Sports Medicine - Open最新文献

Background: While current evidence on injury risk factors remains limited, this study aims to provide insights into how fatigue-induced changes in biomechanical risk factors (BRF) differ between runners, potentially offering a new approach to understanding the development of running-related injuries. Thirty-nine (N = 39) male recreational runners underwent analysis of lower leg angular kinematics, heart rate, blood lactate levels, and perceived effort before and after a 30-minute exhaustive continuous treadmill running test.

Results: Three functional groups (FG) were identified using the K-means algorithm, which grouped participants based on changes in lower limb angular kinematics between pre- and post-fatigue. While FG1 and FG2 exhibited similar behaviours to maintain their usual running dynamics (e.g. no significant changes in hip flexion at touchdown and toe-off, and similar reductions in leg stiffness after fatigue), FG3 showed more pronounced changes, including increased hip flexion (7.4%) and knee flexion (21%) at touch-down, as well as increased knee flexion at maximal knee flexion (6%) and at the toe-off instant (9%) during the running cycle.

Conclusions: Fatigue-induced alterations in the considered biomechanical risk factors allow for the functional grouping of recreational athletes. Changes in FG3 impact running patterns and alter running economy-related variables, which may be associated with an increased injury risk and could guide future research into tailored training and preventive strategies.

Background: Powerlifting is a discipline in which athletes aim to lift the maximum weight in 3 exercises: Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift. Since the introduction of "Classic" powerlifting by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) in 2012, there has been an increase in popularity, athlete participation, and attention from sports science research. Previous studies have examined factors influencing the long-term longitudinal adaptation of upper- and lower-body strength, but no one used this information to develop predictive models of future classic powerlifting performances, especially considering the different age, sex, and weight categories, with the final aim of tailoring the medium- and long-term training goals. This study aims to develop and validate a machine learning-based linear regression model to predict single-lift and overall performance in classic powerlifters. The model considered variables such as sex, age, weight, initial strength levels, and competition history. The study also seeks to provide European normative powerlifting performance data across different categories to assist in talent identification and optimization of training.

Results: The final dataset included 54,064 observations from 8,907 unique lifters. Normative data differed between sex, age categories, and initial strength level (p < 0.001). The predictive model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (Root mean Square of Error 10.41 to 19.4; R² 0.90 to 0.94), with no differences between mean values (p 0.733 to 0.930), extremely large correlations (r 0.95 to 0.97), and no significant bias (z-score - 1.78 to - 0.64) between predicted and actual performance values across all lifts.

Conclusions: The developed machine learning model provides valid and accurate predictions of individual powerlifting performance, by accounting for various individual characteristics. The model can assist coaches and athletes in setting realistic training goals and monitoring progress. Moreover, normative data for each lift and total performance were provided, stratified by sex, age, weight category, and initial strength levels, offering valuable benchmarks for athletes and coaches.

Background: Rock climbing places high loads through the hands, wrists, and fingers, leading to high injury rates, with the highest proportion in the fingers. Until now, there has been no attempt to categorize pain in the forearm to assess readiness to train. The purpose of this study was to create a questionnaire, the VISA-C (Victorian Institute of Sports-like Assessment; C for climbing), to measure forearm pain and determine how pain limits training.

Methods: We asked rock climbers aged 18 to 50 years old, who met the participation criteria and gave consent, to complete a survey containing 8 questions. We analyzed data from climbers who responded to the online questionnaire in the 9-week period between November 5, 2024, and January 8, 2025. We obtained a diverse international sample with English-speaking respondents from 54 countries. We included a supplementary questionnaire to compare the survey results against participant demographics, lifestyle, health, and sport-specific history and habits.

Results: We analyzed data from 1,110 climbers who completed the form. VISA-C scores were significantly different as a function of pain. The mean VISA-C score of the group with no pain was the highest (83.21/100), lower in the group reporting some pain (72.28/100), and lowest in the most severe group with activity-limiting pain (60.05/100), indicating our questionnaire scales with pain severity. We then used the secondary data gathered on our participants to search for associations between pain or skill level and demographic, health, and training habits. Of these, only blood pressure was associated with differences in VISA-C scores.

Conclusions: VISA-C score scaled with pain and can be compared broadly across all major demographics. We observed interesting trends in our secondary analyses. Several variables correlated significantly with either VISA-C score or climbing skill level, but none correlated well with both. Many of the variables we compared agreed with existing literature or pointed to novel associations that warrant more investigation.

Background: While aerobic training is well-established for improving body composition and metabolic health in normoxia, its effectiveness in hypoxia remains unclear.

Objective: This meta-analysis examines whether aerobic training in hypoxia is more effective than in normoxia for improving body composition and metabolic health in overweight and/or obese individuals, and identifies optimal exercise prescription variables.

Methods: A search of five databases was conducted through 10 November 2024. Random-effects meta-analyses evaluated body composition (e.g., body mass and fat mass) and metabolic health markers (e.g., triglycerides and glucose). Subgroup analyses were performed based on hypoxic severity, hypoxic dose, exercise duration, frequency, session length, and age.

