With the full-text database SPORTDiscus the ETH Library fills a gap in the provision of sports medicine literature

This systematic review aimed to investigate COVID-19 impacts on motor competence (MC) in children and adolescents. SportDiscus, APAPsycInfo, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline were sea...

Imagery, a classic technique in psychological training, is gaining momentum in competitive sports. Despite the increasing use of imagery, its effectiveness remains debated. Robust, data-driven conclusions are still lacking. This study seeks to investigate the effects of imagery practice on enhancing athletic performance and determine the ideal dosage of such practice through a systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis. A comprehensive search across seven databases, including SportDiscus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE, MEDLINE Complete, and CINAHL, yielded 23,027 studies. These were initially reviewed for title and abstract using ASReview, followed by full-text screening with Covidence. A total of 86 studies with 3593 athletes (2104 males and 1110 females) were included in this meta-analysis. Our findings indicate that imagery practice enhances athletic performance, encompassing agility, muscle strength, tennis and soccer performance, and is applicable to both tennis and soccer athletes. The efficacy of integrating imagery practice with one or two additional psychological skills trainings (PSTs) surpasses that of imagery practice in isolation. Moderation analysis revealed that engaging in imagery practice for approximately ten minutes, three times weekly over a span of one hundred days, produces the strongest performance gains. This review offers recommendations for athletes regarding the implementation of imagery practice in routine training or prior to competitions, thereby providing empirical evidence to optimize psychological training programs in competitive settings.

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Background: Soccer is associated with a high risk of injuries, mainly affecting the lower limbs, leading to significant consequences for player performance and career longevity. Neuromuscular training (NMT) has been proposed as an effective preventive strategy, but its impact varies across different populations and implementation strategies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive search of PubMed, MEDLINE, and SPORTDiscus identified randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews examining the effects of NMT on lower limb injury prevention in soccer players. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black tool, and injury incidence rate ratios were analyzed. Results: Eleven studies, encompassing over 10,000 soccer players, were included. NMT interventions, particularly FIFA 11+, significantly reduced injury rates compared to standard warm-ups. Higher adherence and coach education enhanced program effectiveness. Female players benefited more, particularly in ACL injury prevention. No significant differences were observed between shorter (10 min) and standard (20 min) NMT protocols. Conclusions: NMT effectively reduces lower limb injuries in soccer, with adherence and proper coaching being key determinants of success. Future research should optimize program design and long-term adherence strategies to maximize benefits across all player demographics.

Objective To assess the comparative effectiveness of exercise, antidepressants and their combination for alleviating depressive symptoms in adults with non-severe depression. Design Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Data sources Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus and SportDiscus. Eligibility criteria Randomised controlled trials (1990–present) that examined the effectiveness of an exercise, antidepressant or combination intervention against either treatment alone or a control/placebo condition in adults with non-severe depression. Study selection and analysis Risk of bias, indirectness and the overall confidence in the network were assessed by two independent investigators. A frequentist network meta-analysis was performed to examine postintervention differences in depressive symptom severity between groups. Intervention drop-out was assessed as a measure of treatment acceptability. Results Twenty-one randomised controlled trials (n=2551) with 25 comparisons were included in the network. There were no differences in treatment effectiveness among the three main interventions (exercise vs antidepressants: standardised mean differences, SMD, −0.12; 95% CI −0.33 to 0.10, combination versus exercise: SMD, 0.00; 95% CI −0.33 to 0.33, combination vs antidepressants: SMD, −0.12; 95% CI −0.40 to 0.16), although all treatments were more beneficial than controls. Exercise interventions had higher drop-out rates than antidepressant interventions (risk ratio 1.31; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.57). Heterogeneity in the network was moderate (τ2=0.03; I2=46%). Conclusions The results suggest no difference between exercise and pharmacological interventions in reducing depressive symptoms in adults with non-severe depression. These findings support the adoption of exercise as an alternative or adjuvant treatment for non-severe depression in adults. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD4202122656.

목적: 편두통 환자의 압통 역치(PPT)에 대한 경추 물리치료(예: 경추 동원술, 운동, 근막 치료)의 효과를 무치료, 가짜 치료 또는 일반적인 의학적 치료와 비교하여 검토한다. 방법: PubMed, Embase.com, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Cinahl Plus 및 PEDro에서 체계적 문헌 검색을 수행하였다. 선정된 무작위 대조 시험(RCT)은 두 명의 독립적인 검토자가 평가하였다. 코크란 편향 위험 평가 도구 2를 사용하여 편향 위험을 평가하고, GRADE 접...

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of resisted sprint and plyometric training on change-of-direction (CoD) performance across populations ranging from recreationally active adults to athletes. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science up to June 20 …

Background: Working memory is essential for college students’ academic success, yet modern sedentary and digitally distracted lifestyles threaten cognitive health. This network meta-analysis compared the effectiveness of six exercise modalities on working memory in this population. Methods: Following PRISMA-NMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420261331066), we systematically searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus, and CNKI for randomized controlled trials up to 13 February 2026. The primary outcome was reaction time on working memory tasks. We used frequentist random-effects network meta-analysis in Stata 18.0. Results: Thirty-five trials (2314 participants) were included. Compared to controls, significant benefits were found for aerobic exercise (SMD = −0.63, 95% CI: −0.94 to −0.32), mixed-modal training (SMD = −0.59, 95% CI: −0.92 to −0.26), HIIT (SMD = −0.56, 95% CI: −0.96 to −0.16), and resistance training (SMD = −0.48, 95% CI: −0.82 to −0.14). Ball sports and cognitive training showed no significant effects. HIIT and mixed-modal training ranked highest (SUCRA 80.3% and 76.0%). Chronic interventions (≥4 weeks) yielded larger effects than acute protocols. Direct comparisons among effective modalities revealed no significant differences. Conclusions: Aerobic-dominant exercise interventions were associated with moderate working memory improvements in college students, though the optimal type remains uncertain pending further comparative trials.

