Background: Numerous meta-analyses have assessed the efficacy of creatine supplementation in increasing muscle strength. However, most have not considered the effect of the participants’ age, training duration, or other confounding variables on strength outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to consider the effect of these variables on the potential efficacy of creatine supplementation and resistance training for improving measures of muscle strength. Methods: Four databases were searched (MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and SPORTDiscus) with a search end date of 22 May 2024. Twenty-three studies were included, with 20 studies involving males (447 male participants), 2 studies involving females (40 female participants), and 1 study involving both males and females (13 male participants and 9 female participants). Results: In comparison with a placebo, creatine supplementation combined with resistance training significantly increased upper-body (WMD = 4.43 kg, p < 0.001) and lower-body strength (WMD = 11.35 kg, p < 0.001). Subgroup analyses showed a trend for greater upper-body strength improvements for males on creatine compared with females on creatine (p = 0.067, Q = 3.366). Additionally, males who consumed creatine combined with resistance training significantly increased both upper- and lower-body strength, whereas females showed no significant gains. There was a trend indicating greater lower-body strength gains from high-dose creatine compared with lower doses (p = 0.068, Q = 3.341). No other variables influenced the effect of creatine supplementation. In conclusions, creatine supplementation with resistance training enhances upper- and lower-body muscle strength in adults aged < 50, with greater benefits likely to be seen in males than females.

Background: With the intensification of the global aging trend, there is a contradiction between the extended lifespan and the decline of physiological functions among the older adult. It has become a global consensus to focus on and improve the quality of life for the older adult. Mind–body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) play a crucial role in promoting the quality of life for older adults, but the mechanisms and mediating effects are not yet clear.Objective: This study examines the impact of mind–body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) on the quality of life in older adults, with a particular focus on exploring the chain mediating effects of perceived social support and psychological resilience.Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study that surveyed 1,087 older adults participating in mind–body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) in 13 districts of Beijing, China, from March 25 to May 3, 2024. The Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) were used to measure mind–body exercise, perceived social support, psychological resilience, and quality of life, respectively. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 26.0, and mediation effects were tested and effect analysis was conducted through structural equation modeling (AMOS) and the Bootstrap method.Results: The study results show that mind–body exercises (Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing) are significantly and positively correlated with the quality of life in older adults (r = 0.549, p < 0.01). The path coefficients for the relationships mind–body exercise → perceived social support (β = 0.46, p < 0.001) → psychological resilience (β = 0.20, p < 0.001) → quality of life in older adults (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) are significant, indicating that perceived social support and psychological resilience have a chain mediating effect between mind–body exercise and the quality of life in older adults.Conclusion: Mind–body exercises not only improve the quality of life for older adults but also indirectly enhance it by strengthening perceived social support and psychological resilience. This study provides significant reference for developing health intervention strategies targeted at older adults, suggesting that promoting mind–body exercises can improve their sense of perceived social support and psychological resilience, thereby increasing their quality of life.

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a physiological phenomenon that refers to an acute excitation of the neuromuscular system following intense exercise that ends in enhanced physical performance in a subsequent bout of exercise. The scientific literature has primarily examined the effectiveness of PAPE alone or combined with caffeine (CAF) intake in all-out tests lasting ≤10 s, as the effect of PAPE is transitory. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of a protocol to induce PAPE alone or in combination with caffeine intake on the 30 s Wingate Anaerobic Test in highly trained boxers. Twenty-five male and highly trained boxers (mean age: 20 ± 1 years) participated in a double-blind, randomized crossover study consisting of three different experimental conditions: (i) control (CON), with no substance intake and no PAPE protocol before the Wingate Anaerobic Test; (ii) PAPE + PLA, involving the intake of a placebo 60 min before and a PAPE protocol comprising a 10 s cycling sprint overloaded with 8.5% of the participants’ body weight 10 min before the Wingate Anaerobic Test; and (iii) PAPE + CAF, involving the intake of 3 mg/kg of caffeine 60 min before and the same PAPE protocol used in the (ii) protocol before the Wingate Anaerobic Test. In all conditions, the participants performed the 30 s version of the Wingate Anaerobic Test with a load equivalent to 7.5% of their body weight, while the cycle ergometer setting was replicated. Immediately following the Wingate test, heart rate (HR), the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood lactate concentration (Bla) were measured. In comparison to CON, PAPE + PLA enhanced mean power (p = 0.024; Effect size [ES] = 0.37) and total work (p = 0.022; ES = 0.38) during the Wingate test, accompanied by an increase in post-test blood lactate concentration (p < 0.01; ES = 0.83). In comparison to CON, PAPE + CAF enhanced mean power (p = 0.001; ES = 0.57), peak power (p = 0.013; ES = 0.57), total work (p = 0.001; ES = 0.53), post-test blood lactate concentration (p < 0.001; ES = 1.43) and participants’ subjective perception of power (p = 0.041). There were no differences in any variable between PAPE + PLA and PAPE + CAF. In summary, a PAPE protocol that involves a 10 s all-out sprint 10 min before the Wingate Anaerobic Test was effective in enhancing Wingate mean power in highly trained boxers. The addition of 3 mg/kg of caffeine to the PAPE protocol produced an effect on mean power of a higher magnitude than PAPE alone, and it enhanced peak power along with participants’ subjective perception of power. From a practical point of view, PAPE before exercise seems to be an effective approach for increasing Wingate performance in highly trained boxers, while the addition of caffeine can increase some benefits, especially peak power.

