Search Results (256)

Background: Force plate-derived metrics are increasingly used to assess performance and monitor musculoskeletal injury risk, yet the mechanisms linking jump-mechanics patterns to injury risk remain unclear, particularly when using proprietary, algorithmically derived risk scores. Clarifying these relationships is important for improving screening practices, program design, and load management in athletic populations. Methods: A total of 233 collegiate athletes completed countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) testing on a commercial force plate, which produced 26 force-time variables and proprietary composite metrics. LASSO regression with bootstrapping identified important predictors of CMVJ height and algorithmically derived musculoskeletal injury (AMSKI risk), and Partial Least Squares (PLS) models characterized multivariate patterns across force-time variables. Sex-stratified analyses and post hoc modeling examined potential mechanisms. Results: Greater AMSKI risk was associated with a coordinated pattern of greater concentric output, including greater power, velocity, and impulse, combined with reduced braking capacity. Braking rate of force development (“Load”) showed an inverse association with AMSKI risk across sexes, and females in the elevated-risk category displayed significantly reduced braking values. Postural control measures contributed differently by sex. PLS models indicated that both CMVJ height and AMSKI risk reflected interactions among multiple variables, while proprietary composite scores showed inconsistent alignment with mechanistic predictors. Conclusions: Multivariate force-time profiling offers practical value for identifying athletes whose high-output movement strategies may elevate injury risk when braking control is insufficient. Because proprietary, algorithmically derived risk metrics show inconsistent associations with underlying mechanics, further independent validation is needed before such scores are used in clinical or training decisions. Full article

Carbohydrate availability and caffeine ingestion have been shown to elicit improvements in performance independently of one another. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a carbohydrate + caffeine beverage on performance and perceived effort in soccer players. Forty-three collegiate women’s soccer athletes were recruited to participate during a single day of simulated match play, in which each team played once. Athletes consumed either a carbohydrate + caffeine (Experimental) beverage or a control (Control) beverage (flavored water) during half-time in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized control trial design. Prior to and after each game, Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and blood glucose levels were assessed. Heart rate, training impulse (TRIMP), total distance covered, high-speed distance, and velocity were recorded. Blood glucose levels after the match simulation were positively associated with total distance (r = 0.434; p = 0.01), distance per minute (r = 0.439; p < 0.01), average velocity (r = 0.438; p = 0.01), and TRIMP (r = 0.404; p = 0.018) during the second half. There was a significant main effect for half regarding blood glucose (p < 0.001), total distance (p < 0.001), high-speed distance (p < 0.001), and TRIMP (p = 0.046). There was a significant half × condition effect for blood glucose (p = 0.05). Pairwise comparisons indicated the Experimental beverage condition resulted in a +27 mg/dL (95% CI: −3.6, 58.8) difference compared to the Control beverage following the 2nd Half. In the current study, consumption of the carbohydrate + caffeine beverage during half-time resulted in higher blood glucose levels post-game compared to placebo; however, the experimental beverage did not influence the total distance covered, average velocities, average heart rate, or TRIMP values during the second half of simulated match play. Full article

Background/Objectives: Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports within the United States at the high school and collegiate level. Weight-class sports, such as wrestling, present unique challenges for female athletes, particularly in managing acute weight fluctuations associated with the menstrual cycle. However, less is known regarding how sex-specific physiology may influence weight management strategies among female wrestlers. The purpose of this review was to highlight current weight loss trends among high school and collegiate female wrestlers and summarize the physiological mechanisms driving potential menstrual-related fluid retention and subsequent changes in body mass or composition. Methods: A literature review was conducted to include studies evaluating weight loss trends in female wrestlers competing in the United States. Additional literature focused on fluid, body mass, and body composition changes throughout the menstrual cycle was also included. Results: Recent evidence has provided observational data that can be used to develop descriptive summaries of current body composition profiles and weight loss trends among female wrestlers. These data can help to quantify the typical magnitude of weight loss changes observed in female wrestlers competing at the high school and collegiate level within the United States. Conclusions: These findings help provide insight into the magnitude of weight loss wrestlers undergo in an effort to compete in their minimal weight class, thus informing practitioners of potential health risks and helping guide optimal weight management efforts. Full article

