Mpox in sports: A comprehensive framework for anticipatory planning and risk mitigation in football based on lessons from COVID-19.

The World Health Organization's declaration of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in July 2022, followed by its resurgence in 2024, has sparked concerns about its potential impact on sports, especially contact sports such as football. Although mpox is not a pandemic (as of late September 2024), the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience offers valuable lessons for proactive planning in sports. Our conceptual framework has been designed to draw insightful lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to assist sports organizations in planning for and preventing similar situations.

Isokinetic Peak Torque Improvement and Shoulder Muscle Ratios Imbalance Correction After Specific Strength Training on a New Ballistic Throwing Device: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of 8-week ballistic-strength-training program using a validated specific throwing device (ie, Arm/Shoulder Specific Strength Device), on isokinetic shoulders' rotation muscle-torques and ratios as well as range of motion in team handball players.

Design: A repeated-measures experimental design with a randomized controlled trial was used.

Methods: Twenty-six high-level competitive male U-19 team handball players were randomly assigned into training (TG, n = 15) and control (n = 11) groups.

4-6 Repetition Maximum (RM) and 1-RM Prediction in Free-Weight Bench Press and Smith Machine Squat Based on Body Mass in Male Athletes.

Dhahbi, W, Padulo, J, Russo, L, Racil, G, Ltifi, M-A, Picerno, P, Iuliano, E, and Migliaccio, GM. Four- to 6-repetition maximum and 1-repetition maximum estimation in free-weight bench press and smith machine squat based on body mass in male athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1366-1371, 2024-This study aimed to explore the feasibility and face validity of predicting maximum strength 1 repetition maximum (1-RM) and 4-6 RM in athletes across different sports specialties, based on the relationship between muscle strength and BM.

Effect of vertical, horizontal, and combined plyometric training on jump, sprint and change of direction performance in male soccer players.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of vertical (VPT), horizontal (HPT) and combined vertical and horizontal (V+HPT) plyometric training on sprint, jump and change of direction (COD) performance in adult male soccer players.

Method: Participants were randomly allocated into VPT (n = 8), HPT (n = 8) and V+HPT (n = 8) groups which undertook eight weeks of PT, executing 100 foot contacts per session, twice weekly.

Results: Though demonstrably effective, no specific one of the three applied programmes enhanced performance to a greater extent than another with only the 40 m sprint for the HPT group (mean difference = 0.

Evaluating the Effects of Consecutive Phases of Plyometric Jump Training on Athletic Performance in Male Soccer Players: The Effect of Training Frequency and Volume Manipulations.

Moran, J, Vali, N, Tallent, J, Howe, L, Clemente, FM, Chaabene, H, and Ramirez-Campillo, R. Evaluating the effects of consecutive phases of plyometric jump training on athletic performance in male soccer players: The effect of training frequency and volume manipulations. J Strength Cond Res 38(6): 1082-1089, 2024-This 14-week, 2-phase study aimed to determine the relative effects of 1 day or 2 days of volume-matched plyometric training on athletic performance (10- and 40-m sprints, change of direction [COD], and vertical jump [VJ]) in male soccer players (phase 1).

The effect of volume equated 1- versus 2-day formats of Nordic hamstring exercise training on fitness in youth soccer players: A randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: This randomised controlled trial examined the effect of an 8-week volume-equated programme of Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training, executed at frequencies of 1- or 2-days per week, on fitness (10 m and 40 m sprint, '505' change of direction [COD] and standing long jump [SLJ]) in male youth soccer players (mean age: 16.4 ± 0.81 years).

Swimming and the human microbiome at the intersection of sports, clinical, and environmental sciences: A scoping review of the literature.

The human microbiota is comprised of more than 10-100 trillion microbial and symbiotic cells. Two major human sites that are host to microbial communities are the gut and the skin. Physical exercise has favorable effects on the structure of human microbiota and metabolite production in sedentary subjects.

The Effects of Combined Verbal Encouragement and Technical Instruction on Technical Skills and Psychophysiological Responses During Small-Sided Handball Games Exercise in Physical Education.

To examine the effects of combined positive verbal encouragement and general technical guidelines on technical and psychophysiological parameters in pupils during a small-sided handball passing game. Twenty secondary school pupils (age, 16 ± 1 years; body mass, 55.3 ± 6.

Effects of training on plasmatic cortisol and testosterone in football female referees.

There is very little about the impact that sports training has on female football referees. Therefore, we determined the effects of a 40-week physical preparation, including a full football season, on plasma testosterone and cortisol concentrations and physical performance in female football referees. Plasma cortisol and testosterone concentrations were assayed together with fitness tests at the beginning of the training period (T0, in September), after 8 weeks from T0 (T1), at the mid of the season (T2, 24 weeks after T0), and at the end of the season (T3, in June, 40 weeks after T0).

Short-term in-season ballistic training improves power, muscle volume and throwing velocity in junior handball players. A randomized control trial.

This study investigated the effects of a ballistic training programme using an arm/shoulder specific strength device (ASSSD) on the upper body peak power (PP), muscle volume (MV) of the dominant arm and throwing velocity in junior handball players. Twenty-six players were randomly assigned to an experimental (EG = 15, age 17.6 ± 0.

