Sports Medicine最新文献

{"title":"The Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase, Symptoms, Motivation, and Readiness to Perform on Resistance Training Performance.","authors":"Gabriella Munteanu, Shona L Halson, Minh Huynh, Ivan Jukic, Amador García-Ramos, Francesca Fernandez, Nicholas Cowley, Jonathon Weakley","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02459-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40279-026-02459-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The menstrual cycle can influence a range of physiological and psychological processes that may affect physical performance. However, existing evidence is inconsistent and often based on isolated testing timepoints rather than typical training conditions. Monitoring kinematic outputs during resistance training allows quantification of day-to-day performance changes.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study evaluated whether kinematic outputs during resistance training vary across menstrual cycle phases over two mesocycles and explored associations with symptoms, and perceived motivation and readiness.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted at Australian Catholic University (Brisbane, Australia) between February 2023 and June 2025 and was registered with the trial number ACTRN12626000365369. Twenty-eight resistance trained females (mean ± SD; age: 27.1 ± 5.2 years) completed two mesocycles of supervised resistance training. Across the intervention, menstrual cycles were monitored using calendar-based counting, urinary ovulation tests, and retrospective serum 17β-estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Three-repetition maximum (3RM) and load-velocity profiles (LVPs) for the bench press and trap bar deadlift were assessed at baseline, mid training (~4 weeks), and post training (~8 weeks). During each training session, kinematic outputs were recorded for all repetitions, with the fastest repetition from each set used to assess training performance across menstrual cycle phases and the observed velocity compared to the expected velocity from the LVP. Symptoms, perceived motivation, and readiness were reported at the start of each resistance training session.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant differences in observed versus expected average peak mean velocity were found in the bench press during phases 1 and 5, and in the deadlift during phases 1 and 6. For both exercises, observed versus expected average peak mean velocity differed by ~ 0.01-0.02 m·s⁻<sup>1</sup> across menstrual cycle phases. After multivariate modeling, motivation to train was a strong predictor of training performance (β = 0.0004, p = 0.021), whereas readiness to perform was not. The symptom domain pain was positively associated with bench press performance (0.00065 m∙s<sup>-1</sup> per unit change; p = 0.018), whereas pain was negatively associated with deadlift performance (- 0.001 per unit change; p < 0.001). Additionally, no significant main effect was found for the symptom domain control, but a between-exercise difference was found (p < 0.03). No other symptom domains showed significant relationships with training performance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Menstrual cycle phase appears to have minimal effect on resistance training performance, with kinematic outputs demonstrating modest differences compared to what would be expected. Consequently, these findings support consistent resistance training acro","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"2325-2339"},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13499881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148006619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biomechanics of Rugby Tackle Techniques in Youth and Adult Players: A Systematic Review of Age-Specific Injury Risk and Performance Implications","authors":"Henry C. A. Edgington, Bernard X. W. Liew, Sharief. Hendricks, Benjamin Jones, Behnam Gholami, Matthew Barrett, Abishek Gurung, Jason Moran","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02515-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02515-3","url":null,"abstract":"Background Tackling is a vital skill in rugby that greatly influences both performance outcomes, such as carry distance and possession gain, and injury risk, such as the frequency of concussions and cervical injuries. Approximately 72% of head impacts in rugby occur during tackles, leading to concussions and cervical trauma. Technical skill in tackle mechanics is therefore central to player safety. Objectives This systematic review evaluates tackle biomechanics across age groups to identify differences in technique and injury patterns and to inform age-specific coaching strategies. Methods This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (ID CRD420251103973) and adhered to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines. PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar were searched without date restrictions. Studies analysing tackle biomechanics, injury mechanisms or performance outcomes in youth or adult rugby players were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts. Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. Results Across the 32 included studies, three patterns emerged. First, tackler head-in-front positioning was associated with a five- to eight-fold increase in per-tackle concussion risk and was more common in youth players than adults. Second, dominant-shoulder tackles consistently produced lower head accelerations than non-dominant tackles, with this safety advantage eroding under match-induced fatigue. Third, youth players showed lower tackle proficiency scores than adults, characterised by reduced hip and knee flexion, less leg drive and more frequent arm-only contact. Across studies, evidence quality was moderate; few studies used non-injury controls to support causal claims. Conclusions Age-specific coaching strategies are warranted to optimise tackle safety and performance. Emphasising correct head positioning, dominant-shoulder engagement and lower-limb mechanics may mitigate injury risk in youth rugby. The current evidence base supports associations rather than firm causal claims; future case–control studies that compare injury and non-injury tackles within the same match environment would strengthen this evidence.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148842900","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}

