With the rapid development of digital technology, the sports industry, especially the tennis industry, is undergoing a historic transformation. This article will deeply analyze how the wave of digitalization is reshaping every aspect of the tennis industry, from event operations to audience experience, from athlete training to marketing, with every link experiencing profound changes. The article will discuss in detail the core elements in this transformation process, including technological innovation, data analysis, user experience, etc. At the same time, this article will also propose a series of strategic suggestions aimed at promoting the tennis industry to steadily move forward on the path of digitalization and achieve a more efficient, intelligent, and attractive industrial upgrade. Through these strategies, we expect the tennis industry to fully utilize the opportunities brought by digitalization, address challenges, and ultimately achieve the goal of enhancing competitiveness and increasing social value.

Relevance. Given the scientific interest in integrating sports games into the long-term training of cross-country skiers of various skill levels, research on this topic is relevant to modern sports science and practice, as it can contribute to improving the quality of training and creating more flexible and effective training models. Objective: to determine the impact of sports games on the development of physical qualities and psychological characteristics of skiers of different ages. Materials and methods. The study is based on a comprehensive methodological approach that includes: theoretical analysis of scientific sources, the method of generalisation and synthesis of theoretical developments and empirical data, comparative analysis of existing studies, pedagogical experiment, psychophysiological studies, methods of mathematical and statistical processing of research results. The study was conducted over a 2-year cycle. During the study, 4 experimental groups (EG) of different ages from the Children's and Youth Sports School were formed, consisting of 26 athletes. Results. It has been established that the inclusion of the game method (2–4 times a week depending on the training groups) significantly improves explosive strength and endurance indicators (p<0.05). After the introduction of game-based training, athletes in the initial group showed a significant increase in speed, coordination, and speed-strength indicators: 30 m sprint improved by 15.4%; standing long jump increased by 18.1%; 4×9 m shuttle run improved by 16.6% (p<0.05). Athletes in the basic training group showed a significant improvement in performance: 30 m sprint improved by 15.5%; 1000 m run improved by 6.5%; long jump – an increase of 11.9% (p < 0.05). In the specialised training groups, the following indicators increased significantly: 3000 m running improved by 4.7%; 4×9 m shuttle running improved by 10.9%; classic style roller skiing improved by 8.7% (p<0.05). Athletes in the groups training for higher athletic performance showed improvements in the following indicators: 3000 m running by 8.9%; time to cover the control distance on roller skis 5 km in classic style by 5.4% (p<0.05). The results of psychological testing showed a positive effect of sports games on the psycho-emotional state of athletes. In the initial and basic training groups, the level of situational anxiety decreased by an average of 23–27%, and attention concentration indicators according to the Burdon–Anfimov test increased by 14–16% (p<0.05). In the specialised training group, game-based activities contributed to stabilising the psycho-emotional state and increasing motivation for the training process, as confirmed by a reduction in the variability of psychological test results. Conclusions. The use of sports games in the long-term training of ski racers is an effective means of developing general physical qualities and improving psychological characteristics. The methodologically grounded inclusion of games allows for the optimization of the training process, increases motivation and the resistance of athletes to physical and psycho-emotional loads, and contributes to the formation of comprehensive sports mastery. It is proven that basketball most effectively develops coordination and operational thinking, football enhances aerobic power, and volleyball improves psychological stability and reaction accuracy.

Athletic training is characterized by physiological systems responding to repeated exercise-induced stress, resulting in gradual alterations in the functional properties of these systems. The adaptive response leading to improved performance follows a remarkably predictable pattern that may be described by a systems model provided that training load can be accurately quantified and that the constants defining the training-performance relationship are known. While various impulse-response models have been proposed, they are inherently limited in reducing training stress (the impulse) into a single metric, assuming that the adaptive responses are independent of the type of training performed. This is despite ample evidence of markedly diverse acute and chronic responses to exercise of different intensities and durations. Herein, we propose an alternative, three-dimensional impulse-response model that uses three training load metrics as inputs and three performance metrics as outputs. These metrics, represented by a three-parameter critical power model, reflect the stress imposed on each of the three energy systems: the alactic (phosphocreatine/immediate) system; the lactic (glycolytic) system; and the aerobic (oxidative) system. The purpose of this article is to outline the scientific rationale and the practical implementation of the three-dimensional impulse-response model.

