Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM

Beliefs about the instrumental effects of violence are a factor explaining abuse in sports. The availability of a valid and reliable scale to measure these beliefs can contribute to a better understanding of their nature and role in facilitating violence. This article introduces and validates the German version of the Perceived Instrumental Effects of Violence in Sport Scale (PIEVS-G-14). Study 1 examines the translation and evaluation of the scale structure, the development of a short version (PIEVS-G-6), and the construct validity and reliability of both the full and short versions in a sample of youth sports coaches ( n = 628). Studies 2 ( n = 444) and 3 ( n = 423) focus on cross-validating the structure of the PIEVS-G-14 and PIEVS-G-6 in two independent samples of youth sports coaches and provide further evidence of the construct validity and reliability of the scales. The results of the dimensional and psychometric tests offer evidence of the suitability of the PIEVS-G-14 and PIEVS-G-6 for use in German-speaking sports contexts.

Background The SOPHYA-cohort-study investigated whether the objectively characterized and perceived residential neighborhood of Swiss youth predict accelerometer-measured physical activity and activity in specific domains (participation in a sports club and cycling) five years later. Methods At baseline in 2014, 1230 children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years participated and wore accelerometers for 7 days. Of these children, 447 participated again in the follow-up study in 2019 and provided longitudinal accelerometer measurements. Sociodemographic factors and perceptions of the local neighbourhood were assessed by questionnaire. Specific objective environmental data (e.g. built environment or social environment) was modelled to the children’s address at baseline. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were applied to identify short- and long-term characteristics that are associated with accelerometer-based physical activity, cycling and participation in organised sport. Results If the neighborhood-score as perceived by the parents in 2014 was in the middle or lowest tertile, children were significantly less active cross-sectionally in 2014 (-41.1 (-78.0;-4.2) and -52.4 (-88.6;-16.2) counts per minute, cpm), and five years later (-52.4 (-88.6;-16.2) and 48.1 (-86.6;-9.7) cpm). In addition, they were also less likely to accumulate active minutes above the median at both measuring points compared to peers of the same age and sex. Using objective environmental data modeled around the children’s residential address, similar associations were found: In the tertile with the lowest proportion of green space children achieved less cpm in 2014, while a high main street density and a low socioeconomic environment, respectively, hindered physical activity tracking above the median longitudinally. Also for cycling and participation in a sport club, the associations with the perceived and objective environment were more pronounced in the longitudinal analyses. Conclusion The results suggest that growing up in a physical activity friendly neighborhood increases the likelihood of remaining active during adolescence and early adulthood. Interventions should be implemented to ensure that children growing up in an unfavorable neighborhood do not fall behind at an early stage.

BACKGROUND: Maintaining physical activity throughout life is crucial for overall health and wellbeing. Yet the age-related decline in average physical activity, a natural phenomenon also observed in animals, poses a challenge. This study aimed to investigate whether participation in organised sports supported by the Swiss Youth+Sports (Y+S) programme is associated with sustaining or enhancing physical activity among children and adolescents during 5 years of follow-up. METHODS: The longitudinal study was nested in the population-based SOPHYA (Swiss children’s Objectively measured PHYsical Activity) cohort. Participants aged 6–16 years at SOPHYA1 (2014) with complete accelerometer data from baseline and follow-up assessment (SOPHYA2, 2019) were included. The primary exposure was participation in organised sport during the follow-up period, calculated by linkage with the Y+S database as the number of days with at least one activity in Y+S-offered programmes for ages 5 to 20 years. The primary outcome was the categorisation of participants into physical activity “improvers” or “worseners”. Improvers in the respective physical activity categories – total activity counts per minute (CPM), minutes in moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA), minutes in light activity (LPA) and minutes in sedentary behaviour (SB) – increased or maintained their active physical activity during the 5 follow-up years. Information on confounders and effect modifiers (sex, age, body mass index (BMI), language region, household income, education) was obtained by self-report at baseline. Logistic regressions examined the relationship between organised sport participation and the probability of being a physical activity improver in each physical activity intensity category separately. Covariates for the final models were selected through a stepwise procedure based on the Bayesian information criterion from a maximal model containing all covariates as well as all two-way interactions with organised sport and between them. All models were a priori adjusted for technical variables (season of measurement; wear time; duration of follow-up). RESULTS: The analysis included 432 participants. There was a strong CPM, MVPA and LPA decline from 2014 to 2019, but an increase in SB. Nevertheless, the prevalence of improvers was 22.5% for CPM, 9.5% for MVPA, 26.9% for LPA and 9.7% for SB. Engagement in organised sport between 2014 and 2019 was positively associated with CPM, MVPA and SB, but not with LPA improver status. For 30 additional days of participation in organised sport over the five years of the study, the odds of being an improver vs being a worsener increased by 4.0% for CPM (95% CI: 0.13–7.69), 6.2% for MVPA (95% CI: 0.82–11.54) and 6.0% for SB (95% CI:−1.49–13.97). CONCLUSION: The results provide supporting evidence that organised sport in the context of the Swiss Y+S programme may empower the young to maintain an active lifestyle and even offset the age-related decline in physical activity.

