A living library of sports & fitness training science.

Effects of a chickpea protein hydrolysate on exercise-induced biomarkers of muscle damage and inflammation in federated road cyclists.NEW

García-Durán J, Sánchez-Oliver AJ, Rodríguez-Martín NM, Fernández-Pachón MS, Pedroche J, Millán F et al. · 2026

This study gave trained road cyclists either 12g daily of chickpea protein hydrolysate or placebo for 14 days and measured blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation. The chickpea supplement group showed significantly lower lactate dehydrogenase and C-reactive protein levels...

Biological Motion Perception for Accelerating Sport Performance and Injury Prevention: A Scoping Review.

Malan J, Müller S, Pert D, Brenton J, Zoghi M. · 2026

This review examined how point-light displays (simplified animations showing only moving joints) can help athletes anticipate opponents' actions and detect injury-prone movement patterns. The research found that point-light displays effectively train anticipation skills and motor...

Effects of a standardised Amaranthus tricolor – Spinacia oleracea extract on exercise performance, muscle strength, endurance and recovery in active adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Modi SJ, Patil S, Zutshi D, Patil V, Ganu G, Bhaskar A et al. · 2026

This 12-week study tested whether a standardized extract of amaranth and spinach (SpinoleRG™) could improve exercise performance and recovery in active adults compared to placebo. The supplement group showed improvements in ventilatory threshold, muscle strength, time to exhausti...

Acute differences in field-based physical performance between Ramadan-type fasting and non-fasting conditions in 10–11-year-old youth soccer players

Yılmaz Yüksel, Mehmet Emir Mentaş, Furkan Karahan, Tuba Kizilet Topateş, Salih Çabuk, Kubilay Topçuoğlu et al. · 2026

This study compared how 10-11-year-old soccer players performed on various field tests after either fasting for 14 hours or eating a normal meal, measuring their jumping, sprinting, agility, and intermittent endurance abilities. Fasting didn't affect short explosive movements lik...

Chronic Excessive Exercise Aggravates Apical Periodontitis in Mice.

Boaventura AB, Coasaca-Rivera RD, Mendes BR, do Amaral SL, da Silva ASR, Cerri PS et al. · 2026

This study examined how overtraining affects apical periodontitis (a tooth root infection) in mice by comparing sedentary, moderately trained, and overtrained groups. Chronic excessive exercise worsened the bone destruction caused by apical periodontitis and eliminated the protec...

Effects of dietary supplements on lower-limb power and jump performance in physically active individuals and athletes: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Sun R, Su M, Xu X, Wang N, Li Z, Sun X et al. · 2026

This systematic review analyzed 119 studies to compare how various dietary supplements affect lower-limb power and jumping performance in active people and athletes. HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate) showed the most consistent benefits for relative peak power with moderate c...

Effects of plyometric and combined resistance-plyometric training on agility and vertical jump performance in youth basketball players

Muhammad Syaifullah Irwan, Iman Sulaiman, Oman Unju Subandi · 2026

This study compared pure plyometric training to a combination of strength and plyometric training in 30 youth basketball players, measuring their vertical jump height, agility, and reactive strength before and after the intervention. The combined strength and plyometric group sho...

Effects of Taekwondo Match-Simulated Fatigue on Static and Dynamic Balance Performance in Female Athletes

Löklüoğlu B, Kocaoğlu Y, Güngör H, Tatlıcı A. · 2026

Abstract Background Balance is an important aspect of physical performance in taekwondo and can be affected by the high-intensity, intermittent, and repetitive movements carried out during a competition. This study investigated the effects of a taekwondo match-simulated fatigue p...

Extended Long-Term Effects of Cognitive and Aerobic Training on Cognitive Function in Patients With Stress-Related Exhaustion Disorder: A 4.5-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aronsson I, Neely AS, Boraxbekk CJ, Eskilsson T, Gavelin HM. · 2026

This study tracked 56 patients with stress-related exhaustion disorder for 4.5 years after they received either a standard rehabilitation program, or that program plus computerized cognitive training (CCT) and/or aerobic training (AT). Computerized cognitive training showed susta...

Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of AI-Generated Personalized Sleep Feedback in High School Female Soccer Players: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Kedoin H, Itoh Y, Nirengi T, Sato Y, Sugisawa S, Nishio Y et al. · 2026

This pilot study tested whether AI-generated personalized sleep feedback delivered via a mobile app could improve sleep in 25 high school female soccer players compared to a control group receiving generic sleep information. The intervention group showed a small improvement in sl...

