OOIR: Observatory of International Research

Papers

(The TQCC of Sports Medicine is 20. The table below lists those papers that are above that threshold based on CrossRef citation counts [max. 250 papers]. The publications cover those that have been published in the past four years, i.e., from 2021-07-01 to 2025-07-01.)

Article	Citations
Comment on: “Return to Sports: A Risky Business? A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis of Risk Factors for Graft Rupture Following ACL Reconstruction”	180
Acute Effects of Gait Interventions on Tibial Loads During Running: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	132
Response to Comment on “Overlapping Mechanisms of Exertional Heat Stroke and Malignant Hyperthermia: Evidence vs. Conjecture”	119
Is Visual Reliance Increased in Athletes After ACL Injury? A Scoping Review	112
Response to Comment on “Effects of Oral Iron Supplementation on Blood Iron Status in Athletes: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of Randomized Controlled Trials”	101
Resistance Training as a Countermeasure in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Current Literature and Future Directions	96
Effect of Strength Training Programs in Middle- and Long-Distance Runners’ Economy at Different Running Speeds: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis	92
Establishing a Global Standard for Wearable Devices in Sport and Exercise Medicine: Perspectives from Academic and Industry Stakeholders	92
The Time Course of Injury Risk After Return-to-Play in Professional Football (Soccer)	88
Pain Perception in Contact Sport Athletes: A Scoping Review	86
Inconsistencies and Imprecision in the Nomenclature Used to Describe Primary Periphyseal Stress Injuries: Towards a Better Understanding	86
Can We Quantify the Benefits of “Super Spikes” in Track Running?	84
Effects of Bed Rest on Physical Performance in Athletes: A Systematic and Narrative Review	81
Exercise Performance and Thermoregulatory Responses of Elite Athletes Exercising in the Heat: Outcomes of the Thermo Tokyo Study	80
Quantifying Exposure and Intra-Individual Reliability of High-Speed and Sprint Running During Sided-Games Training in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	76
Mitochondria as Nutritional Targets to Maintain Muscle Health and Physical Function During Ageing	72
Daily Step Count and All-Cause Mortality: A Dose–Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies	72
Causal Association Between Sedentary Behaviors and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Mendelian Randomization Studies	72
Head Games: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Examining Concussion and Head Impact Incidence Rates, Modifiable Risk Factors, and Prevention Strategies in Youth Tackle Football	70
Dose–Response Modelling of Resistance Exercise Across Outcome Domains in Strength and Conditioning: A Meta-analysis	70
The Hydrating Effects of Hypertonic, Isotonic and Hypotonic Sports Drinks and Waters on Central Hydration During Continuous Exercise: A Systematic Meta-Analysis and Perspective	69
Sex Differences in Recovery Trajectories of Assessments for Sport-Related Concussion Among NCAA Athletes: A CARE Consortium Study	67
Through the Looking Glass: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Evidence, Providing New Insight for Motor Competence and Health	67
Maltodextrin-Based Carbohydrate Oral Rinsing and Exercise Performance: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	65
Sports Nutrition Ingredients and Governance, Exercise Training, and Sport Technology	64

Recommendations and Nutritional Considerations for Female Athletes: Health and Performance	64
Response to: Comment on “Stepwise Load Reduction Training: A New Training Concept for Skeletal Muscle and Energy Systems”	63
Comparative Efficacy and Acceptability of Non-surgical Treatments with or without Exercise for Diastasis Recti Abdominis in Postpartum Women: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	62
Hop to It! A Systematic Review and Longitudinal Meta-analysis of Hop Performance After ACL Reconstruction	62
Safety of International Professional Sports Competitions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Association Football Experience	62
Correction to: Attributes of Expert Anticipation Should Inform the Design of Virtual Reality Simulators to Accelerate Learning and Transfer of Skill	61
Correction to: Comment on “Black Box Prediction Methods in Sports Medicine Deserve a Red Card for Reckless Practice: A Change of Tactics is Needed to Advance Athlete Care”	60
Response to Comment on: “The Effect of Preterm Birth on Maximal Aerobic Exercise Capacity and Lung Function in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”	60
Correction to: Through the Looking Glass: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Evidence, Providing New Insight for Motor Competence and Health	60
Response to Comment on “Premature Death in Bodybuilders: What Do We Know?”	60
