Programming & Periodization

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

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 researchers found that athletes improved across all measured fitness domains, but responded to training in different ways, and that performance gains came after periods of accumulated fatigue and recovery rather than in a straightforward linear progression.

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

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 showed significantly greater improvements in all three measures compared to the plyometric-only group, with the combined approach producing larger gains in jump height (7.21 cm vs. 4.45 cm), agility speed, and reactive strength.

The effects of resistance exercise snacks via a mobile health app on musculoskeletal strength in sedentary young women: a randomized controlled trial

The Effects of Muscle Soreness-Based Modified Training on Physical, Physiological, and Competition Performance in Cross-Country Skiers

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

Examining the Impact of Supramaximal Eccentric and Long‐Lever Isometric Training Protocols on Isometric Hamstring Strength, Nordic Hamstring Performance, and Sprint Speed

IMPACT OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING AND STATIC STRETCHING IN FEMALE ADOLESCENT HANDBALL PLAYERS BY USING SARGENT JUMP TEST: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Training type and vascular health in young male athletes: A comparison of brachial and central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity

The Effect of a Combined Training Program (Aquatic–Trampoline) on Functional Efficiency, Dynamic Balance, and Breaststroke Swimming Performance in Women Aged 45–50 Years

Training Load and Performance Characteristics Across Two Consecutive Winter Altitude-Training Cycles in Women's Quadruple Sculls Olympic Champions Preparing for the Beijing Olympics.

Modeling the Training Process to Support Physical Fitness and Movement Performance in Triathletes

The Effects of Combined TRX Suspension and Functional Circuit Training on Biomotor and Physiological Adaptations in Adolescent Basketball Players

Influence of Swimming Training on Selected Anthropometric Measures among Adolescent Boys

Effects of Different Loading Strategies on Kinematic and Neuromuscular Responses During the Back Squat

Comparative Effects of Buteyko Breathing Technique Combined with Progressive and Regressive Resistance Training on explosive power Performance among National-Level Handball Players

Impact of a Specific Physical Training Program on Physical Performance in U15 Female Basketball Players

This study tracked how a basketball-specific training program affected physical performance in 12 young female players (U15 level) by measuring their sprinting speed, jumping power, agility, and aerobic fitness before and after the program. The training produced significant improvements in jumping power, agility, and aerobic capacity, but didn't significantly improve straight-line sprinting speed.

Temporal changes in pectoralis major mechanical properties during and following velocity-based resistance training: a repeated-measures myotonometric study

This study had 20 trained men perform bench press sets until their movement speed dropped 30%, measuring muscle stiffness, elasticity, and tone at various points during and after the session. Muscle stiffness and resting tone decreased notably by 10 minutes after the session ended, while performance metrics like repetitions and velocity declined progressively across sets alongside increasing blood lactate and perceived exertion.

Combined exercise training and resveratrol supplementation modulate diabetes-related factors and mitochondrial biogenesis in male diabetic rats exposed to acute acoustic stress

This study examined how combining exercise training with resveratrol (a compound from grapes) affects metabolic health and mitochondrial function in diabetic rats that were exposed to stress. Without an available abstract, we cannot specify the main findings from this research.

Interaction between time-restricted eating and high-intensity interval training on cardiometabolic outcomes in women with overweight or obesity: a 2 × 2 factorial randomised controlled trial

This study tested whether combining time-restricted eating (eating only within a 10-hour window daily) and high-intensity interval training produced better health results than either approach alone in 131 women with overweight or obesity over 7 weeks. Time-restricted eating alone reduced body weight, fat mass, and visceral fat, but also reduced muscle mass and slightly lowered HDL cholesterol, while the two approaches didn't produce synergistic benefits when combined.

Effects of microdosed versus traditionally dosed plyometric jump training on physical fitness in pre-peak height velocity male soccer players: A randomized comparative trial

This study compared two approaches to plyometric jump training in young male soccer players: microdosed (spreading sessions throughout the week) versus traditionally dosed (concentrated sessions). Both methods produced similar improvements in sprinting speed, jumping ability, and change-of-direction performance, with no meaningful difference between the two approaches.

Trait Sport Anxiety as the Only Consistent Predictor Across Injury Mechanisms in Young Taekwondo Athletes: A 6- to 10-Month Prospective Cohort Study.

Comparison of affective responses between an online and in-person high-intensity functional training session in sports students

This study compared how college-aged sports students felt during the same high-intensity functional training workout done either in-person or online via video. In-person workouts felt more enjoyable and effortful, with 92% of participants preferring the in-person version, though both formats produced similar levels of physical discomfort.

Beyond the Metrics: A Case Study on Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Data to Monitor Training in Elite Rowers.

This study examined how elite rowers and their coaches rated training quality using both traditional metrics (like duration and perceived exertion) and subjective feedback through a structured scale and post-session discussions. The researchers found that coaches consistently rated training quality higher than athletes did, and that sessions with similar training loads varied greatly in how they were experienced, suggesting that standard monitoring metrics alone miss important aspects of training quality.

The Effect of Using Explosive Power Training to Developing Shooting Accuracy for Handball Students in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences at Yarmouk University

This study tested whether a moderate explosive power training program could improve shooting accuracy in handball players, comparing 25 students who did the special program alongside regular training to 25 who did regular training alone. The explosive power training group showed significantly greater improvements in both vertical jump height and shooting accuracy compared to the control group, with the training program proving highly effective.

Seasonal Changes in the Peak-to-Sustained Power Profile of Elite Sprint Kayakers

Nutraceutical Periodization for eXercise (NPX): Matching Bioactives to Training Load, Recovery Demand, and Adaptation Windows

This review proposes a framework called Nutraceutical Periodization for eXercise (NPX) that suggests the effectiveness of supplements depends on when you use them relative to your training, recovery needs, and body state—not just on the supplement itself. The framework defines four functional windows (performance exploitation, adaptation-permissive signaling, restoration, and resilience) and suggests matching supplements to these phases, though most of these specific allocation strategies still need direct research testing.

