Arena-Journal of Physical Activities

The Effects of Swim-Specific Dry-Land Training on 50-m Freestyle Performance in 12 13 Year Old Swimmers

2026-09-08T11:16:53+03:00

This study aimed to examine the effects of swim-specific dry-land training on 50-m freestyle performance in
12 13 year old swimmers. This research employed a quantitative approach using a one-group pretest
posttest experimental design. The participants consisted of 15 male swimmers aged 12 13 years from FITT
Swimming Club Padang, selected through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of 16 sessions of
swim-specific dry-land training, including plank, close-grip push-up, V-up, chin-up, flutter kicks, physioball
upper-trunk rotation, and physioball bridge. Swimming performance was measured using a 50-m freestyle
performance before and after the intervention, with time recorded in seconds using digital stopwatches
operated by three independent timekeepers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov
Smirnov normality test, and paired-samples t-test through IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. The results showed
that the mean pre-test time was 45.239 seconds, while the mean post-test time decreased to 44.495
seconds, indicating an improvement of 0.744 seconds. Normality testing confirmed that the data were
normally distributed (p > 0.05). The paired-samples t-test revealed a statistically significant difference
between pre-test and post-test results (t = 9.117; p = 0.001 < 0.05). It can be concluded that swim-specific
dry-land training had a significant positive effect on improving 50-m freestyle performance in 12 13-yearold
swimmers. These findings suggest that this training method can be effectively integrated into swimming
conditioning programs to enhance sprint performance.

The Impact of Parental Support on Children’s Orientation Toward Sport

2026-09-08T11:25:24+03:00

Parental support plays a critical role in shaping children's participation and persistence in sports. However,
the perspectives of parents with athletic backgrounds remain underexplored in the literature. This study aims
to examine the role of parents with sporting backgrounds in shaping their children's orientation toward sports
and to explore their perceptions of this process. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed. The
study included 15 parents of children actively engaged in sports at various school levels. Data were collected
through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that sport
contributes to children's discipline, self-confidence, socialisation, and academic achievement, although exam
periods present challenges. Parental approaches to professional athletic careers varied: some prioritised
individual happiness and talent, whereas others emphasised balancing sport with academic success and
societal values. Although the egalitarian nature of sport was widely acknowledged, cultural and patriarchal
norms were found to limit this potential, particularly in girls' discipline choices. In conclusion, sport plays a
central role in children's personal development and social value production. Parental education programmes
and balanced sport-academic policies are essential for sustainable youth development, particularly to address
gender-based limitations and infrastructure deficiencies.

Traditional Fitness Gym Training Effects on Cardiovascular Parameters, Body Composition, and Posture in Adolescents: A 15-Year Review

2026-09-08T11:36:31+03:00

Adolescence represents a critical developmental period for the maturation of cardiovascular, metabolic, and
musculoskeletal systems. Declining physical activity and increasing sedentary behaviour during this stage
are associated with cardiometabolic risk, body composition changes, and postural deviations. Traditional
fitness gym training combining aerobic and resistance exercise performed on machines in supervised indoor
environments may simultaneously target these health domains. This review aimed to identify and synthesize
evidence on the effects of gym-based aerobic and resistance exercise on cardiovascular parameters, body
composition, and posture in adolescents. Materials and Methods: A structured literature search was
conducted in PubMed, PubMed Central (PMC), and HINARI databases to identify intervention studies
published between 2009 and 2025. Eligible studies included adolescents aged 10 to 19 years engaged in
supervised gym or indoor facility programs using aerobic and/or resistance equipment. Outcomes included
cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiometabolic indicators, body composition, and postural assessments.
Randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and quasi-experimental studies were
included. Results: A total of ten analytical units fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Interventions generally spanned
8 to 22 weeks, with 2 to 4 sessions weekly. Combined aerobic and resistance training was associated with
improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness (VO₂peak), reductions in body fat, and increases in lean mass.
Resistance-focused interventions were associated with improvements in blood pressure and body
composition. Three studies evaluated postural outcomes, suggesting potential improvements in trunk
endurance and postural alignment. Conclusions: Supervised gym-based aerobic and resistance training is
associated with improvements in cardiovascular fitness and body composition in adolescents and may
contribute to postural improvements, although current evidence for posture remains limited. These findings
suggest that structured gym-based programs may represent a useful strategy for adolescent health
promotion; however, further high-quality research is needed.

