Background/Objectives: To investigate acute caffeine (CAF: 375 mg, ≈4.8 mg/kg body mass) effects on energy expenditure (EE) and substrate kinetics during high-intensity interval exercise in individuals with high (HBAT) versus low (LBAT) brown adipose tissue activity using time-trend polynomial modeling. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind crossover study in which 35 highly-trained males [HBAT-CAF, HBAT-PLA (Placebo), LBAT-CAF, LBAT-PLA] performed 30-min treadmill HIIE. Infrared thermography (IRT) assessed BAT activity by measuring supraclavicular skin temperature (SST). Breath-by-breath ergospirometry measured EE (kcal/min) and carbohydrate (CHO), lipid (LIP), and protein (PTN) oxidation. We applied second- and third-order polynomial regression models to depict the temporal trajectories of metabolic responses. Results: HBAT groups showed 25% higher sustained EE versus LBAT (p < 0.001), amplified by CAF. CHO oxidation exhibited biphasic kinetics: HBAT had 40% higher initial rates (0.75 ± 0.05 vs. 0.45 ± 0.04 g/min; p < 0.001) with accelerated decline (k = −0.21 vs. −0.15/min; p = 0.01). LIP oxidation peaked later in LBAT (40 vs. 20 min in HBAT), with CAF increasing oxidation by 18% in LBAT (p = 0.01). HBAT-CAF uniquely showed transient PTN catabolism (peak: 0.045 g/min at 10 min; k = −0.0033/min; p < 0.001). Conclusions: BAT status determines EE magnitude and substrate-specific kinetic patterns, while CAF exerts divergent modulation, potentiating early glycogenolysis in HBAT and lipolysis in LBAT. The HBAT-CAF synergy triggers acute proteolysis, revealing BAT-mediated metabolic switching.

Background: The high-intensity demands of CrossFit induce respiratory muscle fatigue, potentially impairing performance via the metaboreflex. Respiratory muscle training (RMT) may mitigate this effect, but evidence in female athletes remains limited. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of RMT on sport-specific performance and maximal inspiratory pressure (PIMAX) in recreational female CrossFit practitioners. Design: We conducted a parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study was conducted in a CrossFit-affiliated gym. Participants: We recruited twenty-nine recreational female practitioners (age: 30.3 ± 7.9 years) with ≥1 year of uninterrupted training who were free from respiratory diseases. Interventions: Participants were randomized to a CrossFit-only group (n = 14) or CrossFit + RMT group (n = 15). Both trained 5 days/week for 6 weeks; the RMT group additionally performed 30 inspiratory efforts at 50% of PIMAX, 5 days/week, with weekly load adjustment. Main Outcome Measures: Primary: Sport-specific performance (total repetitions in a 10-min AMRAP [As Many Rounds As Possible] test). Secondary: PIMAX (cmH₂O). Measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention. Results: Baseline performance and PIMAX were similar between groups. After 6 weeks, the CrossFit + RMT group improved in performance more (Δ = +10.5 ± 10.7 reps, p = 0.03, ηp² = 0.168) than the CrossFit-only group (Δ = +2.3 ± 8.1). PIMAX gains were also greater with RMT (Δ = +19.6 ± 8.4 cmH₂O, p = 0.043, ηp² = 0.148) vs. control (Δ = +10.1 ± 9.7). No adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Adding RMT to CrossFit training enhanced sport-specific performance and inspiratory strength in recreational female practitioners more than CrossFit alone. RMT appears to be a safe and effective complementary strategy for high-intensity functional training.

This study aimed to measure the associative and predictive strength of biomechanical variables of the countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ), and performance of the bandal-chagi kick performed with the dominant (D) rear lower limb in elite Taekwondo Athletes. For this, a total of 27 international level athletes (15 males and 12 females) performed the CMJ and SJ on two force platforms. The bandal-chagi was monitored using a motion capture system (VICON). The main results indicated that non-dominant (ND) Stiffness for the CMJ showed predictive power alone (p=0.048) or in combination with eccentric breaking rating of force development (RFD) (p=0.031) for total hip angular speed. Takeoff peak force/BM for the SJ predicted total time (p=0.002). Concentric RFD/BM predicted total linear foot acceleration, either alone (p=0.001) or with vertical speed at takeoff (p=0.042). The total hip angular acceleration predictor was takeoff peak force D alone (p=0.019) or in combination with peak power/BM (p=0.041). In conclusion, CMJ and SJ tests showed specific associations with TKD kick performance. These analyses in this study indicated that they are good predictors for TKD athletes, producing results consistent with the participants’ levels. Keywords: Martial arts, Biomechanical Phenomena, Time-motion studies, Kinanthropometry, Motion Capture.

