Sports, Performance and Wellbeing: Table of Contents

Exercise as a strategy to mitigate treatment-related toxicity in colon cancer: a narrative review

Peixoto, Rafael — 2026-02-21T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 15-23.
Rafael Peixoto, Cristiana Freire, Inês Teixeira, Matilde Adegas, Rafael Gomes, Ricardo Rabaçal, Sara Silva, Alexandra Malheiro, Tiago Rafael Moreira
Colon cancer remains a major contributor to global cancer incidence and mortality. Standard treatments, including surgery, fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, and targeted biological agents are frequently accompanied by substantial toxicity, such as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and postoperative functional decline, which can impair quality of life and compromise treatment adherence [2, 5]. Physical exercise has emerged as a promising supportive strategy to attenuate these adverse effects and promote functional recovery [10, 2]. This narrative review synthesizes available evidence on toxicity associated with colon cancer treatment and examines the potential mitigating role of structured exercise interventions, with particular emphasis on CIPN and postoperative functional outcomes. A focused review of recent clinical studies was conducted, emphasizing four key investigations that evaluated exercise-based interventions during or after treatment with chemotherapy and/or surgery. These studies included randomized controlled trials, a qualitative study, and a process-evaluation protocol, and assessed outcomes related to neurological toxicity, physical fitness, feasibility, and acceptability of exercise programs. Across studies, exercise interventions ranging from supervised walking plus resistance programs to home-based and isometric training were consistently safe, well tolerated, and associated with beneficial effects on CIPN symptoms, physical fitness, and patient-reported feasibility [11-14]. Adherence was generally high, and no serious exercise-related adverse events were reported. Individualized prescription, flexibility of delivery (hospital and home-based), and ongoing clinical support emerged as critical determinants of success. The available evidence suggests that physical exercise can attenuate selected toxicities related to colon cancer treatment particularly neurological and functional impairments while supporting rehabilitation and survivorship. Integration of exercise into standard care pathways is recommended as a feasible and safe strategy, although larger, well-designed trials are required to define optimal exercise type, dose, and timing in patients with colon or colorectal cancer.

Analytical model of modular upper limb rehabilitation

Hasanlu, M. — 2026-02-21T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 24-45.
M. Hasanlu, M. Siavashi, M. Shirvani
This article presents a modular, reconfigurable robotic system for upper-limb rehabilitation that supports customizable therapy of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder – individually or in coordinated multi-joint modes. Unlike fixed-structure devices, the design features adjustable link lengths and a symmetric architecture that accommodates both left and right limbs and a wide range of patient anatomies. The current paper develops complete kinematic and dynamic models that include nonlinear inertial, Coriolis, and gravitational effects and integrates these models with real-time torque- and force-control strategies to achieve precise, safe motion tracking. The modular hardware and control stack facilitate instantaneous reconfiguration of the workspace, impedance, and safety limits to align with patient-specific protocols and progression. This research paper simulates the approach in detailed numerical modeling that demonstrates the robot’s kinematic reachability, dynamic controllability, and the effectiveness of fault-tolerant reconfiguration strategies under representative disturbance scenarios. Finally, the current analyses discuss practical considerations for implementation, friction and contact modeling – and outline how the system can accelerate translation for clinical trials. This work mathematically provides a practical, model-based platform for patient-tailored rehabilitation robotics and a foundation for further research in adaptive control and assistive therapy technologies.

Mining the training load metrics in basketball: a systematic review

Sousa, Ana — 2026-02-21T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 1-14.
Ana Sousa, Filipe Nogueira, João Barros, Rafael Rocha, João Couto, Luís Melo, Luís Branquinho, Luciano Bernardes Leite, Pedro Rodrigues, Alexandra Malheiro, José Eduardo Teixeira
This systematic review aimed to analyze the internal and external training load metrics used in basketball training and competition. A systematic search following PRISMA guidelines was conducted in the PubMed database from the earliest record to May 2022, and methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A systematic search of the PubMed database identified 95 records, from which seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Internal load was primarily quantified using peak heart rate (HR) during 3×3 matches (%HRmax, n= 1), HR monitoring (n= 3), training momentum (n= 1), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE, n = 4). External load metrics included changes of direction and peripheral fatigue (n= 1), vertical jumps (n= 2), motion analysis, and GPS tracking (n= 1). The most commonly applied training load measures were RPE, HR-based monitoring, and time-motion analysis. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing workload management in basketball. Coaches can use individualized training approaches considering positional demands, integrate small-sided games to manipulate load, and apply wearable technology for real-time monitoring. Additionally, injury prevention strategies should incorporate acute-to-chronic workload ratios. However, it must be acknowledged that the restricted use of PubMed as the sole database severely limited the comprehensiveness of the review, and therefore the conclusion that only seven studies exist should be interpreted with caution. Further research is needed on female and youth players to enhance evidence-based monitoring strategies across different populations.

