Effects of a priming session with heavy sled pushes on neuromuscular performance and perceived recovery in soccer players: a crossover design study during competitive microcycles.

This study compared the effects of a sled push priming session on performance in 20 m sprint times, vertical jump, and perceived recovery, in comparison to a control condition, during competitive microcycles. Sixteen young semi-professional football players completed two conditions: priming (heavy sled pushes and MD-1 training) and control (only MD-1 regular training), in a crossover design. Twenty-metre sprint times and countermovement jump (CMJ) were assessed 24 hours following the completion of the experimental sessions.

Caffeine Enhances Some Aspects of Physical Performance in Well-Trained Hammer and Discus Throwers.

Background: Caffeine is a widely recognized ergogenic aid for enhancing exercise performance. However, its effect on throwing performance has been less studied, yielding contradictory results.

Objectives: The main aim of the study was to analyze the potential ergogenic effects of a moderate dose of caffeine (3 mg·kg body mass) on vertical jump performance and throwing distance during a simulated competition in trained discus and hammer throwers.

Effects of a Short-Term Detraining Period on Neuromuscular Performance in Female Handball Players.

García-Sánchez, C, Jiménez-Ormeño, E, Lominchar-Ramos, JM, Giráldez-Costas, V, McMahon, JJ, and Soriano, MA. Effects of a short-term detraining period on neuromuscular performance in female handball players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 3-week detraining period on lower limbs' neuromuscular performance in female handball players.

Physical Function, Self-Perceived Physical Fitness, Falls, Quality of Life and Degree of Disability According to Fear and Risk of Falling in Women with Fibromyalgia.

People with fibromyalgia (FM) experience a range of symptoms (chronic widespread pain, fatigue, mood disorder, sleep problems, muscle stiffness) that promote deterioration of physical condition and function. With impaired physical function, fear of falling and risk of falling increases. This study evaluated physical function, self-perceived physical fitness, falls, quality of life, and the degree of disability caused by FM according to fear and risk of falling in Spanish adult women with FM.

Body Composition and Dietary Intake Profiles of Elite Iranian Swimmers and Water Polo Athletes.

Background: This study aimed to conduct a detailed and comparative analysis of body composition and dietary habits in elite swimming and water polo athletes. Through the examination of these key parameters, this study seeks to compare the dietary intake of these two distinct aquatic sports disciplines.

Methods: A total of 10 top-level swimmers and 13 water polo athletes participated in anthropometric and body composition assessments, as well as a detailed analysis of nutritional intake.

Effect of COVID-19 on Injury Incidence and Severity in Professional Female Football Players: A Cohort Prospective Study.

Background: Earlier statements suggested a negative impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection on sports performance and injury risk. With the COVID-19 pandemic under control and the dominance of a less-severe strain of the virus, there is a need to confirm whether these adverse effects still apply to the current situation.

Hypothesis: Infected players would have a higher noncontact muscle injury incidence compared with noninfected counterparts.

Biceps femoris muscle-tendon strain during an entire overground sprint acceleration: a biomechanical explanation for hamstring injuries in the acceleration phase.

The objectives of this study were to analyse the peak muscle-tendon (MT) strain of the hamstring during an entire acceleration sprint overground and examine their relationship with relative joint angles and segment orientation in the sagittal plane, which are the direct causes of MT strain. Kinematic data were recorded using a 3D inertial motion capture system in 21 male semi-professional soccer players during 40-metre overground sprint. Scaled musculoskeletal models were used to estimate peak MT strain in the hamstring over 16 steps.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Association Between ACTN3 R577X Genotypes and Performance in Endurance Versus Power Athletes and Non-athletes.

Background: Previous studies reported differences in genotype frequency of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms (rs1815739; RR, RX and XX) in athletes and non-athletic populations. This systematic review with meta-analysis assessed ACTN3 R577X genotype frequencies in power versus endurance athletes and non-athletes.

Methods: Five electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus) were searched for research articles published until December 31st, 2022.

Persons With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and High Levels of Activation Improved Their Physical Activity Skills After an Educational Session.

Background: Daily physical activity is part of the self-management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and didactic information sessions may be insufficient for the provision of these skills. Prior activation can determine sensitivity to these sessions. We evaluated whether the activation in patients with COPD, as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM)-13 questionnaire, determined their responses to an educational group session on physical activity (PA), which were measured with actigraphy by the number of steps/day.

