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Sports
Special Issues
Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training
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Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 40596

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eric Sobolewski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Human Performance Lab, Department of Health Sciences, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USA
Interests: human performance; muscular physiology; exercise science; sports Medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exercise training can be implemented in many different settings ranging from training for general health to training for sports performance. As with any exercise training program, there are many things to consider when prescribing exercise; these factors ranges from the metabolic pathways used (aerobic, anerobic) to fatiguing mechanisms (both central and peripheral) and recovery strategies (common and uncommon). This Special Issue will discuss the wide-ranging effects of exercise training on muscle metabolism, fatigue and recovery, with the ultimate goal being to improve the knowledge base on how we exercise, what happens when we fatigue during exercise and how we recover from exercise. Both reviews and original research submissions are welcome, and all forms of original research (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, observational, experimental) will be considered for publication. In line with the scope of Sports, all submissions should place a substantive emphasis on at least one aspect of training, with a specific focus on metabolism, fatigue or recovery.

Dr. Eric Sobolewski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sports is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anerobic
  • aerobic
  • central fatigue
  • peripheral fatigue
  • ice baths
  • heat therapy
  • massage
  • high-intensity training
  • compression
  • neuromuscular system

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 656 KB  
Article
Recovery-Targeted Supplemental Oxygen Enhances Performance and Attenuates Perceived Fatigue During Subsequent High-Intensity Swimming
by Joshua A. Kidwell, Trent Yamamoto, Aidan Flanagan, Vishruth Shatagopam, Kyle J. Hetherton, Keegan Slomba, August Blatney, Jillian Smith, Eric V. Neufeld and Brett A. Dolezal
Sports 2026, 14(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14030085 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1207
Abstract
High-intensity aquatic sports require athletes to repeatedly produce near-maximal efforts under conditions of constrained ventilation and limited recovery between bouts, placing substantial importance on recovery efficiency. While supplemental oxygen has been proposed as a recovery-targeted strategy to support repeated high-intensity performance, its acute [...] Read more.
High-intensity aquatic sports require athletes to repeatedly produce near-maximal efforts under conditions of constrained ventilation and limited recovery between bouts, placing substantial importance on recovery efficiency. While supplemental oxygen has been proposed as a recovery-targeted strategy to support repeated high-intensity performance, its acute effects in aquatic athletes remain poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to examine whether brief inhalation of supplemental oxygen during recovery following a maximal swim effort influences subsequent swimming performance and perceived exertion in trained aquatic athletes. Eighteen collegiate-aged male aquatic athletes completed a randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover protocol. Each condition consisted of a maximal 100-yard (91.44 m) swim followed by a standardized recovery period that included a five second inhalation of either 98% supplemental oxygen or ambient air delivered via an identical portable device, prior to a maximal 50-yard (45.72 m) freestyle sprint. Sprint performance was significantly faster following oxygen-assisted recovery compared with placebo, and perceived exertion was significantly reduced at the post-exercise time point, with no differences observed prior to exercise or mid-protocol. These findings suggest that brief, recovery-targeted hyperoxia may enhance repeated high-intensity swimming performance while attenuating post-exercise perceived exertion in trained aquatic athletes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training)
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38 pages, 3720 KB  
Article
Chronic Self-Myofascial Release in Road Cyclists: Effects on Cardiorespiratory Capacity, Metabolism, and Mechanical Power
by Doris Posch, Markus Antretter, Martin Burtscher and Martin Faulhaber
Sports 2026, 14(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14020082 - 13 Feb 2026
Viewed by 2223
Abstract
Background: Foam rolling is a popular self-myofascial release (SMR) technique, yet empirical evidence regarding its long-term impact on cycling endurance remains inconclusive. This study investigated the effects of chronic SMR on cardiorespiratory capacity, metabolic kinetics, and mechanical performance in road cyclists. Methods [...] Read more.
