Background: Individuals with visual impairments frequently experience postural instability during daily activities, considerably increasing the risk of falls. However, the mechanisms by which visually impaired individuals maintain balance through sensory reweighting remain unclear. We therefore aimed to investigate sensory reweighting for postural control in individuals with low vision and blindness by integrating measures of postural performance, biomechanical forces, and muscle co-contraction. Methods: Seventy-four participants were recruited (19 participants with normal vision, 36 participants with low vision, and 19 participants being blind). Each participant completed postural tasks under two conditions: open/closed eyes and firm/foam surfaces. Postural performance was evaluated with single-leg and tandem stance durations. The center of pressure (COP) during bipedal stance was collected using a force platform. Simultaneously, integrated EMG was acquired via wireless surface electromyography from six dominant-side muscles: erector spinae, rectus abdominis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, tibialis anterior, and gastrocnemius. Results: We observed significant group × vision interactions for COP Path Length and Sway Area. The blind group exhibited the highest AP_HF% on a firm surface, confirming that individuals with visual impairment exhibit somatosensory compensation to maintain postural control. Individuals with low vision presented heightened sensitivity to partial sensory deprivation, with significantly increased Path Length and Sway Velocity. Additionally, a significant interaction between vision and somatosensation was observed, along with significant main effects of vision and somatosensation of all COP parameters. Muscle activity further supported these findings. The rectus abdominis/erector spinae ratio decreased significantly with somatosensory deprivation, whereas the gastrocnemius/tibialis anterior co-contraction index increased significantly under both visual and somatosensory deprivation, with higher co-contraction observed in both low-vision and blind participants. Conclusion: Blind individuals rely primarily on somatosensory input for sensory reweighting, while those with low vision show impaired compensation due to residual vision, resulting in the most impaired postural control. Ankle muscle co-contraction serves as the primary strategy for maintaining postural stability in visually impaired individuals.

This randomized controlled trial investigated the acute effects of floss band (FB) application at different pressures on multidimensional ankle stability in patients with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Forty-two male participants with CAI were randomly assigned to a medium-pressure (MP, 150 mmHg), high-pressure (HP, 200 mmHg), or control group (CG, non-compressive bandage). Outcomes included the Y-Balance Test (YBT), single-leg landing stability (assessed via surface electromyography), ankle proprioception, and static balance, measured at baseline (T0), 5 min (T1), 25 min (T2), and 45 min (T3) post-intervention. The results showed that both MP and HP groups exhibited significant improvements in YBT composite scores, lower limb muscle activation during landing, and joint position sense accuracy at T1 and T2 compared to T0 (all p < 0.05), with the MP group demonstrating longer-lasting benefits up to T3. The MP group also significantly outperformed the CG across multiple dynamic stability and neuromuscular metrics at early time points (p < 0.05). Improvements in static balance were limited and transient. These findings indicate that a single application of FB, particularly at 150 mmHg, can acutely enhance dynamic stability, neuromuscular control, and proprioception in CAI patients, with effects sustained for up to 45 minutes, supporting its use as an effective pre-activity or pre-rehabilitation intervention.

Objective: To explore the effects of different intensities of endurance training combined with resistance training on the bones of growing male rats, and to provide the optimal exercise plan for bone mineral accumulation in adolescents. Methods: Thirty 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control (C), resistance training (R), low-intensity endurance + resistance (LR), moderate-intensity endurance + resistance (MR), and high-intensity interval + resistance (HR). After 8 weeks of exercise intervention, the bone mineral density, bone microstructure, bone mechanical properties and bone remodeling of rats were assessed. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the results obtained by the detection methods. Results: The body weight of the exercise group was lower than that of the control group. The endurance and resistance training group (LR/MR/HR) had significantly higher bone mineral density than the control group ( p ’s < 0.05). There was no difference in bone metabolism markers among the groups. In the result of bone volume fraction, only the MR group was significantly higher than the control group ( p = 0.03); the number of trabeculae showed statistical differences in the LR group and the MR group ( p ’s < 0.05). Each exercise group showed significantly higher maximum load and fracture stress than the control group ( p ’s ≤ 0.001), but no difference in maximum strain was shown. Conclusion: Combined endurance and resistance training improved bone mineral density and mechanical strength in growing male rats, with moderate-intensity endurance training showing the most consistent improvements in bone microarchitecture.

Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) is widely implemented among athletes and patients, but its effects in sedentary adolescent students remain unclear. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of 12-week IMT on respiratory function and aerobic capacity in sedentary adolescent boys. For this aim, 41 sedentary male-adolescents (16–18 years) were assigned randomly into IMT (n = 20) or Sham (n = 21) group. IMT was performed 3 days/week, 3 sets of 30 repetitions daily over 12 weeks. The forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), forced inspiratory volume (FIV), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max), running distance, maximal heart rate and heart rate recovery at 1/3/5 minute (HRR1/3/5) were assessed before and after intervention. Two-way mixed ANOVA or generalized estimating equations was conducted to analyze group×time interactions. Significant group×time interactions were observed for all respiratory function parameters and for VO₂max, running distance, and HRR1 (P < 0.05). Post-intervention, the IMT group showed significantly higher MIP, PIF, FIV, VO₂max, running distance, and HRR1 compared to the Sham group (P < 0.05). The augmentation value was also substantially greater in the IMT group across all outcomes (P < 0.05). These findings suggest 12-week IMT effectively enhances respiratory function and aerobic endurance in sedentary adolescent males. This trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration ID ChiCTR2600117069, 3/12/2025).

Background: Structured lipids, composed of re-esterified triacylglycerols containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and medium-chain fatty acids, may influence metabolism and endurance performance. This trial aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of structured lipid supplementation on substrate utilization, erythrocyte fatty acid content, and endurance performance in healthy untrained men. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized design, 36 participants (18 per group) received either structured lipids or placebo supplementation for eight weeks. Pre- and post-supplementation assessments included maximal oxygen uptake, time to exhaustion, substrate oxidation during exercise at 65% VO_2max, and erythrocyte membrane fatty acid content. Non-parametric statistical methods were used to analyze within- and between-group differences. Results: After supplementation, the structured lipids group showed statistically significant within-group changes in substrate utilization, including lower respiratory exchange ratio and higher percentage fat oxidation, total fat oxidation, and mean fat oxidation rate. Statistically significant increases were also observed in erythrocyte EPA + DHA content and time to exhaustion. Compared with the placebo group, the structured lipids group showed statistically significant post-intervention differences in substrate oxidation, erythrocyte EPA + DHA levels, and time to exhaustion. Conclusions: Eight weeks of structured lipid supplementation increased erythrocyte membrane EPA and DHA and enhanced fat oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise in untrained men. Although endurance performance improved, the change was within natural variability and showed substantial interindividual differences. Further rigorously controlled studies are needed to determine whether these metabolic adaptations yield meaningful functional benefits.