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Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Graphic design: Shelly Shalom Editors: Prof. Moshe Ayalon and Prof. Ronnie Lidor The Academic College at Wingate 2018 [email protected]

Table of Contents Introduction – Ronnie Lidor...........................................................................................................................................4Research at The Academic College at Wingate 2016-2017 – Moshe Ayalon..................................5Adapted Physical Activity..............................................................................................................................................6Biomechanics and Kinesiology...............................................................................................................................16Education and Physical Education........................................................................................................................33Genetics, Sport, and Physical Activity.................................................................................................................40Motor Learning and Behavior...................................................................................................................................46Nutritional and Biochemical Aspects of Exercise..........................................................................................54Physical Activity in Older Adults..............................................................................................................................59Physiological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity....................................................................................65Psychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity...................................................................................74Scientific Publications 2016-2017 3

IntroductionThe Academic College at Wingate offers both a B.Ed. and an M.P.E. degree in physical education (PE).In addition, the Collage offers a second Master degree – Education for Active and Healthy Life (M.Ed.).Undergraduate studies are divided between the School of Education, which prepares students tobecome certified PE teachers, and the School of Physical Education, which provides students withcourses in sport and exercise sciences. Students may specialize in one of the following areas: sportmanagement, adapted physical activity, cardiac rehabilitation, correct posture cultivation, physicalactivity in early childhood, and physical activity for the elderly.The aim of the College is not only to develop learning environments that will enable its undergraduateand graduate students to (a) acquire theoretical and applied knowledge in the different areas of sportand exercise sciences, such as exercise physiology, motor learning, sport pedagogy, biomechanics,kinesiology, and history and philosophy of sport, and (b) improve their teaching ability and pedagogicalskills, but also to encourage its staff members to conduct research in their fields of interest. It is theCollege’s main objective to combine “good” teaching with research, as required of staff membersin any research institution, and our research laboratories are well-equipped and feature advanced,state-of-the-art technology.This booklet contains a selection of the fruits of research performed by the College’s staff membersin the years 2016-2017. It is composed of a list of articles that were published in refereed journals,according to the main fields studied and investigated in the College. Abstracts are presented foreach article.I would like to thank Prof. Moshe Ayalon, Head of the Research Authority at the College, as well asDinah Olswang, the College’s English Editor, for their efforts and hard work in the preparation of thisbooklet.Prof. Ronnie LidorPresident4 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Research at The Academic College at Wingate 2016-2017The Academic College at Wingate is dedicated to providing an efficient and stable researchenvironment for our researchers. This booklet of scientific publications summarizes the 2016-2017publications of the college’s faculty that appeared in peer-reviewed international journals.At the College, we conduct advanced research on various aspects of physical education, physicalactivity, and sport. Researchers from a variety of backgrounds work together and utilize the College’sstate-of-the-art equipment and facilities in carrying out their research. Our faculty members engagein collaborative studies with other academic, educational, and medical centers, and strive to maintaina high level of academic education for our B.Ed., M.Ed., and M.P.E. students.A major goal of the College is to raise the research output in the upcoming years by means ofincreasing the contribution of current faculty members, widening our collaboration with relevantpublic agencies and researchers in other institutions, and involving a greater number of bothgraduate and undergraduate students in research projects.I would like to thank all our researchers for their efforts, and for their contribution to the academicachievements of the College.Prof. Moshe AyalonHead, Research AuthorityScientific Publications 2016-2017 5

Adapted Physical Activity6 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

2016Barak, S., Mendoza-Laiz, N., Gutiérrez Fuentes, M. T., Rubiera, M., & Hutzler, Y. (2016).Psycho-social effects of competitive Boccia program in persons with severe chronic disability.Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, 53, 973-988.People with severe physical disabilities may experience psychosocial problems. Boccia isone sport that athletes with severe disability can engage in, but no information on the effectsof Boccia on psychosocial outcomes for participants with severe disability is available.Therefore, we analyzed the effects of Boccia on psychosocial outcomes in persons withsevere disabilities. The study included two competitive Boccia groups: independentcompetitive (IC) (n = 9) and nonindependent competitive (NIC) (n = 7), as well as arecreational Boccia group (n = 14) and control subjects (n = 13) (mean age for all participants= 46.46 +/– 10.75 yr). All participants underwent a rehabilitation program. Between-groupdifferences in change scores were assessed using analysis of variance/multivariate analysisof variance. Within-group differences were compared using t-tests and effect sizes (ESs).Change in psychosocial parameters was not significantly influenced by study group (p >0.05). All groups presented moderate-to-large ESs in physical and psychological quality oflife (ES > 0.51). In comparison to the control group, which presented small-to-trivial ESs inGeneral Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Profile ofMood States-Tension, the IC and recreational group presented moderate ESs in GHQ-28,whereas the NIC group presented moderate ESs in anxiety and tension. In conclusion, therehabilitation program had a general positive effect on the psychosocial status of individualswith severe physical disabilities. However, the competitive Boccia groups demonstrated agreater number of favorable changes, suggesting an added value of participation in Boccia.Fox, O., Adi-Japha, E., & Karni, A. (2016). Motor memory consolidation processes in youngfemale adults with ADHD may be less susceptible to interference. Neuroscience Letters,637, 91-95.Young adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have an atypicalprocedural (“how to”) memory consolidation phase, after practicing a movement sequence,with smaller gains in speed and some costs in accuracy, compared to typical peers, at 24Scientific Publications 2016-2017 7

hours post-training. Here we tested the susceptibility of performance gains retained aftermotor practice by young female adults with (n=16) and without (n=16) ADHD to post-traininginterference. Participants were trained on the finger-to-thumb opposition sequence learningtask, with performance speed and accuracy recorded before training, immediately after,and at 24 hours post-training. Two hours after the initial training, participants practiced asecond, similarly constructed but differently ordered sequence of movements. Typical youngadults showed a significant interference effect, with only the performance of the secondsequence showing robust gains in speed, with no costs in accuracy, in the 24 hours post-training consolidation phase. Participants with ADHD showed only small additional speedgains in the post-training consolidation phase, but for both sequences. Altogether theseresults suggest that motor memory consolidation processes in young adults with ADHD maybe less susceptible to interference compared to typical peers.Fox, O., Karni, A, & Adi-Japha, E. (2016). The consolidation of a motor skill in young adultswith ADHD: shorter practice can be better. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 51-52,135-144.Practice on a given sequence of movements can lead to robust procedural memory (skill).In young adults, in addition to gains in performance accrued during practice, speed andaccuracy can further improve overnight; the latter, delayed, “offline”, gains are thought toemerge when procedural memory consolidation processes are completed. A recent studysuggested that female college students with ADHD show an atypical procedural memoryconsolidation phase – specifically, gaining speed but losing accuracy, overnight. Here,to test if this accuracy loss reflected a cost of overlong training in adults with ADHD, wecompared the performance of female college students with (n=16) and without (n=16)ADHD, with both groups given a shorter training protocol (80 rather than the standard 160task repetitions). Speed and accuracy were recorded before training, immediately after, andat 24-hours and 2 weeks post-training. The shortened practice session resulted in as robustwithin-session gains and additional overnight gains in speed at no costs in accuracy, in bothgroups. Moreover, individuals with ADHD showed as robust speed gains and retention as inthe longer training session, but the costs in accuracy incurred in the latter were eliminated.The shortening of practice sessions may benefit motor skill acquisition in ADHD.8 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Hutzler, Y., Barda, R., Mintz, A., & Hayosh, T. (2016). Reverse integration in wheelchairbasketball – A serious leisure perspective. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 40, 338-360.Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular sport activities among persons withdisabilities. The current study focuses on “reverse integration” (RI) groups of athleteswith and without disabilities playing wheelchair basketball in Israel. A qualitative analysisapproach was chosen to examine whether the able-bodied participants in RI wheelchairbasketball training and competition identify their participation as a “serious leisure” (SL)activity, and to determine which additional insights could be gained about this activityfrom the participants’ perspectives. Eight male able-bodied participants, who have takenpart in three Israeli wheelchair basketball leagues (divisions), were interviewed. All eightparticipants in this study played longer than a year. The findings revealed support for the SLpremise within all six SL criteria. Participation of our informants was categorized within theestablishment and maintenance phases. All participants reported sustained perseverancein spite of having to deal with significant challenges, including the physical strain and mentaldifficulties associated with the game, coping with dual roles of participation as player andcoach, and finally, having to face the same economical and social barriers typically reportedby athletes with disability.Kwok, N., Rintala, P., Hutzler, Y., Kokko, S., & Tynjälä, J. (2016) Organized sport participationand physical activity levels among adolescents with functional limitations. Sports, 5, 81.Sufficient and regular physical activity is considered a protective factor, reducing the onsetof secondary disability conditions in adolescents with chronic diseases and functionallimitations. The aim of this study was to explore whether participation in organized sport maybe associated with higher levels of physical activity in adolescents with functional limitations,based on a national representative sample. Data from the Health Behaviour in School-agedChildren (HBSC) study collected in Finland from two data collection rounds (2002 and2010) were conducted and pooled from adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years oldwith functional limitations (n = 1041). Differences in self-reported physical activity over theprevious week and participation in organized sport activity were analysed for each function.Overall, four in ten (n=413) participated in organized sport and were significantly (p<0.001)Scientific Publications 2016-2017 9

