Search Results (1,934)

Background: Health-related behaviors often cluster during young adulthood, potentially increasing the risk of long-term adverse health outcomes. Understanding how lifestyle risk behaviors co-occur among university students is essential for developing targeted health promotion strategies. Objective: This study aimed to identify lifestyle risk profiles among university students based on the co-occurrence of smoking behavior, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and body weight status. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 university students enrolled in a physical education and sport undergraduate program (mean age: 20.58 ± 2.94 years; 80.3% male). Physical activity and sedentary behavior were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), while smoking and alcohol consumption were self-reported. Body mass index was used to classify weight status. Lifestyle risk profiles were identified using two-step cluster analysis based on regular smoking, alcohol consumption, sedentary behavior, and overweight/obesity. Differences in cluster distribution according to sex and federated athlete status were examined using chi-square tests. A two-step cluster analysis based on the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and silhouette measure was used to identify lifestyle risk profiles. Results: Overall, 46.9% of participants had experimented with tobacco, 11.6% were current smokers, and 74.8% reported alcohol consumption. Participants accumulated an average of 3772.25 ± 1957.99 MET-min/week of physical activity. Three distinct lifestyle risk profiles were identified. Cluster 1 (46.9%), labeled the alcohol profile, was characterized by alcohol consumption without smoking and no prevalence of being overweight. Cluster 2 (20.4%), the multiple-risk profile, included participants who reported regular smoking, with nearly half presenting sedentary behavior and overweight/obesity. Cluster 3 (32.7%), the overweight profile, was characterized by overweight/obesity combined with alcohol consumption but no smoking. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of lifestyle profiles according to sex (p = 0.111) or federated athlete status (p = 0.087). Conclusions: Lifestyle risk behaviors cluster into distinct profiles among university students, with alcohol consumption appearing across multiple profiles and smoking concentrated in a specific high-risk group. These findings highlight the need for targeted health promotion strategies addressing multiple co-occurring behaviors within university populations. Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate older adults’ engagement in sport through the lens of the Positive Development in Sport (PDS), a framework aimed at fostering human growth in sport environments. This qualitative study involved 80 older athletes (M = 71.91 years, SD = 7.91; 45 women) engaged in regular sport practice and four experienced coaches (37–57-years-old). Data was collected across multiple contexts: brief in-person individual or small-group interviews during a competitive event; five in-person focus groups; and individual interviews. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Findings revealed a central theme, autonomy to engage in sport, supported by three subthemes: competence and confidence, health, and setting priorities. Participants described sport as a meaningful component of their identity, with sustained engagement driven by intrinsic motivation and harmonious passion. They reported increased self-awareness, intentional health management, and the ability to balance sport participation with other life domains, highlighting positive implications for mental health. Coaches who actively supported athletes’ psychological needs played a key role in fostering autonomy and personal development. Participants also emphasized the importance of inclusive relationships and pedagogical strategies tailored to older athletes’ goals and lived experiences. The findings suggest that sport in older adulthood can be a context for personal growth and mental health development. Full article

This study examined how youth sport coaches support positive youth development (PYD) through their pedagogical practices, focusing on the following key PYD outcomes: Competence, Confidence, Contribution, and Character. A total of 113 youth sport coaches were systematically observed, involving athletes aged between 12–18 years. The coaches (M = 38.64 years; Male = 74; Female = 39) represented both individual and team sports and had an average coaching experience of 12.92 years. Our results showed that coaches put the most effort on Competence, followed by Confidence, while Character and Contribution received comparatively less attention. Competence development was mainly supported through verbal instruction, Confidence through general feedback, Contribution through active listening, and Character through role modeling. Regarding sport types, coaches in individual sports demonstrated higher levels of Competence and Contribution than team sport coaches. Furthermore, all four PYD dimensions were positively correlated, suggesting that gains in one dimension may support the others. Overall, Hungarian coaches emphasize technical and tactical competence, with less focus on social skills and value development. Confidence is mainly supported through general rather than specific feedback. Coaches in individual sports showed higher PYD engagement than team sport coaches. These findings highlight the need for more balanced, developmentally intentional coaching approaches. Full article

