Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport

Six weeks of isocaloric moderate- and heavy-intensity continuous training improves fitness but does not appear to alter plasma cytokines in healthy young adults

Seth F. McCarthy, Garett S. Jackson, Hashim Islam, Jonathan P. Little — 2026-08-16

Objectives: The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise training are hypothesized to involve changes in circulating cytokine concentrations, however the influence of exercise intensity is unclear. We determined the impact of exercise intensity, prescribed relative to lactate threshold (LT), on changes in fitness and plasma cytokines in a 6-week randomized controlled trial. Design: RCT. Methods: Healthy, young adults (N = 56, 27 males/29 females, age: 22 ± 3 y, peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak]: 38.4 ± 9.5 mL∙kg−1∙min−1) were randomized (2:2:1) to 6-weeks of thrice weekly isocaloric continuous cycling in the moderate (MICT; n = 21) or heavy (HICT; n = 24) intensity domain, or no-exercise control (CTRL; n = 11).

Women's football across codes: a scoping review of sports science, medicine, and female-health research themes

2026-08-14

To map the quantity, scope, distribution, and research focus of female-specific research across all major football codes (soccer, futsal, Gaelic football, rugby union, sevens and league, Australian rules football, and American football), including sport science and medicine topics, performance-related themes, and female health domains assessed.

“Give us something we can use”: a qualitative study on coaches' experiences of tackle training education in Canadian adolescent girls Rugby

2026-08-14

Rugby is one of the fastest-growing sports for adolescent girls in Canada and worldwide. Tackling is a foundational, high-risk skill, accounting for up to 79% of match injuries in Canadian girls rugby. Despite the emergence of tackle training programs, little is known about how coaches understand, adopt, and implement tackle training, particularly in girls rugby. This study aimed to identify the tackle training-related education needs of Canadian rugby coaches.

Impact of lowering the legal tackle height on tackle behaviour, match events, and suspected injury rates in adolescent female Rugby union

2026-08-13

To investigate whether lowering the legal tackle height from below the armpit to below the sternum influenced tackle behaviour, match events, suspected injury and concussion rates, and suspected concussion-related tackle characteristics in adolescent female rugby union.

Incidence, severity, and burden of injury in the Japanese elite men's Rugby union league

2026-08-12

Japan Rugby League One (JRLO), comprises three divisions based on competitive level and organisational structure. We aimed to determine the incidence, severity, burden, and mechanism of match injuries sustained in JRLO and to examine the differences across these divisions and between higher- and lower-ranked teams, for rankings defined within each division.

Curvature of the crural fascia is different in anterior leg chronic exertional compartment syndrome

2026-08-12

Patients possibly having chronic exertional compartment syndrome of the anterior leg (ant-CECS) require a confirmatory muscle compartment pressure measurement, but this invasive test is patient unfriendly and imprecise. Earlier ultrasound (US) studies suggested that morphology of the leg crural fascia covering the muscle may change in CECS. Aim of this US study was to analyse the curvature of the crural fascia in ant-CECS and healthy controls at rest and following a standard treadmill test.

Promoting lifelong brain health: a review of risk factors and protective opportunities for athletes

2026-08-09

Brain health is an emerging public health priority, with dementia now among the leading causes of death in many high-income countries. The long-term brain health of current and former athletes has attracted increasing public and scientific attention in recent years, with attention largely focused on risks such as sport-related concussion. This review aimed to increase awareness among the sports sector of the multi-factorial nature of brain health, presenting evidence on risk and protective factors alongside recommendations for individuals, sporting organisations, and regulatory agencies.

The association between tackle technique and head acceleration events in a cross-section of adolescent female rugby players

2026-08-09

Tackle technique is well researched in male rugby players, but little is known about the safety of tackling in female players. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different tackle characteristics for the tackler and ball carrier and head acceleration event (HAE) magnitude in adolescent female rugby players.

People with chronic ankle instability adopt protective landing strategies and reduced anterior Talofibular ligament strain during dynamic inversion perturbations

2026-08-06

This study aimed to compare lower-limb landing kinematics and modeled anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) and calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) strains between people with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during a dynamic inversion-plantarflexion perturbation, and to determine whether altered landing strategies in people with CAI were associated with increased or reduced ligament strain.

Running with Achilles tendinopathy: tendon forces throughout a prolonged run

2026-08-06

The objectives were: 1) to determine if Achilles tendon forces change throughout a 30-minute run and 2) to characterize joint-level contributions to total support moment (TSM) throughout the run in runners with Achilles tendinopathy in the return-to-sport phase of rehabilitation.

Data visualisation for reporting epidemiological data on injury and other health conditions in sport

2026-08-06

With the overall goal of protecting athletes' health, epidemiological studies on injuries, illnesses and mental health in sports represent a fundamental step.1 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) consensus statement of methods for recording and reporting epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport 20201 provides guidelines to help clinicians and researchers with data acquisition.1 It also provides guidelines to help the dissemination of this information to the Sports and Exercise Medicine and Science community.

