Mental health issues, especially among young women, have significantly increased due to Covid-19 pandemic. Although movement activities in Kinesiology and performing arts can have countless health benefits, physical activity declines drastically among mainly freshmen and young females. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of physical theater (e.g., dance, aerial dance, calisthenics, strength training, balance, coordination, flexibility, and bodily expression) on mental health, healthy lifestyles, play, and the love of movement among college students. This was a mixed-methods, phronetic and temporal study encompassing quantitative and qualitative data among seven undergraduate students, who enrolled in a physical theater class. Dependent t-tests were conducted to examine differences in depression and stress between the beginning of the class and the end of the semester. Phronetic research was used to analyze the qualitative data and create themes and categories. Mental health improved with a nearly medium within-subject effect for stress (d = .32, Mdifference = 3.5). These data were strengthened by the three emerging themes of the qualitative analysis. The first theme, positive physical theater experiences, included body confidence in expression, improved mental health, healthier lifestyle choices, and the love of movement. The second theme showcased the playful nature of physical theater (e.g., a non-purposeful, interactive, child-like activity, outside ordinary life). A few participants mentioned a couple of negative physical theater experiences (third theme), such as injury and darkness in expression. Movement educators in Kinesiology and performing arts should emphasize safe, bodily, creative, and playful activities within a supportive and community-oriented environment for the promotion of health and the love of movement.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to develop and verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the Korea Institute of Sports Science (KISS) golf conditioning questionnaire survey. METHODS A total of 320 professional and elite-amateur female golfers were recruited and parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted to evaluate the suitability of the intended five-factor model (physical fitness, injury, nutrition, mental, and performance strategy). Confirmatory factor analysis was also used to determine the questions by evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes. RESULTS 5-factor model was supported by showing Bayesian information criterion −386.75, Tucker-Lewis index 0.947, root square error of approximation 0.049 and standardized root mean square residual 0.03. The final model of the Korean version KISS golf conditioning questionnaire survey showed a comparative fit index of 0.928, Tucker-Lowis index of 0.908, root mean square residual of 0.066, and standardized root mean square residual of 0.077, confirming the suitability of the model. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated the feasibility and reliability of the Korean version KISS conditioning questionnaire survey for Korean elite female golfers. The objective evaluation prior to plan and execute conditioning using this evaluation tool will allows elite female golfers to obtain essential information to optimize the concurrent conditioning.
This study aimed to develop an exercise program for childhood cancer survivors and examine its feasibility and effects on improvements in physical fitness, muscle strength, and body composition. A tailored exercise program for childhood cancer survivors was developed through 8 systematic procedures, including a review of literature, physical activity survey, qualitative study, the first expert panel discussion, drafting an evidence-based exercise program, secondary expert panel discussion, revising the exercise program, and conducting feasibility and pilot study. For the feasibility and pilot study, 10 childhood cancer survivors (mean age 16.30 ± 1.77 years) participated, divided into either an exercise or a control group. Participants in the exercise group participated in the exercise program for 6 weeks. Based on preliminary studies, the exercise programs consisted of home-based and supervised exercise programs, including resistance and sports, conducted for 6 weeks. The body composition was measured, and a 6-minute walk test, grip strength, vertical jump, sit-up, push-up, chair stand test, and sit and reach test was conducted. After completing the exercise program, muscular endurance (sit-up test, p-value = 0.039) and lower body strength (chair stand test, p-value = 0.010) were significantly increased in the exercise group compared to the control group. Fat mass significantly decreased in the exercise group compared to the control group (p-value = 0.010). In conclusion, the exercise program developed in this study demonstrated feasibility and effectiveness in reducing body fat mass and improving muscular endurance and lower body strength in childhood cancer survivors.
The term “sports welfare” has been widely used in South Korean society for over a decade. In contrast, the academic definition of it remains largely undefined, which led to inefficiency in the policies regarding sports welfare. This paper quantifies the degree of sports welfare on a first-level division basis by developing a composite index model through three rounds of Delphi surveys and an Analytic hierarchy process. 5 Key factors and 13 sub-factors were identified to composite the Index, and the index values were calculated by applying data collected from national sources. As a result, most “Do”s scored higher than “Si”s overall, while South Jeolla Do showed the highest (109.5) and Sejong Si showed the lowest (92.1). We expect the results to shed light on the concept of sports welfare and provide guidance on comparing the sports welfare level between regions.
This review aimed to analyze the impact of whole-body-vibration (WBV) training on strength, power, muscle endurance, functional lower-extremity flexibility (FLEF), and functional lower-extremity strength (FLES) in older adults and to evaluate the effectiveness of different WBV training periods. Electronic searches were conducted using four databases. The methodological quality and level of evidence of the selected articles were assessed by two reviewers. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Nineteen studies were included (474 participants; mean age 74.27 years). Strength was measured by isokinetic, isometric, or isotonic contraction using an isokinetic dynamometer or weight-training machines. Power was measured by an assessment task that required maximal force in a short period of time. Endurance was evaluated by maximal repetition of tasks, FLEF by chair stand-and-reach and functional reach tests, and FLES by the sit-to-stand test. Meta-analysis showed that WBV training had significant effects on strength (SMD = .54; CIs = .40, .67), power (SMD = .58; CIs = .28, .89), muscle endurance (SMD = .82; CIs = .36, 1.29), FLEF (SMD = .31; CIs = .06, .55), and FLES (SMD = −.75; CIs = −1.18, −.33). Our findings suggest that 1) WBV training improves overall lower-extremity muscle function in older adults, especially muscle endurance; 2) a minimum of 8 weeks of WBV training is recommended to improve strength, muscular endurance, and power; and 3) a longer period of the WBV training is more effective at improving muscle endurance, power, and strength but not FLEF and FLES. Therefore, WBV training is strongly recommended to improve various muscle function parameters in older adults.
