Sports最新文献

{"title":"The Effect of Physical-Activity-Based Programs on School Children's Cognitive Competence-Related Variables: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Gorka Brioa Saez, Markel Rico-González, Natalia Monge Gómez","doi":"10.3390/sports13080261","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080261","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: Aimed at improving school children's motor, social, emotional, and cognitive competence (CC), the effects of physical activity (PA) have been widely investigated. However, investigations into the effects of PA during Physical Education (PE) on children's CC have only been subject to growing interest among researchers in recent years. To bring it, the present article aims to systematically summarize the PE intervention programs whose effects on school children's CC have been evaluated through a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. (2) Methods: This systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines and has been registered in PROSPERO: CRD420251083924. A systematic literature search was conducted across four electronic databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and ProQuest Central. The articles were included based on the following inclusion criteria: (i) primary education children, (ii) children practicing PE, (iii) outcomes related to CC, and (iv) articles providing evaluations through RCTs. The quality assessment of all included articles was performed using the PEDro scale. (3) Results: Out of 219 initially identified studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized qualitatively. (4) Conclusions: The main outcomes highlighted that PE has a positive effect on primary school children's cognitive ability, including attention, creativity, memory, academic performance, and inhibitory control. Thus, elementary school teachers are encouraged to implement these intervention programs to foster children's CC. However, different types of interventions should be analyzed to highlight their effects on different variables of CC.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390218/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978403","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":"Analysis of Positional Physical Demands in Tier 2 Rugby Union: A Multivariate Approach over Speed Ranges.","authors":"Angel Lino-Samaniego, Adrián Martín-Castellanos, Ignacio Refoyo, Mar Álvarez-Portillo, Matthew Blair, Diego Muriarte Solana","doi":"10.3390/sports13080260","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rugby union involves intermittent high- and low-intensity activities, making it essential for strength and conditioning practitioners to understand specific physical demands. While GPS technology has enhanced this understanding, limited research focuses on Tier 2 national teams. This study aimed to describe the speed-related physical demands of a Tier 2 national rugby union team. This retrospective observational study analyzed 230 GPS files from 55 professional male players of an international Tier 2 national rugby union team, collected across 17 international matches. Speed-related performance variables were analyzed. Players who played ≥55 min were included. A Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc comparisons was used to examine positional differences. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified four main components explaining 84.65% of the variance, while a two-step cluster analysis grouped players into Low-, Mid-, and High-Demand profiles based on these components. Backs showed greater high-intensity running demands compared to forwards. This study's results provide novel insights into the physical demands of Tier 2 international rugby union, highlighting differences among player positions and clustering players based on their specific speed demands. These findings can help strength and conditioning practitioners design position-specific training loads, implement tailored recovery strategies, and reduce injury risk in Tier 2 international rugby union.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978430","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":"The Impact of Mental Fatigue on the Accuracy of Penalty Kicks in College Soccer Players.","authors":"Qingguang Liu, Ruitian Huang, Zhibo Liu, Caiyu Sun, Linyu Qi, Antonio Cicchella","doi":"10.3390/sports13080259","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080259","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the impact of mental fatigue on the shooting accuracy and movement timing in the instep kick of Asian high-level soccer players.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eight male collegiate soccer players (age 22.00 ± 0.93 years) were tested before and after mental fatigue induction. Mental fatigue was induced via a 30 min Stroop task. The effectiveness of fatigue induction was assessed using heart rate variability (HRV), a visual analog scale (VAS), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Shooting performance was evaluated before and after mental fatigue using the Loughborough Soccer Shooting Test (LSST) and by evaluating timing by means of high-speed imaging.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following mental fatigue induction, HRV decreased. Subjects' motivation (VAS) to exercise significantly decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.001), while VAS mental fatigue level (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and mental effort level (<i>p</i> < 0.002) significantly increased. Significant differences were observed after completing the Stroop task for ABQ Emotional/Physical Exhaustion (<i>p</i> < 0.007), Reduced Sense of Accomplishment (<i>p</i> < 0.007), Sport Devaluation (<i>p</i> < 0.006), and overall burnout level (<i>p</i> < 0.002). LSST showed that the subjects' left foot test scores (-4.13, <i>p</i> < 0.013), right foot test scores (-3, <i>p</i> < 0.001), and total scores (-3.16, <i>p</i> < 0.001) significantly decreased. Although movement times increased slightly after fatigue, they did not reach statistical significance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mental fatigue significantly impairs the shooting accuracy of collegiate soccer players, as evidenced by decreased LSST scores. However, it has no significant effect on event duration during shooting execution. Mental fatigue affected decision-making but not shooting movement timing. More cognitively challenging tasks are more affected by mental fatigue.