High handgrip strength in men’s artistic gymnastics is crucial, mainly for improving performance and to potentially prevent injuries, as well as for the fact that gymnasts body movements are around immovable apparatuses (pommel horse, rings, parallel bars and high bar) for the extended period of time. Since there are not so many studies that have dealt with this topic and on actual competition, we have aimed to examine the handgrip strength influence on the competition result in elite male artistic gymnasts. The sample of participants were conducted of 37 elite male artistic gymnasts (8–21 years old), from 8 different countries as national team competitors at the International Competition “Laza Krstić and Marica Dželatović” held in Novi Sad, Serbia. Basic anthropometric measurements were included (body height, body weight and Body Mass Index (BMI)), along with training experience and handgrip strength measurement (both dominant and nondominant hand). Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z test (p < 0.05) was used for distribution normality, along with regression analysis with Model 1 (participants age, training experience, body height, body weight and BMI), Model 2 (Model 1 + dominant handgrip strength) and Model 3 (Model 1 + nondominant handgrip strength). SPSS v.20 was used for all statistical analysis. Our study have revealed that there is significant influence of all 3 Models on the parallel bars final result (p = 0.33; p = 0.49; p = 0.31, respectively), in terms of all set of variables, whereas body weight Beta scores (28.6%; 30.3%; 32.7%, respectively) moslty explains the results. Both dominant and nondominant handgrip strength are influential factors only on the parallel bars final result. Since both hands are contributing equally, bilateral training is necessary. In order to expand the knowledge on this topic and completely understand the influential factors, future studies are needed on this sample. Regardless of our main findings, our results should be taken with caution.

Aim of this paper was to examine the contribution of football experience and the self-assessment of tactical/technical skills and social competencies on the perceived self-efficacy in junior and senior football players. A total of 164 football players from Bosnia & Herzegovina have taken part in the research, 79 of which were professional senior players and 85 were professional U18 (junior) players. Three measuring instruments were used in the research: A questionnaire on general information, a self-assessment scale of self-efficacy for football players and a scale for estimating tactical/ technical and social competencies in football was used to gather data. Based on the results and the conducted analyses, it is indicative that the model that encompasses the length of football experience and a self-assessment of tactical/technical and social competencies in senior football players contributed around 8.5% to the total explanation of perceived self-efficacy. In senior players, the length of experience has a greater significance in perceived self-efficacy compared to the perceived success in performing football elements. The set model doesn’t have an equal contribution in junior players, where the model entirely contributed with 14.3% of the explanation of perceived self-efficacy, and the perceived success of performing football elements also has a statistically significant contribution. So, the model which encompasses football experience and the perceived success in performing football elements (tactical/technical and social competencies in football) is not equally predictive in junior and senior players.

We aimed to investigate whether the addition of whole-body vibration (WBV) to resistance training (RT) will be more beneficial in improving lower limbs muscle strength, power and sprinting performance than RT alone in young basketball players. We recruited 30 young basketball players to participate in four weeks of training and assessments. They were randomized into the WBV resistance training group (VRTG, n=15) and a conventional resistance training group (RTG, n=15), performed 3 times per week. At the beginning and end of the four weeks a back squat one-repetition maximum (1RMBS), Countermovement jump (CMJ), Squat jump (SJ), 10 meters (10m) and 20 meters sprint (20m) were performed. We found that: a) VRTG when added to RT can induce greater improvements in 1RMBS (percentage difference [PD], 8.4%, p < 0.001), CMJ (PD = 4.7%, p = 0.001) and SJ (PD = 1.6, p = 0.02) than RT alone. In contrary, significant time*group interactions were found for sprint times at 10m (p=0.08, F=3.2) and 20m (p=0.17, F=1.93). An additional 4-week WBV resistance training program proved effective in improving lower limb power and strength in young basketball players. When performed on a vibration platform (with accurate and constant vibration stimulus parameters), the resistance exercises were superior to their conventional forms and resulted in additional gains on measures of muscle power and strength, while sprint performance remained unchanged.