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between lower-limb mechanical strength, phase-oriented composite strength indices, generalized neuromuscular activation, and maximal soccer ball kicking speed in trained athletes. Twenty-five male soccer players (age: 20.64 ± 2.50 years; height: 179.28 ± 4.27 cm; body mass: 75.80 ± 9.41 kg) participated in this cross-sectional study. Isometric ankle and knee joint torques were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer, and joint-specific and phase-oriented cross-joint composite indices were computed to represent integrated strength capacity across the kinetic chain. Neuromuscular activation was evaluated via surface electromyography during a standardized squat jump task. Ball-kicking speed was measured using Doppler radar during maximal instep kicks. Associations were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients (p ≤ 0.05) with false discovery rate correction for multiple comparisons. In unadjusted analyses, moderate positive correlations were observed for several ankle torque variables and composite ankle strength indices, while swing-phase composite measures demonstrated moderate correlations (r = 0.43–0.55). Knee strength indices and sEMG variables showed no significant relationships. However, none of the variables remained statistically significant after FDR correction, suggesting limited independent explanatory value of isolated isometric strength and non-task-specific neuromuscular activation assessed during a standardized squat jump for maximal kicking performance. Full article

Purpose: The primary aim of the present study was to examine the extent to which participation in organized youth basketball training contributes to physical activity across intensity zones during training sessions in relation to biological maturation status. Methods: Participants were classified into three maturity groups based on predicted age at peak height velocity (PHV): −2.5 to −1.5, −1.5 to −0.5, and ≥−0.5 to 0.83 years from PHV. Data from two training sessions per participant were averaged to obtain representative individual values. One-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine differences in anthropometric, physical performance, and field performance variables between PHV groups. Physical activity patterns were analyzed using two-way mixed-design ANOVAs with PHV stage as the between-subject factor and intensity zone (MET- and HRR-based) as the within-subject factor. Results: Across all maturity groups, approximately 10–17% of total training time was spent in light-intensity activity, while the majority of time was accumulated in moderate-to-vigorous intensity zones (approximately 35–50%, depending on the classification method). Significant maturity-related differences were observed in anthropometric variables and physical performance measures, with more mature players demonstrating superior sprint performance, jumping ability, and grip strength. Field performance indicators also differed between PHV groups, with more mature athletes exhibiting higher external and internal training loads. In contrast, no significant interactions or main effects of PHV stage were observed for physical activity intensity distribution. Conclusions: Organized basketball training contributes substantially to moderate-to-vigorous physical activity accumulated during training sessions. However, these findings reflect training-specific activity and should not be interpreted as representing total daily physical activity. No differences in activity intensity distribution were observed between maturation groups, although this finding should be interpreted with caution, given methodological limitations. These results highlight the need to consider biological maturation when designing youth training programs. Full article

Exercise adaptation depends on overload that is resolved by recovery, yet the same biology becomes maladaptive when immune, endocrine, metabolic, and muscle-centered stress signals fail to normalize. Exercise-induced maladaptation represents a systems-level failure of biological resolution, with direct relevance to disease-like dysregulation. Functional overreaching, non-functional overreaching, and overtraining syndrome remain difficult to diagnose because no single biomarker provides adequate specificity, temporal stability, or clinical portability. This narrative review synthesizes human and mechanistic evidence across proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, endocrine profiling, extracellular vesicles, and mitochondrial quality-control biology to define the molecular architecture most relevant to athlete monitoring. Across these layers, the most coherent signatures cluster in immune-acute-phase activation, redox-buffering strain, endocrine drift, altered substrate availability, excitation–contraction dysfunction, integrated stress-response signaling, and defects in autophagy–mitophagy and lysosomal remodeling. Three translational elements emerge from this synthesis: a systems-convergence model of recovery failure, a staged biomarker deployment hierarchy, and a provisional recovery failure index. The practical priority is therefore not a solitary marker, but serial phenotype-anchored multimarker panels that connect circulating signals with muscle-centered biology and support decision-making before prolonged recovery failure becomes entrenched. Full article

