Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02171-5
Adrien Sedeaud, Audrey Difernand, Quentin De Larochelambert, Yannis Irid, Chloé Fouillot, Nolwenn Pinczon du Sel, Jean-François Toussaint
{"title":"Talent Identification: Time to Move Forward on Estimation of Potentials? Proposed Explanations and Promising Methods","authors":"Adrien Sedeaud, Audrey Difernand, Quentin De Larochelambert, Yannis Irid, Chloé Fouillot, Nolwenn Pinczon du Sel, Jean-François Toussaint","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02171-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02171-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The scientific literature on talent identification is extensive, with significant advancements made over the past 30 years. However, as with any field, the translation of research into practice and its impact on the field have been slower than anticipated. Indeed, recent findings highlight a pervasive relative age effect, the effects of maturation being often overlooked, disparate populations between young and senior performers, and a necessity to embrace a holistic approach. However, simple elements can be implemented to avoid some of these known biases. This review synthesizes recent advancements, critically examines key elements to consider in talent identification, and proposes promising avenues for enhancement. These include (1) understanding and illustrating early performance influences, (2) implementing individualized performance trajectory models, (3) applying corrective adjustments based on relative, biological, and training age, and (4) improving estimation of potentials through a holistic approach that integrates “life pathways”. In light of these necessary improvements, it seems opportune to propose a semantic shift to generate a change in both conceptual and operational paradigms. The proposed terminology of “estimation of potential” is based on a semantic and mathematical definition, which operationalizes its conceptualization. This study suggests that understanding the trajectories of transitions from youth to senior categories in each sport, coupled with a holistic approach centered on individual performance progressions across the three ages, would be a possible path toward estimating potential.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"62 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142981181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02173-3
Wei Wang, Matthew J. Schweickle, Emily R. Arnold, Stewart A. Vella
{"title":"Psychological Interventions to Improve Elite Athlete Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Wei Wang, Matthew J. Schweickle, Emily R. Arnold, Stewart A. Vella","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02173-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02173-3","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Mental wellbeing, one continuum alongside mental illness in a dual-continua mental health model, has attracted less attention compared with substantial studies concerning mental illness amongst elite athletes. Notably, the promotion and protection of mental wellbeing contribute to not only a positive status of flourishing but also a reduction in the future risk of mental illness, which can potentially facilitate a status of complete mental health. Despite the critical role of wellbeing promotion and protection, there are limited evidence-based strategies to design and implement wellbeing interventions in elite athletes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objective</h3><p>This review aims to identify the different types of interventions to improve mental wellbeing amongst elite athletes and meta-analyse their effects. Further, the study aims to narratively identify the factors affecting implementation success in elite athletes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Peer-reviewed articles were systematically searched through five electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, PSYCArticles, Academic Search Complete and MEDLINE) in July 2023 and updated in May 2024. To enrich the overall findings and reduce the risk of publication bias, grey literature was also included in this review. Dissertations and theses were the main foci and were searched in September 2023 and updated in May 2024. Standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the effects of the different types of interventions on mental wellbeing. Further, a narrative synthesis under the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was conducted to identify the potential factors that influenced the implementation success.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>A total of 27 studies were found from peer-reviewed and grey literature, of which 15 studies were subject to meta-analyses. Results indicated that psychological skills training (SMD = 0.78, 95% CI 0.24, 1.32), third-wave interventions (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI 0.01, 0.63) and positive psychology interventions (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI 0.31, 0.85) were all potentially effective in improving overall wellbeing amongst elite athletes. However, when quasi-experimental studies in the third-wave interventions were removed for the sensitivity analysis, the effect was no longer significant. Further, 11 facilitators and 3 barriers to implementation success were identified, of which adaptability, coach and teammate support, and instructor’s capacity to connect with athletes were the key facilitators, and busy schedules and complex intervention contents were the main barriers.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>This review indicated that psychological skills training, third-wave interventions and positive psychology interventions could be potentially effective for elite athlete mental we","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"143 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142986194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-10DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02152-8
Iñigo M. Pérez-Castillo, Ricardo Rueda, Hakim Bouzamondo, Diego Aparicio-Pascual, Alberto Valiño-Marques, Jose López-Chicharro, Felipe Segura-Ortiz
