de Morais Ferreira, AB, Halson, S, Galvão-Coelho, NL, de Almeida, RN, Nakamura, FY, and Mortatti, AL. Impact of sleep restriction and intensified training on mucosal immunity and psychological responses in young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 40(7): e703-e713, 2026-This study analyzed the effects of training intensification during a period of sleep restriction (SR) on mucosal immunity (salivary IgA), upper respiratory tract health, mood states, and stress tolerance in young soccer players. Sixteen male youth soccer players completed 7 weeks of training with varied workloads. Weeks 3 and 5 involved a 75% increase in internal training load (ITL); however, although sleep was unrestricted in week 3, allowing for an increase in total sleep time (TST) (+53 minutes vs. baseline), week 5 included a ∼10% reduction in TST (-44 minutes vs. baseline). Internal training load was assessed using session-rating of perceived exertion, and sleep was monitored via actigraphy. Salivary IgA, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) severity (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey), perceived recovery status (PRS), stress tolerance (Daily Analysis of Life Demands of Athletes), and mood states (Brunel Mood Scale) were evaluated weekly. Salivary IgA concentrations significantly decreased in both intensified training weeks (week 3: β = -87.41, p = 0.007; week 5: β = -114.04, p < 0.001). However, only in week 5, this reduction was accompanied by a significant increase in URTI severity ( p = 0.001), heightened fatigue (χ 2 (6) = 42.499, p < 0.001), reduced vigor (χ 2 (6) = 49.422, p < 0.001), impaired PRS ( p < 0.001), and lower stress tolerance ( p = 0.001). In contrast, during week 3, despite the intensified training, PRS, mood states, and stress tolerance remained stable. These findings emphasize the protective role of adequate sleep during intensified training, as greater sleep availability in week 3 may have mitigated the negative effects observed in week 5. Ensuring sufficient sleep during periods of high training loads is essential to maintain physical and psychological health.

Validity of the individualized load-velocity profile to predict one-repetition maximum on a pneumatic leg press device in adults aged 55-81years.

Dynamic response laws of tunnel lining in mudstone under the moving load of high-speed railway trains: A case study

Evidence-based nutrition guidance for female athletes remains limited relative to that available for males; in part, this has contributed to widespread reliance on social media for dietary information. Whilst social media can enhance health communication, it also facilitates the rapid dissemination of unverified, commercially driven nutrition claims. This narrative review critically synthesises the current scientific literature underpinning four prevalent claims targeting nutrition close to exercise for active females; (1) fasted training is harmful for all females, (2) menstrual cycle-related hormonal fluctuations require sex-specific hydration strategies, (3) carbohydrate differences by sex and menstrual cycle phase, and (4) precise protein timing is essential for optimal adaptation in females. Despite social media and 'influencer' claims of no evidence in humans for many of the claims, there is some, albeit limited, evidence. This review evaluates the available research and the evidence supporting these claims to provide practical advice for active females. Collectively, this review demonstrates that many widely circulated nutrition claims directed at active females lack robust scientific support. The findings emphasise the importance of individual context, including training load, energy availability, environmental conditions and total dietary intake, over rigid, sex-specific nutrition rules. Improved translation of female-specific sports nutrition research into accurate, accessible public messaging is urgently needed to counter persistent misinformation in digital media.

This review aimed to systematically synthesize qualitative evidence on the perceptions, experiences, and practices of athletes and stakeholders regarding sports injuries, with a primary focus on risk factors, consequences, injury reporting, rehabilitation, and prevention strategies. A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO. Six databases were searched from 2000 to July 2025. Eligible studies explored the lived experiences of sports injuries in athletes and stakeholders. Data were extracted, appraised using the CASP checklist, and synthesized thematically. Thirty-five studies were included, spanning a range of sports and competitive levels. Five overarching themes were identified: (i) risk factors including excessive training loads, poor recovery, early specialization, and psychosocial stressors; (ii) consequences of injury such as disrupted performance, long-term disability, financial costs, and significant psychological distress; (iii) rehabilitation highlighting both the challenges of self-management and the importance of interdisciplinary support; (iv) injury reporting and monitoring where normalization of pain, fear of deselection, and cultural pressures inhibited disclosure; and (v) injury prevention and performance sustainability emphasizing load management, evidence-based practices, collaborative monitoring, and contextual barriers such as limited resources and fixture congestion. Athletes and stakeholders perceive sports injuries as complex biopsychosocial phenomena shaped by cultural norms, resource availability, and interpersonal dynamics. Sustainable prevention requires both individualized and systemic approaches, combining tailored training plans, athlete-centered care, and structured surveillance systems. Qualitative insights highlight the necessity of embedding prevention and rehabilitation strategies within the lived realities of athletes, thereby enhancing health protection and long-term performance sustainability. REVIEW REGISTRATION: This review was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework in March 2025 (registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/V79D2).