Video Modeling, Video Feedback, and Observational Learning in Basketball Free-Throw Performance: A Systematic Mini-Review

2026-09-08T11:41:58+03:00

Free-throw performance represents a critical component of scoring efficiency in basketball and has been
widely investigated in motor learning research. In recent years, video-based instructional strategies such as
video modeling, observational learning, and video feedback have gained increasing attention as tools for
enhancing sport skill acquisition. The aim of this systematic mini-review was to synthesize empirical evidence
regarding the effectiveness of video-based observational interventions on basketball free-throw
performance. A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for peerreviewed
studies published between 2000 and 2025. Following duplicate removal and PRISMA 2020
screening procedures, eight studies met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative
synthesis, highlighting the still limited evidence base in this specific domain. The methodological quality of
the selected studies was evaluated using a five-criterion appraisal checklist adapted from the PEDro
framework (Maher et al., 2003). Overall, the findings indicate that video-based observational interventions
are generally associated with improvements in free-throw accuracy, movement consistency, and retention
compared with traditional practice conditions. These outcomes are consistent with theoretical perspectives
from observational learning theory, schema theory, the mirror neuron system, and the OPTIMAL theory of
motor learning. Although the current body of evidence remains relatively limited, the results suggest that
structured video modeling and observational learning strategies may represent effective pedagogical tools
for improving free-throw performance in basketball training contexts.

How Much Does Physical Condition Affect Volleyball Technique? A Case Study of High School Students in Padang City

2026-09-08T11:49:16+03:00

This study aims to identify the influence of physical condition on volleyball technique mastery among players
at Padang State High School. The main objective of this study is to explore the relationship between various
physical components such as leg muscle strength, arm muscle strength, agility, hand-eye coordination,
flexibility, and aerobic endurance on basic volleyball techniques such as underhand passing, overhand
passing, smashing, and overhand serving. Physical condition measurements were conducted using the
vertical jump test, two-hand medicine ball put, Illinois Agility Test, tennis ball throw and catch test, flexibility
test using a flexiometer, and the bleep test. The basic volleyball techniques measured included underhand
passing, overhand passing, spiking (also known as smashing), and overhand serving. The research involved
30 volleyball players, selected using purposive sampling and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling
(SEM). The results showed significant correlations between physical conditions and volleyball techniques,
particularly in underhand and overhand passing. However, physical conditions had a weaker influence on
smashing and overhand serving. The SEM analysis revealed that flexibility, leg muscle power, and agility
significantly contributed to better technique execution, with hand-eye coordination having a minor influence.
The findings suggest that physical conditions, particularly leg muscle power, flexibility, and agility, play a
significant role in mastering basic volleyball techniques. It is recommended that coaches develop training
programs that integrate physical conditioning with technical skill development to optimize player
performance.

Rumination in Sports: A Pilot Study on Sports Science Students

2026-09-08T12:09:16+03:00

The purpose of this study is to examine the rumination perception levels of faculty of sports science students.
This study, which used the comparative survey model from quantitative research methods, included 253
university students who actively engage in sports, selected using a convenience sampling method. The
Personal Information Form and the “Sports Competition Rumination Scale” were used as data collection
tools. Independent groups t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied in the analysis of
the data. According to the findings, there was no statistically significant difference in the rumination levels
of the participants according to the variables of gender, age group, type of sport (individual or team), and
department of study. However, post-hoc power analyses revealed that statistical power was low across all
comparisons (range: .05–.34), and the findings should therefore be regarded as preliminary rather than
conclusive evidence of an absence of demographic effects.

Effectiveness of a Monitored and Individualized Physiotherapy Program on Gait Recovery in Post-Stroke Patients: A Comparative Experimental Study

2026-09-08T12:16:40+03:00

Gait impairment is one of the most common and disabling consequences of stroke, significantly affecting
functional independence and quality of life. Optimizing rehabilitation strategies remains a key objective in
neurorehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a monitored and individualized
physiotherapy program compared to a conventional rehabilitation protocol in improving gait performance in
post-stroke patients. A randomized controlled study was conducted on 48 post-stroke patients aged 40 50
years, allocated into a control group (n = 24) and an experimental group (n = 24). Both groups underwent
a 9 weeks rehabilitation program. The experimental group received a monitored, individualized physiotherapy
intervention, while the control group followed a conventional protocol. Gait performance was assessed preand
post-intervention using the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS).
Both groups showed significant improvements over time (p < .001). However, the experimental group
demonstrated greater improvements in walking speed, dynamic balance, and lower limb functional capacity
(p < .05). The interaction effect between time and group was statistically significant, indicating superior
outcomes associated with the monitored intervention. The findings suggest that a monitored and
individualized physiotherapy program may be more effective than conventional rehabilitation in improving
gait parameters in post-stroke patients. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these
results.

