Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"Performance of Youth Athletes Is Not Consistently Determined by Maturity or Training Experience: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Anastasios Lykidis, Rafail Georgios Pechlivanos, Anthi Angelou, Nikolaos Varvariotis, Chrysostomos Sahinis, Ioannis G Amiridis, Roger M Enoka","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of biological maturity status and training experience on motor performance in young athletes of different sport disciplines. <b>Methods:</b> Youth athletes (n = 84, 23 females) from five different sports (basketball, volleyball, track and field, wrestling, and badminton) participated in this study. Jump height was measured for the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Peak torque during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) and torque steadiness at 20% MVC were assessed during plantar flexion (PF) and dorsiflexion (DF). Postural control was assessed with the one-leg test for both the right and left legs. K-means clustered analysis categorized participants into groups of low and high performers. <b>Results:</b> High performers had greater training experience than low performers for the SJ (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with no difference in maturity status (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Similarly, high performers had greater training experience (<i>p</i> < 0.05) than low performers for the CMJ, with no difference in maturity status (<i>p</i> > 0.05). High performers were more mature than low performers for MVC torque of DF (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and PF (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with no group differences in training experience (DF: <i>p</i> > 0.05; PF: <i>p</i> > 0.05). Maturity status for torque steadiness differed only for DF (<i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas there was no difference for PF (<i>p</i> > 0.05). There were no differences in either maturity status or training experience for one-leg-stance time (<i>p</i> > 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that maturity status and training experience are linked to performance, although their relative roles differ across tasks. These findings reflect an interaction between biological maturity, training background and sports performance in youth athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108137/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773572","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":"Effects of Different Types of Stretching on Hypertension: A Systematic Review with Exploratory Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Irene-Chrysovalanto Themistocleous, Charalambos Michael, Stelios Hadjisavvas, Elena Papamichael, Michalis A Efstathiou, Christina Michailidou, Manos Stefanakis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020164","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020164","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Background:&lt;/b&gt; Stretching exercises are strongly recommended as part of exercise training programs; however, their effects on blood pressure (BP) and other related cardiovascular parameters in adult individuals with elevated BP (pre-hypertension) or hypertension remain unclear. &lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and databases accessed via the EBSCO platform up to 30 September 2025, following the PRISMA guidelines. An additional search of Scopus was performed on 8 April 2026. Studies eligible for inclusion were randomized controlled trials, randomized crossover trials, non-randomized clinical trials and single-arm trials investigating stretching interventions in adults with pre-hypertension and or hypertension. Risk of bias assessment was performed using RoB 2 for randomized trials and ROBINS-I for the non-randomized trials. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed when at least two studies reported sufficiently comparable BP outcomes. The quantitative synthesis was considered exploratory. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Eleven records published between 2014 and 2025 met the eligibility criteria and were included. All protocols used static stretching, although only a small number were clearly described as active stretching. The results were heterogeneous across the design, duration of intervention and outcomes. Chronic interventions more often reported favorable changes in indices of arterial stiffness, whereas acute interventions demonstrated more variable immediate BP responses. In the exploratory meta-analysis, the pooled estimate suggested a reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in favor of stretching; however, this effect did not reach statistical significance (mean difference (MD) = -5.39 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -11.32 to 0.53; I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0%). For diastolic blood pressure (DBP), the pooled estimate favored stretching and reached statistical significance (MD = -3.93 mmHg, 95% CI: -7.25 to -0.60; I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0%). In sensitivity analyses including a third study, the pooled effects remained in favor of stretching for systolic BP (MD = -6.6 mmHg, 95% CI: -12.2 to -1.0; I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 56%) and diastolic BP (MD = -5.4 mmHg, 95% CI: -7.1 to -3.7; I&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 8%). These pooled estimates should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of studies, heterogeneity in study design and participant characteristics, and overall limitations in methodological quality. Secondary findings suggested possible improvements in selected vascular parameters, including brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, and cardio-ankle vascular index, whereas acute responses were more variable and protocol-dependent. Overall, the level of evidence was limited, with most randomized trials judged as having some concerns and non-randomized studies judged as having a critical risk of bias. &lt;b&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/b&gt; Stretching interventions may improve BP and selected vascular parameters in adults with