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390445/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978391","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":"Correlation Between Phase Angle and Body Composition, Strength and Nutritional Habits in Male Gamers.","authors":"Catarina N Matias, Francesco Campa, Joana Cardoso, Margarida L Cavaca, Rafael Carlos, Filipe J Teixeira","doi":"10.3390/sports13080257","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gaming has evolved into a cultural phenomenon with a global reach, captivating millions of individuals. Nevertheless, little is known about this population. We aim to physiologically characterise the Portuguese gamers, bearing in mind that phase angle (PhA) is a general indicator of health, to check possible correlations between body composition, strength, and nutrition. A sample of 35 male gamers (individuals who play video games) was evaluated for anthropometry; body composition through DXA for whole-body bone mineral content (BMC), fat-free mass (FFM, kg), fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue, and through BIA (bioelectrical impedance analysis) for total body water (TBW), water pools (extracellular water and intracellular water, ICW), and PhA; strength through maximal isometric handgrip strength using a dynamometer; and nutritional intake using a three-day food record. Results show that participants are within reference metrics for all the analysed variables except regarding protein and carbohydrate intake (all values are above and below the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between PhA and TBW, ICW, handgrip strength, BMC and FFM, and a negative correlation with fat mass (absolute, percentage and visceral). In conclusion, PhA correlates with body composition variables, which aligns with previous research as a predictor of health and performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390397/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978456","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":"Sport Participation and Gender Differences in Dietary Preferences: A Cross-Sectional Study in Italian Adults.","authors":"Francesca Campoli, Elvira Padua, Michele Panzarino, Lucio Caprioli, Giuseppe Annino, Mauro Lombardo","doi":"10.3390/sports13080258","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The relationship between sports participation and food preferences in adults, as well as the influence of gender, is still unclear.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sports participation and individual food preferences and to explore potential gender differences among sports participants in a large group of Italian adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study involved 2665 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) who lead normal lives and underwent a routine lifestyle and dietary assessment at a clinical centre specialising in nutrition, metabolic health, and lifestyle counselling in Rome. Participants completed an online questionnaire on food preferences (19 foods) and sports practice. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, were used to assess associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sports participation was defined as engaging in structured physical activity at least once per week and was reported by 53.5% of subjects (men: 60.1%; women: 49.0%; <i>p</i> < 0.0001). After adjustment, active individuals were significantly more likely to prefer plant-based drinks, low-fat yoghurt, fish, cooked and raw vegetables, fruit, whole grains, tofu, and dark chocolate (all <i>p</i> < 0.05) and less likely to prefer cow's milk (<i>p</i> = 0.018). Among sport participants, males were more likely to prefer meat (general, white, red, processed) and eggs, while females preferred plant-based drinks. No significant gender differences were observed for dairy products, legumes, or fish. Differences in food preferences were also observed according to the type of sport, with bodybuilders showing higher preference for tofu and dark chocolate. The strongest associations were found in the 25-44 age group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sports participation is independently associated with specific food preferences, characterised by greater preference for plant-based and fibre-rich foods, and gender differences in food choices persist even among active adults. These findings highlight the need to consider both sports participation and gender when designing nutritional interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390595/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978339","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":"Condition Changes Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Adolescent Athletes and Development of a Non-Contact Medical Checkup Application.","authors":"Hiroaki Kijima, Toyohito Segawa, Kimio Saito, Hiroaki Tsukamoto, Ryota Kimura, Kana Sasaki, Shohei Murata, Kenta Tominaga, Yo Morishita, Yasuhito Asaka, Hidetomo Saito, Naohisa Miyakoshi","doi":"10.3390/sports13080256","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080256","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;During the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, sports activities were restricted, raising concerns about their impact on the physical condition of adolescent athletes, which remained largely unquantified. This study was designed with two primary objectives: first, to precisely quantify and elucidate the differences in the physical condition of adolescent athletes