Athletic Performance

This study examines whether short-term mental fatigue and different jump instructions affect how high people can jump. Thirty-two physically active university students will complete two testing sessions in random order: one after a 30-minute mentally tiring computer task and one after a 30-minute relaxing video. In both sessions, participants will perform vertical jumps while receiving one of three types of instructions: no special instruction, focusing on their own body movements, or focusing on pushing the ground away. The study will compare jump height across these conditions to better understand how mental tiredness and coaching cues affect jumping performance, which may help coaches and athletes design better training and competition preparation.

This randomized behavioral study will evaluate whether an eight-week life skills training program will reduce cognitive sport anxiety and improve football performance in non-elite adolescent football players in China. A total of 160 players aged 14 to 17 years from 16 teams will be allocated individually within team-by-gender strata to either a life skills training group or a usual-training control group. The intervention will include 16 small-group sessions delivered twice per week for 45-60 minutes. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately after the eight-week intervention, and four weeks later. The primary psychological outcome will be cognitive anxiety derived from the Worry and Concentration Disruption subscales of the Sport Anxiety Scale-2. The primary performance outcome will be a baseline-referenced Football Performance Index derived from passing accuracy, shooting accuracy, dribbling time, and agility time. The study hypothesis is that life skills training will reduce cognitive anxiety and improve football performance, and that greater reduction in cognitive anxiety immediately after the intervention will be associated with better football performance at follow-up.

The menstrual cycle implies a basic difference in the biology of women and men but the effect of the hormonal variation on training protocols and physical performance is still not fully understood. Despite no existing evidence, the advice to periodize exercise according to the menstrual cycle has been widely spread among elite athletes, coaches, and sports federations. The advice is based on underpowered studies with considerable methodological weaknesses regarding determination of cycle phase, inclusion of athletes and lack of adequate control groups. The purpose of this randomized, controlled study is to evaluate the effect of exercise periodization on aerobic fitness during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Further, the effect will be related to premenstrual symptoms, body composition and skeletal muscle morphology, sex hormone receptors, metabolic enzymes, and markers of muscle protein synthesis. This study will be well controlled and follow methodology recommendations for menstrual cycle research in sports and exercise. Female athletes of fertile age will be randomized to different training regimens during three menstrual cycles (12 weeks): Group A: Training three times a week throughout the menstrual cycle. Group B: Follicular phase-based training five times a week during the follicular phase and thereafter once a week during the luteal phase. Group C: Luteal phase-based training five times a week during the luteal phase and once a week in the follicular phase. The exercise will consist of high intensity intermittent spinning classes. Assessment of aerobic fitness and power will be performed at baseline, and again after three completed menstrual cycles. On the same day, body composition will be examined by DXA and blood samples will be collected for analysis of hormones and binding proteins. To confirm menstrual cycle phase, blood samples will be collected for hormone determination, and urinary stick will be used for detection of ovulation. Subjective ratings of menstrual cycle related symptoms will be performed every day. In a subgroup of women, muscle biopsies will be collected from m vastus lateralis at baseline and at the end of the study. This study will contribute to improved knowledge about exercise periodization in relation to the menstrual cycle. Well-grounded data is crucial to give evidence-based recommendations to female athletes when planning their training protocol to optimize training results and performance.

This randomized controlled trial evaluates the acute effects of a single session of functional inspiratory muscle training on muscle oxygenation, exercise capacity, dynamic balance, and agility in elite male volleyball players aged 18 to 25 years. Thirty participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention group or a no-intervention control group. The intervention group will perform 60 resisted breaths at 50% of maximal inspiratory pressure using a POWERbreathe device during a sport-specific fixed-ball throwing drill. Both groups will complete assessments before and immediately after the intervention period on the same day. Quadriceps muscle oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin will be measured using a Moxy near-infrared spectroscopy monitor during the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test. Exercise capacity, dynamic balance, and agility will be assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test, Star Excursion Balance Test, and T-Test, respectively.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute, separate, and combined ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate (beetroot juice, BJ) and caffeine (CAF) supplementation on discipline-specific athletic performance. The project employs a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, four-arm crossover design. It evaluates two highly distinct, heterogeneous populations of athletes: (A) adult high-intensity functional training (HIFT/CrossFit/Hyrox) competitors performing the standardized Hyrox Physical Fitness Test (P'F'T), and (B) elite junior competitive swimmers (National Team members) performing a progressive 8 × 100 m swimming test. The study will assess physical performance, lactate kinetics, subjective exertion, biochemical indices, psychological metrics, and gastrointestinal tolerance.

