This study examined the effects of one night of sleep deprivation on lower-limb biomechanics and running economy while running at different intensities. Sixteen healthy recreational runners (7 male, 9 female) completed a randomized crossover study comparing one night of total sleep deprivation (SDEP) with normal sleep (CON). In each condition, participants completed submaximal treadmill running at intensities corresponding to 90% LT1, LT1, and 90% LT2, followed by a fourth interval to exhaustion at LT2. Spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic data were collected using an instrumented treadmill and 3D motion capture, while metabolic rate was assessed via indirect calorimetry. Sleep-deprived subjects were running with a lower cadence (p=.030), longer ground contact time (p<0.001), and higher duty factor (p=0.012). Peak vertical ground reaction force and loading rate were reduced in SDEP (p=0.002 and p=0.011). Knee flexion angle and peak knee extensor moment during the stance phase were larger in SDEP (p=0.015 and p=0.037). Average positive knee power increased in SDEP (p=0.019), while average positive ankle power decreased in SDEP (p =0.019). SDEP also led to a decrease in leg stiffness (p=0.028). Gross metabolic power was significantly reduced in SDEP compared to CON, suggesting improved running economy (p<0.001). Time to exhaustion during the last running interval was reduced by 13.2% in SDEP compared to CON (p=0.023). Sleep deprivation increased duty factor, shifted joint contributions from distal to proximal muscles and reduced leg stiffness while also reducing gross metabolic power at a given speed. Despite these efficiency gains, participants fatigued more quickly at their second lactate threshold.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of an anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the level of competition and match running performance over the following three seasons after return-to-play in professional male football players. Fifty-one football players from LaLiga who sustained a complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture were retrospectively followed over the three seasons after their return-to-play. Their level of competition and match running performance metrics were obtained via Mediacoach® and subsequently compared across different time points: (1) PRE (season before injury); (2) INJ (season of the anterior cruciate ligament rupture); and (3) POST1, (4) POST2, and (5) POST3 (first, second, and third seasons after returning-to-play). Outcomes were analysed overall, by field position and by age group (≤ 25 and > 25 years). By the POST3 season following the anterior cruciate ligament injury, 35 of the 51 players (68.5%) were still competing in one of the top five UEFA leagues (34 in LaLiga and 1 in another top-five league), 11 (21.6%) were playing in lower-tier leagues, and 5 (9.8%) had retired. Maximum running speed decreased at POST1 and POST2 (p < 0.050) compared with PRE. Only players > 25 years experienced a significant decrease in their maximum running speed during POST2 and POST3 (p < 0.050) in comparison with PRE-values. A complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture in football from LaLiga players led to a decline in the level of competition and reductions in their maximum running speed up to three seasons after return-to-play. Players > 25 years were more vulnerable to sustain performance losses.
Running injuries are frequently linked to biomechanical factors. Although there has been substantial research investigating the link between kinematic factors and running injury, there has been comparatively less focus on the role of muscle coordination. Previous literature has identified that altered EMG patterns may contribute to the overloading of tissues and to the development or persistence of injury. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to synthesize previous research comparing Electromyography (EMG) patterns between injured (Patellofemoral Pain, Achilles Tendinopathy, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and Hamstring Strain Injury) and uninjured runners. Six databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) were searched from inception to February 2025. Included studies assessed muscle activation via EMG during treadmill or overground running or sprinting. Methodological quality was rated independently by two reviewers using a modified Downs and Black checklist. Meta-analyses were deemed appropriate if more than two studies measured the same outcome parameter. Seventeen studies were included. Strong evidence indicated no consistent differences in Gluteus Maximus or Gluteus Medius amplitude, or in the onset and duration of Gluteus Medius, Vastus Medialis Oblique, or Vastus Lateralis activity between runners with patellofemoral pain and uninjured runners. These conclusions were based on pooled analyses of relevant subsets of patellofemoral pain studies for each outcome, rather than the full body of included literature. Furthermore, strong evidence indicated no differences in Gluteus Medius amplitude, onset and duration in all running injury populations compared to controls. These conclusions were based on pooled analyses of relevant subsets studies that measured Gluteus Medius for each outcome. These findings suggest neuromuscular deficits are not present across or within specific injury types (Patellofemoral Pain, Achilles Tendinopathy, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome and Hamstring Strain Injury). The findings may reflect methodological inconsistencies across studies, such as electrode placement, EMG normalisation, task design, and participant characteristics. Future research should adopt standardised EMG protocols, consider the role of the entire kinetic chain, and thoroughly report participant running profiles.
