Search Results (1,062)

Background: Social participation is an important psychosocial dimension of health, but its associations with multiple lifestyle and psychological domains have rarely been examined simultaneously across Mediterranean and neighbouring countries. This study examined sociodemographic, health-related, Mediterranean dietary, movement-related, sleep-related, psychological, and technology-use correlates of social participation. Methods: Data were analysed from 4010 adults participating in the multinational MEDIET4ALL survey across ten countries. Social participation was assessed using the Short Social Participation Questionnaire (SSPQ). Hierarchical multiple linear regression examined associations across these domains, with the fully adjusted Model 6 designated as the primary inferential model. Sensitivity analyses examined sex- and region-related effect modification, country fixed effects, and categorical-variable coding. Exploratory indirect associations involving selected lifestyle behaviours and life satisfaction were estimated using bootstrapping. Results: The fully adjusted Model 6 explained 23% of the variance in social participation (adjusted R² = 0.224). The largest standardized associations among the statistically supported correlates were observed for age (β = −0.224), anxiety (β = 0.194), life satisfaction (β = 0.160), physical activity (β = 0.152), and depression (β = −0.149). Dietary associations were generally comparable across sexes, but the positive association involving Mediterranean dietary habits was stronger among participants from Mediterranean countries (interaction p = 0.002). The principal associations were materially consistent in country fixed-effects and categorical-coding sensitivity analyses. Exploratory bootstrapped analyses identified statistically supported indirect associations through life satisfaction for both Mediterranean dietary dimensions and physical activity in relation to higher social participation and for sitting time in relation to lower social participation. Conclusions: Social participation was associated with multiple lifestyle, psychological, sleep-related, and sociodemographic domains within the MEDIET4ALL sample. These findings are associative, while the regional and indirect-association findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating. Given the cross-sectional design, the results establish neither temporal nor causal relationships. Longitudinal and intervention studies are required to determine directionality and practical relevance. Full article

The bioactive flavonoid compound anthocyanin that is present in berries and other pigmented fruits has received interest for effects on substrate oxidation during exercise. The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost) were searched from 4 March to 5 August 2026 for trials examining the exercise-induced metabolic effects of anthocyanin-rich foods and supplements. Twenty-three studies were included in this narrative review with observations from blackcurrant, blueberry, tart cherry, blackberry and elderberry. After short-term supplementation (up to 14 days), extract from New Zealand grown blackcurrants provided the strongest evidence, with many studies reporting up to 30% increases in fat oxidation and typically ~5–12% decreases in carbohydrate oxidation during continuous moderate-intensity exercise (cycling, walking and running). The exercise-induced metabolic responses appear to be influenced by the baseline respiratory exchange ratio, body composition, duration of dosing, and environmental exercise conditions. The findings for effects from other anthocyanin-rich sources were few and less clear. New Zealand blackcurrant extract increases moderate-intensity exercise-induced fat oxidation without alteration of the total energy expenditure. Mechanistic evidence for blackcurrant-induced effects suggests altered intramuscular triglyceride use and glycogen availability. Information from other anthocyanin-rich sources is limited for now. It cannot be excluded, however, that the changes in exercise-induced substrate oxidation may be anthocyanin-type (and thus berry) dependent, but more studies are needed on other anthocyanin-rich non-blackcurrant sources. Future studies are required to confirm mechanisms. And studies with experimental design and methodology are needed to examine responsiveness and the factors that may play a role, such as training status, exercise modality, age, and habitual diet, to advance our understanding for the implications of anthocyanin-rich supplementation for sport and exercise nutrition. Full article

