The Role of Padel in Improving Physical Fitness and Health Promotion: Progress, Limitations, and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review

Benefits of regular exercise for health are beyond any doubt. However, adherence to regular physical activity is an ongoing challenge. Among the options for exercise engagement, racket sports, and particularly padel, stand as emerging practices for children and adults to have fun, improve physical fitness, and potentially develop motor and cognitive skills. In the last decade, the literature on padel is increasing exponentially. However, there is a need for further experimental research. To design safe and effective sport-base physical activity promotion interventions, it is essential to have a deep understanding of the physical requirements, technical complexity, injury risks, and strength and conditioning programs. To assist researchers to conduct effective padel-based interventions for health, this review summarizes the state-of-the-art evidence about padel, identifies key topics to be addressed in the future, and discusses the potential role of padel as a physical fitness and health promotion strategy. A narrative review is presented, summarizing the results of padel articles from three different databases: Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies written in Spanish and English were the inclusion criteria. The studies had to be published from 2000 onwards and be original, as well as peer-reviewed

Benefits of regular table tennis practice in body composition and physical fitness compared to physically active children aged 10–11 years

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in body composition and physical fitness between children who played table tennis regularly during a two-year period compared to physically active children who were not engaged in a regular activity. Three hundred seventy-four children aged 10 to 11 years were divided into two groups: table tennis players (n = 109 boys and 73 girls) and physically active group (n = 88 boys and 104 girls). Anthropometric analysis included body mass index, skinfolds, perimeters and bone diameters. Somatotype and body composition were determined according to age-specific equations. Physical fitness assessment included hand grip dynamometry (strength), sit-and-reach test (range of movement) and maximal multistage 20 m shuttle run test (cardiovascular fitness). The result show that children who regularly played table tennis had greater bone development and superior physical fitness compared to those who were physically active but not engaged in a regular physical activity. This is the largest study to date presenting data about the potential of table tennis to benefit health in children. These results constitute an important first step in clarifying the effectiveness of table tennis as a health-promotion strategy to encourage children to undertake regular physical activity and limit sedentary behavior

Shooting strategies and effectiveness after offensive rebound and its impact on game result in Euroleague basketball teams

Offensive rebound dominance has been widely shown as a key factor to success in basketball, since provide an extra attack. However, knowledge on how these second-options may results more effective is scarce. Thus, we aimed to discover the influence of shooting after offensive rebound on effectiveness, comparing differences between winners and losers. The sample consisted of 3010 shot attempts from Euroleague-Top-16. Variables pertaining to shooting effectiveness, shooting zone, and game result were registered through systematic observation. Statistical analyses included series of binomial logistic regression analyses. Results showed that shooting effectiveness increases by 67% when shooting after offensive rebound (OR= 1.67; p< 0.01). Additionally, winning teams were more effective after offensive rebound compared to losers (OR= 1.43; p= 0.03). Particularly, winners significantly scored more from the outside than defeated (OR= 3.40; p< 0.01), not finding differences in the inside (p= 0.62). In general, findings point out important advantages of shooting after offensive rebound, showing differences between winners and losers tactics. Thus, it is suggested developing specific tactical behaviours after offensive rebound situations to increase scoring opportunities and winning chances.

Inside game ball transitions according to player’s specific positions in NBA basketball

The purposes of this study were to identify players’ relationships and detecting ball transitions patterns according to their specic position when using inside pass, in the National Basketball Association (NBA) competition. In total, 808 inside passes (ball possession score dierences below 10 points) from 25 matches (NBA Playos, 2011) were analysed through systematic observation. A decision tree analysis (Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection) was used to identify ball transitions patterns regarding specific players’ position (roots) and passer-receiver interactions (predictors). We detected strong pass and reception sequences of movements according to players’ specific position, especially when including interactions between perimeter and post players. Game conditions such as reception zone, pass distance, reception attitude, and defensive helps were also inuenced by players’ position. Current results point out the outside-inside coordination as an essential key to success in the NBA. It is recommended developing game dynamics focused in taking advantage of the high and low-post positions, as well as performing supporting actions in the weak side to enhance inside pass options. ese ndings may have implications in basketball training and competition process, contributing in a better understanding of collective strategies which leads to an accurate designing of practices task focused on increasing inside game options and players’ decision-making according to specific competition constraints.