Robinson, RM and Hahn, ME. The effect of resistance training on uphill running economy and biomechanics. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an 8-week resistance training program on level ground and uphill running economy (RE) in recreational runners and determine whether changes in RE were associated with changes in running biomechanics and lower-extremity muscle strength. Twenty-five recreational runners (12 female, age: 34.2 ± 13.2 years, mass: 70.4 ± 13.0 kg, height: 176.4 ± 9.2 cm) were randomly allocated to a resistance training or control group. The resistance training group completed 8 weeks of resistance training focused on the hip extensors, knee extensors, and ankle plantar flexors. Level ground and uphill (5 and 10% grade) RE, biomechanics, and isokinetic dynamometry tests were performed by all subjects before and after the intervention period. Despite a significant group-by-time interaction effect for plantar flexor strength (p = 0.026), RE, joint work, and joint stiffness were not significantly affected by the resistance training program for any grade condition (p > 0.05). Although some subjects did demonstrate changes in RE above the smallest worthwhile change, change in RE was not significantly correlated with change in strength or running biomechanics (p > 0.05). Although numerous benefits for resistance training have been reported for endurance runners, coaches, health care providers, and athletes may need to explore other interventions to change RE or biomechanics.
Human running is generally robust to external perturbations, yet the underlying whole-body mechanics governing perturbation recovery remain poorly understood. Existing research has primarily focused on perturbation recovery during walking, whereas running remains underrepresented despite its distinct mechanical characteristics. In the present study, sixteen participants ran at 2.5 m·s-1 while standardized late-stance slip-like anterior-posterior perturbations were induced. Perturbations were applied as sudden accelerations of the treadmill belt, expected but not predictable in timing. Sagittal whole-body angular momentum (WBAM) and external angular impulse were calculated to investigate the underlying mechanics of perturbation recovery. In addition, we investigated the effects of trunk forward leaning on perturbation recovery, as trunk kinematics strongly influence the whole-body center of mass position and thereby the generation of angular impulse during stance. Balance control was quantified using WBAM-based perturbation recovery time. Recovery was governed by reactive sagittal WBAM regulation through backward angular impulse generation, arising from sustained propulsive ground reaction forces and a pronounced initial vertical ground reaction force peak across successive recovery steps. Forward leaning did not affect perturbation recovery time, indicating that forward leaning does not impair balance control. Instead, forward leaning reduced baseline steady-state WBAM range before perturbation onset and the peak forward WBAM excursion following perturbations. This suggests that leaning forward may lead to greater reliance on feedforward control mechanisms, as reflected in a tighter baseline sagittal WBAM control. These findings highlight that robust balance control following slip-like anterior-posterior perturbations in human running reflects regulation of sagittal WBAM through complementary reactive and feedforward mechanisms.
Individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) history show altered running mechanics. Mechanical work analysis is useful for identifying compensatory strategies. Negative work represents energy absorption and positive work represents energy generation. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare the mechanical work distribution across the hip, knee, and ankle joints during running in individuals with ACLR, uninvolved limb, and healthy control group. Twenty-two male recreational athletes with unilateral ACLR and 22 healthy-male controls ran overground at 3.3 m/s. We used 3-Dimensional motion-capture and force-plate data to calculate positive and negative mechanical work and the relative contributions of the ankle, knee, and hip joints during stance-phase of running. A mixed-design ANOVA followed by univariate ANOVAs was used to assess the effects of ACLR on the outcomes. ACLR limb demonstrated significantly less negative and positive work at the knee compared to the uninvolved and control limbs (pholm < 0.05). This deficit was compensated for by significantly greater negative work at the hip (pholm = 0.018 vs. uninvolved) and significantly greater positive work at the ankle (pholm < 0.001 vs. uninvolved;pholm = 0.005 vs. control). The relative contributions of the joints to total work reflected these changes, showing a shift in mechanical load away from the knee and onto the hip and ankle. Individuals with a history of ACLR exhibit significant redistribution of mechanical work during running, characterized by a knee-unloading strategy compensated for by increased hip absorption and ankle propulsion. This pattern highlights the need for whole-limb function-based rehabilitation that extends beyond isolated-knee recovery.
Hallux Valgus (HV) is a common deformity in runners that reflects altered foot morphology and thereby redistributes mechanical loads along the lower limb, possibly increasing injury risk. However, the biomechanical consequences of this deformity on loading at common running injury locations, and the resulting fatigue-failure injury risk remain undocumented. This study integrated gait analysis with subject-specific musculoskeletal modelling to estimate Achilles tendon, plantar fascia, patellofemoral, and tibial loading and probability of fatigue-failure during running at 12 km/h in a cohort of 26 runners with HV and 26 healthy controls. HV runners exhibited pronounced structural deviation, reflected by increased hallux valgus and intermetatarsal angles, and elevated Foot Posture Index scores. During running, HV runners showed reduced ankle and metatarsophalangeal range of motions and increased peak joint moments (ankle p = 0.004; MTP p = 0.003). These biomechanical alterations were associated with higher Cumulative Load, Cumulative Damage, and Probability of Fatigue Failure, particularly in the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, whereas tibial loading was largely similar to individuals without HV. To enable individualized prediction of biomechanical loading at the four injury locations, we trained deep learning models that used IMU input data (Model 1) or IMU plus foot structure data (Model 2). Model 1 (SSO-CNN-BiLSTM-HAM) accurately estimated loading indices (R² = 0.89-0.93), and Model 2 further enhanced predictive accuracy (R² = 0.94-0.97). Collectively, these findings suggest that HVA and foot posture index-related structural deviations increase lower-limb loading patterns and accelerate tissue fatigue-failure probability.
Ischemic heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and exercise is recognized as one of the most effective non-pharmacological strategies for cardioprotection. Voluntary wheel running in mice is an established experimental model that induces systemic and cardiac adaptations, yet the molecular mediators underlying exercise-induced cardioprotection remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of thioredoxin-1 (Trx1), a potent intracellular antioxidant, in the cardioprotective effects of exercise. Mice underwent four weeks of voluntary wheel running, achieving an average distance of approximately 7 km per day. Exercised wild-type mice exhibited reduced infarct size following ischemia/reperfusion injury, along with physiological adaptations such as increased heart and skeletal muscle mass and improved autonomic regulation. In contrast, mice expressing inactive Trx1 failed to benefit from exercise, showing no reduction in infarct size compared with sedentary controls. These findings demonstrate that functional Trx1 is required for exercise-induced myocardial protection and is associated with the activation of prosurvival signaling pathways. Understanding the interplay between Trx1 and exercise may provide new insight into the mechanisms of cardioprotection and help guide the development of cost-effective, non-invasive strategies for the prevention and treatment of ischemic heart disease.
