This study aimed to determine whether there is a difference between the levels of imagery and mental toughness in the context of sports performance in male and female athletes. A total of 344 track and field athletes, 205 male (59.6%, 23.3 ± 4.0 years) and 139 female (40.4%, 22.9 ± 4.0 years), voluntarily participated in the study. Imagery Inventory and Mental Toughness Inventory in Sport were used as data collection tools in the study. In the evaluation of athletic performance, athletes were asked about their ranks in the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 and were categorized according to the scoring tables specified by the International Association of Athletics Federation. A MANOVA analysis was used to determine whether there was a difference between low (−2% to +5%), medium (+6 to +11%), and high (+12 to +17%) performers among male and female athletes, and a post hoc analysis was used to determine the source of the difference. According to the present findings, there was no significant difference between the imagery and mental toughness levels of athletes with high, medium, and low performance among male athletes. On the contrary, a significant difference was detected between the imagery and mental toughness levels of female athletes with medium and high performances, showing that athletes in the high-performance range had higher levels of imagery (Eta² = 8) and mental toughness (Eta² = 10) than athletes in the medium- and low-performance ranges. The findings of this study show that imagery and emotional intelligence are important factors for sports performance. In this context, coaches and sports psychologists can include these parameters in their training programs to achieve the optimal performance range.

Background: Coffee is considered one of the most preferred and consumed beverage types in the world, and caffeine is known to increase physical performance due to its ergogenic properties. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of coffee consumption in different forms on cortisol, testosterone, lactic acid and anaerobic performance levels. Methods: A total of 15 licensed male football players participated in the research voluntarily. The research was implemented in a single-blind, counterbalanced, randomized and crossover study design. Participants were given caffeinated coffee (CK), decaffeinated coffee (placebo) (DK), powdered caffeine (in a gelatin capsule) (PC) and powdered placebo (maltodextrin in a capsule) (PM) on different days, and the Wingate test protocol was performed after the warm-up protocol. Blood samples were collected post-test. Cortisol, testosterone and lactic acid levels in the serum samples taken were determined by the ELISA method. Results: As a result, it was revealed that caffeinated coffee given to participants who exercise increased anaerobic power. However, it was observed that lactic acid levels were higher in placebo and decaffeinated coffee. The highest level of cortisol was found in caffeinated coffee and powdered caffeine compared to the placebo. Testosterone values were observed to be highest in caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee compared to a placebo. Conclusions: The study suggests that the type of caffeine is a factor that affects absorption rate, which impacts performance and hormone levels.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Life Kinetik (LK) exercises on balance, agility, jumping performance, proprioception, and cognitive functions in recreationally active preadolescents participating in fencing. The study lasted 8 weeks and included 22 preadolescents recreationally engaged in fencing, aged 11.6 ± 1.2 years, with an average weight of 49.5 ± 10.5 kg and an average height of 157.5 ± 10.0 cm. Preadolescents were randomly assigned to either the LK group or the control group. The experimental group participated in LK exercises twice per week, with each session lasting one hour. The results indicate that the changes in Stroop, agility, vertical jump, and proprioception test performance between the pre-test and post-test for the control group are not statistically significant. However, the LK group showed statistically significant improvements in Stroop, agility, and vertical jump performance between the pre-test and post-test (p < 0.001). Conversely, the change in proprioception test performance between the pre-test and post-test for the LK training group was not statistically significant. The changes in star balance test performance between the pre-test and post-test for the control group was not statistically significant. In contrast, the LK group showed a statistically significant improvement in star balance test performance between the pre-test and post-test (p < 0.001). These findings indicate that while LK exercises are effective in boosting overall athletic performance, they may not be sufficient for developing specific skills such as proprioception. The randomized controlled trial was registered on 04/01/2025 at ClinicalTrials.gov, under the registration number NCT06781268.

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated exercise-induced changes in body composition and metabolic biomarkers in women across distinct BMI categories and individuals with Type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 sedentary women were stratified into five groups (n = 8): underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and T2DM. The rigorous eight-week supervised program utilized submaximal exercise at 70–85% heart rate reserve, calculated via the Karvonen method and monitored by telemetry. Assessments included anthropometric parameters (BMI, fat mass, visceral fat) and serum biomarkers (irisin, myonectin, HIF-1α, insulin, glucose). Fasting venous samples were collected at baseline and 72 h post-intervention to minimize acute effects, then analyzed using validated ELISA protocols. Statistical data were evaluated using parametric or non-parametric tests with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Post-intervention, significant reductions in weight, fat mass, and visceral fat occurred in overweight, obese, and T2DM groups (p < 0.05). Muscle mass increased across all cohorts. Fasting insulin and glucose decreased significantly in all except the underweight group, with the most pronounced improvements in T2DM and obese participants. Serum irisin increased significantly across all groups (p < 0.05), indicating a universal exercise-induced myokine response. Conversely, myonectin levels decreased significantly only in the normal-weight group, while HIF-1α increased specifically in the T2DM cohort. These findings suggest that baseline BMI and metabolic status are critical determinants of exercise responsiveness, leading to heterogeneous biomarker patterns despite consistent improvements in body composition and basic glycemic regulation. Conclusions: An eight-week submaximal program effectively improves body composition and glycemic regulation, though specific biomarker responses are highly dependent on baseline BMI and metabolic status.