Background: This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of small-sided games (SSGs) and running-based high-intensity interval training (HIITrb) on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, cognitive performance, and enjoyment in young, male soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four soccer players [age: 19.2 ± 0.8 years] completed one session each of four-a-side SSG or HIITrb in a randomized, counterbalanced, and crossover design, with a one-week washout period. Blood samples and Trail Making Tests (TMTs) A and B were measured before and after exercise. Heart rate (HR) was monitored throughout the games, and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and enjoyment were collected at the end of the measurements. Results: The results show no significant effects of time (p > 0.775), group (p > 0.276) or time × group interaction (p > 0.199) on BDNF levels. For TMT-A, the time effect (p = 0.866) and group effect (p = 0.057) were not significant; however, the time × group interaction was significant (p < 0.019), indicating a superior performance in the SSG compared to HIITrb. In the TMT-B, significant effects were observed for both time (p < 0.001) and group (p < 0.001), while the time × group interaction effect was not statistically significant (p > 0.061). Furthermore, enjoyment levels did not differ significantly between conditions (p = 0.976). Conclusions: These findings suggest that four-a-side SSG may enhance processing speed compared to HIITrb without changes in serum BDNF levels. Coaches may consider using 4v4 SSG formats in early training sessions or warm-ups to stimulate processing speed and mental readiness in young soccer players.

Background: Carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHOmr), a nutritional intervention for delaying fatigue and meeting the energy demands of soccer, and the motivational strategy of coach encouragement (CE) are widely recognized as effective approaches for enhancing athletic performance in soccer. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of CHOmr + CE, CHOmr, and CE on heart rate (HR) and kinematic profiles during four-a-side small-sided soccer games (SSGs). Methods: Twenty-four young soccer players (age: 17.2 ± 0.8 years) played six bouts of four-a-side SSGs with CHOmr + CE, CHOmr, or CE at 3-day intervals in a randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled, or crossover study design. The HR and kinematic responses were continuously recorded during all games. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in peak heart rate (HR_peak) (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.326, p = 0.723, η² = 0.014) and mean heart rate (HR_mean) (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.845, p = 0.436, η² = 0.035). No significant differences were found for distances in Zone 1 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 1.21, p = 0.306, η² = 0.050), Zone 4 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.310, p = 0.735, η² = 0.013), Zone 5 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 1.02, p = 0.368, η² = 0.042), or Zone 6 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.161, p = 0.211, η² = 0.055), nor acceleration (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.208, p = 0.137, η² = 0.083) and deceleration (p ≥ 0.05, F = 0.790, p = 0.460, η² = 0.033). Similarly, although no significant differences were observed in the distance in Zone 3 (p ≥ 0.05, F = 3.12, p = 0.054, η² = 0.119) or repeated sprint distance (p ≥ 0.05, F = 2.96, p = 0.062, η² = 0.114), the CHOmr +CE group exhibited higher average values for these variables. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in the distance covered in Zone 2 (p ≤ 0.05, F = 3.89, p = 0.028, η² = 0.145), with the CHOmr +CE group performing better, as confirmed by the post-hoc analyses. Conclusions: Although our findings indicate that CE alone may influence kinematic profiles during SSGs, similar to CHOmr or its combination with CE, further research should explore the underlying mechanisms and potential contextual factors influencing these outcomes. Therefore, we suggest that coaches prefer CE because it is easy to implement.

Bu çalışmanın amacı amatör boksörlerin bilişsel performanslarını incelemektir. Araştırmaya, 31 amatör erkek boksör (ort. yaş = 20.42  3.88) ve sedanter sağlıklı kişiler (ort. yaş = 20.65  1.40) gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Katılımcıların bilişsel performanslarını incelemek için Stroop TBAG Formu uygulanmıştır. Verilen normal dağılımı Skewness ve kurtosis değerlerine bakılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Gruplararası karşılaştırma için bağımsız T testi kullanılmıştır. Sürekli değişkenlerin ilişkisi Pearson analiziyle değerlendirilmiştir. Anlamlılık düzeyi p<0.05 olarak kabul edilmiştir. SPSS v 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) paket programı kullanılmıştır. Stroop testi alt bölümlerinde, düzeltme ve hata sayılarında gruplar arasında anlamlı farklılık görülmemiştir. Ayrıca antrenman maçı, resmi maç sayısıyla bilişsel performans arasında ilişkisi tespit edilememiştir. Sonuç olarak, amatör boksörler ile sağlıklı bireyler arasında bilişsel performansta anlamlı farklılık olmadığı söylenebilir. The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive performance of amateur boxers and sedentary people. 31 amateur male boxers (mean age = 20.42  3.88) and sedentary healthy individuals (mean age = 20.65  1.40) voluntarily participated in the study. The Stroop TBAG Form was applied to examine the cognitive performances of the participants. The given normal distribution was evaluated according to the Skewness and kurtosis values. Independent T-test was used for groups comparison. The relationship of continuous variables was evaluated by Pearson analysis. Significance level was accepted as p<0.05. SPSS v 26.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) package program was used. There was no significant difference in the number of corrections and errors in the Stroop test subsections between the groups. In addition, the relationship between the number of sparring, official matches and cognitive performance could not be determined. As a result, it can be said that there is no significant difference in cognitive performance between amateur boxers and healthy individuals.