Soccer video analysis has significant application value in sports broadcasting, tactical research, and athlete training, with accurate object detection serving as the key foundation for automated analysis. Soccer object detection typically improves performance through enhanced feature representation and optimized network architectures, but these methods assume that models can automatically learn discriminative features of targets. Through experiments, we reveal the "feature collapse" phenomenon in soccer detection, where features of players from the same team are excessively clustered in high-dimensional space, and soccer ball features degenerate to near background noise. Furthermore, existing methods lack progressive feature evolution mechanisms, resulting in insufficient discriminative capability when handling dense scenes. To address these issues, we propose DeCon-Net, which contains a Decoupled Feature Learning Module (DFLM) and a Hierarchical Contrastive Constraint Module (HCCM). Specifically, DFLM designs dual-stream encoders to extract appearance features and identity features separately, forcing the identity stream to learn truly discriminative representations through mutual exclusivity constraints. HCCM adopts dynamic threshold contrastive learning, adaptively adjusting learning intensity based on feature distances between sample pairs, achieving progressive optimization from coarse to fine granularity. Experimental results demonstrate that DeCon-Net achieves significant performance improvements on the SportsMOT and SoccerNet-Tracking datasets, particularly showing substantial gains in ball detection.

Integrative Neuromuscular Training (INT) is a multi-component training approach aimed at optimizing neuromuscular function, improving athletic performance, and reducing injury-related risks. While existing studies suggest that INT can improve injury risk factors and enhance performance, its effectiveness and underlying mechanisms remain contentious, with many existing studies lacking comprehensive quantitative synthesis and subgroup analyses. A systematic search was conducted across nine databases from their inception to August 31, 2025, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the application of INT in athletes. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (ROB2) was used for quality assessment. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata/MP 17.0, with risk ratios (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and standardized mean differences (SMD) for continuous outcomes. Hedges' g and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated for effect sizes, and publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests. The GRADE method was employed to assess the quality of evidence. A total of 25 RCTs (10,124 participants) were included. The meta-analysis revealed that INT is associated with a reduced injury risk in athletes (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58-0.91, p = 0.004), as well as improvements in jump performance (SMD = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.58-1.17, p < 0.001), sprinting ability (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.44-1.06, p < 0.001), change-of-direction ability (SMD = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.38-1.57, p = 0.001), and dynamic balance (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.31-1.51, p = 0.003), However, significant heterogeneity was found in most studies, and according to ROB2, the majority of studies were categorized as "having some concerns". Therefore, the certainty of the evidence should be interpreted in the context of the GRADE framework. Subgroup analysis suggests that INT may be particularly effective in adult athletes (≥ 18 years), female athletes, football players, and those undergoing high-frequency (≥ 3 sessions/week) and longer-duration (single session > 30min) interventions. Current evidence suggests that INT is associated with reduced injury risk and improvements in jump performance, sprinting, change-of-direction, and dynamic balance in athletes. Adult athletes, female athletes, and football players may benefit more significantly from INT, especially when the intervention frequency is ≥ 3 sessions per week and the duration exceeds 30min per session. This study has been prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (registration number: CRD420251131811) and was reported in strict adherence to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The complete PRISMA flowchart and relevant details can be found in the supplementary materials.