The Era of Resistance Training as a Primary Form of Physical Activity for Physical Fitness and Health in Youth Has Come	59
Task Specificity of Dynamic Resistance Training and Its Transferability to Non-trained Isometric Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis	59
Deconstructing the Ergogenic Effects of Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of its Efficacy in Improving Mode-Specific Exercise Performance in Humans	59
Reactive Strength Index and its Associations with Measures of Physical and Sports Performance: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis	58
How to Tackle Mental Fatigue: A Systematic Review of Potential Countermeasures and Their Underlying Mechanisms	58
Return to Play and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Soccer Players: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence	57
Mechanisms Linking Physical Activity with Psychiatric Symptoms Across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review	55
Anatomical Variability of the Soleus Muscle: A Key Factor for the Prognosis of Injuries?	54
From Tissue to System: What Constitutes an Appropriate Response to Loading?	53
Relationship between Cognitive Demands and Biomechanical Indicators Associated with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review	52
The Acute Demands of Repeated-Sprint Training on Physiological, Neuromuscular, Perceptual and Performance Outcomes in Team Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	52
Performance Implications of Force-Vector-Specific Resistance and Plyometric Training: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis	51
Carbohydrate Nutrition and Skill Performance in Soccer	51
The Welsh Institute of Performance Science: A Decade of Integrated Knowledge Translation in Elite Sport	51
Response to Comment on “The Effectiveness of Resisted Sled Training (RST) for Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”	50
Judgement and Decision Making in Clinical and Return-to-Sports Decision Making: A Narrative Review	50
How Priming Exercise Affects Oxygen Uptake Kinetics: From Underpinning Mechanisms to Endurance Performance	49
Submaximal Fitness Tests in Team Sports: A Theoretical Framework for Evaluating Physiological State	49
Comment on: “Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness Post‐COVID‐19: A Narrative Review”	49
Optimizing Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Athletic Tasks: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis for Prescription Variables and Research Methods	49
Long-Term Development of Training Characteristics and Performance-Determining Factors in Elite/International and World-Class Endurance Athletes: A Scoping Review	49
Data Informing Governing Body Resistance-Training Guidelines Exhibit Sex Bias: An Audit-Based Review	49
Decoupling of Internal and External Workload During a Marathon: An Analysis of Durability in 82,303 Recreational Runners	47
Appraising the Methodological Quality of Sports Injury Video Analysis Studies: The QA-SIVAS Scale	47
Return to Sports: A Risky Business? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors for Graft Rupture Following ACL Reconstruction	46
What are the Risks of Contact Sport During Pregnancy: a Survey-Based Investigation	46
Running Endurance in Women Compared to Men: Retrospective Analysis of Matched Real-World Big Data	44
The Association Between Menstrual Cycle Phase, Menstrual Irregularities, Contraceptive Use and Musculoskeletal Injury Among Female Athletes: A Scoping Review	43
Challenging Aspects of Research on the Influence of the Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptives on Physical Performance	43
Retraction Note: The Effect of Preterm Birth on Maximal Aerobic Exercise Capacity and Lung Function in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	42
Authors’ Reply to Carina Enea et al.’s Comment on “Menstrual Cycle: The Importance of Both the Phases and the Transitions Between Phases on Training and Performance”	42
Comment on “The Effect of Resistance Training on Body Composition During and After Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”	41
Symptoms of Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome are Common in Community-Dwelling Adults	41
Response to Comment on: “Attempting to Separate Placebo Effects from Exercise in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”	41
Putting “Heavy” into Heavy Slow Resistance	41
Markers of Low Energy Availability in Overreached Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	41
Contraception Choice for Female Endurance Athletes: What’s Sport Got to Do With It? A Cross-Sectional Survey	40
Ecological Dynamics as an Accurate and Parsimonious Contributor to Applied Practice: A Critical Appraisal	40
Efficacy of Interval Training in Improving Body Composition and Adiposity in Apparently Healthy Adults: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis	39
Implementing ACL Injury Prevention in Daily Sports Practice—It’s Not Just the Program: Let’s Build Together, Involve the Context, and Improve the Content	38

