ESE - Editoriais, Cartas, Notas, Prefácios, Indexados à WoS/Scopus
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- Editorial: Training load in sport: current challenges and future perspectivesPublication . Branquinho, Luís; Forte, Pedro; França, Elias de; Ferraz, Ricardo; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Thomatieli-Santos, RonaldoTraining load is a critical component of athletic development, serving as a fundamental determinant of performance enhancement and injury prevention (1). Factors such as training intensity, volume, frequency, and density must be carefully managed to promote positive adaptations in athletes (2). The concept of training load is not merely a measure of the amount of work performed, it is a complex interplay of factors that can significantly influence an athlete’s performance trajectory (3). Understanding how to optimize training load is essential to maximizing athletic performance while minimizing the risks of excessive fatigue, injury, and overtraining, which can negatively impact an athlete’s performance and ability to compete and train effectively, as well as overall health (1).
- Editorial: Towards a psychophysiological approach in physical activity, exercise, and sports, volume IIIPublication . Forte, Pedro; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Portella, Daniel Leite; Monteiro, Diogo“Towards a psychophysiological approach in physical activity, exercise, and sports-volume III” explores the complex interactions between physical activity, exercise, and psychological factors in various populations and analytical contexts. A recurring theme across studies is the emphasis on how psychological factors, such as anxiety, self-confidence, and attentional control, interact with physiological outcomes like heart rate variability (HRV) and perceived exertion. Key findings include the enhancement of performance through strategic psychological interventions (e.g., mindfulness, positive thinking) and the understanding that physical activity can alleviate mental health symptoms, especially in populations with chronic conditions such as long COVID. The studies also collectively underscore the importance of a holistic approach to optimizing performance in individual and team sports, where psychological wellbeing plays a crucial role in optimizing physical outcomes.
- Editorial: Towards a psychophysiological approach in physical activity, exercise, and sports, volume IIPublication . Forte, Pedro; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Portella, Daniel Leite; Monteiro, DiogoThe critical role of physical activity in fostering physical and mental health and wellbeing has been well-documented across diverse populations and contexts. Recent studies published in leading journals provide compelling evidence of the multifaceted benefits of exercise, from improving physical metrics such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference to enhancing mental health and subjective wellbeing. These insights underscore the importance of promoting physical activity as a cornerstone of public health. Health related physical activity was a very important discussed topic during COVID-19 pandemic, and for that reason, it is cleared illuminated the critical intersection between physical activity and mental health. That's in line with the published study in this Research Topic by Tomezzoli et al. on young Italian athletes. The authors revealed the detrimental effects of sports activity limitations on mental health. The enforced inactivity during lockdowns led to increased anxiety, depression, and a sense of loss among children, adolescents, and young adults. This allows to remind the psychological benefits of regular physical activity and the need for robust policies to ensure continued access to sports and recreational activities. However, where and when to do is a critical aspect and environment may play an important role on wellbeing.
- Editorial: “Building” health through physical activity in schoolsPublication . Branquinho, Luís; Forte, Pedro; Ferraz, Ricardo; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Sortwell, AndrewEngaging in physical activity during childhood and adolescence is associated with improved physical and mental health (1, 2). Research has shown that physically active students exhibit better academic performance, a reduced likelihood of obesity, enhanced social skills, and higher levels of self-esteem. However, despite the many benefits of physical activity, many students do not engage in sufficient physical activity, and studies show that the levels of physical activity among children and adolescents have also decreased over time (3). Most often, schools serve as more than just a centre for learning mandated curriculum (4). Within schools, the educators and the school communities also play a significant role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the learners, including supporting student participation in physical activity. However, in the school environment, barriers to physical activity include insufficient access to physical activity opportunities, limited time for recess, and lack of physical education, all of which can contribute to the problem of increased sedentary behaviours. In order to promote physical activity among students, it is important for schools to provide a variety of opportunities for physical activity and to make physical activity an integral part of the school day. Schools can take a proactive approach through curriculum, policies, and engagement with the school community to reverse the worsening trend of children and adolescents not meeting the recommended daily engagement of 60 min or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity.
- Editorial: Advances in wearable devices for sportsPublication . Morais, J.E.In sports, coaches and support staff spend considerable time analyzing athletes’ tech- nique. It is well known that athletes who can perform movements associated with their sport of choice using a better technique are more likely to present better performances. Video-based analysis has traditionally been the most used procedure to assess athletes’ technique [1,2]. This consists of recording sports skills and the subsequent computation of meaningful parameters describing the movement from raw data [3]. However, this data acquisition and handling is a time-consuming process. Consequently, coaches and sup- port staff are looking for less time-consuming procedures that lead to real-time outputs and that they themselves can also use and handle. The use of wearables allows the acqui- sition of kinematic [4], kinetic [5], or physiological variables [6] that are of paramount im- portance for coaches and athletes. For instance, Lim et al. [7] aimed to predict the lower limb kinetics and kinematics during walking with a single inertial measurement unit (IMU) placed on the lower back. In the specific case of the aquatic environment, cable handling makes data collection more difficult. Thus, wearable usage is a solid alternative in aquatic sports. Besides kinematic data, swimming researchers can also measure kinetic parameters, such as propulsive force, that are key determinants for performance enhance- ment [5,8]. Regarding physiological parameters, these can also be measured or estimated with the data collected with wearables. A study by Dasa et al. [9] aimed to assess the ac- curacy of commonly used global positioning systems/accelerometer-based tracking de- vices to estimate energy expenditure during high-intensity intermittent exercise in soccer. The authors noted an underestimation of the energy expenditure since these gears do not account for anaerobic energy production during high-intensity exercise [9]. Nonetheless, and despite the deviations observed in energy expenditure that should be considered by practitioners and researchers, it was argued that the devices tested can still provide useful information, but with the limitations addressed.
