The mental health of adolescents is a priority for successful development. Physical activity (PA) and exercise can have effects on the mental health of adolescents. This review analysed the effect that physical exercise interventions can have on the mental health of healthy adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age. The search was carried out in four databases. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscuss, were searched up to December 31, 2022, following the general model. Eleven studies were selected, with a total sample of 23 681 participants in 2 435 studies published in the last 5 years involving healthy adolescents. The search process and review of the articles was performed by independent expert investigators. The risk-of-bias and the methodological quality were analysed using the Cochrane scale. The limited and heterogeneous studies conducted so far do not clearly establish the benefits of PA on adolescents’ mental health. However, some PA interventions seem to improve subjective well-being, self-esteem, physical and mental well-being, anxiety, lifestyle, emotional intelligence, depressive mood, and perceived benefit and confidence in healthy adolescents. It is important to design an effective and appropriate physical exercise programme that can be implemented for adolescents to achieve significant effects on their mental health. Studies that did not implement an appropriate exercise program with improvements in adolescent physical fitness showed no changes in psychological variables. Further research is needed to clearly establish that exercise programmes have positive effects on mental health in healthy adolescents.

This review elucidates the impact of electrical stimulation (ES) and blood flow restriction (BFR) training on muscle function. ES induces a transformation in muscle fibers type by rearranging myosin heavy chain isoform patterns. Additionally, it influences muscle protein synthesis and degradation through specific signaling pathways such as protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin (Akt/mTOR), as well as via autophagy and the ubiquitin-proteasome system, thereby effectively maintaining muscle mass. BFR, on the other hand, restricts muscle blood flow, leading to metabolic products accumulation and localized hypoxia, which not only promotes the recruitment of fast-twitch fibers but also activates the mTOR signaling pathway, enhancing muscle protein synthesis. The combination of ES and BFR synergistically facilitates muscle protein synthesis through the mTOR pathway, thereby accelerating the recovery of muscle function following peripheral nerve injury.

We investigated the effects of high-intensity intermittent cross-training (HIICT) on maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O₂max). The HIICT consisted of alternating intermittent 20-s treadmill running (1^st, 3^rd, 5^th, and 7^th bouts) and 20-s bicycle exercise (2^nd, 4^th, and 6^th bouts) with a 10-s rest period. Each intensity for running and bicycling of the HIICT corresponded to an oxygen demand of ∼160% and ∼170% of the V˙O₂max, respectively. Fifteen healthy young males (aged [24 ± 1] yrs) were randomly assigned to training (TG, n = 8) and non-training control (CG, n = 7) groups. The TG completed this HIICT daily 4 days/week for 6 weeks. Significant group × time interactions were observed for both the running and bicycling V˙O₂max (p < 0.001 each). After the training, the V˙O₂max for both running ([57.4 ± 4.8] mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and bicycling ([50.6 ± 3.7] mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) in the TG were significantly higher than those for running ([50.1 ± 3.1] mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and bicycling ([43.7 ± 3.6] mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) in the CG, respectively (p < 0.01 each). Post-hoc tests revealed a significant increase in V˙O₂max for running and bicycling in the TG after the HIICT (p < 0.001 each) but no significant difference in the CG. These results demonstrated that the newly developed HIICT increases the V˙O₂max for both running and bicycling.

Affective valence is typically positive at exercise intensities below the lactate threshold, yet more aversive responses occur at supra-threshold intensities. Nevertheless, the physiological and psychological predictors of affective valence during supramaximal intensities including short sprint interval training (sSIT) have not yet been elucidated. Seventeen (7 women/10 men) moderately active young adults (age = [28.2 ± 5.6] years; O_2max [maximum oxygen consumption] = [52.9 ± 8.1] mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; BMI [body mass index] = [24 ± 2] kg·m⁻²) completed four low-volume running sSIT sessions (10 × 4 s efforts with 30 s of passive recovery). We recorded participants’ heart rate (HR), root mean square of successive differences of normal RR intervals (RMSSD), heart rate recovery (HRR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), feeling scale (FS), intention and self-efficacy during, and after each session. Overall, no significant correlation (p > 0.05) was found between FS and baseline clinical outcomes. No significant correlation (p > 0.05) was detected between FS and any training parameter. No significant correlations were noted between FS and exercise task self-efficacy and intentions (p > 0.05). The regression model was significant (F_3,61 = 5.57; p = 0.002) and only three variables significantly entered the generated model: ΔHRR_{end-120s end} (p = 0.002; VIF = 2.58; 40.8%), time ≥ 90% HR_peak (p = 0.001; VIF = 1.26; 31.6%), and RMSSD_end (p = 0.025; VIF = 2.23; 27.6%). These findings suggest that HR-based measures, particularly those related to in-task stress (time ≥ 90% HR_peak) and acute recovery (ΔHRR_{end-120s end}, and RMSSD_end), may predict affective valence during real-world sSIT.

Improving the efficiency of athletic performance and reducing the likelihood of overtraining are primarily determined goals that can be achieved by the correct organization of the training process. The nature of adaptation to physical stress is associated with the specificity, focus, and degree of biochemical and functional changes that occur during muscular work. In this study, we aimed to develop a diagnostic model for predicting metabolic processes in athletes based on standard biochemical blood analysis indicators. The study involved athletes from the track and field athletics team (men, n = 42, average age was [22.55 ± 3.68] years). Blood samples were collected in the morning at the beginning and end of the training week during the annual cycle. During the entire period, 3 625 laboratory parameter tests were conducted. Capillary blood sampling in athletes was conducted from the distal phalanx of the finger after overnight fasting, according to standard diagnostic procedures. To determine the predominance of anabolic or catabolic processes, equations were derived from a linear discriminant function. The discriminant function of predicting metabolic processes in athletes has a high information capacity (92.1%), as confirmed by the biochemical results of neuroendocrine system activity, which characterized the body's stage of adaptive regulatory mechanisms in response to stress factors. The classification matrix used to predict the metabolic processes based on the results of the discriminant function calculation demonstrates the statistical significance of the model (p < 0.01). Consequently, an informative mathematical model was developed, which enabled the reliable and timely prediction of the prevalence of one of the metabolic activity phases in the athlete's body. The use of the developed model will also allow us to assess the nature of adaptation to specific muscular work, identify an athlete's weaknesses, forecast the success of their performance, and timely adjust both the training process and the recovery program.

