During incremental exercise, two thresholds may be identified from standard gas exchange and ventilatory measurements. The first signifies the onset of blood lactate accumulation (the lactate threshold, LT) and the second the onset of metabolic acidosis (the respiratory compensation point, RCP). The ability to explain why these thresholds occur and how they are identified, non-invasively, from pulmonary

Background Extracellular buffering supplements [sodium bicarbonate (SB), sodium citrate (SC), sodium/calcium lactate (SL/CL)] are ergogenic supplements, although questions remain about factors which may modify their effect. Objective To quantify the main effect of extracellular buffering agents on exercise outcomes, and to investigate the influence of potential moderators on this effect using a systematic

Objective Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Methods Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed

Background The number and magnitude of head impacts have been assessed in-vivo using inertial sensors to characterise the exposure in various sports and to help understand their potential relationship to concussion. Objectives We aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the field of in-vivo sensor acceleration event research in sports via the summary of data collection and processing methods, population

Background Professional athletes seem to have a lower overall mortality risk than the general population, but controversy exists about whether athletes in sports associated with repetitive head impacts have a higher risk of mortality from neurodegenerative diseases. Objective We aimed to determine the risk of mortality from neurodegenerative diseases in sports associated with repeated head impacts

Mechanical loading to the knee joint results in a differential response based on the local capacity of the tissues (ligament, tendon, meniscus, cartilage, and bone) and how those tissues subsequently adapt to that load at the molecular and cellular level. Participation in cutting, pivoting, and jumping sports predisposes the knee to the risk of injury. In this narrative review, we describe different

Energy status plays a key role in the health of athletes and exercising individuals. Energy deficiency/low energy availability (EA), referring to a state in which insufficient energy intake and/or excessive exercise energy expenditure has resulted in compensatory metabolic adaptations to conserve fuel, can affect numerous physiological systems in women and men. The Female Athlete Triad, Male Athlete

It has been suggested that improper post-exercise recovery or improper sequence of training may result in an ‘accumulation’ of fatigue. Despite this suggestion, there is a lack of clarity regarding which physiological mechanisms may be proposed to contribute to fatigue accumulation. The present paper explores the time course of the changes in various fatigue-related measures in order to understand

Background Reactive strength index (RSI) is used frequently in the testing and monitoring of athletes. Associations with sports performance measures may vary dependent on the task but a literature synthesis has not been performed. Objectives The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine associations between RSI measured during rebound jumping tasks and measures of strength, linear and change of direction

Background Psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL) are important outcomes of lifestyle interventions, as a positive impact may favour long-term maintenance of behaviour change. Objective This study investigated the effect of a behavioural intervention for adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle on psychological well-being and health-related QoL in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods

Background Track cyclists must develop mental, physical, tactical and technical capabilities to achieve success at an elite level. Given the importance of these components in determining performance, it is of interest to understand the volume of evidence to support implementation in practice by coaches, practitioners, and athletes. Objective The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic mapping

Background Higher neck strength has been postulated to reduce head impact magnitude during purposeful heading in football. Objectives This pilot trial explored the effect of a neck exercise programme on (1) neck strength and (2) head impact magnitude during heading in male and female adolescent football players. Methods Boys and girls (aged 12–17 years) were randomised by team to the intervention (5 weeks

Background The aims of this retrospective study were to (i) provide a description of sleep quality in elite athletes as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), (ii) provide normative PSQI data, (iii) identify differences across sex and sport, (iv) identify components that contribute to high PSQI scores and (v) assess PSQI test–retest reliability. Methods The PSQI was completed by 479

Background Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is common and debilitating for jumping athletes. Intriguingly, despite its high prevalence and many research studies, a causal explanation for PT presence remains elusive. Objective Our objective was to investigate whether landing biomechanics among jumping athletes are associated with PT and can predict onset. Methods We conducted a systematic review with evidence

Background Prescribing repetitions relative to task failure is an emerging approach to resistance training. Under this approach, participants terminate the set based on their prediction of the remaining repetitions left to task failure. While this approach holds promise, an important step in its development is to determine how accurate participants are in their predictions. That is, what is the difference

It is well established that physical activity reduces all-cause mortality and can prolong life. Ultra-endurance running (UER) is an extreme sport that is becoming increasingly popular, and comprises running races above marathon distance, exceeding 6 h, and/or running fixed distances on multiple days. Serious acute adverse events are rare, but there is mounting evidence that UER may lead to long-term

Background Resistance training is the gold standard exercise mode for accrual of lean muscle mass, but the isolated effect of resistance training on body fat is unknown. Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated resistance training for body composition outcomes in healthy adults. Our primary outcome was body fat percentage; secondary outcomes were body fat mass and visceral fat

Although the benefits of current anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention programmes have been demonstrated in efficacy studies, they, unfortunately, have had limited public health impact to date. For example, the incidence of ACL injuries continues to rise in adolescent athletes. Raising awareness and educating coaches and athletes is not enough to facilitate the widespread, sustained use

