Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01524-5
Liangzhu Feng, Hongyou Liu
Background: Warm-up intensity is considered a key factor influencing acute physical performance, yet its specific effects on explosive power and agility in university football players remain unclear. This study compared the acute effects of low-, moderate-, and high-intensity warm-up on lower-limb explosive power and agility.
Methods: Twenty male university football athletes completed three 15-min warm-up protocols differing in intensity. Performance was assessed using the standing triple jump (STJ), 10 m sprint, 505 test, and T-test at pre-, post-, and post-10. Generalized mixed linear models were applied to evaluate the effects of intensity and time, with results reported as standardized effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence limits (CL).
Results: The 10 m sprint performance was substantially better after the low-intensity warm-up than the moderate-intensity (ES; ± 90% CL: Post: 1.93; ± 0.64; Post-10: 3.31; ± 0.45) and high-intensity (Post: 1.90; ± 0.64; Post-10: 3.56; ± 0.65) warm-ups. The 505 test also showed superior performance after the low-intensity warm-up (vs. moderate: 1.55; ± 0.74, 1.16; ± 0.44; vs. high: 3.15; ± 0.72, 1.24; ± 0.44). Notably, in the 505 test (post: 1.6; ± 0.7; post-10: trivial), performance following the moderate-intensity warm-up at post was also substantially superior to that following the high-intensity warm-up. The T-test demonstrated a similar advantage (vs. moderate: 0.95; ± 0.23, 0.78; ± 0.22; vs. high: 0.86; ± 0.23, 0.73; ± 0.22). In contrast, the STJ (vs. low, post: 0.66; ± 0.31; post-10: 0.51; ± 0.31) improved only immediately after the moderate- and high-intensity warm-ups.
Conclusion: Low-intensity warm-up produced the most consistent and sustained improvements in sprint and agility performance. Moderate-intensity warm-up showed only a brief advantage in the 505 test, whereas high-intensity warm-up generally impaired speed and change-of-direction performance, with any explosive power gains being short-lived. These findings identify warm-up intensity as a key determinant of pre-competition readiness in male university football athletes.
{"title":"The impact of warm-up intensity on lower-limb explosive power and agility in male university football athletes.","authors":"Liangzhu Feng, Hongyou Liu","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01524-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01524-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Warm-up intensity is considered a key factor influencing acute physical performance, yet its specific effects on explosive power and agility in university football players remain unclear. This study compared the acute effects of low-, moderate-, and high-intensity warm-up on lower-limb explosive power and agility.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty male university football athletes completed three 15-min warm-up protocols differing in intensity. Performance was assessed using the standing triple jump (STJ), 10 m sprint, 505 test, and T-test at pre-, post-, and post-10. Generalized mixed linear models were applied to evaluate the effects of intensity and time, with results reported as standardized effect sizes (ES) and 90% confidence limits (CL).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 10 m sprint performance was substantially better after the low-intensity warm-up than the moderate-intensity (ES; ± 90% CL: Post: 1.93; ± 0.64; Post-10: 3.31; ± 0.45) and high-intensity (Post: 1.90; ± 0.64; Post-10: 3.56; ± 0.65) warm-ups. The 505 test also showed superior performance after the low-intensity warm-up (vs. moderate: 1.55; ± 0.74, 1.16; ± 0.44; vs. high: 3.15; ± 0.72, 1.24; ± 0.44). Notably, in the 505 test (post: 1.6; ± 0.7; post-10: trivial), performance following the moderate-intensity warm-up at post was also substantially superior to that following the high-intensity warm-up. The T-test demonstrated a similar advantage (vs. moderate: 0.95; ± 0.23, 0.78; ± 0.22; vs. high: 0.86; ± 0.23, 0.73; ± 0.22). In contrast, the STJ (vs. low, post: 0.66; ± 0.31; post-10: 0.51; ± 0.31) improved only immediately after the moderate- and high-intensity warm-ups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Low-intensity warm-up produced the most consistent and sustained improvements in sprint and agility performance. Moderate-intensity warm-up showed only a brief advantage in the 505 test, whereas high-intensity warm-up generally impaired speed and change-of-direction performance, with any explosive power gains being short-lived. These findings identify warm-up intensity as a key determinant of pre-competition readiness in male university football athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145960351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background: Return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains a critical issue in sports medicine. Despite improvements in rehabilitation, many patients fail to return to their preinjury level of activity. Previous studies have primarily focused on clinical and biomechanical factors that influence RTS; however, the impact of intrinsic physiological changes, particularly urinary proteomic profiles, has not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to identify potential urinary protein biomarkers associated with RTS in ACLR patients.
Methods: A total of 30 ACLR patients, at least 9 months post-surgery, were recruited. Patients were divided into RTS and non-RTS groups based on their ability to RTS, recovery to preinjury Tegner levels, and a leg symmetry index (LSI) of ≥ 85% on the single-leg hop (SLH) test. Furthermore, urine samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify differentially expressed proteins associated with RTS. Potential biomarkers and mechanism associated with RTS were identified by series of bioinformatics and machine learning methods such as pathway enrichment methods, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analysis.