Background/Objectives: Mango is a tropical fruit rich in polyphenols and carotenoids that may support recovery-related physiological responses during athletic training. This study examined the effects of mango puree supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, muscle damage, and selected T-cell subsets in Thai men’s national beach volleyball players during regular training. Methods: Fifteen male athletes completed a pilot randomized, single-blind, crossover trial. Participants consumed the mango puree or placebo (600 g/day) for 4 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood samples and physiological measurements were collected at baseline and at the end of each intervention period. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Mango puree supplementation was associated with lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (mean difference: −1.6 mg/L; 95% CI: −2.1 to −1.1; p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (−0.7 pg/mL; 95% CI: −1.2 to −0.3; p = 0.003), and creatine kinase (−290.1 U/L; 95% CI: −356.1 to −224.1; p < 0.001) compared with the placebo. The percentage of CD4+ T cells (9.82 percentage points; 95% CI: 5.0 to 14.6; p < 0.001) and the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.37; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.63; p = 0.007) were higher during mango puree supplementation, while CD8+ T-cell percentage did not differ between conditions. No significant treatment effects were observed for body composition parameters or blood pressure (all p > 0.05). Total energy intake remained unchanged across intervention periods (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Mango puree supplementation during regular training was associated with lower inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers and alterations in selected T-cell subsets compared with the placebo.

Backgrounds/Objectives: Adolescent soccer players are exposed to elevated injury risk due to rapid musculoskeletal development and high physical demands. Neuromuscular training (NMT) and speed-agility-quickness (SAQ) training are widely used to enhance performance and reduce injury risk in youth athletes. While both approaches are effective, comparative evidence regarding their modality-specific performance adaptations remains limited. Furthermore, few studies have discussed how such performance data may inform evidence-based or data-driven training selection in youth sports contexts. Methods: Thirty-six male youth soccer players with at least three years of playing experience, affiliated with Team A in Gyeonggi-do and Team B in Chungcheongbuk-do, participated in the study (NMTG, n = 21; SAQG, n = 15). Participants completed either an NMT or SAQ training program for eight weeks. To objectively assess exercise performance, pre- and post-tests were conducted measuring dynamic balance, vertical jump, zigzag run, and carioca. Results: Findings revealed a significant main effect of time for lower limb power (p < 0.05), but no significant group × time interaction, indicating that both NMTG and SAQG improved significantly over the 8-week period. Conversely, significant interaction effects were found for agility (p < 0.001), with SAQG demonstrating superior enhancements compared to NMTG. Dynamic balance showed no significant time effect or interaction. Conclusions: While NMTG and SAQG are equally effective for enhancing lower limb power, SAQG provides modality-specific advantages for agility in youth soccer players. These results emphasize time-dependent adaptations for power and the distinct benefits of SAQG for multi-directional speed. These adaptation profiles offer a data-driven framework for optimizing training selection in youth athletes.

This study examines the long-term training progression of one of the top ten alpine skiers of all time, following his pathway from his first ski day to Olympic gold. Using a longitudinal mixed-method case study, we analyzed 24 years of prospectively recorded on-snow training days, ski-specific participation and performance milestones, and general fitness test results from ages 11 to 18, complemented by a retrospective interview with the athlete's father. The athlete began skiing at the age of 2.2 years old, with early training centered on playful free skiing and task-oriented activities such as unicycling and slacklining. He did not participate in other organized sports. Summer glacier training was deliberately delayed and limited to preserve motivation, and annual ski days peaked between ages 15 and 18. Periods of minor injury and overreaching coincided with high training loads. Although he achieved early success both on and off the snow, he did not fully dominate until adulthood and struggled internationally during puberty, likely due to late maturation and limited deliberate practice. This case demonstrates how a perfect fit between the athlete's characteristics, training, and environment contributed to his success. These findings do not suggest a universal pathway for alpine skiing development, but rather a pattern of training, environment, and social factors that change throughout development to achieve exceptional performance in adulthood.

