Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS) is an international peer-reviewed platinum open-access journal publishing articles of high standard on all aspects of current sport and exercise science.
Editorial: Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics
This Editorial introduces the CISS Special Issue “Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics”, which brings together four contributions illustrating the current state and future potential of this rapidly developing field.
Special Issue: Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics
Copyright (c) 2026 Bernd Stetter, Thorsten Stein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Participation intention and adherence in organised sport among people with physical disability in Switzerland: A multilevel and random forest analysis
Introduction & purpose: Physical activity (PA) is vital for the health of individuals with physical disabilities (IWPDs), reducing their risk of multimorbidity (Brinkhof et al., 2016). As IWPDs are significantly less active than the general population (WHO, 2022), organised sport – like regular wheelchair sports groups offered by wheelchair clubs of the Swiss Paraplegic Association (SPA) – can serve as a PA promoting setting. While research, including multilevel approaches, has studied intention and adherence in leisure-time PA settings, only scarce research exists for settings like regular wheelchair sports groups (Martin Ginis et al., 2016; Schlesinger & Nagel, 2015; Sivaramakrishnan et al., 2023). Applying a socio-ecological approach, this study investigated the relevance of individual and club-level factors on adherence in wheelchair sport groups among all members (active vs. inactive) (RQ 1) and the influence of individual factors on intention to participate in a wheelchair sport group (non-participants, RQ2) among SPA members. Methods: This study employs an explorative cross-sectional quantitative research design. Data was collected from February until June 2025 including an online survey of SPA members (n=273), targeting a highly specific sample of IWPDs in Switzerland, and structured interviews with board members (n=26). Adherence to sport (yes/no) and intention to participate (0-100) were primary outcomes. For RQ1, a logistic multilevel regression model was employed. Due to a low ICC (.06) in the null model, a small, predetermined number of clusters (n=26 SPA wheelchair clubs) and highly unbalanced clusters, only L1 predictors were included in the analysis, retaining the random intercept to adhere to the multilevel data structure. For RQ2, random forests will be used, as successfully applied in other IWPDs research (e.g. Gross-Hemmi et al., 2021). Results: For RQ1, small cluster variance (tau^2_00 =.22) was found, indicating little difference between wheelchair clubs’ affiliation regarding the outcome variable. Using a backwards-selection approach, the best-fitting model identified standardized ORs (change per one SD) for motivation for sport (OR=3.71, 95%CI: [2.12, 6.42], p < .001), wellbeing (OR=2.32, 95%CI: [1.42, 3.74], p < .001), and age (OR=.57, 95%CI: [.40, .82], p < .01), negatively associated with the odds of adherence, as the strongest individual-level predictors. Furthermore, overall satisfaction with club characteristics (OR=1.70, 95%CI : [1.12, 2.56], p < .05), satisfaction with social life (OR= .65, 95%CI: [.43, .99], p < .05), and being female (OR=.53, 95%CI: [.26, 1.08], p ≤ .10) were also important predictors, with the latter two negatively associated with the odds of adherence. Predictors for intention (RQ2) from the random forest analysis will be detailed in the presentation. Discussion/conclusion: The findings underscore the high importance of psychological factors (e.g. motivation, wellbeing) as strong predictors of sports groups adherence, confirming existing literature and providing novel insights, notably the predictive role of satisfaction with club characteristics (Martin Ginis et al., 2016; Schlesinger & Nagel, 2015). The results suggest tailored interventions focusing on both individual factors and club support. While the self-report, cross-sectional design limits causal claims, these findings are valuable for guiding future research and informing strategy development by national federations (e.g. SPA). References Brinkhof, M., Al-Khodairy, A., Eriks-Hoogland, I., Fekete, C., Hinrichs, T., Hund-Georgiadis, M., Meier, S., Scheel-Sailer, A., Schubert, M., & Reinhardt, J. (2016). Health conditions in people with spinal cord injury: Contemporary evidence from a population-based community survey in Switzerland. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 48(2), 197–209. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2039 Gross-Hemmi, M. H., Fekete, C., Post, M. W. M., Scheel-Sailer, A., Schwegler, U., & Brinkhof, M. W. G. (2021). Detecting subgroups in social participation among individuals living with spinal cord injury: A longitudinal analysis of community survey data. Spinal Cord, 59(4), 419–428. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-020-00576-3 Martin Ginis, K. A., Ma, J. K., Latimer-Cheung, A. E., & Rimmer, J. H. (2016). A systematic review of review articles addressing factors related to physical activity participation among children and adults with physical disabilities. Health Psychology Review, 10(4), 478–494. https://doi.org/10.1080/17437199.2016.1198240 Schlesinger, T., & Nagel, S. (2015). Does context matter? Analysing structural and individual factors of member commitment in sport clubs. European Journal for Sport and Society, 12(1), 53–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/16138171.2015.11687956 Sivaramakrishnan, H., Quested, E., Cheval, B., Thøgersen‐Ntoumani, C., Gucciardi, D. F., & Ntoumanis, N. (2023). Predictors of intentions of adults over 35 years to participate in walking sport programs: A social‐ecological mixed‐methods approach. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 33(8), 1412–1430. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.14368 World Health Organization (2022). Global status report on physical activity 2022. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240062888
Copyright (c) 2026 Florence Epiney, Linus Hany, Siegfried Nagel, Christoffer Klenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Voluntary group sports for individuals with psychiatric disorders: a dual qualitative study with participants and coaches
Introduction & purpose: Regular physical activity is known to support mental health and can help prevent relapse following psychiatric treatment (Claussen & Seifritz, 2024). Although physical activity is routinely integrated into inpatient psychiatric care in Switzerland (Brand et al., 2016), many individuals with mental health disorders (IMHD) have limited opportunities to remain physically active after hospital discharge. Since 2016, voluntary sports groups (VSG) for IMHD have been increasingly offered across Switzerland, mainly coordinated by PluSport, the national umbrella organization for disability sports (Kiselev & Loosli, 2019). However, little is known about how these groups function in practice, how IMHD experience participation, and which factors influence engagement. To address this, two qualitative studies examined: (1) the perspectives of IMHD participating in VSG, and (2) the views of the coaches leading these groups. Methods: Each study consisted of 15 semi-structured interviews, including one with IMHD participants and one with VSG coaches. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis (Guest et al., 2006; Guest et al., 2014). Results: Interviewees identified several facilitators that support participation, including group accessibility, social encouragement, and coaches’ interpersonal and boundary-setting skills. At the same time, diverse barriers were reported, including personal challenges, organizational constraints, and broader social attitudes. IMHD described primarily positive physical, psychological, and social effects of participation. Coaches emphasized the meaningfulness of their role and the value they see in supporting IMHD through sports (Baumberger et al., 2024; Epiney et al., 2023). Discussion/Conclusion: VSG appear to provide an important space for IMHD to engage in physical activity beyond clinical settings. Efforts to reduce participation barriers and to recruit and train trainers with strong interpersonal competencies may strengthen the accessibility and sustainability of these groups. A larger-scale, quantitative study is warranted to further validate and develop these findings. Furthermore, the specific needs of other age groups (e.g., adolescents) need to be investigated to provide better access to VSG throughout the lifespan. References Baumberger, C., Wieber, F., Pauli, C., Loosli, D., Kleim, B., & Kiselev, N. (2024). Active bodies - active minds? A deep dive into the voluntary sports programs for individuals with psychiatric disorders in Switzerland: participants view. BMC Public Health, 24(1), 3493. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21012-8 Brand, S., Colledge, F., Beeler, N., Pühse, U., Kalak, N., Bahmani, D. S., Mikoteit, T., Holsboer-Trachsler, E., & Gerber, M. (2016). The current state of physical activity and exercise programs in German-speaking, Swiss psychiatric hospitals: results from a brief online survey. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 12, 1309. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S107313 Claussen, M. C., & Seifritz, E. (2024). Sportpsychiatrie und -psychotherapie. Bewegung, Training und Sport in Prävention und Therapie psychischer Erkrankungen (M. C. Claussen & E. Seifritz, Eds.). Hogrefe Verlag. Epiney, F., Wieber, F., Loosli, D., Znoj, H., & Kiselev, N. (2023). Voluntary sports programs for individuals with mental health disorders: The trainer's view. PLoS ONE, 18(10), e0290404. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290404 Guest, G., Bunce, A., & Johnson, L. (2006). How Many Interviews Are Enough?: An Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability. Field Methods, 18(1), 59–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/1525822X05279903 Guest, G., MacQueen, K. M., & Namey, E. E. (2014). Introduction to Applied Thematic Analysis. In Applied Thematic Analysis (pp. 3–20). SAGE Publications. Kiselev, N., & Loosli, D. (2019). Kann ich mitmachen? Behinderten- und Rollstuhlsportclubs in der Schweiz und der Zugang zum Behinderten- und rollstuhlsport. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Heilpädagogik, 25(5-6), 13–20.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nikolai Kiselev, Carina Baumberger, Florence Epiney, Carole Pauli, Daniela Loosli, Hansjörg Znoj, Birgit Kleim, Frank Wieber https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Wheelchair mobility in the daily life of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury
Introduction & Purpose: For persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI), mobility and an active lifestyle are very important to maintain an independent and healthy life. A recent study showed that only 54% of the Swiss population with SCI meet the starting level indicated in the SCI-specific guidelines on aerobic activity (≥2 x 20 mins/week of moderate to vigorous activity) and only 36% those for strength training (≥3 sets twice a week) (de Vries et al., 2024; Martin Ginis et al., 2018). Daily wheelchair mobility is also a form of physical activity which can support a healthy lifestyle, but comprehensive data on the extent of mobility in this population is missing. The aim of this study is to describe wheelchair mobility in manual wheelchair users with SCI living in Switzerland and to evaluate determinants of between-person variation in wheelchair mobility. Methods: One inertial measurement unit was placed on the wheel of manual wheelchair users and collected data for seven consecutive days. The following variables were derived from the real-life measurements to describe wheelchair mobility: distance covered, number of pushes and turns (>30°), and number of bouts of mobility (defined as duration ≥5 seconds and speed ≥0.12 m/s) with the according distance (de Vries et al., 2023). Logistic regression analyses will be used to identify determinants of between-persons variability in wheelchair mobility. Confounders for wheelchair mobility include sex, age, lesion severity, shoulder pain and independence in daily life. Results: 45 manual wheelchair users participated: 7 women, 38 men, 39 persons with paraplegia and 6 with tetraplegia, with a mean age of 56 ± 12 years and 26 ± 16 years since injury. Preliminary results show that mean active propulsion time per day over all participants was 56 ± 32 minutes. On average, participants covered 4949 ± 8150 meters per day, corresponding to 2030 ± 1298 pushes and 929 ± 441 turns per day. Daily distance covered was highly variable, ranging from 329 to 51831 m (performed with an attach-unit handbike). In general, participants performed 199 ± 83 bouts of mobility per day with an average distance per bout of 27 ± 51 m. Determinants of between-person mobility are still under evaluation. Discussion/Conclusion: Even though many manual wheelchair users indicate to not engage in a specific aerobic training of 2 x 20 min of moderate to vigorous activity per week, they are actively propelling their wheelchair for 56 min daily, which also counts as aerobic activity. However, compared to a subgroup of able-bodied persons older than 52 years living in Switzerland, who were engaged in 188 min of light to vigorous activities per day, daily propulsion time in manual wheelchair users is rather low (Aebi et al., 2020). Our results also showed that wheelchair mobility and activity have a high interindividual variability within the studied group. The planned analysis of determinants of this variability may indicate which individuals are the least active and could profit most from targeted interventions and efforts to remove barriers for daily mobility. References Aebi, N. J., Bringolf-Isler, B., Schaffner, E., Caviezel, S., Imboden, M., & Probst-Hensch, N. (2020). Patterns of cross-sectional and predictive physical activity in Swiss adults aged 52+: results from the SAPALDIA cohort. Swiss Med Wkly, 150, w20266. https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2020.20266 de Vries, W. H. K., Arnet, U., Bossuyt, F. M., de Groot, S., Eriks-Hoogland, I., & Perret, C. (2024). Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury and the Association With Shoulder Pain. Am J Phys Med Rehabil, 103(11S Suppl 3), S303-S309. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000002584 de Vries, W. H. K., van der Slikke, R. M. A., van Dijk, M. P., & Arnet, U. (2023). Real-Life Wheelchair Mobility Metrics from IMUs. Sensors (Basel), 23(16), 7174. https://doi.org/10.3390/s23167174 Martin Ginis, K. A., van der Scheer, J. W., Latimer-Cheung, A. E., Barrow, A., Bourne, C., Carruthers, P., Bernardi, M., Ditor, D. S., Gaudet, S., de Groot, S., Hayes, K. C., Hicks, A. L., Leicht, C. A., Lexell, J., Macaluso, S., Manns, P. J., McBride, C. B., Noonan, V. K., Pomerleau, P., Rimmer, J. H., Shaw, R. B., Smith, B., Smith, K. M., Steeves, J. D., Tussler, D., West, C. R., Wolfe, D. L., & Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (2018). Evidence-based scientific exercise guidelines for adults with spinal cord injury: an update and a new guideline. Spinal Cord, 56(4), 308-321. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41393-017-0017-3
Copyright (c) 2026 Ursina Arnet, Yannik Schürch, Anneke Hertig-Godeschalk, Claudio Perret, Wiebe De Vries https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Symposium 8.4 - Disability sport in Switzerland – from daily physical activity to participation in organised sport
Individuals with disability (IWDs) are less physically active than the general population worldwide, including Europe and Switzerland. This is a concern, as this population often encounters multimorbidity and face increased challenges and barriers to physical activity (PA), despite PA being particularly important for their bio-psycho-social health. While some research focuses on elite sport participation, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding daily PA levels and participation in organised sport. This symposium addresses these critical gaps by integrating findings from three distinct studies focusing on PA and sport involvement among IWDs populations in Switzerland. Presentation one provides insights on daily PA level using innovative wheelchair metrics in wheelchair users. The second presentation uses multilevel and random forest analysis to identify individual and structural factors influencing wheelchair sports groups adherence and participation intention in people with physical disability. Presentation three qualitatively explores the experiences and motivations of individuals with mental health disorders participating in voluntary sport groups, presenting insights from both participants and their coaches. The symposium will outline routes to increase IWDs participation in daily PA and organised sport. These findings underscore the profound benefits for individual health and well-being, as well as for society through the reduction of physical inactivity costs.