Harry, JR, Agnew, C, and Park, S. Momentum-based load prescription profiling for weighted jumps in men's and women's collegiate basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 40(7): e746-e754, 2026-The jump squat exercise is a useful exercise for stimulating jump-related adaptations in basketball players. However, it is difficult to determine the ideal load an athlete should use during jump squats. The momentum-based approach for jump squat load selection is promising, but different populations present with different momentum profiles across jump squat loads, challenging application of empirical data to basketball players. The purpose of this technical report was to explain the utility and practical implications of momentum-based profiling and provide jump squat momentum profiles for 22 NCAA Division 1 Men's ( n = 12; 20 ± 1 year; 1.93 ± 0.08 m; 91.45 ± 14.00 kg) and Women's ( n = 10; 21 ± 2 years; 1.78 ± 0.08 m; 76.67 ± 10.04 kg) basketball players. Each player performed three jump squat trials on a dual force platform system with a hexagonal barbell using the following loads relative to their estimated 1 repetition maximum (1RM) back squat: 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%. The data indicated on average that men's and women's players should consider using 45% of the 1RM back squat when performing jump squats, as 58% of the men's players and 83% of the women's players created the most momentum with that load (men's: 245 ± 70.42 kgm·s -1 ; women's: 192 ± 73.13 kgm·s -1 ). The 15% load coincided with the greatest momentum created in three men's players. One men's and one women's player did so with 30%. Eight men's and one women's player did so with the 45% load, whereas one men's and one women's player did so with the 60% loaded jumps. Each of the loads explored here should produce positive jump adaptations because each player created more momentum with those loads compared with their 0% jumps. For practitioners without access to appropriate tracking technologies, jump squats with a load equal to 45% of the 1RM back squat seems to be an ideal starting place for the average men's and women's basketball player. However, the inconsistency across player-specific momentum profiles suggests that each player's ideal training load can only be determined by assessing their own profile instead of the group average results.

This study introduces a simulation-based wearable biomechanical sensor network framework intended to support real-time fatigue monitoring and performance prediction in gymnastic training environments. The work was motivated by the recognised need for objective, quantitative fatigue indicators that complement, rather than replace, the subjective ratings and laboratory-based assays currently used in gymnastics. Although sensor-based fatigue monitoring has been examined in endurance sports, the multi-planar, high-dynamic skills of gymnastics remain largely under-served; the framework therefore couples a sport-specific multi-modal sensor topology with personalised machine learning, an integration that to our knowledge has not been reported in the gymnastics literature. The proposed multi-node architecture integrates accelerometers, gyroscopes and force sensors, together with multi-feature fusion and machine learning-based fatigue classification, signal processing routines, and personalised prediction modules that capture the temporal dependencies of fatigue progression. In a computational validation built around virtual athlete models, the framework achieved a detection accuracy of approximately 93% across the six fatigue severity levels examined, while personalised algorithms outperformed generic counterparts by 12-18% within the same simulation pipeline. We emphasise that these figures are simulation-derived proof-of-concept results; they should not be interpreted as empirical validation, and confirmation through studies with real athletes wearing physical sensors in actual training environments is still required. The performance prediction module retained acceptable forecasting accuracy up to a 60-minute horizon, which in principle could support proactive training load management once the framework has been empirically validated. The real-time processing pipeline is, in principle, fast enough to feed immediate coaching feedback, and the modular architecture is intended to accommodate different gymnastic disciplines in future field studies. Taken together, the present work lays methodological groundwork for evidence-based training optimisation that, pending real-world validation, may eventually contribute to performance development and athlete-safety practice through objective biomechanical monitoring and predictive analytics.