Understanding biological and race strategy characteristics of endurance track runners competing at benchmark events provides high-performance athletics programmes and coaches with valuable insight into what is required to succeed. The aim of this systematic review was to identify biological and race strategy characteristics investigated in elite able-bodied endurance track runners (Aim 1) and, where examined, highlight whether these characteristics could differentiate performance success within this elite cohort (Aim 2). For this systematic review, searches across EBSCOhost (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE Complete and SPORTDiscus), Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were completed until May 2023. Searches also involved World Athletics Research Centre, New Studies in Athletics, handsearching and scanning of reference lists of included studies. Eligible studies were required to be published in English and have investigated performance-related biological or race strategy characteristics among senior able-bodied endurance track runners (800-10,000 m) capable of competing at benchmark events. Risk of bias of included studies was evaluated based on Sarmento et al.'s 16-item checklist. The review separated middle-distance runners (MDR) and long-distance runners (LDR), to account for the differing performance demands of these event groups. Studies were considered to address Aim 2 if they assessed for statistical associations between athlete characteristics and overall performance (e.g. race time) or compared characteristics between athletes with different competitive results (e.g. medallists and non-medallists). Thirty-nine articles were included in this review, with 23 and 21 of these articles relevant to MDR and LDR, respectively. The most commonly reported characteristics were related to anthropometry (7 studies for MDR and LDR), biomechanics (7 studies for LDR), pacing (9 and 10 studies for MDR and LDR, respectively), qualification pattern (6 studies for MDR) and benchmark performance relative to athlete history (9 and 7 studies for MDR and LDR, respectively). However, the diversity of biological characteristics investigated and the generally small sample sizes makes it difficult to define an optimal biological profile for elite endurance runners. In contrast, race strategy characteristics investigated often included larger sample sizes providing a better understanding, especially in relation to pacing and for middle-distance events qualification patterns. Further, studies investigating whether characteristics differentiate performance among elite endurance track runners indicate that the most successful runners consistently demonstrate superior finishing ability. This is reflected in faster speeds during at least one 100-m segment of the final 400 m of the race and the ability to complete the final segments of the race at a pace close to, or faster than, their season best or 32-month best performance. In long distance events, better performance was associated with faster personal best times across the previous 32 months, indicating that having a high-ranking recent best time may be a prerequisite for succeeding at benchmark events. Faster 10,000-m runners had lower body mass and smaller arm and calf circumferences, suggesting a potential advantage of having lower non-functional mass. In middle distance events, success was associated with achieving superior qualification positions in the heats and semi-final, highlighting the importance of tactical positioning and efficient progression through qualification rounds. Faster male 800-m runners had a technique characterised by longer contact times and more compliant spring mechanics which may allow athletes to maintain or elevate speed during the sprint finish. Biological and race strategy characteristics that profile elite endurance track runners and that, in several studies, showed association with performance success were discussed. These findings may assist high-performance athletics programmes and coaches in informing athlete development and investment. However, further research is required to establish a more holistic understanding of the biological profile of elite endurance track athletes and to determine which biological and race strategy characteristics may differentiate performance reliably among these elite runners.
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Aristotle's observational hypothesis suggests that runners may run faster if they swing their arms, yet direct evidence that arm swings enhance propulsion during running is lacking. This paper aims to develop a non-VO₂-based computational pipeline to estimate propulsive and vertical impulses from pressure/force and kinematic data, and to examine whether arm-swing modification training can improve running performance. One world-class elite sprinter performed a laboratory-based arm-swing modification session on pressure treadmill. Kinematic and pressure data before and after modifications were collected by synchronized motion capture system and pressure treadmill system and analyzed with forward and inverse dynamics. Results indicate that the linear displacement of the center of mass was highly consistent, and the integral changes of the Lagrangian were consistent with energy expenditure calculated by ACSM equations. The participant with modified arm swing exhibited smaller cadence, maximum ground reaction force, medial-lateral impulse integral, but increased step length and anterior-posterior and superior-inferior impulse integrals. These results supported the observational hypothesis, which suggested that a short period of arm-swing modification training is practical to enhance running performance in laboratory settings. Moreover, digitalization, standardization, and program training protocols would enable coaches and practitioners to develop reliable interventions for improvements in running technique and athletic performance.
