China Institute of Sport Science

Background An increasing number of studies have explored the effects of exercise on pain, fatigue, and quality of life (QOL) in fibromyalgia patients, yet the available results remain inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the effects of exercise on pain, fatigue, and QOL in fibromyalgia patients. Methods A comprehensive literature search, restricted to studies published up to 30 July 2025, was conducted across five databases: Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. The search utilized the following keywords: exercise, fibromyalgia, pain, fatigue, and quality of life. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval. Results Twenty-four studies were included in this meta-analysis. Exercise had a positive effect on alleviating pain (SMD, −0.77; p < 0.00001), fatigue (SMD, −0.39; p = 0.03), and QOL (SMD, 0.53; p < 0.00001) in fibromyalgia patients. Subgroup analyses showed that aerobic exercise (SMD, −0.83; p = 0.0002) conducted for ≥8 weeks (SMD, −0.73; p = 0.006), <3 times per week (SMD, −1.12; p = 0.0009), 60–90 min per session (SMD, −1.35; p = 0.0001), and <180 min per week (SMD, −0.96; p = 0.001) were more effective in alleviating pain. Conclusion Exercise significantly improved pain, fatigue, and QOL in fibromyalgia patients. To alleviate pain, fibromyalgia patients are recommended to engage in aerobic exercise for at least 8 weeks, 60–90 min per session, twice weekly, without exceeding 180 min weekly. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023493753 .

Plyometric training (PT) is widely recognized as an effective method for enhancing physical fitness and motor competence. PT in different directions will also bring different returns. However, its effects on physical fitness in untrained adolescents, especially specific age group, remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the effects of vertical versus horizontal plyometric training on physical fitness in adolescent boys aged 13–14 years. One hundred untrained boys aged 13–14 years were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three groups: the vertical plyometric training group (VPT), the horizontal plyometric training group (HPT), and the control group (CG). The experimental period lasted 8 weeks and comprised 16 training sessions. Participants in VPT and HPT completed plyometric training twice per week with identical training volumes. Height, body mass, vertical jump, standing long jump, 50-m sprint, T-test, 1000-m run, and a 4-minute skipping test were measured before and after the experiment. Both vertical and horizontal plyometric training (VPT, HPT) significantly improved all performance indicators (P < 0.01), whereas the control group showed only minor gains in standing long jump and 50m sprint. Group differences between VPT and HPT were significant for standing long jump (Cohen’s d = -1.055, P < 0.001), 50-meter sprint (Cohen’s d = 0.251, P = 0.005), and T-test (Cohen’s d = 0.722, P = 0.007). These findings suggest that practitioners should recognize the benefits of plyometric training (PT) for untrained boys aged 13–14 years. Horizontal PT (HPT) yields improvements comparable to vertical PT (VPT) in vertical jump and endurance performance, but HPT is superior for standing long jump, 50-m sprint, and change-of-direction ability. Future research should examine combined protocols across different ages and sexes to better understand how PT influences the development of motor competence.

Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants with significant bioaccumulation potential, posing a growing threat to global health through multi-organ toxicity. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on MPs-induced organ-specific damage and its systemic health implications. We detail the accumulation of MPs in major organ systems, including the liver, brain, lungs, kidneys, intestines, heart, and reproductive organs. Furthermore, we emphasize the critical role of inter-organ communication in amplifying toxicity, such as gut-liver axis-mediated hepatotoxicity and gut-brain axis-driven neurotoxicity. Emerging evidence on the transgenerational adverse effects of parental MPs exposure is also discussed. The core cellular and molecular mechanisms across these organs are examined, with a particular focus on oxidative stress, inflammatory activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and programmed cell death. This review is distinct in its integrative approach, offering a novel perspective by synthesizing organ-specific pathologies with cross-organ communication networks and transgenerational effects, thereby providing a more holistic understanding of MPs' systemic toxicity. Collectively, this review elucidates the exposure-organ damage correlation, analyzes the underlying pathogenic mechanisms, and aims to provide a scientific foundation for public health risk assessment and informed environmental policy formulation.

