This study investigated the effects of a single-night sleep extension protocol on physical performance and cognitive function in physically active university students across different times of day. Using a within-subjects, counterbalanced crossover design, 24 physically active university students (17 males, 7 females; age: 22.7 ± 1.6 years) completed performance assessments under normal-sleep and sleep-extension conditions. Participants’ sleep was monitored via wrist actigraphy, and a comprehensive assessment battery comprising vertical jumps, Y-Balance tests, medicine-ball throws, 5 m shuttle-run tests, reaction-time tests, and digit-cancellation tests was administered at baseline (8 PM), morning (8 AM), and afternoon (4 PM). Sleep extension increased total sleep time by approximately 55 min (531.3 ± 56.8 min vs. 476.5 ± 64.2 min; p < 0.001, d = 0.91). Significant improvements were observed in 5 m shuttle-run performance at 8 AM (best distance: 102.8 ± 11.9 m vs. 93.3 ± 8.5 m, p < 0.001, d = 0.93; fatigue index: 13.1 ± 8.3% vs. 21.2 ± 9.5%, p < 0.001, d = 0.90), squat-jump heights (28.2 ± 8.0 cm vs. 26.3 ± 7.2 cm, p = 0.005, d = 0.25), simple reaction time (252.8 ± 55.3 ms vs. 296.4 ± 75.2 ms, p < 0.001, d = 0.66), and digit-cancellation performance (67.6 ± 12.6 vs. 63.0 ± 10.0 targets, p = 0.006, d = 0.40). Sleep extension significantly enhances both physical and cognitive performance in physically active individuals, with effects more pronounced during morning hours, partially attenuating typical circadian performance decline and establishing sleep extension as an effective, non-pharmacological strategy for optimizing performance capabilities.

Background/Objectives: Patellofemoral syndrome is a common osteoarticular condition that affects many individuals. Various treatment options are available, with a significant emphasis on targeted muscle-strengthening exercises. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of isokinetic muscle strengthening on muscle strength, joint range of motion, quality of life, physical performance, and pain tolerance in overweight/obese women with patellofemoral syndrome. Methods: Twenty-four overweight or obese women with patellofemoral syndrome participated in the study during September and October 2023 in a private medical facility for physical medicine and functional rehabilitation. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups for six weeks of isokinetic muscle strengthening. The first group (ISO.G) followed a rehabilitation program combined with isokinetic muscle strengthening. A second group (PCM.G) followed a rehabilitation program that includes an isokinetic protocol in passive compensation movement. The extensors’ peak torque was measured before and after training. Results: The flexors’ peak torque, stair climbing test, 10 m walk, chair lift, monopodal support, goniometric knee flexion test, heel–buttock distance measurement, pain, and quality of life scores improved significantly in both groups. The ISO.G, on the other hand, benefited from a significant increase in quadriceps muscle strength revealed by the extensors’ peak torque. Conclusions: For the treatment of patellofemoral syndrome, isokinetic muscle strengthening in concentric mode appears to have a significant advantage over the classic rehabilitation program with isokinetic passive compensation, particularly in muscle strength gain, in addition to the improvement of joint range of motion, quality of life, physical performance, and pain tolerance. Isokinetic training may be recommended as a beneficial approach for the rehabilitative treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome in overweight/obese women.

Around the world, chronic diseases have impacted the health and quality of life of many individuals. These chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and lung disease, are expensive to treat, frequently require lifelong care, and worsen drastically if treatment is postponed or of poor quality. This phenomenon will place pressure on healthcare systems to adjust to meet these evolving demands by creating efficient preventive strategies. One of the key epidemiological trends of the current times is the rise of chronic and degenerative diseases. This study will provide an overview of chronic diseases and helps to provide a more detailed image of pain and coping strategies. This requires adapting health systems and health policies and a shift from disease-centered to people-centered approaches and population health measures.