Copyright (c) 2026 Florence Epiney https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Implementing Open and Standardized Data Practices in Musculoskeletal Imaging: ORMIR and UMUD
Due to the increasing amount of research data, open and reproducible data practices will define the future of medical research. Despite strong conceptual frameworks such as FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable), implementation across laboratories remains inconsistent and fragmented. The MoveD (Haas et al., 2024) initiative outlines open, FAIR, and reproducible data practices in human movement research. However, putting such frameworks into operation remains challenging, especially in imaging-based disciplines, where data are heterogeneous and often under proprietary ecosystems. The Open and Reproducible Musculoskeletal Imaging Research (ORMIR) community and the Universal Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Database (UMUD) address this issue by implementing reproducible data sharing in musculoskeletal imaging (Bonaretti et al., 2025; Ritsche et al., 2025). Here, we demonstrate implementation of guideline-based, reproducible data practices showcasing the ORMIR Medical Imaging Data Structure (MIDS) and UMUD. One of ORMIR’s aims is to create technical standards for organizing and sharing musculoskeletal imaging data across modalities and disciplines such as MRI, CT, and ultrasound. ORMIR-MIDS defines a transparent folder hierarchy, file-naming conventions, and a metadata scheme that ensure imaging datasets are both human-readable and machine-interpretable. A publicly available Python implementation enables validation, anonymization, and bidirectional conversion between ORMIR-MIDS and common vendor formats, lowering the technical barriers to adoption. Importantly, ORMIR-MIDS is not only a data structure but also a mechanism for community convergence—encouraging laboratories to align their workflows with shared standards that support cross-study comparability, reproducibility, and long-term reusability. UMUD offers an example of how such standards can be applied in ultrasonography research. It provides an openly available webapp that indexes metadata from publicly available musculoskeletal ultrasound datasets hosted on open platforms such as Zenodo. Using a standardized metadata scheme derived from ORMIR and MoveD principles, UMUD enhances the discoverability and comparability of datasets, linking them through descriptors based on expert consensus. By providing contribution and data structuring instructions, UMUD allows the research community to easily contribute their data. UMUD demonstrates how open research data can actively support both methodological innovation and capacity building in the research community. Together, ORMIR and UMUD embody the transition from conceptual to actionable open science. They illustrate how principles articulated in MoveD and FAIR can be realized through interoperable standards, shared infrastructure, and collaboration between technical and applied domains. References Bonaretti, S., Barzegari, M., Bevers, M., Boyd, S., Burghardt, A. J., Cameron, D., Chiumento, F., Crimi, G., Degenhart, G., Durongbhan, P., Hernandez, M. A. E., Fraterrigo, G., Ghasem-Zadeh, A., Grassi, L., Hirvasniemi, J., Hosseinitabatabaei, M., Iori, G., Kok, J., Kuczynski, M., … Zukic, D. (2025). Open and reproducible research in musculoskeletal imaging: Why it matters and how to implement it with the guidelines of the ORMIR community. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17258830 Haas, M. C., Sommer, B. B., Van Rekum, S., Moerman, F., & Graf, E. S. (2024, November). MoveD - open research data guidelines for movement laboratories. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14179954 Ritsche, P., Sarto, F., Santini, F., Leitner, C., Franchi, M., Faude, O., Finni, T., Seynnes, O., & Cronin, N. (2025). UMUD: A Web Application for Easy Access to Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography Datasets. Open Science Framework. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/syr4z
Copyright (c) 2026 Paul Ritsche, Francesco Santini, Serena Bonaretti, Donnie Cameron, Oliver Faude https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Guidelines for Open Research Data in Movement Sciences
Introduction & Purpose: Open research data offer large potential for reuse, but also present complex challenges such as ownership, confidentiality, and data misuse which is especially important in human movement analysis. Although numerous datasets exist (Olugbade et al., 2023), insufficient metadata and poor compliance with the FAIR-principles (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) (Wilkinson et al., 2016) hinder effective data reuse. Hence, we aimed to develop guidelines for publishing data from human movement laboratories that can be adapted to similar contexts to promote FAIR data sharing. Methods: The guidelines were developed and refined in an iterative approach involving numerous movement laboratories. Initially, a survey was conducted among Swiss movement laboratories to assess current practices in open data sharing. A workshop was then held to refine key elements of the guidelines. Based on these inputs, a draft of the guidelines was developed, refined multiple times, validated, and published (Haas et al., 2024). Results: Choosing an appropriate license and repository is an essential step in data sharing as licenses are irrevocable and determine data use. Researchers should consider requirements from funders, institutions, and repositories. The FAIR principles and practical considerations such as file size limits, license terms, and data security can guide decisions. To enable other researchers to comprehend and make use of the deposited dataset, providing metadata is key. Metadata includes general information (e.g. data format, license) and specific information about the dataset, variables, analysis procedures, and used hard- and software. Discussion: Data itself should at least include basic statistical measures (minimum, maximum, mean, standard deviation) of all reported outcomes. Ideally, individual participant data should be made publicly available. However, this is only possible for anonymized data and encoded data when informed consent for reuse is obtained. In general, anonymizing data is recommended to support data sharing while ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards. When reusing data, researchers must verify its quality through thorough checks. Conclusion: Data sharing should be considered early during project planning to ensure all necessary data is collected and ethical and legal requirements for publishing data are met. To remain effective and compliant, these guidelines need to be regularly updated and reviewed by the community. References Haas, M. C., Sommer, B. B., Van Rekum, S., Moerman, F., & Graf, E. S. (2024). MoveD - Open Research Data Guidelines for Movement Laboratories (Version 3). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.13683562 Olugbade, T., Bieńkiewicz, M., Barbareschi, G., D’amato, V., Oneto, L., Camurri, A., Holloway, C., Björkman, M., Keller, P., Clayton, M., Williams, A. C. D. C., Gold, N., Becchio, C., Bardy, B., & Bianchi-Berthouze, N. (2023). Human Movement Datasets: An Interdisciplinary Scoping Review. ACM Computing Surveys, 55(6), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1145/3534970 Wilkinson, M. D., Dumontier, M., Aalbersberg, Ij. J., Appleton, G., Axton, M., Baak, A., Blomberg, N., Boiten, J.-W., Da Silva Santos, L. B., Bourne, P. E., Bouwman, J., Brookes, A. J., Clark, T., Crosas, M., Dillo, I., Dumon, O., Edmunds, S., Evelo, C. T., Finkers, R., … Mons, B. (2016). The FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship. Scientific Data, 3(1), 160018. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2016.18
Copyright (c) 2026 Michelle C. Haas, Bettina B. Sommer, Simon van Rekum, Felix Moerman, Eveline S. Graf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Community Perspectives on Data Sharing and Standardisation in Human Movement Sciences: Findings from the ISB Congress 2025
Introduction & Purpose: Despite increasing pressure from funding bodies to share research data openly, the biomechanics community faces critical gaps in standardised frameworks for data sharing and interpretation. This study presents comprehensive community feedback gathered during two dedicated sessions at the 30th Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB Stockholm, 2025) to identify current practices, barriers, and needs regarding data sharing and kinematics standardisation (Ortigas-Vásquez et al., 2025). Methods: 95 international researchers participated in reverse Q&A sessions with systematic polling on data sharing infrastructure, joint kinematics standardisation, and implementation priorities. Questions addressed satisfaction with current practices, experienced benefits and challenges, motivations, industry involvement, funding models, data format priorities, and actionable steps for improving comparability. Results: 60% reported dissatisfaction with the data sharing landscape, while 75% were not entirely satisfied with existing ISB recommendations. Significant benefits from shared datasets included easier cross-lab collaboration (59%), improved research efficiency (53%), and training resources (46%). However, critical barriers emerged: lack of standardised data formats and coordinate systems (51%), institutional policies (41%), and data privacy concerns (46%, ranked as the top challenge by 30%). Notably, 46% identified insufficient methodology reporting as the biggest barrier to comparing joint motion data. Infrastructure needs centred on three priorities: (1) 77% supported industry partners acting as both contributors and users; (2) institutional subscriptions (62%) and professional society memberships (58%) were favoured funding models; (3) marker-based optical motion capture (52%), markerless systems (43%), and fluoroscopy (30%) were prioritised for standardisation. Regarding implementation, 65% ranked establishing detailed reporting checklists as the top actionable step, followed by best practice guidelines (17%) and shared reference datasets (8%). On harmonisation value, 83% believed harmonisation is extremely worthwhile, though only 39% viewed implementation as fully achievable. Conclusion: This systematic community assessment revealed urgent needs for: (1) standardised metadata and reporting checklists embedded in editorial policies; (2) post-processing harmonisation tools to accommodate methodological diversity; (3) field-specific trusted research environments with clear industry engagement models; and (4) practical implementation strategies minimising workflow disruption. These findings inform ongoing development of new ISB recommendations and are complemented by the MoveD initiative’s guidelines for Swiss movement laboratories (Haas et al., 2024), providing an evidence-based foundation for transforming fragmented data practices into a unified, interoperable ecosystem. References Ortigas-Vásquez, A., Taylor, W. R., Thewlis, D., Moissenet, F., Schallig, W., Haas, M., Kruger, K., Henninger, H., Rainbow, M., Graf, E., Sauer, A., & Arndt, A. (2025). Community perspectives on joint kinematics reporting and data sharing: Findings from the XXX Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics, Stockholm 2025 [Report]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16924851 Haas, M. C., Sommer, B. B., Van Rekum, S., Moerman, F., Graf, E. S. (2024). MoveD –Open research data guidelines for movement laboratories [Standard]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14179954
Copyright (c) 2026 Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez, Wouter Schallig, Dominic Thewlis, William Taylor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Symposium 8.3 - From Principles to Practice: Building a Reproducible Future for Movement Sciences
Open science is transforming biomedical sciences by fostering transparency, reproducibility, and data reuse across laboratories and disciplines. Yet, despite broad consensus on its importance, the community still lacks the infrastructures, standards, and practical guidance needed to make openness routine. This symposium presents three initiatives that address this gap, from identifying community needs to implementing sustainable solutions. The first presentation (Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez) summarises results from the Internation Society of Biomechanics 2025 data-sharing survey, revealing strong motivation for openness but persistent barriers related to metadata standards, legal uncertainty, and methodological inconsistency. These findings define the community’s urgent priorities. Building on this evidence, the second talk (Michelle Haas) introduces the MoveD guidelines, an empirically grounded framework for FAIR-compliant data sharing in Swiss movement laboratories. MoveD was developed through nationwide surveys and expert workshops to translate open-science ideals into feasible laboratory practice. The final presentation (Paul Ritsche) demonstrates how such frameworks can be realised in imaging research through the ORMIR and UMUD initiatives, which establish interoperable standards for musculoskeletal imaging and open ultrasonography databases. Together, these talks show a coherent path from community insights to actionable infrastructures by illustrating how shared standards can strengthen reproducible, integrative research in sport and health.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez, Michelle C. Haas, Paul Ritsche https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Strength-Cognition Link in Youth: Age-Dependent Associations between Muscular Strength and Executive Function