before and after activity restrictions due to the pandemic; and second, to innovatively develop and validate a non-contact medical checkup application. Medical checks were conducted on 563 athletes designated for sports enhancement. Participants were junior high school students aged 13 to 15, and the sample consisted of 315 boys and 248 girls. Furthermore, we developed a smartphone application and compared self-checks using the application with in-person checks by orthopedic surgeons to determine the challenges associated with self-checks. Statistical tests were conducted to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in range of motion and flexibility parameters before and after the pandemic. Additionally, items with discrepancies between values self-entered by athletes using the smartphone application and values measured by specialists were detected, and application updates were performed. Student's &lt;i&gt;t&lt;/i&gt;-test was used for continuous variables, whereas the chi-square test was used for other variables. Following the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, athletes were stiffer than during the pre-pandemic period in terms of hip and shoulder joint rotation range of motion and heel-buttock distance. The dominant hip external rotation decreased from 53.8° to 46.8° (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0062); the non-dominant hip external rotation decreased from 53.5° to 48.0° (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0252); the dominant shoulder internal rotation decreased from 62.5° to 54.7° (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0042); external rotation decreased from 97.6° to 93.5° (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.0282), and the heel-buttock distance increased from 4.0 cm to 10.4 cm (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.0001). The heel-buttock distance and straight leg raising angle measurements differed between the self-check and face-to-face check. Although there are items that cannot be accurately evaluated by self-check, physical condition can be improved with less contact by first conducting a face-to-face evaluation under appropriate guidance and then conducting a self-check. These findings successfully address our primary objectives. Specifically, we demonstrated a significant decline in the physical condition of adolescent athletes following pandemic-related activity restrictions, thereby quantifying their impact. Furthermore, our developed non-contact medical checkup application proved to be a viable tool for monitoring physical condition with reduced contact, although careful consideration of measurable parameters is crucial. This study provides critical insights into the long-term effects of activity restrictions on young athletes and offers a practical solution for health monitoring","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12389846/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978490","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":"Motivations of Sports Volunteers at Mass Endurance Events: A Case Study of Poznan.","authors":"Milena Michalska, Mateusz Grajek, Mateusz Rozmiarek","doi":"10.3390/sports13080255","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sport volunteering plays an important role in achieving the goals of sustainable development by supporting the social dimension of sustainability, fostering social integration, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, there is a lack of systematic research in Poland on the motivations of sport volunteers, particularly in the context of mass endurance events. This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design involving 148 sport volunteers engaged in mass endurance events in Poznan, Poland. To measure motivation, the Polish adaptation of the VMS-ISE scale was used. Data analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that volunteer motivations were relatively homogeneous regardless of gender and education level, with the exception of passion for sport, which was significantly stronger among men (<i>p</i> = 0.037). Significant differences were found based on place of residence: residents of medium-sized cities demonstrated the highest motivation for personal development (<i>p</i> < 0.001), whereas individuals from rural areas exhibited stronger patriotism, a greater need for interpersonal interaction, and a higher valuation of external rewards (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The motivations of sport volunteers in Poland are complex and sensitive to environmental factors. Understanding these differences allows for better alignment of recruitment and volunteer management strategies, which can enhance both the effectiveness and sustainability of volunteer engagement. It is recommended to develop volunteer programs that take into account the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of participants.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12389800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978053","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":"A Pilot Study of the Effect of Locomotor and Mechanical Loads on Elite Rowers During Competition Days.","authors":"Ferenc Ihász, Johanna Takács, Zoltán Alföldi, Lili Kósa, Robert Podstawski, Antonio Ferraz, Bożena Hinca, István Barthalos, Zsolt Bálint Katona","doi":"10.3390/sports13080254","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080254","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: Fatigue impacts neuromuscular performance, especially in endurance sports like rowing. The aim is to explore how continuous workload affects explosiveness and fatigue progression. This study examines acute fatigue during repeated race events by assessing vertical jump height, force output, and subjective fatigue over three consecutive days at the 2024 Hungarian National Rowing Championships. (2) Methods: Nine rowers (five women, four men; mean age 20.17 ± 1.73 years) competed in multiple 2000 m races over three days. Lower limb explosiveness was