pre-hypert","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108135/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773573","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":"Effects of Ecological Dynamics Approach in Physical Education on Physical Fitness and Types of Physical Activity in Middle School Students: An Exploratory Study.","authors":"Italo Sannicandro, Luigi Armiento, Nicola Trotta, Federico Abate Daga","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020165","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: This study aimed to examine whether a physical education program based on the ecological dynamics approach, implemented through small-sided games (SSG), produces greater improvements in motor skills, daily physical activity levels, and perceived physical fitness in middle school students. <b>Methods</b>: Forty-eight students were assigned to an SSG group (ecological dynamics lessons including small-sided games, <i>n</i> = 26) or a Control group (traditional lessons based on teacher-centered instruction and analytical exercises, <i>n</i> = 22). The intervention lasted 12 weeks, with two sessions per week. Motor performance was assessed using the standing broad jump, 5-standing broad jump, 20 m sprint, 10 × 5 m shuttle run, 5-0-5 agility test, and sit-and-reach test. Daily physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and perceived physical fitness was assessed using the Visual Analogue Fitness Perception Scale for Adolescents (FPVASA). <b>Results</b>: Significant group-by-time interactions were found in all motor tests. IPAQ-SF data revealed significant group-by-time interactions for vigorous and moderate physical activity. Perceived physical fitness showed significant group-by-time interactions for all items except flexibility. <b>Conclusions</b>: Physical education lessons structured according to the ecological dynamics approach and implemented through SSG-based protocols led to greater improvements than traditional methods. The dynamic and variable nature of SSG likely enhances neuromuscular stimulation, motor engagement, and motivation during physical education lessons.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108136/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773577","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":"A Movement Description Language for Functional Training Exercise Analysis.","authors":"Lúcia Sousa, Daniel Canedo, Pedro Santos, António Neves","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020162","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> Functional training exercises involve complex multi-joint movements that challenge traditional rule-based or data-driven recognition systems. This paper introduces a Movement Description Language (MDL) designed to formally represent, analyze, and evaluate such exercises using camera-based pose estimation and interpretable, composable structures. <b>Methods:</b> The proposed MDL models each exercise as a finite-state machine defined by pose-derived angle proxy transitions, allowing movements to be described in a modular and reusable way. Demonstrated with MediaPipe landmark extraction from monocular video, while the MDL remains compatible with any pose estimation algorithm, the framework focuses on exercise phase detection and repetition counting. Experimental validation was conducted on a dataset of 1513 videos of 12 functional exercises (squats, deadlifts, lunges, shoulder presses, planks, push-ups, pull-ups, bent-over rows, box jumps, thrusters, overhead squats, and burpees) obtained from public pose datasets, competition footage, and recordings of 9 participants in real-world environments. <b>Results:</b> Automated repetition counts were compared against manually annotated ground truth, showing an overall repetition-counting accuracy of 97.2%, with a mean per-exercise accuracy of 98.8% (range 95-100%). The MDL successfully handled both simple and compound exercises, maintaining reliable phase detection despite variations in execution speed, camera perspective, and environmental conditions. <b>Conclusion:</b> The system was implemented using real-time pose estimation to demonstrate the practical execution of the MDL framework. The proposed MDL provides a transparent, extensible, and computationally efficient framework for functional exercise analysis. By bridging human-readable movement semantics with executable motion logic, it enables interpretable automatic repetition counting and phase detection, offering an alternative to black-box recognition approaches. The results support its potential for scalable deployment in training, monitoring and movement analysis applications. The proposed system is not intended for biomechanical measurement or clinical-grade kinematic analysis, but rather for interpretable modeling of exercise structure and repetition detection using approximate pose-derived signals.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-Term Tensiomyography Responses of the Vastus Medialis to Percussive Massage Therapy with Different Frequency-Duration Combinations.","authors":"Sara Ascic, Mijo Curic, Iva Sklempe Kokic","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020163","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Percussive massage therapy (PMT) with handheld massage guns is widely used to support recovery and flexibility, but the short-term behavior of skeletal muscle contractile properties and the relative contribution of application duration versus frequency remain unclear. This study investigated the 10 min post-intervention time course of tensiomyography (TMG)-derived contractile properties of non-fatigued vastus medialis (VM) after clinically realistic PMT protocols and examined whether longer duration is associated with persistent deviations from baseline than frequency. <b>Methods</b>: In a two-session, within-subject repeated-measure design, 32 participants completed four PMT conditions to the VM (35 Hz-3 min, 35 Hz-6 min, 45 Hz-3 min, and 45 Hz-6 min). TMG parameters (Td, Tc, Ts, Tr, and Dm) were recorded at baseline and repeatedly over 10 min post-intervention. Linear mixed-effect models with frequency and duration as fixed factors and time as continuous and categorical were used to characterize temporal patterns, with emphasis on effect sizes and consistency across parameters. The fixed