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Yoga has been shown to reduce stress and to provide health benefits for a number of stress-related disorders. However, the effects and mechanism of an acute bout of yoga practice on relieving stress remain unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a single bout of yoga on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) response to and recovery from mental stress. This study was conducted with a randomised, counterbalanced, crossover design. A total of 44 participants (mean age 24.58 ± 3.84) completed two conditions (yoga and video watching (VW)) in a randomly assigned order. After each condition, participants underwent a Stroop task and mental arithmetic task. HR and HRV, measured via electrocardiogram, were recorded and analyzed at rest, during each condition, and during the stress and recovery periods. HR was significantly lower during the yoga condition as compared to that during the VW condition. There was no significant difference in HRV observed between the conditions. During both mental stress and recovery periods, there was no significant difference in HR or HRV responses between the yoga and VW conditions. These findings suggested that an acute bout of yoga practice was not superior to quiet sitting in reducing HR and HRV reactivity to and recovery from mental stress. Future studies may consider investigating individuals with exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to further examine the potential reactivity-lowering effect of yoga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness of aerobic vs. resistance exercise on cognitive function. In addition, salivary cortisol responses, as an indicator of arousal-related neuroendocrine responses, were assessed as a potential mechanism underlying the effects of these 2 modes of acute exercise on cognition. Forty-two young adults were recruited and performed the Stroop task after 1 session of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and a sedentary condition performed on separate days. Saliva samples were collected at baseline and immediately and 30 min after treatment conditions. Acute exercise, regardless of exercise modality, improved multiple aspects of cognitive function as reflected by the Stroop task. Cortisol responses were higher after both modes of acute exercise compared with the sedentary condition and were higher at baseline and 30 min afterward compared with immediately after treatment conditions. These findings suggest that acute exercise of moderate intensity facilitates cognitive function, and, although salivary cortisol is influenced by acute exercise, levels were not related to improvements in cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineers in the semiconductor industry frequently experience recurrent low back pain (LBP) due to prolonged, repetitive work postures. The operation of machinery in this industry requires a high level of muscle endurance. Dynamic taping can help reduce stress on joints and soft tissues during movement.This study investigated the effect of dynamic taping in workers with recurrent LBP, focusing on pain levels, muscle strength, work-related endurance, and fear avoidance behaviors.This crossover study recruited 28 engineers with repetitive LBP from the semiconductor industry. Each participant underwent two interventions: dynamic taping and no taping. Participants completed a maximal isometric back extensor strength test, three muscle endurance tests (Biering–Sorensen, kneeling forward lean, and repetitive lifting), and two LBP questionnaires (visual analog scale [VAS] and Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire 2 [FABQ2]) in each scenario. MicroFET2 was used to assess back extensor strength. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to determine peak or mean values and median frequencies of the erector spinae muscle before and after endurance tests. Total endurance test durations and posttest VAS scores were recorded. FABQ2 scores were evaluated again 3 days after taping.The results of the paired t test revealed that dynamic taping significantly improved performance in the kneeling forward lean test (p < 0.01) and increased maximum isometric strength (p < 0.01). Furthermore, dynamic taping reduced VAS scores after three endurance tests (all p < 0.01) and FABQ2 score (p = 0.03). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant time effects in the Biering–Sorensen on average EMG activation (p < 0.01) and median frequencies during fatigue monitoring (p < 0.01). Significant time effects were also found in the kneeling forward lean test on median frequencies (p < 0.01). In addition, significant interaction effects were found in the Biering–Sorensen test on average EMG activation (p < 0.01) and in the kneeling forward lean test on median frequencies (p < 0.01). Compared with the no-taping group, the taping group exhibited a more significant decrease in erector spinae muscle activity and maintained median frequencies during fatigue tests.The use of dynamic tape significantly enhanced maximum isometric strength, improved performance in work-related endurance tests without increasing muscle activity, and reduced FABQ2 scores among semiconductor engineers with recurrent LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: It has been reported that there is a high rate of Achilles tendon injury among kendo athletes. For protection and to support the area, kendo athletes habitually use taping during practice or games. Objective: To investigate the effect of various taping techniques on injury prevention and functional performance in kendo athletes. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Laboratory. Participants: 15 University Kendo Team athletes with at least 2 y kendo experience. Main Outcome Measures: Athletes completed 5 stepping backwards and striking cycles under 4 taping conditions: no taping, athletic taping of ankle joint (AT-Ankle), athletic taping of Achilles tendon (AT-Achilles), and Kinesio-Tex taping of Achilles tendon (KT-Achilles). Jump distance, lower limb angular motion, left foot-ground contact time, Achilles tendon force (ATF), and soleus and medial gastrocnemius muscle activities were measured. Results: Lowest peak ATF was found in AT-Achilles during heel-down phase, with statistically significant difference from KT-Achilles peak force. Significant decline of soleus muscle electromyography amplitude was also found when compared to no taping during heel-down phase and other conditions during pushing phase. Conversely, KT-Achilles showed significant decrease in foot-ground contact time compared with no taping and greater ankle range of motion than in AT-Ankle. Conclusion: To