In order to systematically evaluate perceptual anticipation between experts and non-experts for different kinds of combat sports, we needed to perform a comprehensive assessment. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched four English-language and three Chinese-language databases that used expert/non-expert research paradigms, to explore perceptual anticipation in combat sports. We employed a random effects model for pooled analyses using the inverse variance method. We included 27 eligible studies involving 233 datasets in this meta-analysis. We observed large effect sizes for the differences between experts and non-experts in both response accuracy (1.51; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.87, p < 0.05) and reaction time (-0.91; 95% CI: −1.08 to−0.73, p < 0.05). We also observed substantial differences between experts and non-experts in the mean duration of visual fixations per trial (1.51; 95% CI: −2.40 to −0.63, p < 0.05), but not in the visual fixation duration (0.16; −061 to 0.92, p = 0.69). Taken together, high-level combat athletes have more advantages in perceptual anticipation than lower-level athletes, showing faster and more accurate responses when facing the opponent's attacks, as well as focusing on fewer points of visual fixations than novice athletes. Different types of combat sports and stimulus presentations affect perceptual anticipation abilities to varying extents in relation to outcome measures, with more pronounced expertise in a stimulus that is closer to real-world situations.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021226343, PROSPERO CRD42021226343.

This study aimed to compare the effects of 12 weeks of functional strength training combined with aerobic training (TG) and traditional resistance training combined with aerobic training (CG) on the body composition, physical fitness, and movement quality of obese adolescents. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either the TG group (n = 20) or the CG group (n = 20). Each group underwent training five times per week, lasting 120 min each time, over a total period of 12 weeks. All participants followed a strict dietary program. Anthropometric parameters, body composition, physical fitness, and movement quality were evaluated at baseline and after intervention. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA observed a significant interaction between time and group for body mass (p = 0.043), body fat percentage (p = 0.045), body mass index (p = 0.025), neck circumference (p = 0.01), chest circumference (p = 0.027), left-hand grip strength (p = 0.043), right-hand grip strength (p = 0.048), standing broad jump (p = 0.044), and total Functional Movement Screen score (p = 0.003), and the improvement was greater for TG in comparison to CG. TG was found to be more effective than CG in enhancing body composition, physical fitness, and movement quality in obese adolescents.

Sport visual ability plays an important role in the performance of elite athletes in competition. However, its relationship with boxers’ performance has not been fully understood. This study investigated the relationship between sports visual abilities and in-competition punching performance in 26 highly trained male amateur boxers. Ten visual abilities of the boxers were tested using the Senaptec Sensory Station (Senaptec, Beaverton, OR, United States), including Visual Clarity (VC), Contrast Sensitivity (CS), Depth Perception (DP), Near Far Quickness (NFQ), Target Capture (TC), Perception Span (PS), Multiple Object Tracking (MOT), Eye-Hand Coordination (EHC), Go/No Go (GNG), and Reaction Time (RT). Performance analyses were conducted on national boxing championships conducted by the boxers to analyze their punching accuracy. Correlation and regression analyses showed that punch performance %Hit was very strong correlated with DP, EHC, GNG, and RT, and showed a strong correlation with VC, CS, and PS. %Hit was moderate correlated with MOT, while there was no correlation with NFQ and TC. In addition, RT, EHC, and DP are important visual ability variables for boxers. The results of this study indicate that there is an overall relationship between sports visual ability and boxing performance, but there is also a specific relationship between variables in visual ability and boxing performance, especially faster reaction times, better processing of visual information, and decision-making abilities, and the ability to accurately recognize the distance and position of an opponent and their punches are essential for enhancing boxing performance. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between sport visual ability and more comprehensive performance in boxers, and the possibility of enhancing performance through specific visual training.