The aim of this research is to determine whether sodium citrate supplementation, taken at the best individual time, would improve repeated sprint performance in professional female soccer players. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does sodium citrate improve sprint times, peak power, minimum power, and mean power during repeated sprints? 2. Does sodium citrate lower fatigue index (the drop in power across sprints) during repeated sprint exercise? 3. Does sodium citrate change blood bicarbonate, pH, and lactate levels before and after exercise? 4. Does sodium citrate affect how hard exercise feels (perceived exertion)?

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates HME (Human Muscle Equivalent), a free-form amino acid supplement formulated to match the amino acid composition of human skeletal muscle, taken at its Health Canada licensed dose (3 g powder plus one 50 mg slow-release beta-alanine capsule daily). Trained adult males (competitive athletes or certified fitness professionals) are randomized to HME or an identical-appearing placebo for 10 weeks: a 2-week supplement-only lead-in followed by 8 weeks of supplement plus supervised resistance training. The primary aim is to estimate the effect of HME on composite maximal strength (1-repetition maximum leg press plus chest press) compared with placebo. Secondary measures include isometric knee-extension strength, countermovement jump height, and subjective recovery.

Brief Summary This randomized controlled trial will compare the immediate effects of three warm-up protocols on physical performance in male amateur basketball players. A total of 45 licensed basketball players aged 15 to 25 years will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: standard dynamic warm-up, dynamic warm-up followed by classical hold-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, or dynamic warm-up followed by short-duration self-administered PNF stretching. The main outcome will be the change in countermovement jump height. Additional outcomes will include flexibility, knee range of motion, squat jump height, 20-meter sprint time, agility, dynamic balance, and perceived exertion. Measurements will be performed before the assigned warm-up protocol, immediately after the protocol, and 15 minutes after the protocol. The study aims to determine whether short-duration self-PNF stretching can improve flexibility while preserving performance more effectively than classical PNF stretching. Each participant will complete the assigned protocol and all assessments during a single study session.

Combat sport athletes often need to maintain a guarded posture, stabilize the trunk, react quickly, and control balance during contact or unexpected movement. These demands may be related not only to strength and conditioning, but also to the coordination between breathing and postural control. The diaphragm is the main muscle for breathing and also contributes to trunk stability through its role in pressure regulation and deep core control. However, dysfunctional breathing patterns, such as upper-chest dominant breathing, reduced lower rib expansion, or poor coordination between the chest and abdomen, may interfere with this function. The purpose of this study is to examine dysfunctional breathing patterns in combat sport athletes and to investigate whether diaphragmatic breathing retraining can improve breathing patterns, diaphragm function, core stability, postural control, and sport-related performance. This study will first screen athletes from combat and non-combat sports to determine the prevalence of dysfunctional breathing. Combat sport athletes will then complete laboratory tests to examine the relationship between breathing pattern, posture, diaphragm function, core stability, and postural control. In the intervention part of the study, combat sport athletes with dysfunctional breathing will be randomly assigned to diaphragmatic breathing retraining plus usual training or usual training only. The study will compare the two groups to determine whether adding diaphragmatic breathing retraining provides additional benefits. The study will also examine whether the changes are maintained after training and whether baseline measures can help identify athletes who respond better to the program.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) and Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise (BFR-NHE) on hamstring muscle strength, muscle morphology, and functional performance in elite adolescent female pole vaulters. Thirty-six athletes aged 12-18 years will be randomly assigned to a Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, a Blood Flow Restriction-assisted Nordic Hamstring Exercise group, or a control group. Intervention groups will participate in supervised exercise training three times per week for eight weeks, while the control group will continue routine sports training. Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention period.

Lower extremity strength, explosive power, dynamic balance, and functional range of motion are critical determinants of athletic performance and injury prevention in soccer (football). While plyometric training is widely used to improve these qualities, the comparative effects of bodyweight plyometric training versus externally loaded plyometric training, and the maintenance of these effects during detraining periods, remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of two different plyometric training methods on athletic performance and subsequent detraining processes in young female soccer players. Participants will be randomly assigned to three groups: Bodyweight Plyometric Training Group (BW-PT), External Loading Plyometric Training Group (EL-PT, who will wear vests weighing 10% of their body weight), and Control Group (CG, who will only continue with routine soccer training). Training interventions will be conducted for 6 weeks, immediately followed by a 4-week detraining period. To comprehensively assess athletic performance, the following measurements will be taken at baseline (pre-test), immediately after the training period (post-test), and after the detraining period (maintenance test): Isokinetic muscle strength of knee extensors and flexors (peak torque and force development rate at 60°/s and 120°/s), Jumping performance (standing long jump, vertical jump height, and 15-second repeated jump test), Functional range of motion (via Functional Movement Screen - FMS), Dynamic balance (via Y-Balance Test). The primary objective is to determine which plyometric loading strategy, compared to traditional soccer training, provides superior and longer-lasting physiological and biomechanical adaptations in young female athletes.

