JSAMS

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.

Authors of the article, "The effect of lowering the maximum tackle height in English Schoolboy rugby union on tackle characteristics and all-injury and concussion rates", published in JSAMS Volume 29, Issue 3, respond to a letter to the editor commenting on the research.
Read the response here: https://zurl.co/uLzsN

Measuring physical activity in toddlers is challenging, with their unique movement patterns limiting the accuracy of traditional accelerometer methods.

A research team in Canada developed machine learning models that more accurately distinguish physical activity, sedentary time and non-volitional movement in toddlers, outperforming many existing methods.

Importantly, the researchers also developed an open-access, no-coding-required tool, making these models accessible to researchers and clinicians and supporting more accurate links between toddler movement, health outcomes and physical activity guidelines.

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

This study evaluated the reliability and sensitivity of sprint and step-test protocols for monitoring aerobic and anaerobic performance in swimmers and triathletes.

The findings support the 3-minute step test as a highly reliable tool, particularly for lactate-based intensity markers such as vLT1, vLT2 and peak swimming speed, helping detect small but meaningful changes in performance. In contrast, the 20-second sprint test showed only moderate reliability and requires further refinement before routine diagnostic use.

The study also suggests lactate-based thresholds may provide more reliable guidance for training intensity prescription than heart rate measures.

Read the article: https://zurl.co/6MSua