more physically active (mean=4.92days, SD=1.81) than their non-participating (mean=3.29,SD=1.86) peers with functional limitations. Despite low population prevalence, adolescentswith epilepsy or visual impairments were the least active if they were not participating inorganized sport, yet were the most active if they were involved in organized sport. Participatingin organized sport appears to be an important factor promoting resources for maintainingrecommended levels of physical activity in Finnish adolescents with functional limitations.Reina, R., Hutzler, Y., Iniguez Santiago, M. C., & Moreno-Murcia, J. A. (2016). Attitudestowards Inclusion of Students with Disability in Physical Education Questionnaire (AISDPE):A two-component scale in Spanish. European Journal of Human Movement, 36, 75-87.In Physical Education (PE), acceptance by and interaction with peers without disabilitiesis one of the most important factors in determining whether a student with a disability hasa successful experience, such as to be perceived as a member of the class, to interactwith peers, and to feel part of the group. This study establishes the construct validity of aquestionnaire in the Spanish language on attitudes toward the inclusion of students withdisability in PE, according a model where attitudes are considered to be comprised ofthree components: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Nine hundred and seventy-six PEstudents (491 girls and 485 boys) from eight public educational centers took part in thisstudy. Using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis procedures, a two-componentmodel of attitude was confirmed. Therefore, this questionnaire may be used for surveyingattitudes and measuring attitudinal change of students within the Spanish school system.10 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Zach, S., Yazdi-Ugav, O., & Zeev, A. (2016). Academic achievements, behavioral problems,and loneliness as predictors of social skills among students with or without learning disorders.School Psychology International, 37, 378-396. doi: 10.1177/0143034316649231.This study aimed to examine to what extent academic achievements, learning disorders(LD), behavior problems, and loneliness explain the variance of students’ social skills.The differences between students diagnosed with learning disorders and students withoutlearning disorders in all four variables were examined. Participants were 733 elementarystudents (642 without LD; 91 with LD). Homeroom teachers assessed students’ academicachievements, behavior problems, and social skills. Students completed questionnairesregarding their feelings of loneliness. Regression analysis showed that academicachievement and behavior problems explained approximately 70% of the students’ socialskills variance, whereas LD did not, and loneliness explained social skills variance onlyamong boys. These unexpected but encouraging findings are discussed in terms of thepositive process of change that has occurred since the announcement of the Israeli NationalSpecial Education Law of 1988, which made it possible for students with LD to be integratedinto regular classes.Zitomer, M. R. (2016). Children’s perceptions of disability in the context of elementary schooldance education. Revue phénEPS/PHEnex Journal, 8.This study applied a relational ethics lens to investigate the perceptions of disability of elementaryschool children without disabilities within their dance education contexts. Fourteen childrenbetween the ages eight and eleven from five elementary schools participated. A qualitativeinterpretivist approach guided the study. Data collection involved two small group semi-structured interviews, a drawing activity, researcher observation of classes, and researcherfield notes. Data analysis followed thematic analysis guidelines. Findings were conceptualizedbased on four themes: (a) disability as limited ability; (b) difference as normalized; (c) dance asthe expression of uniqueness; and (d) classmates as helpers. While understanding disabilityas a limitation, participation in a dance education environment that encouraged collaborativecreative movement exploration contributed to the children’s learning to view difference asordinary, and appreciate every person’s unique ways of dancing. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 11

Zitomer, M. R. (2016). Dance makes me happy: Experiences of children with disabilitiesin elementary school dance education. Research in Dance Education, 17, 218-234. doi:10.1080/14647893.2016.1223028This study explored the perspectives of elementary school children with disabilities ininclusive dance education classrooms in two large school districts in Western Canada.A qualitative interpretivist approach facilitated understanding of the experiences of eightchildren with different disabilities between the ages 6 and 10 who participated in dance ingeneral education classrooms. Two one-on-one semi-structured interviews, children’s artwork, class observations, and researcher field notes facilitated gaining access to the children’sexperiences. Data were interpreted through a relational ethics conceptual framework. Dataanalysis followed the procedures of interpretive thematic analysis. Interview and observationdata revealed three themes: (a) peer acceptance, (b) bodily learning, and (c) engagedsupport continuum. Relationships with teachers, educational assistants, and classmatescreated a dance education environment that enabled these children to participate alongsidetheir classmates, experience joy and success, and gain a sense of belonging.2017Hutzler, Y., & Barak, S. (2017). Self-efficacy of physical education teachers in including studentswith cerebral palsy in their classes. Research in Developmental Disabilities 68, 52-65.Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are often mainstreamed into the general educationsystem, but are likely to be excluded from physical education (PE) classes. A questionnairewas constructed and utilized to measure PE teachers’ self-efficacy (SE) toward inclusion ofstudents with CP in each of three mobility categories (independent, using assistive devices,using wheelchair mobility), and the impact of experience and training on teachers’ SE.Participants in the study were 121 PE teachers from different parts of Israel (mean age:41.02 ± 9.33 years; range: 25.00–59.00 years). Exploratory factor analysis was used todetermine the structure of the sub-scales’ factors’ structure, and Cronbach’s Alpha reliabilitywas satisfactory (range 0.872–0.941). Independent t-tests were calculated in order tocompare the SE of teachers with and without adapted PE experience. Repeated Analysis of12 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Variance was performed to measure within-group differences in SE. Results revealed thatthe PE teachers’ SE in teaching students who use mobility assistive devices or wheelchairswas significantly lower compared to teaching those who walk and run unaided (F= 19.11; p< 0.001). The teacher’s SE towards including CP children who independently ambulate wasinfluenced (p < 0.05; d = 0.94) by the teacher’s experience (elementary school practicum).SE in the mobility with assistive device group was also significantly influenced (p < 0.05; d= 0.1) by teaching experience (previous experience and having a specialization in adaptedPE). Finally, SE when teaching the wheelchair mobility group was influenced by having anadapted PE specialization (p < 0.05; d = 0.82). Specialized training in this particular areashould be enhanced in order to increase teachers’ SE and enable greater participation ofchildren with CP in general physical education classesHutzler, Y., Meier, S., & Reuker, S. (2017). Einstellung von Sportlehrkräften zu inklusivemSportunterricht – Eine internationale Perspektive [Attitudes of sport teachers toward inclusionin physical education – An international perspective]. Sonderpädagogische Förderung, 62,244-254.In the context of inclusive PE (physical education), attitudes of PE-teachers were taken intoaccount as one of the main variables for the success of inclusive education. Concerningthis matter extensively, more research activity has been done on the international level thanon the national level, which is still in its infancy. Therefore, this contribution focuses on therespective current state of research of both levels, in order to determine and assess thedifferences and similarities. This comparison reveals possible (mutual) reference points, aswell as fields where further research is needed. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 13

Hutzler, Y., & Shama, E. (2017). Attitudes and self-efficacy of Arabic-speaking physicaleducation teachers in Israel toward including children with disabilities. International Journalof Social Sciences Studies, 5, 28-42.The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and self-efficacy (SE) of physicaleducation (PE) teachers in the Arabic-speaking educational sector in Israel toward includingchildren with disability in their classes, utilizing translated questionnaires. The specific goalswere (a) to describe the structure and internal consistency of the responses to the AttitudesToward Inclusion in Physical Education (ATIPE) and Situation Specific Self-Efficacy (SE-ASPE) questionnaires of an Arabic-speaking PE teachers’ sample; (b) to assess the effect ofselected background variables on attitudes and SE in the study population; (c) to determinethe association between SE and attitudes toward including children with disabilities in PE inthe study population, and (d) to describe the differences in PE teachers’ SE toward includingchildren with different disabilities. The results indicated a bi-dimensional factor structure ofthe ATIPE, and a unidimensional structure of each of the SE-ASPE subscales: intellectualdisability (ID), physical disability (PD), and visual impairment (VI), and confirmed an internalreliability. The impact of background variables on attitudes and SE indicated that femaleshad more favorable attitudes and SE than males; age had a small significant impact; and,training and experience in inclusion of children with disability had a significant impact. Finally,it was found that the SE toward including children with VI was lower than toward ID and PD.Based on our findings it can be recommended that the training processes be strengthened,and should include continuous education workshops on inclusion, with an emphasis on VI.14 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Zitomer, M. R. (2017). Always being on your toes: Elementary school dance teachers’perceptions of inclusion and their roles in creating inclusive dance education environments.International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21, 428-440. doi: 10.1080/13603116.2016.1197327.Teachers are key players in creating inclusive dance education environments. Guided by aconceptual framework of relational ethics, this qualitative study explored the perceptions andpractices of four elementary school dance teachers teaching in public schools in two largeschool districts in Western Canada. Data collection involved interviews, observation, andresearcher field notes. Thematic analysis guided data analysis procedures. Analysis revealedsix themes connected to teacher perceptions: (a) valuing uniqueness; (b) establishingsupportive relationships; (c) becoming pedagogically aware; (d) regarding children’s needs;(e) teaching students about responsibility; and, (f) having high expectations. Dance teachersvalued inclusion and dance as a means for enabling student movement exploration anddiscovery of their unique style and ability. By acknowledging and respecting difference, thepractice of accommodating diverse learning needs contributed to the learning of all students. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 15

Biomechanics and Kinesiology16 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

2016Dello Iacono, A., Martone, D., Milic, M., & Padulo, J. (2016). Vertical- vs. horizontal-orienteddrop-jump training: Chronic effects on explosive performances of elite handball players.Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31, 921-931.This study aimed to assess the chronic effects of vertical and horizontal drop-jump-basedprotocols on neuromuscular explosive abilities such as jumping, sprinting, and change ofdirection (COD). Eighteen elite male handball players (age 23.4 ± 4.6 years; height 192.5 ±3.7 cm; weight 87.8 ± 7.4 kg) were assigned to either vertical drop jump (VDJ) or horizontaldrop jump (HDJ) group training twice a week for 10 weeks. Participants performed 5-8sets × 6-10 repetitions of vertical-alternate (VDJ) or horizontal-alternate (HDJ) one-leg drop-jumps, landing from the top of a platform 25 cm in height. Before and after training, severalperformance, kinetic, and kinematic variables were assessed. The HDJ led to greaterimprovement of the sprint-time (-8.5% vs. -4%; p<0.05) and COD performance in comparisonwith the VDJ (-7.9% vs. -1.1%; p<0.05), while the VDJ caused greater improvement in thevertical jump compared with the HDJ (+8.6% vs. +4.1%; p<0.05). Moreover, the VDJ regimencompared with the HDJ, induced greater changes in the kinetic variables associated withvertical jumping performance, such as peak ground reaction forces (+10.3% vs. +4.3%),relative impulse (+12.4% vs. +5.7%), leg-spring stiffness (+17.6% vs. +4.6%), contact time(-10.1% vs. -1.5%), and reactive strength index (+7.2% vs. +2.1%); all comparisons withp<0.05. Conversely, the HDJ regimen was able to improve the short-distance and CODperformances by increasing the step length (+3.5% vs. +1.5% with p<0.05) and reducing thecontact time on COD (-12.1% vs. -2.1% with p<0.05) more than the VDJ. This investigationshowed the crucial role that specific plyometric regimens play in optimizing similarbiomechanical featured functional performances such as jumping, sprinting, and COD. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 17

