The intent of this paper is to conceptualize physical literacy in the school environment within the United States educational system. Evolution of physical literacy from both a general education and disciplinary focus is overviewed. The challenges of transitioning from a physically educated to a physically literate person as the primary learning outcome of physical education may inhibit progres…
Physical literacy is a concept that is expected to encompass the mind and body in an integrated way to explain, promote, and help sustain human beings’ fundamental function: movement. According to Whitehead (2010), physical literacy is defined by motivation, especially by competence-based and interest-based motivation. This point of view is consistent with vast amount of research evidence on …
In the 2013 release of the U.S. National Physical Education Standards the term “physically literate” replaced “physically educated”. Unfortunately,most discourse within the profession about the term physically literate occurred primarily after its adoption. While we agree with the spirit and intent of the term, we feel it is essential to discuss not only what has been potentially gained…
Background: Lower body positive pressure (LBPP) treadmills can be used in rehabilitation programs and/or to supplement run mileage in healthy runners by reducing the effective body weight and impact associated with running. The purpose of this study is to determine if body weight support influences the stride length (SL)–velocity as well as leg impact acceleration relationship during running.…
Background: A previous study has reported a 50% reduction in disuse atrophy of the quadriceps during the first 14 days after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A follow-up trial is needed to confirm these promising results. The present study aims to investigate the effect of an occlusion stimulus on quadriceps atrophy after ACL reconstruction. Methods: A total of 24 subjects part…
Physical education teachers play an important role in helping students’ development of the motor skills needed to be physically literate individuals. Research suggests that teacher made instructional design decisions can lead to enhanced motor skill learning. After presenting a model of evidence-based research this paper presents information that will help teachers plan and execute lessons de…
Physical literacy (PL), as embodied within physical education (PE), has been vaunted as having increasing importance as a disposition for students of all abilities to establish lifelong adherence to physical activity. The purpose of this paper was to provide a discussion of how the pedagogical features of a contemporary pedagogical model, Sport Education (SE), may be used to operationalize PL i…
The term “physical literacy” is gaining traction in many countries and institutions as a goal for physical education. This paper explores the concept of physical literacy and highlights the foundational work in this area, particularly that of Margaret Whitehead. The relationship of physical literacy to physical education is also discussed with potential ramifications for teachers and learne…
Publications of articles with physical literacy as a topic have increased dramatically since the beginning of 2000s. The aim of this paper is to,through an explorative literature overview with an inductive approach, analyze frequent, and significant themes in published peer reviewed articles,with a focus on physical literacy. The database EBSCO has been used with the identifiers “physical lit…
Background: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is widely used in enhancing the recovery of skeletal muscle from injury. However, the impact of intramuscular delivery of PRP on hematologic and biochemical responses has not been fully elucidated in exercise-induced muscle damage. The purpose of this investigation the effects of intramuscular delivery of PRP on hematologic and biochemical response…
To control movement, the brain has to integrate proprioceptive information from a variety of mechanoreceptors. The role of proprioception in daily activities, exercise, and sports has been extensively investigated, using different techniques, yet the proprioceptive mechanisms underlying human movement control are still unclear. In the current work we have reviewed understanding of proprioceptio…
Purpose: The purpose of this review was to critically analyse the current evidence investigating the effect of an athlete’s hydration status on physical performance. Methods: A literature search of multiple databases was used to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria for this review. The included studies were then critically appraised using the Downs and Black protocol. Results: N…
Background: The greater trochanter marker is commonly used in 3-dimensional (3D) models; however, its influence on hip and knee kinematics during gait is unclear. Understanding the influence of the greater trochanter marker is important when quantifying frontal and transverse plane hip and knee kinematics, parameters which are particularly relevant to investigate in individuals with conditions …
Background: To understand an effective golf swing, both swing speed and impact precision must be thoroughly and simultaneously examined. The aim of this study was to perform both swing speed test and impact precision test to ascertain what swing type determines an effective impact. Methods: Seven golfers from a college team (handicap: 0e12) were recruited to complete a swing speed test and imp…
Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that affects approximately 11% of children in the United States. Research supports that a single session of exercise benefits cognitive performance by children, and a limited number of studies have demonstrated that these effects can also be realized by children with ADHD. The purpose of this study was to…
Purpose: The relationship between acute exercise and executive functions in college students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been clearly established. The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the difference in cognitive performance between college students with and without ADHD and to explore the effects of acute exercise on multiple aspects of executive…
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of acute exercise on reaction time and response preparation during a Go/No Go Task in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods: Nineteen children with ADHD (aged between 8 and 12 years old) undertook a 30-min intervention that consisted of treadmill running or video-watching presented in a counterbal…
