Physical activity is frequently touted as beneficial for mental health. This paper, based on a 2023 ACSM colloquium, highlights key strengths and limitations of the evidence regarding physical activity and mental health from three perspectives: epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trial experiments, and investigations that explicitly consider the potential role that contextual factors, such

PURPOSE While weight-bearing physical activity (PA) benefits bone health, it remains unclear whether PA can counteract hormone-driven menopausal bone deterioration. This secondary analysis of a population-based prospective follow-up study examined changes in bone health indicators around menopause and evaluated whether accelerometer-measured habitual skeletal loading is associated with these changes

Exercise in warm environments increases thermal/cardiovascular strain and decreases gastrointestinal (GI) integrity and endurance performance. However, laboratory-based studies have provided little to/no facing airflow, potentially exacerbating these effects, particularly for cycling, where convective cooling may be a major contributor to thermal balance. PURPOSE This study investigated the effect

PURPOSE This study investigated the mechanisms of neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in quadriceps and hamstring muscles following soccer match-play and typical training sessions dedicated to the physical development of players. METHODS Fifteen male professional academy soccer players completed at different visits a 90-minute simulated soccer match-play (MATCH) and four training sessions modulating

PURPOSE This study aimed to determine whether individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) can activate the fibularis longus compartments with high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) biofeedback to the same extent as those without CAI, and to analyze the effect of ankle position on compartment activation in individuals with CAI using HD-sEMG feedback. METHODS There were 16 volunteers per

PURPOSE To examine movement behaviour with stress-related biomarkers alongside self-reported mental health issues in adolescents with Neurodevelopmental disorders. METHODS One hundred fifty-one adolescents with clinically diagnosed NDD and aged between 12-17 years were recruited in Hong Kong secondary schools. Salivary cortisol as a stress-related biomarker and self-reported mental health variables

AIM We examined bench press adaptations to three widely used strength training methods; maximal strength training (MST), hypertrophy training (HT) and explosive strength training (EST). To reflect how these methods are typically applied by practitioners, MST and EST were volume matched, whereas HT were performed at higher volume. METHODS Sixty-three moderately trained subjects (32 males; 31 females)

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate differences in cortical activation between individuals with and without chronic ankle instability (CAI) during a dorsi-plantarflexion task and further explore its association with sensorimotor function. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, 62 participants were recruited, including 31 adults with CAI and 31 healthy adults. Sensorimotor functions, including

PURPOSE We investigated if a bout of HIIE is more efficacious at reducing postprandial hyperglycemia than an isocaloric bout of MICE. METHODS Nineteen healthy physically active individuals (21% women) completed three trials in a randomized order: i) HIIE cycling consisting of 5 bouts of 4 min at 83 ± 9% of subjects' maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2 MAX) with active recoveries at 53 ± 8% for a total

INTRODUCTION We compared the 12-months effects of arthroscopic surgery and physiotherapist-led care for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome on the time-varying magnitude of hip contact force and muscle contributions to hip contact force during walking. METHODS Secondary analysis was performed on thirty-seven individuals with FAI syndrome who received biomechanical assessment before and 12-months

INTRODUCTION We tested the hypothesis that muscle damage protection effect would be induced by its antagonist muscle eccentric exercise. METHODS Sedentary young (20-28y) men were randomly assigned into six groups; three groups each for arm or leg exercise group (n = 12/group). One group performed two bouts of 30 maximal eccentric contractions (30MaxEC) of the elbow flexors (EF) or 60 maximal eccentric

PURPOSE To identify clinical concussion assessment outcomes that uniquely capture simulated driving performance among acutely concussed individuals, relative to controls. METHODS Cross-sectional design. Twenty-eight college students within 72-hours of concussion and 46 non-concussed controls participated in the study. We collected the following clinical concussion assessment outcomes: 4 concussion

INTRODUCTION Mountain ultramarathon induces extreme physiological stress for the human body. For instance, a decrease in total hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) due to severe hemolysis is historically suspected. Nevertheless, hematological changes following a 330-km mountain ultramarathon have to date never been investigated. METHODS Blood volumes were determined before (pre-) and after (post-) a 330-km race

INTRODUCTION Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common running-related injuries. PURPOSE The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of PF and identify potential risk or protective factors for PF in runners and non-runners. METHODS Data from 1206 participants from the 4HAIE cohort study (563 females/643 males; 715 runners/491 non-runners; 18-65 years of age) were included

INTRODUCTION Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit autonomic dysfunction, which contributes to reduced work capacity. The metaboreflex produces exercise-induced sympathoexcitation and can be assessed via post-exercise muscle ischemia (PEMI). Blunted sympathoexcitation is common in individuals with DS and contributes to the physiological basis for reduced work capacity observed this population

