To analyse the effectiveness of resistance training on secondary sarcopenia, we conducted a meta-analysis to elucidate the effects of resistance training (RT) on muscle strength (handgrip strength [HGS]), muscle mass (Skeletal muscle mass index [SMI]), and physical function (Gait speed [GS]) in patients with secondary sarcopenia. All studies published between 2015 and January 2024 on the effects of resistance training on patients with secondary sarcopenia were retrieved from 6 electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Core journals and the Wanfang Database. Two researchers independently extracted and evaluated studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 12 randomized controlled trials were included. Pooled analyses of baseline data and results were performed using Review Manager 5.3 with standardized mean variance (SMD) and random effects model. The study included 12 randomized controlled trials involving 639 patients (mean age 57.28 ± 2.66 to 79.6 ± 5.4 years). There are five types of complications among the patients: obesity, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, hemodiaysis, and pancreatic cancer. Compared with the control group, RT effectively improved HGS [SMD = 2.47, 95% CI (1.50, 3.43), p < 0.01, I² = 94%]; SMI [SMD = 0.94, 95% CI (0.52, 1.36), p < 0.01, I² = 56%]; and GS [SMD = 2.18, 95% CI (-0.01, 4.37), p ≥ 0.05, I² = 97%]. Further subgroup analysis of the results showed that the intervention effect on grip strength was greater for non-elastic band resistance [SMD = 2.40, 95% CI (1.05, 3.75), p < 0.01, I² = 94%] than for elastic band resistance (EBRT) [SMD = 1.22, 95% CI (-0.14, 2.58), p < 0.01, I² = 95%]. The intervention effect of RT on grip strength is more significant in patients with T2D [SMD = 0.59, 95%CI (0.26–0.93, p < 0.01, I² = 27%] and obesity [SMD = 0.74, 95%CI (0.32–1.15, p < 0.01, I² = 0%]. For patients with secondary sarcopenia, Resistance training (RT) can effectively enhance muscle strength and muscle mass; however, it does not significantly improve physical function. Different RT intervention methods have different effects on patients, such as elastic band training and non-elastic band training (bounce ball RT; equipment RT, etc.). Different types of complications may influence the effectiveness of RT intervention.

Objective: Low-intensity resistance training (≤25% 1RM) combined with blood flow restriction training (BFRT) is beneficial to increasing muscle mass and muscle strength, but it cannot produce increased muscle activation and neuromuscular adaptation, as traditional high-intensity strength training does. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of independently applying BFRT and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), as well as combining the two methods, on muscle function.Methods: Forty healthy participants with irregular exercise experiences were randomly assigned to four groups: BFRT-alone group (BFRT, n = 10), EMS-alone group (EMS, n = 10), BFRT combined with EMS group (CMB, n = 10), and the control group (CTR, n = 10). All participants received low-intensity squat training at a load of 25% 1RM 5 times/week for 6 weeks. Cross-sectional area (CSA) and electromyographic root mean square (RMS) in the rectus femoris, as well as peak torque (PT) of the knee extensor, were measured before and following a 6-week intervention.Results: Following the 6-week intervention, the increases in muscle activation in the CMB group were statistically higher than those in the BFRT group (p < 0.001), but not different from those in the EMS group (p = 0.986).Conclusion: These data suggest that the combination of BFRT and EMS for low-intensity squat training improved the muscle strength of the lower limbs by promoting muscle hypertrophy and improving muscle activation, likely because such a combination compensates for the limitations and deficiencies of the two intervention methods when applied alone.

Hyperandrogenism is a key pathologic characteristic of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and exercise can alleviate the accompanying inflammation and decrease the high androgen levels, but the mechanism is still unclear, so the purpose of this study is to explore the pathophysiologic characteristics of hyperandrogenic PCOS and the mechanism underlying its amelioration with aerobic exercise. Thirty-two female rats were randomly allocated to a normal control group (NC, n = 8), exercise control group (EC, n = 8), PCOS group (PC, n = 8), and PCOS plus exercise group (PE, n = 8). The PC and PE groups were injected with a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) solution to induce the hyperandrogenic PCOS rat model. The EC and PE groups underwent a Masashi swimming protocol (120 min per session, 6 days/week, for 15 days). Results indicated that the concentrations of leptin (LP) in the EC group were significantly lower than those in the NC group ( ). Compared with the NC group, the levels of testosterone (T), estradiol (E₂), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LP, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and free fatty acids (FFA) were all significantly augmented in the PC group (all ). In addition, compared with the NC group, the levels of adiponectin (ADP) were significantly decreased ( ), and the expression of aromatase cytochrome P450 (P450arom) in ovarian tissue was significantly elevated in the PC group ( ). The levels of T, FSH, LP, and FFA were also significantly increased in the PE group ( ). Compared with the PC group, the levels of T and LP in the PE group were significantly diminished ( ), and the levels of ADP were significantly increased in the PE group ( ). T was positively correlated with E₂, FSH, AMH, LP, TNF-α, IL-6, and FFA levels, while ADP was negatively correlated with LP and E₂. These results showed that hyperandrogenism, chronic low-grade inflammation, and leptin resistance may interact to influence the occurrence and development of PCOS. Aerobic exercise can alleviate the internal inflammation by relieving leptin resistance and may mitigate the sex hormone disorder and hyperandrogenism in rats with PCOS by affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.