24 volunteer professional female volleyball players (aged 16-21), licensed in the Turkish Volleyball Federation (TVF) Women's Volleyball League 2 and 3, will be included in the study. Participants will be randomized into intervention (n=12) and control (n=12) groups using www.randomizer.org. The intervention group will receive an 8-week (3 days/week) neuro-athletic exercise training program, including eye warm-up exercises and volleyball-specific visual and motor coordination stations, in addition to their regular training. The control group will continue with regular training only. Both groups will have equal total training time. Visual attention and decision-making strategies will be measured with a wearable eye-tracking system (Pupil Labs Invisible) during a serve task. Cortical activation (oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin levels) in the frontal cortex during the same serve task will be measured simultaneously with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Sport-specific physical fitness will be evaluated with the T-Agility Test, radar gun serve speed measurement, VERT wearable jump analysis system, Y-Balance Test, and sit-and-reach test. All assessments will be conducted before training begins and after the 8-week program. The study aims to determine whether neuro-athletic exercise training improves cortical activation, visual attention, decision-making processes, and sport-specific physical fitness parameters in professional female volleyball players, compared to a control group receiving regular training only.

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of reactive balance training versus conventional balance training on dynamic stability and change of direction performance. Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups. Each group will receive its respective intervention over a 6-week period. Outcome measures, including dynamic stability assessed by the Y-Balance Test and change-of-direction performance measured using the 505 Agility Test, will be evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. The study is designed to determine which training approach is more effective in improving balance and functional performance.

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effects of core training and inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on muscle oxygenation and athletic performance in youth male soccer players aged 15-18. A total of 54 healthy soccer players will be included and randomly assigned into three equal groups: the Control Group, the Core Training Group, and the Core Training + IMT Group. All interventions will be implemented for 8 weeks in addition to routine soccer training sessions. Assessments will be performed at baseline (Week 0), mid-intervention (Week 4), and post-intervention (Week 8). The primary outcome measures of the study are aerobic capacity assessed by the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 and muscle oxygenation parameters monitored via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using a MOXY monitor. Secondary outcome measures include sprint performance, agility, dynamic balance, core muscle strength and endurance, inspiratory muscle strength, lower extremity explosive power, and soccer-specific technical performance tests. Overall, this study aims to reveal the combined effects of core training and inspiratory muscle training on muscle oxygenation, respiratory functions, aerobic capacity, and soccer performance, while explaining the underlying physiological mechanisms in youth athletes.

This study examines whether exposition to hyperbaric oxygen after a road-race simulation can help competitive cyclists recover and perform better the following day. Hyperbaric oxygen, which involves breathing oxygen inside a pressurized chamber, is used as a recovery method in elite and professional sport. Its effectiveness, however, remains controversial: despite this widespread use, there is a lack of solid scientific evidence that a single HBO session after strenuous endurance exercise actually improves recovery, or that clarifies how the amount of oxygen exposure influences any benefit. The study includes healthy male road cyclists between 18 and 40 years of age who compete at the national level in Belgium. After completing a fatiguing cycling session, each participant is randomly assigned to one of four groups receiving different levels of oxygen exposure during recovery. Two groups breathe oxygen under increased pressure inside a chamber at either 2.5 or 1.4 atmospheres absolute. A third group breathes oxygen at normal pressure. The fourth group receives a sham condition that reproduces the treatment setting without active oxygen exposure. The study is double-blind, meaning that neither the participants nor the researchers assessing the outcomes know which condition each participant receives. The main goal is to determine whether a single session of post-exercise HBO improves next-day endurance performance, and whether higher oxygen exposure produces greater effects. The researchers also collect blood samples and physiological measurements to better understand how the body recovers.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if chiropractic ankle manipulation can improve squat jump performance. It will also learn about the relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does chiropractic ankle manipulation increase squat jump height? * Is there a relationship among chiropractic ankle manipulation, ankle range of motion, and squat jump performance? Researchers will compare squat jump performance between subjects who receive chiropractic ankle manipulations with control subjects to see if ankle chiropractic manipulation works to improve squat jump performance. Participants will: * Visit the research laboratory for one testing session to measure ankle range of motion and squat jump performance, before and after their randomly assigned intervention arm * Receive either a chiropractic ankle manipulations or rest quietly as the control condition during the testing session.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will compare magnesium glycinate, magnesium L-threonate, and placebo in UCLA varsity athletes. Participants will complete a baseline monitoring period followed by 4 weeks of blinded nightly supplementation. WHOOP or study-approved wearable data will be used to evaluate sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep consistency, heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and recovery metrics. Baseline and final testing will assess selected reaction and physical performance outcomes. The primary outcome is change in WHOOP-derived sleep efficiency from baseline week to final treatment week.