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been widely applied in clinical contexts; however, its systematic adaptation to elite sports, particularly precision-based disciplines such as shooting, remains underexplored. The present study aimed to develop and preliminarily validate an ACT-based psychological training program—the Acceptance and Commitment Performance Training for Shooters (ACPT-S)—by reframing ACT from a therapeutic intervention into a performance-oriented training framework. Using a multiphase formative evaluation design, a needs assessment was first conducted with 28 elite and collegiate shooters to identify sport-specific psychological demands. Based on these findings, a ten-session ACPT-S program was developed by integrating the six core ACT processes with shooter-specific routines, embodied exercises, and performance-relevant metaphors. The program was subsequently examined through two pilot studies: Phase 1 with four collegiate/corporate athletes and Phase 2 with 15 national-level shooters. Data were collected via session reflections, focus group interviews, and expert panel evaluations, and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) analysis was used to assess conceptual clarity and implementation feasibility. The results indicated that ACPT-S was perceived as both feasible and contextually appropriate, with athletes reporting improvements in attentional focus, emotional acceptance, value-based motivation, and reduced anxiety. Qualitative analyses demonstrated strong engagement with ACT principles and their functional integration into shooting performance contexts, while all program components achieved CVR scores of ≥0.80, indicating a strong expert consensus. Program refinements were guided by feedback related to activity sequencing, metaphor resonance and personalization strategies. Overall, this study reconceptualizes ACT as a performance-enhancement framework rather than a purely clinical approach and introduces the ACPT-S as a novel, theory-driven, and scalable psychological training model for precision sports, providing a robust foundation for future longitudinal and comparative research. Full article

This study examined the effect of competition stress on recovery time in female collegiate soccer players. Thirty NCAA Division I athletes were monitored over 35 consecutive days using Polar Team Pro wearable devices, which captured exercise duration, distance covered, energy expenditure, sprint count, speed, heart rate, training load, and recovery duration. Data were collected across 20 practices and 7 competitions, totaling 845 observations. Linear regression was used to assess whether formal competition independently influenced recovery duration, controlling for time of day and workload variables. Athletes averaged 20.1 ± 1.1 years of age. Across all sessions, the mean exercise duration was 59.5 ± 38.7 min, with an average distance of 2.6 ± 2.1 km, and energy expenditure of 387.2 ± 283.5 kcals. Recovery duration was significantly longer after competition (51.3 ± 59.6 h) compared to practice (13.0 ± 15.8 h, p < 0.001). The regression model indicated that formal competition predicted an additional 51 h of recovery time (β = 50.540; p < 0.001), independent of physical workload. Recovery following formal competition is significantly prolonged, holding multiple components of workload constant. These findings offer novel insights into female athlete recovery and highlight the importance of sex-specific approaches in sports science. Full article

Background: Inspiratory muscle performance plays a crucial role in athletic demands, yet its associations with anthropometric and positional variables in American football remain underexplored. This study examined relationships between inspiratory metrics and key characteristics in Division I collegiate football players. Methods: Eighty-five Division I collegiate football players (mean academic year in school: 2.87; height: 74.3 inches; weight: 108.13 kg; BMI: 30.21) underwent the Test of Incremental Respiratory Endurance (TIRE) to measure maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), sustained maximal inspiratory pressure (SMIP), and inspiratory duration (ID). Bivariate and multivariate analyses assessed associations with height, weight, BMI, year in school, offense/defense status, and playing position. Results: Inspiratory performance showed limited associations with anthropometric variables, with only a weak correlation between height and ID. (ρ = 0.243, p = 0.024). No significant differences were observed by year in school or position Conclusions: Inspiratory performance appears largely independent of anthropometric and positional factors; future research should explore targeted respiratory training as a hypothesis rather than a confirmed benefit. Full article

