Longevity

پژوهش حاضر با هدف مقایسه اثربخشی دو رویکرد بازی‌های مشارکتی و رقابتی بر خودکارآمدی و تبحر حرکتی کودکان دارای نشانه‌های اختلال هماهنگی رشدی انجام شد. روش پژوهش نیمه‌آزمایشی با طرح پیش‌آزمون و پس‌آزمون و گروه گواه بود. جامعه آماری شامل دانش‌آموزان دختر ۹ تا ۱۲ ساله شهرستان خوی در سال تحصیلی ۱۴۰۱–۱۴۰۰ بود. ابتدا غربالگری اولیه با پرسشنامه DCDQ-07 و سپس تأیید عملکرد حرکتی پایین با آزمون MABC-2 انجام شد؛ همچنین بر اساس گزارش والدین و پرونده مدرسه، وجود اختلالات عصبی آشکار، ناتوانی ذهنی و مشکلات شدید بینایی یا پزشکی به عنوان ملاک‌های خروج در نظر گرفته شد. از میان افراد واجد شرایط، ۳۶ نفر به روش نمونه‌گیری هدفمند انتخاب و به‌صورت تصادفی در سه گروه بازی‌های مشارکتی، بازی‌های رقابتی و گواه قرار گرفتند. گروه‌های آزمایش طی ۲۴ جلسه ۴۵ دقیقه‌ای، سه جلسه در هفته، برنامه بازی‌های مشارکتی یا رقابتی را دریافت کردند و گروه گواه فقط برنامه معمول تربیت بدنی مدرسه را ادامه داد. ابزارهای پژوهش شامل MABC-2 برای غربالگری/تأیید مشکل حرکتی، فرم کوتاه BOT-2 برای سنجش تبحر حرکتی و مقیاس خودکارآمدی کودکان ویلر و لَد بود. داده‌ها با تحلیل کوواریانس و آزمون تعقیبی LSD تحلیل شدند. نتایج نشان داد هر دو رویکرد بازی‌محور نسبت به گروه گواه موجب بهبود معنادار خودکارآمدی و تبحر حرکتی شدند، اما بازی‌های مشارکتی اثر بیشتری نسبت به بازی‌های رقابتی داشتند. این یافته‌ها نشان می‌دهد بازی‌های مشارکتی می‌توانند به عنوان رویکردی کم‌هزینه و مدرسه‌محور برای ارتقای عملکرد حرکتی و باور کارآمدی کودکان دارای نشانه‌های DCD استفاده شوند؛ با این حال، به دلیل نبود مرحله پیگیری و حجم نمونه محدود، درباره پایداری بلندمدت اثرها باید با احتیاط داوری کرد.

Objective: This study aimed to role of rhythmic body percussion exercises on enjoyment of physical activity and executive function in children with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study conducted with a pretest-posttest design including both experimental and control groups. The statistical population comprised all female students aged 10 to 12 years with educable intellectual disabilities enrolled in exceptional elementary schools in Dezful, Iran, during the 2023-2024 academic year. From this population, 26 students were purposefully selected based on inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to two groups of 13: an experimental group and a control group. The Moore et al. (2009) questionnaire was used to assess enjoyment of physical activity, and the Tower of London test was employed to evaluate executive function. All participants initially underwent a pretest. The experimental group's training program consisted of 6 weeks of three weekly sessions (totaling 18 sessions), each lasting 45 minutes, conducted in a gymnastics hall under the researcher's strict supervision and in compliance with all health protocols. During this period, the control group followed their regular daily routine. At the conclusion of the intervention, all participants underwent a posttest. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) at a significance level of 0.05 with SPSS version 27.

Results: The findings revealed that the Body Percussion training program significantly improved executive functions (p < 0.01) and enhanced the level of enjoyment of physical activity (p < 0.01) in children with intellectual disabilities.

Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Body Percussion training plays an effective role in improving enjoyment of physical activity and executive function in children with intellectual disabilities. Consequently, it can be utilized in sports interventions, training programs, and rehabilitation for these individuals. 

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercises with a telerehabilitation approach on weight changes and flexibility in obese elderly women.

Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of overweight and obese elderly women living in Mashhad, aged 60 to 75 years. The research sample included 30 individuals with a body mass index greater than 25 kg/m², selected through convenience sampling and, after screening, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group received an eight-week dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercise protocol (three sessions per week) with initial in-person instruction followed by telerehabilitation follow-up. Weight, body mass index, and upper and lower body flexibility were measured at both pretest and posttest stages. Analysis of covariance, controlling for pretest scores, was used to analyze the data, with a significance level set at 0.05.

Results: The results of the ANCOVA showed significant differences between the experimental and control groups for weight and body mass index (P=0.001). Additionally, significant differences were observed between the two groups for upper body flexibility of the right and left limbs (P=0.001) and lower body flexibility of the right and left limbs (P=0.001).

Conclusion: Six weeks of dynamic neuromuscular stabilization exercises with a telerehabilitation approach may lead to reduced weight and body mass index, as well as improved upper and lower body flexibility, in overweight and obese elderly women. Given the limited sample size, lack of long-term follow-up, and incomplete control over dietary intake and activities outside the program, clinical generalization of the results should be made with caution.

Mitochondrial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes is one of the major mechanisms underlying the reduced metabolic capacity of skeletal muscle. The present study was conducted to compare the effects of continuous and interval aerobic training on the mitochondrial biogenesis axis, including PGC-1α and TFAM, and on the mitochondrial fusion–fission balance, including MFN1 and DRP1, in the gastrocnemius muscle of diabetic rats. In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were assigned, following environmental acclimatization, to six groups: healthy control, healthy + continuous training, healthy + interval training, diabetic control, diabetic + continuous training, and diabetic + interval training (n = 8 per group). Diabetes was induced through a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The exercise protocols were performed for eight weeks, five sessions per week. At the end of the intervention, the gastrocnemius muscle was harvested, and the relative expression levels of PGC-1α, TFAM, MFN1, and DRP1 genes were assessed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and analyzed using the 2^−ΔΔCt method. Type 2 diabetes was associated with decreased expression of PGC-1α, TFAM, and MFN1 and increased expression of DRP1. Both exercise interventions improved mitochondrial indices. Interval training produced a more pronounced increase in PGC-1α and TFAM expression, whereas continuous training demonstrated a more distinct effect on modulating the MFN1 and DRP1 expression profile. The findings suggest that the structure of exercise intensity may activate different pathways of mitochondrial adaptation in diabetic skeletal muscle. Nevertheless, due to the animal-based nature of the study and the absence of certain technical qRT-PCR details in the initial version, the practical interpretation of the findings should be approached with caution and following completion of the methodological reporting.

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic disorder characterized by reduced insulin sensitivity and alterations in the molecular response of skeletal muscle. The IRS-1/PIK3R1/Akt axis is one of the key pathways involved in the insulin response of skeletal muscle, and changes in the expression of genes within this axis may reflect molecular adaptations or dysfunctions in diabetic conditions. The present study aimed to compare the effects of aerobic and resistance training on the expression of IRS-1, PIK3R1, and Akt genes in the skeletal muscle of mice with type 2 diabetes. This experimental laboratory study was conducted on 40 male C57BL/6 mice. The animals were randomly assigned to four groups: healthy control, diabetic control, diabetic with aerobic training, and diabetic with resistance training. Type 2 diabetes was induced using a high-fat diet and a low-dose streptozotocin injection. The exercise programs were performed for 8 weeks, 5 sessions per week. Gene expression levels of IRS-1, PIK3R1, and Akt were measured in the Soleus and EDL muscles using Real-Time PCR. Data were reported using the 2^-ΔΔCt method, with the healthy control group serving as the calibrator. Data analysis was performed using two-way mixed ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test. The results showed that type 2 diabetes was associated with reduced expression of IRS-1, PIK3R1, and Akt genes in both muscles. Both exercise interventions increased the expression of these genes compared with the diabetic control group; however, the pattern of gene response differed between the two training modalities. IRS-1 expression was higher in the resistance training group, whereas PIK3R1 and Akt expression levels were greater in the aerobic training group. Furthermore, significant effects of group, muscle type, and the group × muscle interaction were observed for all three genes. Overall, aerobic and resistance training were associated with distinct patterns of changes in the expression of genes related to the IRS-1/PIK3R1/Akt signaling axis in diabetic skeletal muscle.

