Objectives To investigate challenges associated with mental health help-seeking among Olympic and Paralympic coaches. The study also sought to identify which challenges were most important and feasible to address. Methods The study employed a mixed-methods group concept mapping methodology. Participants brainstormed, sorted (into groups) and rated (for importance and feasibility) statements on 5-point

Pelvic floor health is recognised as one of the 10 domains of female athlete health that should be included in illness and injury surveillance.1 However, pelvic floor health and dysfunction are not typically covered within sport and exercise medicine (SEM) training. Consequently, many females report not being asked about their pelvic health, and athletes, in particular, report being unlikely to disclose

Objective The aims of this study, which uses a trial within a cohort design, were to determine the efficacy of a web-based intervention to increase moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) and decrease sedentary behaviour in cancer survivors. Methods Participants (n=415) in this trial were randomised 2:1 to an interactive physical activity website or a static balance and flexibility

Despite being an avid sportsman growing up, injuries and illnesses were never really something I encountered. I acquired nicknames such as ‘Roy Keane’ when I played football and ‘McCarry’ when I played rugby. These nicknames usually arose from my love for getting stuck in and putting my body in places most wouldn’t. At age 20, my whole life changed. Without warning, I collapsed on 3 June 2017, later

The link between health and physical activity has been enshrined in medical lore since ancient times. Over 2000 years ago, practitioners in India, China, Greece and the Roman Empire espoused the importance of exercise for the maintenance and restoration of health.1 In the centuries that followed, the writings of Hippocrates and Galen centralised the role of physical activity in healthcare, a mantra

By 2050, there will be two billion people in the world aged over 60. Such population ageing will inevitably lead to increases in the prevalence of chronic diseases and healthcare burdens. In the UK alone, over 17 million people live with one or more chronic conditions, taking up 50% of all general practitioner appointments and 70% of the UK’s (c. £200 billion) health and care budget. Finding cost-effective

Have you ever encountered an athlete who suddenly shouts out or someone who seems disengaged? What was your initial reaction? Did you assume the athlete was being offensive or underperforming that day? Or did you wonder whether they might be neurodiverse? Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in the human brain that influence how people process information, communicate and engage with their

Historically, much of the research in exercise science and sports medicine has collected, reported and discussed sex and gender as synonymous and interchangeable. This conflation has hindered scientific progress, limiting our understanding and potentially reinforcing social biases through poorly framed research questions, flawed methodological designs and misinterpretations of findings related to sex

Despite a renaissance in menopause awareness, the over-medicalisation of women’s midlife health threatens to eclipse foundational interventions like physical activity. Menopause is a pivotal milestone in the female lifespan, marked by important physiological, psychological and musculoskeletal changes. While ‘menopause’, by definition, is a point in time, the perimenopause and postmenopause stages vary

Objectives To describe age-related differences in the absolute and relative intensity of physical activity (PA) and associations with mortality. Methods UK Biobank participants with accelerometer-assessed PA (m g ) and fitness data (N=11 463; age: 43–76 years) were included. The intensity distribution of PA was expressed in absolute and relative terms. The outcome was mortality. Results PA volume (average

Objectives To investigate associations between daily physical activity, activity intensity and step counts with incident cancer risk. Methods Prospective analysis of UK Biobank participants who wore wrist-based accelerometers for 7 days, followed for cancer incidence (mean follow-up 5.8 years, SD 1.3). Time-series machine-learning models derived total physical activity, sedentary behaviour (SB), light-intensity

Objective To assess the impact of depression and physical activity (PA) of different intensities on the incidence of heart disease. Methods A prospective cohort study with 20 645 European middle-aged and older adults (mean baseline age 63 years; 55.1% women; median follow-up 9.5 years) was conducted using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The EURO-D 12-item scale assessed

Objective To synthesise data on the associations between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and health in children and adolescents, evaluate the certainty of evidence and identify knowledge gaps. Design An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analyses. Results were pooled using forest plots and certainty of evidence evaluated with GRADE. Data sources Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL and SPORTDiscus

Objective To evaluate systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of exercise on general cognition, memory and executive function across all populations and ages. Methods Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of RCTs evaluating the effects of exercise on general cognition, memory and executive function were eligible. Data extraction and risk of bias scoring were conducted

The primary focus of my PhD research was to investigate the relationship between physical exercise and lung function, with a particular emphasis on imaging radiomic features derived from quantitative CT (qCT). My study aimed to uncover how different levels and intensities of physical exercise influence lung structural and functional parameters, as quantified by advanced radiomic analysis. Specifically

