Special Issues

Sports publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Advances in the Biomechanics and Neuromuscular Aspects of Lower Limb Sports Injuries
edited by
submission deadline 20 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2156 | Submission Open
Keywords: lower limb sports injuries; biomechanics; neuromuscular function; movement patterns; injury risk factors; rehabilitation; sports performance
Strength and Conditioning Society 2025: Sports Performance, Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Health Improvement submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 7045 | Submission Open
Keywords: athletic performance; injury; testing; health; strength–power–speed training; endurance; cancer; obesity; physical activity; exercise
Muscle Strength Testing in Sports and Rehabilitation
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3403 | Submission Open
Keywords: muscle strength; isometric testing; isotonic testing; force–time characteristics; rehabilitation; injury prevention; performance diagnostics; isokinetic dynamometry; return to sport; testing protocols
Wellbeing, Health, and Performance in Sport and Physical Activity: Individual, Organisational, and Societal Perspectives
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3281 | Submission Open
Keywords: community and grassroots sport; equity and inclusion in sport; interdisciplinary research in sport; lifespan health; mental health; physical activity epidemiology; training and performance; psychological resilience; public health; safeguarding in sport; sport science; sustainable sport participation; wellbeing
Artificial Intelligence-Driven Analysis of Training Adaptation and Performance in Sports
edited by
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1713 | Submission Open
Keywords: sports science; exercise physiology; muscle function; exercise performance; training adaptation; artificial intelligence; machine learning; wearable technology; aging; precision training
Exercise Intervention for Chronic Pain Management
edited by , Lucimére Bohn and
submission deadline 30 Sep 2026 | Viewed by 317 | Submission Open
Keywords: chronic pain; exercise; physical activity; functional performance; psychophysiology; psychological well-being; quality of life
Effects of Physical Activity on Physical and Mental Health
edited by
submission deadline 15 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1844 | Submission Open
Keywords: physical activity; sport; physical and/or mental health benefit; children; adolescents; adults; elderly; movement behaviour
Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training
edited by
submission deadline 25 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 46321 | Submission Open
Keywords: anerobic; aerobic; central fatigue; peripheral fatigue; ice baths; heat therapy; massage; high-intensity training; compression; neuromuscular system
Advancing Athlete Assessment and Performance Training submission deadline 25 Oct 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 6324 | Submission Open
Keywords: strength; power; weightlifting; athlete monitoring; force; impulse; eccentric training; testing; sport science
Rethinking Athlete Pathways: Innovations and Insights in Long-Term Athletic Development submission deadline 25 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 4728 | Submission Open
Keywords: physical health; sports performance; injury prevention; recovery; nutrition; mental health
Performance Analytics and Health Tracking: Toward Lifelong Athletic Sustainability submission deadline 25 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2156 | Submission Open
Keywords: performance analysis; athlete health monitoring; longevity and career span; wearable technologies; biomarkers of fatigue and recovery; injury prevention and risk modeling; machine learning and predictive analytics; physiological and psychological monitoring
Women's Special Issue Series: Sports
edited by Brianna L. Larsen and Anthea Clarke
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 20 articles | Viewed by 43847 | Submission Open
Keywords: sports performance; exercise performance; sports nutrition; sports psychology; biomechanics; sports medicine; sports injury; clinical exercise physiology
Exercise Interventions for Health Across the Lifespan submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 5899 | Submission Open
Keywords: exercise interventions; physical activity; lifespan health; exercise prescription; health promotion; aging; youth physical activity; chronic disease prevention; functional capacity
The Impact of Supplements and Nutrients on Physiology and Athletic Performance
edited by Drew Gonzalez and Broderick Dickerson
submission deadline 30 Oct 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2109 | Submission Open
Keywords: ergogenic aids; dietary supplementation; athletic performance; exercise physiology; nutrient metabolism; recovery and adaptation; dose–response relationships; biomarkers; muscle function; performance optimization
Growth, Development, and Qualitative Research Protocols for Identifying and Developing Sports Talent for Adolescent Athletes
edited by Anna Pastuszak and
submission deadline 31 Oct 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 4922 | Submission Open
Keywords: biological age; motor skills; predicting final height; young athletes; identification of athletic talent
Nutrition Interventions in Multiple-Sprint Sports and Exercises submission deadline 20 Nov 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 7627 | Submission Open
Keywords: team sports; racquet sports; high-intensity interval training; sport nutrition; athletic performance; recovery; supplementation; diet; dietary patterns; body composition; injury
Advances in Football Science: Integrating Technology, Performance, and Well-Being (2nd Edition) submission deadline 20 Nov 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 3500 | Submission Open
Keywords: football science; performance analysis; football medicine; health and wellbeing; strength and conditioning; wearable and tracking technology; match analysis; observation; rehabilitation strategies; decision-making; psychology; pedagogy; physiology; talent identification; scouting; training task design; artificial intelligence; machine learning
