Instrumented Mouthguards in Elite-Level Men ’s and Women’s Rugby Union: The Incidence and Propensity of Head Acceleration Events in Matches
ConclusionThis study quantifies HAE exposures in elite rugby union players using iMGs. Most contact events in rugby union resulted in lower-magnitude HAEs, while higher-magnitude HAEs were comparatively rare. An HAE above 40  g occurred once every 60–100 min in men and 200–300 min in women. Future research on mechanisms for HAEs may inform strategies aimed at reducing HAEs. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 31, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Women at Altitude: Sex-Related Physiological Responses to Exercise in Hypoxia
AbstractSex differences in physiological responses to various stressors, including exercise, have been well documented. However, the specific impact of these differences on exposure to hypoxia, both at rest and during exercise, has remained underexplored. Many studies on the physiological responses to hypoxia have either excluded women or included only a limited number without analyzing sex-related differences. To address this gap, this comprehensive review conducted an extensive literature search to examine changes in physiological functions related to oxygen transport and consumption in hypoxic conditions. The review enc...
Source: Sports Medicine - October 30, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

The Effects of Strength, Plyometric and Combined Training on Strength, Power and Speed Characteristics in High-Level, Highly Trained Male Youth Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsHigh-level, highly trained male youth soccer players can experience positive gains in indices of strength, power and speed from strength, plyometric and combined training, and the magnitude of gains are mostly similar across modes of training. Based on prediction intervals, there is a good level of certainty that future strength, plyometric and combined training in this population would lead to positive improvements in vertical and horizontal power and sprint acceleration. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 28, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Does Resisted Sprint Training Improve the Sprint Performance of Field-Based Invasion Team Sport Players? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
ConclusionsResisted sprint training achieved similar improvements in sprint performance to those found for unresisted sprinting during the acceleration and maximum velocity sprint phases. Within-group findings show RST is an effective method for improving early acceleration and late acceleration performance of FITS players. Finally, a subgroup analysis supports the use of light and very heavy loads for increasing early acceleration performance, while also highlighting greater benefits associated with using the percentage velocity decrement loading method.Clinical Trial RegistrationOpen Science Framework,https://osf.io/thms...
Source: Sports Medicine - October 28, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

The Effects of Exercise-Based Injury Prevention Programmes on Injury Risk in Adult Recreational Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsPooled point estimates were suggestive of a reduced risk of injury in intervention groups. Nevertheless, these risk estimates were insufficiently precise, too heterogeneous and potentially compromised by small study effects to arrive at any robust conclusion. More large-scale studies are required to clarify whether exercise-based injury prevention programmes are effective in adult recreational athletes.Clinical Trial RegistrationThe protocol for this review was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42021232697). (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 27, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Use of Buffers in Specific Contexts: Highly Trained Female Athletes, Extreme Environments and Combined Buffering Agents —A Narrative Review
AbstractThis narrative review evaluated the evidence for buffering agents (sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate and beta-alanine), with specific consideration of three discrete scenarios: female athletes, extreme environments and combined buffering agents. Studies were screened according to exclusion and inclusion criteria and were analysed on three levels: (1) moderating variables (supplement dose and timing, and exercise test duration and intensity), (2) design factors (e.g., use of crossover or matched group study design, familiarisation trials) and (3) athlete-specific factors (recruitment of highly trained participants,...
Source: Sports Medicine - October 25, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Response to Comment on “Influence of Resistance Training Proximity-to-Failure on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis”
(Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 19, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Comment on “Influence of Resistance Training Proximity-to-Failure on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis”
(Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 19, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Sex and Training Status
ConclusionsConcurrent training results in small interference for lower-body strength adaptations in males, but not in females. Untrained, but not trained or highly trained endurance athletes demonstrated impaired improvements in\(\dot{V}\)O2max following concurrent training. More studies on females and highly strength-trained and endurance-trained athletes are warranted.Clinical Trial RegistrationPROSPERO: CRD42022370894. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 17, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Comment on: “Extraordinary Claims in the Literature on High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): I. Bonafide Scientific Revolution or a Looming Crisis of Replication and Credibility?”
(Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 10, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Effects of Psychological Interventions to Enhance Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
ConclusionsThe significant moderate effects for psychological skills training, mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches, and imagery are not stable, and further trials with robust research methodology, such as randomized controlled trials, are requested for all types of psychological interventions aiming to enhance performance in athletes. Moreover, improved reporting standards and the provision of datasets in open science repositories are important to consider in future trials in sport psychology.Clinical Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42017056677. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 9, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

A Perspective on High-Intensity Interval Training for Performance and Health
AbstractInterval training is a simple concept that refers to repeated bouts of relatively hard work interspersed with recovery periods of easier work or rest. The method has been used by high-level athletes for over a century to improve performance in endurance-type sports and events such as middle- and long-distance running. The concept of interval training to improve health, including in a rehabilitative context or when practiced by individuals who are relatively inactive or deconditioned, has also been advanced for decades. An important issue that affects the interpretation and application of interval training is the la...
Source: Sports Medicine - October 7, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Performance Benefits of Pre- and Per-cooling on Self-paced Versus Constant Workload Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
ConclusionsCooling interventions attenuated the decline in performance during exercise in the heat, but the magnitude of the effect is dependent on exercise protocol (self-paced vs constant workload) and cooling type (pre- vs per-cooling). Pre-cooling appears to be more effective in attenuating the decline in exercise performance during a constant workload compared with self-paced exercise protocols, whereas no differences were found in the effectiveness of per-cooling. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 6, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

A Behaviourally Informed Approach to Reducing the Risk of Inadvertent Anti-doping Rule Violations from Supplement Use
AbstractFor many reasons, athletes ’ use of supplements is highly prevalent across sports and competitive levels, despite the risk of these products containing a substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List. Contravening anti-doping rules through supplement use could have serious consequences for competitive athletes ( e.g., ineligibility from major competitions, loss of medals and funding) due to the principle of strict liability. Indiscriminate supplement use also poses a risk to athlete health. To reduce the possibility of ingesting a supplement containing prohibited substances, independent quality assura...
Source: Sports Medicine - October 6, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research

Interaction of Medical Conditions and Football Exposures Associated with Premortem Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Diagnosis in Former Professional American Football Players
ConclusionsClinical phenotypes including psychological disorders and sleep apnea were strongly associated with an increased likelihood of having received a pre-mortem CTE diagnosis in former professional football players. Depression, anxiety, and sleep apnea produce cognitive symptoms, are treatable conditions, and should be distinguished from neurodegenerative disease. (Source: Sports Medicine)
Source: Sports Medicine - October 6, 2023 Category: Sports Medicine Source Type: research