Sport Exergames for Physical Education

Sports active video games (exergames) are accessible forms of physical activity which might also be used in physical education (PE) curriculum. The purpose of this book chapter is to firstly, review some of the relevant applications of sports exergames for inclusion in PE and secondly, to characterize one of these games (swimming) from different aspects of biomechanics, physiology, and psychology. We compared movement patterns, muscle activation, energy expenditure, enjoyment, usability, and game experience in participants with different performing levels (real-swimmers vs. non-swimmers, experienced vs. novice) and gender. Understanding these parameters may help in the development of more realistic sports exergames and meaningful gameplay and may give PE teachers a better idea of the inclusion of such games in their practice

Multi-user virtual environments for physical education and sport training

For effective learning and training, virtual environments may provide lifelike opportunities, and researchers are actively investigating their potential for educational purposes. Minimal research attention has been paid to the integration of multi-user virtual environments (MUVE) technology for teaching and practicing real sports. In this chapter, the authors reviewed the justifications, possibilities, challenges, and future directions of using MUVE systems. The authors addressed issues such as informal learning, design, engagement, collaboration, learning style, learning evaluation, motivation, and gender, followed by the identification of required elements for successful implementations. In the second part, the authors talked about exergames, the necessity of evaluation, and examples on exploring the behavior of players during playing. Finally, insights on the application of sports exergames in teaching, practicing, and encouraging real sports were discussed

Aproximação biofísica ao desempenho e ao treino de nadadores

A atividade desportiva em geral reveste formas de extrema complexidade, quer no que concerne à estrutura da realização desportiva, quer - e, porventura, sobretudo no que respeita à estrutura da preparação desportiva. A complexidade das realidades que são objeto de abordagem científica constitui um dos principais eixos em torno dos quais se define a necessária profundidade e complexidade do discurso da ciência. Vale isto por dizer que não existem abordagens completas, nem porventura úteis, sempre que a complexidade da abordagem não corresponder à complexidade do fenômemo em causa; ou, pelo menos, e melhor dizendo, sempre que a complexidade da abordagem não RESPEITAR a complexidade do objeto, constrangendo a percepção da sua dimensão e das suas relações. Neste trabalho, o autor procura sistematizar um discurso complexo que seja adequado para a promoção do reconhecimento e para a fundamentação mais conseqüente da complexidade da natação, desde o treino à excelência competitiva. O discurso é contextualizado no domínio da Biofísica e parte do reconhecimento desta como o ecossistema epistemológico privilegiado para o entendimento da estrutura do rendimento e dos domínios preferenciais do treino de nadadores. Iniciando a objectivação do problema pela modelação biofísica (e, como tal, matemática) do rendimento, o autor afirma a necessidade de se reconhecer paritariamente a importância do treino da técnica e dos recursos condicionais e sublinha a mais valia associada aos progressos biomecânicos. Termina sistematizando uma estrutura de treino e de controle da carga dos recursos bioenergéticos, como resposta às três grandes questões suscitadas pelo treino de nadadores: a) como dispor de mais energia?; b) como mobilizar mais rapidamente essa energia?; e c) como utilizar melhor essa energia?Physical activity, in general, assumes a extreme complexity, both concerning the structure of fators that determines the sports competence, and the structure of training. The complexity of the objects of science is one of the major determinants of the deepness and complexity of the scientific speech itself. It means that there aren’t complete approaches or formulations, neither very useful ones, if the complexity of the approach don’t match with the complexity of the phenomena itself, compromising the perception of its dimension and relationships. In this paper, the author tries to accomplish a complex approach to the performance and training in swimming that coupes with the complexity of these to phenomena, and allow the needed conceituai structure for those ho want to understand this sport. The speech is a Biophysical one, starting from the recognition of this science as the most appropriate epistemological ecosystem for the understanding of the structure of fators that constraints the performance and the training processes of swimmers. Author starts with a biophysical model of swimming performance, stressing the need of a clear recognition of the importance of technical training, at least in parity with physical training. It will finish with a synthesis of the structure of training and control of the overloading process of bioenergetical resources, as a answer for the three main questions associated with the training of swimmers: a) how to dispose of more energy?; b) how to use more rapidly this energy?, and c) how to make a better use of this energy

Comentário a “Demônios da brasilidade: notas para um niilismo tropical” : Sobre autoritarismos, fundamentalismos e outros demônios: o potencial da psicologia analítica como chave de leitura para o Governo Bolsonaro

Commented article reference: GEWEHR, R. B. Demônios da brasilidade: notas para um niilismo tropical. Trans/Form/Ação: revista de filosofia da Unesp, v. 44, n. 3, p. 343-370, 2021.Referência do artigo comentado: GEWEHR, R. B. Demônios da brasilidade: notas para um niilismo tropical. Trans/Form/Ação: revista de filosofia da Unesp, v. 44, n. 3, p. 343-370, 2021

Does exergaming drive future physical activity and sport intentions?