Hubungan Chrononutrition, Fat-Free Mass, dan Tingkat Konsumsi dengan VO₂Max Atlet Sepak Bola Remaja

Novia Audrey Fitri Apsari, Muchamad Rizki Sentani, Isti Kumalasari, Ahmad Hisbullah Amrinanto · 2026

This study examined how meal timing (chrononutrition), lean body mass, and overall nutrient intake relate to aerobic capacity (VO₂max) in teenage soccer players. The researchers found that lean body mass was significantly associated with VO₂max, while energy intake, macronutrient...

Hypoglycemia limits endurance performance without carbohydrate ingestion, but what limits it when blood glucose is maintained via periodic carbohydrate ingestion?

Lima-Silva AE, de Lira CAB, Bertuzzi R. · 2026

This study examined why endurance exercise has to stop, comparing two scenarios: when you don't eat carbs (where low blood sugar appears to trigger fatigue) and when you do eat carbs periodically (where blood sugar stays normal but fatigue still occurs). The findings suggest that...

Impact of Sprint Duration With Fixed Recovery on Acute Physiological and Performance Responses to Repeated Cycle Sprints in Hypoxia in Male and Female Sprinters.

Takei N, Muraki R, Girard O, Hatta H, Takahashi Y. · 2026

This study compared how trained sprinters perform during repeated 10-second versus 15-second sprint intervals with 30 seconds of rest in simulated high-altitude conditions, looking at power output, fatigue, and differences between males and females. Longer 15-second sprints produ...

Injury characteristics and pre- to post-injury market-value change in professional football: a retrospective cohort study of 12,948 injury episodes

Celal Gençoğlu, Hikmet Gümüş, Zarife Pancar, Yücel Makaracı · 2026

This study examined how different types and lengths of injuries affected the market value of professional football players across Europe's top leagues from 2008 to 2024, analyzing nearly 13,000 injury episodes. The main findings were that longer injuries (over 90 days) were assoc...

Is Training Transfer Uniform? A Systematic Review and Three-Level Meta-Analysis of Resisted Sprint Training Effects on Acceleration, Jumping, and Change of Direction Performance in Athletes.

Li C, Chen L, Zhang Q, Xin X, Li X. · 2026

Resisted sprint training (RST) is widely used to improve acceleration, but transfer to jumping and changing direction remains unclear. This review examined RST effects on acceleration, vertical and horizontal jump, and change of direction performance, with variation by comparator...

Lean and fat mass associations with areal bone mineral density in adolescent team sport athletes

Pontus Öhrner, Nicolas J. Pillon, Marcus Bohlin, Per Jönsson, Christer Malm, Michael Svensson · 2026

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a critical period for skeletal development, yet in adolescent athletes the relative contribution of lean and fat mass to areal bone mineral density (aBMD) across skeletal sites remains unclear. This cross-sectional study examined sex-specific differen...

Microbial-Derived Exerkines Outperform Creatine Monohydrate in Enhancing Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Exercise in Mice.

Burke BI, Daredia J, El-Amouri SS, Range LC, Pearson JR, Valentino TR et al. · 2026

This study tested whether a microbial-derived compound called PAS could enhance exercise performance and muscle adaptation in mice compared to creatine monohydrate, the standard supplement for strength training. Both PAS and creatine improved high-intensity exercise performance, ...

Multidimensional physiological adaptations to intensive training in elite sepak takraw athletes: an embedded mixed-methods study

Victoria Eka Prasetyo, Siti Baitul Mukarromah, Tri Aji, Fatkhur Rozi, Burhan Basyiruddin · 2026

This study tracked 16 elite sepak takraw athletes over a 17-week intensified training camp, measuring physiological improvements in aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, power, speed, and agility alongside athletes' subjective experiences recorded through journaling. The research...

Muscle Massage Adding Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Active or Sham Condition for Post-Exercise Recovery in Athletes: A Crossover Clinical Trial.

Canet-Vintró M, Oviedo GR, López-de-Celis C, Beltrame T, Muñiz-Pardos B, Mengual I et al. · 2026

This study tested whether adding capacitive resistive electric transfer (CRET) therapy to a standard recovery massage helped athletes recover better after intense anaerobic exercise, compared to massage alone. Adding active CRET lowered blood lactate levels at 60 minutes post-exe...