INTRODUCTION A bout of vigorous endurance exercise transiently activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and reduces TLR4 protein expressed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Endurance training, on the other hand, reduces TLR4-mediated signaling and minimizes the physiological stress imposed by exercise. Less is known about what occurs in skeletal muscle regarding TLR4 regulation and signaling

PURPOSE Cold limb immersion, a form of cryotherapy, can cause cardiovascular changes due to cold-pain induced autonomic reflexes. This cryotherapy treatment side effect has received less attention but could have direct implications for physical rehabilitation of individuals with cardiovascular comorbidities. METHODS To test hypotheses related to the pressor effects of varied limb sites and surface

ABSTRACT Changes in skeletal muscle size may be affected by resting blood flow (e.g., nutrient delivery) and this change in size is a hypothesized mechanism for changes in strength. PURPOSE To determine: 1) whether the relationship between isometric training and muscle growth depends on baseline blood flow or is mediated by a change in blood flow and 2) whether muscle growth mediates changes in maximal

INTRODUCTION Formulating individualized optimized jump training prescriptions based on the force-velocity profile has become popular, but its effectiveness has been contested. Such training programs have opposite effects on 'maximal average force' and 'maximal average shortening velocity', and we set out to investigate which training-induced changes in the neuromuscular system could cause such effects

PURPOSE The purpose of this project was to evaluate trends in daily steps in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) over a 12-month period using continuous activity monitoring. Environmental (temperature) and cultural factors (represented by day of the week) were evaluated as potential external sources of variability. It was hypothesized that participants daily step counts would decline over the

PURPOSE Valgus load opens the medial elbow compartment, causing elongation of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) that can eventually lead to attenuation and failure. Ideally, the muscles surrounding the medial aspect of elbow joint should coordinate medial elbow compression to prevent the medial elbow compartment from opening and loading the UCL. This study aimed to determine whether baseball pitchers

PURPOSE Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) over the primary motor cortex modulates activity of the underlying neural tissue, but little is known about its consequence on neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) and its neural correlates. This study aimed to compare the effects of facilitatory versus inhibitory TBS on the NMF and excitability/inhibition of the corticospinal pathway in an unfatigued/fatigued muscle. METHODS

Purpose: The associations between work time, leisure-time, and non-workday physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SED) and 24 h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) are not well known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between domain-specific activity behavior and 24 h blood pressure.Methods: A hundred and fifty-six aging workers (mean age 62.4 [SD 1.0] years, BMI

Purpose: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor impairments and subsequent physical activity (PA) deficits in middle childhood. It is not well understood when this gap in PA emerges. The purpose of the current study was to examine the longitudinal trajectories of device-assessed PA in a large cohort of children with and without DCD from

Purpose: This study compared the effects of four different resistance training (RT) programs that differed in the set configuration (cluster vs. traditional) and the blood flow condition [free-flow (FF) vs. blood flow restriction (BFR)] on strength, neuromuscular and hypertrophic adaptations.Methods: Forty-two resistance-trained males were randomly assigned into four protocols that differed in the

Purpose: To examine the relationship between menstrual cycle (MC) phase-dependent fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone and virtual cycling race performance, with a secondary aim of correlating perceived MC-related symptoms with performance.Methods: In a novel observational study design, thirty-seven female cyclists/triathletes not using any hormonal contraception completed one virtual cycling

Purpose: This study assessed the impact of a 12-week, home-based exercise training (HBET) program on health-related quality of life (HRQOL, primary outcome), cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in pediatric COVID-19 patients.Methods: In this single-center, randomized controlled trial conducted in Sao Paulo (Brazil) from October 2020 to January 2022, 32 patients (mean age 12 ± 3.3 years; median

Introduction: Carbon plates have been used to increase running shoes' longitudinal bending stiffness (LBS), but their effect during a long duration run remains unknown. Our study aimed to identify the effect of LBS on energy cost of running (Cr), biomechanics, and fatigue during a half-marathon.Methods: Thirteen well-trained male runners (half-marathon time < 1 h40) performed two half-marathons at

Purpose: Cardiac rehabilitation participation rates are low despite strong recommendations, and many chronic heart failure patients remain physically inactive. Rural living, long travel distance, costs, age, and frailty might be factors explaining this. To increase cardiac rehabilitation uptake, we designed an exercise-based randomized controlled telerehabilitation trial enabling chronic heart failure

Purpose: Ingestion of whey protein increases myofibrillar but not muscle connective protein synthesis rates. Recently, we defined a whey and collagen protein blend (5:1-ratio) to optimize post-prandial plasma amino acid availability. Here, we assessed the ability of this blend to increase myofibrillar and muscle connective protein synthesis rates at rest and during early recovery from exercise.Methods:

