Lucas B Meira, Letícia O Barreto, João V Fernandes, Olavo B Neto, André S Oliveira
{"title":"Impact of physical exercise on health outcomes in people with Down Syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.","authors":"Lucas B Meira, Letícia O Barreto, João V Fernandes, Olavo B Neto, André S Oliveira","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16935-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16935-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Down syndrome (DS), caused by an extra chromosome 21, leads to physical and cognitive challenges. Physical activity is underutilized as a therapeutic approach. This study reviews the effectiveness of physical exercise in improving body composition and health outcomes in individuals with DS.</p><p><strong>Evidence acquisition: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, this review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024561407). A systematic search across six databases identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving physical activity interventions in DS populations compared to controls. Data were analyzed using a random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed through REML, Q-test, and I<sup>2</sup>. Risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2.</p><p><strong>Evidence synthesis: </strong>From 245 records, 13 RCTs (447 participants from eight countries) met inclusion criteria. Interventions lasted 6 to 43 weeks, with 1 to 5 sessions per week. Body mass decreased significantly (SMD: -0.2099, 95% CI: -0.3539 to -0.0658). BMI and body fat also reduced significantly (SMD: -0.2369 and -0.4255, respectively). Waist circumference showed no significant changes, but favorable trends were noted. Muscle strength improvements in chest and leg press were positive but not statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical exercise significantly improves body composition in individuals with DS, notably reducing body mass, BMI, and body fat. These findings highlight the value of structured physical activity as part of DS management to improve health and quality of life.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145251619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dina C Janse VAN Rensburg, Xan Swart, Dimakatso Ramagole, Francois C DU Toit, Carel Viljoen, Tanita Botha, Mahlane Phalane, Ramona Beeton, Audrey Jansen VAN Rensburg
{"title":"Pedal power: female cyclists at 94.7 Ride Joburg face fewer illnesses but more injuries and finishing challenges.","authors":"Dina C Janse VAN Rensburg, Xan Swart, Dimakatso Ramagole, Francois C DU Toit, Carel Viljoen, Tanita Botha, Mahlane Phalane, Ramona Beeton, Audrey Jansen VAN Rensburg","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16727-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16727-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mass participation in amateur cycling events is popular, and ensuring participant safety is crucial. This study aimed to determine the epidemiology of medical encounters (MEs), including injury and illness, at mass-participation amateur cycling events and to explore associated risk factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory analysis of operational data collected during the 2015-2016 94.7 Ride Joburg cycling race. Outcomes include frequency (N., %), prevalence (%), incidence (injuries/1000 participants), did-not-finish (DNF, %), and Odds Ratio (OR, 95%CI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In total, 44849 individuals, mean age 40.06±11.68, participated in the 94.7 Ride Joburg cycling race during 2015-2016. We report the prevalence for MEs (5.3%) (injury: 1.7%, illness: 3.6%). The incidence of all MEs was 52.71 (50.61-54.88) (injury: 16.79 [15.61-18.03], illness: 35.92 [34.19-37.72]). Most race participants were male (79.0%), aged 31-50 (58.9%). Older age decreased the odds of injury, illness, or not finishing (P<0.001). Females had higher odds of injury (OR:1.43; 1.21-1.67; P<0.001) and for DNF (OR:1.57; 1.46-1.70; P<0.001) but lower odds of illness (OR:0.73; 0.64-0.64; P<0.001), compared to males. Overall, 7.9% of participants DNF, 6.9% had MEs, 3.2% were injured, and 3.8% were ill. Medical point location and distance were not significantly associated with medical encounters.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Older participants have lower odds of injury and illness encounters. Females have higher odds of injury encounters and not finishing the race but lower odds of illness encounters than males. These findings offer insights into injury and illness at mass-participation amateur cycling events.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145232839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abdouramane Soumaré, Jean-Michel Oppert, Laurent Bourhis, Alice Bellicha, Pilar Galan, Serge Hercberg, Mathilde Touvier, Léopold K Fezeu, Jérémy Vanhelst
{"title":"Handgrip strength reference values and determinants of muscle weakness in French adults: results from the NutriNet-Santé study.","authors":"Abdouramane Soumaré, Jean-Michel Oppert, Laurent Bourhis, Alice Bellicha, Pilar Galan, Serge Hercberg, Mathilde Touvier, Léopold K Fezeu, Jérémy Vanhelst","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16833-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16833-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study was to determine sex- and age-specific handgrip strength percentiles in French adults and investigate sociodemographic and anthropometric variables associated with lower upper arm strength.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A sample of 18,532 French adults (5262 men, 13,090 women), aged 18-91, from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (2011-2014) was assessed for handgrip strength. For each hand, the maximum grip strength in kilograms was recorded. Grip strength was analyzed in absolute terms and relative units (relative to body weight and BMI). Percentiles (5<sup>th</sup> to 95<sup>th</sup>) were established by age and sex. