Frontiers in Sports and Active Living最新文献

{"title":"Does the different function of the lead vs. trail foot lead to functional asymmetry in balance performance of sub-elite youth cross-country mountain bikers? A pilot study.","authors":"Sam Limpach, Matthias Lauer, Moritz Schreiber, Katharina Borgmann, Thomas Muehlbauer, Stefan Panzer","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1944180","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1944180","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>During descents, cornering, or coasting over obstacles, cross-country mountain bikers use an isometric split stance with horizontally aligned pedals, establishing a distinct \"lead\" and \"trail\" leg. This pilot study investigated whether the different functions of the lead compared to the trail foot are associated with inter-limb functional asymmetry (FA) in proactive and reactive balance performance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve sub-elite youth cross-country mountain bikers (10 males, age: 13.5 ± 1.7 years, training history: 4.7 years) were assessed. Proactive balance was evaluated using the Y-Balance Test-Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ). Reactive balance was assessed via Time to Stabilization (TTS) during single-leg drop landings. Statistical analyses utilized Kruskal-Wallis H-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare performance differences between the lead and trail leg.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>No significant differences between the lead and trail leg were observed across any reach directions or the composite score of the YBT-LQ. Contrarily, TTS revealed a significant difference (<i>Z</i> = 2.59, <i>p</i> = .010, <i>r</i> = .75) for the mediolateral plane, with the lead leg having a faster TTS.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Chronic participation in mountain biking was associated with an FA in measures of reactive balance specifically isolated to the ML plane. Since off-road descents present unpredictable, high-speed perturbations, the rider must rely heavily on a mediolateral \"hip strategy.\" The superior reactive stabilization of the lead leg suggests that this specific FA could serve as a sport-specific performance indicator.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1944180"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13661986/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between technostress and work engagement among college physical education teachers: a chain mediation model of job crafting and emotional intelligence.","authors":"Yihang Deng, Tong Liu, Genzhong Yin, Xudong Jin","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1938579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1938579","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Technostress refers to a psychological stress state arising from an individual's inability to cope with the demands or expectations associated with information technology use, and is closely related to teachers' work attitudes and behavioral performance. However, the psychological mechanism through which technostress is associated with work engagement among college physical education (PE) teachers remains unclear. This study tested a theoretically-based chain mediation model examining the associations among technostress, job crafting, emotional intelligence, and work engagement among college PE teachers, with a particular focus on the theorized sequential mediating roles of job crafting and emotional intelligence.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sample consisted of 1,000 college PE teachers from multiple universities across China (52.6% male, 47.4% female; mean age = 38.5 ± 8.7 years). They completed measures of technostress, job crafting, emotional intelligence, and work engagement. Mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 with the PROCESS macro (Model 6), and indirect effects were estimated using 5,000 bootstrap resamples.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Technostress was significantly and negatively correlated with work engagement. Regression analyses showed that technostress was found to be a significant negative predictor of job crafting, emotional intelligence, and work engagement, while job crafting and emotional intelligence were positive predictors of work engagement. Mediation analysis indicated that technostress exerted significant indirect effects on work engagement through job crafting alone, emotional intelligence alone, and their sequential pathway. The total indirect effect accounted for 38.04% of the total effect, suggesting a meaningful but not exclusive mediating role of these two variables.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Technostress is negatively associated with work engagement among college PE teachers, with job crafting and emotional intelligence serving both independent and chain mediating roles. These findings highlight that technostress, job crafting, and emotional intelligence represent important psychological pathways associated with work engagement, offering practical implications for designing targeted teacher intervention strategies that are consistent with the theoretical model.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1938579"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657982/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isometric trunk strength in seated para-athletes: relationship to manual muscle testing and comparison with non-impaired controls.","authors":"Marie Lund Ohlsson, Frida Lidén, Johanna S Rosén, Kajetan Ciunelis, Karina Sá, Yves Vanlandewijck, Anna Bjerkefors","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1888235","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1888235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Trunk muscle strength is an important performance indicator in para-athletes competing in seated sports and is commonly assessed in classification systems using manual muscle testing (MMT), together with functional and sport-specific tests. Quantitative isometric strength measures may provide complementary information about force-generating capacity. However, the relationship between isometric trunk strength and MMT-assessed trunk and hip strength is not well described in para-athletes with neuromusculoskeletal impairments. This study aimed to examine isometric trunk strength in seated para-athletes and compare it with 1) MMT scores of the trunk and hips and 2) isometric trunk strength in a reference group without physical impairments.