Menstrual Cycle: The Importance of Both the Phases and the Transitions Between Phases on Training and Performance	38
Optimising the Dose of Static Stretching to Improve Flexibility: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Multivariate Meta-regression	38
Estimating the Replicability of Sports and Exercise Science Research	38
The Incidence, Cost, and Burden of Concussion in Women’s Rugby League and Rugby Union: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis	38
Performance Adaptations to Intensified Training in Top-Level Football	37
A Systematic Review on Fitness Testing in Adult Male Basketball Players: Tests Adopted, Characteristics Reported and Recommendations for Practice	37
Why We Must Stop Assuming and Estimating Menstrual Cycle Phases in Laboratory and Field-Based Sport Related Research	36
Response to Comment on: “The Influence of Timing of Reporting and Clinic Presentation on Concussion Recovery Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”	35
Muscle Oximetry in Sports Science: An Updated Systematic Review	35
Ghrelin Response to Acute and Chronic Exercise: Insights and Implications from a Systematic Review of the Literature	35
Comment on: “Low Cardiorespiratory Fitness Post‐COVID‐19: A Narrative Review”	34
Individualized Exercise Prescription for Athletes Using a Construct-Based Model	34
NAD+ Therapeutics and Skeletal Muscle Adaptation to Exercise in Humans	33
Preventing Casualties in Ultramarathons	33
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Pain when Running During Pregnancy: A Survey of 3102 Women	33
Comment on: “Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research”	33
Gender-Based Violence is a Blind Spot for Sports and Exercise Medicine Professionals	32
The Frequency and Determinants of Positive and Negative Officiating Interactions and the Relationships with Mental Ill-Health Symptoms in Sports Officials	32
Revisiting the ‘Whys’ and ‘Hows’ of the Warm-Up: Are We Asking the Right Questions?	32
Consideration of Mental Health and Well-Being in High-Level Sport: When Will a Coach-Centred Approach Be Introduced?	32
Dietary Nitrate Supplementation and Exercise Performance: An Umbrella Review of 20 Published Systematic Reviews with Meta-analyses	32
Correction to: Effects of Maternal Exercise During Pregnancy on Perinatal Growth and Childhood Obesity Outcomes: A Meta‑analysis and Meta‑regression	32
Intensity Zones and Intensity Thresholds Used to Quantify External Load in Competitive Basketball: A Systematic Review	32
From Natural Towards Representative Decision Making in Sports: A Framework for Decision Making in Virtual and Augmented Environments	32
Accuracy of Resting Metabolic Rate Prediction Equations in Athletes: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis	31
On a Corresponsive Sport Science	31
Muscle Protein Synthesis Responses Following Aerobic-Based Exercise or High-Intensity Interval Training with or Without Protein Ingestion: A Systematic Review	31
Longing for a Longitudinal Proxy: Acutely Measured Surface EMG Amplitude is not a Validated Predictor of Muscle Hypertrophy	31
Proposal of a Selection Protocol for Replication of Studies in Sports and Exercise Science	30
Female Tendons are from Venus and Male Tendons are from Mars, But Does it Matter for Tendon Health?	30
Exogenous Ketone Supplements in Athletic Contexts: Past, Present, and Future	30
Technology Innovation and Guardrails in Elite Sport: The Future is Now	30
Response to Comment on: “No Time to Lift? Designing Time‐Efficient Training Programs for Strength and Hypertrophy: A Narrative Review”	29
Factors Associated with Persisting Post-Concussion Symptoms Among Collegiate Athletes and Military Cadets: Findings from the NCAA-DoD CARE Consortium	29
Authors’ Reply to Nevill and Wyon: “Size Exponents for Scaling Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Over 6500 Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis”	29
Influence of Resistance Training Proximity-to-Failure on Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis	29
Maternal and Fetal Cardiovascular Responses to Acute High-Intensity Interval and Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training Exercise During Pregnancy: A Randomized Crossover Trial	29
The Question is Still Open: Is Supplemental Oxygen Enhancing Performance in Professional Athletes at High Altitude or Not?	29
“Health is Just the Basic Requirement for Optimal Performance and Winning”: Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Testing and Training in Competitive Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding and Freestyle Skiing	29
Exploring the Dose–Response Relationship Between Estimated Resistance Training Proximity to Failure, Strength Gain, and Muscle Hypertrophy: A Series of Meta-Regressions	28
Effects of Different Exercise Interventions on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, as Measured by Peak Oxygen Consumption in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: An Overview of Systematic Reviews	28