{"title":"Effects of Physical Training Interventions on Golf Shot Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.","authors":"Martin J Johansen, Chris Bishop, Andrew Murray, Dan Coughlan, Kasper D Gejl, Per Aagaard, Jens Bojsen-Møller","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02531-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02531-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Physical training is widely used in golf to improve club head speed and distance-related outcomes, but intervention evidence across key shot-performance outcomes has not been synthesized with separate treatment of controlled and single-group designs.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to evaluate the effects of physical training interventions on club head speed, ball speed, carry distance, and total distance in golfers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement. PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Google Scholar were searched on 3 March, 2026. Eligible studies included golfers of any sex, age, or playing level; evaluated a physical training intervention lasting at least 4 weeks; used either a controlled between-group or single-group pre-post design; and reported golf shot-performance outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses synthesized absolute effects in common units, with controlled and single-group evidence analyzed separately.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thirty-three studies comprising 798 participants met the eligibility criteria, including 26 controlled between-group studies and 7 single-group pre-post studies. Controlled meta-analyses showed significant pooled improvements in club head speed, ball speed, carry distance, and total distance: 1.05 m/s (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.39-1.71), 2.20 m/s (95% CI 1.16-3.23), 9.33 m (95% CI 5.12-13.55), and 10.55 m (95% CI 6.30-14.81), respectively. The corresponding pooled standardized effects ranged from g = 0.38 to 0.62. Single-group meta-analyses showed significant pooled improvements in club head speed, ball speed, and carry distance, but not in total distance in the primary analysis. The certainty of evidence was low for all controlled outcomes and very low for all single-group outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Physical training interventions can improve key golf shot-performance outcomes in golfers, with controlled between-group studies providing the most robust evidence. Structured physical training therefore appears to represent a meaningful component of golf performance preparation. Nonetheless, more comprehensively reported and population-specific intervention studies are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841177","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}

{"title":"Methods of Calculating Energy Availability in Current Research: A Standardised Audit.","authors":"Alicia E Walker, Alannah K A McKay, Margot A Rogers, Megan A Kuikman, Kathryn E Ackerman, Trent Stellingwerff, Louise M Burke","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02526-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02526-0","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction: &lt;/strong&gt;Energy availability (EA), defined as (energy intake [EI]-exercise energy expenditure [EEE])/fat free mass (FFM), has been studied in relation to athlete health and performance. We implemented a standardised audit protocol to assess the quality and characteristics of research that has calculated or manipulated EA in humans, and in particular, athletic populations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Using the Smith et al. 2020 standardised protocol, we searched the PubMed database in June 2024 and October 2025 to identify human studies that directly assessed or manipulated EA. Exclusion criteria for our audit were indirect measurements of EA (questionnaire or survey), measurement of energy balance only, studies of diseased populations or reports in languages other than English. The included publications were assessed across the following metrics: population, athletic calibre, menstrual classification, study design and EA methodology.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Of the 203 publications included in the audit, most included females (70%) or studied females alone (50%). High-performance athletes were well represented (45%; tiers 3-5) particularly among studies involving EA assessments. The audit system for evaluating the quality of menstrual status assessment found that 57% used techniques graded as 'gold,' 'silver,' and 'bronze,' yet a large proportion (43%) provided insufficient terminology or detail to classify female participants' menstrual status ('ungraded'). Most publications included naturally menstruating females (54%), while others included athletes with menstrual irregularities (28%) or those using hormonal contraceptives (18%). In studies observing EA (n = 146), food records (82%) and metabolic equivalent scores (METs) (40%) were predominantly used to assess EI and EEE, respectively. Among intervention studies involving EA manipulations (n = 57), most provided food to participants (77%) and determined EEE by physiologically derived methods (70%) such as indirect calorimetry or heart rate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Discussion/conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;High performance female athletes (tiers 3-5) are well-represented in EA research compared with other areas of sports science/medicine research. Despite the well-known association between EA and menstrual dysfunction, many EA studies failed to use high-quality methodology to describe or account for menstrual characteristics of female participants. The quality of such research will improve with better standardisation and characterisation of menstrual cycles of female participants and with further investigation of differences in the causes of and responses to low EA (LEA) exposure in male athletes. A standardised calculation of EA and best practice protocols for its assessment may improve the quality of EA studies, however, a need to focus on intervention studies rather than assessment of EA in free-living athletes is necessary to better understand the effects of LEA exposure on","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148832234","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}

