Background: Rifle shooting performance depends on precise postural control, rifle stability, and coordinated upper-limb force production. Although previous studies have examined postural balance and aiming stability in rifle shooters, the role of upper-limb inter-limb strength asymmetry across different shooting positions remains unclear. This study explored the association between joint-specific upper-limb strength asymmetry and rifle shooting performance in elite athletes across prone, kneeling, and standing positions. Methods: Thirteen elite rifle shooters completed a 20-shot series in each position according to ISSF rules. Bilateral maximal isokinetic strength of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder was assessed at 60°/s using a Biodex System 4 dynamometer, and handgrip strength was measured with a handheld dynamometer. Inter-limb asymmetry indices were calculated for each joint action. Position-specific shooting scores and good-10 hits (≥10.0) were recorded. Associations between asymmetry indices and performance outcomes were examined using Spearman correlation analyses and simple linear regression models. Results: In exploratory analyses, greater asymmetry in selected shoulder actions showed large negative associations with lower prone, kneeling, and standing scores, and standing performance also showed a negative association with wrist flexion asymmetry. Good-10 hits were negatively associated with selected shoulder and wrist asymmetry indices. Exploratory regression models showed large apparent proportions of explained variance for selected position-specific associations, but these estimates should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size and the absence of validation. Conclusions: Position-specific upper-limb strength asymmetry, particularly at the shoulder and wrist, was associated with rifle shooting performance and may represent a relevant consideration for training and monitoring in elite rifle athletes.

Background: Upper-limb strength characteristics are considered important determinants of shooting stability in precision sports; however, the specific relationships between upper-limb strength variables and shooting performance in elite air pistol athletes remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations between upper-limb-specific strength characteristics and shooting performance in elite air pistol shooters. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted using a purposive total population sample from an elite training camp. Isometric peak force and rate of force development of nine upper-limb muscle actions, including handgrip, elbow flexion and extension, and shoulder joint movements, were assessed using a Vald Dynamo handheld dynamometer. Official scores from an international selection competition were used as indicators of shooting performance. Ridge regression analysis was applied to examine the relationships between strength variables and shooting performance while addressing multicollinearity among predictors. Results: Twenty-four elite air pistol athletes at national master level or above were recruited. Ridge regression revealed distinct coefficient patterns between upper-limb task-specific strength characteristics and total shooting score. After within-sex standardization of strength predictors, larger positive ridge coefficients were observed for handgrip RFD, elbow flexion peak force, shoulder external rotation RFD, elbow extension peak force, and selected shoulder variables, whereas negative coefficients were observed for shoulder internal rotation RFD, handgrip peak force, shoulder extension RFD, elbow extension RFD, and selected shoulder variables. These findings suggest that shooting performance is associated with the balance and coordination of task-specific upper-limb strength characteristics rather than maximal strength alone. Conclusions: These findings suggest that coordinated upper-limb task-specific strength balance is associated with shooting performance in elite air pistol athletes. These findings may help inform individualized conditioning and monitoring strategies; however, longitudinal intervention studies are needed to determine whether modifying upper-limb strength balance can improve shooting outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of exercise on body composition in women with overweight or obesity and to compare the relative effectiveness of these interventions using a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis using the CINeMA (Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis) approach. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SportsDiscus, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus were searched through September 2025. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: We included randomised controlled trials enrolling adult women with overweight or obesity that evaluated structured exercise interventions, including aerobic exercise, resistance training, aerobic exercise with resistance training, high-intensity interval training or whole-body vibration training. Eligible studies compared these interventions with control conditions or other exercise modalities and reported at least one body composition outcome, including body fat percentage, body mass index, fat mass, lean body mass or waist circumference. Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration and Evidence Project tools. Network meta-analysis was conducted using random effects models. Confidence in the estimates was assessed using the CINeMA approach. Results: 43 randomised controlled trials involving 2315 women were included. For body fat percentage, aerobic exercise with resistance training, high-intensity interval training and aerobic exercise across varying intensities were associated with greater reductions relative to control conditions, with vigorous aerobic exercise showing the highest probability of benefit. A similar pattern was observed for other adiposity-related outcomes: vigorous aerobic exercise appeared most favourable for body mass index, high-intensity interval training for fat mass and moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise for waist circumference. No intervention was associated with statistically significant improvements in lean body mass compared with control; however, resistance training demonstrated a comparatively favourable ranking profile. Conclusions: Structured exercise confers meaningful improvements in adiposity among women, particularly with aerobic-based modalities, whereas effects on lean mass remain limited. These results underscore the importance of tailored exercise strategies for optimising body composition in female populations. PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251161064.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of exercise on body composition in women with overweight or obesity and to compare the relative effectiveness of these interventions using a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search of 7 electronic databases was performed from database inception to September 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving women with overweight and obesity were included according to predefined eligibility criteria. Interventions consisted of 7 different types of exercise, while comparators were no exercise or normal-lifestyle condition. The primary outcome measure was body fat percentage (BFP). Secondary outcome measures included, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), and lean body mass (LBM). Risk of bias assessment was undertaken. Network meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model, and consistency was assessed with surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) used for ranking the relative effects of exercise types. Certainty assessment was performed using the Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) framework. Results: A total of 44 randomized controlled trials comprising 2384 female participants were included. The network meta-analysis revealed that, compared to the control, multiple exercise modalities significantly reduced body fat percentage (BFP) in women with overweight or obesity. Aerobic exercise of vigorous intensity (AE(V)) was ranked as the most effective intervention for reducing BFP (SUCRA = 79.7), whereas resistance training (RT) demonstrated the weakest effect (SUCRA = 18.3). The effectiveness of exercise modalities exhibited distinct outcome-specific patterns: AE(V) was optimal for reducing body mass index (SUCRA = 93.9), AE(MV) was most beneficial for decreasing fat mass (SUCRA = 80.9), and waist circumference (SUCRA = 67.6). Furthermore, subgroup analysis by publication date indicated that the optimal exercise modality for reducing BFP has changed over time, with AE(V) being superior in recent studies and AE(M) in earlier studies. Conclusion: The effects of exercise on body composition in women with overweight and obesity are outcome-specific. AE(V) may be most effective for reducing BMI and BFP, AE(MV) for improving WC and FM, while RT shows potential for enhancing LBM. The finding that the optimal modality for reducing BFP has changed over time highlights the need for contemporary, evidence-based prescriptions. These results provide a critical evidence base for tailoring exercise programs to individual patient goals in clinical practice.

Background: Upper limb strength characteristics are considered important determinants of shooting stability in precision sports; however, the specific relationships between upper limb strength variables and shooting performance in elite air pistol athletes remain insufficiently understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the associations between upper limb specific strength characteristics and shooting performance in elite air pistol shooters. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted using a purposive total population sample from an elite training camp. Isometric peak force and rate of force development of nine upper limb muscle actions, including handgrip, elbow flexion and extension, and shoulder joint movements, were assessed using a Vald Dynamo handheld dynamometer. Official scores from an international selection competition were used as indicators of shooting performance. Ridge regression analysis was applied to examine the relationships between strength variables and shooting performance while addressing multicollinearity among predictors. Results: Twenty four elite air pistol athletes at national master level or above were recruited. Shooting performance demonstrated significant positive associations with handgrip peak force, handgrip rate of force development, elbow flexion peak force, elbow extension peak force, shoulder abduction peak force, shoulder internal rotation peak force, and elbow extension rate of force development. Significant negative associations were observed between shooting performance and shoulder flexion peak force, shoulder adduction peak force, shoulder external rotation peak force, shoulder extension rate of force development, shoulder adduction rate of force development, and shoulder internal rotation rate of force development. Conclusions: These findings indicate that a coordinated balance of upper limb specific strength is a key factor influencing shooting performance in elite air pistol athletes. Appropriate development of task specific muscle strength may enhance gun holding stability and trigger control, whereas excessive activation of antagonistic muscle groups may adversely affect shooting accuracy.