Psychology of Sport Performance: Contemporary Research and Application submission deadline 27 Nov 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 4554 | Submission Open
Keywords: sport psychology; performance psychology; emotion regulation; mood and performance; psychological skills training
Effects of Physical Education, Exercise, and Sports Interventions on Children and Adolescent Cognition and Academic Achievement
edited by , Gabriela Ferreira, Rute Santos and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 15872 | Submission Open
Keywords: school performance; cognitive development; physical activity; intervention studies
Sport, Metabolism and Nutrition: Promoting Human Performance and Health
edited by
submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7097 | Submission Open
Keywords: human performance optimization; metabolic adaptations; nutrient timing; exercise-induced fatigue; recovery strategies; skeletal muscle metabolism; protein synthesis; oxidative stress; endurance and strength training; sports nutrition
Monitoring Hematological and Biochemical Markers in Exercise Programs: From Health Optimization to Performance Enhancement
edited by and Sílvia Raquel Monteiro Martins
submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 6244 | Submission Open
Keywords: hematological adaptation; biochemical markers; oxidative stress markers; inflammatory response; hormones; exercise physiology; training programs; training intensity; training adaptation; overtraining
Sport, Disability, and Well-Being: Research on Physical and Mental Health
edited by
submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2096 | Submission Open
Keywords: adaptive sport; disability; mental health; physical activity; well-being
Training and Performance Physiological Determinants in Elite Cycling and Triathlon submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1515 | Submission Open
Keywords: load monitoring; intensity; fatigue; competition; data
The Effects of Physical Activity on Brain Structure and Function
edited by János Négyesi and
submission deadline 30 Nov 2026 | Viewed by 188 | Submission Open
Keywords: brain; EEG; exercise; fMRI; motor control; physical activity; proprioception; sport; tDCS; TMS
Enhancing Health Through Physical Activity and Sports Science: Innovations in Applied Research submission deadline 15 Dec 2026 | 19 articles | Viewed by 51098 | Submission Open
Keywords: health through physical activity; applied research; innovation for health; sports
Science and Medicine in Swimming
edited by , and Raúl Arellano
submission deadline 15 Dec 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 12647 | Submission Open
Keywords: aquatic locomotion; artistic swimming; bioenergetics; biomarkers; biosensors; digital technologies; diving; elite athletes; exercise and health; exercise and sports biomechanics; exercise and sports physiology; marathon swimming; microneedle biosensors; open water swimming; oxygen uptake kinetics; performance analysis; pulmonary function; smart textiles; sports medicine; sports training; strength and conditioning; swimming energetics; swimming; thermal physiology; training and detraining; training and testing; training periodization; training process; water polo; wearable technologies; world class athletes
The Effects of High-Intensity Training Variations on Biomechanics, Physiology, Biochemistry and Performance in Athletes submission deadline 30 Dec 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 26969 | Submission Open
Keywords: children; puberty; adults; elderly; physical activity; well-being; performance
Determinants of Body Composition in Different Sports: From Assessment to Performance Optimization
edited by and Giuseppe Annunziata
submission deadline 30 Dec 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2219 | Submission Open
Keywords: anthropometry; body composition; sports science; fat mass; muscle mass; training adaptation; nutrition; performance optimization; assessment techniques
Neuromuscular Performance: Insights for Athletes and Beyond submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 31824 | Submission Open
Keywords: strength; training, youth; neuromuscular; performance; force plates; force; velocity; muscle
Training Load, Athlete State, and Training Response in Sports
edited by and João Valente-dos-Santos
submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2810 | Submission Open
Keywords: training load; athlete monitoring; athlete state; training response; readiness; recovery; fatigue; adaptation; performance; injury risk; sports physiology; sports biomechanics; wearables
Training, Performance and Development in Young Athletes submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2779 | Submission Open
Keywords: biomechanics; development; injury; performance; physiology; puberty; sports; training
Applied Physiological Assessment for Athlete Health Monitoring
edited by Rohan Edmonds and
submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1683 | Submission Open
Keywords: athlete monitoring; physiological assessment; internal training load; fatigue and recovery; wearable technology; longitudinal monitoring; athlete health; injury and illness prevention
Sport, Physical Activity and Adolescent Health: Challenges and Opportunities (2nd Edition) submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1636 | Submission Open
Keywords: adolescence; youth; sport; physical activity; health promotion; physical fitness; motor development; physical performance; mental health; well-being; sedentary behavior; physical education; school-based interventions; digital health
Advances in Swimming Science and Performance Evaluation: From Acute Responses to Chronic Adaptations submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | Viewed by 698 | Submission Open
Keywords: swimming performance; biomechanics; physiology; acute responses; chronic adaptations; performance evaluation; wearable technology; race analysis; video and sensor-based assessment; training load monitoring; talent development; applied swimming science
Sports-Related Injuries of the Knee: From Surgical Techniques and Biological Augmentation to Rehabilitation and Clinical Outcomes submission deadline 31 Dec 2026 | Viewed by 384 | Submission Open