Tai-Chi (TC) is a broadly used exercise that appeared to decrease the risk of falls. However, biomechanical mechanisms underlying the reduced fall risks following TC exercise remain unclear and hinder the ability to optimize TC intervention to target specific balance deficit disorders. In addition, combining TC gait exercise with ground support perturbation may be a viable approach to further challenge balance control compared to TC gait alone. The purpose of this study was to compare dynamic stability and limb support force production during comfortable walking speed (CWS), TC gait, and TC gait with medial (MED) and lateral (LAT) ground support perturbations in older and younger adults. Ten older adults and ten younger adults performed CWS, TC gait, LAT, and MED. Conditions involving TC gait showed decreased margin of stability (MoS) (main effect of condition, p < 0.01) and increased vertical force impulse compared to CWS (p < 0.01). Medial ground support perturbation induced the smallest MoS among all conditions. Older adults showed increased MoS compared to younger adults (p < 0.01). These findings provided insight into how key balance control characteristics are modulated during TC exercise and indicate that combining ground support perturbation with TC may further challenge dynamic stability.

Background: Ankle-foot sprains are the most common musculoskeletal injuries, which can impair balance and theoretically increase the risk of falls, but still, there is a lack of evidence supporting the direct association between ankle-foot sprains and the future risk of falls.

Methods: UK Biobank cohort was utilized to measure the association between ankle-foot sprains and fall risk with covariates adjusted. Then, the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was applied based on the genetically predicated ankle-foot sprains from FinnGen to validate causal relationship. Finally, genetically predicated cerebellar neuroimaging features were used to explore the mediating role of maladaptive neuroplasticity between ankle-foot sprains and falls by two-step MR analyses.

Results: Patients with ankle-foot sprains history exhibited a slightly increased risk of falls than the matched controls before and after adjustment for covariates (odd ratio [OR] ranged from 1.632 to 1.658). Two-sample MR analysis showed that ankle-foot sprains led to a higher risk of falls (OR = 1.036) and a lower fractional anisotropy of superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) (left, β = −0.052; right, β = −0.053). A trend of mediating effect was observed for the fractional anisotropy of right SCP in the causal effects of ankle-foot sprains on falls (β = 0.003).

Conclusion: The history of ankle-foot sprains is associated with a slightly increased risk of falls. These findings improve our understanding of the clinical consequences of ankle-foot sprains in terms of fall risk and suggest the importance of adopting more efficient strategies for managing residual functional deficits after the injuries.

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and other significant features of craniomaxillofacial trauma (CMFT), particularly Sport-Related Concussion (SRC), among professional soccer players from two major leagues in Brazil. This is a prospective epidemiological study which assessed two divisions of the national championship and large regional one over four seasons. Data were gathered from soccer clubs and their medical staff using two online forms. Data related to players (age and position) and injuries (diagnosis, type, body location, laterality, field location, tests performed, need for surgery, time lost in sports, and recurrence) were collected. Between 2016 and 2019, a total of 15 seasons, comprising 3 828 matches and 126 ​324 hours (h) of gameplay, were analyzed. A total of 299 CMFT cases were reported, with a median incidence of 2.37 per 1 000 ​h of play. Among them, there were 178 head and 121 face traumas, which led to 87 SRC (representing 29.10% of all CMFT), with an incidence of 0.69. Defensive midfielders (14.43%) and goalkeepers (14.00%) had the highest prevalence rates of CMFT. Only 3.68% of the injuries, mostly lacerations and fractures, required surgical treatment. This study identified that the average time lost in sports due to SRC was 5.12 days, with a recurrence rate of 12.71%. SRC are a frequent consequence of CMFT in Brazilian professional soccer. Although most cases are mild, there is a high recurrence rate, which may have long-term implications.

This study aimed to examine the correlation between daily physical activity levels and gut microbiota during the perimenopausal period. To explore the physiopathological traits of perimenopause women, and provide a theoretical basis for the development of menopause exercise intervention program. In this study, daily physical activity was assessed using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT wearable sensor, and 16S rRNA sequencing was employed to analyze gut microbiota diversity and composition. Comparative analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between physical activity and specific phyla and genera in the gut microbiota, comparing perimenopausal women to youth women. The results showed perimenopausal women exhibited significantly lower levels of daily physical activity, including Kcals, metabolic equivalents (METs), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), compared to youth women. The composition of the gut microbiota was markedly different between the two groups. Specifically, the abundance of Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, and Gemmatimonadetes were lower at the phylum level (p < 0.01). Collinsella, Ruminococcus gnavus, Rothia, Haemophilus, Sphingomonas, Lactobacillales, and Lactococcus were lower at the genus level, while Phascolarctobacterium, Paraprevotella, Acinetobacter, Flavonifractor, and Intestinimonas exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between Chloroflexi or Sphingomonas and physical activity (kcals, METs, and MVPA), while a negative correlation was found between Intestinimonas and physical activity (METs: p < 0.01, and MVPA: p < 0.05). Doubtlessly, the perimenopausal period is associated with lower levels of physical activity and distinct changes in gut microbiota. Sphingomonas may serve as a sensitive bacterium closely linked to physical activity.