{"title":"Mechanisms Influencing Maximum Joint Range of Motion and Stiffness: A Narrative Review","authors":"Camila D. Lima, Anthony J. Blazevich","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02491-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02491-8","url":null,"abstract":"Joint ‘flexibility’ is an encompassing term influenced by both a joint’s maximum range of motion (ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> ) and its resistance to rotation, i.e. its stiffness. A critical amount of flexibility is thought to be important for both sports performance and daily and occupational tasks. Improvements in joint ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> , specifically, are often assumed to result from material and mechanical changes in the joint’s soft tissue structures; however, they also may result from changes in sensory information relayed from peripheral receptors to the brain, or the interpretation of that information. Changes in psychological state mediated by pain, state arousal and other psychological factors can therefore influence the voluntary capacity of individuals to tolerate a stretch, and thus their ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> . Stiffness, on the other hand, may be affected by both muscular and non-muscular tissues, although the most important sources of stiffness are yet to be agreed upon. In this narrative review, we define important terms as well as the factors impacting stiffness and ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> . We assert that joint stiffness is affected by the extracellular matrix, intramuscular fat and water as well as fascicle rotation, and that these factors also by extension may affect ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> . While sarcomere (and fibre) stiffness is largely regulated by the giant protein titin, it plays a lesser role at the whole muscle level. Alternatively, ROM <jats:sub>max</jats:sub> can be influenced by our processing of sensory information and the decisions we make (consciously or subconsciously) about our willingness to stretch further. Thus, cognitive and attention processes can influence an individual’s decision to stop a stretch.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768942","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}

{"title":"A Cross-Sectional Survey of Sport Physicians’ Perceptions of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Drug Use in Sport","authors":"Daniel Read, Aaron C. T. Smith, Margo Mountjoy, Dina Christa Janse van Rensburg, H. Paul Dijkstra, Lee Taylor","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02514-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02514-4","url":null,"abstract":"Background and Objective Anecdotal evidence suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, typically prescribed to manage diabetes mellitus and assist weight loss, are being misused in elite sport. The objective of this study was to investigate sports medicine physicians’ perceptions of GLP-1 drug use in sport. Methods Following an observational cross-sectional approach, 114 sports medicine physicians completed a survey addressing experiences and perceptions of GLP-1 use in competitive sport. Participants had worked in sports medicine for 16.6 years on average, 63% were male, and 38 countries and 93 sports were represented. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Twelve percent of physicians were aware of athletes who had used GLP-1 drugs without medical need. Physicians most frequently reported that athletes would consider using GLP-1 drugs to meet weight limits and assist weight loss after injury and would be deterred by a lack of energy to train from a reduced appetite. On average, physicians were moderately concerned about the non-prescription use of GLP-1 drugs in sport from a performance enhancement perspective and from an athlete health and welfare perspective. Forty-four percent of participants believed GLP-1 drugs should be prohibited, although 38% reported being unsure. For those supporting prohibition, harm to an athlete’s health was the main concern. Conclusions Currently, without evidence on the effects of GLP-1 drugs on athletes’ health and performance, a proportionate response for sport is education first, structured therapeutic-use pathways, enhanced monitoring, and accelerated sport-specific research including longer-term clinical follow-up of side effects. The approach protects health and fairness, while creating the evidence base needed to judge whether prohibition is justified.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768943","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}