Musculoskeletal (Mal)adaptations in Response to a > 30 000-km Running Challenge.

Venckunas T, Chaillou T, Cesanelli L, Satkunskiene D, Rutkauskas S, Snieckus A et al. · 2026

This case study tracked a 49-year-old ultra-endurance athlete who ran approximately 70 km daily for 15 months (30,300 km total) and measured how his muscles changed before, immediately after, and during 17 months of recovery. The athlete experienced significant muscle loss, reduc...

No Influence of Sleep Quality and Chronotype on the Effects of Mental Fatigue: Evidence From an Exploratory Analysis.

Habay J, Ezzy Q, Arauz YLA, Proost M, Russell S, De Pauw K et al. · 2026

This study tested whether sleep quality and chronotype (morning vs. evening person) influence how mental fatigue—induced by a 45-minute cognitive task—affects physical performance, perceived effort, and cognitive function. The researchers found that sleep quality and chronotype p...

Physiological and biomechanical characteristics of a Hyrox world champion—a case study

Lars Christian Schwalm, Marcelle Schaffarczyk, Janina Mai, Karsten Hollander, Thomas Gronwald, Dominik Fohrmann · 2026

Researchers measured the fitness and movement characteristics of a world-champion Hyrox athlete (a hybrid fitness race combining running with strength exercises like rowing, carries, lunges, and burpee jumps) before and after completing a simulated race. The athlete showed excell...

Post-race lactate, clearance velocity, and recovery protocols in youth competitive swimming

Ragini Adhikari, María Luciana Pérez Armendáriz, Bhanu Bawari, Siddhant Gadge, Sophie Smyth, Max Chisholm et al. · 2026

This study examined how a 1200-meter cool-down protocol helps youth swimmers clear lactate (a fatigue byproduct) after races of different distances, and whether perceived effort and recovery feeling correlated with actual lactate levels. Swimmers racing 100m accumulated more lact...

Resistance Training for Cyclists: Scientific Evidence and Practical Recommendations.

de Pablos R, Sánchez-Redondo IR, Alejo LB, Pallarés JG, Barranco-Gil D, Valenzuela PL. · 2026

This review examines how resistance training affects cycling performance, body composition, and bone health, finding that 1-2 weekly sessions of moderate-to-heavy strength work with compound lower-body exercises improves key cycling indicators without causing unwanted muscle gain...

Stanozolol, an anabolic-androgenic steroid, modulates expression of receptors and disrupts uterine histoarchitecture in Mus musculus.

Kondaguli PS, Balasinor NH, Sharma CR, Inamdar LS. · 2026

This study examined how stanozolol, a commonly abused anabolic steroid, affects the uterus in female mice over 30 days of treatment. The researchers found that stanozolol disrupted normal uterine structure, altered hormone receptor expression in different parts of the uterus, and...

Stronger, smarter, healthier: the case for female-focused health education in the WTA

Melanie Hayman, Margie J. Davenport, Jodie G. Dakic, Deirdre McGee, Kathleen Ann Stroia, Christopher Kronk et al. · 2026

The WTA integrated women's health education into athlete physicals at the 2024 Miami Open, delivering sessions on sports bra fit, pelvic health, menstrual cycle, and pregnancy/postpartum return to sport. Most participating athletes (72% of those completing physicals) attended at ...

The associations among athlete status, sleep, and well-being in a large national sample of college students.

O'Neil B, O'Rourke C, Linss H, Anderson AR. · 2026

This study examined how sleep patterns might explain differences in well-being (flourishing) between college athletes and non-athletes. Athletes reported better sleep quality, more consistent sleep schedules between weekdays and weekends, longer overall sleep, and more frequent n...

Ultrasound technologies to assess bone health: Past, present and future

Kay Raum, Keith A. Wear, Quentin Grimal, Mami Matsukawa, Kfir Lapid, Edgar Wiebe et al. · 2026

BACKGROUND: Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is currently the clinical reference standard for osteoporosis diagnosis and fracture risk assessment. However, it provides only a partial description of bone strength and has practical limitations related to accessibility and ion...

Upper extremity injuries in high school soccer goalkeepers

Christian Nicolosi, Jeffrey Kepple, Mani Singh, Jeri E. Forster, Christin N. Miller, Ashley E. Pietra et al. · 2026

This study compared upper extremity injuries (shoulder, upper arm, elbow) in high school soccer goalkeepers versus field players using data from 2008-2018. Goalkeepers had a much higher rate of upper extremity injuries (8.0% vs. 1.9%), with most injuries occurring during games ra...