Research Progress on Rhythmic Gymnastics-Specific Training and Meniscal Injuries in Athletes

Rhythmic gymnastics places extreme demands on knee joints through repeated jumping, twisting, landing, and deep knee bends, making meniscal (knee cartilage) injuries a common problem in the sport. This review examines what causes these injuries, how sport-specific training contributes to them, and what interventions and rehabilitation methods can help prevent and treat them.

Mechanistic advances in the regulation of asthma by different exercise modalities: an integrative perspective on exercise load characteristics and asthma heterogeneity

This review examines how different types of exercise (aerobic training, interval training, resistance training, breathing exercises, and others) affect asthma through different physiological pathways, and how these effects vary depending on a person's specific asthma type and characteristics. The study found that structured exercise training consistently improves exercise capacity, asthma control, and quality of life, but effects on airway inflammation and lung function vary depending on baseline asthma phenotype, disease control, and training approach.

A combination of aerobic and resistance training induces white adipose tissue browning

This study examined how combined aerobic and resistance training affects white fat tissue in mice, specifically whether it can convert white fat into brown-like fat (a process called browning). After 8 weeks of combined training, mice showed improved exercise performance and increased markers of brown fat activation in their white fat deposits, suggesting combined training can transform white fat tissue in ways that may benefit metabolic health.

Rethinking neurophysiology of delayed onset muscle soreness: updated concepts and mechanisms for mitigation across endurance, resistance, and plyometric exercise

This review examined how delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) develops across different exercise types, finding that it involves multiple interconnected systems including inflammation, nerve sensitivity, and proprioceptive changes rather than just muscle damage alone. Different exercise modalities activate distinct pathways—endurance causes cumulative inflammation, resistance training sensitizes pain receptors, and plyometrics disrupts balance control—and recovery interventions like compression, acupuncture, and foam rolling show varying effectiveness depending on the exercise type and individual response.

Individualization of training load in Paralympic powerlifting based on nosology

This study examined how Paralympic powerlifters with different disabilities should adjust their training loads based on their specific medical conditions and biomechanical characteristics. The researchers identified distinct training approaches for each disability group—such as emphasizing triceps and speed work for those with spinal cord injuries, using wrist wraps for shorter athletes, and prioritizing core strength for amputees—to improve both safety and training effectiveness.

Youth athlete development and the burden of musculoskeletal injuries: Implications of early sport specialisation.

This review examines how early sport specialization (intensive, year-round training in a single sport) has become popular among youth athletes, but notes that current evidence does not support it as a predictor of long-term athletic success and that injury rates in youth sports have risen significantly. The authors argue that early specialization should be viewed as part of a broader constellation of factors—including training load, recovery, movement variety, and psychological stress—rather than as an inherent cause of injury, and they call for more individualized, evidence-informed approaches to youth athlete development.

A Combination of Plyometric and Push-Up Training Based on Video Analysis of Volleyball Smashes

This study tested whether combining plyometric and push-up training for four weeks would improve volleyball smash performance in 15 athletes. The combined training program resulted in a 35.57% improvement in smash scores, with video analysis also showing better technique including improved stability, arm swing, and coordination.

An Investigation into the Effects of Different Training Approaches on Muscle Strength and Explosive Power Performance in Table Tennis Players

This study examined whether adding 6 weeks of robot-assisted multi-ball training to traditional table tennis training improved muscle strength and explosive power in 46 young players. Both the robot-assisted group and the control group (traditional training only) showed improvements in forehand and backhand performance, but the robot-assisted training provided no additional benefit over traditional training alone for strength gains or vertical jump ability.

Unrestricted Versus Restricted Anterior Knee Displacement During Bodyweight Squat Training in Physically Active Young Adults: An Exploratory Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

Body composition and handgrip strength as predictors of maximal strength and maximum push-up and pull-up performance in resistance-trained young men

This study examined how body composition and handgrip strength predict maximal strength and bodyweight exercises (push-ups and pull-ups) in 71 resistance-trained young men. Handgrip strength was a strong predictor of bench press and lat pulldown performance, while higher muscle mass and lower body fat predicted deadlift strength, though the relationships were task-specific and the predictive models explained 51–80% of performance variance depending on the exercise.

Resistance training performed under a partial range of motion elicits favorable hormonal responses in untrained young men

This study compared how full range of motion (FROM) versus partial range of motion (PROM) resistance training affected hormonal responses in untrained men performing squats and bench presses. Partial range of motion training kept testosterone elevated longer after exercise and produced less of a cortisol spike, while full range of motion created greater blood lactate accumulation.

Strength and resistance training induced alterations in calcium phosphorus homeostasis and parathyroid hormone among elite under-23 footballers: A quasi-experimental controlled trial

Reactive agility training selectively improves choice reaction and footwork-stroke performance in young male table tennis players: a randomized controlled trial

Square Stepping Exercise Versus Cognitive Dual Task Training on Executive Functions in Subacute Stroke Subjects

Associations between time-series features of training-load monitoring indicators and relative composite performance in elite speed climbers: a GEE and quantile regression study

Within-Athlete Associations Between WHOOP Activity Strain, Coach-Prescribed Training Objectives, and Session-RPE in an Elite Junior Swimmer: A Longitudinal Single-Case Study.

Comparative effects of short- and long-distance sprint training on speed, change-of-direction ability, and intermittent aerobic endurance in collegiate basketball players

This study compared short-distance sprint training versus long-distance sprint training in collegiate basketball players over 6 weeks, using the same total training volume for both groups. Both training approaches improved sprint speed, change-of-direction ability, and aerobic endurance similarly, with only the short-distance sprint group showing significantly greater gains in 5-meter sprinting.

