More Than Sport: A social-identity intervention to support transitions out of elite sport.

Elite athletes often make large personal sacrifices to pursue excellence, but there is insufficient support for them when they leave elite sport. Identity loss is central to athletes' transition trajectories and hence the management of identity change is a crucial area for support. The More Than Sport (MTS) program is a novel digital intervention that aims to provide this support-helping athletes manage identity change in the process of leaving elite sport. The present research aims to study elite athletes' experiences with the MTS program and their perceptions of its usefulness in managing the transition away from elite sport. We undertook a qualitative study with athletes (N=25) from three countries (the United Kingdom, Australia and Belgium) using reflexive thematic analysis to explore their experiences of the program and their feedback on program content. We identified three key themes and eight subthemes. The first key theme was Value of the Program, and this was underpinned by four sub-themes that centred on Program importance and novelty, how Positive and confronting experiences afford insight, the Value of developing shared understanding, and Realising the value of social groups. The second key theme was Engagement with Program Elements and here participants commented on Program content and Delivery format. The final key theme was Time and Place for Identity Management Programs which included the sub-themes of Optimal timing and Additional program beneficiaries. Overall, the results highlight the value of MTS specifically, and identity management efforts more broadly, to help elite athletes adjust successfully to life beyond sport.

Nightmares in Swiss elite athletes: Associated factors.

Nightmares, defined as extremely dysphoric dreams, can cause significant distress in everyday life if they occur frequently. Their aetiology is based on a disposition-stress model. As elite athletes often experience high stress levels, the present study investigated factors that might be associated with nightmare frequency in a large cohort of 2297 Swiss elite athletes (1066 women, 1231 men) with a mean age of 22.05 ± 7.53 years. In total, about 6% of the athletes reported frequent nightmares (once a week or more often). We found that well-established factors like female gender and general stress levels were related to nightmare frequency. To a smaller extent, the number of training hours, lost training days due to illness, and having early training sessions were also associated with nightmare frequency. Sport discipline was not related to nightmare frequency. An unexpected finding was the association between late alcohol intake 4 hr prior to bedtime and nightmare frequency. Our findings support the idea that stress related to practicing sports might affect nightmare frequency. Future research should study whether inventions designed for athletes suffering from frequent nightmares are beneficial for them and might even improve their athletic performance.

Personal risk factors and types of sport associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes.

Introduction: Professional and student-athletes are at risk of developing symptoms of eating disorders (ED), including drive for thinness and muscularity due to personal risk factors (e.g., low self-esteem) and sport-specific characteristics (e.g., sport requirements). However, limited studies have focused on ED symptoms among NextGen athletes (identified in Canada as élite or relève) who compete at the provincial, national, and international levels but are not yet part of national teams. As such, they have access to fewer financial resources and support from their sport federations, which can create additional stress for these athletes. The present study aimed to identify personal risk factors and types of sports associated with (a) drive for thinness and (b) drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes. Methods: These athletes (n = 254) aged between 14 and 25 years old completed an online questionnaire. Perfectionism, self-esteem in sport, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity were, respectively, assessed by the Multidimensional Inventory of Perfectionism in Sport, the Sport State Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Attitude Test-26, and the Drive for Muscularity Scale. Other personal risk factor (e.g., athletic status) were measured using in-house questions. Each personal risk factor was included in two multiple linear regressions, respectively, to determine which factors were most associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Results: Analyses revealed that perfectionist aspirations during training were linked to a stronger desire for thinness. In addition, not being in school or not having a job were also linked to a stronger desire for thinness. Several variables were found to be associated with a greater desire for muscularity: being a male athlete, playing team sport, weight category sport or endurance sport (as opposed to esthetic sport), having elite status, being less satisfied with one's current sporting performance and having higher perfectionist aspirations during training. Discussion: This study offers initial insights into the factors influencing EDs among NextGen athletes, which provides a foundation for deeper exploration and the creation or modification of targeted interventions. These findings can guide sport organizations in creating guidelines and programs to better support the next generation of national athletes (e.g., create programs to help athletes maintain investments outside).

Genomic predictors of physical activity and athletic performance.