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute exercise on motor response inhibition using both behavioral and electrophysiological approaches. Methods: The P3 and N1 event-related potential (ERP) components were recorded while performing a stop-signal task in 21 college students following a moderately intense acute exercise bout for 30 min and a sedentary control ses…
Purpose: Acute exercise has been linked to the facilitation of executive function, but little is known regarding executive function assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). The present research consisted of two experiments aimed to determine whether acute aerobic exercise influences successive WCST performance. Methods: In Study 1, 27 young adults were randomly assigned to the exerc…
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether workload intensity modulates exercise-induced effect on reaction time (RT) performances, and more specifically to clarify whether cognitive control that plays a crucial role in rapid decision making is altered. Methods: Fourteen participants performed a Simon Task while cycling 20 min at a light (first ventilatory threshold, VT1 e 20%), moderate…
Definitive conclusions concerning the impact of exercise interventions on children’s mental functioning are difficult to ascertain because of procedural differences among studies. A narrative review of studies was conducted to evaluate the role of two types of exercise interventions on children’s cognition. Acute and chronic exercise interventions were classified as quantitative or qualitat…
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine, using meta-analytic measures, the evidence regarding the optimal exercise intensity at which improvements in speed of cognitive function are triggered. Specifically, it was hypothesized that the catecholamine, lactate, and ventilatory thresholds is the point at which significant improvements in speed of cognitive function are observed. Methods…
Since the 1960’s, hundreds of articles have been published on the effects of exercise on cognition and more recently on executive functions. A large variety of effects have been observed: acute or long-lasting, facilitating or debilitating. Several theoretical frameworks have been proposed to explain these effects with plausible mechanisms. However, as yet none of these models has succeeded i…
The effects of exercise on decision-making performance have been studied using a wide variety of cognitive tasks and exercise interventions. Although the current literature supports a beneficial influence of acute exercise on cognitive performance, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not yet been elucidated. We review studies that used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (…
The literature shows that improvements in cognitive performance may be observed following an acute bout of exercise. However, evidence in support of the biological mechanisms of this effect is still limited. Findings from both rodent and human studies suggest brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a potential mechanism of the effect of acute exercise on memory. The molecular properties of …
Objective: To determine the test–retest repeatability of the Injury Severity Perception (ISP) score in participants with acute whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). Methods: Consecutive patients with WAD, presenting in the acute stage to a primary care center, were asked to complete the ISP score. ISP was measured with a numerical rating scale that ranged from 0 to 10, on which subjects were…
The number of scientific investigations on women’s football specific to the topics of player characteristics and demands of the game has considerably increased in recent years due to the increased popularity of the women’s game worldwide, although they are not yet as numerous as in the case of men’s football. To date, only two scientific publications have attempted to review the main find…
Background: Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD) is a risk factor for shoulder and elbow injury in baseball players. Although this evidence forms a basis for recommending stretching, clinical measures of internal rotation range of motion (ROM) do not differentiate if GIRD is due to muscular, capsuloligamentous, or osseous factors. Understanding the contributions of these structures to …
Background: Since it has been shown that spending 18 h under dim light conditions can result in reduced handgrip endurance, it was questioned whether or not a shorter exposure to dim light (i.e., 1 h) would have similar influence upon muscular endurance. Therefore this study compared the number of weighted knee extension lifts that could be done after spending 1 h in either dim or bright light.…
Background: Prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) among college-aged athletes has risen in recent years. Although measures exist for assessing EDs, these measures have not been thoroughly reviewed in athletes. This study reviewed the validity and reliability evidence of the commonly used measures for assessing EDs in athlete populations aged 18e26 years. Methods: Databases were searched for stu…
Background: This preliminary study examined the effects of an 8-week supervised reactive balance training program on reaction time (RT) and foot speed, static balance and balance confidence in healthy older adults compared to an exercise control group. Methods: Twenty-five older adults were randomly assigned to a reactive balance training group (QuickBoard; n ¼ 12; 71.0 8.6 years) or a stat…
Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the effect of static stretching (SS) and a sport-specific dynamic stretching (DS) session at two specific post-stretch time intervals in highly trained female athletes (age 19.90 ± 1.60 years; height 1.80 ± 0.06 m; mass 76.87 ± 9.95 kg) on kinetic parameters of peak force, time-to-takeoff, and rate of force development. Methods: The data were coll…
Background: A positive association between fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical activity (PA) has been shown in previous research of children with and without disability. This pilot study explored a causal mechanism for such relationship, and hypothesized that when FMS proficiency is improved, enhanced PA uptake will be found in children with and without disability. It was further hyp…
