Sports Performance

Athletes frequently perform high-intensity exercise to improve physical performance and aerobic capacity. However, such training can induce exercise-induced muscle damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses that may delay recovery and compromise subsequent training adaptations. Optimizing recovery strategies is therefore essential to maintain performance, reduce injury risk, and support long-term athletic development. Cordyceps is a medicinal mushroom that contains several bioactive compounds, including cordycepin and polysaccharides, which have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Although previous studies have reported beneficial effects of Cordyceps supplementation on exercise performance and physiological function, limited evidence exists regarding the optimal timing of supplementation relative to exercise. This study aims to investigate the effects of different Cordyceps supplementation timing strategies on physiological responses and aerobic adaptation following acute and chronic exercise training. Participants will be assigned to receive Cordyceps supplementation before exercise, after exercise, or placebo. The study will evaluate biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6), oxidative stress (MDA), muscle damage (CK), aerobic capacity (VO2max), and neuromuscular performance assessed using countermovement jump (CMJ) testing. The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding nutritional recovery strategies and supplementation timing to optimize recovery and training adaptation in athletes and physically active individuals.

This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of hot spring balneotherapy on central fatigue elimination in adolescent rowers undergoing altitude training at approximately 1600 meters (Tengchong, Yunnan). Thirty adolescent athletes (aged 12-16 years) will be stratified by sex and randomly allocated to three groups: Group A (natural recovery, no immersion), Group B (38°C pure water immersion), and Group C (38°C sodium bicarbonate hot spring immersion). Interventions will be administered 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes are central fatigue indices including voluntary activation (VA) and central activation ratio (CAR). Secondary outcomes encompass cognitive function (Stroop test, Psychomotor Vigilance Test), cerebral hemodynamics (functional near-infrared spectroscopy, transcranial Doppler ultrasound), exercise performance (maximal oxygen uptake, 1000m test, 500m test), blood lactate, and hematological parameters (white blood cells, neutrophils, platelets).

This study evaluates the effects of VKTRY carbon fiber insoles on vertical jump and sprint performance in moderately active men. Participants will perform tests with and without insoles, assessing both objective performance and subjective perception using a Likert-type scale.

Participants will complete five sessions, including one familiarization and baseline session and four experimental conditions (placebo, L-tyrosine, caffeine, and combined supplementation). The baseline session will include resting measurements. The experimental conditions will be performed in a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design with a washout period of at least 72 hours between sessions.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle warm-up (IMW) on technical performance and physiological responses in combat athletes. A total of 20 volunteer athletes (10 males, 10 females), aged 15-22 years, registered with the Turkish Kickboxing and Muay Thai Federation, with at least two years of licensed sports experience and medal achievements at the national or international level, will be included in the study. The study will be conducted using a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover experimental design, in which participants will complete the control (general warm-up), placebo (15% MIP), and IMW (40% MIP) conditions in a random order. In each session, before and after the warm-up, pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF), respiratory muscle strength (MIP, MEP), heart rate, perceived exertion, and dyspnea levels will be assessed. In addition, athletes will perform the Kickboxing Fitness Test (KFT), and the same measurements will be repeated during the rest intervals of the test and immediately after its completion. The IMW protocol will be performed using a POWERbreathe device at 40% of MIP, consisting of 2 sets of 30 breaths. Furthermore, maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) tests will be conducted to evaluate the athletes' general physiological capacity. This study is expected to provide original data for the field of sports sciences by demonstrating the potential contributions of inspiratory muscle warm-up to the improvement of technical skills and physiological capacity in combat athletes, and to generate practical scientific recommendations for coaches and athletes.

Judo is a popular international combat sport with an estimated 20 million active participants world-wide and participation in judo entails a substantial risk of injury in both elite and recreational judo. It is known that judo involves a significantly higher risk of sports per activity compared with another combat sports such as wrestling, karate, taekwondo an deven popular team sports such as football, basketball and volleyball. Therefore, preventing injuries in judo is so important and various interventions can use in this regard. These include; taping, warm-up and cool-down programs, proper technique trainings and exercise programs. Injury prevention programmes in other sports have been proven effective in reducing injury rates for elite and recreational athletes. In judo, research on exercise-based prevention is limited to the description of injury prevention programs, but the effectiveness of these programs has never been evaluated. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the judo-specific ''IPPON'' warm-up programs for injury prevention of judokas on performance parameters and incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes. In this study, the investigators research the Judo-Specific Special Conditioning Test and the Isometric/Dynamic Judogi Grip Strength Test will be evaluated for performance parameters. In addition, the Upper and Lower Extremity Y Balance Test will be evaluated for balance and the Upper Extremity Internal/External Rotation Strength Test and the Lower Extremity Hamstring/Quadriceps Strength Test will be evaluated for muscle strength assessment. The Turkish translation of the Oslo Trauma Research Center Overuse Questionnaire (OSTRC-O) will be used to monitor the incidence of injuries among professional judo athletes.