Maintaining skeletal muscle mass is important for improving muscle strength and function. Hence, maximizing lean body mass (LBM) is the primary goal for both elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The use of amino acids as dietary supplements is widespread among athletes and physically active individuals. Extensive literature analysis reveals that branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), creatine, glutamine and β-alanine may be beneficial in regulating skeletal muscle metabolism, enhancing LBM and mitigating exercise-induced muscle damage. This review details the mechanisms of these amino acids, offering insights into their efficacy as supplements. Recommended dosage and potential side effects are then outlined to aid athletes in making informed choices and safeguard their health. Lastly, limitations within the current literature are addressed, highlighting opportunities for future research.

Whey protein (WP) can improve muscle mass and strength. However, its effects and underlying molecular mechanism in promoting recovery from muscle damage caused by excessive physical exercise remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of WP on skeletal muscle injury caused by exogenous oxidants and excessive physical exercise and the potential underlying mechanism. An oxidative stress injury model of mouse skeletal muscle cells was established using hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) and excessive physical exercise. The results revealed that WP effectively improved the migration and differentiation of C2C12 cells exposed to H ₂ O ₂ . Moreover, WP significantly increased the body weight of mice following excessive physical exercise. It also reduced food intake, improved behavioral parameters, enhanced skeletal muscle morphology and function, and promoted protein synthesis, thereby alleviating oxidative stress injury in skeletal muscles. The results further indicated that the mechanism underlying the mitigation of oxidative stress injury in skeletal muscles may involve the silent information regulator sirtuin 1 (SIRT1)/ NF‐E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2)/ hemeoxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) axis. This axis could, in turn, activates the AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)/tuberous sclerosis complex subunit 2 (TSC2)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/4E‐binding protein 1 (4EBP1) pathway, thereby promoting protein synthesis and improving the physiological function of skeletal muscles. This study provides important insights into the role of WP in promoting recovery from muscle damage, offering a basis for future research on WP‐based nutritional intervention strategies.

With the development of motion capture technology, it has become a reality to efficiently and quickly obtain realistic human motion information. Motion capture technology has been successfully applied in many fields such as sports competitions, animation games, and film and television production. This article is aimed at studying the application of motion capture technology based on smart sensors in ice and snow sports. Put forward the idea of applying smart sensor‐based motion capture technology to ice and snow sports. This article introduces in detail smart sensors, motion capture technology, and related content of ice and snow sports and conducts specific experiments on the application of smart sensor‐based motion capture technology in ice and snow sports. The experimental results show that motion capture based on smart sensor technology can help athletes improve their skills and tactics. At the same time, motion capture technology based on smart sensors is also loved by most coaches and athletes, and everyone’s satisfaction with this technology has reached more than 70%.

Position-specific physical and physiological characteristics differ considerably among elite female volleyball players. This study aimed to compare anthropometric, explosive power, and movement ability differences across playing positions using field-based tests. Eighty professional female players from the Chinese Volleyball League were divided into four positional groups: outside hitter/opposite (OH/OPP), middle blocker (MB), setter (S), and libero (L). Assessments included height, arm span, medicine ball throw (OH/OPP and MB only), running vertical jump reach, and lateral movement test. Data were analyzed using one‑way ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc comparisons; significance was set at P < 0.05. Significant inter‑positional differences were observed in anthropometry, jump reach, and lateral movement (all P < 0.05). MBs were tallest with the longest arm span and fastest lateral movement. OH/OPPs showed greater upper‑body explosive power than MBs in the medicine ball throw. Discriminant analysis further supported the position‑specific nature of the physical profiles with an overall classification accuracy of 80.0%. These findings describe group‑level differences in selected field‑based measures, which may assist in position‑specific training design for Chinese elite female volleyball players.

Background: Endurance exercise, characterized by sustained low-to-moderate intensity training, enhances physiological performance during prolonged physical activity and is widely used in sports training and the rehabilitation of chronic diseases. Central fatigue, a key issue in endurance sports, arises from fatigue mechanisms within the central nervous system, affecting both performance and emotional well-being. Although endurance training can improve performance and mood by modulating neurotransmitter balance, the onset and exacerbation of central fatigue remain unresolved challenges. Methods: A bibliometric approach was employed, using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database to retrieve literature published between 2005 and 2024 on endurance exercise and central fatigue. Data analysis and visualization were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the R-Bibliometrix tool to explore research trends, hotspots, and future directions. Results: The study reveals a year-on-year increase in publications on endurance exercise and central fatigue, especially since 2014. Research has progressively focused on exercise performance, fatigue mechanisms, and neurotransmitter regulation. Keyword analysis highlights growing interest in the impact of prolonged exercise on central fatigue and the rising focus on psychological fatigue and cognitive function. Increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, international cooperation, and citation bursts from seminal works in exercise neurobiology and psychology are evident. Conclusion: The mechanistic literature mapped in this analysis suggests that endurance exercise may influence performance and emotional well-being via neurotransmitter modulation; however, as a bibliometric study, the present analysis cannot itself establish causal biological mechanisms, and this interpretation should be corroborated by dedicated experimental and clinical research. The onset and progression of central fatigue remain significant challenges. Future research should focus on the neurobiological mechanisms of endurance exercise, particularly neurotransmitter regulation and neuroprotection, and explore its clinical potential in treating chronic fatigue syndrome, mental health disorders, and cognitive impairments.