Background: Both listening to music during warm-up and consuming caffeine before exercise have been independently shown to enhance athletic performance. However, the potential synergistic effects of combining these strategies remain largely unexplored. To date, only two studies have reported additional benefits to combining music during warm-up with a caffeine dose of 3 mg/kg on taekwondo-specific performance tasks. However, these studies did not evaluate whether this combination produces additive or synergistic effects on other types of sports performance. The present study aimed to assess the effects of listening to music alone or combined with caffeine intake on performance in the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) in physically active subjects. Methods: Twenty-four physically active male participants took part in this randomized, double-blind, crossover experiment. Participants underwent WAnT performance evaluations under three conditions: (i) no intervention (control; CON); (ii) music plus placebo (Mus + PLA), involving the intake of a placebo (maltodextrin) 60 min prior and self-selected high-tempo music during warm-up; and (iii) music plus caffeine (Mus + CAF), involving the intake of 3 mg/kg of caffeine 60 min prior and self-selected high-tempo music during warm-up. Under all conditions, participants wore the same Bluetooth headphones (with or without music), performed a 10 min standardized warm-up, and completed the 30 s WAnT with a load of 7.5% of their body weight on a calibrated ergometer. Power output was recorded at a frequency of 1 Hz throughout the exercise. The Feeling Scale was assessed both before and after the exercise test, while heart rate (HR) and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured immediately following the exercise. Results: Mus + PLA and Mus + CAF significantly improved peak power, mean power, and total work compared with CON (p < 0.05). Furthermore, peak power was higher in Mus + CAF than in Mus + PLA (p = 0.01). Post-exercise HR and RPE showed no significant differences across conditions (p > 0.05). Regarding the Feeling Scale (FS) before exercise, the Mus + PLA and Mus + CAF conditions showed significantly higher scores than CON (p < 0.05), while no differences were found after exercise. The perceived fitness metrics displayed no significant differences among conditions (p > 0.05), except for self-perceived power, which was higher in Mus + CAF than in CON (p = 0.03). Conclusions: Self-selected music during warm-up, either alone or combined with caffeine, significantly enhanced several WAnT performance metrics, including peak power, mean power, and total work. Remarkably, combining music with caffeine further improved peak power and increased self-perceived power compared with music alone. While listening to self-selected music during warm-up provided measurable benefits on anaerobic exercise performance, the combination of music and caffeine demonstrated additive effects, making it the optimal strategy for maximizing anaerobic performance.

The introduction of the 50-kilogram weight class in women's boxing at the Paris Olympics presents new challenges to athletes and coaching teams, necessitating rapid adaptation and a comprehensive understanding of the technical characteristics of this category. This study aimed to identify key technical indicators influencing match outcomes in the female 50-kilogram weight class and classify boxers into distinct technical styles. Data from 76 matches in the Paris Olympics, World, Continental, and National boxing events were collected, with 23 performance indicators representing offensive techniques, distances, and defensive counterattacks. The results showed that winning athletes had significantly higher performance in several technical aspects. Three technical styles were identified using these key indicators: Boxer-Punchers, Swarmers, and Out-Boxers. Distinctive offensive characteristics played a crucial role in distinguishing winners and identifying high-performance groups, while also highlighting the technical advantages of Olympic medalists. The research findings underscore the importance of accuracy, diversity and comprehensiveness in offensive techniques for success. These insights provide valuable guidance for assessing performance and formulating effective match strategies.

Background: Velocity-loss (VL) thresholds may help regulate the balance between potentiation and fatigue during post-activation performance enhancement protocols; however, their effects on boxing-specific performance remain unclear. This study investigated the acute effects of bench press conditioning regulated by different VL thresholds on straight-punch performance in adolescent boxers. Methods: Eighteen male boxers (17.6 ± 0.7 years) completed four conditions in a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design: an active control condition (CON; two sets of 10 bench press repetitions using a habitual warm-up load below 30% one-repetition maximum [1RM]) and three VL conditions consisting of two sets of bench press at 85% 1RM terminated at 10% (VL10%), 20% (VL20%), or 30% (VL30%) velocity loss. Lead- and rear-hand peak punch velocity (PPV), peak punch force (PPF), and an estimated peak punch-power index (PPP) were assessed at baseline and 4, 8, 12, and 16 min after conditioning. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models, followed by Dunnett-adjusted comparisons of each VL condition with CON. Additional Tukey-adjusted pairwise comparisons were performed among VL10%, VL20%, and VL30%. Results: Significant condition × time interactions were observed for rear-hand PPV, lead- and rear-hand PPF, and lead- and rear-hand PPP (all p ≤ 0.046), but not for lead-hand PPV ( p = 0.391). At 8 and 12 min, VL10% and VL20% produced higher rear-hand PPV, PPF, and PPP and higher lead-hand PPP than CON ( p ≤ 0.039; Hedges’ g = 0.835–1.267). In contrast, VL30% produced lower rear-hand PPV, lead- and rear-hand PPF, and rear-hand PPP than CON at 4 min and remained lower for selected outcomes at 8–12 min ( p ≤ 0.046; g = −2.439 to −0.814). Direct VL comparisons showed no significant differences between VL10% and VL20%, whereas both conditions produced higher values than VL30% for several outcomes at selected time points ( p ≤ 0.045). Most between-condition differences were no longer evident at 16 min. Conclusion: Under the present protocol in the 18 male adolescent boxers studied, VL10% and VL20% were associated with favorable differences in several punch-performance outcomes after 8–12 min of recovery, whereas VL30% was associated with lower performance during the earlier recovery period. Direct comparisons showed no significant differences between VL10% and VL20%, whereas both conditions produced higher values than VL30% for several outcomes at selected time points. However, because repetition volume was not matched, these findings do not isolate the effect of VL threshold or establish an optimal threshold.