Background and Aim: The identification of factors that optimize competitive performance is a primary focus for athletes and coaches in any sport, particularly variables that are modifiable through tailored nutritional and training strategies. Since data regarding volleyball remain scarce, this investigation aimed to explore the association between the baseline preseason anthropometry, body composition, and dietary habits of elite adult male volleyball players and the key performance indicators (KPIs) retrieved as match-by-match data during an official tournament. Methods: Nineteen elite male volleyball players (mean age: 23.79 ± 5.72 years; BMI: 23.88 ± 1.97 kg/m²) underwent comprehensive assessments. Anthropometric data and muscle strength (MS) were evaluated via body circumferences and handgrip dynamometry, respectively. Body composition was analyzed using bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), while Mediterranean diet adherence was assessed with the validated Mediterranean diet adherence score (MEDAS) questionnaire, all measured cross-sectionally at one time point, identified as the baseline preseason phase of the competitive season. The tournament KPIs included serving, attack, and reception efficiencies, and block points per set were retrieved longitudinally during each match of the competitive season. Data were analyzed utilizing correlation and linear mixed-model regressions. Results: Right-hand MS correlated positively with higher MEDAS scores (ρ = 0.488, p < 0.05). Furthermore, both right-hand MS (β = 1.005, 95% CI [0.178, 1.831], p = 0.026) and thigh circumference (β = 3.030, 95% CI [0.083, 5.977], p = 0.046) were found to be positively associated with higher serving efficiency (adjusted R²_m ≈ 0.12). Conclusions: Monitoring muscle strength and thigh circumference alongside targeted nutritional and training strategies may be considered in elite male volleyball, as these factors were associated with serving efficiency. However, due to the observational nature of the research, our findings require replication in larger, multicenter intervention studies. Full article

Background/Objectives: Adequate dietary intake is essential for supporting growth, health, and athletic performance in adolescent athletes. Handball is a high-intensity intermittent team sport characterised by repeated running, sprinting, jumping, and physical contact, placing substantial physiological and nutritional demands on young athletes. This study examined associations between eating behaviour dimensions, sport anxiety, resilience, and dietary intake in adolescent elite female handball players. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 74 adolescent elite female handball players; after exclusion of two dietary-intake outliers, 72 participants were included in the analyses (mean age: 15.6 ± 1.7 years; BMI: 21.2 ± 2.4 kg/m²). Eating behaviour, sport anxiety, and resilience were assessed using the TFEQ-R21, SAS-2, and CD-RISC-10, respectively. Dietary intake was estimated using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Cognitive Restraint was negatively correlated with energy (r = −0.266, p = 0.024), fat (r = −0.288, p = 0.014), carbohydrate (r = −0.257, p = 0.029), and sugar intake (r = −0.255, p = 0.031). Uncontrolled Eating was positively associated with energy (β = 0.338, p = 0.030; R² = 0.134) and fat intake (β = 0.366, p = 0.017; R² = 0.157) in the regression analyses. Higher resilience was associated with lower sugar intake in the regression analysis (β = −0.318, p = 0.007; model R² = 0.101) and with lower sport anxiety in the Pearson correlation analysis (r = −0.559, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings indicate associations between eating behaviour dimensions, selected psychological characteristics, and dietary intake in adolescent elite female handball players. Uncontrolled Eating and Cognitive Restraint showed distinct patterns of association with dietary intake, while resilience was associated with sugar intake and sport anxiety. Given the cross-sectional and exploratory nature of the study, these findings warrant cautious interpretation and replication in larger independent samples. Full article

Taekwondo is a high-intensity, intermittent, weight-category combat sport requiring repeated explosive actions, rapid decision-making, and effective recovery between bouts. These demands, combined with congested competition schedules and weight-management requirements, make nutrition important for both performance and athlete health. This narrative review provides an evidence-informed synthesis of nutritional strategies relevant to taekwondo performance, recovery, and weight management by integrating available taekwondo-specific evidence with findings from comparable combat sports and established sports nutrition guidelines. Particular attention is given to energy and carbohydrate availability, protein intake, hydration and electrolyte balance, selected ergogenic aids, nutritional periodization, and safe weight management. The review also proposes an applied integrative framework illustrating how nutrition may influence interacting physiological, neuromuscular, cognitive, and recovery-related processes. A key limitation is the scarcity of taekwondo-specific intervention studies, meaning that several practical recommendations are necessarily extrapolated from comparable combat sports and broader athletic populations. From an applied perspective, nutritional priorities should include maintaining adequate energy and carbohydrate availability, supporting recovery through appropriate protein and fluid–electrolyte intake, and adopting gradual, individualized weight-management strategies that minimize dehydration, low energy availability, and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) risk. Overall, nutritional strategies in taekwondo should be individualized and aligned with training load, competition demands, recovery needs, and weight-management goals. Further taekwondo-specific experimental studies are needed to refine these recommendations and strengthen sport-specific nutritional guidance. Full article

