Search Results (384)

Background: Tribulus terrestris (Tt) is a popular herbal supplement marketed to enhance fitness performance, despite inconclusive evidence regarding its efficacy and safety. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of TT use, awareness, and motivations for its use among recreational athletes in Italy, helping to address the lack of empirical data describing who actually uses Tt, for what purposes, and with what behavioral risks. Methods: A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered between May and October 2024 across Italian gyms and fitness clubs using Microsoft Forms. A total of 696 individuals initiated the questionnaire; after removal of duplicate, incomplete and ineligible entries, 510 responses were analyzed. Two indicators of Tt consumption were assessed: ever use and current use, with the latter designated as the primary outcome. A multivariable logistic regression evaluated predictors of current Tt use, entering sex, age category (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, ≥45 years), and motivation for supplement consumption. Results: Current Tt use was reported by 7.8% of respondents, while 10.5% declared ever using a Tt-containing product. Motivation was the only independent predictor of Tt consumption (p = 0.012). Individuals reporting performance enhancement as their primary motivation were markedly more likely to currently use Tt, compared with those using supplements for other purposes (adjusted OR ≈ 18.5; p = 0.008). Neither sex (p = 0.918) nor age category (p = 0.519) significantly predicted Tt use. Admission of anabolic steroid use was infrequent but was linked to online purchasing from potentially unregulated sources. Conclusions: Tt consumption in fitness settings is driven predominantly by performance-oriented expectations rather than demographic characteristics. The observed discrepancy between consumer beliefs and scientific evidence suggests a pressing need for educational interventions and regulatory vigilance in sports nutrition. Public health policies should focus on improving label literacy, strengthening consumer protection, and countering misinformation within supplement marketing environments. Full article

The integration of omics technologies, including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, has transformed sports science, particularly soccer, by providing new opportunities to optimize player performance, reduce injury risk, and enhance recovery. This systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines and structured using the PICOS/PECOS framework. Comprehensive searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science up to August 2025. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed original research involving professional or elite soccer players that applied at least one omics approach to outcomes related to performance, health, recovery, or injury prevention. Reviews, conference abstracts, editorials, and studies not involving soccer or omics technologies were excluded. A total of 139 studies met the inclusion criteria. Across the included studies, a total of 19,449 participants were analyzed. Genomic investigations identified numerous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) spanning key biological pathways. Cardiovascular and vascular genes (e.g., ACE, AGT, NOS3, VEGF, ADRA2A, ADRB1–3) were associated with endurance, cardiovascular regulation, and recovery. Genes related to muscle structure, metabolism, and hypertrophy (e.g., ACTN3, CKM, MLCK, TRIM63, TTN-AS1, HIF1A, MSTN, MCT1, AMPD1) were linked to sprint performance, metabolic efficiency, and muscle injury susceptibility. Neurotransmission-related genes (BDNF, COMT, DRD1–3, DBH, SLC6A4, HTR2A, APOE) influenced motivation, fatigue, cognitive performance, and brain injury recovery. Connective tissue and extracellular matrix genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL2A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, COL22A1, ELN, EMILIN1, TNC, MMP3, GEFT, LIF, HGF) were implicated in ligament, tendon, and muscle injury risk. Energy metabolism and mitochondrial function genes (PPARA, PPARG, PPARD, PPARGC1A, UCP1–3, FTO, TFAM) shaped endurance capacity, substrate utilization, and body composition. Oxidative stress and detoxification pathways (GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1, NRF2) influenced recovery and resilience, while bone-related variants (VDR, P2RX7, RANK/RANKL/OPG) were associated with bone density and remodeling. Beyond genomics, proteomics identified markers of muscle damage and repair, metabolomics characterized fatigue- and energy-related signatures, and microbiomics revealed links between gut microbial diversity, recovery, and physiological resilience. Evidence from omics research in soccer supports the potential for individualized approaches to training, nutrition, recovery, and injury prevention. By integrating genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics data, clubs and sports practitioners may design precision strategies tailored to each player’s biological profile. Future research should expand on multi-omics integration, explore gene–environment interactions, and improve representation across sexes, age groups, and competitive levels to advance precision sports medicine in soccer. Full article

