Patients with neurological impairments often experience physical deconditioning, resulting in reduced fitness and health. Powered exoskeleton training may be a successful method to combat physical deconditioning and its comorbidities, providing patients with a valuable and novel experience. This systematic review aimed to conduct a search of relevant literature, to examine the effects of powered exoskeleton training on cardiovascular function and gait performance. Two electronic database searches were performed (2 April 2020 to 12 February 2021) and manual reference list searches of relevant manuscripts were completed. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were systematically reviewed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. n = 63 relevant titles were highlighed; two further titles were identified through manual reference list searches. Following analysis n = 23 studies were included. Data extraction details included; sample size, age, gender, injury, the exoskeleton used, intervention duration, weekly sessions, total sessions, session duration and outcome measures. Results indicated that exoskeleton gait training elevated energy expenditure greater than wheelchair propulsion and improved gait function. Patients exercised at a moderate-intensity. Powered exoskeletons may increase energy expenditure to a similar level as non-exoskeleton walking, which may improve cardiovascular function more effectively than wheelchair propulsion alone.

This study investigated if music tempo can prompt a desired walking cadence, and if music can provide a stimulus to regulate physical activity intensity in a longitudinal physical activity intervention with free-living adults. Overweight adults (n = 37; 94.26 ± 17.11 kg; 49.63 ± 12.37 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG, n = 17) or usual care group (UC, n = 20) as part of a novel nine-month walking intervention. IG participants walked to self-selected music with a predetermined tempo and received a behavioural change support programme. At baseline, four-, six- and nine-months participants were asked to walk around an elliptical track at their habitual pace (0–2 min) and then in time to a predetermined tempo (2–8 min) designed to elicit moderate intensity. Cadence response (steps/min) was assessed and intensity (heart rate (bpm) recorded using wireless telemetry. A repeated measures general linear model (GLM) examined differences between groups over time (p < 0.05). All data is presented as means ± SD. At each assessment point both groups displayed an immediate cadence adjustment in response to music tempo (p < 0.01) i.e., habitual cadence vs. 3 METs target cadence (p < 0.05) and 3 METs target cadence vs. 5 METs target cadence (p < 0.05). Additionally, IG participants displayed an increased habitual cadence (0–2 min) at each assessment point (p < 0.05; 110 ± 9, 121.80 ± 7.5, 121.46 ± 10, 121.93 ± 7 steps/min respectively). UC participant’s habitual cadence was unchanged from 0–9 months (p > 0.05; 120 ± 10, 116 ± 13, 119 ± 12 and 119 ± 9 steps/min respectively). Music tempo may be a useful regulatory tool to prompt the free-living individual to reach an appropriate stride rate to achieve a walking pace that is at least moderate intensity. It also appears that results may be trainable as throughout the study an increased habitual walking cadence was observed, in the absence of music.

The aim of this study was to determine if the quantity of running load performed in pre-season affects the incidence of injury in elite Gaelic footballers. It was hypothesized that a greater quantity of running loads completed will reduce the incidence rate of injury. A cohort of elite male Gaelic football players (n = 25) was prospectively monitored throughout one full season. This longitudinal study involved the collection of GPS data and injury data. Participants were retrospectively divided into two groups and assigned to a high (HTL, completed >50% of pre-season sessions, n = 13) or low (LTL, completed 6.4 m/s) and high-intensity running meters (high-speed running meters and sprint meters combined) were collected during all sessions. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was completed to understand the variation of external training load data across the different phases of the season. A series of repeated measures of ANOVA were subsequently completed to understand the variation of external training load data across seasonal phases within the training groups. Although the LTL group had a higher incidence rate of non-contact injuries (large effect size) per 1000 h of exposure in each phase of the season, statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference (F = 4.32, p = 0.173, partial η² = 0.684, large) between the HTL (14.9 ± 4.17/1000 h) and the LTL (24.5 ± 7.36/1000 h) groups. Additionally, the HTL group was able to sustain greater running loads in the competitive phases of the season compared to the LTL group, total distance (F = 8.10, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.299, large), high-speed running distance (F = 8.74, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.304, large) and high-intensity running distance (F = 7.63, p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.276, large). Furthermore, players who complete a greater proportion of running loads in pre-season may alter their body composition levels to more optimal levels, which in turn may reduce the risk of injury while also helping increase or maintain performance-related fitness markers such as aerobic fitness.

