Sports Medicine - Open最新文献

{"title":"Acute Inflammatory Responses to Blood Flow Restriction Training: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Sarah Barawi, Kevin Happ, Michael Behringer","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00926-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00926-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The effects of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training are well-established, but its impact on the inflammatory response remains unclear. This systematic review evaluates whether BFR training induces acute inflammation by analyzing changes in inflammatory parameters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was performed across PubMed, Web of Science, BISp-Surf and Google Scholar up to July 2025. Studies were included if they reported acute changes in inflammatory markers within 72 h after BFR training, as well as macrophage presence up to 14 days. Only trials involving healthy adults with inflammatory parameters assessed via peripheral blood or muscle biopsy were considered. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated to quantify within-study changes. In addition, relative percentage changes were calculated to enable a comparison of the magnitude of inflammatory responses across studies. An effect direction plot was created to summarize the direction of inflammatory marker changes (SWiM 2020).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Nine studies involving 189 healthy adults were included in the systematic review. Transient increases in total leukocytes (18-33%) and lymphocytes (37-43%) were consistently observed in peripheral blood following exercise. Significant increases in total tissue macrophages (200%) were also reported. Findings on neutrophils (up to + 40%), cytokines (up to + 340%), and lymphocyte subpopulations (TCD4⁺: +25%, TCD8⁺: +39%) varied across studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The findings suggest that BFR training induces acute inflammation, characterized by transient leukocytosis, lymphocytosis, and increased macrophage activity. However, the variability in neutrophil and cytokine responses, as well as in lymphocyte subsets, may be attributed to variations in training parameters and methodological approaches. Overall, these responses appear comparable to those observed following high-load resistance training (HL-RT). Further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and their potential contribution to muscle adaptation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"121"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145337664","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":"Identifying Fatigue-Related Gait Patterns Using Multiple Inertial Measurement Units and Statistical Parametric Mapping: A Continuous Analysis of an Outdoor Full Marathon in Male Recreational Runners.","authors":"Guoxin Zhang, Tony Lin-Wei Chen, Yi Liu, Linjuan Wei, Shane Fei Chen, Yan Wang, Ming Zhang","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00915-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00915-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Running is an effective exercise for personal fitness, yet many recreational runners suffer from running-related injuries. Prolonged running induces neuromuscular fatigue, interfering with an individual's preferred running gait and increasing the injury risk. This study aimed to examine gait patterns associated with fatigue in runners during a full marathon by analyzing lower limb segment and pelvis kinematics captured via multiple inertial measurement units (IMU).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three IMUs were attached to measure the rearfoot, shank, and pelvis kinematics of 23 male recreational runners during an outdoor marathon. Data were extracted for nine time points: the baseline, and at the 5th, 10th, 15th, up to the 40th kilometer. Each segment's free acceleration and angular velocity during the stance phase at these nine timelines were analyzed using statistical non-parametric mapping.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Male recreational runners exhibited a lower running speed (1.13 km/h, p < 0.001), lengthened stance time (0.009 s, p ≤ 0.001), and prolonged stride time (0.014 s, p < 0.05) after 35 km of running, alongside a smaller anterior and superior acceleration of rearfoot and shank during the propulsion phase (p < 0.05). With increasing running mileage, the rearfoot demonstrated a gradual increase in lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase (p < 0.01). The shank exhibited a progressive decline in anterior tilt velocity during the loading response phase (p < 0.05). Additionally, the pelvis displayed significantly greater anterior acceleration during propulsion at the 40 km mark (p < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Male recreational runners exhibit a marked decline in performance only after 35 km. The progressive increase in rearfoot lateral acceleration and external rotation velocity during the propulsion phase, may be associated with a compensatory distal strategy to maintain balance stability. The gradual reduction in anterior tilt velocity of the shank during the loading response likely reflects a stiffness-enhancing mechanism in the lower limb to preserve locomotor efficiency under fatigue. The increased anterior acceleration of the pelvis at the 40 km mark suggests a proximal shift in propulsion mechanics due to fatigue. These findings underscore the necessity of long-distance protocols, continuous kinematic monitoring, and full stance-phase analysis to study running fatigue.