- Editorial: Desporto, cultura e comunicação: uma fita de möbius?Publication . Pimenta, Susana; Ribeiro, Orquídea; Moreira, FernandoTomando como princípios orientadores que os atos comunicativos e as expressões/práticas culturais têm uma dimensão operatória na vida do indivíduo enquanto ferramentas de , considerando que a cultura é sempre uma herança transmitida e que os meios utilizados para o fazer integram essa mesma cultura e que, finalmente, cultura e comunicação desempenham um papel essencial na realidade social pois se instituem como fundamentais na difusão do saber, entretenimentos e modelos comportamentais, nomeadamente no que concerne a(s) prática(s) desportiva( s), este suplemento pretende refletir sobre a relação entre cultura, comunicação e desporto no mundo de língua portuguesa.
- Editorial: The relationships between physical activity, exercise, and sport on the immune systemPublication . Forte, Pedro; Branquinho, Luís; Ferraz, RicardoDuring their lifetime, human beings are exposed to different microorganisms (i.e., virous, bacteria, fungi, and germs), parasites, and cancerous cells. This exposure endows the immunological system with the ability to differentiate what may be accepted or rejected by the human body, which in turn is controlled byantigens and antibodies. Antigens are any substance that the human immune system may recognize to stimulate an immunological response while antibodies are B-cell proteins responsible for identifying and marking the invader agent (i.e., antigen) to be neutralized or eliminated by the immune system. Exposure to different pathogenic agents may have two different outcomes: the exposure may result in improving the immunological resistance, or the exposure may increase the inflammatory response.
- Exercise biomechanics for health: evaluating lifelong activities for well-beingPublication . Forte, Pedro; Teixeira, José EduardoBiomechanics is a multidisciplinary study of the mechanical laws and principles that govern human movement and the functioning of biological systems [1]. In the context of physical activity, exercise and physical fitness, biomechanics plays a crucial role in understanding the most efficient and effective ways to improve health and well-being. In addition, biomechanics aim to improve athletes’ performance as well as the movement efficiency of the whole population, leading to a better quality of life. To that end, concerns about optimal economy of movement, strength, power, stability, postural alignment, range of motion and athletic performance are some of the most important topics to address in the study of exercise biomechanics [2].
- Reply to: comment on: The benefits of resistance training in obese adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Ribeiro, Bruno; Forte, Pedro; Vinhas, Raquel; Marinho, D.A.; Faíl, Luís B.; Pereira, Ana Fátima; Vieira, Fernando A.R.; Neiva, Henrique P.We thank Dr. Zhang [1] for his interest in our literature review about the effects of resistance training (RT) programs in obese adolescents [2]. In the review, we analyzed 21 studies to evaluate the impact of RT on body mass index, body fat, waist circumference, lean mass, insulin sensitivity, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Our main findings showed that RT programs seem to be positive for obese adolescents, improving muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness and reducing body fat, waist circumference, and body mass index. Yet, we were clear to advise the reader that the results should be carefully analyzed, and some limitations were addressed, for example, (i) the small number of participants in each study; (ii) the use/comparison of different training programs (i.e., varying durations, intensities, and exercises); (iii) methodological issues (i.e., with an unclear or high risk of bias); (iv) unclear dietary control of participants; and (v) maturational-related issues. We understand that these limitations should not refrain professionals from critically appreciating our results and then designing RT programs for obese adolescents.
- Editorial: towards a psychophysiological approach in physical activity, exercise, and sportsPublication . Forte, Pedro; Teixeira, José Eduardo; Portella, Daniel Leite; Monteiro, DiogoIn recent years, a psychophysiological perspective on physical activity, exercise, and sports research has become more popular. Given the strong connections between psychological and physiological aspects, as well as mental fatigue and diseases, psychophysiological and psychological explanations are required. Moreover, human movement and sports performance can also be affected by psychological factors, whereby the regulation of physical capabilities is significantly influenced by the psychophysiological system. It is possible to explain how physical activity and exercise insights are controlled and managed by pacing behavior, decision-making, self-regulation, and effort perception. This Research Topic’s goal was to discuss the theoretical and methodological assumptions of the psychophysiological perspective on physical activity, exercise, and sports. In this research area, technical, tactical, physiological, cognitive, and psychological topics were explored in relation to other aspects that affect sports and exercise performance, while the effects of psychological factors on training and performance needs were evaluated. Training interventions assessing acute and chronic adaptations using evaluation and testing procedures make them one of the most important topics in this Research Topic. Research on sports coaching and its relations with mental health and performance were also welcome and considered, intending to provide recent developments within sports sciences research.