Introduction: Artistic gymnastics is one of the most demanding sports disciplines, with the athletes demonstrating extremely high levels of explosive power and strength. Currently, knowledge of the effect of gymnastic training adaptation on exercise-induced inflammatory response is limited. The study aimed to evaluate inflammatory response following lower- and upper-body high-intensity exercise in relation to the iron status in gymnasts and non-athletes. Methods: Fourteen elite male artistic gymnasts (EAG, 20.6 ± 3.3 years old) and 14 physically active men (PAM, 19.9 ± 1.0 years old) participated in the study. Venous blood samples were taken before and 5 min and 60 min after two variants of Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), upper-body and lower-body WAnT. Basal iron metabolism (serum iron and ferritin) and acute responses of selected inflammatory response markers [interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor α] were analysed. Results: EAG performed significantly better during upper-body WAnT than PAM regarding relative mean and peak power. The increase in IL-6 levels after upper-body WAnT was higher in EAG than in PAM; the opposite was observed after lower-body WAnT. IL-10 levels were higher in EAG than in PAM, and tumour necrosis factor α levels were higher in PAM than those in EAG only after lower-body WAnT. The changes in IL-10 correlated with baseline serum iron and ferritin in PAM. Discussion: Overall, gymnastic training is associated with the attenuation of iron-dependent post-exercise anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion.

Problematic low energy availability (LEA) is the underlying cause of relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs). Male specific etiology, as well as the duration and degree of LEA exposures resulting in REDs remain to be adequately described. The present study aimed to assess occurrences of LEA (energy availability [EA] <25 kcal/kg fat-free mass/day) in male athletes from various sports over 7 days. Associations between number of LEA days, physiological measures, and body image concerns were subsequently evaluated. The athletes recorded their weighed food intakes and training via photo-assisted mobile application. Body composition and resting metabolic rates were measured, and venous blood samples collected for assessments of hormonal and nutrition status. Participants also answered the Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire (LEAM-Q), Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS), Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), and Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI). Of 19 participants, 13 had 0-2, 6 had 3-5, and none had 6-7 LEA days. No associations were found between the number of LEA days with the physiological and body image outcomes, although those with greatest number of LEA days had highest EEE but relatively low dietary intakes. In conclusion, this group displayed considerable day-to-day EA fluctuations but no indication of problematic LEA.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to investigate the timing sequence recovery effects of single and repeated Mild Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (MHOT) on muscle fatigue induced by cycling exercise through a comprehensive set of parameters.
UNASSIGNED: This study employed a controlled crossover design involving 12 Chinese secondary national-level male athletes. Each participant completed two identical trials over six days. Each trial consisted of a 90-min cycling exercise followed by either a Control (CON) intervention (1 atm absolute (ATA), 20.9 % oxygen, 60 min) or MHOT intervention (1.25 ATA, 26%-28 % oxygen, 60 min). Various physiological parameters including Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Heart Rate (HR), Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO2), Perfusion Index (PI%), Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Lactic Acid (LA), Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and Standing Long Jump Distance (SLJ) were measured at six different time points throughout the trials.
UNASSIGNED: RPE revealed that the MHOT group experienced reduced subjective fatigue in comparison to the CON group (P < 0.05). Additionally, MHOT demonstrated quicker recovery in HR and PI% compared to the CON group (P < 0.05). Regarding CK, LA, BUN, SOD, and MDA levels, the MHOT group exhibited accelerated recovery post-6 intervention and at the 24-h mark after six interventions, showing significant improvement over the CON group (P < 0.05). However, no notable disparity was observed between groups concerning SpO2, LDH, and SLJ.
UNASSIGNED: Both single and repeated sessions of MHOT demonstrated efficacy in alleviating subjective fatigue and promoting recovery of heart rate and blood perfusion following muscle fatigue, ensuring parallel structure and consistency in their effects. Repeated MHOT sessions (six times) exhibit a significant reduction in levels of blood markers associated with muscle damage, metabolites, and oxidative stress. However, the impact of a single MHOT intervention was less pronounced.

