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HPC researchers shared key findings on recovery, wearable technology, and tactical readiness at the premier military health scientific symposium.

The Ohio State University is partnering with the U.S. Soccer Federation to push the frontiers of recovery science—the quickly evolving discipline focused on restoring athletes’ readiness between training, competition and injury. Through the university’s Human Performance Collaborative (HPC), the partnership is translating laboratory science into practical tools and protocols for soccer athletes, with studies underway and new findings slated for release this spring.

Ohio State programs are helping student-athletes compete at a championship level

This study reveals that upper-body strength declines more rapidly in males than females with age, whereas trending results suggest that bone mineral density may show a stronger decline in female participants. We found that upper-body strength and lean mass predict arm bone mineral density, and these relationships strengthen with age. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining upper-body strength for skeletal health, particularly in female participants, to miti-gate osteoporosis risk.

A study using more than 27,000 sleep records of collegiate athletes provides the best evidence to date that early morning team practices take a toll on healthy sleep. Researchers at The Ohio State University used data from wearable sleep trackers to measure sleep for 359 varsity athletes over five years. They found that when male athletes had team practices that began before 8 a.m., they averaged about 30 minutes less sleep the night before when compared to later morning workouts. Female athletes averaged about 20 minutes less sleep.

Optimal recovery supports health and enhances performance in soccer players, yet the empirical evidence on various recovery strategies in soccer is complex to interpret. This review aimed to summarize the literature on post-exercise recovery modalities in male and female soccer players of all ages and competition levels. Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, SPORTDiscuss, and Web of Science were systematically searched until 17 October 2023. Randomized controlled trials or within-subjects crossover design studies that examined the effects of post-exercise recovery interventions on physical, psychological, or performance outcomes in soccer players were included. A single reviewer extracted data and assessed study quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Overall, 41 studies were included in the final review. The recovery strategies represented in these studies were organized into the following categories: active recovery, blood flow restriction, cold water immersion, contrast water therapy, compression garments, active cool-down, cryotherapy, cold garments, sleep and daytime nap, pneumatic cooling, foam rolling, mindfulness interventions, nutritional intervention, and static stretching. The findings demonstrated that cold-water immersion consistently improved jump performance and perceptions of fatigue, soreness, and overall well-being. Other recovery strategies, such as active recovery, compression therapy, sleep interventions, and nutrition supplementation, also positively impacted recovery, albeit with varying levels of effectiveness and evidence. However, the studies exhibited heterogeneity in methods, outcome measures, and recovery intervention protocols, posing challenges for generalizability. This review summarizes recovery strategies for soccer players, emphasizing the need for practitioners, coaches, and athletes to individualize interventions based on athletes’ needs, preferences, and competition level.

This comprehensive review examines the historical progression and scientific foundations of resistance training in women, challenging long-standing misconceptions and highlighting the physiological mechanisms that support strength development and health outcomes. The authors detail sex-specific hormonal influences, training adaptations, and the implications for program design, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches tailored to female physiology. The article serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and practitioners seeking to optimize resistance training strategies for women across diverse populations. Read the full article to explore the nuanced interplay between history, biology, and performance.

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