Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)
type: channel
description: 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.
publisher: Bern Open Publishing (BOP)
language: en
publication name: Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)
issn: 2414-6641
items: Editorial: Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics
items: Participation intention and adherence in organised sport among people with physical disability in Switzerland: A multilevel and random forest analysis
items: Voluntary group sports for individuals with psychiatric disorders: a dual qualitative study with participants and coaches
items: Wheelchair mobility in the daily life of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury
items: Symposium 8.4 - Disability sport in Switzerland – from daily physical activity to participation in organised sport
items: Implementing Open and Standardized Data Practices in Musculoskeletal Imaging: ORMIR and UMUD
items: Guidelines for Open Research Data in Movement Sciences
items: Community Perspectives on Data Sharing and Standardisation in Human Movement Sciences: Findings from the ISB Congress 2025
items: Symposium 8.3 - From Principles to Practice: Building a Reproducible Future for Movement Sciences
items: The Strength-Cognition Link in Youth: Age-Dependent Associations between Muscular Strength and Executive Function
items: Beyond the Beep: Complex, non-musical auditory stimuli enhance Performance and Affect in the 20-Meter Shuttle Run Test in Children
items: Associations between physical activity intensity and cognitive performance in older adults with and without stroke
items: Body-composition-based determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness in a subset of the SwissHeart Study
items: Clustering 24-Hour Movement Behaviours Among Adults in 16 European Countries (2008–2015): A Behavioural Typology Approach
items: Keep the Gloves On: Personality, Skills, and Stories that Sustain Goalkeeping
items: The Challenges of Separation of an Elite Sports Team – A Case-Study Analysis of a Swiss Sport Club
items: Parantal Voluntary Engagement in Grassroots Sports Clubs
items: When good luck turns against you: Evidence on performance responses to noisy feedback
items: Exercise-intensity dependent variability in rates of aerobic metabolism is related to genetic aspects of muscle-type associated lactate transport in tactical athletes
items: Prognostic value of heart rate dynamics during exercise testing in definite ARVC patients
items: Molecular mechanisms mediating exercise-induced maladaptations in vitro
items: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Presence in Extended Reality for Sport and Exercise (PERSE)
items: Acute effects of social media use and physical activity on adolescents’ body-related self-perception
items: Sport in federally-funded Research and Innovation in Switzerland – An Update on the Status Quo
items: Soccer players’ ability to use peripheral vision is affected by viewing angles but not crowding
items: KiKli Fit: Participatory Co-Design of a Physical Activity Counseling Program for Childhood Cancer Survivors
items: Menstrual Cycle Phase, Premenstrual Symptoms, and Daily Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Study
items: Exploring the role of sex and gender at the intersection of physical activity and air pollution: the INCLUDE project
items: Development of a Structured Framework for Personalized Cognitive-Motor Exergame Training in Frailty
items: Evaluation of a Controlled Study on the Effects of Exercise on Physical Health in Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity: the NOW! Study

Editorial: Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Special Issue: Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning in Sports Biomechanics
  topic: section
creator: Bernd Stetter
creator: Thorsten Stein
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Bernd Stetter, Thorsten Stein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-08-21
publication date: 2026-08-21
starting page: 001
ending page: 001
doi: 10.36950/2026.3ciss001

Participation intention and adherence in organised sport among people with physical disability in Switzerland: A multilevel and random forest analysis
type: item
description: 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 wheelc…
subject: Symposium 8.4
  topic: section
subject: Physical activity
  topic: keywords
subject: organised sport
  topic: keywords
subject: individuals with physical disability
  topic: keywords
subject: wheelchair sport groups
  topic: keywords
creator: Florence Epiney
creator: Linus Hany
creator: Siegfried Nagel
creator: Christoffer Klenk
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Florence Epiney, Linus Hany, Siegfried Nagel, Christoffer Klenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 062
ending page: 062
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss062

