SportsPub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.3390/sports13090291
Cristina Castro-Collado, Jose Manuel Jurado-Castro, Mercedes Gil-Campos, Belén Pastor-Villaescusa, Gracia María Quintana-Navarro, Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero
{"title":"Effects of After-School Basketball Program on Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Health in Prepubertal Boys.","authors":"Cristina Castro-Collado, Jose Manuel Jurado-Castro, Mercedes Gil-Campos, Belén Pastor-Villaescusa, Gracia María Quintana-Navarro, Francisco Jesús Llorente-Cantarero","doi":"10.3390/sports13090291","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to assess changes in anthropometric measures, cardiometabolic markers, and physical fitness following a structured basketball training program in healthy prepubertal boys.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The intervention consisted of a 6-week pre-season phase followed by a 32-week basketball training season conducted during the academic year. Training sessions were held three times per week at moderate to vigorous intensity, along with a weekly match. The participants were assessed at baseline, 6, 9, and 12 months. A reference group was evaluated at baseline for comparison. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT07007624).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventeen boys completed the program. Anthropometric assessments revealed increases in fat-free mass in the trunk and lower limbs, along with maintenance of an adequate BMI. After nine months, participants in the intervention showed significant improvements in fitness tests, including a 45% increase in Course Navette performance (<i>p</i> < 0.001), a 21% increase in horizontal jump performance (<i>p</i> = 0.001), and a 13% increase in abdominal test performance (<i>p</i> < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that a structured, school-based basketball program may enhance physical fitness and support healthy body composition maintenance in healthy-weight prepubertal boys.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.3390/sports13090290
Shi-Di Lin, Trevor C Chen, Hung-Hao Wang
{"title":"Cryocompression Therapy for Recovery from Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage in Healthy Young Men.","authors":"Shi-Di Lin, Trevor C Chen, Hung-Hao Wang","doi":"10.3390/sports13090290","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cryocompression, an emerging therapy combining cryotherapy and compression therapy, has limited evidence regarding its effects on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study aimed to compare the effects of cryotherapy (CT), normothermic water compression (NWC), and cryocompression (CC) on muscle damage, proprioception, and performance following eccentric exercise. Forty healthy male participants performed 30 sets of 10 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions (30°/s) of the quadriceps of the non-dominant leg. Muscle damage indicators [thigh circumference (CIR), muscle soreness measured by visual analog scale (VAS)], proprioception [position sense (PS), force sense (FS)], and performance parameters [range of motion (ROM), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)] were assessed before and on days 1-5 following eccentric exercise. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc tests was used to evaluate group × time interactions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant interactions were observed for CIR between the CT, NWC and CC groups compared to the control group, as well as for VAS scores between the CC and CON groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No other outcome measures showed significant interactions (<i>p</i> > 0.05). The control group showed a peak CIR increase of ~6.6 mm (day 3) versus 2.4 mm (CT), 3.6 mm (NWC), and 2.1 mm (CC). By day 5, the control group remained elevated at 5.2 mm, while CT returned to baseline by day 4. NWC and CC groups showed no significant changes on days 1-5. VAS scores in the CON group peaked at ~77 mm on day 2, not returning by day 5, whereas the CC group reached 48 mm and returned to baseline by day 3.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cryocompression reduced limb swelling and muscle soreness, as well as post-exercise-induced muscle damage, and NWC mitigated limb swelling, but none significantly affected proprioception or performance parameters.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473699/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.3390/sports13090289
Amy Stringer, Ruth D Postlethwaite, Matteo Crotti, Michael Duncan