Physical activity and athletic performance are complex phenotypes influenced by environmental and genetic factors. Recent advances in lifestyle and behavioral genomics led to the discovery of dozens of DNA polymorphisms (variants) associated with physical activity and allowed to use them as genetic instruments in Mendelian randomization studies for identifying the causal links between physical activity and health outcomes. On the other hand, exercise and sports genomics studies are focused on the search for genetic variants associated with athlete status, sports injuries and individual responses to training and supplement use. In this review, the findings of studies investigating genetic markers and their associations with physical activity and athlete status are reported. As of the end of September 2023, a total of 149 variants have been associated with various physical activity traits (of which 42 variants are genome-wide significant) and 253 variants have been linked to athlete status (115 endurance-related, 96 power-related, and 42 strength-related).

Lumbar extension peak-torque, muscle endurance and motor imagery in junior-elite basketballers with and without a history of low back pain: a pilot study.

Objectives: Low back pain (LBP) is common in elite athletes. Several peripheral and central factors have been identified to be altered in non-athletic LBP populations, however whether these alterations also exist in elite athletes with LBP is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether elite basketballers with a history of persistent LBP perform worse than those without LBP at a lumbar muscle endurance task, a lumbar extension peak-torque task, and a lumbar motor imagery task. Method: An observational pilot study. Twenty junior elite-level male basketballers with (n = 11) and without (n = 9) a history of persistent LBP were recruited. Athletes completed a lumbar extensor muscle endurance (Biering-Sorensen) task, two lumbar extensor peak-torque (modified Biering-Sorensen) tasks and two motor imagery (left/right lumbar and hand judgement) tasks across two sessions (48 hours apart). Performance in these tasks were compared between the groups with and without a history of LBP. Results: Young athletes with a history of LBP had reduced lumbar extensor muscle endurance (p < 0.001), reduced lumbar extension peak-torque (p < 0.001), and were less accurate at the left/right lumbar judgement task (p = 0.02) but no less accurate at a left/right hand judgement task (p = 0.59), than athletes without a history of LBP. Response times for both left/right judgement tasks did not differ between groups (lumbar p = 0.24; hand p = 0.58). Conclusions: Junior elite male basketballers with a history of LBP demonstrate reduced lumbar extensor muscle endurance and lumbar extension peak-torque and are less accurate at a left/right lumbar rotation judgement task, than those without LBP.

Cardiovascular adaptive response to training in elite athletes. Comparison between endurance and non-endurance athletes.

INTRODUCTION: The different structural modifications that have been described in the heart of the high-performance athlete depend on factors such as age, gender, type of sport, and the intensity and time dedicated to training. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of elite athletes through echocardiography for the description of cardiac structure and function, and the comparison between athletes with cardiorespiratory endurance and the rest of the athletes. METHODS: We performed the echocardiographic examination in 224 elite athletes, 96 women and 128 men aged 15 to 38 years (21.7 ± 5.3 years) and they were divided into 2 groups: "Endurance Group" (cardiorespiratory endurance) and "Non-Endurance Group" which included the rest of the sports. Univariate comparison between the two groups was performed by measuring 14 echocardiographic variables. RESULTS: In men, statistically significant higher values were identified in the endurance group for interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall, relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular mass index and left atrial dimension. In women, the endurance group had significantly lower heart rate values, and significantly higher left ventricular diastolic dimension with normal RWT. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the echocardiographic variables showed higher sample means in the endurance athletes. In the subgroup of men from the Endurance Group, eccentric hypertrophy prevailed with a greater increase in wall thickness, as well as in the diameter of the left atrium, while in women the variables indicated eccentric hypertrophy at the expense of an increase in left ventricle diameter, without increased wall thickness.