Je Bouge Pour Mon Moral is a French not-for-profit organisation founded in 2021. It is dedicated to supporting individuals suffering from mental health disorders through regular physical activity. The organisation aims to improve the mental well-being of its participants by combining exercise and social connection. Mental health is a major issue in France, affecting 13 million people each year. In

The second edition of the Kabaddi World Cup, held in the West Midlands, England, from 17 March 2025 to 23 March 2025, showcased the thrilling sport of kabaddi on a global stage. This event not only highlighted the athletic talent of participants from around the world but also highlighted the crucial role of sports therapists in safeguarding the athlete’s health and performance. Coventry University

Cognitive function, encompassing essential processes such as perception, attention, memory, language, thinking and executive function, is fundamental to daily life. It drives individual development by enhancing academic achievement and mitigating cognitive decline,1 while also fueling societal progress through improvements in education, productivity and economic outcomes.2 Even transient cognitive

Preparticipation screening, including history, physical examination and often a 12-lead ECG, aims to identify athletes with structural and/or arrhythmic cardiovascular conditions that may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).1 Importantly, there is often a diagnostic ‘grey zone’ between findings reflective of exercise-induced cardiac remodelling versus true high-risk pathology, highlighting

The desire to enhance athletic performance drives research into potential ergogenic aids. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless and poisonous gas that is difficult to detect, making it known as the ‘silent killer’.1 Despite its toxicity, CO has found varied applications in medicine and sport.2–9 Although CO can serve as a tool for monitoring performance gains through the measurement of haemoglobin

Sudden cardiac death is the leading medical cause of death among football players. Determining the optimal cardiac screening, the use of carefully selected medical assessments to detect underlying cardiovascular conditions associated with sudden cardiac arrest/death, is a desired objective of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for football players of all ages. To date, cardiac

Objective To evaluate the psychological reactions, perceptions and opinions of cardiovascular preparticipation screening (PPS) among young competitive athletes. Methods This convergent parallel mixed-methods study recruited 222 athletes (mean age: 18.7 years) who underwent PPS at a Canadian university. All athletes completed a cardiovascular history questionnaire, and a subgroup (n=165) additionally

Objectives Physical activity (PA) provides protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, including ischaemic heart disease. However, recommending moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) to patients with recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) raises concerns owing to potential risk of recurrent ACS or fatal arrhythmias. This study investigated the association between longitudinal PA changes following an

Objective Energy-saving sedentary behaviour may be an evolutionarily selected trait that is no longer advantageous. We investigated the associations between genetic liability to sedentary behaviour and the incidence of the most common cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods We constructed and validated a genome-wide polygenic score for leisure screen time (PGS LST) as a measure of genetic liability to

Objective To compare physical activity (PA) over midlife between (1) former collegiate athletes and non-athletes and (2) among athletes in different sports. Methods The Harvard Alumni Health Study (HAHS) is a prospective cohort study of male undergraduates who completed serial questionnaires regarding PA and health status between 1962 and 1993. PA was categorised by intensity (<3 METs, light; 3 to

Objective To synthesise the existing literature relating to barriers and enablers encountered by elite athletes during preconception and pregnancy for the purpose of identifying key recommendations and actionable steps to inform the development of pregnancy guidelines to support preconception and pregnancy in national sporting organisations. Design Mixed-methods systematic review with thematic analysis

An adolescent athlete presented with chest pain and elevated troponin (troponin T level of 2038 ng/L (normal range <10 ng/L)). Viral swabs, including COVID-19 screening, were negative. The 12-lead ECG demonstrated T-wave inversion with preceding convex ST-elevation in leads V3-V5, I and aVL (figure 1A). Following cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, a diagnosis of myocarditis was confirmed, and

I investigated how physical exercise influences esports performance and examined fundamental issues in esports development through five interconnected studies. This research focused on establishing standardised terminology, analysing health impacts, exploring gender participation patterns and evaluating the effectiveness of structured exercise programmes in enhancing competitive gaming performance

Objective To investigate the association between sprint running biomechanics and sprint-related hamstring strain injury (HSI) in elite male football players. Methods This prospective cohort study recruited 126 professional male football players from eight clubs in the English football league, who were followed across a 6-month period. Maximal velocity sprint running videos (240 fps) were collected

My doctoral work aimed to advance understanding of the interactions between physical activity, falls and physical function from mid-life to older age. My PhD involved seven papers written over four years. Figure 1 overviews the designs and results of studies included in the thesis. Figure 1 Overview of studies included in the thesis. ALSWH, Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Witnessing