CrossFit practitioners' motivation in Penafiel

Silva, Sara — 2026-06-30T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 46-58.
Sara Silva, Amanda Batista, Alexandra Malheiro, Miguel Leal, Pedro Flores, Joana Ribeiro
Motivation is crucial for adhering to and maintaining regular physical activity. In CrossFit, factors such as competition, personal achievement, and socialization influence the continuity of practice. This study aimed to investigate the motivational aspects of CrossFit practitioners in boxes in the municipality of Penafiel. To this effect, an Exercise Motivation Questionnaire (QME), the Portuguese version of the Exercise Motivations Inventory-2 (EMI-2), was applied to 135 regular CrossFit practitioners. Data analyses were carried out using descriptive statistics and T-tests for independent samples to compare motivational aspects between sexes. The results indicated that the most prevalent motives were pleasure in practicing, the search for health, and personal improvement. There were statistically significant differences between the sexes, with men valuing competition and social recognition more, while women attributed greater importance to health and revitalization. Overall, CrossFit practitioners reported high scores on motives commonly associated with enjoyment, health, well-being, and personal improvement; however, because intrinsic and extrinsic motivation composites were not directly tested, this interpretation should be considered exploratory. These results reinforce the importance of taking these differences into account when designing strategies to promote the practice, aiming to increase adherence, boost involvement, and reduce drop-out rates.

The effects of physical exercise on self-concept during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents with typical development

Flores, Pedro — 2026-06-30T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 59-71.
Pedro Flores, Carlos Teixeira, Alexandra Malheiro, Emília Alves, Luís Ferreira, Joana Ribeiro
This study analyzed the evolution of physical self-concept (SCA), body self-concept (BCA), and perceived physical fitness (PFA) in elementary school adolescents at two different times during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 84 participants, divided by gender and whether or not they practiced physical exercise (PE). The Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ), a validated questionnaire, was used to assess the variables under study, and the data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The results showed that physically active boys had higher levels of SCA, mainly influenced by the SCAF, with significant differences compared to sedentary boys. In girls, there were improvements in various dimensions of BSC and SCAF, regardless of whether they practiced PE. There was also a positive association between BSC and SCAF only among active boys, especially towards the end of the pandemic period. The findings may indicate that PE is associated with more favorable perceptions of physical fitness among boys, although causal relationships cannot be inferred from the present data.

The influence of playing position on physical performance variables in young handball players

Ribeiro, João — 2026-06-30T00:00:00Z

Sports, Performance and Wellbeing, Vol. 1, Issue 1, 2026, p. 72-81.
João Ribeiro, Jorge Moreira, Samuel Campos, Vitor Vinagre, Alexandra Malheiro, Pedro Afonso
2. This study aimed to analyse the influence of playing position on selected physical performance variables in young male handball players. It was hypothesised that playing position would influence physical performance variables in young handball players, namely VO2max, jump power and handgrip strength, particularly right-hand grip strength, due to the different physical, technical and tactical demands associated with each playing position. The sample consisted of 16 athletes from the same team, with a mean age of 14.0±0.7 years, distributed across five playing positions: wing, pivot, centre, goalkeeper and back. Aerobic capacity was assessed through the Yo-Yo Test, from which VO₂max was estimated. Jump power was measured using a force plate, while handgrip strength was assessed with a hand dynamometer for both right and left hands. Descriptive statistics were used to characterise the sample, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare performance variables between playing positions. The results showed no statistically significant differences between positions for VO₂max, jump power or left-hand grip strength. However, a significant difference was found for right-hand grip strength, with higher values observed in backs and goalkeepers. Therefore, the results partially confirmed the hypothesis, as playing position appeared to influence right-hand grip strength, but not all the physical performance variables analysed. Although some positional trends were identified, the small sample size requires cautious interpretation. These findings suggest that playing position may influence specific physical performance characteristics in youth handball, supporting the importance of individualised and position-specific training programmes.