This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effects of fruit supplements on indices of muscle damage and physical performance measures following muscle-damaging exercise protocols. The PEDro scale and Cochrane's risk of bias tool was used to critically appraise each study, whilst forest plots were generated to report on standardised mean differences (SMD) and p-values. The studies employed a crossover-randomised design, or a randomised controlled placebo design, with measures compared between the supplement (SUPP) and placebo (PLA) conditions at 24 and 48 h following the muscledamaging exercise protocols. Compared to the PLA condition, the SUPP condition exhibited significantly lower levels of indirect muscle damage markers (p = 0.02; I 2 = 44%), inflammatory markers (p = 0.03; I 2 = 45%) and oxidative stress (p < 0.001; I 2 = 58%), whilst antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (p = 0.04; I 2 = 82%) at 24 h post-exercise. The maximal isometric voluntary contraction was significantly greater for the SUPP condition than the PLA at 24 h (p < 0.001; I 2 = 81%) and 48 h (p < 0.001; 84%) post-exercise. Only a few studies reported on functional outcome measures (i.e. countermovement jump, cycling, sprint and running maximal oxygen uptake), and the findings appeared conflicting according to qualitative analyses. Fruit supplementation minimised the level of several biomarkers of muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress, whilst improved muscular contractility during periods of EIMD. These findings demonstrate that fruit supplements could be used as recovery strategies from strenuous exercise sessions.

Background: the aim of the present study was to identify the temporal and notational performance differences between elite men’s and women’s badminton players according to match type and set. Methods: the sample was composed of 60 men’s and 60 women’s matches classified by match type or duration: short (lower quartile), long (upper quartile) and regular matches (interquartile range). Temporal and notational variables were analysed for each match and compared between sexes accounting for match duration. Results: greater intensity for most variables (i.e., rally time, rest time, density, and strokes per match/rally) was exhibited in men’s matches compared with women’s matches (i.e., higher frequency between strokes). In addition, the greater intensity for men compared to women was more pertinent during long matches (13 significant variables) and less evident during short matches (six significant variables). Point outcome displayed similar trends for each sex during matches with more winners for men’s players when serving and more unforced errors for women’s players. Lastly, based on each match type, fewer sex differences were noted during sets 2 and 3, as the match progressed. Conclusion: men’s players performed at a greater intensity than women’s players for different match and set contexts, with this sex difference enhanced when controlling for match type and set. The development of sex- and match-specific scenarios will assist coaches and trainers in the design of specific training drills to enhance the athletic performance of elite badminton players.

The factors influencing physical activity participation in children are varied, although there is evidence that the educational level of parents may be one important factor. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of parental education on the level of physical activity and the sedentary behavior of their children. The parents of 727 students, separated based on school group (preschool: n = 179; primary: n = 284; secondary: n = 230; high: n = 34), were invited to complete a series of questionnaires assessing their educational level (low, intermediate, and high) and their child’s level of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Primary school students with high- and intermediate-educated parents were found to engage in significantly more physical activity per week and spent more time engaged in homework than children with lower-educated parents. Secondary school students with higher-educated parents were found to spend significantly less time engaged in sedentary behavior than children with lower- or intermediate-educated parents, and high schoolers with higher-educated parents engaged in less tablet time than children with lower-educated parents. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that greater physical activity was precipitated by certain sedentary behaviors in children with more educated parents, such as total time watching TV (primary school), doing homework (secondary school), and total time using a tablet/similar (high school), which increased total time engaged in physical activity. These findings suggest that more educated parents may implement structured time for their children to engage in a balance of physical activity and sedentary behaviors.

The aim of this study was to explore the emergence of skilled behaviors, in the form of actions, cognitions and emotions, between professional state level cricket batters and their lesser skilled counterparts. Twenty-two male cricket batsmen (n = 6 state level; n = 8 amateur grade club level, n = 8 junior state representative level) participated in a game scenario training session against right arm pace bowlers (n = 6 amateur senior club). The batsmen were tasked with scoring as many runs as possible during a simulated limited-overs game. The actions, cognitions, and emotions of each batsmen were recorded in situ with findings showing differences between state level players and those lesser skilled. State level batsmen played more scoring shots and scored more runs, underpinned by superior bat–ball contact and technical efficiency. Furthermore, the state player’s cognitive evaluations of their own performance differed from junior batters, with more reported strategies based on an external outcome focus, such as where to score runs, rather than a focus on internal processes, such as making technical changes. State level batsmen also reported lower levels of nervousness compared with junior level batsmen. These results highlight the importance of viewing the emergence of skilled behavior as multi-faceted, rather than simply the acquisition of superior execution and technical proficiency.

