Hemostatic balance refers to the dynamic balance between blood clot formation (coagulation), blood clot dissolution (fibrinolysis), anticoagulation, and innate immunity. Although regular habitual exercise may lower the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) by improving an individual’s hemostatic profile at rest and during exertion, vigorous exercise may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death and venous thromboembolism (VTE). This literature review aims to investigate the hemostatic system’s acute and chronic adaptive responses to different types of exercise in healthy and patient populations. Compared to athletes, sedentary healthy individuals demonstrate similar post-exercise responses in platelet function and coagulatory and fibrinolytic potential. However, hemostatic adaptations of patients with chronic diseases in regular training is a promising field. Despite the increased risk of thrombotic events during an acute bout of vigorous exercise, regular exposure to high-intensity exercise might desensitize exercise-induced platelet aggregation, moderate coagulatory parameters, and up-regulate fibrinolytic potential via increasing tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and decreasing plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) response. Future research might focus on combining different types of exercise, manipulating each training characteristic (frequency, intensity, time, and volume), or investigating the minimal exercise dosage required to maintain hemostatic balance, especially in patients with various health conditions.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship of body mass index (BMI) with muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness in children living within rural areas (regional unit of West Attica) in Greece. Participants included 399 students (187 boys, 212 girls), ages 8–12 years old, and were evaluated in physical performance tests. The point prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.39% and 26.20% in boys, and 19.90% and 23.79% in girls. Significant differences were observed in all physical performance tests (handgrip, long jump, shuttle run, trunk flexors, and extensors endurance) between normal weight and obese participants. BMI was positively correlated with handgrip (r = 0.442−0.462, p < 0.001). There was a negative association with long jump (r = −0.206, p < 0.001), 20 m shuttle run (r = −0.394, p < 0.001), trunk flexors (r = −0.403, p < 0.001) and trunk extensors endurance (r = −0.280, p < 0.001). The regression analysis showed that 20–30% of the overall variation for physical performance assessments could be accounted for by BMI, age, and sex. With the exception of the long jump and the endurance of the trunk extensors, BMI alone may explain more than 10% of the outcome of most tests. This study highlights the determinant of BMI on muscle and cardiorespiratory fitness. The management of obesity should begin early in childhood to prevent adult chronic cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Classical ballet dancers are exposed daily to physically demanding movements. Among these, the Grand Plié stands out for its biomechanical complexity, particularly the stress applied to the knee joint. This study investigates the knee kinematics of healthy professional classical ballet dancers performing the Grand Plié. Twenty dancers were evaluated with a motion analysis system using a marker-based protocol. Before measurements, the self-reported Global Knee Functional Assessment Scale was delivered for the knees’ functional ability, and the passive range of knee motion was also assessed. The average score on the Global Knee Functional Assessment Scale was 94.65 ± 5.92. During a complete circle of the Grand Plié movement, executed from the upright position, the average maximum internal rotation of the knee joint was 30.28° ± 6.16°, with a simultaneous knee flexion of 134.98° ± 4.62°. This internal rotation observed during knee flexion exceeds the typical range of motion for the joint, suggesting a potential risk for knee injuries, such as meniscal tears. The findings provide an opportunity for future kinematic analysis research, focusing on the movement of the Grand Plié and other common ballet maneuvers. These data have the potential to yield valuable information about the knee kinematics concerning meniscus damage.

Hip fractures are a major health concern, particularly for older adults, as they can reduce life quality, mobility loss, and even death. Current evidence reveals that early intervention is recommended for endurance in patients with hip fractures. To our knowledge, preoperative exercise intervention in patients with hip fractures remains poorly researched, and no study has yet applied aerobic exercise preoperatively. This study aims to investigate the short-term benefits of a supervised preoperative aerobic moderate-intensity interval training (MIIT) program and the added effect of an 8-week postoperative MIIT aerobic exercise program with a portable upper extremity cycle ergometer. The work-to-recovery ratio will be 1-to-1, consisting of 120 s for each bout and four and eight rounds for the pre- and postoperative programs, respectively. The preoperative program will be delivered twice a day. A parallel group, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was planned to be conducted with 58 patients each in the intervention and control groups. This study has two primary purposes. First, to study the effect of a preoperative aerobic exercise program with a portable upper extremity cycle ergometer on immediate postoperative mobility. Second, to investigate the additional effect of an 8-week postoperative aerobic exercise program with a portable upper extremity cycle ergometer on the walking distance at eight weeks after surgery. This study also has several secondary objectives, such as ameliorating surgical and keeping hemostatic balance throughout exercise. This study may expand our knowledge of preoperative exercise effectiveness in hip fracture patients and enhance the current literature about early intervention benefits.

