{"title":"Effectiveness of resisted training on change-of-direction performance in athletes and active populations: A systematic review with meta-analysis.","authors":"Mingyang Zhang, Xing Zhang, Wangfan Fang, Kailin Wu, Junyi Bian","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637247","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637247","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of resisted sprint and plyometric training on change-of-direction (CoD) performance across populations ranging from recreationally active adults to athletes. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science up to June 2024, and included 21 randomized controlled trails (30 intervention groups) comparing resisted modalities against active and passive controls. A multilevel random-effects model using standardized mean differences (SMD) revealed a significant pooled effect (SMD = -0.24, p = 0.005). Subgroup and moderator analyses showed that adolescents exhibited greater improvements in CoD performance compared to adults (SMD = -0.42, p < 0.01), and elite athletes demonstrated larger gains compared to recreational active individuals (SMD = -0.43, p < 0.01). Among training modalities, resisted linear sprinting demonstrated consistent CoD benefits (SMD = -0.29, p < 0.01). Additionally, low-frequency training (SMD = -0.32), relative load (SMD = -0.22), and auto-regulated load (SMD = -0.53) were associated with enhanced CoD speed (all p < 0.05). These findings suggest that resisted training significantly improves CoD ability, particularly among adolescents and elite athletes. Optimizing training parameters, including load prescription, frequency, and resistive type, may effectively enhance CoD outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1417-1437"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147321866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ana María Contardo Ayala, Simone Jjm Verswijveren, Anna Timperio, Lauren Arundell, Nicola D Ridgers, Kylie D Hesketh, Katherine L Downing, Jo Salmon
{"title":"Are sitting, standing and stepping associated with adiposity markers in pre, primary and secondary school children and adolescents? A pooled data cross-sectional compositional approach.","authors":"Ana María Contardo Ayala, Simone Jjm Verswijveren, Anna Timperio, Lauren Arundell, Nicola D Ridgers, Kylie D Hesketh, Katherine L Downing, Jo Salmon","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2642453","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2642453","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evidence on the associations between device-measured sitting and health outcomes in children and adolescents is inconclusive; however, understanding this relationship is important given the high prevalence of sitting during these life stages and its potential implications for long-term health. This study examined associations between compositions of sitting, standing, and stepping time with adiposity markers - waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) - in 2-18-year-olds. Data were pooled from eight Australian studies (2009-2014), including 1992 participants aged 2-18 years. Postural behaviours were measured using activPAL monitors and analysed using compositional data analysis. Linear regression models, adjusted for study and wear time, were conducted (n = 1,120 for zBMI; n = 1,071 for zWC), stratified by school setting (preschool, primary, secondary). Postural compositions were significantly associated with zBMI and zWC in primary and secondary school-aged children, but not in preschoolers. In primary school children, more sitting time was associated with lower zWC. Among adolescents, more sitting was linked to higher zBMI, more standing with lower zBMI and zWC, and more stepping with higher zWC. Findings in older children and adolescents suggest that the impact of postural behaviours on adiposity may become more pronounced with age. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify these relationships.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1487-1498"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas Rietveld, Viola C Altmann, Michael J Hutchinson, Victoria L Goosey-Tolfrey
{"title":"Exploring sex-based differences in strength and wheelchair activities to assess fair competition of female wheelchair rugby players.","authors":"Thomas Rietveld, Viola C Altmann, Michael J Hutchinson, Victoria L Goosey-Tolfrey","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2642449","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2642449","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Wheelchair rugby (WR) is a mixed-sex sport, with a point-based classification system ranking players on arm-trunk impairment. Players are classified as low-point (LP, 0.5-1.5) or high-point (HP, 2.0-3.5). Teams are allowed four players on court with a total score ≤8.0; 0.5 point is added to this score per female on court. This study explored sex-based differences in strength and wheelchair activities in WR players. Twenty-four female and fifty-eight male