Voluntary group sports for individuals with psychiatric disorders: a dual qualitative study with participants and coaches
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Symposium 8.4
  topic: section
creator: Nikolai Kiselev
creator: Carina Baumberger
creator: Florence Epiney
creator: Carole Pauli
creator: Daniela Loosli
creator: Hansjörg Znoj
creator: Birgit Kleim
creator: Frank Wieber
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 063
ending page: 063
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss063

Wheelchair mobility in the daily life of manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury
type: item
description: 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, ran…
subject: Symposium 8.4
  topic: section
subject: mobility
  topic: keywords
subject: wheelchair
  topic: keywords
subject: spinal cord injury
  topic: keywords
subject: daily life
  topic: keywords
subject: inertial measurement unit
  topic: keywords
creator: Ursina Arnet
creator: Yannik Schürch
creator: Anneke Hertig-Godeschalk
creator: Claudio Perret
creator: Wiebe De Vries
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Ursina Arnet, Yannik Schürch, Anneke Hertig-Godeschalk, Claudio Perret, Wiebe De Vries https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 061
ending page: 061
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss061

Symposium 8.4 - Disability sport in Switzerland – from daily physical activity to participation in organised sport
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Symposium 8.4
  topic: section
creator: Florence Epiney
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Florence Epiney https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 060
ending page: 060
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss060

Implementing Open and Standardized Data Practices in Musculoskeletal Imaging: ORMIR and UMUD
type: item
description: 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 publi…
subject: Symposium 8.3
  topic: section
subject: Open science
  topic: keywords
subject: FAIR data
  topic: keywords
subject: Standardization
  topic: keywords
subject: Musculoskeletal imaging
  topic: keywords
subject: Reproducibility
  topic: keywords
creator: Paul Ritsche
creator: Francesco Santini
creator: Serena Bonaretti
creator: Donnie Cameron
creator: Oliver Faude
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Paul Ritsche, Francesco Santini, Serena Bonaretti, Donnie Cameron, Oliver Faude https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 059
ending page: 059
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss059

Guidelines for Open Research Data in Movement Sciences
type: item
description: 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 r…
subject: Symposium 8.3
  topic: section
subject: open research data
  topic: keywords
subject: metadata
  topic: keywords
subject: movement sciences
  topic: keywords
creator: Michelle C. Haas
creator: Bettina B. Sommer
creator: Simon van Rekum
creator: Felix Moerman
creator: Eveline S. Graf
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Michelle C. Haas, Bettina B. Sommer, Simon van Rekum, Felix Moerman, Eveline S. Graf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 058
ending page: 058
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss058

Community Perspectives on Data Sharing and Standardisation in Human Movement Sciences: Findings from the ISB Congress 2025
type: item
description: 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 chec…
subject: Symposium 8.3
  topic: section
subject: Open Science
  topic: keywords
subject: Data Management
  topic: keywords
subject: Reproducibility
  topic: keywords
subject: Data Sharing
  topic: keywords
subject: Community Guidelines
  topic: keywords
creator: Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez
creator: Wouter Schallig
creator: Dominic Thewlis
creator: William Taylor
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez, Wouter Schallig, Dominic Thewlis, William Taylor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 057
ending page: 057
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss057

Symposium 8.3 - From Principles to Practice: Building a Reproducible Future for Movement Sciences
type: item
description: 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.
subject: Symposium 8.3
  topic: section
creator: Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez
creator: Michelle C. Haas
creator: Paul Ritsche
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Ariana Ortigas-Vásquez, Michelle C. Haas, Paul Ritsche https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 056
ending page: 056
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss056

The Strength-Cognition Link in Youth: Age-Dependent Associations between Muscular Strength and Executive Function
type: item
description: 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 t…
subject: Oral 6.4 Movement & Exercise
  topic: section
subject: executive function
  topic: keywords
subject: muscular strength
  topic: keywords
subject: children and adolescents
  topic: keywords
subject: development
  topic: keywords
creator: Sarah Marie Bajer
creator: Sebastian Ludyga
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sarah Marie Bajer, Sebastian Ludyga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 055
ending page: 055
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss055