Results: Significant differences in knee muscle characteristics, including limb circumferences and isokinetic strength, were observed between the RTS and Non-RTS groups. A total of 3433 proteins were identified, with 20 upregulated and 58 downregulated in the RTS group. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses revealed key pathways including regulation of actin cytoskeleton, calcium ion binding, and Pathways related to inflammation such as IL-17 signaling pathway and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Five proteins, including Glypican-3 (GPC3), Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha isoform (PIPNA), Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (RPGF3), Histone H1.5 (H15), and Small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3), were identified as potential biomarkers for evaluating RTS.
Conclusions: Muscle function was the primary factor influencing RTS after ACLR. The study revealed proteomic differences between those who RTS and those who do not. The identified potential biomarkers, such as GPC3, PIPNA, RPGF3, H15, and SPRR3, may serve as candidate targets to guide interventions designed to improve RTS outcomes following ACLR.
Trial registration: This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200061779) on 02/07/2022.
{"title":"Alterations of urinary proteomic profiles are correlated with return to sport after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.","authors":"Ting Zhu, Yuanyuan Li, Yingqi Zhao, Yawei Gong, Jingbin Zhou, Xin Xu","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01527-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01527-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Return to sport (RTS) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) remains a critical issue in sports medicine. Despite improvements in rehabilitation, many patients fail to return to their preinjury level of activity. Previous studies have primarily focused on clinical and biomechanical factors that influence RTS; however, the impact of intrinsic physiological changes, particularly urinary proteomic profiles, has not yet been fully explored. This study aimed to identify potential urinary protein biomarkers associated with RTS in ACLR patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 30 ACLR patients, at least 9 months post-surgery, were recruited. Patients were divided into RTS and non-RTS groups based on their ability to RTS, recovery to preinjury Tegner levels, and a leg symmetry index (LSI) of ≥ 85% on the single-leg hop (SLH) test. Furthermore, urine samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify differentially expressed proteins associated with RTS. Potential biomarkers and mechanism associated with RTS were identified by series of bioinformatics and machine learning methods such as pathway enrichment methods, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), receiver operating characteristic curve and correlation analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences in knee muscle characteristics, including limb circumferences and isokinetic strength, were observed between the RTS and Non-RTS groups. A total of 3433 proteins were identified, with 20 upregulated and 58 downregulated in the RTS group. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses revealed key pathways including regulation of actin cytoskeleton, calcium ion binding, and Pathways related to inflammation such as IL-17 signaling pathway and neutrophil extracellular trap formation. Five proteins, including Glypican-3 (GPC3), Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha isoform (PIPNA), Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factor 3 (RPGF3), Histone H1.5 (H15), and Small proline-rich protein 3 (SPRR3), were identified as potential biomarkers for evaluating RTS.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Muscle function was the primary factor influencing RTS after ACLR. The study revealed proteomic differences between those who RTS and those who do not. The identified potential biomarkers, such as GPC3, PIPNA, RPGF3, H15, and SPRR3, may serve as candidate targets to guide interventions designed to improve RTS outcomes following ACLR.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200061779) on 02/07/2022.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"70"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12882355/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01521-8
Wenxuan Yu, Zheng Zhou, Hui Zhang, Xiao Xie
Background: Table tennis is characterized by high intensity and short rallies, where the stability of technical and tactical execution is crucial to performance. Existing research on performance fluctuations has primarily focused on psychological or score-based metrics, neglecting the technical execution of strokes. To address this gap, this study introduces a novel metric: Stroke Performance Fluctuation (SPF).
Method: The dataset consists of 100 elite matches (50 male and 50 female matches) between 2021 and 2025, analyzing 2,163 rallies and 29,406 strokes. SPF is quantified as the deviation between Rally Winning Probability (RWP) and Expected Rally Winning Probability (ERWP). SPF values were also compared across gender, competitive level and games.
Results: (1) Male players exhibited significantly higher fluctuations than female players, particularly in Block, Flick, Push, Touch Short, Topspin, and Twist; (2) Top 20 players are more consistent than others in serving, receiving, and offensive techniques; (3) Performance in Touch Short against Pendulum and Topspin against Topspin exhibited a significant decline in the later stages of the match.
Conclusions: The SPF indicator provides a novel and effective measure of stroke behavior stability in elite table tennis. By quantifying fluctuations in technical and tactical performance, the SPF indicator reveals gender- and competition-level differences in stroke stability. In addition, we used performance deviation to describe how consistency changes across games within a match. This framework not only advances performance analysis beyond score-based or psychology-based measures but also offers practical applications for coaches, enabling targeted training and tactical interventions to reduce stroke instability and enhance competitive resilience.
