Brais Ruibal-Lista

Introduction: Lifeguard training programs have evolved toward approaches that combine physical and technical training, improving preparedness for real rescue situations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured program designed to enhance physical performance in swimming and rescue tests. Methods: Thirty lifeguards participated in an 8-week training program consisting of 32 sessions that combined aerobic and anaerobic training with rescue techniques. General freestyle swimming tests and specific rescue tests with and without fins were assessed before and after the program. A mixed ANOVA was applied to examine the effects of time, sex, and their interaction, considering body mass as a covariate. Effect size was calculated using partial eta squared (η²ₚ). Results: Significant improvements were observed in most of the general and specific rescue tests (p < 0.05; η²ₚ = 0.147–0.228), with large effect sizes at short and medium distances. Men showed higher performance values; however, the time × sex interaction was not significant, indicating that both sexes improved similarly. Conclusions: The combined training program effectively improved swimming and rescue performance regardless of sex. These findings support the implementation of multifaceted training programs to optimize the operational performance of lifeguards.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of an official Muay Thai championship on neuromuscular performance, assessing changes in upper- and lower-limb power before and after competition, as well as differences according to competitive outcome (winners vs. losers). Methods: Thirty-three amateur Muay Thai athletes (17 men and 16 women) performed a countermovement jump (CMJ) and a reactive push-up test (RPU) immediately before and after their bouts. Neuromuscular performance changes were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA, and a binary logistic regression was conducted to examine the association between post-competition performance and match outcome. Results: Significant post-competition declines were observed in both CMJ and RPU performance (p < 0.001), indicating acute neuromuscular fatigue. Men exhibited higher performance values than women in both tests, with sex-specific differences in CMJ fatigue magnitude. When analyzed by competitive outcome, losers showed substantially greater performance decrements than winners, particularly in CMJ. Logistic regression revealed that post-competition CMJ performance was a significant predictor of winning, with higher CMJ values associated with greater odds of competitive success. Conclusions: An official Muay Thai bout induces marked acute neuromuscular fatigue affecting both upper and lower limbs, with greater impairments observed in non-winning athletes. The ability to maintain lower-limb explosive power under fatigue appears to be associated with competitive success. Simple neuromuscular assessments such as CMJ and RPU may be useful tools for monitoring fatigue, guiding tactical decisions, and informing post-competition recovery strategies in Muay Thai athletes.

Inclusive sport is increasingly recognised as a key avenue for enhancing social participation, autonomy, and quality of life (QoL) for people with disabilities (PwD). Internationally, despite legislative and conceptual advances, PwD continue to face barriers including discriminatory attitudes, segregation, and limited access to mainstream sporting opportunities. To counter these barriers, evidence highlights the importance of environments that foster meaningful engagement, decision-making, and social interaction. Organisational and community structures play a crucial role in enabling or constraining inclusion, emphasising the need for systemic changes that support autonomy, participation, and social cohesion. Within this context, the Mixed Ability (MA) model is proposed as a potential approach to promote inclusive sport by integrating participants with and without disabilities. MA promotes participation within mainstream sports clubs, without modifying official sporting rules or introducing classification systems or distinctions between athletes. While preliminary findings indicate positive outcomes for QoL and social engagement, further research is required to evaluate and understand the long-term impact and effectiveness of MA across diverse contexts.

In response to the educational demands of the 21st century, Physical Education (PE) has evolved toward a more comprehensive model, requiring innovative approaches from teachers. Educational sport remains essential; however, excessive competitiveness in some traditional sports often fails to motivate students. For this reason, the adoption of Alternative Sports (AS), such as Cornerball, is proposed. Cornerball, a playful–sporting variant, combines elements of wall and rebound sports with a divided court. It is played in mixed-gender pairs within a 90-degree corner divided by a net at the center, with players alternating participation on each hit. This novel approach seeks to enhance student motivation, promote physical activity, and convey values in an engaging manner. The main objective of this paper is to design a didactic proposal for the implementation of Cornerball in PE classes. Its potential to foster active participation, coeducation, sports values, cooperation, and healthy lifestyle habits is highlighted. This new alternative sport emerges as an attractive and challenging option, contributing significantly to the evolution of Physical Education toward a more holistic and motivating approach.

El sobrepeso, la obesidad y la falta de ejercicio físico en la infancia causa graves problemas de salud en la infancia y en la etapa adulta. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los hábitos alimentarios, el estilo de vida y la práctica deportiva de alumnos de Educación Primaria en Valladolid (España). Se utilizó el cuestionario de hábitos de vida saludables de alimentación y actividad física (CHVSAAF) en 130 estudiantes de 11-12 años. El análisis estadístico para comparar a ambos grupos reveló que más del 80% de los niños no padecen sobrepeso ni obesidad, destacando un consumo bajo de alimentos ultraprocesados y una alta frecuencia de conductas alimentarias saludables como beber agua y comer fruta y verdura. Además, se observó que la práctica deportiva es común fuera de las clases de Educación Física. Las correlaciones mostraron que un mayor consumo de frutas y verduras está asociado con un menor peso (p<0.05), mientras que ver la televisión más de dos horas al día se relaciona con un mayor peso y consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados (p<0.05). Este estudio resalta la importancia de promover hábitos saludables desde una edad temprana y el papel crucial de la familia en el desarrollo de estos hábitos.

