BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation最新文献

Background: Stroboscopic visual training (SVT), a relatively new modality, temporarily limits visual input to enhance visuomotor processing and motor coordination. It has gained attention in sports science and rehabilitation, but evidence on its effects remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to systematically synthesize the existing literature to evaluate the effects of SVT on athletes' physical performance.

Methods: The study's search and analysis were done according to the PRISMA guidelines. The literature was systematically reviewed across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to July 27, 2025 using keywords related to stroboscopic visual training and its effects on various aspects of physical performance. Of the 32 full-text articles evaluated based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 met the eligibility requirements. Only articles published in English were included.

Results: A total of 14 studies involving 542 athletes were included and analyzed. Most studies reported that stroboscopic visual training produced significantly larger improvements in hand-eye coordination (2 studies), reaction time (6 studies), agility (1 study), and reactive agility (3 studies) compared with training under normal visual conditions. Additionally, enhancements were observed in balance, jump performance, and visuomotor performance. Sport-specific performance metrics demonstrated moderate yet consistent improvements.

Conclusion: Stroboscopic visual training may serve as an effective adjunct to conventional training, potentially leading to improvements in physical performance parameters such as reaction time, hand-eye coordination, agility, and visuomotor performance. However, given the lack of quantitative analysis in the current review, these findings should be interpreted with caution, and further high-quality research is needed to confirm the current results.

The ability to change direction is crucial in soccer; however, evidence regarding acute intervention methods remains limited. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain modulation technique, has already been shown to enhance muscle function and athletic performance. Still, its influence on athletes' change-of-direction skills-especially at different turning angles-has not been fully clarified. In this study, thirteen male collegiate soccer players were divided into two groups: an experimental group receiving real stimulation and a control group receiving sham stimulation. The experimental group underwent twenty minutes of bilateral anodal tDCS over the primary motor cortex at 2 mA. tDCS significantly improved 45° COD performance (p = 0.027), while no changes were observed at 90°. Electromyography results provided further detail: during 45° turns, the integrated EMG values of the vastus lateralis increased significantly (p = 0.021), and during 90° turns, the root mean square values of the vastus medialis also rose significantly (p = 0.047). Altogether, these findings suggest that tDCS can act as an effective acute intervention to improve athletes' agility in direction changes, offering a practical edge for performance enhancement. This study was prospectively registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR290251, October 15, 2025).

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to quantify the risk of subsequent all-cause, recurrent concussion, upper extremity, and lower extremity injuries in athletes with a history of sport-related concussion.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, cohort studies published from inception through August 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and EBSCO. The methodological quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. Pre-specified subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to investigate sources of heterogeneity, including injury timing, study design, sport type, and athlete competition level.

Results: Nineteen cohort studies involving 86,879 athletes were included. Athletes with a history of concussion had significantly higher odds of sustaining a subsequent all-cause injury (OR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.39-2.68). The risk was most pronounced for recurrent concussion (OR = 3.06; 95% CI = 1.81-5.17), and was also significantly elevated for upper extremity (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 1.10-2.81) and lower extremity injuries (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.06-2.09). Given the high heterogeneity observed in the primary outcomes (I² > 90%), the pooled effect sizes should be interpreted with caution as average associations across varying study contexts, rather than as precise predictions applicable to all settings. Subgroup analysis revealed that injury risk was statistically significant in studies with follow-up periods beyond six months (OR = 1.94) but not for shorter durations. The association was strongest and statistically significant among college athletes (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.53-3.44), while estimates for professional and high school athletes were not significant. Meta-regression identified sport type as a significant moderator of injury risk (p = 0.038).

Conclusion: A history of concussion significantly increases the risk of subsequent injuries, with the odds being highest for recurrent concussion. The persistence of this risk beyond six months suggests that clinical recovery does not equate to full functional recovery. These findings underscore the need for enhanced return-to-play protocols that incorporate objective functional assessments and targeted rehabilitation to mitigate the heightened vulnerability to injury in post-concussed athletes.

Background: Motor training with audible cues can improve motor performance; however, few studies have examined the effect of synchronized audible cues during exercise. This study aimed to determine the immediate effects of terminal knee extension (TKE) exercise with audible cues on motor unit behavior, including motor unit action potential (MUAP) and motor unit firing rate (MUFR). The test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change (MDC) were evaluated.

