches and methods. The results show a disassortative tendency of athletes in choosing sports, a negative correlation between age and number of chosen sports and a positive correlation between age of connected athletes. Some interesting patterns of connection between age classes are depicted. In addition, we propose a method to classify sports, based on the analyses of the behaviour of people practising them. Thanks to this brand new classifications, we highlight the links of class of sports and their unexpected features. We emphasise some gender dependency affinity in choosing sport classes.