Keywords: knee surgery; arthroscopy; sports medicine; ACL reconstruction; meniscal repair; cartilage restoration; biological augmentation; knee biomechanics; knee-related injuries; joint preservation; return to sport
Advances in Strength, Power Responses and Adaptations to Resistance Training submission deadline 11 Jan 2027 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2448 | Submission Open
Keywords: body composition; muscle recruitment; volume; load progression; programme; new technologies; training monitoring
Improving Health and Performance in Football submission deadline 15 Jan 2027 | 4 articles | Viewed by 5362 | Submission Open
Keywords: athlete; soccer; rugby; football; performance; mental health; physical health; training; strength and conditioning; development; equity; sport; physical activity
Precision Sports Performance: From Molecular Biomarkers to Emerging Technologies
edited by Manuel Fernández-Sanjurjo and
submission deadline 20 Jan 2027 | Viewed by 145 | Submission Open
Keywords: multi-omics integration; wearable biosensing; predictive analytics; exercise genomics and epigenetics; personalized training strategies
Evaluation and Implementation of Inertial Technologies in the Analysis of Sports Performance and Physical Activity
edited by and Diego Villarejo-García
submission deadline 22 Jan 2027 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6644 | Submission Open
Keywords: inertial devices; performance monitoring; movement analysis; training load; injury prevention; accelerometers and gyroscopes; sports biomechanics; wearable technology; artificial intelligence in sports; real-time analysis
Monitoring and Understanding Mental Fatigue and Its Impact in Team Sports
edited by
submission deadline 25 Jan 2027 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1969 | Submission Open
Keywords: mental fatigue; mental load; team sports; perceptual/cognitive processes; statistical analysis; mixed-methods studies; qualitative analysis; athlete monitoring; physical performance; technical/tactical performance; sport psychology
The Importance of Exercise for People with Disabilities: From Assessment to Intervention and Inclusion
edited by and Carla Lourenço
submission deadline 25 Jan 2027 | 1 articles | Viewed by 798 | Submission Open
Keywords: exercise; disability; adapted physical activity; motor development; motor competence; physical education; inclusive education; exercise intervention; rehabilitation; health promotion; functional capacity; quality of life; neurodevelopmental disorders; physical activity assessment; inclusion
Training, Biomechanics, and Physiology in Endurance Sports submission deadline 30 Jan 2027 | 1 articles | Viewed by 5673 | Submission Open
Keywords: performance; running; cycling; triathlon; swimming
Musculoskeletal Conditions, Movement Strategies, and Adaptive Biomechanics Across the Lifespan
edited by , and Gongcheng Xu
submission deadline 30 Jan 2027 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3454 | Submission Open
Keywords: artificial intelligence in biomechanics; biomechanical adaptations; movement strategies; musculoskeletal injuries; sports science and health; wearable technology in motion analysis
Technologies for Assessing and Monitoring Health and Performance in Sports and Exercise
edited by , , and Laís Campos de Oliveira
submission deadline 30 Jan 2027 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3254 | Submission Open
Keywords: digital health; sensors; artificial intelligence; wearables; mobile applications; sports performance analysis; telemetry; functional assessment; physiological monitoring; health monitoring; performance monitoring; mobile health (mHealth); telehealth/telemedicine; remote monitoring; biometric monitoring
The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Injury Rehabilitation submission deadline 31 Jan 2027 | 5 articles | Viewed by 6469 | Submission Open
Keywords: exercise intervention; chronic disease prevention; physical activity; health promotion; injury rehabilitation; sports medicine; biomechanics; mental health; exercise physiology; immune response
Applied Biomechanics, Ergonomics and Physiology for Enhanced Sport Performance and Training Optimization
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2027 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2912 | Submission Open
Keywords: ergonomics; physiology; discomfort; digital human modeling/simulation; kinematics; muscular activation; extended reality; fatigue; training optimization; athlete-centered design
Performance and Health in Combat Sports: Physiological Adaptation and Biomechanical Analysis submission deadline 31 Jan 2027 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2232 | Submission Open
Keywords: combat sports; training modalities; body composition; strength development; injury risk; weight management; neuromuscular adaptations; performance optimization; judo
Advances in Performance Optimization, Health, and Injury Prevention in Racket Sports submission deadline 31 Jan 2027 | Viewed by 313 | Submission Open
Keywords: racket sports; tennis; badminton; padel; pickleball; athletic performance; injury prevention; sports medicine; injury epidemiology; biomechanics; exercise physiology; neuromuscular function; training load monitoring; overuse injuries; rehabilitation and return to play; recovery strategies; youth and elite athletes; sex differences; equipment and playing surfaces; health and well-being
Current Research in Individual Sports Physiology and Sports Science
edited by Fernando González-Mohíno and
submission deadline 11 Feb 2027 | Viewed by 263 | Submission Open
Keywords: individual sports performance; exercise physiology; training load and recovery; athlete monitoring; sports biomechanics; female and youth athletes; injury prevention and fatigue; high-performance sport science; athlete health; periodization
Exercise Immunology: From Mechanisms to Health Promotion
edited by and Emily C. LaVoy
submission deadline 20 Feb 2027 | 1 articles | Viewed by 778 | Submission Open
Keywords: exercise training; immunology; immune system; aerobic exercise; resistance exercise; immunity; inflammation
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