To resolve problems in the dietary life of university athletes, education is essential to enable athletes to change their own dietary behavior. The purpose of this research was to verify the effectiveness of sports nutrition education based on self-determination theory (SDT). The participants were 36 male university rowers. A stratified randomized comparison test was conducted by student year (SDT group and control group). Sports nutrition education was held three times, via an Internet conferencing system. Furthermore, group work over social media was used for the SDT group. Four evaluations were carried out based on anthropometric measurements, a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ), sports nutrition knowledge test (SNK), and treatment self-regulation questionnaire (TSRQ). The results showed no differences between the two groups. However, for the intragroup factor, \"Protein\", a significant difference was evident in the self-determination theory group (50.0 ± 28.5, 78.6 ± 28.1, 81.0 ± 21.5, p < 0.000, units: %) and improved knowledge (p = 0.002, p = 0.002). And for the BDHQ, the self-determination theory group also showed significant differences and increased their intake of green and yellow vegetables, fruits, and dairy products (159.1 ± 74.2-126.7 ± 70.6, p = 0.009, 306.0 ± 196.2-195.2 ± 146.1, p = 0.020, 257.0 ± 147.0-183.3 ± 167.9, p = 0.040, units: g). In conclusion, sports nutrition education based on SDT improved dietary knowledge and increased food requirements for athletes.

UNASSIGNED: Return to sports (RTS) is a goal for most patients who undergo anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Although it has been reported that women RTS at a significantly lower rate compared with men, demographic and contextual factors that may be associated with this have not been investigated.
UNASSIGNED: To compare RTS rates between men and women and investigate factors that may be associated with different rates of RTS in an Australian context.
UNASSIGNED: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 1338 patients who underwent primary ACLR between January 2014 and December 2017 were invited to complete a detailed sports participation questionnaire 2 to 7 years after surgery. RTS rates were calculated and compared between men and women overall and after stratifying by age at surgery (<20, 20-29, 30-39, or ≥40 years) and geographical location (metropolitan or rural). Contingency analysis was performed to compare factors associated with rates of RTS.
UNASSIGNED: The survey completion rate was 81% (1080/1338). Overall, women had a significantly lower RTS rate compared with men (65.4% vs 74.9%; P = .001). However, when patients were grouped by age, the lower rate of RTS for women was significant only in the 20- to 29-year age group (P = .01). For athletes who returned to sports, there was no sex-based difference when comparing the levels of RTS. When grouping patients based on geographical location, there was a significantly lower rate of RTS in metropolitan-based women compared with metropolitan-based men (P < .001) and rural-based women (P = .042).
UNASSIGNED: Although women returned to sports at a lower rate than men overall, this difference was predominantly seen in the 20- to 29-year age bracket and in those who lived in metropolitan areas. There was no difference between men and women regarding the RTS level.

BACKGROUND: In women, the female athlete triad, marked by low energy availability, functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and osteoporosis, is a recognized risk for stress fractures. Stress injuries also occur in men, but by contrast risks and mechanisms underlying them are less characterized.
METHODS: 5 week-old wild-type male mice were fed ad libitum (ad) or subjected to 60% food restriction (FR) for five weeks. In both groups, some mice were allowed access to an exercise wheel in cages to allow voluntary wheel running (ex) and/or treated with active vitamin D analogues. Mice were sacrificed and analyzed at 10 weeks of age.
RESULTS: Male FR mice exhibited significantly reduced testicle weight, serum testosterone levels and bone mass. Such bone losses in FR male mice were enhanced by exercise. Histological analysis revealed that both bone-resorbing and -forming activities were significantly reduced in FR or FR plus exercise (FR + ex) mice, mimicking a state of low bone turnover. Significantly reduced bone mass in FR or FR + ex male mice was significantly rescued by treatment with active vitamin D analogues, with significant restoration of osteoblastic activities. Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), which is critical for bone remodeling, were significantly lower in FR versus control male mice.
CONCLUSIONS: Low energy availability puts men at risk for stress injuries as well, and low energy availability is upstream of gonadal dysfunction and osteoporosis in males. Active vitamin D analogues could serve as therapeutic or preventive options for stress injuries in men.