Investigation of the Effects of 4-Week Core and Functional Training Programs on Physical Fitness Parameters in Soccer Players: An Inactive-Controlled Experimental Study

This study compared core training, functional training, and no training in 30 male soccer players over four weeks, measuring changes in strength, power, balance, and body composition. The results did not show that either training program significantly improved these fitness measures compared to the control group, though functional training showed a possible small advantage in right-foot balance that didn't survive statistical correction.

Ramadan Intermittent Fasting and Injury Epidemiology in Mid and Late Adolescent Elite Male Football Players: A Prospective Cohort Study of Incidence, Burden, Training Load, and Psychophysiological Well‐Being

This study tracked 101 elite teenage male football players across 13 weeks to see how Ramadan fasting affected their injury rates, training stress, and recovery. During Ramadan, injury incidence nearly doubled and injury burden more than doubled, while perceived training load and fatigue increased significantly and protein intake dropped.

Acute effects of foam rolling on jump performance and neuromuscular responses following resistance exercise

Acute Effects of High- Versus Low-Elevation-Gain Trail Running Training on Static and Dynamic Postural Balance in Young Trail Runners

This study examined how high-elevation versus flat trail running affects balance in young, trained trail runners by measuring both static balance (standing still) and dynamic balance (moving through space) before and after each workout. The high-elevation session caused a significant increase in static balance errors compared to the flat session, while dynamic balance showed no meaningful difference between conditions.

Field-based and laboratory monitoring tools in aerobic gymnastics: a scoping review of measurement properties, physiological relevance, and change following training or competitive exposure

Anaerobic Power Cycling Training and Lower-Extremity Performance in Elite Female Handball Players: A Predictive Model Based on Morphological Indices

Effectiveness of a Sports-Specific Warm-Up Protocol versus a Conventional Training Program in Badminton Players: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Effects of Run-Specific Isometric Exercises Performed with Complex Training on Neuromuscular Performance in Youth Soccer Players

Athlete Monitoring in Norwegian Elite Women's Football: An Exploratory Study of Current Practices and Perceptions.

Supporting Athletes’ Various Needs – A Design Study Approach to Menstrual Tracking

Opportunities for correcting psychosomatic states of elite athletes during pre-competition activities using off-training methods and extra-training means

The effects of resistance band training on strength, vertical jump and sprint performance in young male basketball players: a randomised controlled trial

Integrating calisthenics into volleyball training: effects on athletic performance and technical skills in adolescent athletes

Effects of Morning vs Afternoon Training over 4 Weeks on Aerobic Capacity in University Students-Athletes

Importance of respect for the menstrual cycle in sports training and competition: a nationwide multisport coach questionnaire

Integrative Nutritional Strategies for Performance, Recovery, and Weight Management in Taekwondo

Does Adding Mindfulness to Instability Resistance Training Enhance Dual-Task Mobility and Fall-Related Outcomes in Older Adults with Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Training Load-Recovery Mismatch and Injury Occurrence in Competitive Athletes: Insights From Longitudinal Monitoring.

A 12-week multimodal exercise program combining Baduanjin and resistance-band training improves muscle health in older adults with sarcopenia: A randomized controlled trial

A comparative study on the effectiveness of instrument assisted soft tissue mobilisation combined with heavy slow resistance training versus conventional rehabilitation in managing Achilles tendinopathy among recreational basketball players

Fragmented versus traditional resistance training: a randomized controlled trial on muscular strength, endurance, and enjoyment in recreationally trained young adults

Comparison of Active versus Passive Whole-Body Vibration Training on Neuromuscular Activation of Deep Trunk Muscles and Dynamic Postural Stability: A Pilot Study

Effects of strength and balance training on the structure of the aging brain

Effect of a 12-week plyometric training programme on explosive strength, agility, sprint performance and throwing velocity among collegiate handball players

Effects of A 12-Week General Preparatory Training Programme on Body Composition, Maximal Strength, Neuromuscular Performance, and Aerobic Capacity in Elite Youth Track and Field Athletes: A Controlled Longitudinal Intervention Study

[The role of clinical laboratory testing in athlete monitoring: health, performance, and prevention of overtraining].

Olympic Weightlifting Training Status, Bone Health, and Hormonal Profiles in Pubertal Male Weightlifters

The Value and Limitations of Smart-Watch Recovery Scores in Daily Training Decision-Making

Temporal Stability and Practical Applicability of Velocity and Velocity-Loss Perception in Back Squat over Eight Weeks

Monitoring Patellar Tendon Stiffness in Relation to Load, Function and Pain

Explainable temporal deep learning for athlete-independent classification of injury-labeled days in competitive distance runners: a methodological benchmark using seven-day training-load histories.

Effects of 12 weeks of French contrast training on lower-limb explosive performance in male collegiate basketball players

EFFECT OF FUNCTIONAL CIRCUIT TRAINING ON EXERCISE-INDUCED SLEEP IMPROVEMENT IN INDIVIDUALS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

EFFECT OF REVERSE NORDIC CURLS TRAINING ON SPORTS PERFORMANCE IN RECREATIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYERS

Pre-fatigue Direct 1RM Testing vs. Post-fatigue Load–Velocity Profiling: Which Better Predicts Maximal Strength in the Deadlift After Resistance Training?

Muscle architectural and performance adaptations following an 8-week sprint-focused training intervention

Mobile Health (mHealth) Apps in Sport Training: A Scoping Review.

Influence of Training Load on Recovery, Wellness, and Performance in Elite Soccer Athletes.

Indicators of strength, oxidative stress, and muscle damage in Paralympic powerlifting athletes undergoing variable resistance training

The interventional effects of PNF training on functional ankle instability in habitually active adults

Paddle-to-podium: A case study of sprint-paddle technique training in an elite female surfer

Paediatric-to-adult transition in inherited arrhythmia syndromes.