400 meters freestyle pacing strategy and race pace training in age-group swimmers.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the 400 m freestyle pacing strategy, the effect of post-race feedback, and individualised race-pace training.

Methods: Twenty male swimmers (13.4 ± 1.

Effects of 1 vs. 2 sessions per week of equal-volume sprint training on explosive, high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances in young soccer players.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1 vs. 2 sessions per week of equal-volume sprint training on explosive, high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances among young soccer players. Thirty-six young male soccer players were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups that performed either a single weekly sprint training session (ST1, n = 18, age: 17.

Weightlifting Is Better Than Plyometric Training to Improve Strength, Counter Movement Jump, and Change of Direction Skills in Tunisian Elite Male Junior Table Tennis Players.

Kaabi, S, Mabrouk, RH, and Passelergue, P. Weightlifting is better than plyometric training to improve strength, counter movement jump, and change of direction skills in Tunisian elite male junior table tennis players. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2912-2919, 2022-This study aimed to compare the effect of integrating weightlifting (WL) resistance training or plyometric training for 8 weeks on physical performance among elite male junior table tennis players.

Effectiveness and time-course adaptation of resistance training vs. plyometric training in prepubertal soccer players.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and time course for improvements in explosive actions through resistance training (RT) vs. plyometric training (PT) in prepubertal soccer players.

Methods: Thirty-four male subjects were assigned to: a control group (n = 11); an RT group (5 regular soccer training sessions per week, n = 12); a PT group (3 soccer training sessions and 2 RT sessions per week, n = 11).

Short-Term Plyometric Jump Training Improves Repeated-Sprint Ability in Prepuberal Male Soccer Players.

Negra, Y, Chaabene, H, Fernandez-Fernandez, J, Sammoud, S, Bouguezzi, R, Prieske, O, and Granacher, U. Short-term plyometric jump training improves repeated-sprint ability in prepuberal male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3241-3249, 2020-This study examined the effects of a short-term (i.

The effects of plyometric jump training on jump and sport-specific performances in prepubertal female swimmers.

Background/objective: Dry land-training (e.g., plyometric jump training) can be a useful mean to improve swimming performance.

Effects of Different Plyometric Training Frequencies on Measures of Athletic Performance in Prepuberal Male Soccer Players.

Bouguezzi, R, Chaabene, H, Negra, Y, Ramirez-Campillo, R, Jlalia, Z, Mkaouer, B, and Hachana, Y. Effects of different plyometric training frequencies on measures of athletic performance in prepuberal male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(6): 1609-1617, 2020-This study aimed to compare the effects of 1 vs.

The Effects of Plyometric Jump Training on Jumping and Swimming Performances in Prepubertal Male Swimmers.

Swimming performance can be improved not only by in-water sport-specific training but also by means of dry land-training (e.g., plyometric jump training [PJT]).

Key somatic variables in young backstroke swimmers.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the optimal body size, limb-segment length, girth or breadth ratios for 100-m backstroke mean speed performance in young swimmers. Sixty-three young swimmers (boys [n = 30; age: 13.98 ± 0.

Cardio-Respiratory Endurance Responses Following a Simulated 3 × 3 Minutes Amateur Boxing Contest in Elite Level Boxers.

This study aimed at examining physiological responses (i.e., oxygen uptake [VO₂] and heart rate [HR]) to a semi-contact 3 × 3-min format, amateur boxing combat simulation in elite level male boxers.

Change of Direction Speed: Toward a Strength Training Approach with Accentuated Eccentric Muscle Actions.

There is growing evidence that eccentric strength training appears to have benefits over traditional strength training (i.e., strength training with combined concentric and eccentric muscle actions) from muscular, neuromuscular, tendinous, and metabolic perspectives.

Validity and Reliability of a New Test of Planned Agility in Elite Taekwondo Athletes.

Chaabene, H, Negra, Y, Capranica, L, Bouguezzi, R, Hachana, Y, Rouahi, MA, and Mkaouer, B. Validity and reliability of a new test of planned agility in elite taekwondo athletes. J Strength Cond Res 32(9): 2542-2547, 2018-This study aimed to examine the validity, reliability, and sensitivity of a new test of planned agility in elite taekwondo athletes and to establish its relationship with sprint-time, jumping ability, and dynamic balance.

Effects of Plyometric Training on Components of Physical Fitness in Prepuberal Male Soccer Athletes: The Role of Surface Instability.

Negra, Y, Chaabene, H, Sammoud, S, Bouguezzi, R, Mkaouer, B, Hachana, Y, and Granacher, U. Effects of plyometric training on components of physical fitness in prepuberal male soccer athletes: the role of surface instability. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3295-3304, 2017-Previous studies contrasted the effects of plyometric training (PT) conducted on stable vs.

Evaluation of the Illinois Change of Direction Test in Youth Elite Soccer Players of Different Age.

Change of direction ability is an essential pre-requisite in team sports athletes. The Illinois change of direction test has been routinely used for testing change of direction ability in soccer players. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the Illinois change of direction test in young elite soccer players in terms of its reliability, usefulness and relationship with body size.