Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of exercise on balance function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and determine the most effective exercise protocols for balance enhancement. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed across five major electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane, Scopus) until 13 September 2024. Statistical synthesis was conducted using weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals under a random-effects model. Results: Analysis of 22 studies revealed significant improvements in balance function following exercise interventions. Outcomes measured by the Berg balance scale (BBS, WMD, 2.65, p < 0.00001) and timed up and go test (TUG, WMD, −0.59, p < 0.0001) demonstrated clinically relevant enhancements in KOA populations. Subgroup analyses revealed that multicomponent training (WMD, 6.25, p = 0.003), interventions lasting ≥ 8 weeks (WMD, 4.92, p = 0.002), sessions ≥ 60 min (WMD, 7.42, p = 0.002), frequency ≥ 3 times per week (WMD, 2.83, p = 0.0005), weekly time ≥ 180 min per week (WMD, 7.42, p = 0.002), and patients < 60 years (WMD, 6.71, p = 0.002) were associated with greater improvement in BBS. Conclusions: Exercise significantly improved balance function in KOA patients, with multicomponent training emerging as the most effective intervention. Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, clinicians should recommend that KOA patients engage in exercise at least three times per week, with each session lasting at least 60 min, to achieve a total weekly time of 180 min. These recommendations are particularly relevant for patients less than 60 years, who may experience greater benefits from exercise interventions.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and quality of life (QOL) in heart failure (HF) patients and to identify the optimal exercise prescription for improving aerobic capacity and QOL. A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus covering data published up to 9 October 2024. The Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) framework was used to define the inclusion. (a) Population: patients with HF; (b) Intervention: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with subjects randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group; (c) Comparison: studies that measured peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), or the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) at baseline and compared results post-intervention; (d) Outcome: the primary outcomes were aerobic capacity and QOL. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB-2) tool were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Weighted mean difference (WMD), standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval were used to pool data. A total of 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. Exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity (WMD, 2.85, p < 0.00001) and QOL (SMD, −0.79, p < 0.00001) in HF patients. Subgroup analyses indicated that combined exercise, session duration ≥ 60 min, ≥3 sessions per week, ≥180 min per week, and supervised exercise showed more significant improvements in aerobic capacity and QOL. Additionally, exercise had greater benefits in middle-aged patients. To improve aerobic capacity and QOL, the optimal exercise prescription for HF patients involves engaging in supervised combined exercise at least three times per week, with each session lasting at least 60 min, to achieve a total weekly duration of 180 min. These recommendations are particularly relevant for middle-aged patients, who may experience greater benefits from exercise interventions. The protocol has been registered on PROSPERO with the registration number CRD420250632915.

This study investigated the effects of different doses of caffeine (3 mg/kg BW and 6 mg/kg BW) on endurance exercise performance in the heat. Seventeen participants completed four randomized, double-blind trials: one in a normal environment (24.6 ± 1.2 °C) and three in a hot environment (33.2 ± 1.4 °C), with placebo, 3 mg/kg BW, and 6 mg/kg BW caffeine interventions. Endurance exercise time, cardiorespiratory function, and subjective fatigue perception were measured during incremental cycling tests. The results showed that high temperatures significantly reduced endurance exercise performance in the placebo (p < 0.001) and 3 mg/kg BW (p = 0.003) groups compared to the normal environment, but not in the 6 mg/kg BW group (p = 1.000). Both caffeine doses improved exercise time compared to placebo (3 mg/kg BW, p = 0.005; 6 mg/kg BW, p < 0.001). Caffeine ingestion enhanced pulmonary ventilation (VE), with significant increases in VE_peak (3 mg/kg BW, p = 0.032; 6 mg/kg BW, p = 0.006). Aerobic capacity improved, as evidenced by elevated VO₂peak (3 mg/kg BW, p = 0.010; 6 mg/kg BW, p = 0.001) and PetO₂ (3 mg/kg BW, p = 0.000; 6 mg/kg BW, p = 0.001). Subjective fatigue perception was significantly reduced only with 6 mg/kg BW caffeine (p = 0.020). In conclusion, caffeine ingestion at 3 mg/kg BW and 6 mg/kg BW effectively counteracts the negative effects of heat stress on endurance exercise performance by improving respiratory function, enhancing aerobic capacity, and reducing subjective fatigue. The 6 mg/kg BW dose demonstrated superior effects, making it a potential ergogenic aid for athletes training or competing in the heat.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of exercise on aerobic capacity in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to explore potential exercise-related characteristics associated with greater improvements in aerobic capacity. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically retrieved from Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library, covering all records up to 13 May 2025. Studies were included if they were RCTs involving COPD patients and reported aerobic capacity outcomes. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool, and effect sizes were synthesized using weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Thirty-seven studies were included, involving 1124 participants in exercise groups and 1089 in control groups. Exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity (WMD, 49.82; 95% CI: 38.54 to 61.10; p < 0.00001). Subgroup analyses revealed that certain exercise characteristics, including mixed exercise (WMD, 53.70; 95% CI: 41.58 to 65.83; p < 0.00001), sessions ≥ 60 min (WMD, 51.15; 95% CI: 37.53 to 64.76; p < 0.00001), ≤3 times weekly (WMD, 62.09; 95% CI: 47.49 to 76.68; p < 0.00001), total weekly volume ≤ 180 min (WMD, 59.08; 95% CI: 41.52 to 76.64; p < 0.00001), and supervised training (WMD, 56.25; 95% CI: 36.64 to 75.86; p < 0.00001), may be associated with larger improvements in aerobic capacity. Conclusions: Exercise is effective in improving aerobic capacity in COPD patients. Observed differences across exercise characteristics should be considered as exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than definitive evidence of optimal exercise prescription. Future research should focus on investigating the long-term effects of exercise training on clinical outcomes (e.g., hospital readmissions, mortality) and exploring the efficacy of technology-assisted remote exercise programs to improve access to pulmonary rehabilitation services.