The glymphatic system has been proposed as a brain-wide pathway that promotes the exchange between cerebrospinal and interstitial fluids and facilitates the clearance of metabolic waste products, including amyloid-β and tau proteins. Diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) has emerged as a non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technique proposed to indirectly assess glymphatic-related fluid dynamics. This systematic review evaluated the methodological consistency and clinical applicability of the ALPS index in neurodegenerative diseases. A structured search of PubMed (MEDLINE) and Web of Science identified human studies published up to January 2026 investigating DTI-ALPS in neurodegenerative conditions. Data regarding study populations, MRI acquisition parameters, image-processing methods, statistical approaches, and clinical associations were extracted and synthesized. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, lower ALPS index values were generally associated with cognitive impairment, amyloid burden, and disease severity, particularly in Alzheimer’s disease. Several studies incorporated multimodal biomarkers, including amyloid positron emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid markers, thereby improving the biological interpretation of DTI-ALPS findings. However, substantial methodological heterogeneity was identified across studies, including variability in region-of-interest placement, diffusion acquisition protocols, and image-processing pipelines. Furthermore, the interpretation of diffusivity metrics as direct measures of glymphatic flow remains controversial. Current evidence suggests that DTI-ALPS may represent a promising non-invasive imaging marker of glymphatic-related alterations; however, its biological specificity and clinical applicability remain insufficiently established. Standardized acquisition protocols, harmonized analytical pipelines, and longitudinal multicenter studies are required to clarify its role in neurodegenerative disease research.

Background: Uchi-mata is one of the most frequently used throwing techniques in judo, yet little is known about the kinematic factors distinguishing specialists from non-specialists. This study compared lower-limb kinematics during uchi-mata across its three phases in elite judokas. Methods: Forty athletes (12 female, 28 male; 24.5 ± 5.9 years) were classified as specialists (n = 20) or non-specialists (n = 20). Photogrammetry assessed hip, knee, and foot displacement, velocity, acceleration, and timing during the Approach, Turning, and Throw phases. Analyses were performed using mixed-effects models with group, phase, and sex as fixed effects, plus exploratory multivariate tests (p < 0.05). Results: Specialists executed faster movements in the Approach (p = 0.036, d = 0.69) and Throw phases (p = 0.010, d = 0.85), showed greater hip displacement during Approach (p = 0.008, d = 0.89), and achieved superior knee and foot displacement in Throw (p = 0.005 and p = 0.003). Final positioning also differed, with specialists displaying higher knee (98.5 ± 14.5 vs. 86.3 ± 17.8 cm, p ≤ 0.001) and foot (121.0 ± 19.7 vs. 104.4 ± 27.4 cm, p = 0.034) heights, but lower hip position (61.9 ± 4.2 vs. 75.6 ± 7.5 cm, p = 0.021). Sex showed no significant effects or interactions, indicating that these group differences were consistent across male and female athletes. Conclusions: Uchi-mata specialists demonstrated superior displacement and velocity control, particularly in the Approach and Throw phases, reflecting greater neuromuscular coordination and efficiency. These findings provide practical markers for coaches and athletes to guide training focused on mobility, strength, and technical drills that enhance hip, knee, and foot displacement, supporting the optimization of uchi-mata performance in elite judo.

This study examined differences in finishing techniques and positional contexts across three temporal windows in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (2003–2004, 2013–2014, and 2023–2024), revealing differences consistent with a shift from greater diversity to a specialized and systematized model. Analysis of 906 finalized bouts demonstrated a marked concentration of submission finishes, with rear naked choke increasing from 15.8% to 46.8% (p ≤ 0.001), while back control was the dominant positional context (45.5%, p ≤ 0.001). In striking-based finishes, punches maintained prevalence, evolving from 77.4% (2003–2004) to 86.1% (2023–2024, p ≤ 0.001), whereas kicks declined from 20.5% to 11.3% (p ≤ 0.001). Submissions increased from 37.0% to 52.0% of all finalized bouts (p ≤ 0.001). These findings indicate a growing emphasis on specific finishing techniques, with modern mixed martial arts demonstrating increased distributional concentration in the methods used to finalize bouts. The increased frequency of certain techniques (e.g., rear naked choke and punches) among finalized fights may reflect strategic preferences, training priorities, or rule-driven changes in technique effectiveness, but cannot be interpreted as evidence of inherent technical superiority without additional data on success rates or efficiency metrics. Our data suggest that contemporary fighters have developed more direct and systematized approaches to finishing fights, reflecting the evolution of training methodologies and competitive strategies.