{"title":"Do Playgrounds Help Develop Children's Fundamental Movement Skills? Using Direct Video Observations to Investigate.","authors":"Amy Stringer, Ruth D Postlethwaite, Matteo Crotti, Michael Duncan","doi":"10.3390/sports13090289","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Playgrounds are global environments that are purpose made for children and can offer a variety of opportunities for children to be physically active and practice their fundamental movement skills (FMS), which can lead to future physical activity and sport participation. Previous research highlighted that children engage in different types of physical activity (PA) depending on playgrounds apparatus and area. However, there is a paucity of research that investigates the link between playground features, structures, PA, and FMS. This study sought to assess the impact of different playgrounds on PA type PA intensity and the types of FMS completed. This observational study examined 29 (M = 10, F = 19) children's behaviours on three different playgrounds. Video cameras were placed strategically across the three playgrounds to allow for footage to be captured and analysed using the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children (OSRAC). One-way ANOVA was used to examine the different OSRAC categories across the three playgrounds. Climbing equipment (average 1217.10 s) was the frequently used type of apparatus, standing was the most commonly performed type of activity (average 377.60 s) and stationary movements whilst moving limbs were the most regularly (average 605.13 s) performed type of PA intensity. There were no instances of any throwing, catching, or kicking activities performed across the three playgrounds. Results suggest that public playgrounds do not facilitate more intense types of PA, nor object control skills due to a lack of suitable equipment.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473780/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.3390/sports13090288
Irina Kalabiska, Dorina Annar, Gergely Babszky, Matyas Jokai, Zoltan Borbas, Gergely Hajdu, Fanny Zselyke Ratz-Sulyok, Csilla Jang-Kapuy, Gergely Palinkas, Harjit Pal Bhattoa, Annamaria Zsakai
{"title":"The Skin Microbiome Profile of Contact Sports Athletes-Focus on Sexual Dimorphism and Athlete-Non-Athlete Differences.","authors":"Irina Kalabiska, Dorina Annar, Gergely Babszky, Matyas Jokai, Zoltan Borbas, Gergely Hajdu, Fanny Zselyke Ratz-Sulyok, Csilla Jang-Kapuy, Gergely Palinkas, Harjit Pal Bhattoa, Annamaria Zsakai","doi":"10.3390/sports13090288","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Athletes' skin is exposed to increased microbial challenges due to rigorous physical activity, perspiration, constant \"skin-to-skin\" contact, frequent showering, use of hygiene products, and environmental factors present in training settings. This study aims to characterize the skin microbiome communities of young wrestlers and kickboxers in comparison with their non-athlete age-peers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 56 combat sport athletes (30 males and 26 females, mean age ± SD = 18.2 ± 1.5 years) and 25 non-athlete youths (control group: 13 males and 12 females, mean age ± SD = 19.8 ± 1.2 years) voluntarily consented to participate in the study conducted by our research team in 2023 and 2024. The skin microbiome analysis involved standardized sampling, DNA isolation, molecular sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis, thus enabling detailed characterization and comparison of the skin microbial community in contact sports athletes and the control group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our results revealed notable sexual dimorphism in the skin microbiome composition of youth. Males showed a higher relative abundance of bacterial genera associated with nosocomial infections and respiratory diseases, while females had more skin inflammation- and infection-related genera (relative abundances in males vs. in females: <i>Corynebacterium</i>-12.0 vs. 7.2; <i>Luteimonas</i>-4.4. vs. 1.4; <i>Paracoccus</i>-8.8 vs. 5.0; <i>Psychrobacter</i>-6.3 vs. 4.4; <i>Cutibacterium</i>-6.4 vs. 11.4; <i>Kocuria</i>-1.6 vs. 3.9; <i>Micrococcus</i>-5.8 vs. 8.5; <i>Pseudomonas</i>-1.2 vs. 3.4; <i>Streptococcus</i> 3.3 vs. 6.2). We also found skin microbiome differences between athletes and non-athletes in both sexes: wrestlers, who experience frequent skin-to-skin contact and wear less covering sportswear, had microbiome profiles distinct from both kickboxers and non-athletes (relative abundances in athletes vs. in non-athletes: <i>Psychrobacter</i>-7.3 vs. 0.4; <i>Staphylococcus</i> 9.5 vs. 18.5; predominance of genera by sports type: relative abundance