Mapping mental health problems in elite female athletes—a scoping review Emphasising limited research in Africa and South America

2026-07-31

Mental health symptoms and disorders are growing concerns among elite athletes facing unique psychological stressors from high-performance competition. While prevalence has been studied in male athletes and regions like Europe and Australia, significant gaps exist regarding elite female athletes from underrepresented regions, including Africa.

Physical activity intensity and embodied learning in preschool children: A response

2026-07-30

We sincerely thank Mudayat and colleagues for their thoughtful comments on our study and for their interest in the mechanisms underlying physically active learning. Their letter provides an excellent opportunity to place our findings within the broader context of the ELFIT research program.

Exploring the perceptions and experiences of concussion reporting in Australian women's collision sport athletes through qualitative inquiry

Keir Westacott, Samantha Bunzli, Julie.A. Hides, Felix T. Leung — 2026-07-24

Sport-related concussions are often unreported by athletes. This may lead to insufficient medical treatment and negative health effects. Reporting sport-related concussion symptoms is context-dependent and influenced by factors such as sex, sporting code, and culture. Women may have unique experiences of sport-related concussions and reporting compared with men. However, these experiences of women athletes have not been explored in an Australian context. This study aimed to identify enablers and barriers to sport-related concussion reporting amongst Australian women competing in collision sports, informing initiatives to support safe participation.

Adherence to aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity guidelines and development of chronic diseases: Findings from the HABITAT cohort

2026-07-24

To investigate the combined associations between meeting aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity guidelines and incidence of chronic diseases in mid-age Australian adults over nine years.

Video analysis of breast impact events in Australian semi-professional women's rugby union

Ruby Dang, Joshua P.M. Mattock, Suzi Edwards, Deirdre E. McGhee — 2026-07-23

To investigate the frequency, characteristics and incidence rate of breast impact events (BIEs) during semi-professional women's rugby union matches using video analysis.

Are female athlete concerns being considered in preparticipation examinations? A needs assessment in Canadian University Sport (U SPORTS)

J.M. Schulz, S.J. Adler, B. Edwardson, A. Tri, C.J. Alabaster, J.S. Thornton — 2026-07-21

Preparticipation examinations (PPEs) are commonly used to gather athletes' baseline health information. However, they often lack content specific to the health needs of female athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to: 1) identify which female-specific health questions athletes recall being asked during PPEs; 2) determine what questions athletes believe are missing; and 3) explore female athletes' comfort with disclosing health concerns.

Effectiveness of eccentric calf muscle exercise therapy in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial

2026-07-20

Achilles tendinopathy is a common injury that reduces quality of life and function. Eccentric calf muscle exercise therapy (EET) is the most frequently used exercise type in clinical trials. This study aimed to compare the short-term effectiveness of EET to sham exercise therapy (upper extremity strength training, UET) in patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

Longitudinal performance development in youth track and field: A population-level study

Atle G. Guttormsen — 2026-07-17

To construct longitudinal developmental trajectories for competitive youth athletes, document sex-specific development, and evaluate cross-sectional performance benchmarks.

Probiotic supplementation improves the emotional state of combat athletes during the pre-competition weight loss phase

Wanting Shen, Zhenqin Cheng, Shijiao Yang, Meiyi Lai, Jing Wang, Qun Zuo — 2026-07-16

To investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on mood state, mood-related biochemical indicators, and gut microbiota in combat athletes undergoing pre-competition rapid weight loss.

Sports nutrition knowledge, beliefs, and dietary practices among African football players: a pan-African cross-sectional study

2026-07-16

This study assessed sports nutrition knowledge, nutrition-related beliefs, and dietary practices among African football players across all six Confederation of African Football zones and examined how age, sex, education, and competitive level relate to sports nutrition knowledge.

Exploratory analysis of plasma pTau181 and frontal EEG in young male rugby players with cumulative sport-related concussions

2026-07-15

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a common injury in rugby and has been implicated in long-term neurodegenerative risks. However, early indicators of neurophysiological and molecular changes in active athletes remain poorly defined. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between cumulative SRC exposure and biomarkers of early neurodegeneration in rugby athletes.

Resistance training frequency and hyperuricemia in South Korea, 2016–2023: a nationally representative cross-sectional study

2026-07-15

Hyperuricemia affects approximately one in seven adults in the Western Pacific region and is linked to multiple cardiometabolic diseases. Despite established benefits of resistance training for metabolic health, its relationship with hyperuricemia remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between resistance training frequency and hyperuricemia in Korean adults.

Cognitive–motor training – a narrative cornerstone review and systematic classification approach

2026-07-12

Cognitive–motor training consists of exercises combining cognitive and motor tasks (either applied sequentially or simultaneously) to stimulate both neurocognitive and motor domains. While evidence for the benefits of cognitive–motor training is well established in older adults (e.g., concerning falls as a clinical outcome), its clinical and scientific use nowadays extends toward the treatment of neurological diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), the assessment and treatment of sport-related concussion, and performance enhancement in athletes.