Background: Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) is the highest rate of fat oxidation attained during incremental exercise, with cardiorespiratory fitness being its primary correlate. How body composition and regional anthropometry explain MFO variability remains poorly understood. While fat-free mass is a known correlate, regional morphology, such as skinfold-corrected girth, has been proposed to capture local muscle mass contributions. However, MFO is an absolute rate (g·min⁻¹) whereas peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak, typically mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) is conventionally reported relative to body mass. The statistical consequences of this dimensional mismatch, and the question of whether regional girths independently account for MFO variance or merely reflect body size artefacts, remain unexamined. Methods: Forty-three national-team collegiate athletes (21 men, 22 women) underwent a maximal incremental treadmill test with breath-by-breath indirect calorimetry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), bioelectrical impedance analysis and a full International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) anthropometric profile including six skinfold-corrected girths. The primary model regressed absolute MFO on absolute peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak, L·min⁻¹). Sensitivity models added corrected girths, fat-free mass, sex, stature and body mass. Internal validity was assessed by leave-one-out cross-validation (Q²) and 5000-sample bootstrapping, with Benjamini–Hochberg control of the false discovery rate. Results: Absolute VO₂peak explained 60.4% of the variance in MFO (Q² = 0.563; β = 0.191 g·min⁻¹ per L·min⁻¹, 95% CI 0.142 to 0.240; bootstrap CI 0.133 to 0.227). Adding corrected calf girth changed the explained variance by 0.006 (p = 0.424) and reduced Q² to 0.541. No corrected girth survived the false-discovery-rate control, and fat-free mass added nothing (p = 0.268). When aerobic capacity was instead expressed per kilogram of body mass, model fit was substantially worse (R² = 0.415) and corrected calf girth appeared to be strongly and independently associated with MFO (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In trained athletes, absolute aerobic capacity explains MFO variance, whereas regional anthropometry and body composition provide no incremental information. Normalising predictor variables by body mass creates statistical artefacts that falsely attribute explanatory power to structural girths. Future studies with larger sample sizes and diverse athletic populations are needed to confirm these findings across different training statuses and metabolic profiles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Carbohydrate ingestion is the cornerstone of post-exercise muscle glycogen resynthesis, but high intake rates may be limited by gastrointestinal tolerance and other recovery demands are not addressed. This narrative review aimed to classify nutritional co-strategies by their primary role in glycogen recovery, evaluate the supporting evidence, and develop a constraint-based framework for practical decision-making. Methods: The relevant literature was identified through targeted searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus from database inception through May 2026, supplemented by manual reference screening. Evidence was synthesized according to the directness and consistency of glycogen-specific evidence and the primary role of each strategy in acute glycogen recovery, multi-day glycogen accumulation, supportive recovery, or emerging contextual modification. Results: Protein co-ingestion may be most relevant when carbohydrate or total energy provision is suboptimal, whereas direct glycogen-specific evidence for caffeine remains limited and inconsistent, with greater relevance to subsequent performance. Creatine appears more applicable to multi-day glycogen accumulation than to acute post-exercise resynthesis. Fluid and sodium replacement and polyphenol-rich foods primarily support the broader recovery environment, whereas microbiome-targeted and chrononutritional approaches remain emerging contextual modifiers. Conclusions: Nutritional co-strategies should be selected according to the constraint limiting recovery, the available recovery time, and the strength of evidence. This framework may support more individualized and evidence-informed recovery nutrition. Full article

Beverage consumption practices before, during, and after training are relevant to physical performance and health. However, less is known about whether these self-reported practices remain stable or change over relatively short periods. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the frequency of self-reported exercise-related beverage consumption changed over a 30-day period in physically active university students. A secondary aim was to characterize individual-level temporal agreement in selected beverage consumption frequency items across the two assessments. A total of 34 participants (18 males and 16 females; age 20.8 ± 0.5 years) completed a 28-item questionnaire on two occasions separated by 30 days. Paired Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine group-level changes in ordinal beverage-consumption frequency, while weighted Cohen’s kappa coefficients (κw) with 95% confidence intervals, exact agreement, and adjacent-category agreement were used to characterize individual-level temporal agreement. No statistically significant group-level differences were detected between assessments for the analyzed beverage-consumption frequency items (all p > 0.05). Across the analyzed items, exact agreement ranged from 73.5% to 100.0%, adjacent-category agreement from 94.1% to 100.0%, and κw values ranged from 0.329 to 1.000. Water was the most frequently reported beverage before, during, and after training. Overall, no systematic group-level changes in exercise-related beverage consumption frequency were detected over the 30-day period, while individual-level temporal agreement varied across beverage categories and exercise-related time points. Full article

