Development and validation of a new simulator of running impacts.

Understanding the mechanics of impacts during human locomotion is a current challenge for injury prevention, quantification of training loads and equipment design. The present study aimed to validate a new ergometer able to reproduce and measure impacts experienced during human locomotion, after a frequency-domain decomposition. An ergometer was designed as a physical pendulum equipped with a weighted force plate released from a given angle and subjected to gravitational acceleration until it contacts, at its lowest point, the foot of the participant lying supine.

The Dose-Response Relationship of Exercise-Based Injury Prevention Programmes: Implications for Research and Practice.

Exercise-based injury prevention programmes (EIPPs) need a certain period of consistent practice to achieve the expected efficacy. Therefore, as with many other biomedical interventions, EIPPs can be characterised by a dose-response relationship. In this Current Opinion, we aim to present the concept of the dose-response relationship and explore the research and clinical implications stemming from it.

The Role of Muscle Mass in Endurance Performance and Neuromuscular Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Numerous physiological factors can contribute to endurance performance. Among them, active muscle mass engaged in an exercise task has been postulated to alter fatigue.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of active muscle mass on endurance performance and neuromuscular fatigue.

The Lived Experience of Pediatric Gene Therapy Clinical Trial in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Exploring Perceptions of Parents and Professionals Using Social Representation Method.

In recent decades, medical and scientific advances have led to the development of new therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), including gene therapy (GT), which is currently being evaluated. Recruiting enough children in clinical trials remains a challenge, depending on parental decisions. Numerous studies have already been carried out to understand these decision-making factors.

Concurrent assessment of sprint running lower-limb and trunk kinematics using marker-based and markerless motion capture.

Reliable and accurate sprint kinematics assessment is of utmost interest for both performance and prevention purposes. To guide field practice, new technologies must be tested against optical motion capture references. We compared markerless motion capture (ML)(Theia Markerless) to the reference method, marker-based motion capture (MB)(CORTEX).

Kinetic keys to alpine skiing performance: A 3-D analysis of ground reaction forces and torques.

Alpine skiing performance hinges on the dynamic interaction between the skier and the ski-snow interface. Ground reaction forces are fundamental in controlling these interactions, yet surprisingly little research exists characterising 3-D turn kinetics. This study aimed to profile the evolution of ground reaction forces and torques signatures applied by skiers during turning and explore their link with giant slalom performance.

Relationship Between Patients' Self-Reported Injury Mechanism and MRI Outcomes in Hamstring Muscle Injury: A Prospective Cohort Study on 71 Patients.

Background: Hamstring muscle injury (HMI) is the most common injury in sports that require sprints and accelerations. Different HMI subtypes have been described according to the muscle, location, tissue, and severity of the injury. It is of interest to determine whether these subtypes are related to a particular clinical injury mechanism.

An innovative cardiac rehabilitation based on the power-force-velocity profile to further improve cardiorespiratory capacities in coronary artery disease patients: CITIUS study.

Aims: Individually optimizing the training programme of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) remains a major concern among coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. The power-force-velocity profile (PFVP) for a given task is usually assessed to improve performance in athletes through individualized training. Therefore, assessing PFVP on stationary cycle ergometer may allow better personalization of CR programme.

Neuronal dynamics of slow and fast-motion motor imagery.

Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive process requiring mental simulation of physical actions, engaging neural networks that overlap with those activated during actual execution. This study investigated the neural correlates of slow and fast MI in ten healthy adolescent athletes instructed to mentally simulate a soccer dribbling task at low and high speeds. Brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography, focusing on alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (18-28 Hz) wave frequencies.

Volume-Equated High-Load Resisted Sprint Training: Determining the Longitudinal Effects of Varying Distance and Repetitions on Acceleration Performance in Rugby Players.

Botter, A, Cross, MR, Da Lozzo, G, Floreani, M, Samozino, P, Morin, J-B, and Rejc, E. Volume-equated high-load resisted-sprint training: determining the longitudinal effects of varying distance and repetitions on acceleration performance in rugby players. J Strength Cond Res 39(8): 823-828, 2025-Understanding how to precisely program resisted sprinting to enhance sprint phase-based adaptations is an important yet underexplored topic.

Muscle regeneration is improved by hot water immersion but unchanged by cold following a simulated musculoskeletal injury in humans.

Cryotherapy is a popular strategy for the treatment of skeletal muscle injuries. However, its effect on post-injury human muscle regeneration remains unclear. In contrast, promising results recently emerged using heat therapy to facilitate recovery from muscle injury.

Beneficial effects of reduced soft tissue vibrations with compression garments on delayed neuromuscular impairments induced by an exhaustive downhill run.

Introduction: Soft tissue vibrations (STV) have been extensively researched for their effects on muscle fatigue and damage, but their influence during running remains unclear. As compression garments are known to lower STV, they have shown benefits on acute neuromuscular responses to downhill running. However, an in-depth analysis of changes in STV has never been proposed, and previous protocols did not overcome the repeated bout effect.