“A good bang for your buck”: Practitioner perspectives of prescribing and monitoring High-Intensity Multimodal Training

2026-07-12

High-Intensity Multimodal Training (HIMT) combines high-intensity aerobic, resistance and/or bodyweight training throughout a single session. It is widely used in community settings and may promote time-efficient participation in physical activity and exercise enjoyment. Despite this, there remains large heterogeneity in the literature, limiting the understanding of the best practice methods for practitioners to prescribe and monitor HIMT. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the professional experiences of HIMT practitioners to gain insight into current real-world practice.

Injury as a barrier to sport and physical activity participation in physically inactive women

2026-07-12

To describe the demographic characteristics of physically inactive women self-reporting injury as a barrier to organised sport/physical activity and explore associations between these variables.

Running ahead of the evidence? Rethinking the exercise–cognition consensus after five decades of research

2026-07-09

The Internet is flooded with short news, feature articles, videos, and podcasts extolling the goodness of physical exercise. For a few years now, these claims have increasingly emphasized the cognitive benefits of practicing physical exercise regularly, statements and beliefs that are seemingly supported by hundreds of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), dozens of meta-analyses synthesizing this empirical work, and even endorsements from the World Health Organization (WHO). This consensus, however, deserves closer scrutiny.

Associations between high-volume exercise during pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review

2026-07-07

The safety of exceeding existing antenatal exercise volume recommendations is unclear. We synthesised the literature investigating associations between high-volume antenatal exercise and pregnancy outcomes.

The impact of age and aging on exercise-induced thermoregulatory responses during a 15-km road race

2026-07-06

To assess the effect of age and aging on thermoregulatory responses during a 15-km road race under real-world conditions.

Does it sound like a problem? Knee crepitus prevalence and self-reported frequency in runners with and without knee surgery and its association with knee osteoarthritis beliefs

2026-07-01

To compare the prevalence (objectively assessed) and self-reported frequency of knee crepitus between runners with and without a history of knee surgery and evaluate associations between knee crepitus and knee osteoarthritis beliefs.

The declining age of peak performance in the Australian Football League: a position-dependent analysis (2012–2025)

Shane A. Richards, Dean Dagan, Binuk Kodituwakku, Geoffrey N. Tuck — 2026-06-29

This study investigates changes in peak performance age among AFL players from 2012 to 2025 using player rating data across 118,185 games. Peak age declined across all six positions investigated, shifting 2–4 years younger, with the largest changes in ruck and key defenders. By 2025, peak age was 23–24 years for all positions. These trends indicate a narrowing performance gap between younger and older players, consistent with advances in sports science and youth development programs. The analysis provides a benchmarking tool for evaluating player impact with potential to inform list management decisions.

Injury epidemiology in female youth rugby league: Ankle, head, and knee sites most affected

A.M. McCarthy, B.A. Morris, D.E. Ferris, S.M. Birse, R.G. Crowther — 2026-06-28

Participation among female youth in competitive rugby league has grown rapidly, leading to an increased injury rate. Collecting female injury data in rugby league seasons helps identify injury patterns, enabling targeted interventions to reduce injuries. This study aimed to describe the site, type, and mechanism of injuries in under-17 and under-19 female rugby league players.

Incidence, prevalence and risk factors for symptomatic lumbar bone stress injury in female and male youth cricket bowlers

Adam P. Daniels, Benjamin K. Weeks, Belinda R. Beck — 2026-06-25

To determine incidence, prevalence of and risk factors for lumbar bone stress injuries in youth cricket bowlers.

Talk yourself back on track: Motivational self-talk reverses ego depletion in endurance swimming

Aïmen Khacharem — 2026-06-25

This study investigated whether a structured motivational self-talk intervention could mitigate the negative effects of prior cognitive exertion on endurance performance during a simulated competitive swimming trial.

Injuries and illnesses in female ringette athletes competing at the Canada Winter Games

2026-06-22

To describe injury and illness rates, locations, mechanisms, and types among ringette athletes competing at the Canada Games.

How to estimate physical activity prevalence in children and adolescents?

2026-06-21

This study examined whether children and adolescents meet the guideline of 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by analyzing the proportion of active days on school and non-school days.

Potential head injuries in women's football: Identification of coachable moments

2026-06-19

To describe and analyse mechanisms of potential head injuries across a range of playing age-groups during women's European international tournaments and explore whether there were any ‘coachable moments’ which might prevent a similar incident from being repeated in the future. (NB ‘coachable moment’ was defined as a player action or behaviour that could be modified through coaching (i.e. it is considered modifiable).)

Preparticipation examinations for varsity female athletes: The Canadian healthcare practitioners' perspectives

2026-06-19

Preparticipation examinations (PPEs) are widely used in sport to gather baseline health data before a competitive season. However, content is not standardized across institutions and is often not tailored to health needs of female athletes.

Exploring the presence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) risk factors in talented Polish youth female football players: A single-team study using the IOC REDs CAT2 tool

2026-06-19

To explore Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)-related risk in talented youth female football players in Poland using the International Olympic Committee (IOC) REDs Clinical Assessment Tool version 2 (CAT2), and to examine associations with injury-related outcomes.