This study aims to enhance the effectiveness of the preparation process and the performance of wheelchair users in international billiard competitions through modified equipment. The research methods include analysis and synthesis of the scientific and methodological literature, sociological research methods (questionnaires), expert assessment methods, pedagogical research methods (observation, testing, experimentation), and methods of mathematical statistics. The results of our study are significant: Implementing our developed training program for billiards players with musculoskeletal disorders, utilizing the modified equipment (special mechanical bridge and straps for cue fixation during shots) we created in a pedagogical experiment, demonstrated a probable improvement of 36% in the technical and tactical preparedness of the athletes compared to previous years. This led to a 33% increase in players from the Ukrainian team’s competition performance at the national and European Pool Championships (wheelchair division). In conclusion, implementing our developed training program, accompanied by specialized auxiliary equipment, demonstrated promising results in a pedagogical experiment. These findings underscore the potential of the modified equipment and tailored training programs to optimize sports training for individuals with musculoskeletal impairments in adaptive billiards, contributing to the continued humanization of the sport and offering an effective preparation process for the athletes.

Objectives To compare performance progression and variety in race distances of comparable lengths (timewise) between pool swimming and track running. Quality of within-sport variety was determined as the performance differences between individual athletes' main and secondary race distances across (top-) elite and (highly-) trained swimmers and runners. Methods A total of 3,827,947 race times were used to calculate performance points (race times relative to the world record) for freestyle swimmers ( n = 12,588 males and n = 7,561 females) and track runners ( n = 9,230 males and n = 5,841 females). Athletes were ranked based on their personal best at peak performance age, then annual best times were retrospectively traced throughout adolescence. Results Performance of world-class swimmers differentiates at an earlier age from their lower ranked peers (15–16 vs. 17–20 year age categories, P < 0.05), but also plateaus earlier towards senior age compared to runners (19–20 vs. 23 + year age category, P < 0.05), respectively. Performance development of swimmers shows a logarithmic pattern, while runners develop linearly. While swimmers compete in more secondary race distances (larger within-sport variety), runners specialize in either sprint, middle- or long-distance early in their career and compete in only 2, 4 or 3 other race distances, respectively. In both sports, sprinters specialize the most ( P < 0.05). Distance-variety of middle-distance swimmers covers more longer rather than sprint race distances. Therefore, at peak performance age, (top-) elite female 200 m swimmers show significantly slower sprint performances, i.e., 50 m ( P < 0.001) and 100 m ( P < 0.001), but not long-distance performances, i.e., 800 m ( P = 0.99) and 1,500 m ( P = 0.99). In contrast, (top-) elite female 800 m middle-distance runners show significantly slower performances in all their secondary race distances ( P < 0.001). (Top-) elite female athletes specialize more than (highly-) trained athletes in both sports ( P < 0.05). Conclusions The comparison to track running and lower ranked swimmers, the early performance plateau towards senior age, and the maintenance of a large within-sport distance variety indicates that (top-) elite sprint swimmers benefit from greater within-sport specialization.

