Background: Volleyball is among the five most popular sports in the world. Regardless of level and age, volleyball athletes perform fast high-impact movements such as jumps, landings, and changes in direction, demanding motor and sensory skills to avoid injuries. The available scientific literature provides information regarding the incidence of injuries in volleyball, but the evidence of injuries in young volleyball athletes (12–18 years old) is not well defined. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to investigate the incidence and prevalence of injuries in young volleyball players. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022344623). An electronic search was conducted in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and SportDiscuss via EBSCO in August 2022 and March 2023. Inclusion criteria followed the PICOS acronym: (P) youth volleyball players; (I) volleyball; (C) none; (O) incidence and/or prevalence of injury; and (S) cohort studies. The risk of bias was analysed using the adapted STROBE instrument. Results: Five studies were included in the qualitative analysis. They had a mean methodological quality of 6 (range 4–8) on the modified STROBE scale. Injury incidence was presented in varying ways, ranging from 1.51 injuries/1000 player hours to 12.4 injuries/10,000 athlete exposures (AEs). The prevalence was 1.6 ± 1.7 per 100 AEs. A total sample of 3698 youth volleyball athletes predominantly females was found. The body sites with the highest rate of injuries were the ankle, the distal portion of the upper limbs (wrist/hand/fingers) and the knee, respectively. Conclusion: There was remarkable variability in the rate of injuries and the form of presentation between the studies. In addition, junior volleyball athletes had lower injury rates compared to other sports practised in high school, and older athletes had higher injury rates.

Investigating the psychological impact caused by the interruption of social interactions on university students during the pandemic is essential, with a view to developing strategies to preserve mental health and academic performance. To analyze the impact of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students and propose recommendations for the post-pandemic period. This systematic review was conduced in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). Database searches were performed up to December 2024 in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycNET, using the terms "COVID-19," "social isolation," "mental health," and "college students." Studies were excluded if they focused on non-college populations, other causes of social isolation, physical health, or specific designs. The initial search identified 3051 records and 68 studies were included in this review, with sample off 177,537 university students. Anxiety was the most commonly investigated variable (79.4%), followed by depression (75%) and stress (42.6%). Less frequently, studies highlighted the increase in alcohol and drug consumption and suicidal ideation. Some authors also investigated sleep quality, relating insomnia and emotional changes with the reduction in physical exercise. Anxiety symptoms related to online learning directly impacted academic performance. The assessment of the risk of bias showed that of the 68 studies included, 34 had a low risk of bias, 30 had a moderate risk of bias, and 4 had a high risk of bias. This study highlights the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of college students, particularly in relation to symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Post-pandemic interventions should prioritize fostering healthy habits, such as ensuring quality sleep, engaging in moderate physical activity, and raising mental health awareness. Additionally, universities should implement proactive support systems to cultivate a safe and inclusive environment for students.

Groin pain is a common and multifactorial condition in athletes, leading to performance impairment and a reduction in participation in sports. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesise risk factors for groin pain in athletes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus was conducted from inception to May 2025. Observational studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-E tool. Due to heterogeneity across studies, a narrative synthesis was performed. Eight retrospective cohort studies comprising 4249 male athletes from various sports met the inclusion criteria. The most consistent risk factors were a previous history of groin injury, reduced eccentric hip adduction strength, limited hip rotation, and inadequate preseason conditioning. Additional contributors included participation in Olympic weightlifting as part of sport-specific conditioning, playing in skill-specific positions, and the presence of subclinical symptoms, with associations ranging from moderate to high. The overall quality of evidence was low to moderate, with confounding and outcome measurement being the most frequent sources of bias. These findings highlight the multifactorial nature of groin pain and underscore the need for individualised screening, early detection, and preventive approaches. Future research should prioritise prospective designs, standardised diagnostic criteria, and inclusion of female athletes to improve clinical applicability.

To verify the impact of the use of connective tissue massage (CTM) technique versus myofascial release (MFR) performed manually by the therapist and foam roller self-myofascial release (FRSMR) performed by the patient on fibromyalgia pain-related outcomes. this is a systematic review and meta-analysis, performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS, and Embase databases. The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, and the risk of bias was assessed using the National Institutes of Health tool, with agreement measured by Cohen's Kappa. 10 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Dysfunctions of the muscle fascia contribute to the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia and can directly influence pain and central sensitization. In the meta-analysis, under the random-effects model, MFR significantly reduced pain (SMD = -1.16, p = 0.0003), whereas CTM did not reach significance (p = 0.29). By contrast, the fixed-effect model underestimated the results due to heterogeneity. MFR has is more effective prognosis in pain reduction compared to CTM. However, the efficacy of MFR depends on the demographic and adaptive factors of the individuals and, especially, on the methodological definition of the intensity and time for which the MFR technique should be applied. In populations of different age groups, FRSMR techniques are recommended to be adapted. The personalized and specific approach of MFR suggests that it could be a promising strategy in the management of fibromyalgia, with the possibility of more robust and sustainable outcomes.