Introducción: Las diferentes modificaciones estructurales que han sido descritas en el corazón del deportista de alto rendimiento dependen de factores como la edad, el género, el tipo de deporte, la intensidad y el tiempo dedicados al entrenamiento. OBJETIVOS: Evaluación de atletas de élite por medio de la ecocardiografía para la descripción de la estructura y la función cardíacas, y la comparación entre deportistas de resistencia cardiorrespiratoria y el resto de los deportistas. Métodos: Realizamos el examen ecocardiográfico en 224 deportistas de elite, 96 mujeres y 128 varones con edades de 15 a 38 años (21.7 ± 5.3 años) y se dividieron en 2 grupos: "Grupo de Resistencia" (resistencia cardiorrespiratoria) y "Grupo de no Resistencia" el cual incluyó al resto de los deportes. Se realizó la comparación univariada de 14 variables ecocardiográficas entre los dos grupos. RESULTADOS: En los hombres se identificaron valores estadísticamente significativos más altos en el grupo de resistencia para septum interventricular, pared posterior, grosor parietal relativo, índice de masa del ventrículo izquierdo y aurícula izquierda. En las mujeres, el grupo de resistencia tuvo valores de frecuencia cardíaca más bajos con diámetro diastólico e índice de masa del ventrículo izquierdo significativamente mayores. CONCLUSIONES: La mayoría de las variables ecocardiográficas mostró valores mayores en los atletas de resistencia. En los hombres del Grupo de Resistencia, predominó la hipertrofia excéntrica con mayor incremento en el grosor parietal y del diámetro de la aurícula izquierda, mientras que en las mujeres las variables indicaron hipertrofia excéntrica a expensas de un aumento del diámetro del ventrículo izquierdo, sin incremento del grosor parietal.

Characterization of muscle oxygenation response in well-trained handcyclists.

PURPOSE:  Peripheral responses might be important in handcycling, given the involvement of small muscles compared to other exercise modalities. Therefore, the goal of this study was to compare changes in muscle oxygen saturation (∆SmO2) and deoxyhemoglobin level (∆[HHb]) between different efforts and muscles. METHODS:  Handcyclists participated in a Wingate, a maximal incremental test and a 20-min time-trial (TT). Oxygen uptake (VO2) as well as ∆SmO2, ∆[HHb], deoxygenation and reoxygenation rates in the triceps brachii (TB), biceps brachii (BB), anterior deltoid (AD) and extensor carpi radialis brevis (ER) were measured. RESULTS:  ER ∆[HHb]max was 37% greater in the incremental test than in the Wingate (ES = 0.392, P = 0.031). TT mean power (W/kg) was associated with BB ∆SmO2min measured in the incremental test (r = -0.998 [-1.190, -0.806], P = 0.002) and in the Wingate (r = -0.994 [-1.327, -0.661], P = 0.006). MAP (W/kg) was associated with Wingate BB ∆SmO2min (r = -0.983 [-0.999, -0.839], P = 0.003), and Wingate peak (r = 0.649 [0.379, 0.895], P = 0.008) and mean power (W/kg) (r = 0.925 [0.752, 0.972], P = 0.003) was associated with right handgrip force. The strongest physiological predictor for TT performance was BB ∆SmO2min in the incremental test (P = 0.002, r2 = 0.993, SEE 0.016 W/kg), Wingate BB ∆SmO2min for MAP (P = 0.003, r2 = 0.956, SEE 0.058 W/kg) and right handgrip force for Wingate peak power (P = 0.005, r2 = 0.856, SEE 0.551 W/kg). CONCLUSION:  Peripheral aerobic responses (muscle oxygenation) were predictive of handcycling performance.

Skating techniques of ladies' world-class long-distance speed skaters to shorten curved-section time during the official 3,000†m race.

This study aimed to identify the factors contributing to expedited passage through curved sections in skating by analyzing centripetal acceleration and skating motions during curving in a 3,000 m race for ladies' world-class speed skating. It included 14 elite skaters participating in the ladies' 3,000 m race held during the World Cup. The recorded area consisted of the first inner curve lane. Skaters were recorded as they passed through the measurement range at the initial, middle, and final stages of the race. Three synchronized high-speed cameras were used to record skaters from the front, back, and side. From the images obtained by the high-speed camera, 21 body endpoints and 4 blade edges were digitized at 50 Hz using specialized digitizing software. Three-dimensional coordinates of the 25 points were obtained using a panning direct linear transformation technique. The stroke-averaged centripetal acceleration and kinematic parameters were calculated based on the three-dimensional coordinates of the body during the curve-skating motion. Centripetal acceleration had a significant effect on the curved-section time in all three race stages (initial: F = 17.19, middle: F = 23.30, final: F = 16.64) and significantly decreased as the race progressed (left: F = 9.42, right: F = 8.05). Throughout the race, the right and left shanks and the body's center of mass (CM) during the stroke were raised (shank angle: left: F = 13.62, right: F = 11.02, CM height: left: F = 21.15, right: F = 21.69). The body-tilt angle for both strokes and shank-tilt angle for the right stroke were significantly correlated with centripetal acceleration in all race stages (body-tilt: left: initial: r = 0.80, middle: r = 0.75, final: r = 0.89, right: initial: r = 0.78, middle: r = 0.84, final: r = 0.67, right shank-tilt initial: r = 0.80, middle: r = 0.77, final: r = 0.63). These results suggested that to reduce the skating time through curved sections, maintaining an inward body tilt and minimizing the decrease in centripetal acceleration even in the final race stage are crucial considerations. They also suggested that when leaning the body inward and maintaining centripetal acceleration, the right shank should be leaned inward for the right stroke and the left shank should be leaned inward for the left stroke, or the left blade should be positioned farther to the right of the CM.