Background The Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS™) is an assessment of human movement that may signal potential deficits that could predispose an otherwise healthy person to injury risk. FMS™ scores are well reported in both athletic and adult samples. However, to date, there has been no comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of FMS™ data among school-aged children and adolescents. Objective

A conceptual framework has a central role in the scientific process. Its purpose is to synthesize evidence, assist in understanding phenomena, inform future research and act as a reference operational guide in practical settings. We propose an updated conceptual framework intended to facilitate the validation and interpretation of physical training measures. This revised conceptual framework was constructed

Background Hamstring strain injuries (HSI) are prevalent in team sports and occur frequently in the later phase of matches. In the search for interindividual factors that determine muscle fatigue and possibly injury risk, muscle fibre typology is a likely candidate. Objective The aim of the study was to determine whether muscle fibre typology is a risk factor for HSI. Methods A prospective cohort study

Master athletes perform high volumes of exercise training yet display lower levels of physical functioning and exercise performance when compared with younger athletes. Several reports in the clinical literature show that long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC n-3 PUFA) ingestion promotes skeletal muscle anabolism and strength in untrained older persons. There is also evidence that LC n-3 PUFA

Cannabis is widely used for both recreational and medicinal purposes on a global scale. There is accumulating interest in the use of cannabis and its constituents for athletic recovery, and in some instances, performance. Amidst speculation of potential beneficial applications, the effects of cannabis and its two most abundant constituents, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD),

There is a global trend of an increased interest in plant-based diets. This includes an increase in the consumption of plant-based proteins at the expense of animal-based proteins. Plant-derived proteins are now also frequently applied in sports nutrition. So far, we have learned that the ingestion of plant-derived proteins, such as soy and wheat protein, result in lower post-prandial muscle protein

It is established that protein requirements are elevated in athletes to support their training and post-exercise recovery and adaptation, especially within skeletal muscle. However, research on the requirements for this macronutrient has been performed almost exclusively in younger athletes, which may complicate their translation to the growing population of Master athletes (i.e. > 35 years old). In

With high profile events such as sporting and mass gathering events, recent history has revealed the importance of developing incident command structures to streamline communication, maximize coordination and establish contingencies. With the advent of COVID-19, a virus with significant human-to-human transmission and the potential for super-spreader events, there has been a brief universal cessation

Optimal nutrition is an important aspect of an athlete’s preparation to achieve optimal health and performance. While general concepts about micro- and macronutrients and timing of food and fluids are addressed in sports science, rarely are the specific effects of women’s physiology on energy and fluid needs highly considered in research or clinical practice. Women differ from men not only in size

Adolescence (ages 13–18 years) is a period of significant growth and physical development that includes changes in body composition, metabolic and hormonal fluctuations, maturation of organ systems, and establishment of nutrient deposits, which all may affect future health. In terms of nutrition, adolescence is also an important time in establishing an individual’s lifelong relationship with food,

Background The acute effects of air pollution (AP) exposure during physical activity have been studied. However, comprehensive systematic reviews are lacking, particularly regarding moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Objective Our objective was to determine the acute health- and exercise-related effects of AP exposure during a bout of MVPA in healthy individuals. Methods We searched for

Background Changes in body composition during cancer treatments have been linked with poorer outcomes, and increased morbidity and mortality. The effect of resistance training (RT) on body composition in cancer cohorts is debated. Objective We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of RT on body composition during and after treatment. Methods We searched five electronic

Background Within the football codes, medium-distance (i.e., > 20 m and ≤ 40 m) and long-distance (i.e., > 40 m) sprint performance and maximum velocity sprinting are important capacities for success. Despite this, no research has identified the most effective training methods for enhancing medium- to long-distance sprint outcomes. Objectives This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to (1) analyse

Running injuries are very common, and there are well-established protocols for clinicians to manage specific musculoskeletal conditions in runners. However, competitive and elite runners may experience different injuries than the average recreational runner, due to differences in training load, biomechanics, and running experience. Additionally, injury-specific rehabilitation protocols do not consider

Background Running is a popular activity practiced worldwide. It is important to understand how running affects joint health to provide recommendations to sports medicine practitioners and runners. Objective Our aim was to summarize the influence of running on lower limb cartilage morphology and composition using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods Prospective repeated-measures studies

Background Both chronic and acute exercise interventions have reported positive effects on executive functions (EFs) in general populations. However, data on changes in EFs in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in response to exercise interventions are still unclear. Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize available empirical studies concerning

Millions of consumer sport and fitness wearables (CSFWs) are used worldwide, and millions of datapoints are generated by each device. Moreover, these numbers are rapidly growing, and they contain a heterogeneity of devices, data types, and contexts for data collection. Companies and consumers would benefit from guiding standards on device quality and data formats. To address this growing need, we convened

Background Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), which reflects the overall aerobic capacity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular systems, is significantly related to health among youth. Objective The aim of this systematic review was to identify health-related criterion-referenced cut-points for CRF among youth aged 5–17 years. Methods A systematic search of two electronic databases (MEDLINE