{"title":"Does Lifelong Exercise Counteract Low-Grade Inflammation Associated with Aging? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Iñigo M. Pérez-Castillo, Ricardo Rueda, Hakim Bouzamondo, Diego Aparicio-Pascual, Alberto Valiño-Marques, Jose López-Chicharro, Felipe Segura-Ortiz","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02152-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02152-8","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Aging is associated with sustained low-grade inflammation, which has been linked to age-related diseases and mortality. Long-term exercise programs have been shown to be effective to for attenuating this process; however, subsequent detraining might negate some of these benefits. Master athletes, as a model of lifelong consistent exercise practice, have been suggested to present similar inflammatory profiles to untrained young adults. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether maintaining training habits throughout life can completely counteract low-grade inflammation associated with aging.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We aimed to systematically evaluate comparisons of baseline inflammatory profiles in Master athletes, untrained middle-aged and older adults, and untrained young individuals to elucidate whether lifelong exercise can counteract low-grade inflammation associated with aging.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, and a protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024521339). Studies reporting baseline systemic levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in Master athletes and untrained controls were eligible for inclusion. A total of six databases (PubMed [MEDLINE], Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials [CENTRAL], Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science [WoS]) were searched in September 2024, and studies were independently screened by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tool for cross-sectional trials, and random-effect meta-analyses of standardized mean differences (SMDs) of inflammatory markers were conducted to evaluate comparisons between Master athletes and age-matched untrained middle-aged and older adults as well as Master athletes and young untrained subjects. Subgroup analyses were performed based on exercise intensity and type, and participants’ sex.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>A total of 17 studies (<i>n</i> = 649 participants) were included both in qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Lifelong exercise appears to attenuate increases in baseline C-reactive protein, and to elevate anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10 levels compared with untrained middle-aged and older adults (C-reactive protein: SMD − 0.71, 95% confidence interval − 0.97, − 0.45, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> 0%, <i>p</i> = 0.78; IL-10: SMD 1.44, 95% confidence interval 0.55, 2.32, <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> 87%, <i>p</i> < 0.00001). Statistical significance was maintained in C-reactive protein and IL-10 sub-analyses. No difference in tumor necrosis factor-α levels was observed between Master athletes and untrained middle-aged and older adults (SMD 0.40, 95% confidence interval − 0.15, 0.96, <i>I<","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142940262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-10DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02169-z
Witalo Kassiano, João Pedro Nunes, Bruna Costa, Alex S. Ribeiro, Jeremy P. Loenneke, Edilson S. Cyrino
{"title":"Comparison of Muscle Growth and Dynamic Strength Adaptations Induced by Unilateral and Bilateral Resistance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Witalo Kassiano, João Pedro Nunes, Bruna Costa, Alex S. Ribeiro, Jeremy P. Loenneke, Edilson S. Cyrino","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02169-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02169-z","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Currently, great debate exists over the proposed superiority of some resistance exercises to induce muscular adaptations. For example, some argue that unilateral exercise (meaning one limb at a time) is superior to bilateral exercises (meaning both limbs). Of note, an evidence-based answer to this question is yet to be determined, particularly regarding muscle hypertrophy.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objective</h3><p>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of unilateral versus bilateral resistance training on muscle hypertrophy and strength gains.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>A thorough literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 2 (RoBII) tool was used to judge the risk of bias. Meta-analyses were performed using robust variance estimation with small-sample corrections.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>After retrieving 703 studies, 9 met the criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. We found no significant differences in muscle hypertrophy between bilateral and unilateral training [effect size (ES): − 0.21, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): − 3.56 to 3.13, <i>P</i> = 0.57]. Bilateral training induced a superior increase in bilateral strength (ES: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.16–0.96, <i>P</i> = 0.01). In contrast, unilateral training elicited a superior increase in unilateral strength (ES: − 0.65, 95% CI: − 0.93 to − 0.37, <i>P</i> = 0.001). Overall, studies presented moderate risk of bias.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>On the basis of the limited literature on the topic, we found no evidence of differential muscle hypertrophy between the two exercise selections. Strength gains appear to follow the principle of specificity.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"204 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142961642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-08DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02167-1
Laura Mancin, Louise M. Burke, Ian Rollo
{"title":"Fibre: The Forgotten Carbohydrate in Sports Nutrition Recommendations","authors":"Laura Mancin, Louise M. Burke, Ian Rollo","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02167-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02167-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Although dietary guidelines concerning carbohydrate intake for athletes are well established, these do not include recommendations for daily fibre intake. However, there are many scenarios in sports nutrition in which common practice involves the manipulation of fibre intake to address gastrointestinal comfort around exercise, or acute or chronic goals around the management of body mass or composition. The effect of fibre intake in overall health is also important, particularly in combination with other dietary considerations such as the elevated protein requirements in this population. An athlete’s habitual intake of dietary fibre should be assessed. If less than 20 g a day, athletes may consider dietary interventions to gradually increase intake. It is proposed that a ramp phase is adopted to gradually increase fibre ingestion to ~ 30 g of fibre a day (which includes ~ 2 g of beta-glucan) over a duration of 6 weeks. The outcomes of achieving a daily fibre intake are to help preserve athlete gut microbiome diversity and stability, intestinal barrier function as well as the downstream effects of short-chain fatty acids produced following the fermentation of microbiome accessible carbohydrates. Nevertheless, there are scenarios in which daily manipulation of fibre intake, either to reduce or increase intake, may be valuable in assisting the athlete to maintain gastrointestinal comfort during exercise or to contribute to body mass/composition goals. Although further research is required, the aim of this current opinion paper is to ensure that fibre is not forgotten as a nutrient in the athlete’s diet.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"80 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142935767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-07DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02158-2