Results: Aerobic training in hypoxia resulted in greater reductions in body mass (mean difference [MD] = -0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.80 to -0.01), triglycerides (MD = -10.78, 95% CI: -20.68 to -0.88), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (MD = -3.74, 95% CI: -6.92 to -0.56, p < 0.05), and insulin resistance (MD = -0.22, 95% CI: -0.33 to -0.11) (all p < 0.05), with a trend towards larger fat mass loss (MD = -1.22, 95% CI: -2.59 to 0.15, p = 0.08). These benefits were more prominent in moderate hypoxia (inspired oxygen fraction [FiO₂] ≥ 15%), with hypoxic dose ≥ 55 km·h, in individuals < 40 years, and with protocols involving ≥ 4 days/week, ≥ 60-min sessions, and < 8 weeks of training.

Conclusion: Aerobic training in hypoxia is more effective than in normoxia for reducing body mass, fat mass, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin resistance in overweight and/or obese individuals. These findings could help inform obesity management strategies using hypoxic training.

Background: Hot yoga is a collective term used to classify any form of yoga undertaken in warm to hot ambient conditions (≥ 25 °C). This study systematically reviewed the literature concerning hot yoga, with particular focus on acute responses to a single session and identifying prospective health benefits associated with physiological, functional and psychology adaptations following chronic practice.

Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), with searches performed across two main databases (PubMed and SCOPUS). Studies were included if they met the Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) criteria, were of English language, peer-reviewed, full-text original articles, and using human participants.

Results: Forty-three studies investigated the effects of hot yoga (both acute and/or chronic), totalling 942 participants (76% female). The most common method of yoga performed in hot conditions was Bikram (74%), followed by generalised hot yoga (19%), Hatha (5%) and then Vinyasa (2%). Typical session duration ranged 20-90 min and occurred within 30-52 °C and 20-60% relative humidity. Hot yoga training interventions consisted of 6-36 sessions, that were completed 2-6 times per week, over 1-16 weeks. Acute hot yoga increased body temperature and heart rate, but not the energetic demands when compared to other forms of non-heated yoga. Chronic hot yoga appeared to elicit cardiometabolic (e.g. body composition, lipid profiles and macrovascular function) and functional adaptations applicable for health (e.g., bone mineral density, balance and flexibility) as well as physical performance (e.g., submaximal exercise thresholds). Adaptations appear to occur without negatively impacting kidney function or sleep quality across healthy, sedentary and athletic populations. Hot yoga also presents promising, albeit inconclusive findings concerning the alleviation of psychological and affective disorders, and optimising markers of cognitive function. However, caution is advised as case studies report ill-health following hot yoga practice. Some literature lacks rigorous, high-quality experimental designs and sophisticated measurements that allow for mechanistic investigation.

Conclusion: Investigations into hot yoga demonstrate intriguing health and functional benefits. However, claims that hot yoga provides greater health benefits than other forms of yoga or traditional exercise are at present unsubstantiated. Studies describing beneficial effects of hot yoga often do not utilise robust experimental designs or methods that facilitate mechanistic insights. Hot yoga warrants further investigation as a tool to improve health and wellbeing. Researchers should consider the highlighted methodological limitations and recommendations to strengthen experimental work within future re

Background: Whole-body heat exposure, such as sauna bathing or hot water immersion (HWI) has been shown to induce various physiological adaptations that can improve athletic performance. However, the effects of post-exercise heat exposure on acute recovery and promoting training-induced performance adaptations are not well understood. The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the current evidence on the effects of post-exercise heat exposure on physical performance in healthy adults.

Methods: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search for articles was conducted in December 2023 and updated in June 2025 using the PubMed, SPOLIT, Medline, and SPORTDiscus databases. Eligible studies were randomised or crossover trials comparing whole-body post-exercise heat exposure (≥ 36 °C, e.g., hot water immersion to at least sternum level, or sauna bathing) to passive or placebo recovery. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool version 2. Only studies that provided results on maximal physical performance outcomes in healthy adults were included.

Results: Fourteen studies, including a total of 194 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies investigated acute effects after heat exposure and five were long-term training intervention studies. The acute studies reported uncertain results, with studies showing no effects (n = 4), beneficial (n = 4), or adverse (n = 1) effects of post-exercise heat exposure on performance recovery. The chronic studies suggested that post-exercise heating may improve running performance, at least in hot conditions. However, repeated heat exposures had no effect on cycling performance or VO₂max. The overall quality of the evidence was low to moderate. The heterogeneity of study designs, heating protocols, exercise modes, performance outcomes and recovery times precluded meta-analysis.

Conclusion: Based on the current evidence, it is not possible to draw definitive conclusions about the effects of post-exercise heat exposure on recovery and physical performance development. Additional high-quality studies are needed to determine the optimal heat exposure methods and recovery strategies for different types of training and performance outcomes.

