Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of an intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) protocol on the recovery kinetics following exercise-induced muscle damage caused by an all-out flywheel protocol consisting of 6 sets of 12-repetition squats. Methods: Thirty-three active male university students (age 20.85 [2.8] y, height 178 [5.7] cm, body mass 75.05 [7.54] kg) were randomly assigned to either a 30-minute peristaltic IPC treatment at 200 mm Hg or a 30-minute placebo intervention (ie, simulated microcurrent treatment). Participants performed functional tests, including maximal knee extension and flexion, countermovement jump, and broad jump, and completed a perceptual soreness questionnaire before the fatigue protocol, immediately after the 30-minute recovery intervention and 24 and 48 hours postintervention. To examine the effects of the fatigue protocol and recovery interventions, a 2 × 4 repeated-measures analysis of variance was conducted, and effect sizes were calculated to assess practical relevance. Results: A significant time effect was observed for all measurements (: .216–.697; P < .05), indicating substantial fatigue from the exercise-induced-muscle-damage protocol. However, no statistically significant differences were detected between recovery interventions (: .001–.130; P: .155–.859). Notably, based on the effect-size analysis, a consistent trend toward reduced perceived soreness with IPC was observed, which may hold practical relevance for athletes (d: 0.32–0.75). Conclusions: Overall, a 30-minute IPC application immediately following exercise-induced muscle damage does not appear to improve the recovery kinetics of jumping and maximal voluntary contraction performance; however, the potential reduction in perceived soreness suggests a need for further investigation.

Background: Athletes commonly use innovative strategies that aim to enhance their cycling performance. Among them, the effectiveness of non-circular chainrings has been a frequent topic of discussion. This systematic review aims to analyze the physiological and performance effects of using non-circular chainrings in cyclists. Methods: A literature search was conducted on populations ranging from recreational to elite-level athletes, following the PRISMA guidelines. The electronic databases searched were PubMed, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, Scopus, and SportDiscus, using the search terms (“oval chainring*” OR “non-circular chainring*” OR “elliptical chainring*” OR “asymmetric chainring*” OR “Q-Ring*” OR “eccentric chainring*” OR “chainring*”) AND (cycl*), on 11 May 2025. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool with an extension for crossover studies, indicating some concerns regarding the included studies. Results: The initial search identified 291 research articles, which, after applying the screening criteria, resulted in the inclusion of 18 manuscripts. The results suggest that non-circular chainrings do not appear to improve cycling performance metrics or physiological variables during prolonged efforts; however, it is possible that they enhance the sprinting capacity. Conclusions: While the research remains inconclusive, future studies should further explore the effects of non-circular chainrings on sprinting performance.

Background and Objectives: Familiarization is commonly used in performance testing and exercise research, yet its actual impact is rarely quantified. This exploratory study examined changes in treadmill time-to-exhaustion (TTE) following a familiarization session and explored whether these changes were related to pre-exercise perceived fatigue or recovery. Methods: Nineteen participants (16 male, 3 female; 22.0 ± 3.67 years) completed an incremental test to determine peak running velocity (Vpeak), followed by familiarization and experimental TTE trials at 95%Vpeak (one week apart). Perceived fatigue and recovery were assessed before and 30 min following exercise. Session differences were examined using linear mixed-effects models, between-trial agreement using ICC, Bland–Altman analysis, and coefficient of variation (CV), and the performance-level dependence of change using Oldham’s method. Results: TTE was significantly longer in the experimental trial than in familiarization (p = 0.004; d = 0.82). Performance improved in 17 of 19 participants (89.5%), with a median improvement of 24.3% (IQR: 9.9 to 71.5%; mean 45.2 ± 52.9%). Larger absolute (r = 0.708, p < 0.001) and relative (r = 0.521, p = 0.022) improvements were observed in participants with higher overall TTE capacity. Neither pre-exercise fatigue nor recovery was associated with TTE. Between-trial agreement was poor (ICC = 0.177), with a CV of 26.0% and typical error of 55.9 s, reflecting a consistent directional shift. Conclusions: A single familiarization exposure was followed by a substantial improvement in TTE, identifying it as an important source of between-trial variation that should be accounted for when establishing baseline performance and interpreting subsequent changes.

INPLASY2023110109 Acute and Chronic Effects of Elastic Band Resistance Training on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review Keywords: Elastic bands; Performance; Athletes; Resistance Training. Dow…

Background: Resistance training is a fundamental component of performance in female soccer; however, conventional weight training may be impractical for teams with limited facilities and equipment. Elastic band resistance training (EBT) offers a practical alternative. Hypothesis: A 9-week EBT program will enhance lower-limb strength, vertical jump, and change-of-direction (COD) speed in trained and highly trained female soccer players. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Level of Evidence: Level 2. Methods: A total of 74 players were divided into Under-15 (U15; n = 25), Under-19 (U19; n = 25), and Senior (n = 24) groups. Each age group was assigned randomly to an experimental or control group. The intervention was integrated into the in-season regimen, performed twice weekly before training sessions, over 9 weeks. The training protocol included 6 resistance exercises split across 2 weekly circuit-based sessions. Isometric knee extension (KE) and knee flexion (KF) strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) height and power, and T-test performance were evaluated pre- and postintervention and after a 3-week detraining period. Results: Difference-in-differences ordinary least squares regression analysis revealed improvements in U19 KE strength of the dominant and nondominant leg (coefficient = 132.90 N; P = 0.03 and 131.59 N; P = 0.05, respectively). KF strength improved marginally in U15 and Senior groups. Senior players also showed a nonsignificant positive trend towards CMJ power (coefficient = 581.08 W; P = 0.09), with no relevant changes in CMJ height or T-test. After detraining, strength gains declined across all groups, while CMJ and T-test metrics remained stable. Conclusion: EBT enhances knee strength effectively, particularly in older age groups, but its influence on vertical jump and COD speed is limited. The reversal of strength gains after short-term detraining highlights the importance of consistent training for sustained athletic development. Clinical Relevance: EBT is a practical, low-cost method to improve lower-limb muscle strength in female soccer players and can be integrated easily into in-season training when traditional equipment is unavailable.