PURPOSE The aims of this study were to prospectively investigate the seasonal incidence and epidemiological characteristics of sports injuries according to peak height velocity (PHV) status among Korean male adolescent soccer players and to examine the interaction effect between maturity and activity type on detailed injury patterns. METHODS A total of 70 middle-school soccer players participated in this prospective cohort study. Based on 6-month height velocity, players were categorized into Circa-PHV (n=43) and Post-PHV (n=27) groups. Details regarding anthropometrics, exposure hours, and all musculoskeletal injuries were collected using the IOC Injury and Illness Surveillance Guidelines. Injury incidence (per 1000 athlete-exposures, AE) and relative risk were analyzed using Poisson regression and descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 125 injuries were recorded. Poisson regression revealed no significant main effect of maturation on overall injury incidence (p=.944). However, a significant interaction effect was detected between maturation and activity type for noncontact injuries (p=.020), with the Circa-PHV group exhibiting the highest incidence during matches (84.39/1000 AE). Matches posed a 15.6-fold higher injury risk than training (IRR=15.59, 95% CI: 10.49–23.18, p<.001). Regarding injury types, the Post-PHV group showed a 2.5-fold greater risk of muscle strains than the Circa-PHV group (IRR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.09–5.53, p=.029). CONCLUSIONS PHV is a critical determinant of injury risk and patterns in adolescent soccer players. Circa-PHV represents a vulnerable window for noncontact injuries under high-intensity match demands, and Post-PHV is characterized by a transition toward increased muscle strain risks. These results emphasize the need for maturation-informed load management and individualized prevention strategies to ensure athlete safety and long-term performance.
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to systematically review Korean research on genetics and athletic performance, to examine patterns of research accumulation and structural characteristics within the field of sports genetics in Korea, and to propose directions for future research. METHODS This study adopted a systematic review design. Relevant literature was retrieved from the Research Information Sharing Service (RISS) using the search terms “genetic performance” and “athlete genetics and exercise.” Following PRISMA guidelines, duplicate records, nonacademic publications, and studies with limited relevance to the research focus were excluded, yielding a final sample of 35 studies. The selected studies were analyzed across multiple dimensions, including research themes, athlete characteristics, and sport types, genetic variants examined, performance indicators, analytical methods, and interpretive approaches to gene–performance relationships. RESULTS The findings indicated that sports genetics research in Korea has predominantly focused on candidate gene approaches, with particular emphasis on the ACE and ACTN3 genes. Performance-related fitness variables, including aerobic power, aerobic capacity, and muscular strength, were the most frequently examined outcome measures. Study participants were primarily national-level and elite athletes, with research samples heavily concentrated in combat sports and ice sports. Methodologically, most studies relied on single-gene analyses, and interpretations of gene– performance relationships were largely based on between-group mean comparisons. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, Korean sports genetics research should transition toward the systematic adoption of polygenic and multi-marker approaches to improve explanatory power related to athletic performance and injury susceptibility. Moreover, the development of sport-specific and training–context–sensitive analytics is warranted, alongside validation of field applicability using performance-based data and cross-platform genetic analyses. Finally, establishing long-term research infrastructures grounded in longitudinal designs and standardized data accumulation will be essential for constructing a Korean-specific sports genetics research system that supports talent identification, individualized training, and injury prevention.
PURPOSE This study aims to analyze the intention to adopt sports artificial intelligence (AI) coaching services by applying the theory of planned behavior(TPB) and examining generational differences in TPB factors between MZ and older generations. METHODS Data were collected through a survey of sports consumers, and 252 valid questionnaires were included in the final analysis. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling, and generational differences were assessed through latent mean analysis. RESULTS Attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted adoption intention. Additionally, latent mean analysis revealed a significant generational difference in the subjective norms, with older generations perceiving them more strongly than the MZ generation. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the need for generation-specific strategies for sports AI coaching providers to enhance adoption.
