Resistance training (RT) has been considered an intervention with effective stimulus on bone mineral formation and is, therefore, recommended to decrease the rate of bone morpho-functional proprieties loss with aging. Thus, this meta-analysis aimed to analyze the effectiveness of RT protocols in promoting changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in older adults. The systematic reviews and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO CRD42020170859). The searches were performed in the electronic databases using descriptors according to the PICO strategy. The methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed with the PEDro scale, and the magnitude of the results was determined by Hedges’ g. Seven studies involving 370 elderlies, with the RT planned as a unique exercise mode of intervention, showed designs with four to five exercises for upper- and lower-limbs musculature, two to three sets per exercise, eight to twelve repetitions to failure at 70–90% 1 RM, 60–120 s of rest between sets, and executed three times per week for 12–52 weeks. The RT protocols were classified between good and excellent and evidenced a positive effect on the BMD at the hip (0.64%) and spine (0.62%) but not in the femoral neck (−0.22%) regardless of the intervention length. The narrow range of either positive or negative changes in the BMD after the RT intervention support, at best, a preventive effect against the increasing risk of bone frailty in an older population, which is evident beyond 12 weeks of RT practice engagement.

Creatine monohydrate supplementation is widely used by athletes in high-intensity, power-based sports due to its ability to enhance short-term performance by increasing intramuscular phosphocreatine (PCr) stores, which aid in ATP resynthesis during intense muscle contractions. However, emerging evidence suggests that creatine monohydrate offers benefits beyond athletic performance. This narrative review explores the literature supporting the advantages of creatine supplementation in women, vegans, and clinical populations. In women, who typically have lower baseline intramuscular creatine levels, supplementation may help alleviate fatigue-related symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle, particularly during the early follicular and luteal phases. For vegans and vegetarians, who often have reduced creatine stores due to the absence of creatine-rich animal products in their diet, supplementation can improve both physical and cognitive performance while supporting adherence to plant-based diets. Additionally, creatine supplementation holds potential for various clinical populations. It may mitigate muscle wasting in conditions such as sarcopenia and cachexia, support neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s, improve exercise capacity in cardiovascular diseases, and enhance energy metabolism in chronic fatigue syndrome. Creatine may also aid recovery from traumatic brain injury by promoting brain energy metabolism and reducing neuronal damage. In conclusion, creatine monohydrate supplementation can enhance physical performance, cognitive function, and overall health in women, vegans, and clinical populations by addressing creatine deficiencies, improving energy metabolism, and supporting recovery from physical and neurological challenges. Most available evidence supports the effectiveness of creatine monohydrate, which should be considered the preferred form of creatine supplementation over other variants. Additionally, proper creatine dosing is essential to maximize benefits and minimize potential adverse effects that may arise from chronic ingestion of excessively high doses.

Monitoring the training load during training is important for quantifying the demand on psychological and physiological responses. This procedure is achieved through subjective and objective methods applied to the control of the level of training, to the attainment of conditioning and performance goals, and to the prevention of injuries. Training load refers to either external load, such as the variables of speed, distance, accelerations, and decelerations, or internal load, which is related to the psychological and physiological responses during an exercise session or training period (e.g., rating of perceived exertion—RPE; and heart rate—HR). To measure external load, traditional methods include pedometers, accelerometers, global positioning systems, and volume load. For internal load, methods include RPE, training monotony, strain, and impulse, HR, hormonal and biochemical markers, and training diaries and questionnaires. The current review reinforces the assumption that the methods should be combined to improve confidence with the information, mainly when assessing internal load stress during training. Moreover, training load provides an objective assessment of performance levels and involvement in different training phases, thus providing relevant information to analyse strategies for the effectiveness of conditioning progress, performance enhancement, and injury prevention.