Bilateral gait biomechanics change over time after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and have been suggested to contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. However, few studies have investigated the longitudinal changes in bilateral gait biomechanics in the same cohort within 24 months after ACLR. To evaluate the longitudinal changes in bilateral gait biomechanics compared with the healthy control cohort within 24 months after ACLR. Controlled laboratory study. A total of 24 patients who underwent primary unilateral ACLR surgery with autologous hamstring tendon grafts and 24 matched healthy participants were included. Also, 3-dimensional knee gait and ground-reaction forces (GRF) information were collected at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after ACLR. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the influence of time and limb in ACLR participants and their interaction effect on each variable of interest. Two-way analysis of variance was used to compare intergroup and interleg dependent variables. Three months after ACLR, most biomechanical parameters of the operated limb (peak knee extension angle [pKEA]; peak knee extension moment [pKEM]; peak knee flexion moment [pKFM]; and vertical ground-reaction force [vGRF]) were lower than both the contralateral limb and healthy controls, and gradually increased over time. By 24 months postoperation, the pKEA and the pKEM returned to normal levels. The operated limb showed significantly reduced pKEA and pKEM compared with contralateral and control groups at 3 and 6 months (all P≤ .001), with no clinically meaningful differences at 12 and 24 months. pKFM analysis revealed significant between-group effects (ACLR group vs control group) without limb or interaction effects from 3 to 24 months, indicating bilateral compensatory reduction. Regarding vGRF, GRF_peak1 demonstrated bilateral compensatory reduction at 3 months (resolved by 6 months), while GRF_peak2 showed operated limb reduction at 3 months progressing to bilateral compensation at 6 months (resolved at 12 months). Notably, both vGRF parameters exhibited bilateral compensatory reductions again at 24 months postoperation. Three months after ACLR, sagittal plane biomechanical parameters of the operated knee (pKEA, pKFM, pKEM) and GRF_peak1/2 were significantly lower than those of controls, except pKFA, which showed no intergroup difference. Longitudinal analysis revealed partial recovery patterns: GRF_peak1 was normalized by 6 months, while GRF_peak2, pKEA, and pKEM reached control levels by 12 months. However, a secondary decline emerged at 24 months, with GRF_peak1/2 values again significantly lower than those of the controls, and the pKFM remained persistently lower than that of the controls throughout the 24-month follow-up. Early postoperative gait retraining and neuromuscular control training are recommended, with sustained interventions maintained for at least 24 months. Bilateral gait retraining and neuromuscular control training are recommended as early as possible and should be maintained for at least 24 months after surgery.

Age-induced gene expression in Thoroughbred horse skeletal muscle highlights genes that enhance muscle architecture and function.

Designing a Virtual Reality Storyboard for Basic Volleyball Skills Training for Athletes with Disabilities

This pilot study investigated the effects of a two-week integrative neuromuscular training (INT) program on dynamic balance in male high school soccer players in Shandong, China. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 10) performing INT - combining strength, balance, agility, and coordination exercises, or a control group (CG, n = 10) following conventional soccer training. Dynamic balance was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Y-Balance Test (YBT). Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to analyze group, time, and interaction effects. Both groups showed significant improvements in YBT composite scores over time (p &amp;lt; 0.05), but the EG demonstrated greater enhancement, particularly in the posteromedial direction (p = 0.04). These findings suggest that short-term INT can effectively improve neuromuscular coordination and dynamic postural control in adolescent soccer players. Incorporating INT into regular soccer training may enhance performance and help prevent injuries.

