Acute physical exercise works as an activator of the responses of the human organism to stress. This is based on the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, affecting physical, physiological and psychological levels. This study aimed to analyse the effects of a single bout of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive-behavioural responses: visuo-spatial path learning and memory, as well as physiological responses (salivary cortisol levels). Nineteen healthy male military-trained powerlifting subjects were tested in a within-subject design on two experimental days with an interval of 48 h. The stress and cognitive variables were measured by cortisol levels and Ruff–Light trail-learning test (RULIT) test scores, respectively. The results showed the immediate influence of acute exercise on cortisol, with significantly higher cortisol levels found in subjects after completion of the acute resistance exercise. In addition, this study found a significant deterioration of memory and learning ability after a dose of intense resistance exercise. In conclusion, the study highlights the relative effects of resistance exercise on cortisol and cognitive performance depending on the intensity and type of the exercise, the moment of measurement and the cerebral areas implicated.

The effects of the use of reduced feedback frequencies on motor learning remain controversial in the scientific literature. At present, there is still controversy about the guidance hypothesis, with some works supporting it and others contradicting it. To shed light on this topic, an experiment was conducted with four groups, each with different feedback frequencies (0%, 33%, 67%, and 100%), which were evaluated three times (pre-test, post-test, and retention) during a postural control task. In addition, we tested whether there was a transfer in performance to another similar task involving postural control. As a result, only the 67% feedback group showed an improvement in their task performance in the post-test and retention evaluations. Nevertheless, neither group showed differences in motor transfer performance compared to another postural control task. In conclusion, the findings of this paper corroborate the hypothesis of guidance and suggest that the use of a reduced frequency of 67% is a better option for improving motor learning than options that offer feedback at a lower frequency, at all trials or not at all.

Fundamento: estudios previos han determinado que la autopercepción física es un factor determinante en la realización de actividad física, aunque no es el único, existiendo más factores interrelacionados. Objetivo: analizar el nivel de práctica de actividad física durante la etapa adolescente y su relación con diferentes variables que pudieran influir. Método: un total de 112 adolescentes (58 niños y 54 niñas) realizaron una serie de pruebas y respondieron diversas preguntas relacionadas con la práctica de actividad física, autopercepción física, hábitos de vida saludable y nivel socioeconómico. Tras el análisis se obtuvieron relaciones entre variables, diferencias entre sexos y grupos que practican voluntariamente actividad física y los que no. Se analizó utilizando Self-Organised Maps (SOM) para generar perfiles de estudiantes. Resultados: se evidencia una relación positiva entre una alta autopercepción física y la práctica de actividad física regular, junto con un estilo de vida saludable. Los chicos muestran un mayor nivel de actividad física y autopercepción física que las chicas. El grupo voluntario muestra mayores niveles de estas características que el grupo no voluntario, así como un estilo de vida más saludable. Conclusión: Los resultados indican la necesidad de desarrollar estrategias para tratar de mejorar los niveles tanto de actividad física como de autopercepción física en ambos sexos, teniendo en cuenta la disparidad en los perfiles de los estudiantes. Palabras clave: Actividad Física, autopercepción física, estilo de vida saludable, Mapas Auto-Organizados, adolescentes. Background: previous studies have determined that physical self-perception is a determining factor in the performance of physical activity, although it is not the only one, and there are more interrelated factors. Objective: to analyse the level of physical activity practice during the adolescent stage and its relationship with different variables that could have an influence. Method: a total of 112 adolescents (58 boys and 54 girls) took a series of tests and answered various questions related to the practice of physical activity, physical self-perception, healthy lifestyle habits and socio-economic level. After the analysis, relationships between variables, differences between sexes and groups that voluntarily practice physical activity and those that do not were obtained. It was analysed using Self-Organised Maps (SOM) to generate student profiles. Results: there is evidence of a positive relationship between a high physical self-perception and the practice of regular physical activity, together with a healthy lifestyle. Boys show a higher level of physical activity and physical self-perception than girls. The voluntary group shows higher levels of these characteristics than the non-voluntary group, as well as a healthier lifestyle. Conclusion: The results indicate the need to develop strategies to try to improve the levels of both physical activity and physical self-perception in both sexes, taking into account the disparity in student profiles. Key words: Physical Activity, physical self-perception, healthy lifestyle, Self-Organized Maps, adolescents.

Background: Golf swing performance in medium- to high-handicap players must be reliably measured to use this variable in both research studies and in applied settings. Nevertheless, there are no studies published on this topic and test–retest evidence is only available for low-handicap players. The aim of this study was to determine the number of attempts necessary to obtain a reliable measurement protocol for swing performance variables in medium- to high-handicap players. Methods: Ten amateur players (55.67 (13.64) years, 78.4 (11.4) kg, 1.75 (7.95) m) took part in a test–retest study in two experimental sessions one week apart. In each one, fifteen swings with a six iron and a driver were evaluated with a 3D Doppler tracking golf radar. Results: The results showed that variables related to side carry could not be reliably measured in medium- to high-handicap players in only fifteen trials (ICC < 0.26, SEM > 12.05 m and MDC > 33.41 m). The rest of the performance variables related to the club and ball trajectories could be reliably measured with a 3D Doppler radar with between seven and ten swings. Conclusions: At least seven swings are recommended for the driver and ten for the six iron to measure golf swing performance.

Coordinative patterns require experience and learning to be acquired, producing movements that offer efficient solutions to various situations and involving certain degree of variability. This coordination variability implies functionality in movement, but it can be impacted by the type of sport practice from early years. The purpose of this work is to analyze the coordination variability and coordination patterns in a specific action such as single-leg landing in children practicing gymnastics, volleyball and non-sporting children. Thirty children (15 girls) performed 10 successful trials of single-leg landing from a height of 25 cm. A motion capture system (9 cameras) was used to capture 3D thigh and shank kinematics. To identify the significant effect of children's groups on coordination and coordination variability during single-leg landing, one-dimensional Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) was used. Regarding the coordination patterns, in the frontal plane, during the attenuation phase of single-leg landing, the control group exhibited a higher frequency of Anti-Phase with proximal dominancy compared to the sport groups (i.e., gymnastics, and volleyball). In addition, in the sagittal plane during the second peak phase, volleyball players exhibited a higher coordination variability than the gymnastics. The children in the control group showed a greater frequency of antiphasic movements, which indicates the influence of training at an early age, being a determining factor in the increase or not of variability.

(1) Background: Understanding children’s motor patterns in landing is important not only for sport performance but also to prevent lower limb injury. The purpose of this study was to analyze children’s lower limb joint angles and impact force during single-leg landings (SLL) in different types of jumping sports using statistical parametric mapping (SPM). (2) Methods: Thirty children (53.33% girls, M = 10.16 years-old, standard deviation (SD) = 1.52) divided into three groups (gymnastics, volleyball and control) participated in the study. The participants were asked to do SLLs with the dominant lower limb (barefoot) on a force plate from a height of 25 cm. The vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and lower limb joint angles were assessed. SPM{F} one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and SPM{t} unpaired t-tests were performed during the landing and stability phases. (3) Results: A significant main effect was found in the landing phase of jumping sport practice in GRF and joint angles. During the stability phase, this effect was exhibited in ankle and knee joint angles. (4) Conclusions: Evidence was obtained of the influence of practicing a specific sport in childhood. Child volleyball players performed SLL with lower impact force and higher knee flexion than child gymnasts. Training in specific jumping sports (i.e., volleyball and gymnastics) could affect the individual capacity to adapt SLL execution.