Low energy availability (EA) can impair physiological function in athletes. The purpose of this study was to investigate EA status, metabolic status, and bone metabolism with biochemical analysis in Korean male soccer players. Twelve male athletes (18-20 years) completed the study. Body composition and bone mineral density were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while VO2 max was determined by an incremental exercise test. Blood samples were taken for bone marker and hormone analyses. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using the Douglas bag method and predicted using the DXA method. Food diaries and heart rates (HR) during training were recorded, and the Profile of Mood States 2 and Eating Attitude Test 26 were completed. Group differences between low EA (LEA <30 kcal/kg FFM/d, n = 5) and high EA (HEA ≥30 kcal/kg FFM/d, n = 7) were evaluated. The mean EA of the all participants was 31.9 ± 9.8 kcal/kg FFM/d with only two participants having an EA above 45 kcal/kg FFM/d. LEA showed suppressed REE (LEA: 26.0 ± 1.7 kcal/kg/d, HEA: 28.8 ± 1.4 kcal/kg/d, p = .011) with a lower REEratio (LEA: 0.91 ± 0.06, HEA: 1.01 ± 0.05, p = .008) as well as a lower insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) level (LEA: 248.6 ± 51.2 ng/mL, HEA: 318.9 ± 43.4 ng/mL, p = .028) compared to HEA. There were no group differences in bone markers or other hormone levels. Korean male athletes exhibited low EA status with suppressed metabolism, but there was limited evidence on the effect of EA on bone metabolism, endocrine system, and psychological parameters.

It has been reported that male athletes face increased risk for low energy availability and resulting health consequences similar to female athletes. The present study aimed to reveal the energy status of Japanese male runners and to examine the association between energy deficiency and physiological characteristics such as energy metabolism, bone health, and hormonal status. Six male collegiate long-distance runners during a training season participated in this study. Energy intake (EI) was assessed using 3-day dietary records with food pictures. Exercise energy expenditure (EEE) was determined by the HR-VO2 method. Body composition and bone status were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Energy availability (EA) was calculated by subtraction of EEE from EI and normalized by fat-free mass (FFM). Energy balance (EB) was calculated EI minus estimated total energy expenditure (TEE). Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry using the Douglas bag technique, and blood sampling was conducted to assess hormonal status. The mean EA of the subjects was 18.9 ± 6.8 kcal/kg FFM/day, and severe negative EB (range: -1444 ~ -722 kcal/d) was observed. REE of four runners was suppressed, and moreover, bone resorption was promoted in all subjects. The data in our study suggested that energy deficiency could promote bone resorption and energy metabolism suppression in Japanese male endurance runners. Additional short- and long-term studies are needed to clarify the health risks caused by energy deficiency in male athletes and explore strategies to prevent health problems related to energy deficiency in long-distance runners.

Despite a growing emphasis on self-compassion in sport, little research has focused exclusively on men athletes. The purpose of this research was to explore the interaction of self-compassion and diverse versions of masculinity on the psychosocial well-being of men athletes. The authors sampled 172 men athletes (Mage = 22.8 yr) from a variety of sports, using descriptive methodology with self-report questionnaires. Self-compassion was related to most variables (e.g., psychological well-being, fear of negative evaluation, state self-criticism, internalized shame, reactions to a hypothetical sport-specific scenario) in hypothesized directions and predicted unique variance beyond self-esteem across most of those variables, as well as moderated relationships between masculinity and both autonomy and attitudes toward gay men. In addition, self-compassion was differentially related to inclusive and hegemonic masculinity. Our findings support self-compassion as a promising resource for men athletes to buffer emotionally difficult sport experiences.

OBJECTIVE: Research concerning eating disorders among adolescent and young adult male athletes is limited compared with female counterparts, but increasing evidence indicates that they may be at unique risk for unhealthy exercise and eating behavior. The current study aimed to characterize unhealthy exercise and eating behavior according to competitive athlete status, as well as per sport type.
METHODS: Collegiate male athletes (N = 611), each affiliated with one of the 10 National College Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I schools in the United States, completed an online survey, reporting on eating and extreme weight control behaviors, and reasons for exercise.
RESULTS: Competitive athletes endorsed increased driven exercise and exercising when sick. Baseball players, cyclists, and wrestlers emerged as the sports with the most players reporting elevated Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire scores in a clinical range, and basketball players reported the highest rates of binge eating. overall, baseball players, cyclists, rowers, and wrestlers appeared to demonstrate the greatest vulnerability for unhealthy eating and exercise behavior.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings revealed differences between competitive and non-competitive male athletes. Among competitive athletes, results identified unique risk for unhealthy eating and exercise behavior across a variety of sport categories and support continued examination of these attitudes and behaviors in a nuanced manner.
METHODS: Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.