Fireball Extreme ChallengeTM is a coeducational high-intensity intermittent-explosive sport that lacks normative performance data; this study aimed to create multidimensional athlete profiles and establish reference benchmarks to support talent identification and training prescription. Twenty-one national-level athletes (13 males and 8 females; mean age 26.2±5.8 years) completed countermovement jump, one-repetition maximum strength assessment, bilateral handgrip testing, and the 30-15 intermittent fitness test under standardized indoor (21 °C, 50% relative humidity) and outdoor (37 °C, 68% relative humidity) field conditions representative of the athletes' typical training environment in coastal southern Mexico, recorded for ecological validity rather than thermal control. We calculated descriptive statistics and percentile distributions (25th, 50th, 75th), performed sex-stratified analyses adjusted for age, and conducted exploratory principal component and cluster analyses to examine interdomain associations and emergent performance groupings. Across all participants, the observed performance spectrum spanned a broad range of neuromuscular and metabolic capacities, with individual variability captured through percentile reference values (25th, 50th, 75th). The highest jump heights (up to 48 cm) and peak power outputs (≈2100 W) coexisted with moderate endurance and balanced heart rate responses, defining the multidimensional nature of Fireball Extreme Challenge™ performance. Sex-stratified distributions are presented descriptively but were not the primary analytical outcome. Principal component analysis identified two dominant performance domains-neuromuscular power and metabolic strain-explaining 59% of total variance. Hierarchical clustering revealed three mixed profiles that integrated both male and female athletes, illustrating overlapping phenotypes rather than categorical differences. This study provides the first multidimensional performance profile of Fireball Extreme Challenge™ athletes, establishing normative reference percentiles and identifying key physical domains-neuromuscular power and metabolic capacity-that characterize success in this coeducational, high-intensity team sport. The derived phenotypic clusters highlight overlapping attributes between male and female athletes, reflecting the integrated dynamics of mixed-team performance. These findings offer a foundational framework for evidence-based training design, athlete monitoring, and future validation in larger international cohorts.

Abstract Background In football, combined cognitive and motor skills are of great importance. However, cognitive–motor testing and training is often conducted under isolated laboratory conditions, limiting its applicability to team training on the field. The aim of this study was to develop a cognitive–motor training schedule including football-specific elements and to test whether an 8‑week on-field training intervention could improve perceptual cognitive abilities and game performance in sub-elite youth football players. Methods In this quasi-experimental study, 35 players aged 16–17 years were divided into an intervention (IG, n = 18) and a control group (CG, n = 17). The IG completed 20 min of cognitive–motor training three times a week, integrated into their regular training schedule. The CG maintained their usual training schedule. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Trail Walking Test (TWT), while passing performance was assessed in a game situation test. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way repeated measures ANOVA (group*time). Results Significant improvements were observed in cognitive and motor performance and executive functions on the TWT and TMT: Group*Time for TWT 3, F (1.33) = 18,703, p &lt; 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.362; TMT 1, F (1.33) = 16,842, p &lt; 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.338; TMT 3, F (1.33) = 4422, p &lt; 0.048, partial η 2 = 0.113. However, there were no significant changes in passing ability in both temporal and group comparisons across all categories (pass rate in %; delivered passes; incomplete passes; expert rating passing difficulty; expert rating passing quality). Conclusion The intervention had a significant effect on the cognitive performance of the IG. Despite the absence of significant enhancements in football-specific factors in the test situation after the intervention, coaches reported improvements in players’ game performance. Future studies should utilize an adapted test scenario that incorporates improved in-field testing, longer intervention periods, and performance ratings by the coaches.