Vibration-damping tracks of an urban rail transit vibrate under train loads and are a source of acoustic sound radiation in urban rail transit. In addition, they exhibit their own vibration amplification phenomenon during service. To evaluate the acoustic properties of damping tracks, this study considered acoustic wave superposition (AWSM) and examined a steel-spring floating-slab track (SSFST). This study focused on floating-slab (FS) acoustic radiation prediction and proposed a fast prediction method for the acoustic radiation of a track structure with a more regular shape. The influence of the structural parameters of FS on its acoustic characteristics was analysed and suggestions regarding the application of acoustic vibration characteristics were provided. The steady-state frequency-domain acoustic radiation prediction method exhibited high solution efficiency compared with the acoustic boundary element method, and was combined with the vehicle-track coupled dynamics theory and AWSM. The proposed method can be used to predict the acoustic radiation characteristics of regular structures and quickly evaluate the acoustic radiation effects. In addition, the FS has a strong low-frequency acoustical sound radiation ability, rendering it an important low-frequency acoustical sound radiation source for urban rail transit. The length and thickness of the FS significantly affected its acoustic vibration characteristics; therefore, a longer FS can be considered for sections with higher requirements for low-frequency noise. In the standard range, selecting a thicker FS offers advantages in terms of the acoustic sound radiation and vibration characteristics.

Dance is a complex physical activity with high biomechanical and artistic demands that cause repetitive stress on the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiorespiratory systems. Dance induces physiological adaptations in children and adults, including bone remodelling, improved muscle strength and neuromuscular control, enhanced balance and flexibility, lower limb morphological adaptations and changes in body composition. However, it is also associated with a high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, predominantly affecting the lower limbs, owing to overuse mechanisms such as sprains, muscle injuries, fractures, stress fractures and soft tissue damage. Growth periods, cumulative training load, technical constraints (eg, pointe shoes, specific footwear, hard surfaces) and individual factors such as joint hypermobility, low energy availability and low body mass index may increase injury risk, potentially affecting performance and quality of life. Acute injuries during professional performances are often recognised as work-related, whereas those sustained during training or rehearsals and chronic conditions related to prolonged practice lack occupational recognition. Emerging observations suggest that dance therapy may offer benefits for certain chronic musculoskeletal conditions, particularly fibromyalgia, although evidence remains limited. This narrative review synthesises the physiological adaptations to dance, the spectrum of dance-related musculoskeletal injuries, associated risk factors and the available data supporting dance as a non-pharmacological intervention. The findings reported herein should be interpreted in light of several limitations, including the narrative design, heterogeneity across studies, small observational samples, inconsistent definitions, potential publication bias and regional variability in practice conditions.

We aimed to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis of the effects of force-velocity (FV) profile-based individualized strength training vs. non-individualized strength training on mechanical variables of FV profile and athletic performance. A computerized systematic literature search was performed in three electronic databases. Studies were included if they analyzed effects of FV profile-based individualized strength training on the metrics of FV measures (theoretical maximal force (F0), theoretical maximal velocity (V0), force-velocity imbalance (FVimb) and theoretical maximal power (Pmax)) and athletic performance in adults and tested at least one variable of interest. The effect sizes were determined using a robust variance estimation random-effects model and were reported as Hedge's g. Overall, 6 studies were eligible to be included in this meta-analysis. Individualized FV strength training lasted between 7 and 10 weeks, with 2 weekly sessions and 8-28 sets per week. Strength training intensities ranged between 70 and 85% of the one-repetition maximum (1-RM) x 3-10 repetitions resistance training (training load ratio range: 70-100% : 30 - 0%) and velocity-oriented training involved 0-60% body mass x 3-10 repetitions plyometric training (training load ratio range: 70-100% : 30 - 0%). The meta-analysis showed significant and large differences between both training conditions for F0 (g = 0.99, p < 0.01), V0 (g = 0.78, p < 0.01), FVimb (g = 0.60, p < 0.01) and vertical jump height (g = 0.82, p < 0.01) favoring individualized strength training, whereas there was a non-significant effect on Pmax (g = -0.12, p = 0.42) and sprint performance (g = 0.18, p = 0.45), CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that FV profile-based individualized training may confer advantages for FV profile optimization and vertical jump performance, the high degree of heterogeneity underscores the need for cautious interpretation and further well-controlled studies. Therefore, practitioners should specifically and carefully consider individual FV profile when programming individualized strength training.

