Background: Body mass index (BMI) is widely used as a simple anthropometric indicator, but its functional relevance to physical fitness in physically active populations, such as Physical Education students, remains debated. Aim: This study examined the association between BMI and selected components of physical fitness in Physical Education students, considering sex and country differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate Physical Education students from Poland and Romania (n = 515; mean age: 21.64 ± 1.34 years). BMI was calculated from measured height and body mass and analyzed as both a continuous and categorical variable. Physical fitness was assessed using three Eurofit tests evaluating upper-limb movement speed, trunk muscular endurance, and lower-limb explosive power. Analyses included correlation methods and multiple linear regression models with subgroup analyses, interaction terms, and quadratic BMI terms to assess nonlinearity. Results: Associations between BMI and fitness components were small in magnitude and inconsistent (r = −0.28 to 0.143; β = −1.614 to 0.005) and varied across tests and subgroups. No significant interaction effects by sex or country were observed, as interaction terms were not statistically significant, and no clear nonlinear relationships were identified. Sex and country were significantly associated with performance levels, whereas BMI contributed only marginally to explaining variability (ΔR2 = 0.005–0.011). Conclusions: BMI showed limited and inconsistent associations with the assessed fitness components in this relatively homogeneous group of Physical Education students. It should be interpreted cautiously as a functional indicator and complemented with more precise measures of body composition and physical fitness.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study is to objectively evaluate the effects of a six-week intermittent hypoxic–hyperoxic exposure program on blood pressure, respiratory function, cardiac autonomic nervous activity and C Reactive Protein levels in older adults. Materials and Methods: A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on twenty-two older adults. Heart rate variability, respiratory function, blood pressure, C Reactive Protein levels and oxygen saturation were measured at two time points: baseline and after 6 weeks of treatment. Results: The maximal inspiratory pressure variable increased significantly in the EG (+7.50 ± 1.72 cmH2O, p < 0.01, ES = 1.17), while no changes were observed in the CG. The LF/HF variable decreased significantly in the EG (−1.23 ± 0.34 n.u, p < 0.01, ES = 1.11), with no significant changes in the CG. The C Reactive Protein variable decreased significantly in the EG (−7.00 ± 3.07 mg/L, p < 0.01, ES = 1.4), with no significant changes in the CG. Conclusions: Six weeks of intermittent hypoxic–hyperoxic exposure was associated with trends toward improvements in blood pressure, respiratory function, cardiac autonomic nervous activity, and C Reactive Protein levels, compared with a placebo application of the same therapy.

Background: Physical inactivity during adolescence remains a major public health concern, yet its multifactorial determinants are not fully understood in low- and middle-income settings. Objective: To identify and quantify the determinants of physical activity (PA) among Brazilian adolescents using a hierarchical logistic regression model that reflects the theoretical ordering of distal to proximal factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 856 adolescents (13–19 years). Data were obtained from the validated Brazilian Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (ABEP) socioeconomic questionnaire. PA was dichotomized according to World Health Organization recommendations. Hierarchical logistic regression examined five theoretical blocks: sociodemographic, anthropometric, substance use, weight/diet, and sedentary behavior. Results: Overall, 5 out of 17 predictors were significant in the full model. extended Body mass index (eBMI) was negatively associated with physical activity (OR = 0.331, 95% CI: 0.169–0.647, p = 0.001), while body mass was positively associated (OR = 2.078, 95% CI: 1.045–4.135, p = 0.037). Working status (OR = 1.235, 95% CI: 1.035–1.475, p = 0.019) and weight loss attempts (OR = 1.327, 95% CI: 1.042–1.690, p = 0.022) increased the odds of being active, whereas current smoking reduced it (OR = 0.715, 95% CI: 0.517–0.990, p = 0.043). Model discrimination improved progressively (AUC = 0.577 to 0.692). Conclusions: Physical activity among Brazilian adolescents was primarily influenced by behavioral and perceptual rather than demographic factors. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions promoting muscle development, body positivity, and smoking prevention.

