Studies in Sports Science and Physical Education

The Practical Approach and Effectiveness of the Virtual Simulation System in the Simulation Teaching of Curling Sports

Guo Baoyu, Dr. Mohd Rahimi Bin Che Jusoh — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Under the dual circumstances of “smart education” and “ice sports entering campuses”, traditional university ice hockey teaching is constrained by the limitations of venues, resources and teaching methods, and urgently needs a new teaching model to break through. This paper, guided by the constructivist learning theory and the theory of skill transfer, constructs a set of practical paths for university ice hockey teaching based on a virtual simulation system, and uses the teaching experiment method to verify its effectiveness. The research subjects are students of the university’s ice hockey elective course, divided into the experimental group and the control group. An 8-week teaching intervention is carried out, and data are collected through pre-test and post-test technical indicators comparison, questionnaire surveys and interview methods. The research results show that virtual simulation teaching has significant advantages in improving students’ stability of throwing, consistency of trajectory and control of landing points; students’ learning interest and training participation have significantly improved, and the improvement in technical performance is better than that of the traditional teaching group. The research also finds that virtual teaching shows good operability and promotion potential under low-resource conditions. This paper provides theoretical support and practical demonstration for the path design and effect evaluation of digital teaching of ice sports, and is of great significance for promoting the integrated development of “sports + technology” in universities.

A Review of Foot Strike Patterns and Injury Considerations in Recreational Endurance Runners

Mingyang Wei — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Running is one of the most widely practiced forms of exercise, but injury rates remain high. Recreational runners report 6.9 to 8.7 running-related injuries per 1000 hours of running (Videbæk S et al., 2015). Foot strike pattern is one biomechanical factor that has been linked to injury risk. Objective: To review current evidence on the effects of foot strike techniques on running biomechanics and injury risk in recreational runners. Methods: A targeted literature search of PubMed (2021–2026) was conducted as part of this narrative review, using keywords “foot strike,” “run,” “jog” combined with “injury,” “kinematics,” “kinetics,” “biomechanics,” “muscle,” and “energy.” Eligible studies included clinical trials, systematic reviews, observational studies, and biomechanical studies in English. After deduplication and screening, 29 studies were included. Results: Rearfoot strike (RFS) was generally associated with higher impact peaks, vertical loading rates, and knee joint loading. Forefoot strike (FFS) reduced impact forces but increased loading on the Achilles tendon and metatarsals. Evidence indicates no universally superior strike pattern; outcomes depend on individual anatomy, injury history, and training characteristics. Conclusion: Changing foot strike pattern shifts how load is distributed across the lower limb rather than reducing load overall. Any transition should be individualized, gradual, and paired with targeted strength work.

AI-Empowered Innovation in the Management Model of “Balancing Study and Training” for College Student-Athletes with Special Talents

Shanhe Wei — Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology offers new pathways to address the contradiction between academic study and athletic training in the cultivation of college student-athletes with special talents. Based on an objective analysis of the causes of the “study-training contradiction,” this paper proposes a transformation in governance philosophy centered on “data governance,” “personalized customization,” and “proactive early warning.” By constructing an “intelligent sensing” data infrastructure, designing a “dual-track parallel” algorithmic model, and establishing a “human-machine collaboration” closed-loop feedback mechanism, the study elaborates the implementation pathways for AI-enabled “study-training balance.” This approach aims to advance the cultivation of student-athletes from traditional extensive and reactive management towards precise, personalized, and forward-looking intelligent governance, thereby providing theoretical and practical insights for deepening the national strategy of “integrating sports with education.”

From Campus Running Participation to Exercise Habit Formation: Pathways of Motivational Transformation

Mingze Zhou — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Campus running has become a common form of organized physical activity in universities, but regular participation does not necessarily lead to a lasting exercise habit. Many students begin running because of course requirements, mileage targets, or assessment rules, which can create stable participation for a period of time without producing a strong willingness to exercise independently. This paper examines how motivation may change during this process and why such change is important for the formation of exercise habits. It argues that the transition from external participation to sustained exercise depends on whether students gradually recognize the personal value of exercise, experience competence and enjoyment, and gain greater control over their own physical activity. Excessive reliance on distance, frequency, and completion-based assessment may keep running at the level of task fulfillment and weaken this transition. A more effective approach is to use campus running as an initial structure for participation while gradually increasing autonomy, improving exercise experience, and connecting running with broader forms of independent physical activity. The value of campus running, therefore, should not be judged only by completed mileage or participation rates, but also by whether it helps students continue exercising when external requirements are reduced or removed.

Habit Formation and Health Benefits of Regular Exercise Among Physically Inactive Populations in the Context of National Fitness Promotion

Hang Gao — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Physical inactivity is a common health-related behavior and is often linked with long periods of sitting, irregular exercise, and a clear gap between exercise intention and actual participation. For physically inactive populations, the main difficulty is not only starting exercise but maintaining it long enough to form a stable habit. This paper discusses the main barriers to regular exercise, including weak motivation, high perceived cost, unrealistic exercise goals, and the lack of stable exercise cues and supportive environments. It then examines how regular exercise habits can be developed through low-threshold participation, suitable activity choices, fixed daily routines, positive feedback, and repeated behavior. The paper also discusses the health benefits of regular exercise, including improvements in physical fitness, metabolic health, sleep, emotional well-being, and daily functional capacity. Greater attention should be given to long-term adherence rather than short-term exercise volume. Exercise plans need to match individual ability, daily schedules, and physical condition so that physical activity can become a stable part of everyday life.

The Value and Limitations of Smart-Watch Recovery Scores in Daily Training Decision-Making

Xu Tang, Jiawen Xu — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Smart-watch recovery scores are increasingly used by recreational exercisers to decide whether to train, reduce exercise intensity, or take additional rest. These scores usually combine indicators such as heart rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep, recent training load, and activity history into a single value that appears easy to interpret. Their practical value lies in making recovery-related information more visible and in helping users notice changes that might otherwise be overlooked. However, recovery is not a single physiological condition, and a numerical score cannot fully represent muscular fatigue, subjective tiredness, psychological stress, or the individual response to previous training. Measurement error and differences in proprietary algorithms also limit how precisely these scores can be interpreted. This paper examines the role of smart-watch recovery scores in daily training decision-making, with particular attention to the gap between algorithmic estimates and actual exercise readiness. It argues that recovery scores are most useful when treated as supporting information rather than as direct instructions. Daily training decisions should combine device data with subjective recovery, recent training load, physical discomfort, and the demands of the planned session. Used in this way, wearable technology can improve awareness of recovery without weakening the exerciser’s ability to judge and regulate training independently.