measured via countermovement jump (CMJ) using a Kistler force plate, pre- and post-race. Heart rate data were recorded with Polar Team Pro^®. Subjective fatigue was assessed using the 'Daily Wellness Questionnaire'. (3) Results: We found a significant difference in the pattern of the medians of the force exerted by males during the jump between the results of the Thursday preliminaries (ThuQ_Me = 13.3) and the second final (ThuF2_Me = -75.5). Women showed no notable changes. (4) Conclusion: Repeated high-intensity races induce neuromuscular fatigue in men, reflected in reduced explosiveness and increased subjective fatigue. Future research should incorporate biochemical markers to deepen the understanding of fatigue mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12389779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978401","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":"Exercise as Modulator of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Adolescents: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.","authors":"Markel Rico-González, Daniel González-Devesa, Carlos D Gómez-Carmona, Adrián Moreno-Villanueva","doi":"10.3390/sports13080253","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adolescence represents a critical period of neurodevelopment during which brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a fundamental role in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. While exercise-BDNF relationships are well-documented in adults, evidence in adolescents remains limited and inconsistent. This systematic review examined the effects of exercise modalities on circulating BDNF concentrations in adolescent populations. A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines across multiple databases (FECYT, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest Central, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library) through June 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised adolescents, exercise interventions, BDNF outcomes, and randomized controlled trial design. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. From 130 initially identified articles, 8 randomized controlled trials were included, with 4 rated as excellent and the other 4 as good quality. Exercise modalities included aerobic, resistance, concurrent, high-intensity interval training, Taekwondo, and whole-body vibration, with durations ranging 6-24 weeks. Four studies demonstrated statistically significant BDNF increases following exercise interventions, four showed no significant changes, and one reported transient reduction. Positive outcomes occurred primarily with vigorous-intensity protocols implemented for a minimum of six weeks. Meta-analysis was not feasible due to high heterogeneity in populations, interventions, and control conditions. Moreover, variation in post-exercise sampling timing further limited comparability of BDNF results. Future research should standardize protocols and examine longer interventions to clarify exercise-BDNF relationships in adolescents.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12390530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978545","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":"Submaximal Oxygen Deficit During Incremental Treadmill Exercise in Elite Youth Female Handball Players.","authors":"Bettina Béres, István Györe, Annamária Zsákai, Tamas Dobronyi, Peter Bakonyi, Tamás Szabó","doi":"10.3390/sports13080252","DOIUrl":"10.3390/sports13080252","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Laboratory-based assessment of cardiorespiratory function is a widely applied method in sports science. Most performance evaluations focus on oxygen uptake parameters. Despite the well-established concept of oxygen deficit introduced by Hill in the 1920s, relatively few studies have examined its behavior during submaximal exercise, with limited exploration of deficit dynamics. The present study aimed to analyze the behavior of oxygen deficit in young female handball players (N = 42, age: 15.4 ± 1.3 years) during graded exercise. Oxygen deficit was estimated using the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) algorithm, restricted to subanaerobic threshold segments of a quasi-ramp exercise protocol. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured with the spiroergometry test on treadmills, and body composition was assessed via Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Cluster and principal component analyzes revealed two distinct athlete profiles with statistically significant differences in both morphological and physiological traits. Cluster 2 showed significantly higher relative VO₂ peak (51.43 ± 3.70 vs. 45.70 ± 2.87 mL·kg^-1·min^-1; <i>p</i> < 0.001; Cohen's d = 1.76), yet also exhibited a greater oxygen deficit per kilogram (39.03 ± 16.71 vs. 32.56 ± 14.33 mL·kg^-1; <i>p</i> = 0.018; d = 0.80). Cluster 1 had higher absolute body mass (69.67 ± 8.13 vs. 59.66 ± 6.81 kg; <i>p</i> < 0.001), skeletal muscle mass (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and fat mass (<i>p</i> < 0.001), indicating that body composition strongly influenced oxygen deficit values. The observed differences in oxygen deficit profiles suggest a strong influence of genetic predispositions, particularly in cardiovascular and muscular oxygen utilization capacity. Age also emerged as a critical factor in determining the potential for adaptation. Oxygen deficit during submaximal exercise appears to be a multifactorial phenomenon shaped by structural and physiological traits. While certain influencing factors can be modified through training, others especially those of genetic origin pose inherent limitations. Early development of cardiorespiratory capacity may offer the most effective strategy for long-term optimization.</p>","PeriodicalId":53303,"journal":{"name":"Sports","volume":"13 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12389884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144978419","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}