Executive function is important to children and adolescents as it enables planning, maintaining attention, self-regulation and adapting to new tasks. The maturation of this cognitive domain is prolonged, so there is an extended time-window that allows its promotion (Ferguson et al., 2021). Similar to EF, muscular strength starts to develop in early childhood and remains trainable throughout lifespan. Due to this developmental overlap (García-Alonso et al., 2025), muscular strength has the potential to influence EF. We aimed to examine whether higher muscular strength is related to better executive functioning and if this relation is moderated by age. Our research question was addressed using data from healthy children and adolescents (5-21 years) of the Healthy Brain Network (HBN) cohort (Alexander et al., 2017). 348 participants completed selected cognitive tasks of the NIH Toolbox (Flanker, Card Sorting) and WISC-V (Digit Span Backward) to assess core components of cool executive functioning (inhibition, task-shifting, working memory updating). Furthermore, the Fitnessgram battery (curl up, push up, trunk lift) was administered to assess muscular strength. Using structural equation modelling, we found that higher muscular strength was associated with better performance in EF tasks across all age groups. Age was strongly related to EF, reflecting developmental improvements throughout childhood and adolescence. A significant interaction between muscular strength and age indicated a stronger link between muscular strength and EF in younger children, decreasing by age. Higher muscular strength is associated with higher scores in EF, but this link is moderated by age. This is a first indication that both domains do not co-develop uniformly across youth, highlighting a sensitive period in which physical fitness, especially muscular strength, may exert the greatest influence on cognition. Future longitudinal research should clarify how changes in strength contribute to trajectories of executive functioning throughout development. References Alexander, L. M., Escalera, J., Ai, L., Andreotti, C., Febre, K., Mangone, A., Vega-Potler, N., Langer, N., Alexander, A., Kovacs, M., Litke, S., O’Hagan, B., Andersen, J., Bronstein, B., Bui, A., Bushey, M., Butler, H., Castagna, V., Camacho, N., . . . Milham, M. P. (2017). An open resource for transdiagnostic research in pediatric mental health and learning disorders. Scientific Data, 4(1), Artikel 170181. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2017.181 Ferguson, H. J., Brunsdon, V. E. A., & Bradford, E. E. F. (2021). The developmental trajectories of executive function from adolescence to old age. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Artikel 1382. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80866-1 García-Alonso, Y., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Legarra-Gorgoñon, G., Izquierdo, M., & Alonso-Martínez, A. M. (2025). Associations between physical fitness, physical activity, sedentary behavior and executive function in preschoolers. Pediatric Research, 98(4), 1492–1499. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-03946-w
Copyright (c) 2026 Sarah Marie Bajer, Sebastian Ludyga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Beyond the Beep: Complex, non-musical auditory stimuli enhance Performance and Affect in the 20-Meter Shuttle Run Test in Children
Introduction & Purpose: The 20-meter shuttle run test (SRT) is widely used to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in youth. A major challenge in administering maximal exercise tests, such as the SRT, is ensuring that participants truly exert maximal effort (Poole & Jones, 2017). Failure to do so compromises internal validity, thereby limiting the usefulness of the assessment in both research and applied settings. Traditional auditory cues in the SRT, such as the standard beep, are unengaging and limited in their ability to encourage maximal effort investment. This study aimed to investigate whether complex, non-musical auditory stimuli could distract children from sensations of physical exertion, increase their willingness to exert maximal effort, and thereby influence performance in the SRT compared with the traditional beep sound. Methods: Fifty-eight school-aged children (11±1 years; 43% girls) completed the SRT on two separate occasions under randomized and balanced conditions. In one session, participants were guided by the traditional beep, while in the other, they were exposed to a complex, non-musical auditory stimulus. Primary outcomes included total distance covered, peak oxygen consumption (VO₂peak), and peak heart rate. Secondary outcomes were ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), attentional focus, affective valence, and enjoyment. Results: Under the complex auditory stimulus, children covered a greater distance (Δ=63.9 m, p=.004) and achieved higher VO₂peak (Δ=0.86 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, p=.006) and peak heart rate (Δ=6.40 bpm, p<.001) compared with the traditional beep condition. Moreover, perceived exertion was higher (Δ=0.86, p=.010), and attentional focus was more externally directed (Δ=1.73, p<.001), while affective valence and enjoyment did not differ significantly between conditions. Discussion: Replacing the conventional SRT beep with complex, non-musical auditory stimuli enhances children’s physical performance, effort investment, and dissociative attentional focus. These results align with previous research on the effects of verbal encouragement and the integration of music into the SRT (Lamoneda et al., 2021; Neto et al., 2015). However, complex, non-musical auditory stimuli appear more promising, as they ensure greater standardization compared to verbal encouragement and are less influenced by uncontrolled elements in music (e.g. lyrics, cultural associations, or personal familiarity). Conclusions: Non-musical auditory stimuli represent a practical and scalable strategy to improve the internal validity and reliability of the SRT in children. References Lamoneda, J., Huertas-Delgado, F. J., & Cadenas-Sanchez, C. (2021). Feasibility and concurrent validity of a cardiorespiratory fitness test based on the adaptation of the original 20 m shuttle run: The 20 m shuttle run with music. Journal of Sports Sciences, 39(1), 57–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1804785 Neto, J. M. M. D., Silva, F. B., De Oliveira, A. L. B., Couto, N. L., Dantas, E. H. M., & Nascimento, M. A. D. L. (2015). Effects of verbal encouragement on performance of the multistage 20 m shuttle run. Acta Scientiarum - Health Sciences, 37(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascihealthsci.v37i1.23262 Poole, D. C., & Jones, A. M. (2017). Measurement of the maximum oxygen uptake $VO_2max$: $VO_2peak$ is no longer acceptable. Journal of Applied Physiology, 122(4), 997–1002. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.01063.2016
Copyright (c) 2026 Sascha Ketelhut, Valentin Benzing, Kerstin Ketelhut, Daniel Hug, Jonas Füllemann, Eva Kircher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Associations between physical activity intensity and cognitive performance in older adults with and without stroke
Introduction & Purpose: Stroke remains the third leading cause of acquired disability worldwide. Approximately 60% of stroke survivors face cognitive impairments, which are directly linked to reduced quality of life, increased functional decline and higher mortality risk. Physical activity (PA) is well established as an effective means of delaying cognitive decline in neurologically healthy older adults. Recent evidence indicates that, beyond improving cardiorespiratory fitness, increased physical activity after stroke enhances cognitive performance. However, it is not yet established whether the cognitive benefits of high-intensity PA observed in neurologically healthy older adults are comparable among stroke survivors. The present study investigated the association between PA intensity and cognitive function in individuals with a history of stroke. Methods: Using data from the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we analyzed adults aged 60 and older with valid accelerometer data and complete cognitive assessment. The intensity gradient (IG) was used to quantify the 24-h intensity distribution of PA, while cognition was assessed via the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Animal Fluency and CERAD Delayed Recall Test. Survey-weighted linear regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic and cardiometabolic factors, were fitted for each cognitive outcome. Stroke history was included as a predictor along with the IG. Results: Physical activity intensity was positively associated with cognitive performance across all domains. Specifically, higher physical activity intensity was associated with better performance on DSST (β = 10.44 [6.12, 14.75], p <0.001), Animal Fluency (β = 1.75 [0.11, 3.40], p = 0.039), and CERAD Delayed Recall (β = 1.06 [0.48, 1.64], p = 0.002). Significant interactions between physical activity and stroke history indicated that the association of physical activity and DSST (β = 8.56 [0.27, 16.84], p = 0.044) as well as Animal Fluency (β = 3.67 [0.85, 6.49], p = 0.014) was stronger among participants with a history of stroke, whereas no significant interaction was observed for CERAD Delayed Recall (β = 1.26 [-0.30, 2.82], p = 0.105). Conclusion: Higher intensity activity patterns (higher IG) are associated with better cognitive performance in older adults, and this relationship may be particularly notable among individuals with a history of stroke. These findings highlight the potential importance of supporting more active lifestyles, particularly in post-stroke populations, although causal relationships should be established in future research. References Colcombe, S., & Kramer, A. F. (2003). Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults: A meta-analytic study. Psychological Science, 14(2), 125–130. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.t01-1-0143 Gjellesvik, T. I., Becker, F., Tjønna, A. E., Indredavik, B., Lundgaard, E., Solbakken, H., . . . Askim, T. (2021). Effects of high-intensity interval training after stroke (the HIIT stroke study) on physical and cognitive function: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 102(9), 1683–1691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2021.05.008 Rajan, K. B., Aggarwal, N. T., Wilson, R. S., Everson-Rose, S. A., & Evans, D. A. (2014). Association of cognitive functioning, incident stroke, and mortality in older adults. Stroke, 45(9), 2563–2567. https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.005143
Copyright (c) 2026 Mateja Virovec, Fabian Schwendinger, Sebastian Ludyga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Body-composition-based determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness in a subset of the SwissHeart Study
Introduction & Purpose: Cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2,max) is a key determinant of health and functional status, yet the relative contributions of skeletal muscle mass (SMM), fat mass, and fat distribution to aerobic capacity remain incompletely understood. In particular, whether visceral adipose tissue (VAT), through its impact on inflammation and vascular health, could exert detrimental effects on cardiorespiratory fitness by itself. This study aimed therefore to evaluate the independent associations of SMM, VAT, maximal heart rate (HRmax), age and sex, with V̇O2,max in a large cohort representing the healthy adult Swiss population. Methods: A subset of 328 healthy adults (178 males, 41 ± 13 (mean ± SD) yrs [range 22-90 yrs], BMI 25 ± 3 kg∙m-2, V̇O2,max 113 ± 22 %pred.; 150 females, 42 ± 13 yrs [18-77 yrs], BMI 23 ± 3 kg∙m-2, V̇O2,max 113 ± 20 %pred) from the SwissHeart Study was analysed. All participants provided written informed consent and visited the lab on a single day. The protocol included segmental body composition analysis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to volitional exhaustion on the bicycle using a ramp protocol. V̇O2,max (highest 30-s average) was expressed relative to body weight (BW). SMM was estimated from appendicular lean mass (ALM; sum of lean mass of both arms and legs; in kg) as provided by DXA generated limb area and published ALM-SMM association (McCarthy et al., 2023), expressed as % BW. VAT was quantified using the DXA device’s proprietary algorithm and expressed as percentiles (Ofenheimer et al., 2020). Sex differences were compared using parametric tests when data was normally distributed and non‑parametric tests otherwise. Level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: V̇O2,max, SMM and VAT all showed slightly higher values in males compared to females (Figure 1). The multiple linear regression analysis of SMM, VAT, HRmax, sex, and age with V̇O2,max was significant (F(5,321) = 115.6, P < 0.0001) and demonstrated substantial explanatory power for V̇O2,max (R² = 0.64). Among predictors, SMM was the strongest determinant (estimate = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.57 , P < 0.0001), followed by HRmax (estimate = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.18 , P < 0.0001), age (estimate = -0.08 , 95% CI = -0.14 to -0.01 , P = 0.0208) and VAT (estimate = -0.04 , 95% CI = -0.07 to -0.01, P = 0.0052). Sex was not significantly associated with V̇O2,max after adjusting for these variables. Discussion / Conclusion: In this relatively healthy and rather fit cohort, SMM emerged as the strongest independent and significant body-composition-derived predictor of V̇O2,max, which highlights its central role for oxygen uptake and utilization during exercise. In parallel, higher HRmax was also independently associated with higher V̇O2,max, reflecting the need for preserved cardiovascular responsiveness. The significant inverse association between VAT and V̇O2,max (with all other factors adjusted for) suggests that VAT exerts an additional negative impact on cardiorespiratory fitness. References McCarthy, C., Tinsley, G. M., Bosy-Westphal, A., Muller, M. J., Shepherd, J., Gallagher, D., & Heymsfield, S. B. (2023). Total and regional appendicular skeletal muscle mass prediction from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition models. Sci Rep, 13(1), 2590. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-29827-y Ofenheimer, A., Breyer-Kohansal, R., Hartl, S., Burghuber, O. C., Krach, F., Schrott, A., Wouters, E. F. M., Franssen, F. M. E., & Breyer, M. K. (2020). Reference values of body composition parameters and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) by DXA in adults aged 18-81 years-results from the LEAD cohort. Eur J Clin Nutr, 74(8), 1181-1191. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-020-0596-5