Considering the growing global problem and the lack of obesity data in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) the main aim of this paper was to determine BH school-age children body composition and determine the differences in body composition between girls and boys classified in underweight, normal weight and overweight according to the body mass index (BMI) score. 2524 participants 1763 girls and 761 boys (aged 10-13 yrs.) from 32 elementary schools were randomly selected and divided to 3 BMI groups by WHO cut-off points. InBody 370 Body Composition Analyzer (BioSpace, Seoul, Korea), a segmental bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device was used to gather data. The results showed ~38% of the sample were classified as overweight whilst gender differences showed higher body fat mass and fat percentages in arms, trunk and legs in underweight and normal weight girls and higher skeletal muscle mass in normal weight and overweight boys.

This study aimed to examine the relation between agility, sprint ability, and vertical jump performance of young basketball players. Fifty (n=50) young basketball players (mean±SD: age = 12.63±0.95; height = 160.84±6.31 cm; body mass = 50.82±6.88 kg) participated in the study. The agility T-test and 505 test were assessed to determine agility, 10m and 20m sprint was measured to determine sprint ability and countermovement jump (CMJ) for jumping performance. The results of Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis indicated large to very large relation between agility tests and sprint performance (r = 0.61 to 0.85); agility and jump performance (r = - 0.64 to - 0.67); sprint and jumping performance (r = -0.59 to -0.77). The results of the study suggest that agility, sprint, and jumping performance share common physical demands, therefore it is necessary to develop them during the training.

concept and and/or assembly of data; data analysis and interpretation; Research on moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) is closely connected with primary and secondary cardiovascular protection but also can be associated with primary bypass patency and outcome of endovascular treatment for critical iliac stenosis TASC II A and B. After specific surgical or non-surgical treatment, iliac bypass or endovascular revascularization patency still depends on an individual and is still in the eye of scientific research modalities. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an efficient surrogate parameter in detection and prediction of cerebrovascular events and potential marker of generalized atherosclerosis with prognosis of peripheral arterial disease related to prognosis of atherosclerotic coronary hemodynamic pathology. Materials and methods. A total of 139 patients were observed during 4 years of MICT. Ultrasonography of the distal part of the common carotid artery (CCA) was performed to measure CIMT before and after revascularization procedure. The bypass patency and walking distance was also studied. Results. In the total population, no difference in changes of CIMT from baseline was observed between the standard exercise group and controls in 4 years. However, there was a significant correlation between the effect of exercise training and CIMT within 4 years. CIMT was not significantly reduced in the exercise group compared with control non-diabetic patients. Conclusions. Exercise training in both groups did not significantly change carotid intima-media thickness in the four years following endovascular procedure and Dacron bypass revascularization, but significant beneficial effect of moderate-intensity continuous training on bypass patency was observed in patients with mild or without claudication symptoms as well as on subjective and objective health status.

ABSTRACT Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability, validity, and usefulness of 30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT) in female basketball players. Methods: Nineteen female basketball players (17.82 ± 1.94 yr, 175.4 ± 7.3 cm, 67.9 ± 7.7 kg) competing in the National Croatian League performed one trial of a continuous treadmill running test and two trials of the 30-15IFT. The 30-15IFT involves 30-s runs across a 40-m course interspersed with 15 s of walking, with running speed increasing every 45 s. The continuous treadmill running test was used as the criterion for validation. Results: High to very high reliability across test–retest trials were observed for maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (CV = 4.9%, ICC = 0.85), the 30-15IFT end-running velocity (VIFT) (CV = 6.0%, ICC = 0.85), and maximal heart rate (HRmax) (CV = 4.8%, ICC = 0.96). Criterion validity was supported for the 30-15IFT with strong to very strong relationships with VO2max (r =0.69), VIFT (r =0.74), and HRmax (r =0.73) attained during the continuous treadmill running test. The typical error (TE) of the 30-15IFT was greater than the smallest worthwhile change for VO2max (1.16 > 0.42 ml/kg/min), VIFT (0.56 > 0.20 km/h), and HRmax (2.15 > 1.89 bpm) adjudging usefulness of the test as marginal. The TE of 0.56 km/h (90% CI = 0.44–0.77 km/h) demonstrates changes in the performance of one to two stages (0.5–1.0 km/h) are meaningful. Conclusions: The 30-15IFT possesses acceptable reliability and validity to assess maximal aerobic fitness capacity in female basketball players. While the usefulness of the 30-15IFT was marginal, meaningful changes in performance consisted of only one to two stages. The present findings support the 30-15IFT as a practical testing option for basketball practitioners to assess fitness capacities in female players.