Bone health in highly trained female athletes is critical for performance and long-term wellbeing, yet systematic evidence regarding seasonal changes remains limited. The main objective of this systematic review (PROSPERO ID: 420251230393) is to determine changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) across the sport macrocycle in highly trained female athletes, encompassing both elite and collegiate (NCAA) populations. Six databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2025, with inclusion requiring female athletes, BMD/BMC measurements, and longitudinal assessment across a macrocycle. Fourteen studies involving 522 premenopausal athletes were included, with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements conducted approximately six months apart. Study quality was assessed using the NIH Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies and indicated a predominantly good quality. Five studies reported no significant change in BMD/BMC, five demonstrated improvements, three reported mixed findings across sports or athlete subgroups, and one reported a significant decline. Only two studies attempted to account for all three primary confounders—menstrual cycle status, dietary intake, and physical activity monitoring—while seven reported no confounding variables. While bone health appears largely maintained across the sport macrocycle in highly trained premenopausal female athletes, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the inadequate confounder reporting, heterogeneous sport exposures, variability in skeletal sites measured, and inconsistent measurement timing. Future research must comprehensively assess these variables alongside sport-specific skeletal measurements to identify athletes at risk of bone health deterioration. Full article

Objectives: Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) has been explored for its potential to improve performance in combat sports. This part II of the systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the acute effects of PAPE protocols on sport-specific performance outcomes and evaluated the influence of moderating variables, specifically competitive level and training experience. Methods: A PRISMA-guided search (2010–2024) identified 13 studies examining PAPE in combat sports athletes. Inclusion criteria required human trials using defined PAPE protocols and evaluating sport-specific tests, primarily the Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT-10) and the Taekwondo-Specific Agility Test (TSAT). A random-effects meta-analysis (Hedges’ g) was conducted on data from 176 athletes. Results: The meta-analysis revealed a profound moderating effect of training status on PAPE responsiveness. For the FSKT-10, amateur athletes demonstrated large, significant improvements (g = 1.28, p < 0.001), whereas elite athletes showed trivial, non-significant changes (g = 0.11, p = 0.357). Similarly, athletes with <6 years of training experience exhibited substantially larger enhancements in both FSKT-10 (g = 1.60) and TSAT agility (g = −1.64) compared to their more experienced (>6 years) counterparts (g = 0.42 and g = −0.65, respectively). Furthermore, dynamic and biomechanically specific conditioning activities (e.g., repeated high-intensity techniques) were most effective at driving sport-specific potentiation. Conclusions: PAPE protocols may enhance acute sport-specific performance when utilizing dynamic, highly specific conditioning activities. However, a possible “ceiling effect” may blunt this potentiation in elite and highly experienced athletes, suggesting a potential need for highly individualized priming strategies at the top competitive levels, specifically in taekwondo. Full article

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals are important for assessing muscle activity, neuromuscular behavior, and movement stability. sEMG signals are widely used in athlete performance monitoring and human–machine interface applications. However, existing methods have limitations in classification, accuracy and generalization across users. In this study, a real-world dataset was generated from 30 professional wrestlers using an 8-channel system based on 10 physical movements and technical elements. Nine time-domain and energy features, mean absolute value (MAV), integrated EMG (IEMG), root mean square (RMS), simple square integral (SSI), fourth power (4POW), wavelength (WL), difference absolute standard deviation (DASDV), variance (VAR), and average amplitude change (AAC), were systematically evaluated separately and in combination. Five classifiers were compared: Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and Neural Networks (NNs). The models were evaluated for accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and F1-score. The generalization ability was analyzed through cross-subject (24/6) and cross-session validation protocols. The nine feature combinations achieved the highest classification accuracy of 97.8% with the RF algorithm. The proposed approach can serve as a practical basis for real-time muscle activity monitoring, movement classification, and rehabilitation systems. Full article

Background: Gross movement skills (GMS) development is important for long-term physical activity participation. Despite this, the influence maturation has on GMS is understudied. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effect of maturation and sex on GMS in adolescents and identify numbers for a definitive study. Methods: We recruited seventy-one athletes (21 male, 50 female) from 8 to 17 years of age. Height, sitting height, and body mass were measured, and biological age (indexed as years from peak height velocity [PHV]) was predicted. Athletes were classified into three maturational categories: pre-PHV, peri-PHV, and post-PHV. The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 was used to assess GMS. Differences in overall GMS, locomotor skill, and object control skills were evaluated using ANCOVA controlling for height, weight, sex, physical activity, and sport specialization. Results: We found that GMS scores were greater for athletes post-PHV (83.62 ± 6.09) when compared to athletes peri-PHV (74.25 ± 12.92; p = 0.01). There were no differences between the pre-PHV and post-PHV groups (p = 0.13). Between sexes, males had greater GMS scores than females within each maturational category (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our pilot study is inconclusive but suggests that factors such as sex, exposure to different GMS, and time spent practicing GMS may influence GMS performance to a greater extent than maturation. However, these findings are underpowered; a sample of 154 would be required for a definitive study. Full article