of <i>Cutibacterium</i> and <i>Streptococcus</i> was higher in kickboxers, and relative abundance of <i>Acinetobacter</i>, <i>Enhydrobacter</i>, <i>Micrococcus</i>, and <i>Enhydrobacter</i> was higher in wrestlers). Bacteria linked to skin infections (e.g., <i>Aliterella</i>, <i>Arthrobacter</i>, and <i>Empedobacter</i>) were present in around 30% of wrestlers and kickboxers but were absent in the control group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results underscore the heightened risk of skin infections in contact sports and highlight the importance of regular microbiome monitoring and hygiene protocols among young athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473315/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Differences in Body Composition and Lower Limb Strength Between Novice and Amateur Marathon Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Tianxin Shi, Qingzhao Shi, Shuang Ren, Xiaorui Huang, Jun Ren, Xin Gao, Jingxian Zhu","doi":"10.3390/sports13090287","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090287","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compared the body composition and strength of the lower extremity parameters between novice runners (NRs) and amateur marathon runners (AMRs). A total of 50 NRs (33.84 ± 4.32 years) and 50 AMRs (33.36 ± 5.55 years) were analyzed cross-sectionally. Bioelectrical impedance analysis measured body composition parameters, and isokinetic testing assessed knee muscle strength. The results showed that compared to AMRs, NRs had lower fat-free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), and total body water (TBW) (-15, -12, and -5%; all <i>p</i> < 0.01) but higher body fat percentage (PBF) and visceral fat area (VFA) (+27 and +32%; both <i>p</i> < 0.01). They also had 6% lower knee extensor (KE) strength and 31% lower knee flexor (KF) strength on the dominant legs (DLs) and 14% lower KF strength on the non-dominant legs (NDLs). In addition, their hamstring-quadriceps ratio (H: Q) was 24% lower on the DLs and 9% lower on the NDLs. The NRs exhibited significant negative correlations between PBF, VFA, and knee muscle strength (r = -0.54 to -0.42, <i>p</i> < 0.01), while the AMRs had significant negative correlations only for PBF (r = -0.59 to -0.57, <i>p</i> < 0.001). In conclusion, the NRs exhibited lower FFM and TBW, higher PBF and VFA, and reduced muscle strength. In contrast, the AMRs exhibited the opposite pattern. These findings suggest that NRs with elevated body fat (BF) indicators should prioritize fat reduction and performance enhancement, while those with lower muscle mass require targeted programs to increase muscle capacity and joint stability. This approach may advance them toward the level of AMRs. Future studies should adopt longitudinal designs to explore how training interventions influence the physiological adaptations observed in runners at different experience levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473333/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.3390/sports13090286
Andrea Perazzetti, Arben Kaçurri, Masar Gjaka, Marco Pernigoni, Corrado Lupo, Antonio Tessitore
{"title":"Impact of a Congested Match Schedule on Internal Load, Recovery, Well-Being, and Enjoyment in U16 Youth Water Polo Players.","authors":"Andrea Perazzetti, Arben Kaçurri, Masar Gjaka, Marco Pernigoni, Corrado Lupo, Antonio Tessitore","doi":"10.3390/sports13090286","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to monitor internal load, well-being, and recovery status in U16 male water polo players during a congested competitive period. Fourteen athletes from an Italian club played 12 matches (seven friendly, five official) over 7 days. The internal match load was measured using the session-RPE method (s-RPE). Perceived enjoyment was measured with the Enjoyment Likert Scale (ENJ), while recovery and well-being were evaluated using the Perceived Recovery Scale (PRS) and the Hooper Index (HI), respectively. No significant main effects were found on s-RPE, PRS, and HI considering friendly and official matches. However, ENJ was significantly higher during official matches (<i>p</i> < 0.005). PRS values were significantly affected by daytime matches (<i>p</i> < 0.005), with better perceived recovery reported for morning matches. Linear mixed model analysis revealed significant associations between s-RPE and HI (<i>p</i> = 0.001), the fatigue item (<i>p</i> = 0.001), and the PRS (<i>p</i> = 0.004). These results suggest that as internal load increases, players experience higher fatigue and report lower recovery and well-being scores. Employing simple, non-invasive tools like the RPE, PRS, and HI can help coaches and support staff to identify early signs of overtraining or insufficient recovery, allowing for more individualized load management and injury prevention in youth water polo athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473293/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-25DOI: 10.3390/sports13090285