This prospective observational study aims to investigate the relationship between respiratory function and multidimensional athletic performance parameters in professional soccer players. The primary hypothesis of the study is that soccer players with enhanced respiratory function and superior respiratory muscle strength will exhibit optimized motor performance outcomes and shorter (faster) reactive reaction times. Investigators will evaluate respiratory muscle strength, spirometric pulmonary functions, dynamic balance, core and abdominal endurance, and reactive visuomotor reaction times during a single testing session within the competitive season.

Comparison of Combined Sprint-Plyometric Training Versus Traditional Strength Training on Speed, Agility, Power, and Movement Quality in Intermediate Rugby Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether an individualized rowing training program based on ventilatory thresholds can improve aerobic capacity and 2,000 m rowing performance in youth rowers from Valdivia, Chile. The study will include male and female rowers aged 14 to 18 years who train regularly at Club de Remeros Arturo Prat. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve maximal oxygen uptake compared with the usual club training program? Does ventilatory threshold-based individualized training improve 2,000 m rowing ergometer performance compared with the usual club training program? Researchers will compare an individualized training group with a usual training group to see if prescribing exercise intensity based on each rower's ventilatory thresholds produces greater improvements in aerobic capacity, rowing performance, and related physiological measures. Participants will: Complete baseline and post-intervention assessments, including a cardiopulmonary exercise test on a rowing ergometer, blood lactate measurements during an incremental rowing test, a 2,000 m rowing ergometer test, body composition assessment, and respiratory muscle strength testing. Be randomly assigned to either an individualized training group or a usual training group. Complete a 12-week rowing training program. Use heart rate monitors during study training sessions so that training intensity, adherence, and safety can be monitored. Report any discomfort, injuries, or adverse events during the study. The individualized training group will train according to heart rate zones derived from each participant's ventilatory thresholds measured at baseline. The usual training group will continue the club's regular training program. The study will also explore individual variability in training response and the proportion of participants who respond or do not respond to each training approach.

This study will be conducted between May and August 2026 at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Health Sciences, with male individuals aged 18-35. For the study, cases will first be divided into 3 groups by computer-assisted randomization.The first group will be the Flex-i bar group, the second group will be the Theraband Flex bar group, and the third group will be the Sham bar group. Group 1 will perform the exercises with the Flex-i bar, while Group 2 will perform them with the Theraband Flex bar. The control group will perform the exercises with a rolling pin.After group assignment of cases is completed, demographic information such as age, height and weight of the participants will be recorded. Then, pre-exercise assessments of the participants will be conducted. The assessment will include proprioception, reaction time, power and upper extremity performance. Following the initial assessment, each group will perform their exercises with their own exercise material. Measurements will be repeated after the exercises. Measurements will be taken three times during the assessments and the best result will be recorded.

The goal of this observational study is to develop an upper extremity neurocognitive performance test battery, determine its reliability and validity, and investigate the effect of neurocognitive load on test performance in athletes and healthy volunteers aged 18-40. The main questions it aims to answer are: Are the developed upper extremity neurocognitive tests reliable and valid tool for assessment? Does the addition of neurocognitive load significantly affect upper extremity physical performance scores? Are the neurocognitive performance test results related to shoulder rotator cuff muscle strength, rate of force development, and shoulder function? Researchers will compare the neurocognitive performance of athletes to healthy non-athlete individuals to see if the test battery can effectively differentiate between these two groups (discriminative validity). Participants will: Complete demographic forms and questionnaires regarding activity level and shoulder function. Undergo shoulder range of motion and isometric strength/rate of force development assessments. Perform a battery of 4 neurocognitive tests integrated with a light-based reaction system. Perform the same functional tests without neurocognitive load to serve as a baseline for comparison. (Athletes only) Attend additional sessions to evaluate the feasibility of the tests and to assess test-retest reliability with a one-week interval.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of sideritis consumption on physiological and performance indicators in adult subjects and compare it with the control trial.

This study aims to investigate the effects of low-intensity blood flow restriction training (LI-BFRT) on lower-limb strength and kicking performance in taekwondo athletes. Blood flow restriction training is a method that partially restricts blood flow to the muscles during exercise, which may improve performance while reducing training load.

This randomized controlled trial aims to determine the effects of different drop height plyometric training protocols on lower limb explosive strength, anaerobic power, and change of direction (COD) performance in soccer players. A total of 56 competitive soccer players aged 18-30 years will be randomly allocated into three intervention groups using sealed envelope randomization: low drop height (30 cm), moderate drop height (45 cm), and high drop height (60 cm) plyometric training groups. Participants will undergo supervised plyometric training three times per week for six weeks. Outcome measures including Vertical Jump Test, Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST), and T-Test Agility Test will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS version 25 to determine within-group and between-group differences.