The present study aimed to explore the acute effects of a novel preloading strategy on squat jump (SJ) kinetics and kinematics from 0 to 50% body mass. Twenty-one male college athletes (mean ± SD: age = 23.29 ± 3.15 yrs, body mass = 75.50 ± 6.20 kg, body height = 178.07 ± 6.45 cm and body fat content = 13.71 ± 5.45%) completed three different jump tasks across two testing sessions: a SJ, a preloaded SJ (10-50% body mass) and a countermovement jump (CMJ). Applying preloading before the SJ resulted in significant, trivial to small increases in jump height (F(5,15) = 3.76 , p = 0.01, η2 = 0.16). However, there was no significant effect of preloading on peak power, peak force and peak velocity. The maximum peak power (5128.28 ± 459.38 W vs. 5047.97 ± 447.67 W, p = 0.04; g = 0.17) and maximum peak force (1810.72 ± 150.35 N vs. 1775.50 ± 155.54 N, p = 0.03; g = 0.25) were reached at the load of 20% body mass, which was significantly higher than in the SJ with no preloading applied. Jump height, peak force and peak velocity in the 10-50% body mass preloading SJ tests were not significantly different from those in the CMJ. Preloading before a SJ results in meaningful improvements in jump performance, particularly in peak power. Athletes in sports requiring high jump performance can use preloading SJ strategies to enhance lower limb explosive power and jump height.

This paper offers a comprehensive reflection on two decades of psychological services provided to Chinese Olympic teams, spanning from the 2004 Athens Olympics to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Grounded in the socio-cultural context of the Whole-Nation Sports System and Chinese cultural traditions, these services have undergone significant evolution in both structure and practice. The analysis highlights how the decisive variables (i.e. institutional frameworks and cultural values) have remarkably affect the provision of services. Drawing from the extensive applied experience of the authors – many of whom were involved in multiple Olympic Games – the paper presents a seven-dimensional framework for understanding this development, covering foundational systems, operational mechanisms, professional training, evaluation strategies, future prospects, applied cases, and mental health services. Looking forward, the development of Chinese Olympic psychological services is projected to follow three core trajectories: enhanced professionalism, strengthened accountability, and deeper cultural competence. These trends reflect both a response to global advances in sport psychology and the continued influence of China’s unique institutional and cultural environment. The authors argue that the evolving integration of localised theory, technological innovation, and evidence-based practice provides a sustainable path for the future of elite athlete psychological support in China.

Decreased skeletal muscle mass and function are a serious complication of long-term diabetes, often leading to numerous adverse outcomes. The primary pathological features of diabetic sarcopenia include muscle fiber atrophy and interstitial fibrosis. Although resistance exercise (RE) has been reported to mitigate skeletal muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an exercise-induced cytokine, has been shown to protect against skeletal muscle atrophy at elevated levels. In this study, a T2DM mouse model was established through 12 weeks of high-fat diet feeding and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) to investigate the effect and mechanism of RE on skeletal muscle atrophy in T2DM mice. Our results demonstrated that 8 weeks of RE significantly decreased body weight, fat mass, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and serum insulin levels in T2DM mice. RE also improved lean mass, glucose tolerance (IPGTT), and insulin tolerance (ITT). Additionally, RE increased skeletal muscle mass cross-sectional area (CSA) while attenuating fibrosis and inflammatory responses in skeletal muscle. Notably, RE upregulated FGF21 expression and activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in diabetic skeletal muscle. RE promoted the phosphorylation of mTOR, 4EBP1, and p70S6K while suppressing the expression of the atrophy-related E3 ubiquitin ligases MuRF1 and MAFbx/Atrogin-1. Furthermore, RE inhibited lipid synthesis and enhanced both lipid oxidation and glucose utilization in skeletal muscle of T2DM mice. RE also improved mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics in skeletal muscle of T2DM mice. In summary, 8 weeks of RE alleviated skeletal muscle atrophy in T2DM mice via activation of the FGF21/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which enhanced protein synthesis, improved glycolipid metabolism and mitochondrial quality control, and attenuated fibrosis and inflammation.

