Faculty of Sports Sciences
The Faculty of Sports Sciences at University of Isfahan, established in 2001, has emerged as a national leader in sports education and research, offering comprehensive programs in physical education, sports physiology, sports management, and sports psychology, while operating state-of-the-art sports facilities and laboratories.
https://sport.ui.ac.irThe Faculty of Sports Sciences at University of Isfahan has established itself as one of the most comprehensive sports science institutions in the Middle East since its foundation in 2001. Spread across a 20,000 square meter complex that includes an Olympic-size swimming pool, a FIFA-standard football pitch, an indoor athletics track, and specialized research labs, the faculty offers B.Sc. programs in Physical Education and Sports Science, M.Sc. programs in Sports Physiology, Sports Biomechanics, Sports Management, and Sports Psychology, and a Ph.D. program in Sports Science. Our research facilities include the Human Performance Laboratory (with metabolic carts, force plates, and motion capture systems), the Sports Nutrition Center, and the Sports Technology Innovation Lab. The faculty has produced 35 national team athletes in various disciplines and its researchers have contributed to the development of national training protocols for football, wrestling, and athletics. Our faculty members serve on scientific committees of international sports federations and have published groundbreaking research in top sports science journals. The faculty operates the "Sports and Society Research Center" which examines the role of sports in public health and social development, and the "Traditional Sports Preservation Center" which documents and promotes indigenous Iranian sports. Through partnerships with 12 professional sports clubs and the National Olympic Committee, we provide students with exceptional internship and employment opportunities. The annual "International Conference on Sports Science and Health" organized by the faculty attracts participants from over 20 countries. Our sports medicine clinic serves both the university community and the general public, offering specialized services in sports injury prevention and rehabilitation. The faculty also runs community outreach programs promoting physical activity among children, elderly populations, and people with disabilities.
Articles
Physical Therapy in Sport (1466853X)3(4)pp. 183-190
Notation analysis has now gained wide use in the assessment of competitive football play. Computer-aided methods have largely replaced the use of hand-notation systems. Whilst a hand-notation approach has been adopted previously in assessing injury-risk in football, the recording and analysing of events with injury potential are time-consuming. In this report, a computerised system of notating incidents in the game is described. Key incidents are monitored with respect to degree of injury potential, location and other factors. The use of the system is illustrated by comparing home and away performances in Premier League matches between Manchester United and Liverpool F.C. The system has advantages in speed and accuracy of handling data related to injury and injury risk. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
British Journal of Sports Medicine (03063674)36(5)pp. 354-359
Objective: To assess the exposure of players to injury risk during English Premier League soccer matches in relation to selected factors. Methods: Injury risk was assessed by rating the injury potential of playing actions during competition with respect to (a) type of playing action, (b) period of the game, (c) zone of the pitch, and (d) playing either at home or away. In all, 10 games from the English Premier League 1999-2000 were chosen for analysis. A notation system was used whereby 16 soccer specific playing actions were classified into three categories: those inducing actual injury, those with a potential for injury (graded as mild, moderate, or high), and those deemed to have no potential for injury. The pitch was divided into 18 zones, and the position of each event was recorded along with time elapsed in the game, enabling six 15 minute periods to be defined. Results: Close to 18 000 actions were notated. On average (mean (SD)), 1788 (73) events (one every three seconds), 767 (99) events with injury potential (one every six seconds), and 2 (1) injuries (one every 45 minutes) per game were recorded. An overall injury incidence of 53 per 1000 playing hours was calculated. Receiving a tackle, receiving a "charge", and making a tackle were categorised as having a substantial injury risk, and goal catch, goal punch, kicking the ball, shot on goal, set kick, and heading the ball were all categorised as having a significant injury risk. All other actions were deemed low in risk. The first 15 minutes of each half contained the highest number of actions with mild injury potential, the last 15 minutes having the highest number of actions with moderate injury potential (p<0.01). The first and last 15 minutes of the game had the highest number of actions with high injury potential, although not significant. More actions with mild injury potential occurred in the goal area, and more actions with moderate and high injury potential occurred in the zone adjacent to the goal area (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between home and away with regard to injury potential. Conclusions: Playing actions with high injury risk were linked to contesting possession. Injury risk was highest in the first and last 15 minutes of the game, reflecting the intense engagements in the opening period and the possible effect of fatigue in the closing period. Injury risk was concentrated in the areas of the pitch where possession of the ball is most vigorously contested, which were specific attacking and defending zones close to the goal. Injury potential was no greater in away matches than at home.