Background: Foam rolling is a popular self-myofascial release (SMR) technique, yet empirical evidence regarding its long-term impact on cycling endurance remains inconclusive. This study investigated the effects of chronic SMR on cardiorespiratory capacity, metabolic kinetics, and mechanical performance in road cyclists. Methods: We conducted a six-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 32 male recreational cyclists. Both an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG) followed a standardized training protocol. The IG additionally applied a Blackroll® foam roller immediately after cycling training sessions. Outcomes included maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), submaximal heart rate, lactate slope, and relative mechanical power (W/kg) at aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models (LMM), with age included as a fixed-effect covariate to control for baseline imbalances between groups. Effect sizes were determined via marginal and conditional R2. Additionally, model robustness was verified through Shapiro–Wilk tests and Q–Q plots of conditional residuals. Results: No significant effects were observed for VO2max or submaximal heart rate. In contrast the IG demonstrated significant improvements in metabolic kinetics, evidenced by a reduced lactate slope (p = 0.004). Furthermore, foam rolling yielded a statistically significant positive effect on relative mechanical performance at both the aerobic (p = 0.031) and anaerobic (p = 0.007) lactate thresholds. Sensitivity analyses confirmed that these effects were independent of the age difference between groups. Conclusions: Foam rolling did not enhance all endurance-related variables but showed positive effects on metabolic kinetics and mechanical performance. While it did not shift systemic cardiorespiratory limits, SMR appeared to optimize performance through improved metabolic economy and mechanical efficiency, suggesting it is a valuable supplemental tool for recovery and long-term performance maintenance in cycling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training)
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14 pages, 3028 KB  
Article
The Efficacy of Soleus Push-Up in Individuals with Prediabetes: A Pilot Study
by Dávid Elek, Miklós Tóth, Balázs Sonkodi, Pongrác Ács, Gábor L. Kovács, Péter Tardi and Csaba Melczer
Sports 2025, 13(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13030081 - 10 Mar 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 23675
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hamilton and colleagues invented the soleus push-up exercise and showed that this exercise method was successful in reducing postprandial blood glucose levels in sedentary individuals. The objective of the current pilot study was to assess the efficacy of the soleus push-up in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hamilton and colleagues invented the soleus push-up exercise and showed that this exercise method was successful in reducing postprandial blood glucose levels in sedentary individuals. The objective of the current pilot study was to assess the efficacy of the soleus push-up in individuals with prediabetes and to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating this exercise method into their daily routine. Methods: Ten participants (mean age: 53.3 ± 2.7 years; four females, six males) with prediabetes were included in the study. Initially, participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) while being sedentary to establish baseline postprandial blood glucose measurements. During a subsequent OGTT, participants concurrently performed the soleus push-up (SPU) exercise either with or without electromyographic (EMG) feedback. Blood glucose levels were measured at 15 min intervals over the two-hour duration of both OGTTs. Results: We observed that performing the SPU in a sitting position during the oral glucose tolerance test resulted in approximately a 32% reduction in postprandial glucose excursion compared to the sedentary baseline results. This effect was also present in the absence of EMG feedback. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that this repetitive, prolonged contractile muscle activity can improve metabolic regulation in prediabetic individuals without the need for a laboratory setting. SPU may be a viable and effective exercise to support metabolic health in home or work environments. However, further validation is needed with a larger sample size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training)
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30 pages, 3782 KB  
Systematic Review
Evaluating the Effects of Exercise on Inflammation Markers in Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Chi Ngai Lo, Nicole Elizabeth Jing Wen Wong, Shina Ho, Elicia Jia Hui Ang and Bernard Pui Lam Leung
Sports 2025, 13(6), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports13060168 - 29 May 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 12221
Abstract
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of exercise interventions in regulating inflammatory biomarkers among individuals with musculoskeletal pain. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted from inception to November 2024. [...] Read more.
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of exercise interventions in regulating inflammatory biomarkers among individuals with musculoskeletal pain. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted from inception to November 2024. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English that examined the effects of exercise on inflammatory markers—such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukins (ILs), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)—were included. Twenty-three RCTs involving 1128 participants met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of four studies indicated that isokinetic exercise significantly reduced CRP (MD = −0.40, 95% CI: −0.44 to −0.36, p < 0.01, I2 = 0%), IL-6 (MD = −1.59, 95% CI: −2.61 to −0.56, p < 0.01, I2 = 97%), and TNF-α (MD = −4.24, 95% CI: −5.13 to −3.36, p < 0.01, I2 = 90%) levels compared to general exercise. These findings suggest that exercise, particularly isokinetic exercise, may reduce systemic inflammation in patients with musculoskeletal pain and provide therapeutic effects beyond mechanical improvement. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024500081). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Muscle Metabolism, Fatigue and Recovery During Exercise Training)
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