This study was designed to compare the effectiveness of small-sided handball games in combination with handball training (SSG group) versus high-intensity interval training in combination with handball training (HIIT group) on physical performance of young female handball players during...

Swimming speed depends on anthropometric characteristics, biomechanics factors, physical fitness, physiological components, and genetics. Therefore, this study aimed to identify which anthropometric characteristics influence swimming speed in adolescent competitive swimmers. Thirty-eight male swimmers (aged 16.94 ± 0.8 years; body height: 178.3 ± 5.4 cm; body weight 67.7 ± 9.6 kg) and thirty-five female swimmers (aged 17.12 ± 0.7 years; body height: 175.1 ± 6.6 cm; body weight 59.9 ± 7.1 kg) participated in the study. All swimmers have competed at the national level in Serbia for at least three years and have at least five years of training experience. Fifteen variables were measured: arm length, hand length, leg length, foot length, seat height, wrist diameter, ankle joint diameter, elbow diameter, chest circumference, triceps skinfold, forearm skinfold, abdominal skinfold, subscapular skinfold, thigh skinfold, calf skinfold. The measurements were taken by the Martin anthropometer, Omron digital scale BF511, and John Bull caliper. Swimming speed was measured during 50-m and 100-m front crawl swimming. Multiple regression analysis revealed that arm length, wrist diameter, and chest circumference, all together, accounted for 77% of 100-m front crawl swimming speed in male swimmers, while abdominal skinfold accounted for 90% of 100-m front crawl swimming speed in female swimmers. Results showed that anthropometric characteristics could not account for adolescent swimmers' 50-m front crawl swimming speed. However, anthropometric characteristics can influence the result in swimming (100-m front crawl swimming speed) in adolescents and thus should be considered a diagnostic tool in selecting young swimmers.

CrossFit is recognized as one of the fastest-growing high-intensity functional training modes in the world. The study aimed to compare the effects of the CrossFit training program and traditional gym training on anthropometric measurements in healthy, active men. The study sample consisted of 50 participants who were divided into two groups, 22 participants who practiced the CrossFit training program (CFT group; 28.64±2.04 years; body height 181.74±6.96 cm; body mass: 72.75±5.53 kg), and 28 participants who applied traditional gym training (GT group; 26.89±2.99 years; body height: 184.52±7.80 cm; body mass: 74.86±8.48 kg). A total of ten anthropometric measurements (Body height, Body mass, BMI, Subscapular, Abdominal and Triceps skinfolds, Chest, Forearm, Upper arm, and Thigh circumferences) were monitored before and after twelve weeks. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the normality of distribution. The multivariate analysis covariance (MANCOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between groups in the Circumference of the upper arm (p=0.02), Thigh circumference (p=0.00), Chest circumference (p=0.03), and Subscapular skinfold (p=0.00). The findings of this study demonstrated that healthy, active males who participated in the 12-week CrossFit training program improved their anthropometric measurements more than those who trained in the traditional gym training.