Dello Iacono, A., Maffulli, D., Laver, L., & Padulo, J., (2016). Successful treatment of groinpain syndrome in a pole-vault athlete with core stability exercise: A case report. The Journalof Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 57, 1650-1659.The purpose of this case report is to present a case of groin pain in a pole vault athlete describingthe biomechanical features of the injury`s mechanism, acute medical management, and itssuccessful rehabilitation. Case report: A 22 year-old professional pole-vaulter sustained aninjury during a regular training session. The athlete reported significant left lower abdominaland left proximal adductor discomfort in all activities, including basic trunk motion whenmoving in bed, sit to stand, and walking, and was unable to return to regular training. Clinicalevaluation and imaging studies addressed the injury to a case of adductor-related groin painassociated with pubic symphysis degeneration. Treatment consisted of an exercise-basedtherapeutic protocol based on trunk and core muscle strengthening and a stability program,with progressive motor and functional demands. Significant improvements in the overallclinical findings and functional outcomes were reported after 52 days of intervention, whenthe athletes returned to his full athletic activity. These results suggest that an appropriaterehabilitation program, focused on trunk and core musculature stability exercise addressingsport-related specific demands, should be considered as an optimal conservative method inthe multidisciplinary approach for treatment of groin pain and prior to any surgical intervention.Dello Iacono, A., Martone, D., & Padulo, J. (2016). Acute effects of drop-jump protocolson explosive performances of elite handball players. Journal of Strength and ConditioningResearch, 30, 3122-3133.This study aimed to assess the acute effects of vertical and horizontal drop-jump-based postactivation potentiation (PAP) protocols on neuromuscular abilities in tasks such as jumping,sprinting, and change of direction (COD). Eighteen handball players were assessed beforeand after PAP regimens consisting of either vertical (VDJ) or horizontal (HDJ) single-legdrop-jumps, on countermovement jump (CMJ), linear sprint, shuttle sprint, and agilityperformance. The HDJ led to greater improvement of the COD performance in comparisonwith the VDJ (-6.8% vs. -1.3%; p<0.05), while the VDJ caused greater improvement in theCMJ task compared with the HDJs (+6.5% vs. +1%; p<0.05). Moreover, the VDJ regimens18 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

compared with HDJ induced greater changes in most of the kinetic variables associatedwith vertical jumping performance, such as peak ground reaction forces (+9.6% vs. +1.3%),vertical displacement (-13.4% vs. -5.3%), leg-spring stiffness (+18.6% vs. +3.6%), contacttime (-9.2% vs. -1.3%), and reactive strength index (+7.3% vs. +2.4%) (all comparisons withp<0.05). Conversely, the HDJ regimens were able to improve the COD performance onlyby reducing the contact time on COD more than the VDJ (-13.3% vs. -2.4% with p<0.05).The results showed that both PAPs were able to improve the performances that specificallyfeatured similar force-orientation production. This investigation showed the crucial role thatdifferent and specific PAP regimens play in optimizing related functional performances.Specifically-oriented vertical and horizontal single-leg drop-jump protocols represent viablemeans for achieving enhanced explosive-based tasks such as jumping and COD.De Siati, F., Laffaye, G., Gatta, A., Dello Iacono, A., Ardigò, L. P., & Padulo, J. (2016).Neuromuscular and technical abilities related to age in water-polo players. Journal of SportsSciences, 34, 1466-1472.Testing is one of the important tasks in any multi-step sport programme. In most ballgames, coaches assess motor, physical, and technical skills on a regular basis in earlystages of talent identification, in order to further athletes’ development. The purpose of thestudy was to investigate anthropometric variables and vertical jump heights as a free throweffectiveness predictor in water-polo players of different age groups. Two hundred andthirty-six young (10-18 years) male water-polo players partitioned into three age groupsunderwent anthropometric variables’ measures and squat- and countermovement-jumptests, and performed water-polo free throws. Anthropometric variables, vertical jump heights,and throw speed – as a proxy for free throw effectiveness – results differed over age groups.Particularly, throw speed changed from 9.28 to 13.70 m · s(-1) (+48%) from younger to olderplayers. A multiple-regression model indicated that body height, squat-jump height, andthrow time together explain 52% of variance of throw speed. In conclusion, tall height, highlower limb power, and throwing quickness appeared to be relevant determinants for effectivefree throws. Such indications can help coaches during talent identification and developmentprocesses, even by means of novel training strategies. Further research is needed overdifferent maturity statuses. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 19

Dunsky, A., & Ben-Sira, D. (2016). Do different warm-up protocols affect isometric explosivemuscular contraction? Isokinetics and Exercise Science, 24, 51-58.There is a general agreement in the physical education and coaching communities on theimportance of warm-up (WU) prior to any physical performance. Nevertheless, the valueof WU remains controversial among researchers. The purpose of the study was to assessthe effect of direct, indirect, and combined direct and indirect WU protocols (DWU, IDWU,and CWU, respectively) on knee extension rate of torque development (RTD). Twenty-ninephysical education students were tested for maximal isometric knee extension tests onan isokinetic machine following each of the WU protocols, as well as following a controlcondition of no WU. RTD index was calculated for 50, 100, 150, and 200 ms from theinitiation of knee extension for each trial. RTD values following the four protocols werecompared by repeated measures ANOVA for each of the temporal indices. Results showedthat none of the differences between the protocols’ means was statistically significant atany of the temporal indices. Nevertheless, individual responses demonstrated that certainparticipants exhibited a non-uniform response profile, thus suggesting differential responsesto alternate protocols. Within the limitations of the current protocol and outcome measures,it is recommended that practitioners experiment with different WU routines and adjust themon an individual basis.Padulo, J., Attene, J., Paolo Ardigò, L., Bragazzi, N., Maffulli, N., Moura Zagatto, A., & DelloIacono, A. (2016). Can a repeated sprint ability test help clear a previously-injured soccerplayer for fully functional return to activity? A pilot study. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine,27, 361-368.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fatigue induced by a repeated sprintability (RSA) test on the neuromuscular responses of soccer players with a recent historyof lower limb injuries (CH) and a matched control group in good fitness condition (GH).This was a case-control study. Nine CH and 9 GH participated. The independent variablewas allocation to CH or GH. Each player was assessed for blood lactate concentration andjumping performance [squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ)] before/after RSA.Post-RSA rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was obtained. Receiver operating characteristic20 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

analysis was performed to calculate RSA sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing betweenCH and GH. Intraclass correlation coefficient was used to assess reliability. No baselinedifferences were found for any variable. DSJ before/after RSA was 214 6 2% and 25 62% in CH and GH, respectively (P, 0.05). DCMJ before/after RSA was 215 6 2% and 27 62% in CH and GH, respectively (P, 0.05). DSJ-based and DCMJ-based (before/after RSA)area under curve (AUC) resulted in 0.90 6 0.07 and 0.86 6 0.09, respectively, with bothAUCs differentiating between CH and GH with 77.78% sensitivity and 88.89% specificity.Pooled AUC resulted in 0.88 6 0.06. intraclass correlation coefficient was high (0.85/0.97).In conclusion, repeated sprint ability is a simple, low-cost field test potentially able to assistin clinical decision making for return to sport.Padulo, J., Di Giminiani, R., Dello Iacono, A., Moura Zagatto, A., Mario Migliaccio, G.,Grgantov, Z., & Paolo Ardigò, L. (2016). Lower-arm muscle activation during indirect-localized vibration: The influence of skill levels when applying different acceleration loads.Frontiers in Physiology, 16, 242.We aimed to investigate the electromyographic activity response to a synchronous vibrationintervention in international (HL) and national (LL) tennis table (TT) players. Twenty-six maleTT players underwent in standing position (random order) two different vibration interventions(each of 30 s): specifically, a high acceleration load (HAL; peak acceleration (aPeak) = 8.68g, frequency (f) = 40 Hz; peak-to-peak displacement (D) = 2.7 mm) and, a low accelerationload (LAL; aPeak= 3.98 g, f = 30 Hz, D = 2.2 mm). The surface electromyographic signal(sEMGrms), from brachioradialis (BR), extensor digitorum (ED), flexor carpi radialis (FC), andsuperficial flexor of fingers (FS), was recorded during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)and during the two vibration interventions. The sEMGrms response normalized to MVC(sEMGnorm) was greater in HL than in LL (from 35 ± 10 to 28 ± 11%; p < 0.05). The sEMGrmsresulted higher in HL with respect to LL in all the interactions between muscles and vibrationconditions (p < 0.05), with the exception of FC (at LAL) (p > 0.05). The Δ (%) between theHL and LL tended to increase in all the muscles with an HAL (p < 0.05), with the exception ofFS muscle (p < 0.05). The muscle activation during indirect localized vibration seems to beskill level and muscle dependent. These results can optimize the training intervention in TTplayers when applying localized vibration on the lower arm muscles. Future investigations Scientific Publications 2016-2017 21