international WR players completed six isometric strength tests and 3×10m sprints on-court. One-way ANOVAs compared performance differences between groups (LP, HP, Females, Males, No-trunk (NT), Trunk (TR)). Female-LP-players had significantly lower scores than Male-LP-players on elbow flexion (-47%), push (-46%) and pull (-37%) strength. Female-HP-NT-players had significantly lower scores than Male-HP-NT-players on elbow flexion (-64%), shoulder flexion (-56%), shoulder extension (-52%), push (-61%) and pull (-56%) strength. Female-HP-TR-players had significantly lower scores than Male-HP-TR-players on elbow flexion (-54%), shoulder flexion (-66%) and push (-66%) strength. No differences were found between sexes in 10m sprints, but sprint momentum showed clear differences. Female WR players had less strength compared to males, with more pronounced differences in HP-players. This strength disparity has direct implications on current international regulations, supporting compensation through competition rules.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1476-1486"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alice Harkness-Armstrong, Thomas Adams, Tracy Lewis, Sally Waterworth, Ruth Lowry, Naomi Datson
{"title":"Session and drill-specific physical characteristics of youth women's football training.","authors":"Alice Harkness-Armstrong, Thomas Adams, Tracy Lewis, Sally Waterworth, Ruth Lowry, Naomi Datson","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637051","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study quantified and compared session and drill-specific physical characteristics between U10, U12, U14 and U16 youth women's footballers. Data were collected during 80 training sessions using 10 Hz GPS, totalling 825 training observations and 2298 drill-specific observations from 116 players representing two of the English Football Association's Emerging Talent Centres. Linear mixed modelling estimated session and drill-specific; total distance (TD), high-speed running (HSR; >3.00 m ∙ s<sup>-1</sup>), very high-speed running (VHSR; >4.83 m ∙ s<sup>-1</sup>) and sprinting (SPR; >5.76 m ∙ s<sup>-1</sup>) distances (m), maximum velocity (m ∙ s<sup>-1</sup>) and number of accelerations and decelerations (>1 m ∙ s<sup>-2</sup>, >2 m ∙ s<sup>-2</sup>, >3 m ∙ s<sup>-2</sup>). During sessions, U16s covered more TD than U14s, whilst both U14s and U16s covered greater HSR, VHSR and SPR distances compared to U10s and U12s, and U10s performed more accelerations (>1 m ∙ s<sup>-2</sup>) than U12s and U14s and more decelerations (>1 m ∙ s<sup>-2</sup>) than all other age groups. All age groups had higher physical outputs during SSGs compared to possession and technical drills. Differences in session physical characteristics observed between age groups and between and within age groups for drill-specific physical characteristics, highlight that physical characteristics during training are age- and drill-dependent within youth women's football. These findings have practical implications for informing coaching and talent development practices within youth women's football.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1389-1408"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147306991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of muscular fatigue and sex on supraspinatus occupation ratio during bench press in competitive powerlifters.","authors":"Jodi G Motlagh, David B Lipps","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2639894","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2639894","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Powerlifting, including the bench press, has shown an increasing participation rate, especially among women. While rotator cuff injuries are prevalent in lifters, there is limited knowledge on how biological sex impacts shoulder biomechanics during the bench press. This study evaluated the impact of biological sex and fatigue on subacromial space parameters, specifically the acromiohumeral distance and supraspinatus occupation ratio, during the bench press. We hypothesized that the occupation ratio would be higher in female lifters than males. Twenty-four competitive powerlifters (12 M, 12 F) underwent ultrasound imaging to measure supraspinatus tendon thickness and acromiohumeral distance in seated and bench press postures across three phases: pre-warmup, post-warmup and post-exercise. The fatiguing exercise protocol consisted of three sets of eight bench press repetitions at 73.9% 1RM. Females exhibited higher supraspinatus occupation ratios than males in the bench press position (p = 0.001). Female lifters had a significantly smaller acromiohumeral distance than males in the bench press position (p < 0.001). The study found females have a greater supraspinatus occupation ratio during the bench press, increasing their risk for shoulder impingement compared to males. Understanding these sex differences in shoulder biomechanics during the bench press can guide tailored injury prevention and training strategies for powerlifters.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1453-1463"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147390251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marvin Zedler, Tobias Alt, Wolfgang Potthast, Bjoern Braunstein, Jan-Peter Goldmann