Method: Thirty healthy adults were randomly enrolled to two groups: TKE exercise with audible cues and without. A Trigno-Galileo sensor of electromyography (Delsys, Inc.) was used to collect vastus medialis (VM) muscle activity during a single-leg squat test before and after TKE exercise. Metronome beats (60 beats/minute) were assigned to provide rhythm during TKE exercise in audible-cue group. In the control group, participants performed TKE exercises at a self-paced speed. After 3 days, 15 participants voluntarily returned to test VM activity again. A two-way mixed ANOVA (2 × 2; group × time) was used to examine main and interaction effects, and independent t-tests were used to compare mean changes between groups. ICC and Spearman correlation tests were used to analyze test-retest reliability of MUAP and MUFR parameters.

Results: After TKE exercise, the final data from 27 participants (13 experimental, 14 control) were analyzed. Both groups exhibited a decrease in peak and average MUAP. A significant reduction was observed (p = 0.03) in group without audible cues. The MUFR did not significantly change following TKE exercise in either group. Moderate test-retest reliabilities were 0.70 and 0.58 and MDC were 0.82 mV and 0.65 mV for the peak and average MUAP, respectively.

Conclusion: Incorporating rhythm may promote neuromuscular control and cause preserves to the MUAP of VM muscle, but not to MUFR. TKE exercises synchronized with metronome beats may be an effective strategy to promote VM function in individuals with knee dysfunction because of its safety, low cost, and ease of use during rehabilitation. Evaluating TKE with audible cues in individuals with knee dysfunction also warrants further investigation.

Trial registration: NCT06565325 (21 August 2024, first available on ClinicalTrials.gov).

Background: Active myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in the upper trapezius are a leading source of neck pain and functional limitation in athletes. Although myofascial release (MFR) and stretching are frequently used, their comparative effectiveness when combined with high-power pulsed therapeutic ultrasound (HPPT-US) remains unclear.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of MFR + HPPT-US versus stretching + HPPT-US on pain intensity, cervical range of motion (Cx-ROM), muscle length (ML), and neck disability in amateur overhead athletes with unilateral upper trapezius active MTrPs.

Trial design: A two-arm parallel group, randomized clinical trial design.

Methods: Thirty-two athletes meeting Travell and Simons' criteria for active MTrPs were randomized to receive either MFR + HPPT-US (Group A) or stretching + HPPT-US (Group B), administered thrice weekly for two weeks. Primary outcome measure-Pain intensity and secondary outcomes-Cx-ROM, ML, and Neck Disability Index (NDI) were recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS), universal goniometer, Vernier caliper, and neck disability index (NDI) questionnaire, at baseline, week 1, week 2, and one-week follow-up. 26 out of 32 data of enrolled participants were analyzed using a two-way mixed repeated-measures ANOVA (Group × Time) with Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc tests; statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and effect sizes were reported as partial eta-squared (η²ₚ) for ANOVA and Cohen's d for pairwise differences.

Results: Significant main effects of Group (η²ₚ = 0.07-0.26) and Time (η²ₚ = 0.83-0.92) were observed for all outcomes, with a significant Group × Time interaction for ML (η²ₚ = 0.34). Both interventions produced significant improvements across time points; however, Group A demonstrated greater gains following treatment. At follow-up, between-group differences favored Group A for VAS (MD = - 0.77; 95% CI - 1.31 to - 0.39; d = 1.12), Cx-ROM (MD = 2.69°; 95% CI 0.80 to 4.58; d = 1.07), ML (MD = 0.80 cm; 95% CI 0.27 to 1.33; d = 1.14), and NDI (MD = - 4.70; 95% CI - 8.04 to - 1.36; d = 1.09). Improvements were consistent across post-baseline assessments, although the magnitude of change varied by outcome.

Conclusion: The combination of MFR and HPPT-US was more effective than stretching with HPPT-US in reducing pain, increasing ML and Cx-ROM, and improving functional outcomes in amateur overhead athletes with active upper trapezius MTrPs. This combined approach may offers superior clinical benefits for managing MTrP-related neck pain and promoting faster recovery in athletic rehabilitation settings.