The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as an important factor related to intestinal homeostasis and athlete health, yet the effects of L-glutamine supplementation on gut microbiota composition in endurance athletes during training remain unclear. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial examined whether 4 weeks of L-glutamine supplementation influenced gut microbiota composition and gastrointestinal responses in 19 collegiate cross-country skiers during a training period. Stool samples were collected at baseline, week 2, and week 4 during each intervention period, and gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing targeting the V4 region. Shannon alpha diversity increased significantly over time, and Bray–Curtis beta diversity showed significant time-related changes, with no significant supplementation or interaction effects. At the genus level, L-glutamine supplementation was associated with a transient increase in Faecalibacterium and a decrease in Collinsella at week 2, though these changes were not sustained at week 4. Positive correlations among selected short-chain fatty acid-producing genera were also observed under the L-glutamine condition. Fecal calprotectin, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool form, and bowel movement frequency were not significantly affected by supplementation. These findings suggest that gut microbiota dynamics in collegiate cross-country skiers were characterized by time-dependent shifts across the intervention period, whereas L-glutamine supplementation was associated with transient genus-level shifts and microbial correlation patterns without adverse gastrointestinal responses. Full article

Background/Objectives: Whether caffeine provides additional benefit when superimposed on individualized plyometric conditioning remains unclear. We examined whether 3 mg·kg⁻¹ caffeine altered the temporal countermovement jump (CMJ) response following reactive strength index (RSI)-derived individualized drop-jump (DJ) conditioning and explored moderation by habitual caffeine exposure. Methods: Thirty Chinese Han male basketball players (median age, 22.0 years [IQR, 21.0–27.75]) entered a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial; 17 reported no caffeine exposure and 13 reported exposure during the preceding 4 weeks. After caffeine (CAF; 3 mg·kg⁻¹) or placebo (PLA), a 60-min absorption period, and warm-up, participants performed a post-supplement, pre-conditioning CMJ followed by 3 × 5 DJs. CMJ was assessed at 15 s, 3, 6, 9, and 12 min. The primary outcome was the Condition × Time effect on CMJ. All 30 randomized participants contributed data; three did not complete Period 2 because readiness criteria were not met, but Period 1 data were retained (57 participant-period observations). Results: CMJ varied across time (p < 0.001), but Condition × Time was not significant (p = 0.305). CAF–PLA differences at 15 s, 3, 6, 9, and 12 min were 0.89 cm (95% CI, −0.11 to 1.88), 0.39 (−0.61 to 1.38), 0.21 (−0.79 to 1.21), 0.84 (−0.15 to 1.84), and 0.71 (−0.29 to 1.71), respectively (all Holm-adjusted p ≥ 0.399). Habitual caffeine exposure showed no global moderation continuously (p = 0.158) or categorically (p = 0.116). An isolated 9-min contrast at zero reported exposure favored CAF by 1.83 cm (95% CI, 0.74–2.92; Holm-adjusted p = 0.031) but was exploratory. RPE showed no Condition × Time interaction (p = 0.253); at 15 s, CAF–PLA was −0.60 points (95% CI, −1.09 to −0.12; Holm-adjusted p = 0.088). Conclusions: This study did not obtain clear evidence that 3 mg·kg⁻¹ caffeine provided additional CMJ improvement following this specific RSI-derived individualized DJ protocol. Habitual caffeine exposure did not systematically moderate the temporal response; the isolated signal was exploratory. Full article