Plyometric-jump training with versus without unstable load to improve physical fitness in trained young volleyball players: a randomized controlled trial

Researchers had 37 trained teenage male volleyball players do 4 weeks of plyometric jump training (3 sessions/week) either with an unstable external load (~10% of body weight) or without extra load, versus an active control group. Both jump programs similarly improved jump-and-reach height and overall balance, with the unstable-load version adding only one extra benefit: faster time to peak knee extensor torque.

Development and Evaluation of a Knowledge Transfer Scheme-Based Foot Core Training Program for Male Amateur Football Players

Why Non-linear Training Models Are Better Than Linear Training Models in Short-term Training Programmes: A Comparative Study

Interactive associations of daily music engagement and nutritional behavior with psychological performance in competitive athletes: a 14-day naturalistic diary study.

Coaching Style and Athlete Performance: The Mediating Roles of Coach–Athlete Relationship, Motivation, and Training Load–Recovery Management

Researchers surveyed 483 athletes, coaches and trainers at five Chinese sports universities to test whether coaching style affects athlete performance directly or through the coach raining and training load/recovery management. Coaching style significantly predicted athlete performance (\u03b2 = 0.448), though the abstract is cut off before the mediation results are reported.

Effect Of Functional Training On Some Anaerobic Metabolic Enzymes, Biokinetic Variables And Rising Punch Strength In Emerging Boxers

In-season resistance training intervention improves strength and power characteristics in academy freestyle freeski athletes – a quasi-experimental study

Associations Between Anthropometric Characteristics, Jump Performance and Recorded Tendon-Related Disorders in Youth Volleyball Players.

Acute and Short-Term Effects of Real-Time Feedback Neuromuscular Training on Vertical Jump Performance and Reactive Efficiency in Youth Basketball Players

Effects of qigong and resistance exercise on improving balance and cognitive ability of community-dwelling older adults

Researchers had 93 older adults (average age 65) do either Baduanjin qigong or resistance band training three times a week for 16 weeks, compared with a control group that carried on as usual. Both training styles improved balance and cognitive scores versus the control group with no difference between them, though Baduanjin produced greater gains in flexibility, systolic blood pressure, and the executive function and naming parts of the cognitive test.

Cell-Free Circulating Mitochondrial DNA: A Biomarker of Physiological Stress and Adaptation in Athletes.

This review examines cell-free mitochondrial DNA — fragments released into the bloodstream when cells are stressed — as a possible marker of training strain in athletes. According to the review, hard or damaging exercise causes sharp short-term spikes in these fragments and triggers inflammation, while consistent training with adequate recovery is associated with lower baseline levels; persistently high levels have been linked to poor recovery, inflammation and possible overtraining.

Sprint and jump performance responses to curvilinear sprint training with and without a weighted vest in youth female soccer players

Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Volleyball-Specific Performance: A Randomized Trial.

Researchers randomly split 28 elite female volleyball players (ages 17-19) into a group that added 12 mindfulness sessions (two 60-minute sessions per week) before regular practice, or a group that just did normal training, with training load kept the same for both. The mindfulness group improved significantly more on all five skill tests (forearm pass, overhead pass, serve, spike, and block accuracy), with the biggest gains in spike and serve accuracy.

Shame norms, achievement pressure, and controlled self-regulation: cultural pathways to psychological distress and performance outcomes in endurance athletes.

Force-time metric responses to training in an Olympic 400m sprinter across a two-week microcycle: a case study

Researchers tracked one world-class female 400m sprinter over a two-week training block, testing her countermovement jump on a force plate before and after each practice. Jump height, force, and power dropped right after hard sessions (especially sprint speed and endurance work), but these dips were temporary and rebounded to or above baseline after rest days.

Tapering and Peaking in the Weight Lifting Sports: A Systematic Review of Athletes' Self-Reported Strategies.

Researchers pooled seven high-quality survey and interview studies to describe how strength-sport athletes (powerlifting, weightlifting, strongman, Highland Games, CrossFit) actually taper before competition. Tapers were almost universal and typically lasted 5-9 days (longer in powerlifting), most often as an abrupt "step" cut of about 40-45% in training volume, with peak volume hit 4-6 weeks out and peak intensity 2-3 weeks out; heavy deadlifts stopped 6-8 days out, squats 5-6.5 days, and bench 3-5 days, followed by 1.5-4 days of full rest.

An Observational Study To Analyze The Effect Between Aerobic Exercise And Resistance Training In Parkinson Disease To Improve Balance, Mobility And Quality Of Life

A Comparative Analysis Of High Intensity Interval Training And Low Intensity Interval Training In Male College Volleyball Players

Musculoskeletal Pain in Unsupervised Gym-Goers: Prevalence and Anatomical Distribution

Researchers surveyed 100 regular gym-goers aged 18-30 who trained 4-5 days a week without a personal trainer, using a standard questionnaire to ask where they had musculoskeletal pain. 92% reported pain in at least one body region, most often the lower back (36%), shoulder (24%), upper back (22%), and neck (21%).

Effects of creatine on strength, muscle mass, post-exercise recovery and anaerobic capacity in women - literature review

This narrative review pulled together studies from the past 18 years on creatine supplementation in women, including active women, athletes, and older women doing resistance or high-intensity training. The authors conclude that creatine appears to help muscle strength and anaerobic performance when paired with regular training, while effects on muscle mass gain and post-exercise recovery are less clear.

LOW-RESISTANCE TRAINING AS A CATALYST FOR ENHANCING MUSCULAR ENDURANCE IN YOUNG-OLDER MALE ADULTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACTIVE AGEING.

Researchers had 16 men aged 60-69 in Nigeria do resistance training twice a week for 12 weeks at a light load, starting at 25% of their one-rep max and stepping up to 35% and then 45%. Muscular endurance improved significantly, with further gains measured at each 4-week checkpoint through the end of the program.

Exercise modalities for overall and domain-specific balance performance in older adults: A systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis.

