Background: Back pain is one of the most common health problems not only in the general population but also in athletes. However, there is a lack of evidence-based findings on the dose-response effect of athletic training on back pain and injuries. The aim of this study was to determine whether training experience affects the intensity of back pain and the number of injuries in moderate-to-high performance team sport athletes. Methods: A total of 147 male soccer players (age 27.8 ± 5.9 y; training experience 17.2 ± 5.6 y) and 179 male ice hockey players (age 29.2 ± 5.9 y; training experience 20.5 ± 6.1 y) were asked to complete questionnaires focusing on back pain and injuries: Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Results: Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between length of training experience and the occurrence of thoracic pain (p=0.005), low back pain (p=0.016), thoracic injuries (p=0.006), and ODI (p=0.007) in soccer players. In hockey players, training duration was significantly correlated with low back pain (p<0.001) and injuries (=0.006), ODI (p<0.001), affective dimension (p<0.001), evaluative dimension (p=0.002), miscellaneous dimension (p=0.027), and total MPQ (p=0.029). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that the length of training experience is another important factor influencing low back pain. Therefore, it is necessary to focus more attention on more experienced players and to include significantly more compensatory exercises and recovery time in their training process.

(1) Background: The aim of the research was to expand the current knowledge about the diets of female university students in relation to the frequency of their sports activity (SA). We were specifically interested in the eating frequency, the distribution of the amount of food during the day, including breakfast in the diet, and the timing of dinner before bedtime. (2) Methods: The sample in this cross-sectional research consisted of 1055 female freshmen university students from the two universities in eastern Slovakia. Data were obtained through a set of selected questions from a questionnaire battery. (3) Results: We found a significant rank–order correlation between the frequency of meals during the day and the level of SA, as well as between the consumption of breakfast and SA. Furthermore, we found a significant indirect dependence on the distribution of meals during the day and SA. The results indicate a better dietary pattern of the more active female students in terms of the frequency of meals. (4) Conclusions: “The healthy behaviour”, which includes proper diet and regular SA, was monitored in the cross-sectional research we conducted, the results of which consistently point to opportunities for further improvement. There is a need for universities to develop professionally targeted programmes that will enable novice students to modify their health behaviours during their studies.

Background: One key factor influencing weight management in adolescents and young adults appears to be social media (SM). Understanding how social networks affect health behavior has gained attention in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the role that social media plays in weight management among university students in Slovakia. Methods: A questionnaire survey (Social media use questionnaire, Figure Rating Scale 2, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire) was used to conduct this research. The sample comprised 313 university students from Slovakia (115 males, 198 females). Results: We found that students who want to change their body type do not engage in more physical activity. Similarly, fitness-related content on social media does not increase the frequency of physical activity. We found that women who want to change their body type tend to compare their bodies with their peers on SM at a significantly higher rate. Conclusion: Future research should focus on different SM platforms and the expertise of individual fitness influencers.