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"119"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12532975/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145303275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative Contributions of Oxygen Uptake Efficiency and Maximal Oxygen Uptake to Fat Oxidation Metrics in Healthy Male Adults.","authors":"Ratko Peric, Julian P Mercado-Ruiz, Marco Meucci, Hwan Kim, Francisco J Amaro-Gahete, Arnulfo Ramos-Jimenez, Isaac A Chávez-Guevara","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00889-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00889-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Maximal fat oxidation (MFO) and its intensity (FAT_max) are important for metabolic health, but current models explain only partially their variability. Research suggests that factors like oxygen uptake efficiency (i.e., OUES and OUEP) may better predict MFO and FAT_max than maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) and the first ventilatory threshold (VT1). This study investigates whether OUES and OUEP can explain more of the variation in fat oxidation during exercise.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifty-five healthy male participants underwent a series of tests, including body composition measurements, resting metabolic rate, and a treadmill exercise trial to assess cardiovascular fitness (CRF) and fat oxidation. The incremental exercise test measured gas exchange and heart rate, and blood samples were collected for glucose and lactate analysis. Statistical analyses, including multivariate regression, were used to explore relationships between CRF biomarkers, OUES, OUEP, and fat oxidation, with significance set at p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants with excellent cardiovascular fitness (CRF) showed lower body fat, higher fat-free mass, and higher VO_2max, MFO, and FAT_max compared to those with poor or regular CRF. When oxygen uptake efficiency and VT1 were included in the models, VT1 and OUEP emerged as stronger predictors of MFO and FATmax than VO_2max. The OUES did not significantly relate to MFO or FAT_max but was a key moderator of VO_2max, explaining 71% of its variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>VT1 and OUEP are stronger predictors of MFO and FAT_max than VO_2max, while OUES significantly moderates VO_2max, highlighting the importance of submaximal biomarkers in fat oxidation capacity.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"120"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12532548/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145303341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Game Changer: Unveiling the Significance of Game Design Elements as Encouragement Strategies during Maximal Exercise Testing.","authors":"Sascha Ketelhut, Ralf Brand, Daniel Hug, Florian 'Floyd' Mueller, Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00922-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00922-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Maximal exercise testing is a fundamental component of sports medicine and clinical practice, essential for evaluating physical fitness, tailoring training programs, and diagnosing health conditions. A crucial aspect of maximal exercise testing is ensuring that participants exert maximal effort, as insufficient effort can compromise the validity of results, potentially leading to misdiagnoses, misinterpretation of outcomes, and inappropriate exercise recommendations. Various strategies, including verbal, audio, and video-based methods, have been used in research and practice to encourage maximal effort. Despite the recognized importance of these strategies, understanding of them remains limited, with recommendations being either inconsistent or entirely lacking. Notably, innovative approaches that harness the potential of digital methods are still relatively scarce. In this article, we discuss the potential of incorporating game elements as an innovative encouragement strategy during maximal exercise testing. Drawing from research on exergaming, we provide examples of impactful game features and discuss their potential integration into exercise testing. This innovative approach has the potential to improve test reliability, enhance validity, streamline workflows, and positively influence attitudes toward exercise testing. We advocate for establishing a new area of research focused on gamifying maximal exercise tests to elevate exercise diagnostics to the next level.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"117"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12528566/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145293678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evolution of Research Published in Sports and Exercise Medicine Journals: A Quantitative Analysis of Global Trends.","authors":"Clara C Zwack, Milad Haghani, Amanda C Benson","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00839-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00839-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sports and exercise medicine is important in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of a variety of musculoskeletal presentations and injuries as well as aiding athletes' recovery and enhancing public health by promoting physical activity for all. It has evolved from a subspecialty into a distinct interdisciplinary domain. Using scientometric analysis, this study examines sports and exercise medicine's scope, history, current landscape and future directions. Utilising data from the Web of Science, covering 150,380 publications up to November 2022, trends from the early 1970s to 2022 are analysed.