{"title":"Biomechanical performance predictors of the bobsleigh push phase.","authors":"Marvin Zedler, Tobias Alt, Wolfgang Potthast, Bjoern Braunstein, Jan-Peter Goldmann","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2639887","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2639887","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this exploratory data analysis was to identify performance predictors of the bobsleigh push phase and to evaluate their importance and effect on performance. Fifty-three predictor variables were derived from a large dataset containing kinematic and joint kinetic variables of 305 ground contact phases (GC) of 28 male elite bobsleigh athletes, which were input to a Random Forest regressor (RF) to predict average forward acceleration. The push phase was divided into a start acceleration (SAP1: first GC after the push-off from the start-block; SAP2: second GC) and acceleration phase (AP: GC at 10 m) to account for phase-specific differences. Recursive feature elimination was employed to increase model accuracy and reduce complexity. Predictor importance measures (IMP) were quantified as the mean change in test error. The RF consistently performed well in explaining differences in acceleration (SAP1: 67%, SAP2: 60%, AP: 60%). The angle of attack was ranked as the top performance predictor across the push phases (IMP: 0.75-1.1) highlighting the importance of whole-body forward orientation for acceleration. The hip angular impulse was positively associated with performance during SAP1 (IMP: 0.4) and SAP2 (IMP: 0.5), which accentuates the importance of strong hip extensors for resisted acceleration.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1438-1452"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147365539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Beyond traditional sets: A longitudinal comparison of cluster and superset strength training in male basketball players.","authors":"Danica Janicijevic, Jesualdo Cuevas-Aburto, Xing Zhang, Yaodong Gu, Amador García-Ramos","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637204","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2637204","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This randomised study compared mid-term effects of supersets (SS) and cluster sets (CL) on neuromuscular performance in amateur male basketball players. Thirty participants were allocated to SS (n = 15) or CL (n = 15) and completed a 6-week full-body resistance training program. Both groups trained squat (SQ) and bench press (BP) with matched volume (18 repetitions per exercise per session) and intensity (75% 1RM). SS alternated SQ and BP with 1-min between exercises and 3-min between supersets; CL inserted 30-s intra-set rests every two reps, used 3-min between sets, and completed all SQ before BP. Pre- and post-tests assessed countermovement jump (CMJ) height, medicine-ball throw (MBT) distance, and load - velocity (L - v) parameters - load-axis intercept (<i>L</i><sub>0</sub>), velocity-axis intercept (<i>v</i><sub>0</sub>), and area under the L - v relationship line (A<sub>line</sub>) - for SQ and BP. Time effects showed significant improvements in CMJ, MBT, <i>L</i><sub>0</sub>, and A<sub>line</sub> in both groups, whereas <i>v</i><sub>0</sub> did not change (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.627). No time×group interactions were detected (<i>p</i> ≥ 0.085). Between-group differences were trivial, with small non-significant effects favouring SS for SQ <i>v</i><sub>0</sub> (ES = 0.44) and CL for BP A<sub>line</sub> (ES = 0.28). Supersets achieved comparable adaptations with substantially shorter rest time (9 <i>vs</i>. 23 min), supporting their use as a time-efficient training strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1409-1416"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147317354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew Murphy, Nick Poulos, Adriano Arguedas-Soley, Nick Lumley, Paul Alan Swinton
{"title":"Longitudinal analysis of explosive physical performance outcomes of professional athletes across multiple football codes: An investigation of systematic change and relative variation.","authors":"Andrew Murphy, Nick Poulos, Adriano Arguedas-Soley, Nick Lumley, Paul Alan Swinton","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2652730","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2652730","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The aims of this study were to: 1) investigate the within- and across-season changes in explosive physical performance outcomes including jump height (JH), relative peak power, and sprinting velocity for different football codes; 2) estimate associations between time-lagged training load variables and JH; and 3) quantify levels of within athlete variability and differences between