{"title":"Tapering and Peaking in the Weight Lifting Sports: A Systematic Review of Athletes’ Self-Reported Strategies","authors":"Paul W. Winwood, S. Kyle Travis, Matthew J. Barnes, Justin W. L. Keogh, Hayden J. Pritchard","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02500-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02500-w","url":null,"abstract":"Background Tapering, the reduction of training load before competition, is widely recognized as an important strategy for optimizing performance. While tapering practices have been well documented in endurance sports, comparatively less is known about their application in weight lifting sports such as CrossFit, Highland Games, powerlifting, strongman and weightlifting. Objectives To systematically review the available evidence on athletes self-reported tapering practices in weight lifting sports in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Methods An electronic search was performed using PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus and Scopus for studies that examined athletes self-reported tapering practices in weight lifting sports. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed journal articles only, with no limit placed on date or language of publication. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using the AXIS critical appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies. Results All seven studies were rated high quality (≥ 80% score, low risk of bias); five used surveys and two powerlifting studies used interviews. Tapering prevalence remained consistently high across sports, with little variation by competition level, age, or bodyweight class. Step tapers were most commonly reported, with linear and exponential models less frequent. Taper length typically ranged from five to nine days, although longer durations were reported in powerlifting. Weightlifting and CrossFit athletes most often reported formal coaching, while self-coaching was more common in strongman and Highland Games; female athletes generally reported greater coaching access than males. Training cessation periods were between 1.5 and 4 days. Athletes typically reached peak training volume 4–6 weeks and peak intensity 2–3 weeks before competition, with taper phases characterized by a reduction in training volume of ~ 40–45%. Deadlifts were typically last performed 6–8 days before competition, squats 5–6.5 days, and the bench press 3–5 days. The most consistent taper adjustment was reduced training duration, with CrossFit emphasizing aerobic and gymnastics work, Highland Games and strongman prioritizing power and strength, and weightlifting focusing on strength, power, and technical work. Additional tapering strategies included nutrition and recovery methods. Athletes reported tapering to enhance recovery, performance, and psychological readiness, while ineffective tapering was linked to errors in load management and contextual stressors such as work, travel, and nutrition. Conclusion Tapering in weight lifting sports is typically short and structured, with step tapers, reduced training volume, and lift-specific timing most common, but effectiveness depends on managing both training load and contextual stressors. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of tapering and highlight the need for evidence based, sport specific recommendations.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768946","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}

