Training Interventions Change Relative Power Spectrum of Alpha After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Deficiency in Athletes

Introduction: In individuals with anterior cruciate ligament deficiency (ACLD), defective sensory and motor neuroplasticity occurs in the central nervous system (CNS) due to defects in sensory afferents. To successfully restore ACLD individuals to pre-injury conditions, it is necessary to modify the neuroplasticity created in the CNS by prescribing more appropriate training. For this aim, in this study, we used perturbation training differently. Materials and Methods: Thirty athletes with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture were randomly assigned to the perturbation and standard training groups. The training program of two groups was performed in three intermittent sessions per week for one month. The relative power spectrum of alpha of quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was measured in three tasks: (1) the single-leg jump-landing, (2) the single-leg stance with opened eyes, and (3) the single-leg stance with closed eyes. Results: The perturbation training group only showed significant symmetry in the relative power spectrum of alpha between the two limbs in the single-leg jump-landing test (p=0.92, ES=0.04) in comparison pre-post test. Also, this group showed high symmetry in the alpha band in the single-leg stance test with closed eyes (p=0.53, ES=0.16). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that both mechanical perturbation and standard training are suitable for transporting ACLDs back to sports. It also seems that mechanical perturbation training had higher effectiveness in modifying the CNS alpha power

The Psychological Effects of Exercise on Perceived Stress in Athlete Staff: Presenting a Theoretical Model

Background: The study is intended to examine a model of direct and indirect effects (through mediating role of self-assessment latent variable containing self-efficacy and self-esteem components) of sports mental toughness construct (including the components of confidence, consistency and control) on perceived stress of athlete employees. Method: The research design of study was correlational and its approach was structural equations. The population were all athlete employees at National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) 400 of whom were selected with simple random method. The applied instruments were reliable and valid. Data analysis was performed using macro program of Preacher and Hayes in SPSS-19 software and also using AMOS-20 software. Results: The results indicated that the direct path of the proposed model should be eliminated and after eliminating this path, the model’s fitness parameters were optimized. Conclusion: According to the data of this research it can be concluded that one of the mechanisms of sport’s impact on perceived stress of employees is that first, it influences the three aspects of sports mental toughness and then, a mixture of these variables’ effects improve this employees’ perceived stress through increasing the self- assessment construct of them (and its components)

The Psychological Effects of Exercise on Perceived Stress in Athlete Staff: Presenting a Theoretical Model

Background: The study is intended to examine a model of direct and indirect effects (through mediating role of self-assessment latent variable containing self-efficacy and self-esteem components) of sports mental toughness construct (including the components of confidence, consistency and control) on perceived stress of athlete employees. Method: The research design of study was correlational and its approach was structural equations. The population were all athlete employees at National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) 400 of whom were selected with simple random method. The applied instruments were reliable and valid. Data analysis was performed using macro program of Preacher and Hayes in SPSS-19 software and also using AMOS-20 software. Results: The results indicated that the direct path of the proposed model should be eliminated and after eliminating this path, the model’s fitness parameters were optimized. Conclusion: According to the data of this research it can be concluded that one of the mechanisms of sport’s impact on perceived stress of employees is that first, it influences the three aspects of sports mental toughness and then, a mixture of these variables’ effects improve this employees’ perceived stress through increasing the self- assessment construct of them (and its components)

The Need to Psychological Screening of Para Athletes

DEAR EDITOR As the level of practice or competition increases, the risk of negative incidents similar to injury, overtraining, burnout, anxiety, and eating disorders also increases, which affects para athletes’ health and wellbeing (Kenta and Corban, 2014). Most athletes need to control their chronic pain, prevent sport injuries, and cope with sleep disturbances (Martin, 2017). Para athletes face challenges in air travelling, living in the camps or game villages, and city transportations (Campbell and Jones, 2002) which may cause psychological stress. Sometimes, gender, would be also a challenge. Comparing male to female para athletes, it was found that females face more cultural challenges; in some cultures, female sport is not of significance and is not considered as part of feminine values and competences (Shakespeare, Gillespie-Sells, Davies, 1996). Most of psychological studies on para sports examines the advantages of sport activities for people with disability; however, to improve para athletes’ wellbeing and mental health, it will be necessary to look out for both psychological excellences which para athletes may develop by participating in para sports, and also psychological characteristics which para athletes need to develop to be able to cope with para sports’ challenging situations. Sport psychologists are employed during or right before competition season to improve para athletes’ performance; they teach para athletes to use mental skills and to cope with stress inducing situations. Our last 12 years of experience in Iran NPC indicates that this is not sufficient. A significant percent of athletes is still suffering from anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and communication problems. Several other factors like changes in classification rules, changes in competitions timetables, lack of knowledge about medicines/supplements, change of coaching staff and so on, cause stress for para athletes all year round. Therefore, constant monitoring of para athletes’ psychological states seems necessary. Creating a psychological profile for every para athlete who attends a national team camp will be beneficial in several senses: In depth interview with the para athlete provides important psychological states and traits; Data collected in the profile will help the newly employed sport psychologists to put emphasis on the most important issues; And finally, these data will help to signify brief contact consultations during competitions. Given the significance of psychological profiling of para athletes, it is duly expected that the IJMCL put special emphasis on publishing papers related to their psychological status. This may in turn encourages investigators in the vast field of sport and exercise psychology to put extra effort in investigating psychological aspects of para athletes, related to their mental health and also to their performance