Researchers pooled 423 randomised trials covering nearly 34,000 adults aged 60+ to compare 19 types of exercise for improving balance. Almost every modality beat doing nothing (stretching was the exception), with perturbation training, sensory training, dance and agility stepping showing the largest overall effects, and different modalities standing out for different balance types (e.g. Tai Chi for global, Pilates for dynamic, aquatic exercise or agility stepping for proactive balance).

Low-frequency resistance training enhances 2D strain-derived carotid strain and strain rate: a novel longitudinal application of strain imaging in healthy middle-aged females

Sixteen inactive middle-aged women did resistance training just once a week for 12 weeks, and researchers used ultrasound to check the flexibility and function of their neck (carotid) and arm arteries, both at rest and during a handgrip stress test. Resting measures didn't change, but carotid artery strain and strain rate improved across the handgrip conditions after training, while traditional stiffness measures and brachial flow-mediated dilation showed no change.

The Fatigue Assessment Model for Athlete Training by Integrating Inertial Sensors and Multimodal Physiological Signals

Researchers built a fatigue-tracking model that combined wrist-worn motion sensors (IMUs) with heart rate, heart rate variability, and athletes' own effort ratings (RPE) during training. Over a 30-minute session heart rate rose from about 75 to 141 bpm and RPE from 6.3 to 16.9, and combining the data streams identified exercises with 97.0% accuracy and graded fatigue with 95.1% accuracy.

Effect of Extensive Interval Training on Endurance Performance in Long-Distance Runners

Researchers had 15 male long-distance runners (aged 20-27) complete a program of extensive interval training, testing their endurance before and after with the 12-minute Cooper run test. Average distance covered rose from about 1,835 m to 1,929 m, a statistically significant improvement in endurance.

Effects Of Resistance Training on Metabolic and Hormonal Markers in Overweight Female University Athletes in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial”

This randomized controlled trial set out to test how resistance training affects metabolic and hormonal markers in overweight female university athletes in China, a group that can face metabolic and hormonal problems despite being physically active. The abstract only states the study's rationale and aim; it does not report any results.

Resistance training and its cessation: hormonal responses, muscle thickness, strength, and muscular endurance adaptations to high- and low-load protocols in male runners

This study examined how male runners responded to heavy-load versus light-load resistance training, and what happened after they stopped training, looking at hormones, muscle thickness, strength, and muscular endurance. No abstract was available, so the actual findings can't be reported here.

Prevalence and severity of pubic symphysis radiographic findings in male and female sub-elite football players with and without hip and/or groin pain.

Researchers X-rayed the pelvis of 239 sub-elite soccer and Australian football players, 184 with hip/groin pain and 55 without, and scored five features at the pubic symphysis. Players with pain had no more (or worse) X-ray findings than pain-free players, though the type of finding differed by sex: men showed more erosion-like changes and sclerosis, women more bony proliferation and fragmentation, with overall severity similar.

The effect of rapid expansion and contraction composite training on dynamic posture control and landing biomechanics of athletes with chronic ankle instability

Researchers randomly assigned 56 athletes with chronic ankle instability to either 8 weeks of plyometric (stretch-shortening cycle) training three times per week or standard rehab. The plyometric group improved more in balance (Y balance test, especially reaching backward-inward), self-reported ankle stability (CAIT), and landing mechanics, with lower peak vertical ground reaction force and loading rate, with no serious adverse events.

Occupational Impacts of Compound Resistance Training in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Six adults over 65 did twice-weekly, one-hour sessions of compound resistance training for 10 weeks, and researchers measured how well they performed daily activities plus their stress and depression levels. Participants reported significant improvements in daily-activity performance and satisfaction, along with better confidence and views of strength training, while changes in stress and depression scores were not statistically significant.

Effects of a minimal dose of plyometric training on the FITescola®

Researchers tested whether a very small dose of plyometric (jump) training, added to regular physical education, would improve fitness test scores in 80 students aged 11-13, compared with a control group doing PE as usual. The jumping group changed differently from the control group on all three tests measured: standing long jump, 4x10 m agility shuttle, and 40 m sprint, leading the authors to conclude that a minimal dose of plyometrics is a time-efficient way to boost neuromuscular performance in school-age kids.

Effectiveness of Total Resistance Exercise on Flexibility and Core Strength in College-Level Cricket Players with Lower Crossed Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Researchers randomly assigned 36 male college cricket players with lower crossed syndrome (tight hip flexors and low back, weak glutes and abs) to six weeks of suspension-strap TRX training or conventional exercise, three sessions a week of about 50 minutes. Both groups improved significantly, but the TRX group gained more in sit-and-reach flexibility, lumbopelvic stability, and single-leg glute bridge endurance at week 6.

Concurrent training is associated with enhanced post-exercise ceramide clearance and fat oxidation capacity in individuals with type 2 diabetes following lifestyle intervention

Researchers took 21 people with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity who followed a 12-week paleo-style weight-loss diet, either alone or combined with supervised concurrent (cardio plus strength) training three times a week, and measured blood fats before, during and after an exercise test. Blood sugar control during exercise improved in both groups, but only the training group improved cardiometabolic fitness, lowered resting very-long-chain ceramides, and cleared ceramides and sphingomyelins from the blood faster after exercise \u2014 a response linked to better fat burning during exercise.

Depth-specific responses to 8-week additional aquatic plyometric training on explosive performance and start-turn metrics in collegiate male swimmers

Thirty college male swimmers added two weekly sessions of in-water plyometric (jump-style) training for 8 weeks, done at one of three water depths — knee, waist, or chest — while continuing normal swim training. All groups improved jump height and 15-m start time, and the depth mattered: the waist-deep group generally showed the biggest gains, while chest-deep immersion showed the least; turn times changed less consistently.