Background: Currently, resistance training (RT) programs for sarcopenic older adults are numerous they remain controversial, and there is a lack of standardized programs specifically tailored for this population. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the dose-response effects between RT on grip strength, skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and short physical performance battery (SPPB) in sarcopenic older adults, to identify key training parameters in RT. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WANFANG for randomized controlled trials published up to March 2025. Studies were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria outlined in this study, resulting in 12 studies. The Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to assess the quality of evidence, while Cochrane’s Risk of Bias Tool evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies. Meta-analysis of baseline data and outcomes was performed using Review Manager version 5.3.4 and R version 3.5 software. Results: 12 studies involving 538 participants met the inclusion criteria. Compared to the control group, RT had a moderate effect on grip strength (SMD = 0.63, 95% CI 0.43–0.83; I² = 32%, X² = 11.73, df = 8, p < 0.00001) and SPPB (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI 0.18–0.94; I² = 53%, X² = 8.48, df = 4, p = 0.004) with in sarcopenic older adults, but it did not significantly improve SMI (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI -0.05-0.53; I² = 0%, X² = 2.85, df = 4, p = 0.10). Meta-regression analysis revealed that training frequency ( p < 0.0001) and training intensity ( p = 0.0019) were significant predictors of grip strength improvement, while training frequency ( p = 0.052) may be a potential predictor for SPPB improvement. Additionally, subgroup analysis showed that incorporating pulling exercises into the training program significantly improved grip strength compared to studies that did not include such exercises (SMD = 0.90, 95% CI 0.61–1.19; I² = 0%, X² = 0.75, df = 2, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: Our meta-analysis suggests that RT is associated with improvements in grip strength and SPPB scores in sarcopenic older adults, whereas its effect on SMI was not statistically significant. The findings indicate that performing moderate-intensity resistance training twice a week is a promising strategy for improving grip strength, while a similar frequency may also benefit SPPB scores. Furthermore, incorporating pulling exercises into the RT regimen may positively influence grip strength outcomes.

FIFA11+ Kids is a warm-up program specially designed to prevent football injuries in children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of FIFA11+ Kids on injury prevention in young football players. PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched from 1 January 2016 to 24 August 2022. The primary outcome was overall injuries, and the secondary outcomes were severe, ankle, knee, and lower extremity injuries. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated for each outcome. Methodological quality was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A total of 230 articles were screened, 6 of which were finally included in the meta-analysis. Compared with normal warm-up training, FIFA11+ Kids significantly reduced overall injury risk (RR = 0.52 [95% CI, 0.44–0.62]; p < 0.00001), severe injury risk (RR = 0.33 [95% CI, 0.18–0.61]; p = 0.0004), lower extremity injury risk (RR = 0.51 [95% CI, 0.41–0.65]; p < 0.00001), knee injury risk (RR = 0.45 [95% CI, 0.29–0.72]; p = 0.0009), and ankle injury risk (RR = 0.56 [95% CI, 0.35–0.89]; p = 0.01) in young football players. FIFA11+ Kids was found to be an effective approach to decrease the injury risk among young football players, which is worth generalizing extensively.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of combining blood flow restriction training (BFRT) with electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) on muscle functions and sports performance in football players with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted on 64 football players diagnosed with KOA at Chengdu Sport University. Participants were enrolled based on predefined eligibility criteria and randomly allocated to four groups: the control group (CTR, n = 16), BFRT-alone group (BFRT, n = 16), EMS-alone group (EMS, n = 16), and BFRT combined with EMS group (CMB, n = 16). Data were gathered via the 10-meter sprint, 20-meter sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), and Illinois agility test (IAT) to assess sports performance. Additionally, peak torque (PT) was used to measure muscle strength, the root mean square (RMS) was used to assess muscle activation, and the cross-sectional area (CSA) was used to evaluate muscle volume. The data were statistically analyzed via SPSS software, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Following the 8-week intervention, the CMB group showed a more pronounced change in the 10-m sprint compared to the CTR group (p < 0.001) and exhibited significant differences in the 20-m sprint (CTR: p < 0.001, BFRT: p = 0.015, EMS: p < 0.001), CMJ (CTR: p < 0.001, BFRT: p = 0.019, EMS: p < 0.001), and IAT (CTR: p < 0.001, BFRT: p = 0.009, EMS: p = 0.018), outperforming the other three groups. To PT, the CMB groups demonstrated significant superiority over the other three groups (CTR: p < 0.001, BFRT: p < 0.001, EMS: p < 0.001), while the BFRT group exhibited a notable difference in PT than the EMS group (p = 0.032). Concerning RMS, the EMS and CMB groups showed significant differences from the CTR (EMS: p < 0.001, CMB: p < 0.001) and BFRT (EMS: p = 0.019, CMB: p < 0.001) groups, whereas the change in the BFRT group was more significant than that in the CTR group (p = 0.007). For CSA, the BFRT and CMB groups presented notable differences from the CTR (BFRT: p = 0.008, CMB: p = 0.002)and EMS (BFRT: p = 0.014, CMB: p = 0.004) groups. In summary, the results suggest that BFRT combined with EMS can increase muscle strength in male football players with KOA through improving muscle volume and neuromuscular recruitment under low-intensity resistance training, thereby increasing explosive power and agility.