Introduction: Female athletes are underrepresented in concussion research, and few studies have investigated associations of ovarian hormones with concussion outcomes. This study explored associations of concussion with levels and variability of progesterone, estradiol, and their ratio (P/E) and examined relationships of hormone levels with clinical measures and recovery after concussion in CARE Consortium

Purpose: To investigate associations between hormonal contraceptive use and physical performance, body composition, and musculoskeletal injuries in basic military training.Methods: Female British Army recruits (n = 450) were grouped as non-users (n = 182), combined oral contraceptive users (COCP; n = 184), or progestin-only users (POC; n = 144). Physical performance (2.4 km run, lift strength, leg

Purpose: The relationship between sedentary time, physical activity, and cardiometabolic risk factors during the transition from adolescence to adulthood remain uncertain. We examined the prospective associations of sedentary time and physical activity at age 15 with cardiometabolic risk markers at age 24.Methods: We used data from the Physical Activity among Norwegian Children Studies (PANCS). Sedentary

PURPOSE Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) translates heart rate during physical activity (PA) into a weekly score, that credits vigorous over low- and moderate intensity PA. We prospectively investigated the association between PAI and fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) in self-reported healthy participants from Norway, with specific reference to improving the accuracy of conventional

INTRODUCTION Changes in plasma concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10, after acute resistance exercise (RE) have been widely explored. Whether observed changes in plasma cytokine concentration correspond to the activation of anti-inflammatory signaling pathways in immune cells after acute RE is unknown. This study aimed to determine if changes in plasma

INTRODUCTION Skeletal muscle satellite cells (SC) contribute to the adaptive process of resistance exercise training (RET) and may be influenced by nutritional supplementation. However, little research exists on the impact of multi-ingredient supplementation on the SC response to RET. PURPOSE We tested the effect of a multi-ingredient supplement (MIS) including whey protein, creatine, leucine, calcium

INTRODUCTION The reduction in sex hormone production across the menopause transition is thought to accelerate age-related decline in muscle mass, strength, and stability, increasing the risk of falls and fractures. We aimed to investigate whether a novel low-impact resistance exercise program could improve strength, balance, and body composition and whether any improvement was affected by menopause

PURPOSE Research on intermittent training has mainly focused on the effects of exercise intensity while overlooking the specific impact of the modulations associated with alternating exercise and recovery. This study investigated how the frequency of modulations during moderate-intensity exercise affects post-exercise vagal reactivation. METHODS Healthy, active females and males aged 18-39 years were

PURPOSE Aging is associated with declines in cognition and mental health that might be ameliorated by physical activity (PA). Dance integrates multiple physical, cognitive, and social elements, and might be an avenue for improving cognition and mood. This systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) examined the effects of formal and traditional dance on cognition, depression, and anxiety in older adults

PURPOSE American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) metabolic equations are used to estimate energy expenditure (EE) of physical activity and prescribe aerobic exercise to meet EE requirements. Limited evidence supports their accuracy in sedentary adults with overweight or obesity during controlled exercise interventions. The purpose of this study was to compare EE estimated by the ACSM walking equation

PURPOSE There is controversy whether there are meaningful physiological differences between hypobaric (HH) and normobaric hypoxia (NH). This study aimed to compare the cardiorespiratory responses to acute HH and NH under strictly controlled conditions. We hypothesized no differences at rest and during submaximal exercise, whereas during maximal exercise, a higher maximal ventilation (V̇Emax), peripheral

Excessive body weight and adiposity contribute to many adverse health concerns. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recognizes that the condition of excess body weight and adiposity is complex, with numerous factors warranting consideration. The ACSM published a position stand on this topic in 2001 with an update in 2009, and a consensus paper on the role of physical activity in the prevention

INTRODUCTION Patients with heritable thoracic aortic disease (HTAD)are often restricted from sports and certain types of exercise. This study was designed to investigate the effect of lifetime exercise exposure and competitive sports participation on quality of life (QOL) in patients aged 15-35 with syndromic [Marfan syndrome (MFS), Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS)]

PURPOSE To assess associations of theoretically reallocating time from sleep, sedentary behavior, or light intensity physical activity (LPA) to moderate/vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) during pregnancy with infant growth outcomes. METHODS We used data from a cohort of pregnant individuals with overweight or obesity (n = 116). At 9-15 and 30-36 weeks gestation, waking movement was measured

PURPOSE Obesity increases colon cancer risk that has been previously linked to marrow-derived myeloid cells. We previously demonstrated that exercise training (EX) prevents colon cancer initiation, potentially through reduced myelopoiesis. However, it remains unknown whether early myeloid cell accumulation and inflammation in the colon precedes carcinogenesis with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity

PURPOSE This study aimed to provide evidence for the interpretation of the projected frontal area (PFA) during front crawl. To achieve this goal, we developed a method for calculating the PFA of each body segment using digital human technology and compared the pressure drag under two calculation conditions: a combination of the PFA with and without accounting for the horizontal velocity of each body

PURPOSE To open up new horizons of translational research, we studied the lactate threshold (LT)-dependent physiological responses and adaptations to exercise in rats, highlighting the importance of intensity-specific studies for optimizing exercise prescriptions. LT is physiologically related to the non-invasive gas exchange threshold (GET), and both thresholds are moderate-heavy-intensity boundary

PURPOSE Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) declines with age, and greater declines increase the risk for adverse health outcomes. Understanding factors that attenuate age-related decreases in CRF can help extend healthy life. We sought to determine the longitudinal associations of aerobic physical activity, muscle-strengthening activity (MSA), and adiposity with CRF. METHODS Study participants were enrolled

PURPOSE To investigate the effect of exercise intensity on standing shooting performance and related technical variables in elite biathletes performing roller skiing and live shooting outdoors. METHODS Nineteen male biathletes performed two 5-shot series in the following order of exercise intensity: rest, low (%heart rate max 73 ± 4; blood lactate 1.5 ± 0.3 mmol·L-1), moderate (84 ± 3; 2.4 ± 0.6),

BACKGROUND Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is a popular rehabilitation intervention after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). However, there are a lack of clinical trials establishing the efficacy of using BFRT during rehabilitation to improve quadriceps muscle function. PURPOSE To evaluate the efficacy of blood flow restriction training to improve quadriceps muscle strength, morphology

PURPOSE To investigate the effects of acute diet and exercise manipulation on resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurement variability and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition estimates. METHODS 10 male and 10 female endurance athletes (12 cyclists, 5 triathletes, 4 runners) of Tier 2 (n = 18) to Tier 3 (n = 2) calibre underwent five conditions using a Latin square counterbalance design

PURPOSE Physical activity and a healthy lifestyle play an essential role in optimizing long-term health in patients with Fontan physiology. Wrist-worn activity trackers may be useful in medically directed exercise programs for patients with Fontan physiology. The objective of this study was to measure the validity of Garmin and Fitbit activity tracker heart rate detection in patients with Fontan circulation

PURPOSE Exertional heat stress can induce systemic endotoxin exposure and a pro-inflammatory cascade, likely impairing thermoregulation. Cannabidiol (CBD) is protective in pre-clinical models of tissue ischaemia and inflammation. Therefore, this study examined the effects of CBD ingestion on exercise-induced thermoregulatory and inflammatory responses. METHODS In a randomised, double-blinded study

Hypertension affects one in three adults globally and is the leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. While blood pressure measurements at rest are fundamental to the detection and management of hypertension, abnormal blood pressure responses to exercise, namely an exaggerated exercise blood pressure (EEBP), can provide additional independent information about current and future hypertension

PURPOSE Despite recent treatment advances, esophageal cancer still has poor survival and a high morbidity. Exploratory evidence suggests that exercise can reduce cancer-related mortality and recurrence rates. Here, we investigated the effects of an exercise intervention in the first year after esophagectomy on survival in participants of the Physical ExeRcise Following Esophageal Cancer Treatment (PERFECT)-trial

PURPOSE Exercise-nutrient timing is of interest for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a potential method to optimize glycemic control. However, the optimal nutritional environment for exercise is not well understood over the long term. The Fasted Exercise for Type 2 Diabetes (FED) Trial compared 16 wk of fasted versus postprandial morning exercise on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and liver proton

PURPOSE Females typically present with a higher prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and such a higher prevalence may be due to unique knee biomechanics during walking. However, the sex-dependent ambulatory mechanics has been yet to be clarified. To address this critical knowledge gap, this study implemented a series of computational approaches 1) to identify sex-related knee joint biomechanics

INTRODUCTION Aberrant knee mechanics during gait 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) are associated with markers of knee cartilage degeneration. The purpose of this study was to compare loading during walking gait in quadriceps tendon, bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB), and hamstring tendon autograft patients 6 months post-ACLR using loadsol single sensor insoles, and to

PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of 8 wk of no intervention (CON), lower limb heat therapy (HEAT), moderate-intensity exercise training (EX), or combined training and therapy (HEATEX) in young, healthy recreationally active adults. METHODS Sixty participants (23 ± 3 yr, 30 females) were randomly allocated into CON ( n = 15), HEAT ( n = 15), EX ( n = 14), or HEATEX ( n = 16)

INTRODUCTION Active drag in swimming is a critical variable that affects swimmers' performance, as well as the physiological load, but it is challenging for practitioners to assess this variable. This study aimed to assess if the load-velocity profiling method can be used as an indicator of active drag. METHODS A total of 419 swimmers performed three semitethered swimming trials in their speciality