{"title":"Stroke-level performance fluctuation analysis in elite table tennis.","authors":"Wenxuan Yu, Zheng Zhou, Hui Zhang, Xiao Xie","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01521-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01521-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Table tennis is characterized by high intensity and short rallies, where the stability of technical and tactical execution is crucial to performance. Existing research on performance fluctuations has primarily focused on psychological or score-based metrics, neglecting the technical execution of strokes. To address this gap, this study introduces a novel metric: Stroke Performance Fluctuation (SPF).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The dataset consists of 100 elite matches (50 male and 50 female matches) between 2021 and 2025, analyzing 2,163 rallies and 29,406 strokes. SPF is quantified as the deviation between Rally Winning Probability (RWP) and Expected Rally Winning Probability (ERWP). SPF values were also compared across gender, competitive level and games.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(1) Male players exhibited significantly higher fluctuations than female players, particularly in Block, Flick, Push, Touch Short, Topspin, and Twist; (2) Top 20 players are more consistent than others in serving, receiving, and offensive techniques; (3) Performance in Touch Short against Pendulum and Topspin against Topspin exhibited a significant decline in the later stages of the match.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The SPF indicator provides a novel and effective measure of stroke behavior stability in elite table tennis. By quantifying fluctuations in technical and tactical performance, the SPF indicator reveals gender- and competition-level differences in stroke stability. In addition, we used performance deviation to describe how consistency changes across games within a match. This framework not only advances performance analysis beyond score-based or psychology-based measures but also offers practical applications for coaches, enabling targeted training and tactical interventions to reduce stroke instability and enhance competitive resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01509-4
Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Andrea Calderone, Maria Grazia Maggio, Francesco Speciale, Daniele Bruschetta, Maurizio Lanza, Angelo Quartarone
{"title":"Sport performance in virtual worlds: a systematic review of sport simulation in neurological paralympic athletes and non-athlete populations.","authors":"Rocco Salvatore Calabrò, Andrea Calderone, Maria Grazia Maggio, Francesco Speciale, Daniele Bruschetta, Maurizio Lanza, Angelo Quartarone","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01509-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01509-4","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"72"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12882567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145949093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1186/s13102-026-01528-9
Friew Amare, Alemmebrat Kiflu, Aschenaki Taddese
Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is linked to impaired metabolic and cardiovascular health, and concurrent exercise is a key intervention to enhance these outcomes. However, the effect of exercise sequence on these outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of 12 weeks of concurrent training, performed in different sequences of aerobic and resistance exercise, on VO₂ Peak, glucose tolerance area under the curve (GT AUC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) in patients with T2DM.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, participants were allocated to Concurrent Aerobic-Resistance Training (CART = 13), Concurrent Resistance-Aerobic Training (CRAT = 13), or a control group (COG = 13). Training was conducted three times per week for 12 weeks. VO₂ Peak, GT AUC, WHR, and BMI were measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA to assess Group × Time interactions, followed, when significant, by Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc pairwise comparisons across groups to identify differences in intervention-related changes.
Results: Both CART and CRAT significantly improved VO₂ Peak, GT AUC, WHR, and BMI compared to the control group (p < .05). VO₂ Peak increased by 2.999 mL/kg/min in CART and 2.147 mL/kg/min in CRAT, while GT AUC decreased by 23.01 and 24.22 units, respectively, reflecting enhanced cardiovascular fitness and glucose tolerance. WHR decreased by 0.106 in CART and 0.095 in CRAT, whereas BMI reduction was greater in CART (2.76 kg/m²) than in CRAT (1.48 kg/m²), suggesting a potential effect of exercise sequence on obesity indices.
Conclusion: Twelve weeks of concurrent training effectively enhanced cardiovascular fitness, glycemic control, and obesity indices in T2DM patients. While both exercise sequences provided benefits, performing aerobic exercise before resistance training may maximize BMI reduction, whereas improvements in VO₂ Peak, reduction in WHR, and glucose tolerance occur regardless of exercise order. These findings support adopting flexible, evidence-based concurrent training programs for metabolic and cardiovascular health.
Trial registration: 02 September 2025, Registration no: PACTR202509591505325.
