Lived experiences of UAAP Season 84 and NCAA Season 97 student-athletes in their bubble set-up training during the COVID-19 pandemic: A research protocol

Background@#The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the sports industry, postponing events worldwide. To adapt to the situation, athletes have been forced to train at home. Bubble training was introduced to provide a safe and conducive training environment while adhering to government health protocols. However, concerns have emerged regarding the set-up’s implementation.@*Objective@#The study aims to explore the lived experiences of UAAP Season 84 and NCAA Season 97 student-athletes who underwent bubble training.@*Methods@#The study will employ a qualitative phenomenological approach based on Seligman's Well-Being Theory. A purposive sampling technique will be used to recruit at least seven eligible student-athletes. Data will be collected through on-site or online interviews using a semi-structured interview guide to reveal a narrative of the student-athletes' bubble training experiences, common themes, and patterns. Deductive thematic analysis approach will be used with the help of the NVivo software program.@*Expected Results@#This study is expected to develop themes from the daily bubble training routines, habits, coping strategies, and perceived thoughts and feelings of Filipino collegiate student-athletes, regarding their emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement in bubble training. This may provide insights to the government, educational institutions, and athletic associations on possible comprehensive guidelines if they plan to implement bubble training when the need arises.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation of the lower extremity functional scale into Filipino, and analysis of its psychometric properties: A study protocol

Background@#Impairment and functional limitations from musculoskeletal conditions are evaluated using outcome measure tools. The Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) is one of the outcome measure tools (OMT) that assess the functional capacity of patients who have lower extremity conditions. It was originally developed in English and translated later into other languages; however, no Filipino version is available.@*Objective@#This study aims to translate, cross-culturally adapt the LEFS into Filipino, and evaluate its psychometric properties. @*Methods@#Using a psychometric study design, the LEFS will be translated and cross-culturally adapted into Filipino following the guidelines set by Beaton et al. and Sousa and Rojjanasrirat. These include six stages: (1) forward translation into Filipino, (2) synthesis, (3) backward translation, (4) expert committee review, (5) pilot testing/cognitive interview, and (6) psychometric testing. Filipinos with lower extremity conditions will be recruited for the pilot (n= 10) and psychometric testing (n= 200). Validity will be evaluated using face validity index, content validity index, independent t-test (knowngroup validity), and Spearman rho (concurrent validity). Reliability will be assessed using Cronbach alpha for the internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient for the stability. Floor and ceiling effects will also be computed. E@*Expected results@#The LEFS will be successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted into Filipino. It will be a valid and reliable outcome measure tool that physical therapists and other healthcare professionals can use for the functional assessment of patients. This study can also serve as a reference for future translation studies

Cross-cultural adaptation and measurement of psychometric properties of the Filipino version of Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment Ankle Instability (VISA-A) questionnaire for achilles tendinopathy

BACKGROUND@#Achilles Tendinopathy (AT) is common in elite and recreational athletes involved in sports such as running and jumping. The severity of this condition can be assessed using the VISA-A questionnaire. However, this is originally developed in English. This has been translated to several languages, but there is no translation and cross-cultural adaptation yet to Filipino. This study aims to translate, cross-culturally adapt the VISA-A questionnaire to Filipino, and examine its psychometric properties.@*METHOD@#The translation and validation process were in accordance with the guidelines set by Beaton et al., and Sousa et al. The psychometric properties were assessed on n= 8 healthy and n= 8 symptomatic athletes.@*RESULTS@#The VISA-A questionnaire exhibited excellent face validity (100% agreement), content validity (Item-Content Validity Index and Scale-Content Validity Index= 1.00), construct validity (U= 2.50, p= 0.001), and concurrent validity (r= 0.90, p= 0.001). The items have good internal consistency (α= 0.80) and showed excellent reliability (ICC= 0.94; 95% CI: 0.73–0.99).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The cross-cultural adaptation of the Filipino version of VISAA (VISA-A-Fil) was successful. Preliminary psychometric testing showed that the VISA-A-Fil questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool that measures the severity of AT. However, there is still a need to explore its full psychometric properties.