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Male para-athletes competing in seated sports (<i>n</i> = 32, 34.7 ± 13.7 years, 8.7 ± 4.1 exercise h/week) and a reference group without physical impairments of similar age and weekly exercise (<i>n</i> = 10, 35.0 ± 12.5 years, 9.8 ± 6.4 exercise h/week) participated. Isometric strength was measured seated for flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral flexion using a strength rig. MMT of the trunk and hips was summed to obtain an MMT Trunk-Hip score. Associations with isometric strength were examined using Spearman's rank correlation. Para-athletes were categorized into Very Low, Low, Moderate, and High MMT Trunk-Hip groups. Group differences were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis tests.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher MMT Trunk-Hip scores were associated with greater maximal isometric trunk strength in all movement directions (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with large effect sizes. The High group did not differ from the reference group, whereas the Very Low and Low groups consistently demonstrated lower strength across directions. The Moderate group showed greater heterogeneity, with strength varying by movement direction.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MMT Trunk-Hip scores were strongly associated with isometric trunk strength in seated para-athletes, supporting MMT's ability to capture meaningful differences in trunk and hip muscle strength. However, direction-specific variation indicates that MMT does not fully characterize force-generating capacity. Quantitative isometric strength testing may provide complementary information for evaluating and monitoring trunk strength, particularly for performance enhancement. In para-sport classification, these findings support the construct validity of MMT while highlighting the potential value of quantitative strength measures for developing and validating multidimensional assessment methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1888235"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658499/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between environmental heat stress and 30:15 intermittent fitness test performance in youth football players: a two-season observational study.","authors":"Vincenzo Rago, Edgar Schwarz, Júlio A Costa, George P Nassis, Pedro Figueiredo","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1896010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1896010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Intermittent field tests in football are commonly conducted outdoors, exposing players to environmental heat stress. This study examined the influence of environmental heat stress on the 30:15 Intermittent Fitness Test (V_IFT) performance in highly trained young football players. A total of 642 V_IFT assessments were collected from 312 male players (U14-U19) across two seasons. Environmental conditions were obtained from an open-source service. Heat stress was quantified via the wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) and categorized into unrestricted (<22 °C), low-risk (22 °C-28 °C) and high-risk (>28 °C) conditions. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the associations between anthropometric, neuromuscular, and environmental factors on V_IFT performance. V_IFT decreased by ∼0.4 km/h in low-risk and ∼1.5 km/h in high-risk heat conditions (<i>d</i> = 0.12-0.45; <i>P</i> < 0.01) compared to unrestricted. These differences persisted after adjusting for anthropometric characteristics and CMJ performance, except in U19 players, where the V_IFT decrement in low-risk conditions disappeared (<i>P</i> = 0.183). The V_IFT declined by 0.09-0.15 km/h for every 1 °C increase in WBGT (<i>r</i> = -0.74 to -0.28; <i>P</i> < 0.05). Our findings suggest the V_IFT performance might decrease by one running stage (0.5 km/h) for every ∼5 °C increase in WBGT. Practitioners should account for environmental conditions when profiling players and prescribing training based on the V_IFT.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1896010"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13658194/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Angle-torque relationship and muscular activity patterns during concentric contractions with a novel variable cam system.","authors":"Renato da Costa-Machado, Diogo L Marques, Runer A Marson, Letícia Costa de Sousa, Hugo Plácido da Silva, Hugo Louro, Daniel A Marinho, Ana Conceição","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1913115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1913115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Understanding the angle -torque relationship requires recognizing that torque can differ across contraction modes. This study aimed to analyze the performance of the Variable Moment Arm Cam® (VMAC®) by examining torque production and muscle activation during concentric leg extension contractions across the full range of motion (ROM) (100°-0°) and comparing them with those obtained using an isokinetic dynamometer.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In total, 22 young men (20.55 ± 2.19 years; 175.41 ± 7.21 cm; 72.80 ± 9.90 kg; 18.00 ± 5.83% body fat; 23.63 ± 2.82 kg·m⁻²) participated in four randomized moments of torque and muscle activity assessments, two using the VMAC® and two using an isokinetic dynamometer. Torque and muscle activity data were synchronized and recorded across the entire ROM (100°-0°) and evaluated at 5° intervals.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The VMAC® system produced strength curves that closely matched those observed when using the isokinetic dynamometer across the initial and mid-ROM joint angles (100°-35°), peaking around mid-ROM (70°-65°). Muscle activity differed across conditions while the torque production remained similar.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The VMAC® generated torque patterns comparable to isokinetic dynamometry, showing the strongest alignment at mid-ROM, supporting the use of this system to replicate natural human strength curves while highlighting the opportunity to refine cam geometry.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1913115"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13657908/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does exercise environment moderate the effects of Tai Chi on depression and anxiety? A systematic review and meta-analysis of indoor vs. outdoor practice settings.","authors":"Nan Zhang, Guidan Hu, Xiujie Ma","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1955833","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1955833","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent mental disorders that impose a substantial global health burden. As a traditional mind-body exercise, Tai Chi has demonstrated well-established non-pharmacological benefits for alleviating negative emotional symptoms. However, previous meta-analyses have primarily focused on intervention dosage (e.g., frequency and duration) or participant characteristics, while largely overlooking the potential influence of the physical exercise environment as a contextual ecological factor. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the overall effects of Tai Chi on depression and anxiety and to determine whether indoor and outdoor practice settings moderate these mental health benefits.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed in CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase for studies published from database inception to June 2026. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating Tai Chi as the primary intervention and reporting outcomes related to depression and/or anxiety were included. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the RoB 2.0 tool. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using the GRADE approach. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's &lt;i&gt;Q&lt;/i&gt; test and the &lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; statistic. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression were performed to examine the potential moderating effect of the exercise environment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;A total of 15 RCTs involving 847 participants were included. Tai Chi significantly reduced both depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.25 to -0.61, &lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 75.1%) and anxiety symptoms (SMD = -0.93, 95% CI: -1.23 to -0.64, &lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 62.9%). Although univariate subgroup analyses descriptively showed larger effect sizes in outdoor settings than in indoor settings for both depression (SMD = -1.06 vs. -0.88) and anxiety (SMD = -1.08 vs. -0.90), outdoor subgroups comprised few studies (&lt;i&gt;k&lt;/i&gt; = 4) with substantial heterogeneity (&lt;i&gt;I&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; &gt; 78%). Crucially, multivariable meta-regression analyses confirmed that the exercise environment was not a statistically significant independent moderator for either depression (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.90) or anxiety (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.21) after adjusting for age, intervention duration, and dosage parameters.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;Tai Chi is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for alleviating depression and anxiety. However, current empirical evidence does not support an independent moderating effect of the exercise environment. The observed numerical differences between indoor and outdoor settings should","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1955833"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13660419/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-overshoot control method for tennis trainer based on active disturbance rejection control.","authors":"Jin Zhong, Chenhao Luo, Jin Chen","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1832801","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1832801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Traditional tennis trainers employing passive return mechanisms (springs or rubber bands) suffer from fixed return angles, non-adjustable damping, inability to measure hitting speed, and monotonous training modes. To overcome these limitations, this paper presents an active return device based on a joint motor and proposes a low-overshoot control method using Nonlinear Active Disturbance Rejection Control (NLADRC). The device integrates a joint motor with an encoder, an embedded controller, and a striking target mounted on a rotating arm, enabling real-time speed calculation, adjustable damping, and precise active return. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first application of ADRC to an active return device for striking-sports training, and it constitutes the primary innovation of this work. In MATLAB simulations, NLADRC reduces the 0°→180° step-response overshoot by 82% and the post-disturbance settling time by 62.5% compared with a tuned PID controller. Hardware experiments on a prototype closely match the simulations, with a step-response overshoot of about 2.8% and a disturbance recovery time of about 0.4 s under NLADRC. A four-unit cooperative training system demonstrates sequential and random multi-target modes with audio-visual feedback, and a preliminary usability survey with 30 amateur players yields mean ratings above 4.2 out of 5 on five dimensions. These results validate the proposed device and controller and demonstrate the superiority of NLADRC over PID for this application together with acceptable preliminary usability; direct effects on tennis skill acquisition or training outcomes are beyond the scope of this study and remain to be examined in future longitudinal work.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1832801"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13655093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149164220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perception of quality of an international recreational gymnastics event: the case of the GIMNASTRADA 2019.","authors":"Vicente Luis-Del Campo, Jesús Muñoz-Jiménez, Héctor Valentín Jiménez-Naranjo, Kiko Francisco León","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1806745","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1806745","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The GIMNASTRADA is an annual, non-competitive gymnastics event, held in the city of Cáceres (Extremadura, Spain) since 1996. The 2019 edition was the largest in number of participants with around 3,700 gymnasts and 12,000 spectators. The aim of this study was to determine whether the perception of quality of GIMNASTRADA 2019 was influenced by the type of participation that different groups of attenders developed in this gymnastic event (gymnasts, gymnastics group leaders, family members, audience, organisational staff).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>To this end, a total of 331 participants completed a short four item-questionnaire created ad hoc for this study in order to evaluate the perceived quality of certain management processes existing in this sporting event (e.g., quality of facilities, planning, organisation and development). The questionnaire, based on single-item measures of previous validated scales as EVENTQUAL and IPA4RE, was answered anonymously by the participants using their own mobile devices via a Google Docs form.