BACKGROUND Osgood-Schlatter has, until recently, been suggested to be a benign condition, affecting adolescents in terms of knee pain and decreased sports participation during growth, with no long-term consequences seen later in adulthood. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to describe the long-term knee health in adults with a history of Osgood-Schlatter, compare these findings with healthy

Resistance training (RT) is widely regarded as the gold standard approach for enhancing muscular fitness (i.e., muscle strength, power, and muscular endurance) in youth while also providing health and physical fitness benefits traditionally associated with aerobic training (e.g., enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, reduced body fat, improved insulin sensitivity). Additionally, while bone health can

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has emerged as a promising intervention for enhancing health- and exercise-related outcomes. Initially recognized in the 1980s and 1990s for its cardioprotective effects in clinical and animal studies, IPC has since garnered attention for its potential ergogenic benefits. Despite growing interest, the underlying physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood, leading

Background Endothelial dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular disease and cardiac events. Numerous studies demonstrate that a reduction in physical activity/exercise levels are associated with poor endothelial function. Yet, these studies use a plethora of models to mimic reduced activity levels which may have widely different results on endothelial function. It is pertinent to collectively

Background Anthropometric assessment in high-performance sports is complex, requiring both physical and psychological considerations. Despite the increasing number of International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) accredited practitioners, the ethical and practical challenges they face—particularly in applying anthropometric data within dynamic sports environments—remain underexplored

Introduction Younger age of first exposure (AFE) to American Football (football) is associated with later-life health problems among former professional athletes in several studies; however, studies examining amateur (i.e., nonprofessional) athletes are less clear. Objective In a cohort of former amateur American Football players, this study assessed whether AFE to football was associated with: (1)

Background Head acceleration events (HAEs) are an increasing concern in collision sports owing to potential negative health outcomes. Objectives The objective of this study is to describe the probabilities of HAEs in tackles of differing heights and body positions in elite men’s and women’s rugby union. Methods Instrumented mouthguards (iMGs) were worn in men’s (n = 24 teams, 508 players, 782 observations)

Background Perceived physical competence (e.g. perceived motor skills, perceived athletic competence) is hypothesised to mediate the association between actual motor competence and physical activity in children, and this mediated association is expected to be stronger in older children and adolescents. However, no meta-analyses to date have synthesised the hypothesised mediation effect. Objectives

Background Previous research has shown that variants in the AMPD1 gene, which encodes the adenosine monophosphate deaminase 1 (AMPD1) protein, may affect energy supply of the muscle and fatigue resistance during high-intensity exercise. A single nucleotide substitution in this gene, specifically a cytosine-to-thymine substitution (c.34C > T; rs17602729), results in a nonsense mutation that causes a

This current opinion article evaluates the rationale for delaying or modifying tackling in youth contact sports until age 12 years. There is growing concern that young athletes may be at heightened risk of sports-related concussions (SRC) and other injuries due to their developing brains and less-developed neuromuscular control. Recent studies exploring non-tackle formats, weight categories and body-checking

Background In the realm of sports medicine, understanding the biomechanics of head impacts, particularly in contact sports such as rugby, is of utmost interest for injury prevention and player safety. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to consolidate existing knowledge on head impacts in rugby using wearable sensor technology, focusing on peak linear acceleration, peak rotational

Background Myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) is a master transcription factor that triggers myogenesis and drives muscle growth. Objective The aim was to assess acute exercise-induced MyoD mRNA expression in skeletal muscle for young and older (age > 50) adults. Design A meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted. Methods A literature search was conducted for studies reporting MyoD mRNA

Background Resistance training (RT) specificity has been confirmed for movement patterns (e.g., multi-joint or single joint), movement velocities, ranges of motion, and contraction types (e.g., dynamic vs isometric). However, a systematic analysis of the effects of dynamic mass-loaded (e.g., isoinertial) RT on dynamic versus isometric strength tests is lacking. Objective We aimed to examine the specific

Background The influence of repetitive head impacts on collegiate football players remains unclear as prior research is often limited to small samples or short-term studies focused on single seasons. Objective Our objective was to determine the associations between collegiate football career or incident concussion and changes in neurocognitive function, postural stability, and physical and psychological

Sport science researchers and practitioners have noted a gap between research and practice for some time. Although several solutions have been proposed, few recommendations have been made for researchers to follow that are based on successful, long-term sport science research programmes aimed at translating research into practice. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to outline a decade of work

Background Head acceleration is often used as a proxy measurement for concussion risk. It is unclear what factors contribute to head acceleration during a purposeful header. Objective The objective of this systematic is to identify what factors influence head acceleration during a header and highlight areas that have not been explored. Methods Studies were included if they assessed the effect of an