Translation to Filipino and validation of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Patella (VISA-P) questionnaire for patellar tendinopathy

BACKGROUND@#Patellar tendinopathy is an overuse injury characterized by pain on the distal part of the patella caused by specific movement patterns like jumping. To assess the severity of patellar tendinopathy, the self-administered VISA-P questionnaire was developed in the English language. The purpose of this study was to translate and cross-culturally adapt the VISA-P questionnaire into Filipino and determine its psychometric properties.@*METHODS@#A psychometric study design was used in this study. The VISA-P was translated from English to Filipino following the guidelines set by Beaton et al. and Sousa et al. There were six stages: (1) forward translation to Filipino, (2) synthesis, (3) backward translation, (4) expert committee review, (5) pilot testing/cognitive briefing, and (6) preliminary psychometric testing. The psychometric testing was conducted on eight patients with patellar tendinopathy and eight healthy subjects.@*RESULTS@#The Filipino VISA-P questionnaire (VISA-P-Fil) successfully underwent translation and cross-cultural adaptation. It exhibited excellent face, content validity (Item-Content Validity index and Scale-Content Validity Index= 1.00), construct validity (p>0.05, except for Item 6), internal consistency (Cronbach α= 0.81) as well as reliability (ICC= 0.99; 95% CI: 0.994 – 0.999; SEM= 0.42; minimum detectable change at 95% confidence level= 1.79). No ceiling and floor effects were noted for the VISA-PFil.@*CONCLUSION@#In conclusion, the VISA-P-Fil questionnaire was translated and cross-culturally adapted successfully with good validity. Preliminary testing also showed its excellent reliability.

Comparison of core stability and hip muscular strength in selected collegiate football players with and without Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS)

BACKGROUND@#Muscular imbalance in the core and hip is one of the major risk factors associated with PFPS. There is evidence that decreased strength of the hip musculature is present in individuals with PFPS. This decrease in hip strength can also affect the stability of the core and further predisposes an athlete to injury.@*OBJECTIVES@#This is a cross-sectional study that compares the hip muscle strength and core stability of collegiate football players with and without PFPS.@*METHODS@#25 participants (10 with PFPS and 15 without PFPS) participated in the study. Hip strength was measured using a digital handheld dynamometer. Core stability was assessed through the McGill Core Strength test and the 8-stage stability test.@*RESULTS@#The hip adductors showed to be significantly weaker in those with PFPS as compared to those without PFPS ( p=0.040). No differences were found in the hip flexor (p=0.812), hip extensor (p=0.460) and abductors (p=0.126) strength while the core musculature showed that there is a statistically significant difference on the endurance of the lateral core musculature (p<0.001) and trunk flexors (p=0.027) between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#Football athletes without PFPS in this study demonstrated greater core stability and hip adductor muscle strength compared to those without PFPS.

Muscle activation pattern of gluteus medius, tibialis anterior and peroneus longus during drop landing on different surfaces: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND@#Gluteus medius (GMeds), peroneus longus (PL), and tibialis anterior (TA) help in maintaining frontal stability of the lower extremity, particularly, the ankle. Muscle activation must be sufficient to prevent the occurrence of an ankle sprain. The purpose of this study is to compare the muscle activation of the GMeds, TA, and PL during drop landing on stable and unstable surfaces of physically active individuals.@*METHODS@#Surface EMG (sEMG) was used to determine the muscle activation pattern of the GMeds, TA, and PL of fifteen (15) recreational athletes during drop landing. The mean percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) was calculated for comparison. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare means.@*RESULTS@#There were no statistically significant differences in the muscle activity of GMeds (p=0.69), TA (p=0.26), and PL (p=0.23) on stable and unstable surfaces. However, a small effect size showed that GMeds (d=0.30) has higher activation in the unstable surface while TA (d=0.28) and PL (d=0.17) have lower activation on unstable surface.@*CONCLUSION@#Landing surface does not significantly alter muscle activity of GMeds, TA, and PL. However, the magnitude of the difference in the mean %MVIC between groups shows the compensatory mechanism of the body when subjected to different surface conditions. This can be used when creating injury prevention programs of the lower extremity.