Introduction: This study examined the effect of a brief self-directed training session with real-time feedback on the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in 50 secondary and upper secondary school students from a semi-private school in Salamanca. Methodology: The study design included a baseline CPR test, followed by a 30-minute self-training session using feedback-equipped manikins, and a final CPR test. Overall CPR quality, compression and ventilation quality, as well as specific parameters such as compression depth, rate, and chest recoil were assessed. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed after the self-training session in overall CPR quality, as well as in both compression and ventilation quality. Other key indicators also improved, including mean compression depth and the number of correct ventilations. Conclusions: Brief training using manikins with real-time feedback significantly enhances CPR quality in young students, supporting its early and continuous implementation in school settings starting at the age of 12.

This study analyzes the impact of Gaelic Football on the motivation, participation, and enjoyment of Primary Education students in Physical Education classes, compared to Traditional Football. The research was conducted in a semi-private school in Valladolid, involving students from the final cycle of Primary Education. Two teaching units were designed, each consisting of eight sessions, and a 20-item questionnaire was administered, divided into four dimensions: enjoyment, peer participation, participation towards others, and self-participation. The results showed that in Traditional Football, boys exhibited higher levels of enjoyment and participation in most dimensions. However, in Gaelic Football, gender differences were smaller due to an increase in girls' participation levels. The study concludes that alternative sports, such as Gaelic Football, can help reduce gender inequalities in sports participation, promoting inclusion and enjoyment in Physical Education classes.

Drowning is considered a global public health problem, and rip currents are responsible for numerous emergencies on beaches worldwide. The literature indicates a significant lack of knowledge and training among the population regarding rip currents and aquatic safety. The purpose of this study was to examine whether a training program on aquatic safety education can help prevent drownings and enhance knowledge about rip currents. A total of 93 university students completed a 60 min training program led by lifeguard instructors. A questionnaire focused on sea safety content, specifically on rip currents, was administered in three different phases: before the educational session (PT), one week after (T1), and eight weeks after the training (T2). Before the training, 34.4% of the participants had difficulties identifying the correct swimming zone (zones 1, 7, and 8). However, after the training, this percentage significantly increased to 84.9% at T1 and 79.6% at T2. Significant differences were also observed in the four variables analyzed: selection of the swimming zone (x² = 24.143; p < 0.001), definition (x² = 47.643; p < 0.001), identification (x² = 95.051; p < 0.001), and response to a rip current (x² = 21.918; p < 0.001). A 60 min training session can have a positive effect and significantly increase knowledge on how to define, identify, and respond to a situation involving rip currents. These findings reinforce the value of training, providing a solid foundation for drowning prevention.

Objetivo La formación desde temprana edad en reanimación cardiopulmonar (RCP) y primeros auxilios es crucial debido a la alta incidencia de muerte súbita cardiaca. Este estudio analiza los conocimientos en soporte vital básico y primeros auxilios entre estudiantes de educación primaria y secundaria obligatoria en Valladolid. Métodos Participaron 240 estudiantes de 10 a 14 años mediante un cuestionario que abarcó dimensiones sociodemográficas, conocimientos generales de SVB, específicos de RCP en adultos y uso del desfibrilador externo automático (DEA). Resultados Los resultados indican que los alumnos de primaria tienen conocimientos limitados sobre SVB, con solo el 8,6% capaz de explicar correctamente el masaje cardíaco y el 22,9% la profundidad adecuada de compresiones. En secundaria, aunque el conocimiento es ligeramente mejor, sigue siendo insuficiente. Por otro lado, la formación previa mostró una influencia significativa en los conocimientos demostrados. Conclusión Los estudiantes de educación primaria y educación secundaria obligatoria presentan bajos niveles de conocimiento en SVB, subrayando así la necesidad de mejorar la formación en estas habilidades.

Objective: This study compared two switch strategies during a 16-minute simulated CPR: every 2 minutes (as per ERC guidelines) versus self-paced switching based on perceived fatigue. Methods: Eighteen lifeguards completed three tests: a 2-minute individual CPR test and two 16-minute partner-based simulations, one with 2-minute changes and the other with self-selected changes. CPR quality (QCPR, QCC, QVR), heart rate (HR), and perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Results: Global CPR quality was significantly higher in the 2-minute switch protocol compared to the self-paced strategy. Fatigue markers (HR and RPE) were also lower with the standard approach. However, participants with better performance in the individual test were able to sustain longer interventions under the self-paced condition. Conclusion: Switching every 2 minutes results in better CPR quality and reduced fatigue. However, individual ability predicts performance in self-paced scenarios, supporting the potential of personalized protocols and training in lifeguard CPR interventions