COVID-19 and social distancing: pandemic has altered social relationships and contacts in older adults over 4 years.

Introduction: Social isolation is a main risk factor for loneliness, health issues and psychological diseases. With its restriction measures, the coronavirus pandemic has led to an objective reduction in meaningful interactions, communication, and social contacts in general (social isolation). However, it has been shown that older adults cope differently with social isolation.

Annual Banned-Substance Review 17th Edition-Analytical Approaches in Human Sports Drug Testing 2023/2024.

The 17th edition of the annual banned-substance review on analytical approaches in human sports drug testing is dedicated to literature published between October 2023 and September 2024. As in previous years, focus is put particularly on new or enhanced analytical options in human doping controls as well as investigations into the metabolism and elimination of compounds of interest, which represent central (while not exclusive) cornerstones of the global anti-doping mission. New information published within the past 12 months on established doping agents as well as new potentially relevant substances are reviewed and discussed in the context of the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2024 Prohibited List.

Finding the needle in the haystack of isokinetic knee data: Random Forest modelling improves information about ACLR-related deficiencies.

The difficulties of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, subsequent return-to-sport (RTS) let alone achieving pre-injury performance, are well known. Isokinetic testing is often used to assess strength capacities during that process. The aim of the present machine learning (ML) approach was to examine which isokinetic data differentiates athletes post ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and healthy controls.

Examining the Effects of Different Exertion Levels and Reference Standards on the Diagnostic Accuracy of Exercise ECG for Detecting Coronary Artery Disease - A Pilot Study.

Background: Exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) is frequently used for evaluating patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, it has been downgraded in international guidelines due to a limited sensitivity and specificity, compared with other non-invasive tests.

Methods: We hypothesized, that a sufficient exertion going beyond 85% of the age predicted maximal heart rate (APMHR), by considering the achieved level of workload can improve sensitivity and specificity of the exercise ECG.

Beyond the Pitch: Unveiling the Concave Hull as Soccer's Ecological Niche in Practice Design.

An ecological niche is a field in a landscape of affordances, rich in information inviting its inhabitants to develop functionality and effectiveness of their behavior. This idea means that, in sports like soccer, the playing area encapsulates an ecological niche, replete with affordances inviting collective and individual technical-tactical actions, contextualized with associated psychological and physical demands. To examine the co-adaptive relationships framing players' actions in their ecological niche, the present study employed a crossover design with repeated measures to compare the players' transactions within 11 vs.

Metastatic breast cancer patients' preferences for exercise programs: a latent class analysis using data from a survey in five European countries.

Purpose: We aimed to identify metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients' preferences for exercise programs and identify patients' characteristics associated with these preferences, to facilitate implementation of exercise programs for MBC patients.

Methods: We used data from a multinational cross-sectional survey conducted among MBC patients. Patients reported their preferred exercise frequency, intensity, type, session duration, and supervision mode.

The Influence of Two Teaching Approaches on Foot Loading in Skiing Beginners-A Comparative Study.

(1) Background: Alpine skiing, with its long history, has experienced numerous innovations and developments on all levels ranging from technology to fashion over the past 120 years. However, teaching approaches for beginners remained quite consistent for many decades and are mainly grounded in experience. The One-Ski-Method (OSM) is an alternative approach to the predominant snowplow (SP) method with the strategy to initially experience and acquire the elementary positions and actions on one ski in order to subsequently transfer these to two skis.

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction Years After Cessation of Anabolic Androgenic Steroid Use.

Importance: Long-term use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) is associated with a high risk of left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure with reduced systolic function, and early sudden death, with the mechanism of progression being understudied. Early and persistent impaired myocardial microcirculation could be of clinical importance and a potential underlying mechanism of frequent and early cardiac disease among individuals with AAS use and a future potential target for intervention.

Objective: To investigate coronary microcirculation by measuring myocardial flow reserve (MFR) in men with current and former AAS use compared with controls with no prior AAS use, using cardiac rubidium 82 (82Rb) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT).

Sportizumab - Multimodal progressive exercise over 10 weeks decreases Th17 frequency and CD49d expression on CD8 T cells in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represents a neuroinflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by the predominance of circulating T cell subsets with proinflammatory characteristics and increased central nervous system (CNS)-homing potential. Substantial evidence confirms various beneficial effects of chronic exercise interventions in MS, but it is unknown how long-term multi-modal intense exercise affects MS-associated lymphocytes that are commonly targeted by medication in persons with relapsing remitting MS (pwRRMS).

Methods: A total of 45 participants with defined RRMS were randomized to either the exercise (n = 22) or passive waitlist-control group (n = 23).

Frequency and intensity of change of directions in German Bundesliga soccer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the change of direction (COD) frequencies and intensities of high-performance soccer players of the German Bundesliga independent of tactical and match context. COD data were collected from 18 German Bundesliga soccer teams (season 2016-2017; 308 fixtures) by an optical tracking system (OTS) (TRACAB). CODs were tracked using a modified algorithm and were sub-categorized by entry velocity (<3.

Neuroathletic training in stroke rehabilitation? A single-blind randomized controlled pilot study on the potential of neuroathletic training for balance ability in stroke outpatient rehabilitation.

Recently, neuroathletic training has been increasingly applied in competitive sports, in therapy, and in prevention. Scientific evidence on the effectiveness of this approach, however, has been poorly developed. Potentials of neuropathologic perceptual exercises to potentially improve balance control in the context of movement therapy in stroke rehabilitation appear promising.