Validity of the garmin Forerunner 265 to predict VO2max and race performance times.

Howard J, Ellis R, Fortner CK, Doyle JA, Otis J. · 2026

This study tested whether the Garmin Forerunner 265 fitness tracker could accurately estimate VO2max and predict race performance times compared to actual measured values. The Garmin consistently overestimated VO2max and predicted faster half-marathon times than what runners actu...

A Return to Performance Continuum for Football (Soccer) Players After ACL Reconstruction: Bridging Rehabilitation, Return to Play and Sustained Performance.

Buckthorpe M, Read P, Hamrin Senorski E, Compagnin A, Di Paolo S, Della Villa F. · 2026

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in football (soccer) players is associated with high return-to-competition rates but persistent deficits in performance and elevated risk of secondary injury. Whilst rehabilitation frameworks have evolved to optimise early, mid-, a...

Body Composition and Upper- and Lower-Limb Physical Performance in Youth Female Volleyball Players: Evidence from U13 and U15

Guillermo Laclote-Gutierrez, Jairo Azócar-Gallardo, Marco Cossio-Bolaños, Rossana Gómez‐Campos, Francisco Laclote-Wiehoff, Luís García-Rico et al. · 2026

Objective: This study examined the associations between body composition and physical performance in U13 and U15 volleyball players. Methods: A total of 67 female athletes participated, distributed into U13 (n = 35) and U15 (n = 32) categories. Body weight, body fat percentage, s...

Bridging the Research-Practice Gap: Diffusion and User Experience of a Digital Health Platform in Swedish Athletics.

Jacobsson J, Nilsen P, Carlfjord S, Kowalski J, Dahlström Ö, Tranaeus U. · 2026

Background Evidence-based health information often fails to reach everyday sports practice, leaving a gap between research and real-world application. Digital platforms can help bridge this research-practice gap by disseminating accessible and sport-specific health guidance to co...

Changes in Strength and Muscle Thickness in Physically Active Males and Females in Response to Resistance Exercise Training: Comparison of Absolute and Relative Change Scores

Steven Smith, Fearghal P. Behan, David A Nolan, Brendan Egan · 2026

ABSTRACT: Smith, S, Behan, FP, Nolan, D, and Egan, B. Changes in strength and muscle thickness in physically active males and females in response to resistance exercise training: Comparison of absolute and relative change scores. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-Investiga...

Current Management Approaches for Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes

Abdulhamıt Tayfur, Beyza Tayfur · 2026

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a painful musculoskeletal condition that particularly affects athletes participating in jumping sports. Symptoms of PTare difficult to manage, affect sports and physical activity participation. The recovery rate of PT is not satisfactory, with long r...

Efektivitas Latihan Futsal Berbasis Small-Sided Games terhadap Peningkatan VO2max Siswa SMAN 19 Garut

Candra Mutia Hermawan, Anne Patmah Annisa, Asep Angga Permadi · 2026

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of futsal training based on small-sided games in improving the VO2Max of extracurricular futsal students at SMAN 19 Garut. The lack of variation in conventional training methods often leads to low motivation and sub-optimal aerobic end...

Effects of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Combined With Exercise on HbA1c in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Bayesian Multilevel Network and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.

Wang X, Jiao M, Ma W. · 2026

Background The relative benefits of carbohydrate-restricted diets (CRDs) combined with exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes remain uncertain. We compared regimens and explored incremental benefits, dose-response associations and potential effect modifiers. Methods Four databas...

Effects of acute Capsaicin analogue intake on athletic performance: a three-level meta-analysis

Zhu Huang, Hengzhi Deng, 谈水泉 · 2026

BACKGROUND: Capsaicin analogues have been proposed as potential ergogenic aids, but their acute effects on athletic performance remain inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute capsaicin analogue intake on exercise performance using a three-level meta-analys...

Effects of an 8-Week Skill-Based Training Program on Anaerobic Performance in Young Basketball Players: A Comparison of U17 and U19 Athletes

Hamza BUDAK, Mustafa Karahan, Hüseyin Ünlü, Büşra Özdek · 2026

Although many studies have shown that skill-based training is generally effective for young athletes, it is unclear how age affects responsiveness to such training. To date, no study has investigated whether the effects of skill-based training on anaerobic performance in youth ma...