The risk of subsequent concussion in adolescent ice hockey players with ≥2 concussions

2026-06-19

We compared the risk of first and second concussions using Cox models in 11–17-year-old community ice hockey players with ≥2 concussions. Of 4418 participants, 20 participants with ≥2 concussions met our eligibility criteria. Participants without medical clearance had a 4-fold increased risk for second concussion, and those with medical clearance had no increased risk. Playing in a body-checking league did not affect the increase in risk. Although the sample size was small leading to large uncertainty, the results are qualitatively different from previous findings suggesting no increased risk in adults managed according to accepted concussion protocols.

Technology for physical activity promotion: A bibliometric analysis over four decades using an AI-human hybrid search and selection model

2026-06-19

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to map the development of technology use in physical activity (PA) promotion and identify key trends and transitions across four decades.

Challenging foundations and conventions: embracing psychophysiological interdependence in athlete recovery

Robin T. Thorpe, Suzanna Russell — 2026-06-18

Athlete recovery is a multifaceted process encompassing both physiological restoration and psychological restoration, modulated by the interplay of external load, individual stress response, and competition demands.1 The cumulative physical and mental strain associated with elite-level sport can impair performance through diminished training quality, increased injury risk, and reduced competitive output. The escalating frequency and intensity of modern competition have amplified these challenges, particularly for athletes competing across multiple leagues and international tournaments.

Classifying footballers with a visual impairment: The relationship between visual function and technical performance

2026-06-16

The classification system for blind and partially sighted football is currently based on the World Health Organisation's definition of vision impairment and does not account for the impact of impairment on performance. Therefore, governing bodies require sport-specific and evidence-based classification systems. Through analysing the relationship between vision impairment and technical performance, the study aimed to produce evidence that can be used for sport-specific classification in football for athletes with vision impairment.

Why do we run? A cross-sectional analysis of motivation profiles and training characteristics in the Garmin-RUNSAFE Running Health Cohort Study

2026-06-16

To investigate motivation profiles of runners and explore how they relate to training characteristics.

Effects of eccentric cycling training on aerobic and functional capacity in patients with heart failure: A randomised controlled trial

2026-06-11

To evaluate the effects of eccentric and conventional concentric cycle training on aerobic and functional capacity and health-related quality of life in patients with heart failure.

Is physical activity and sport participation equal for all adolescents in Ireland?

Kwok Ng, Wesley O'Brien, Catherine Woods — 2026-06-10

Physical activity and sport participation is seen as a vehicle for social integration in a changing and rapidly advancing society. Physical activity and sport participation rates among immigrants are low, but less is known about how the rates differ by nationality groups. The aims of this study were to examine the levels of physical activity and sport participation through school and community sport activities by nationality groups and how they differ to Irish adolescents.

Effect of lowering the maximum tackle height in English Schoolboy rugby union on tackle characteristics, and all-injury and concussion rates

2026-06-04

We would like to thank the editor for the opportunity to respond to the comments submitted by the reader regarding our article, “The effect of lowering the maximum tackle height in English Schoolboy rugby union on tackle characteristics and all-injury and concussion rates”, published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport in Volume 29, March 2026.1 We are grateful to the reader for their careful engagement with our work and for raising important points regarding our methods and interpretation.

Injury incidence and prevalence across the women's cricket performance pathway in England and Wales: a three-season retrospective cohort study

2026-06-04

To describe the epidemiology of time-loss and non-time-loss injuries in the women's cricket professional pathway across international, domestic and academy levels in England and Wales.

Heat preparation and nutrition strategies for a 100-mile ultramarathon in extreme heat: A questionnaire study at the Western States Endurance Run

2026-06-03

This study examined heat preparation, nutritional strategies, and gastrointestinal symptoms of runners competing in the 2025 Western States Endurance Run, a 100-mile ultra-marathon with extreme heat exposure.

Comment on “The effect of lowering the maximum tackle height in English Schoolboy rugby union on tackle characteristics and all-injury and concussion rates”

Swarupanjali Padhi, Prashant Ramdas Kokiwar, Janvi Patel, Ankita Kalra — 2026-06-03

We read with interest the recent prospective cohort study in Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport evaluating a reduction in the maximum legal tackle height from the shoulder to the armpit in English U15 and U18 schoolboy rugby.1 The study reported fewer shoulder-height contacts and more tacklers bent at the waist after the law change, but no significant reduction in overall injury or concussion incidence. This is an important contribution in a policy area where prospective youth data remain limited.

Corrigendum to “What lies behind injury prevention behaviour in youth handball and football? A cross-sectional nationwide study of behavioural constructs in 865 coaches and players” [J Sci Med Sport volume 29, issue 4 (2026). Pages 385–392, DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.10.009]

2026-06-02

The authors regret that an error was identified in Table 3, where estimates for the full sample were incorrectly reported as estimates for boys only. This error affected the reported significant differences between and within sports but did not alter the study conclusions.

Understanding symptoms of swimming-induced pulmonary oedema through the patient's perspective: a qualitative approach

Evelyn N. Ong, Louise H. Naylor, Timothy Budden, Nat Benjanuvatra — 2026-06-01

Swimming-induced pulmonary oedema (SIPE)d is a potentially fatal condition that can develop in healthy individuals during swimming. Detailed descriptions of episode onset to resolution are lacking but needed to facilitate early recognition and support swimmer safety. We aimed to explore personal accounts of SIPE, focusing on the symptoms.