Objective To examine the nonlinear dose–response of overall and modality-specific exercise interventions on motor skill improvement in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) using a Bayesian model-based network meta-analysis. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving participants aged ≤18 years with cerebral palsy (CP) were retrieved from five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SPORTDiscus; up to Aug 10, 2025). Gross motor function, assessed using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66/88), was the main outcome. Exercise dose was standardized as metabolic equivalents (METs) × minutes per week, and model-based network meta-analysis (MBNMA) was used to estimate overall and modality-specific nonlinear effects. Study quality and evidence certainty were evaluated using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale (PEDro) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Results Twenty randomized controlled trials were included. Most studies applied aerobic exercise, body control training, or resistance training. The mean PEDro score was 6.7, indicating moderate–high quality. Overall, exercise improved GMFM scores with a small-to-moderate effect (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.295; 95% credible interval (CrI) 0.016–0.613). The dose–response relationship showed an inverted U-shape, peaking near 560 METs × min/week, with stable gains between 330–560. By modality, body control training yielded the most consistent improvements at ~330 METs × min/week (SMD = 0.313; 95% CrI 0.014–0.666), while aerobic and resistance training showed smaller and less stable effects that declined at higher doses. Evidence certainty was moderate, with minimal publication bias. Conclusion Exercise improved motor function in children with cerebral palsy, with optimal benefits observed at 330–560 METs × min/week. Body control training around 330 METs × min/week produced the most stable gains, whereas aerobic and resistance training declined at higher doses. These findings highlight the importance of defining effective dose ranges; larger multicenter RCTs with standardized dose reporting are needed to refine clinical guidelines.

Background Literature indicates that poor psychological wellbeing can have a negative impact on outcomes following hip surgery. However, limited information is available on psychological interventions for adults with a planned hip surgery. This study describes and synthesizes existing interventions to improve psychological wellbeing in hip surgery patients. Methods We conducted a search of articles using seven electronic databases: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. We included all original studies (n = 12) investigating psychological interventions for adults with a planned hip surgery or recovering from hip surgery. Results Most articles focused on adults aged > 60 and individuals recovering from total hip arthroplasty (n = 7). The interventions varied in approach, dose, delivery methods, and timing. The most used approach was self-efficacy enhancing interventions (n = 5) followed by patient education (n = 2) and motivation-based interventions (n = 2). Most interventions (n = 9) were delivered post-operatively either in-person or through a combination of in-person and telephone delivery. Two-thirds of the articles (n = 8) evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in a randomized controlled trial, with studies varying in sample size and outcome measures. In general, results indicated that psychological interventions positively influenced patient-reported outcomes, including functional status and health-related quality of life, following hip surgery. Conclusion Psychological interventions were generally found to be helpful in improving psychological wellbeing and patient-reported outcomes, such as functional status and health-related quality of life, following hip surgery. Several gaps in the literature were identified, highlighting the need for further research to strengthen the evidence base for psychological interventions in this population.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the proportion attributable to contextual effects of physical therapy interventions for musculoskeletal pain. DESIGN: Intervention systematic review with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: We searched Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, PEDro, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registry, and SPORTDiscus databases from inception to April 2023. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the effect of physical therapy interventions on musculoskeletal pain. DATA SYNTHESIS: Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (ROB 2.0). The proportion of physical therapy interventions effect that is explained by contextual effects was calculated, and a quantitative summary of the data from the studies was conducted using the random-effects inverse-variance model (Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman method). RESULTS: Sixty-eight studies were included in the systematic review (participants: n=5,238), and 54 placebo-controlled trials informed our meta-analysis (participants: n=3,793). Physical therapy interventions included soft tissue techniques, mobilization, manipulation, taping, exercise therapy and dry needling. Placebo interventions included manual, non-manual interventions, or both. The proportion attributable to contextual effects of mobilization accounted for 88% of the immediate overall treatment effect for pain intensity (PCE=0.88, 95%CI 0.57-1.20). In exercise therapy, contextual effects accounted for 46% of the overall treatment effect for pain intensity (PCE=0.46, 95%CI 0.41-0.52). Contextual effects in manipulation excelled in short-term pain relief (PCE=0.81, 95%CI 0.62-1.01) and in mobilization in long-term effects (PCE=0.86, 95%CI 0.76-0.96). In taping, contextual effects accounted for 64% of disability improvement (PCE=0.64, 95%CI 0.48-0.80). CONCLUSION: The outcomes of physical therapy interventions for musculoskeletal pain were significantly influenced by contextual effects. Boosting contextual effects consciously to enhance therapeutic outcomes represents an ethical opportunity that could benefit patients.