Athlete

This study is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to examine whether 8 weeks of Cistanche deserticola supplementation, when combined with a standardized anaerobic training program, can improve anaerobic exercise performance, recovery, and selected body composition outcomes in young adult men with different athletic training levels. Participants will be assigned to receive either Cistanche deserticola extract or a matched placebo while completing the same supervised anaerobic training program. The study will assess changes in anaerobic performance, including Wingate test outcomes and jump performance, as well as recovery-related indicators such as blood lactate, creatine kinase, malondialdehyde, testosterone, cortisol, and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio. Body composition outcomes, including body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass, will also be evaluated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether Cistanche deserticola supplementation provides additional benefits beyond training alone, and whether these effects differ between highly trained and recreationally trained participants.

A review of the sports medicine literature reveals a clear underrepresentation of female athletes in research. In the current era of precision medicine, increasing attention has been directed toward the regulatory roles of estrogen and progesterone in athletic performance and health optimization. Regular fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone across menstrual cycle phases (i.e., early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases) may influence strength performance, hydration status, body composition, and energy balance. However, few studies have examined these outcomes using hormonal confirmation of menstrual cycle phases. Monophasic oral contraceptive use also represents a highly relevant hormonal condition among female athletes, as exogenous hormones suppress endogenous ovarian fluctuations and create distinct hormonal profiles across active pill-consumption and withdrawal phases. Nevertheless, the influence of oral contraceptive phases on strength-related outcomes, hydration markers, body water regulation, body composition, and energy balance remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in comparison with naturally menstruating athletes. In response to these gaps, this longitudinal observational study primarily aims to examine variations in strength-related outcomes across three distinct menstrual cycle phases (early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal) in eumenorrheic athletes. Secondary objectives include: (i) conducting within- and between-group comparisons of hydration status, energy balance, and strength outcomes (maximal, endurance, and explosive torque) in naturally menstruating athletes and oral contraceptive users; (ii) testing the reliability of methods used to assess body water, energy expenditure, and body composition across the menstrual cycle; (iii) exploring associations between energy availability, resting energy expenditure, and sex hormone concentrations across menstrual cycle phases; and (iv) testing, validating, and proposing methodological recommendations for the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis in tracking fluid-related changes across hormonal phases. To achieve these goals, the study will use a longitudinal observational design involving 40 female athletes, including 24 naturally menstruating athletes and 16 oral contraceptive users. Naturally menstruating athletes will be assessed during the early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, while oral contraceptive users will be assessed across pill-consumption and withdrawal phases. Measurements will be conducted across the three menstrual cycle phases and across oral contraceptive use phases, and will include: i) maximal voluntary isometric strength assessed using handgrip dynamometry, bench press, and leg press; ii) serum estrogen and progesterone; iii) body water and its compartments, and water turnover by dilution techniques; iv) hydration status by plasma osmolality, sodium, and vasopressin; v) energy balance by doubly labeled water and body composition changes; vi) resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy works to improve sports performance and recovery in athletes. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does PEMF therapy enhance participants' performance during exercise? * Does PEMF therapy enhance recovery in participants after exercise? Researchers will compare active PEMF therapy to sham PEMF therapy (using the same device for both, but without any electromagnetic fields) to see if active PEMF therapy is effective in improving sports performance and recovery. Participants will: * Receive active pulsed electromagnetic field therapy or sham pulsed electromagnetic field therapy twice a week for 8 weeks. * Visit the laboratory at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks for sports performance and recovery assessments.

The existing literature demonstrates that motor learning strategies are effective in enhancing sports performance. One of these strategies, augmented feedback, is widely used in athletic training to help athletes achieve their goals more effectively, support the learning process, and motivate improvements in performance. Although studies in the literature have demonstrated the positive effects of augmented feedback provided during training on performance, no study has been found that examines the acute effects of such feedback on peak force and rate of force development during isometric training of the shoulder internal and external rotator muscles. The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of outcome feedback on isometric peak force and rate of force development during isometric training of the shoulder internal and external rotator muscles, as well as the short-term retention of these effects. It is expected that augmented feedback on isometric peak force and rate of force development, provided during isometric training of the shoulder internal and external rotator muscles, will have both acute and short-term retention effects on strength parameters. Healthy and physically active individuals will participate in isometric strength training targeting the dominant side shoulder internal and external rotator muscles across two separate sessions. Within a randomized crossover design, all participants will perform the isometric training program under two different conditions: with augmented feedback and without augmented feedback. The order of the conditions will be determined using a computer-based randomization program.To minimize potential learning effects, a washout period of 5-7 days will be provided between the two training conditions. Testing and training protocols will be conducted using an isometric dynamometer (ForceFrame, VALD Performance, Australia). The reported intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of the ForceFrame dynamometer for shoulder strength measurements range between 0.85 and 0.91, indicating good to excellent test-retest reliability. All testing and training procedures will be performed in accordance with the standard testing positions recommended by the manufacturer.