{"title":"Impact of concurrent training order on cardiorespiratory fitness, glucose tolerance, and obesity indices in type 2 diabetic patients: randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Friew Amare, Alemmebrat Kiflu, Aschenaki Taddese","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01528-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01528-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is linked to impaired metabolic and cardiovascular health, and concurrent exercise is a key intervention to enhance these outcomes. However, the effect of exercise sequence on these outcomes remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of 12 weeks of concurrent training, performed in different sequences of aerobic and resistance exercise, on VO₂ Peak, glucose tolerance area under the curve (GT AUC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) in patients with T2DM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this randomized controlled trial, participants were allocated to Concurrent Aerobic-Resistance Training (CART = 13), Concurrent Resistance-Aerobic Training (CRAT = 13), or a control group (COG = 13). Training was conducted three times per week for 12 weeks. VO₂ Peak, GT AUC, WHR, and BMI were measured pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using a mixed-model ANOVA to assess Group × Time interactions, followed, when significant, by Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc pairwise comparisons across groups to identify differences in intervention-related changes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both CART and CRAT significantly improved VO₂ Peak, GT AUC, WHR, and BMI compared to the control group (p < .05). VO₂ Peak increased by 2.999 mL/kg/min in CART and 2.147 mL/kg/min in CRAT, while GT AUC decreased by 23.01 and 24.22 units, respectively, reflecting enhanced cardiovascular fitness and glucose tolerance. WHR decreased by 0.106 in CART and 0.095 in CRAT, whereas BMI reduction was greater in CART (2.76 kg/m²) than in CRAT (1.48 kg/m²), suggesting a potential effect of exercise sequence on obesity indices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Twelve weeks of concurrent training effectively enhanced cardiovascular fitness, glycemic control, and obesity indices in T2DM patients. While both exercise sequences provided benefits, performing aerobic exercise before resistance training may maximize BMI reduction, whereas improvements in VO₂ Peak, reduction in WHR, and glucose tolerance occur regardless of exercise order. These findings support adopting flexible, evidence-based concurrent training programs for metabolic and cardiovascular health.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>02 September 2025, Registration no: PACTR202509591505325.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"69"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12882170/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145946634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01518-3
Andreas Kopf, Maximilian Getzreiter, Andreas Wittke, Emre Nokay, Markus Gesslein, Volker Alt, Werner Krutsch, Dominik Szymski
<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures represent one of the most severe injuries in professional football, often resulting in long rehabilitation, impaired performance, and increased risk of re-injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether performance parameters derived from match statistics can serve as early indicators of ACL rupture in professional male football players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective case-control design was applied. Forty-two male professional football players from the German Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga with confirmed ACL ruptures between 2016 and 2024 were included, alongside 42 matched controls from the same teams and positions. Match performance data from ten games preceding the injury were analyzed. Parameters included minutes played, total distance covered, number of sprints, maximal speed, pass accuracy, number of duels, and duel success rate. Independent t-tests compared injured and control players across individual matchdays and aggregated intervals (the average values across the last four, three, and two matches before injury). Additionally, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were computed based on upper (≥ 75th percentile) and lower (≤ 25th percentile) quartile thresholds to quantify the relative risk associated with extreme performance values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Injured players showed higher maximum speed that consistently differentiated them from controls, with significant differences at matchday 2 (p = 0.005, OR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.45-8.06) and across all aggregated intervals (p = 0.015-0.031). Injured players also showed significantly fewer minutes played at matchday 2 before injury (p = 0.046, OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.01-5.51) and across certain intervals (last four and three matches before injury; p = 0.027-0.044). Analysis of matchdays 5-10 revealed no significant group differences for any performance parameter, confirming that relevant performance changes manifest primarily in the immediate pre-injury period. No significant group differences emerged for distance covered, sprint count, pass accuracy, or duel frequency between ACL injured players and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Maximum speed showed the strongest association with ACL rupture risk, with significant differences at matchday 2 (p = 0.005) and across aggregated intervals (the average values across the last four, three, and two matches before injury). Reduced playing time emerged as an additional indicator. Although distance covered, sprint count, and pass accuracy did not reach statistical significance individually, their temporal patterns revealed a predisposing risk constellation: injured players demonstrated reduced cumulative exposure combined with acute high-intensity spikes at matchday 2, declining technical precision, and increased physical confrontation at matchday 1. This suggests ACL injury risk manifests through deterioration of integrated perfo