Volleyball physical performance relies on the interaction between mechanical power, metabolic efficiency, and ventilatory regulation during repeated high-intensity actions. This study examined mechanical and cardiopulmonary responses during three consecutive 15 s countermovement jump bouts in female volleyball players, using simultaneous cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Eighteen female athletes (18–28 years) completed the protocol with 60 s active recovery between efforts. Mechanical performance showed a progressive decline (p < 0.01), with jump height decreasing from 20.59 ± 3.04 cm to 19.30 ± 3.23 cm and power output from 15.80 ± 2.61 to 14.83 ± 2.25 W/kg (p = 0.001). Oxygen uptake (VO2) increased from 16.40 ± 6.73 to 20.87 ± 6.08 mL/min/kg (p = 0.002), while respiratory exchange ratio (RER) rose above 1.0, suggesting a growing anaerobic contribution. VE/VO2 and PetO2 also increased significantly (p < 0.001), indicating ventilatory adjustment to metabolic stress. Despite these adaptations, recovery between efforts appeared incomplete, reflected by persistent ventilatory and metabolic activation. These findings suggest moderate oxidative efficiency and partial fatigue compensation under short recovery conditions. The testing model may serve as a practical approach to evaluate the interplay between mechanical and metabolic performance and to refine individualized conditioning strategies in volleyball players.

This study aimed to examine the effects of eight weeks of repeated backward sprint training (RBST) versus repeated forward sprint training (RFST) on physical fitness measures. Twenty-three postpubertal male basketball players (mean age = 15 years) were randomly assigned to either an RBST group (n = 12) or an RFST group (n = 11). Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured 5-, 10-, and 20 m sprint performance, Y-agility, 505 change of direction (CoD) speed, countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (SLJ), and RSA (RSA best time [RSAbest] and RSA mean time [RSAmean]). The RBST group significantly improved in all measures (p < 0.05; 6.11 to 19.25%; Effect size [ES] = 0.32 to 1.05) except RSAbest. The RFST group significantly improved 10 m sprint, SLJ, RSAbest, and RSAmean (p < 0.05; 6.25 to 17.84%; ES = 0.05 to 0.80). Between-group analysis revealed that RBST outperformed RFST in Y-agility and SLJ (p < 0.05; ES = −1.03 and 0.16, respectively). RBST was more effective for improving agility and lower-body power, while RFST provided a slight advantage in peak RSA. These findings suggest that incorporating task-specific sprint training may optimize physical performance in male youth basketball players.

We examined the acute effects of flywheel eccentric overload (FEO) on countermovement jumps (CMJs), changes of direction (COD), and isometric mid-thigh pulls (IMTPs) in top-level team sports athletes (three females and seven males). FEO was carried out by performing 3 × 6 reps with 0.025 kg·m2 inertia and a 2 min passive rest period. Its post-activation potentiation was compared to a control warm-up. Performance was tested at 0, 3, and 6 min post-intervention. Significant improvements were reported in the COD5m times for the left (F = 8.38, p < 0.001, ES = 1.92) and right legs (F = 11.3, p < 0.001, ES = 2.24), as well as for CMJ height (F = 12.4, p < 0.001, ES = 2.35). Significant differences were observed in COD5m between baseline and 3 min (p < 0.001, ES = 0.99 and p = 0.003, ES = 1.25) and 6 min (p = 0.04, ES = 1.19 and p < 0.001, ES = 1.09) for the left and right legs, respectively. Jump height increased significantly at 3 min (p < 0.001, ES = 1.62) and remained elevated at 6 min (p < 0.001, ES = 1.02). CMJ peak power (CMJPP) decreased significantly (F = 6.4, p = 0.002, ES = 1.68), with a drop at 0 min (p = 0.024, ES = 0.85) and a return to baseline at 3 min (p = 0.002, ES = 1.35). No significant effects were found for the CMJ eccentric rate of force development (CMJRFDecc) or IMTP. It was found that FEO can acutely enhance jumping and changes of direction but not strength in elite team sports athletes. A three-minute rest appears to maximize these effects.