Beyond the Beep: Complex, non-musical auditory stimuli enhance Performance and Affect in the 20-Meter Shuttle Run Test in Children
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Oral 6.4 Movement & Exercise
  topic: section
subject: Shuttle Run Test
  topic: keywords
subject: Physical performance
  topic: keywords
subject: Effort investment
  topic: keywords
subject: Rating of Perceived Exertion
  topic: keywords
creator: Sascha Ketelhut
creator: Valentin Benzing
creator: Kerstin Ketelhut
creator: Daniel Hug
creator: Jonas Füllemann
creator: Eva Kircher
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Sascha Ketelhut, Valentin Benzing, Kerstin Ketelhut, Daniel Hug, Jonas Füllemann, Eva Kircher https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 054
ending page: 054
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss054

Associations between physical activity intensity and cognitive performance in older adults with and without stroke
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Oral 6.4 Movement & Exercise
  topic: section
subject: physical activity
  topic: keywords
subject: stroke
  topic: keywords
subject: NHANES
  topic: keywords
subject: cognition
  topic: keywords
creator: Mateja Virovec
creator: Fabian Schwendinger
creator: Sebastian Ludyga
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Mateja Virovec, Fabian Schwendinger, Sebastian Ludyga https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 053
ending page: 053
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss053

Body-composition-based determinants of cardiorespiratory fitness in a subset of the SwissHeart Study
type: item
description: 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)…
subject: Oral 6.3 Public Health
  topic: section
subject: cardiorespiratory fitness
  topic: keywords
subject: skeletal muscle mass
  topic: keywords
subject: visceral adipose tissue
  topic: keywords
creator: Philipp A. Eichenberger
creator: Alison Krämer
creator: Pia Leuders
creator: Tobias Kudelka
creator: Max Fuetterer
creator: Sebastian Kozerke
creator: Christina M. Spengler
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 052
ending page: 052
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss052

Clustering 24-Hour Movement Behaviours Among Adults in 16 European Countries (2008–2015): A Behavioural Typology Approach
type: item
description: 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 …
subject: Oral 6.3 Public Health
  topic: section
subject: Latent profile analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: cluster analysis
  topic: keywords
subject: 24-hour movement behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: moderate to vigorous physical activity
  topic: keywords
subject: sedentary behaviour
  topic: keywords
subject: sleep
  topic: keywords
subject: HETUS
  topic: keywords
subject: Europe
  topic: keywords
creator: Roksana Shiran
creator: Claudio R. Nigg
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Roksana Shiran, Claudio R. Nigg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 051
ending page: 051
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss051

Keep the Gloves On: Personality, Skills, and Stories that Sustain Goalkeeping
type: item
description: 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 Conscien…
subject: Oral 6.2 Sociology & Economics
  topic: section
subject: personnality
  topic: keywords
subject: elite athletes
  topic: keywords
subject: soccer
  topic: keywords
subject: goalkeepers
  topic: keywords
subject: talent development
  topic: keywords
creator: Camille Sabourin
creator: Denis Hauw
creator: Eric Terrien
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Camille Sabourin, Denis Hauw, Eric Terrien https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 050
ending page: 050
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss050

The Challenges of Separation of an Elite Sports Team – A Case-Study Analysis of a Swiss Sport Club
type: item
description: 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, t…
subject: Oral 6.2 Sociology & Economics
  topic: section
subject: Professionalisation
  topic: keywords
subject: Organisational Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Case Study
  topic: keywords
subject: Semi-Professional Sport
  topic: keywords
subject: Insolvency
  topic: keywords
creator: Romano Keller-Meier
creator: Siegfried Nagel
creator: Raphael Stieger
creator: Grazia Lang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Romano Keller-Meier, Siegfried Nagel, Raphael Stieger, Grazia Lang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 049
ending page: 049
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss049