Background: Polymorphism rs1049434 characterizes the nonsynonymous exchange of adenosine (A) by thymidine (T) in the gene for monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1). We tested whether T-allele carriers of rs1049434 demonstrate increased accumulation of markers of metabolic strain. Methods: Physically active, healthy, young male subjects (n = 22) conducted a power-matched one-legged cycling exercise to exhaustion. Metabolic substrates in capillary blood, selected metabolic compounds, and indices for the slow oxidative phenotype of vastus lateralis muscle were quantified in samples collected before and after exercise. The genotypes of the rs1049434 polymorphism were determined with polymerase chain reactions. Results: One-legged exercise affected the concentration of muscle metabolites entering the tricarboxylic acid cycle, such as acetyl-co-enzyme A (+448%) and acetyl-L-carnitine (+548%), muscle glycogen (−59%), and adenosine monophosphate (−39%), 30 min post-exercise. Exercise-related variability in the muscular concentration of glycogen, long-chain acyl co-enzyme As and a triglyceride, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) interacted with rs1049434. T-allele carriers demonstrated a 39% lesser reduction in glycogen after exercise than non-carriers when NADH increased only in the non-carriers. Muscle lactate concentration was 150% higher, blood triacyl-glyceride concentration was 53% lower, and slow fiber percentage was 20% lower in T-allele carriers. Discussion: The observations suggest a higher anaerobic glycolytic strain during exhaustive exercise and a lowered lipid handling in T-allele non-carriers.

This research investigates new empirical routes to improve the implementation of sport governance by sports organizations. It asks the question: what determinants influence the decision of sport national governing bodies in Switzerland to implement sport governance? It builds on implementation deficits highlighted by benchmark analysis, an exploratory literature review and a description of the non-profit sector. This paper invites a reflection on the challenges and difficulties related to sport governance standards. The method builds on an exploratory, inductive and qualitative research design. The data comprise interviews with 10 decision makers of national sport federations and the national umbrella federation of sport and Olympic committee analyzed by theme-based coding. The analysis highlights five meta-themes associated with determinants: (1) strategic priority, (2) decision makers’ knowledge on the concept of sport governance, (3) sport governance issues, (4) resources, and (5) personal attributes of decision makers. The results and findings indicate that improving the implementation of sport governance is a multidimensional issue that mainly involves organizational and individual elements, and calls for a tiered approach rather than a “one size-fits all” approach.

Athletes use hypoxic living and training to increase hemoglobin mass (Hb mass ), but Hb mass declines rapidly upon return to sea level. We investigated whether Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure (IHE) + Continuous Hypoxic Training (CHT) after return to sea level maintained elevated Hb mass , and if changes in Hb mass were transferred to changes in maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O 2max ) and exercise performance. Hb mass was measured in 58 endurance athletes before (PRE), after (POST1), and 30 days after (POST2) a 27 ± 4-day training camp in hypoxia (n=44, HYP) or at sea level (n=14, SL). After return to sea level, 22 athletes included IHE (2 h rest) + CHT (1 h training) into their training every third day for one month (HYP IHE+ CHT ), whereas the other 22 HYP athletes were not exposed to IHE or CHT (HYP SL ). Hb mass increased from PRE to POST1 in both HYP IHE+CHT (4.4 ± 0.7%, mean ± SEM) and HYP SL (4.1 ± 0.6%) (both p<0.001). Compared to PRE, Hb mass at POST2 remained 4.2 ± 0.8% higher in HYP IHE+CHT (p<0.001) and 1.9 ± 0.5% higher in HYP SL (p=0.023), indicating a significant difference between the groups (p=0.002). In SL, no significant changes were observed in Hb mass with mean alterations between -0.5% and 0.4%. V̇O 2max and time to exhaustion during an incremental treadmill test (n=35) were elevated from PRE to POST2 only in HYP IHE+ CHT (5.8 ± 1.2% and 5.4 ± 1.4%, respectively, both p<0.001). IHE+CHT possesses the potential to mitigate the typical decline in Hb mass commonly observed during the initial weeks after return to sea level.

