Jia-Hao Chang

This study analyzed post match data from the men's singles events at the 2025 Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon Championships to examine the relationship between match outcomes and technical performance across different court surfaces. Technical variables were compared between winners and losers using paired-samples t-tests, followed by exploratory binary logistic regression to identify key performance indicators. Surface-related differences in champions’ performance were examined descriptively across hard, clay, and grass courts. The results indicated that first serve points won and return points won were key predictors of match outcomes across all surfaces, with return points won showing predictive value specifically at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and break point conversion rate being predictive at the French Open. Championship players recorded a higher number of winners at the French Open compared with the Australian Open and Wimbledon, suggesting that surface-specific bounce characteristics may facilitate more aggressive offensive play.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of Classical Chinese Dance as a sports intervention for enhancing the physical capabilities of older adults. Methods: Twenty-four participants were divided into experimental group (N = 12, age 69.0 ± 1.5 years, body mass index [BMI] 22.2 ± 0.6 kg/m²) and control group (N = 12, age 69.1 ± 1.8 years, BMI 23.5 ± 0.8 kg/m²). The Classical Chinese Dance intervention lasted for 10 weeks, with 90 min per class twice a week. Two-way analysis of variance was used to assess the effect of the training intervention on flexibility, balance, and muscle strength in the experimental and control groups. Results: The experimental group (EG) significantly outperformed the control group (CG) in the Biceps Curl Test at both time points (EG Pre-test: 26.8 ± 4.8(t), Post-test: 30.5 ± 5.0(t); CG Pre-test: 20.8 ± 4.3(t), Post-test: 22.8 ± 6.4(t), p <.01) and in the Chair Sit-and-Reach Test at post-test (p =.017). EG showed significant within-group improvements in upper-body strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, and agility, while CG declined in static balance (Pre-test: 0.9 ± 0.6, Post-test: 2.4 ± 2.5, p =.008) and agility (Pre-test: 4.9 ± 1.2, Post-test: 4.4 ± 1.3, p <.001). No significant changes were observed in Chair Stand or Grip Strength across the groups or times. Conclusion: Classical Chinese Dance significantly enhances functional fitness in older adults, and barre training provides unique benefits for upper limb strength. Its adaptable intensity underscores its potential as an effective and accessible intervention for older adults.

Functional ability decline occurs with age. This study aims to investigate the associations between the lifestyle factors—exercising, food consumption, and smoking—and the functional ability of the activities of daily living (ADL) by gender. The data were obtained from the Taiwan longitudinal study on aging, a national cohort study. The cross-sectional results demonstrated that the frequency of exercising was negatively associated with ADL in both men and women. Dairy products were positively associated with ADL in men. The longitudinal results illustrated that current and consistent exercising were negatively associated with changes in ADL scores over 4- and 8-year periods in both men and women. Seafood consumption was negatively associated with changes in the subsequent 4-year ADL scores. Past smoking was positively associated with changes in subsequent 4-year ADL scores in men, while current smoking was positively associated with changes in subsequent 8-year ADL scores in women. Therefore, consistent exercising, food consumption, and smoking were associated with ADL functional ability in elderly people, and the associations differed by gender. Elders exercising consistently had good ADL performance and maintained their ADL ability better, especially women. Seafood consumption decreased the risk of ADL decline, while smoking increased the risk of ADL decline.