James M. Smoliga, Chris Bleakley, Alan J. Pearce
{"title":"Is It All in Your Head? Placebo Effects in Concussion Prevention","authors":"James M. Smoliga, Chris Bleakley, Alan J. Pearce","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02158-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02158-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sports-related concussions (SRCs) are a major health issue in athletes of varying ages, ability levels, and sports. Concerns over the short- and long-term consequences of SRCs have incentivized a wealth of products and policies aimed at reducing SRC risk. Research suggesting the effectiveness of such interventions at reducing SRCs has facilitated their adoption by sports organizations and, in some cases, product commercialization. However, the body of SRC mitigation research is almost entirely devoid of placebo or sham groups, which raises important questions about the true clinical effectiveness of these interventions. This Current Opinion explores the plausibility of placebo effects within the scope of SRC prevention, describes why the lack of placebo/sham groups in the current body of literature is problematic, and provides recommendations for including placebo/sham groups in future SRC research.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142934846","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-03DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02163-5
Lingxia Li, Solène Le Douairon Lahaye, Shuzhe Ding, Frédéric Schnell
{"title":"Sex Differences in the Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest/Death in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis","authors":"Lingxia Li, Solène Le Douairon Lahaye, Shuzhe Ding, Frédéric Schnell","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02163-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-024-02163-5","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background</h3><p>Although many studies have demonstrated a lower incidence of sudden cardiac arrest or death (SCA/D) in female athletes than in male, there is limited understanding of the specific underlying causes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objective</h3><p>This systematic review aimed to assess the disparities in SCA/D incidence between male and female competitive athletes and explore the associated etiologies.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>A comprehensive search was conducted for retrospective and prospective studies examining SCA/D incidence in male and female athletes. Incidence and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) according to sex were evaluated.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Among the 16 studies analyzed, 1797 cases of SCA/D were observed; 1578 occurred in males (87.81%). Ages ranged from adolescent to adult. The incidence was 1.42/100,000 athlete-years (AY) in males (95% CI 0.97–2.09), and 0.32/100,000 AY in females (95% CI 0.17–0.59), resulting in an IRR of 5.55. When considering athletes aged ≤ 35 years, the incidence was 1.46/100,000 AY in males (95% CI 0.91–2.34) and 0.30/100,000 AY in females (95% CI 0.14–0.66), with an IRR of 5.47. The IRR was 5.13 (95% CI 3.94–6.67) for the most recent studies with athletes enrolled only after the year 2000, versus 6.02 (95% CI 4.59–7.90) for the remaining studies covering all observed years. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) was the predominant cause among males (45.12%), while congenital coronary anomalies were more prevalent in females (33.04%).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>The incidence of SCA/D in females was approximately 6 times lower than in males, with sex differences also in the leading causes of SCA/D. Understanding these discrepancies could lead to targeted strategies for the prevention of SCD in athletes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Registration number</h3><p>(PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023432022)/05.07.2023.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142917100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2024-12-24DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02141-x
Lawrence G Appelbaum, Liam Lochhead, Jiren Feng, Graham Erickson, Sicong Liu, Daniel M Laby
{"title":"Limited Evidence is Not No Evidence: A Rebuttal to Fransen, 2024.","authors":"Lawrence G Appelbaum, Liam Lochhead, Jiren Feng, Graham Erickson, Sicong Liu, Daniel M Laby","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02141-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40279-024-02141-x","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"241-242"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2024-12-24DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02142-w
Job Fransen
{"title":"A Response to Appelbaum et al. \"Limited Evidence is NOT No Evidence: A Rebuttal to Fransen, 2024\".","authors":"Job Fransen","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02142-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40279-024-02142-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"243-244"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142882991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sports MedicinePub Date : 2025-01-01Epub Date: 2024-11-15DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02140-y
Haiko Bruno Zimmermann, Brian R Macintosh, Juliano Dal Pupo
{"title":"The Relationship Between Length and Active Force for Submaximal Skeletal Muscle Contractions: a Review.","authors":"Haiko Bruno Zimmermann, Brian R Macintosh, Juliano Dal Pupo","doi":"10.1007/s40279-024-02140-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40279-024-02140-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The force-length relationship is usually obtained for isometric contractions with maximal activation, but less is known about how sarcomere length affects force during submaximal activation. During submaximal activation, length-dependent alterations in calcium sensitivity, owing to changes in cross-bridge kinetics (rate of attachment and/or detachment), result in an activation-dependent shift in optimal length to longer sarcomere lengths. It is known that sarcomere length, as well as temperature and phosphorylation of the regulatory light chains of myosin, can modify Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺ sensitivity by altering the probability of cross-bridge interaction. This altered calcium sensitivity is particularly important for submaximal force levels, as it can change the shape of the length dependence of force, with peak force occurring at sarcomere lengths longer than those associated with maximal filament overlap. In athletic contexts, contractions typically do not reach maximal intensity. Therefore, understanding that the ability to produce force under both maximal and submaximal conditions can differ, and that peak force can be generated at different lengths, could influence the development of targeted training regimens optimal for each sport.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"37-47"},"PeriodicalIF":9.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142628456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}