Welcome, science enthusiasts.

In today’s edition:

• Training with reduced carbs impacts bone health in young soccer players.

• Physical conditioning and injury screening in elite female soccer players.

• Heat suit training benefits hemoglobin levels in elite cyclists.

• Using a tool to assess energy levels in over 200 elite athletes.

• Teaching athletes to feel blood flow restrictions for training.

• Effects of concussions and ACL injuries on reaction times in athletes.

• Recovery after the Australian Special Forces selection course.

• Neurocognitive training and injury risks for ACL in athletes.

• and several more…

FEATURED ARTICLES 🌭

⚽️ Does Cutting Carbs Sabotage Young Soccer Players’ Bones?

Key finding:

Reducing carbohydrate intake during training increases markers of bone resorption in adolescent soccer players.

How they did it:

• Methodology: Ten male academy soccer players underwent two training trials with high and low carbohydrate (CHO) availability, followed by a non-exercise control, with blood samples taken to assess bone metabolism.

• Results: Markers of bone resorption (βCTX) were significantly higher in the low CHO condition compared to high CHO, while markers of bone formation (PINP) were elevated after both conditions, with the low CHO condition showing a significant difference compared to the non-exercise control.

• Innovation: This study is the first to analyze real-world training impacts on bone health in adolescent athletes, highlighting acute changes in bone remodeling markers influenced by CHO availability.

• Correlation: The restrictions in CHO intake during training sessions may lead to increased bone resorption, potentially affecting long-term skeletal health and injury risk during critical growth phases.

Why it matters:

Training with reduced carbohydrate availability can put young soccer players at greater risk for bone injuries by increasing markers of bone resorption without optimal nutrient intake—a real wake-up call for coaches to prioritize proper fueling strategies, ensuring their athletes not only perform well but also develop strong, resilient bones.

⚽ Inside Elite Female Soccer: Conditioning and Injury Prevention Insights

Key finding:

Elite female soccer players demonstrate significant improvements in physical conditioning and injury screening metrics from preseason to in-season.

How they did it:

• Methodology: A systematic review of 10 quantitative studies was conducted to assess the physical conditioning and functional injury screening characteristics of elite female soccer players, registered with PROSPERO and executed according to PRISMA guidelines.

• Results: Evaluated players exhibited strong physical performance, with average maximal oxygen uptake of 52.6 mL·min−1·kg−1 and improved metrics in in-season tests compared to preseason across several physical assessments (2-22% better).

• Innovation: The study provides comprehensive normative data for physical and functional characteristics specific to elite female soccer players, aiding coaches and medical teams in training optimization and injury risk assessment.

• Implications: Identified significant detraining during transition periods highlights the necessity for maintenance strategies to mitigate physical conditioning loss.

Why it matters:

This systematic review delivers critical insights on the physical conditioning and injury risk profiles of elite female soccer players, enabling coaches and practitioners to tailor training strategies effectively for improved performance and reduced injury risk—essentially giving an edge in a rapidly evolving sport. With normative data in hand, clubs can better interpret their athletes’ results and implement more focused training regimens to bridge the gap between preseason and in-season performance.

QUICK BITES 🍤

Concussion in Sport

🤕 Are Concussions and ACL Injuries Harming Your Brain?

-College students with a history of sport-related concussion or ACL injury showed no significant differences in cognitive or reaction time performance.

Female Athlete

🏋️‍♂️ Are Elite Athletes at Risk of Energy Deficiency?

-The IOC REDs Clinical Assessment Tool effectively reveals the severity of energy deficiency and its link to bone stress injuries in elite athletes.

Injury

🏃‍♂️ Can Neurocognitive Training Prevent ACL Injuries?

-Neurocognitive training reduces biomechanical risk factors for ACL injuries in athletes when combined with sport-specific cognitive tasks.

Sport Physiology

🔥 How Heat Training Boosts Cyclists’ Performance

-Heat training can help elite cyclists maintain increased hemoglobin mass after returning from altitude training.

💪 Surviving the Toughest Military Training in Australia

-The Australian Special Forces Selection Course causes significant weight loss and hormonal disruption, requiring several weeks for recovery.

Strength and Conditioning

🩸 Can You Train Yourself to Feel Blood Flow Restriction?

-Individuals can learn to gauge vascular occlusion pressure, but the effect diminishes after a short period.

Curated by Haresh Suppiah