The present study aimed to identify the factors affecting print-digital marketing development in football sports print media in Iraq. The study sought to present a conceptual model for redefining the role of print media in football marketing and explaining their connection with modern technologies. This study was conducted using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory. The research population included sports media managers, sports journalists, football section editors, club marketing managers, football coaches, and sponsors active in Iraqi sports print media. The participants consisted of 16 experts in this field, selected through purposive sampling. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews; sources were reviewed for the theoretical background. Data analysis was performed based on the Strauss and Corbin approach in three stages: open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. The data analysis process led to the extraction of 126 initial open codes, 28 axial codes, and 6 main categories. The main categories included causal conditions, the central phenomenon, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences. The central phenomenon was identified as the reconfiguration of football sports print media marketing within a print-digital model. The main strategies included launching complementary digital versions, designing integrated advertising packages, increasing interaction with fans, training media managers and staff, producing exclusive content, and strengthening cooperation among media, clubs, and sponsors. The qualitative findings indicated that Iraqi football sports print media need to move beyond traditional approaches and adopt an integrated, interactive, and technology-based model to maintain and strengthen their position.

The research was conducted with the aim of compiling the marketing model of sports celebrities in social networks. The research method is qualitative with exploratory nature and the grounded theory strategy was used in it. The data collection tool in this research was semi-structured interviews with university professors in the fields of management and sports management as well as sports celebrities. The sampling method was purposive and theoretical ‪(based on the purpose of the research) and the data obtained from the interviews were coded and analyzed using the grounded theory method. From the analysis of 15 interviews, a total of 180 primary codes were identified. After extracting similar codes and removing duplicates, 25 core codes were placed in the form of the grounded theory paradigmatic model, including causal conditions, main phenomenon, intervening conditions, contextual conditions, strategies, and consequences, and 6 main components of the marketing model, which are: the attractiveness and social base of sports celebrities, the amount of visits and advertising in social networks, structural and technical factors, compliance with regulations and culture-building, innovation and modern advertising, and users' familiarity with social networks were identified. The results showed that in today's competitive market, sports celebrity marketing in social networks can be successful by relying on many followers and paying more attention to them.

The purpose of the present study was to present a model of the relationship between leadership style and attitude toward change with the mediating role of moral intelligence among football coaches in Iraq. In terms of purpose, this research was applied, and in terms of method, it was descriptive-correlational. The study was conducted through a survey approach and structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of football coaches in Iraq and relevant members of the football coaches’ assembly, totaling 336 individuals. Based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, 179 participants were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a leadership style questionnaire based on the situational leadership framework of Hersey, Blanchard, and Natemeyer, an attitude toward change questionnaire, and a moral intelligence questionnaire. Instrument validity was examined through content, convergent, and discriminant validity, and reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Smart PLS. The findings showed that leadership style was positively and significantly associated with moral intelligence among football coaches in Iraq. Moreover, moral intelligence was positively and significantly associated with attitude toward change. Mediation analysis confirmed the mediating role of moral intelligence in the relationship between leadership style and attitude toward change. Model fit indices, including the GOF value of 0.660, indicated a desirable fit. Therefore, strengthening effective leadership styles along with enhancing moral intelligence may be associated with a more positive attitude toward change among football coaches.