should discriminate the middle-long term structural and functional adaptations in responseto the specifics of the vibration load.Peleg, S., Dar, G., Steinberg, N., Masharawi, Y., & Hershkovitz, I. (2016). Sacral orientationand Scheuermann’s kyphosis. SpringerPlus, 5, 141.The aim was to examine whether the association between spinal alignment and sacralanatomical orientation (SAO) can be detected in skeletal populations, by comparing SAOvalues in individuals with a typical SD to individuals with normal spinal alignment. 2025skeletons were screened for Scheuermann’s disease. Scheuermann’s kyphosis wasestablished by the presence of apophyseal abnormalities associated with more than 5° ofanterior wedging in each of three adjacent vertebrae. SAO was measured as the anglecreated between the intersection of a line running parallel to the superior surface of thesacrum and a line running between the anterior superior iliac spine and the anterior-superioredge of the symphysis pubis (PUBIS). SAO was measured on 185 individuals with normalspines and 183 individuals with Scheuermann’s kyphosis. Out of 2025 skeletons, 183(9 %) were diagnosed with Scheuermann’s kyphosis. The sacrum was significantly morehorizontally oriented in individuals with Scheuermann’s kyphosis compared with the controls(SAO: 44.44 ± 9.7° vs. 50 ± 9.9°, p < 0.001). Alteration in spinal biomechanics due to ahorizontally orientated sacrum may be an important contributing factor for the developmentof Scheuermann’s kyphosis.Steinberg, N., Hershkovitz, I., Zeev, A., Rothschild, B., Siev-Ner, I. (2016). Joint hypermobilityand joint range of motion in young dancers. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, 22, 171-178.Joint range of motion (ROM) refers to the extent of movement of the joint, recorded usingstandard goniometers. Joint hypermobility (JHM) is a condition in which most of the synovialjoints move beyond the “normal” limits. Joint hypermobility is recognized as a feature ofheritable disorders of the connective tissue and can be identified mostly by the Beighton scale.22 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Data on the possible relationship between JHM and joint ROM are lacking in the literature.The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between JHM andjoint ROM in the different lower-extremity joints in young dancers. Joint hypermobility andROM were assessed among 240 female dancers, aged 8 to 16 years, and 226 non-dancersof similar age. The prevalence of JHM is significantly higher among dancers compared withthe control subjects (P < 0.001). Joint ROM is higher among dancers with JHM compared todancers without JHM (P < 0.05). This phenomenon, however, is age-dependent; as in youngdancers (aged 8-10 years), this pertains only to the ankle dorsiflexion ROM. In adolescentdancers (aged 11-13 years). This relationship has been observed in most joints: ankle/foot en pointe, ankle dorsiflexion, hip external rotation, hip abduction, and hip extension. Inmature dancers (aged 14-16 years), dancers with JHM had greater ROM in ankle/foot enpointe, hip abduction, and knee flexion (P < 0.05). In conclusion, (1) Joint ROM and JHMare associated one with the other; (2) the relationship between joint ROM and JHM is age-dependent; and (3) JHM is common among young nonprofessional dancers compared withcontrol subjects. The main clinical implications of the current study are to try and reduce therisk of injuries among JHM dancers by developing proprioceptive trainings to improve thecorrect alignment of the hyperextended joints, to increase their muscle strength for betterstabilization of the hypermobile joints, and to provide the dancers with additional balancingand stabilizing exercises for their supporting muscles.Steinberg, N., Nemet, D., Pantanowitz, M., Zeev, A., Hallumi, M., Sindiani, M., Meckel,Y., & Eliakim, A. (2016). Longitudinal study evaluating postural balance of young athletes.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 122, 256-279.Repeated anaerobic conditions during athletic performance may cause general and localfatigue that results in postural balance deficit. Evidence suggests that improved posturalbalance during athletic training may decrease the risk for falls and traumatic injuries amongathletes. Twenty athletes (12 girls, 8 boys) and 20 controls (12 girls, 8 boys), ages 10-15years, participated in the current study. All athletes were active in an 8-month physical activityprogram, 3 times per week for 90 min., specific to basketball, soccer, or athletic training.The control children participated in physical education at school only, with no involvementin organized extracurricular sports. All participants were evaluated for postural balance in Scientific Publications 2016-2017 23

three assessments over one year (at 4-month intervals); the Interactive Balance Systemmachine (Tetrax device) was used to assess balance at three test times (pre-, post-, and10 min after a session) of a repeated-sprint anaerobic test, consisting of 12 × 20 m runsstarting every 20 sec. The athletes had better postural balance than the controls. There weredifferent group patterns of change over the sessions; a significant interaction of sessionand group indicated that postural balance of the groups differed. The contribution of lowsway frequencies (F1) and high sway frequencies (F6) differed between the controls andthe athletes’ group. Results suggest that although athletes had better postural balance,improvement should be encouraged during training over the sessions and seasons, withspecial awareness of the balance deficit that occurs immediately after anaerobic stress andat the end of the season, to decrease the risk of injuries.2017Dunsky, A., Barzilay, I., & Fox, O. (2017). The effect of a specialized injury preventionprogram on static balance, dynamic balance and kicking accuracy of young soccer players.World Journal of Orthopedics, 8, 317-321.We aimed to study the effect of balance intervention program using the “FIFA 11+” programon static and dynamic balance and kicking accuracy of young soccer players. Twenty youngsoccer players were allocated to experimental (n = 10) or control (n = 10) groups. Theexperimental group performed the “FIFA 11+” program three times a week for six weeks.The control group performed their normal warm-up routine. The primary outcomes weremeasured pre and post intervention, and assessed kicking accuracy, static balance anddynamic balance. No differences were found in kicking accuracy following intervention,for both groups, however, static balance improved significantly among the experimentalgroup with significant interaction with the control group, and with high effect size. In addition,the dynamic balance of the left leg of the experimental group, with medium effect size forinteraction between groups. The large effect size of balance improvement that was observedfollowing six weeks of intervention sessions, implies that soccer trainers and coaches shouldconsider the inclusion of “FIFA 11+” as components of programs aimed at improving balance24 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

ability/control in young soccer players, as improvement in balance abilities may preventinjuries.Funk, S., Jacob, T., Ben-Dov, D., Yanovich, E., Tirosh, O., & Steinberg, N. (2017). A balanceand proprioception intervention programme to enhance combat performance in militarypersonnel. Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 164, 52-57.Optimal functioning of the lower extremities under repeated movements on unstablesurfaces is essential for military effectiveness. Intervention training to promote proprioceptiveability should be considered in order to limit the risk of musculoskeletal injuries. The aim ofthis study was to assess the effect of a proprioceptive intervention programme on staticand dynamic postural balance among Israel Defense Forces combat soldiers. Twenty-seven male soldiers, aged 18-20 years, from a physical fitness instructors course, wererandomly divided into two groups matched by age and army unit. The intervention group(INT) underwent 4 weeks of proprioceptive exercises for 10 min daily; the control groupunderwent 4 weeks of upper body stretching exercises for 10 min daily. All participants weretested pre and post intervention for both static and dynamic postural balance. Significantinteraction (condition*pre-post-test*group) was found for static postural balance, indicatingthat for the INT group, in condition 3 (on an unstable surface-BOSU), the post-test resultwas significantly better compared with the pretest result (p<0.05). Following intervention,the INT group showed significant correlations between static postural stability in condition2 (eyes closed) and the dynamic postural stability (length of time walked on the beamfollowing fatigue) (r ranged from 0.647 to 0.822; p<0.05). The proprioceptive interventionprogramme for combat soldiers improved static postural balance on unstable surfaces, andimproved the correlation between static postural balance in the eyes-closed condition anddynamic postural balance following fatigue. Further longitudinal studies are needed to verifythe relationship between proprioception programmes, additional weight bearing, and thereduction of subsequent injuries in combat soldiers. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 25

Rubinstein, M., Eliakim, A., Steinberg, N., Nemet, D., Pantanowitz, M., Zeev, A., Ayalon,M., & Brosh, T. (2017). Movement characteristics of overweight and obese children duringwalking and running. Footwear Science, 9, 149-159.The characterization of activity patterns of overweight and obese (OW) children andadolescents is essential, and should be carried out before they join an exercise trainingprogram and increase their physical activity in order to maintain or reduce body weight.The purpose of this study is to verify whether biomechanical parameters characterizingfrequently-used walking and running speeds vary between OW and normal-weight (NW)children. Thirty-one prepubescent OW children (9.9 y ±1.3) and 10 prepubescent NWchildren (9.9 y ±1.2) participated in this study. All participants were evaluated for temporalparameters (e.g., cycle length, cycle time, stance phase time, double support phase time,etc.) and foot pressure parameters (e.g., contact area, duration of contact, peak pressure,etc.) in six different foot areas, at three walking velocities and two running velocities. A groupeffect (p<.05) was found for peak pressure, duration of contact percentile, maximum force,foot pressure-time integral, cycle length, cycle time, stance phase time, double supportphase time, relative stance phase, and relative double support phase, indicating that the OWchildren manifested significantly higher values compared with the NW children. Assessmentof movement characteristics of OW children indicated an elongation of gait parameters, suchas step cycle and support stage, compared to NW children, in different walking and runningspeeds. These changes suggest that OW children develop different walking/running patternswith increased foot pressure, which may predispose them to foot pain and overuse injuries.Siev-Ner, I., Stern, M. D., Tenenbaum, S., Blankstein, A., Zeev, A., & Steinberg, N. (2017).Ultrasonography findings and physical examination outcomes in dancers with and withoutpatellofemoral pain. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 20, 1-8.The aim of this study was to identify whether a physical examination for patello-femoral pain(PFP) is related to ultrasonography findings at the knee, and to identify possible factors relatedto PFP in young dancers. Sixty-seven young female dancers (7th grade, aged 12.8 ± 0.5)from three schools with identical special dance programs were included in the study. All thedancers were interviewed for demographic details, dance background, and training intensity;26 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

