The study aimed to investigate the effect of combined balance and plyometric training on dynamic balance and quickness performance of elite badminton athletes. Sixteen elite male badminton players volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to a balance-plyometric group (PB: n = 8) and plyometric group (PT: n = 8). The PB group performed balance combined with plyometric training three times a week over 6 weeks (40 min of plyometrics and 20 min of balance training); while the PT group undertook only plyometric training for the same period (3–4 sets × 8–12 reps for each exercise). Both groups were given the same technical training (badminton techniques for 6 days a week). The dynamic stability and quick movement ability were assessed at baseline and after the intervention by measuring the performance of dynamic posture stability test (DPSI and COP), T-running test and hexagon jump test. The results showed that compared to PT, PB induced significantly greater improvements in F-DPSI, L-DPSI (p = 0.003, 0.025, respectively), F-COPAP, F-COPML, F-COPPL, L-COPPL (p = 0.024, 0.002, 0.029, 0.043, respectively), T-running test and hexagon jump test (p < 0.001). The change in L-DPSI, L-COPAP, L-COPML did not differ between PB and PT (p > 0.907). The findings suggest that combined training holds great promise of improving the dynamic balance and quickness performance in elite badminton athletes.

ObjectiveThe studies showed the benefits of virtual reality training (VRT) for functional mobility and balance in older adults. However, a large variance in the study design and results is presented. We, thus, completed a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantitatively examine the effects of VRT on functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults.MethodsWe systematically reviewed the publications in five databases. Studies that examine the effects of VRT on the measures of functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults were screened and included if eligible. Subgroup analyses were completed to explore the effects of different metrics of the intervention design (e.g., session time) on those outcomes related to functional mobility and balance.ResultsFifteen studies of 704 participants were included. The quality of these studies was good. Compared to traditional physical therapy (TPT), VRT induced greater improvement in TUG (MD = −0.31 s, 95% CI = −0.57 to −0.05, p = 0.02, I2 = 6.34%) and one-leg stance with open eyes (OLS-O) (MD = 7.28 s, 95% CI = 4.36 to 10.20, p = 0.00, I2 = 36.22%). Subgroup analyses revealed that immersive VRT with more than 800 min of total intervention time over 8 weeks and at least 120 min per week and/or designed by the two motor-learning principles was optimal for functional mobility and balance.ConclusionVirtual reality training can significantly improve functional mobility and balance in healthy older adults compared to TPT, and the findings provided critical knowledge of the optimized design of VRT that can inform future studies with more rigorous designs.Systematic Review Registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [CRD42021297085].

IntroductionAccurately predicting the competitive performance of elite athletes is an essential prerequisite for formulating competitive strategies. Women’s all-around speed skating event consists of four individual subevents, and the competition system is complex and challenging to make accurate predictions on their performance.ObjectiveThe present study aims to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of machine learning algorithms for predicting the performance of women’s all-around speed skating event and provide effective training and competition strategies.MethodsThe data, consisting of 16 seasons of world-class women’s all-around speed skating competition results, used in the present study came from the International Skating Union (ISU). According to the competition rules, distinct features are filtered using lasso regression, and a 5,000 m race model and a medal model are built using a fivefold cross-validation method.ResultsThe results showed that the support vector machine model was the most stable among the 5,000 m race and the medal models, with the highest AUC (0.86, 0.81, respectively). Furthermore, 3,000 m points are the main characteristic factors that decide whether an athlete can qualify for the final. The 11th lap of the 5,000 m, the second lap of the 500 m, and the fourth lap of the 1,500 m are the main characteristic factors that affect the athlete’s ability to win medals.ConclusionCompared with logistic regression, random forest, K-nearest neighbor, naive Bayes, neural network, support vector machine is a more viable algorithm to establish the performance prediction model of women’s all-around speed skating event; excellent performance in the 3,000 m event can facilitate athletes to advance to the final, and athletes with outstanding performance in the 500 m event are more likely competitive for medals.

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of combined balance and plyometric training on knee function and proprioception of elite badminton athletes.MethodsSixteen elite male badminton players (age: 20.5 ± 1.1 years, height: 177.8 ± 5.1 cm, weight: 68.1 ± 7.2 kg, and training experience: 11.4 ± 1.4 years) volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to a combined balance and plyometric training (CT) (n = 8) and plyometric (PT) group (n = 8). The CT group performed balance combined with plyometric training three times a week over 6 weeks (40 min of plyometrics and 20 min of balance training); while the PT group undertook only plyometric training for the same period (3–4 sets × 8–12 reps for each exercise). Both groups had the same technical training of badminton.ResultsThe knee function and proprioception were assessed at baseline and after the intervention by measuring the performance of single-legged hop tests (LSIO, LSIT, LSIC, LSIS), standing postural sway (COPAP, COPML), and LSI of dominant leg and non-dominant leg. The results showed that as compared to PT, CT induced significantly greater improvements in LSIT and LSIS (p &lt; 0.001) and significant greater percent increase in NAP (p = 0.011). The changes in LSIO, LSIC, DAP, NAP, LSIAP, DML, NML, and LSIML induced by CT did not differ from that induced by PT (p &gt; 0.213).ConclusionIn elite badminton players, intervention using CT holds great promise to augment the benefits for knee function compared to the intervention using PT only, and at the same time, with at least comparable benefits for proprioception. Future studies are needed to examine and confirm the results of this study.

Explosive power occupied an extremely important position in competitive sports, which was an important component of competitive ability. KAATSU Training, also known as Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT) was used to have compression bands and other pressure devices exert pressure on the upper and lower limbs and stimulate muscle cell swelling through temporary ischemia of distal muscles, which was a new physical training method causing muscle growth. KAATSU training was able to stimulate muscle growth and improve muscle fitness with a lower intensity load (20%-40%1RM). PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Squat Jump with KAATSU Training on lower limb power of young men. METHODS: Twenty young men volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to a KAATSU group (BFT: n=10) and resistance group (CON: n=10). The BFT group performed weighted squat jump (30%1RM) with compression bands three times a week over 6 weeks; while the CON group undertook only weighted squat jump (30%1RM) three times a week during the same period. All participants were tested to assess the 1RM, squat jump, counter movement jump, Eccentric Utilization Ratio (EUR), the speed and power of squat jump. Comparisons between two groups were made using one-way ANOVA while comparisons in same group were made using paired t-test. RESULTS: Maximum strength (127.50±10.04 vs. 131.00±7.68kg, p<0.05), squat jump (54.27±2.89 vs. 56.88±2.57cm, p<0.05), counter movement jump (57.58±3.55 vs. 60.67±2.74), EUR (1.05±0.04 vs. 1.07±0.03), the mean speed (1.77±0.11 vs. 1.93±0.12m/s, p<0.05) and mean power (37.73±2.38 vs. 42.81±2.60W/kg, p<0.05) of squat jump in BFT showed a significant improvement after the intervention. The improvement of average speed (1.93±0.12 vs. 1.77±0.16m/s, p<0.05) and average power (42.81±2.60 vs. 41.56±6.53W/kg, p<0.05) of squat jump in BFT group were higher than that of the CON group after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: KAATSU training is superior to traditional resistance training, but it cannot completely replace traditional resistance training in normal training in terms of improving movement speed and output power. KAATSU training can more effectively improve the movement quality of the half-squat jump, and can be used for training arrangements for rehabilitation after injury.