Comparative Effect of Early and Late Preparatory Phase Training on Selected Motor Fitness, Physiological, and Handball Skill Performance Variables

This study compared two 12-week handball training programs \u2014 one modeled on early preparatory phase training (higher volume, general conditioning) and one on late preparatory phase training (more specific, higher intensity) \u2014 against a control group, using 90 male college players. It measured speed, agility, explosive power, muscular endurance, coordination, resting heart rate, vital capacity, aerobic capacity, and handball skills, but the abstract only states hypotheses and expected outcomes rather than any actual results.

EFFECT OF HALLIWICK AQUATIC TRAINING ON DYNAMIC BALANCE IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS: A PRE–POST EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Researchers had 32 sedentary older adults (aged 65-70) with poor balance do a 4-week Halliwick-style aquatic training program — 12 supervised 45-minute pool sessions, three times a week — and measured dynamic balance before and after with the Mini-BESTest. Balance scores rose significantly, from about 16.3 to 22.4 out of 28 (a mean gain of ~6 points), though the study had no control group for comparison.

Effect of dual-task training on postural stability in obese individuals: a randomised controlled trial

This 8-week randomised trial had 35 obese adults do balance training either as a single task or as a dual task (balance plus a thinking task) with either variable or fixed attention priority, measuring sway, reaction time, and balance tests. All three groups improved on every measure, and while the variable-priority dual-task group beat the fixed-priority group on some sway and dual-task walking measures, dual-task training overall was not better than plain single-task balance training.

Improved cognitive flexibility after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Twenty people with Parkinson's disease did three weeks of stationary cycling (three 30-minute sessions per week), either as high-intensity intervals (alternating 30 seconds at 75% and 90% of max heart rate) or as continuous training at 85% of max heart rate. The interval group improved on tests of cognitive flexibility and inhibitory control (Trail Making Test B and Stroop III) while the continuous group did not, but only the continuous group significantly improved VO2max; both groups improved balance and motor symptoms.

Periodization, training intensity distribution, and blood lactate monitoring in a female Olympic champion 20 km race walker: a longitudinal case study

Researchers tracked an Olympic-champion female 20 km race walker's training and blood lactate testing over roughly eight months leading into the Paris 2024 Games. She covered 3,719 km of race walking with a pyramidal intensity split (82% low, 9% moderate, 9% high intensity), added more race-pace work as competition approached, and her speed at fixed lactate levels improved substantially (e.g., from 13.68 to 15.79 km/h at 4 mmol/L).

Effects of a four-week ladder drill training program on dribbling performance in u-14 youth soccer players: a quasi-experimental study

Sixteen under-14 male soccer players in Indonesia did 16 agility-ladder sessions over four weeks (four times a week, 40 heir slalom dribbling time was tested before and after. Average dribbling time improved from 14.67 to 14.36 seconds \u2014 a small 2.1% gain, but statistically significant with a large standardized effect size. Note there was no control group, so normal training or practice on the test could explain part of the change.

Nutritional Strategies for Recovery-Adaptation Coupling After Exercise: From Muscle Damage to Performance Remodeling.

This narrative review proposes a framework called recovery-adaptation coupling (RAC), which tries to balance recovering fast for the next session against blunting the biological signals that drive long-term training adaptation. Reviewing 130 papers, the authors found the strongest applied support for adequate energy intake, protein spread through the day, carbohydrate refueling when the next session is soon, and individualized fluid and sodium replacement, while polyphenols, curcumin, omega-3s and creatine were context-dependent and collagen/gelatin evidence was only mechanistic or pilot-level; the RAC framework itself is unvalidated.

Responsiveness of muscle mass gain to different load intensities of resistance training in older women: A randomized crossover study

Twenty-seven older women (average age 68) each completed two 8-week resistance training programs\u2014one using sets to 15-rep max loads and one using heavier 10-rep max loads\u2014in random order with a 12-week break between. Both approaches produced similar, significant gains in estimated muscle mass, and while about 39% of women showed little response, the load used didn't determine who responded.

Acute Performance, Mechanical and Thermal Effects of Isometric Conditioning Versus Standardized Volleyball Pre-Training Activation in Highly Trained Male Players

Researchers had 14 highly trained male volleyball players do either a standard 9-minute volleyball warm-up or a short protocol of maximal isometric back squats (3 sets of 5 x 3-second holds), then tested jump performance, muscle stiffness and skin temperature over the next 12 minutes. The isometric protocol produced bigger jump height and peak power gains and far more individual responders (9 of 14 vs 1 of 14), but only during the period when preceding training volume was lower; gains tracked reductions in thigh muscle stiffness, not skin temperature.

Effects of high-intensity interval cross training and classical training on physical and sprint performance in male junior sprinters

Researchers split 64 male junior sprinters into two groups for 8 weeks: one did high-intensity interval cross training (HIICT, mixing sprints, plyometrics, and functional strength work) and the other did classical sprint training, with both groups matched for overall training effort. The HIICT group showed better improvements in 100 m sprint time, the first 60 m split, ground contact time, countermovement jump, relative peak power, and power clean, while body composition and most strength measures improved similarly in both groups.

Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Modalities Ameliorate Hippocampal Plasticity and Neurocognitive Changes Induced by Receiving Nandrolone Decanoate in Rats (Physiological, Biochemical, and Histological Study).

Researchers gave rats the anabolic steroid nandrolone decanoate, with or without 8 weeks of treadmill (aerobic) or ladder-climbing (resistance) training, then tested memory and examined the hippocampus. The steroid impaired spatial learning and memory, raised oxidative stress, and lowered brain growth factors (BDNF, NGF); both exercise types reduced this damage, with aerobic training helping most.

A Mouse Ladder-Climb Protocol Induces Acute Anabolic Signaling and Muscle-Specific Adaptations to Resistance Training.

