Clinical trials

This randomized controlled trial will investigate whether delaying the start of morning training from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM improves nocturnal sleep and change-of-direction performance in elite badminton athletes. A total of 38 athletes with an established morning-training routine will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a usual morning-training group starting at 7:00 AM or a delayed morning-training group starting at 9:00 AM. Both groups will follow the same training content, duration, intensity, coaching arrangements, and recovery procedures for three weeks. Nocturnal sleep will be objectively monitored using wrist-worn activity monitors, with total sleep time as the primary outcome. Change-of-direction performance will be assessed using the modified 505 test. Additional outcomes will include sleep opportunity, sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, nighttime awakenings, bedtime and wake time, nap duration, 24-hour total sleep, training load, and training adherence. The study aims to determine whether a later morning-training schedule can provide athletes with greater sleep opportunity without compromising training quality or physical performance.

This exploratory randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of exercise on sleep quality, emotional problems, executive function, and neurophysiological characteristics in college students with depressive symptoms. The study consists of two sequential phases: an acute exercise experiment followed by an 8-week exercise intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an exercise intervention group or a control group. Psychological questionnaires, behavioral tasks, resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), brain functional connectivity, and event-related potentials (ERP) will be assessed to evaluate behavioral and neurophysiological changes before and after exercise. The study will further examine whether the immediate response to acute exercise predicts the effectiveness of the long-term intervention.

This four-arm randomized pilot trial (N=48-60) compares four fragmentation patterns of a three-exercise resistance snack (sit-to-stand, squat, heel raise; 15 repetitions/exercise/day) in pre-frail older adults (Fried score 1-2, ≥70 years). Groups differ by repetitions/bout×bouts/day: G1=1×15, G2=3×5, G3=5×3, G4=15×1. Outcomes (lower limb strength, balance, executive function) are assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. The study will determine the optimal fragmentation pattern and provide effect sizes for a future definitive trial.