Physical exercise has been recognized as essential for human health and evolution for thousands of 30 years, beginning with ancient cultures. Hippocrates, Plato, Aristotle, and the Roman physician Galen 31 were the earliest-recorded and most well-known promoters of the beneficial effects of physical 32 exercise. Since these times, several dedicated laboratories worldwide have been established, with many 33 researchers conducting numerous investigations related to exercise physiology; nevertheless, a 34 cornerstone of all laboratories is the development of new and novel researchers. These talented and 35 emerging researchers are necessary for our understanding of exercise physiology to reach where we 36 are today (and where we will be in the future). Given the evolution of exercise physiology, the field 37 has incorporated a range of basic to applied scientific investigations, as well as a range of end-users 38 (e.g., researchers, athletes, coaches, physiologists, and clinical/public health professionals) who will 39 benefit from these new advances in exercise physiology. 40 Accordingly, we were delighted to develop a special issue called "Rising Stars in Exercise Physiology" 41 to showcase the work of these emerging researchers. The current special issue has highlighted the work of "rising stars" within the exercise physiology field 99 whom their peers nominated. The continued support of these, and other emerging researchers, will 100 ensure that the future of exercise physiology is advanced for improved performance and health. We 101 look forward to the future advancement of the exercise physiology field. 102
Editorial09 March 2023
Editorial: Rising stars in exercise physiology
Objective: This review study aimed to assess the impact of neuromuscular training (NT) on athletes’ physical fitness in sports. Methods: Three independent reviewers conducted a literature search in various databases: EBSCOHOST, PubMed, WOS, Scopus, ProQuest, Science Direct, additional references, and Google Scholar. The methodological quality was examined using Lubans’ predetermined methods, and data that included trials were excluded. Results: This review included 18 well-conducted systematic studies from 144 relevant publications. These studies were reviewed and have been given a score of 6. Medium-risk studies were scored 3 or 4, while low-risk studies were scored 5 or 6. None of the studies had a high-risk bias. The neuromuscular training intervention revealed that balance (n = 10) was the main characteristic of physical fitness that was evaluated, followed by agility (n = 6), muscular strength (n = 4), speed (n = 5), endurance, and muscular power (n = 2). Subsequently, most studies used an intervention such as plyometric and strength training exercises to improve agility, balance, and muscular strength among athletes. Conclusion: This review implicated that neuromuscular training (NT) focuses on exercises that enhance motor skills which aid athletes in moving their bodies according to their situational needs. The athletes’ slower and faster directions influence their agility, muscular strength, and balance, essential for player performance. It is recommended for future research to investigate the effects of NT on other physical fitness components (flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, body composition, and power) that are essential for athletes of all ages and gender.