Charles Evrard, Julien Blaess, Thibaut Goetsch, Etienne Fellous, Francois Pietra, Alain Meyer, Margherita Giannini, Bernard Geny
{"title":"Appendicular Lean Mass Index Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) in Professional Football: A Pilot Study of a New Method for Improved Inter-Operator Reproducibility and Analysis of Pelvi-Trochanteric Muscles.","authors":"Charles Evrard, Julien Blaess, Thibaut Goetsch, Etienne Fellous, Francois Pietra, Alain Meyer, Margherita Giannini, Bernard Geny","doi":"10.3390/sports13090285","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090285","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Body composition assessment is important in professional football as a measure of overall adaptation of the athlete to the training demand and calorie intake. However, it is operator-dependent, relying on subject positioning and the focus angle of the X-rays. In addition, the usual appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) does not include the pelvitrochanteric muscles, which are often implicated in athlete injuries. <b>Methods:</b> Three independent operators compared the reproducibility of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) including pelvi-trochanteric muscle mass in twenty professional football players, using the standard and a new method. <b>Results:</b> Mean age, weight, and height of the footballers were 25.9 ± 4.9 years, 79.4 ± 9.4 kg, and 1.83 ± 0.09 m. Using the standard method, the ALMI was 9.28 ± 0.62, 9.20 ± 0.65, and 9.13 ± 0.64 kg/m<sup>2</sup> for the first, second and third operator, respectively. When including the pelvi-trochanteric muscles, the ALMI values were 11.90 ± 0.66, 11.84 ± 0.63, and 11.83 ± 0.65 kg/m<sup>2</sup> for the three operators. The difference between the two methods was significant (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The mean inter-operator difference was similar regardless of the method used (0.099 ± 0.06 kg/m<sup>2</sup>). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) (A,1) were 0.949 [0.881; 0.979] for the standard method and 0.977 [0.951; 0.990] for the new method. The ICC (C,1) was 0.960 [0.918; 0.983] for the standard method and 0.979 [0.957; 0.991] for the new method. <b>Conclusions:</b> Thus, both new and conventional methods showed excellent reproducibility. However, reproducibility and inter-operator variability were better with the adjustment of the new scan lines. Moreover, the inclusion of a larger gluteal and adductors muscle mass was easy to achieve, providing additional information that could potentially be useful for early diagnosis and/or prevention of future muscular injuries in elite athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reporting Quality of Meta-Analyses of Randomized Controlled Trials on Knee and Ankle Injury Prevention Programs in Football Players Using PRISMA 2020.","authors":"Spyridon Plakias, Anna Tsiakiri, Konstantinos Vassis, Chrysoula Doxani, Georgios Bakalos, Theodoros Mprotsis","doi":"10.3390/sports13090283","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Systematic reviews with meta-analyses play a critical role in synthesizing evidence on injury prevention programs in football. However, their utility depends on transparent and complete reporting, as promoted by the PRISMA 2020 guidelines.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the reporting quality of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on knee and ankle injury prevention programs in football players, using the PRISMA 2020 checklist.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A methodological review was conducted following a preregistered protocol. Systematic searches in four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane) identified eligible meta-analyses including only RCTs on exercise-based prevention of knee or ankle injuries in football players. PRISMA 2020 adherence was evaluated across 52 items using a 3-point scale. Data were independently extracted and assessed by two reviewers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Five meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria. Overall adherence to PRISMA 2020 was moderate (mean score = 70.38%), with substantial variability across sections. The Title (100%), Introduction (95.0%), and Discussion (90.0%) were best reported, while the Abstract (57.3%) and Other Information (47.3%) sections showed the lowest adherence. The Methods sections (74.7%) and the Results sections (74.5%) demonstrated a moderate level of adherence. Key underreported items included protocol registration, funding, data availability, and certainty of evidence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite moderate adherence, significant reporting gaps remain in meta-analyses on football injury prevention. Stricter enforcement of PRISMA guidelines is essential to improve transparency, reproducibility, and the practical impact of evidence syntheses in sports medicine.