Background and Study Aim. Various experimental programs for the development of motor skills are present in sports activities. Explosive strength can be defined as the ability to produce maximum force as soon as possible, and it represents an essential factor in activities where it is necessary to increase the acceleration of the body mass, the mass of specific body parts, or of an external object. The aim of study – to determine the effects of an experimental program on the explosive strength of lower limbs in male adolescents. Material and Methods. One hundred and one male adolescent (aged 19 years ± 6 months; body height 181.43 ± 7.42 cm; body mass 80.08 ± 10.07 kg) were recruited and randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (E; N=48) and control group (K; N=48). The E group performed the experimental program which lasted fifteen weeks and consisted of three 60-min training sessions per week. All participants were tested on Squat Jump (SJ), Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Countermovement Jump with arms (CMJa) and Continuous Jump with Straight Legs (CJSL). The four tests were performed using a Kistler force platform to measure Quatro Jump Bosco Protocol Version 1.0.9.2 and gave us data about the jump height, number of jumps for 15s, average power jump and peak power jump. The multivariate analysis covariance (MANCOVA) and follow up analysis covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. Results. The results of MANCOVA showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) between the E and K groups in all systems of variable lower limb explosive strength in male adolescents. In addition, results of ANCOVA showed statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.001) in SJ, CMJ, CMJa and CJSL in favor of the E group compared to the K one. Conclusions. The results of this research show that a fifteen-week experimental program can lead to significant improvements in lower limb explosive strength in male adolescents. Передумови та мета дослідження. У спортивних заняттях присутні різні експериментальні програми для розвитку моторики. Вибухову силу можна визначити як здатність виробляти максимальну силу якомога швидше, і вона є важливим фактором у діяльності, де необхідно збільшити прискорення маси тіла, маси окремих частин тіла або зовнішнього об’єкта. . Мета дослідження: метою було визначити вплив експериментальної програми на вибухову силу нижніх кінцівок у підлітків чоловічої статі.Матеріал і методи. Сто один підліток чоловічої статі (віком 19 років ± 6 місяців; зріст тіла 181,43 ± 7,42 см; маса тіла 80,08 ± 10,07 кг) були набрані та випадковим чином розділені на дві групи: експериментальну (E; N=48) та контрольну ( K; N=48). Група E виконувала експериментальну програму, яка тривала п'ятнадцять тижнів і складалася з трьох 60-хвилинних тренувань на тиждень. Усі учасники були протестовані на стрибок із присідання (SJ), стрибок із зустрічним рухом (CMJ), стрибок із зустрічним рухом руками (CMJa) та безперервний стрибок із прямими ногами (CJSL). Чотири тести були проведені з використанням силової платформи Kistler для вимірювання протоколу Quatro Jump Bosco версії 1.0.9.2 і дали нам дані про висоту стрибка, кількість стрибків протягом 15 секунд, стрибок середньої потужності та стрибок пікової потужності. Для аналізу даних використовували коваріацію багатовимірного аналізу (MANCOVA) і коваріацію подальшого аналізу (ANCOVA).Результати. Результати MANCOVA показали статистично значущі відмінності (p ≤ 0,001) між групами E та K у всіх системах змінної вибухової сили нижніх кінцівок у підлітків чоловічої статі. Крім того, результати ANCOVA показали статистично значущі відмінності (p ≤ 0,001) у SJ, CMJ, CMJa та CJSL на користь групи E порівняно з групою K.Висновки. Результати цього дослідження показують, що п’ятнадцятитижнева експериментальна програма може призвести до значного покращення вибухової сили нижніх кінцівок у підлітків чоловічої статі.

Handball is a globally popular and physically demanding sport that requires high-intensity intermittent activities, with a particular emphasis on frequent ball throwing or shooting. The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify the risk factors for shoulder injuries in professional male handball players. The secondary aim is to propose preventive measures for reducing shoulder injuries in professional or elite handball players. This study followed the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant studies. Only 8 studies met the eligibility requirements and were incorporated into the review. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) was assessed for the methodological quality of studies. Seven of the total eight studies were considered moderate quality, however, only one study was considered low quality. Based on this review findings, the following risk factors for shoulder injury are prominent among professional and elite male handball players. The primary factors for eventual shoulder injury are shoulder muscle imbalances, range of motion (ROM) discrepancies, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), and scapular dyskinesis. Also, in one study authors specified player position as a potential risk factor.

Background: The physical activity (PA) of the youth and adult population underwent changes during the last 2 years due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and all for the purpose of maintaining the health of the population. The purpose of this study was to estimate the levels of PA in the youth population and the adult population (young and old) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the territory of Vojvodina, Serbia, and to determine the differences between them, as well as to compare these results with the results before the pandemic.Methods: A total of 1,117 subjects (age 36.27 ± 15.08 years) from the territory of Vojvodina, Serbia, participated in the study. Subjects were recruited and assigned to one of the three groups according to their age: youth group (N = 395; age 18–24 years), young adults group (N = 347; from 25 to 44 years), and old adults group (N = 375; age 45–65 years). All participants in this study completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short-Form between July and November 2021, during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vojvodina, Serbia. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn multiple comparison post-hoc method were used for statistical analyses.Results: The youth showed the highest result in total weekly energy expenditure (3,893.72 ± 2,010.01 MET-min/week) compared to young adults (2,528.20 ± 1,804.11 MET-min/week) and old adults (2,369.07 ± 2,084.95 MET-min/week) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vojvodina, Serbia. In addition, adults (young and old) spent more time sitting than youth during the same period. Furthermore, the youth achieved greater results in levels of PA during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the situation before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, adult populations achieved lower results during the COVID-19 pandemic than before the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the youth from Vojovida, Serbia, achieved greater results in PA levels than the adult populations. Based on that, we recommend that it is necessary to take steps toward increasing PA in the adult population, especially old adults.