protocol order (35 Hz in session one, 45 Hz in session two, 3 vs. 6 min assigned to contralateral legs) means that frequency was confounded with session and duration with leg side. <b>Results</b>: Compared with the 3 min protocols, the 6 min protocols were associated with slightly higher Td and Ts, a modest increase in Tr and a slightly greater Dm (e.g., Dm + 0.55 mm), whereas Tc showed no clear duration effect. Across conditions, Td increased immediately after PMT, Tc remained elevated for most of the first 8 min, Ts increased from mid to late post-intervention, Tr changed inconsistently, and Dm was reduced relative to baseline for most of the 10 min period. Differences between 35 and 45 Hz were small and non-significant for all TMG parameters. <b>Conclusions</b>: Clinically realistic PMT protocols at 35-45 Hz in non-fatigued muscle induce small but statistically detectable, duration-sensitive changes in TMG-derived contractile behavior over approximately 10 min. Within the constraints of the fixed, non-randomized design and the small effect sizes observed, these findings support viewing massage gun use as a recovery-oriented adjunct that subtly modulates contractile dynamics, rather than as a strong, standalone performance-enhancing stimulus.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773707","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":"Electromyographic Activity of the Shoulder Muscles During Arm Elevation in Asymptomatic Subjects-A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Martin E Barra-López, Carlos López-de-Celis, Erik Garcia-Ribell, Sergi Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Miguel Malo-Urriés, Jacobo Rodríguez-Sanz","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Although several studies have compared muscle activity in 'healthy' and 'unhealthy' shoulders, studying 'healthy' shoulders alone could improve the understanding of shoulder biomechanics. <b>Objective:</b> This study aims to describe the electromyographic activity of several shoulder muscles during a full range of free active flexion, as well as during abduction and scaption movements, and to compare gender differences in subjects with no history of shoulder pain or pathology. <b>Methods:</b> A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 34 subjects aged between 18 and 60 years of both genders. The activity of the anterior, middle, and posterior deltoid, serratus anterior, infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, and teres major muscles was measured using surface electromyography. Root Mean Square (RMS) values were calculated as a percentage of Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC). <b>Results:</b> Regardless of whether they are considered agonists or antagonists, these muscles were active, with no statistically significant differences (Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> test), during both the lifting and lowering phases of the studied movements. Statistically significant differences between movements were observed only in the deltoid (Kruskal-Wallis <i>H</i> test, <i>p</i> < 0.004), which was more active during abduction. Women showed statistically significant muscle activity increase compared with men in some movements, except in the infraspinatus muscle-for example, in the three parts of the deltoid during the lifting phase of scaption (ANCOVA, <i>p</i> = 0.002-0.024). <b>Conclusions:</b> In this sample, the shoulder muscles studied showed comparable activity, acting as agonists or antagonists during shoulder elevation. These findings are exploratory and may help inform future studies on muscle activation in healthy shoulders during more varied functional tasks.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108055/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773607","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":"Efficiencies in Physical Talent Identification Among Australian Adolescents: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Observational Study.","authors":"Patrick W R Norton, Stephen J Norton, Kevin I Norton","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020160","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Talent identification (TID) programmes aim to detect adolescents with high physical potential, yet the efficiency of finding high-performance talent across different testing environments in an Australian context is unknown. The current study aim was to calculate the likelihood of participants scoring at or above the 90th percentile in anthropometric or physical performance measures across different testing settings. <b>Methods</b>: We analysed retrospective, cross-sectional physical and performance data from 10,134 Australian adolescents aged 12-17 years (4427 girls; 5707 boys) tested in either schools (2992; 3500), advertised come-and-try TID \"Select\" sessions (1235; 1622), or community-based amateur sports clubs (200; 585). Standardised measures used across all settings included height, body mass, and five physical performance tests of strength, speed, agility, leg power and aerobic fitness. We used a threshold of \"higher physical performance\" or \"physical talent\" as an age- and sex-specific ≥90th percentile ranking in any of the performance tests when compared against our international normative database. Anthropometry measures were also compared using the same approach across settings. <b>Results</b>: Chi-square tests showed girls had significantly higher (<i>p</i> < 0.001) prevalence of ≥90th percentile scores in all performance results in Select, and all except speed in Sport settings compared to Schools testing. No differences were found for either height or body mass across settings (<i>p</i> = 0.078 and 0.17, respectively). Boys exhibited smaller differences, with Sport settings yielding significantly higher sprint and agility scores ≥90th percentile (<i>p</i> < 0.05), relative to both Schools and Select testing environments. Differences were found for height and body mass across settings (<i>p</i> < 0.001 for both analyses, respectively). <b>Conclusions</b>: Select environments enhance the identification of physically talented girls, while boys demonstrate broader distribution of performance talent across settings. Findings inform resource allocation for future TID programmes when the primary aim is to maximise the efficiency of finding higher-performance physical talent relative to the number of tests conducted.