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473353/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.3390/sports13090282
Lachlan Ormeno, Matthew Driller
{"title":"Does Massage Gun or Foam Roller Use During a Warm-Up Improve Performance in Trained Athletes?","authors":"Lachlan Ormeno, Matthew Driller","doi":"10.3390/sports13090282","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090282","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Self-myofascial release tools like foam rollers and massage guns are being integrated into athlete warm-ups with increasing frequency, but evidence on their acute effects is limited. Sixteen healthy, trained athletes (23.2 ± 1.3 years; four female) completed three warm-up conditions in a randomised, crossover design separated by >48 h: dynamic warm-up plus foam rolling (FOAM), dynamic warm-up plus massage gun (GUN), and dynamic warm-up alone (CON). After each intervention, participants completed a countermovement jump (CMJ; height and reactive strength index [RSImod]), a 10/5 repeated jump test (RJT), a 20 m sprint, and a knee-to-wall ankle mobility test. Perceived soreness and fatigue were recorded. Linear mixed models and Cohen's <i>d</i> were used to assess between-condition differences. Relative to CON, FOAM and GUN were associated with reduced CMJ height (<i>d</i> = -0.29 to -0.36) and RSImod (<i>d</i> = -0.40 to -0.52; <i>p</i>'s < 0.05). GUN was associated with significantly impaired sprint time (<i>d</i> = 0.34). There were modest improvements in ankle mobility (left side) following FOAM (<i>d</i> = 0.23, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and lower levels of muscle soreness compared to CON (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Despite some improvements in ankle mobility and muscle soreness with foam rolling, both foam rolling and massage gun use may acutely impair aspects of physical performance compared to a dynamic warm-up alone.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473898/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145152029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
SportsPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.3390/sports13090284
Fredrik Fröjdö Regborn, Stefan Holmström, Michael Svensson, Magnus Sjögren
{"title":"Emotion Regulation and Mental Health in Young Elite Athletes.","authors":"Fredrik Fröjdö Regborn, Stefan Holmström, Michael Svensson, Magnus Sjögren","doi":"10.3390/sports13090284","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13090284","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Emotion regulation strategies, specifically expressive suppression (ES) and cognitive reappraisal (CR), are known to influence mental health outcomes in the general population and adult elite athletes. Young elite athletes, who face unique academic and athletic pressures, remain understudied in this regard. The main aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ES and CR and mental health in young elite athletes. This longitudinal study included 93 young elite athletes (aged 15-17) attending upper secondary education in Sweden. Participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire at three time points over 12 months. Linear mixed models were used to examine associations between ES, CR, and mental health. Higher use of ES was significantly associated with poorer mental health (<i>β</i> = 0.34, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while greater use of CR predicted better mental health (<i>β</i> = -0.33, <i>p</i> < 0.001) across the study period. Expressive suppression and CR are both important for the mental health of young elite athletes, with CR being protective and ES conferring risk. Given the observed associations, future research could examine whether interventions aiming to enhance CR and reduce ES are linked to better mental health in young elite athletes.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12473469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145151971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}