In the original publication [...].

Background: Ice hockey is a high-intensity collision sport with one of the highest injury rates among youth team sports. Despite advanced protective equipment, youth athletes remain particularly vulnerable due to their unique physiological and psychological characteristics. Objective: This narrative review aims to synthesise the current evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies for common sports injuries in youth ice hockey players. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for publications between August 2015 and August 2025 using an iterative process and manual reference screening to identify relevant studies. Result: The evidence indicates that injury rates are notably high, ranging from 11.7 to 34.4 per 1000 athlete-hours. Concussions and upper/lower limb injuries are most prevalent. Body checking is the most significant modifiable risk factor associated with a threefold increase in concussion incidence. Policy interventions prohibiting body checking have demonstrated substantial benefits, leading to a 50–70% reduction in injury rates and a 57–60% reduction in concussions. Furthermore, the use of full-face protection was associated with a fourfold reduction in the risk of facial and dental injuries. Specialised preparatory activities and neuromuscular training, as well as comprehensive safety and rules training for players and coaches, can reduce the risk of injury in youth hockey players. Conclusion: This review underscores that effective injury prevention in youth ice hockey requires multi-faceted strategies focused on policy changes and proper equipment. Future work should focus on developing personalised prevention models, establishing youth-specific equipment standards, and enhancing safety awareness.

Jumping exercises are widely applied in sport performance and conditioning due to their crucial role in enhancing neuromuscular function and lower-limb power. Acute effects related to contractile properties measured by tensiomyography (TMG) remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the acute effects of two jump types—bilateral countermovement jumps (CMJs) and stiffness jumps (STs)—on the contractile properties of the vastus medialis (VM) and medial gastrocnemius (GM) muscles. Twenty-nine kinesiology students (fourteen males, fifteen females; age 19.4 ± 0.7 years) performed CMJ and ST protocols in a randomized order. Muscle contractile characteristics were measured before and immediately after each protocol and analyzed using a mixed-model repeated-measures ANOVA. Significant pre–post changes were found in both muscles. In the VM, contraction (Tc) and delay (Td) times decreased (p < 0.01), indicating faster responses, whereas relaxation time (Tr) increased and sustain time (Ts) decreased (p < 0.05), suggesting temporary fatigue. Maximal displacement (Dm) increased (p < 0.01), indicating reduced stiffness. In contrast, the GM showed greater responsiveness after stiffness jumps, characterized by shorter Tc and Td (p < 0.01), and reduced endurance after CMJs. These findings highlight muscle specific neuromuscular adaptations and provide practical insights for optimizing warm-up, training, and rehabilitation protocols through targeted jump selection.

Pull-ups are a widely recognized exercise for training and assessing upper-body strength and muscular endurance, requiring coordinated activation of the latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, forearm flexors, and core stabilizers. However, many individuals experience difficulty performing pull-ups due to inadequate grip strength or core stability. This study aimed to investigate the comparative effects of forearm-specific and core-specific training, combined with standardized pull-up routines, on upper-body performance indicators in physically inactive male students. Thirty participants (age = 21 ± 1.58 years) were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10): pull-up plus interval training (PIT), pull-up plus forearm training (PFT), and pull-up plus core training (PCT). All groups performed identical pull-up-based programs for eight weeks, differing only in the supplemental exercises. Before and after the intervention, participants were tested for maximum pull-up repetitions, grip strength (both hands), and dead-hanging time. Significant improvements were found in all variables (p ≤ 0.009), with group differences in pull-up repetitions (p < 0.001) and right-hand grip strength (p = 0.004). The PFT group achieved the greatest gains, with a 222.5% increase in repetitions, 12% and 14.0% increases in right- and left-hand grip strength, and a 55.3% increase in hanging time. The PCT group showed moderate progress, while PIT yielded the smallest improvement. Forearm-specific training proved the most effective strategy for enhancing pull-up performance, grip strength, and endurance.