Copyright (c) 2026 Philipp A. Eichenberger, Alison Krämer, Pia Leuders, Tobias Kudelka, Max Fuetterer, Sebastian Kozerke, Christina M. Spengler https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Clustering 24-Hour Movement Behaviours Among Adults in 16 European Countries (2008–2015): A Behavioural Typology Approach
Objective: This study aimed to identify and characterise distinct 24-hour movement behaviour profiles among adults across 16 European countries using proportional data on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LIPA), sedentary behaviour (SB), and sleep duration (SD) 2. Methods: Data came from the Harmonized European Time Use Surveys (HETUS, Wave 2, 2008–2015) including adults aged 18–80+ (N ≈ 181,000). Each participant completed two 24-hour diaries coded into 144 ten-minute intervals. Activities were assigned metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values based on the 2024 Compendium and aggregated 3 into MVPA, LIPA, SB, and SD. Time in each behaviour was expressed as a proportion of the 24-hour day 1. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was applied separately by sex and age group to identify movement behaviour profiles using the tidyLPA 4 package in R (v4.5.0). Models with two to six profiles were estimated under equal variance and zero-covariance assumptions. Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and entropy guided selection of the optimal number of profiles. Results: Four stable profiles consistently emerged: - Sedentary Short-Sleepers (high SB, low SD, low MVPA/LIPA) - Active Balanced Types (moderate MVPA/LIPA, balanced SB and SD) - Lightly Active Long Sleepers (high LIPA and SD, low SB) - Highly Active Short Sleepers (high MVPA, low SD) Profile distributions varied by sex and age. Younger adults showed a higher likelihood of MVPA-dominant profiles, whereas older adults tended toward light activity and long sleep profiles. Conclusions: Four distinct and recurring 24-hour movement behaviour profiles emerged among European adults. These profiles reflect diverse combinations of activity, sedentary time, and sleep, underscoring the need for population-specific approaches to movement-behaviour promotion. References Clarke, A. E., & Janssen, I. (2021). A compositional analysis of time spent in sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity with all-cause mortality risk. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), Artikel 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-021-01092-0 Dumuid, D., Stanford, T. E., Martin-Fernández, J., Pedišić, Ž., Maher, C. A., Lewis, L. K., Hron, K., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Chaput, J., Fogelholm, M., Hu, G., Lambert, E. V., Maia, J., Sarmiento, O. L., Standage, M., Barreira, T. V., Broyles, S. T., Tudor-Locke, C., Tremblay, M. S., & Olds, T. (2017). Compositional data analysis for physical activity, sedentary time and sleep research. Statistical Methods in Medical Research, 27(12), 3726–3738. https://doi.org/10.1177/0962280217710835 Herrmann, S. D., Willis, E. A., Ainsworth, B. E., Barreira, T. V., Hastert, M., Kracht, C. L., Schuna, J. M., Cai, Z., Quan, M., Tudor-Locke, C., Whitt-Glover, M. C., & Jacobs, D. R. (2024). 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities: A third update of the energy costs of human activities. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 13(1), 6–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2023.10.010 Rosenberg, J., Beymer, P., Anderson, D., Van Lissa, C., & Schmidt, J. (2018). TidyLPA: An R package to easily carry out latent profile analysis (LPA) using open-source or commercial software. The Journal of Open Source Software, 3(30), Artikel 978. https://doi.org/10.21105/joss.00978
Copyright (c) 2026 Roksana Shiran, Claudio R. Nigg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Keep the Gloves On: Personality, Skills, and Stories that Sustain Goalkeeping
Soccer goalkeepers occupy a unique position that concentrates tactical, technical, and psychosocial demands within a highly evaluative role. While generic athlete development has been widely studied, goalkeeper-specific talent development remains underexamined, particularly with regard to the psychological ingredients that enable both progression and sustainable participation. This study examined how personality traits, trainable psychological characteristics, and lived narratives jointly shape goalkeepers’ trajectories from early engagement to late adolescence/early adulthood. Forty-eight male goalkeepers (9–22 years) enrolled in elite training centers participated. A mixed-method, sequential design combined (a) standardized questionnaires indexing personality and psychological skills with (b) life-course interviews reconstructing typical sequences of experience along the pathway to elite performance. Instruments included the Description in Five Dimensions (D5D) for younger players, the Personality for Professionals Inventory (PfPI), the Inventory of Dysfunctional Tendencies (TD12), and the Psychological Characteristics of Developing Excellence-Short Version (PCDEQ-SV). Interviews were analyzed inductively to identify recurrent sequences and themes; quantitative data were described relative to age bands and interpreted against appropriate norms and cut-points. Qualitative analysis yielded four typical sequences: (1) Safe Starts (under 9): playful, multi-sport engagement scaffolded by family and peers; (2) Surging Currents (9–14 years): rapid specialization and rising expectations amid ambivalent social support; (3) Shaky Grounds (15–16 years): instability marked by intensified competition, dual-career pressures, and injuries; and (4) Uncharted Fields (17+): diverging pathways toward elite pursuit or alternative projects (e.g., academics). Questionnaires aligned with and refined these narratives. In Surging Currents, D5D profiles showed comparatively higher Conscientiousness and Emotional Stability, with Introversion elevated relative to athletic norms, and PCDEQ-SV indicated strong self-regulatory tendencies but weaker imagery skills. In Shaky Grounds, PfPI suggested developing yet fragile confidence and only moderate self-discipline/impulse control, coinciding with perceived support dips; TD12 signaled emerging meticulousness and self-centered/distant tendencies requiring monitoring. By Uncharted Fields, PfPI profiles displayed increases in Self-Discipline, Impulse Control, and Emotional Stability alongside slight declines in Agreeableness and sociability, an adaptive but potentially distancing orientation in high-pressure contexts. TD12 patterns indicated consolidation of vigilant and perfectionistic styles in a subset of athletes. Across ages, PCDEQ-SV trends suggested maturation of evaluative and organizational skills while imagery remained a trainable gap. Together, findings portray goalkeeper development as a dynamic, multi-level process in which trait dispositions, trainable psychological skills, and personal narratives co-evolve with shifting social ecologies and performance demands. Practically, the results recommend (a) age-specific targets: introducing structured imagery and goal-setting in early specialization; scaffolding dual-career coping and social support at 15–16; and addressing perfectionism/vigilance and role clarity from 17+; (b) integrated monitoring combining PCDEQ-SV (skills), PfPI/D5D (traits), and TD12 (risk markers) with coach/parent feedback; and (c) narrative-informed coaching that acknowledges turning points and helps athletes author sustainable pathways. This study advances a goalkeeper-specific, psychologically informed model of talent development and sustainability. By linking measurable profiles to lived sequences, it offers actionable levers for practitioners seeking to keep the gloves on (longer), while protecting well-being and performance potential.
Copyright (c) 2026 Camille Sabourin, Denis Hauw, Eric Terrien https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Challenges of Separation of an Elite Sports Team – A Case-Study Analysis of a Swiss Sport Club
Sports clubs with (semi-)professional teams aiming for sporting success often separate their elite section during a professionalisation process (Adam & Hoveman, 2017). This change in organisational structure is made to mitigate the entrepreneurial risk arising from substantial financial commitments. While this may reduce the main club's financial danger, it also presents challenges associated with the separation, which can, in the worst case, lead to the insolvency of the elite team. Such unintended consequences of professionalisation are largely overlooked in research (Ruoranen et al., 2023), which is why the following research questions arise: What are the potential challenges when separating the elite team? What are the possible consequences when the separation model is no longer viable? The Organisational Life Cycle Approach (Bonn & Pettigrew, 2009) with its stages Start-Up, Growth, Maintenance and Decline is used as a theoretical framework, together with a multi-level processual approach for data collection and analysis according to Lang et al. (2020). This study is part of an international project on professionalisation processes of sports clubs. A single-case study (Yin, 2018) is applied to facilitate a holistic and long-term analysis of the organisational change process of a Swiss team sport club, which separated its elite team into its own organisation and liquidated it years later. The data collection included three sources: documents, expert interviews with decision-makers and focus groups with club members. The data were analysed using deductive and inductive coding (Miles et al., 2020) and visual mapping strategies (Langley, 1999; Parmentier-Cajaiba & Cajaiba-Santana, 2020). The following challenges were observed after separating the elite team: On the external level, the development of the sport with a new competitor in the league, as well as the introduction of a new discipline, led to less sporting success and a decline in interest from spectators, the media, and sponsors. The local community’s identification decreased due to the clubs' predominantly foreign players. On the internal level, firstly, a loss of identification between the main club and the elite team caused difficulties in recruiting volunteers for organising the elite team's matches. Secondly, focusing strategically only on short-term success of the elite team led to overspending. Thirdly, although legally separated, the two organisations used the same resources, resulting in unclear decision-making processes. Finally, the increased regulations of the chosen legal form created more bureaucratic work and disadvantages. Regarding the consequences, the elite team organisation was liquidated following insolvency. The main club's new board decided to reintegrate the elite team into the main club and voluntarily relegate to the 2nd league to gain better control. Financially, this involved repaying debts and increasing membership fees. Further, the club shifted its focus to talent development. Following the reintegration, the club’s board successfully established a positive image and fostered greater identification within the club. In conclusion, sports clubs with ambitions in elite sports that decide to professionalise, for example, by separating their elite section, should be aware of possible challenges and proactively act on transparency, identification and financial reserves. References Adam, S., & Hovemann, G. (2017). Organisations- und Rechtsformwandel in professionellen deutschen Sportvereinen [Changes in organisational and legal status of German professional sports clubs]. In L. Thieme (Ed.), Der Sportverein — Versuch einer Bilanz [The sports association — An attempt to draw a balance] (pp. 415–440). Hofmann. Bonn, I., & Pettigrew, A. (2009). Towards a dynamic theory of boards: An organisational life cycle approach. Journal of Management & Organization, 15(1), 2–16. https://doi.org/10.5172/jmo.837.15.1.2 Lang, G., Klenk, C., Schlesinger, T., Ruoranen, K., Bayle, E., Clausen, J., Giauque, D., & Nagel, S. (2020). Challenges and opportunities arising from self-regulated professionalisation processes: an analysis of a Swiss national sport federation. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 12(3), 387–404. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2020.1775676 Langley, A. (1999). Strategies for theorizing from process data. Academy of Management Review, 24(4), 691–710. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1999.2553248 Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th edition, International student edition). SAGE. Parmentier-Cajaiba, A., & Cajaiba-Santana, G. (2020). Visual maps for process research: Displaying the invisible. M@n@gement, 23(4), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.37725/mgmt.v23i4.4501 Ruoranen, K., Nagel, S., Lang, G., Klenk, C., Bayle, E., Clausen, J., Giauque, D., & Schlesinger, T. (2023). The dark side of professionalisation in national sport federations: a case study of the Swiss Floorball Federation. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 23(5), 442–464. Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and application: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE.
