Background: In the last two decades, high-altitude training (HAT) and elevation training masks (ETMs) have been widely used among athletes to enhance physical performance. However, few studies have examined the effect of wearing ETMs on physiological and hematological parameters in different sports. Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of ETM use in athletes on several hematological and physiological indicators among cyclists, runners, and swimmers. Methods: The impact of wearing an ETM on lung function (LF), aerobic capacity (AC), and hematological levels in male university-level athletes (cyclists, runners, and swimmers) was investigated using an experimental approach. The participants (N = 44) were divided into (i) an experimental group wearing ETMs (n = 22; aged 21.24 ± 0.14 years old) and (ii) a control group not wearing ETMs (n = 22; aged 21.35 ± 0.19 years old). Both groups underwent 8 weeks of high-intensity cycle ergometer interval training. Pre- and post-training tests included the above-mentioned physiological and hematological parameters. Results: Except for FEV₁, FEV₁/FVC, VT1, and MHR in the control group and FEV₁/FVC and HRM in the experimental group, all variables were significantly improved after the 8-week cycle ergometer HIIT program. Significant benefits in favor of the experimental group were noted in terms of changes in FVC, FEV₁, VO₂max, VT1, PO to VT, VT2, and PO to VT2. Conclusions: The eight-week ETM-assisted HIIT program improved cardiorespiratory fitness and hematological variables in all participants. Future research would be useful to further investigate the physiological changes resulting from ETM-assisted HIIT programs.

This study examined the effects of a 10-week functional balance training program using unstable surfaces on dynamic postural control, lower-limb power, and technical shooting performance in adolescent male basketball players. Twenty-one participants were assigned to an experimental group (n = 11; age 16.14 ± 1.13 years) or a control group (n = 10; age 16.89 ± 1.34 years). Both groups trained three times per week over the intervention period. The experimental group completed additional neuromuscular exercises on unstable surfaces, while the control group performed traditional resistance-based routines. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included the Y-Balance Test (YBT), vertical jump height, and jump shooting accuracy (JSA). Statistically significant improvements in dynamic balance (p < 0.001, d = 1.84) and shooting efficiency (p < 0.001, d = 1.78) were observed in the experimental group. The control group also improved significantly in balance (p = 0.021, d = 0.87) and shooting accuracy (p = 0.014, d = 0.95), but to a lesser extent. Between-group comparisons demonstrated significant advantages for the experimental group in both the YBT (p = 0.007, d = 1.00) and JSA (p = 0.004, d = 1.07). No significant improvements were found in vertical jump performance in either group (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that incorporating functional balance training into basketball conditioning programs may enhance postural control and technical shooting execution, with a notable effect size, particularly in dynamic balance. The improvements in Y-Balance scores indicate enhanced sensorimotor control, although further research is needed to clarify the underlying neuromechanical mechanisms.

This book chapter examines the significant role of physical activity in enhancing adolescent mental health and overall well-being. It introduces a framework that emphasizes the interconnected nature of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and autonomous development, suggesting that physical activity can be strategically used to address multiple challenges during adolescence. The chapter highlights that team sports and recreational physical activity are particularly effective in promoting social skills and self-esteem. There are gender differences in the benefits of physical activity, with males often showing more pronounced mental health improvements. The importance of family and social support is also noted in encouraging physical activity and contributing to better mental health outcomes. Furthermore, this chapter explores the integration of physical activity into academic settings to boost cognitive function. It notes the influence of sleep quality and family support on the relationship between physical activity and mental health. This work proposes a model for implementing targeted physical activity programs in various settings to build resilience and self-esteem. The proposed model suggests that programs should integrate cognitive, emotional, social, autonomous, and physical aspects of development. The chapter concludes by recommending future research on the long-term effects of physical activity and the development of specific intervention strategies.

Background. Sports institutions in developed countries have many resources that can be used to achieve a competitive advantage as well as a country’s specific goal. The success of the establishment or institution depends to a large extent on the skill with which the workers of the administration perform. Objectives. The purpose of the ...

Athletes use herbal supplementation to increase physical fitness, reduce the potentially negative consequences of strenuous training, and gain a competitive edge. The goal of this study was to identify the effects of Moringa seed supplements on oxidative stress and 10 km running time. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with 26 male runners. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental (supplemented) group (n = 15), which received 3% of the athlete’s body weight of moringa seed powder added to juices (orang without sugar 300 ml) in the evening after the training, three days a week for 8 weeks. The control (placebo) group (n = 11) received a placebo (orang without sugar 300 ml) at the corresponding times. After the intervention period, malondialdehyde levels were significantly reduced and 10 km running time was improved in the experimental group. No significant changes were observed in catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione concentrations in the two groups. In conclusion, moringa seeds were effective in enhancing endurance performance and reducing oxidative stress in a group of young endurance athletes.

Globally, physical activity is increasingly acknowledged as an effective strategy for combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, there is a significant global disparity in the integration of sport sciences graduates (SSGs) into national health systems. This study assessed the professional roles of SSGs within healthcare systems and their association with NCD mortality across (n = 34) countries that met the selection criteria, using a cross-national, ecological, and cross-sectional design. Principal component analysis was conducted to reduce the dimensions of the correlated structural indicators. A pre-specified generalized linear model (Gamma family, log link) with HC3 robust standard errors estimated the association between SSG integration and age-standardized NCD mortality, alongside a descriptive analysis of public funding (national or subnational) for SSG services. The findings indicate that integrating SSGs into primary care was associated with approximately 23% lower age-standardized NCD mortality (rate ratio 0.77, 95% CI 0.63–0.94, p = 0.011; approximately 16% to 23% across model specifications) after adjusting for demographic and economic factors, with near-universal public funding (100% of integrated versus 24% of other countries; Fisher’s exact p < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first cross-national analysis to link the functional integration of SSGs into primary care with population NCD mortality, and this relationship remained consistent across multiple robustness checks. The implications suggest that functional integration and its public funding may represent promising policy approaches for strengthening preventive health services. Given the ecological, cross-sectional design, longitudinal studies are warranted to establish causality.