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and anthropometric factors associated with low handgrip strength (<20<sup>th</sup> percentile) were evaluated using logistic regression, considering age, education, income, smoking status, BMI, physical activity, and sitting time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Low BMI was linked to low handgrip strength in both sexes, whereas overweight was protective in men (OR 0.77). In women, lower education correlated with higher odds of low strength (OR 0.78-0.84). Male former or current smokers had higher odds of low grip strength (OR 1.20-1.35), while women showed an inverse association (OR 0.86). Physical activity reduced risk in both sexes, particularly at high activity levels (men OR 0.74; women OR 0.73). Age was a key factor in women, with increased odds in the 45-49 and 55-59 age groups (OR 1.27 and 1.32).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The reference values provide reference data for French adults, and these data should be useful in identifying populations at risk of low muscle strength and sarcopenia.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of resistance training-induced changes in muscle quality on muscle power: a post-hoc analysis.","authors":"Zimin Wang, Masashi Taniguchi, Junya Saeki, Noriaki Ichihashi","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16924-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16924-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to determine the effects of changes in muscle mass and quality on muscle function and physical performance following an 8-week resistance training (RT) intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-three healthy young women (23.1±2.2 years) underwent high- or low-velocity concentric knee extension RT at 60% one-repetition maximum strength (1RM) load for 10 repetitions × 4 sets, 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Before and after the RT intervention, quadriceps femoris muscle thickness (MT) (muscle mass index) and echo intensity (EI) (muscle quality index) were measured using B-mode ultrasound. Muscle function, including maximum isokinetic muscle strength, 1RM, rate of velocity development (RVD), and peak power, was assessed. Physical performance was evaluated using the countermovement jump (CMJ). Percentage changes (%change) in all parameters before and after the intervention were calculated for subsequent analyses. Multiple regression analysis was used to examined the contributions of changes in EI and MT to various muscle functions and physical performance, with the intervention group included as the covariate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>MT %change was associated with 1RM %change (std.β=0.51, P=0.003), whereas EI %change was correlated with RVD %change (std.β=-0.39, P=0.025), peak power %change (std.β=--0.39, P=0.025), and CMJ %change (std.β=-0.44, P=0.011).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>RT -induced increases in muscle mass contributed to improvements in 1RM, whereas enhancements in muscle quality were associated with gains in peak power, RVD, and CMJ. These results suggest training programs aimed at improving dynamic explosive performance in young adults should not only target muscle hypertrophy but also incorporate strategies to enhance muscle quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luis A Berlanga, Michelle Matos-Duarte, Francisco Gabineski Taborda, José Oliveira, Lucimere Bohn
{"title":"Comparing arterial stiffness across different training modalities in healthy young males.","authors":"Luis A Berlanga, Michelle Matos-Duarte, Francisco Gabineski Taborda, José Oliveira, Lucimere Bohn","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17011-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17011-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical exercise is known to modulate arterial stiffness. However, this modulation can vary according to the type of exercise or training. This study aims to compare levels of arterial stiffness among healthy young men practicing different exercise modalities, including resistance training (RT), high-intensity cross-training (HICT), and running (RUN), and comparing these results with a control group.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty healthy young men were divided into three exercise groups according to the type of exercise they practiced (RT, N.=20; HICT, N.=20; RUN, N.=20), plus a sedentary control group (CON, N.=20). In this observational study, participants were evaluated for arterial stiffness with carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (c-f PWV, m/s) and pulse wave analyses (Augmentation Index [Aix] and Augmentation Index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm [AIx@75bpm]). Participants were also assessed for cardiorespiratory fitness (VO<inf>2</inf>max, mL/kg/min) by means of maximal graded exercise testing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite the absence of statistical significance (p >0.05), the CON group showed less favorable arterial stiffness indices (AIx: 1.85±2.99; AIx@75bpm: -7.41±3.00) compared to all exercise groups ([RT AIx: -5.68±2.29; AIx@75bpm: -13.98±2.41]; [HICT AIx: -1.36±2.20; AIx@75bpm: -10.26±2.16]; [RUN AIx: -2.29±3.09; AIx@75bpm: -7.14±3.09]). The RUN group showed significantly higher VO<inf>2</inf>max than the other groups (RUN vs. CON, P<0.001; RUN vs. RT, P<0.001; and RUN vs. HICT, P<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings suggest that arterial stiffness does not differ according to different exercise modalities practiced by healthy young men.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaoliang Zhang, Ming Li, Linda Gu, Davide Ferioli, Pierpaolo Sansone, Miguel A Gomez
