Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez

Dr. Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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VAVirginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Daniel Medina RebolloDaniel Medina Rebollo
Daniel Medina Rebollo
AMAntonio Muñoz-Llerena
Antonio Muñoz-Llerena
Jesus Fernández GaviraJesus Fernández Gavira
Jesus Fernández Gavira
People with visual impairment have greater difficulty in accessing physical activity and sport, and a lack of social interaction is also associated with a risk of exclusion. Work is currently being done to include people with visual impairment through physical activity and sport. However, there is a lack of studies examining the status and overall effectiveness of interventions in the pre- and post-COVID stage. This study aimed to provide solid evidence on the characteristics and effectiveness of interventions for the inclusion of people with visual impairment through physical activity and sport in order to address the need for dissemination on this topic. The bibliographic search was carried out with the words “Physical activity”, “Physical exercise”, “Sport”, “Physical training”, “visual disability”, “visual impairment” and “inclusion” in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar from 2018 to 2021.The article selection process was according to the PRISMA protocol with a final selection of nine articles. The main results highlighted that the programmes improve the perception of people with disabilities, increase social skills and health and increase the social importance of people with disabilities in the social environment. Among the most generalised conclusions were the need for specialised training, the need for social inclusion and participation of people with visual impairment in their environments and increased physical activity.

11 January 2024 in Healthcare
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Journal Article
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AMAntonio Muñoz-Llerena
Antonio Muñoz-Llerena
LLLaura Ladrón-De-Guevara
Laura Ladrón-De-Guevara
Daniel Medina RebolloDaniel Medina Rebollo
Daniel Medina Rebollo
VAVirginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic alteration in humans, resulting from the trisomy of chromosome 21. Individuals with DS are characterized by physical traits and limitations related to intellectual functioning and the development of motor skills. People with DS tend to have lower levels of physical activity (PA) than the general population, despite its benefits for health and quality of life, which could be caused by barriers such as the lack of adapted programs or knowledge on how to adapt them. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to examine the impact of physical activity or sports programs on autonomy and quality of life in individuals with DS. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed to search four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and SportDiscus), adhering to the population, intervention, comparison, and outcome strategy. A total of 13 studies were selected that followed different training programs (combined training, adapted football, technology-based, pulmonary training, gymnastics and dance, water-based, and whole body vibration). Most of the interventions provided benefits for autonomy or quality of life (physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, and social) in people with DS. In conclusion, the benefits of physical activity and sports programs adapted to people with DS are positive.

16 November 2021 in Sustainability
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Journal Article
Open access
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Jesus Fernández GaviraJesus Fernández Gavira
Jesus Fernández Gavira
PEPaola Espada-Goya
Paola Espada-Goya
VAVirginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
David Moscoso-SánchezDavid Moscoso-Sánchez
David Moscoso-Sánchez
The proposed work aims to offer an educational proposal with which to approach the Physical Education class with hearing impaired students through the use of different tools, with special attention to technological ones. These in turn are structured into objectives, materials, organisation, graphic description and a QR code for each game. These codes are linked to different videos hosted on the YouTube platform, in which the explanation of the games, mentioned above, can be visualised graphically using sign language. The whole creative process is described in the article, as well as possible pedagogical applications of the use of the tools created for this purpose in other educational contexts.

27 October 2022 in Nutrients
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Journal Article
Open access
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Millán Aguilar-NavarroMillán Aguilar-Navarro
Millán Aguilar-Navarro
JSJosé-Antonio Salas-Montoro
José-Antonio Salas-Montoro
Jose Pino-OrtegaJose Pino-Ortega
Jose Pino-Ortega
Juan José SalineroJuan José Salinero
Juan José Salinero
FGFernando González-Mohíno
Fernando González-Mohíno
Juan Del CosoJuan Del Coso
Juan Del Coso
In Spain, students pursuing a career in athletic training, physical education, or scientific evaluation of sports enroll in a bachelor’s degree in sports sciences. This degree provides knowledge and skills in a broad array of sports settings and promotes research-based interdisciplinary knowledge. However, the student’s syllabus rarely includes specific academic training on anti-doping regulations or doping prevention. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-doping knowledge of the students undertaking a bachelor’s degree in sports sciences in Spanish universities. One thousand two hundred and thirty-three bachelor students in sport science (907 males, 322 females, and 4 participants with non-binary sex) from 26 Spanish universities completed a validated questionnaire about general anti-doping knowledge. The questionnaire is an adapted version of the Play True Quiz of the World Anti-Doping Agency and contains 37 multiple-choice questions. The score obtained in the questionnaire was transformed into a 0–100-point scale. The questionnaire was distributed among students within each university by a faculty member and it was filled out online. Students obtained a score of 65.8 ± 10.10 points (range = 32–92 points). There was an effect of the course in the score obtained (p < 0.001). Students of the first course (63.6 ± 9.5 points) had lower scores than the remaining courses (p < 0.037) while the students of the fourth course obtained the highest scores (68.7 ± 9.5 points; p < 0.019). The students with an itinerary on sports performance were the respondents with the highest anti-doping knowledge (67.2 ± 10.2) points, followed by the students with an itinerary on health (66.7 ± 9.5 points). The knowledge of basic anti-doping rules and doping prevention strategies of the bachelor students in sports sciences in Spain was suboptimal. Increasing doping prevention information in the syllabus of the bachelor’s degree in sports sciences is essential as these future professionals will directly work with populations at risk of doping.

21 March 2025 in Disabilities
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AMAntonio Muñoz-Llerena
Antonio Muñoz-Llerena
SASalvador Angosto
Salvador Angosto
Carlos Pérez CamposCarlos Pérez Campos
Carlos Pérez Campos
VAVirginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Volunteering in sports for people with disabilities is a crucial element for social inclusion and development. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the existing literature on the motivation, satisfaction, engagement, and commitment of volunteers in sports for people with disabilities. Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across four databases, the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and SportDiscus, resulting in the inclusion of 16 studies. The geographic distribution showed the existence of studies on all continents, particularly in Europe and Asia, and most studies were quantitative. The findings revealed that volunteer motivation was predominantly intrinsic, driven by values, understanding, and personal growth, with less emphasis on extrinsic factors such as career advancement. Satisfaction levels were generally high, particularly among student volunteers, who also showed strong future intentions to continue volunteering. As a conclusion, there was a limited number of studies exclusively focused on volunteers participating in sports for people with disabilities. This review highlights the need for more research on diverse types of disabilities and the development of inclusive policies and training programs to enhance volunteer experiences. The study underscores the importance of recognizing both personal and professional motivators to effectively recruit and retain volunteers in sports organizations supporting people with disabilities.

12 September 2022
Verified
Book Chapter
Closed access
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Pablo Gálvez-RuizPablo Gálvez-Ruiz
Pablo Gálvez-Ruiz
Jerónimo García-FernándezJerónimo García-Fernández
Jerónimo García-Fernández
CGCelina Gonçalves
Celina Gonçalves
VAVirginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
Virginia Alcaraz-Rodríguez
The growth of sports practice has been parallel to the concern for the health of the population, being accompanied by a continuously increasing offer of fitness centres and diversification during the last decade, with activities that have evolved according to the needs and user demands. This chapter analyses the evolution that the fitness industry has had in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) in recent years. It presents, a brief tour through the different business models and the offer of services, ending with the future prospects for the sector at a time of slow recovery after the 2020 crisis due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.