were evaluated for anthropometric measurements; underwent physical examination of bothknees for PFP and for knee range of motion (ROM); and, had ultrasonography assessmentfor pathologies and of anatomical parts of their knees. PFP was found in 54.5% of the134 knees physically examined. In ultrasonography assessment, infra-articular effusion wasfound in 46.2% of the knees examined. H/week of dance practice was significantly higheramong dancers with PFP (in both knees) compared with dancers with no PFP (p < .05).Knees with PFP had a significantly higher prevalence of intra articular effusion (p = .018)and higher prevalence of genu-recurvatum (p = .042). Knees with PFP had significantlygreater growth plate width-anterior tibial tuberosity (p = .022) and a greater bony trochleargroove angle (p = .048). This study describes the relationship between physical examinationfor PFP and the sonographic findings, and the factors related to knee injuries. The resultsshowed a high prevalence of PFP and intra articular knee effusion among young dancers atthe age of 12-13 years; and, that the number of hours of practice and anatomical structureare related to PFP. Our results should alert physicians, physiotherapists, athletic trainersand dance teachers to the need for devising modifications of training and injury preventionstrategies from a young age (<12 years old).Steinberg, N., Adams, R., Waddington, G., Karin, J., & Tirosh, O. (2017). Is there a correlationbetween static and dynamic postural balance among young male and female dancers?Journal of Motor Behavior, 49, 163-171.With the aim to investigate whether young male and female dancers have different patternsof association between static and dynamic postural balance (PB), 60 dancers from theAustralian Ballet School (14-19 years old) were tested for static and dynamic PB with headand lumbar accelerometers. Monotonic relationships between static and dynamic PB werefound in head movements among young female dancers in all three directions, but were foundfor young male dancers in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions only. Inlumbar movements, monotonic relationships were found for young female dancers in the APdirection only. Comparing head with lumbar movements in static PB, young male dancersdemonstrated monotonic relationships between head and lumbar movements in all threedirections; however, young female dancers demonstrated monotonic relationships in the APdirection only. In the dynamic measurements, both male and female dancers demonstrated Scientific Publications 2016-2017 27

monotonic relationships between head and lumbar movements for all parameters measuredin the ML and vertical directions (p < .05). In conclusion, among female dancer’s static PBability is correlated with their dynamic ability, whereas among male dancers, no relationshipbetween the static and dynamic PB in the AP direction exists. Male dancers showed headand lumbar coordination in the static PB movement, but both genders manifested no headand lumbar coordination in the AP direction measured for dynamic PB.Steinberg, N., Dar, G., Dunlop, M., & Gaida, J. E. (2017). The relationship of hip muscleperformance to leg, ankle and foot injuries: a systematic review. The Physician andSportsmedicine, 45, 49-63.Hip control affects movement and muscle firing patterns in the leg, ankle and foot, and maycontribute to overuse injuries. Muscle performance can be measured as strength, endurance,or muscle activation patterns. Our objective was to systematically review whether hip muscleperformance is associated with leg, ankle, and foot injuries. A structured and comprehensivesearch of six medical literature databases were combined with forward and backward citationtracking (AMED, CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, Scopus and SportDiscus). Eligible studiesmeasured hip muscle performance in individuals with musculoskeletal injuries below thetibial tuberosity, using dynamometry or electromyography (EMG). All studies compared aninjured group with a control group or compared the injured and non-injured limb in the sameindividual. Data was extracted from each study independently by two authors. Twenty case-control and four prospective studies (n = 24) met the inclusion criteria. Injury classificationsincluded chronic ankle instability (n = 18), Achilles tendinopathy (n = 2), medial tibial stresssyndrome, and tibial stress fracture (n = 1), posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (n = 1), andexertional medial tibial pain (n = 2). Eleven of the studies revealed differences in hip muscleperformance indicating less strength, delayed onset activation and decreased duration ofactivation in the injured groups. Two studies found evidence for differences between groupsonly in some of their measurements. Three out of the four prospective studies revealed thathip muscle performance was not a risk factor for leg, ankle, and foot injuries. This reviewprovides limited evidence that hip muscle performance variables are related to leg, ankle,and foot injuries. Emerging evidence indicates this might be a result of the injury rather thana contributor to the injury.28 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Steinberg, N., Rubinstein, M., Nemet, D., Ayalon, M., Zeev, A., Pantanowitz, M., Brosh, T.,& Eliakim, A. (2017). Effects of a program for improving biomechanical characteristics duringwalking and running in children who are obese. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 29, 330-340.To investigate the influence of a weight-reduction program with locomotion-emphasis onimproving biomechanical characteristics of children who are obese (OW). Ten childrenwho are OW participated in a 6-month multidisciplinary childhood obesity managementprogram (GRP1); another 10 children who are OW participated in the same multidisciplinarychildhood obesity management program with additional locomotion-emphasis exercises forimproving biomechanical characteristics (GRP2); and, 10 control children who are OW withno intervention program. Outcomes were anthropometric measurements and temporal andfoot pressure parameters. GRP2 had significantly improved foot pressure in the differentwalking/running speeds compared with GRP1. In the temporal parameters, pretests byspeed by group interactions were significantly improved for GRP2 compared with GRP1.We found evidence to support beneficial effects of combined dietary and physical activity/locomotion-emphasis exercises on the movement characteristics of children who are OW.Steinberg, N., Tenenbaum, S., Hershkovitz, I., Zeev, A., & Siev-Ner I. (2017). Lowerextremity and spine characteristics in young dancers with and without patellofemoral pain.Research in Sports Medicine, 25, 166-180.Very little is known about patellofemoral pain syndrome (PPFS) among young dancers.Understanding the mechanism of the injury and implementing a preventative programme areimportant in order to minimize the risk of PFPS. The aim of the current study is to determinethe extent to which factors such as lower extremity and back characteristics are commonamong dancers with PFPS. The study population included 271 dancers with PFPS and271 non-injured dancers, aged 10-16 years. All dancers were screened for morphometricprofile, dance discipline (h/week), anatomical anomalies (present/absent of scoliosis, genuvalgus/varum, etc.), and joint range of motion (measured by goniometer at the hip, knee,ankle, foot, and spinal joints). The predicting factors for PFPS among young dancers (10-11years old) were: hyper hip abduction (OR = 0.906) and lower back and hamstring flexibility(OR = 3.542); for adolescent dancers (12-14 years old): hyper ankle dorsiflexion (OR = Scientific Publications 2016-2017 29

0.888), hind foot-varum (OR = 0.260), and mobility of patella (OR = 2.666); and, for pre-mature dancers (15-16 years old): scoliosis (OR = 5.209), limited ankle plantar-flexion (OR= 1.060), and limited hip internal rotation (OR = 1.063). In conclusion, extrinsic and intrinsicparameters predisposing the dancers to knee injuries should be identified by screening inearly stages of dance classes.Steinberg, N., Tirosh, O., Adams, R., Karin, J., & Waddington, G. (2017). Influence of texturedinsoles on dynamic postural balance of young dancers. Medical Problems of PerformingArtists, 32, 63-70.Postural balance (PB) is a significant factor in dance performance and injury prevention. Weaimed to determine whether the use of textured insoles inserted into casual walking shoesof dancers improved their dynamic PB and whether dancers with previous injury manifesteddifferent dynamic PB compared with non-injured dancers. In this crossover design study,26 ballet dancers from the Australian Ballet School, aged 14-19 yrs, were divided into twogroups matched by sex and class levels. Group 1 wore the textured insoles in their walkingshoes for at least 2 hrs/day during weeks 1 to 4 of the study, and group 2 wore the texturedinsoles in their walking shoes during weeks 5 to 8. Reports from the school medical staffidentified dancers who had previous injuries. All participants were tested pre-interventionand at 4 and 8 weeks by an accelerometer for dynamic PB (average acceleration magnitude,root mean square acceleration, range, and mean frequency) during single-leg fondu, flexingand extending of the knee. Interactions (group x time) were found in dynamic PB measuredin the mediolateral direction, indicating significant differences between the groups at thethree testing times. Furthermore, both previously injured and noninjured dancers manifestedsignificant time effects from pre-intervention to 8 weeks, indicating a significant improvementin their PB after using the textured insoles. Textured insoles can improve the dynamic PBof ballet dancers and can also be useful as a routine intervention. PB was improved amongboth dancers with previous injury and non-injured dancers.30 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Steinberg, N., Waddington, G., Adams, R., Karin, J., & Tirosh, O. (2017). Should balletdancers vary postures and under-foot surfaces when practicing postural balance? MotorControl, 24,1-33.Postural balance (PB) is an important component skill for professional dancers. However,the effects of different types of postures and different underfoot surfaces on PB have notbeen adequately addressed. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effectof different conditions of footwear, surfaces, and standing positions on static and dynamicPB ability of young ballet dancers. Thirty-six male and female young professional balletdancers (aged 14-19) completed static and dynamic balance testing, measured by head andlumbar accelerometers, while standing on one leg in the turn-out position, under six differentconditions: 1. “relaxed” posture; 2. “ballet” posture; 3. barefoot; 4. ballet shoes with texturedinsoles; 5. barefoot on a textured mat; 6. barefoot on a spiky mat. A condition effect was foundfor static and dynamic PB. Static PB was reduced when dancers stood in the “ballet” posturecompared with standing in the “relaxed” posture, and when standing on a textured mat andon a spiky mat (p<.05); and, static PB in the “relaxed” posture was significantly better thanPB in all the other five conditions tested. Dynamic PB was significantly better while standingin ballet shoes with textured insoles and when standing on a spiky mat, compared with allother conditions (p<.05). The practical implications derived from the present study are thatboth male and female dancers should try to be “relaxed” in their postural muscles whenpracticing a “ballet”-aligned position; including dance practice on different types of floorsand on different types of textured/spiky materials may result in skill transfer to practice onnormal floor surfaces; and, both static and dynamic PB exercises should be assessed andgeneralized into practical dance routines.Tirosh, O., Orland, G., Eliakim, A., Nemet, D., & Steinberg, N. (2017). Tibial impactaccelerations in gait of primary school children: The effect of age and speed. Gait Posture,57, 265-269.Tibial stress fractures are associated with increased lower extremity loading at initial foot-ground contact, reflected in high peak positive acceleration (>8g) of the tibia in adults. Thereis no reported data on peak positive acceleration of the tibia in children during walking and Scientific Publications 2016-2017 31