Purpose: Bone mineral measurements and their association with peak impact and sport-specific, persistent muscle loads were examined in 10 elite artistic swimmers age 15–19 years. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) of total body, total body less head, spine, and dominant and nondominant limbs were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Peak ground-reaction forces of 2 dry jumps (countermovement jump and frog jump) were measured on a force plate. Peak forces applied during in-water exercises (vertical scull, barracuda push, and kick pull) were measured. Results: On average, artistic swimmers’ total-body BMD (1.12 [0.08] g/cm²) was similar to values reported for young swimmers and nonathletic females, and total-body BMC (2359 [399] g) was higher than previously reported in race swimmers. Based on previously published reference curves, 9 out of 10 artistic swimmers had total-body less head BMD and BMC at or above the 90th percentile, with average to above average z scores and height-adjusted z scores for their age. Countermovement jump and frog jump exhibited moderate peak ground-reaction forces (2.61 [0.46] and 1.93 [0.42] N/kg, respectively). In water, greater force was exerted in kick pull (60.4 [4.8] N) compared with vertical skull (45.5 [6.4] N) and barracuda push (40.6 [4.8] N). Bone measurements were correlated with the peak ground-reaction forces exerted in both dry jumps (r = .61–.83, P ≤ .05) and the peak force output of the in-water exercises (r = .63–.80, P ≤ .05). Conclusion: These results imply robust bone health among artistic swimmers, partially associated with the high muscle forces regularly applied during their sport-specific training that seem to counteract the low-impact nature of the sport.

Purpose: This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt the second version of the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaires on Overuse Injuries (OSTRC-O2) and Health Problems (OSTRC-H2) into Greek. Materials and Methods: The questionnaires were translated using the back-translation method in accordance with international guidelines. The OSTRC-O2 was administered to 56 female volleyball players, focusing on shoulder injuries, while the OSTRC-H2 was delivered to 52 adolescent and young adult male and female volleyball and soccer players. Validity was assessed through content validity (Content Validity Index – CVI), face validity (using additional questions on comprehensibility, difficulty, relevance, and completeness), and concurrent validity (correlations between the OSTRC-O2 severity score and the numeric pain rating scale [NPRS], as well as between the OSTRC-H2 severity score with days of time loss [DL] and NPRS). Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency (Cronbach's α) and the test-retest method (intraclass correlation coefficient – ICC). The study was conducted for a two-week period and the test-retest was performed with a two-day interval. Results: Twenty-three athletes (41%) reported shoulder problems using the OSTRC-O2, while 28 injury events and 5 cases of illness were reported with the OSTRC-H2. Face and content validity were excellent (CVI = 0.925 and 0.975 for OSTRC-O2 and OSTRC-H2). A strong correlation was observed between the OSTRC-O2 severity score and the NPRS (ρ = 0.819, p < 0.001), while the OSTRC-H2 severity score demonstrated significant correlations with both the NPRS (ρ = 0.72, p < 0.001) and days of time loss (ρ = 0.625, p < 0.001). Both questionnaires demonstrated excellent reliability and internal consistency, with the OSTRC-O2 showing an ICC of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.82–0.94) and Cronbach's alpha of 0.84, and the OSTRC-H2 showing an ICC of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89–0.97) and Cronbach's alpha of 0.93. Conclusions: The Greek versions of the OSTRC questionnaires are valid and reliable tools for injury surveillance among Greek volleyball and soccer players.