codes. Retrospective physical performance, on-field, and S&C data were collected from 61 athletes across two professional sports teams (Australian Rules Football: n = 27; Rugby Union: n = 34). Mixed models with fixed effects of time (season and season stage), code, and position combined with random effects (athlete intercepts and slopes) were used to model changes over time. Additionally, athlete level linear regressions were conducted to describe individual variability. Regression coefficients describing systematic change were small with the largest coefficient identified for within-season JH (β = 0.27 [95%CI: 0.08 to 0.46 cm]). Moderate to large negative correlations (<i>r</i> = -0.41 to -0.66) were obtained between random intercepts and slopes for all outcomes. Analysis of within athlete variability identified larger variation for Rugby Union and for latter stages of the season. Collectively, the findings show limited systematic changes in physical performance variables of professional football code athletes and any improvements may be dependent on baseline capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1511-1525"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147698778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mehdi J Souabni, Maher Souabni, Omar Hammouda, Tarak Driss
{"title":"Beneficial effect of napping on mood and cognitive performance in adolescent athletes.","authors":"Mehdi J Souabni, Maher Souabni, Omar Hammouda, Tarak Driss","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2640330","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2640330","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescent athletes often experience chronic sleep deprivation, impairing mood, cognitive and athletic performance. While napping benefits adults, its effects in adolescent athletes remain unclear. We examined whether a 60-min nap (NAP) improves mood, attention, and declarative learning in 12 male adolescent basketball players. They completed two randomized and counterbalanced conditions: NAP and control rest. Mood and subjective sleepiness were assessed in pre- and post-conditions and objective attention was measured after both conditions. Declarative learning was evaluated using word-pair task at baseline and after 4, 8, and 72 h. Objective sleep quality and quantity were measured via actigraphy. Napping enhanced attention (p = 0.006, <i>d</i> = 0.98, Δ=+14.55%) and improved declarative learning at 4 h (p = 0.003, <i>d</i> = 1.09, Δ=+8.40%) and 72 h (p = 0.021, <i>d</i> = 0.78, Δ=+8.95%) retest. Mood parameters, including anxiety (p = 0.002, <i>d</i> = -1.18, Δ = -41.72%), depression (p = 0.041, <i>d</i> = -0.63, Δ = -48.45%), fatigue (p = 0.005, <i>d</i> = -1.02, Δ = -53.84%) and vigour (p = 0.008, <i>d</i> = 0.94, Δ=+37.5%) were enhanced in NAP compared to control condition. Subjective sleepiness decreased significantly in post-nap compared to pre-nap (p = 0.001, <i>d</i> = -1.36, Δ = -32.81%) and to post-rest (p = 0.025, <i>d</i> = -0.75, Δ = -27.11%). No adverse effects on objective subsequent nocturnal sleep were observed. Thus, parents, coaches, and sport scientists could integrate napping into the daily routines of adolescent athletes to optimize both academic and athletic performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1464-1475"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Low-load blood flow restriction with elastic bands elicits superior gains in sprint and jump performance compared to heavy-load training in In-season collegiate basketball players.","authors":"Tianyuan He, Ruli Zhang, Zhiwei Chen, Jingyi Bei, Duanying Li, Jian Sun, Guoxing Li","doi":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2643950","DOIUrl":"10.1080/02640414.2026.2643950","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compared low-load blood flow restriction with elastic bands (BFR-EBT) versus heavy-load training (HL-EBT) on performance in 18 Division I basketball players during a competitive season. Participants performed back squats twice weekly for 8 weeks at ~30% 1RM (BFR-EBT) or ~75% 1RM (HL-EBT). Significant Group × Time interactions were observed for CMJ height (p=0.031) and 30-m sprint time (p=0.014). BFR-EBT significantly optimized CMJ height (+3.4%; Hedges' g = 1.50) and sprint time (-0.8%; Hedges' g = -3.80). HL-EBT showed non-significant changes in CMJ (+1.8%) and sprint speed (+0.2%). Both groups achieved similar 1RM strength gains (p>0.05). Notably, BFR-EBT adaptations occurred with a 3.6-fold lower mechanical training load (p<0.001). Covariate analysis confirmed results were independent of playing time. Low-load BFR-EBT appears more effective than HL-EBT for optimizing power and speed in elite players while sparing mechanical load during a congested season. BFR-EBT represents a viable tool for in-season fatigue management.</p>","PeriodicalId":17066,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Sports Sciences","volume":" ","pages":"1499-1510"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147574612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}