Purpose: The globalisation of artificial turf and the increase in player participation has driven the need to examine injury risk in the sport of football. The purpose of this study was to investigate the surfaceeplayer interaction in female football players between natural and artificial turf. Methods: Eight university level female football players performed an unanticipated cutting manoeuvre…
Purpose: The present study investigated the effects of 16 weeks of small-volume, small-sided soccer training soccer group (SG, n ¼ 13) and oscillating whole-body vibration training vibration group (VG, n ¼ 17) on body composition, aerobic fitness, and muscle PCr kinetics in healthy inactive premenopausal women in comparison with an inactive control group (CO, n ¼ 14). Methods: Training for …
The complexity of the physical demands of soccer requires the completion of a multi-component training programme. The development,planning, and implementation of such a programme are difficult due partly to the practical constraints related to the competitive schedule at the top level. The effective planning and organisation of training are therefore crucial to the effective delivery of the tra…
Purpose: In age-restricted youth sport, the over-selection of athletes born in the first quarter of the year and under-selection of athletes born in the last quarter of the year has been called the relative age effect (RAE). Its existence in youth sports like soccer is well established. Why it occurs has not been identified, however, one thought is that older players, generally taller and heavi…
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common in soccer. Understanding ACL loading mechanisms and risk factors for ACL injury is critical for designing effective prevention programs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the relevant literature on ACL loading mechanisms, ACL injury risk factors, and current ACL injury prevention programs for soccer players. Literature has shown that…
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in some hormonal parameters (cortisol, testosterone, ratio of testosterone/cortisol (T/C)) in professional soccer players during a season. Methods: Fifteen professional players from a soccer club of the first division of the Greek soccer league participated. All sport medical examinations were conducted four times: before the re-bu…
Background: Exercise-associated menstrual dysfunction (EAMD) is a common health problem in female athletes as a part of female athlete triad (FAT), a condition related to low energy availability. In this study, we explored the possibility that carbohydrate supplements can improve the status of EAMD and prevent exercise-induced ovarian injury in a FAT rat model. This research aimed to provide ex…
Abstract—This work demonstrates short-range and highresolution ultrasonic imaging using 8 MHz aluminum nitride (AlN) piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) arrays, which are compatible with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor circuitry and wafer-level mass manufacture. Because AlN has a low dielectric constant, the PMUTs have low capacitance and a custom 1.8 V interface…
Abstract—We designed a one-mask process for all-molybdenum-based laterally actuated anoelectromechanical switches. The damascene-like process is designed to ensure a smooth, high-aspect ratio, and metal-to-metal mechanical contact. Based on the statistical study of 800 devices, very high process yield can be achieved for fixed–fixed beam devices by selecting suitable device dimensions, i.…
Abstract—We have designed and realized two types of proportional microcontrol valves in a silicon nitride surface channel technology process. This enables on-die integration of flow controllers with other surface channel devices, such as pressure sensors or thermal or Coriolis-based (mass) flow sensors, to obtain a proportional gas flow control system on a single chip. One valve design is imp…
Abstract—A cantilever with an end mass is one of the most popular designs for piezoelectric MEMS vibration energy harvesting. The inclusion of a proof mass near the free end of a micro-cantilever can significantly enhances the power responsiveness of a vibration energy harvester per unit acceleration. However, the accommodation of the proof mass comes at the expense of the active piezoelectr…
Abstract—Radiation leakages are a considerable problem when measuring waveguide structures at high frequencies. In order to maintain good electrical contact, flanges need to be tightly and evenly screwed to the device under test. This can be a time-consuming operation, especially with repeated measurements. We present a metamaterial-based adapter, which prohibits leakage even in the presence …
Abstract—A quantitative quality assessment method for capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) arrays based on electrical impedance measurements made at wafer level is proposed. The resonant response in air of CMUTs is described and then used to obtain a quantitative quality value. Several issues that could occur in CMUT arrays as well as their effect on the output of the assess…
Abstract—It has been found that diamond columns can be formed unintentionally in reactive ion etching (RIE) with O2 plasma even without a precoated metal layer. The experimental results indicate that the existence of these diamond columns prevents the effective removal of polycrystalline diamond (poly-C), also known as microcrystalline diamond. A three-step sequential RIE of poly-C thin film…
Abstract—In this paper, we present the optimization of optical and mechanical properties of inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposited (ICPCVD) amorphous silicon thin films for fabrication of high-quality optical microelectromechanical systems-based devices operating from visible to short-wave infrared wavelengths (450–3000 nm). Our results indicate that, at relatively high deposi…
Abstract—A complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS)–microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer with stacked pure oxide layers as mechanical structures was developed. Metal layers were confined to the sensing electrodes and electrical routings; the metal–oxide composite in the CMOS–MEMS accelerometer was distributed in limited regions. This design has two major advantag…
Abstract—Nonparametric Bayesian models use a Bayesian framework to learn model complexity automatically from the data, eliminating the need for a complex model selection process. A Hierarchical Dirichlet Process Hidden Markov Model (HDPHMM) is the nonparametric Bayesian equivalent of a hidden Markov model (HMM), but is restricted to an ergodic topology that uses a Dirichlet Process Model to a…