BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation最新文献

{"title":"The effect of mental training on muscle damage, stress, and immune response biomarkers in tennis athletes.","authors":"Sezgin Hepsert, Burcu Sıla Sezer, Harun Genç, Mustafa Türkmen, Semih Dalkılıç, Yakup Kılıç","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01944-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01944-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 6-week mental training programme administered to tennis players on creatine kinase, immunoglobulin A, alpha-amylase and aspartate aminotransferase, selected as salivary biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial using a pre-test-post-test parallel-group design. A total of 20 tennis players were randomly assigned to either the experimental (n = 10) or control (n = 10) group. Whilst both groups continued their routine tennis training three days a week, the experimental group additionally underwent the mental training programme three days a week prior to their tennis training sessions. The data were analysed using a Linear Mixed-Effects Model (LMM) to examine the effects of group, time, and the group × time interaction. Post hoc pairwise comparisons were performed using Bonferroni-adjusted tests where appropriate.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis results indicated that group × time interactions were significant for the parameters creatine kinase, immunoglobulin A, alpha-amylase and aspartate aminotransferase (p<0.05). In particular, whilst an increase in IgA levels was observed in the experimental group, CK and AST values were found to be lower or stable compared to the control group. It was also found that the stress response in sAA levels became more stable in the experimental group. Post-hoc analyses showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in the pre-test (p>0.05), but significant differences emerged in favour of the experimental group in the post-test (p<0.05). However, although the main effects of group and time on creatine kinase, alpha-amylase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were not significant, the finding that the group × time interaction was significant indicates that the effect of the intervention emerged in the patterns of change over time rather than in the absolute values.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This suggests that the experimental group's biomarker responses changed in a different direction and magnitude compared to the control group, and that mental training dynamically modulates physiological adaptation processes. In conclusion, it was determined that a 6-week mental training programme significantly modulated salivary biomarkers associated with muscle damage, immune response and stress response in tennis players. These findings demonstrate that mental training is an effective intervention method that supports not only psychological but also physiological and immunological adaptation in athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13508369/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effectiveness of virtual reality-based balance training in primary school children: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Hongfei Zhang, Wenjun Hu, Jakub Kortas","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-02006-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-02006-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Balance and coordination are fundamental for children's motor development and injury prevention, yet sedentary lifestyles have contributed to their decline. Conventional balance training can be effective, but maintaining children's engagement remains challenging. Virtual reality (VR)-based programs provide immersive and gamified practice and may offer an alternative way to deliver balance- and coordination-related training in schools. This six-week randomized controlled trial compared immersive VR-based training with conventional training in 129 primary school students (VR: n = 64; control: n = 65). Participants trained three times per week for 30 min per session. Balance and coordination were assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Y-Balance Test (YBT composite score) as the primary dynamic-balance outcome, alongside single-leg stance with eyes closed (SLST-EC) and a 1-minute rope-skipping test. Both groups showed significant pre-post improvements across all outcomes (all p < 0.001), but within-group rope-skipping changes were not reliably interpretable as training effects because of likely test-retest familiarization, and SLST-EC changes were constrained by ceiling effects. Between-group comparisons of change scores showed no statistically significant differences for ΔYBT, ΔSLST-EC, or Δrope skipping (all p > 0.05). An ANCOVA adjusting for baseline YBT also showed no group effect on post-intervention YBT (p = 0.442). Overall, immersive VR did not show a statistically significant advantage over conventional training matched for scheduled frequency and session duration in this six-week school-based trial. Trial registration: ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN37850916, registered on 30 June 2026. Retrospectively registered.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13573351/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148971730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small-sided games in floorball: impact on technical actions in players aged 7-18.","authors":"Mårten Storm, Taru Tervo, Jonas L Markström","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01992-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-026-01992-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Small-sided games (SSGs; modified match play with fewer players and a smaller pitch) are widely used in team sports to develop adaptable movement skills and decision-making in game-like contexts. However, evidence is limited on how different SSG formats affect technical actions in youth floorball. This study examined how different SSG formats influence technical actions by outfield players in floorball, and whether these effects differ by age group and biological sex.