</p><p><strong>Main findings: </strong>There was gradual growth in the field between 1980 and 2000 and a significant surge post-2000. The study reveals global distribution, with the United States contributing over half of the field's output. However, questions arise about international collaboration and resource allocation. Citespace analysis visualises 26 research streams in sports and exercise medicine, with many emerging around 2000, showcasing adaptability to trends. Document co-citation and citation burst analyses highlight pivotal moments in sports medicine's intellectual history and foundational knowledge. Semantic analysis categorises sports medicine into four primary divisions: Exercise, Lower limb injuries, Physical activity, and Biomechanics in sport, emphasising its multidisciplinary nature.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This scientometric analysis highlights sports medicine's evolution into a diverse, interdisciplinary field, with significant growth since 2000. By identifying and mapping trends, global contributions, and key research themes (Exercise variables, Lower limb injuries, Sports dynamics, and Biomechanics) this study provides valuable insights for guiding collaboration, research, and resource allocation to advance athletes' well-being and health at a population level.</p><p><strong>Key points: </strong>Sports and exercise medicine research has seen steady growth since the 1970s, with peaks in publication numbers, notably in 2020, followed by a decline attributed to changes in publication indexing practices. Analysis reveals a diverse array of 26 distinct research streams, evolving from a singular focus on anaerobic capacity to encompass modern topics like concussion management and sports psychology.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"118"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12528574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145293657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential Concussion Events of a Leading Team in the Spanish Male Professional Soccer League: Incidence, Refereeing Actions, Medical Consequences and Return-to-Play.","authors":"Enrique Noé, Roberto Llorens, Blanca Melero, Myrtha O'Valle, María Dolores Navarro, Carolina Colomer, Belén Moliner, Joan Ferri","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00914-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00914-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>An increasing number of studies reveal that concussion rates in male soccer are comparable to other contact sports. Due to their possible negative effects on the neurological health, detecting potential concussion events (PCEs) during a match is essential to account for their medical consequences. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and characteristics of the PCEs, as well as the refereeing and medical consequences, and the return-to-play time, of a leading male soccer team of the first division of the Spanish Professional Soccer League throughout a complete season.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 61 PCEs from direct head impacts were identified across the 38 matches played by Real Madrid CF-the 2019-2020 regular season champions and the only team with complete match records, reflecting an incidence of 48.6/1000 h. Most of the PCEs occurred due to \"elbow-head\" mechanisms or during \"aerial heading duels\", affecting parietal-occipital and frontonasal areas, with increased incidence in defenses, in the penalty areas, during minutes 45 to 60, and with a tie score. No sanction was given in 54.8% of the PCEs. Medical assistance was requested in only 32.2% of the cases, and only 29.0% of cases resulted in a substitution. The players returned to play after a mean of 9.5 (SD: 11.0) days from the event and 74.2% of the players returned to play in or less than 7 days.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results are consistent with previous studies in nearby countries and reveal a high incidence and high likelihood of repeated PCEs, with limited impact on refereeing decisions, minimal medical intervention, and short return-to-play periods. Given the potential neurological risks of concussions, greater awareness is needed among professionals, medical teams, the public, and authorities.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"116"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12521720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145286777","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Intensity and Fatigue on the Kinetics and Kinematics of the Barbell Squat, Bench Press, and Deadlift in Experienced Lifters: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Javad A Bakhshinejad, Jared D Ramer, Kristen A Dunsmore, Luke M Pelton, Lars Berglund","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00921-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00921-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Powerlifting is a competitive strength sport focused on achieving the highest possible single-repetition load in three barbell lifts: the back squat, bench press, and deadlift, each testing maximal force output under standardized conditions. Increases in training intensity and the accumulation of fatigue can lead to measurable alterations in kinetic and kinematic variables, with potential implications for both performance and injury risk. Although trained lifters typically exhibit more stable movement patterns than novices, the biomechanical responses to intensity and fatigue remain complex and variable. This systematic review aimed to identify consistent, observable changes in kinetic and kinematic variables in experienced lifters during the back squat, bench press, and deadlift under conditions of increasing intensity and fatigue.