Tackle behaviour trial lowers concussion and overall injury rates: A seven-season prospective study in adult men's, women's and schoolboy rugby union

2026-05-25

To determine the impact of lowering the legal tackle height from the armpit to the base of the sternum on tackle-event match concussion, all tackle-event and overall match injury rates across adult community (men and women) and schoolboy rugby union competitions in Ireland.

“I'm breaking my back for this sport and they're not supporting me”

2026-05-21

The elite athlete low back pain experience is typically examined through an individualistic lens, which overlooks the broader societal context in which pain, disability and recovery occur. We aimed to examine the societal and structural factors influencing the recovery experiences of elite athletes with persistent low back pain.

Large variations in analgesic consumption patterns in youth elite athletes: a 28-week prospective cohort study

2026-05-19

In this prospective cohort study, we aimed to identify different analgesic consumption patterns among 690 youth elite athletes and 505 students (15–20 years). Group-based trajectory modeling identified distinct consumption patterns and mixed-effects Poisson regression estimated relative risks of analgesic use between groups based on weekly reports of analgesic use over 28 weeks. Four patterns emerged: minimal/non-users (48% athletes/53% students), occasional users (31%/33%), frequent users (19%/11%), and persistent users (2.5%/3.2%), and relative risks of use increased with higher trajectory groups.

Prevalence of stress urinary incontinence and associated factors in elite female football players: Better understanding for better prevention

2026-05-18

Stress urinary incontinence affects many female athletes. Its effect in elite women's football has received little attention. This study aims to determine the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in elite women's football, investigate its triggers, analyze compensatory strategies, and identify practical solutions to reduce its impact on health and performance.

Sprint acceleration technique is associated with lower limb injury epidemiology in professional male Rugby Union players: a seven-season analysis

James J. Wild, Neil E. Bezodis — 2026-05-14

To investigate whether sprint acceleration technique is associated with the epidemiology of non-contact lower limb running-based injuries in professional male Rugby Union players.

From plan to practice: Development, awareness, and implementation of sports injury and illness risk management plans in a professional male football setting

2026-05-13

To examine the development, stakeholder involvement, and implementation of risk management plans in professional football clubs in Qatar during the 2022–2023 season, with a focus on creation, team awareness, and completion of mitigation tasks.

Doping susceptibility in Korean athletes: A validation study of the ADBS-K

Youngho Kim, Dojin An — 2026-05-13

The current study aimed at developing a doping behavior scale for Korean athletes based on the Sport Drug Control Model, and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

Artificial intelligence applications in sport-related concussion: an updated scoping review

2026-05-07

Sport-related concussion is a complex mild traumatic brain injury for which diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis remain largely dependent on subjective clinical assessment. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a potential tool to enhance objectivity by integrating large, multimodal datasets across the concussion care pathway.

Sport-specific prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) risk among Finnish female national- and international-level athletes

2026-05-07

To determine the prevalence and sport-specific patterns of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport risk among Finnish national- and international-level female athletes and active non-athletes.

Effects of head impact exposure on in-game heart rate dynamics in Canadian varsity football athletes

2026-05-06

To characterize the association between head impact exposure and heart rate dynamics during varsity football games.

Implementing Prep to be PRO - Bridging the gap between design and delivery

Heiestad Hege, Myklebust Grethe, Bahr Roald, Holm Moseid Christine — 2026-05-05

Prep to be PRO is a comprehensive, module-based educational program for young athletes attending sport high schools, focusing on injury and illness prevention, long-term development, and health literacy, delivered by the school's coaching and teaching staff. Guided by the TRIPP and RE-AIM frameworks, this study aimed to evaluate the final development phase. We explored early coach and athlete experiences and examined the implementation process using Durlak and DuPre's eight dimensions of implementation quality to identify factors that may facilitate or hinder future integration of the program into routine practice.

Agreement between lactate threshold and critical speed in trained, highly trained, and World Class runners

Katie L. Rainsberger, Andrew W. Subudhi, James Pearson, Marissa N. Baranauskas — 2026-04-30

To determine whether differences between laboratory-based lactate and field-based critical speed estimates of the heavy-to-severe intensity threshold vary by athlete caliber, and to assess agreement between methods.

Probability of meeting the restrained sitting guideline in early childhood: an international cross-sectional study

2026-04-27

To estimate the proportion of children who meet the restrained sitting guidelines (i.e. <1 h in continuous restrained sedentary). The secondary aim was to determine which factors contribute to the probability a child will meet the restrained sitting guidelines.

Physical activity intensity in active learning: Implications for sports medicine and early childhood cognitive development

2026-04-27

We have read with great interest the recent article by Martin Martinez and colleagues on the effects of active learning based on physical activity at varying intensities on foreign language vocabulary, cognitive performance, and physical fitness in preschool children.1 The ELFIT study makes an important contribution to sports medicine and exercise science, particularly in the context of school-based interventions in early childhood, which are still relatively rare in experimental, randomized, controlled designs.

