Background: The available literature referring to the return to play (RTP) and performance after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) has already been comprehensively summarized in team sports such as basketball or American Football. Therefore, in this sense, it is necessary to synthesize evidence relating to the mentioned parameters in soccer players who underwent ACLR. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to examine RTP and the performance of soccer players after ACLR. Methods: Three electronic databases, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, have been comprehensively searched to identify relevant articles. The following inclusion criteria were applied: (1) the sample of respondents consisted of soccer players irrespective of their age, sex, or level of competition; (2) athletes experienced anterior cruciate ligament injury and underwent ACLR; (3) outcomes estimated referred to the RTP, RTP at the preinjury level of competition, RTP time, performance, and career duration of soccer players; (4) studies were written in the English language. The methodological quality of the research was evaluated using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Results: Databases searched yielded a total of 694 studies, of which 17 fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. These included 3657 soccer players, 2845 males and 812 females, who underwent ACLR and most commonly competed at the elite, national, amateur, and recreational levels. The results obtained indicated that 72% of soccer players successfully RTP and 53% RTP at the preinjury level of participation after ACLR. In addition, recent evidence provided in this literature review demonstrated that mean RTP time was 264 days or 8.7 months. Moreover, the majority of the studies unambiguously suggested that performance related to statistical aspects noticeably deteriorated compared with both the preinjury period and noninjured athletes. The mean career length of soccer players following ACL surgery was approximately between 4 and 5 years. Conclusion: Although a high percentage of athletes RTP after a relatively short period of absence from the sports field compared with other sports closely related to soccer, ACLR negatively impacts soccer players’ performance and career duration.

(1) Background: Psychological parameters are relevant in the practice of judo. Previous studies have shown that parameters such as anxiety or motivation can have a negative or positive impact on the athlete’s performance and general well-being, depending on the athlete’s perception. This systematic review aimed to summarize the studies examining the influence of various psychological parameters on well-being and performance in judo athletes; (2) Methods: We followed preferred reporting elements for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. We searched the Web of Science database for studies that explained the role of these parameters in elite athletes. Of the 286 articles initially identified, 17 met our eligibility criteria and were included in the review. In total, we analyzed data from 721 judo athletes; (3) Results: The studies found have demonstrated the impact of various psychological parameters during high-level performance and how these parameters can influence and lead an athlete to win or lose a competition. The feelings of tension, anger, anxiety, and nervousness were significantly increased in athletes who were facing defeat, while a decrease in the same segments and an increase in motivation among athletes who were experiencing better performance was observed. Further research under standardized conditions is needed to better understand the effects of these parameters on judo athletes; (4) Conclusions: Considering the athlete’s psychological state can affect performance, and it is therefore important to monitor and train these factors.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of combined resistance and aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women. Two databases, PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to identify relevant studies. The methodological quality was assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Only seven studies met the eligibility criteria, and their outcomes were presented. Four studies demonstrated the effects of combined resistance and aerobic training, while three showed the effectiveness of exercise with both training components, aerobic and resistance. In all studies, arterial stiffness was measured by brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Participants were middle-aged or older postmenopausal women of various health statuses (hypertensive, with comorbidities or healthy). The results unequivocally show that combined training reduces arterial stiffness. The most important finding of this review paper is that the applied type of exercise decreased baPWV in the range of 0.6–2.1 m/s. Moreover, combined resistance and aerobic exercise for 12 weeks, performed three times a week for about 60 min per training session, at a moderate intensity (40–60% HRR or HRmax), may be clinically meaningful to the cardiovascular system. In conclusion, we can say that combined resistance and aerobic training, or exercise with resistance and aerobic components, have important health implications for the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the maintenance or improvement of health in middle-aged and older postmenopausal women with different health conditions.

Wrestling is a sport that can be classified with the use of alternating aerobic–anaerobic metabolism with moderate but high-impact energy expenditure. Heart rate recovery (HRR) is the difference between heart rate during exercise and a certain amount of time after the start of recovery. The goal of this study was to determine the difference in HRR between two phases: high-intensity sport-specific training (HISST) combined with rapid weight loss (RWL)—phase 1 (P1) and HISST only—phase 2 (P2). Ten national-level wrestlers were included in this study. All participants underwent HISST along with RWL procedures for P1. Seven days later, during P2, an identical training session was performed with no RWL included. We found a statistically significant difference in the values obtained after the first and second minutes of recovery in the second set for both cases (p = 0.034 and p = 0.037, respectively), with higher HR values recorded in P1. It can be concluded that there is undoubtedly a difference in HRR during training and RWL compared to HISST alone. Additionally, HISST along with RWL could compromise the aerobic component of recovery.

Study aim : Dietary and non-dietary weight loss methods are highly prevalent among combat sports athletes (CSA). Most CSA undergo rapid weight loss (RWL) usually a week before the competition to reduce their body mass and thus compete in the lowest weight category possible. The objective of the study was to distinguish the impact of high-intensity sport-specific training (HISST) combined with RWL (phase 1 – P1) on muscle damage markers as well as the effects of HISST alone (phase 2 – P2). Material and methods : This crossover study was carried out on 12 male wrestlers. It consisted of initial measurement (IM), high-intensity training combined with RWL of 5% (P1), and high-intensity training without RWL (P2). After each phase, muscle damage markers were measured, including myoglobin, aldolase, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Results : A substantial increase in analyzed biomarkers was evident in both phases (P1 and P2). However, higher levels of almost all biomarkers were observed in the phase that included RWL compared to the second phase, with a greater significance level. Conclusions : Our study revealed that 5% RWL combined with HISST impacted the assessed biomarkers to a greater extent than HISST alone, thus providing strong evidence of the influence of RWL on muscular damage in wrestlers. In order to minimize the adverse health-related effects induced by weight reduction, coaches and athletes should use caution when considering weight management methods.

Objectives: To examine sex differences in psychological readiness to return to sport following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction as well as to determine whether males and females separately fulfilled cut-off values (≥65) of psychological readiness necessary to return to sport. Information sources: Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed were comprehensively searched from inception to January 2024 to identify relevant studies. Eligibility criteria: Observational investigations that compared males and females with a history of ACL reconstruction concerning psychological readiness to return to sport. Risk of bias: Studies were rated using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies. Included studies: Only 11 reports fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the quantitative analysis. A total of 2618 participants were subjected to the primary ACL reconstruction, out of 1631 males and 987 females. Psychological readiness to return to sport was evaluated approximately 9±2.9 months following surgery. Synthesis of results: The main findings demonstrated that males had slightly higher psychological readiness to return to the sport than females (standardised mean difference 0.33; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.52; p=0.0007; I²=77%) after ACL surgery. In addition, the mean psychological readiness to return to the sport of males was 70.1±8.8 points and of females 65.1±8.8 points, indicating that both sexes exceeded recommendations necessary to return to sport. Conclusion: Males had slightly higher psychological readiness to return to sport than females approximately 9±2.9 months after ACL reconstruction and both sexes exceeded the highlighted recommendations necessary to return to sport. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024497769: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024497769.