Researchers tested whether mice climbing a weighted ladder show the same muscle-building responses as humans doing resistance training, looking at both a single session and 6 weeks of training. A single session raised muscle-protein-building signals (mTOR activation, new protein synthesis, and muscle growth gene activity), while 6 weeks increased strength, fat-free mass, sarcomeric protein levels, muscle fiber diameter, and satellite cell numbers and fusion, with no change in general physical performance.

Perturbation-based vs multicomponent training in adults over 70: effects on balance and mobility

Researchers randomly assigned 61 community-dwelling women over 70 to eight weeks of twice-weekly, 45-minute training that either included progressively unpredictable balance perturbations or was a traditional multicomponent program without them. The perturbation group improved on all strength, balance, and mobility tests, while the traditional group improved on only some, suggesting perturbation work gives broader gains.

Effect of an Eight Weeks Endurance Training Program on Body Mass Index (BMI) in Male College Students

Researchers took 50 male college students aged 16-20 and split them into two groups: one did eight weeks of structured continuous running at a heart-rate-based intensity (tracked with a Garmin watch), while the other carried on as usual. BMI was measured before and after, but the abstract only describes the study design and doesn't report the actual results.

Effects of hybrid plyometric-ladder and plyometric-circuit training on sprint speed and maximum velocity development in male students

Researchers randomly split 60 young men (18-22) into three groups for 12 weeks, training three times a week with either plyometrics combined with agility-ladder drills, plyometrics in a circuit format, or no extra training, then tested 30 m, 40 m and 50 m sprints. Both training groups got faster at all distances while the control group didn't improve; the two methods were equal at 30 m, but the plyometric-circuit group improved more at 40 m and 50 m.

The workout is not the program: Physiological load, repeatability, and consistency in endurance training

This is a coaching/physiology commentary arguing that endurance workouts should be judged by the physiological load they create rather than by their format or name. The authors contend that differently structured sessions (e.g., 5 times1000m vs. 5 times3 minutes at threshold with matched recovery) can produce comparable training stimulus when intensity, duration, total work, and recovery are matched, while factors like terrain, surface, weather, and athlete readiness still shift the specific cost.

Blood Biochemical Acute Daily Responses During an Intensive Training Microcycle: A Case Report of an Olympic Kayaker

Researchers tracked daily fasting blood markers in one 35-year-old Olympic kayaker across a normal week and a deliberately intensified training week. During the hard week, muscle-damage marker creatine kinase roughly doubled and stayed high, cortisol and epinephrine rose, serum iron dropped about a third, while red blood cells, hemoglobin, testosterone, and the inflammation marker CRP stayed stable — suggesting heavy but well-tolerated stress.

Effects of a Hale-Based Speed, Agility, and Quickness (SAQ) Training Program on Agility Performance in Male High School Futsal Players

Researchers had 40 male high school futsal players (ages 14-18) either add an eight-week structured speed, agility, and quickness (SAQ) drill program to their normal futsal training or just keep training as usual. Both groups got faster on the Illinois Agility Test, but the SAQ group improved more (6.41% vs 4.71%), with a moderate effect size favoring the extra training.

The effect of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness for non-ambulatory stroke survivors: a randomized controlled trial

Researchers randomly assigned 40 stroke survivors who couldn't walk independently to either 4 weeks of high-intensity interval training (1 min hard / 1 min easy) or low-intensity continuous training, 5 sessions a week, and measured peak oxygen uptake plus daily-function scores. Both groups improved in daily function (Barthel Index) and lower-limb motor scores, but HIIT was no better than steady low-intensity work for cardiorespiratory fitness overall; exploratory subgroup analyses hinted HIIT helped more in patients who were more independent at admission (Barthel ≥60) or of normal weight (BMI ≤24).

Growth Plate Injuries, Skeletal Maturity, and Bone Health in Young Dancers: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Researchers mapped out the published research on growth plate injuries, skeletal maturity, and bone health in young dancers, tracking who publishes it, where, and on what themes. They found a small but growing literature since the early 2000s, dominated by US-based studies of classical ballet, focused on physeal injury mechanisms, the female athlete triad, and training load effects on bone, with little evidence on long-term outcomes or non-ballet dance styles.

Plyometric Training for Enhancing Jump Performance and Speed in Young Badminton Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Researchers randomly split 24 badminton-playing children (ages 8-12) into a group doing plyometric (jump-based) training twice a week for 8 weeks and a group doing standard badminton training. The plyometric group improved vertical jump by about 12% and playing speed by about 8%, versus 3% and 2% in the control group.

Exercise-based rehabilitation with or without blood flow restriction in individuals with heart failure: Protocol for the rehab-washout HF trial.

This is a study protocol (no results yet) for a trial comparing four months of conventional moderate-to-heavy resistance training (60-80% of 1RM) against low-load training with blood flow restriction (20-30% of 1RM at 50% arterial occlusion pressure) in 52 people with heart failure. It will track a blood marker of cardiac strain (NT-proBNP), quality of life, heart function on echo, functional capacity, and clinical events, plus eight months of follow-up.

Effects of fin-based kick training on 50-m freestyle performance in adolescent swimmers

Nine male adolescent club swimmers (ages 12-17) did a six-week program of fin-based kicking drills, 16 sessions over three sessions per week, and had their 50-m freestyle sprint time tested before and after. Average sprint time improved from 32.40 s to 31.74 s, a gain of 0.66 s (2.3%), though with only nine swimmers and no control group the improvement can't be credited to the fins alone.

Unstable trunk core strength training improves shooting performance and holding stability in elite 10 m air pistol athletes: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Twenty national-level 10 m air pistol shooters did 8 weeks of core training either on unstable surfaces (Swiss balls, BOSU, balance discs) or on stable ground, and researchers measured body sway and gun-holding steadiness. The unstable-surface group improved more on most measures, including sway area, shooting scores and aim steadiness, though after statistical correction for multiple comparisons only a couple of outcomes stayed significant, so the authors call it preliminary pilot evidence.

Competition and training load of high-level competitive non-motorised surface water sports athletes: a scoping review of athlete monitoring methodology.

