International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness and Sports

From the Ancient Greek Gymnasium to The Fit Stop: A Genealogy of Fitness Discourses in the Philippines

Manuel R Enverga — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This article traces the genealogy of fitness culture in the Philippines by examining how discourses of physical training have traveled, changed, and taken root over space and time. It follows these ideas from their early articulation in ancient Greece, through their reinterpretation in Medieval and Renaissance Europe, into modern forms shaped by colonial and postcolonial conditions. Rather than moving in a linear fashion, discourses on exercise and bodily cultivation were repeatedly translated, adapted, and contested as they circulated across historical periods and geographical spaces. The case of The Fit Stop, a pseudonym for a contemporary gym in the Philippines, provides a concrete illustration of this process. Its practices and promotional language reflect the local uptake of global fitness ideals, showing how long-standing discourses of health, strength, and bodily improvement are reworked within a specific social context. Read genealogically, The Fit Stop can be understood as a localized globalism, rooted in earlier traditions of physical training while shaped by local histories and conditions.

Short-term Sleep Extension in Adolescent Swimmers: Real-world Crossover Findings on Sleep, Mood, and Performance

Yossi Haleva, Aya Ekstein, Leonid Kaufman, Eyal Shargal, Yoav Meckel — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: To test whether short-term sleep extension affects sleep, mood, and swim performance in adolescent competitive swimmers under real-world training. Methods: A pragmatic within-group, two-period crossover compared Regular and Extended sleep during routine in-season training. Outcomes included device-based sleep (with HRV-derived staging), pool performance (50-m sprint; mean 10×50-m pace; 800-m time trial), post-set physiology, and mood (EFI). Primary inference focused on the within-subject Regular vs Extended contrast; three-phase (Preliminary/Regular/Extended) ANOVAs were descriptive. Results: Total sleep time increased with Extended vs Regular, confirming successful manipulation. Group-level pool performance did not improve across tests (all paired contrasts non-significant). Mood changes were small and non-significant. Physiological responses were largely unchanged; however, post-set blood lactate after the 10×50-m set was modestly lower with Extended (Holm-adjusted p = .035). Sleep architecture shifted: Deep sleep was lower and arousal indices higher under Extended. Conclusions: In adolescent swimmers, short-term sleep extension is feasible and increases sleep duration under real-world conditions but does not yield immediate gains in pool performance. A small reduction in post-set lactate and alterations in sleep architecture warrant cautious interpretation. Findings temper expectations for near-term performance benefits and motivate longer, individualized protocols with monitoring of achieved extension dose.

Physical Activity and Psychological Well-being in Gym Exercisers During COVID-19 Lockdowns

Skampardoni S, Angeli M, Krommidas C, Hassandra M, Galanis E, Theodorakis Y — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The present study investigated the impact of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on physical activity (PA) levels, gender differences in activity, and the relationship between PA, well-being, and mood among gym exercisers. A cohort of 366 gym exercisers (126 males, 240 females) aged 15 to 59 years (M_age = 34.63 ± 9.27) willingly participated in this study. Data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF) for PA and sedentary behavior, the Short Diet Behavior Questionnaire for Lockdowns (SDBQ-L) for healthy eating, the 4-Dimensional Mood Scale (4DMS) for mood, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) for anxiety, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index for mental well-being. Additionally, participants’ attitudes and intentions toward exercise and returning to fitness centers were assessed. The findings revealed that moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and healthy eating behaviors significantly predicted participants' well-being and positive energy. Conversely, sedentariness along with healthy eating behaviors were significant predictors of negative arousal. Males reported higher levels of MVPA and intention to be physically active compared to females. Younger participants showed higher VPA, depression, and anxiety, and lower BMI compared to older participants. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining regular PA, particularly at moderate or vigorous intensities, and healthy eating habits for mental well-being during public health crises. These insights hold considerable value for shaping future policies and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the detrimental consequences of prolonged physical inactivity.

Somatotype Characteristics of U-17 Badminton Players of Tripura

Anmol Saha, Madhab Chandra Ghosh, Subhashis Biswas — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Individual characteristics and physical composition are important determinants of physical attributes such as speed, endurance, agility, and power in badminton. The aim of the study is to investigate the somatotype characteristics of U-17 badminton players in the state of Tripura. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 male players (aged 8.9–16.7 years) from the Netaji Subhas Regional Coaching Centre, Agartala, including state, national, and club badminton players. Anthropometric data were taken and somatotypes were calculated based on the Heath–Carter method. Result indicates that national players are statistically significantly older and taller among the rest of their peers (p<0.01). Within the club category, players were assigned a mesomorphic endomorph profile (6.2–4.0–3.0), state players an ectomorphic endomorph profile (4.7–2.9–3.4), and national players endomorphic–ectomorph profile (3.4–2.9–3.8). There were statistically significant differences in endomorphy with national players exhibiting advanced traits as opposed to club players (p<0.01). The higher Mesomorphy observed in club players was probably attributed to natural growth rather than functional adaptation. The group averages for ectomorphy did not differ significantly, although national players exhibited slightly higher linearity. The somatochart demonstrated a shift progressively from endomorphic to balance meso-ectomorphic at the higher levels of play. For optimal badminton performance, youth players in Tripura seem to be taller, have lesser endomorphy, and possess meso-ectomorphic physique greater balance. As the study and data sets suggest, more structured training and nutrition to control fat levels and help international participation would be of regional significance for talent identification.

Do Final Fitness Scores Correlate to Final Academic Scores Among Police Cadets?

Andrew L. Shim, Marc Tangeman, Robert G. Lockie, J. Jay Dawes, Ian Bonder — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a relationship between specific physical fitness tests and academic test scores exists with police cadets. Design: Retrospective, non-identifiable data from three training cohorts was selected for this investigation. Methods: 86 (70 males, 16 females) cadets in three different cohorts volunteered for this investigation during a single 16-week (640 hours) police training academy at the same law enforcement agency (LEA). Cadets were screened for five fitness components, consisting of vertical jump, 1-minute push-up test, 300m sprint, 1-minute sit-up test, and the 2.4km run after 16 weeks of fitness training along with a comprehensive reading, mathematics, and general law enforcement exam, following the completion of all 16 law enforcement modules. Results: There was no significant relationship between final fitness scores and final academic exam scores. Conclusion: Specific physical fitness scores did not significantly correlate with final academic exam scores in police cadets. It was noted cadet physical training should focus on psychomotor activities not only to improve academic scores but overall successful fitness outcomes to successfully graduate from a police academy.