This study aimed to compare the acute effects of three eccentric training strategies—constant resistance (CR), accentuated eccentric loading (AEL), and accelerated eccentrics (AE)—on the performance and biomechanical characteristics of the concentric phase of the squat, while maintaining a consistent squat depth. Twenty-four experienced resistance-trained male collegiate athletes (age: 21.92 ± 2.66 years; height: 175.88 ± 4.39 cm; body mass: 73.18 ± 8.08 kg) were recruited. A randomized crossover design was employed, where participants completed three squat protocols (eccentric load/concentric load/eccentric duration): AEL (90% 1RM/60% 1RM/2 s), CR (60% 1RM/60% 1RM/2 s), and AE (60% 1RM/60% 1RM/as fast as possible). Throughout the squats, kinematic and kinetic data were synchronously collected using an 8-camera 3D infrared motion capture system and two 3D force plates. The mean concentric barbell velocity in the AE condition was significantly higher than in both the AEL and CR conditions (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the AE condition demonstrated significant advantages in multiple biomechanical variables, including peak ground reaction force, as well as peak angular velocity and peak joint moments of the three lower limb joints (p < 0.05). With identical concentric loads and range of motion, increasing the velocity of the eccentric phase significantly enhances subsequent concentric performance and force output. In contrast, while the AEL strategy increases the mechanical load during the eccentric phase, its potentiating effect on concentric performance is relatively limited. These findings suggest that eccentric velocity may be a more critical variable than eccentric load in strength training. Full article

This study examined isometric force–time characteristics of weightlifters at three key positions of the clean and their ability to predict competition performances. The three key positions were the isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), the isometric pull at the start of the transition (IPST), and the isometric pull at the start position (IPSP). Seventeen collegiate-level competitive weightlifters (10 males and 7 females) with varying weightlifting achievements (10 of the 17 have medaled at sanctioned USAW national meets) performed isometric strength tests that measured peak force (IPF), rate of force development (RFD), Impulse (IMP), and allometrically scaled variables. The reliability for all measures was high (ICC ≥ 0.86). The IMTP produced the largest absolute forces; however, the IPSP and IPST showed the largest correlations with snatch, clean and jerk, and total, with multiple near-perfect correlations (r ≥ 0.90). RFD and Impulse demonstrated more significant correlations at later time bands (≥200 ms). These findings suggest that measuring multiple isometric positions may provide valuable insight into a weightlifter’s positional strength. Including IPSP and IPST testing protocols with RFD and IMP measurements can augment athlete monitoring and inform training strategies. Full article

As neuromuscular performance assessment has become a fundamental component of athlete monitoring, ensuring strong measurement reliability is essential for supporting accurate data-driven decision-making. Thus, the purpose of this study was twofold: (i) to examine the reliability of countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) force-time metrics obtained using a portable force plate system (Hawkin Dynamics) and (ii) to determine whether absolute and relative reliability scores differ between well-trained individuals (i.e., athletes) and those less familiar with CMJ force-plate testing (i.e., non-athletes). Seventy-four participants volunteered to take part in this investigation, of whom thirty-nine were NCAA Division-I baseball and track-and-field athletes and thirty-five age-matched non-athletes with no prior CMJ testing experience on force plates. After performing a standardized dynamic warm-up, participants performed three CMJs without arm swing while standing on a dual uniaxial force plate system sampling at 1000 Hz. Each jump trial was separated by a 30 s rest interval. Absolute and relative reliability were assessed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. The results revealed that 75% of the variables demonstrated excellent reliability. Specifically, absolute (CV < 10%) and relative (ICC > 0.750) reliability values were good to excellent for most force-time metrics of interest, including braking and propulsive phase duration, peak braking force, average propulsive power, reactive strength index-modified, countermovement depth, and jump height. In contrast, average and peak landing force and inter-limb asymmetry measures during the braking and propulsive phases displayed moderate to good reliability, whereas asymmetry-related variables during the landing phase exhibited poor reliability. In addition, athletes demonstrated lower CV and greater ICC across most metrics compared to non-athletes. Full article