This study sought to assess the relationship between different jumping asymmetries and associated performance variables in high-level male senior and professional football players. Nineteen football players with at least 12 years of training experience (23.2 ± 3.1 years of age; 75.2 ± 4.8 kg of body mass and 181 ± 0.06 cm of height) participated in this study performing countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), single-leg CMJ and drop jump (DJ), associated performance variable eccentric utilization ratio (EUR), stretch-shortening cycle (SSC), bilateral deficit (BLD), and limb symmetry index (LSI) were determined. High correlations were observed between different methodologies of jump tests and associated performance indicators (SSC, BLD, EUR), except LSI. Moreover, CMJ and SJ results were different (p < 0.05), but no differences were found between interlimb in CMJ (p = 0.19) and DJ (p = 0.14). Between the same limbs and different jumps differences were detected in CMJ and DJ (p < 0.01), and it has also been found that the laterality effect size on strength was small in CMJ (ES = 0.30) and DJ (ES = 0.35). LSI between CMJ and DJ was not different despite higher mean values in CMJ, and although mean BLD was positive (>100%), the results highlight the need for individual evaluation since eight players scored negatively. An in-depth and accurate analysis of performance in preseason screening jump tests should be considered, aiming to detect injury risk, specifically evaluating different jumping test methodologies, and determining jumping associated performance variables for each test, namely EUR, SSC, BLD, and LSI. Specific muscle-strengthening exercises could be implemented based on this study results and outcomes, aiming to reduce injury risks and lower extremity asymmetries and to enhance individual football performance in high-level male senior and professional football players. Sports institutions should pay special attention regarding potential health problems in athletes exposed to daily high training loads.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a progressive muscle relaxation program on psychological (stress levels, anxiety, and mood states) and physiological (blood pressure and heart rate) variables in basketball athletes. Fifty-nine basketball players, aged 14 to 19 years, and members of Bauru Basket team, were recruited for this study and grouped into control group (CG, n = 30) and intervention group (IG, n = 29). The participants were evaluated, before and after the intervention, by the following means: Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), to measure the pre-competitive anxiety state, i.e., how anxious each athlete felt just before the competition; Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), an instrument for early detection of overtraining syndrome; Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport), to identify the extent to which each athlete was physically or mentally stressed and the athlete’s current capability for recovery; Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ), specifically developed for athletes. The IG athletes participated in 12 progressive muscle relaxation sessions, a practice for tensing or tightening a specific muscle until an ideal state of relaxation is reached. Each participant had blood pressure and heart rate measured before and after every session. The CG athletes were evaluated similarly to those in the IG but without relaxation. The results showed statistically significant differences in cognitive anxiety (p = 0.039) and specific stress (p = 0.016) between CG and IG before the intervention; in addition, a significant heart rate decrease (p < 0.01) between IG and CG was noted.

Background: Monitoring of training tasks allows coaches to have a better knowledge of the loads applied to their players. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the variations in external load in small-sided games (SSGs) with young players U-12, U-15, and U-23 and compare the external load between age categories in each of the SSGs. Methods: A group of 24 male soccer players performed five consecutive different formats of four vs. four SSGs composed of 3 minutes of play/rest. GPS devices were used during the tasks (WIMU PRO™). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0, using descriptive statistics, graphical statistics, and ANOVA to compare the results between SSGs and between age groups. Results: The increase in field areas promotes the increase of distance (DIST) covered and the high metabolic load distance (HMLd), with and without a goalkeeper (GK). The SSGs with GK recorded fewer PL values compared to SSGs without GK. In the U-12 and U-15 age groups, GK use promotes more acceleration (AC) and deceleration (DEC) of high intensity (>3 m/s²). The results also show that the larger areas are promoters of high-speed running (HSR). Age influences some external load variables (DIST, AC, DEC, HMLd) in the game formats studied. Conclusions: The SSG formats analyzed using GK are promoters of high-intensity neuromuscular activity. Larger areas promote more high-speed displacement. Age is an influence on the external load in different SSGs.