A comparison of learning a hand movement pattern in 20 to 26 young adults and 8-10 years old children and its application in rehabilitation

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of two different age groups (children and young adult) to learning of temporal-special coordination hand movement pattern. Materials and Methods: Sixty subjects according to the age (children-young adult) and receiving feedback (100%, omitted, self-control) were randomly divided in to six groups. This study was done in three days. All subjects practice 100 trails of movement task in each day of first and second days. Retention tests were done in second and third days and reacquisition test was done in the third day. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and two way ANOVA was used to data analysis. Results: All participants in the first day improved their accuracy across practice trials. In the second day children did not improve their accuracy but young adult experienced improvement across practice trials. There was no significant difference between retention children tests but that was significant about young adult. During the retention tests children who received 100% feedback was significantly better than other children feedback groups and there was no significant between young adult feedback groups. During the reacquisition test children who received 100% feedback was significantly better than other children feedback groups and there was no significant between young adult feedback groups. Conclusion: Results from this study showed young adult were better than children in the learning of this pattern, receiving more feedback can improve motor learning in children (in contrast with guidance hypothesis) and we must not expect motor skill acquisition occur in fast rate like young adult in children. Keywords: Age, Young adult, Children, Motor learning, Feedbac

The effect of spiritual vitality training program on athletes\' fear of failure and psychological security

Background: The literature in sports psychology showed that a decrease in the feeling of psychological security probably caused a decrease in success and thus caused fear and anxiety. As a result, sports psychologists have focused on training programs to overcome the reduction in feelings of psychological security and fear. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of spiritual vitality training program and evaluation on fear of failure and psychological security of athletes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test research design, 46 female athletes were selected by voluntary participation, and randomly divided into two groups of spiritual vitality and control training programs. Participants completed pre-test and post-test questionnaires of psychological security (Edmondson, 1999) and fear of failure (Conory et al, 2002). The intervention phase was performed in 28 one-hour sessions. This protocol was a combination of the protocol of spiritual vitality (eight sessions), consciousness in the moment (ten sessions) and acceptance and awareness (ten sessions) (Mehry Varnayeb, 2017). During this time, the participants in the control group engaged in their daily activities. Data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate analysis of covariance. Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that spiritual vitality training program has a significant effect on reducing the fear of failure (ie, decreased self-esteem, fear of having an unknown future, fear of upsetting important people, fear of experiencing shame and fear of losing Giving interest to important people (athletes) (P<0.05). It also showed that spiritual vitality training program has a significant effect on increasing the sense of psychological security of athletes (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that spiritual vitality program has been effective in reducing the fear of failure and increasing the feeling of psychological security of the athletes through self-control and it is important for experts to be aware of this program in order to reduce the fear of failure and improve the safety of athletes

Investigation on changes in vegetation by effects of environmental factors using conservatism species

The vegetation ordination and classification based on conservatism species can be better able to analyze the ecological relationships between vegetation and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate changes in herb layer vegetation of Quercus brantii, Q infectoria, and Pyrus glabra forest types based on conservatism species, at different environmental factors. Tree and herb layer was surveyed using 24 main plots (500m2) and 3 sub-plots (4m2) randomly distributed in each main plots, respectively. Crown canopy, physiographic features, and some edaphic factors were measured in each main plot. Species richness and species frequency were recorded in sub-plots as an abundance index. The relation between environmental factors and herb layer dynamic were investigated by ordination (CCA, PCA & DCA) and classification (TWINSPAN) methods after determining conservatism species. Based on the results of ordination and classification, herbaceous layer in Q. brantii type was significantly different in species composition and physiographic and edaphic factors from Q. infectoria and P. glabra types. Herbaceous layer in Q. brantii type showed a positive correlation with high levels of nutrients and the effective main components were OC, N, K, sand, altitude, and saturated humidity in top soil. The Q. infectoria and P. glabra types were observed in calcareous and heavy soils low elevation with nutrients deficiency. The herbaceous layer and soil in Q. brantii type seems to be more evolved due to climax tree layer