Although substantial research has examined correctional officer health, fewer studies have focused on jail staff, and even fewer have done so within a unified, statewide jail system. This study aims to address this gap by examining staff perceptions of health and wellness across Tennessee's county jails, where centralized oversight enables system level insight. Open-ended questionnaire data from 412 correctional personnel were analyzed following survey distribution to staff across all 120 Tennessee county jails. While jails are typically decentralized, Tennessee's system operates under unified oversight, allowing consistent access and comparable analysis. Responses were analyzed thematically to identify health statuses, health threats and health resources. Staff identified chronic stress, burnout, trauma exposure and environmental hazards as central threats. Understaffing, mandatory overtime and unpredictable demands were consistently linked to limited rest and declining health. Participants also highlighted organizational needs, including mental health resources, improved air quality, and healthier nutrition options. This study underscores the importance of system-level, jail-specific research on correctional staff health and well-being. By demonstrating how organizational structures, environmental conditions and staffing practices shape cumulative health risks across an entire statewide jail system, the findings highlight limitations of single-site and prison-focused studies that dominate the literature. Future research should prioritize multisite and longitudinal designs that examine how changes in staffing models, shift structures and physical environments influence health trajectories over time. In addition, integrating staff-centred qualitative methods with objective health indicators would strengthen causal inference and advance theory on occupational strain, recovery and cumulative load in correctional settings. The findings provide clear guidance for correctional administrators and policymakers seeking to improve staff well-being. Participants consistently identified practical priorities, including confidential mental health services, trauma-responsive supports, improved air quality and nutrition, access to fitness resources, and staffing reforms that protect recovery time. Importantly, the study illustrates that wellness initiatives are unlikely to succeed without addressing structural constraints such as chronic understaffing and mandatory overtime. Agencies should therefore shift from isolated, program-based interventions toward integrated, system-level strategies that align organizational design with health promotion. Centralized oversight bodies can play a key role in standardizing and supporting these efforts across facilities. Correctional staff health has implications that extend beyond the workforce to incarcerated populations, families and communities. Poor staff well-being contributes to burnout, turnover and organizational instability, which can undermine safety, continuity of care and rehabilitative programming within jails. By identifying staff-defined priorities for healthier working conditions, this study supports broader public health goals related to institutional safety, ethical care and workforce sustainability. Improving correctional staff well-being may also reduce stigma surrounding mental health in custodial environments and promote healthier interactions between staff and incarcerated individuals, ultimately contributing to more humane, stable and socially responsive correctional systems. This study advances correctional health research by focusing on jail staff within a unified statewide framework. System wide data enhance generalizability and policy relevance while centering staff perspectives.

This study investigated whether match outcome influences external training load in a rolling three-team small-sided game (SSG) format in semi-professional male football players. Twenty outfield players contributed valid GPS data across five training sessions consisting of repeated 6v6 rolling SSG bouts, where the winning team remained on the pitch and the losing team rotated out. External load variables, total distance (TD), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), and high-speed running (HSR) were measured using 10Hz GPS and analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni corrections, considering both absolute and time-normalised (per-minute) values. Accumulated total distance (TD; F = 18.04, p < .001, η2p = .52), accelerations (ACC; F = 6.05, p = .006, η2p = .27), and decelerations (DEC; F = 8.11, p = .001, η2p = .34) differed significantly between match outcomes, with values decreasing from win to draw to loss conditions. Accumulated high-speed running (HSR) did not reach statistical significance (F = 3.74, p = .055, η2p = .19). No significant effects were observed for any time-normalised variable (TD: F = 1.57, p = .223, η2p = .09; ACC: F = 0.49, p = .620, η2p = .03; DEC: F = 1.72, p = .196, η2p = .10; HSR: F = 0.45, p = .642, η2p = .03). These findings indicate that match outcome was associated with accumulated, but not time-normalised, external load in this rolling SSG format. The winner-stays rule should therefore be considered when interpreting accumulated external load in such training formats.