Copyright (c) 2026 Romano Keller-Meier, Siegfried Nagel, Raphael Stieger, Grazia Lang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Parantal Voluntary Engagement in Grassroots Sports Clubs
Introduction: Grassroots sport clubs in Switzerland depend heavily on volunteers but face persistent recruitment challenges. Parents constitute a crucial yet time-limited volunteer pool linked to their children’s participation (Trussell, 2016). This study examines which individual and organizational factors predict parents’ entry into volunteering in sports clubs. Methods: Using survey data from the Swiss Football Association’s “Quality Club” program, we analyzed 2,913 parents nested in 64 sport clubs from the German- and French-speaking regions of Switzerland. Parental voluntary engagement (PVE) was modeled as a binary outcome in multilevel analyses with Level-1 (individual) and Level-2 (club) predictors. Level-1 variables were centered within clusters; Level-2 variables were grand-mean centered. Single imputation using predictive mean matching addressed missing data. A null model indicated that 12% of variance in PVE lay between clubs (ICC). Results: At the individual level, being a father (β = 0.14, p < .001), being personally active in a club sport (β = 0.17, p < .001), stronger club-related community interest (helping with club tasks, taking part in decision processes) (β = 0.10, p < .001), higher education (β = 0.05, p < .001), slightly older age (β = 0.004, p < .001), and social-emotional attachment (feeling proud, connected, comfortable; attending events; discussing club matters; β = 0.02, p = .04) predicted higher PVE; income, workload, and satisfaction with club work were non-significant. At the organizational level, large membership clubs (in terms of member size) showed lower PVE (β = −0.0003, p = .01). Language-region differences also emerged: overall PVE was lower in German- than in French-speaking clubs, and the association between club-related community interest and PVE was stronger in German-speaking clubs (cross-level interaction β = 0.03, p = .04). The final model yielded marginal R² around .15, indicating meaningful explanatory power of fixed effects. Discussion and Conclusion: The results showed that both membership-related and club-related factors are important predictors of PVE, consequently, parental volunteer management is to be considered as a cross-level task. The significant factors identified at level 1 and 2 provide indications for effectively recruiting and retaining parents. In doing so, effective parental engagement promotes establishing a intergenerational volunteer culture in grassroots sport clubs (Frenger et al., 2019) and, in turn, mitigates recruitment difficulties. References Frenger, M., Emrich, E. & Pierdzioch., P. (2019). Vererbtes Ehrenamt? Überlegungen zur Heredität ehrenamtlichen Engagements in Sportvereinen. In J. Königstorfer (Hrsg.), Innovationsökonomie und -management im Sport (S. 207-221). Hofmann. Trussell, D. E. (2016). Young people's perspectives of parent volunteerism in community youth sport. Sport Management Review, 19(3), 332-342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2015.09.001
Copyright (c) 2026 Eliane Hintermann, Jürg Schmid, Christoffer Klenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
When good luck turns against you: Evidence on performance responses to noisy feedback
Providing and receiving feedback is a common practice. Yet, feedback has been shown to both enhance and, at times, impair subsequent performance (Kluger & DeNisi, 1996). A commonly overlooked aspect is that performance depends not only on ability but also on uncontrollable factors, commonly referred to as luck. When evaluations fail to disentangle the two, feedback can become over- or under-rewarding. This also affects result interpretation, since individuals typically credit themselves for success but blame bad luck for failure—a phenomenon known as the self-attribution bias (Miller & Ross, 1975). Despite its relevance, empirical evidence on how reactions to luck-distorted feedback affect subsequent performance remains scarce, largely due to difficulties in measuring true performance and noisy feedback in real-incentive settings. We address this challenge using 8,234 team-match observations from elite European football as a natural laboratory. Football is a low-scoring sport characterized by substantial randomness, meaning that results often fail to reflect actual on-field performance. To separate skill from luck, we use Expected Goals (xG), which estimate the scoring probability of each shot based on detailed characteristics. Because shots occur more frequently than goals, xG provides a less noisy and more accurate proxy for underlying performance (Brechot & Flepp, 2020). We exploit the halftime scoreline as a salient and easily interpretable feedback signal and define the Feedback–Performance Discrepancy (FPD) as the difference between the halftime scoreline and the xG score. After controlling for team ability and contextual factors, FPD captures the exogenous, luck-driven component of feedback. To test behavioral reactions, we estimate OLS regressions with match-clustered standard errors and conduct a rich set of robustness checks, including multiple fixed-effects specifications. Our findings consistently show that teams benefiting from good luck at halftime perform significantly worse in the second half, while unlucky teams improve. These patterns are evident in second-half xG scores (illustrated in Figure 1), pass accuracy, and long-ball accuracy. We interpret these results as evidence that teams benefiting from good fortune underestimate the role of luck—echoing the self-attribution bias—and consequently perform worse, consistent with previous evidence that overconfidence impairs decision-making. Additional moderation analyses support this interpretation. Conversely, we interpret the improvement of unlucky teams as effort mobilization in response to under-rewarding feedback. The results have implications beyond sports, suggesting that an effective feedback strategy is to adopt a rigorous and constructively critical approach in intermediate evaluations—avoiding excessive praise and overconfidence—while ensuring that final evaluations fairly reward performance. This combination fosters motivation and preserves fairness in recognition. References Brechot, M., & Flepp, R. (2020). Dealing with randomness in match outcomes: How to rethink performance evaluation in European club football using expected goals. Journal of Sports Economics, 21(4), 335–362. https://doi.org/10.1177/1527002519897962 Kluger, A. N., & DeNisi, A. (1996). The effects of feedback interventions on performance: A historical review, a meta-analysis, and a preliminary feedback intervention theory. Psychological Bulletin, 119(2), 254–284. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.119.2.254 Miller, D. T., & Ross, M. (1975). Self-serving biases in the attribution of causality: Fact or fiction? Psychological Bulletin, 82(2), 213–225. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0076486
Copyright (c) 2026 Manuel Arrigo, Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Markus Lang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exercise-intensity dependent variability in rates of aerobic metabolism is related to genetic aspects of muscle-type associated lactate transport in tactical athletes
Introduction: Lactate accumulation during exercise marks a shift toward anaerobic glucose metabolism when oxygen-dependent substrate metabolization cannot sustain repeated contraction. Thereby it may influence perfusion via dilation of resistance vessels and modulate ventilation through chemoreceptor activity, potentially contributing to interindividual variability in respiration, perfusion, and pulmonary oxygen uptake at metabolic thresholds. Genetic mechanisms further shape these processes: monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) enables lactate transport between fibers and tissues, while angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) affects cardiovascular adaptation and metabolite redistribution (Gasser et al., 2024). Lactate accumulation at ventilatory thresholds correlates with haemoglobin deoxygenation in active muscle (Perrey et al., 2024; Batterson et al., 2023). These insights suggest genotype‑dependent regulation of lactate handling and aerobic fitness may drive variability in muscle oxygenation and systemic metabolism at exercise thresholds. Purpose: To investigate whether the MCT1 genotype influences relative rates of muscle and systemic aerobic metabolism at ventilatory thresholds (VT1, VT2) during exhaustive running, in interaction with ACE-ID genotype and aerobic fitness. Methods: A cohort of 169 Caucasian tactical athletes (27.7 ± 7.3 years; 179.2 ± 7.2 cm; 78.7 ± 10.2 kg) performed ramped, loaded treadmill exercise to exhaustion (Flück et al 2024). Aerobic metabolism was assessed via ergospirometry and near infrared spectroscopy in knee extensor (vastus lateralis, VAS) and ankle extensor (gastrocnemius medialis, GAS). Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) and ventilatory thresholds were determined, with aerobic fitness defined as ≥50 mL O₂·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹. Genotyping of MCT1 (rs1049434) and ACE-ID (rs1799752) was performed using PCR. Effects of genotype, fitness, and muscle type were analyzed with ANOVA at a 5%-threshold. Results: Athletes demonstrated exceptional aerobic performance (510.4 ± 76.9 W) and VO₂max (4.2 ± 0.6 mL O₂·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹). Blood lactate concentration increased in post exercise (η²=0.033) but was unaffected by MCT1 genotype (p=0.256) or aerobic fitness (p=0.930). Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) in VAS decreased markedly with exercise intensity (63.9% to 15.0% at VO₂max), influenced by MCT1 (η²=0.01) and ACE genotype (η²=0.013), but independent of aerobic fitness. Haemoglobin concentration (tHb) in VAS muscle remained relatively stable (11.57–12.92 g·L⁻¹), yet varied with aerobic fitness (η²=0.094) and its interactions with MCT1 (p=0.021, η²=0.039) and ACE-ID (η²=0.037). Fractional power output at VT1 depended on aerobic fitness (η²=0.115), but not genotype. VO₂max-rated fractional deoxygenation of VAS and GAS at VT1 (η²=0.036), but not VT2, was associated with MCT1, further interacting with ACE ID (η²=0.085) and aerobic fitness (η²=0.041). Strong VT1-specific associations were observed for haemoglobin-related deoxygenation in VAS with MCT1 (η²=0.125), MCT1 × ACE ID (η²=0.066), and MCT1 × fitness (η²=0.062). The VAS–GAS oxygenation ratio at VT1 was influenced by MCT1 (η²=0.029), ACE ID (η²=0.069), and fitness (η²=0.035), with all factors interacting; this effect disappeared at VT2 and VO₂max. Fractional muscle deoxygenation was highest in AT-genotypes of rs1049434 (Figure 1). Conclusion: MCT1 and ACE genotypes, together with aerobic fitness, jointly influence intramuscular coordination of aerobic metabolism—though not perfusion—at VT1, the point of lactate accumulation consistent with rs1049434–T–allele–related slow fiber composition (Gasser et al., 2024). Discussion: Metabolic intensity-related and genotype‑dependent variability in muscle deoxygenation, underscores implications for personalized training aimed at anaerobic reserves. References: Gasser, B., Dössegger A., Giraud M.N. & Flück M. (2024). T-Allele Carriers of Mono Carboxylate Transporter One Gene Polymorphism rs1049434 Demonstrate Altered Substrate Metabolization during Exhaustive Exercise. Genes (Basel) 15(7), 918. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070918. Perrey S., Quaresima V. & Ferrari M. (2024). Muscle Oximetry in Sports Science: An Updated Systematic Review. Sports Medicine, 54(4), 975-996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-023-01987-x. Batterson P.M., Kirby B.S., Hasselmann G. & Feldmann A. (2023). Muscle oxygen saturation rates coincide with lactate-based exercise thresholds. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 123(10), 2249-2258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05238-9. Flück M., Protte C., Giraud M.N. Gsponer T. & Dössegger A. (2024). Genotypic Influences on Actuators of Aerobic Performance in Tactical Athletes. Genes (Basel), 15(12), 1535. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15121535.