Background/Objectives: Exercise supports physical and cognitive health through neurotrophin-mediated pathways, with irisin playing a key role in neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity. As adolescence represents a period of heightened neuroplasticity and metabolic adaptation, determining how different exercise modalities influence neurotrophic and cognitive responses is critical for health promotion in youth. This study aimed to compare the acute effects of low-intensity continuous training (LICT), short-interval high-intensity interval training (SI-HIIT), and long-interval HIIT (LI-HIIT) on circulating irisin levels and executive function in healthy late adolescent males. Methods: Eleven participants completed all conditions in a randomized crossover design with a 7-day washout. Venous blood samples and the Trail-Making Test, Parts A and B (TMT-A, TMT-B) were assessed pre- and postexercise, with continuous heart rate monitoring. Results: Post-exercise irisin levels were significantly greater in both HIIT protocols (SI-HIIT, p < 0.001; LI-HIIT, p < 0.038) than in the LICT protocol. Only the SI-HIIT group presented significantly shorter TMT-A (vs. LICT, p < 0.001; vs. LI-HIIT, p = 0.016) and TMT-B (vs. LICT, p < 0.001; vs. LI-HIIT, p < 0.001) completion times post-exercise. Conclusions: A single HIIT session elicited greater increases in circulating irisin and executive function compared with LICT. These findings highlight exercise intensity and interval structure as key factors for enhancing neurocognitive health, offering valuable insight for developing early-life training strategies to promote brain health.

Background/Objectives: Beetroot juice (BRJ), a dietary nitrate source, may enhance high-intensity intermittent exercise, but its effects on single- and repeated-sprint performance remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of BRJ supplementation on sprint-related performance and neuromuscular, perceptual, and physiological outcomes. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for trials published from 2014 to June 2026. Eligible studies compared BRJ with placebo or control in healthy adults aged 18–40 years. The review followed PRISMA guidelines. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the PEDro scale and Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Evidence certainty was assessed using GRADE. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Twenty-three randomized trials involving 401 participants were included, and 21 contributed to the meta-analysis. BRJ improved time to peak power in four Wingate-based studies (SMD = −0.92, 95% CI: −1.29 to −0.54, p < 0.001) and handgrip strength (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.74, p = 0.027). No significant effects were observed for countermovement jump, peak or mean power, 10 m or 20 m sprint performance, perceived exertion, heart rate, or blood lactate. Sex did not significantly moderate the effects, although female data were limited. Certainty was low for most outcomes and very low for 20 m sprint performance and blood lactate. Conclusions: BRJ may improve time to peak power and handgrip strength; however, low- to very-low-certainty evidence does not support its routine use to enhance short-distance or repeated-sprint performance.

Bu araştırmanın amacı, sedanter kadınlarda 6 haftalık EMS ile kombine olarak yapılan yüksek şiddetli egzersizlerin fiziksel performansa etkilerini incelenmesidir. Araştırma, deney (TV-EMS) (yaş = 25,6  1,26 yıl, n=10) ve kontrol grubu (yaş = 25,6  1,26 yıl, n=10) grubu olmak üzere 20 genç gönüllü kadın üzerinde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada, deney grubu toplamda 18 seans (3seans/6 hft) 20 dakikalık tüm vücut EMS egzersizi gerçekleştirmiştir. Kontrol grubu da aynı egzersizleri EMS cihazı olmadan gerçekleştirmiştir. Çalışma öncesinde ve sonrasında vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ), denge ve sıçrama performansları ölçülmüştür. Verilerin analizi için SPSS v 26.0 yazılımı kullanılmıştır. Betimsel değerler için aritmetik ortalama ve standart sapma analizleri TV-EMS grubu ile kontrol grubuna ait ön ve son testler arasındaki iki faktörlü tekrarlanan ölçümlü ANOVA yapılmıştır. Tüm istatistiksel testler için anlamlılık kriteri p < 0.05 olarak belirlenmiştir. Araştırma bulgularına göre, grupların son test ölçümlerinin karşılaştırmasında VKİ, % yağ oranı, denge ve sıçrama değerlerinde anlamlı farklılık görülmezken, yağsız kütle değerlerinde TV-EMS grubu, kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı düzeyde artış göstermiştir. Bu bulgu sonucunda, deneysel prosedürün daha uzun süre yapılması halinde VKİ’ de değişim olabileceği, % yağ değerlerinde azalma meydana gelebileceği düşünülebilir. Ancak sedanter kadınlarda EMS ile yapılan antrenmanların fiziksel performans (sıçrama ve denge) değerlerine olumlu etkisinin olmadığı söylenebilir.