running. The aim of this study was to establish tibial peak positive acceleration responses inchildren across a range of age and gait speeds. Twenty-four children aged 8.5±1.4years withno known gait pathology comprised two age groups; Young (7-9year, n=12) and Older (10-12 years, n=12). A Wireless Inertial Measurement Unit comprised of a tri-axial accelerometerwas securely taped to the anteromedial aspect of the distal tibia to measure peak positiveacceleration responses while walking and running on the treadmill at 3 different speeds (20%below baseline, baseline, and 20% above baseline). Results showed significant increasein peak positive acceleration with increased gait speed and greater variability in youngchildren compared to older children. The study suggests that ground impact in walking, butnot running, is mature by age 7 years. Future studies should explore strategies using peakpositive acceleration responses to monitor ground impact during sport activities, and itsapplication in gait retraining.Vardi, S., Hellerstein, D., Gilleard, W., & Dunsky, A. (2017). Standing postural controlduring twin pregnancy: A case study. International Journal of Clinical Case Studies, 3, 119.Alterations in anatomical and physiological conditions during pregnancy expose women tochanges in balance control, which may be further exacerbated with a twin pregnancy. Thepurpose of the current study was to describe the changes in postural stability during twinpregnancy. Evaluation of postural control in static standing of one participant with a twinpregnancy was carried out by using a Tetrax device measuring stabilometry in eyes openand closed conditions. A non-pregnant control was used measure retest variability. Scoresof Falling Index, General Stability, weight distribution pattern and center of pressure’spath were measured during each month of pregnancy and twice following delivery for thepregnant participant, and during three assessments – one each month, for the controlparticipant. The Falling Index score rose mainly during the third trimester with the changelarger than the variability shown with retesting, and did not return to baseline even threemonths after delivery. In addition, the location of center of pressure moved in accordancewith the changes of the fetuses’ weight. As postural balance strategy changes, particularly inthe third trimester, and does not recover in the following few months after delivery, particularcaution should be taken to prevent falling during these periods. Further research comparingsingleton to multiple pregnancies should be conducted.32 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Educationand Physical Education Scientific Publications 2016-2017 33

2016Betzer-Tayar, M., Zach, S., & Galily, Y. (2016) .The Israeli National Project for Womenand Sport (NPWS) – A discourse analysis of gender-based organization. AnthropologyNotebooks, 22, 43-56.The aim of this study is to discuss the lack of women athletes and the almost complete absenceof women in decision-making positions at any level of sport organisations in Israel. By usingthe Israeli social-historical setting, an attempt is made to focus on the conceptualisation ofthe National Project for Women and Sport (NPWS) as a gender equity policy organization.The NPWS was established in 2005, and was designed to challenge the existing situationin which women’s sport and women in sport found themselves marginalised at all levels ofmanagement and competition.Goldstein, E., Shoval, E., Arnon, M., & Tenenbaum, G. (2016). The effect of extracurricularphysical activity on bone properties, muscle strength, and motor coordination in youngchildren. Journal of Physical Education Research, 3, 33-51.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of extracurricular physical activity (EPA)on bone properties, muscle strength, and motor coordination. Participants were 114 boysand 108 girls, aged 7-8 years, who were divided into several physical activity (PA) clustersbased on activity type. Bone speed of sound (BS) was measured in the radius and tibia usinga qualitative ultrasound method. Muscle strength (MS) was tested in the upper extremitiesthrough a static pull-up test (SPUT) and a modified pull up test (MPUT), and in the lowerextremities through a standing long-jump test (SLJT) and a vertical jump test (VJT). Motorcoordination (MC) was evaluated using the Kiphard-Schilling body coordination test (KTK).The results of this study revealed no significant differences in the BS measurements betweenthe PA clusters or between the genders. Boys playing ball games or tennis maintainedhigher MS values than nonparticipants and the martial arts cluster. Girls in the gymnasticsgroup scored higher in both upper and lower extremity strength than non-participant girlsand girls participating in the other activities. No differences in MC were found between the34 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

PA clusters in boys, but girl gymnasts performed better on some of the MC tests than girlswho played ball games and dancers. The results of this study indicate that the effect of EPAis associated with muscle strength and motor coordination. More data on children’s activitiesduring after-school hours are required to substantiate these findings.Hellerstein-Yehezkel, D. (2016). The path to reading comprehension through interculturalcompetence in the multicultural EFL classroom. Language and Intercultural Communication,17, 323-343. This article illustrates the significance of intercultural competence in teaching English as aForeign Language (EFL) to a multicultural group of students in a matriculation preparationprogram in Israel. It is based on an action research using a case study approach to examine therole of cultural background in the acquisition of EFL. Drawing from intercultural competencetheories (Byram, 1988; Kramsch,1993), it is argued that while cultural background playsan important role in students’ entry level and approach to learning EFL, in general, andreading competence in particular, it does not play a determining role in their progress andachievements. Rather, students with high intercultural competence, regardless of culturalbackground, entered a dialogue and engaged with students of other cultures, which wasassociated with an ability to enter a dialogue and engage with a text in English. Students’intercultural competence was developed by the creation of a ‘classroom culture’ wherestructured and unstructured activities guided by the teacher spurred engagement andnegotiation processes between students of diverse cultural backgrounds for the purpose ofenhancing intercultural competence and English reading comprehension skills.Kayam, O. (2016). Public discourse of Ethiopian Israelis in the media. French Journal forMedia Research, 6, 144-160.This paper focuses on a number of cases of Ethiopian Israelis, and examines the contextof the language used to describe them in the media. The aim of the study is threefold: a) Scientific Publications 2016-2017 35

to review samples of media coverage of Ethiopian Israelis since their immigration to Israel,in order to discover if there is a biased/stereotypical description of them; b) to determine –according to the electronic media and the press – whether Ethiopian Israelis are integratedinto Israeli society or are marginalized and seen as the “other”; c) to show instances ofsuccessful Ethiopian Israelis who have become role models and a source of pride for theentire Ethiopian Israeli community. On television and in the press, this group is still perceivedas immigrants who are not fully integrated into Israeli society. This study scrutinizes instancesof bias in reporting on Ethiopian Israelis and forces us to heighten our awareness of possiblediscrimination in the media.2017Betzer-Tayar, M., Zach, S., Henry, I., & Galily, Y. (2017). Barriers to women’s access to decision-making positions in sport organizations: The case of establishing a girls’ volleyball academyin Israel. Journal of Gender Studies, 26, 418-431. doi: 10.1080/09589236.2015.1111835The aim of this paper is to highlight the nature of the barriers facing women in terms of theirparticipation in decision-making in Israeli sport, and to identify and evaluate some of thestrategies and tactics adopted to overcome these barriers. This is done by making referenceto a particular case study, the case of the process of establishing a major policy initiative inIsraeli sport – the founding of the national Volleyball Academy for Young Talented Girls. Thecase is analyzed in order to identify how and why the goal of establishing the Academy wassuccessful, and to consider what may be learned in terms of the implications for the tacticsand strategies used that might be adopted by other women in similar circumstances.36 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Kayam, O. (2017). A rhetorical change that changed reality: Rouhani vs. Ahmadinejad in theUN. Language and Dialogue, 7, 163-188. doi: 10.1075/ld.7.2.02kayThis paper is the first to explore the development of Iranian rhetoric from former presidentMahmoud Ahmadinejad to the current president Hassan Rouhani, in messages deliveredto the international community. The study compares eight speeches given by Ahmadinejadat the UN, to two speeches given on the same platform by Rouhani. The speeches wereexplored by qualitative research of the prominent rhetorical strategies employed by eachpresident, as well as by quantitative research of the frequently-used words in each president’sspeeches. The findings reveal a radical change in Iran’s rhetoric since Rouhani succeededAhmadinejad in 2013. The newly-elected president adopted a moderate, modern, and rationaldiscourse regarding both Iran’s attitude to the West and the Iranian nuclear program. Thefindings suggest that this change made the new president and the “new” Iran possible partnersfor negotiating with the West, and eventually enabled the historic nuclear deal in 2015.Kayam, O. (2017). The readability and simplicity of Donald Trump’s language. PoliticalStudies Review, September 13. Online First, https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929917706844The purpose of this study is to identify the readability and simplicity of Donald J. Trump’sspeech in his media interviews and debates during the 2016 U.S. presidential primarycampaign. A total of 10 interviews and debates broadcast on different television networkswere analyzed using three of the most commonly used readability formulas: Flesch–Kincaid,Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Gunning-Fog. The analysis revealed that afourth- to fifth-grade level of education (9- to 11-year-olds) is required to understand Trump’slanguage. In total, 10 additional interviews and debates of other candidates in the presidentialelection of 2016, from both the Republican and the Democratic parties, were analyzed,using the same readability formulas, in order to shed additional light on Trump’s results. Thisanalysis showed that the average score of all the other candidates was at a ninth-grade level(14- to 15-year-olds). Furthermore, the study reveals that Trump’s sentences and wordswere significantly shorter and less complex than those of any of the other candidate. Thisstudy suggests that Trump uses low readability and simplicity of language as a rhetoricalstrategy to gain popularity, in accordance with the trend of anti-intellectualism. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 37