Optimal nutrition in athletes can contribute to training adaptations, recovery, performance, and injury prevention in addition to supporting their overall health and well-being. Macronutrient intake and the link to role in athletic performance has been investigated by several studies, while micronutrient intake in athletes appears to be understudied. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess caloric and selected micronutrient intakes in female collegiate student-athletes across several sports. The participants from seven sports were instructed to complete 3-day food records; dietary intakes were compared to their individual nutritional needs. Results of this study indicated that average intakes of our participants for vitamin C (132.3%), vitamin K (110.5%), and sodium (173%) intakes were significantly above the recommended intakes. However, average intakes for calories (78.0%), calcium (63.1%), magnesium (68.7%), potassium (83.8%), and iron (80.8%) were all significantly below the recommended intakes. More specifically, indoor volleyball and golf athletes exhibited significantly lower vitamin A intake (53.3% and 43.6%, respectively), while iron insufficiency (% of recommendation) was more pronounced in the indoor volleyball (59.8%), golf (65.4%), and tennis (69.9%) teams. Chronic underconsumption of calories and micronutrients can lead to numerous health and athletic performance related consequences. Thus, recognizing and addressing inadequate intakes is imperative to help the student-athletes meet their needs in alignment with dietary guidelines through nutrition education and counseling, as well as dedicated funding and resources towards promoting their overall health, well-being, and athletic as well as academic performance and success. Full article

Background: Adequate sleep is essential for recovery and performance in athletes. Internal and external training loads closely relate to sleep, but few studies have examined their distinct off-season effects. This study investigated the relationships among training load, hormonal markers, and sleep parameters in collegiate male rowers. Methods: Eleven rowers were monitored over 4 months (October 2022–January 2023). Internal load was assessed via session ratings of perceived exertion, external load by accelerometry-based indicators, sleep variables by actigraphy and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and hormonal status via salivary cortisol and testosterone. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and correlation and regression analyses were applied. Results: Training load showed significant temporal variation (p < 0.01), with October having the highest intensity. Increased loads were associated with poorer sleep outcomes, including reduced total sleep time (p < 0.05), higher latency (p < 0.05), and decreased efficiency (p < 0.05). External load was linked to fragmentation indices (wake after sleep onset, awakenings; p < 0.05), whereas internal load correlated with improved efficiency in certain months (p < 0.05). Hormonal fluctuations, particularly cortisol and testosterone, also correlated with sleep parameters (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Internal and external loads exerted distinct influences on sleep, supporting the hypothesis that both must be monitored. Sleep duration and efficiency emerged as modifiable targets for optimizing recovery and performance in athletes. Full article

The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in athlete health monitoring and injury prediction presents both technological opportunities and complex ethical challenges. This narrative review critically examines 24 empirical and conceptual studies focused on AI-driven injury forecasting systems across diverse sports disciplines, including professional, collegiate, youth, and Paralympic contexts. Applying an IMRAD framework, the analysis identifies five dominant ethical concerns: privacy and data protection, algorithmic fairness, informed consent, athlete autonomy, and long-term data governance. While studies commonly report the effectiveness of AI models—such as those employing decision trees, neural networks, and explainability tools like SHAP and HiPrCAM—few offers robust ethical safeguards or athlete-centered governance structures. Power asymmetries persist between athletes and institutions, with limited recognition of data ownership, transparency, and the right to contest predictive outputs. The findings highlight that ethical risks vary by sport type and competitive level, underscoring the need for sport-specific frameworks. Recommendations include establishing enforceable data rights, participatory oversight mechanisms, and regulatory protections to ensure that AI systems align with principles of fairness, transparency, and athlete agency. Without such frameworks, the integration of AI in sports medicine risks reinforcing structural inequalities and undermining the autonomy of those it intends to support. Full article

