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.

Luisa Gámez-Calvo, Víctor Hernández-Beltrán, Lourdes P. Pimienta-Sánchez, Serafín Delgado-Gil, José M. Gamonales

The current study analysed whether the osteogenic stimuli of exercises and sports have an independent effect on bone mineral density (BMD). Studies with a design having two different cohorts were searched and selected to distinguish the effect due to long-term involvement (i.e., athletes vs. non-active young with good bone health) and due to the planning of intervention (i.e., pre- vs. post-training) with exercises and sports. Moreover, only studies investigating the bone sites with a body-weight support function (i.e., lower limb, hip, and spine regions) were reviewed, since the osteogenic effects have incongruous results. A meta-analysis was performed following the recommendations of PRISMA. Heterogeneity (I²) was determined by combining Cochran’s Q test with the Higgins test, with a significance level of α = 0.05. The studies reporting the effect of involvement in exercise and sports showed high heterogeneity for the lower limb, total hip, and spine (I² = 90.200%, 93.334%, and 95.168%, respectively, with p < 0.01) and the effect size on sports modalities (Hedge’s g = 1.529, 1.652, and 0.417, respectively, with p < 0.05) ranging from moderate to high. In turn, the studies reporting the effect of the intervention planning showed that there was no heterogeneity for the lower limb (I² = 0.000%, p = 0.999) and spine (I² = 77.863%, p = 0.000); however, for the hip, it was moderate (I² = 49.432%, p = 0.054), with a low effect between the pre- and post-training moments presented only for the hip and spine (Hedge’s g = 0.313 and 0.353, respectively, with p < 0.05). The current analysis supported the effect of involvement in exercise and sports by evidencing the effect of either weight-bearing or non-weight-bearing movements on BMD at the femoral, pelvic, and lumbar bones sites of the athletes when comparing to non-athletes or non-active peers with healthy bones. Moreover, the effect of different exercise and sports interventions highlighted the alterations in the BMD in the spine bone sites, mainly with long-term protocols (~12 months) planned with a stimulus with high muscle tension. Therefore, exercise and sport (mainly systematic long-term practice) have the potential to increase the BMD of bones with body-weight support beyond the healthy values reached during life phases of youth and adulthood.

This research aims to provide an overview of the growing number of scientific literature publications related to Physical Activity and Healthy Habits. A bibliometric analysis between 1990 and 2022 in the Web of Science was carried out, following the bibliometric analysis law, using Microsoft Excel and VosViewer Software for analysis and data processing. A total of 276 documents (262 primary studies and 14 revisions) related to the topic under study were located. The results reveal an exponential growth of scientific production by 48% between 2006 and 2022. Public Environmental Occupational Health, Kaprio, J., and the USA were the knowledge field, author, and country most productive, respectively. A great thematic diversity was found related to the most used keywords by the authors, such as “physical activity”, “health habits”, “exercise”, and “obesity”. Thus, the research related to this theme is really in an exponential phase, with great interest in the importance of physical activity and healthy habits, implying practical decisions in policies to develop programs to promote physical activity and healthy habits.

Background and objectives: Advances in sports science have allowed us to understand the importance of variables related to athletes' emotions, which, in turn, influence sports performance. The study's objective is to examine the influence of emotional intelligence on sport performance. Materials and methods: PRISMA guidelines were followed for the current systematic review. The review was conducted to retrieve relevant articles published from 2018 to March 2024 using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. Information on participants, interventions, and outcomes (PIO) was extracted. The quality of evidence was evaluated using the PEDro scale. The revision was registered with INPLASY under the number INPLASY202480001. Results: Initially, a total of 7927 studies were identified. Following the review process and using inclusion criteria, 16 studies were selected. The total sample size of the studies was 8008 with (3228 womens) and (4780 mens). Results revealed that emotional intelligence influences sports performance. Conclusions: In conclusion, the main contribution of emotional intelligence to sports performance lies in enhancing cognitive processes. Similarly, emotional intelligence is a determining factor in improving sports performance. Antecedentes y objetivos: Los avances en las ciencias del deporte han permitido comprender la importancia de las variables relacionadas con las emociones de los deportistas, las cuales, a su vez, influyen en el rendimiento deportivo. El objetivo del estudio es examinar la influencia de la inteligencia emocional en el rendimiento deportivo. Materiales y métodos: Para la presente revisión sistemática, se siguieron las directrices PRISMA. La revisión se realizó para recuperar artículos relevantes publicados desde 2018 hasta marzo de 2024 utilizando las bases de datos PubMed, Web of Science y Scopus. Se extrajo la información sobre los participantes, las intervenciones y los resultados (PIO). La calidad de la evidencia se evaluó mediante la escala PEDro. La revisión se registró en INPLASY con el número INPLASY202480001. Resultados: Inicialmente, se identificaron un total de 7.927 estudios. Tras el proceso de revisión y utilizando criterios de inclusión, se seleccionar 16 estudios. El tamaño total de la muestra de los estudios fue de 8008 (3228 mujeres), y (4780 hombres). Los resultados revelaron que la inteligencia emocional influye en el rendimiento deportivo. Conclusiones: En conclusión, la principal contribución de la inteligencia emocional al rendimiento deportivo radica en la mejora de los procesos cognitivos. Del mismo modo, la inteligencia emocional es un factor determinante en la mejora del rendimiento deportivo. Enquadramento e objectivos: Os avanços nas ciências do desporto têm levado à compreensão da importância das variáveis relacionadas com as emoções dos atletas, que, por sua vez, influenciam o desempenho desportivo. O objetivo do estudo é analisar a influência da inteligência emocional no desempenho desportivo. Materiais e métodos: Para a presente revisão sistemática, foram seguidas as directrizes PRISMA. A revisão foi realizada para recuperar artigos relevantes publicados de 2018 a março de 2024, utilizando as bases de dados PubMed, Web of Science e Scopus. Foram extraídas informações sobre os participantes, as intervenções e os resultados (IOPs). A qualidade da evidência foi avaliada utilizando a escala PEDro. A revisão foi registada no INPLASY com o número INPLASY202480001. Resultados: Inicialmente, foi identificado um total de 7.927 estudos. Após o processo de revisão e utilizando os critérios de inclusão, foram definidos 16 estudos. O tamanho total da amostra dos estudos foi de 8008 (3228 do sexo feminino) e (4780 do sexo masculino). Os resultados revelaram que a inteligência emocional influencia o desempenho desportivo. Conclusões: Em conclusão, o principal contributo da inteligência emocional para o desempenho desportivo reside na melhoria dos processos cognitivos. Da mesma forma, a inteligência emocional é um fator determinante para a melhoria do desempenho desportivo.