This study aims to report the first Latvian version of the RESTQ-76, focusing on its internal validity, reliability, structural validity, and the relationships between the factors of the questionnaire. A total of 394 athletes (225 men and 169 women), aged 18–30 years (average age = 21, SD = 1.65), participated in the study. They were recruited from various sports clubs and universities. The RESTQ-76 was translated into Latvian through a forward-backward translation process to ensure accuracy of cultural relevance. To examine the questionnaire’s structure, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. This analysis revealed a stable four-factor model comprising 18 scales, with acceptable fit indices (RMSEA = 0.089, CFI = 0.914, TLI = 0.896, NFI = 0.889), indicating good model fit. The psychometric validity of the Latvian version is supported by the original, indicating it is appropriate for use in sports settings throughout Latvia. As research on training load and recovery continues to expand, tools like the RESTQ-76 are becoming increasingly important. They help athletes and coaches monitor recovery and stress levels, which is essential for optimizing performance and preventing overtraining in competitive sports. Full article

Aim: This study aimed to assess self-reported oral and orofacial health, hygiene habits, and oral health knowledge among Croatian athletes, and to determine factors influencing that knowledge. Differences between contact and non-contact sports, as well as the occurrence of dental trauma and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, were also examined. Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 1007 athletes (56% male, 44% female) aged 18–42 years, recruited through national sports federations and university sports clubs. The instrument comprised 85 items divided into five domains: sociodemographic data, oral hygiene habits, self-assessed oral health, TMJ symptoms, and oral health knowledge. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, and generalised linear modelling (p < 0.05). Results: Athletes demonstrated moderate oral health knowledge (mean score 11.3 ± 4.4/18). While 92.2% recognised that poor oral hygiene leads to caries and periodontitis, only 52.4% correctly identified the ideal time to replant an avulsed tooth. Female participants, older age groups, and those with higher education had significantly better knowledge (p ≤ 0.05). Recreational athletes scored higher than amateurs (p = 0.002), and those with prior dental trauma experience also showed greater awareness (p = 0.028). No significant difference was found between contact and non-contact sports (p = 0.287). Despite good brushing habits (86.9% brushed twice daily), only 25.4% regularly used dental floss or interdental brushes. A small proportion of athletes reported symptoms related to temporomandibular joint function, most commonly joint clicking (18.2%), tooth wear (13.4%), and nocturnal bruxism (14.3%). There were no significant differences between contact and non-contact sports, except for muscle stiffness near the temples (p = 0.024) and daytime or stress-related teeth grinding (p = 0.013 and p = 0.018). Conclusions: Croatian athletes demonstrated moderate oral health knowledge and satisfactory hygiene habits, but preventive practices remain inadequate. Education level, gender, and previous dental trauma were key determinants of knowledge. Systematic preventive programmes and targeted education are necessary to improve oral health awareness in sports populations. Full article

Road running tourism events continue to grow worldwide and are increasingly leveraged by destinations seeking diversification and seasonality reduction. This study examines the motivational structure of participants in the 2025 Half Marathon Magaluf (Mallorca, Spain)—a mature Mediterranean resort undergoing tourism repositioning—and analyses how motivation-based segments relate to socio-demographic, sporting and tourism behaviours. Data were collected through a self-administered online survey (N = 306). An Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), followed by a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), validated a five-factor motivational structure: sport-related hedonism, socialisation, personal challenge, inclusiveness and digital interaction. A k-means cluster analysis identified five distinct segments—Digital Enthusiasts, Inclusive Enjoyers, Socializers, Hedonic Achievers and Inclusivists—each exhibiting differentiated patterns in Experience-Use History (EUH), origin, gender, and running-club membership. Notably, Socializers recorded the longest stays, Inclusive Enjoyers were overrepresented among first-time visitors, and Digital Enthusiasts and Hedonic Achievers included a higher share of international runners. These findings expand traditional motivational models by incorporating inclusiveness and digital interaction as emerging drivers and offer actionable recommendations for event organisers and destination managers seeking to enhance overnight stays and support destination repositioning strategies. Full article