{"title":"The Optimal Exercise Modality and Dose for Blood Pressure Management in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Systematic Review with Bayesian Model-Based, and Dose–Response Network Meta-Analysis of RCTs","authors":"Zhongxu Hu, Matthew Weston, Samuhaer Azhati, Xianyang Xin, Xingyi Niu, Jinfa Gu","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02521-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02521-5","url":null,"abstract":"Background Exercise is an established non-pharmacological strategy for lowering blood pressure (BP), but the comparative effectiveness and optimal dose of different exercise modalities in middle-aged and older adults remain unclear. Objective This study aimed to systematically compare the effects of different exercise modalities and doses on resting systolic and diastolic BP (SBP/DBP) in middle-aged and older adults (≥ 45 years). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from six electronic databases from inception to May 2025. Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis was used to compare BP-lowering effects across exercise modalities. Model-based dose–response analyses were conducted to examine associations between exercise dose, expressed as metabolic equivalent of task minutes per week (METs-min/week), and SBP reduction. Network meta-regression was used to explore potential effect modifiers. Results A total of 159 RCTs ( <jats:italic>n</jats:italic> = 10,821) were included. All exercise modalities were associated with significant reductions in SBP and DBP compared with control. Circuit-based training (CBT) showed the largest estimated SBP reduction (mean difference [MD] − 13.52 mmHg; 95% credible interval [CrI] − 18.59 to − 8.44), followed by combined training (CT), high-intensity interval training, moderate-intensity continuous training, dynamic resistance training, and isometric exercise. CBT and CT generally remained among the highest-ranked modalities across sensitivity analyses, supporting the potential value of integrated aerobic–resistance training (IART). Higher baseline SBP was associated with greater SBP reductions ( <jats:italic>β</jats:italic> = − 2.49 mmHg per 10-mmHg increase; 95% CrI − 3.73 to − 1.24). Dose–response analyses suggested a nonlinear association between exercise dose and SBP reduction, with the largest model-estimated reduction occurring around 1200 METs-min/week, corresponding to the upper range of World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity recommendations. CBT showed a model-estimated peak effect at approximately 580 METs-min/week, close to the lower range of WHO recommendations. Conclusions All exercise modalities were associated with significant BP reductions in middle-aged and older adults, although effect magnitude, certainty, and robustness varied. IART, including CBT and CT, appeared to be a promising approach for BP management. CBT showed the largest estimated effect and may offer a time-efficient option, but its apparent superiority over CT should be interpreted cautiously given the limited CBT-specific evidence, low-to-very-low certainty of evidence, and sensitivity analysis findings. Given that no network comparison was rated as high confidence and many included studies had some concerns or high risk of bias, comparative rankings should be interpreted cautiously and should not be considered definitive evidence of superiority.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"37 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768945","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}

{"title":"Fertility Preservation and Assisted Reproduction Among Athletes: An Online Survey","authors":"Mackenzie I. Farris, Sinead Dufour, Emma Brockwell, Ivi Casagrande, Andreas Serner, Belinda Wilson, Margie H. Davenport","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02508-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02508-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"42 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148728715","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}

{"title":"Not So Pretty in Pink: Computational Modelling of Cricket Ball Visibility with Colour Vision Deficiency","authors":"Peter M. Allen, Oliver Runswick, Luke Wilkins, David L. Mann, Matthew A. Timmis, J. Maule","doi":"10.1007/s40279-026-02518-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-026-02518-0","url":null,"abstract":"Background Day–night test cricket uses a pink ball that players have reported as less visible than the traditional red ball, particularly at dusk. Around 9% of male cricketers have a colour vision deficiency (CVD), yet how CVD interacts with ball colour and match conditions is unknown. Objective To investigate the degree to which protanomaly (‘red’ deficiency) and deuteranomaly (‘green’ deficiency) affect the visibility of different coloured balls in professional cricket. Design Mathematical modelling. Methods Spectral reflectance of new and old red and pink balls was measured in the laboratory. Spectral measurements of backgrounds and illuminance were gathered during a day–night match at Lord’s Cricket Ground (London, England) at day, dusk and night. Luminance contrast of the ball relative to the background was calculated for each combination of ball, time of day and background surface for a typical observer and for observers with CVD. Results Across all backgrounds and lighting conditions, ball visibility varied by colour, ball age and observer type, with the old pink ball being the most problematic, particularly for observers with deuteranomaly and typical observers at dusk, and for observers with protanomaly against the crowd and grass. Notably, observers with protanomaly sometimes experienced enhanced contrast, especially against the pitch and dusk sky, where more severe CVD paradoxically improved visibility of the old pink ball. Conclusions The pink ball may disproportionately affect cricket players with CVD. On balance, the red ball affords the most consistent and equitable visibility across match contexts.","PeriodicalId":21969,"journal":{"name":"Sports Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148728723","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}