This scoping review mapped 22 studies on how elite athletes in non-motorised surface water sports (like rowing, surfing, sailing and canoeing) have their training and competition load monitored. It found that most research relies on heart rate for internal load (71%) and GPS for external load (47%), but these tools were borrowed from land and ergometer settings and haven't been validated against water-specific conditions like wind, waves and current.

Chlorinated pool air, airway mucosal immunity, and respiratory health in competitive swimmers: a mini review.

This mini review pulls together research on how the chlorine-related chemicals in the air just above indoor pools affect swimmers' airways. It reports that studies link this exposure to airway irritation, inflammation, hyperresponsiveness and asthma-like symptoms in susceptible people, though the evidence is inconsistent because studies measure exposure, training load and allergy status differently.

A generative adversarial network framework for individualized training load distribution based on physiological response patterns and injury risk prediction

Researchers built an AI system (a GAN-inspired model) that reads athletes' training loads, heart rate variability, sleep, neuromuscular tests, wellness ratings and blood markers to generate personalized seven-day training plans, testing it on 128 elite athletes over 16 months. The AI's plans were rated by experts as roughly comparable to coach-designed plans, and its use was associated with better training efficiency, fewer overtraining markers, better performance trends and fewer non-contact injuries — but the study wasn't randomized, contact injuries didn't differ, and blood markers were hardest to predict.

The effects of 8-week wearable resistance training on neuromuscular adaptations in soccer players

Thirty trained male college soccer players did 8 weeks of normal technical-tactical training, with half wearing light weights (2% of body mass on the legs) three sessions per week and half wearing unloaded placebo garments. The weighted group improved more in 10-m and 30-m sprints, jump height, and rate of force development, while maximal strength and muscle size/architecture didn't change, and perceived training load was similar between groups.

Activation of the flexor reflex for gait training in chronic stroke patients

This small pilot study had five people who were years past a stroke do 15 sessions of treadmill and overground walking over 5 weeks, paired with electrical stimulation that triggers the flexor reflex (an automatic leg-lifting response). Walking speed and 2-minute walking distance improved significantly after training and were still better 3 months later, and walking was also better in the moment when the reflex stimulation was switched on; users rated the device highly, though with only five people and no control group the authors can't separate the effect of the stimulation from the walking practice itself.

Analysis of the Load-Velocity Relationship in the Full Squat Exercise in Female Soccer Players of Different Ages.

Researchers tested 85 female soccer players (senior, U18, U16) doing progressively heavier full squats to see how bar speed relates to the percentage of their one-rep max. Velocity predicted relative load very well (especially mean propulsive velocity and mean velocity, less so peak velocity), and the relationship was essentially the same regardless of age group.

The effect of squat training with different eccentric contraction tempos on lower limb muscle strength

Thirty sports-training students did squats twice a week for 8 weeks using one of three lowering speeds: a slow 4-second eccentric, a 2-second eccentric, or a self-selected tempo, and were tested on max squat strength, jump height, and 30 m sprint. All groups got stronger with no significant difference between them, but the 2-second eccentric group showed the biggest effect sizes for strength and the clearest gains in countermovement jump, squat jump, and sprint performance, while the 4-second group's jump effects were negative.

Effect of Training Load and Recovery Time on Neuromuscular Performance in Elite Youth Soccer Players

Researchers tracked 75 elite youth male soccer players (U16-U18) over six months, measuring countermovement jump height before, 24 hours after, and 48 hours after moderate- and high-intensity training weeks. High-intensity weeks caused the biggest drop in jump performance at 24 hours, with only partial recovery by 48 hours, and bigger drops were seen in players whose recent workload spiked relative to their usual load (high acute-to-chronic workload ratio).

Integrated multidomain model for predicting meniscal injury in amateur athletes: Development of a personalized prevention algorithm.

Researchers followed 620 amateur athletes (ages 15-50) for 2-3 years, measuring knee anatomy, movement mechanics, training load, lifestyle and biology, and symptoms to build a tool predicting who would suffer a meniscal injury. About 15% got injured, and seven combined factors predicted risk well enough to sort athletes into four risk tiers with steadily rising injury rates.

Effect of external trunk perturbations on the biomechanics of plant leg during instep kick.

Researchers had 15 male college-level footballers perform instep kicks while being pushed at the trunk from different directions, either expected or unexpected, and measured the support (plant) leg with motion capture and force plates. Unanticipated perturbations significantly changed plant-leg joint angles, moments and stiffness (including greater ankle inversion-eversion stiffness), suggesting the leg is under more control demand when a push isn't expected.

Photobiomodulation as an Adjunct to Resistance Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Researchers pooled 11 randomized trials (456 older adults) testing whether red/near-infrared light therapy (photobiomodulation, via laser or LED) added to resistance training boosts strength gains. Across the five trials with 1RM data, adding light therapy did not significantly improve maximal strength versus sham, though some non-training studies hinted at benefits for fatigue and recovery in frail or critically ill older adults.

Day-to-day variability in resting metabolic rate in strength athletes.

Researchers measured resting metabolic rate (calories burned at rest) on five consecutive mornings in 13 weight-stable strength-trained athletes to see how much it naturally fluctuates day to day. Day-to-day variation averaged about 3.4%, and a change had to exceed roughly 10% to be considered a real change rather than noise; averaging the whole session's breath data gave the most consistent results, and prior-day training load or protein intake weren't clearly linked to variability.

Evidence for Periodizing Strength and/or Endurance Training

Review of the current evidence base for periodizing strength and/or endurance training and how periodized models compare with non-periodized approaches.

The Resistance Training Dose Response: Meta-Regressions Exploring the Effects of Weekly Volume and Frequency on Muscle Hypertrophy and Strength Gains

Systematic review with meta-regressions examining how weekly set volume and training frequency relate to muscle hypertrophy and strength adaptations.