Differences in pacing behaviour between global championship medal performances and world records in men's and women's middle- and long-distance running track events.

The differences in pacing demands between track distance-running championship and meet (e.g., World Record [WR]) races have not been specified yet in the current literature.

Comparison of kinematics and kinetics between unassisted and assisted maximum speed sprinting.

Producing comparable/greater ground reaction forces (GRFs) at faster running speeds is beneficial for sprint performance, and assisted sprint training is used to induce faster running speed conditions. This study aimed to demonstrate the characteristics of assisted sprinting at the maximal speed phase and investigate acute differences to control sprinting. Fifteen sprinters completed control and assisted (5 kg) sprints over force platforms.

Hamstring muscle injury is preceded by a short period of higher running demands in professional football players.

The aim of this study was to examine match running patterns before a hamstring muscle injury occurs during a match in male professional football players. A total of 281 male professional football players belonging to 7 teams from were prospectively monitored over three seasons. Among these, 36 players suffered a non-contact hamstring muscle injury during an official match.

A New Index to Evaluate Running Coordination Based on Notational Analysis.

The aim of this study was 1) to define a new index to describe running coordination, named % of coordination, and 2) to examine whether it could represent an order parameter in relation to running velocity. Twelve international middle-distance athletes (six males and six females) performed three trials at easy, 5000 m pace and sprint velocities while filmed from a lateral view at 240 Hz. Notational analysis of six lower-limb key events corresponding to touchdown, mid-stance and flight phases was performed with high values of intra- (maximum standard deviation = 7 ms) and inter-operator (maximum systematic bias = 6 ms) reliability.

A Load-Velocity Relationship in Sprint?

The aims were to compare predicted maximal velocity from load-velocity relationships established with different resisted and assisted loads by different regression analyses to the measured maximal velocity during sprint running, and to compare maximal velocity measured between a robotic pulley system and laser gun. Sixteen experienced male sprinters performed regular 50 m sprints, a 50 m with 5-kilogram-assisted sprint, and 10, 20, 30, and 30 m resisted sprints with, respectively, 65, 50, 25, and 10% calculated reduction in maximal velocity. Maximal velocity obtained by laser gun during the regular sprint was compared with predicted maximal velocity calculated from four trendlines (linear and polynomial based upon four resisted loads, and linear and polynomial based upon four resisted and one assisted load).

The Effect of Acute Caffeine Intake on Resistance Training Volume, Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance and Muscle Damage Markers Following a Session of Full-Body Resistance Exercise in Resistance-Trained Men Habituated to Caffeine.

No previous study has analyzed the impact of caffeine intake on prooxidant-antioxidant balance and muscle damage following resistance exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 3 mg/kg of caffeine on the number of repetitions and the prooxidant-antioxidant balance and muscle damage after a session of full-body resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men habituated to caffeine participated in a randomized, crossover and double-blind experiment.

Evolution of Tactics in Professional Soccer: An Analysis of Team Formations from 2012 to 2021 in the Spanish LaLiga.

The aim of this investigation was to explore the evolution of team formations (TFs) in a top national professional soccer league. A comparative analysis of a total of 3420 matches was performed in 32 professional soccer teams that competed from the 2012/13 to the 2020/21 season in the Spanish LaLiga. The frequency distribution of TFs across seasons presented a statistically significant change (p < 0.

Effects of exercise on immune cells with tumor-specific activity in breast cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Exercise is effective for improving the physical and psychological health of breast cancer patients. However, there is still controversy around its role on the immune system. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic exercise on the number and activity of the immune cells that can contribute to anti-tumor immune responses, such as natural killers (NK) cells, CD + 4, or CD + 8.

Short-Term Speed Variability as an Index of Pacing Stochasticity in Athletic Running Events.

We aimed to compare differences in performance and pacing variability indices between 5000 m heats and finals during major championships in men and women. Data with 100 m time resolution were used to compare overall pacing variability (standard deviation of 100 m section times, SD; and coefficient of variation, CV%) and short-term pacing variability (root mean square of successive differences between 100 m section times, RMSSD). The changes in performance and pacing indices differed between races and competitions.

Advances in Nutrition, Dietary Supplements and Ergogenic Aids for Athletic Performance: Trends and Future Prospects.

Sports nutrition is a scientific discipline that explores the relationship between nutrients and physical exercise performance [...