Brain local stability and network flexibility of table tennis players: a 7T MRI study.

Table tennis players have adaptive visual and sensorimotor networks, which are the key brain regions to acquire environmental information and generate motor output. This study examined 20 table tennis players and 21 control subjects through ultrahigh field 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. First, we measured percentage amplitude of fluctuation across five different frequency bands and found that table tennis players had significantly lower percentage amplitude of fluctuation values than control subjects in 18 brain regions, suggesting enhanced stability of spontaneous brain fluctuation amplitudes in visual and sensorimotor networks. Functional connectional analyses revealed increased static functional connectivity between two sensorimotor nodes and other frontal-parietal regions among table tennis players. Additionally, these players displayed enhanced dynamic functional connectivity coupled with reduced static connectivity between five nodes processing visual and sensory information input, and other large-scale cross-regional areas. These findings highlight that table tennis players undergo neural adaptability through a dual mechanism, characterized by global stability in spontaneous brain fluctuation amplitudes and heightened flexibility in visual sensory networks. Our study offers novel insights into the mechanisms of neural adaptability in athletes, providing a foundation for future efforts to enhance cognitive functions in diverse populations, such as athletes, older adults, and individuals with cognitive impairments.

An initial investigation into the mental health difficulties in athletes who experience choking under pressure.

This study aims to determine the frequency of choking under pressure (i.e., choking) and quantify the prevalence of psychological and behavioural consequences of choking. 165 current and retired athletes (over 18 years old) from various sporting levels completed an online survey that asked about demographics, the frequency of choking, and the psychological (e.g., negative feelings toward sport, passion/enjoyment of sport negatively affected, and suicidal ideation) and behavioural (e.g., missing/skipping sport temporarily, dropping out/quitting sport, and maladaptive, risky behaviour) effects of choking. Descriptive statistics on choking frequency indicated 127 (77%) athletes in this sample experienced choking in the last year of playing their sport, and, on average, "choked" 18.25 times during that year. Of the 65 athletes currently playing sport, 36 (55.4%) experienced choking in the past month. Furthermore, 39.4% and 7.1% of athletes in this sample did not achieve higher levels of competition and had suicidal thoughts due to choking, respectively. High-performance athletes in the current sample were more likely to engage in maladaptive behaviours after choking compared to low-performance athletes. Choking more negatively affected the passion/enjoyment for sport of currently playing (i.e., excluding all retired) high-performance than currently playing low-performance athletes. This seminal study crudely quantifies the frequency of choking in athletes, but more importantly provides crucial evidence of the psychological and behavioural consequences of choking and advocates for further research into choking and athlete mental health.

Self-regulation training improves stress resilience in elite pre-pubescent female gymnasts.

Introduction: In the context of young female athletes, namely elite gymnasts, effective stress management strategies not only enhance performance, but also reduce the risk of injuries and promote overall well-being. This study aims to investigate the effects of biofeedback-based training on stress management in prepubescent elite female gymnasts, recognizing its pivotal role in promoting healthy growth and proper training load management. Methods: Eight elite young female athletes from a top flight French national league club participated in an experimental condition involving four-week biofeedback training program to improve self-regulation skills, during both rest and stress phases. Additionally, each subject experienced a control condition, with entailed exposure to domain-specific motivational videos. Comprehensive evaluations of physiological parameters were conducted to assess the impact of biofeedback training, both before and after the training, as well as during the stress and recovery phases. Furthermore, an interoceptive body awareness test, using the MAIA questionnaire, was performed. Results: The results highlight a significant enhancement of the self-regulatory skills of the gymnasts in managing the selected physiological parameters-peripheral temperature (p < 0.05) and blood volume pressure (p < 0.05)-after the biofeedback treatment. Moreover, psychological data from the MAIA questionnaire revealed a noteworthy increase in interoceptive awareness (p < 0.001), particularly in the subscales of Not Distracting (p < 0.001), Attention regulation (p < 0.05), Emotional awareness (p < 0.05), and Self-regulation (p < 0.05). Discussion: Thus, we conclude that biofeedback training improves self-regulatory and psychological resilience under stressful conditions, while reducing sensitivity to gymnastics-specific stress.