The beneficial effects of dietary fiber (DF) and high-dietary-fiber diets (high-DF diets) on body weight (BW) regulation and lipid metabolism have been extensively investigated in the general population. However, due to the unique metabolic adaptations of athletes, exercise-specific nutritional requirements, and enhanced gastrointestinal sensitivity caused by intensive training and competition, the evidence for their application and in-depth mechanism remains limited. This review synthesizes current evidence on the effects of DF and high-DF diets on BW regulation and lipid metabolism in athletic populations. Emerging data indicate that athletes exhibit unique lipid metabolic phenotypes and gut microbial compositions relative to non-athletic individuals—factors that may modulate their physiological responses to DF interventions. Studies conducted specifically in athletes suggest that DF supplementation and high-DF diets—including the vegetarian diet and the Mediterranean diet—may support favorable changes in body composition and lipid-related biomarkers. Nevertheless, these benefits appear to be moderated by sport discipline, biological sex, and interindividual variability in metabolic and gastrointestinal physiology. Critically, excessive or poorly timed DF intake—particularly during intense training blocks or immediately before or during competition—may exacerbate gastrointestinal discomfort and impair energy availability, thereby potentially compromising performance. Consequently, the integration of DF into athletic nutrition strategies necessitates individualized consideration of fiber type, dosage, timing of ingestion, fermentability, and gastrointestinal tolerance. Future research should prioritize rigorously designed longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials employing standardized DF interventions and outcome assessments. Comprehensive evaluation—including metabolic parameters, markers of energy availability, gastrointestinal symptomatology, and microbiome profiling—will be essential to inform evidence-based, personalized DF recommendations aligned with athletes’ training phases and metabolic profiles. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is increasingly marketed as an adjunct that amplifies the strength and muscle-size gains produced by resistance training. Prior meta-analyses pooled trials across mixed exercise contexts rather than trials confined to structured resistance training. We therefore quantified adjunctive ashwagandha effects on muscular strength, chest circumference and body composition within such trials. Methods: We searched twelve bibliographic sources (including PubMed/MEDLINE, Europe PMC, OpenAlex and Cochrane CENTRAL) and two trial registers (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP) without date restriction to 23 August 2026, with reference-list, included-study-list and forward-citation screening, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) combining a standardized ashwagandha extract (root or root-and-leaf) with structured resistance training in healthy adults (PRISMA 2020). Screening, extraction and risk-of-bias assessment were duplicated independently. Change-from-baseline standardized mean differences (SMDs; Hedges g) were pooled with restricted maximum-likelihood random-effects models, with RoB 2, leave-one-out and Hartung–Knapp–Sidik–Jonkman (HKSJ) sensitivity analyses, and GRADE. Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL were unavailable to us, but Embase- and CINAHL-derived records were retrieved indirectly through CENTRAL. Results: Four RCTs were eligible; three (n = 161) provided poolable data, and one preprint was reported narratively because its bench-press values were not interpretable as absolute loads. Ashwagandha was associated with greater gains than placebo in 1-RM bench press (SMD 0.60, 95% CI 0.20–1.01), lower-body 1-RM (0.52, 0.19–0.86) and chest circumference (0.86, 0.41–1.31), but not body fat (−0.32, −0.72–0.08). Heterogeneity was low to moderate (I² = 7–34%); all three pooled trials raised at least some concerns on RoB 2. Under HKSJ adjustment both strength estimates lost statistical significance and each depended on one influential trial; for chest circumference (k = 2), the HKSJ interval was too imprecise to be informative. GRADE certainty was Low for both strength outcomes and body fat, and Very Low for chest circumference. Conclusions: Current evidence does not establish that adjunctive ashwagandha meaningfully enhances resistance-training adaptations; it indicates possible benefits for maximal strength and, indirectly, upper-body girth, but the evidence base is small, statistically fragile and of low to very low certainty, with no dependable effect on adiposity. Adequately powered, independently funded RCTs using direct measures of hypertrophy are required. This review received no external funding and was not registered. Full article

Background/Objectives: Unhealthy diets and poor lifestyle choices can increase athlete’s risk of low energy availability (LEA) and its negative consequences. Conversely, optimal nutrition, such as the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet), promotes health, recovery, and performance. This study evaluates MedDiet adherence among athletes and physically active individuals, exploring its relationship with nutrition knowledge (NK), dietary intake, eating behaviors, and sleep quality. Methods: This single-center observational study evaluated Italian healthy active adults/athletes (18–65 years) categorized into four performance Tiers. Validated questionnaires analyzed MedDiet adherence (MEDI-LITE), NK (GeSNK), eating behaviour (EAT-26 and TOS), sleep quality (PSQI), and physical activity (IPAQ). Dietary intake was estimated via a 7-day food diary. Body composition (skinfolds/BIVA), and resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) were assessed. Results: Analysis included 169 participants (32.3 ± 11.9 years; 52.7% females; 56.8% Tier 1), practicing 2.0 ± 0.9 sports with 7.1 ± 3.7 h/week of training. Mean MEDI-LITE score was 10.6 ± 2.2 (moderate adherence) across all Tiers and was significantly, positively associated with NK (p = 0.002). Mean EA was 31.3 ± 8.6 kcal/kg FFM/day; sex-specific cut-offs revealed a substantial proportion of high-tier participants with low/suboptimal EA. Eating disorder risk and orthorexic tendencies were low, sleep quality was generally good; none significantly correlated with MEDI-LITE score. Conclusions: Higher NK was positively associated with MedDiet adherence. However, high-tier athletes showed low or suboptimal EA. Targeted nutrition education must integrate MedDiet principles with sport-specific fueling strategies, optimizing diet quality and energy adequacy. Full article