Determination of Ecorecreative Attitudes of University Students

2026-09-08T12:19:51+03:00

The purpose of this study is to determine the ecorecreative attitude levels of university students and to
examine these attitudes according to selected demographic variables. The study was conducted using a
quantitative research approach and was designed based on a cross-sectional survey model. The study was
conducted with a sample of 309 university students. The Ecorecreative Attitude Scale (EAS) was administered
as the data collection instrument. The scale consists of three subdimensions: affective attitude, cognitive
attitude, and behavioral attitude, and aims to measure the importance that participants attach to ecological
sustainability in their participation in recreational activities. In the data analysis process, the Cronbach Alpha
coefficient was calculated to determine the reliability of the measurement tool. Skewness and kurtosis values
were examined to evaluate the distributional characteristics of the data set. For the data set that met the
assumption of normal distribution, the Independent Samples t-test was used for comparisons between two
groups. According to the findings, when the subdimensions were examined, the highest mean score was
observed in the cognitive attitude dimension (M =3.66), while the lowest mean score was found in the
affective attitude dimension (M =3.34). It was determined that students who were members of university
nature sports clubs had significantly higher ecorecreative attitude scores in all subdimensions and in the total
scale score compared to those who were not members (for total score, t=2.767, p<0.05, d=0.33). Similarly,
students who evaluated their leisure actively had significantly higher ecorecreative attitude levels than those
who evaluated their leisure passively (for total score, t=3.362, p<0.05, d=0.43). In this context, increasing
nature-based recreational activities at universities and supporting student nature sports clubs are considered
important factors that may contribute to the development of students’ ecorecreational awareness.

Preparedness of Future Coaches for Professional Performance in Children and Youth Sports Schools

2026-09-08T12:25:26+03:00

The modern system of children's and youth sports imposes increased demands on the professional
preparedness of coaches capable of working effectively with children and adolescents in children and youth
sports schools. In this context, the problem of forming the readiness of future coaches for professional
activity, which combines theoretical training, practical skills, and personal qualities, is of particular relevance.
Objective. The aim of the study is to provide a theoretical substantiation and empirical study of the level of
readiness of future coaches for professional activity in the conditions of children and youth sports schools.
Methods. The study employed theoretical analysis and generalization of scientific and methodological
literature; questionnaires and surveys of students majoring in "Physical Culture and Sports"; pedagogical
observation during internships; and methods of mathematical statistics for processing the obtained data at
a statistical significance level of p<0.05. The study involved 72 third- and fourth-year students aged 20 23.
Results. It was established that an average level of readiness among future coaches for work in children and
youth sports schools prevails. A discrepancy was revealed between a sufficient level of motivation for
coaching and the insufficient development of practical skills necessary for the independent organization of
the training process. Conclusions. The study results indicate the need to improve the professional training of
future coaches by strengthening practice-oriented learning and expanding pedagogical internships in children
and youth sports schools.

PREVENTION AND CORRECTION OF KYPHO-LORDOSIS THROUGH HYDROKINETOTHERAPY

2026-09-08T12:34:29+03:00

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a hydrokinetotherapy program in
improving postural indicators in primary school children diagnosed with kypho-lordosis.
Methods: The research was designed as a longitudinal pedagogical experiment carried out over six months.
The sample consisted of eight pupils aged 9-10 years, selected from schools in Arad and diagnosed with
kypho-lordosis. Participants attended three sessions per week, combining corrective exercises performed on
land, in shallow water and in deep water, with respiratory gymnastics and swimming drills. Assessments
were conducted initially, intermediately and finally using the plumb line test in the sagittal plane and
goniometric measurement. Arithmetic mean, amplitude, coefficient of variability and standard deviation were
used for statistical interpretation. The study is exploratory in nature, and the analysis of the results was
carried out using descriptive statistical methods, without applying inferential tests and without including a
control group. Results: The plumb line assessment showed a cumulative improvement of 0.70 cm from
initial to final testing. The goniometric assessment showed a cumulative improvement of 4.00 degrees.
Variability indicators also decreased, suggesting a more homogeneous postural response to the intervention.
Conclusions: The results support the use of hydrokinetotherapy as a useful complementary method for
improving postural alignment in children with kypho-lordosis, provided that the program is progressive,
supervised and adapted to the participants’ functional level.