Aim: Sufficient strength and dynamic stability of the lower limbs are essential for improving punching force and preventing injury in amateur boxers. However, there are still no comprehensive reports on the isokinetic knee strength of boxers with different performance levels. The current study aimed to profile the isokinetic muscle strength of flexion and extension of the knee in boxers, as well as bilateral, unilateral, and functional ratios, and investigate the variation in these muscle strength characteristics associated with different performance levels.Methods: Boxers were divided in two performance groups, elite (five males and four females) and non-elite groups (five males and four females). Muscle strength of the knee was determined via an IsoMed2000 device. Parameters examined included peak torque of the hamstring (H) and quadriceps (Q) during concentric (con) and eccentric (ecc) contractions at low (60°/S), medium (180°/S), and high (240°/S) speed and bilateral ratios (BLs), unilateral ratios (ULs), and functional ratios of dominant (D) and non-dominant limbs.Results: In all angular velocities, the peak torque of H and Q was stronger in the elite group than in the non-elite group. ULs were lower in the elite group than in the non-elite group in Hcon/Qcon at 180D (p < 0.01) and 180ND (p < 0.05) and in Hecc/Qecc at 60D, 180D (p < 0.05) and 240D (p < 0.01). The elite group had higher BLs than the non-elite group in Hcon at 60°/S (p < 0.05) and Qcon at 180°/S (p < 0.05). The non-elite group had a higher functional ratio than elite boxers in Hecc/Qcon at 180D and 240D (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Elite boxers had stronger knee strength in con and ecc contractions. All boxers had normal Hecc/Qecc and Hcon/Qecc. Hcon/Qcon and Hecc/Qcon were abnormal at lower angular velocity. Elite boxers had higher BLs and lower ULs, indicating that they are at a higher risk of injury.

Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive changes in both motor and non-motor symptoms. Boxing exercise can improve PD symptoms. This review aimed to determine the effects of boxing exercise on lower extremity strength, balance, mobility, gait, depression, quality of life, disease severity, exercise safety, and adherence in patients with PD.Design: A systematic review.Setting and participants: Articles were selected if they included participants diagnosed with PD and used boxing exercise as the main intervention.Methods: Systematic review study based on PRISMA criteria. Searches were implemented in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library until February 2024. We selected studies reporting on the pre-post assessment of a boxing intervention with lower extremity strength, balance, mobility, gait, depression, quality of life, disease severity, exercise safety, and adherence in patients with PD. Two independent reviewers conducted study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database and ROBINS-I 2.0 criteria evaluated the literature’s quality.Results: Out of 4,301 records, 13 studies were included, involving 402 PD patients aged 53–89, with 72.4% being male. Interventions lasted 6–96 weeks, primarily in community settings and gymnasiums. Moderate-quality evidence suggested boxing exercises is feasible and effective for enhancing lower extremity strength, balance, mobility, gait, depression, quality of life, disease severity, exercise safety and adherence in PD patients.Conclusions and implications: Boxing exercise can effectively improve both motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients, with safety and high adherence. This review systematically summarizes the emerging evidence on the application of boxing exercise in the rehabilitation of patients with PD. Future research should include more homogenous PD patient populations and conducting randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Muscle strength in the upper and lower limbs is a major contributing factor to punch force and is one of the keys to success in boxing. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between knee and shoulder strength and punching force in boxers. METHODS: Twenty-one boxers completed knee flexion, knee extension, shoulder external rotation and internal rotation isokinetic concentric contractions at slow (60∘/s) and fast (180∘/s) angular velocities. Maximal punch force tests included lead and rear straight arm punching were assessed using a force platform. RESULTS: Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed that knee extension (r= 0.646–0.848) and knee flexion (r= 0.470–0.646) peak torques were moderately to very strongly correlated with maximal punching force in lead and rear arms. The shoulder internal rotation (r= 0.492–0.634) and shoulder external rotation (r= 0.441–0.588) peak torques were moderate to strongly correlated with maximal punching force. Moreover, knee extension peak torques at 60∘/s had higher correlation with maximal punching force. In contrast, shoulder internal rotation peak torques at 180∘/s had a larger correlation with maximal punching force. CONCLUSIONS: The main findings indicated the importance of the capacity to generate maximum knee extension and rapid shoulder internal rotation strength, contributing to punch force production.