Female participation in NCAA athletics has grown significantly since the passage of Title IX—the 1972 U.S. federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs and activities receiving federal funding—yet much of the existing research continues to focus on male athletes, leaving important gaps in our understanding of women’s experiences in collegiate sports. One underexamined area with important public health implications is the role of coach–athlete relationships in shaping female athletes’ mental health, access to resources, and overall collegiate experience. This exploratory study draws on in-depth interviews with 19 former female NCAA athletes to examine how their relationships with coaches influenced their athletic careers, mental health, and perceptions of support. Participants represented a range of sports and competitive levels, allowing for variation in experiences across contexts. Findings reveal that coach–athlete relationships are not only central to performance and motivation but also serve as key sources of emotional, social, and material support—or, in some cases, stress and disengagement. The quality and impact of these relationships were shaped by competitive pressures, team dynamics, and institutional expectations. This study underscores the importance of relational context in understanding the broader landscape of female NCAA athletes’ experiences and suggests that coach–athlete dynamics merit greater attention in both research and athletic program development. These findings underscore the relevance of coach–athlete dynamics as a public health concern, particularly in relation to mental health and emotional well-being in competitive sports environments. Supporting healthier relational cultures in collegiate athletics is essential for promoting positive health outcomes among female student-athletes. Full article

Psychological “priming” strategies such as music, self-talk, imagery, and audience effects are commonly used by athletes, yet their acute influence on resistance training performance and underlying endocrine responses is unclear. We conducted three crossover studies in collegiate adults (n = 64) examining self-selected music (SSM), motivational self-talk with imagery (MSTI) or without (MST), and observation either in-person (OE) or via social media (SM) compared with control (CON). Performance tests included a 3-repetition maximum (3RM) back squat, four sets of a 4RM bench press, and a 65% 1RM back squat to failure. Salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations were assessed to explore potential mechanisms. Across studies, no condition yielded statistically significant differences versus CON (p > 0.05); however, small-to-moderate effect sizes suggested practically relevant improvements. For example, 3RM back squat load increased under SSM (g = 0.26) and MSTI (g = 0.22), while SM observation improved repetitions to failure (g = 0.33) and produced a moderate rise in T (g = 0.79). Several priming strategies also favourably altered the T:C ratio. These findings suggest that although group-level changes were subtle, individualized responses may allow athletes to benefit from simple, free interventions that could accumulate into meaningful performance gains when applied repeatedly in training. Future work with larger samples and long-term training designs is warranted to confirm these effects and whether changes in T and C are modulating the priming response. Full article

Background/Objectives: Sports-related concussions can result in prolonged symptoms and deficiencies in stability and balance. Effective and standardized rehabilitation protocols remain limited. This case report introduces a novel balance training program using virtual reality and force plate technology to address persistent post-concussion symptoms. Methods: A 20-year-old National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football player with a history of multiple concussions and balance-related symptoms completed a 10-week intervention. The program utilized a multi-axis force platform and immersive visual tasks to train vestibular, oculomotor, and proprioceptive systems. Each weekly session consisted of seven tasks progressing in difficulty, which were completed three times per session. Performance was measured by the percentage of time a digital cursor remained within task boundaries using the distribution of their center of mass. Symptom self-reports were also recorded. Results: Cumulative mean performance improved from 75.87% in the first session to 91.67% in the final session. All individual template scores increased, including those on the most complex template, which rose from 55.76% to 80.20%. The patient also reported reduced dizziness, disorientation, and improved functional balance across the 10-week period. Conclusions: This virtual-reality-based balance training program shows promise in resolving persistent post-concussion symptoms. Its objective measurement, engaging format, and ease of use suggest potential for broader application in concussion rehabilitation. Full article