In the present study, we generated crickets with knockout of either period (per) or timeless (tim) gene by CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. We also identified a naturally occurring per- mutant lacking a large coding region including PAS domains. To examine possible synergistic effects, a per- and timKO double mutant was generated by applying genome editing to the per- crickets. Under constant darkness (DD), timKO crickets exhibited a locomotor rhythm with a free-running period of 23.06 ± 0.20 h (mean ± SD), which was significantly shorter than that of the parental strain (23.78 ± 0.12 h). By contrast, perKO and per- crickets showed basically similar phenotype of locomotor rhythm: they exhibited an arrhythmic pattern during the first two to three weeks after transfer to DD but subsequently showed a complex rhythmic pattern with one or multiple components with significantly longer free-running periods (33.35 ± 10.72 h). In the per-;timKO double mutants, approximately 60% of individuals became arrhythmic, while the remaining 40% exhibited complex rhythms with extremely longer free-running periods (37.0 ± 9.17 h) under DD. These results suggest the existence of an underlying oscillatory mechanism that is responsible for regulating locomotor rhythms independently of the canonical per/tim feedback loop. Furthermore, we generated a reporter line on a per- background by knocking egfp into exon 1 of the per gene, allowing egfp expression to report per transcription. EGFP expression was detected in three distinct clusters of cells within the optic lobe: two located along the dorsal and ventral boundaries between the lamina and medulla neuropils, and one situated near the accessory medulla. These findings raise the possibility that these form part of the circadian clock network that governs circadian locomotor rhythms.
Endurance running depends on sustaining pace as physiological strain accumulates, yet fatigue-related performance variability remains incompletely characterized. Although many factors contribute to this variability, the role of psychiatric diagnosis has not been examined. Given that psychiatric diagnoses are associated with altered stress responses, this represents a potentially important but unexplored source of performance heterogeneity. This study tested whether lifetime psychiatric diagnosis was associated with marathon performance. Prior to the Boston Marathon, 450 runners completed a survey assessing psychiatric diagnostic history, demographics, training, injury status, prior marathon experience and record time, psychological traits, and current anxiety symptom severity. Official race times were obtained from race records. Goal realization was indexed as the percentage of anticipated finish time achieved. Group comparisons and Bonferroni-corrected multiple regressions assessed associations between psychiatric diagnosis and performance. Split-level performance trajectories were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Sixteen percent (16.7%) of runners reported a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis. Runners with a psychiatric diagnosis had slower finish times (M=4:14:11 vs. 3:53:59; p<0.001) and poorer goal realization (91.4% vs. 93.6%; p=0.044) than those without; although the latter was dependent on covariate adjustment. Across all covariate-adjusted models, psychiatric diagnosis remained a significant predictor of both slower finish time (β=1018.04 to 1084.17, all p<0.001) and poorer goal realization (β=-2.82 to -3.27, all p≤0.002), indicating a consistent effect independent of baseline fitness, training, and demographic factors. Split-level analyses revealed progressive pacing divergence across race distance, with runners with a psychiatric diagnosis slowing down and accumulating ~25 additional seconds/kilometer. Lifetime psychiatric diagnosis was associated with slower marathon performance and progressive pacing inefficiency under fatigue. Psychiatric diagnosis-associated susceptibility therefore represents a previously unrecognized contributor to individual differences in endurance running performance.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists reduce food intake and body weight, suggesting they should be avoided in anorexia nervosa. However, preclinical evidence that these drugs reduce activity and reward-seeking behavior raises the possibility that they might attenuate the compulsive-like hyperactivity central to ABA pathology and slow weight loss. Here, we employed a widely used rodent model of AN (activity-based anorexia, ABA) to determine whether a GLP-1R agonist would worsen or rather lessen weight loss and hyperactivity. Female mice that had continuous access to a running wheel and time-restricted food availability received systemic administration of a GLP-1R agonist, a GLP-1R antagonist, or vehicle once daily before food presentation (N = 10/group). GLP-1R agonist treatment exacerbated ABA-associated weight loss, confirming the concern that appetite suppression would worsen outcomes and failing to support the possibility that reduced compulsive-like activity might provide benefit. This effect was driven by a further suppression of food intake, while wheel running remained unchanged. Pharmacological blockade of GLP-1R signaling had no detectable effect on any parameter monitored relative to vehicle controls. These findings provide the first experimental evidence that GLP-1R agonism worsens outcomes in an animal model of anorexia nervosa. The lack of effect of GLP-1R antagonism suggests endogenous GLP-1 signaling does not substantially contribute to ABA pathology. Together, these data raise caution regarding the use of GLP-1R agonists in individuals vulnerable to restrictive eating as they are unlikely to reduce the motivation for excessive activity and can further reduce food intake.