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A keyword search was performed on MEDLINE Complete, SPORTDiscus, and CINAHL Plus up to June 2024. Studies that examined the effects of load and fatigue on the kinetics and kinematics of the back squat, bench press, and deadlift in experienced lifters were included. The quality of studies was rated according to the Quality Assessment of Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies scale. Results were summarized in tables and with a narrative synthesis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-two studies, with a total of 293 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Increased intensity was consistently associated with decreases in mean and peak barbell velocity and power, increased force production, longer concentric durations, and greater joint variability, especially in the acceleration and sticking regions. Fatigue led to similar reductions in velocity and power, although findings on force production were inconsistent across studies. Only two studies examined the deadlift, and reporting practices varied between studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Increased intensity and fatigue produce predictable kinetic and kinematic changes in the back squat, bench press, and deadlift, particularly during the acceleration and sticking phases. Velocity consistently decreased with intensity and fatigue, while power and joint mechanics showed greater variability across individuals and studies. Coaches and clinicians should monitor these changes to inform programming and technical interventions. However, different lifters may adopt distinct mechanical strategies as intensity increases, especially near the sticking point. Future research should distinguish between- and within-individual variability in kinetic and kinematic expression and address underrepresented movements, particularly the deadlift.</p><p><strong>Registration: </strong>This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024550339).</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"115"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12521083/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145286884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Menstrual Cycle and Athletic Status Interact to Influence Symptoms, Mood, and Cognition in Females.","authors":"Flaminia Ronca, Evelyn Watson, Isabel Metcalf, Benjamin Tari","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00924-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00924-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>There is growing interest in understanding if, and how, the menstrual cycle may affect physical and cognitive performance, particularly in the context of sport and physical activity. While hormonal fluctuations are often assumed to impact cognition, especially during menstruation, empirical evidence remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate whether cognitive performance, mood, and symptomology vary across menstrual cycle phases and whether these effects are influenced by athletic participation level.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifty-four females (18-40 years) categorised by athletic participation level (i.e., inactive, active, competing, elite) took part. At each key menstrual phase (menstruation / early follicular, late follicular, ovulation and mid-luteal), they completed a cognitive battery (attention, inhibition and spatial anticipation), and reported their mood and symptoms. Faster reaction times and fewer errors were committed during ovulation (p < .01), suggesting better overall performance. In contrast, reaction times were slower during the luteal phase (p < .01), but more errors were committed in the follicular phase (p = .01). Importantly, participants' athletic level had a stronger effect on cognitive performance than phase, where inactive participants scored worse across tasks than their more active counterparts, and elite participants exhibited more significant fluctuations in cognition across phases. Mood and symptoms were worse during menstruation regardless of athletic level. However, while mood varied across phases it did not correlate with cognitive performance. Of note, participants perceived that their symptoms negatively impacted their cognitive performance during menstruation, but there was no evidence of any objective detriment to cognitive performance during this phase neither on reaction times nor errors on any task.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest the existence of mild cognitive fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, albeit with high individual variability, and which are incongruent with symptomology. Opposing results between perceived and measured performance challenge common assumptions about menstruation-related performance, and highlight the importance of addressing societal biases in female sport and health. The stronger effects of athletic engagement on cognitive performance, rather than phase, reinforce the cognitive benefits of an active lifestyle.