Trends in sport and active recreation participation during the transition from mid to late adulthood: A longitudinal cohort analysis of sociodemographic patterns

2026-04-27

To examine five-year trends in participation in sports and active recreation during the transition from midlife to early older age, and to assess how these trends varied by sex, age group, and education level.

Physical activity and active recreation practices of LGBTQIA+ individuals in regional and rural Australia: A cross-sectional analysis of 17,398 residents

Chathurani De Silva, Emiliano Mazzoli, Nicola D. Ridgers, Lisa M. Barnett — 2026-04-27

To explore physical activity and active recreation participation among LGBTQIA+ adults in regional and rural Australia using census data.

Ultrasound-based evaluation of changes in tendon macro- and micromorphology following exercise and ESWT in mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy: A randomized clinical trial with a 26-week follow-up

2026-04-27

To evaluate effects of progressive resistance training alone and in combination with focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy on tendon macromorphology measured by ultrasound and micromorphology evaluated using spatial frequency analysis in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

Water-resistant sunscreen use may increase core body temperature during prolonged exercise in the heat

Julián C. Garzón-Mosquera, Luis Fernando Aragón Vargas — 2026-04-24

To examine the effects of a water-resistant sunscreen on body mass loss, skin temperature (Tskin), and core temperature (Tcore) during prolonged exercise in the heat.

Impact of changes in pitch limit guidelines on position distribution and capitellar OCD in youth baseball: A 6-year cohort study

2026-04-19

To evaluate changes in position distribution and capitellar osteochondritis dissecans detected at annual screening before and after the 2019 introduction of pitch limit guidelines, focusing on dual-role players.

Association of cardiovascular health status and cardiac troponin proteoforms following endurance exercise: a case series of long-distance walkers

2026-04-15

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevations are common after strenuous exercise and may present a sign of cardiac vulnerability. From our derivation cohort of long-distance walkers (n = 804), we re-analyzed blood samples from six individuals exhibiting very high post-exercise cTnT concentrations using Gel Filtration Chromatography to explore associations between cTnT proteoforms and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Healthy individuals demonstrated elevated concentrations in small cTnT proteoforms (<20 kDa), whereas individuals with CVD demonstrated elevated concentrations of both small and large cTnT proteoforms (≥29 kDa).

Medical encounters in Brazilian trail running: A multicenter study and safety framework

Camila Romano Berindoague, Bruno Vergara, Rafael de Araujo Porto — 2026-04-15

This multicenter study analyzes medical encounters across 17 Brazilian trail running events involving 18,314 athletes (2022–2025). With a 4.5% medical attendance rate, findings reveal a significant paradigm shift: systemic illnesses—including exercise-associated collapse, heat stroke, and hyponatremia—accounted for 66% of encounters, while injuries represented only 34%. Tropical climate stressors likely exacerbate these clinical risks, particularly among males aged 31–50. To bridge the gap between sport growth and athlete safety, we propose a six-pillar framework to establish a structured national medical surveillance system for trail running in Brazil, transitioning from a data vacuum to specialized, evidence-based care.

Supraventricular arrhythmias and left atrial evaluation in athletes by CMR: going beyond the left ventricle

2026-04-14

Regular physical exercise induces cardiac morpho-functional adaptation, ventricular dilatation, increased left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, and low-normal ejection fraction (EF) with preserved stroke volume. The extent of cardiac remodelling depends on type, intensity and volume of training, being highest in high cardiovascular (CV) demand sports.1 Whilst dilatation often involves all the cardiac chambers, including the atria, data on left atrial (LA) remodelling and function from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) remain limited, despite echocardiographic studies highlighting this phenomenon.

The VEGFA and KDR genes are associated with bilateral and multiple chronic Achilles tendon injuries

2026-04-12

Pain is the primary symptom of Achilles tendinopathy, with neovascularisation implicated in symptom development despite unclear mechanisms. Neovascularisation and pain are regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and its receptor, KDR. Since VEGFA polymorphisms have previously been associated with Achilles tendinopathy, this study aimed to determine whether VEGFA (rs699947 C>A, rs2010963 G>C) and/or KDR (rs2071559 C>T, rs1870377 A>T) polymorphisms are associated with exercise-related pain at injury onset, multiple and/or bilateral injuries, as well as self-reported pain using multidimensional pain scales.

Explainable artificial intelligence models for accurate physical activity prediction using wearable device data

2026-04-10

Wearable devices such as smartwatches are increasingly used for physical activity monitoring, but their proprietary algorithms often lack transparency and limit generalizability. Existing machine learning models prioritize accuracy, overlooking interpretability and real-world applicability. This study addresses these gaps by applying explainable deep learning techniques to raw sensor data from commercial devices.

Hypertensive responses to exercise after 12-weeks of high-intensity interval training or moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training in patients with persistent and permanent atrial fibrillation: a non-prespecified post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial

2026-04-09

Does 12-weeks of high-intensity interval training or moderate-to-vigorous intensity continuous training lead to changes in hypertensive responses to exercise in adults with atrial fibrillation?