(1) Background: To understand the movement characteristics of soccer players when cutting in two directions (45° for the right and left cutting movements) through biomechanical analysis of the lower limbs to identify the cutting direction of the attacker; (2) Methods: A motion analysis system was used to capture the movements of 12 male professional soccer players dribbling to the left and right. Kinematics of the players’ cutting were analyzed, and the paired t-test was used for statistics, with a significant level of α = 0.05; (3) Results: When cutting towards the right, the height of the hip joint during the run-up was low (effect size, ES = 0.41, p = 0.031) at 91.8 ± 7.0 cm. When cutting towards the left, the value was 94.6 ± 6.7 cm. While cutting, the front foot was abducted by 4.3 ± 4.0° at landing when cutting towards the right and adducted by 2.7 ± 5.1° when cutting towards the left (ES = 0.38, p = 0.003); (4) Conclusions: When the attacker carries out the cutting action while approaching the defender, the cutting direction may be predicted by observing the attacker’s hip and foot movements.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rectus abdominis (RA) fatigue on the jumping performance and landing loads of volleyball players during countermovement jumps (CMJs) and spike jumps (SPJs). Twelve healthy university volleyball players were evaluated using a three-dimensional motion analysis system, force plates, and surface electromyography (EMG). The lowest center of mass (Min-CoM), maximum jumping height (Max-JH), angles of joints at take-off and landing, joint moment of the lower limbs, and EMG parameters of the RA, erector spinae, and lower limb muscles, when performing the CMJs and SPJs, were recorded before and after a 10 min RA muscle fatigue intervention. After RA fatigue, the Max-JH was significantly reduced, and the lowest Min-CoM was significantly increased. The take-off angles changed significantly at the ankle (SPJ), knee (CMJ), and hip (SPJ), and the plantar flexion torque changed significantly at the SPJ touchdown. The contribution ratio of the feet during SPJs and CMJs changed after fatigue. Temporary RA fatigue decreases the jump height of athletes and causes a change in the landing strategy.

This study examined kinematics differences between personal best and worst throws to determine movement corrections for javelin throwers. Eight elite Asian male throwers were filmed as participants in Taipei Athletics Open 2015 (age: 22.1 ± 2.2 years, height: 177.3 ± 3.3 cm, and weight: 82.1 ± 3.5 kg). A high-speed camera with a 300-Hz sampling rate was used to collect motion images in the sagittal plane. Three-dimensional software was used to digitise and analyse the kinematics of throwing images. The Wilcoxon two-sample test was used to compare the throwing posture and javelin kinematics for the longest and shortest throws. The statistical significance was set at α= .05. Javelin travel distance was 70.9 ± 5.9 m and 67.2 ± 6.3 m in longest (best) and shortest (worst) throws. The wrist velocity at release was greater in longest throws (22.7 ± 0.8 m/s), with lower velocity in shortest throws (21.6 ± 0.5 m/s). A greater elbow joint angle was found in the longest throw group. The joint angle was 166.7 ± 10.6° and 158.4 ± 13.5° in longest and shortest throw groups, respectively. Throwers can improve distance by extending the elbow to accelerate the forearm when releasing.

We evaluated whether knees and hips are the key regions to anticipate an opponent’s cutting directions by using the kinematics method during different cutting tasks. Eighteen male university division 1 soccer players were the subjects of this study. Each participant was asked to cut with dribbling in four situations (2 speeds × 2 directions). The motion system and force platform were used synchronously to collect movements and ground reaction force during cutting with dribbling. The two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for statistical analysis (α = .05). The knee external rotation angle of the non-pivot leg was greater when cutting to the non-dominant side at the event of the non-pivot leg toe-off and pivot leg landing. The hip extension/flexion angle of the non-pivot leg was different between directions and speeds at both events. The height difference between the anterior-superior iliac spines was greater at the pivot leg landing when cutting to the non-dominant side. This study might provide the evidence to support the visual search strategies for observing the regions of hip and knee to predict cutting direction. Therefore, defenders could focus on the motion of the pelvis, hip, and knee to anticipate the cutting motion in the match.

[Purpose] To evaluate the effects of Pilates on patients with chronic low back pain through a systematic review of high-quality articles on randomized controlled trials. [Subjects and Methods] Keywords and synonyms for "Pilates" and "Chronic low back pain" were used in database searches. The databases included PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Medline, and the Cochrane Library. Articles involving randomized controlled trials with higher than 5 points on the PEDro scale were reviewed for suitability and inclusion. The methodological quality of the included randomized controlled trials was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Relevant information was extracted by 3 reviewers. [Results] Eight randomized controlled trial articles were included. Patients with chronic low back pain showed statistically significant improvement in pain relief and functional ability compared to patients who only performed usual or routine health care. However, other forms of exercise were similar to Pilates in the improvement of pain relief and functional capacity. [Conclusion] In patients with chronic low back pain, Pilates showed significant improvement in pain relief and functional enhancement. Other exercises showed effects similar to those of Pilates, if waist or torso movement was included and the exercises were performed for 20 cumulative hours.