Category: Sports Performance

Samsung Health is an application that can be installed on Android smartphones and tablets, and on Galaxy Watches

Once the user has connected Samsung Health to Health Connect, new or updated data in Samsung Health is shared to Health Connect.

Samsung Health synchronizes health data with Health Connect in both directions.

Fore more info check the Samsung website

Accessing Samsung Health Data through Health Connect

Health Connect FAQ to Access Samsung Health Data

In the competitive realm of sports, coaches and athletes are constantly exploring innovative methods to improve performance.

While physical training and sports performance analysis are fundamental, there’s an emerging recognition of the significance of psychological factors.

We have integrated a set of psychometric tests in the SELFLOOPS platform such as the BRUMS, PANAS, I-PANAS-SF, VAMS scale, and the Feeling Scale.

These tools offer a comprehensive view of an athlete’s well-being and performance, heralding a new era in sports management.

Psychometric tests are available in the SELFLOOPS Spark app. The results are on the web site. The results are by default private to the user.

Remember, in the world of sports, success is not just about how hard you train your body, but also about understanding and nurturing the mind.

You can find the results of the tests in the website, in the Performance Tests section.

For more info, please check our blog post.

Developed by Dr. W. Jack Rejeski, the Rejeski Feeling Scale is a subjective measure of how an individual feels during or after a physical activity. It is a simple yet powerful tool that allows athletes to express their emotions and perceptions, providing valuable insights into the psychological impact of their training. The scale ranges from -5 to +5, with negative values indicating negative emotions (e.g., fatigue, stress) and positive values representing positive emotions (e.g., enjoyment, exhilaration).

SELFLOOPS has integrated the Feeling Scale on the website and smartphone applications.

You can find more info in our blog post.

VAMS is a psychological assessment tool designed to gauge an individual’s mood state. Unlike traditional mood questionnaires that rely on fixed responses, VAMS uses a visual approach. It typically consists of a series of lines or sliders marked with contrasting mood states at each end (e.g., happy vs. sad, energized vs. tired). Athletes indicate their current mood by marking a point on the line that best represents their feeling.

SELFLOOPS has integrated the Visual Analogue Mood Scales (VAMS) on the website and smartphone applications.

You can find more info in our blog post.

The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a widely used psychological tool designed to assess an individual’s affective or emotional states. It measures two primary dimensions: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). Positive affect refers to the extent to which an individual experiences positive emotions such as joy, enthusiasm, and alertness, while negative affect gauges the presence of negative emotions like fear, anger, and distress.

SELFLOOPS has integrated the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) on the website and smartphone applications.

You can find more info in our blog post.

The I-PANAS-SF, developed by Edmund Thompson, is a shortened, 10-item version of the original PANAS scale. The I-PANAS-SF, like its predecessor, yields two distinct scores: Positive Affect (PA) and Negative Affect (NA). However, the I-PANAS-SF is more concise, featuring a reduced number of items while maintaining its reliability and validity.

The validated scale consists of two 5-item mood scales: one for positive affect (e.g. active, inspired) and one for negative affect (e.g. afraid, nervous). Participants self-report the extent they experienced each mood state, allowing easy snapshot measurements of key attitudinal dimensions.

Unlike lengthier assessments, the brevity of the I-PANAS-SF is particularly advantageous for busy athletes and coaches, allowing for regular assessments without a significant time commitment. This enhancement in efficiency makes I-PANAS-SF a valuable update for those looking to integrate psychological assessments seamlessly into their training routines.

SELFLOOPS has integrated the International Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Short Form (I-PANAS-SF) on the website and smartphone applications.

You can find more info in 0ur blog post.

The Brunel Mood Scale, developed by Dr. Terry Magill and his team at Brunel University, is a psychometric tool designed to assess mood states in athletes. It contains 24 simple mood descriptors like “angry,” “uncertain,” and “miserable.” Athletes self-report on a scale of 0-4 how much they relate to each mood descriptor based on how they feel at the present moment.

The BRUMS measures six identifiable mood factors: tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion. Athletes rate their feelings on a scale to provide a comprehensive overview of their emotional states.

SELFLOOPS has integrated the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) on the website and smartphone applications.

You can find more info in our blog post.

Endurance athletes and coaches often talk about polarized vs. non-polarized training. But what does this actually mean, and how can you quantify whether a training program is polarized or not? A new metric called the polarization index (PI) aims to provide some clarity.

The polarization index is a simple calculation that looks at the distribution of your training time or distance across three intensity zones:

• Zone 1: Low intensity
• Zone 2: Medium intensity
• Zone 3: High intensity

To determine the PI

PI = log10(((Zone 1 / Zone 2 )* Zone 3) * 100)

If your PI is greater than 2.00, your training distribution is considered polarized. This means the majority of your training volume is spent in Zone 1, with less emphasis on Zones 2 and 3. Non-polarized training distributes volume more evenly across the three zones.

Research has shown that elite endurance athletes tend to follow a polarized training model. Their high volume of low intensity training allows them to absorb the hard workouts and adapt to get stronger. But what PI is ideal? There is no perfect number, as it depends on your specific sport and goals. The PI simply quantifies your polarization.

So in summary, the polarization index is an easy way to calculate whether your training is polarized or not based on time or distance in three intensity zones. It provides an objective measure you can track over time as you refine your training plan for optimal performance. Give it a try!

You can find the PI index in the activity analysis and in the calendar view of the SELFLOOPS website.

Reference

Treff, G., Winkert, K., Sareban, M., Steinacker, J. M., & Sperlich, B. (2019). The Polarization-Index: A Simple Calculation to Distinguish Polarized From Non-polarized Training Intensity Distributions. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 707. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.00707