The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 8-week β-alanine supplementation on C-Reactive Protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), body composition, and bio-motor abilities in elite male basketball players. Twenty male basketball players (age: 23 + 0.6 years; body mass: 78.3 + 4.8 kg; height:185.3 + 5.4 cm, %BF, 15.2 ± 4.8) volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided into a β-alanine group (BG, N = 10) and a placebo group (PG, N = 10). All players were preparing for university competitions and had played for over five years. Players used 6.4 g/d of β-alanine in BG and maltodextrin in PG. The participants were involved in regular basketball training three months before the study. CRP, IL-6, body composition parameters, and bio-motor abilities were measured before starting the exercises and after completing the eight-week training period. The research findings showed a significant decrease in CRP and IL-6 and an increase in anaerobic peak power between the pre-test and post-test, as well as between BG and PG groups (p < 0.05). Although the other measured factors were a relative improvement compared to the pre-test and also compared to PG, these changes were not statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of β-alanine supplementation ameliorated increases in IL-6 and CRP associated with in-season physical stressors in collegiate basketball players. These changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines suggest that β-alanine supplementation may be a useful nutritional strategy for immune regulation and can also improve anaerobic performance compared to PG.

The aim of the research was to identify the effect of 4vs.4 small-sided games (SSGs) with goalkeepers (4vs.4+GK), applied twice a week, for 8 weeks, on U18 football players’ physical ability, compared to that of the athletes who performed specific aerobic endurance training. The research included 40 football players U18, divided into two groups: 20 in the experiment group (EG) aged 17.49 ± 0.61 years and 20 in the control group (CG) aged 17.66 ± 0.54 years. From the initial test (IT) to final tests (FT) performed on the parameters, maximum oxygen consumption (VO_2max) and 10 m and 20 m sprint and agility with and without a ball showed a significant increase for both groups. The first and last SSG training was monitored, using total distance (TD), high-intensity distance (HSR—high-speed running) and maximum intensity distance (VHSR—very-high-speed running). Comparative analyses of EG and CG parameters at the FT shows that the differences between the means of two groups are statistically significant in favor of the experimental group in terms of all parameters, except 10 m sprint (p < 0.05). Referring to SSGs, the experimental group had a 7.78% increase rate in TD (p < 0.0005), a 30.90% (p < 0.0005) increase rate with HSR and no significant differences (p > 0.05) with VHSR. The experimental training program of 4vs.4+GK SSGs, applied to U18 football players, produced significant progress in the physical, and functional parameters.

Background/Objectives: This study’s primary goals are to evaluate the effects of physical therapy on motor delays in children with Down Syndrome, identify the most successful interventions, look at current trends in the field, and suggest future directions for clinical and research development by reviewing the scientific literature published over the past ten years. Methods: Using reputable databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), Web of Science, and NIH, an electronic search of scholarly literature was carried out between January and April 2025. To organise the findings and select the most pertinent papers, a search strategy was required. Results: The studies analysed provide a complex picture of how different types of physical therapy interventions affect children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Conclusions: Physical therapy interventions suggest greater effectiveness during the early stages of motor development in children with Down Syndrome; however, the evidence, based on six heterogeneous studies, remains moderate and does not support definitive recommendations. In clinical practice, physical therapists are advised to design individualised programmes that address specific needs, utilising traditional therapies, online training, or movement stimulation techniques, and to systematically monitor their outcomes.

Background: Smartphones are an integral part of young people’s everyday lives and offer an interactive digital environment that can be incorporated into sport training to support engagement and skill development. Methods: A total of 40 male basketball players aged 12–14 years participated in this quasi-experimental study. Participants were allocated by existing school teams, with one team assigned to the experimental group (n = 20) and the other to the control group (n = 20). Both groups completed a six-month training period consisting of three sessions per week. Hand–eye coordination and dribbling-related performance were evaluated using two standardized mobile-application-based field tests with both hands during initial and final assessments. The data were analyzed using mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA, with time as the within-subject factor and group as the between-subject factor. Results: The mixed-design repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant time × group interactions for all assessed outcomes, indicating greater improvements in coordination performance and bilateral upper-limb performance in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results indicate that mobile-application-based training can be a practical and effective approach for developing coordination and supporting bilateral upper-limb performance in youth basketball players.

Background: Combat sports require athletes to repeatedly perform explosive actions under conditions of fatigue, demanding high levels of neuromuscular coordination, reactive agility, and intermittent effort capacity. This study examined changes in biomechanical and neuromuscular performance over a 15-week period during which competitive Sambo athletes completed a CrossFit-based functional training program alongside their regular sport-specific training. Methods: Forty male Sambo athletes (22.4 ± 2.6 years) completed a longitudinal repeated-measures intervention consisting of three weekly CrossFit-based sessions integrated into regular sport-specific training. The program was periodized across four progressive mesocycles emphasizing functional strength, explosive power, reactive agility, and fatigue resistance. Pre- and post-intervention assessments included upper- and lower-limb reaction speed, vertical jump height, repeated jump endurance, reactive agility, grip endurance, body-weight squat performance, Romanian deadlift repetitions, and the Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT). Statistical analyses included paired-samples t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests with Benjamini–Hochberg false discovery rate correction (α = 0.05). Results: Significant post-intervention improvements were observed in most performance variables. Upper- and lower-limb reaction performance improved by 22.9% and 9.7%, respectively (p < 0.001), while vertical jump height increased by 11.4% and repeated jump endurance by 16.6% (p < 0.001). Reactive agility time decreased by 6.6% (p < 0.001), indicating faster cognitive-motor responsiveness. Functional strength improved substantially, with increases of 43.7% in body-weight squat performance and 71.9% in Romanian deadlift repetitions (p ≤ 0.001). Grip endurance improved by 6.3% (p = 0.007), whereas maximal handgrip strength showed no significant changes. The SJFT index decreased by 5.0% (p < 0.001), reflecting enhanced intermittent effort efficiency and fatigue tolerance. Large effect sizes were identified for upper-limb reaction speed (d = 1.42), explosive endurance (d = 1.46), and reactive agility (d = 0.96). Conclusions: Over the 15-week study period, participation in a CrossFit-based functional training program integrated into regular Sambo practice was associated with improvements in several biomechanical and neuromuscular performance outcomes, including reaction performance, explosive power, agility, muscular endurance, and sport-specific work capacity. However, because the study did not include a control group, these changes cannot be attributed exclusively to the CrossFit-based intervention. Controlled studies are required to distinguish intervention-specific effects from seasonal training adaptations, continued sport-specific practice, and test familiarization.