Architectural design provides an effective pathway to tune the mechanical response of fiber-reinforced composites (FRCs) without altering material composition. Inspired by the concentric architecture of osteons in cortical bone, this study presents a framework for the design, modeling, and fabrication of multilayered cylindrical osteon-like structures (OLS) as reinforcements with tunable properties. A custom pull winding technique capable of producing continuous multilayer OLS with millimeter-scale diameters was developed. The OLS were evaluated under uniaxial loading through experimental testing and finite element simulations, including RVE-based models, with linear and nonlinear buckling analyses performed to assess structural stability. In addition, the FE model, validated against experimental results, was used as a tool to systematically investigate the effect of stacking sequence and fiber orientation on the mechanical response of the OLS. The combined experimental and numerical analyses allowed the definition of a design space for OLS length selection considering both material strength and buckling-driven instability. The results highlight the key role of fiber orientation, with OLS configurations having fibers running parallel to the OLS axis exhibiting increased axial stiffness and improved buckling performance. This framework lays the groundwork for the future development of bio-inspired laminate systems incorporating multilayer cylindrical OLS reinforcements.
Mutations in the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene lead to a hereditary type of inclusion body myositis (hIBM), in which sarcoplasmic and myonuclear inclusions with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology and mitochondrial abnormalities are observed in histological analysis. Pathophysiological conditions in the cell cause the protein quality control system to depend on the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) for degradation of accumulated misfolded proteins and mitochondrial turnover. BCL2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) protein has a role in initiating the ALP. Our aim was to ameliorate disease processes resulting from mitochondrial abnormalities and misfolded protein aggregation by upregulating the ALP through overexpression of human BAG3 (hBAG3). The VCP-A232E mouse, a model for hIBM, received AAVrh74.tMCK.hBAG3 systemically at 3 months of age, and outcome measures, including functional, histological, and molecular studies, were assessed 9 months post-gene delivery. hBAG3 treatment improved treadmill running distance and rotarod duration, reduced the number of TDP-43-positive aggregates, and decreased the number of fibers showing abnormalities in mitochondrial enzyme histochemistry, compared with the untreated cohort. Moreover, hBAG3 gene therapy resulted in improvements in mitophagy and mitochondrial homeostasis observed as increased levels in mitophagy markers Parkin and Bnip3, mitochondria biogenesis marker Pgc1α and mitochondrial DNA-encoded subunits of complex IV, Cox1 and Cox3. In addition, the LC-II/I ratio increased, indicating increased autophagic flux. Our study presents evidence that the strategy of supporting the ALP system by overexpressing BAG3 has potential therapeutic use for myodegenerative conditions associated with abnormal protein aggregates and mitochondrial turnover.