This research aimed to determine the isokinetic strength differences between two groups of athletes (karate and track-and-field athletics) and to analyse factors that possibly contribute to the differences. We examined possible differences in peak power output and power ratio between agonist and antagonist thigh muscles of the knee. The sample consisted of 20 respondents: karate athletes (n=10; age 19±2.4) and track-and-field athletes (n=10; age 18±2.6). For this study, a valid test (CV<5%) of the isokinetic strength output of the knee extensors and flexors, was used at the angular velocity of 60°/s. Isokinetic variables: Peak torque in extension for both legs (Nm); Peak torque in flexion for both legs (Nm); Total work for both legs (J); Strength deficit involved/uninvolved leg and agonist/antagonist ratio for involved and uninvolved leg. A t-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences. Statistical significance was set at the conventional 95%. In the sample of examined variables, the first tested group of athletes (karate) achieved higher power output values with the dominant leg, except in the case of the peak torque extensors. In the second tested group of athletes (track-and-field athletics), a higher power output values are registered with dominant leg, except in the case of the total work flexor with almost identical value of dominant and non-dominant leg. In the variables of the peak torque of the dominant leg (p=0.002) and the peak torque of the non-dominant leg (p=0.019), statistically significant differences were noted between two tested groups of athletes (p<0.01, p<0.05). The unilateral relationship of the dominant leg (p=.003) significantly differentiates two groups of athletes (p<0.01). The better performance of track-and-field athletes is probably the result of the specificity of the structure of their motor movement and greater muscular work in training and competition. In contrast, the lower results of peak torque and total work in karate athletes compared to track athletes do not necessarily mean situational inferiority. Evaluation and assessment of knee dynamic stabilizers’ isokinetic profile can lead to the optimal selection of training operators, during the construction of the overall training program for athletes. Results of different outputs of force and strength may indicate a differently shaped approach to training.

The aim of this research was to determine the differences among the top soccer players of the two clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, FC Sarajevo and FC Zeljeznicar, both from Sarajevo in the body composition and morphological characteristics. A sample of 51 subjects was divided into two sub-samples. The first sub-sample of the subjects consisted of 25 players FC Sarajevo of the average age 23.60±4.66, who occupied the first position on the table after the semi-season 2018/19, while the other sub-sample consisted of 26 players of FC Zeljeznicar of the average age of 23.58±4.93, who occupied the fourth position on the table after the semiseason 2018/19. Soccer players were tested between the two semi seasons of the championship 2018/19. Body composition and morphological characteristics in the were evaluated by a battery of 11 variables: body height, body weight, body mass index, fat percentage, muscle mass, upper leg skinfold, lower leg skinfold, triceps skinfold, biceps skinfold, skinfold of the back and abdominal skinfold. The standard central and dispersion parameters of all variables were calculated. The significance of the differences between the players of the top two soccer clubs in the variables for assessing body composition and morphological characteristics was determined by a t-test for independent samples. It was found that the soccer players of the two mentioned clubs have statistically significant differences by the two variables that estimate the upper leg skinfold and triceps skinfold, in favor of FC Sarajevo.

