Synthesise genetic association studies investigating injury involving football players to identify which genetic variants have the most empirical evidence to date.

A comprehensive search of the PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE databases until March 11th 2022 identified 34 studies. Inclusion criteria: primary investigations, included football players, examined the association of a genetic variant with injury, and were published in English. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. A narrative synthesis summarised results.

There were 33 candidate gene studies and one genome-wide study, with 9642 participants across all studies (range = 43–1311; median = 227). Ninety-nine polymorphisms were assessed within 63 genes. Forty-one polymorphisms were associated with injury once. Three polymorphisms had their specific allelic associations with injury replicated twice in independent cohorts: ACTN3 (rs1815739) XX genotype was associated with an increased susceptibility to non-contact muscle injuries, ACAN (rs1516797) G allele was associated with increased susceptibility to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and VEGFA (rs2010963) CC genotype was associated with an increased susceptibility to ACL and ligament or tendon injuries. However, several methodological issues (e.g., small sample sizes, cohort heterogeneity, and population stratification) are prevalent that limit the reliability and external validity of findings.

At present, the evidence base supporting the integration of genetic information as a prognostic or diagnosis tool for injury risk in football is weak. Future participation of organisations in international consortia is suggested to combat the current methodological issues and subsequently improve clarity concerning the underlying genetic contribution to injury susceptibility.

The interaction between sleep and recovery is a fundamental issue for ultra-marathoners, especially after an ultra-trail, but literatures on this matter remains are scarce. The main objectives were (1) to describe sleep parameters during the nights following an ultra-endurance event in amateur trail runners, (2) to evaluate the recovery kinetics, and (3) to assess the relationship between sleep parameters and recovery.

Nineteen race finishers were tested daily, from 10 days before to 10 days after the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc^® (UTMB^®). Hooper Index (HI) was used to assess recovery and sleep parameters (total sleep time, TST and wake after sleep onset, WASO) were monitored using a wrist-worn actigraph.

HI was higher than baseline until day 5 after the race (P < 0.05) and younger athletes had a lower HI than older ones during the recovery period (P < 0.001). TST was not modified by the race, but there was a WASO peak on the second night after. Positive correlations were found between WASO and muscle soreness (P < 0.001) and between TST and HI (P < 0.05).

In conclusion, participants needed 6 days for recovery after UTMB^® and younger runners seemed to recover faster than older ones. Post-race sleep quantity did not increase, but the second night was more fragmented, most likely due to muscle soreness. Correlations between sleep and recovery parameters highlighted the key role of sleep for recovery.

The fact that CrossFit^® is the best-known and rapidly growing concept for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-intensity functional training (HIFT) results in a continuous increase of athletes performing CrossFit^®. In the more than 15,000 CrossFit^® Affiliates worldwide, the training concept is usually offered in 1-h training sessions containing the CrossFit^®-related workout of the day (WOD), as well as a general warm-up, movement demonstrations, and skill training. Here, we report how physiological parameters measured by heart rate (HR) values vary during four different 1-h CrossFit^® training sessions of non-elite athletes (n = 27) in a local affiliated training center and what influencing factors may exist.

The duration of the 1-h training sessions were divided into a warm-up part (WU-part), a skill development part combined with strength exercises (A-part), followed by the WOD part (B-part).

Analysis of HR values shows high training intensity (≥ 91% HR_max) not throughout the duration of each training session, only during B-part. The mean HR values in B-part differ significantly compared to the remaining training parts (P < 0.001) for all four training sessions. Comparison of different CrossFit^® experience levels revealed no significant difference in acute physiological demands and training load between beginner and experienced CrossFit^® athletes.

Our results may suggest that practicing CrossFit^® in 1-h training sessions combined anaerobic and aerobic exercise intensities, with the training concept allows beginners and experienced athletes to be trained with the same cardiovascular responses and training intensities.

The relationships between anthropometric and training variables with running performance were previously investigated. However, it is possible that through the moderating role of anthropometric variables, the magnitude of the relationship between training and performance may be changed. The purpose of this study was to estimate the mediation role of body mass index (BMI) in the relationship between training volume and running performance among non-professional runners, taking into account sex and age category.

The sample comprised 1151 non-professional road runners (61.8% male), aged 18–72 years. Information about sex, age, body mass (kg), body height (cm), running pace, motivation for running, training volume and frequency were obtained through an online questionnaire. Taking into account athletes’ age, they were split into two age categories: “until 34 years” (adult runners) and “≥ 35 years” (master athletes). A mediation analysis was computed in Macro Process (SPSS 26), considering sex and age category. BMI was the mediating variable, while training volume/week was used as independent variable, and running pace was considered as dependent variable.

For both sexes and age categories, a significant association between training volume on running pace was observed [male adult: β = − 0.67; 95% CI (− 1.04 to − 0.53); male master: β = − 0.241; 95% CI (− 0.44 to − 0.26); female adult: −0.83; 95% CI (− 1.25 to − 0.41); female master: − 0.76; 95% CI (− 1.09 to − 0.44)], as well the association between training volume and BMI; and running BMI and running pace. Except for female adult runners, a mediation effect of BMI was observed.