Comment on: “Stepwise Load Reduction Training: A New Training Concept for Skeletal Muscle and Energy Systems”	28
Impact of Exercise Training Interventions on Flow-Mediated Dilation in Adults: An Umbrella Review	28
A Machine Learning Model for Post-Concussion Musculoskeletal Injury Risk in Collegiate Athletes	28
Can I Have My Coffee and Drink It? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis to Determine Whether Habitual Caffeine Consumption Affects the Ergogenic Effect of Caffeine	27
Comment on “Black Box Prediction Methods in Sports Medicine Deserve a Red Card for Reckless Practice: A Change of Tactics is Needed to Advance Athlete Care”	27
The Within-Subject Association of Physical Behavior and Affective Well-Being in Everyday Life: A Systematic Literature Review	27
Characteristics of High-Intensity Interval Training Influence Anthropometrics, Glycemic Control, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Ran	27
A Narrative Review of the Current State of Extended Reality Technology and How it can be Utilised in Sport	27
The Effect of Gut-Training and Feeding-Challenge on Markers of Gastrointestinal Status in Response to Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Literature Review	27
Static Stretch Training versus Foam Rolling Training Effects on Range of Motion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	27
The Acute and Chronic Effects of Implementing Velocity Loss Thresholds During Resistance Training: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Critical Evaluation of the Literature	27
Cardiorespiratory Parameters Comparison Between Incremental Protocols Performed in Aquatic and Land Environments by Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	27
The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions on Psychological and Cognitive Health Outcomes Compared with Other Forms of Physical Activity: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis	27
Epidemiological Principles in Claims of Causality: An Enquiry into Repetitive Head Impacts (RHI) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)	26
Psychological Safety for Mental Health in Elite Sport: A Theoretically Informed Model	26
The Respiratory Compensation Point: Mechanisms and Relation to the Maximal Metabolic Steady State	26
Limited Evidence is Not No Evidence: A Rebuttal to Fransen, 2024	26
The ESA Parastronaut Feasibility Project: Investigating the Need and Contents of Physical Performance Tests for an Inclusive European Astronaut Corps	26
Age of First Concussion and Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Outcomes in NCAA Collegiate Student Athletes	26
When to Pull the Trigger: Conceptual Considerations for Approximating Head Acceleration Events Using Instrumented Mouthguards	26
Correction to: The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale has a Good Test–Retest Reliability in Well-Trained Athletes With and Without Previously Self-Identified Gastrointestinal Complaints	26
Estimating the Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Novel Lipid Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Multivariate Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	25
Do Exercise-Based Prevention Programs Reduce Injury in Endurance Runners? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	25
Quantifying the Extent to Which Junior Performance Predicts Senior Performance in Olympic Sports: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	24
High-Intensity Interval Training and Cardiometabolic Health in the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials	24
Muscular Fitness and Cardiometabolic Variables in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review	24
Methods to Assess Energy Expenditure of Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Scoping Review	24
The Relationship Between Length and Active Force for Submaximal Skeletal Muscle Contractions: a Review	24
Investigating the Effect of Return-to-Play Timing After Injury on Performance: Does the Analysis Answer the Research Objective?	24
Are Trainees Lifting Heavy Enough? Self-Selected Loads in Resistance Exercise: A Scoping Review and Exploratory Meta-analysis	24
Does Swimming Exercise Impair Bone Health? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing the Evidence in Humans and Rodent Models	24
Delaying Tackling in Youth Contact Sports: Moving toward a Safer Future or Softening the Game?	24
The Effects of Pre-conditioning on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	24
Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	24
The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale has a Good Test–Retest Reliability in Well-Trained Athletes With and Without Previously Self-Identified Gastrointestinal Complaints	23
Effectiveness of Adult Health Promotion Interventions Delivered Through Professional Sport: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	23
Clarifying the Application of HIIT in Oncology Settings: a Response to “High-Intensity Interval Training for Cancer Patients: Taking Training Progression, Feasibility, and Patient Preferences into Acc	23
