Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42531227›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2026

Does delayed exercise-based priming improve subsequent athletic performance? A systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis.

Zitao Wang, Haitao Li, Wanyuan Xia, Ziqi Jin, Shiping Fu, Zhenxin Nie

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zitao WangSchool of Physical Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3565-2465
Haitao LiSchool of Physical Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
Wanyuan XiaWee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Ziqi JinSchool of Physical Education, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
Shiping FuYunnan Physical Science and Sports Professional College, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.
Zhenxin NieYunnan Physical Science and Sports Professional College, Kunming, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This systematic review and multilevel meta-analysis examined whether delayed exercise-based priming improves subsequent athletic performance. Following PRISMA 2020 principles, 3,095 records were identified; after removing 1,107 duplicates, 1,988 unique records were screened, 212 full-text reports were assessed, 186 reports were excluded at eligibility, and 26 studies were included. Eighteen studies contributed 46 effect sizes to the quantitative synthesis. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 principles calibrated for crossover exercise trials, and certainty was evaluated using GRADE. A three-level random-effects model showed a small positive average effect of delayed priming on subsequent performance (g = 0.232, 95% CI [0.092, 0.372], p = .002), with cluster-robust inference supporting the same conclusion (p = .004). The prediction interval crossed zero (-0.265 to 0.730), and the overall certainty of evidence was low. Delayed exercise-based priming can be used as a practical competition-day strategy when embedded in planned preparation windows, although protocol selection and athlete response should be checked in training before competition use.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceExerciseHumansTime Factors

Identifiers

PMID42531227
PMCPMC13422850

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.