With the increasing competition in elite sports, pre-competition anxiety has become increasingly prevalent among high-level competitive athletes, and high levels of such anxiety may impair sports performance and threaten athletes’ psychological health. Traditional psychological interventions (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy) are often poorly accepted and costly; however, pre-competition anxiety in these athletes may be alleviated through multiple pathways of traditional mind–body exercises like Tai Chi. Yet, the psychological mechanism by which mind–body exercises such as Tai Chi training influence pre-competition anxiety remains insufficiently explored, particularly the chain-mediating effect of the “flow experience → mental toughness” pathway. This study thus aimed to investigate the impact of Tai Chi training on pre-competition anxiety in high-level competitive athletes and verify the chain-mediating role of the “flow experience → mental toughness” pathway, thereby providing a theoretical basis and practical reference for sports psychology interventions. Using a randomized controlled experimental design, 86 high-level competitive athletes were randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 43) and a control group (n = 43). The experimental group received standardized Tai Chi training for 8 weeks, while the control group maintained their regular training regimen. Data were collected at baseline, week 4, and week 8 of the intervention using the Competition State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2), Flow State Scale-2 (FSS-2), and Sport Mental Toughness Questionnaire (SMTQ), and chain-mediating effects were tested via hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap method with 5000 resamples. The results indicated that Tai Chi training could reduce pre-competition anxiety levels (β = −0.30, p &lt; 0.5), and both flow experience (β = 0.38, p &lt; 0.5) and mental toughness (β = 0.21, p &lt; 0.5) exerted significant mediating effects. The chain mediation model further revealed that Tai Chi training alleviated pre-competition anxiety by enhancing flow experience and improving mental toughness sequentially (β = 0.01, 95% CI [0.00, 0.03]), accounting for 78.9% of the total mediated effect. In conclusion, Tai Chi training is associated with reduced pre-competition anxiety in high-level competitive athletes, and this relationship is statistically mediated by the sequential pathway of flow experience and mental toughness. These findings offer a new theoretical basis and practical direction for mind–body interventions in sports psychology. It should be noted that future research could further optimize and refine the intervention protocol, and explore the underlying mechanism of mind–body interventions at the neurobiological level.

Given the decline in performance in German fencing since 2012, systematic athletic training has become increasingly important in youth development. This study is the first to investigate the effects of structured athletic training on physical performance parameters in German youth fencing.In a twelve-month interventional cohort study, 22 youth fencers (aged 13-17 years) from a performance centre were examined. The intervention group (n=12) completed 60 minutes of structured athletic training per week in addition to regular fencing training, while the control group (n=10) performed an exclusively fencing-specific training. Pre- and post-tests included standing long jump, 10m sprint, T-test, rotational throw, Bourban test, and beep test. The intervention group also underwent Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Y-Balance test, and Skillcourt assessments. Statistical analysis was performed using t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests, supplemented by effect sizes (Cohen's d).Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant improvements in explosive strength (sprint: p=0.023, d=1.31; T-test: p=0.043, d=1.00; rotational throw right: p=0.023, d=1.05; left: p=0.003, d=1.44) and endurance (beep test: p=0.002, d=1.54). Core stability showed a trend towards significance (p=0.065, d=0.84). Within the intervention group, flexibility improved significantly (FMS: p=0.002, d=1.14; Y-Balance lower extremity right: p=0.012; left: p=0.019).Structured athletic training produces large to very large training effects in fencing-relevant physical performance parameters. The results provide evidence-based support for the integration of systematic athletic training into youth development programmes in German fencing.

Repetitive head acceleration events (RHAE) are common in contact sports and associated with neuroinflammation, axonal injury, and long-term neurological impairments, including increased risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Current strategies for addressing RHAE focus on post-injury care rather than proactive neuroprotection, leaving athletes vulnerable to cumulative neurotrauma. Transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM) has shown promise in reducing neuroinflammation and promoting neuroprotection in traumatic brain injury; however, its potential to mitigate the structural brain changes associated with RHAE in actively competing athletes has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PBM mitigates RHAE-related neuroinflammatory and microstructural changes in collegiate American football players over a single National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I season. We hypothesized that restricted diffusion imaging (RDI) and quantitative anisotropy (QA), diffusion magnetic resonance imaging markers of neuroinflammation and axonal remodeling, respectively, would increase in the Sham PBM group due to RHAE exposure but remain stable in the Active PBM group, indicating neurological resilience. Twenty-six collegiate football players were randomly assigned to Active ( n = 13) or Sham ( n = 13) PBM groups. PBM (810 nm) was self-administered 3 days a week under supervision in the athletic training room with a transcranial plus intranasal device throughout the preseason practice period and regular season (16 weeks). Diffusion MRI data were collected pre- and postseason, and correlational tractography was used to assess the effects of PBM on longitudinal changes in RDI and QA. Moderation analyses examined time × group interactions, with post hoc analyses exploring within- and between-group differences in RDI and QA cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Correlational tractography revealed significant main effects and interactions of time and group, with widespread increases in RDI and QA observed in the Sham PBM group over the season, consistent with neuroinflammation and axonal remodeling. In contrast, the Active PBM group showed relative stability in RDI and QA over time, with significant reductions observed in some areas. These findings suggest that PBM may mitigate ongoing neuroinflammation and facilitate the recovery processes. This study provides the first evidence suggesting that transcranial PBM reduces neuroinflammatory and axonal injury markers in American collegiate football players over a single season. PBM may serve as a noninvasive and accessible intervention for mitigating the cumulative neurological effects of RHAE exposure, offering a neuroprotective strategy for athletes participating in collision and contact sports. Future research should examine the long-term benefits of PBM across multiple seasons and its impact on functional outcomes to further establish the role of PBM in athlete brain health and wellness.

