Sports Medicine - Open

Sports Medicine - Open provides an online, open access journal for the publication of research in the field of sport and exercise medicine. Like Springer’s ...

List of Papers (Total 590)

Towards Achilles Tendon Injury Prevention in Athletes with Structural MRI Biomarkers: A Machine Learning Approach

Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have proven their effectiveness in orthopaedic settings, especially in tasks like medical image analysis. This study compares human musculoskeletal radiologists to artificial intelligence in a novel, detailed, short, and cost-effective examination of Achilles tendon magnetic resonance images to uncover potential disparities in their...

Cardiac Structure and Function of Elite Australian Jockeys Compared to the General Population: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Research highlights the intense physiological demands of thoroughbred racing on jockeys, with elevated heart rates and substantial oxygen uptake, confirming the rigorous physical nature of the sport, however, the cardiovascular changes resulting from the physical demands of thoroughbred racing remain unexplored in Australian jockeys. Therefore, the objective of this study was to...

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Testosterone Concentration in Individuals Who are Obese or Have Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with alterations in testosterone concentrations. While evidence indicates that aerobic training can influence testosterone in healthy populations or females with hyperandrogenism, its impact in individuals with obesity or T2D remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether aerobic training can influence...

Association between leisure-time physical activity and incident cancer risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

The effects of physical activity on the development of different types of cancers have not been comprehensively studied. This nationwide, population-based cohort study investigated the effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) on the development of different types of cancer in Taiwanese adults. A total of 67,890 adult participants (≥ 18 y old) from five rounds (2001, 2005...

Fine Tuning ECG Interpretation for Young Athletes: ECG Screening Using Z-score-based Analysis

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) in athletes commonly reveal findings related to physiologic adaptations to exercise, that may be difficult to discern from true underlying cardiovascular abnormalities. North American and European societies have published consensus statements for normal, borderline, and abnormal ECG findings for athletes, but these criteria are not based on established...

Effects of Creatine Supplementation on the Performance, Physiological Response, and Body Composition Among Swimmers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Although recent studies have increasingly focused on examining the potential benefits of creatine supplementation to improve performance in swimming events, the impact of creatine supplementation on swimming performance remains a topic of debate and controversy. A comprehensive meta-analytical review was undertaken to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation on the...

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Sleep, but not Physical Activity, are Associated with Functional Connectivity in Older Adults

Aging results in changes in resting state functional connectivity within key networks associated with cognition. Cardiovascular function, physical activity, sleep, and body composition may influence these age-related changes in the brain. Better understanding these associations may help clarify mechanisms related to brain aging and guide interventional strategies to reduce these...

Effect of Programed Walking Exercise Using Bot Fit in Younger Adults

Physical inactivity and sedentary behavior both increase the risk of chronic disease and mortality. Regular participation in physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior play important roles in maintaining physical health and disease prevention. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of programed walking exercise using a wearable hip exoskeleton, Bot Fit on...

The Longitudinal Effects of Resisted and Assisted Sprint Training on Sprint Kinematics, Acceleration, and Maximum Velocity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Sprinting is important for both individual and team sports, and enhancing performance is often done through resisted, assisted, or combined sprint training. However, the effectiveness of these methods compared to traditional sprint training remains inconclusive. The objective of this review with meta-analysis was to review the current literature on intervention studies analyzing...

Agreement Between Heart Rate Variability - Derived vs. Ventilatory and Lactate Thresholds: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses

Determining thresholds by measuring blood lactate levels (lactate thresholds) or gas exchange (ventilatory thresholds) that delineate the different exercise intensity domains is crucial for training prescription. This systematic review with meta-analyses aims to assess the overall validity of the first and second heart rate variability - derived threshold (HRVT1 and HRVT2...

Can Foot Orthoses Benefit Symptomatic Runners? Mechanistic and Clinical Insights Through a Scoping Review

Running is a widely practiced sport worldwide associated with a host of benefits on cardiovascular, metabolic, musculoskeletal, and mental health, but often leads to musculoskeletal overuse injuries. The prescription of a foot orthosis (FO) is common to manage musculoskeletal impairments during physical activity or functional tasks. Although FOs are frequently prescribed by...

Sport and Autism: What Do We Know so Far? A Review

Autism, or autism spectrum disorders, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by limitations in social interaction, communication skills, and repetitive behaviors. Although motor disorders were previously considered marginal in autism, recent research has highlighted their significance. Numerous studies have underscored the positive impact of sports on autistic...