International audienc

Altered abdominal muscle recruitment in lumbopelvic pain

Objectivo: Verificar se existem alterações no padrão de recrutamento do transverso do abdómen/oblíquo interno, recto abdominal e oblíquo externo em indivíduos com história de dor lombopélvica aguda. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo do tipo observacional, analítico e transversal, cuja amostra consistia num grupo de 15 indivíduos que nunca tiveram dor lombopélvica e por outro de 14 indivíduos do sexo feminino que tiveram pelo menos episódio de dor lombopélvica aguda nos últimos 6 meses. Foi recolhida e avaliada por electromiografia de superfície a actividade dos músculos acima referenciados e do deltóide, durante os movimentos rápidos de flexão, abdução e extensão do ombro. Analisou-se e foi comparado entre os dois grupos o padrão de recrutamento dos músculos abdominais. O teste de Mann-Whitney foi utilizado para comparar a média do tempo de activação muscular entre os dois grupos. O teste de Friedman foi efectuado para comparar o tempo de activação entre os músculos avaliados em cada direcção de movimento (com nível de significância de 5%). Resultados: Registou-se um atraso na activação do transverso do abdómen no movimento de flexão e abdução do ombro e ainda perda da activação independente entre os músculos superficiais e profundos estudados. Conclusão: O padrão de recrutamento dos músculos abdominais associado ao movimento do ombro encontra-se alterado em indivíduos com história de dor lombopélvica aguda.Objective: To verify the existence of modifications in the recruitment of transverses abdominus /obliquus internus abdominus, rectus abdominus and obliquus abdominus externus in individuals with a story of acute lumbopelvic pain. Methods: It was made an analytical, observational and transversal study whose sample was composed by a group of 15 women that never experienced acute lumbopelvic pain and by another group of 14 women, which had at least one episode of acute lumbopelvic pain in the last 6 months. The activity of the muscles above mentioned and of deltoid was collected and accessed by surface electromyography during fast flexion, abduction and extension movements of the shoulder. The abdominal muscles recruitment was comparatively analyzed. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the average of the time of muscular activation between two groups. The Friedman test was used to compare the activation time between the evaluated muscles in the three movement directions (with a significance level of 5%). Results: It was registered a delay in the activation of the transverses abdominus in the flexion and abduction movement of the shoulder and loss of the independent activation of the surface and deep muscles studied. These results are in concordance with previous studies conducted with subjects with chronic low back pain. Conclusion: The recruitment of the abdominal muscles associated with shoulder movement is modified in subjects with a story of acute lumbo-pelvic pain

EMG of the transverse abdominus and multifidus during pilates exercises

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the intensity of muscle activation of Transverse Abdominus /Oblique Internal (TrA/OI) and Multifidus (Mu) during the performance of four Pilates exercises (and variations), compared, in order to understand the importance of these exercises in the lumbopelvic stability in healthy subjects. The sample consisted of 8 individuals. Using the surface electromyography (EMG), it was found that there are differences in the intensity of muscle activation in the analyzed exercises and, therefore, “Shoulder bridge” and “ShoulderBridge_extension (right and left legs)“ are the more appropriate exercises for co-activation between TrA/OI and Mu muscles for the reeducation of lumbopelvic stability

Muscle activation during Exergame playing

Exergames may provide low-cost solutions for playing, training and rehabilitation. Exergame user research (EUR), studies the interaction between an Exergame and users, in order to provide feedback for game developers and safe and meaningful gameplay. Detailed evaluations and a coding system based on muscle activation levels are necessary to characterize Exergames. This is important when it comes to use exergames in purposes other than fun. The purpose of this chapter was to characterize the muscle activation during a swimming Exergame as an example and to compare the level of activation during different conditions. Healthy subjects played bouts of Exergame using Xbox360 and Kinect. Muscle activation was monitored for desired muscles on dominant upper limb using wireless electromyographic system. Preliminary resutls showed that upper trapezius was the most active muscle in all techniques. An investigation of muscular coordination was also conducted to provide an activation sequences of studied muscles. Results can provide insights for practitioners to have a baseline on application of exergames in their routines

RECONSTRUCTION ERROR OF CALIBRATION VOLUME’S COORDINATES FOR 3D SWIMMING KINEMATICS

The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy and reliability of above and underwater 3D reconstruction of a calibration volume used for swimming analysis. The calibration volume (3x2x3m3) was positioned half above and half below the water surface. Recordings with four underwater and two above water synchronised cameras were done and DLT algorithm used to estimate marker locations. Reconstruction accuracy was determined by the RMS error of 12 validation points and reliability by the standard deviation of all digitisations of the same marker. Comparison among different number of control points showed the set of 24 points to be the most accurate for both environments. Although, the RMS values above water were lower than the RMS values presented underwater. The calibration volume was found to have high accuracy and reliability