Effect of tibialis anterior focal muscle vibration for gait rehabilitation in hemiplegic individuals during the subacute phase after stroke: the NEUROVIB-AVC study protocol - a multicentric randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Gait recovery remains one of the most determining factors in social participation for poststroke individuals, in whom ankle dorsiflexor function is closely related to gait speed. Focal muscle vibration has shown promising neurophysiological and clinical effects in neuromotor recovery. However, it remains to be determined whether tibialis anterior focal muscle vibration applied to the paretic limb could improve walking speed when implemented in early rehabilitation after stroke occurrence.

Velocity-based training in mid- and late-stage rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a narrative review and practical guidelines.

Resistance training is critical for strength development and physical recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Traditional percentage-based training (PBT) methods, which often focus on maximal strength and training to failure, are not able to objectify rapid force development. Velocity-based training (VBT), using movement velocity as a metric for training intensity, offers a promising alternative.

Validation of a Composite Outcome Score for Assessing Return to Sports After Achilles Tendon Repair.

Background: The Ankle-GO is a composite outcome score based on 4 functional tests and 2 patient-reported outcome measures. It was initially described and validated for its ability to predict return to sports (RTS) at the same level of play after lateral ankle sprains.

Purpose/hypothesis: The main aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Ankle-GO in patients after Achilles tendon repair.

International Ski and Snowboard Federation consensus statement on warm-up and cool-down in competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders.

In diverse sports, warm-up (WUP) and cool-down (CD) activities are highly effective at improving performance-relevant factors and reducing the risk of injury when applied systematically; however, scientific evidence is widely lacking in snow sports. Similarly, there is a lack of international harmonisation with current best practices; this especially applies to prevention efforts targeting younger athletes. This International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) consensus statement aims to develop and promote recommendations regarding physical and psychological WUP&CD in competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders.

Criteria-Based Decision Making for Introducing Open Kinetic Chain Exercise after-ACL Reconstruction: A Scoping Review.

Background: After an anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), mounting evidence suggests that open kinetic chain (OKC) strengthening is safe, reduces the risk of anterior knee pain, and significantly improves the quadriceps strength. However, clinicians are reluctant to use OKC knee strengthening exercises mainly due to the strong beliefs that they might increase graft laxity. The objective of this scoping review is to identify the key criteria employed in the scientific literature for the safe introduction of OKC quadriceps strengthening following ACLR.

Case Report: Monitoring neuromuscular fatigue through jump performance over two seasons in a cerebral palsy sprinter.

Introduction: World Para Athletics classifies athletes with brain injury, cerebral palsy, and motor coordination impairments into Group Class 31 to 38. Para athletes who can run and jump but are affected by impairments such as athetosis, ataxia, and dystonia, which impact all four limbs and the trunk, are categorized as Class T36. Monitoring training load and performance is essential for guiding training programs and preventing injuries in this population.

Vertical jump performance in recreational runners with visual impairment: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Runners with visual impairment (VI) may show changes in jump technique due to momentary loss of spatial reference specifically related to the base of support on the ground and rapid postural adjustment. The vertical jump performance and the analysis of the technique can provide information about the neuromuscular characteristics of the runners with VI, motor control and training strategies.

Objective: Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between vertical jump performance and lower limb joint angles in recreational runners with VI.

How Does Push-Off Distance Influence Force-Velocity Profile and Performance During Vertical Jumping?

In many sports, practitioners must reach their maximal jump height (hmax) under time constraints. This requires a reduction of the countermovement depth and so of the push-off distance (hPO). The purpose of this study was to investigate how hPO influences force-velocity (F-v) profiles (F¯0, v¯0, P¯max, and SFv) and performance.

Indicators of Return to Sports at Preinjury Levels Following Surgery for Chronic Ankle Instability: Comparison of ALR-RSI, AOFAS, and Karlsson Scores.

Background: While there are several scales for measuring patients' outcomes after chronic ankle instability (CAI) surgery, a study comparing the predictive ability of these scores with regard to return to sports (RTS) at the preinjury level is lacking.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to compare the Ankle Ligament Reconstruction-Return to Sport After Injury (ALR-RSI), American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and Karlsson scores in predicting 2-year RTS outcomes after arthroscopic treatment of CAI. It was hypothesized that ALR-RSI would be superior in predicting 2-year RTS outcomes after CAI surgery and that a quantifiable increase in this score would significantly improve RTS outcomes.

Relationship Between the Pain Intensity at the Time of the Hamstring Muscle Injury and the Hyperintense T2 Weighted Volume of the Hamstring Muscle Lesion Measured by MRI.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to analyze the correlation between the pain experienced at the time of a hamstring muscle injury and the hyperintense T2 weighted volume of the lesion measured on MRI. The secondary objectives were to analyze the differences in this pain with the lesion grade and the hamstring muscle head involved.

Design: We performed a retrospective analysis of the data collected in a prospective, multicenter, noninterventional cohort study (HAMMER).

Fatigue-induced changes in electromyographic activity after repeated racing turns: a pilot study.

Purpose: Alpine skiing races are physically demanding events characterized by numerous repeated near-maximal activations of the lower limb muscles. Although this type of task is known to induce neuromuscular fatigue, electromyographic activity (EMG) adaptations after repeated maximal-intensity skiing have not been previously investigated.

Methods: Six skiers completed a 6-turns section with (FAT) and without performing 30 giant slalom (GS) turns (CONT).