Chronic Effects of Static Stretching Exercises on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Multilevel Meta-Analysis

The chronic effect of static stretching (SS) on muscle hypertrophy is still unclear. This study aimed to examine the chronic effects of SS exercises on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in healthy individuals. A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and SPORTDiscus databases up to July 2023. Included studies examined chronic effects...

Potential of Soft-Shelled Rugby Headgear to Lower Regional Brain Strain Metrics During Standard Drop Tests

The growing concern for player safety in rugby has led to an increased focus on head impacts. Previous laboratory studies have shown that rugby headgear significantly reduces peak linear and rotational accelerations compared to no headgear. However, these metrics may have limited relevance in assessing the effectiveness of headgear in preventing strain-based brain injuries like...

On-water Rowing Biomechanical Assessment: A Systematic Scoping Review

Biomechanical parameters can distinguish a skilled rower from a less skilled rower and can provide coaches with meaningful feedback and objective evidence to inform coaching practices on rowing technique. Therefore, it is critical to understand which technical characteristics can be related to the fundamental rowing performance indicators. The aim of this systematic scoping...

Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Aerobic, Exercise and Sports Participation in Female Cognition: A Scoping Review

The impact of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on cognition is thought to be mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Aerobic exercise can increase CRF through various activities, including sports participation. The relationship between these factors in females has yet to be elucidated. This review aims to map the current literature on the effects of aerobic exercise, sports...

What do we Know about Complex-Contrast Training? A Systematic Scoping Review

The complex-contrast training (CCT) method utilizes two exercises with different loads and movement velocities in a set-by-set fashion to induce multiple neuromuscular adaptations. The speculated primary mechanism involves the post-activation potentiation or post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of the muscles used during the heavy load (low velocity) exercise, thereby...

Effects of Holistically Conceptualised School-Based Interventions on Children’s Physical Literacy, Physical Activity, and Other Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Schools are a key setting for promoting children’s physical literacy development. This review aimed to identify school-based interventions that adopted a holistic conceptualisation of physical literacy and examine the effects on children’s physical literacy and any other outcomes, including physical activity (PA). Searches were conducted in seven databases (APA PsycINFO, EMBASE...

Upper Extremity Stress Fractures

Stress injuries are often missed secondary to their insidious onset, milder symptoms, and subtle or initially absent findings when imaged. This review aims to provide strategies for evaluating and treating upper extremity stress fractures. This article outlines the classic presentation of each fracture, the ages during which these injuries often occur, the relevant anatomy and...

Metabolic Phenotyping from Whole-Blood Responses to a Standardized Exercise Test May Discriminate for Physiological, Performance, and Illness Outcomes: A Pilot Study in Highly-Trained Cross-Country Skiers

This study used metabolic phenotyping to explore the responses of highly-trained cross-country skiers to a standardized exercise test, which was part of the athletes’ routine testing, and determine whether metabolic phenotyping could discriminate specific physiological, performance, and illness characteristics. Twenty-three highly-trained cross-country skiers (10 women and 13 men...

Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on the Parameters Related to Physical Fitness and Health of Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

As a novel and time-efficient exercise form, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has shown great potential in improving health-related physical fitness among diverse populations. However, empirical evidence on its efficacy among the elderly has not been well summarized. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of HIIT interventions on the...

Training Intensity Distribution of a 7-Day HIIT Shock Microcycle: Is Time in the “Red Zone” Crucial for Maximizing Endurance Performance? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Various studies have shown that the type of intensity measure affects training intensity distribution (TID) computation. These conclusions arise from studies presenting data from meso- and macrocycles, while microcycles, e.g., high-intensity interval training shock microcycles (HIIT-SM) have been neglected so far. Previous literature has suggested that the time spent in the high...

The Discrepancy Between External and Internal Load/Intensity during Blood Flow Restriction Exercise: Understanding Blood Flow Restriction Pressure as Modulating Factor

Physical exercise induces acute psychophysiological responses leading to chronic adaptations when the exercise stimulus is applied repeatedly, at sufficient time periods, and with appropriate magnitude. To maximize long-term training adaptations, it is crucial to control and manipulate the external load and the resulting psychophysiological strain. Therefore, scientists have...

The Prevalence of Low Vitamin D in Elite Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review

Vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD, 50–75 nmolˑl− 1) is a common issue within healthy adults and elite athletes and is associated with decreased musculoskeletal health and performance. However, few studies have identified the prevalence and risk factors associated with vitamin D insufficiency within elite Para-Athletes. An electronic search was completed on the 5th January 2023 and...