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-four youth floorball teams across four age groups, with equal numbers of male and female teams, participated in this observational study. Teams performed four SSG formats (2v2, 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5) in a randomized order while being video-recorded. Technical actions by outfield players were analyzed using multilevel linear models to examine the effects of SSG format, age group, and sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SSG format was a significant predictor of player involvement across all outcomes (p < 0.001), with smaller formats associated with greater individual engagement. Age group influenced several technical actions, whereas sex showed no significant effects. Significant age group*SSG interactions indicated that the effects of SSG format varied across age groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings provide sport-specific evidence for youth floorball and show that SSG effects on technical involvement vary with age. Coaches should therefore consider age when selecting SSG formats, as smaller formats increase player engagement while larger formats may better support tactical involvement in older players.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13483565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148799746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 battle rope training on sporting performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Yingying Cao, Yuanyuan Luo, Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, Denise Koh, Shuairan Li, Peng Chen","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01970-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01970-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of battle rope training (BRT) on upper-limb explosive power, lower-limb explosive power, grip strength, upper-limb muscular endurance, and core endurance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. PubMed, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, EBSCO, and CNKI were systematically searched to identify controlled intervention studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were conducted in R 4.5.0. Effect sizes were expressed as Hedges' g, a standardised mean difference, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pooled effects were estimated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were used to preliminarily explore the potential effects of training status, type of control condition, and intervention duration on the effects of BRT interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 21 studies involving 590 participants aged 11-25 years were included. Sex was reported for 553 participants (433 males, 120 females), whereas it was not reported for the remaining 37 participants. Compared with control conditions, BRT significantly improved upper-limb explosive power (Hedges' g = 1.59, 95% CI: 0.77-2.42, p = 0.001), grip strength (g = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.30-1.67, p = 0.011), upper-limb muscular endurance (g = 1.17, 95% CI: 0.04-2.30, p = 0.044), and core endurance (g = 1.67, 95% CI: 0.30-3.03, p = 0.016). The pooled effect of BRT on lower-limb explosive power did not reach statistical significance (g = 1.17, 95% CI: -0.21-2.55, p = 0.088). Subgroup analyses indicated that training status may moderate the effect of BRT on upper-limb explosive power. Training status and type of control condition may influence effects on upper-limb muscular endurance, while type of control condition may also influence effects on core endurance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>BRT may improve upper-limb explosive power, grip strength, upper-limb muscular endurance, and core muscular endurance, whereas its effect on lower-limb explosive power remains uncertain. Given the substantial between-study heterogeneity and the exploratory nature of the subgroup analyses, the robustness of these findings requires further confirmation through additional research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591683/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149018578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Temporal dissociation between endocrine and psychological responses across an official boxing bout in national-level male boxers.","authors":"Bilal Bayram, Melek Makaracı, Zarife Pancar, Yücel Makaracı","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01986-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01986-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>While cortisol and testosterone track rapid physiological adaptations to competition, psychological states like anxiety and anger are driven by cognitive appraisal and context. This study examined concurrent neuroendocrine and emotional responses in boxing to determine whether hormonal shifts mirror athletes' subjective stress.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty national-level male boxers (age: 19.5 ± 1.4 years, range: 18-21 years; sports experience: 8.5 ± 1.8 years) competing in an official national tournament were assessed using a repeated-measures design. Salivary cortisol and testosterone (sCor and sTes) were collected at three standardized time points (pre-, mid-, and post-competition), whereas competitive anxiety (cognitive, somatic, and self-confidence) and state anger were evaluated immediately before and after each bout using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>sTes increased significantly during mid-competition, whereas sCor peaked post-competition (both p < .001, ηp² = 0.96). Cognitive and somatic anxiety increased significantly from pre- to post-competition (both p < .001, large effect sizes [dz = 3.54 and 1.07, respectively]), whereas self-confidence and state anger remained unchanged (both p > .05). No significant associations were found between hormonal reactivity and changes in anxiety or anger (all p > .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Hormonal and psychological responses to competition followed distinct temporal patterns, with no evidence that acute endocrine changes directly reflected athletes' subjective emotional responses. These findings suggest that physiological biomarkers and self-reported psychological measures provide complementary rather than interchangeable information about competitive stress. Accordingly, athlete monitoring in combat sports may benefit from integrating both physiological and psychological assessments. This study extends current knowledge by concurrently characterizing endocrine and psychological responses during official boxing competition.