JSAMS

How do elite open water swimmers respond to competing in different water temperatures?

Core temperature monitoring of 50 elite swimmers revealed highly variable responses, with mild hypothermia and hyperthermia occurring within the same races. Core temperature was not associated with race time or ranking, and temperature acclimation practices were not linked to reduced temperature-related risk.

The findings spotlight the complex thermoregulatory demands of open water swimming and the need for sport-specific strategies to better protect athlete health and performance.

Full article: https://zurl.co/r1X17

Resistance training supports strength and body composition across the female lifespan.

A meta-analysis of 126 studies involving more than 4,000 women found resistance training improved muscular strength and muscle mass while reducing fat mass, with similar benefits in pre- and postmenopausal women.

The findings suggest general resistance training guidelines may be broadly applicable to women, while highlighting the importance of individualised programming and the need for more research in middle-aged and older women.

Read more: https://zurl.co/Pw8i0

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) risk may be widespread among high-level female athletes.

In this Finnish cohort, 70% of participants were classified as at risk of REDs, rising to 82% among endurance athletes. Endurance athletes also had 2.4-fold higher odds of REDs risk and showed less favourable hormonal, metabolic and menstrual health indicators.

The findings support routine, sport-specific REDs screening, using multiple clinical indicators rather than relying on a single marker.

Read the article: https://zurl.co/94bzQ

Can machine learning help identify sporting talent?

A preliminary study found podium-level divers demonstrated superior ankle proprioception and visual-vestibular smooth pursuit compared with entry-level participants. A machine-learning model differentiated the groups with 94.4% accuracy within the study sample.

The findings highlight the potential of visual-vestibular-somatosensory assessment as a complementary tool in talent identification—but longitudinal validation is needed before application in practice.

Read the full article here: https://zurl.co/0547H

Susceptibility to Achilles tendon injuries - is the answer in your genes?
This study investigated the potential link between two genetic variants and Achilles tendinopathy.
Read more: https://zurl.co/T5EBu

Want to learn more about the research published in JSAMS? Catch up on every episode of our Ask the JSAMS Author series on our website: https://zurl.co/QlGOo

Results from a study in Costa Rica show that wearing water-resistant SPF50 sunscreen during prolonged exercise in hot conditions can result in a small but significant increase in core body temperature (~0.2°C) and greater thirst while skin temperature and body mass loss remain unchanged.

The findings highlight an important consideration for athletes and outdoor workers: balancing essential sun protection with effective heat management during prolonged activity in hot environments.

Read the article: https://zurl.co/7BUZN

Analysis of a Canadian clinical trial shows both high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) may help reduce hypertensive responses to exercise. Notably, a greater proportion of participants achieved a clinically meaningful reduction in peak systolic blood pressure following MICT compared with HIIT (43% vs 19%).

The findings highlight the importance of monitoring individual blood pressure responses and tailoring exercise prescription for people living with atrial fibrillation.

Read the article: https://zurl.co/tngW2

Toomas Timpka and Tim Meyer discuss the appropriate use of AI in the peer review process and highlight three articles in the September 2026 JSAMS Editorial.
Read: https://zurl.co/O7H4m

JSAMS Volume 29, Issue 10 – September 2026 is live.
🔗 Access the issue here https://zurl.co/WoxaV

Editor’s Choice articles are free for everyone to access for a limited time. Subscribers can explore the full issue, featuring research across sport and exercise medicine, exercise therapy, sports injury, physical activity and public health, and sport and exercise science.