Cumulative increases in circulating mtDNA as a potential biomarker of brain injury in rugby union: a pilot study

2026-04-06

Rugby is a high contact sport that can lead to head contact events, especially in forward players, triggering inflammatory processes. Mitochondrial DNA, released during injury, may act as a proinflammatory signal. This study aimed to assess levels of three mitochondrial DNA forms—mitochondrial (Fraction 1), protein bound (Fraction 2), and naked (Fraction 3) - across a rugby season and correlate them with neuroinflammatory markers, blood parameters, and head impact exposure.

The association between sibling characteristics and young females' physical activity

2026-04-06

This study examined the associations of sibling constellation variables (sex and relative age) with (i) the proportion of female children meeting physical activity guidelines and (ii) their context of weekend play (indoor quiet play and outdoor time).

Reliability of novel diagnostic protocols for metabolic performance determinants in swimming

Tinka Smolarek, Patrick Wahl, Sebastian Keller — 2026-04-02

While reliable performance diagnostics are crucial for guiding training and detecting small changes in swimming performance, the reliability of existing protocols remains insufficiently evaluated.

Soccer-related blunt chest trauma inducing aberrant supraventricular tachycardia and unmasking Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome in an adolescent

Mohammed Abrahim, Neil Dilworth — 2026-04-01

We report a rare case of a hemodynamically unstable adolescent boy who developed aberrant supraventricular tachycardia following minor blunt chest trauma during soccer, successfully terminated with vagal maneuvers alone. Post-termination electrocardiography revealed previously unrecognized Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. This case demonstrates that seemingly minor blunt chest trauma during contact sports can precipitate clinically significant arrhythmias in children with occult conduction abnormalities.

The effect of adherence to functional stability training on lower-limb injury prevention: A meta-analysis based on intervention type and training dose

Jinfa Gu, Shiwei Chen, Zhongxu Hu, Yu Zhang, Ruohan Zhang — 2026-03-29

To quantify the effect of functional stability training on lower-limb injury risk in athletes and assess whether programme composition, programme type, weekly frequency, and adherence modify effectiveness.

Is the muscle post-ACL injury ready to rebuild or is it limited by mitochondrial dysfunction?

2026-03-29

Muscle atrophy following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is often attributed to disuse, neural inhibition (commonly termed arthrogenic muscle inhibition, AMI), or poor adherence to rehabilitation. Yet emerging evidence challenges this narrative. Persistent atrophy has been documented even among elite athletes who resume high-level sport participation, suggesting that traditional explanations may be incomplete.1 Recent work instead points to a deeper barrier to recovery: a problematic metabolic environment in the quadriceps muscle, characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative distress.

A characterisation of elite open water swimmers' core temperature responses and preparation practices in European Aquatics competitions

2026-03-27

Open water swimming competition occurs within a water temperature (Tw) range (World Aquatics Tw: 16–31 °C) where heat- (hyperthermia) and cold-related (hypothermia) medical events and race-dropouts regularly occur. These can be attributed to the thermodynamic properties of water and human thermoregulatory (Treg) maladaptations for submersion [modest deviations (±0.5–2 °C) in core temperature (Tc) can impair performance and health]. Additionally, little real-world knowledge regarding elite open water swimmer preparation [e.g., heat/cold acclimation/acclimatisation] for extreme environments is available.

“It's about the cake, not the icing”: The current state of the Australian high-performance sport pathway system: A qualitative gap analysis study

2026-03-26

Primary: To examine the current macro-system state of the Australian high-performance sport (HPS) pathway system and characterise macro-system level factors (gaps) influencing athlete attrition, including the relationships between these factors.Secondary: To develop an integrative framework to increase awareness and facilitate targeted discussions about how to retain talented athletes within HPS pathway programmes.

Chinese coaches' perceptions of non-physical factors in training adaptation: A multicausal, cross-cultural perspective

Kechi Anyadike-Danes, Meijun Qu, Lars Donath — 2026-03-26

Chinese coaches were surveyed to examine their opinion on non-physical factors role in training adaptation and performance, results were compared with prior Western data and the influence of cultural reasoning styles on causal prioritisation considered.

Comparison of haemoglobin mass across elite endurance sports and within-subject reliability using the optimised CO re-breathing method

David J. Green, Clare Lobb, Ben E. Scott, Gareth Turner — 2026-03-26

Total haemoglobin mass (tHbmass) is a critical factor in endurance performance. The aim of this study was to compare tHbmass between elite endurance athletes of different sports and assess the reliability of the optimised carbon monoxide rebreathing (oCOR) method in elite endurance athletes.

Multisensory assessment and machine learning for athlete classification in talent identification

2026-03-25

Talent identification in elite sport is challenged by maturation confounding and limited objective assessment tools. This preliminary study examined whether visual-vestibular-somatosensory and autonomic (VVS-A) measures distinguished podium-level from entry-level divers using machine learning.

Development of a machine learning model to detect toddlers' physical activity and sedentary time using accelerometers: Little Movers Activity Analysis

2026-03-18

Toddler movement patterns challenge current accelerometer-based detection of physical activity (PA) and sedentary time (SED). The objectives of this study were to: (1) develop a novel machine learning (ML) model to detect toddlers' PA and SED; and (2) compare this ML model to existing cut-point methods to analyze toddlers' PA (independent sample cross-validation of existing methods).