This study explores the multifactorial synergistic effects and configurational pathways for enhancing corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance among Chinese professional sports clubs. Drawing on 188 valid questionnaires from Chinese professional football and basketball clubs, the research employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to examine the influence of seven antecedent conditions, commercial environment, government regulation, expectancy pressure, economic interests, internal emotional traits, moral quality, and information disclosure, on CSR performance. The findings reveal that CSR performance results from the interplay of multiple factors, identifying two equivalent pathways for enhancement: the coupling of government pressure with internal autonomy, and the coordination of commercial environment with internal moral qualities. These insights clarify the complex causal mechanisms underlying CSR implementation in professional sports clubs and propose two strategic approaches for promoting CSR: optimizing external institutional frameworks and activating internal endogenous motivation. The study offers configurationally grounded pathway options and managerial implications for improving CSR practices in Chinese professional sports clubs. Full article

The AIMS-3G was developed to expand and reconceptualize previous measures and conceptualizations of athletic identity. Although the AIMS-3G has appeared in research, comprehensive tests of its validity and reliability had not extended beyond the initial work by Brewer and his colleagues. This study examined the psychometric properties of three AIMS-3G models: the unidimensional Athletic Identity Scale, the Athletic Identity Property model comprising Prominence and Self-worth Contingency components, and the Athletic Identity Process Model comprising Self-presentation and Social Reinforcement components. In total, there were 366 participants (M age = 21.52, SD = 3.68), primarily team sport athletes (n = 322, 87.98%). A smaller portion of the sample (n = 50, 13.66%) competed at the highest levels of sport, including the Olympics, World Championships, or top professional basketball leagues (e.g., the WNBA). Gender distribution was nearly equal (female n = 195, 53.28%). Participants were drawn from European women’s basketball teams and from an American university club and recreational sport teams. The university sample completed the full AIMS-3G, whereas the European women’s sample completed the four-item unidimensional scale. The results strongly supported the psychometric soundness of the four-item Athletic Identity Scale. For the Property model, reliability and factor loadings were acceptable, though confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) produced mixed fit indices. For the Process model, CFA indicated inadequate fit despite good to excellent reliability and significant factor loadings. Practical implications, limitations, and future directions were discussed in relation to Brewer and colleagues’ work and this study’s findings. Full article

Background: Elevated heart rate (HR) reactivity to psychomotor challenge mirrors greater proneness to acute stress, which is a disadvantage in competitive sports. This study investigated whether temperament and adiposity predict HR reactivity during a reaction time (RT) task in adolescent athletes, with a focus on identifying their role in psychophysiological vulnerability. Participants and procedure: The participants were 20 adolescent canoe athletes (15 boys, 5 girls; mean age = 14.3 ± 1.88 years). They were volunteers recruited from a canoe club, with the permission of their coaches and parents. The study was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, where participants underwent anthropometric tests, completed a questionnaire, had a HR monitor fitted, and rested in an armchair until a relatively stable HR (±5 beats per minute) was recorded. Subsequently, their HR was monitored across three 5 min phases: baseline, RT task, and recovery. Reactivity was calculated as the difference between task and recovery, because pre-task HR was influenced by anticipation. Data analyses were performed using AI-assisted and verified Bootstrapped Spearman correlations, Lasso regression with five-fold cross-validation, and stability analysis with 25 repeated cross-validations. Results: Shyness and body fat percentage were positively related to HR reactivity, whereas other temperament traits and RT performance showed no statistically significant associations. The Lasso regression results revealed shyness and adiposity as significant predictors, with their interaction consistently identified as the strongest effect (selected in 76% of models). The independent measures did not affect HR in the recovery phase. Conclusions: Shy adolescents with higher adiposity demonstrate heightened stress responses, as evidenced by HR reactivity, underscoring the importance of addressing stress vulnerability in young athletes and extending this line of inquiry to a broader spectrum of junior athletes. Full article