Introduction In 2008, a conceptual model explaining the role of motor competence (MC) in children’s physical activity (PA), weight status, perceived MC and health-related fitness was published. Objective The purpose of the current review was to systematically compile mediation, longitudinal and experimental evidence in support of this conceptual model. Methods This systematic review (registered with

Background Pain is the most disabling characteristic of musculoskeletal disorders, and while exercise is promoted as an important treatment modality for chronic musculoskeletal conditions, the relative contribution of the specific effects of exercise training, placebo effects and non-specific effects such as natural history are not clear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine

Background Sport-related concussion is recognized as a significant injury with variable recovery rates. Objective This study defined the acute natural history of sport concussion in male and female collegiate athletes participating in a broad array of sports. Methods We conducted a prospective, longitudinal investigation among collegiate student athletes (n = 34,709) from 30 academic institutions.

Resistance exercise is used extensively in athletic and general populations to induce neuromuscular adaptations to increase muscle size and performance. Exercise parameters such as exercise frequency, intensity, duration and modality are carefully manipulated to induce specific adaptations to the neuromuscular system. While the benefits of resistance exercise on the neuromuscular system are well documented

Background Uncertainty remains about the optimum step count per day for health promotion. Objective We aimed to investigate the association between step count per day and all-cause mortality risk. Methods PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science were searched to January 2021 to find prospective cohort studies of the association between device-based step count per day and all-cause mortality risk in the

Background It is important for sport scientists and health professionals to have estimative methods for energy demand during different physical activities. The metabolic equivalent of task (MET) provides a feasible approach for classifying activity intensity as a multiple of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). RMR is generally assumed to be 3.5 mL of oxygen per kilogram of body mass per minute (mL O2 kg−1 min−1)

Many individual and team sport events require extended periods of exercise above the speed or power associated with maximal oxygen uptake (i.e., maximal aerobic speed/power, MAS/MAP). In the absence of valid and reliable measures of anaerobic metabolism, the anaerobic speed/power reserve (ASR/APR) concept, defined as the difference between an athlete’s MAS/MAP and their maximal sprinting speed (MSS)/peak

Objective We examined the impact of simulated Tokyo 2020 environmental condition on exercise performance, thermoregulatory responses and thermal perception among Dutch elite athletes. Methods 105 elite athletes from different sport disciplines performed two exercise tests in simulated control (15.9 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity (RH) 55 ± 6%) and Tokyo (31.6 ± 1.0 °C, RH 74 ± 5%) environmental conditions

Background Ghrelin is a peptide hormone predominantly produced by the stomach. It exerts a wide range of functions including stimulating growth hormone release and regulating appetite, food intake, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Since physical exercise affects all these aspects, a particular interest is accorded to the relationship between ghrelin and exercise. This systematic review aimed to summarize

Background Overuse injuries are common in sporting children and adolescents. These injuries are a particular concern when they involve the epiphyseal–physeal–metaphyseal (EPM) complex given their potential to disturb skeletal growth. Specifically, the limits of mechanical tolerance of the EPM complex to repetitive stress may be exceeded by the intense and continuous training characteristic of many

Background Knowledge of the long-term effects of soccer training on hematological, hormonal, inflammatory, and muscle damage markers and physical performance may help to better design strength and conditioning programs for performance development and injury prevention for the individual player and the team. Objectives The aim of this systematic review was to summarize and discuss evidence on the long-term

Due to improvements in acute burn care over the last few decades, most patients with severe burns (up to 90% of the total body surface) survive. However, the metabolic and cardiovascular complications that accompany a severe burn can persist for up to 3 years post injury. Accordingly, there is now a greater appreciation of the need for strategies that can hasten recovery and reduce long-term morbidity

Background Motor competence is an important predictor of health behaviours. However, levels of motor competence are low in children and adolescents. Many interventions have improved motor competence, yet intervention effects were highly variable. Potential causes of such variations are not fully understood. Process evaluation can assist with the understanding of why an intervention worked or not, but

Background Musculoskeletal fitness is an excellent functional measure that is significantly related to health among youth. Objective Our objective was to identify health-related criterion-referenced cut-points for musculoskeletal fitness (MSF) among youth. Methods A systematic search of two electronic databases (MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus) was conducted in September 2020. Only peer-reviewed studies that

Current best practices to direct recovery after sports-related concussion (SRC) typically require asymptomatic presentation at both rest and during a graduated exercise progression, and cognitive performance resolution. However, this standard of care results in a significantly elevated risk for musculoskeletal (MSK) injury after return-to-sport (RTS). The elevated risk is likely secondary to, in part

Background Physical fitness is an important marker of current and future health status, yet the association between physical fitness and indicators of mental health in youth has not been systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed. Objective The aim of this work was to systematically review and meta-analyze the association between physical fitness components (i.e. cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular

Background Lower limb muscle strain injury is highly prevalent in running-based sports and is considered a risk factor for recurrent injury. It is possible that differences in muscle activity and activation in previously strain-injured limbs may contribute to the elevated risk of reinjury. Objectives To systematically review available literature investigating whether muscle activity and/or activation