Dominant Somatotype Development in Relation to Body Composition and Dietary Macronutrient Intake among High-Performance Athletes in Water, Cycling and Combat Sports.

Relevant properties of the somatotype as important indicators can be associated with the body composition characteristics as well as both metabolic and bio-mechanical efficiency of athletes in the sport concerned. The primary aim of this single cross-sectional study was to determine the somatotype profiles in association with body composition and nutritional profiles among Lithuanian elite athletes (n = 189) involved in water, cycling and combat sports. The body composition along with the somatotype profiles and the nutritional status of athletes were evaluated using a battery of multiple frequency (5, 50, 250, 550, and 1000 kHz) bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and a 3-day food record analysis. In terms of the prediction for athletes to be classified as endomorphs, mesomorphs or ectomorphs, the linear discriminant analysis was conducted to assess the grouping of samples. Both the multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression statistical analyses were performed to explore the associations between the independent and dependent variables. The central tendency values for the somatotype components of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy in athletes playing water, cycling and combat sports were 4.3-4.9-3.4, 4.3-4.8-3.4 and 4.5-5.5-2.9, respectively. The central mesomorph somatotype with a trend towards endomorphy was dominant and varied according to a high muscle-to-fat ratio in elite athletes. Significant (p ≤ 0.001) positive associations between both endomorphy and mesomorphy values and higher body fat percentage as well as lower and upper limb muscle mass were identified. The lower levels of trunk muscle mass were related to athletes' endomorphy and mesomorphy, too. Furthermore, in the athletes' sample under analysis, high-level mesomorphs were prone to consume low-carbohydrate (adjusted odd ratio (AOR) 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2; 0.9) and high-protein diets (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1; 5.5). Contrastingly, the elite athletes with a higher expression of endomorphy were on high-carbohydrate (AOR 5.4, 95% CI 1.1; 8.3) and high-fat diets (AOR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5; 7.1) along with insufficient protein diet (AOR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1; 0.9). Finally, whilst nutrition goals as a mediator can play a significant role in undergoing the maintenance of balance between the optimal body composition for athletic performance and the development of an ecto-mesomorphic somatotype, the elite athletes with higher levels of endomorphy value should be aware of lowering the body fat percentage coupled with dietary fat reduction and higher protein intakes. The findings obtained from the study may serve as an antecedent for a more targeted management of the elite athletes' training process. Somatotyping as an additional assessment method can be successfully deployed in choosing correct coaching techniques, contributing to talent recognition processes or identifying reference morphometric parameters in elite athletes competing in water, cycling and combat sports.

Omega-3 Index as a Sport Biomarker: Implications for Cardiovascular Health, Injury Prevention, and Athletic Performance.

The composition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the cell membrane plays a crucial role in cell signaling and function. Physical activity can induce shifts in PUFA metabolism, potentially altering their membrane composition. Given the multifaceted regulatory and structural roles of PUFA, training-related fluctuations in PUFA concentrations may impact health and athletic performance in both elite and non-elite athletes, highlighting the critical role of these fatty acids' nutritional intake. The ω-3 index (O3I), a biomarker reflecting the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes, is considered a marker of cardiovascular risk, gaining increasing interest in sports medicine. Dietary interventions aimed at maintaining an optimal O3I may offer several benefits for elite and non-elite athletes, including cardiovascular health performance optimization, recovery, and injury prevention. Here, we discuss emerging evidence on the application of O3I in sports and physical exercise, highlighting its promising role as a biomarker in a wide range of sports practices.