ABSTRACT In 2018, Israel’s first Athletic Training (AT) department – a health profession specialising in injury prevention and rehabilitation – faced strong opposition from the Physiotherapy (PT) community. This study explores how PTs sought to block the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) programme and discredit AT as a profession. Guided by Foucault’s power-knowledge framework, we applied Foucauldian Discourse Analysis (FDA) to a four-year dataset, including online posts, union appeals, and legal documents. Findings reveal how Israeli PTs used digital and legal tactics to protect professional boundaries and authority. These efforts reflect broader struggles over legitimacy, occupational power, and control of educational and therapeutic discourse.

Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a common form of mild traumatic brain injury and represents a growing public health concern across youth, adolescent, and adult athletic populations. Characterized by transient neurological dysfunction following biomechanical forces to the head or body, SRC presents with a broad range of cognitive, physical, and emotional symptoms and is frequently underrecognized and underreported. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, long-term neurocognitive outcomes, and prevention strategies associated with sport-related concussion. Available data indicate that SRC accounts for a substantial proportion of injuries in contact and collision sports, with particularly high incidence among youth and adolescent athletes. Younger individuals appear more vulnerable to prolonged recovery and persistent neurocognitive impairment, likely related to ongoing brain development and biomechanical factors. A history of prior concussion consistently emerges as a major risk factor for subsequent injury and adverse long-term outcomes, with cumulative exposure linked to persistent cognitive deficits and increased risk of later-life mental health disorders. Importantly, growing evidence suggests that neurocognitive impairments may persist beyond clinical symptom resolution, challenging traditional symptom-based return-to-play approaches. Effective prevention of SRC requires a multifaceted strategy. Protective equipment alone is insufficient, while standardized equipment fitting, rule modifications, consistent enforcement, education, and neuromuscular training programs show promise in reducing concussion risk. Coordinated efforts across clinical practice, sport policy, and education are essential to improve concussion recognition, management, and long-term neurological health in athletes.

Introduction. The high level of competition in soccer and its increasing number of games per season contribute to a high prevalence of injuries in the sport. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to determine the effects of neuromuscular training versus eccentric training on muscle injuries in soccer players. Methods. To do this, searches were conducted in three databases between February and April 2024, selecting only randomized controlled trials that included interventions based on Nordic exercises or eccentric hamstring exercises, plyometric exercises, or neuromuscular jump exercises. Results. A total of 21 studies were included in the analysis, involving male and female players of different ages and levels of competition. The findings indicate that eccentric and neuromuscular exercises are effective in reducing the probability of injuries in soccer players, regardless of their level of play, sex, or age. However, more notable results were observed in male soccer players and, in particular, in highly trained athletes. Conclusion. Finally, it is also concluded that eccentric exercises favor a reduction in the incidence of hamstring injuries, while neuromuscular training favors a reduction in injuries specifically affecting the knee, including knee and ankle sprains.