目的:前交叉韧带(ACL)断裂是职业足球中最严重的损伤之一,通常会导致长期的康复,性能受损,并增加再次受伤的风险。本研究的目的是探讨从比赛数据中得出的表现参数是否可以作为职业男足球运动员ACL断裂的早期指标。方法:采用回顾性病例-对照设计。42名来自德甲的男性职业足球运动员和2名来自德国的职业足球运动员。2016年至2024年间确认ACL破裂的德甲联赛,以及来自相同球队和位置的42名匹配对照。分析了受伤前10场比赛的比赛表现数据。参数包括比赛时间、总距离、冲刺次数、最大速度、通过准确率、决斗次数和决斗成功率。独立的t检验比较了受伤球员和对照组球员在单个比赛日和汇总时间间隔(受伤前最后4场、3场和2场比赛的平均值)。此外,基于上(≥75百分位数)和下(≤25百分位数)四分位数阈值计算95%置信区间的比值比(OR),以量化与极端性能值相关的相对风险。结果:与对照组相比,受伤球员表现出更高的最大速度,在比赛日第2天(p = 0.005, OR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.45-8.06)和所有汇总区间(p = 0.015-0.031)存在显著差异。受伤球员在受伤前的第2个比赛日的上场时间也明显减少(p = 0.046, OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.01-5.51),并且在一定的时间间隔内(受伤前的最后4场和3场比赛,p = 0.027-0.044)。对比赛日5-10的分析显示,在任何表现参数上,各组之间没有显著差异,证实了相关的表现变化主要体现在受伤前的那段时间。在前交叉韧带受伤的运动员和对照组之间,在覆盖距离、冲刺次数、传球准确性或对打频率方面没有显著的组间差异。结论:最大速度与前交叉韧带破裂风险的相关性最强,在比赛日第2天(p = 0.005)和整个累积时间间隔(受伤前最后4场、3场和2场比赛的平均值)存在显著差异。减少的游戏时间是一个额外的指标。尽管跑动距离、冲刺次数和传球准确率都不具有统计学意义,但它们的时间模式揭示了一个易诱发的风险组合:受伤球员在比赛日第二场表现出累积暴露减少,同时出现急性高强度峰值,技术精度下降,在比赛日第一场身体对抗增加。这表明前交叉韧带损伤风险表现为急性负荷波动下综合性能能力的恶化,而不是孤立的阈值。综合生物力学、生理和时间表现模式的多因素方法对于有效预防职业足球前交叉韧带损伤至关重要。
{"title":"Short-term - change on physical capacities of football players within few days before ACL-injury: a retrospective case-control study.","authors":"Andreas Kopf, Maximilian Getzreiter, Andreas Wittke, Emre Nokay, Markus Gesslein, Volker Alt, Werner Krutsch, Dominik Szymski","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01518-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01518-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures represent one of the most severe injuries in professional football, often resulting in long rehabilitation, impaired performance, and increased risk of re-injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether performance parameters derived from match statistics can serve as early indicators of ACL rupture in professional male football players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective case-control design was applied. Forty-two male professional football players from the German Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga with confirmed ACL ruptures between 2016 and 2024 were included, alongside 42 matched controls from the same teams and positions. Match performance data from ten games preceding the injury were analyzed. Parameters included minutes played, total distance covered, number of sprints, maximal speed, pass accuracy, number of duels, and duel success rate. Independent t-tests compared injured and control players across individual matchdays and aggregated intervals (the average values across the last four, three, and two matches before injury). Additionally, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were computed based on upper (≥ 75th percentile) and lower (≤ 25th percentile) quartile thresholds to quantify the relative risk associated with extreme performance values.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Injured players showed higher maximum speed that consistently differentiated them from controls, with significant differences at matchday 2 (p = 0.005, OR = 3.42, 95% CI 1.45-8.06) and across all aggregated intervals (p = 0.015-0.031). Injured players also showed significantly fewer minutes played at matchday 2 before injury (p = 0.046, OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.01-5.51) and across certain intervals (last four and three matches before injury; p = 0.027-0.044). Analysis of matchdays 5-10 revealed no significant group differences for any performance parameter, confirming that relevant performance changes manifest primarily in the immediate pre-injury period. No significant group differences emerged for distance covered, sprint count, pass accuracy, or duel frequency between ACL injured players and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Maximum speed showed the strongest association with ACL rupture risk, with significant differences at matchday 2 (p = 0.005) and across aggregated intervals (the average values across the last four, three, and two matches before injury). Reduced playing time emerged as an additional indicator. Although distance covered, sprint count, and pass accuracy did not reach statistical significance individually, their temporal patterns revealed a predisposing risk constellation: injured players demonstrated reduced cumulative exposure combined with acute high-intensity spikes at matchday 2, declining technical precision, and increased physical confrontation at matchday 1. This suggests ACL injury risk manifests through deterioration of integrated perfo","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935825","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01511-w
Huimeng Chen, Qiujie Li, Ying Chen, Hui Liu, Xianglin Wan
{"title":"The effects of different types of dual-task gait training on lower-limb coordination during dual-task gait in patients with stroke: a single-blind randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Huimeng Chen, Qiujie Li, Ying Chen, Hui Liu, Xianglin Wan","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01511-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01511-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"68"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12882171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01457-z
Yazhi Kang, Jianfei Wen, Tongwu Yu, Yufei Qi, Yunqing Li