This study systematically evaluated and compared the effects of different physical activity modalities on executive function, including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and working memory, in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Six databases (CNKI, Wanfang, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase) were searched for randomized controlled trials examining physical activity interventions for executive function in children with ADHD. Studies were screened using EndNote 21, methodological quality was assessed with the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool, and meta-analyses were conducted in RevMan 5.4. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and publication bias was tested using Stata 19.0. Twenty-one RCTs involving 915 participants were included. Physical activity significantly improved executive function in children with ADHD, with interventions lasting at least six weeks and delivered at moderate-to-vigorous intensity showing greater overall benefits. Open physical activities produced stronger improvements in inhibitory control (SMD = -0.81, 95% CI [-0.97, -0.52], P < 0.00001), whereas closed physical activities were more effective for cognitive flexibility (SMD = -0.61, 95% CI [-0.84, -0.38], P < 0.00001) and working memory (SMD = -0.45, 95% CI [-0.68, -0.23], P < 0.0001). Single aerobic activities showed better effects on inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, while multi-component activities were more beneficial for working memory. By activity type, leisure-fitness activities had the strongest effect on inhibitory control, traditional aerobic activities such as running and cycling were most effective for cognitive flexibility, and ball sports showed superior effects on working memory. Structured physical activity is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for improving executive function in children with ADHD. Interventions lasting at least six weeks at moderate-to-vigorous intensity appear most beneficial. Different modalities may target distinct executive domains: open and leisure-fitness activities for inhibitory control, closed and aerobic activities for cognitive flexibility, and closed, multi-component, and ball-sport activities for working memory. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD420251080013.
Stroke prevention depends on evidence-based guidelines. This study assessed the strength of recommendations and quality of evidence in AHA/ASA primary stroke prevention guidelines across four editions (2006, 2011, 2014, 2024). Guidelines were reviewed for Class of Recommendation (COR) and Level of Evidence (LOE). Two reviewers independently extracted data using a set protocol; agreement was measured with Cohen's κ. Cochran-Armitage trend tests assessed changes in COR/LOE over time. Of 35 guideline categories, 8 were descriptive with no formal COR/LOE. The remaining 27 categories yielded 83 recommendations: 45% Class I, 19% Class IIa, 24% Class IIb, and 12% Class III. For evidence quality: 13% LOE A, 24% LOE B-R, 30% LOE B-NR, 5% LOE C-EO, and 28% LOE C-LD. LOE A recommendations fell significantly, from 41% (2006) to 13% (2024) (p < 0.001), while LOE B increased from 33% to 54% (p < 0.001). High-quality (LOE A) evidence was concentrated in pharmacological recommendations for major risk factors, while lifestyle and emerging risk domains relied mostly on LOE B or C evidence. Fewer than half of AHA/ASA primary stroke prevention recommendations carry the top COR, and only 13% rest on high-quality evidence. The drop in LOE A reflects both the guidelines' expansion into newer clinical areas and ongoing challenges in running large randomized controlled trials for those domains.
High-intensity locomotor actions (HILAs) including high-speed running (HSR), sprinting, accelerations, and decelerations are critical to performance and injury risk in professional soccer. Rapid technological and methodological developments since 2021 necessitate an updated synthesis of how these actions are quantified and interpreted in applied settings. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Academic Search Complete, Web of Science) were searched for English-language studies published between 22 March 2021 and 22 February 2025. Eligible studies included adult male professional soccer players and quantified HILAs in training and/or matches using Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Local Positioning Systems (LPS; sampling frequency > 10 Hz), or digital video-based tracking. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Most used 10 Hz GPS units (n = 16) and applied absolute thresholds (n = 16) (e.g., HSR > 19.8 km · h-¹, sprinting > 25.2 km · h-¹, accelerations/decelerations > 3 m · s-2/ < -3 m · s-2), with only four adopting relative thresholds. Data filtering procedures were often underreported, and temporal normalisation was uncommon. Tactical (e.g., formation, playing style), temporal (e.g., match phase), and positional (e.g., role, field zone) contexts were rarely considered, and only one study integrated GPS with video analysis. Training typically under-replicated match demands, particularly for non-starters. Considerable methodological heterogeneity limited cross-study comparability. In conclusion, current monitoring practices for HILAs in professional soccer remain dominated by GPS and absolute thresholds, with limited individualisation and contextual integration. Future research should prioritise standardised threshold definitions, transparent data processing, and integration of video and GPS technologies to enhance ecological validity and applied impact.