protect the Achilles tendon, AT-Achilles taping is recommended since it tends to decrease ATF. Conversely, to enhance athlete performance, we recommend KT-Achilles taping to speed up kendo striking motion. However, the Achilles tendon must withstand greatest forces concurrently. This finding implies that AT-Achilles taping can protect the injured Achilles tendon and KT-Achilles taping can enhance performance on the kendo striking motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of a 12-week multicomponent exercise intervention on metacognition among preadolescents with obesity. Seventy-five preadolescents were randomly assigned to either a multicomponent exercise group or a reading control group. An exercise intervention consisting of a jumping rope was utilized to develop multifaceted fitness features, with each session lasting for 75 min and three sessions being conducted per week for 12 weeks. Results revealed significant interactions between group and time point for cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance, flexibility, and power, as well as for Tower of London task measures, including total move score, total executive time, and total planning-solving time, with better postintervention performances achieved by the exercise group. Positive correlations between the physical fitness and metacognition measurements were also observed. These findings suggest that the multicomponent exercise benefits metacognition in obese preadolescents, with exercise-associated changes in multifaceted fitness features mediating the relationship between exercise and metacognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine the modulation of executive functions during acute exercise and to determine whether exercise intensity moderates this relationship. Eighty college-aged adults were recruited and randomly assigned into one of the four following groups: control, 30%, 50%, and 80% heart rate reserve. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered during each intervention. The results indicated that the majority of the WCST performances were impaired in the high exercise intensity group relative to those of the other three groups, whereas similar performance rates were maintained in the low- and moderate-intensity groups. These findings suggest that transient hypofrontality occurs during high-intensity exercise, but not during low- and moderate-intensity exercises. Future research aimed at employing the dual-mode theory, and applying the reticular-activating hypofrontality model is recommended to further the current knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research attempts to evaluate the dose-response relationship between acute resistance exercise and planning. Seventeen participants performed the Tower of London (TOL) in control condition and three different exercise intensity conditions (40%, 70%, and 100% 10-repetition maximal) in a counterbalanced order. The results revealed positive effects of an acute bout of resistance exercise on the TOL. Specifically, a curvilinear trend was observed between exercise intensity and TOL scores that measured performances of "correct" and "move," where moderate intensity demonstrated the most optimal performance compared with the other conditions. None of these differences were found in TOL scores that measure performances of "violation" and "planning speed." These results suggest that acute moderate intensity resistance exercise could facilitate planning-related executive functions in middle-aged adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to help coaches analyse the techniques of professional in-line speed skaters for making the required fine adjustments and corrections in their push-off work, this study analysed the specific plantar pressure characteristics during a 300-m time-trial test. Fourteen elite in-line speed skaters from the national team were recruited in this study. The total completion time of the 300-m time-trial test, duration of each skating phase, and plantar pressure distribution were measured. The correlation between plantar pressure distribution and skating performance was assessed using Pearson correlation analyses. The results showed that the contact time of the total foot and force–time integral (FTI) in the medial forefoot were significantly correlated with the duration of the start phase, and the FTIs in the medial forefoot of the gliding (left) leg and lateral forefoot of the pushing (right) leg were significantly correlated with the duration of the turning phase. The maximum force in the medial heel, medial forefoot, and median forefoot and the FTI in the medial heel and medial forefoot were significantly correlated with the duration of the linear acceleration phase. The results suggest that a correct plantar loading area and push-off strategy can enhance the skating performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exergame has become widely popular and offers great levels of cognitive demands, thus may facilitate cognitive benefits. In addition, researchers have proposed that cardiac autonomic function, assessed via heart rate variability (HRV), is associated with cognitive executive function. However, few exergame training studies have investigated this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 10-week exergame training on executive function and HRV in middle-aged and older adults. Ninety-one participants were randomly assigned to either an exergame training group (63.73 ± 4.48 years) or a control group (62.46 ± 4.77 years). The training program was 50 min per session, twice per week for 10 weeks. The control group was instructed to maintain their usual lifestyle. All participants completed questionnaires and received assessments of executive functions and electrocardiography at baseline and postintervention. Results revealed significant group-by-time interaction effects for the three indices of the digit span test and the total initiation time of the Tower of London task with better postintervention performances achieved by the exergame group. The 6 min walk test also improved significantly in the exergame group but not in the control group. No significant change in HRV was observed for both groups. There were significant correlations between HRV and digit span test scores. Our results suggest that the 10-week exergame training program was effective in improving executive functions of working memory, inhibitory control, and planning ability as well as aerobic fitness in middle-aged and older adults. Moreover, HRV was associated with improved executive function., (© 2025 The Author(s). European Journal of Sport Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European College of Sport Science.)