</p><p><strong>Key points: </strong>This study aimed to investigate cognitive fluctuations in eumenorrheic females recruited from a range of activity levels. We demonstrate mild cognitive fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle, which are incongruent with symptomology. And reinforce the importance of physical activity for supporting cognitive performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"104"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145258944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of Graphene-Based Far-Infrared Compression Garments on Aerobic Capacity in Healthy Young Males: A Randomized Crossover Trial.","authors":"Yuxin Peng, Dongmei Wang, Haotian Zheng, Hao Qian, Chen Chen, Yi Han, Kewei Zhao, Tianhao Gao, Wenming Liu, Xiangsheng Pang","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00913-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00913-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Advancements in sports materials have led to the creation of innovative fabrics aimed at enhancing athletic performance and reducing the risk of sports-related injuries. Graphene-based composite fibers, with superior far-infrared (FIR) emissivity, are emerging as a promising material in sportswear. This study explores the effects of graphene-based FIR compression garments on aerobic exercise capacity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 15 healthy, recreationally active male university students (aged 18-25 years) participated in this double-blind, randomized crossover trial. Each participant completed two incremental treadmill tests while wearing either graphene-based FIR compression garments or control garments, with a 7-day washout period between sessions. Results showed significantly longer exercise durations (38.4 s, p < 0.001) and extended time to anaerobic threshold (37.7 s, p < 0.001) in those wearing graphene-based FIR garments compared to those wearing control garments. The maximum heart rate was significantly lower in the graphene group (198.8 ± 7.8 bpm vs. 200.3 ± 7.5 bpm, p < 0.05), with reduced heart rates at the same exercise intensity (176.9 ± 8 bpm vs. 179.8 ± 7.8 bpm, p < 0.05). No significant differences in Maximal Oxygen Uptake (VO2max) were observed between the two groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Graphene-based FIR compression garments significantly enhance aerobic performance by improving endurance, likely due to improved peripheral blood circulation and reduced cardiac load. These findings highlight the potential of graphene-based fibers as a disruptive innovation in sportswear. Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to fully explore their benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"114"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12514096/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145275637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Function Over Form: A Longitudinal Study of Predictors and Mediation Pathways for Disordered Eating in Elite Athletes.","authors":"Scott J Fatt, Phillipa Hay, Emma George, Nikki Jeacocke, Kris Rogers, Deborah Mitchison","doi":"10.1186/s40798-025-00920-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40798-025-00920-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aetiological pathway from societal pressure to meet appearance ideals to disordered eating through appearance-based concerns (e.g., drive for thinness) is well established in the general population; however, its relevance for elite athletes is unclear. This study investigated longitudinal predictors and mediation pathways for disordered eating in athletes, including sports and societal pressures as risk factors, and appearance-based concerns and athlete-specific cognitions as mediators.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Elite athletes predominantly from Australia and the US completed online surveys at baseline between March-September 2023 (T1, N = 178, 72.4% female, M_age = 23.9, SD_age = 7.0), with follow-ups at 6-months (T2, N = 110) and 12-months (T3, N = 91). The survey assessed disordered eating, weight pressures in sport, societal pressures for appearance, athlete-specific mediators (drive for leanness for performance, athletic identity), and body image concerns. Regression analyses employing multiple imputation were used to examine longitudinal predictors and mediation pathways with disordered eating as the outcome, adjusting for autocorrelations and gender.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Increased disordered eating over 12-months was significantly predicted by higher levels of T1-weight pressures in sport (β = 0.18, p = .046) and T1-drive for leanness for performance (β = 0.21, p = .025). T1-Societal pressures, T1-athletic identity, and T1-body image concerns did not significantly predict increases in disordered eating over time. None of the indirect pathways were significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It appears that weight pressures in sport and drive for leanness for performance contribute more to risk of disordered eating in elite athletes than traditional pathways of societal pressures and body image concerns. These findings, together with findings from previous research, were synthesised into a new model of disordered eating in elite athletes, providing targets for future intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":21788,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine - Open","volume":"11 1","pages":"113"},"PeriodicalIF":5.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12511484/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145252685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}