Abstract Introduction The aim of the study was to analyse the deviations of the body posture and to assess the occurrence of spine deformities. Additionally, Body Mass Index in school children was related to the trend in postural deformities for different age groups (5-8 years old, n=112; 9-11 years old, n=205; 12-14 years old, n=212) as part of the project “Spine Lab”, granted from the European Commission IPA founds, investigating the importance of public health issues. Methods Body posture was measured using Contemplas 3D software analyser, based on video image trajectory and BIA weight scale (Tanita BC 420). Overall, 17 variables were assessed, and differences were confirmed using MANOVA analysis. Results The results showed that there is a significant difference between age groups for the measured variables (F=9.27; p<0.01; η2=0.26), suggesting a moderate difference across the age span. Conclusion The study results showed that there is a negative trend of increasing Body Mass Index within the first and youngest age group. The fact is that the trend of increasing deformity of the shoulder belt has been noted, often inclining towards the formation of milder forms of kyphotic posture. Other forms of deformity that are accentuated in the survey results are the negative trend of increasing pelvic rotation and pelvis rotation which inclines towards the formation of lordotic posture for all three age groups.

Original scientific paper Purpose of the research was to compare the effects of dynamic and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on knee isokinetic strength and power parameters. Sample size of 50 male athletes is represented as male athletes divided into sub-samples of 10 athletes at competitive level in karate (19 ± 2,4), taekwondo (20 ± 3,6), boxing (19,8 ± 4,3), football (15,1 ± 0,3) and track and field sprint (18,3 ± 2,6). Isokinetic parameters of the knee were measured using Biodex isokinetic system3, at two angular speeds 60 °/s and 180 °/s. Parameters were measured after dynamic stretching protocol and again 48 h later after PNF protocol. For karate and taekwondo fighters no statistically significant differences were found. For boxers, football players and sprinters the values of strength and power parameters were higher after dynamic warm-up protocol at a statistically significant level. Results of this study confirmed that dynamic stretching contributes to higher values of the strength and power of thigh muscles compared to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.

Parallel programming is a form of computation in which the calculations are carried out simultaneously, operating on the principle where large problems can be divided into smaller, which are then solved in parallel. Most common this programming is used in high performance computing, but due to the physical constraints which prevent frequency scaling the interest is even higher. As computers consumption has become a problem in the recent years, the parallel programming has grown into the dominant paradigm in computer architecture, mainly in the form of multicore processors. The paper shows the process of designing parallel programs and it includes some results obtained by testing the parallel programming performance of different nVIDIA GeForce graphics cards. The purpose of the test is to compare performance of several types of GPUs for various applications. The results of the test could not specifically say which GPU is best due to the different features of the cards, but they can be used to determine which card offers better performances for different parts of the tests.

The subject of this study is to determine predictive contributions of morphological characteristics and motor abilities on the 60m hurdles, with an aim to form a group of easily applicable field tests so as to identify boys who are talented in hurdle racing. The subject sample of this study was comprised of 60 boys aged 12-13. The variable sample consisted of a 60m hurdles criterion variable and a set of 13 predictor variables comprising of morphological characteristics, speed - strength abilities and the subjects' coordination qualities.  Applying the regression analysis, the predictive contribution of a complete variable set of morphological characteristics and motor abilities was determined as an above average statistical significance, influencing 60m hurdle outcome. The greatest individual statistically significant predictive contribution was achieved by the variables of speed-strength quality assessment: 20m flying start race result with a standing long jump; and only one variable from the field of morphological characteristics: the shin length. The results support the following conclusion: the two specific variables of speed-strength quality, and 20m flying start race results along with standing long jump, can be relevant predictors of successful outcome in hurdle races.

The aim of the paper is to define which biomechanical parameters explain and define the difficulty vault value. The study sample included 64 vaults from the Code of Points (COP) of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG, 2009). The dependent variable included all difficulty values ranging from 2-7.2 points, while the sample of independent variables included 12 biomechanical variables (data was collected from the literature and our measurements). With regression analysis we explained 92.4% of the difficulty vault value. Only three biomechanical variables were predictors: degrees of turns around transversal axis, degrees of turns around longitudinal axis and body's moment of inertia around transversal axis in the second flight phase.