This study investigates the effects of a structured motor intervention program on the development of lower limb strength in junior athletes practicing Greco-Roman wrestling. Recognizing the crucial role of explosive strength in performing technical and decisive actions during combat, the research introduces a progressive, applied training protocol tailored to the neuromotor development of children aged 10 to 12 years (control group: M = 11.14, SD = 1.10; experimental group: M = 11.07, SD = 0.83). Conducted over 17 months, the study involved two groups of 14 registered wrestlers each from School Sports Club No. 5 in Bucharest. The experimental group participated in a complementary motor training program emphasizing plyometric drills, bodyweight strength exercises, and wrestling-specific movements, while the control group continued with the standard training routine. The intervention’s impact was evaluated using the OptoJump Next system, a biomechanical analysis tool measuring key indicators of explosive strength—jump height, ground contact time, flight time, and reactive strength index (RSI)—through the single-leg counter-movement jump (CMJ) test. Comparative analysis of pre- and post-intervention results showed significant improvements in neuromotor performance among athletes in the experimental group, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. This research thus provides a reproducible, evidence-based intervention model with direct applicability in optimizing the training of young Greco-Roman wrestlers. Full article

This paper interrogates two important but obscured admission policy developments at leading American universities in the post-World War II era. First, we critically examine the University of California’s “special admissions,” later formalized as the “Admission by Exception” policy adopted at two flagship campuses (Berkeley and UCLA) to open opportunities for veterans returning from the War under the GI Bill. The scale of this Admission by Exception policy was orders of magnitude larger than any comparable admissions policy in recent decades, including both the eras with and without legally permissible affirmative action. Second, we excavate archival evidence from the immediate aftermath of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, where leaders at the flagship University of Texas at Austin campus hastily adopted a new standardized exam requirement because their enrollment modeling indicated this was the most efficient way to not face further losses in federal court while excluding the largest number of African Americans (and thereby resisting Brown) and maintaining the same overall size of the freshmen class. These two post-war admission policy changes, one arising in de facto segregated California and the other in de jure segregated Texas, operated as racialized institutional mechanisms analogous to “redlining” racially restrictive housing policies that are a more familiar feature of the post-War era. We draw on historical data about earnings and wealth accumulation of the overwhelmingly white graduates of UC and UT in the 1950s–70s and connect these findings to the theoretical frameworks of Cheryl Harris’s “whiteness as property” and George Lipsitz’s racialized state investment. We show how these admission policies contributed to the intergenerational transfer of advantage. We then turn to the contemporary admissions landscape at highly selective American universities after the Supreme Court’s SFFA v. Harvard ruling. We link current trends at some elite institutions toward a return to standardized testing requirements, maintaining considerations of athletic ability mostly in “country club” sports as manifestations of bias in university admissions, which tend to favor white applicants. The paper connects historical racialization of admissions to ongoing inequities in access and outcomes, showing how both historical and contemporary admissions policies reward inherited forms of cultural capital aligned with whiteness. Full article

Professional football players face considerable occupational hazards, with injuries posing serious challenges to player safety, club performance, and regulatory oversight. This descriptive study examines the multifaceted implications of Portugal’s Laws No. 48/2023, which formally recognises professional football as a high-risk occupation and strengthens the mandatory insurance regime through a major regulatory update. Adopting a qualitative approach, the analysis focuses on Portugal, where the professional football business model heavily relies on player commercialisation, and compares regulatory frameworks in Spain, Germany, England, Italy, France, and Brazil. Findings indicate that Portugal’s legal framework enhances player safety by ensuring comprehensive coverage and improved disability protections, yet also introduces financial pressures on clubs, particularly those with lower economic capacity. These pressures are exacerbated by limited market competition and high insurance concentration, increasing premium costs. Cross-country comparisons reveal persistent disparities in legal standards, insurance scope, and institutional coordination, which complicate risk allocation in an increasingly globalised football market. Notably, Portugal’s high-risk insurance model most closely aligns with France’s hybrid approach, in contrast to fully public schemes seen in countries like Germany and Italy. While complete harmonisation remains challenging, the study identifies key principles to guide policy reform and international cooperation. Overall, the findings advance understanding of occupational risk regulation in sport and offer practical insights for designing effective, equitable, and safety-oriented protection systems for professional athletes. Full article