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) leads to alterations in cardiac autonomic control that can be detected from electrocardiogram (ECG)-derived markers, particularly when the cardiovascular system is challenged during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Methods: In this paper, we present an automated framework for MetS identification using RR intervals and heart rate variability (HRV) features extracted from 12-lead ECG recordings acquired during the five OGTT stages in 40 male participants (15 with MetS, 10 controls, and 15 endurance-trained marathon runners). RR intervals were first derived using a multilead Pan-Tompkins approach with fusion-based validation. From these RR series, HRV descriptors were computed from time-domain statistics (RR mean, SDNN, rMSSD, pNN50), spectral indices (VLF, LF, HF, LF/HF), and nonlinear measures (SD1, SD2, SampEn, DFA-${\alpha }_1$). Conventional HRV analysis revealed pronounced physiological differences between groups: MetS subjects exhibited reduced parasympathetic activity, reflected by lower rMSSD and SD1, lower HF power, and higher LF/HF ratios, whereas marathoners showed greater vagal modulation, higher HF power, and increased signal complexity. Healthy controls showed an intermediate autonomic profile. Using RR sequences and HRV descriptors (256 samples per stage), we trained three multimodal classifiers: a CNN-MLP model with a softmax output, a CNN-MLP model with an SVM head, and a CNN + LSTM-MLP + SVM architecture. Results: All models achieved strong discriminative performance, with accuracies ranging from 0.92 to 0.95, F1-macro values from 0.92 to 0.95, and macro-AUC values from 0.96 to 0.97. The CNN-MLP model achieved the best overall performance, whereas the CNN + LSTM-MLP + SVM model showed strong class discrimination, particularly for endurance athletes, while maintaining competitive recall for MetS. Conclusions: These findings support the feasibility of ECG-based autonomic assessment as a complementary non-invasive approach for early metabolic risk detection in clinical and preventive cardiometabolic screening settings. Full article

A 34-year-old male presented with persistent medial knee pain and mechanical symptoms three months after a rotational injury, with limited knee extension on examination. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the double posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sign, produced by a displaced bucket-handle tear of the medial meniscus with the fragment lying anterior and parallel to the intact PCL within the intercondylar notch. Coronal sequences confirmed displacement and loss of normal meniscal configuration. Arthroscopy verified the diagnosis, and arthroscopic partial meniscectomy was performed due to chronic displacement and poor healing potential. Following structured rehabilitation, the patient returned to full athletic activity without symptoms at one-year follow-up. This case underscores the importance of recognizing the double PCL sign as a highly specific MRI finding enabling prompt diagnosis and appropriate management of displaced bucket-handle meniscal tears, while also highlighting its radiologic–arthroscopic correlation and the clinical implications of delayed presentation on treatment strategy, and provides a clear illustrative example of this classic imaging sign for educational purposes. Full article