Uvod Informisanost o nivou treniranosti sportista, te uzrocima i posljedicama takvog stanja, bitna je za njihov uspjeh. Poznato je da fudbaleri u igri ostvare veći broj kratkih sprinteva, te da primjenjuju različite načine vođenja lopte, pravolinijski i sa promjenom smjera kretanja. Struktura agilnosti s loptom je mnogo složenija u odnosu na takvo kretanje bez lopte (Sporiš, Milanović, Trajković, & Joksimović, 2011). Brzina i eksplozivna snaga se smatraju preduslovom za uspjeh u omladinskom fudbalu (Reilly, Bangsbo, & Franks, 2000), naglašavajući pritom ubrzanja na kratkim udaljenostima. Visina i tjelesna težina su značajno povezane sa fi zičkom izvedbom u slučaju mladih fudbalera ( Mathisen & Petersen, 2015). Ipak se sa sigurnošću ne može izolovati neka osobinu ili sposobnost koja donosi odlučujuću prednost u utakmici. Fudbaleri su tjelesno lakši od osoba koje žive sedentarnim načinom života (Popović, Akpinar, Jaksic, Matic, & Bjelica, 2013), ali i niži u odnosu košarkaše, odbojkaše i rukometaše juniorske kategorije (Masanovic & Vukasevic, 2009; Masanovic, 2018). Međutim, u sportovima gdje se traži velika brzina kretanja, nagla promjena pravca u velikoj brzini kretanja, grubi sudari sa protivnikom (fudbal i hokej), tjelesna visina ne samo da nije dominantna, nego je u određenoj mjeri i nepovoljna (Bjelica & Fratrić, 2011). Međusobni odnos tjelesne visine i težine (body mass index), te udio masne komponente (% fat mass) u ukupnoj tjelesnoj masi, za trenere može biti važna informacija. Optimalne vrijednosti BMI-a mogu rezultirati u poboljšanju opšteg nivoa tjelesne i anaerobne snage (Nikolaidis, 2014). Fudbaleri imaju povoljan sadržaj mišića sa niskim nivoom tjelesnih masti (Popovic, Bjelica, Jaksic, & Hadzic, 2014). Ipak, višak tjelesnih masti stvara nepotreban teret i umanjuje učinkovitost u igri, te značajno narušava elemente tehnike mladih fudbalera (Nemčić, Fiorentini, & Sporiš, 2018). Vrijednosti tjelesnih masti za vrhunske fudbalere su u prosjeku 7-12%, te su niže nego u slučaju sedentarnih ljudi, ali su takođe više u odnosu na trkače u sportovima izdržljivosti (Shephard, 1999.). Pored optimalizacije voluminoznosti mišića, na količinu potkožnog masnog tkiva se može uticati dopunskim treningom (Conroy i Earle, 2000), i to djelovanjem u pravcu njene redukcije. S obzirom da se takmičenja omladinskih liga organizuju shodno hronološkoj, a ne biološkoj starosti, često se pojedinci Abstract

Background A previous meta-analysis showed that maximal oxygen uptake increased by 3.51 mL/kg/min (95% CI 3.07 to 4.15) during a recreational football programme of 3–6 months in comparison with continuous moderate-intensity running, strength training or a passive control group. In addition, narrative reviews have demonstrated beneficial effects of recreational football on physical fitness and health status. Objective The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the magnitude of effects of recreational football on blood pressure, body composition, lipid profile and muscular fitness with reference to age, gender and health status. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources MEDLINE, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Google Scholar were searched prior to 1 February 2017. In addition, Google Scholar alerts were set up in January 2012 to identify potential papers with the following key terms: recreational football, recreational soccer, street football and street soccer. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Randomised and matched controlled trials with participants allocated to a recreational football group or any other type of exercises or passive control group were included. Training programmes had to last at least 2 weeks to meet the inclusion criteria. The primary outcome measures were blood pressure, resting heart rate, body composition, muscular fitness, and blood lipids and glucose tolerance. A total of 31 papers met the inclusion criteria and were included. Results The effect of recreational football on systolic blood pressure (SBP) versus no-exercise controls was most likely extremely largely beneficial (effect size (ES)=4.20 mm Hg; 95% CI 1.87 to 6.53). In addition, a most likely very large beneficial (ES=3.89 mm Hg; 95% CI 2.33 to 5.44) effect was observed for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), when compared with non-active groups. Furthermore, a most likely extremely large beneficial effect was shown for SBP and DBP in participants with mild hypertension (11 and 7 mm Hg decrease, respectively) and participants with prehypertension (10 and 7 mm Hg decrease, respectively). Meta-analysis of recreational football determined the impact on resting heart rate as most likely extremely largely beneficial (ES=6.03 beats/min; 95% CI 4.43 to 7.64) when compared with non-active groups. The observed recreational football effect on fat mass was most likely largely beneficial (ES=1.72 kg; 95% CI 0.86 to 2.58) and the effect on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance was most likely very largely beneficial (ES=2.27 cm; 95% CI 1.29 to 3.25) when compared with non-active groups. Possibly beneficial decreases were found in low-density lipoprotein levels (ES=0.21 mmol/L; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.36). Possibly largely beneficial effect was observed for DBP in comparison with continuous running training. Small harmful and unclear results were noted for SBP, fat and lean body mass, body mass index, as well as muscular fitness when compared with running and Zumba training. Conclusion The present meta-analysis demonstrated multiple broad-spectrum benefits of recreational football on health-related physical fitness compared with no-exercise controls, including improvements in blood pressure, resting heart rate, fat mass, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and CMJ performance. Additionally, recreational football is efficient and effective as Zumba and continuous running exercise regimens with highlighted social, motivational and competitive components.

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.