Collective behaviour in basketball: A systematic review

We aimed to review and organise current literature about basketball collective behaviour assessment to categorise the most common research topics, main findings and shortcomings of the analysis made. Literature was sought via an electronic search of three databases: Scopus, Web of Science and SportDiscus. Systematic review principles were used to identify and select potential eligible studies according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. In total, 322 studies were identified in the original database search, including 45 after the screening process. Then, articles were classified regarding topic and tactical factors explored (game co ntext, game phase and players’ role, and game condition). Current findings contribute to a better understanding of tactical assessment and game structure in basketball. The set of results extracted and discussed provide accurate information about the state of art in basketball collective behaviour assessment. We detected a lack of studies exploring tactical behaviour from a complex, dynamic, and holistic point of view, as well as an absence of longitudinal designs. Besides, reports about the influences of game context in basketball tactical performance are sparse. Information reported might result of great interest for coaches and staff, contributing to better characterise match performance in basketball and subsequent development of tactical training enhancement programmes. Additionally, the summary and classification provided may serve as a useful guide to future research in basketball. © 2017 Cardiff Metropolitan University

Anthropometric profiles in table tennis players: Analysis of sex, age, and ranking

Table tennis has recently evolved towards a more spectacular sport increasing match-play demands and the intensity and speed of actions by regulations and equipment modification. Since these changes can alter the body composition and performance, this study aimed to analyze the differences in anthropometric attributes of 495 table tennis players (288 men, 207 women) according to sex, age, and ranking. Players were classified according to sex, age categories (Senior, Under-18, Under-15, Under 13, and Under 11), and ranking position. Anthropometry measurements included eight skinfolds’ thicknesses (biceps brachii, triceps, subscapular, iliac crest, supraspinal, abdominal, thigh, and medial calf), four girths (biceps brachii relaxed and contracted, thigh, and calf), and three breadths (biepicondylar femur, biepicondylar humerus, and bistiloyd wrist) to determine fat mass, lean mass, bone, cross sectional area (CSA) for arm, leg, and thigh, and somatotype. Results revealed that table tennis players presented differences in body mass composition, anthropometry, and somatotype according to sex and age category and ranking. It seems confirmed that regular table tennis practice during the childhood is associated with a healthy body composition status, that appears to be maintained across older ages if keeping the practice. Senior table tennis players showed a fat mass <20% and lean mass ~45% in men and ~37% in women. A new contribution is that higher lean mass in the upper limbs was associated with higher ranking position (i.e., better performance), endomorphic somatotypes were negative related to performance, and ectomorphic profiles seems more effective, which suggest the potential influence of morphologic changes in table tennis competition performance

Estado de ánimo y calidad de vida en mujeres adultas practicantes de pádel

The purpose of this study is to analyze the level of quality of life and to determine the profile of mood state in adult padel women and to compare it with sedentary women. The sample were 60 women from Extremadura (average age = 40,43 ± 5,73 years), divided into two groups, distinguishing between sportswomen who practice paddle and sedentary women. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to clasify the participants in the groups (athletes and sedentary). The questionnaire of the Mood Profile and a quality of life questionnaire (EuroQol-5D) were applied. The results of this work showed higher levels in every dimension of mood state for the group of sportswomen. However, it does not appear that practicing padel influence on the dimensions of quality of life, outside of the measure in the analog visual scale, which is higher in the women padel players.El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la percepción del nivel de calidad de vida y determinar el perfil de estado de ánimo de las mujeres deportistas que practican pádel y compararlo con los resultados obtenidos por las mujeres sedentarias. Las participantes del estudio fueron 60 mujeres extremeñas (Edad  media = 40,43 ± 5,73 años), divididas en dos grupos, distinguiendo entre mujeres deportistas que practican pádel y mujeres sedentarias. Se utilizó el Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física para dividir a las participantes en dos grupos (deportistas y sedentarias) y posteriormente se aplicó cuestionario del Perfil de Estado de Ánimo y el test EuroQol-5D para conocer la percepción de calidad de vida. Los resultados de este trabajo mostraron valores significativamente más elevados en el todas las dimensiones del estado de ánimo en las mujeres deportistas. Sin embargo, no parece que la práctica de pádel influya significativamente en las dimensiones de calidad de vida excepción de la medida en la escala visual analógica, que es superior en las mujeres practicantes de páde

Relationship between physical activity level, use of video games and academic performance in university students

Una de las causas atribuibles a la reducción de los niveles de práctica de actividad física en jóvenes es el aumento del uso de los videojuegos. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer el nivel de práctica de actividad física y su relación con el uso de videojuegos y el rendimiento académico en estudiantes universitarios. Ochenta y siete estudiantes (edad = 20 ± 6 años, 42 hombres y 45 mujeres) pertenecientes al Grado en Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte y al Grado de Educación Primaria participaron en el estudio. La recogida de datos serealizó medianteloscuestionariosPhysician-based Assessment and Counseling for Exercise yel Cuestionariode Experiencia Relacionada conlos Videojuegos. El rendimiento académico se analizó mediante la nota media de los estudiantes. Los resultados mostraron una relación positiva entre el nivel de actividad física y el rendimiento académico (a mayor actividad física, mayor nota media), al igual que entre el nivel de actividad física y el uso de videojuegos (a mayor nivel de actividad física, mayor uso de videojuegos)