Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are oxidized in the muscle and result in stimulating anabolic signals—which in return may optimize performance, body composition and recovery. Meanwhile, among athletes, the evidence about BCAA supplementation is not clear. The aim of this study was to review the effects of BCAAs in athletic populations. The research was conducted in three databases: Web of Science (all databases), PubMed and Scopus. The inclusion criteria involved participants classified both as athletes and people who train regularly, and who were orally supplemented with BCAAs. The risk of bias was individually assessed for each study using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2.0). From the 2298 records found, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria. Although BCAAs tended to activate anabolic signals, the benefits on performance and body composition were negligible. On the other hand, studies that included resistance participants showed that BCAAs attenuated muscle soreness after exercise, while in endurance sports the findings were inconsistent. The protocols of BCAA supplements differed considerably between studies. Moreover, most of the studies did not report the total protein intake across the day and, consequently, the benefits of BCAAs should be interpreted with caution.

Background/Objectives: Given the observed increase in life expectancy within Europe, it is anticipated that there will be a growing number of retirees and a lengthening of the retirement phase for individuals. This has brought attention to the examination of how the disengagement from professional endeavors influences overall wellbeing. The objective of this investigation was to conduct a comprehensive literature review spanning the period from 1998 to 2024, focusing on the intersection of retirement and wellbeing. Methods: This review (PROSPERO reference: CRD42024621454) was based on scientific articles available in PsycInfo, PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, resulting in the inclusion of 32 articles in the systematic review, of which 12 were eligible for meta-analysis. The quality of evidence was evaluated based on the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies checklist. Results: The meta-analysis results revealed that the observed effect size was d = 0.383, considered moderate. This value was statistically significant (Z = 3.197; p = 0.001) with a 95% CI [0.148, 0.617]. The publications were subjected to qualitative analysis, taking into account study type and thematic content. The discernible outcomes were categorized as follows: (1) expectations regarding retirement, (2) preparation for retirement, (3) family relations and grandparenting, (4) quality of life and satisfaction with retirement, and (5) health consequences of retirement. Conclusions: The prevalent approach predominantly comprised quantitative investigations, with a particular focus on exploring the nexus between retirement and health implications, particularly in the context of European participants. This emphasis on health consequences provides a deeper comprehension of this association.

Although the coach–athlete relationship has been widely examined across competitive levels, limited research has focused on its dynamics within elite national team settings. This study explored the coach-athlete relationship in the context of national team coaches participating in major international competitions (e.g., European Championships, World Championships, and Olympic Games). A semi-structured protocol was used to interview 13 elite national team coaches from team and individual sports. A reflexive thematic analysis revealed three higher-order themes: (1) Coaching identities are shaped through experience and transition, highlighting how national team coaches build their profiles through personal pathways, lifelong learning, and relational competence; (2) Constructing performance beyond skill, showing that athlete selection transcends technical-tactical criteria, integrating psychosocial fit and team dynamics; and (3) Navigating connections in high-stakes contexts, illustrating how relational management, closeness, and complementarity influence sports success across competition phases. These findings expand existing knowledge by offering an in-depth understanding of coach-athlete relationship in elite national team settings, emphasising the interplay between individual profiles and relational processes. This study reinforces the importance of relational expertise as a core coaching skill and underlines the value of adaptive leadership in managing interpersonal dynamics. The practical implications include guiding the design of professional development programmes to strengthen interpersonal coaching skills and informing selection and communication strategies within national teams. By addressing a gap in the literature, this study contributes to enhancing the quality of coach–athlete interactions in high-performance environments and offers practical insights for federations, coaching organisations, and sport governing bodies aiming to optimise professional development and team performance.

Addictive behaviours are associated with substantial neurobiological, psychological, and behavioural impairments. Exercise training has emerged as a potential complementary strategy in addiction treatment; however, the characteristics of exercise interventions and their associated outcomes remain insufficiently characterized. This scoping review (ScR) was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were conducted across three electronic databases for studies published between January 2015 and March 2025. Eligible studies investigated structured exercise training interventions in individuals with substance-related or behavioural addictions. Data were extracted regarding study characteristics, addiction type, exercise modality, FITT parameters, and neurobiological, biochemical, psychological, behavioural, and addiction-related outcomes. Five human intervention studies met the inclusion criteria, all addressing substance-related addictions, including alcohol use disorder, methamphetamine use disorder, and polysubstance dependence. Three studies evaluated acute exercise interventions, whereas two investigated structured exercise programmes lasting 8–12 weeks. Aerobic exercise was the most frequently investigated modality, although combined aerobic and resistance training, yoga, cycling, soccer-based exercise, circuit training, and functional exercise were also identified. Exercise intensity ranged from moderate to vigorous, with substantial variability in frequency, session duration, intervention period, and reporting of progression, supervision, and adherence. Reported outcomes included dopamine-related measures, mood, anxiety, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, affect, and craving. The available evidence suggests potentially relevant effects of exercise across neurobiological, psychological, and addiction-related domains, but the limited number and heterogeneity of studies preclude conclusions regarding the effectiveness of specific exercise prescriptions. The current evidence base on structured exercise training in addictive behaviours remains limited and heterogeneous and is restricted, among the eligible intervention studies identified, to substance-related addictions. Exercise may represent a promising complementary approach, but evidence is insufficient to establish optimal exercise modalities, FITT prescriptions, or sustained clinical benefits. Future research should prioritize adequately powered longitudinal randomized controlled trials, standardized reporting of exercise prescription and adherence, and comprehensive assessment of clinically relevant addiction-related outcomes.

High-performance sport has experienced rising competitive intensity and growing injury rates, leading athletes to seek individualized support. Yet evidence on how strength and conditioning coaches (SCC) individualize their practice remains scarce. This scoping review aimed to identify and map what is known about the individualized strength and conditioning (S&C) practices of coaches working with elite and professional athletes across sports. Conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported following the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), four databases (PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus and Scopus) were searched for English language records, with eligibility based on a Population, Concept and Context framework (SCC and physical trainers; individualized physical preparation practices; elite and professional sport). Of 9456 records, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, spanning individual sports and team and multisport contexts. Four themes emerged: programming and load individualization; assessment, testing and technology; psychosocial individualization; and future perspectives and trends. Coaches broadly valued individualization, but its full implementation was constrained, depending on high athlete and coach ratios in team settings, with assessment and technology (physical testing, GPS, RPE and readiness monitoring) the most frequently reported aspects, though this reflects how often they are studied rather than demonstrated effectiveness. Psychosocial individualization was acknowledged but underdeveloped. Overall, individualization of S&C practice is widely valued yet inconsistently applied and is rarely the primary object of study. The available evidence remains scarce and provides a starting point for future research that first builds foundational knowledge of individualized practices before examining their possible impact on training outcomes. The protocol was registered in Open Science Framework (10.17605/OSF.IO/J34SG) and in INPLASY (10.37766/inplasy2025.2.0001).