Objectives: Agonist–antagonist coordination is traditionally defined as simultaneous neural activation assessed by electromyography (EMG). The present study adopts a mechanical perspective, examining twitch-derived contractile ratio indexes between antagonistic muscle groups using tensiomyography (TMG). The aim was to determine whether sport expertise differentiates mechanical agonist–antagonist coordination in karate athletes. Methods: Fifty male participants were divided into four groups: elite karate athletes (EK; n = 7), national team members (NK; n = 14), basically trained karate practitioners (BK; n = 16), and physically active non-athlete controls (CG; n = 13). Bilateral TMG assessment of rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus was performed. Contraction time (Tc), total contraction time (TcT), and rate of muscle tension development (RMTD) were extracted. Twelve twitch-derived contractile ratio indexes (CRI) were calculated separately for dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) limbs. Results: Significant between-group differences were observed in the temporal coordination of the non-dominant leg. EK demonstrated the lowest index for average contraction time (CRI_Tc_AVG_ND = 17.13%; ANOVA p = 0.005; EK vs. NK p = 0.003) and total contraction time (CRI_TcT_AVG_ND = 9.72%; ANOVA p = 0.003; EK vs. NK p = 0.002). In contrast, velocity-related coordination in the dominant leg was highest in EK (CRI_RMTD_cV_D = 63.66%; ANOVA p = 0.002), differing from NK (p = 0.003), BK (p = 0.002), and CG (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Elite karate athletes exhibit distinct twitch-derived mechanical coordination profiles characterized by highly efficient temporal interplay in the non-dominant (supportive) limb and elevated velocity-related contractile ratio in the dominant (executive) limb. These findings suggest that sport expertise is associated with task-specific mechanical modulation between antagonistic muscle groups detectable through involuntary contractile responses. Full article

Energy gels are widely used by athletes to maintain performance during endurance activities; however, their acidic composition may pose a risk to dental health. This study aimed to evaluate the pH of four commercial energy gels at different dilutions with artificial saliva and to assess the potential neutralizing effect of casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP–ACP). An in vitro experimental design was conducted using four commercial gels (FullGas Hydrogel, ENA Energy Gel, UltraTech Gel, and Maverick Race Gel). Serial dilutions with artificial saliva (1:2, 1:5, 1:7, and 1:10) were prepared, and pH was measured using indicator strips at 0, 15, and 30 min at 37 °C. The effect of CPP-ACP was evaluated in the 1:2 dilution. Undiluted gels showed highly acidic pH values ranging from 2.0 to 3.0. Dilutions of 1:2 and 1:5 remained significantly more acidic than artificial saliva (p < 0.001). From 1:7 dilution onward, pH values increased and approached salivary levels (approximately 7.0), with no significant differences compared with artificial saliva. The addition of CPP-ACP significantly increased pH in the 1:2 dilution (p < 0.05), although the effect was limited in more diluted conditions. These findings suggest that commercial energy gels may represent a source of acidic exposure under in vitro conditions, which could be relevant for dental health. Adequate dilution, particularly ≥1:7, was associated with a reduction in acidity under the experimental conditions tested, although its clinical relevance cannot be directly inferred, while CPP-ACP may provide a limited buffering effect under concentrated exposure conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nitric oxide (NO) is a key mediator of vascular, metabolic, and redox pathways, influencing exercise performance. Beetroot, a natural source of inorganic nitrate, increases NO bioavailability and may modulate oxidative stress and inflammation, though data in endurance athletes remain limited. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a novel beetroot-based nitrate supplement (B-bNs) on NO metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in non-professional triathletes. Methods: This was a randomized 2 × 2 cross-over pilot study with two 7-day periods (B-bNs vs. No treatment), separated by a 15-day washout (4 visits: Day 1, 7, 22 and 28). Samples were collected at baseline (T0), 2 h post-first dose (T1), and after 7 days (T2) for the supplementation period (B-bNs) and at T0 and T2 for the “no treatment” period. The following biomarkers from plasma and urine were evaluated: NO pathway (NO metabolites (NOx), nitrite (NO₂), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), peroxynitrite, 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT)), oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, 8-isoprostane, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity), and cytokines (IL-6, IL-10). A total of 10 male triathletes (mean age 48.1 ± 9.8 years and BMI 23.9 ± 2.2 kg/m²) participated in this study. Results: No adverse events were reported. After 7 days of supplementation (T2 vs. T0), significant increases in NOx in plasma and urine (about +155%), iNOS (+56%), peroxynitrite (+60%), 3-NT (+8.6%), ROS (+413%) and IL-6 (+73%) were recorded. These values resulted significantly higher compared to “no treatment” (all p = 0.002), with no significant differences for 3-NT, SOD, 8-isoprostane, IL-6, and IL-10. Conclusions: Beetroot-based nitrate supplementation may enhance the NO-related pathway in non-professional endurance athletes with nitric-peroxydation activation, occurring without evidence of lipid oxidative damage. Larger placebo-controlled trials with standardized diet/training and performance outcomes are needed to determine the functional significance of these preliminary findings. This study was registered in the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN10885376). Full article