Trial registration: The study protocol was retrospectively registered to the "ClinicalTrials.gov" under an assigned Identifier: NCT07002593 on 25/05/2025 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07002593).

Background: Although the World Karate Federation (WKF) lacks a standardized test battery, Para Karate classification follows International Paralympic Committee (IPC) principles, with balance recognized as a key physical ability affecting kata performance. This study aimed to compare postural stability across categories and classes of top-level Para Karate athletes and to provide evidence supporting classification refinement.

Methods: Fifty-nine athletes competing at the 2023 World Para Karate Championship were classified into three groups: visually impaired (VI, n = 24, age 23.8 [20.6] years), intellectual impairment (II1, n = 17, 26.5 [9.7] years), and intellectual impairment with additional impairment (II2, n = 18, 28.0 [11.3] years). A 30-second bipedal stance test with eyes open was used to assess total path and area of the centre of pressure (CoP), including anterior-posterior (AP) and medio-lateral (ML) directions. Non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for analysis.

Results: Significant group differences were observed for total CoP path (H₍₂₎ = 13.205, p < 0.001) and area (H₍₂₎ = 12.929, p = 0.002). II1 athletes demonstrated significantly lower CoP path than VI (p_adj=0.001), with better AP stability compared to both groups. II2 class had lower total CoP area than VI (p_adj<0.001). They showed the lowest area in AP direction compared to both VI and II1 (p_adj=0.002 and p_adj=0.040, respectively).

Conclusions: The 30-second balance test proved to be sensitive to between-group differences in postural control among impairment types. VI athletes exhibited greater CoP path than II1 athletes and greater CoP area than II2 athletes, highlighting the need for targeted balance training. In the AP direction, II1 athletes showed better control in path length compared to both groups, while II2 athletes outperformed them in sway area. However, the area parameter demonstrated limited reliability, and its results should therefore be interpreted with caution. Based on these findings, detected inter- and intra-group variability may contribute to building a robust evidence base for future classification development of Para Karate athletes.

Background: Sports injuries remain a major concern for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, affecting performance and long-term well-being. Effective prediction and prevention strategies are critical for reducing injury incidence. This study investigates the predictive roles of movement restriction and body asymmetry in sports injury risk.

Methods: Sports injuries remain a major concern for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, affecting performance and long-term well-being. Effective prediction and prevention strategies are critical for reducing injury incidence. This study investigates the predictive roles of movement restriction and body asymmetry in sports injury risk.

Results: Significant restrictions in knee and shoulder mobility were associated with increased injury risk. Notably, asymmetries in lower limb strength and flexibility were linked to higher rates of unilateral injuries. For example, a 10% increase in movement restriction corresponded to a 15% higher injury risk, while a 20% strength imbalance predicted a 30% increase. The leg strength imbalance ratio showed a moderate positive correlation with injury rates (r = 0.35, p = 0.03), while the gait symmetry index was negatively correlated (r = -0.42, p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Joint mobility and interlimb balance play critical roles in injury susceptibility. Targeted interventions such as personalized exercise regimens and movement retraining may help mitigate these biomechanical risk factors. Future research should explore sport-specific injury mechanisms and refine predictive models using real-time monitoring and machine learning approaches.

Weight loss (WL) is common among judokas; however, most studies concentrate on non-elite competitors. This study examined the extent, methodologies, and contributing variables of WL among Olympic-level judo competitors during the qualifying cycle, positing that elevated WL scores signify detrimental practices. Research data was collected using the cross-sectional survey method. Research data was collected from 44 judokas (32 males, 12 females) rated in the top 50 globally during 2024 Antalya Grand Slam. Independent samples t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess between-group differences, while Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between variables. Male athletes had markedly elevated typical weight loss percentages, peak career weight reduction (in kg and %), and post-competition weight return compared to females. Gradual dieting (87.9%), meal skipping (77.3%), increased exercise (72.7%), and sauna usage (70.5%) were the most common WL methods. The main sources of influence were coach/sensei (70.5%), fellow judokas (50%), and peers in the judo community (47.7%). Health professionals had little effect on WL behaviors. The age of judo practice onset was correlated with higher weight loss percentages and weight regain. Olympic-level judokas participate in substantial WL, mostly shaped by their coaching and peer dynamics. The results indicate that coaches and players need to have focused information to encourage safer ways to control their weight.