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Functional movement patterns and bilateral asymmetry in badminton athletes: A Functional Movement Screen analysis at the Malang Regional Training Center
Avi Kholifatuz Zahro'1, Muhammad Atiq Noviudin Pritama21. State University of Malang , ID2. State University of Malang , ID2026-08-17|page 196-207AbstractBackground: Badminton involves repetitive unilateral overhead movements, rapid changes of direction, and explosive actions that may contribute to side-to-side differences in functional movement patterns.
Objectives: This study aimed to describe functional movement patterns and bilateral asymmetry among badminton athletes at the Malang Regional Training Center using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS).
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 16 sub-elite badminton athletes aged 15–20 years selected through purposive sampling. Functional movement was assessed using the seven-component FMS. Total scores were classified as high (≤14), moderate (15–17), or low (18–21) injury risk. Bilateral asymmetry was identified from differences between right- and left-side scores in five bilateral FMS components. Data were analyzed descriptively using means, standard deviations, frequencies, and percentages.
Results: Most athletes (62.5%, n = 10) were classified as having moderate injury risk, while 18.75% (n = 3) were classified as high risk and 18.75% (n = 3) as low risk. Shoulder Mobility showed the highest prevalence of bilateral asymmetry (100%, n = 16), followed by the In-Line Lunge and Rotary Stability (62.5%, n = 10 each), Hurdle Step (50.0%, n = 8), and Active Straight Leg Raise (43.75%, n = 7).
Conclusions: Bilateral functional movement asymmetry was common among badminton athletes, particularly in shoulder mobility, while most athletes were classified within the moderate injury-risk category. These findings support functional movement screening to identify movement limitations and inform individualized corrective exercise strategies.
APA Citation StyleZahro', A. K. , & Pritama, M. A. N. (2026). Functional movement patterns and bilateral asymmetry in badminton athletes: A Functional Movement Screen analysis at the Malang Regional Training Center. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 196-207. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v5i2.756 -
Comparative analysis of plantar pressure distribution among football players across playing positions: A cross-sectional study
Arif Pristianto1, Anindya Maghfira Zain2, Farid Rahman3, Pungki Indarto4, Anugrah Nur Warthadi51. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID2. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID3. Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID4. Department of Sport Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID5. Department of Sport Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID2026-04-01|page 68-81AbstractBackground: Football players exhibit different muscle activation patterns during different playing activities, which can affect plantar pressure on the feet. Uneven, unbalanced plantar pressure distribution can cause muscle tension, leading to musculoskeletal injuries in the feet.
Objectives: This study aims to determine and compare plantar pressure distribution among football players based on playing position.
Methods: This study is an analytical observational study using a cross-sectional approach. The sample in this study consisted of 24 football players aged 15-18 years who met the inclusion criteria. Plantar pressure was measured using a Zebris Force Distribution Measurement (FDM) platform on the forefoot and rearfoot areas. Statistical analysis included normality tests (Shapiro-Wilk) and multivariate tests (ANOVA) according to data distribution.
Results: Differences in plantar pressure were observed between defenders, forwards, and strikers in static conditions (p < 0.05), but not in dynamic conditions (p > 0.05).
Conclusions: This study shows differences in plantar pressure distribution among football players in defender, forward, and striker positions under static conditions. However, under dynamic conditions, no significant differences were found among playing positions.
APA Citation StylePristianto, A. , Zain, A. M. , Rahman, F. , Indarto, P. , & Warthadi, A. N. (2026). Comparative analysis of plantar pressure distribution among football players across playing positions: A cross-sectional study. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 68-81. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v5i1.692 -
Improving physical self-perception and health-related fitness through gamification in physical education: A cluster randomized controlled trial
Ferdinando Cereda11. The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan , IT2026-03-08|page 7-27AbstractBackground: The global decline in adolescent physical activity necessitates pedagogical innovation to counter disengagement. Traditional norm-referenced physical education (PE) often alienates less skilled students, whereas gamification offers a promising criterion-referenced strategy to enhance motivation and learning.
Objectives: This study investigated the efficacy of a 12-week gamified didactic intervention on perceived physical self-concept, health-related fitness, and physical activity enjoyment among high school students.