<p><strong>Background: </strong>Normobaric hypoxia training (NHT) has emerged as a potentially superior exercise intervention for obesity management, theoretically offering enhanced metabolic stress and body composition benefits compared to normoxic exercise. However, optimal dose-response parameters remain undefined, limiting clinical translation and standardization of hypoxic exercise protocols.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To comprehensively investigate dose-response relationships between NHT parameters and body composition/metabolic outcomes in adults with obesity through systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL) was conducted from January 2014 to June 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials comparing NHT versus normoxic exercise in adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Primary outcomes included body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, fat mass, and waist circumference. Random-effects meta-analysis and univariate/multivariate meta-regression were employed for dose-response modelling. Dose parameters included fractional inspired oxygen (FiO₂), session duration, training frequency, intervention duration, and composite hypoxia dose scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies involving 301 participants were included. Contrary to theoretical expectations, NHT demonstrated no superior body composition benefits compared to normoxic exercise across primary outcomes: body weight (MD = 0.12 kg, 95% CI: -1.99 to 2.22, p = 0.89), body fat percentage (MD = 0.21%, 95% CI: -3.00 to 3.41, p = 0.87), BMI (MD = -0.34 kg/m², 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.85, p = 0.15), and waist circumference (MD = -1.26 cm, 95% CI: -9.38 to 6.87, p = 0.66). Fat mass increased in NHT groups (MD = 1.10 kg, 95% CI: 0.24 to 1.95, p = 0.02). None of the primary outcomes achieved pre-defined clinical significance thresholds. Comprehensive dose-response meta-regression examining six hypoxia parameters (FiO₂, session duration, frequency, intervention weeks, total exposure hours, composite dose score) revealed no statistically significant relationships with any body composition outcome (all p > 0.05, all R² = 0.0-15.5%). Moderate multicollinearity among dose variables (r = 0.688-0.995, max VIF = 6.45) precluded reliable multivariate modelling, though univariate analyses consistently demonstrated null dose-response effects across all parameter-outcome combinations, indicating absence of clear dose-response gradients within examined ranges. NHT showed a non-significant trend toward improved cardiovascular fitness (VO₂peak: MD = 1.43 mL/kg/min, 95% CI: -0.86 to 3.72, p = 0.16) though with moderate heterogeneity across studies (I² = 62%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence that normobaric hypoxia training produces superior body composition outcomes compared with equivalent normoxic exercise in adults
{"title":"Dose-response relationship of normobaric hypoxia training on body composition and metabolic health in obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Yazhi Kang, Jianfei Wen, Tongwu Yu, Yufei Qi, Yunqing Li","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01457-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-025-01457-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Normobaric hypoxia training (NHT) has emerged as a potentially superior exercise intervention for obesity management, theoretically offering enhanced metabolic stress and body composition benefits compared to normoxic exercise. However, optimal dose-response parameters remain undefined, limiting clinical translation and standardization of hypoxic exercise protocols.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To comprehensively investigate dose-response relationships between NHT parameters and body composition/metabolic outcomes in adults with obesity through systematic review and meta-analysis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic search of five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL) was conducted from January 2014 to June 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials comparing NHT versus normoxic exercise in adults with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Primary outcomes included body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, fat mass, and waist circumference. Random-effects meta-analysis and univariate/multivariate meta-regression were employed for dose-response modelling. Dose parameters included fractional inspired oxygen (FiO₂), session duration, training frequency, intervention duration, and composite hypoxia dose scores.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten studies involving 301 participants were included. Contrary to theoretical expectations, NHT demonstrated no superior body composition benefits compared to normoxic exercise across primary outcomes: body weight (MD = 0.12 kg, 95% CI: -1.99 to 2.22, p = 0.89), body fat percentage (MD = 0.21%, 95% CI: -3.00 to 3.41, p = 0.87), BMI (MD = -0.34 kg/m², 95% CI: -0.16 to 0.85, p = 0.15), and waist circumference (MD = -1.26 cm, 95% CI: -9.38 to 6.87, p = 0.66). Fat mass increased in NHT groups (MD = 1.10 kg, 95% CI: 0.24 to 1.95, p = 0.02). None of the primary outcomes achieved pre-defined clinical significance thresholds. Comprehensive dose-response meta-regression examining six hypoxia parameters (FiO₂, session duration, frequency, intervention weeks, total exposure hours, composite dose score) revealed no statistically significant relationships with any body composition outcome (all p > 0.05, all R² = 0.0-15.5%). Moderate multicollinearity among dose variables (r = 0.688-0.995, max VIF = 6.45) precluded reliable multivariate modelling, though univariate analyses consistently demonstrated null dose-response effects across all parameter-outcome combinations, indicating absence of clear dose-response gradients within examined ranges. NHT showed a non-significant trend toward improved cardiovascular fitness (VO₂peak: MD = 1.43 mL/kg/min, 95% CI: -0.86 to 3.72, p = 0.16) though with moderate heterogeneity across studies (I² = 62%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence that normobaric hypoxia training produces superior body composition outcomes compared with equivalent normoxic exercise in adults","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01505-8
Isabella Lööf, Farshad Ashnai, Daniel Nygren, Susanne Beischer
Background: Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries globally. Although international frameworks such as the Rehabilitation-Oriented Assessment Tool (ROAST) and Ankle-GO provide structured approaches for LAS assessment and return-to-sport (RTS) evaluation, their implementation in Sweden has not been investigated.
Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to registered Swedish physiotherapists managing patients with LAS. The survey assessed adherence to the original ROAST, as well as modified versions of the frameworks (ROASTmodified and Ankle-GOmodified). Additionally, physiotherapists' self-rated confidence in their methods was assessed to explore potential discrepancies between perceived competence and framework adherence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse associations between reported assessment practices and physiotherapists' workplace location, educational level, and clinical experience.
Results: A total of 124 physiotherapists responded. Most (87.1%) reported using fewer than 50% of ROAST criteria, while 48.4% met at least 50% of ROASTmodified criteria. Adherence was significantly higher among those working in urban areas (p = 0.032), with no significant differences based on educational level or years of clinical experience. Regarding RTS, 36.7% of physiotherapists applied methods aligned with Ankle-GOmodified, but only 6.5% regularly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in this context. The most commonly used assessment domains were gait pattern, range of motion, and muscle strength, while PROMs and physical activity level were rarely included.
Conclusions: Adherence to international frameworks for LAS assessment was generally low among Swedish physiotherapists, but higher when modified versions were applied. Urban-based physiotherapists reported higher adherence compared to their rural counterparts, while educational level and experience had little influence. A discrepancy between perceived confidence and actual adherence suggests a gap between self-assessed competence and implementation.
{"title":"Clinical assessment of lateral ankle sprains among Swedish physiotherapists: a nationwide survey comparing practice to international and locally modified frameworks.","authors":"Isabella Lööf, Farshad Ashnai, Daniel Nygren, Susanne Beischer","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01505-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01505-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lateral ankle sprains (LAS) are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries globally. Although international frameworks such as the Rehabilitation-Oriented Assessment Tool (ROAST) and Ankle-GO provide structured approaches for LAS assessment and return-to-sport (RTS) evaluation, their implementation in Sweden has not been investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to registered Swedish physiotherapists managing patients with LAS. The survey assessed adherence to the original ROAST, as well as modified versions of the frameworks (ROAST<sub>modified</sub> and Ankle-GO<sub>modified</sub>). Additionally, physiotherapists' self-rated confidence in their methods was assessed to explore potential discrepancies between perceived competence and framework adherence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse associations between reported assessment practices and physiotherapists' workplace location, educational level, and clinical experience.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 124 physiotherapists responded. Most (87.1%) reported using fewer than 50% of ROAST criteria, while 48.4% met at least 50% of ROAST<sub>modified</sub> criteria. Adherence was significantly higher among those working in urban areas (p = 0.032), with no significant differences based on educational level or years of clinical experience. Regarding RTS, 36.7% of physiotherapists applied methods aligned with Ankle-GO<sub>modified</sub>, but only 6.5% regularly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in this context. The most commonly used assessment domains were gait pattern, range of motion, and muscle strength, while PROMs and physical activity level were rarely included.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adherence to international frameworks for LAS assessment was generally low among Swedish physiotherapists, but higher when modified versions were applied. Urban-based physiotherapists reported higher adherence compared to their rural counterparts, while educational level and experience had little influence. A discrepancy between perceived confidence and actual adherence suggests a gap between self-assessed competence and implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874988/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-08DOI: 10.1186/s13102-025-01489-5
Jiahui Wang, Fuyou Li, Jingwen Chen, Huashuai Li, Baojin Zhao, Bochen Liu, Pu Sun
Objective: Global aging has increased the risk of falls and functional dependence among elderly people. Aquatic exercise, with its low-impact and multimuscle group activation characteristics, provides a unique physiological stimulation environment for improving the physical functions of the elderly population. However, previous studies have insufficiently integrated multidimensional functional indicators and dose-effect relationships. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on the multidimensional physical functions of elderly people and to determine the differential effects of different intervention programs.
Methods: Databases in both Chinese and English were searched up to April 2025, and 23 RCTs (1179 healthy elderly individuals aged ≥ 60 years) were included. The Cochrane tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and data on intervention programs (type, duration, frequency) and functional indicators were extracted. RevMan 5.4 was used to combine effect sizes (MD and 95% CI), and subgroup analysis was conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity (I2 > 75%).
Results: (1) Balance ability: Static balance improved (single-leg standing time: MD = 3.05 s, P = 0.007); dynamic balance improved (TUG time reduced by 0.59 s, P = 0.028), with resistance training having the greatest effect (MD = -1.80 s, P = 0.006); and a higher frequency intervention (> 2 times/week) was more effective. (2) Muscle strength: Lower limb strength increased (30-s chair stand test increased by 2.77 times, P < 0.001), with combined resistance and aerobic training having the greatest effect (MD = 3.98 times, P < 0.001); upper limb strength increased (arm curl test increased by 3.17 times, P < 0.001). (3) Cardiopulmonary function: The 2MST increased 7.56 times (P < 0.001). (4) Flexibility: Lower limb flexibility improved by 3.21 cm (P = 0.024), whereas upper limb flexibility did not significantly improve. (5) Subgroup analysis revealed that long-term (> 12 weeks) and high-frequency (> 2 times/week) interventions were more effective for improving dynamic balance (MD = -0.87 vs. -0.34 s) and increasing lower limb strength (MD = 5.65 vs. 1.45 times); combined resistance and aerobic training had significant overall benefits.