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108115/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773651","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":"Treadmill Exercise Enhances the Effects of Zoledronate on Bone Microarchitecture and Mechanical Strength in Ovariectomized Rat Model of Osteoporosis.","authors":"Yuta Tsubouchi, Takashi Kataoka, Ryota Takase, Takefumi Otsu, Ryoji Hamanaka, Masashi Kataoka, Nobuhiro Kaku","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020159","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020159","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The combination of pharmacological therapy and exercise is frequently recommended for osteoporosis management; however, whether antiresorptive agents may interfere with exercise-induced bone adaptation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the independent and combined effects of zoledronate and treadmill exercise on bone microarchitecture and mechanical strength in an ovariectomized rat model. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty-four female Sprague Dawley rats underwent ovariectomy and were assigned to four groups: Control, zoledronate (ZA), treadmill exercise (T), and combined zoledronate and exercise (ZA + T). An additional sham-operated group was included. Zoledronate was administered as a single subcutaneous injection, and a 6-week treadmill exercise routine was implemented. Bone microarchitecture was assessed using micro-computed tomography, and a three-point bending test was employed for evaluation of mechanical properties. <b>Results:</b> The combined ZA + T group demonstrated significant improvements in trabecular bone parameters, including bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular number, compared with the Control group. Mechanical strength parameters, including maximum load and stiffness, were also significantly enhanced in the ZA + T group. Cortical bone parameters exhibited no significant changes. <b>Conclusions:</b> Treadmill exercise did not attenuate the effects of zoledronate, and may offer additive benefits in enhancing trabecular bone microarchitecture and mechanical strength. These findings suggest that exercise therapy can complement bisphosphonate treatment and contribute to optimizing therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis, supporting the potential utility of combined pharmacological and exercise-based interventions for improving bone health.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773054","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":"Preventing Complex Regional Pain Syndrome After Distal Radius Fracture: A Systematic Review of Rehabilitation and Clinical Prophylaxis Strategies.","authors":"Inês Neves Serôdio, Olalla Saiz-Vázquez, Hilario Ortiz-Huerta, Lucia Simón-Vicente, Montserrat Santamaría-Vázquez","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020158","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling post-traumatic pain condition that may occur after distal radius fracture (DRF), potentially impairing recovery and upper-limb function. Identifying effective preventive strategies after DRF is therefore clinically important. <b>Objective</b>: To synthesize and critically appraise interventions intended to prevent CRPS after DRF, including rehabilitation protocols and clinical prophylaxis strategies. <b>Methods</b>: This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses PRISMA and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD42023408499). Five databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and B-on) were searched for studies published from January 2013 to 22 September 2023 in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. The primary outcome was CRPS incidence after DRF. Findings were synthesized narratively due to heterogeneity in interventions and diagnostic criteria, and risk of bias was assessed using design-appropriate tools. <b>Results</b>: Nine studies were included (total N = 7075; CRPS cases n = 127). Interventions comprised vitamin C supplementation (2 studies), probiotics, aspirin, polarized/polychromatic light therapy plus conventional treatment, early rehabilitation/home-exercise programs, and general CRPS-prevention protocols after DRF. Probiotics and aspirin did not reduce CRPS incidence. Vitamin C showed mixed findings across the included studies and remains debated in the broader literature. Light therapy was associated with reduced CRPS occurrence in a single study, while early active home-exercise programs appeared promising but were supported by a limited number of studies. Study designs and CRPS diagnostic criteria varied, and risk of bias was moderate-to-serious in several non-randomized studies. <b>Conclusions</b>: Evidence remains insufficient to support a single standardized prevention protocol for CRPS after distal radius fracture. Early active rehabilitation and progressive mobilization appear promising, but the available evidence is still limited and heterogeneous. Adjunctive strategies such as vitamin C and light therapy should be interpreted with caution, as findings for vitamin C remain debated in the literature and the evidence for light therapy is currently based on a single study. Other approaches, including probiotics and aspirin, have shown inconclusive results.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108190/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773695","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":"Special Issue \"Sports Medicine and Public Health\".","authors":"Giovanni Fiorilli, Andrea Buonsenso","doi":"10.3390/jfmk11020156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11020156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, physical activity has increasingly been recognised as an integral component of public health, contributing substantially to the prevention, management, and treatment of major non-communicable diseases [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"11 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13108035/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147773666","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}