International Journal of Sport Studies for Health

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated pelvic floor muscle training program combined with desensitization-based sex therapy on sexual pain and sexual satisfaction in female athletes.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 68 sexually active female athletes (18–40 years) reporting penetration-related pain were allocated to either a combined intervention group (PFMT plus desensitization-based sex therapy; 8 weekly sessions) or an attention-matched education control group. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (8 weeks), and 3-month follow-up. Primary outcomes included pain during intercourse (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS) and sexual satisfaction (Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI). Secondary outcomes included sexual distress, pain catastrophizing, and pelvic floor muscle strength. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat mixed-effects models.

Results: At post-intervention, the combined intervention group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in sexual pain compared with controls (adjusted mean difference = −1.0, 95% CI −1.6 to −0.4; p = .001; Cohen’s d = 0.60). Sexual satisfaction improved significantly in the intervention group (adjusted difference = +3.1 FSFI points, 95% CI 1.4–4.8; p < .001; d = 0.65). Improvements were largely maintained at 3-month follow-up. Significant reductions were also observed in pain catastrophizing (d = 0.70) and sexual distress (d = 0.72), alongside objective gains in pelvic floor muscle strength (p < .001).

Conclusion: A combined PFMT and desensitization-based sex therapy program is an effective, non-invasive intervention for reducing sexual pain and improving sexual satisfaction in female athletes, supporting a biopsychosocial approach to sexual rehabilitation in sports contexts.

Objectives: Adolescent Muslim athletes participating in elite sports during Ramadan Fasting (RF) face unique physiological and developmental challenges. This prospective cohort study aimed to observe the changes in body composition, hydration status, physiological performance, and hematological profiles in 20 elite Malaysian adolescent footballers (17.8 ± 0.8 years).  

Methods: Measurements were taken at four phases (two weeks before Ramadan, BRF-2; mid, 2^nd weeks of Ramadan, RF-2; late, 4^th weeks of Ramadan, RF-4; and two weeks after Ramadan, ARF-6) using dual-time-point (morning/evening) blood and urine sampling, bioelectrical impedance, skinfolds, and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Run (YYIR) test.

Results: Results showed that energy balance, body composition, and aerobic performance (YYIR distance and HRmax) were successfully maintained throughout RF (p>0.05). However, significant dynamic fluid shifts were observed: morning measurements showed hemodilution, while late-afternoon Urine Specific Gravity was significantly higher in RF-4, indicating daily hemoconcentration and dehydration stress. Furthermore, while red blood cells (RBC) and haemoglobin (HB) showed transient morning reductions during RF, the most critical finding was the delayed post-fasting reduction in Mean Cell Volume (MCV) and persistent low Hematocrit (HCT) at ARF-6.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that elite performance is preserved through strong physiological adaptation and effective energy intake, but the RF period induced a subclinical iron deficiency stress that manifested as microcytosis post-Ramadan. Coaches and medical staff must implement rigorous post-Ramadan nutritional and detailed hematological screening to safeguard the long-term health of adolescent footballers.

Conclusion: The research is significant in terms of contributing to the development of positive attitudes towards individuals with intellectual disabilities by future sports educators and the training of more conscious and equipped sports scientists in this field.

Objective: This study examines the relationship between sports participation and aggression, with a specific focus on martial arts disciplines (taekwondo and karate), as well as gender differences.

 Methods: The sample consisted of 63 licensed martial arts athletes (33 female, 30 male), each with a minimum of five years of experience in their respective sports. The primary aim was to investigate how discipline, gender, and years of experience impact various dimensions of aggression. Data were collected using the 30-item “Aggression Inventory,” developed by İpek İlter (Kiper) in 1984, whose validity and reliability were confirmed for this study. A demographic questionnaire was also administered to gather information on gender, sport discipline, years of engagement in sports, and parental background (education and occupation). Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data via the SPSS software package.

Results: The findings revealed no statistically significant differences in aggression levels based on the number of years of experience in sports. However, karate athletes exhibited significantly higher levels of destructive and passive aggression than taekwondo athletes, suggesting that the nature or culture of specific martial arts disciplines may differentially affect aggression levels. Additionally, gender differences were found only in assertiveness, with male athletes scoring significantly higher than female athletes. When it came to destructive or passive aggression, there were no discernible gender differences.  These findings imply that gender and athletic discipline may have an impact on some aspects of aggression.

Conclusion: This study highlights how essential it is to contain behavioral and psychological knowledge in training programs for the purpose of better control and possibly lessening athletes' tendency for aggression.  A more comprehensive and informed approach to athlete improvement and coaching can emerge from an understanding of the complex connection between sport, gender, and aggression.

Objective: Petanque is a precision sport that requires postural stability and precise motor control. Core stability, which encompasses the strength and coordination of the trunk and pelvic muscles, is considered fundamental in maintaining balance and improving technical performance, particularly in shooting movements. Core stability training, though, has not yet been extensively implemented in petanque training programs. This research aimed to examine the impact of a core stability training program on petanque athletes’ shooting accuracy and balance (static and dynamic).

Methods & Materials: A quasi-experimental design was employed with 20 petanque athletes aged between 14 and 25, who were assigned to either an experimental group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). The experimental group received a 6-week core stability exercise program (three times a week), whereas the control group continued regular training without intervention. Pre- and post-tests were administered using a shooting accuracy test, One-Leg Stance Test (static balance), and Y-Balance Test (dynamic balance). Paired and independent t-tests were used to analyze data with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: The intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in shooting accuracy (p = 0.000), static balance (p = 0.000), and dynamic balance (p = 0.000), whereas the control group showed no significant changes. Additionally, inter-group comparisons conducted after the test revealed significant differences in all variables in favour of the experimental group.

Conclusion: Core stability training significantly enhances shooting accuracy and both forms of balance in petanque athletes. Integrating structured core training into regular conditioning routines is recommended to optimise technical performance and physical control in precision-based sports.