For athletes, sleep is essential for recovery and performance. Yet, up to two-thirds of athletes report poor sleep quality. Comprehensive data across all sports disciplines on the underlying causes of sleep problems are missing. We reanalyzed a data set of N = 1004 Swiss top athletes across an extensive array of 88 sports to gain knowledge on the specific deficits in sleep health with respect to gender, sport classes, sport-related factors, and well-being. We found that 18% of athletes were affected by at least two out of five high-risk sleep factors: 9% of athletes slept less than 6 h per day, 30% were dissatisfied with their sleep, 17% showed problems falling asleep within 30 min, 18% of athletes reported difficulty maintaining sleep more than three times a week, and 6% of athletes used sleeping pills more than once a week. We found sleep health strongly linked to overall well-being and mental health (22% showed at least moderate symptoms of either depression or anxiety). Therefore, screening and treating sleep disorders might effectively improve mental health and general well-being as well as performance among athletes around the globe.

Introduction. The integration of modern technologies is crucial for enhancing elite athlete training, offering cutting-edge tools for performance optimization. The widespread use of technology in elite sports, including video assistant referees and wearable sensors, providing real-time biomechanical oversight, challenges related to ethics, data protection, and regulatory frameworks require resolution for widespread implementation. This study aims to conduct a thorough assessment of the integration of modern technologies, specifically examining their efficacy in optimizing the training performance and competitive outcomes of elite athletes in sports games. Material and Methods. Bibliometric techniques and expert evaluations were used to determine the modern trends in innovative technologies to improve the effectiveness of elite athletes` preparation. A thorough biomechanical analysis utilizing diverse methods was performed on 41 elite athletes in sports games. Results. The examination of sports science literature and expert assessments unveils predominant trends in the utilization of innovative technologies in elite sports, with a particular emphasis on the widespread adoption of wearable technology, biomechanics and motion analysis, and recovery and regeneration techniques. The outcomes from OpenCap biomechanical analysis show a high correlation (r=0.99, α = 0.05) between the symmetry of knee joint angles during barbell squats by elite athletes, confirming the efficacy of real-time monitoring exercise techniques. The Romberg coefficient of 194.5% ± 2.47 indicates a notable degree of stability among elite athletes. Conclusions. This study enhances the comprehension of innovative technologies, exemplified by OpenCap biomechanical analysis, and their effectiveness in optimizing the training performance and competitive outcomes of elite athletes in sports games. The findings provide valuable insights for coaches, sports scientists, and researchers aiming to optimize training methods and elevate athlete performance in sports games.

The aim of this study was to analyze lower leg muscle forces during strength exercises such as back squats, good mornings and split squats, with a particular emphasis on females. By focusing on females, who are more vulnerable to anterior cruciate ligament injuries, we aimed to better understand muscle engagement and its role in injury prevention. Eight participants were monitored during exercises with a barbell load of 25% of body weight and, during the back squat, an additional 50% load. The analysis was conducted using personalized musculoskeletal models, electromyography (EMG) and Vicon motion capture systems to assess various muscle groups, including the m. gluteus maximus and m. gluteus medius, as well as the hamstring and quadriceps muscles. The back squat produced the highest forces for the quadriceps muscles, particularly the rectus femoris (>25 N/kg), as well as in the back leg during the split squat (>15 N/kg). The gluteal muscles were most active during good mornings and in the front leg of the split squat, especially the m. gluteus maximus medial part (>20 N/kg). The hamstrings generated the highest muscle forces in the front leg of the split squat, with the greatest forces observed in the m. semimembranosus. Our research highlights how musculoskeletal modeling helps us to understand the relationship among muscles, joint angles and anterior cruciate ligament injury risks, especially in strength training females. The results emphasize the need for personalized exercise guidance and customized models to make strength training safer and more effective.