Copyright (c) 2026 Martin Flück, Marie-Noëlle Giraud, Christian Protte, Alain Dössegger https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Prognostic value of heart rate dynamics during exercise testing in definite ARVC patients
Background: Exercise testing is routinely performed in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), particularly given the disease’s strong association with exercise and competitive sport (James et al., 2013). However, the prognostic value of test-derived variables remains uncertain. Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) during exercise and recovery have been linked to adverse events, though replication is limited (Castrichini et al., 2025). Heart rate responses may reflect autonomic imbalance, a contributor to arrhythmic risk, but it remains unclear whether these variables independently predict major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in ARVC (Jouven & Courbon, 2005; Nishime, 2000). Purpose: To determine whether heart rate dynamics and PVC burden during exercise testing are associated with future cardiac events in adults with definite ARVC. Methods: Patients with definite ARVC according to the 2010 Task Force Criteria (Marcus et al., 2010) were retrospectively identified. Heart rate metrics included HRmax, resting heart rate, heart rate reserve (peak minus resting), and heart rate recovery at 30 seconds and minutes 1–5. PVC burden was calculated as total PVCs divided by phase duration. MACE included sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and tachycardia, appropriate implantable therapy, arrhythmic syncope, survived sudden cardiac death, heart transplantation, and death. Time-to-event analysis used Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox models, with follow-up censored at five years. Both continuous and ROC-derived categorical variables were evaluated. Results: Forty-five patients were included (mean age 49.1 ± 16.8 years, 37.8% female, 40% PKP2, 66.7% on beta-blockers). Among the 17 patients (37.8%) who experienced MACE, the median time to occurrence was 1.7 years (IQR 0.6–2.7). Baseline clinical and exercise variables did not differ significantly by outcome. HRmax was 146 ± 23 bpm, resting heart rate 67 ± 14 bpm, heart rate reserve 78 ± 19 bpm, and 1-minute heart rate recovery 23 ± 10 bpm. PVC burden increased from exercise to recovery (1.7 vs. 4.4 PVCs/min; p = 0.006), but neither predicted 5-year MACE (exercise: HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.96–1.15, p = 0.30; recovery: HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.99–1.10, p = 0.14). Higher heart rate reserve was associated with increased MACE risk (HR per 1-bpm increase 1.04; 95% CI 1.01–1.07; p = 0.024), remaining significant after adjustment for beta-blocker therapy and PVC burden. Heart rate recovery was most prognostic at minute three (HRR3). ROC analysis identified an HRR3 cutoff of 53 bpm; patients with HRR3 ≥ 53 bpm had greater MACE risk (HR 3.79; 95% CI 1.20–11.98; p = 0.023; AUC = 0.717), independent of beta-blocker therapy. Conclusions: Heart rate reserve and late heart rate recovery, particularly HRR3, are independently associated with 5-year MACE in ARVC, whereas PVC burden during exercise and recovery is not associated with MACE. Exercise test–derived autonomic markers may enhance arrhythmic risk stratification beyond conventional clinical parameters. Larger multicenter studies are needed to validate these findings. References Castrichini, M., Neves, R., Garmany, R., Allison, T., Ackerman, M. J., & Giudicessi, J. R. (2025). Diagnostic and prognostic significance of exercise stress testing in desmosomal arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. Vorab-Onlineveröffentlichung. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacep.2025.07.014 James, C. A., Bhonsale, A., Tichnell, C., Murray, B., Russell, S. D., Tandri, H., Mittal, S., Judge, D. P., & Calkins, H. (2013). Exercise increases age-related penetrance and arrhythmic risk in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy–associated desmosomal mutation carriers. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 62(14), 1290–1297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2013.06.033 Jouven, X., & Courbon, D. (2005). Heart rate profile during exercise as a predictor of sudden death. New England Journal of Medicine, 352(19), 1951–1958. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043012 Marcus, F. I., McKenna, W. J., Sherrill, D., Basso, C., Bauce, B., Bluemke, D. A., Calkins, H., Corrado, D., Cox, M. G. P. J., Daubert, J. P., Fontaine, G., Gear, K., Hauer, R., Nava, A., Picard, M. H., Protonotarios, N., Saffitz, J. E., Sanborn, D. M., Steinberg, J. S., . . . Zareba, W. (2010). Diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: Proposed modification of the Task Force criteria. European Heart Journal, 31(7), 806–814. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehq025 Nishime, E. O., Cole, C. R., Blackstone, E. H., Pashkow, F. J., & Lauer, M. S. (2000). Heart rate recovery and treadmill exercise score as predictors of mortality. JAMA, 284(11), 1392–1398. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.284.11.1392
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Copyright (c) 2026 Elsie L.C. Nix, Fernando G. Beltrami, Corinna Brunckhorst, Firat Duru, Christina M. Spengler, Ardan M. Saguner https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Molecular mechanisms mediating exercise-induced maladaptations in vitro
Introduction: Physical training stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle. If the training load is too demanding and prolonged, an overtraining syndrome may develop. Reported overtraining symptoms include recurrent respiratory infections, sleep disturbances, with potential alterations at the skeletal muscle level such as soreness, and atrophy. The aim of the present study was to investigate skeletal muscle (mal)adaptations in response to overtraining, using a translational approach combining human data and an in vitro model. Methods: Electrical stimulation was applied to C2C12 myotubes to mimic endurance exercise. For the simulated training (s-T), stimulation was applied once daily for three days. In the simulated overtraining (s-OT), stimulation was applied three times daily for three days. Proteomic analysis, mitochondrial respiration and imaging were performed in the cellular model. In humans, knee extensor neuromuscular function at rest and in response to a standardized exercise was assessed in overtrained vs. well trained athletes. Muscle biopsies were also collected to assess mitochondrial respiration. Results: In s-T, we observed beneficial adaptations, including myotube hypertrophy, increased expression of myosin heavy chain proteins, and enhanced mitochondrial respiration. In contrast, s-OT showed myotube atrophy, reduced myosin heavy chain content, and impaired mitochondrial respiration. Consistent with these respiratory findings, proteomics analysis revealed a decreased abundance of proteins involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in s-OT. Interestingly, mitochondria appeared aggregated in s-OT myotubes, suggesting possible impairments in mitochondrial quality control. Live-cell imaging revealed possible autophagy alterations in the s-OT condition but not in s-T. Human data - neuromuscular function and muscle samples - are being processed and results will be presented during the conference. Conclusions: Our in vitro model provides a molecular platform for further investigations of skeletal muscle maladaptations to overtraining. The integrative approach will help to clarify the molecular mechanisms and ameliorate the clinics of muscle maladaptations triggered by excessive exercise in humans.
Copyright (c) 2026 Giuseppe Sirago, Clément Lanfranchi, Justin Carrard, Vincent Gremeaux, Nadège Zanou, Nicolas Place https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Development and Preliminary Validation of the Presence in Extended Reality for Sport and Exercise (PERSE)
The rapid expansion of extended reality (XR) technologies in sport has created a need for validated tools to assess individuals’ subjective sense of presence. In XR sport contexts, presence can be conceptualized as a two-dimensional construct reflecting (1) the extent to which athletes allocate attentional resources to the virtual environment, and (2) the perception of the environment as a plausible re-creation of training, competition, or performance settings that enables credible movements and interactions. Although numerous presence questionnaires exist (e.g., Witmer & Singer, 1998), no validated instrument is specifically tailored to sport and exercise contexts. Existing measures are largely ocular-centric (i.e., focused on what users see) and often fail to account for the representative, movement-based, interactive, competitive, and physically demanding nature of XR sport experiences. Thus, this study aims to fill this gap by developing and validating the Presence in Extended Reality for Sport and Exercise (PERSE) questionnaire. Initial items were generated using a deductive, theory-driven approach informed by the literature and existing validated measures. The questionnaire was structured around two dimensions: attentional allocation and perceived realism, with the latter comprising five factors—Motor Realism, Environmentally Relevant Realism, Emotional Realism, Interactive Realism, and Aesthetic Realism. Development proceeded in two phases. Phase 1 involved an expert panel of six members (two academic experts in XR sport and exercise, two industry experts involved in XR development and application, and two recreational table-tennis players with XR experience) who evaluated item clarity and relevance, resulting in refinements prior to empirical testing. In Phase 2, 139 participants completed the 69-item PERSE questionnaire following a 20-minute immersive virtual table-tennis session. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted using maximum likelihood extraction with oblimin rotation. Sampling adequacy and factorability were assessed using the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin (KMO) measure and Bartlett’s test of sphericity. The results showed strong sampling adequacy (KMO = .844; Bartlett’s test p < .001). Exploratory factor analysis supported a 37-item, five-factor solution with acceptable model fit (RMSEA = .05; RMSR = .06). These preliminary findings provide initial evidence for the PERSE questionnaire as a robust measure of presence in XR sport and exercise contexts. The questionnaire offers a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners seeking to evaluate and optimize XR applications for sport training, performance enhancement, and exercise. A larger follow-up study (≈300 participants) is planned to further assess reliability and confirm the factor structure. References Witmer, B. G., & Singer, M. J. (1998). Measuring presence in virtual environments : A presence questionnaire. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 7(3), 225‑240. https://doi.org/10.1162/105474698565686
Copyright (c) 2026 Marie Simonet, Oliver Runswick, Hettie Roebuck, Noel Kinrade, Gavin Lawrence, Luke Wilkins https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Acute effects of social media use and physical activity on adolescents’ body-related self-perception
Adolescents’ screen-time has increased substantially, with image-focused social media such as Instagram being a major contributor (Külling et al., 2022). Adolescence is characterized by profound physical and cognitive changes (Blakemore & Mills, 2014), often accompanied by heightened uncertainty toward the body (Herbert, 2020). This includes the external perception of the body, i.e. body image (Cash, 2004), and especially the sensing, interpretation, and integration (Murphy et al., 2017) of signals originating within the body, i.e. interoception (Craig, 2003). Theories of multisensory integration posit that exteroceptive and interoceptive signals jointly shape one’s body-related self-perception (Badoud & Tsakiris, 2017), with higher interoceptive abilities being linked to a more positive body image (Todd et al., 2019). However, smartphone use may negatively influence interoception (Wallman-Jones et al., 2023), and appearance-focused social media has been shown to impair adolescents’ body image (de Valle et al., 2021). Contrastingly, physical activity (PA) enhances interoception and body image in both acute and chronic settings (Sabiston et al., 2019; Wallman-Jones et al., 2021). Strengthening body-related self-perception through PA may therefore counteract adverse influences of social media use (SMU). Accordingly, the present study aimed to examine the differential effects of acute social media exposure and acute PA on adolescents’ interoception and body image. In a within-subject crossover design, 74 adolescents (Mage = 15.23; 49% female) completed two conditions: 15 minutes of cycling and 15 minutes of Instagram use. The PA intensity was individualized and increased from light to moderate to vigorous. Instagram exposure involved visiting six gender-matched #fitspiration profiles. Interoceptive accuracy (IAcc; Schandry, 1981), state body appreciation (Homan, 2016) and functionality appreciation (Alleva et al., 2017) were assessed before and after each condition. Interoceptive Sensibility (ISen;Cox et al., 2015) was additionally measured during the conditions. A preliminary repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time, indicating an increase in IAcc from pre to post across both conditions, F(1, 73) = 10.21, p = .002, ƞ2p = .12. A significant time × condition interaction emerged for ISen, F(2, 146) = 17.83, p < .001, ƞ2p = .20. Simple contrasts revealed an increase in ISen during and post PA, whereas ISen decreased during, but rose again after SMU (pre–during: p < .001, ƞ2p = .29; pre–post: p < .001, ƞ2p = .13). Body appreciation showed a significant time × condition interaction (F(1, 73) = 4.10, p = .047, ƞ2p = .05), increasing from pre to post following PA and decreasing following SMU. No further significant effects emerged from any of the analyses. The present results indicate that acute PA significantly enhances adolescents’ interoceptive processing. The positive effects on their body appreciation appear less pronounced. In contrast, SMU may negatively affect body appreciation and influence ISen without altering IAcc. Increases in IAcc and ISen following PA likely reflect heightened salience and weighting of interoceptive signals, whereas SMU appears to shift attention toward external cues. Accordingly, PA may represent a promising approach to fostering adolescents’ body-related self-perception. These results may provide a valuable foundation for the development of future long-term interventions. References Alleva, J. M., Tylka, T. L., & Kroon Van Diest, A. M. (2017). The Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS): Development and psychometric evaluation in U.S. community women and men. Body Image, 23, 28-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.07.008 Badoud, D., & Tsakiris, M. (2017). From the body's viscera to the body's image: Is there a link between interoception and body image concerns? Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 77, 237-246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.03.017 Blakemore, S. J., & Mills, K. L. (2014). Is adolescence a sensitive period for sociocultural processing? Annual Review of Psychology 65, 187-207. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115202 Cash, T. F. (2004). Body image: past, present, and future. Body Image, 1(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1740-1445(03)00011-1 Cox, A. E., Ullrich-French, S., & French, B. F. (2015). Validity Evidence for the State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 20(1), 38-49. https://doi.org/10.1080/1091367x.2015.1089404 Craig, A. D. (2003). Interoception: the sense of the physiological condition of the body. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 13(4), 500-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0959-4388(03)00090-4 de Valle, M. K., Gallego-Garcia, M., Williamson, P., & Wade, T. D. (2021). Social media, body image, and the question of causation: Meta-analyses of experimental and longitudinal evidence. Body Image, 39, 276-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.10.001 Herbert, B. M. (2020). Interoception and Its Role for Eating, Obesity, and Eating Disorders. European Journal of Health Psychology, 27(4), 188-205. https://doi.org/10.1027/2512-8442/a000062 Homan, K. J. (2016). Factor structure and psychometric properties of a state version of the Body Appreciation Scale-2. Body Image, 19, 204-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.10.004 Külling, C., Waller, G., Suter, L., Willemse, I., Bernath, J., Skirgaila, P., Streule, P., & Süss, D. (2022). James – Jugend, Aktivitäten, Medien – Erhebung Schweiz. Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. Murphy, J., Brewer, R., Catmur, C., & Bird, G. (2017). Interoception and psychopathology: A developmental neuroscience perspective. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 23, 45-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2016.12.006 Sabiston, C. M., Pila, E., Vani, M., & Thogersen-Ntoumani, C. (2019). Body image, physical activity, and sport: A scoping review. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 42, 48-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.12.010 Schandry, R. (1981). Heart beat perception and emotional experience. Psychophysiology, 18(4), 483-488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.1981.tb02486.x Todd, J., Aspell, J. E., Barron, D., & Swami, V. (2019). An exploration of the associations between facets of interoceptive awareness and body image in adolescents. Body Image, 31, 171-180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.10.004 Wallman-Jones, A., Nigg, C., Benzing, V., & Schmidt, M. (2023). Leave the screen: The influence of everyday behaviors on self-reported interoception. Biological Psychology, 181, 108600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108600 Wallman-Jones, A., Perakakis, P., Tsakiris, M., & Schmidt, M. (2021). Physical activity and interoceptive processing: Theoretical considerations for future research. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 166, 38-49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.05.002