Mental health literacy, mental health experiences and help-seeking behaviours of Chinese elite athletes: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Elite athletes' help-seeking on mental health might be influenced by their mental health literacy (MHL) and mental health experiences. The current study aimed to explore the MHL, experiences and help-seeking behaviours among elite athletes using a qualitative approach. Methods: Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 Chinese elite athletes, 12 coaches, and 5 team officials. Interview data was analyzed using content analysis. Results: Seven main themes emerged from the analysis. The current study revealed that Chinese elite athletes suffered from various mental health issues and athletes' MHL levels, help-seeking attitudes and intentions, Chinese sports environments, and Chinese cultural background could impact their help-seeking behaviours. Conclusion: Support for Chinese elite athletes' mental health and help-seeking requires improvement.

Automatic detection of skate strokes in short-track speed skating using one single IMU: validation of a new method.

Greater impulse is a key performance indicator of success in short track speed skating. The main objective of this study was to develop a method to measure skating strokes using a single IMU. Eight elite or world-class speed skaters had one IMU placed against their skin on the lower back, and a camera setup was positioned to capture the test. A maximal speed trial was then executed by each participant, and the data were analysed to estimate agreement between the camera and IMU estimates of skate stroke events. Inter-evaluator reliability was assessed on a dataset of 22 athletes performing speed trials as well. The algorithm detected 100% of the strokes identified on the video capture system with a root mean square error of 0.06s. Bland-Altman analysis showed a bias of 0.03s between the two methods, which corresponds to the frame rate of the camera. The inter-evaluator reliability yielded an intra-class correlation of 1.00 (ICC3,1) from a dataset of 7089 strokes. This study provides an example of on-ice evaluation of speed skating strokes using a single IMU. This equipment is less expensive than that employed by previous authors and can be implemented in training situations with low invasiveness.

Exercise-Induced Troponin Elevation in High-Performance Cross-Country Skiers.

Background: Troponin I and T are biomarkers to diagnose myocardial infarction and damage. Studies indicate that strenuous physical activity can cause transient increases in these troponin levels, typically considered physiological. However, current data show differences in the exercise-induced increase in troponin I and T in elite athletes. Method: This prospective clinical study aimed to determine troponin I and T levels in 36 top cross-country skiers of the German national team (18 male, 18 female) after a standardized competition load over two days. All study participants underwent a comprehensive sports medical and cardiological evaluation, including ECG and echocardiography. A multivariable regression analysis was utilized to identify possible predictors of increased troponin I levels. Results: Only three male athletes (8.1%) showed an isolated increase in Troponin I (Ø 112.49 ng/L, cut off < 45.2 ng/L), while no increase in troponin T in the study population was detected. Conclusions: The analysis suggested several potential predictors for increased troponin I levels, such as height, weight, weekly training hours, and indications of an enlarged sports heart, though none achieved statistical significance. Knowing the different exercise-induced detectability of the various troponins in the clinical setting is essential.

A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis of the Motivational Climate and Hedonic Well-Being Constructs: The Importance of the Athlete Level.

Motivational climate is known to relate to individual behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Hedonic or subjective well-being includes self-assessed positive affect (i.e., pleasant affect, moods, and emotions), negative affect (i.e., unpleasant affect, moods, and emotions), and life or domain-specific satisfaction. The aim of this review was to quantify the relationships between task and ego motivational climate scales and measures representing hedonic well-being with sports participants. Potential moderators of the motivational climate and hedonic well-being were examined. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO ID CRD42023470462, registered 28 October 2023). From five relevant databases, one relevant review, and hand searching, 82 articles totaling 26,378 participants (46.3% female) met the inclusion criteria. The articles spanned publication dates from 1993 to 2023, representing 18 countries, various team and individual sports, and athletes competing in elite (e.g., Olympic) to grassroot (e.g., club sport) competitions. To meta-analyze the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships, the random-effects model was used. For the moderation analyses, the mixed-effects model was used. The task or mastery climate relationships were medium in magnitude with positive affect and satisfaction and small with negative affect. The ego or performance climate relationships were small in magnitude for positive affect, negative affect, and satisfaction. Evidence of bias existed in the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships. For moderation analyses, athlete level (i.e., elite vs. non-elite) moderated (p < 0.05) the task (elite, r = 0.23; non-elite, r = 0.34) and ego motivational climate (elite, r = -0.02; non-elite, r = -0.13) and positive affect and satisfaction combined relationships. In conclusion, the motivational climate and hedonic well-being relationships were stronger for the task climate than for the ego climate. The finding that elite athlete correlations appeared dampened is important for future research. Even with the damped relationships, practitioners, from the Olympics to local clubs, should ensure the promotion of the task climate to maximize positive affect and satisfactions in and around the sport experience.