Parantal Voluntary Engagement in Grassroots Sports Clubs
type: item
description: 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 eff…
subject: Oral 6.2 Sociology & Economics
  topic: section
creator: Eliane Hintermann
creator: Jürg Schmid
creator: Christoffer Klenk
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Eliane Hintermann, Jürg Schmid, Christoffer Klenk https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 048
ending page: 048
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss048

When good luck turns against you: Evidence on performance responses to noisy feedback
type: item
description: 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 per…
subject: Oral 6.2 Sociology & Economics
  topic: section
subject: Feedback
  topic: keywords
subject: Luck
  topic: keywords
subject: Overconfidence bias
  topic: keywords
subject: Loss aversion
  topic: keywords
subject: Sports data
  topic: keywords
creator: Manuel Arrigo
creator: Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez
creator: Markus Lang
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Manuel Arrigo, Carlos Gomez-Gonzalez, Markus Lang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 047
ending page: 047
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss047

Exercise-intensity dependent variability in rates of aerobic metabolism is related to genetic aspects of muscle-type associated lactate transport in tactical athletes
type: item
description: 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 p…
subject: Oral 6.1 Biology & Medicine
  topic: section
subject: personalized exercise
  topic: keywords
subject: genetic
  topic: keywords
subject: respiration
  topic: keywords
subject: testing
  topic: keywords
subject: lactate
  topic: keywords
creator: Martin Flück
creator: Marie-Noëlle Giraud
creator: Christian Protte
creator: Alain Dössegger
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Martin Flück, Marie-Noëlle Giraud, Christian Protte, Alain Dössegger https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 046
ending page: 046
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss046

Prognostic value of heart rate dynamics during exercise testing in definite ARVC patients
type: item
description: 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, …
subject: Oral 6.1 Biology & Medicine
  topic: section
subject: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
  topic: keywords
subject: heart rate dynamics
  topic: keywords
subject: exercise testing
  topic: keywords
creator: Elsie L.C. Nix
creator: Fernando G. Beltrami
creator: Corinna Brunckhorst
creator: Firat Duru
creator: Christina M. Spengler
creator: Ardan M. Saguner
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 045
ending page: 045
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss045

Molecular mechanisms mediating exercise-induced maladaptations in vitro
type: item
description: 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 vi…
subject: Oral 6.1 Biology & Medicine
  topic: section
subject: overtraining syndrome
  topic: keywords
subject: endurance exercise
  topic: keywords
subject: mitochondria
  topic: keywords
creator: Giuseppe Sirago
creator: Clément Lanfranchi
creator: Justin Carrard
creator: Vincent Gremeaux
creator: Nadège Zanou
creator: Nicolas Place
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Giuseppe Sirago, Clément Lanfranchi, Justin Carrard, Vincent Gremeaux, Nadège Zanou, Nicolas Place https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 044
ending page: 044
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss044

Development and Preliminary Validation of the Presence in Extended Reality for Sport and Exercise (PERSE)
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
creator: Marie Simonet
creator: Oliver Runswick
creator: Hettie Roebuck
creator: Noel Kinrade
creator: Gavin Lawrence
creator: Luke Wilkins
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Marie Simonet, Oliver Runswick, Hettie Roebuck, Noel Kinrade, Gavin Lawrence, Luke Wilkins https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 043
ending page: 043
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss043

Acute effects of social media use and physical activity on adolescents’ body-related self-perception
type: item
description: 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. In…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
creator: Moritz Peter Engel
creator: Mirko Schmidt
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Moritz Peter Engel, Mirko Schmidt https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 042
ending page: 042
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss042

Sport in federally-funded Research and Innovation in Switzerland – An Update on the Status Quo
type: item
description: 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 fre…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: national innovation system
  topic: keywords
subject: research
  topic: keywords
subject: innovation
  topic: keywords
subject: research funding
  topic: keywords
subject: innovation support
  topic: keywords
creator: Cornel Gübeli
creator: Hippolyt Kempf
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Cornel Gübeli, Hippolyt Kempf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 041
ending page: 041
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss041