Introduction Monitoring training load in youth soccer is a key component of athlete development. However, limited evidence exists regarding the influence of leg dominance on side-specific directional movement demands during change-of-direction movements. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal, side-specific change-of-direction (COD) behavior and directional movement demands in Under-15 elite male soccer players, with particular emphasis on the interaction between leg dominance and movement direction during training sessions and matches. Methods Inertial measurement unit data were collected throughout a competitive season, including direction-specific change-of-direction counts and inertial movement analysis-derived directional movement variables. Direction-specific change-of-direction frequency and inertial movement analysis-derived movement demand variables were quantified separately for dominant and non-dominant sides. Player-level mean values were analysed using mixed-design ANOVAs to examine differences between dominant and non-dominant sides and between left- and right-footed players. Results Significant interactions were observed between side and leg dominance for inertial movement analysis-derived directional load during both trainings ( p &amp;lt; 0.001) and matches ( p = 0.003), indicating that side-specific directional load differed according to footedness rather than showing a uniform non-dominant side effect. Discussion Consequently, side-specific directional movement demands appear to depend on the interaction between movement side and footedness, while no corresponding effects were observed for COD frequency. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring side-specific directional movement exposure and considering limb asymmetries when designing training programs in youth soccer.

García-Santamaría, A, Padrón-Cabo, A, Fernández-Penedo, D, Costa, PB, and Rey, E. Scheduling repeated-sprint training on different microcycle days in professional soccer players: A randomized crossover study. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2026-This study compared the acute neuromuscular, mechanical, and perceptual responses to repeated-sprint training (RST) performed on match day minus 4 (MD-4) vs. match day minus 3 (MD-3) in professional soccer players. Seventeen male outfield players completed 2 experimental microcycles using a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design. Each player performed a high-volume RST protocol (3 × 10 × 30 m) on either MD-4 or MD-3, with a 1-week washout in between. External (GPS) and internal (rating of perceived exertion) loads were recorded during RST. Countermovement jump, muscle mechanical properties (MyotonPRO), and perceptual markers (total quality recovery, Hooper Index) were assessed pre- and postintervention (MD-2). No significant differences were found in training load between conditions (p > 0.05). Countermovement jump performance decreased significantly after RST (p = 0.031), with no interaction effect. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and fatigue increased in both conditions, but DOMS was significantly higher after MD-3 RST (p = 0.030). Total quality recovery scores also decreased (p = 0.003), with no change in muscle tone, stiffness, or elasticity. These results suggest that although RST elicits similar load regardless of day, performing it closer to match day may increase residual soreness. Coaches are advised to schedule high-intensity RST earlier in the microcycle to optimize recovery and match-day readiness.

This study evaluates and compares the mechanical behavior of two collagen membranes in an in vitro model simulating membrane-stabilized horizontal guided bone regeneration (GBR). Megreen® (bovine pericardium, BP) and Bio-Gide® (porcine dermis, PD) were tested under wet conditions. Two models were developed: (1) a balloon dilation test to assess the membrane's capability to accommodate bone graft material and (2) a bone graft compression model to evaluate tear resistance during graft compaction. In the tensile testing, BP demonstrated a significantly superior modulus of elasticity (146.71 ± 45.08 vs. 6.08 ± 2.66MPa), maximum load tolerance (30.71 ± 8.42 vs. 4.49 ± 1.36N), and tensile stress at maximum load (14.62 ± 4.01 vs. 1.61 ± 0.49 MPa; p < 0.001). Conversely, PD achieved high tensile extension at maximum load (6.32 ± 1.93 vs. 1.64 ± 0.32mm) and percent tensile strain at maximum load (52.69 ± 16.03 vs. 13.63 ± 2.65%; p < 0.001). In the balloon dilation test, PD presented a slightly greater expansion diameter (4.43 ± 0.17 vs. 4.34 ± 0.05mm; p = 0.047). In the compression model, BP significantly outperformed PD in maximum load (40.86 ± 4.54 vs. 7.90 (7.72-10.92) N) and displacement at maximum load (5.61 ± 0.60 vs. 3.65 ± 0.82mm; p < 0.001). BP exhibited higher tensile strength and compression resistance, whereas PD showed greater deformability. These findings indicate distinct mechanical differences between the two collagen membranes under the tested conditions and may provide a mechanical basis for membrane selection in membrane-stabilized horizontal GBR.