Effects of Concurrent Training plus Cricket Protein Hydrolysate Supplementation on Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiffness, and Heart Rate Variability in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Vaithanomsat P, Tumnark P, Sukatta U, Janchai P, Phoemsapthawee J. · 2026

Background Arterial stiffness and impaired cardiac autonomic regulation contribute to cardiovascular risk in older adults. However, the cardiovascular effects of combining concurrent training with insect-derived protein supplementation remain unclear. This study examined the effe...

Effects of Core Training Combined with Small-Sided Games on Physical Performance in Young Soccer Players: An 8-Week Randomized Trial

Süleyman Bilgin, Eren Bozyılan, Yusuf Buzdağlı, Yasin Sepil, Erdinç Şıktar · 2026

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of 8 weeks of core training alone versus core training combined with small-sided games on sprint, change of direction (COD), vertical jump (CMJ), repeated anaerobic sprint (RAST), and intermittent aerobic endurance (30-15 V_FT) perf...

Effects of flexibility and strength training on peak hamstring musculotendinous strains during sprinting

Hanjun Li, Hui Liu, S. Li, Xianglin Wan, Thomas Michael Best, Bing Yu · 2026

Effects of yoga-based and conventional physiotherapy programs on functional, respiratory, and psychosocial outcomes in stage II sarcoidosis: A randomized controlled trial.

Yıldız Ş, Kavas M, Takinaci ZD, Aydoğan Eroğlu S. · 2026

Background and aim Sarcoidosis, a multisystemic granulomatous disease, presents with various clinical symptoms such as deterioration in respiratory functions, decreased exercise capacity, fatigue, sleep disorders, anxiety-depression, and consequently reduced quality of life. A st...

Efficacy of a weighted-vest aerobic dance intervention for enhancing lower extremity strength and mobility in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Sasithorn Sukjit, Bhakbhum CHOKTAWEEPANICH, Worrawut Thuwakum · 2026

[Purpose] To investigate the effectiveness of an 8-week aerobic dance program combined with a weighted vest on functional fitness, body composition, and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with low bone mass. [Methods] Fifty-seven participants (60-80 years) were ra...

Effort perception and endurance running performance following prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a randomized crossover-controlled trial.

Martens G, Hody S, Bornheim S, Angius L, Beaumont L, Kaux JF et al. · 2026

The ergogenic potential of stimulating the prefrontal cortex with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for running endurance remains unclear. This randomized, sham-controlled crossover trial evaluated the effects of bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) tDCS ...

Enhancing the Interpretation of Competition Performance and Physical Characteristics in Male Youth Track and Field Athletes

James Baker, Paul James Read, Philip Graham-Smith, Mauricio Mónaco, Marco Cardinale, Thomas W. A. Jones · 2026

ABSTRACT This retrospective study examined the associations of maturity status and chronological age with competition and physical testing outcomes in youth track and field athletes, and evaluated corrective adjustment procedures for competition outcomes. Data were collected over...

Frequency profiles of muscle-strengthening exercise identified using three national surveillance measures in a convenience sample of adults

Christina Johnson, Joshua Haworth, Elise Brown · 2026

Muscle-strengthening exercise (MSE) is crucial for health, with current guidelines recommending engaging in MSE at least two times per week. In the US, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), and Behavioral Risk Fact...

Heat-Related Illnesses in India: Focus on Fluid-Electrolyte Management

Sanjay Kalra, L. Sreenivasa Murthy, Janani Shankar, Amol Patil, Harshad Malve, Vijay Chamle et al. · 2026

Heat exhaustion represents a growing clinical and public health challenge, driven by escalating environmental heat exposure.Disturbances in body fluid homeostasis and electrolyte balance play a central role in its development, often resulting from prolonged heat stress and insuff...

Is failure necessary for muscle growth? An updated review of resistance training to concentric failure

Franz W. Knifis, Weslley Amaral, Fernando Basílio dos Santos, GREZIENE DOS SANTOS Silva, Valtair Afonso Miranda, Marco Machado et al. · 2026

Muscle hypertrophy — the increase in skeletal muscle fiber cross-sectional area — is a central goal of resistance training (RT) programs for athletic performance, aesthetics, and health. Among the variables that can be manipulated in RT, performing sets to concentric failure, the...