Copyright (c) 2026 Moritz Peter Engel, Mirko Schmidt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Sport in federally-funded Research and Innovation in Switzerland – An Update on the Status Quo
Introduction: In Switzerland, approximately CHF 25.9 Mrd. (3.2% of its GDP) were spent on research, development and innovation in 2023 (Körsgen et al., 2025), which is an increase of 1.3 Mrd. and a decrease of 0.2% in GDP relation compared to 2021 (Körsgen et al., 2023). The general publication of the FSO does not differentiate research and innovation in sports as a separate category. Due to the low ranking of Switzerland in an international comparison (Kempf; et al., 2021), a first analysis of publicly funded research and innovation projects in 2021 has revealed quantitative and qualitative insights. The analysis revealed a total funding of CHF 5 Mio by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and 1.5 Mio by Innosuisse, were most funding was received by sports medicine project (Kempf et al., 2025). In order to provide a longitudinal comparison, this analysis was now replicated for the year 2023. Methods: The semantic keyword-based search from the analysis of data from 2022 was replicated from the previous analysis (Kempf et al., 2025), searching the project database of SNSF, and ARAMIS, a database containing all research and innovation projects funded or executed by the Swiss federal government. In addition, further variables were analyzed to provide a broader view on the status quo on publicly funded research and innovation in Swiss sport. Results: While the analysis is still in progress, currently available data does not show largely different results between the years 2022 and 2023. Already analyzed projects confirm the results of 2022 with a large part of research and innovation funding received by sports medicine projects. Regarding institutions involved, multiple research and innovation facilities were identified, which had not been present in the data of 2022. Non-profit sports organizations like clubs or (inter)national federations are not part of them. Discussion/Conclusion: While the final results are not available as of now, it can be stated that frequent and objective monitoring of research and innovation data in sports is helpful for policy makers in public and private sports. The results of this investigation allow a longitudinal comparison over multiple years. With recently introduced measures on innovation by Swiss Olympic and the Federal Office of Sport FOSPO, the upcoming changes to the federation support model by Swiss Olympic and the upcoming measures triggered by the federal strategy “Sports- and Physical Activity Promotion 2040”, the results from this analysis can help to identify potential positive and negative impacts on research and innovation in Swiss sports, as well as it’s representation in the general national innovation system of Switzerland. In addition, further investigations on privately funded research and innovation projects in sports are necessary to provide a holistic perspective. References Kempf, H., Gübeli, C., Ganné-Chedeville, C., & Emmenegger, S. (2025). The role of sport in research and development in Switzerland - An overview. Current Issues in Sport Science, 10(2), 006. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.36950/2025.2ciss006 Kempf;, H., Weber;, A., Zurmühle;, C., Bosshard;, B., Mrkonjic;, M., Weber;, A., Pillet;, F., & Sutter, S. (2021). Leistungssport Schweiz – Momentaufnahme SPLISS-CH 2019. B. f. S. BASPO. Körsgen, A., Chardon, S. P., & Sollberger, P. (2023). Forschung und Entwicklung in der Schweiz 2021. B. f. Statistik. https://dam-api.bfs.admin.ch/hub/api/dam/assets/24905944/master Körsgen, A., Plaza Chardon, S., & Sollberger, P. (2025). Forschung und Entwicklung in der Schweiz 2023. Bundesamt für Statistik. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.71668/qdr9-sc23
Copyright (c) 2026 Cornel Gübeli, Hippolyt Kempf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Soccer players’ ability to use peripheral vision is affected by viewing angles but not crowding
Introduction: Peripheral vision plays a key role in monitoring multiple players in team sports (Vater et al., 2020; Vater, 2024). In soccer, highly skilled players anchor their gaze on the player in possession while using peripheral vision to monitor surrounding movements in 3 vs. 3 situations (Vater et al., 2019). This study examined how peripheral vision is challenged in a counter-attack scenario by varying the viewing angle between a defender’s direct opponent and a wing striker. We also manipulated crowding, a factor known to limit peripheral perception (Herzog & Sayim, 2022). We predicted that larger viewing angles and higher crowding would impair overrun detection. Methods: Twenty-two participants (M_age = 20.81 years, SD = 1.81, n_female = 10) with at least 5 years of experience as central defenders or midfielders viewed 3 vs. 3 virtual-reality soccer counterattacks from a central-defender perspective. Their task was to detect when a wing striker overran his defender—on the right, left, or both sides—and indicate this with a hand response. Detection performance served as a measure of peripheral-vision use. Participants simultaneously defended their direct opponent, who could shoot or pass to either striker. A within-subjects 3 (Eccentricity: 20°, 40°, 60°) × 3 (Crowding: 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 Bouma) design was used. Dependent variables included overrun-detection accuracy and response time as well as peripheral detection. Body kinematics were captured with a 14-camera Optitrack system; gaze was recorded with a Pupil Labs Core eye tracker at 120 Hz. Normality and homogeneity were tested for each dependent measure. Parametric tests were used when assumptions were met; otherwise, the Kruskal-Wallis H test was applied. Bonferroni corrections were used for post hoc tests. Effect sizes were reported as η² or ε², with Cohen’s d for pairwise comparisons. Results: Eccentricity significantly affected overrun-detection accuracy, H(2) = 29.21, p < .001, η² = 0.257. Accuracy was higher at 20° (M = 82.24%) and 40° (M = 83.29%) than at 60° (M = 71.69%), both p < .001. Response times also showed a main effect of eccentricity, H(2) = 29.23, p < .001, η² = 0.446, with faster responses at 20° than 40° or 60°, and at 40° than 60°. Peripheral detection showed the same pattern: H(2) = 23.20, p < .001, η² = 0.372; participants relied more on peripheral vision at 40° and 60° than at 20°. No effects of crowding were found for any measure (all p > .30). Discussion/Conclusion: Viewing angle strongly influences performance in this sport-specific overrun-detection task, with larger eccentricities reducing accuracy and slowing responses. Although participants used peripheral vision frequently at 40° and 60°, their reduced accuracy and slower responses at 60° suggest that initiating a saccade to peripheral locations may be beneficial (Vater et al., 2020). Contrary to expectations, crowding did not affect performance, possibly because we used sport-specific dynamic rather than artificial, static stimuli or because participants were not restricted to only using peripheral vision. References Herzog, M. H., & Sayim, B. (2022). Crowding: Recent advances and perspectives. Journal of Vision, 22(12), 15. https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.22.12.15 Vater, C. (2024). Viewing angle, skill level and task representativeness affect response times in basketball defence. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 3337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53706-9 Vater, C., Williams, A. M., & Hossner, E.-J. (2020). What do we see out of the corner of our eye? The role of visual pivots and gaze anchors in sport. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 81–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2019.1582082 Vater, C., Luginbühl, S. P., & Magnaguagno, L. (2019). Testing the functionality of peripheral vision in a mixed-methods football field study. Journal of Sports Sciences, 37(24), 2789-2797. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1664100
Copyright (c) 2026 Christian Vater, Svitlana Pinchuk, Božo Vukojević https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
KiKli Fit: Participatory Co-Design of a Physical Activity Counseling Program for Childhood Cancer Survivors
Introduction & Purpose: After childhood cancer therapy, many survivors experience acute and long-term effects such as fatigue, reduced strength, or movement restrictions, which can persist for years and limit engagement in physical activity (PA). In addition, psychosocial challenges, motivational barriers, and disrupted family routines further complicate the return to an active lifestyle. Although regular PA is a key component of physical and psychosocial recovery. Structured PA counselling can play a crucial role in helping survivors overcome motivational and environmental barriers and re-establish participation in school-based, organized, and self-directed PA. Within the KiKli Fit project, we developed a modular counselling program designed to support children and adolescents after cancer treatment. The program focuses on individual motives and needs, aiming to collaboratively identify and plan suitable activities for each child/adolescent, or for the family as a whole. A pilot study showed high acceptance but revealed the need for stronger family engagement and age-appropriate materials. The current study aims to co-develop an optimized counseling concept with survivors and families, ensuring that their lived experiences directly inform the program’s content and enhance its relevance and feasibility in pediatric oncology care. Methods: This study adopts a participatory mixed-methods design, guided by the COM-B model and Experience-Based Co-Design. Initially, previous evaluation data were analyzed to identify strengths, gaps, and potential areas for refinement. The upcoming co-design workshops and focus groups will involve two target groups: children aged 6-12 with their parents, and adolescents aged 13-18 independently. These sessions will explore facilitators and barriers to PA, expectations for counseling, and co-create ideas for materials and session formats. Audio recordings, field notes, and brief questionnaires document insights. The resulting findings will guide the development of revised materials and session structures, which will be pilot tested in clinical aftercare. Iterative feedback from participants and counselors guides further refinement. Results: The workshops are expected to reveal new perspectives on barriers, motivational drivers, and family dynamics influencing post-treatment PA. The resulting counseling prototype is anticipated to feature concise session structures, practical activity strategies, and age-adapted materials. Feasibility, acceptability, and perceived usefulness will be evaluated through qualitative and quantitative feedback from cancer survivors and their parents. Discussion: By combining COM-B with participatory co-design, the project identifies behavioral determinants at individual and family levels and integrates them into a tailored counseling approach. This approach ensures that the counseling is relevant and applicable in participants’ everyday environments, addresses real-life barriers and facilitators, and enhances engagement. The co-design process further guarantees that counseling meets actual needs, fosters intrinsic motivation, and supports sustainable behavioral change. Conclusion: The KiKli Fit counseling approach aims to provide a family-centered and individualized program that empowers children, adolescents, and families to re-engage in PA after cancer treatment. By addressing key psychological and behavioral determinants such as self-efficacy, intrinsic motivation, family health climate, enjoyment of PA, and volition the counseling program seeks to promote sustainable engagement in PA and facilitate the transition into aftercare. References Braam, K. I., van der Torre, P., Takken, T., Veening, M. A., van Dulmen-den Broeder, E., & Kaspers, G. J. (2016). Physical exercise training interventions for children and young adults during and after treatment for childhood cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3(3), 1465-1858. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008796.pub3 Gauß, G., Kesting, S., Boos, J., Reinhardt, D., & Götte, M. (2024). Network Activeoncokids–Centralized Physical Activity Counseling for Children, adolescents, and Young Adults Across German-Speaking Countries Throughout All Oncological Treatment Phases. Klinische Pädiatrie, 236(06), 321-330. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2381-7299 Götte, M., Taraks, S., & Boos, J. (2014). Sports in pediatric oncology: The role(s) of physical activity for children with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 36(2), 85-90. https://doi.org/10.1097/mph.0000000000000101
Copyright (c) 2026 Lars Rehbein, Ann Christin Schneider, Lisa Hillebrecht, Bianca Schmidli, Julia Schmid, Eva Brack, Valentin Benzing https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Menstrual Cycle Phase, Premenstrual Symptoms, and Daily Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Study
Introduction & Purpose: Subjective perceptions of the menstrual cycle (MC) and physical activity (PA) suggest that the MC may negatively affect PA, particularly when premenstrual symptoms are present (Kolic et al., 2021). However, most existing studies are cross-sectional (Goaplan et al., 2024), which limits causal interpretation and may introduce bias (Matsumoto et al., 2021). Therefore, this study aimed to examine daily fluctuations in PA and premenstrual symptoms across two consecutive MCs using a longitudinal design. Methods: Participants were eligible if they were between 18–35 years old, had a natural MC lasting 21–35 days, and were not pregnant or breastfeeding for at least six months. Over two consecutive MCs, participants completed daily assessments via the m-path app (KU Leuven, Belgium). Data included MC tracking (MC day, basal body temperature, LH surge), premenstrual symptoms (Screening Instrument for Premenstrual Symptoms [SIPS]), and self-reported moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA, Godin–Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire). The MC was divided into five phases according to Elliott-Sale et al. (2025): menstrual (MP), follicular (FP), ovulatory (OP), luteal (LP), and premenstrual phase (PP). Linear mixed models were applied to examine differences in MVPA across MC phases, including premenstrual symptoms as covariates. Results: Thirty-five participants (age: 26.5 ± 5.4 years) were included. The average MC length was 28.7 ± 2.6 days. Based on the SIPS, eight participants were classified as having PMS and two as having PMDD. Across 1,407 observations, no significant effect of MC phase on MVPA was found (MP: 51.0 ± 7.5 min/day; FP: 50.3 ± 7.0; OP: 52.2 ± 7.6; LP: 45.6 ± 7.7; PP: 54.5 ± 7.6; p > 0.05). Premenstrual symptoms showed no significant associations with PA. Discussion: MVPA remained stable across MC phases, even when symptoms occurred. This suggests that the MC and subjective symptom perception may not substantially affect PA in active women. However, these effects may vary in populations with distinct activity levels, such as sedentary women or elite athletes. Future studies should incorporate objective PA measures and examine psychosocial mediators of PA behavior across the MC. Conclusion: In active women, PA behavior appears consistent across MC phases, despite the presence of premenstrual symptoms. References Elliott-Sale, K. J., Altini, M., Doyle-Baker, P., Ferrer, E., Flood, T. R., Harris, R., ... & Burden, R. J. (2025). Why we must stop assuming and estimating menstrual cycle phases in laboratory and field-based sport related research. Sports Medicine, 55(6), 1339. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-025-02189-3 Gopalan, S. S., Mann, C., & Rhodes, R. E. (2024). Impact of symptoms, experiences, and perceptions of the menstrual cycle on recreational physical activity of cyclically menstruating individuals: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 184, 107980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107980 Kolić, P. V., Sims, D. T., Hicks, K., Thomas, L., & Morse, C. I. (2021). Physical activity and the menstrual cycle: A mixed-methods study of women’s experiences. Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 29(1), 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2020-0050 Matsumoto, T., Egawa, M., Kimura, T., & Hayashi, T. (2021). Comparison between retrospective premenstrual symptoms and prospective late-luteal symptoms among college students. Gynecological and Reproductive Endocrinology and Metabolism, 1(2021), 31-41.
