Physical Activity During Lockdowns Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-analysis of 173 Studies with 320,636 Participants

Background: Many countries have restricted public life in order to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2). As a side effect of related measures, physical activity (PA) levels may have decreased. Objective: We aimed (1) to quantify changes in PA and (2) to identify variables potentially predicting PA reductions. Methods: A systematic review with random-effects multilevel meta-analysis was performed, pooling the standardized mean differences in PA measures before and during public life restrictions. Results: A total of 173 trials with moderate methodological quality (modified Downs and Black checklist) were identified. Compared to pre-pandemic, total PA (SMD − 0.65, 95% CI − 1.10 to − 0.21) and walking (SMD − 0.52, 95% CI − 0.29 to − 0.76) decreased while sedentary behavior increased (SMD 0.91, 95% CI: 0.17 to 1.65). Reductions in PA affected all intensities (light: SMD − 0.35, 95% CI − 0.09 to − 0.61, p = .013; moderate: SMD − 0.33, 95% CI − 0.02 to − 0.6; vigorous: SMD − 0.33, − 0.08 to − 0.58, 95% CI − 0.08 to − 0.58) to a similar degree. Moderator analyses revealed no influence of variables such as sex, age, body mass index, or health status. However, the only continent without a PA reduction was Australia and cross-sectional trials yielded higher effect sizes (p < .05). Conclusion: Public life restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in moderate reductions in PA levels and large increases in sedentary behavior. Health professionals and policy makers should therefore join forces to develop strategies counteracting the adverse effects of inactivity

Verwendung von Intertialsensoren zur automatisierten Auswertung sensomotorischer Tests

Um die sensomotorische Leistungsfähigkeit von Sportlern zu evaluieren, gibt es verschiedene sportwissenschaftliche Standardtests, wie zum Beispiel den Y-Balance-Test (YBT). Allerdings ist bei vielen dieser Verfahren ein Tester nötig, der die Durchführung leitet und das Ergebnis bestimmt. In dieser Arbeit wird der Ansatz für ein System auf Basis von Inertialsensoren (IMUs) vorgestellt, durch das die Auswertung verschiedener im Bereich der Sportwissenschaften gängiger Tests automatisiert werden kann. Implementiert wurde der YBT und die aktive Winkelreproduktion. Durch die Automatisierung muss während des Tests kein Tester mehr anwesend sein, wodurch beispielsweise Freizeitsportler, Leistungssportler, Trainer, Vereine, aber auch Forschungseinrichtungen in die Lage versetzt werden, diese Tests jederzeit durchzuführen. Durch die Verwendung von IMUs, die ihre eigene Ausrichtung als Quaternion schätzen, wird im vorgestellten System die aktuelle Pose der Knochen im Skelett des Nutzers berechnet. Aus diesen werden dann die verschiedenen Testergebnisse, wie Gelenkwinkel oder die Position einzelner Extremitäten, bestimmt. Als Plattform kommt ein mobiles Gerät zum Einsatz, auf dem die Berechnung und die Visualisierung in Echtzeit erfolgen

Validity and Reliability of an Inertial Sensor-Based Knee Proprioception Test in Younger vs. Older Adults

Diminishing proprioception caused by aging effects is associated with a higher risk to fall. However, existing measurement systems of proprioception are often expensive, time-consuming, or insufficient regarding reliability evaluation. Inertial sensor-based systems could address these issues. Consequently, this study sought to develop and evaluate an inertial sensor-based joint position sense test. Thereto, intra-session and inter-day test-retest reliability were investigated in a cross-over design. Twenty healthy younger (age: 22 ± 3 years) and 20 healthy older adults (age: 65 ± 5 years) participated in the study. We calculated the mean of the absolute error, the signed error, and the standard deviation of the signed error. Test-retest reliability was quantified by using the intraclass correlation coefficient as well as the bias and limits of agreement. To evaluate the possibility of capturing aging effects, and correspondingly a validation of the system, we calculated Cohen's d. For the intra-session reliability, fair to good agreements were achieved for the absolute and relative error in all target ranges. Compared to younger adults, we registered a declined joint position sense in older adults with high effects observed for the absolute error in a target range of 15–25 and 35–45° as well as for the variable error in the target ranges of 35–45 and 55–65°. We suggest that inertial sensor-based joint position sense tests are reliable and capable to measure aging effects on proprioception, and are therefore a low-cost and mobile alternative to existing methods

Sex-specific differences in running injuries: a systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

Background: Running is a popular sport with high injury rates. Although risk factors have intensively been investigated, synthesized knowledge about the differences in injury rates of female and male runners is scarce. Objective: To systematically investigate the differences in injury rates and characteristics between female and male runners. Methods: Database searches (PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, SPORTDiscus) were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines using the keywords “running AND injur*”. Prospective studies reporting running related injury rates for both sexes were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the risk ratios (RR) for the occurrence of injuries in female vs. male runners. Potential moderators (effect modifiers) were analysed using meta-regression. Results: After removal of duplicates, 12,215 articles were screened. Thirty-eight studies were included and the OR of 31 could be pooled in the quantitative analysis. The overall injury rate was 20.8 (95% CI 19.9–21.7) injuries per 100 female runners and 20.4 (95% CI 19.7–21.1) injuries per 100 male runners. Meta-analysis revealed no differences between sexes for overall injuries reported per 100 runners (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.90–1.10, n = 24) and per hours or athlete exposure (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69–1.27, n = 6). Female sex was associated with a more frequent occurrence of bone stress injury (RR (for males) 0.52, 95% CI 0.36–0.76, n = 5) while male runners had higher risk for Achilles tendinopathies (RR 1. 86, 95% CI 1.25–2.79, n = 2). Meta-regression showed an association between a higher injury risk and competition distances of 10 km and shorter in female runners (RR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00–1.69). Conclusion: Differences between female and male runners in specific injury diagnoses should be considered in the development of individualised and sex-specific prevention and rehabilitation strategies to manage running-related injuries

Appraising the Methodological Quality of Sports Injury Video Analysis Studies: The QA-SIVAS Scale

Background Video analysis (VA) is commonly used in the assessment of sports injuries and has received considerable research interest. Until now, no tool has been available for the assessment of study quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a valid instrument that reliably assesses the methodological quality of VA studies. Methods The Quality Appraisal for Sports Injury Video Analysis Studies (QA-SIVAS) scale was developed using a modified Delphi approach including expert consensus and pilot testing. Reliability was examined through intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3,1) and free-marginal kappa statistics by three independent raters. Construct validity was investigated by comparing QA-SIVAS with expert ratings by using Kendall’s tau analysis. Rating time was studied by applying the scale to 21 studies and computing the mean time for rating per study article. Results The QA-SIVAS scale consists of an 18-item checklist addressing the study design, data source, conduct, report, and discussion of VA studies in sports injury research. Inter- and intra-rater reliability were excellent with ICCs > 0.97. Expert ratings revealed a high construct validity (0.71; p < 0.001). Mean rating time was 10 ± 2 min per article. Conclusion QA-SIVAS is a reliable and valid instrument that can be easily applied to sports injury research. Future studies in the field of VA should adhere to standardized methodological criteria and strict quality guidelines