Conclusion: Aquatic exercise can comprehensively improve the physical function of elderly people. High-frequency (> 2 times/week) and long-term (> 12 weeks) combined resistance and aerobic training programs are recommended. Clinically, task-oriented interventions should be designed on the basis of individual deficits, and future research should standardize exercise parameters and explore its psychological and social benefits.
目的:全球老龄化增加了老年人跌倒和功能依赖的风险。水上运动以其低冲击、多肌群活化的特点,为改善老年人身体机能提供了独特的生理刺激环境。然而,以往的研究对多维功能指标和剂量效应关系的整合不够。本研究通过荟萃分析,系统评价水上运动对老年人多维身体机能的影响,并确定不同干预方案的差异效果。方法:检索截至2025年4月的中英文数据库,纳入23项随机对照试验(rct), 1179名年龄≥60岁的健康老年人。采用Cochrane工具评估偏倚风险,提取干预方案(类型、持续时间、频率)和功能指标的数据。采用RevMan 5.4合并效应量(MD和95% CI),并进行亚组分析,探讨异质性来源(I2 bb0 75%)。结果:(1)平衡能力:静态平衡能力提高(单腿站立时间:MD = 3.05 s, P = 0.007);动态平衡改善(TUG时间缩短0.59 s, P = 0.028),其中阻力训练效果最大(MD = -1.80 s, P = 0.006);频率越高(每周2次/周)干预效果越好。(2)肌力:下肢力量增加(30-s椅站测试增加2.77倍,P 12周),高频(> 2次/周)干预对改善动态平衡(MD = -0.87 vs. -0.34 s)和下肢力量增加(MD = 5.65 vs. 1.45倍)更有效;结合抗阻和有氧训练有显著的整体效益。结论:水上运动能全面改善老年人的身体机能。建议进行高频(> 2次/周)和长期(> 12周)联合抗阻和有氧训练计划。临床上,任务导向的干预措施应基于个体缺陷进行设计,未来的研究应规范运动参数,探索其心理和社会效益。
{"title":"The dose-effect relationship of aquatic exercise in improving physical function in older adults.","authors":"Jiahui Wang, Fuyou Li, Jingwen Chen, Huashuai Li, Baojin Zhao, Bochen Liu, Pu Sun","doi":"10.1186/s13102-025-01489-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-025-01489-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Global aging has increased the risk of falls and functional dependence among elderly people. Aquatic exercise, with its low-impact and multimuscle group activation characteristics, provides a unique physiological stimulation environment for improving the physical functions of the elderly population. However, previous studies have insufficiently integrated multidimensional functional indicators and dose-effect relationships. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on the multidimensional physical functions of elderly people and to determine the differential effects of different intervention programs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Databases in both Chinese and English were searched up to April 2025, and 23 RCTs (1179 healthy elderly individuals aged ≥ 60 years) were included. The Cochrane tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and data on intervention programs (type, duration, frequency) and functional indicators were extracted. RevMan 5.4 was used to combine effect sizes (MD and 95% CI), and subgroup analysis was conducted to explore the sources of heterogeneity (I<sup>2</sup> > 75%).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(1) Balance ability: Static balance improved (single-leg standing time: MD = 3.05 s, P = 0.007); dynamic balance improved (TUG time reduced by 0.59 s, P = 0.028), with resistance training having the greatest effect (MD = -1.80 s, P = 0.006); and a higher frequency intervention (> 2 times/week) was more effective. (2) Muscle strength: Lower limb strength increased (30-s chair stand test increased by 2.77 times, P < 0.001), with combined resistance and aerobic training having the greatest effect (MD = 3.98 times, P < 0.001); upper limb strength increased (arm curl test increased by 3.17 times, P < 0.001). (3) Cardiopulmonary function: The 2MST increased 7.56 times (P < 0.001). (4) Flexibility: Lower limb flexibility improved by 3.21 cm (P = 0.024), whereas upper limb flexibility did not significantly improve. (5) Subgroup analysis revealed that long-term (> 12 weeks) and high-frequency (> 2 times/week) interventions were more effective for improving dynamic balance (MD = -0.87 vs. -0.34 s) and increasing lower limb strength (MD = 5.65 vs. 1.45 times); combined resistance and aerobic training had significant overall benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Aquatic exercise can comprehensively improve the physical function of elderly people. High-frequency (> 2 times/week) and long-term (> 12 weeks) combined resistance and aerobic training programs are recommended. Clinically, task-oriented interventions should be designed on the basis of individual deficits, and future research should standardize exercise parameters and explore its psychological and social benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":" ","pages":"62"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12874715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145935761","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}