Zach, S., Inglis, V., Zeev, A., Arnon, M., & Netz, Y. (2017). Active and healthy lifestyle– Nationwide programs in Israeli schools. Health Promotion International. doi: 10.1093/heapro/dax034The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the ‘Global School Health Initiative’ in1995 following recommendations formulated in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.Hence, the aims of the present study were to describe the various programs for nurturingan active and healthy lifestyle implemented during 2011–12 in schools in Israel, and toidentify variables that may explain the success versus lack of success in implementingthese programs. Participants were a nationwide representative sample of 126 schoolprincipals from six supervisory districts of the Ministry of Education, including six sectorsfrom the elementary, junior-high and senior-high school levels. Semi-structured telephoneinterviews were recorded and processed using the ATLAS.ti software for qualitativeanalysis. Physical education teachers, sciences teachers, and social coordinators ledthe programs’ implementation. The programs included four main activity domains: health,physical education, nutrition and sustainability. Three types of program implementationwere observed: leading principles, teaching methods, and external programs. Parents wereinvolved mostly in elementary schools. Evidence of program integration into school life waspresented by changes in the children’s behaviors, whereas difficulties stemmed from a lack ofbudget and teaching hours. Science and physical education lessons constituted the anchorfor the programs. The schools needed a committed leader to help conduct and maintainthe program. Thus, the role of the school principal was to initiate the idea of developing aprogram, encourage its implementation, select a leader for the program, and then, mostimportantly, to reinforce the teachers’ enthusiasm.Zach, S., Lissitsa, S., & Galily, Y. (2017). The gap between knowledge and the ability toapply it – Six years, and nothing about Israeli adults’ physical activity has changed. IsraelAffairs, 23, 182-195. doi: 10.1080/13537121.2016.1244388.This article has three goals: to examine whether any changes occurred in leisure timeexercise patterns in the adult Jewish Israeli population between 2007 and 2012; to identifythe barriers that prevented adult Israelis from exercising and what changes if any occurred38 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

in the barriers; and, to examine the relationship between frequency of exercise and barriersto exercise during the six-year period under study. By way of exploring these issues, asurvey of the target population was carried out in each year of the researched period, with acombined sample of 3000 participants. Results reveal an increase in physical activity after2009, and a sharp decline among those who were sedentary. To remedy this situation, thearticle proposes the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA), which provides the explanationfor overcoming the gap between intentions and actions of adherence.Zach, S., Shoval, E., & Lidor, R. (2017). Physical education and academic achievement– Literature review 1997-2015. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 49, 703-721. doi:10.1080/00220272.2016.1234649.The purpose of this review was to organize the results of studies conducted during the last18 years into a body of knowledge concerning the link between physical education (PE) andacademic achievement (AA). Such knowledge may help in clarifying the role of PE in theschools, whose main focus is on improving the AA of the children. The term PE is used todenote those classes taught in the framework of a school curriculum in which physical activityis at the centre. The reviewed studies were divided into three categories: the ‘political’, inwhich a rationale is provided for PE in mainly achievement-oriented academic schools (n= 10); the ‘interventionist’, in which it is shown that PE given in accordance with a definedintervention programme influences AA (n = 10); and the ‘integrative’, in which it is determinedhow physical activity incorporated into the daily routine of academic studies contributes toAA (n = 5). The significance of the reviewed studies in each category is discussed, as well asthe advantages and limitations of the studies. Ideas for future research on the link betweenPE and AA are proposed. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 39

Genetics, Sport, and Physical Activity40 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

2016Ben-Zaken, S., Malach, S., Meckel, Y., Nemet, D., & Eliakim A. (2016). Frequency of theIGF A/G rs7136446 polymorphism and athletic performance. Acta Kinesiologiae UniversitatisTartuensis, 22, 36-46.Previous studies have shown that carrying the minor T allele of the IGF C-1245Tpolymorphism is associated with higher circulating IGF-Ievels, greater muscle mass, andimproved power athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to assess thefrequency distribution of another IGF-I single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) – the A/Grs7136446, among Israeli athletes. The IGF A/G rs7136446 polymorphism was determinedin 185 short- (n=72) and long-distance (n=113) runners, 94 short- (n=44) and long-distance(n=50) swimmers, 54 weight lifters, and 111 controls. There were no significant differencesin GG carriers, previously described as associated with higher maximal force production,between the athletes and controls. The only statistically significant difference in GG carrierswas found between the sprinters (24%) and weight lifters (9%; p<0.05). Although a singlepolymorphism cannot determine an athlete’s ability to succeed or fail in sports, the presentfindings suggest the potential importance of IGF-I polymorphisms, mainly to power sportsand in particular to speed sport performance.Ben-Zaken, S., Meckel, Y., Nemet, D., Dror, N., & Eliakim, A. (2016). Polymorphism of theIGF -1 system and sports performance. Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews, 13, 585-592.The potential use of genetic polymorphism, and in particular the polymorphism of hormonegenes, as tool to predict athletic performance is currently very challenging. Recent studiessuggest that single nucleotide polymorphisms in IGF-I and myostatin may be beneficial forendurance and short-distance running, and may even be associated with elite performance.Polymorphism in the IGF-I receptor may differentiate between the two edges of theendurance-power athletic performance running spectrum, suggesting beneficial effectsfor endurance and prevention of success in power events. In contrast, and despite similarmetabolic demands, the myostatin-IGF-I-IGF-IR system seems not to play an important Scientific Publications 2016-2017 41

role in swimming excellence. This suggests that combining different sport disciplines forsports genetic research purposes should be done with extreme caution. Finally, since anyphenotype reflects a complex relationship between genes, environment, epigenetic factors,and the interactions between them, consulting the young athlete regarding future successcannot be based solely on genetic polymorphism.2017Ben-Zaken, S., Eliakim, A., & Meckel, Y. (2017). Genetic variability among power athletes:The stronger vs. the faster. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Ahead of print.Athletic events can be divided into “aerobic-type events” or “anaerobic-type events” basedon energetic usage. Power, speed, and strength are also used to specify sport subtypes.Weight-lifters, sprinters, and jumpers feature high-intensity efforts lasting a few seconds.However, their performance requires different proportions of power, speed, and strength.The aim of the current study was to examine genetic differences between subtypes ofanaerobic athletes in three genetic variants: ACTN3 R577X, which is associated withmuscle contractions; AGT Met235Thr, which is associated with muscle growth; and, PPARDT/C, which is associated with aerobic capacity. Seventy-one sprinters and jumpers (S/J), 54weight-lifters (WL), and 86 controls participated in the study. Genomic DNA was extractedfrom peripheral blood using standard protocol. Genotypes were determined using theTaqman allelic discrimination assay. ACTN3 RR-genotype frequency was significantly higheramong S/J (39.4%) compared to WL (22.2%) and controls (18.6%). AGT ThrThr-genotypewas significantly higher among WL (25.9%) compared to S/J (4.2%) and controls (12.8%).PPARD T294C genotype frequencies did not differ between groups. The results suggestthat there may be a specific genetic makeup enabling an athlete to excel in speed-orientedevents (sprints), rather than in strength-oriented events (weight-lifting).42 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Ben-Zaken, S., Meckel, Y., Nemet, D., & Eliakim, A. (2017). The combined frequency ofIGF and myostatin polymorphism among track and field athletes and swimmers. GrowthHormone & IGF Research, 32, 29-32.The IGF C-1245T (rs35767) and the myostatin (MSTN) Lys(K)-153Arg(R) geneticpolymorphism may influence skeletal muscle phenotypes and athletic performance. Carryingthe minor IGF T allele and the myostatin rare R allele was associated with higher circulatingIGF-I levels, greater muscle mass, and improved performance. The aim of the present studywas to assess the combined frequency of the IGF 1245T (rs35767) and MSTN 153Arg(R)polymorphism among Israeli track and field athletes (n=111) and swimmers (n=80). Track andfield athletes were divided into long-distance runners (major event 5000m-marathon, n=63)and power athletes (major events 100-200m sprints and long jump, n=48). Swimmers weredivided into long-distance swimmers (major event: 400-1500m, n=38), and short-distanceswimmers (major event: 50-100m, n=42). Carrying both mutations was significantly higher(p<0.05) among long-distance runners (LDR, 17%) compared to short-distance runners(SDR, 10%), long-distance swimmers (LDS, 8%), short-distance swimmers (SDS, 2%) andcontrols (n=111, 7%). Carrying both mutations was significantly higher (p<0.05) among LDScompared to SDS (8% versus 2%, p<0.05). Among LDR and LDS carriers of both mutations,40% and 25% were of elite level, respectively. Despite the fact that carrying both mutationsamong SDR and SDS was not greater than in controls, all SDR and SDS carriers wereelite athletes. Our findings suggests that carrying both IGF 1245T and MSTN 153Arg(R)polymorphisms may contribute to long distance running success but not necessarily toelite performance. In contrast, although the frequency was not higher than in the generalpopulation, all carriers of both mutations among short-distance runners and swimmerswere of elite competitive caliber. Whether evaluation of the IGF 1245T and MSTN 153Rpolymorphism can be used for sports selection in young athletes needs to be further studied. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 43