This study compared differences in pitching kinematics between normal-weight and overweight high school baseball pitchers. Twenty male pitchers were included in the study. According to the 2020 guidelines on the Body Mass Index (BMI) standard for children and adolescents by the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity, 10 participants with BMI below the 85% percentile were assigned to the normal-weight group, and 10 participants with BMI above the 85% percentile were assigned to the overweight group. The two groups threw 10 trials for a fastball with maximum effort. Out of 10 trials, three pitches thrown in the strike zone with the fastest velocity were extracted. The mean ball velocity was measured, and the mean and maximum angle and angular velocity of the knee, pelvis, trunk, shoulder, and elbow joints were calculated. The differences in the ball velocity, angle, and angular velocity between the two groups were compared using an independent t-test (p<0.05). There were no differences in mean ball velocity between the two groups. However, compared with the normal-weight group, the overweight group showed smaller knee flexion, trunk forward tilt, trunk rotation, maximum trunk angular velocity, shoulder external rotation and maximum shoulder external rotation, while shoulder abduction and maximum elbow flexion were greater. These results suggest that the overweight group may have a high risk of soft tissue damage in the knee, shoulder, and elbow joints caused by limited movement of the trunk and inefficient movement between the extremities during power pitching.
This research reviews studies on sports performance and visual exploration strategies in the field of sports proficiency and comprehension. Accepting visual information is conducted through visual search, now referred to as visual exploration. Visual exploration refers to the process of paying attention to appropriate key clues that contain the necessary information to prepare and execute actions in a given circumstance or to make pertinent decisions. The visual exploration study uses an eye-tracking system to measure gaze fixation time and position, and to discern the disparity in the process of obtaining information between experienced and amateurs depending on the various sports fields and presents meaningful results in revealing the characteristics of the former: experienced individuals. The Vision-in-Action system presents a methodology that can solve the limitations of the visual exploration paradigm. That is, the movement pattern of the gaze is recorded at the same time as performing the physical technical movement performed in the actual sporting event. This methodology is consistent with a theoretical flow that emphasizes the perceptual-action coupling process. Research on visual exploration and exercise performance has been conducted in various sporting events such as aiming, conceptual, and tactical tasks. Specifically, in aiming tasks, QED is a crucial facet linked to performance accuracy. Based on these exploration studies, perceptual technology training is applied. Perception technology training is applied as a method of QED and gaze control training, and it is reported that it has a distinctively positive effect on improving performance.
The purpose of this study is to describe negative experiences related to human rights among female college student athletes in South Korea. For this purpose, qualitative research methods were used in this study. A total of 10 female college athletes participated in in-depth interviews, and the interview was conducted from March 1 to September 1, 2021. The main research results are as follows. First of all, most female college athletes who participated in the interview revealed that they had experienced physical or psychological harassment and abuse since elementary school. Second, female college student athletes experienced pressure with respect to their freedom and self-determination. It was found that life as an athlete is controlled by way of limiting the athletes’ right to self-determination including restriction on appearance, being excluded from various college activities and restrictions on socializing due to curfews. Third, participants demonstrated that the perpetrators were senior athletes and coach. Therefore, the study indicated that it is a fact of life at college level that female college athletes have experienced physical and verbal violence in sport. As such, human rights education and policies are needed to promote the human rights of female college students.
The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean young adults’ perceptions about the formation process of North and South Korean unified women’s ice hockey team for 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in South Korea. Q-method was used to analyze perceptions about the formation process of the unified ice hockey team. Q-statements were distributed to 42 people in their 20s and 30s in Seoul, South Korea. Distribution of Q-statements was analyzed using Qunal program. We found three types of perception: 1) athletic sacrifice forcing type, a recognition that the formation process of the unified ice hockey team was used for political purpose and a promotional tool for the Olympic Games; 2) inter-Korean exchange development type, a conception that the unified ice hockey team positively contributed to the promotion of exchange of North and South Korea, economic cooperation, peace, and harmony; and 3) political purposes pursuit type, a perception that the formation of the unified ice hockey team was primarily used to achieve political and diplomatic goals and that the media mainly conveyed positive aspect of the unified team for this purpose. The use of sports for political and diplomatic purpose is likely to increase in the future. Perception types among Korean adults in their 20s and 30s are likely to be mixed in the future. Therefore, it is important to promote consensus among Koreans regarding the formation of a South and North Korean unified team in the future.
The goal of this study was to prepare a practical strategy that can help the successful settlement of the Asian quota system and the success and development of Korean professional volleyball. Through in-depth interviews, participants were asked to respond about the expected effects of the introduction of the Asian quota, and the results were derived using content analysis and keyword analysis. The research results can be summarized as follows: (1) in the keyword analysis of expected effects, keywords such as performance improvement, competitiveness, fandom, profit generation, globalization, and the Korean wave of volleyball were frequently appeared. (2) Regarding the introduction of the Asian quota system, the participants showed a positive attitude rather than a negative attitude, and said that the Asian quota system would improve the league’s performance and competitiveness. (3) Participants expected that a new fan base would flow into Korean professional volleyball and a fandom would be formed due to the player selected for the Asian Quota. (4) The introduction of the Asian quota could generate additional revenue for the V-League and clubs and would be of financial help. (5) The Asian Quota can play a role as a medium for the integration of Korean multicultural society and the development and growth of the Korean volleyball agent system was also identified. Based on the results, Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) will have to carry out marketing for the expansion of the V-League into the Asian market, using the introduction of the Asian quota system as a stepping stone. We hope that Korean professional volleyball will become the central axis of Korean sports through KOVO’s global marketing including the Asian Quota.