The present study showed that BMI mediated the association between training volume and running pace in non-professional runners of different sexes and age categories. On the other hand, a small influence of training volume on the expression of BMI was found.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the acute effect of a beginner martial art class and aerobic exercise on executive function (EF) in college-aged young adults. There is overwhelming evidence that demonstrates acute as well as long-term aerobic exercise improves EF. Nevertheless, there is limited research comparing externally paced exercise (EPE) to self-paced exercise (SPE) such as walking on improving EF. EPE requires greater cortical demand than SPE to execute a motor plan.

Eight men and eight women, aged 24.2 ± 2.8 years, participated in a Repeated Measures Crossover Design. Pre- and post-testing of EF with the Stroop and Tower of London (ToL) and stress level were measured after each of the two 1-h conditions: the SPE consisted of a walk (aerobic exercise) and the EPE was a beginner martial art class.

There were significant main effects for the martial art class for the Stroop’s mean reaction time for congruent trials (P = 0.01) with a large-effect size. The mean reaction time for incongruent trials was significant (P = 0.05) with a medium-effect size. The ToL’s mean solution time (P = 0.003) and mean execution time (P = 0.002) were also significant with large-effect sizes. Stress levels were not significantly improved following either condition.

The martial art class significantly improved all the major domains of EF, while aerobic exercise of a similar intensity did not demonstrate any measured significant changes. The physiological benefits of physical exercise are well documented; however, the cognitive enhancing capability of EPE should also be appreciated given the results of this study.

To date, no study has investigated the extent to which sleep-wake behaviour (SWB) influences match performance in junior tennis players. This study aimed to assess the influence of SWB for the week and night before on match performance, particularly match analytics and activity.

This study recruited 10 junior state grade tennis players who wore an actigraphy device and completed a sleep diary for the week before their match on two separate occasions throughout their competition season. Players wore a global positioning system device to track their movement during matches, and an experienced tennis coach recorded players' match analytics.

This study showed that the sleep fragmentation index was significantly lower the week before matches in females who had won than those who had lost. Additionally, the sleep fragmentation index was significantly lower the night before a given match than the week before. Only sleep fragmentation index and sleep latency significantly influenced match performance in junior tennis players. The percentage of second serves points won differed between match wins and losses for male players, while winners and forced errors differed for female players.

These findings provide a detailed profile of tennis match play in junior state grade players. Despite individual differences, reduced restlessness the night before a match coincides with increased match performance.

Debates exist about the preference for single- or multiple-set resistance exercise (RE) on achieving similar training outcome, however, no study examined their effects on the heart, thus, this study was to examine the effect of volume-matched single- and multiple-set RE on the myocardial response through examining rate pressure product (RPP).

Fourteen healthy untrained college students performed two leg press exercises (4 × 10 and 1 × 40 at 150% body mass) on different days, and each was performed twice in a counterbalanced crossover order. Pre- and post-exercise SBP and HR were measured by auscultatory method, RPP was calculated as SBP × HR × 10^− 3, RPP difference (RPP_diff) was calculated by post-exercise RPP subtracting pre-exercise RPP.

Single-set post-exercise RPP (17.48 ± 3.16 mmHg·beats/min), HR (123.86 ± 20.25 beats/min) was significantly greater than multiple-set post-exercise RPP (13.66 ± 3.04 mmHg·beats/min), HR (101.61 ± 19.14 beats/min), respectively. There was no significant difference of SBP (141.07 ± 9.37 vs. 134.29 ± 15.16 mmHg) between exercise protocols (P = 0.13). The RPP_diff of single-set (6.74 ± 2.86 mmHg·beats/min) was significantly greater than that of multiple-set (3.62 ± 2.90 mmHg·beats/min) (P < 0.001).

Single-set RE exerts a greater myocardial oxygenation response as compared to multiple-set, HR contributed more than SBP to the increase of RPP in RE. The results indicate that single-set RE can be warranted when wanting to train the heart, while multiple-set RE would appear best for those who should avoid heart stress.

To examine the association between bullying victimization and meeting recommendations for the 24-h movement behaviors of physical activity, screen use, and sleep in adolescents.

Participants were a sample of US adolescents from the 2015–2019 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N = 43,847; Mean age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years; 50.7% female). The bullying victimization variables included the bullying experiences at school and online. Weighted multivariable logistic regressions analyzed associations between bullying victimization and meeting recommendations for 24-h movement behaviors controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and weight status.

Adolescents meeting non-academic screen and sleep recommendations had 25% (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.69–0.82) and 19% (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.74–0.89) lower odds to be bullied at school. Adolescents meeting non-academic screen recommendation had 27% lower odds (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.58–0.91) of experience online bullying. Male adolescents who met physical activity, non-academic screen use, and sleep recommendations had lower odds of experience the bullying at school of 29% (OR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.59–0.85), 26% (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.61–0.90), and 31% (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.55–0.86), respectively. Among the females, non-academic screen use was the only movement behavior yielded statistical significance, in that those who met the recommendation had 15% (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.73–0.98) lower odds of experience the bullying at school.

The presence of meeting 24-h movement behavior recommendations associates with a lower probability of bullying at school and online in adolescents. Interestingly, these associations tended to be stronger and more consistent in males compared to females.