Background and Objectives: Although virtual reality (VR) has been shown to be effective in rehabilitation through motor learning principles, its impact on upper extremity function, particularly in the context of console use, remains unclear. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to investigate the effects of VR-based task-oriented movement on the upper extremity of healthy individuals. A total of 26 healthy individuals performed task-oriented movements in both real and virtual environments in a randomized order. All participants completed a single session of task-oriented movements using a VR Goggle system in a virtual setting. Physiotherapists designed immersive VR-based experiences and 3D screen-based exergames for this study. Upper extremity function was assessed using several measures: joint position sense (JPS) of the wrist and shoulder was evaluated using a universal goniometer, reaction time was measured via a mobile application, and gross manual dexterity was assessed using the box-and-block test (BBT). Evaluations were conducted before and after the interventions. Results: The results showed that JPS remained similar between conditions, while BBT performance improved in both groups. However, the reaction time increased significantly only after VR intervention (p < 0.05). No significant period or carryover effects were observed across the parameters. These findings suggest that VR-based task-oriented training positively influences reaction time and supports hand function. Moreover, VR systems that simulate joint position sense similar to real-world conditions may be beneficial for individuals with musculoskeletal motor deficits. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential for integrating VR technology into rehabilitation programs for patients with neurological or orthopedic impairments, providing a novel tool for enhancing upper extremity function and injury prevention strategies.

The aim of the present study was to determine the intensity of each Standard and Latin-American dance in relation to the values of maximal oxygen uptake assessed by a dance-specific protocol. A total of 12 professional dancers (six couples: three Standard and three Latin-American; ranging in age from 18 to 29 years; six males and six females) were recruited from the Italian Dance Sport Federation. To measure energy expenditure, each couple performed progressively demanding routine dance sequences. Each sequence lasted for 1 minute and 30 seconds and was specific to each dance of the respective discipline (Standard and Latin-American) in terms of tempo and choreography. The energy consumption of the dancers was measured during the last 30 seconds of each dance and the total energy expenditure calculated. Recovery between dance sequences was reached when the oxygen consumption returned to near resting values. To assess the maximal oxygen uptake, an incremental dance-specific test was used. This test consisted of uninterrupted performance of the five dances specific to each dance of the respective discipline. Parametric techniques were used to detect significant differences in metabolic energy required between dances and genders. The alpha level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The metabolic energy required to perform the individual dances was maximal or greater than maximal in almost all specialties of DanceSport, except for male and female Standard in the English waltz and Latin-American females in the rumba. The energy expenditure measured during the last 30 seconds of each dance underestimated the metabolic energy requirement by 15% to 32% in Standard dances and 35% to 42% in Latin-American dances (p < 0.05).

Laboratory-grade force platforms are the reference standard for quantifying ground reaction forces but remain costly and confined to well-resourced laboratories, limiting field-based use. This study evaluated the accuracy and between-session reliability of a portable force platform (Impera, Spinitalia) under static loading, and its concurrent validity during vertical jumping, against a criterion-standard piezoelectric plate with calibration traceable to national standards (4Jump, Kistler). Accuracy and between-session reliability were assessed against five tared loads (21.6–103.2 kg) applied at five plate locations across two sessions 24 h apart. Concurrent validity was assessed during squat and countermovement jumps performed by ten physically active men, using intraclass correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman analysis and the linear fit method applied to the entire force–time waveform. Both platforms underestimated the lightest load by about 4% and approached zero error at higher loads; the between-device difference was 0.19 kg and did not translate into a difference in proportional accuracy (p = 0.151), with no device × position interaction. Between-session coefficients of variation were below 1% for both devices. Concurrent agreement was good to excellent for all jump variables (ICC 0.867–0.996), and waveform agreement was close to unity (R² ≥ 0.997), with about 2% amplitude underestimation, greater in participants generating the highest impact forces. The Impera platform provides accurate and reliable measurements under static loading, and force–time data that agree closely with the 4Jump during vertical jump testing.

Purpose: The aim of this work was to: 1) measure the energy cost of front crawl swimming at various speeds (range .8 -1.8 m·s-1 in elite and medium level swimmers; in addition, 2) estimate the maximal aerobic power and maximal anaerobic capacity from the relationship between overall energy spent and individual best times over distances from 50m to 1500m in one elite athlete. It will also be shown, that 3) the so obtained values are rather close to the actually measured ones. Methods: Oxygen consumption was measured on 13 medium level and 5 elite swimmers (best time over 100m, 51.50±3.54s), swimming the front crawl in a 25m indoor pool in the speed range .8-1.8 m·s-1. So, the energy cost of front crawl (Csw) could be calculated. Results: In both groups Csw increased with the speed as a second order polynomial. In the elite group it was ≈ 17 to ≈ 34 % smaller than in medium level swimmers, (P= .005). Knowledge of Csw allowed us to estimate the overall energy expenditure (Etot) during actual competitions as a function of the corresponding performance time (tr) in one elite swimmer. The results show that (Etot) increased linearly with tr. For tr ≥ 100s the slope and y intercept of the resulting linear regressions yield V̇O2max and maximal anaerobic capacity, respectively. These turned out to be close to the directly determined values. Conclusions: If the energy cost of swimming as a function of the speed is known, this approach yields reasonable estimates of the swimmers’ maximal oxygen consumption and maximal anaerobic capacity.

Accurate assessment of aerobic fitness is crucial in soccer; however, the validity of field-based predictive tests remains uncertain in professional players. This study examined the relationship between directly measured and estimated maximal oxygen uptake ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O_2max) during the Yo-Yo Endurance Test Level 1 (YYET₁) in professional soccer players and evaluated seasonal changes after six months of training and competition. Seventeen players from an Italian third-division team performed the YYET₁ in pre- and mid-season conditions, while VO_2max was continuously recorded using a portable metabolic system. VO_2max was estimated using Bangsbo’s distance-based formula. Linear regression and Bland–Altman analyses were used to assess relationships and agreement between methods. Measured VO_2max increased significantly from pre- to mid- season (+13.9%, p < 0.001), whereas estimated values showed a smaller rise (+5.2%, p < 0.001). The predictive method systematically underestimated VO_2max (bias −2.3 to −7.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), and regression analyses revealed only moderate shared variance (R² = 0.18–0.20) between estimated and measured values. These findings demonstrate that Bangsbo’s equation lacks validity for estimating VO_2max in professional players and cannot accurately track aerobic adaptations across a season. For precise physiological evaluation, direct measurement using portable metabolic systems is required, while submaximal soccer-specific protocols may offer practical alternatives for longitudinal monitoring.