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine how male and female former athletes experience pain and respond to moderate-intensity exercise (strength versus aerobic) compared with both current master's athletes and nonathletes. The main questions this study aims to address are: 1. How do former athletes, master's athletes, and nonathletes experience pain? 2. How do different types of moderate-intensity exercise (strength versus aerobic exercise) influence pain in former athletes, master's athletes, and nonathletes? Participants will complete 3 different testing sessions: 1. Baseline testing including assessments of strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and pain; 2. Strength exercise: pain assessments will occur before and after moderate-intensity strength training exercise; 3. Aerobic exercise: pain assessments will occur before and after moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. There will be a washout period of approximately one week or greater between each of the three different testing sessions. The order of conditions (strength versus aerobic exercise) will be randomized (crossover randomized trial design).

The aim of this research is to analyze the effect of a Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Dad-13 supplementation on the gut microbiota profile and performance of adolescent athletes.

The goal is to improve nutrition screening and support for Division III athletes. The study will use standard, low-risk nutrition screening methods, such as measuring height, weight, grip strength, and body composition, as well as having athletes complete questionnaires. Dietitians trained in sports nutrition will provide nutrition advice based on these screenings. Data will be collected at three points during the season: before the season starts, mid-season, and after the season ends. This study builds on earlier research conducted at Case Western Reserve University that showed nutrition support can improve athletes' health and performance.

The goal of this study is to characterize associations between cardiorespiratory fitness, as measured by VO₂max/VO₂peak, and blood-based molecular measurements in adults. This is an observational study where research staff measures VO₂max/VO₂peak and collects fasted, resting blood samples on the same day. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can a multi-analyte blood panel accurately predict directly measured VO₂max/VO₂peak? 2. How do these blood-based features vary across age, sex, and self-reported or documented physical activity profiles? 3. Are the predictor analytes able to capture changes in VO₂max/VO₂peak caused by a self-directed intervention (e.g., training for a marathon)? 4. What is the analytic reliability of the predictor biomarkers?

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are among the most prevalent and functionally limiting knee injuries in sports, particularly those that involve pivoting movements. Despite advancements in surgical reconstruction and physical rehabilitation, many athletes continue to exhibit persistent motor control deficits and increased gait variability, both of which are closely linked to a heightened risk of re-injury and long-term joint degeneration. These deficits arise from biomechanical impairments and disrupt proprioceptive input that requires cortical reorganization, contributing to maladaptive neuroplasticity. However, conventional rehabilitation strategies often overlook this neural dimension. Recent findings emphasize the importance of fostering motor variability and promoting neuroplasticity through external focus strategies, including sensorimotor synchronization. While isochronous cues, an invariant stimulus, are commonly used, they do not reflect the natural fluctuations of healthy gait and may reduce its complexity. Fractal-based cues, in contrast, introduce structured variability resembling the natural dynamics of locomotion and have been shown to restore gait complexity in clinical populations. However, no study has yet explored their acute effects on gait variability and corticospinal function following ACL reconstruction (ACLR). This crossover randomized controlled trial aims to compare the acute effects of a single session of treadmill walking synchronized to either fractal or isochronous-based visual cues on gait variability and corticospinal measures in athletes with ACLR. The investigators hypothesize that fractal-based cueing will acutely restore gait variability and enhance corticospinal excitability, evidenced by increased corticospinal excitability and intracortical facilitation, and reduced short-interval intracortical inhibition, thus promoting adaptive neuroplasticity. Conversely, isochronous cueing is expected to maintain or decrease gait complexity without improving corticospinal measures. This study may provide insights that could be highly valuable as a way to promote neuroplasticity and optimize gait rehabilitation after ACLR, also allowing an objective quantification and aiming to restore variability to levels close to those observed in healthy individuals, thus contributing to reducing the re-injury rate.