Background: Adolescence represents a critical period for growth and athletic development, yet young athletes frequently demonstrate significant gaps in nutritional knowledge that can impair performance and long-term health outcomes. Limited research exists on comprehensive nutrition education interventions for adolescent soccer players in North African populations. Objective: To evaluate both general and sports-specific nutritional knowledge among adolescent soccer players from an elite Tunisian club and assess the feasibility of a digital nutrition intervention using mobile application technology. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June and August 2024 among 50 male soccer players aged 11–18 years from Étoile du Sahel club in Sousse, Tunisia. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire comprising sections on basic nutrition knowledge, influences on food choices, sports nutrition knowledge and practices, and demographic information. A pilot digital intervention using the FatSecret app was implemented with 8 participants over 4 weeks, involving meal photo uploads and nutritionist feedback. Results: Participants had a mean age of 15.16 ± 1.55 years, with 92% reporting no formal nutrition education. While 90% correctly identified carbohydrates as the primary energy source, only 2% recognized that fat provides the highest energy density. Significant misconceptions existed regarding sports nutrition: 74% incorrectly believed that consuming protein 2–4 h before an event enhances performance, and only 17% knew the recommended pre-event carbohydrate intake. Food choices were primarily influenced by cravings (80%) and sensory appeal rather than health considerations (20%). The digital intervention demonstrated extremely low engagement, with minimal participation in meal photo uploads. Conclusions: This study reveals critical gaps in both general and sports-specific nutritional knowledge among adolescent soccer players in Tunisia, providing important descriptive information about knowledge distribution in this population. While knowledge deficits are substantial, it is important to acknowledge that this cross-sectional assessment documents only knowledge patterns, without measures of actual dietary intake or athletic performance. The persistent misconceptions and the low feasibility of the digital intervention provide important lessons regarding technology-based approaches to nutrition education in this age group, highlighting challenges in sustained engagement that must be addressed in future intervention design. Full article

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) adversely affect health and athletic performance, yet their prevalence in adolescent female team athletes is understudied. Objectives: This exploratory pilot study assessed ED presence and associated factors in female basketball players aged 10–18 years from a high-level club in Granada, Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional pilot study examined 36 participants (mean age 13.3 ± 2.2 years) who completed the Spanish Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q). Body composition (Tanita TBF-300), sociodemographic characteristics, and sport-related factors were recorded. Associations between these covariates and S-EDE-Q global scores (GS) were examined via linear regression. Results: A higher Global Score (GS), indicating increased ED risk, correlated significantly with several factors: Lower paternal education (primary vs. university: p < 0.005) and lower socioeconomic level. Older age (AME = 0.30; p < 0.005) and greater muscle mass (p < 0.001). National competition level (p < 0.001), being a player in the pivot position (mean GS = 1.62), and presence of sport-related medical history (mean GS = 1.07). No associations were found with sport experience or weekly training hours. Conclusions: Although the overall risk of EDs is low, the association with specific factors (sociodemographic, anthropometric, and sports-related) allows vulnerable players to be identified. Longitudinal and larger-scale research is needed to confirm these initial findings and design targeted and early prevention strategies. Full article

Background: Professional football requires more attention in planning work regimens that balance players’ sports performance optimization and reduce their injury probability. Machine learning applied to sports science has focused on predicting these events and identifying their risk factors. Our study aims to (i) analyze the differences between injury incidence during training and matches and (ii) build and classify different predictive models of risk based on players’ internal and external loads across four sports seasons. Methods: This investigation involved 96 male football players (26.2 ± 4.2 years; 181.1 ± 6.1 cm; 74.5 ± 7.1 kg) representing a single professional football club across four analyzed seasons. The research was designed according to three methodological sets of assessments: (i) average season performance, (ii) two weeks’ performance before the event, and (iii) four weeks’ performance before the event. We applied machine learning classification methods to build and classify different predictive injury risk models for each dataset. The dependent variable is categorical, representing the occurrence of a time-loss muscle injury (N = 97). The independent variables include players’ information and external (GPS-derived) and internal (RPE) workload variables. Results: The Kstar classifier with the four-week window dataset achieved the best predictive performance, presenting an Area Under the Precision–Recall Curve (AUC-PR) of 83% and a balanced accuracy of 72%. Conclusions: In practical terms, this methodology provides technical staff with more reliable data to inform modifications to playing and training regimens. Future research should focus on understanding the technical staff’s qualitative vision of predictive models’ in-field applicability. Full article