Ben-Zaken, S., Meckel, Y., Nemet, D., Eliakim, A. (2017). High prevalence of the IGF2rs680 GG polymorphism among top-level sprinters and jumpers. Growth Hormone & IGFResearch, 37, 26-30.Previous studies have shown that the IGF1 polymorphism is associated with greater musclemass and improved power athletic ability, but very little is known about the IGF2 polymorphismand athletic performance. The aim of the present study was to assess the frequencydistribution of the IGF2 rs680 polymorphism among Israeli athletes. 185 short- (n=72) andlong-distance (n=113) runners, 94 short- (n=44) and long-distance (n=50) swimmers, 54weight lifters and 111 controls participated in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted fromperipheral EDTA treated anti-coagulated blood using a standard protocol. Genotyping ofthe IGF2 A/G polymorphism (rs680) was performed using allelic discrimination assay. Thefrequency of IGF2 (rs680) G allele carriers was significantly greater among top compared tonational-level track and field sprinters and jumpers (p<0.05). The IGF2 (rs680) GG genotypefrequency was significantly greater among track and field sprinters and jumpers comparedto weight lifters (p<0.02), and among top-level sprinters and jumpers compared to top-levelweight lifters (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the IGF2 (rs680)GG genotype frequency among endurance athletes and between the swimmers and theother sports disciplines and the controls. While a single polymorphism cannot determineathletic success or failure, the findings of the present study suggest the potential importanceof the IGF2 polymorphism, mainly regarding speed sport performance.Ben-Zaken, S., Meckel, Y., Nemet, D., Kassem, E., Eliakim, A. (2017). Increased prevalenceof IL-6-174G/C genetic polymorphism in long distance swimmers. Journal of Human Kinetics,58, 121-130.The IL-6 -174G/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) functionally affects IL-6 activity,with the G-allele associated with increased IL-6 levels. The C-allele was found to beassociated with exercise-induced skeletal muscle damage. The aim of the present studywas to examine the association between the IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism and athleticperformance among elite swimmers and runners. The study sample included 180 track andfield athletes and 80 swimmers. Track and field athletes were assigned to three sub-groups:44 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

long-distance runners, middle-distance runners, and short-distance runners. Swimmerswere assigned to two subgroups: long-distance swimmers and short-distance swimmers.The control group consisted of 123 non-athletic healthy individuals. Genomic DNA wasextracted from peripheral blood following a standard protocol. Genotyping was performedusing polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The CC genotype and C-allele frequency weresignificantly higher in the long-distance swimmers (18% and 43%, respectively) comparedto the long-distance runners (3% and 14%, respectively, p < 0.001); middle-distance runners(4% and 22%, respectively, p < 0.001); and controls (5% and 19%, respectively, p < 0.001).In addition, the CC genotype and C-allele frequency were significantly higher (p < 0.001)in long-distance swimmers compared to short-distance swimmers (18 versus 5% and 43versus 29% for the CC genotype and C-allele frequency, respectively). The higher frequencyof the C-allele and CC genotype among long-distance swimmers suggests that the rarity ofexercise-associated rhabdomyolysis among swimmers is probably related to other sports-specific or water-related protective mechanisms. It is possible that swimming selection intalented endurance athletes who are C-allele carriers represents an example of genetically-dependent sports selection. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 45

Motor Learning and Behavior46 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

2016Steinberg, N., Eliakim, A., Zeev, A., Pantanowitz, M., Halumi, M., Eisenstein, T., Meckel,Y., & Nemet D. (2016). Postural balance following aerobic fatigue tests: A longitudinal studyamong young athletes. Journal of Motor Behavior, 48, 332-340.General fatigue can cause aggravation of postural balance, with increased risk for injuries.The present longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the postural balance of young athletesfollowing field aerobic tests throughout 1 year of training. Thirty children from a sports centerin Nazareth, participating in a 3 times/week training program (specific to basketball, soccer,or athletic training), were assessed. Postural balance parameters were taken before,immediately after, and 10 min after a 20 m shuttle-run aerobic test, at 3 time points during 1training year (Start/Y, Mid/Y, and End/Y). Fitness improved at the Mid/Y and End/Y comparedto Start/Y. Postural balance significantly deteriorated immediately after the aerobic test andimproved significantly in the 10-min testing in all 3 time points, with significant deteriorationin the End/Y compared with the Start/Y. In conclusion, postural balance deterioratesimmediately after aerobic exercises and at the end of the year. In order to better practicedrills related to postural balance and possibly to prevent injuries, it is best for young athletesto properly rest immediately following aerobic exercises and to practice postural balancemainly at the beginning and the middle of the training year.Yanovich, E., & Weissblueth, E. (2016). Effects of learning strategies, learning styles andskill level on closed and semi-open motor skills acquisition. Journal of Physical Educationand Sport, 16, 1169-1176.Achieving a winning formula for motor skills learning is a topic that has recently appearedin the educational scientific mainstream. It is known that different teaching methods mayproduce better learning results among learners at different learning levels. The purpose ofthis study was to examine the interaction between learning strategies and learning styles onclosed and semi-open motor skills among novice and advanced learners under lab conditions.One-hundred and fifty volunteers were divided into three study groups according to the Scientific Publications 2016-2017 47

learning strategy they practiced: five-step, automatic, and technical enrichment (control).Each study group was further divided into two sub-groups according to their learningtechnique: variable and constant practices. Additionally, each sub-group was further dividedinto three groups according to the student’s learning level: novice, intermediate, and expert.Our findings revealed that novice learners were most accurate during the acquisition andtransfer phases in a constant practice learning technique while using the five-step learningstrategy. Moreover, the combination of the five-step strategy and the variable practicelearning technique was found to be the most beneficial for expert learners. We conclude thatwhen learners are provided with proper learning tools, adjusted to their individual level andmotor abilities, they will optimally improve their achievements and their motor performances.Ziv, G. (2016). Gaze behavior and visual attention: A review of eye tracking studies inaviation. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 26, 75-104.The objective of this article was to review a series of studies (n = 50) regarding gaze behaviorand performance when piloting an aircraft. Optimal gaze behavior can lead to improvedflying performance under both normal and stressful conditions. A computerized as well as amanual search of the literature was conducted. Articles were grouped according to prevalentthemes, such as basic cockpit visual scanning, visual scanning in the automated cockpit,effects of new technology on visual scanning, non-normal flight circumstances, differencesbetween experts and novices, and mathematical models of visual scanning. A summary andkey findings for each theme were reported. The review revealed specific gaze behaviors thatmight be important when performing various flight tasks and when monitoring automatedprocesses, and that can differentiate between expert and novice pilots. However, severalconcerns arose from the review. Among these concerns are the unexamined role of peripheralvision, the scarcity of studies on in-flight emergencies, and the lack of interventional studies.Specific gaze patterns appear to be related to improved flight performance. Future studiesshould address the methodological concerns mentioned to better clarify the relationshipbetween gaze behavior and flying performance.48 Scientific Publications 2016-2017

Ziv, G., & Lidor, R. (2016). Directional bias and environmental cues in golf putting – Anexploratory study. International Journal of Golf Science, 5, 71-82.The purpose of the current study was to explore the influence of the distance of a walllocated behind the hole in performing a putt in golf. Our assumption was that a performancecondition where the wall is located a short distance behind the hole would help novicesminimize any left/right directional bias. Novice golfers performed a putting task from adistance of two m in front of the hole in two learning settings. In the Far Wall Condition, a wallwas located 4 m behind the hole, and in the Close Wall Condition the wall was located 90 cmbehind the hole. The putt was performed under both quiet and distracted conditions. Resultsshowed that overall accuracy was greater in the Close Wall Condition than in the Far WallCondition. In addition, different patterns of left/right directional bias in the two performanceconditions were observed. However, the hitting deviations were more balanced in the CloseWall Condition. It is recommended that coaches consider the use of environmental cues thathave the potential to improve accuracy in golf putting. Ziv, G., & Lidor, R. (2016). On-field performances of rugby union and rugby union players– A review. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 30, 881-892.A review of 16 studies examining on-field performances of rugby union players wasconducted. Based on this review we discuss a number of methodological and measurementconcerns, and provide practical implications for practitioners who develop training programsfor rugby players. Among the main findings that emerged from our review were: (a) rugbyis an intermittent sport in nature with many tempo changes, ranging from high-intensitysprints and static exertion to jogging, standing, and walking; and (b) differences in on-fieldperformance among players playing different positions are common, and are especiallyapparent among forwards, who are involved in more static high-intensity efforts, and backs,who spend more time in high-intensity running. Among the methodological concerns in thesestudies are the lack of a standardized method of coding movement categories, and the lackof data about the opposing team. We suggest that practitioners design training programswhich reflect the specific needs of players playing different positions, and that they use up-to-date technology to accurately assess players’ on-field efforts. Scientific Publications 2016-2017 49

Ziv, G., & Lidor, R. (2016). The effect of age on gaze behavior in drivers and pedestrians – Areview. Journal of Eye Movement Research, 7, 1-13.Gaze behavior can play an important role in the safety of both older drivers and olderpedestrians, and therefore evidence-based knowledge related to gaze behavior in theolder population should be communicated to those professionals who regularly work withthis group. A review of 25 studies examining the effect of age on gaze behavior in driversand pedestrians was conducted. A number of differences in gaze behavior in older andyounger drivers and pedestrians are observed, among them (a) when changing lanes, olderdrivers do not glance as frequently as younger drivers at three important areas – the rearview mirror, the left side mirror, and the left blind spot, and (b) older drivers have a smallerhorizontal gaze amplitude compared to younger drivers. Several methodological concernswere observed, among them: a scarcity of data on gaze behavior and elderly pedestrians,and a lack of intervention studies. Additional studies should examine the use of a vision in-action paradigm and designated gaze-training interventions in both the elderly driver andelderly pedestrian populations, in order to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents andpedestrian injuries among the older population.Lidor, R., Tenenbaum, G., Ziv, G., & Issurin, V. (2016). Achieving expertise in sport:Deliberate practice, adaptation, and periodization of training.  Kinesiology Review, 5, 129-141.Deliberate practice (DP), an activity aimed at enhancing an individual’s performance, hasbeen reported to be crucial for achieving a state of expertise in various domains, such aseducation, music, and sport. In this article, the relationships between DP and the processof athletic performance adaptation are explored by elaborating on the main principle ofthe theory of training—periodization. We argue that periodization should be consideredas a mechanism for ensuring DP, and that the implementation of periodization principles(cycles and phases) in DP activities can facilitate adaptation processes leading to expertperformance. We describe the characteristics and features of DP, review a series of studieson DP and athletic performance (N = 21), discuss the importance of periodization in sporttraining, and outline a number of benefits of periodization. A model that emphasizes the link50 Scientific Publications 2016-2017