The aim of this manuscript was to review the evidence regarding the risks, concerns, and efficacy of resistance training (RT) on measures related to muscular fitness and hypertrophic responses of youth athletes, while also establishing recommendations to assist the prescription of RT in this population.

PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies that met the following inclusion criteria: (a) published in English as a full-text manuscript or thesis; (b) inclusion of RT protocols lasting > 6 weeks; (c) involvement of youth individuals (≤ 19 years) engaged in sport modalities.

Twenty-nine studies assessing muscle strength, power and/or endurance in young athletes were identified; only one of these studies did not show significant improvements with RT, specifically in muscle power, but improvements were substantially heterogeneous across the studies. The literature is still inconclusive regarding the occurrence of muscle hypertrophy in response to RT among youth athletic population, but this was drawn from just seven studies in non-athletic populations. Injury rates among youth participants were low and less concerning in well-designed, progressed, supervised and technique-oriented RT programs.

RT is an effective method to improve muscular fitness-related measures in young athletes. The varying experimental designs across studies still represent an obstacle to the establishment of precise guidelines for RT prescription in this population. Nevertheless, some suggestions about RT frequency, resting interval, intensity and volume were elaborated in this review to assist coaches working with youth athletes to optimize muscular fitness-related measures gains.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects the physical and mental health in children and adolescents. Evidence suggests that participation in exercise may benefit children and adolescents with ADHD and enhance current and future physical and mental health. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of exercise interventions on the physical and mental health of children and adolescents with ADHD, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health-Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY) framework.

This review systematically searched for studies published up to August 1, 2023, through PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus. A meta-analysis was performed on studies that reported physical and mental health outcomes more than 10 times. A semiquantitative analysis was performed on studies that reported those indicators less than 10 times. In addition, all physical and mental health outcome indicators were linked to ICF-CY codes.

A total of 43 studies were included in the systematic review, 13 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis results showed that levels of anxiety and depression significantly decreased after exercise intervention, with medium (Hedges’g = − 0.63, 95% CI [1.17, − 0.09], P < 0.05) and large effect sizes (Hedges’g = − 1.03, 95% CI [− 1.94, − 0.12], P < 0.05), respectively. The level of attention problem significantly decreased after exercise intervention, with a large effect size (Hedges’g = − 1.28, 95% CI [− 2.59, 0.04], P = 0.06), but no statistical difference was observed. The level of motor skills significantly improved after exercise intervention with a large effect size (Hedges’g = 0.97, 95% CI [0.42, 1.51], P < 0.01). The level of muscle strength significantly improved after exercise intervention, with a small effect size (Hedges’g = 0.37, 95% CI [0.05, 0.68], P < 0.05). The included studies covered a total of 31 outcome indicators, which could be divided into 4 one-level classifications and 27 two-level classifications according to the ICF-CY framework. Among the outcome indicators, 21 (67.74%) were related to “physical functions”, 9 (29.03%) were related to “activities and participation”, and 1 (3.23%) was related to “body structures”.

This study confirmed that exercise could improve the physical and mental health in children and adolescents with ADHD. Regarding exercise intervention to improve the health of children and adolescents with ADHD, existing research has focused on verifying the immediate effect of intervention from the perspective of “physical functions”. However, there is a lack of in-depth exploration into changes in the dimensions of “body structures” and “activities and participation”, as well as the long-term intervention effects. Future studies should focus more on a holistic view of health that considers “body structures and functions” and “activities and participation”, which could ultimately favor comprehensive and long-term improvements in the health status of children and adolescents with ADHD.

The significance of the 24-h movement guidelines (24-HMG) for the health of typically developing children and adolescents has gained considerable attention in recent years. However, there has been limited research on the impact of adhering to 24-HMG among children and adolescents with speech/language impairments. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between adherence to 24-HMG and psychological health and academic engagement in this population.

This cross-sectional study involved a secondary analysis of data from 1609 students aged 6–17 years with speech/language impairment. Self-report questionnaires were employed to measure the movement behaviours, psychological indicators, and academic engagement. Multivariable regressions were used to analyze the associations between adherence to 24-HMG and psychological health and academic engagement.

The findings revealed that merely 10.82% of participants adhered to all three 24-HMG. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, compared to meeting none of the recommendations, meeting all the three recommendations was significantly associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties, higher psychological resilience and increased academic engagement.

The findings underscore that adherence to the 24-HMG is associated with enhanced psychological health and academic engagement among children and adolescents with speech/language impairments.

This study aimed at identifying the reliability and validity of the Canadian Agility and Movement Skill Assessment (CAMSA), when assessed in real-time.

A sample of 70 primary and 356 secondary students participated voluntarily. Anthropometric variables, CAMSA, 10 × 5-m shuttle run test and 10 × 4-m shuttle run test results of all participants were analysed.

Higher internal consistency values were observed among secondary children (α: 0.737–0.864) compared to primary students (α: 0.360–0.762). Absolute and relative reliability values were in general low, with only the CAMSA-S demonstrating fair reliability (ICC: 0.717). A fair significant association between CAMSA-S and agility measured by the 10 × 4-m and 10 × 5-m shuttle tests (Rho = 0.422) was found. This association was moderate in primary students (Rho = 0.649) and fair in secondary students (Rho = 0.382). A fair association with the time component of CAMSA (Rho = 0.402), and a weaker fair association with the skill component (Rho = 0.260) was observed.

The CAMSA demonstrated low test-retest reliability and fair validity when assessed in real-time, in a sample of primary and secondary children.

The study aims to examine the effect of Tabata training on body composition and selected health-related fitness component in healthy untrained university students.

Forty male (n = 19) and female (n = 21) students from National Defence University of Malaysia were randomly assigned to the Tabata training group (T) and control group (CON). T group involved Tabata training three times per week for 12 weeks.