{"title":"Integrating subjective assessments and wearable-derived metrics: decoding in-game load-performance relationships in collegiate basketball players.","authors":"Shaoliang Zhang, Ming Li, Linda Gu, Davide Ferioli, Pierpaolo Sansone, Miguel A Gomez","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16719-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16719-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the relationships between well-being, recovery state, game loads, and game performance across 20 official games involving 16 highly trained collegiate basketball players. Understanding how these factors interact is essential for optimizing performance and workload management in competitive basketball.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Principal component analysis (PCA) identified six key components contributing to performance: PC1 (loads) accounted for 50% of the total variance, PC2 (well-being) explained 11%, PC3 (jump) captured 8%, PC4 (high-intensity jump) explained 6%, while PC5 (recovery) and PC6 (PlayerLoad per minute) each explained 2%. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were applied to assess the associations between these components and key performance indicators, including Performance Index Rating (PIR) and Player Total Contribution (PTC).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Game loads showed a negative association with PIR (β=-1.22, 95% CI=-2.33 to -0.12, P<0.05). In contrast, high-intensity jumps were positively associated with both PIR (β=1.08, 95% CI=0.39 to 1.77, P<0.01) and PTC (β=0.99, 95% CI=0.34 to 1.64, P<0.01), explaining 43.86% of the variance in PIR and 40.17% in PTC. The effects of well-being and recovery were limited.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>High-intensity physical activities, particularly jumps, are crucial to enhancing basketball performance, while excessive game loads can negatively impact outcomes. The limited influence of well-being and recovery suggests that their effects may be more evident over longer periods or under different contexts. Future research should focus on optimizing the balance between game loads and high-intensity actions to improve performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Larssen, Ole J Glesaaen, Jo Bruusgaard, Martin F Strand, John M Kalhovde, Espen Tønnessen, Thomas Haugen
{"title":"A comparative study of lactate threshold testing outcomes: walking vs. running.","authors":"Thomas Larssen, Ole J Glesaaen, Jo Bruusgaard, Martin F Strand, John M Kalhovde, Espen Tønnessen, Thomas Haugen","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17054-0","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.17054-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Although lactate threshold (LT) tests are widely used by athletes to evaluate endurance performance, such tests are not commonly applied in health controls among recreationally active subjects. This study aimed to investigate the test-retest reliability of walking as an exercise modality during LT testing and compare the test outcomes with those obtained during running.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-three male and female participants (25±3 year, 172±8 cm, 70±13 kg, and maximal oxygen consumption [VO<inf>2max</inf>] 51±5 mL·kg<sup>-1</sup>·min<sup>-1</sup>) performed four LT tests within 2-3 weeks, either using walking or running (two tests in each condition) protocols. The running tests were performed on a flat treadmill, and the pace increased by 1 km·h<sup>-1</sup> for each stage. During the walking tests, the pace was set to 6.5 km·h<sup>-1</sup>, and the incline increased by 2.5% for each stage. LT was determined based on a fixed blood lactate concentration of 4.0 mmol·L<sup>-1</sup>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Similar reliability values were observed for the walking and running protocol, and all between-trial differences were trivial or small. Significantly lower heart rate at LT was observed for the walking vs. running condition, but all between-modality differences were trivial or small. Analysis revealed that LT occurred at a slightly lower workload in walking than running (11.4±1.4 vs. 12.0±1.3 metabolic equivalents [METs]).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Given the trivial to small differences in LT variables observed between running and walking, these two protocols cannot be used interchangeably. However, the present study shows that walking represents an alternative exercise modality during LT testing in recreationally active subjects.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":"1330-1336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144659440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diogenis Kampouris Michos, Yiannis Michailidis, Thomas Ι Metaxas
{"title":"Tactical analysis of high pressing in open play in the UEFA Champions League Groups 2021-2022.","authors":"Diogenis Kampouris Michos, Yiannis Michailidis, Thomas Ι Metaxas","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16673-5","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16673-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to analyze high pressing in open play during the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League group stage (N.=192 matches).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The football pitch was divided into 18 zones, and the variables observed and analyzed included the pressing zone, pressing success, ball recovery zone, attack result, total passes until the outcome of play, team formations and ways used to counter the pressing. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square Test, with significance set at P<0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pressing occurred most frequently in front of the opposite goal post (P<0.001), while \"Attack against organized defense,\" \"Loss of possession,\" and \"Throw-in won\" were the most observed outcomes of play (P<0.001). The ball was recovered most of the time in the zones between the center line and the opponent's penalty area (P<0.001), and the teams mainly used long passes to counter the pressing (P<0.001). The most notable associations found are between: the pressing zone and the ball recovery zone (χ<sup>2</sup>=295.139, P<0.001), as well as the ways used to counter the pressing (χ<sup>2</sup>=148.723, P<0.001), the outcome of play and both the ball recovery zone (χ<sup>2</sup>=257.267, P<0.001) and the number of passes until the outcome of play (χ<sup>2</sup>=168.455, P<0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Pressing in the offensive third seems to lead to ball recovery in the central third and attacks against an organized defense.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":"1277-1285"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144575665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sravya Kamarajugadda, Marissa Pazik, MaryBeth Horodyski, Kevin Farmer, Jason Zaremski, Giorgio Zeppieri, Ryan Roach, Bryan Prine, Michael Moser, Michael S Smith
