ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

This study tested whether applying a menthol gel to the skin helps recreational runners feel cooler and perform better when exercising in hot conditions. Researchers compared a menthol gel to a placebo gel on 37 healthy adult runners during 5-kilometer runs. They measured how the…

This small study tested if chewing caffeinated gum could help female volleyball players jump higher. Ten athletes chewed either caffeinated gum or a fake version and then performed jump tests. The caffeine gum improved one specific type of jump, but not others, suggesting a possi…

This study tested whether adding salt therapy (halotherapy) to regular preseason training could help elite female soccer players breathe better and run longer. Twenty-eight players either did their normal training or added salt-air breathing sessions three times a week for 12 wee…

This small study tested whether taking a beetroot extract supplement for three days could improve athletic performance in rugby players. Ten trained athletes from local clubs took either the supplement or a placebo. Researchers measured their speed, strength, and feelings of fati…

This study tested whether adding a special 8-week training program could help young female football players run faster, jump higher, and build stronger hamstring muscles. Thirty-seven players were split into two groups: one did the new training with a resistance device, while the…

This study tested whether taking cold water baths helps college athletes recover better from intense training. Seventy-five UCLA volleyball, football, and cross-country athletes tried two weeks of cold plunges after practice and two weeks without. Researchers tracked their sleep,…

This study looked at whether taking a slow-digesting protein called casein before bed or right after a workout is better for helping athletes recover. Researchers tested 24 trained football players, comparing their performance in jumps, sprints, and agility tests after taking the…

This study tested whether using a massage gun on the back of the thigh muscles could improve flexibility, balance, and jumping ability. It involved 60 teenage boys, including active football players and those who are not physically active. Researchers measured these abilities bef…

This study tested whether a daily probiotic milk drink could help reduce cold-like symptoms in triathletes around competition time. Eighty healthy adult triathletes were randomly assigned to drink either the probiotic beverage or a placebo daily for several weeks before and after…

This study aimed to see if a short, intense exercise could improve volleyball players' jumping ability several hours later. Researchers compared a specific high-intensity exercise to a standard warm-up in 14 highly trained male players. They measured jump height, muscle stiffness…

This study tested whether short daytime naps could help young soccer players perform better and feel less tired. Sixteen healthy teen players tried taking no nap, a 25-minute nap, or a 45-minute nap before doing agility and sprint tests. The researchers found that napping improve…

This study compared two different ways to measure how hard young soccer players work during training and games. Researchers tracked 27 male players under age 23 for a full season using GPS devices to see if measuring movements based on each player's personal maximum effort gives …

This study aimed to see if drinking whey protein shakes after training for two months changed the levels of important minerals in the blood of elite male track-and-field athletes. Researchers compared a group taking the protein supplement to a group that did not. The goal was to …

This study looked at how intense training affects both fitness and specific blood markers in elite kickboxers. Forty athletes were split into two groups: one followed a special conditioning program for eight weeks, while the other kept their normal routine. Researchers measured f…

This study looked at whether adding high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to regular practice could improve fitness in young female hockey players. For 8 weeks, half the players did extra HIIT workouts, while the other half stuck to their normal training. The HIIT group got bet…

This study tested whether a newer, 'smarter' strength training method works as well as traditional training for young soccer players. Researchers compared two versions of velocity-based training (which stops sets when speed drops) against traditional training (lifting until failu…

This study checked whether chewing caffeine or nicotine gum right before exercise affects balance in trained athletes. Twenty healthy, active adults tried four different conditions: caffeine gum, nicotine gum, a placebo gum, and no gum at all. Researchers measured their balance o…

This study tested whether teaching parents about sports nutrition could improve the body composition and athletic performance of their children. Researchers gave a 4-week online nutrition course to parents of 30 young basketball players aged 8-13. They measured the athletes' musc…

This study compared two ways of lifting weights to see which is better for improving athletic performance. Twenty male university athletes were split into two groups: one used a high-tech method that tracks lifting speed, while the other used a traditional method based on a perce…

This study aimed to understand how tiring out the calf muscle affects its springiness and a person's ability to jump high. Researchers measured 28 healthy young adults' calf muscle stiffness and their vertical jump height before a calf-raise exercise, right after, and again 24 ho…

This study tested whether adding a special thinking program to regular volleyball practice could help players make better decisions during games. It involved 24 male university volleyball players in Colombia. One group did their normal training plus a 4-week program with guided d…

This study aimed to understand how repeated ankle sprains and instability affect athletes' performance. Researchers compared 16 athletes with chronic ankle instability to 16 healthy athletes, measuring their jumping height, power, and agility. The results showed that athletes wit…

This study tested whether adding elastic band resistance to jump training helps young male soccer players jump higher than traditional training. Thirty-three players aged 14-15 were split into three groups: elastic band training, traditional jump training, or no special training.…

This study tested whether a four-week mental training program could improve motivation in athletes. Fifty university athletes were split into two groups: one received training in skills like goal-setting and relaxation, while the other did not. Researchers measured their motivati…

This study aimed to understand if an athlete's foot type (neutral, flat, or high-arched) affects their balance on one leg, which is crucial for judo. Researchers measured the feet and tested the balance of 45 judo athletes during a single session. The goal was to gather informati…

This study tested whether a special training program focused on critical thinking could help university futsal players improve their tactical skills and decision-making during games. Thirteen players participated in the program, which used game-like situations and group discussio…

This study tested whether adding an 8-week jump training program to regular basketball practice improves athletic performance. Researchers measured 24 young male players to see if exercises like box jumps and bounds could make them sprint faster, change direction quicker, and jum…

This study aimed to understand if a tennis player's core muscle endurance and flexibility are linked to their on-court performance. Researchers measured 38 elite adolescent players' flexibility, core strength, speed, agility, and power. The goal was to gather information that cou…

This study tested a 10-week specialized workout program for elite Chinese korfball players. The program combined heavy lifting with explosive jumps to see if it could improve players' strength, balance, and shooting accuracy. Researchers measured 24 national team athletes before …