Sports Medicine

Early aerobic exercise speeds concussion recovery in adolescent males but not females

In two reanalyzed RCTs of adolescents with sport-related concussion, early prescribed aerobic exercise within 10 days accelerated recovery in males only. Male athletes assigned to aerobic exercise recovered about 6–8 days faster than stretching controls in both trials, with statistically significant differences. Females showed only a small, non-significant improvement of roughly 3 days with aerobic exercise versus stretching. These findings support sex-specific expectations for recovery and reinforce early sub-symptom aerobic exercise particularly for adolescent males. 1

Complex training outperforms plyometric or traditional resistance work in elite male soccer players

In highly trained male soccer players, 8 weeks of complex training, plyometric training, or traditional resistance training all increased concentric and eccentric knee torque versus soccer-only controls. Complex training produced the largest strength gains across angular velocities compared with plyometric, traditional resistance, and control conditions. Only complex training preserved functional hamstring–quadriceps ratios at high velocity, whereas plyometric and traditional programs reduced these ratios versus control. Complex training also produced the greatest reductions in electromechanical delay relative to other modalities, indicating superior neuromuscular efficiency adaptations. 2

ACSM overview refines resistance training prescriptions for healthy adults

This ACSM position stand synthesized 137 systematic reviews including over 30,000 healthy adults undergoing resistance training for 6–52 weeks. Compared with no exercise, resistance training improved muscle strength, hypertrophy, power, endurance, gait speed, balance, and multiple functional outcomes. Heavier loads (≥80% 1RM), 2–3 sets, full range of motion, early in the session, and ≥2 sessions per week best enhanced voluntary strength. Hypertrophy was favored by higher weekly volume (≥10 sets per muscle) and eccentric overload, while power improved with moderate loads and fast lifting. Many programming details, including training to failure, equipment type, and periodization, showed no consistent impact on primary adaptations. 3

Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets preserve VO2max but can impair exercise economy

This systematic review and meta-analysis included 33 randomized studies of trained endurance athletes on low-carbohydrate or ketogenic versus high-carbohydrate diets. Maximal aerobic capacity (VO2max) was usually maintained, and occasionally improved, under low-carbohydrate or ketogenic conditions. Submaximal exercise economy was frequently impaired, suggesting higher oxygen cost at given workloads despite preserved peak capacity. Time-to-exhaustion performance was often maintained but showed context-dependent changes, while fat oxidation increased substantially in all studies measuring it. Outcomes were strongly time-dependent; testing within 7 days showed performance decrements, whereas assessments after one week generally showed maintained or improved performance. 4