Body fat percentage significantly reduced (P < 0.05) and muscle mass significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the T group among female participants after 12 weeks of intervention. In addition, female participants in the T group showed a significant improvement in abdominal muscular endurance (P < 0.01), lower limb muscular endurance (P < 0.05) and cardiovascular endurance (P < 0.01). However, no significant improvement was detected on body weight (P = 0.102), BMI (P = 0.525), waist hip ratio (WHR) (P = 0.637), visceral fat (P = 0.543), muscle mass (P = 0.057) and selected health-related fitness, 1-min sit up (P = 0.145) and1-min squat (P = 0.983) among male participants when compared to the control group.

Therefore, 12 weeks of Tabata training program has beneficial effects on reducing body fat percentage, increasing muscle mass and improving the abdominal muscular endurance, lower limb muscular endurance and cardiovascular endurance among female untrained university students. The data from this study suggest that 12 weeks of Tabata training program may be suitable to promote increased physical activity and overall health among female university students.

Tennis demands exceptional technical skills, speed, strength and endurance. Previous studies have highlighted the high energy expenditure during tennis drills due to constant directional changes. While metabolic monitoring and player tracking have been used to quantify exercise intensity and movements, mechanical efficiency (ME) in tennis remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate ME in tennis by combining metabolic and mechanical measurements during on-court drills.

Ten elite adolescent tennis players (males n = 5, females n = 5) performed a VO_2max test on a treadmill and participated in three standard tennis drills, Spanish cross, lateral and inside out. During the tennis drill, full-body kinematics were captured, and energy expenditure was measured using a portable breath-by-breath gas analysis. ME was calculated for each drill, and individual differences were examined.

Results revealed significant differences in energy expenditure and mechanical work between drills. ME was not associated with VO_2max or running speed. highlighting the need to focus on other factors like strength, footwork technique, and neuromuscular training to enhance ME.

This study underscores the complexity of ME in tennis, with individual variations and where factors like footwork technique, muscular strength and motor abilities might influence ME.

Women’s cricket has grown in popularity over the last decade, however despite this there is a paucity of literature examining the female version of the game. Furthermore, no research has examined the physical attributes of female cricketers, particularly adolescents. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to develop a physical profile for u/11, u/13, u15, and u/18 female adolescent cricket players.

One hundred and five (age: 13.00 ± 2.37 years, stature: 156.91 ± 12.06 cm, mass: 50.85 ± 10.40 kg) female academy players were profiled for body composition, flexibility, lower and upper body power, sprint speed, and change of direction ability.

Both the u/11 and u/13 age groups differed significantly (P < 0.05) to each other and the u/15 and u/18 age groups for stature, lower and upper limb power, and change of direction time. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for all tests between the u/15 and u/18 age groups.

The findings of this investigation provide normative data for adolescent female cricketers that can be used by strength and conditioning coaches for the implementation of scientifically based training programs, as well as to set goals to identify progression in physical ability during maturation and training. Additionally, the study is relevant for coaches working within the age group to support their own learning and development within the applied nature of coaching and support of their female athletes.

This study compared absolute and relative measurements of peak torque (PT), mean power (MP), and rate of velocity development (RVD) during isometric and isokinetic elbow flexion muscle actions in pre- and post-pubescent males and females.

Forty children participated (pre-pubescent: mean ± 95% confidence interval age = 9.79 ± 0.35 years, n = 10 males, n = 10 females; post-pubescent: 17.23 ± 0.58 years, n = 10 males, n = 10 females). Ultrasound images quantified muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the elbow flexors. Participants completed maximal elbow flexion muscle actions at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300°/s.

As expected, the post-pubescent group achieved greater absolute measures of PT, MP, and RVD at all velocities (P ≤ 0.015). When normalized to CSA and strength, differences in PT were mostly eliminated (P ≥ 0.136), but differences in MP and RVD remained (P ≤ 0.012).

The post-pubescent groups maintained greater MP and RVD at each movement velocity, suggesting that muscle size and strength cannot fully account for age-related differences in time-dependent measurements of muscle performance, such as power and acceleration. Instead, these performance indicators may be related to neuromuscular adaptations during normal growth, development, and biological maturation processes, such as augmentations in motor unit recruitment strategies and increases in action potential conduction velocities.

Karate is a combative practice, which involves rhythmic breathing, dual limb action, mental rehearsing and sensory perception which engages a variety of brain areas, qualifying it as a mind body activity. Based on high reactivity of this open skill art form, the present study attempts to observe and compare the neurophysiological effect of habitual karate training on the visual cortex in male karate practitioners and active controls. The comparative assessment among both the groups was performed using a non-invasive marker–the visual evoked potential (VEP).

VEP was measured in 15, experienced male karate practitioners (9.5 ± 1.26 years) and age-matched school going boys (10.6 ± 1.57 years) through latency and amplitude domains of the N75, P100, and N145 waves. Intergroup comparison was conducted to understand the long-term effects of karate training as one of the determinants of positive changes on the visual cortical pathway.

The results suggested that regular karate training among the practitioner group was associated with significantly shorter latency of the most reproducible P-100 wave in both the left and right eye, in comparison to the control group though independent t-test (P < 0.05).

Karate is a rapid visually demanding martial art form that contributes to the development of sensory cognition through various neurosensory modalities, which assimilate through the visual optic pathway, ultimately leading to better evoked visual responses. Neural signal transmission time of the P-100 peak shows shorter latency in the practitioner group than the control group. Thus, the study depicts karate as a mind body exercise to develop better focus and concentration for day-to-day activities. It is not only a sport or a self-protection art form but also a neuro facilitator.