The European Union (EU) in 2023 decided to ban microplastic use including crumb rubber infills in 3G sports pitches by 2031 for a variety of interlocking environmental, health and sustainability reasons.1 These infills contain various chemicals often from end-of-life rubber tyres.2 3 Great Britain (GB; England, Scotland, Wales) has thousands of 3G pitches. A full-sized 3G pitch required between 100

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a well-recognised condition in sports and rehabilitation, particularly after unaccustomed eccentric or resisted exercises involving large muscle groups. However, DOMS remains largely overlooked in smaller muscle groups, particularly the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the hand, despite their critical functional role in rehabilitation programmes. This editorial

Background Emerging evidence supports the importance of physical activity (PA) and behaviours that build resilience to prevent childhood psychiatric disorders. Objective To investigate associations between parent-reported PA, time spent outdoors and participation in organised sports and later incidence of psychiatric conditions in children. Methods A birth cohort of 17 055 Swedish children was followed

Objective This randomised controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of the Tailored Injury Prevention in Adapted Sports (TIPAS) intervention on sports-related health problems in athletes participating in adaptive sports with physical impairments. Methods We randomly assigned 60 athletes participating in adaptive sports with physical impairments to an intervention group and 47 to a control group. The

The primary focus of my thesis was to investigate the relationship between speech features and physical activity, with the aim of developing a novel method for assessing physical competence and predicting exercise performance through speech analysis. I used a combination of machine learning and deep learning techniques to extract and model speech features that are indicative of physical exertion. This

Head acceleration events (HAEs) can potentially have adverse consequences for athlete brain health. In sports, in which head injuries have the highest incidence, identifying strategies to reduce HAE frequency and magnitude is a priority. Neck training is a potential strategy to mitigate against the magnitude of HAEs. This two-part study aimed to (1) systematically review the literature of neck training

The Indian Government’s landmark initiative Khelo India (Play, India) seeks to infuse a sports culture in the country and promote excellence through investments in sport infrastructure and coaching.1 There is general interest in increasing mass participation in sport, including indigenous sports. Indeed, India hosted the first World Cup of the sport Kho-Kho in January 2025,2 and in March 2025, England

Objectives To describe the reproductive, pelvic and breast health of retired elite Australian female athletes. Methods Data were collected as part of a larger online cross-sectional survey that was cocreated with female athletes and disseminated to Australian retired elite (international-level and national-level) female athletes aged ≥18 years old and retired from elite competition ≥2 years. Results

We would like to introduce you to Sarah, a sports medicine clinician who cares for team sports and is interested in decreasing injury rates. Sarah recognises that to decrease injury rates, she must properly define the term and then use the best methods for assessment. Epidemiology includes definitions for measures such as incidence rates,1 and Knowles et al applied these principles to sports injuries

If ever more evidence was needed for the powerful effects of physical activity on chronic and serious disease, it can be found in this South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) edition of BJSM! We spotlight leading cancer and exercise research from South African and abroad. In a sample of 28 248 South African participants diagnosed with stage 1 cancer, Mabena and colleagues from the University

Understanding the extent of an injury problem within a specific sport requires the recording of valid and reliable injury epidemiology data.1 Establishing injury rates using epidemiological data informs injury prevention strategies, in terms of who and what to target and the effectiveness of the strategies. The definitions used in sports injury epidemiology have received much attention,1 2 as have

The global population is facing a physical inactivity pandemic, with nearly one-third of adults not sufficiently active.1 This increases the risk of chronic disease, morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs and poorer quality of life.2 Furthermore, musculoskeletal conditions are a key disability driver, expected to impact one billion people by 2050.3 Physical inactivity and musculoskeletal conditions

Rehabilitation, covering areas such as injury, cardiac, pulmonary and mental health, is evolving toward patient-centred care.1 However, motivating patients to maintain exercise habits remains challenging,2 with a disconnect between programme design, behavioural change theories and professionals’ ability to apply behavioural change techniques.3 The aim of this editorial is to emphasise the need for

In 2023, we described a collective approach to safety in rugby (including league, union and sevens), outlining the different stakeholders along the passive–active injury prevention intervention continuum.1 We highlighted the current ‘passive’ measures in place to reduce concussion risk including tackle law policies, and the importance of promoting ‘active’ measures such as good tackle technique training