Bambaeichi e., E.,
Cable N.T.,
Reilly, T.,
Giacomoni M.,
Rahnama, N.,
Reilly, T.,
Lees, A.,
Graham-smith p., 2025 29th International Computer Conference, Computer Society of Iran, CSICC 2025pp. 227-239
Journal of Sports Sciences (1466447X)21(11)pp. 933-942
Fatigue represents a reduction in the capability of muscle to generate force. The aim of the present study was to establish the effects of exercise that simulates the work rate of competitive soccer players on the strength of the knee extensors and knee flexors. Thirteen amateur soccer players (age 23.3 ± 3.9 years, height 1.78 ± 0.05 m, body mass 74.8±3.6 kg; mean ± s) were tested during the 2000-2001 soccer season. Muscle strength of die quadriceps and hamstrings was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer. A 90 min soccer-specific intermittent exercise protocol, incorporating a 15 min half-time intermission, was developed to provide fatiguing exercise corresponding in work rate to a game of soccer. The exercise protocol, performed on a programmable motorized treadmill, consisted of the different intensities observed during soccer match-play (e.g. walking, jogging, running, sprinting). Muscle strength was assessed before exercise, at half-time and immediately after exercise. A repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant reductions (P < 0.001) in peak torque for both the quadriceps and hamstrings at all angular velocities (concentric: 1.05, 2.09, 5.23 rad.s-1; eccentric: 2.09 rad.s-1). The peak torque of the knee extensors (KE) and knee flexors (KF) was greater before exercise [KE: 232±37, 182±34, 129±27, 219±41 N.m at 1.05, 2.09 and 5.23 rad.s-1 (concentric) and 2.09 rad.s-1 (eccentric), respectively; KF: 126±20, 112±19, 101±16, 137±23 N.m] than at half-time (KE: 209±45, 177±35, 125±36, 214±43 N.m; KF: 114±31, 102±20, 92±15, 125±25 N.m) and greater at half-time than after exercise (KE: 196±43, 167±35, 118±24, 204±43 N.m; KF: 104±25, 95±21, 87±13, 114±27 N.m). For the hamstrings: quadriceps ratio, significant changes were found (P<0.05) for both legs, the ratio being greater before than after exercise. For fast:slow speed and left:right ratios, no significant changes were found. We conclude that there is a progressive reduction in muscle strength that applies across a range of functional characteristics during exercise that mimics the work rate in soccer.
Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters (16891392)9(4 A)pp. 773-775
Ergonomics (00140139)48(11-14)pp. 1568-1575
Most soccer players have a favoured foot for kicking the ball, and it is believed that this preference may lead to an asymmetry in the strength and flexibility of the lower extremities. This study was designed to determine whether asymmetry in strength and flexibility are present in the legs of soccer players. Forty-one elite and sub-elite soccer players (age 23.4 ± 3.8 years; height 1.81 ± 0.06 m; body mass 81.7 ± 9.9 kg) were studied (data are presented as mean ± SD). The dynamic strength of knee flexors (hamstrings) and knee extensors (quadriceps) was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 1.05, 2.09, 5.23 rad/s (in a concentric mode) and 2.09 rad/s (in an eccentric mode). The concentric strength ratio (hamstringsconc/quadricepsconc) and the dynamic control ratio (hamstringsecc/quadricepsconc) were computed. Hip joint flexibility (in flexion) was measured using a goniometer. A significant difference between the preferred and non-preferred leg was found in the knee flexors at 2.09 rad/s (119 ± 22 versus 126 ± 24Nm; P < 0.05) and for the dynamic control ratio (0.79 ± 0.13 versus 0.84 ± 0.16Nm; P < 0.05). In both cases the knee flexors of the preferred leg were weaker than those of the non-preferred leg. A total of 28 of the 41 players (68%) had significant musculoskeletal abnormality (imbalance 410%) in one or more specific muscle groups. No significant differences were found in flexibility of the hip joint between the preferred and non-preferred leg (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the lower strength of the knee flexor muscl es of the preferred leg may be associated with the differential use of these muscle during the kicking action and thus constitutes a unique training effect associated with soccer. This in turn can lead to muscular imbalance which is generally regarded as an injury risk factor. © 2005 Taylor & Francis.