The goal of this observational study is to learn if two specific heart electrical signal patterns can help in detecting the risk of dangerous heart rhythms in athletes, and to see if exercise-based tests can be used instead of invasive hospital procedures to record this electrical signals. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Can special ECG action potential duration markers (R2I2 and PERS) identify athletes who are at higher risk of sudden heart rhythm problems. 2. Can an exercise test give the same information as a non-invasive electrophysiology study. Researchers will compare athletes who have an implanted heart device (ICD) with athletes who do not, to see if there are differences in these heart signals. Participants will undergo: 1. ECG recordings during rest and exercise. 2. If they have an ICD or pacemaker, an ECG will be recorded during a non invasive stimulation. 3. A continuous 24 hour ECG.

The goal of this observational study is to explore the dietary intake, nutrition knowledge and body composition in Italian athletes and physically active adults. This is a nonprofit study aimed at improving clinical practice. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Assessment of level of adherence to Mediterranean Diet using MEDI-LITE questionnaire * Assessment of nutrition knowledge * Current dietary intake and eating habits evaluation and comparison to the recommendations, according to sport practised * Eating behaviour assessment Participants will undergo the following assessments: anthropometric and body composition assessments, Resting Metabolic Rate measurement, Dietary intake assessment, Nutrition knowledge, Lifestyle and behaviour, Physical activity assessment.

This study aims to examine the effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) on the gas exchange capacity of the lungs (DLCO) and its potential contribution to recovery and athletic performance in elite athletes from various disciplines. The study hypothesizes that the decline in respiratory muscle capacity following high-intensity exercise, which negatively affects ventilation, diffusion, and oxygen transport, may be ameliorated through specific IMW protocol. A placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover, and double-blind design will be utilized, involving 28 elite male athletes from endurance, power, skill-based, and mixed disciplines. Participants will complete three warm-up protocols: General Warm-up (GW), General Warm-up combined with IMW at 40% resistance intensity (GW+IMW40%), and a placebo condition (GW+IMWplacebo). Measurements will include respiratory muscle strength, DLCO (assessed at post-2, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes), respiratory function, and cardiorespiratory parameters during maximal exercise. This study is unique as it aims to detail the micro-level effects of IMW on pulmonary diffusion mechanisms and performance outcomes, providing novel insights into the ameliorative effects of IMW on respiratory function post-exercise. Additionally, it seeks to expand understanding of the mechanistic basis of IMW's benefits on both pulmonary diffusion capacity and athletic performance.

Several studies suggest that inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) could potentially affect exercise performance; however, its mechanistic basis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of IMW on lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, cardiorespiratory, perceptual and performance outcomes in elite athletes from different disciplines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of IMW on diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide, cardiorespiratory, perceptual and performance outcomes during high-intensity exercise in elite athletes from different disciplines. The study will be conducted using a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind and crossover study experimental design involving 35 athletes from various sports disciplines, including endurance, strength, skill-based, and mixed disciplines. Participants will attend the laboratory on four separate occasions. During the first visit, they will be informed about the study and familiarized with the application and measurement procedures. In the second visit, a general warm-up will be performed. During the third and fourth visits, IMW (IMW40% or IMW placebo) protocols will be applied in addition to the general warm-up. Measurements of DLCO, pulmonary function tests, respiratory muscle strength, and gas analysis during maximal aerobic exercise will be collected both before and after the warm-up protocols.

The effects of manipulation therapy on the autonomic nervous system have been examined in the literature and while no sympathetic or parasympathetic changes were found after upper thoracic manipulation, a decrease in sympathetic data was observed after lower thoracic manipulation and an increase in parasympathetic data was observed. On the other hand, a different study found that thoracic manipulation did not cause any changes such as an increase or decrease in the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, although there are uncertainties in the autonomic role of manipulation therapy, its effect on respiration is intriguing when positive studies are considered. In a study aiming to evaluate the effect of thoracic manipulation on respiratory function, segmental manipulation treatment was applied to healthy individuals by detecting the vertebrae in the thoracic region where normal joint movements were lost, and it was determined that the respiratory functions of the manipulation group improved significantly compared to the group that did not receive treatment. In another study conducted on healthy individuals, the subjects were divided into manipulation group, exercise and manipulation group and control groups. At the end of the study, it was determined that there was a significant increase in the respiratory functions of the participants in the manipulation group, while an additional increase was observed in the group combined with exercise, but this was not significant. No change was observed in the control group. When the literature is examined, it is noteworthy that the effects of manipulation treatments on respiration remain unclear, and especially the inadequacy of studies on Olympic-style weightlifters and the ongoing search for increasing athletic performance in this area. This study aims to examine the effects of cervical and thoracic manipulation treatments on respiratory muscle strength, respiratory functions and cervical and thoracic region joint range of motion in weightlifters. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Is cervical and thoracic manipulation therapy applied to Olympic style weightlifters effective on respiration?