The influence of a vegan diet on body composition, performance and the menstrual cycle in young, recreationally trained women- a 12-week controlled trial.

Background: An increasing number of people, including recreational trained individuals, choose not to consume animal products and follow a vegan diet. Young women in particular are switching to a vegan diet. Studies have shown no difference in performance and muscle adaptations between a balanced vegan and an omnivorous diet.

The perspective during gestural executions alters hemispherical specialization.

Introduction: The left hemisphere may be particularly specialized for gestures from an egocentric movement perspective, i.e., when executing tool-use pantomime (TUP) gestures.

Meeting Aerobic Physical Activity Guidelines and Associations With Physical Fitness in Men With Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Baseline Results of the Multicentre INTERVAL-GAP4 Trial.

Background: This study compared the physical activity level of men with metastatic prostate cancer at baseline of the multicentre INTERVAL-GAP4 trial to the American Cancer Society guidelines and examined associations with physical fitness.

Methods: A total of 140 men on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were included in this cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the INTERVAL-GAP4 trial. Exclusion criteria included a maximum of 1 h of vigorous aerobic exercise or one structured resistance exercise session per week but no restrictions on habitual physical activity.

Short-term repeated oral intake of low dose cannabidiol: effects on liver enzyme activity and creatinine concentration during intense exercise.

The side effects and safety of cannabidiol (CBD) products are currently discussed in different contexts. Of all adverse effects, hepatotoxic effects have been reported most frequently in previous studies. However, the threshold for liver toxicity of CBD in humans is uncertain due to the lack of adequately designed studies in humans below the lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 300 mg/day.

Optimal Frequency of Interrupting Prolonged Sitting for Cardiometabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Crossover Trials.

Increasing evidence highlights the efficacy of interruptions in prolonged sitting (i.e., activity/sedentary breaks) for improving cardiometabolic health, but precise conclusions and recommendations regarding the optimal interruption frequency remain poorly defined.

Muscle Synergies in Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis During Level-, Ramp- and Stair Locomotion.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent and severe condition with versatile effects on human locomotion, including alterations in neuromuscular control. Muscle synergies are understood as functional low-dimensional building blocks within the neuromuscular organization. To examine alterations in muscle synergy patterns during locomotion tasks in the presence of KOA, 40 participants, including 20 with medial KOA (KL-Score ≥ 2), performed level walking, as well as ramp and stair ascent and descent trials at self-selected speeds.

Neutrophil but not lymphocyte response to matched interval and continuous running differs between protocols and sex.

When considering the acute effects of different modalities of endurance training on cellular immune components, the matching of duration and mean intensity and the consideration of sex-dependent differences have received less attention so far. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of interval running (IR) vs. continuous running (CR) on circulating immune cells and cellular immune inflammation markers.

Six weeks of polarized functional interval training with large training load reductions does not affect performance gains compared to traditional workouts.

Purpose: High-intensity functional interval training (HIFT) is predominantly composed of high exercise training intensities (HiT) and loads. Both have been linked to a higher risk of overtraining and injuries in inexperienced populations. A polarized training approach is characterized by high amounts of low-intensity training (LiT) and only approximately 5%-20% HiT.

Are some people more susceptible to placebos? A systematic review and meta-analysis of inter-individual variability in musculoskeletal pain.

Existing data suggest placebo responses to treatments are small, but some people may be more likely to respond. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on interindividual variability in response to placebo interventions MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, CENTRAL, and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception to September 2023. Trial registry searches, citation tracking, and searches for prior systematic reviews were completed.

Relative age effect inverts when looking at career performance in elite youth academy soccer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the well-known selection bias favouring players born earlier in the year commonly referred to as the Relative Age Effect (RAE). Therefore, we analysed a group of top-tier youth academy players. The players joined and left the youth academy at different stages, where the first stage was at 8 years (U9) and the last stage was at 18 years of age (U19).

Red Blood Cell Morphology Is Associated with Altered Hemorheological Properties and Fatigue in Patients with Long COVID.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection adversely affects rheological parameters, particularly red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and deformability, but whether these changes persist in patients suffering from Long-COVID (LC) and whether these changes are related to RBC morphology remain unknown.

Methods: Venous blood was collected from = 30 diagnosed LC patients and = 30 non-LC controls and RBC deformability, RBC aggregation, and hematological parameters were measured. In addition, RBCs were examined microscopically for morphological abnormalities.

Individualized and Controlled Exercise Training Improves Fatigue and Exercise Capacity in Patients with Long-COVID.

(1) Background: Long-term health effects after SARS-CoV-2 infections can manifest in a plethora of symptoms, significantly impacting the quality of life of affected individuals. (2) Aim: The present paper aimed to assess the effects of an individualized and controlled exercise intervention on fatigue and exercise capacity among Long-COVID (LC) patients in an ambulatory setting. (3) Methods: Forty-one (n = 41) LC patients performed an exercise protocol with an individualized control of the patients' training intensity during the study period based on the individual's ability to achieve the target criteria.

Effect of exercise on plasma insulin levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Current evidence of the impact of acute exercise on insulin levels in individuals with type 1 diabetes remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore exercise-induced changes in insulin levels.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a systematic review (until 05 November 2023) and meta-analysis exploring the effect of exercise on insulin concentration in individuals with type 1 diabetes.