{"title":"Pitch counts and overuse in high school softball pitchers: a pilot study encompassing bullpen, warm-up, and game pitches.","authors":"Sravya Kamarajugadda, Marissa Pazik, MaryBeth Horodyski, Kevin Farmer, Jason Zaremski, Giorgio Zeppieri, Ryan Roach, Bryan Prine, Michael Moser, Michael S Smith","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16806-0","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16806-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Fastpitch softball participation continues to rise, yet there is minimal research into universal pitch count regulations for pitchers. The only current guidelines published by American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in conjunction with the National Council for Youth Sports (NCYS), are based on pitch counts for youth baseball. The aim of this study was to quantify the total number of pitches thrown by high school fastpitch softball pitchers during a game outing to estimate the true workload experienced by the pitchers. We hypothesized that pitchers exceed the current recommendations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Researchers collected total pitch count, quantified as total number of bullpens, warm-up (between inning), and in-game pitches thrown by high school varsity fastpitch softball pitchers during a single game outing.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 8248 pitches were counted during 89 varsity high school fastpitch softball pitcher outings. Of the 77 pitchers that pitched in a live game setting, 25.6% of pitchers pitched above the recommendation; which increased to 51.2% when including bullpen and warm-up pitches. Starters threw significantly more and relievers significantly less than the recommendations (P=0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Though current pitch count recommendations for youth fastpitch softball, were modeled after current guidelines in youth baseball, they are all that exists to help softball pitchers from incurring increased workload. However, our data suggests that many fastpitch softball players pitch above the recommendation, and thus further research is required to determine injury association with pitch counts in fastpitch softball.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":"1306-1310"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144649757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Petr Kutac, David Kolodej, Vaclav Bunc, Miroslav Krajcigr
{"title":"Influence of CrossFit training on bone mineral density in athletes.","authors":"Petr Kutac, David Kolodej, Vaclav Bunc, Miroslav Krajcigr","doi":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16677-2","DOIUrl":"10.23736/S0022-4707.25.16677-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The volume of physical activity (PA) is decreasing, including those types that would have an impact on bone mineral density (BMD). This leads to a search for suitable and accessible forms of PA with sufficient effects on BMD. CrossFit (CF) could be among these forms of PA. Exercises included in a CrossFit (CF) training program should contain stimuli that lead to bone mass remodeling and, therefore, could positively influence the development and maintenance of bone mineral density (BMD). However, the results verifying the effect of CF on BMD are inconsistent in the current studies. The aim of the study is to investigate the impact of CrossFit training with an average weekly volume of 511.3±124.4 and 202.5±34.2 minutes in middle-aged individuals on their BMD. Given the number of participants, this study is more of a case study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 36 males divided into three groups. Group G1 was inactive individuals who did not meet the WHO (2020) physical activity (PA) recommendations. Participants were from the 4HAIE project. Group G2 was CF recreational athletes and group G3 was CF competitive athletes. Participants G2 and G3 had been doing regular CF training for at least 2 years. The average duration of training in G2 was 4.0±2.1 years and in G3 5.9±2.4 years. The age of the participants ranged from 26 to 35 years (G1 31.3±2.5, G2 31.9±2.5, G3 29.9±2.3 years). BMD was measured using DXA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that although the G2 group had higher BMD values than G1, the differences were not significant; the P values ranged from 0.180 to 0.617. The G3 group had significantly higher BMD values than G1 and G2. When comparing G3 and G2, the P values ranged from 0.000 to 0.048, while the difference in the lower limbs was not significant (P=0.053 and 0.146). When comparing G3 and G1, the P values ranged from 0.000 to 0.002.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Therefore, we can conclude that CF could have a positive effect on BMD, but only if training is performed over a long period and at a high volume, which aligns with the level of PA recommendations for additional health benefits (more than 300 min/week moderate-intensity, or 150 min/week vigorous-intensity) according to the WHO.</p>","PeriodicalId":17013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness","volume":" ","pages":"1387-1394"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144637342","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}