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Adding red/near-infrared light (laser or LED) to periodized resistance training did not significantly increase maximal strength compared with sham light (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.59). The authors note that a small effect cannot be excluded.

After a CrossFit workout, light combined with a static magnetic field (PBMT-sMF) did not differ from passive rest, compression (IPC) or shockwave on the primary outcome, jump height at 1 hour. On secondary outcomes, PBMT-sMF improved jump height at 24 and 48 hours versus passive rest (p < 0.05), lowered LDH (a muscle-damage marker) at both time points, and was associated with lower oxidative-damage markers and higher antioxidant enzyme activity.

Regular passive heating showed no significant pooled effect on most markers, including flow-mediated dilation, pulse wave velocity, resting heart rate, HRV, fasting glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, triglycerides and CRP. The overall systolic blood pressure change (-2.46 mmHg) was not statistically significant, but whole-body heating interventions were associated with a -4.11 mmHg change (95% CI -7.36 to -0.86).

Post-exercise cold-water immersion reduced muscle soreness for up to 96 h, lowered creatine kinase between 24 and 72 h, and improved muscular power and jump performance at 24-48 h, despite impairing jump performance in the first hours. It did not improve strength and impaired strength and muscle-growth gains with chronic use; protocols of 10-15 min at 10-15 or 5-10 °C appeared most effective.

Cold-water immersion caused a short-term rise in inflammatory markers immediately after (SMD 1.03) and at 1 hour (SMD 1.26), consistent with an acute stress response. Perceived stress was lower 12 hours afterward (SMD -1.00), though not at other time points, and improvements were also observed in sleep quality and quality of life, but not mood.

Participants received 3 consecutive days of active or sham PEMF starting 24 hours after a soreness-inducing drop-jump protocol. Compared with sham, active PEMF improved soreness, pressure pain threshold, functional performance, creatine kinase and myoglobin; in the sham group, pressure pain threshold, functional performance and creatine kinase did not change significantly between baseline and 72 hours.

Heavy resistance training produced larger 1RM gains than light blood-flow-restriction (BFR) training alone (adjusted mean difference 12.20 kg, 95% CI 4.11 to 20.29), whereas PEMF plus light BFR training did not differ statistically from heavy training (p = 0.243). Compared with light BFR alone, adding PEMF improved knee-extensor isometric strength (p = 0.033), squat jump height (p = 0.017) and Wingate peak power (p = 0.011).

Both groups gained muscle performance with training. Hydrogen-rich water (12 mg H2 per serving, twice daily) outperformed control water in reducing markers of acute muscle damage, and several blood lipid and hormone markers also differed between groups at follow-up (p ≤ 0.05). Sleep quality only trended better (p = 0.119).

During 60 minutes of hydrogen inhalation, average blood oxygen saturation was slightly lower than with placebo air (95.9% vs 96.7%, p ≤ 0.007), a change the authors say is not clinically significant. No time-domain or frequency-domain heart rate variability measures changed (all p ≥ 0.32).

There is moderate-certainty evidence that intermittent pneumatic compression after exercise does not reduce muscle soreness at 24 hours compared with control (MD -2.20 points, 95% CI -10.08 to 5.68). By contrast, light (PBMT) applied before exercise reduced soreness (MD -12.27 points, low certainty).

A single 30-minute session of high-pressure compression (200 mmHg) after matches did not improve jump height, quadriceps fatigue, creatine kinase, or self-reported fatigue and soreness versus a placebo cream at 30 min, 24 h or 48 h (no time x group interactions, p = 0.089 to 0.834). Training load and total sleep time influenced recovery markers more.

DXA, BIA and anthropometric measures correlated most strongly with MRI subcutaneous fat, less with visceral fat, and least with liver and pancreas fat. Absolute agreement with MRI-measured visceral fat was highest for DXA-based visceral, trunk and android fat (ICC 0.73-0.94), followed by waist circumference (ICC 0.73-0.77), and then the remaining indices, including BIA.