The Effect of Resistance Training in Healthy Adults on Body Fat Percentage, Fat Mass and Visceral Fat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	23
Brain Neuroplasticity Related to Lateral Ankle Ligamentous Injuries: A Systematic Review	23

Within Session Exercise Sequencing During Programming for Complex Training: Historical Perspectives, Terminology, and Training Considerations	23
Authors’ Response to Comment on: “Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research”	23
Isometric Exercise Training and Arterial Hypertension: An Updated Review	23
Influence of Preterm Birth and Low Birthweight on Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression	23
Primary Periphyseal Stress Injuries in Young Athletes: A Systematic Review	22
Muscle Activity and Activation in Previously Strain-Injured Lower Limbs: A Systematic Review	22
Development of a Revised Conceptual Framework of Physical Training for Use in Research and Practice	22
Physical Fitness Surveillance and Monitoring Systems Inventory for Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review with a Global Perspective	22
Comparison of Weightlifting, Traditional Resistance Training and Plyometrics on Strength, Power and Speed: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis	22
Synthetic Data for Sharing and Exploration in High-Performance Sport: Considerations for Application	22
Identification of Non-Invasive Exercise Thresholds: Methods, Strategies, and an Online App	22
‘Athletes’, ‘Talents’, and ‘Players’: Conceptual Distinctions and Considerations for Researchers and Practitioners	22
The Influence of Nutrition Intervention on the P1NP and CTX-1 Response to an Acute Exercise Bout: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis	22
Association Between the c.34C > T (rs17602729) Polymorphism of the AMPD1 Gene and the Status of Endurance and Power Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	22
Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post-Career Health in Former Professional American-Style Football Players	22
Effects of Exercise on DNA Methylation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials	21
Women at Altitude: Sex-Related Physiological Responses to Exercise in Hypoxia	21
Response to Comment on: “Black Box Prediction Methods in Sports Medicine Deserve a Red Card for Reckless Practice: A Change of Tactics is Needed to Advance Athlete Care”	21
Just How Confident Can We Be in Predicting Sports Injuries? A Systematic Review of the Methodological Conduct and Performance of Existing Musculoskeletal Injury Prediction Models in Sport	21
Effects of Psychological Interventions to Enhance Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis	21
Comment on: “Effects of Oral Iron Supplementation on Blood Iron Status in Athletes: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Meta-regression of Randomized Controlled Trials”	21
Head and Neck Characteristics as Risk Factors For and Protective Factors Against Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Military and Sporting Populations: A Systematic Review	21
“An Informed Risk Assessment”: A Qualitative Exploration of Elite Climbers’ Experiences During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period	21
Assessing Head Acceleration Events in Female Community Rugby Union Players: A Cohort Study Using Instrumented Mouthguards	21
Authors’ Reply to Monferrer-Marín J, et al.: Assessment of Metabolic Flexibility by Means of Measuring Blood Lactate, Fat, and Carbohydrate Oxidation Responses to Exercise in Professional Endurance At	21
Associations Between Instrumented Mouthguard-Measured Head Acceleration Events and Post-Match Biomarkers of Astroglial and Axonal Injury in Male Amateur Australian Football Players	21
Fibre: The Forgotten Carbohydrate in Sports Nutrition Recommendations	20
A Response to Appelbaum et al. “Limited Evidence is NOT No Evidence: A Rebuttal to Fransen, 2024”	20
What is the Effect of Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) Ingestion on Exercise Performance? Current Findings and Future Research Directions	20
Accelerating Visual Anticipation in Sport Through Temporal Occlusion Training: A Meta-Analysis	20
Sex Differences in the Incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest/Death in Competitive Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	20
Psychological Interventions to Improve Elite Athlete Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis	20
Impact of Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Combination with Long-Term Physical Training on Strength, Musculotendinous Remodeling, Functional Recovery, and Body Composition in Healthy Adults: A Syst	20
Sports Metaresearch: An Emerging Discipline of Sport Science and Medicine	20
Resistance Exercise Trims the Fat and Puts Some Muscle into Cancer Survivorship	20
Physical Activity and Cognitive Performance in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials	20