The scope of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of using the laser imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology for contactless 3D body scanning of sports athletes and deriving anthropometric measurements of the lower limbs using available software. An Apple iPad Pro 3rd Generation with embedded LiDAR technology in combination with the iOS application Polycam were used. The effects of stance width, clothing, background, lighting, scan distance and measurement speed were initially assessed by scanning the lower limbs of one test person multiple times. Following these tests, the lower limbs of 12 male and 10 female participants were scanned. The resulting scans of the lower limbs were complete for half of the participants and categorized as good in quality, while the other scans were either distorted or presented missing data around the shank and/or the thigh. Bland–Altman plots between the LiDAR-based and manual anthropometric measures showed good agreement, with the coefficient of determination from correlation analysis being R2 = 0.901 for thigh length and R2 = 0.830 for shank length, respectively. The outcome of this pilot study is considered promising, and a further refinement of the proposed scanning protocol and advancement of available software for 3D reconstruction are recommended to exploit the full potential of the LiDAR technology for the contactless anthropometric assessment of athletes.

During puberty, the biological maturity of children of the same chronological age differs. To generate equal opportunities for talent selection in youth sports, the athlete’s biological maturity should be considered. This is often assessed with a left hand and wrist radiography. Alternatively, ultrasound (US) could be advantageous, especially by avoiding ionizing radiation. This pilot study aimed to assess intrarater and interrater reliability of an experienced and a non-experienced examiner in an US-based examination of the knee in 20 healthy females (10–17 years). Epiphyseal closure at five anatomical landmarks was staged (stages 1–3) and its interrater and intrarater reliabilities were analyzed using Cohen’s kappa (k). Interrater reliability of the calculation of the ossification ratio (OssR) was analyzed using the Bland-Altman method and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Interrater reliability for the stages was almost perfect for four landmarks. Interrater reliability ranged from k = 0.69 to k = 0.90. Intrarater reliability for the stages was almost perfect for four landmarks. Intrarater reliability ranged from k = 0.70 to k = 1.0. For the OssR, ICC was 0.930 and a minimal detectable change of 0.030 was determined. To conclude, experienced and non-experienced examiners can reliably assign individuals to different ossification stages and calculate an OssR using US-based imaging of the knee.

Objective This study aimed to identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for men’s swimming strokes using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Regression Analysis to enhance training strategies and performance optimization. The analyses included all men’s individual 100 m races of the 2019 European Short-Course Swimming Championships. Results Duration from 5 m prior to wall contact (In5) emerged as a consistent KPI for all strokes. Free Swimming Speed (FSS) was identified as a KPI for 'continuous' strokes (Breaststroke and Butterfly), while duration from wall contact to 10 m after (Out10) was a crucial KPI for strokes with touch turns (Breaststroke and Butterfly). The regression model accurately predicted swim times, demonstrating strong agreement with actual performance. Bland and Altman analyses revealed negligible mean biases: Backstroke (0% bias, LOAs − 2.3% to + 2.3%), Breaststroke (0% bias, LOAs − 0.9% to + 0.9%), Butterfly (0% bias, LOAs − 1.2% to + 1.2%), and Freestyle (0% bias, LOAs − 3.1% to + 3.1%). This study emphasizes the importance of swift turning and maintaining consistent speed, offering valuable insights for coaches and athletes to optimize training and set performance goals. The regression model and predictor tool provide a data-driven approach to enhance swim training and competition across different strokes.

Objectives: This study aims to quantify the cross-sectional and prospective associations between quality of life (QoL) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Methods: This study was based on the Swiss children's Objectively measured PHYsical Activity cohort. The primary endpoint is the overall QoL score and its six dimensions. The main predictor is the average time spent in MVPA per day. Linear mixed effects and linear regression models respectively were used to investigate the cross-sectional and prospective associations between MVPA and QoL. Results: There were 352 participants in the study with complete data from baseline (2013-2015) and follow-up (2019). MVPA was positively associated with overall QoL and physical wellbeing (p = 0.023 and 0.002 respectively). The between-subject MVPA was positively associated with the overall QoL, physical wellbeing, and social wellbeing (p = 0.030, 0.017, and 0.028 respectively). Within-subject MVPA was positively associated with physical wellbeing and functioning at school (p = 0.039 and 0.013 respectively). Baseline MVPA was not associated with QoL 5 years later. Conclusion: Future longitudinal studies should employ shorter follow-up times and repeat measurements to assess the PA and QoL association.