The paper notes that the included studies demonstrated

The gap

Evidence profile

Sourced from the limitations and future work and stated challenges of the source papers, classified as general, spanning 4 journals.

Supporting evidence — 5 representative gaps

• Effects of Acute and Chronic Physical Exercise on Esports Performance: A Systematic Review (2026) · Sports Medicine - Open · doi

  Several limitations should be acknowledged when interpreting the findings of this review. First, the included studies investigated a wide range of esports genres and involved heterogeneous participant populations, ranging from amateur to professional players. This variability limits the direct comparability of results. However, such diversity also reflects the real-world complexity and ecological validity of the esports ecosystem, where different game genres impose distinct physical and cognitive demands. Moreover, many of the included studies differed substantially in how potential confounders were addressed, which complicates the interpretation and comparability of findings. Variables such as baseline physical fitness, prior gaming experience, sleep, fatigue, and habitual physical activity were not consistently controlled for, despite their known influence on both cognitive performance and esports outcomes. In addition, the limited use of covariates and insufficient reporting of participant characteristics in several studies further restricted the ability to in isolate the specific effects of PE. Heterogeneity in study designs—including variation intervention protocols (type, intensity, and duration of exercise), outcome measures, and timing of assessments—further limits comparability across studies. The inconsistent inclusion of control groups and, in some cases, small sample sizes also reduce internal validity and increase the risk-ofbiased estimates. These methodological limitations have important implications for the reliability and generalizability of the findings. While preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits of PE for esports performance and health, the strength of these conclusions is constrained by the underlying study quality and the extent to which confounding variables were adequately controlled. Hence, future research should prioritize more rigorous experimental designs, including randomized controlled trials with clearly defined control conditions. Standardized reporting of key covariates—such as physical fitness, gaming experience, and lifestyle factors—should be implemented to improve comparability across studies. In addition, the parameters used to assess esports performance differed considerably across studies, ranging from in-game performance metrics (e.g., kill/death ratio, aiming accuracy) to cognitive outcomes (e.g., executive function, reaction time). Although this diversity complicates quantitative comparison, it simultaneously highlights the multidimensional nature of esports performance, encompassing both cognitive and motor domains. Recognizing this heterogeneity is essential for guiding future efforts toward standardized assessment protocols that can capture esports performance in a more consistent and theoretically grounded way. Addressing these methodological considerations will be essential for advancing the evidence base and developing robust, evidence-informed training recommendations in esports. Second, many relevant studies were identified through hand-searching, as several esports-related journals are not yet indexed in major scientific databases, such as Web of Science or PubMed. While this could be seen as a limitation, it is important to note that the esports research field is relatively young, and the inclusion of these emerging outlets ensured a more comprehensive and up-to-date evidence base. Excluding such studies would have risked omitting relevant empirical work published in newly established journals. Third, the methodological quality of the included studies was mixed, as indicated by the Downs and Black assessment. Yet, the average methodological quality was good, and many studies showed sound experimental designs and clear reporting of key variables. The inclusion of studies with varying quality levels also allowed for a more realistic overview of the current research landscape and helped identify methodological gaps that future studies can address. Wachholz et al.

  generallimitationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: esports performance comparability physical methodological quality several included base controlled cognitive reporting designs across inclusion
• Relationships among sport participation, sport and social competence, and mental health symptomatology (2026) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi

  in sport engagement, Building on our findings, several avenues for future research warrant further consideration to enhance our understanding of sport participation and adolescent mental health. First, studies should explore variations including frequency, duration, and sport type. There is evidence that sustained participation and team-based contexts may enhance mental health benefits through repeated exposure to positive environments and opportunities for skill development, social interaction, and mastery (30, 61, 62). Expanding measures to capture these multidimensional aspects of sport could clarify how different experiences shape outcomes. Second, attention should be given to participant characteristics and moderating factors. For example, gender, age, socioeconomic status, and neighborhood resources all appear to influence how sport participation relates to competence and mental health (63). For in reducing internalizing symptoms through sport competence, while boys may show a reduction in depressive symptoms (12, 55, 56). Similarly, younger adolescents may gain more in collaboration and open-mindedness, whereas older adolescents show stronger improvements in emotional regulation (36). instance, girls may benefit most the (26, organization 64). Exploring Third, future research could investigate different levels of sport engagement, including elite vs. recreational participation. Elite athletes often engage in advanced self-regulation and interpersonal skills, which may interact with mental health outcomes and categorization of sports, school-based vs. recreational programs, and year-round vs. seasonal participation could reveal important mechanisms through which sport contributes to well-being (65). Longitudinal designs would also provide a greater level of insight into how sport participation, competence, and mental health develop over time. Understanding this temporal element could inform interventions aimed at sustaining engagement, building competence, and targeting mental health outcomes across adolescence. This recommendation also supports the notion to develop meaningful relationships which are likely to contribute to more positive athlete mental health outcomes (66). These directions present opportunities for sport participation to be engaged as a time with athletes that coaches need Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 08 frontiersin.org Anderson-Butcher et al. 10.3389/fspor.2026.1833949 viable pathway for supporting adolescent mental health, while identifying the specific conditions and populations for which it is most effective. relationship between sport participation and internalizing behaviors, in particular, demonstrating further how sport as a developmental context can support adolescent mental health in positive ways.