ABSTRACT Ramadan intermittent fasting alters sleep–wake patterns, dietary intake, and daily routines, which may interact with circadian timing and fatigue to influence athletic performance. This study examined the effects of Ramadan fasting on sleep, dietary intake, cognitive performance, and anaerobic running performance across different times of day and fatigue states in elite karate athletes. Twelve elite male karate athletes completed a within-subject repeated-measures protocol before Ramadan, during the second week, and during the fourth week of Ramadan. Testing was conducted at 08:00, 17:00, and 22:00. Simple reaction time, multiple-choice reaction time, Stroop performance, and 5-m multiple shuttle run performance were assessed before and after a karate-specific aerobic fatigue protocol. Sleep and dietary intake were monitored throughout each period. Ramadan fasting significantly reduced total sleep time, sleep efficiency, total energy intake, carbohydrate intake, and fat intake, while increasing subjective sleepiness and fatigue. Cognitive and physical performance were significantly affected by Ramadan period, time of day, and fatigue state. The greatest deterioration occurred during the fourth week of Ramadan, particularly at 17:00, when both reaction-time performance and shuttle-run outcomes showed the largest impairments compared with pre-Ramadan values. Performance decrements were also observed at 22:00, whereas morning performance at 08:00 was relatively preserved. Exercise-induced fatigue further worsened cognitive and physical outcomes and attenuated normal time-of-day variation. These findings indicate that Ramadan intermittent fasting induces sleep disruption, dietary alterations, and time-of-day dependent impairments in elite karate athletes. The late afternoon, particularly 17:00 during the fourth week of Ramadan, appears to be the most vulnerable period for cognitive and physical performance deterioration, especially under fatigue. Training load, recovery strategies, sleep management, and nutritional timing should therefore be carefully adapted during Ramadan.

Accurate monitoring of training load is vital for optimizing performance and reducing the risk of maladaptation, injury, or illness in cyclists. Training load quantification also informs nutrition planning, as daily energy and macronutrient requirements are often adjusted based on exercise demands. Although a range of metrics is available, from power output-based measures to heart rate and perceived exertion indicators, students and early-career practitioners often encounter difficulties in selecting, calculating, and interpreting these indices. This methodology review outlines how to compute three commonly used training load metrics in cycling: training stress score, Edwards' training impulse, and session rating of perceived exertion. We provide step-by-step guidance on evaluating and predicting these metrics using practical, well-illustrated examples drawn from the data of a competitive cyclist. The methodology review includes the visualization and interpretation of relationships between metrics via scatterplots and regression analyses, both with and without intercepts, and in linear and curvilinear forms. We also introduce the use of partial correlation to examine associations between metrics while controlling for exercise duration thereby addressing a frequent confounding factor. A worked example illustrates how data can be used to derive session-specific carbohydrate and energy targets. By following the procedures outlined here, undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as early-career practitioners can enhance their understanding of training load monitoring and develop tailored strategies suited to individual cyclists and contextual constraints including training and nutrition periodization decisions. The included spreadsheet instructions and supplementary R script support replication and facilitate the integration of these methods into applied practice.