Objective To examine bidirectional associations between objective measures of sleep quantity and quality with postconcussion symptoms (PCS) scores in concussed youth during the first week postinjury and to explore the associations between sleep measures and time to symptom resolution. Study design We conducted a secondary analysis of a prospectively enrolled cohort of youth (11–17 years) with a physician

Objective To explore the association of wearable device-measured moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in long-term cancer survivors. Methods This retrospective analysis involved a prospective cohort of 6109 cancer survivors without CVD from the UK Biobank accelerometry subsample. The MVPA volume is categorised into four groups based on guideline

Objectives This study aimed to determine the association between progression and mortality in individuals with stage 1 cancer and their recorded physical activity before the diagnosis of the cancer. Methods We included 28 248 members with stage 1 cancers enrolled in an oncology programme in South Africa. Physical activity was recorded using fitness devices, logged gym sessions and participation in

Objectives To examine the association between muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in patients diagnosed with cancer, and whether these associations are affected by type and/or stage of cancer. Method A systematic review with meta-analysis was carried out. Five bibliographic databases were searched to August 2023. Results Forty-two studies

Objective To evaluate the effects of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and overweight/obesity. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Data sources PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to May

Sickle cell trait (SCT) and its association with exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) and exercise-related death (ERD) in warfighters and athletes (WA) are significant and controversial issues confronting sports medicine communities and the US Department of Defense (DoD). Although SCT carrier status is largely considered a benign condition, potential risks, in particular with intense repetitive or continuous

Objectives Exercise-induced cardiac remodelling is well described in male athletes but incompletely understood in females. This study aimed to examine sex differences in cardiac structure, function and fibrosis relative to fitness and to determine reference ranges for ‘normal’ chamber size in a large cohort of healthy male and female highly trained endurance athletes. Methods This multicentre international

Objective To examine the comprehensive health impacts of exercise on people with cancer by systematically summarising existing evidence and assessing the strength and reliability of the associations. Design Umbrella review of meta-analyses. Data source PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to 23 July 2024. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Low back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability, imposing an enormous economic burden on society. In the UK, the cost of treating low back pain in general practice alone was estimated to be £3.2 billion in 2015, with 80% of these costs attributed to healthcare consultations.1 The healthcare costs of low back pain and neck pain were estimated to be US$134.5 billion in the USA in 2016

The Swiss Sports Physiotherapy Association (SSPA) will hold its 23rd annual conference together with the Sport & Exercise Medicine Switzerland (SEMS) on 30 October 2025–31 October 2025 in Lausanne. This is the second time since 2018 that the two societies will join forces to showcase a truly international conference around the topic ‘Structure and Function’. Among the confirmed speakers for this event:

Application of ‘blood flow restriction’ (BFR) to the limbs at rest, during exercise or in combination with adjunct interventions (eg, electrical muscle stimulation, whole-body vibration) has emerged as a technique to improve health, performance, rehabilitation and recovery outcomes in healthy, clinical and high-performing populations (eg, military personnel, athletes and astronauts). This technique

The decision to progress or delay a player’s return to play (RTP) from injury is a constant balance between risk and reward. A player returning early could have a significant performance impact on the team; however, there is the possibility of a simultaneous increase in the risk of subsequent injury.1 Previous injury is cited as a key factor in possible future injury2 raising two important questions:

The glenohumeral joint is the most commonly dislocated joint in the body,1 primarily due to sports-related injuries, with up to 15% of contact athletes having experienced shoulder dislocation.2 Surgical stabilisation is a common treatment after dislocation, particularly in young males, as it reduces the risk of recurrent instability.3 Over 20,000 shoulder stabilisation procedures are performed annually

Lacrosse has experienced significant growth in popularity worldwide and will return to the Summer Olympic Games in 2028. While there are published consensus recommendations for prehospital care of athletes with suspected spine injuries, there are currently no recommendations specific to lacrosse athletes with and without circulation, airway, or breathing (CAB) compromise. The document aims to determine

Objective To assess the effectiveness of low tendon compression rehabilitation (LTCR) versus high tendon compression rehabilitation (HTCR) for treating patients with insertional Achilles tendinopathy. Methods In an investigator-blinded, stratified randomised trial, 42 sport-active patients (30 males and 12 females; age 45.8±8.2 years) with chronic (> 3 months) insertional Achilles tendinopathy were

Objective Validated patient-reported outcome measures for patients with hip-abductor tendon pathology are lacking. Recent studies indicate that the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS), in the original or the revised scoring format, and the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) may be relevant for use in patients with hip-abductor tendon pathology. The objective of this study was to assess the validity