Methods: A two-arm, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial (Cluster-RCT) was conducted with 210 Italian adolescents (mean age 15.4 ± 0.9 years) nested within 10 intact classes (average cluster size = 21). Intact classes were randomised to an experimental group (gamified ‘MoveQuest’ module, k = 5) or a control group (traditional direct instruction, k = 5). Data were collected using the Revised Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP-R-IT), the ALPHA-FIT test battery, and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). Following a per-protocol analytical approach, Linear mixed models (LMMs) were employed to analyse the data, accounting for the nested structure of the educational setting and handling cluster-level variance intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Significance levels were interpreted considering the multiplicity of outcomes.
Results: Significant group × time interactions were observed, with the gamified group demonstrating superior improvements in sports competence (d = 0.65), physical self-worth (d = 0.58), and enjoyment (d = 0.82) compared to the control group. Physiologically, the experimental group showed significantly greater gains in cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O₂ max) and agility, while body attractiveness remained stable in both groups.
Conclusions: Gamified didactics significantly enhance psychological engagement and specific motor performance parameters by prioritising individual progress over social comparison. This approach represents a valuable pedagogical tool for fostering physical literacy in secondary PE.APA Citation StyleCereda, F. (2026). Improving physical self-perception and health-related fitness through gamification in physical education: A cluster randomized controlled trial. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 7-27. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v5i1.677 -
Immediate effect of thoracic spinal manipulation versus passive stretching on upper trapezius pain in university students: A randomized controlled trial
Sherin Nada Salsabila1, Adnan Faris Naufal21. Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID2. Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta , ID2025-11-26|page 250-265AbstractBackground: Pain disorders in the upper trapezius muscle are often experienced by students due to non-ergonomic postures and excessive duration of device use. Interventions such as spinal manipulation and stretching exercises are non-invasive interventions often used to reduce pain and improve muscle function.
Objectives: This study compares the effectiveness of two interventions in reducing trapezius muscle pain among university students.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial involved 40 physiotherapy students divided equally into two intervention groups. Group I received thoracic spinal manipulation, and Group II received passive stretching. Each intervention was administered in a single 15-minute session. Pain intensity was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) before and immediately after treatment. Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test for within-group comparisons and the Mann–Whitney U test for between-group analysis, with an alpha level of 0.05.
Results: The Wilcoxon test revealed a significant decrease in pain within both groups (Group I: median pre 4.5 [3.63–5] to post 2.5 [1.50–3.38], p = 0.000, r = 0.879; Group II: median pre 4.25 [3–5] to post 1 [0.13–3], p = 0.000, r = 0.84), indicating a significant effect of both interventions. The Mann–Whitney U test showed no statistically significant difference in pain reduction between the two groups (median pain difference = 2 [1–3] for both, U = 186.5, Z = –0.375, p = 0.707, r = 0.06).
Conclusions: Both thoracic spinal manipulation and passive stretching were effective in reducing upper trapezius pain immediately after a single session, but no significant difference was found between the two interventions. These findings suggest that both approaches provide comparable short-term benefits; however, further research with larger samples, multiple sessions, and more extended follow-up periods is needed to confirm their long-term efficacy.
APA Citation StyleSalsabila, S. N. , & Naufal, A. F. (2025). Immediate effect of thoracic spinal manipulation versus passive stretching on upper trapezius pain in university students: A randomized controlled trial. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 250-265. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v4i3.634 -
A critical analysis of the disconnection between science and practice in weight training
Ferdinando Cereda11. The Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan , IT2025-04-07|page 46-59AbstractBackground: Resistance training (RT) has emerged as a powerful tool for health promotion, with substantial scientific evidence supporting its beneficial effects across multiple physiological systems and psychological domains. Despite this robust knowledge base, a significant disconnection persists between scientific evidence and practical implementation in both clinical and everyday settings.
Objectives: This study aims to critically examine this science-practice gap by analyzing common misconceptions surrounding RT and proposing strategies to enhance knowledge translation.
Methods: Through a narrative review of scientific literature from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, the research synthesizes evidence regarding RT's scientifically validated benefits, prevalent myths, and effective communication approaches.
Results: Findings show a concerning lack of scientific awareness among practitioners and end-users. Persistent misconceptions, such as "RT reduces flexibility" and "plant-based proteins are inferior for muscle hypertrophy," continue to circulate despite contradictory evidence.
Conclusions: Improved scientific communication via targeted educational programs, digital platforms, and collaboration between researchers and policymakers is urgently needed to bridge this gap and maximize RT’s public health impact.
APA Citation StyleCereda, F. (2025). A critical analysis of the disconnection between science and practice in weight training. Physical Education and Sports: Studies and Research, 46-59. https://doi.org/10.56003/pessr.v4i1.499