Abstract Background : Obesity is a major modifiable risk factor for hypertension, yet the predictive performance of various anthropometric indices differs across populations. Macao lacks population-based evidence on which obesity measures best identify individuals at risk of hypertension. Methods: Data were obtained from four waves of the Macao SAR Physical Fitness Surveillance (2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020), comprising 14,288 adults aged 20–59 years. Seven obesity indices—body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body roundness index (BRI), a body shape index (ABSI), and conicity index (CI)—were analyzed. Logistic regression models estimated associations with hypertension after adjustment for confounders. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the Youden index were used to assess predictive performance and identify optimal cutoffs. Results: WC exhibited the strongest associations with hypertension, with adjusted odds ratios (OR) of 1.89 (95% CI: 1.79–2.00), respectively. Among women, the predictive ability (AUC up to 0.748) exceeded that in men (AUC up to 0.689). WHtR and BRI achieved the highest discriminative accuracy in both sexes. The optimal WHtR cutoff for hypertension was 0.4941 in men and 0.4814 in women—lower than WHO-recommended global thresholds. The impact of central obesity was especially pronounced among younger women. Conclusions: WC and WHtR outperform BMI and novel indices in identifying hypertension risk among Macao adults. The findings support adopting locally optimized WC and WHtR thresholds for early hypertension screening, particularly in younger women. Integrating these simple indicators into community health programs could enhance prevention and early detection strategies for hypertension in Asian populations.

BackgroundPostural control integrates core stability, coordination, and balance shaped by specific training. Sprinting emphasizes stretch–shortening-cycle power and trunk extensor use, whereas Chinese martial arts stress multi-planar core-hip control. Yet rigorous comparisons in elite athletes that pair functional performance with time-synchronized surface electromyography are scarce, limiting insight into how long-term training sculpts neuromuscular strategies when fundamental movement capacity appears similar. This study compares elite martial artists and sprinters to delineate differences in core stability, dynamic balance, explosive power, and task-specific muscle activation, informing conditioning and cross-training. Thirty-two first-level male athletes from Beijing Sport University (martial arts/sprinting, n = 16) participated in a cross-sectional study. Assessments included the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), Countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), and Y-Balance Test (YBT), administered in a Latin-square order. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) was collected from eight trunk and lower-limb muscles, normalized to maximum voluntary contraction. Jumps were segmented into pre-squat and extension phases, and YBT into squat and recovery phases. Statistical analyses employed normality and homogeneity tests, with independent-samples t-tests, Welch’s tests, or Mann–Whitney U tests as appropriate (α = 0.05).ResultsNo significant group differences emerged in overall FMS or YBT reach distances; however, martial artists scored higher on the Trunk Stability Push-up (p = 0.013). Sprinters achieved greater CMJ height and relative peak power (p < 0.05, d ≈ 0.83–0.87), whereas SJ outcomes did not differ. sEMG analysis showed higher rectus femoris and lateral gastrocnemius RMS and greater rectus abdominis iEMG (pre-squat) in martial artists, while sprinters exhibited higher erector spinae and gluteus maximus iEMG. During YBT, sprinters relied on rapid spinal extensor activation with partial gluteus medius compensation, whereas martial artists demonstrated integrated core–lower-limb coordination.ConclusionMartial artists and sprinters exhibit comparable functional movement and dynamic balance but diverge in core stability and neuromuscular strategies. Martial arts training enhances multiplanar core stability and coordinated muscle recruitment, while sprinting emphasizes stretch–shortening-cycle based explosive output and trunk extensor reliance. These findings provide evidence for targeted conditioning and potential crossdisciplinary training applications.