Background/Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined how training age, chronological age, and biological maturity influence motor and perceptual–cognitive performance in youth soccer players, with relevance for health and well-being through sport participation. Methods: Forty-one male athletes (age = 14.86 ± 0.81 years) completed a two-day field-based assessment following a holistic framework integrating motor (sprinting, jumping, and agility) and perceptual–cognitive components (psychomotor speed, visuospatial working memory, and spatial visualization). Biological maturity was estimated using the maturity offset method. Results: Regression analyses showed that biological maturity and training age significantly predicted motor performance, particularly sprinting, jumping, and pre-planned agility, whereas chronological age was not a predictor. In contrast, neither maturity nor training experience influenced perceptual–cognitive skills. Among cognitive measures, only psychomotor speed significantly predicted reactive agility, emphasizing the role of rapid information processing in dynamic, game-specific contexts. Conclusions: Youth soccer training should address both physical and cognitive development through complementary strategies. Physical preparation should be tailored to maturity status to ensure safe and progressive loading, while systematic training of psychomotor speed and decision-making should enhance reactive agility and game intelligence. Integrating maturity and perceptual–cognitive assessments may support individualized development, improved performance, and long-term well-being.

Purpose: This study examined the underlying mechanisms of postactivation potentiation and the time course of muscular- and neural-related variables. Methods: Fourteen trained males executed 4 sets of six 6-second maximum isometric conditioning plantar flexions, with 15 seconds and 2 minutes of interval between the contractions and sets, respectively. Peak twitch torque (TT), rate of torque development, time to peak torque, half relaxation time, and the neural-related variables of H-reflex and electromyogram, normalized to the maximum M-wave (H/M and RMS/M, respectively), were evaluated, as well as the level of the voluntary activation, assessed by the twitch interpolation technique. All neural-related variables were analyzed for the trial within each set when TT was maximal and for the trial within each set when the neural-related variable itself was maximal. Results: Compared with the baseline measures, TT and rate of torque development significantly increased in all sets (P < .001), whereas time to peak torque and half relaxation time significantly decreased in sets 1 to 4 and 2 to 4, respectively (P < .001). However, H/M and the RMS/M did not change for the repetition of each set for which the TT was maximal (P > .05). Interestingly, the within-set maximum H/M ratio of the lateral gastrocnemius muscle revealed a significant increase in all sets (P < .05), compared with the baseline measures. Conclusion: One set of 4 contractions with 6-second duration is sufficient to cause postactivation potentiation for most participants, whereas peak TT augmentation does not coincide with changes in the examined neural-related variables. Further experiments should consider the time lag on their maximal values and their inherent between-participants variability.

The aim of this study was to examine the acute effect of backward running (BwR) during warm-up on a 20-m sprint of boys’ performance, compared to forward running (FwR). Fourteen recreationally active preadolescent boys (aged 12.5 ± 0.5 years) were examined in 3 protocols: warm-up (control condition), warm-up with 3 × 10 m additional BwR sprints and warm-up with 3 × 10 m additional FwR sprints. Participants were evaluated 4 minutes after each protocol on a 20-m sprint and intermediate distances, as well as the rate of perceived exertion (RPE). Sprint speed across 10-20 m was significantly higher for the BwR warm-up compared to the regular warm-up (p < 0.05) and a significantly higher RPE after the BwR and FwR protocols compared to the control condition was recorded (p < 0.05). No significant difference was detected across the distances 0–5, 5–10, 0–10 and 0–20 m. Although adding 3 × 10-m sprints of BwR or FwR after the warm-up did not enhance performance in a 20 m sprint of preadolescent boys, the positive effect of BwR across 10–20 m distance suggests that BwR could be an alternative means for enhancing performance for certain phases of a sprint for this age. However, preadolescent boys’ response to different sprint conditioning exercise stimuli and the optimization of rest time to maximize performance remain to be determined.

This systematic review documents the protocol characteristics of studies that used neuromuscular electrical stimulation protocols (NMES) on the plantar flexors [through triceps surae (TS) or tibial nerve (TN) stimulation] to stimulate afferent pathways. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement, was registered to PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022345194) and was funded by the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Technology (ERA-NET NEURON JTC 2020). Included were original research articles on healthy adults, with NMES interventions applied on TN or TS or both. Four databases (Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were systematically searched, in addition to a manual search using the citations of included studies. Quality assessment was conducted on 32 eligible studies by estimating the risk of bias with the checklist of the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Eighty-seven protocols were analyzed, with descriptive statistics. Compared to TS, TN stimulation has been reported in a wider range of frequencies (5–100, vs. 20–200 Hz) and normalization methods for the contraction intensity. The pulse duration ranged from 0.2 to 1 ms for both TS and TN protocols. It is concluded that with increasing popularity of NMES protocols in intervention and rehabilitation, future studies may use a wider range of stimulation attributes, to stimulate motor neurons via afferent pathways, but, on the other hand, additional studies may explore new protocols, targeting for more optimal effectiveness. Furthermore, future studies should consider methodological issues, such as stimulation efficacy (e.g., positioning over the motor point) and reporting of level of discomfort during the application of NMES protocols to reduce the inherent variability of the results.

This cross-sectional study examined the change in walking performance across adulthood using the 6-minute walking test, the 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and the timed-up and go. Seventy-seven participants were divided into five groups [Young (Y: 20-39 years), Middle-aged (M: 40-59 years), Young-old (YO: 60-69 years), Old (O: 70-79 years), Older-old adults (OO: 80+ years)] performed the three walking tests. In addition, different gait parameters were measured during the 10MWT using Optogait system. Analysis of variances indicated that performances on the three tests were better for Y and M compared to YO, O and OO (p < .001). Breakpoint analysis indicated that performance across the different walking tests started to worsen around 50 years old. Multiple regression showed that step length, stance duration, and sex explained 89% of the variance in 10MWT performance. However, mediation analyses revealed that PF force influenced step length but did not mediate its effect on walking speed, while it significantly mediated the stance duration-performance relationship. Age impacted both gait parameters but only mediated the impact of stance duration on performance. Additionally, PF force mediated the age-step length relation. These findings reveal an age-related decline in walking performance, regardless of task complexity, and demonstrate that the relationship between step length and stance duration with walking speed is influenced by PF force and age. This offers a novel framework for early detection and interventions targeting stance-phase control and step length to preserve mobility and independence in the aging population.