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13563714/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148957019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 plyometric training on explosive power and swimming performance in adolescent swimmers: a systematic review and meta-analysis with dose-response analysis.","authors":"Rangxi Jin, Mitchell James Finlay, Francisco Cuenca-Fernández, Wei Huang","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01989-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01989-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescent swimmers depend heavily on lower-limb power during critical phases such as the block start, wall turn, and sprints, with the circa-peak height velocity (PHV) period representing a sensitive window for neuromuscular development. Plyometric training (PT), utilizing the stretch-shortening cycle, is a key component of long-term athletic development, yet evidence stratified by maturation stage is lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and CNKI for controlled trials in swimmers aged 10-18 years, following PRISMA 2020. Effect sizes were pooled using Hedges' g in a random-effects model, dose-response relationships were evaluated via meta-regression, methodological quality assessed with RoB 2.0 and PEDro, and evidence certainty rated by GRADE. Findings suggest that PT may be associated with moderate-to-large positive point estimates for dry-land explosive power and short-distance swimming performance (with positive effect sizes oriented so that faster swim times yield positive g), with point estimates that appeared larger around the circa-PHV stage; however, none of the pooled estimates reached statistical significance under the primary Hartung-Knapp analysis, the confidence intervals were wide, and all findings should therefore be read as preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than as confirmation that PT significantly improves these outcomes. Transfer to longer distances was smaller in magnitude. The results provide a provisional basis for tailoring PT programmes by developmental stage that requires confirmation in larger studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13555939/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148921446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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 combined balance and plyometric training on athletic performance: a systematic review.","authors":"Yifei Li, Chuanwei Ding","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01889-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01889-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Plyometric training is an effective method for improving explosive power, while balance training plays a pivotal role in enhancing agility and dynamic stability. Recently, combined balance and plyometric training (hereafter referred to as combined training) has gained increasing attention. This approach integrates plyometric exercises with separate balance training components. However, whether combined training offers superior benefits over single-mode training remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of combined training on athletic performance across different sports, assessing balance, agility, speed, and power. The review specifically examined interventions that included separate balance and plyometric components, and excluded plyometric training performed on unstable surfaces without a standalone balance component.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Embase was performed from inception to March 15, 2026. Randomized controlled trials examining combined plyometric and balance training in athletes were included. Duplicates were removed via EndNote. Two independent reviewers screened records in two stages (title/abstract, then full text) and extracted data. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Disagreements were resolved by consultation with a third reviewer. The review followed the PROSPERO-registered protocol (CRD420251273522), with no deviations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fourteen studies involving 522 athletes were included, covering badminton, basketball, handball, soccer, dance, and taekwondo. Participants were predominantly adolescents aged 11-24 years. Intervention duration ranged from 6 to 12 weeks, with a frequency of 2-3 sessions per week and session lengths of 5-60 min. The available evidence suggests that combined training may enhance balance and agility. However, findings on speed and explosive power improvements remain inconsistent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Combined training may offer benefits, particularly for balance and agility (moderate-certainty evidence). These findings provide preliminary practical implications for coaches and may inform training program design. However, evidence for speed and explosive power is of low certainty, and further high-quality research is needed to verify these effects.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>Identifier CRD420251273522.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13615568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149065204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-term inspiratory muscle training, aerobic exercise, and detraining in women with COPD: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Yasemin Ari Yilmaz, Mehmet Ismail Tosun, Erkan Demirkan, Abdulsamet Efdal, Hilal Boyaci, Irem Eker Arici, Yeliz Ay Yildiz, Hazel Kara Gunaydin, Mustafa Arici, Milan Markovic, Tomasz Kowalski","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01964-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01964-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Inspiratory muscle dysfunction, exercise intolerance, dyspnea, and reduced well-being contribute to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We compared the short-term effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT), aerobic exercise (AE), combined IMT and AE (IMT_AE), placebo IMT, and usual care on respiratory, functional, and patient-reported outcomes in women with stable COPD and examined early changes during two weeks after training cessation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this single-center, five-arm, partially blinded randomized controlled trial, 68 women with stable GOLD stage I-II COPD were randomized; 59 completed all assessments and were included in the per-protocol analysis. The four-week intervention was followed by assessments 7 and 14 days after cessation. The prespecified primary outcome was baseline-to-post change in maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). Secondary outcomes were maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR), inspiratory volume (IV), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁), FEV₁/FVC, 6-min walk test (6MWT) distance, post-exercise Borg dyspnea, and WHO-5 well-being. The primary analysis tested the baseline-to-post group × time interaction for MIP using a 5-group × 2-time mixed-design repeated-measures analysis of variance. Four-time analyses examined secondary and detraining trajectories; additional Welch change-score comparisons were exploratory and unadjusted for multiplicity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The primary MIP interaction was significant (F(4, 54) = 28.969, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.682). Secondary four-time interactions were significant for MIP, MEP, PIFR, IV, 6MWT distance, FVC, FEV₁, Borg dyspnea, and WHO-5, but not FEV₁/FVC. Combined training produced the largest improvements in inspiratory performance, walking distance, dyspnea, and well-being. Its 6MWT gain, however, was modest relative to commonly reported minimal clinically important differences. Several outcomes declined during detraining.