Background: Elite sport participation creates a significant burden on adolescent athletes due to demanding training schedules, high training intensities, and the complexity of puberty. As such, an athletes’ ability to effectively balance stress and recovery is essential for their athletic performance and requires appropriate management throughout the competitive season. This research aimed to investigate: (i) the quantity, quality, and timing of sleep; (ii) general and sport-specific nutrition knowledge; (iii) recovery practices; and (iv) the relationships between sleep, nutrition, and recovery practices in elite adolescent athletes. Methods: A total of 51 athletes completed a battery of previously validated and reliable questionnaires which investigated their sleep characteristics, nutrition knowledge, and recovery practices. Results: Statistically significant moderate correlations were observed between their Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score, Sleep Difficulty Classification (SDC), and Recovery Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q Sport) scales, with small significant correlations observed between the SDC and REST-Q recovery scales. Participants had lower scores in both their sport (36.10 ± 12.13) and total (40.25 ± 11.18) nutrition knowledge compared to their general nutrition knowledge (49.53 ± 16.46). Moderate levels of general (1.50 ± 0.86) and sport-specific (1.57 ± 0.85) stress and high levels of general (3.92 ± 0.74) and sport-specific (3.72 ± 0.96) recovery were demonstrated. Furthermore, 94% reported their sleep quality to be “fairly good” (n = 30) or “very good” (n = 18). Conclusions: These findings highlight the necessity of further investigating the effect of educational strategies on improving sleep, nutrition, and recovery knowledge in athletes to aid recovery and dietary behaviours.

Individuals with neurological impairments tend to lead a predominantly sedentary lifestyle due to impaired gait function and mobility. This may be detrimental to health by negatively impacting cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength, and increasing the risk of developing secondary health problems. Powered exoskeletons are assistive devices that may aid neurologically impaired individuals in achieving the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) physical activity (PA) guidelines for health. Increased PA should elicit a sufficient cardiorespiratory stimulus to provide health benefits to exoskeleton users. This study examined the cardiorespiratory demands of treadmill walking with and without the Ekso GT™ among able-bodied participants. The Ekso GT™ is a powered exoskeleton that enables individuals with neurological impairments to walk by supporting full body mass with motors attached at the hip and knee joints to generate steps. This feasibility study consisted of one group of healthy able-bodied individuals (n = 8). Participants completed two 12 min treadmill walking assessments, one with and one without the Ekso GT™ at the same fixed speed. Throughout each walking bout, various cardiorespiratory parameters, namely, volume of oxygen per kilogram (kg) of body mass ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$O₂·kg⁻¹), volume of carbon dioxide per kg of body mass ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$CO₂·kg⁻¹), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), ventilation ($\dot{\mathrm{V}}$_E), heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE), were recorded. Treadmill walking with Ekso GT™ elevated all recorded measurements to a significantly greater level (p ≤ 0.05) (except RER at 1 km·h^–1; p = 0.230) than treadmill walking without the Ekso GT™ did at the same fixed speed. An increased cardiorespiratory response was recorded during treadmill walking with the exoskeleton. Exoskeleton walking may, therefore, be an effective method to increase PA levels and provide sufficient stimulus in accordance with the PA guidelines to promote cardiorespiratory fitness and subsequently enhance overall health.

Individuals who were active before and during pregnancy face significant barriers to return postpartum, and participation in exercise and sport often decreases significantly during this period. Evidence is beginning to emerge regarding elite athletes' experiences with returning to sport postpartum. Understanding the experiences of recreational participants is essential to improve wider participation postpartum. This qualitative study aimed to describe the experiences of those returning to recreational exercise or sport postpartum, and to identify actions to support such a return. 14 mothers from the UK and Ireland, participated in one-to-one interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using contemporary reflexive thematic analysis. Six themes were generated: (1) The challenging transition to motherhood, (2) Regaining, reclaiming and role modelling: motivators for returning, (3) Changed bodies and reframed minds: the experience and benefits of returning, (4) The mental load: adaptation, priorities, judgement and guilt, (5) Lack of appropriate knowledge and professional support and (6) Support, environment, culture and provision. Participants gave detailed accounts of the experience of returning to recreational exercise or sport postpartum. A list of actionable steps to support the return to recreational exercise and sport postpartum was generated from the data. These include the training of relevant professionals, the delivery of guidance during antenatal and postpartum care, the provision of opportunities to return postpartum and the embedding of policy to support such a return. The study provides actionable recommendations and future research directions to support postpartum mothers in resuming recreational exercise and sport.