Soccer players’ ability to use peripheral vision is affected by viewing angles but not crowding
type: item
description: 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 wa…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: decision-making
  topic: keywords
subject: response time
  topic: keywords
subject: virtual reality
  topic: keywords
subject: gaze behavior
  topic: keywords
creator: Christian Vater
creator: Svitlana Pinchuk
creator: Božo Vukojević
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Christian Vater, Svitlana Pinchuk, Božo Vukojević https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 040
ending page: 040
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss040

KiKli Fit: Participatory Co-Design of a Physical Activity Counseling Program for Childhood Cancer Survivors
type: item
description: 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…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: Pediatric Oncology
  topic: keywords
subject: Physical Activity Counseling
  topic: keywords
subject: Participatory
  topic: keywords
subject: Behavior Change
  topic: keywords
subject: Aftercare
  topic: keywords
creator: Lars Rehbein
creator: Ann Christin Schneider
creator: Lisa Hillebrecht
creator: Bianca Schmidli
creator: Julia Schmid
creator: Eva Brack
creator: Valentin Benzing
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 039
ending page: 039
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss039

Menstrual Cycle Phase, Premenstrual Symptoms, and Daily Physical Activity: A Longitudinal Study
type: item
description: 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 activ…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
creator: Claudia Kubica
creator: Larissa Reifler
creator: Livia Lehmann
creator: Claudio R. Nigg
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Claudia Kubica, Larissa Reifler, Livia Lehmann, Claudio R. Nigg https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 038
ending page: 038
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss038

Exploring the role of sex and gender at the intersection of physical activity and air pollution: the INCLUDE project
type: item
description: 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 dev…
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: Sex
  topic: keywords
subject: Gender
  topic: keywords
subject: Aerobic Exercise
  topic: keywords
subject: Respiratory Disease
  topic: keywords
creator: Sierra R. Arn
creator: Martina Ragettli
creator: Mirko Winkler
creator: Joren Buekers
creator: Ioar Rivas
creator: Judith Garcia-Aymerich
creator: Mariona Font
creator: Elena Gimeno-Santos
creator: Marion Roswitha Maggi
creator: Thomas Radke
creator: Anja Frei
creator: Timo Hinrichs
creator: Fabian Schwendinger
creator: Eric Lichtenstein
creator: Michael S. Koehle
creator: Kassi Welch
creator: Erica Bennett
creator: Laura Delgado-Ortiz
creator: Sarah Koch
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 037
ending page: 037
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss037

Development of a Structured Framework for Personalized Cognitive-Motor Exergame Training in Frailty
type: item
description: 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 …
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: personalization
  topic: keywords
subject: cognitive-motor training
  topic: keywords
subject: aging
  topic: keywords
subject: frailty
  topic: keywords
creator: Asli Karamanlargil
creator: Muriel Strasser
creator: Eleftheria Giannouli
rights: Copyright (c) 2026 Asli Karamanlargil, Muriel Strasser, Eleftheria Giannouli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 035
ending page: 035
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss035

Evaluation of a Controlled Study on the Effects of Exercise on Physical Health in Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity: the NOW! Study
type: item
description: 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 …
subject: Poster 5
  topic: section
subject: Vascular health
  topic: keywords
subject: cardiovascular disease
  topic: keywords
subject: pediatric obesity
  topic: keywords
subject: physical fitness
  topic: keywords
subject: exercise intervention
  topic: keywords
creator: Vera Bissig
creator: Henner Hanssen
creator: Oliver Faude
creator: Sebastian Ludyga
creator: Céline Stark
creator: Manuel Huber
creator: Eric Lichtenstein
creator: Ralf Roth
creator: Lukas Nebiker
creator: Christoph Hauser
rights: 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
date: 2026-02-17
publication date: 2026-02-17
starting page: 034
ending page: 034
doi: 10.36950/2026.2ciss034