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology (18735711)16(3)pp. 257-263
Surface electromyography has been useful in comparing muscular activity among different sports movements and it is a valuable technique for evaluating muscle activation, co-ordination and fatigue. Since these important variables have not been investigated during the full game in soccer, the present study aimed to investigate the activity of major muscles of the lower extremity during a soccer-simulation fatiguing protocol. Ten amateur soccer players (age 21.40 ± 3.13 years; height 1.77 ± 0.06 m; mass 74.55 ± 8.5 kg) were tested. The exercise protocol, performed on a programmable motorised treadmill, consisted of the different intensities observed during soccer match-play (walking, jogging, running, sprinting). Electromyographic activity was recorded from the rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius (GC) muscles before exercise, at half-time and immediately after the 90-min exercise protocol. The EMG data were analysed using custom-written software to compute the root mean square (RMS) value over ten gait cycles. With regard to RF, BF and TA, a significant main effect (P < 0.05) was found for condition (pre-game, half-time and post-game), speed (6, 12, 15 and 21 km h-1) (P < 0.05) and interaction between condition and speed (P < 0.05). For GC, a significant effect was not found for condition or interaction between condition and speed, but a significant main effect (P < 0.001) was found for speed, with the RMS value increasing continually with increasing speed from 6 to 21 km h-1. The results indicated that after a simulation of the exercise intensity of soccer-play the EMG activity in major lower-limb muscles was less than before. This decrease indicated that prolonged intermittent exercise had an effect on muscle activity even when work-rate was sustained. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Movahedi, A.,
Sheikh, M.,
Bagherzadeh, F.,
Hemayattalab, R.,
Ashayeri, H. Journal of Motor Behavior (00222895)39(6)pp. 457-462
The authors propose a practice-specificity-based model of arousal for achieving peak performance. The study included 37 healthy male physical education students whom they randomly assigned to a high-arousal (n = 19) or low-arousal group (n = 18). To manipulate participants' level of arousal, the authors used motivational techniques. They used heart rate and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (R. Martens, 1977) to measure the level of arousal that participants achieved. At the determined and given arousal state, the 2 groups performed the task (basketball free throws) for 18 sessions. Both groups performed a retention test at the 2 arousal levels immediately after the last exercise session, in the posttest, and after 10 days. Results showed that both groups learned the task similarly and achieved their peak performance at their experienced arousal level. When tested at an arousal level that differed from the one that they experienced throughout practice sessions, participants' performance had deteriorated significantly. Performance of the task seemed to have integrated with the arousal level of the participants during the task learning. The findings of this study suggest a practice-specificity-based explanation for achieving peak performance. Copyright © 2007 Heldref Publications.
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (14402440)(1)pp. 27-35
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIT) programmes on maximal oxygen uptake (over(V, ̇) O2 max), the lactate threshold (LT) and 3000 m running performance in moderately trained male runners. over(V, ̇) O2max, the running speed associated with over(V, ̇) O2max (vover(V, ̇) O2 max), the time for which vover(V, ̇) O2 max can be maintained (Tmax), the running speed at LT (vLT) and 3000 m running time (3000mTT) were determined before and following three different training programmes performed for 10 weeks. Following the pre-test, 17 moderately trained male runners (over(V, ̇) O2max = 51.6 ± 2.7 ml k g- 1 mi n- 1) were divided into training groups based on their 3000mTT (Group 1, G1, N = 6, 8× 60% of Tmax at vover(V,̇) O2 max, 1:1 work:recovery ratio; Group 2, G2, N = 6, 12× 30s at 130% vover(V, ̇) O2max, 4.5 min recovery; control group, GCON, N = 5, 60 min at 75% vover(V, ̇) O2 max). G1 and G2 performed two HIT sessions and two 60 min recovery run sessions (75% vover(V, ̇) O2max) each week. Control subjects performed four 60 min recovery run sessions (75% vover(V, ̇) O2 max) each week. In G1, significant improvements (p < 0.05) following HIT were found in over(V, ̇) O2 max (+9.1%), vover(V, ̇) O2 max (+6.4%), Tmax (5%), vLT (+11.7%) and 3000mTT (-7.3%). In G2, significant improvements (p < 0.05) following HIT were found in over(V, ̇) O2 max (+6.2%), vover(V, ̇) O2max (+7.8%), Tmax (+32%) and 3000mTT (-3.4%), but not in vLT (+4.7%; p = 0.07). No significant changes in these variables were found in GCON. The present study has shown that 3000 m running performance, over(V, ̇) O2 max, vover(V, ̇) O2 max, Tmax and vLT can be significantly enhanced using different HIT programmes in moderately trained runners, but that changes in performance and physiological variables may be more profound using prolonged HIT at intensities of vover(V, ̇) O2max with interval durations of 60% Tmax. © 2006 Sports Medicine Australia.
Mathematical modeling and optimization of snatch technique based on dynamic synthesis is the main purpose of this study. The barbell trajectory is proposed as the main index which was evaluated experimentally by several researchers who introduced optimum trajectory according to percentage of their owners' success. We believe that in optimizing the barbell trajectory we should consider the mechanical principles. Therefore we use a five-link biomechanical model to evaluate its behaviour and to predict the optimum barbell trajectory which minimizes the specific mechanical criterion by using genetic algorithm (GA) which is theoretically and empirically proven to provide a robust search in complex spaces, thereby offering a valid approach to problems requiring efficient and effective searches. Comparing the results of this model and experimental observations of other researchers, we show an improvement to introduce a good predictive model. Using this model can help the coaches to improve the performance of weightlifters.
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