Copyright (c) 2026 Claudia Kubica, Larissa Reifler, Livia Lehmann, Claudio R. Nigg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Exploring the role of sex and gender at the intersection of physical activity and air pollution: the INCLUDE project
In 2019, climate change and air pollution in combination with non-communicable diseases were the two top threats to health, with 70% of non-communicable diseases caused by air pollution and affecting the lungs. Chronic respiratory disease (CRD) thus was placed fourth as a global cause for mortality in 2021. While physical activity is the most efficient and cost-effective tool to manage CRDs through reduction in the risk of hospital admissions, all-cause mortality, and increases in the quality of life (Garcia-Aymerich et al. 2006; Schrempft et al., 2019), two critical research gaps hinder the optimal integration of physical activity into the management of CRDs. First, the interaction between physical activity and air-pollution, and their downstream health effects are still largely unknown. When exposed to both concomitantly, the inhaled volume of pollutants is increased, thus physical activity could catalyze the risks from air pollution. Second, sex- and gender-based differences in the phenotypes of CRD and physical activity behaviors exist. Women report lower quality of life, more severe feelings of breathlessness and cough, and participate in less physical activity than men (Clougherty., 2010). The objective of INCLUDE is thus to comprehensively study the effects and implications of sex and gender on the combined effects of physical activity and air pollution exposure in older individuals with and without CRD. Methodologically, the project is multi-centric, where 180 participants over the age of 60, both sexes, and broad gender characteristics will participate in the study in either Basel, Zurich, or Barcelona (60 participants at each site). We will identify how sex and gender affect physical activity experiences and responses (1) qualitatively though semi-structured interviews; (2) quantitatively through real-world walking in higher and lower air pollution wherein cardiopulmonary responses and gait characteristics will be measured with field-based and wearable devices; and (3) with an advisory board. The expected results and impact of the INCLUDE project are to understand and quantify how sex and gender affect acute and long-term respiratory health when older individuals are concomitantly exposed to both air pollution and physical activity. Our mixed-methods research approach in combination with our advisory board will guide urban planning, policy, clinicians, and future research. References: Clougherty, J. E. (2010). A growing role for gender analysis in air pollution epidemiology. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(2), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.0900994 Garcia-Aymerich, J., Lange, P., Benet, M., Schnohr, P., & Antó, J. M. (2006). Regular physical activity reduces hospital admission and mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population based cohort study. Thorax, 61(9), 772–778. https://doi.org/10.1136/thx.2006.060145 Schrempft, S., Jackowska, M., Hamer, M., & Steptoe, A. (2019). Associations between social isolation, loneliness, and objective physical activity in older men and women. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 74. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6424-y
Copyright (c) 2026 Sierra R. Arn, Martina Ragettli, Mirko Winkler, Joren Buekers, Ioar Rivas, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Mariona Font, Elena Gimeno-Santos, Marion Roswitha Maggi, Thomas Radke, Anja Frei, Timo Hinrichs, Fabian Schwendinger, Eric Lichtenstein, Michael S. Koehle, Kassi Welch, Erica Bennett, Laura Delgado-Ortiz, Sarah Koch https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Development of a Structured Framework for Personalized Cognitive-Motor Exergame Training in Frailty
Introduction: Aging is associated with progressive declines in physical and cognitive function, increasing the risk of frailty and loss of independence. Exergaming can offer combined cognitive-motor training, showing promise to counteract those declines. However, systematic frameworks for personalized and progressive exergame training are lacking. This study aimed to develop a structured, domain-based cognitive-motor exergame training framework for frail older adults and to specify how it is personalized and progressed. Methods: The training plan was built on an exergame platform offering twenty-two cognitive-motor games. Each game was characterized by its predominant cognitive and/or physical properties and by the specific movement patterns required to play it. Based on these properties, games were grouped into three main domains (Cognition, Balance, and Endurance) reflecting multicomponent exercise recommendations. Thirteen multidirectional stepping games aligned most closely with neurophysiological test paradigms and formed the “Cognition” domain; two stepping-in-place games formed “Endurance”; six games emphasizing postural control formed “Balance”. Domains were further divided into subdomains to capture task-specific characteristics and allow gradual progression. Cognition included Memory, Reaction, Inhibition, Task Switching, and Visuospatial Orientation; Balance included Mediolateral Weight Shifting, Multidimensional Weight Shifting, Free Walking/Stepping, and Fine-Tuned Motor Coordination; Endurance had no subdomains. Where available, adjustable game parameters were used to create multiple “versions” supporting graded difficulty. The session structure followed established training principles and frailty guidelines: a brief aerobic warm-up, alternating stepping and weight-shifting/walking blocks to vary muscle activation and prevent overexertion, and a cool-down emphasizing relaxation and self-paced movement. Personalization translated physical and cognitive assessments into starting levels per subdomain, ensuring individualized training loads with age- and sex-specific adjustments where appropriate. For example, “Endurance” subdomain was based on percentage of expected 6-Minute Walk Test distance; “Reaction” subdomain on age-stratified Deary-Liewald Choice Reaction Time (RT); “Inhibition” subdomain on Go/No-Go RT; and “Balance” subdomain on Berg Balance Scale, Short Physical Performance Battery, Four Square Step Test and Time Up-and-Go dual-task combinations. Most subdomains had three levels (1–3), while highly complex or minimally adjustable tasks began at the easiest level to ensure feasibility. Personalization was continuously refined through regular trainer–participant calls, allowing dynamic adjustment of game choices and settings. Progression was implemented at two layers. In-game progression (built-in) used each game’s dynamic difficulty features (e.g., faster stimuli, denser obstacles) to scale challenge within a session. Inter-game progression ordered activities from easiest to hardest, using principles such as increasing duration, step-direction complexity (lateral → anterior → posterior), stimulus density, or built-in difficulty percentages. Advancement was governed by a 10-point visual analog scale rule after each activity: progress up if VAS≤3 (too easy), step down if VAS≥7 (too hard), otherwise repeat; trainers could override based on safety and clarity. Discussion: This structured framework provides a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to personalized and progressive exergame training for frail individuals. We are now in the process of assessing its validity through longitudinal game performance data and objective verification of domain classifications. Establishing such data-driven personalization methods could inform AI-based adaptive training systems that optimize both cognitive and motor outcomes in aging populations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Asli Karamanlargil, Muriel Strasser, Eleftheria Giannouli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Evaluation of a Controlled Study on the Effects of Exercise on Physical Health in Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity: the NOW! Study
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and accounts for high levels of morbidity (GBD 2021 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2024). It emerges from cardiovascular risk factors such as elevated blood pressure, overweight and obesity, low cardiorespiratory fitness and physical inactivity (Kartiosuo et al., 2024). These risk factors can already induce subclinical vascular changes during childhood which track into adulthood and may lead to manifest cardiovascular disease later in life (Bao et al., 1995; Hauser et al. 2023; Lindberg et al. 2020). Physical inactivity is an established modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, contributing to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality across the lifespan (GBD 2021 Risk Factors Collaborators, 2024). However, many children and adolescents do not reach the recommended amount of physical activity and are overweight or obese (Guthold et al., 2020). This highlights the urgent need for evidence-based, targeted interventions aimed at enhancing physical activity levels and preventing excessive weight gain in this population. We therefore aim to assess the effects of a one-year exercise intervention on vascular health and cardiovascular risk factors in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. The objectives of this controlled study are: 1) to analyze the effect of a one-year structured exercise intervention in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity on their vascular health, as measured by retinal vessel diameters using static retinal vessel analysis, and 2) to analyze if a one-year structured exercise intervention in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity will lead to a reduction in body fat percentage, a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and higher cardiorespiratory fitness. In this controlled intervention study based on the now! project, each of the three cohorts consists of 56 adolescents aged 12 to 14 years in the intervention group undergoing a structured exercise intervention and 28 adolescents in the control group. They will be screened for anthropometry, blood pressure, retinal vessel diameters, maximal strength assessment, cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition and lifestyle assessments. The relevance of this study lies in addressing modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in children with overweight and obesity through a structured exercise intervention and in evaluating their vascular health using retinal vessel analysis, a sensitive marker for early microvascular alterations. These findings will provide valuable evidence to support long-term promotion of exercise aimed at preventing the development of cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents, including integration into cantonal physical activity promotion strategies with low-barrier accessibility and potential nationwide scalability. References Bao, W., Threefoot, S.A., Srinivasan, S.R. and Berenson, G.S. (1995) Essential Hypertension Predicted by Tracking of Elevated Blood Pressure from Childhood to Adulthood: The Bogalusa Heart Study. The American Journal of Hypertension, 8, 657-665. https://doi.org/10.1016/0895-7061(95)00116-7 GBD 2021 Risk Factors Collaborators. (2024). Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2162-2203. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00933-4 Guthold R et al. (2020). Global Trends in Physical Activity among Adolescents: A Pooled Analysis of 298 Population-Based Surveys with 1.6 Million Participants. Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4, 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30323-2 Hauser, C., Lona, G., Köchli, S., Streese, L., Infanger, D., Faude, O., & Hanssen, H. (2023). Bivariate relation of vascular health and blood pressure progression during childhood. Atherosclerosis, 381, Article 117215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.117215 Kartiosuo, N., Raitakari, O. T., Juonala, M., et al. (2024). Cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and adulthood and their life-course association with cardiovascular disease. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2418148. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18148 Lindberg, L., Danielsson, P., Persson, M., Marcus, C., & Hagman, E. (2020). Association of childhood obesity with risk of early all-cause and cause-specific mortality: A Swedish prospective cohort study. PLOS Medicine, 17(3), e1003078. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003078
Copyright (c) 2026 Vera Bissig, Henner Hanssen, Oliver Faude, Sebastian Ludyga, Céline Stark, Manuel Huber, Eric Lichtenstein, Ralf Roth, Lukas Nebiker , Christoph Hauser https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0