[Injury prevention in football : A challenge for team doctors and coaching team]. / Verletzungsprävention im Fußball : Herausforderung für Teamärzte und Trainerteam.

High injury rates and long injury-related downtimes demonstrate the need for effective and differentiated injury prevention strategies in football. Preventive measures should take place in various fields and should not be reduced to training programmes or medical approaches. The so-called "Big 6 of injury prevention" provide an overview of the key areas that should be addressed. In modern sports medicine, it should be a matter of course that the team doctor already participates in the primary prevention strategies and does not only get involved in the post-traumatic treatment. Similarly, a decision on a player's return to play after an injury should not be based solely on the medical assessment of the team doctor. Good communication and interdisciplinary cooperation, therefore, form the basis for successful prevention.

Disruptions to sleep and circadian rhythms are associated with poorer athlete mental health in female, but not male, elite Australian Rules footballers.

Elite athletes are vulnerable to sleep and circadian disruption and associated mental health symptoms. This study aimed to investigate sex differences in sleep, circadian rhythms, and mental health, as well as the moderating role of sex in the prediction of mental health, among male professional and female semi-professional elite athletes. Participants were 87 elite Australian Rules football (ARF) athletes (43% female; mean [standard deviation] age 24.0 [4.1] years). Participants completed baseline questionnaires, 2 weeks of sleep/wake monitoring via actigraphy, and a circadian phase assessment (dim-light melatonin onset [DLMO]). Cross-sectional data were collected in training-only Australian Football League (AFL) Men's and Women's pre-season periods, with 53 providing data in two pre-seasons. Female athletes, relative to males, reported poorer mental health (a higher athlete psychological strain score), had a later mid-sleep time (by 28 min), reported a greater preference towards eveningness, and displayed a later circadian phase (by 33 min). For female athletes, lower sleep efficiency and lower sleep regularity were associated with poorer mental health. For female athletes, there were U-shaped relationships between both morningness-eveningness and phase angle (interval between sleep onset and DLMO time) and mental health. No significant relationships were found for male athletes. In summary, elite female ARF athletes reported poorer mental health, relative to males, especially when experiencing sleep or circadian disruption. Lifestyle factors associated with sex differences in ARF professionalism (scheduling, finances, supports) may contribute to these findings. Programmes to improve sleep, circadian alignment, and mental health among female semi-professional elite athletes should be strongly considered.

Effect of the pre-taper level of fatigue on the taper-induced changes in performance in elite swimmers.

Introduction: In swimming, performance gains after tapering could be influenced by the pre-taper level of fatigue. Moreover, this level of fatigue could be associated with sleep. This study aimed to assess (1) the effect of tapering on performance according to the pre-taper level of fatigue in swimmers and (2) the association between sleep and pre-taper level of fatigue. Methods: Physiological, psychological and biomechanical profiles were evaluated in 26 elite swimmers on 2 occasions to estimate the pre-taper level of fatigue: at T0 and T1, scheduled respectively 10 and 3 weeks before the main competition. Sleep quantity and quality were also evaluated at T0 and T1. Race time was officially assessed at T0, T1 and during the main competition. The level of significance was set at p ≤ .05. Results: Fourteen swimmers (17 ± 2 years) were allocated to acute fatigue group (AF) and 12 swimmers (18 ± 2 years) to functional overreaching group (F-OR). From T1 to the main competition, performance was improved in AF (+1.80 ± 1.36%), while it was impaired in F-OR (-0.49 ± 1.58%, p < 0.05 vs. AF). Before taper period, total sleep time was lower in F-OR, as compared to AF. Conversely, the fragmentation index was higher in F-OR (p = .06). From wakefulness to sleep, body core temperature decreased in AF but not in F-OR. Discussion: Performance gain after tapering was higher in AF swimmers than in overreached. Moreover, pre-taper sleep was poorer in overreached swimmers, which could contribute to their different response to the same training load. This poorer sleep could be linked to a lower regulation of internal temperature.