Background Resistance exercise training is an effective treatment strategy to counteract the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength in older adults. However, there is a large inter-individual variation in muscle fiber hypertrophy following resistance exercise training. It has been hypothesized that a less than optimal muscle fiber capillarization and perfusion capacity may compromise muscle hypertrophy

Background Professional soccer players are advised to consume 3–8 g kg–1 body mass day–1 of carbohydrate (CHO) on the basis of training demands, fixture schedule and personal objectives. However, owing to the lack of randomized controlled trials on elite players, these guidelines largely rely on data interpretation and practitioner experience. Objective To identify the gaps in existing literature that

Field-based sport research involves studies that collect data from athletes and/or teams during competition and/or their daily training environments. Over the last decade, sport-specific field-based research projects have significantly increased in number and complexity, partially owing to the further development of more portable measurement equipment (e.g., indirect calorimetry, desktop blood/gas

Background In response to exercise, protein kinases and signaling networks are engaged to blunt homeostatic threats generated by acute contraction-induced increases in skeletal muscle energy and oxygen demand, as well as serving roles in the adaptive response to chronic exercise training to blunt future disruptions to homeostasis. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a time-efficient exercise

Background Various exercise interventions are recommended to reduce the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in females. However, the extent to which these training interventions influence lower-limb landing biomechanics in youth female remains unclear. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively summarise the effectiveness of various training interventions

Peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) donation is the primary procedure used to collect haemopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for transplantation in individuals with haematological malignancies. More than 90,000 HSC transplants take place globally each year, and there is an increasing need to guarantee HSC mobilisation, improve tolerability to apheresis, and optimise immune reconstitution. Currently, mobilisation

Background Using directly measured cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e. VO2max) in epidemiological/population studies is rare due to practicality issues. As such, predicting VO2max is an attractive alternative. Most equations that predict VO2max adopt additive rather than multiplicative models despite evidence that the latter provides superior fits and more biologically interpretable models. Furthermore

Post-exercise recovery strategies influence the body’s ability to restore physiological homeostasis, replenish energy stores, repair muscle damage, and promote desired adaptations, which improve exercise performance. This narrative review examines the impact of nutritional strategies commonly used for enhancing recovery and subsequent exercise performance, particularly when athletes face short recovery

Background Soccer requires players to cover distances around 10–12 km, with numerous consecutive sprints throughout the 90-min game. As such, aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability (RSA) are crucial physical qualities for the modern soccer player to cope with the demands of the game. However, a comprehensive and systematic search of aerobic fitness and RSA assessment procedures in elite soccer

Background Concerns exist about the prevalence of abuse directed towards sports officials and its impact on their mental health; however, sports officiating can also be a rewarding experience. Objectives The present study aimed to identify the frequency and determinants of both positive (e.g. praise, appreciation, apologies) and negative (e.g. verbal abuse, physical abuse, social media abuse) officiating

It is now well-established that exercise can disturb various aspects of gastrointestinal integrity and function. The pathophysiology of these perturbations, termed “exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS),” can lead to exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptom (Ex-GIS) inconveniences. EIGS outcomes can impact physical performance and may lead to clinical manifestation warranting medical

Background Static stretching (SS) is routinely used in sports and clinical settings to increase joint range of motion (ROM). However, the mechanisms underlying improvements in ROM remain unclear. Objective We aimed to determine the effects of a single session (acute) and multiple sessions (chronic) of SS on stretch tolerance, passive stiffness and fascicle length, and whether such effects are moderated

Inadequacies in the conduct and quality of research are well established across many research domains, including sport science and medicine. Metaresearch—the practice of performing research on research—is presented as a practical vehicle for improving research quality through evaluating the research processes. This article introduces the concept of metaresearch to sport as a new sub-field of sport

Background Emerging evidence indicates an elevated risk of post-concussion musculoskeletal injuries in collegiate athletes; however, identifying athletes at highest risk remains to be elucidated. Objective The purpose of this study was to model post-concussion musculoskeletal injury risk in collegiate athletes by integrating a comprehensive set of variables by machine learning. Methods A risk model

Objectives Core temperature (TCORE), skin temperature (TTORSO) and running kinematics were measured across different athlete categories at a World Cup Sprint Triathlon, occurring during a heatwave (~ 25–31 °C Wet Bulb Globe Temperature [WBGT]). Methods Sixty-six triathletes participated: 21 World Cup (7 females), 32 Hong Kong-Elite (HK-Elite; 8 females) and 13 Amateur (6 females). Results Seventeen

Background Sport-related concussion (SRC) in rugby union is common and carries a high injury burden, especially among children. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is commonly used to assess rugby-related head injuries, including SRC, subjecting children to ionising radiation. In addition, there is concern about the relationship between SRC, repetitive head impacts and neurodegeneration. Objective To

Background Large interindividual differences can exist in the timing and tempo of growth and maturation of youth athletes. This can provide significant physical performance advantages to young athletes who mature in advance of their peers. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine the magnitude of differences in sprinting and jumping performance in youth of different maturity status