Mobile health (mHealth) apps increasingly capture the physiological, biomechanical, and psychological variables involved in sport training, but the evidence remains fragmented across single-domain reviews, leaving practitioners without a consolidated basis for selecting and deploying these tools across the training process. This scoping review aimed to identify and characterize research on mHealth apps in sport training, focusing on their performance testing, training load and recovery monitoring, technical and skill development, injury screening and prevention, and athlete self-management. It also synthesized evidence regarding their applications, intended purposes, technical characteristics, and the evidence supporting their effectiveness. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Embase) were searched from inception to July 2026 for journal articles reporting original empirical data on app research on the sport training process in athletes. Studies involving only the promotion of physical activity or lacking human-subject testing, including commercially available apps without supporting research on their effectiveness, were excluded. Findings were synthesized narratively, and methodological quality was appraised with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Of 9476 records identified, 111 studies met the inclusion criteria and were inductively classified into ten application categories: sport skill training (n = 26), performance measurement (n = 20), vertical jump measurement (n = 18), self-reported monitoring (n = 12), physiological measurement (n = 12), musculoskeletal screening (n = 10), psychological intervention (n = 5), nutrition (n = 3), anthropometric and maturation screening (n = 3), and tactical and match analysis (n = 2). Most apps relied on built-in smartphone sensors or no sensing at all and used manual or deterministic computation; processing location went unreported in 74.8% of studies, which reflects a reporting gap rather than an architectural profile of the field, and reported that AI or machine learning labels did not track with actual method disclosure. Validation and reliability designs dominated the evidence base (52%), while randomized or controlled effectiveness trials were rare (10%). Apps generally showed good relative validity but limited absolute accuracy against criterion instruments, and wherever apps were deployed longitudinally, adherence rather than accuracy determined their real-world value. mHealth apps now support nearly every stage of sport training and can substitute for laboratory instruments in select, validated use cases, including video-based sprint and jump timing and chest-strap-paired heart-rate variability monitoring. However, the field remains organized around demonstrating measurement accuracy rather than showing that app-guided decisions improve athlete outcomes. A successful pathway for mHealth app development should progress from technical validity, through measurement reliability and responsiveness, to decision rules, and then to practitioner adoption by coaches and athletes, ultimately yielding better athlete outcomes. Full article

Background: While the biomechanical, physiological, and nutritional determinants of table tennis (TT) performance have already been summarized, a dedicated synthesis of players’ anthropometric and motor characteristics is still lacking. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence across different ages, genders, and competitive levels. Methods: BASE, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Semantic Scholar, and Web of Science databases were searched for study selection. Cross-sectional studies investigating the anthropometric and motor characteristics of healthy TT players aged 7–40 years were considered eligible. Results: Thirty-one studies were included. Eighteen studies focused on motor characteristics, seven on anthropometric traits, and six examined both. Conclusions: Adult male TT players predominantly exhibit an endomorph–ectomorph profile with greater lean mass, whereas females show an endomorph–ectomorph somatotype. Moreover, higher-ranked athletes generally display greater lean mass. Compared to specific strength-based sports athletes, TT players tend to have lower limb circumferences and lower lean and muscle mass, while showing higher body fat than specific speed- and agility-based sports. Higher-level players tend to demonstrate faster reaction and movement times, as well as superior change-of-direction abilities. Compared to other racket sports, they tend to exhibit superior coincidence-anticipation timing under high stimulus velocities and distinctive motor coordination. In terms of strength, TT players show proficiency in horizontal jumps and dynamic back strength, despite lower vertical explosive power. The identified characteristics provide a descriptive profile of table tennis players and may inform future longitudinal research investigating their potential relevance for talent identification and development. Full article