Wiley: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports: Table of Contents

Growth and Maturation Assessment in Youth Sport: Balancing Benefits and Risks

Tommy R. Lundberg, Gemma N. Parry, Sean P. Cumming — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:18:20 -0700

ABSTRACT

The assessment and monitoring of growth and maturation (G&M) in youth sport has become increasingly debated, with some medical advisory boards expressing concerns that weighing young athletes may contribute to body image disturbances and eating disorders. In some instances, these concerns have prompted recommendations against anthropometric assessment in youth sport. This narrative review examines the evidence for and against G&M assessment in youth sport, evaluating the benefits of appropriately implemented assessment against the potential risks. G&M assessment supports injury prevention by identifying athletes undergoing rapid growth who are at increased risk of growth-related and overuse injuries. It enables individualized training by aligning programing with biological rather than chronological age, and promotes inclusive talent identification by counteracting maturity-related selection biases that systematically exclude late-maturing athletes. While concerns about body image and eating disorders are valid, the reviewed evidence suggests that the risks are not associated with the collection of anthropometric measurements itself, but rather with how information is communicated and the broader sociocultural and coaching environments in which athletes train. Five G&M implementation principles are proposed to maximize benefits and minimize risks: stakeholder education, privacy protection, voluntary participation, assessment by trained professionals, and integration within a holistic and child-centered athlete monitoring system. Based on the evidence reviewed, G&M assessment conducted within appropriate ethical and professional frameworks can support athlete welfare, development, and equitable participation.

Examining Neuromuscular and Cortical Activity Over 1 Year Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Aglaja Busch, Frank Mayer, Heiner Baur — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:35:50 -0700

ABSTRACT

Cross-sectional studies have indicated impaired neuromuscular and cortical activities following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. However, adaptations throughout the recovery process remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine neuromuscular and cortical activity over the first year following ACL reconstruction. A prospective observational study was conducted, including 31 participants following ACL reconstruction (12 females, age: 25 ± 6 years, height: 173 ± 9 cm, mass: 72 ± 11 kg) and 31 healthy controls (12 females, age: 26 ± 6 years, height: 175 ± 9 cm, mass: 70 ± 10 kg). Electroencephalography and electromyography were used to assess cortical and neuromuscular activity during joint position sense (JPS) test, while only neuromuscular activity was recorded during stair descent and single-leg hop tasks. The ACL group underwent evaluation at five postsurgical intervals (1.5, 3–4, 6, 9, and 12 months), while the control group was assessed on a single occasion. Linear mixed models were used to compute differences in neuromuscular and cortical activity across the various time points and groups in JPS testing and stair descent, while independent and dependent t-tests were employed for analysis of the neuromuscular activity during single-leg hop. ACL-reconstructed participants demonstrated sustained altered neuromuscular activity in both involved and noninvolved limbs during JPS and stair descent tasks compared to controls (p < 0.05) with differences present across all measured time points. No significant differences in cortical EEG activity during JPS test were detected. Neuromuscular alterations were observed consistently throughout the initial year of recovery. The absence of cortical activity changes suggests a reassessment of more challenging tasks. Further investigation is required into neuromuscular and motor relearning protocols to ascertain their impact on rehabilitation and return to sport.

V̇O2 Kinetics in FatOx Determination During Incremental Exercise: Implications for Personalized Protocol Design

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:55:26 -0700

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &Science in Sports, Volume 36, Issue 8, August 2026.

Response to Comment on: Factors Affecting V̇O2 and Fat Oxidation Responses During Step Incremental Exercise

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:51:05 -0700

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &Science in Sports, Volume 36, Issue 8, August 2026.

Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence in Head‐to‐Head Exercise Intervention Studies

Casper Soendenbroe, Bo Markussen, Rene B. Svensson — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 06:22:22 -0700

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &Science in Sports, Volume 36, Issue 8, August 2026.

Issue Information

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:57:55 -0700

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine &Science in Sports, Volume 36, Issue 8, August 2026.

Altered Skeletal Muscle Phosphate Metabolism After Muscle Damage Is Associated With Elevated Effort Perception During Exercise in Humans

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 04:51:34 -0700

ABSTRACT

It remains unclear why exercising damaged muscles is perceived as disproportionately more effortful. Given the known role of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in fatigue and afferent sensory signaling, we tested whether muscle damage disrupts phosphate metabolism and whether this is associated with heightened ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Eighteen adults (23 ± 4 years) completed assessments before and 48 h after muscle damage induced by unilateral eccentric knee extensions (EIMD); the contralateral leg served as control. Magnetic resonance imaging quantified quadriceps cross-sectional area (Qcsa) and ³¹P-MR spectroscopy quantified Pi, phosphocreatine (PCr), Pi/PCr, ATPγ and pH at rest, during knee-extension exercise, and recovery. RPE was recorded throughout exercise. At 48 h, the EIMD leg showed increased soreness (17-fold), reduced maximum voluntary contraction (−18.4% ± 3.8%) and increased Qcsa (+2.8% ± 0.4%; mean individual percentage changes ± SEM; p < 0.001). Visit × condition interactions were observed for Pi, Pi/PCr, and ATPγ at rest (ηp² = 0.31–0.35) and across rest, exercise and recovery (ηp² = 0.66–0.78), but not for PCr or pH. This reflected sustained elevations of Pi and Pi/PCr, and lower ATPγ in the EIMD leg alongside higher RPE at 48 h. Elevated resting Pi/PCr was strongly associated with elevated RPE (r = 0.856, p < 0.001), whereas exercise-induced Pi/PCr changes were not associated with RPE. Overall, EIMD causes a sustained disturbance in muscle phosphate homeostasis that is strongly associated with elevated RPE. These findings provide new evidence linking resting muscle phosphate-metabolic disturbance with heightened effort perception after damage.