Background Delayed-onset muscle soreness commonly arises from intense and unaccustomed physical exercise, leading to reduced muscle strength, increased pain and inflammation. A number of systematic reviews evaluating physiotherapeutic treatments for delayed-onset muscle soreness have been published since the 1990s. However, these systematic reviews frequently yield conflicting findings, further impeding

Traditional risk management approaches focus on the prevention of negative short-term physical outcomes, such as injury. While the relationship between risk and harm has been useful for reducing workplace and transport injuries, it is inappropriate in movement contexts such as sport, leisure and education, where engagement with risk can be an important contributor to healthy human development and flourishing

The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an evidence-based update on the protein needs of endurance athletes with a focus on high-quality metabolic studies conducted on the topics of recovery and training adaptation over the past decade. We use the term ‘protein needs’ to delineate between the concepts of a daily protein requirement and per meal protein recommendations when devising scientific

Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are highly prevalent in team sport athletes and often occur while performing change-of-direction (COD) tasks in combination with high cognitive demands, such as decision making or divided attention. Given the expanding body of research in this field, an updated literature review is warranted, as the most recent meta-analysis on this topic included

Background An increasing number of female athletes are navigating an athletic career alongside pregnancy. Limited qualitative research has investigated the experiences of elite athletes in the United Kingdom (UK). This study aimed to explore the experiences of elite athletes in the UK as they navigated pregnancy, employing a socio-ecological framework to inform future research and policy recommendations

Background Dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation is purported to benefit exercise performance. However, previous studies have evaluated this nutritional strategy with various performance outcomes, exercise tasks, and dosing regimens, often yielding inconsistent results that limit the generalizability of the findings. Objective We aimed to synthesize the available evidence regarding the effect of NO3−

The increased growth, popularity, and media interest in women’s sport has led to calls for greater prioritisation of female-specific research and innovation. In response, science and medicine researchers have increased the volume of sport-related studies investigating female-specific matters, such as the menstrual cycle. Whilst the accelerated rate of published studies with female participants is welcome

Background Numerous studies have explored the impact of controlled exercise interventions in type 2 diabetes, as physical activity can positively influence its progression. However, our understanding of how broader lifestyle interventions can effectively promote physical activity in practical real-world scenarios remains limited. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate

There is a growing body of research supporting the acute and chronic benefits of supervision during strength training. However, to date, there has been a lack of clarity within the terminology used, as well as when considering the differences between supervision and facilitation, and connections between supervision, feedback and attentional focus. Multiple articles have identified a lack of transparency

Background Dry needling is an increasingly popular technique used in sports and regenerative medicine contexts. However, there is no comprehensive overview of investigations of dry needling in sports and sport recovery. Objectives The objectives were to perform a systematic review of dry needling in sports athletes with an evidence gap map, to identify current gaps in the literature, and to provide

Background Supersets are a time-efficient resistance training (RT) method that involve the sequencing of two exercises with little or no rest between them. However, despite their common implementation during RT, a comprehensive and quantitative review is still lacking. Objectives The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the acute and chronic effects of superset and

Wearable technologies open up new avenues for the assessment of individual physical activity behaviour. Particularly, free-living heart rate (HR) data assessed by optical sensors are becoming widely available. However, while an abundancy of scientific information and guidance exists for the processing of raw acceleration data, no universal recommendations for the utilization of continuous HR recordings

Background Endurance athletes tend to accumulate large training volumes, the majority of which are performed at a low intensity and a smaller portion at moderate and high intensity. However, different training intensity distributions (TID) are employed to maximize physiological and performance adaptations. Objective The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), commonly occurring in postpartum women, is not only an aesthetic issue but is also highly associated with functional impairments. Various conservative treatment modalities have been employed in clinical practice to alleviate DRA. However, the comparative efficacy of these non-surgical treatments for improving the inter-recti distance (IRD) remains to be determined

Background Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) has demonstrated efficacy in acutely improving athletic performance. However, its distinction from general warm-up (GW) effects remains ambiguous, and experimental designs adopted in most PAPE studies exhibit important limitations. Objectives The aims of this work are to (i) examine the effects of research methodology on PAPE outcomes, (ii)

Following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, quadriceps muscle atrophy persists despite rehabilitation, leading to loss of lower limb strength, osteoarthritis, poor knee joint health and reduced quality of life. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for these deficits in hypertrophic adaptations within the quadriceps muscle following ACL injury and reconstruction are poorly understood

Background Swimming performance depends on a wide variety of factors; however, the interaction between these factors and their importance varies between events. In sprint events, the characterized pacing underlines its specific development, as swimmers must achieve the highest possible speed while sustaining it to the greatest extent possible. Objectives The aim of this review was to identify the key