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Within this sample of women with stable GOLD stage I-II COPD, combined IMT and AE produced the broadest short-term response across respiratory, functional, and patient-reported outcomes. Larger, prospectively registered trials with longer intervention and follow-up periods are needed to confirm these findings.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07604961; first submitted on 17 May 2026 and first posted on 22 May 2026 (retrospectively registered).</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13536560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Predicting movement intensity through anthro-fitness profiling and its association with match outcomes in youth badminton: a logistic regression-based machine approach.","authors":"Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, Rabiu Muazu Musa, Anwar P P Abdul Majeed, Naresh Bhaskar Raj, Vijayamurugan Eswaramoorthi","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01954-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01954-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The fast-paced nature, coupled with the dynamic movement of badminton, renders movement intensity an essential indicator for success. In youth badminton, anthropometric attributes and fitness profile varies across players, yet little is known about the association of these indicators with competitive outcomes. In this study, we aim to classify movement intensity levels and examine the relationship between intensity classification and winning probability in youth badminton players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 67 youth badminton players (mean age = 14.13 ± 1.67 years; badminton experience = 5.55 ± 2.05 years) drawn from different badminton programs in Malaysia participated in the study. Inertial measurement units were used to capture movement intensity during match play, while anthropometric, physiological and fitness evaluations were completed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>K-means clustering grouped players into high and low movement intensities (HMI; LMI), respectively. The logistic regression model yielded an excellent performance in classifying the HMI and LMI with 97% accuracy. Feature importance analysis identified 11 essential predictors comprising velocity, agility, reaction time, core muscle endurance, height and weight as the most influential variables in differentiating intensity levels. Match outcome analysis revealed that HMI players had a winning probability of 68.4%, compared to 60.4% for LMI players.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The ability for players to sustain higher movement intensity during match play is non-trivial for ensuring success in youth badminton. The application of machine learning in athlete profiling could assist coaches in enhancing training design and workload monitoring, leading to long-term success in youth badminton.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13591931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149018535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating raw versus body-weight-normalized McGill core endurance composite scores in recreational weightlifters: implications for strength and functional performance.","authors":"Osama R Abdelraouf, Olfat I Ali, Reem S Dawood, Zizi M Ibrahim, Nouf H Alkhamees, Ehab M Aboelela, Rafik E Radwan","doi":"10.1186/s13102-026-01951-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13102-026-01951-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The effectiveness of using McGill trunk endurance scores as raw values or body-weight-normalized metrics remains uncertain for evaluating weight classes, especially given the increasing number of recreational weightlifters. The study compared the raw McGill composite score with the body-weight-normalized score to examine their relationships with absolute strength, relative strength, and functional performance.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 70 participants aged 18 to 30 years, both genders, divided into two groups based on body mass index: lower (less than 28.2 kg/m², n = 35) and higher (greater than 28.2 kg/m², n = 35). Participants completed the McGill battery tests (trunk flexion, extension, and bilateral side planks) until exhaustion. Two composite scores from the McGill battery tests were calculated: the raw composite, which used the mean of four hold times, and the normalized composite, which divided this mean by body weight. Absolute strength was measured through back squat and bench press 1RM tests, while relative strength was calculated by dividing 1RM by body weight. Functional performance was evaluated using seated medicine ball throws and countermovement jumps.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The raw composite scores from both groups showed no significant difference (lower vs. higher: 130.46 ± 18.50 s vs. 124.94 ± 16.58 s; p = 0.27). The lower-weight group scored better on the normalized composite test compared to the higher-weight group (1.78 ± 0.24 s/kg vs. 1.36 ± 0.20 s/kg; p < 0.001). The raw composite scores had larger correlations with absolute strength measures (r = 0.71 for back squat and r = 0.64 for bench press) and smaller correlations with relative strength (r = 0.42 and 0.37), whereas the normalized scores showed stronger correlations with relative strength (r = 0.70 and 0.66). Moreover, the normalized scores had stronger correlations with functional performance measures, including the medicine ball throw (r = 0.69) and the countermovement jump (r = 0.63). Individual McGill test results did not differ significantly. The body mass normalization process for McGill core endurance composites helps identify size-related differences between weightlifting groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Body-mass-normalized McGill composite scores reveal clear differences between lower- and higher-body-mass lifters, whereas raw scores do not. Raw composites are more strongly related to absolute 1RM strength, while normalized composites have better associations with relative strength and functional performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":48585,"journal":{"name":"BMC Sports Science Medicine and Rehabilitation","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13643958/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149128682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}