It's never too late: The impact of resistance training on strength and body composition in females across the lifespan – A systematic review and meta-analysis

2026-03-18

Resistance training improves muscular strength and body composition, yet women are underrepresented in research, and guidelines are mainly based on men. No meta-analysis has systematically evaluated its effects on strength and body composition in women. This study therefore synthesizes evidence across the female lifespan and examines potential dose–response relationship.

Effects of diagnostic labels on management intentions for patellofemoral pain: An online randomised experimental study

2026-03-16

To investigate whether different labels for patellofemoral pain influence peoples' perceived need for imaging (primary outcome), surgery, an injection, a second opinion, and relative rest and activity modification, perceived seriousness of the conditions, concern about exercise and physical activity engagement, and recovery expectations; and whether being engaged in recreational sport influenced the effect of labels on outcomes.

Normative values for hip strength and range of motion in Dutch professional female football players – PROFE hip study

2026-03-16

This cross-sectional study aimed to determine normative values for hip strength and range of motion in professional female football players and to explore associations of age, playing position, leg dominance, hip/groin symptoms and previous hip/groin injuries. By establishing baseline measures, this study aims to provide reference values that can help guide injury prevention strategies in female football players.

The impact of bio-banding on technical–tactical performance in youth handball: first insights from male and female academy players

2026-03-12

To examine and compare the impact of bio-banding with regard to age group competition on technical–tactical performance in young male and female handball players.

The missing pieces: A systematic review of the reporting of resistance training variables in studies of pregnant women

Alexandra Geard, Thomas M. Doering, Michael A. Carron, Melanie Hayman — 2026-03-03

To examine the comprehensiveness in reporting resistance training variables among studies of pregnant women.

Adaptations to endurance vs strength training in elite athletes revealed by serum proteomics

2026-02-18

Elite training induces profound physiological adaptations, yet whether these changes manifest as stable circulating proteomes remains unclear. This study characterized serum proteomic profiles in male and female Olympic-level athletes to identify biomarkers associated with long-term endurance and strength training.

Chasing safety: Race-day falls and injuries in Irish professional and amateur horseracing from 2016 to 2024

Alannah Reville, John Corrigan, Jennifer Pugh, Siobhan O'Connor — 2026-02-15

This study aimed to: 1) examine fall and injury incidence in Irish horseracing between 2016 and 2024, 2) establish injury characteristics, 3) compare incidence rates between professional and amateur racing and 4) investigate changes in incidence rates over time.

Viewpoint: Defining and developing the Pacific ‘elite athlete’ – Considerations for Pacific Island Countries

Andy Roosen, Alison Burchell, Stephen Cobley — 2026-01-29

Notwithstanding cases of high performance, Pacific Island (PI) athletes or team presence in international sporting competition may be considered limited or underrepresented. For instance, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, 105 PI athletes, of an estimated 10,500 total, attended. Of which, Fiji contributed 33 mainly due to the Men's and Women's Rugby Sevens events.1 When comparing to other similar geography and population-sized regions like the Caribbean, some countries had larger numbers of ‘qualified on merit’ athlete delegations such as Cuba (61), Jamaica (58), Dominican Republic (58), and Puerto Rico (51).

WITHDRAWN: Response to reassessing the link between PA and CKD in CMD patients

Hongyan Liu, Zhongli Wang, Saijun Zhou, Yao Lin, Guangyang Ma, Rui Zhang, Pei Yu — 2025-12-03

The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport is withdrawing this letter at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The letter is a response to another letter. During the production process of the original letter, the corresponding author did not complete proof corrections or respond to repeated editorial communications. As a result, the correspondence record could not be finalised in accordance with the journal’s publication standards. In the absence of a complete and verified exchange, the Editor-in-Chief has decided to withdraw both the letter and the associated author response to maintain clarity of the scholarly record.

WITHDRAWN: Reassessing the link between PA and CKD in CMD patients

Dongxu Gao — 2025-11-12

The Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport is withdrawing this letter at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. During the production process, the corresponding author did not complete proof corrections or respond to repeated editorial communications. As a result, the correspondence record could not be finalised in accordance with the journal’s publication standards. In the absence of a complete and verified exchange, the Editor-in-Chief has decided to withdraw both the letter and the associated author response to maintain clarity of the scholarly record.

WITHDRAWN: The decrement in swimming performance following an increase in training volume is associated with muscle fibre typology

2022-08-22

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the authors. The Publisher regrets any inconvenience that this may cause.The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy

Editorial Board

2026-08

Editorial

2026-08

In light of what was arguably the most widely debated sports medicine/science topic outside of actual match play this World Cup, the editorial team at JSAMS felt the need to weigh into the discussion of hydration and/or cooling breaks (the exact description seemingly evolving over the course of the tournament). As anyone who follows the game knows, FIFA implemented mandatory 3-min “hydration” breaks midway through each half of every match in what was described as player welfare measure. More appropriately referred to as cooling, these breaks are part of a wider heat-mitigation strategy, but were instituted specifically amid concerns of extreme heat during games played across the different North American sites.