This systematic review and meta-analysis determined whether the ergogenic effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) ameliorated markers of muscle damage and performance following strenuous exercise. In total, 25 studies were included, consisting of 479 participants (age 24.3 ± 8.3 years, height 1.73 ± 0.06 m, body mass 70.8 ± 9.5 kg, females 26.3%). These studies were rated as fair to excellent following the PEDro scale. The outcome measures were compared between the BCAA and placebo conditions at 24 and 48 hours following muscle-damaging exercises, using standardised mean differences and associated p-values via forest plots. Our meta-analysis demonstrated significantly lower levels of indirect muscle damage markers (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase and myoglobin) at 48 hours post-exercise (standardised mean difference [SMD] = −0.41; p < 0.05) for the BCAA than placebo conditions, whilst muscle soreness was significant at 24 hours post-exercise (SMD = −0.28 ≤ d ≤ −0.61; p < 0.05) and 48 hours post-exercise (SMD = −0.41 ≤ d≤ −0.92; p < 0.01). However, no significant differences were identified between the BCAA and placebo conditions for muscle performance at 24 or 48 hours post-exercise (SMD = 0.08 ≤ d ≤ 0.21; p > 0.05). Overall, BCAA reduced the level of muscle damage biomarkers and muscle soreness following muscle-damaging exercises. However, the potential benefits of BCAA for muscle performance recovery is questionable and warrants further investigation to determine the practicality of BCAA for ameliorating muscle damage symptoms in diverse populations. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020191248. Novelty: BCAA reduces the level of creatine kinase and muscle soreness following strenuous exercise with a dose–response relationship. BCAA does not accelerate recovery for muscle performance.

This study investigated whether anticipation and search strategies of goalkeepers are influenced by temporally and spatially manipulated video of a penalty. Participants were clustered into three groups depending on skill: goalkeepers (n = 17), field players (n = 20) and control group (n = 20). An eye tracker was worn whilst watching 40 videos of a striker kicking to four corners of a goal in random order. All 40 videos were temporally occluded at foot-to-ball contact, and the non-kicking leg of 20 videos was spatially manipulated. Results showed that goalkeepers had significantly better predictions than the two groups with no differences between the two testing conditions. According to effect size, the percentage of fixation location and viewing time of the kicking leg and ball were greater for the goalkeepers and field players group than the control group irrespective of testing conditions. The fixations on the kicking leg and ball in conjunction with comparable predictions between spatially manipulated and control conditions suggest that goalkeepers may not rely on the non-kicking leg. Furthermore, goalkeepers appear to use a global perceptual approach by anchoring on a distal fixation point/s of the penalty taker whilst using peripheral vision to obtain additional information.

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Background The relative age effect is a commonly occurring phenomenon whereby there is a tendency for relatively older players to be over-represented during high level competitions. This effect is often seen to diminish as player’s age, however, there has been far less investigation on other potential moderating factors. Method This study investigated the impact of the relative age effect, and potential moderating factors, within the talent selection process of Australian cricket. Relative age distribution of 2,415 male and female junior and senior state level cricket players, who played in the Junior National Championships or State competition (senior level) between 2011 and 2015, were analysed. Results Players born in the first quartile of the cricket season were significantly over-represented in both male Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and female Under-15 and Under-18 levels. However, there was no significant difference at the senior state level for either male or female cricketers. Further investigation of the relative age effect in the junior talent pathway revealed that male all-rounders, batters and pace bowlers, and female all-rounders and batters, born in first quartile were over-represented. Right-handed batters and bowlers were also influenced by the relative age effect at all Junior National levels, while left-handed batters and bowlers were only influenced at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels. These results highlight the impact relative age has on junior cricket talent pathways, including sex, age, handedness and primary skills. Only state level, and left-handedness at the Under-19 level, were unaffected by relative age. Discussion The findings of this study highlight the influence of relative age effects for both male and female junior cricket players. Interestingly, there may be an advantage to being left-handed that is more prevalent at the older (male Under-19; female Under-18) age levels.