Background: Chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) is a prevalent condition associated with significant disability. Emerging evidence suggests that autonomic dysfunction, reflected by heart rate variability (HRV), may play a role in the pathophysiology of CMP and could be responsive to exercise interventions. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effects of exercise on HRV in persons with CMP.

Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases from database inception until June 15, 2024. Eligible studies included those examining exercise interventions of ≥ four weeks in adults aged 18 to 65 with CMP, where HRV was assessed both before and after the intervention. Non-experimental study designs and studies focusing exclusively on acute exercise effects were excluded. Two independent reviewers performed data extraction and assessed the risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB-2 and ROBINS-I tools. The CERT was used for reporting, and effect sizes for exercise interventions were calculated. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE framework.

Results: Five randomized and five non-randomized controlled trials were included, involving 277 persons with CMP. There was considerable variability in HRV measurement protocols. The exercise interventions, which included resistance, aerobic, and multi-component training, lasted four to 24 weeks. Significant within-group improvements were found in several HRV measures, especially in linear analyses linked to vagal modulation at rest.

Conclusions: While evidence suggests the positive influence of exercise on autonomic function in CMP, as indicated by HRV changes, the limited number of high-quality studies warrants cautious interpretation. To better understand the impact of different exercise modalities on HRV and address existing data gaps, future research should implement strict protocols for HRV measurements and consistently adhere to established reporting criteria for exercise interventions.

Background: In tackle-collision sports, the tackle has the highest incidence, severity, and burden of injury. Head injuries and concussions during the tackle are a major concern within tackle-collision sports. To reduce concussion and head impact risk, evaluating optimal tackle techniques to inform tackle-related prevention strategies has been recommended. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic scoping review of player-level tackle training intervention studies in all tackle-collision sports.

Methods: The Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage scoping review process and Levac et al.'s framework were used, along with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. The main inclusion criteria were that the study included an intervention aimed at improving a player's tackle abilities, and the intervention had to be delivered/implemented at the player-level in a training setting.

Results: Thirteen studies were included in this review, seven studies in American Football (54%), followed by a combined cohort of rugby union and rugby league players (three studies; 23%), rugby union (two studies; 15%), and one study reported on a rugby league cohort (8%). Studies focused primarily on the tackler, with the intervention incorporating a form of instruction or feedback, delivered through video or an expert coach. Other interventions included an 8-week strength and power training programme, designing practice sessions based on baseline data, and helmetless training in American Football. All interventions demonstrated a favourable change in the outcome measured-which included tackler and ball-carrier kinematics based on motion capture video, tackler proficiency scoring, tackling task analysis, head impact frequencies by xPatch head-impact sensor technology, head impact kinematics using head-impact sensors (helmet or skin patches) and football tackle kinematics with motion capture systems or video.

Conclusion: This review shows that a range of studies have been undertaken focusing on player-level training interventions. The quality of studies were rated as 'good', and all studies showed improvements in outcome measures. Coaches and policy makers should ensure tackle technique is profiled alongside other player characteristics, and an evidence-based approach to improving player tackling is adopted, improving both performance and reducing injury risk.

Key points: Only 13 studies tested or implemented interventions at the player level in tackle-collision sports. The focus of the studies was primarily on the tackler, with the interventions incorporating a form of instruction or feedback, which was delivered through video or an expert coach. Other interventions included an 8-week strength and power training programme, designing practice sessions based on baseline data, and

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the relative age effect (RAE) and success in ice hockey during adolescence and adulthood in male Swedish players, as well as potential interactions between relative age (RA) and biological maturation.

Methods: Anthropometric data were collected from high schools with a certified ice hockey programme over 20 years. Birth dates were extracted from public databases to calculate numerical relative age (n = 2211 players). Biological maturity timing was defined as the z-score of the percentage of adult height (z%AH) reached at term 1 (~ 16 years of age). Retrospective longitudinal data on selection to junior national teams (U16, U18, U20) and the National Hockey League (NHL) were retrieved from open databases. Junior and adult success probabilities were modelled using generalised logistic modelling (GLM). Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between the anthropometric data, relative age, and biological maturation. In addition, the predictor z%AH was added to the GLMs to characterise interactions.

Results: Individuals with a higher relative age were overrepresented in Swedish ice hockey programmes. Players born between January and March (Q1) were about twice as likely to reach the U16 national team as players born between October and December (Q4). Consequently, in a GLM, relative age was identified as a significant predictor of junior success. The addition of z%AH improved model fit for U16 selection, and an interaction between z%AH and RA was observed (p < 0.05). In contrast, relative age was not a significant predictor of reaching the NHL (p = 0.21). There was no interaction between the RA and z%AH (p = 0.44) for adult success. When cross-tabulated, the players most likely to reach both the NHL and the U16 national team were either born early and matured late or born late and matured early.

Conclusion: Early-born and early-maturing players in certified Swedish high school programmes are more likely to be selected for the U16 national team. In terms of adult success, RA had no significant effect on the likelihood of playing in the NHL. However, in a combined model, regardless of relative age, players with late biological maturity timing were more likely to reach the NHL.