  generalfuture workevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sport mental health participation outcomes competence engagement adolescent positive building future further enhance understanding including
• Cognitive performance recovery following marijuana cessation in NCAA division I athletes (2026) · Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · doi

  This study should be interpreted in light of several limitations. First, it originated as an applied athlete-support evaluation within a university football program rather than a prospectively designed research protocol. As a result, several baseline variables that would strengthen causal inference were not systematically collected, including detailed THC exposure history (e.g., exact frequency, dose, potency, concurrent edible use), route(s) of administration beyond self-reported smoking, and standardized quantification of other substances such as caffeine or nicotine. Second, the study did not include a matched non-THC control group or randomized improvements cannot be assessment order, so the observed attributed solely to abstinence. Although an independent football comparison sample assessed approximately one year apart showed only modest average change in overall S2 performance (about +0.14 SD) with high longitudinal stability, these data do not eliminate the possibility that maturation, football-specific training, or retest effects contributed to improvement in the present cohort. Third, direct on-field football outcomes were not measured in this sample. Accordingly, the practical implications discussed here should be interpreted as translational rather than as direct evidence that the observed cognitive differences produced measurable changes in game performance. Finally, the sample was limited to football players, which constrains male NCAA Division generalizability to other sports, female athletes, and non-athlete populations. The current manuscript’s design and sample description reflect two-timepoint framework.

  generallimitationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: football sample athlete interpreted several applied within rather observed performance direct sports light limitations first
• The Synergy of Wearable Optical Heart Rate Sensor Technology and Box Breathing in Real-Time Decision Making in Precision, Explosive, and Intermittent Sports (2026) · Physical Education Theory and Methodology · doi

  Several limitations of the present study should be ac- knowledged. First, the intervention duration was relatively short (six weeks); although significant effects were observed, longer intervention periods are required to determine the sus- tainability and long-term transfer of the observed cognitive and physiological improvements. Second, the sample consist- ed exclusively of male athletes, which limits the generalizabil- ity of the findings to female athletes and mixed-gender popu- lations. Third, despite using validated devices, optical heart rate (OHR) sensors are susceptible to motion artifacts during highly dynamic movements, which may affect signal preci- sion, particularly in explosive and intermittent sport contexts, even though mitigation algorithms were applied. Fourth, the study focused on performance and physiological outcomes and did not include direct psychological measures such as per- ceived stress, attentional control, or working memory, which would have allowed a more comprehensive explanation of the mechanisms underlying decision-making improvements. Fi- nally, although athletes from different sport types (precision, explosive, intermittent) were included to enhance ecological validity, the study did not conduct sport-specific differential analyses, thereby limiting conclusions regarding whether the magnitude of effects differed across sport categories.

  generallimitationsevidence 5/5
  Keywords: sport athletes intervention effects observed physiological improvements explosive intermittent several limitations present knowledged first duration
• The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in Enhancing Psychological Well-Being in Athletes: A Scoping Review of Randomised Controlled Trials (2026) · Healthcare · doi

  The paper notes that the included studies demonstrated considerable diversity in participant characteristics, encompassing athletes from different sports, competitive standards, age groups, and demographic backgrounds. The review identifies methodological and conceptual gaps in the existing literature. The paper notes that the relatively small sample sizes of the included studies may limit statistical power and the generalisability of findings across different athlete populations.

  generalstated challengesevidence 5/5
  Keywords: paper notes included studies demonstrated considerable diversity participant

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