Introduction: The cognitive and mental demands placed on football players are considerable. Athletes must consistently maintain vigilance, execute swift decision-making, process incoming information efficiently, and regulate emotional responses effectively. Objective: This study investigated the weekly fluctuations in Countermovement Jump (CMJ) performance, Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), mental fatigue (MF), and mental load (ML) in elite U19 football players across microcycles featuring single or double match weeks. Methodology: Eighteen elite male U19 football players from Spain participated during the 2024–2025 season. CMJ performance was assessed 30 minutes before and 20 minutes after each training session, while RPE, MF, and ML were evaluated following each session. Results: Findings revealed an inverse relationship between players’ RPE and pre-competition jump performance. Critically, during M2-Opt sessions, scheduled 48 hours prior to a match and often associated with double competition weeks, players reported significantly higher RPE and MF scores. This indicated elevated physical and mental demands on match day minus two (MD-2), coinciding with diminished jump performance. These fatigue levels were consistent with observed weekly microcycle fluctuations, highlighting MD-2. Discussion: The significant influence of pre-match demands on physical and mental fatigue, culminating in impaired performance, underscores the necessity for coaches to meticulously manage training loads. Conclusion: Prioritizing athlete recovery and strategically minimizing strenuous physical and mental stimuli in the days leading up to competition are crucial to optimize performance, mitigate injury risk, and ensure competitive readiness in elite youth football.

Resistance training (RT) is commonly used to enhance neuromuscular performance and sprint swimming outcomes. However, the optimal relative load for elite junior swimmers remains unclear. In particular, little is known about whether very low relative loads can elicit meaningful adaptations while minimizing neuromuscular fatigue in athletes exposed to high concurrent training demands. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of two land-based RT programs differing only in relative load intensity (40-50% vs. 55-65% 1RM), performed with maximal intended concentric velocity, on strength, jumping ability, and 50 m freestyle swimming performance in elite junior swimmers. Eighteen elite junior swimmers (15.6 ± 0.9 years) from a national high-performance program were randomly assigned to a low-load (40-50% 1RM; n = 9) or moderate-load (55-65% 1RM; n = 9) group. Both groups completed an 8-week RT program (2 sessions·week-1) with identical exercise selection, volume, execution velocity, and in-water training load. Neuromuscular performance (countermovement jump, squat, bench press, and pull-up strength) and swimming performance (50 m freestyle from the starting block and in-water start) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Both RT protocols improved squat and bench press strength and 50 m freestyle performance, whereas significant improvements in countermovement jump, pull-up strength, and maximal pull-up repetitions were observed only in the low-load group. Significant group × time interactions were found for countermovement jump, maximal number of pull-up repetitions, and 50 m freestyle performance from the starting block, indicating more favorable changes over time in the low-load group. In conclusion, both low- and moderate-load high-velocity RT improved neuromuscular and 50 m freestyle performance outcomes in elite junior swimmers. However, the low-load RT (40-50% 1RM) appeared to provide additional benefits in specific outcomes (i.e., jumping, pull-ups, and 50 m performance from the starting block). These findings suggest that relatively low loads may be a practical alternative to moderate-load RT in high-volume swimming training environments.

Clinical reasoning is a key competency in undergraduate medical education but is often taught implicitly. Structured approaches such as acronyms may help support students in developing this skill, especially in complex or high-stakes situations. The acronym PAPER (Patient, details of Acute situation, relevant Past medical History, Estimate the situation, Recommendations) was developed to provide a simple and structured framework to support clinical reasoning. The acronym was developed through a three-round Delphi process with clinical experts in emergency medicine, anaesthesiology, and trauma surgery. It was piloted in a single-blind, simulation-based study with 290 medical students in either their fourth clinical semester or final year. Students were randomised to either an intervention group, which received a 20-minute introduction to clinical reasoning and the acronym before simulation training, or a control group, which received standard simulation alone. The outcomes included clinical performance, nontechnical skills, and cognitive load, which were assessed via blinded raters and validated self-report questionnaires. No significant differences in clinical performance were found between the intervention and control groups. However, among fourth-semester students, the intervention group reported a significantly lower intrinsic cognitive load than did the control group. The final-year students generally reported better scores in teamwork and decision-making but reported lower germane cognitive loads than their junior peers did. The effect of the intervention appeared to be influenced by the students' training stage. While the acronym did not improve overall clinical performance, it was associated with a reduced intrinsic cognitive load in less experienced students. Introducing structured clinical reasoning tools earlier in the curriculum may help learners process clinical scenarios more effectively. Timing appears to be an important factor in the success of such interventions and should be considered in curriculum development.