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed differences in questionnaire scores between groups of participants. It is concluded that the type of participation influenced the perception of quality between groups of attenders in GIMNASTRADA 2019.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>It would be advisable for sports managers to design sporting events tailored to different participant profiles, including activities adapted to their specific interests, with the aim of providing a positive experience that would promote their participation in future editions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1806745"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13655125/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149166111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physical activity and improvement of physiological parameters by training.","authors":"Ricardo Augusto de Melo Reis, Ricardo Mario Arida, Antonio Claudio Lucas da Nobrega, João Dario Martins de Mattos, Hércules Rezende Freitas, Maria Clara Salgado Ramos, Rodrigo Soares Fortunato, Leonardo Matta, Gustavo Costa Ferreira, Cláudio Canetti","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1944574","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1944574","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Living a better life greatly depends on maintaining healthy physiological parameters, including cardiovascular fitness, a well-balanced neuro-immuno-endocrine axis, and cognitive function-all of which contribute to focus, sharp memory, and self-esteem while mitigating age-related cognitive decline. Physical activity (high, moderate and resistance training, RT) is one of the most important lifestyle choices for reducing disease risk and improving overall health, particularly aerobic training, which increases maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), a marker of cardiorespiratory fitness. Here, we focus on how exercise influences physiology that may contribute to improvements in health-related quality of life (QoL). Specifically, we discuss based on evidence from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and experimental animal models the neurobiological, endocrine, immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular adaptations induced by exercise, including changes in neurochemical signaling, trophic mediators, hormones, cytokines, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Specific nutrients as supplements (creatine, omega-3 fatty acids and some amino acids) and dietary patterns (mediterranean, ketogenic, intermittent fasting) are also discussed. It is never too late to start moving-regular physical activity has been shown to counteract several deleterious effects of a sedentary lifestyle by reducing systemic inflammation, attenuating age-related brain changes, and lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1944574"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13656851/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149181275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bibliometric analysis of racket sport-related injuries: global research landscape, hotspots, and trends.","authors":"Zongyu Liu, George Liu, Chunying Li","doi":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1897740","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fspor.2026.1897740","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of racket sport-related injury research, focusing on research progress, collaboration networks, hotspots, and thematic evolution. Drawing on the Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed, the analysis covers 1,837 publications from 76 countries spanning from 2000 to 2025.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;This study employed bibliometric methods combined with statistical analysis. Using CiteSpace 6.4.R1, VOSviewer 1.6.20, SCImago Graphica 1.0.53, and SPSS 26.0, quantitative and visual analyses were conducted on publication trends, geographical distribution, institutional distribution, country/region cooperation networks, core authors, journal distribution, keyword co-occurrences, research hotspots, the evolution of research topics, and highly cited papers. These analyses were supplemented by a correlation analysis, a chi-square goodness-of-fit test, and a cluster analysis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;The global publication volume of racket sport-related injury research exhibited a two-stage growth trend (fluctuating growth and rapid growth), with a significant acceleration after 2020. Geographically, the research was primarily concentrated in Europe, North America, and East Asia, with the United States (527 articles), China (199 articles), and the United Kingdom (152 articles) ranking as the top three in terms of publication quantity. The statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between national 2025 GDP per capita and publication volume (&lt;i&gt;ρ&lt;/i&gt; = 0.538, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, 95% CI [0.351, 0.684]). Core research institutions were dominated by sports universities, sports medicine hospitals, and orthopedic research centers, with the Mayo Clinic (USA), University of Liege (Belgium), and Harvard University (USA) as the leading institutions. The international cooperation network was relatively sparse, with merely 15.1% of publications involving cross-national collaboration. The cluster analysis classified research hotspots into 13 core clusters, which were further aggregated into the following six interconnected research domains: epidemiological characteristics and injury prevention, sport-specific injury manifestations, chronic overuse injuries, acute traumatic injuries, imaging-based injury diagnosis, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. The dynamic evolution of research trends was classified into the following three phases: epidemiological investigation and traditional treatment, biomechanical mechanisms and standardized intervention, and intelligent technology and precision prevention. The &lt;i&gt;Brit J Sport Med&lt;/i&gt; was a core journal source in the field. There were extremely significant differences in article count across three research themes (&lt;i&gt;χ&lt;/i&gt; &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 354.55, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001, Cramér's V = 0.54), with rehabilitation research differing significantly from both sport injury and injury prevention research.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong","PeriodicalId":12716,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Sports and Active Living","volume":"8 ","pages":"1897740"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13655025/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149169559","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}