During a soccer match players perform a substantial number of explosive activities such as jumps, duels, shots and dribblings, accelerations, decelerations, changes of direction and sprints. Precisely such repetitive eccentric contractions are related to muscle damage (exercise-induced muscle damage) that is, two or three days after the match, clinically presented as muscle soreness. The aim of this research was to identify the changes in muscle damage indicators in young players after playing a soccer game. The sample of examinees was composed of 43 soccer players (16.8±1.06 years) who were divided into two groups according to their age (22 cadets aged 15.86±0.35 years and 21 U19 players aged 17.76±0.54 years). Each group played one soccer game lasting 90 minutes each. Right before and immediately after the soccer match, examinees venous blood samples were taken in order to determine the markers of muscle damage. All statistical analyses were conducted by the SPSS software. The examinees demonstrated significantly higher values of myoglobin, creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl-transferase after the game, as well as total number of leukocytes and concentration of C-reactive protein as indicators of inflammation. The results of this research showed that, as the muscle protein concentration was increased and an inflammatory reaction also occurred, soccer matches caused muscle damage in young players.

Introduction: This study investigated the differences in ACTN3, ACE and ADRB3 variants in top-level soccer players who entered the Croatian National Team and the ones who did not but played for two best Croatian teams. Material and Methods: The buccal swabs were collected from 56 soccer players playing for the Croatian National Team (N = 31) and/or for one of the two most prestigious Croatian soccer clubs (N = 25). Each participant’s genotype was determined by analyzing the single-nucleotide polymorphism. The ACTN3 gene (rs1815739) on chromosome 11 and the ACE (rs1799752) gene on chromosome 17 were determined. Results: No significant differences between the players who entered the national team and the ones who did not were found in ACTN3 R577X (p = 0.437) and ADRB3 (p = 0.202) polymorphism distribution, while the differences existed in ACE (p = 0.044). The significant differences were determined in the “Athletic index” between the national-team and non-national-team players (p = 0.023). Regarding the position, the “Athletic index” was significantly higher only in national team midfielders (2.50 ±1.08 points vs. 1.38 ±1.06; p = 0.034). Conclusion: It seems that the soccer players with a favorable genetic combination on the ACTN3 gene and ACE gene might have had a better chance to enter the National Team.

The complexity of skiing movements urges recreational alpine skiers and competitors to undertake many specific skill trainings not only during the season but also during the off-season using alternative sports. In AS, the role of the outside leg is crucial for successful turn performance. By measuring kinematic and kinetic parameters, we could define whether there is an objective similarity of the role and the movements of the outside leg while performing a turn in AS to those in the most used additional activity, IS. The sample consisted of ten female alpine ski instructors (age 31.6 ± 8.23, height 170.66 ± 7.32 cm, weight 60.16 ± 7.58 kg). Overall, 280 turns were analyzed (140 for AS and 140 for IS). For the purposes of this study, the variable sample consisted of 14 variables in total. For the detection of differences between short turn performance in AS and IS, MANOVA was used. The main findings of our study are defined similarities in pressure distribution during IS and AS and noticeable differences in the kinematic parameters of the outside leg between the mentioned activities. Based on the gathered results, recreational alpine skiers should be aware that IS cannot be used for the purpose of AS adoption, but rather as a dry-land additional activity for AS preparation.

Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow mainly occurs in overhead athletes (OHAs). This narrative review aimed to comprehensively analyze the epidemiological data, etiological factors, clinical and imaging features, treatment options, and outcomes of OHAs with the diagnosis of elbow OCD. A literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Individuals with elbow OCD were usually 10–17 years of age with incidence and prevalence varying between studies, depending on the sport activity of the patients. The etiology of OCD lesions is multifactorial, and the main causes are believed to be repetitive trauma, the biomechanical disproportion of the articular surfaces, poor capitellar vascular supply, and inflammatory and genetic factors. Athletes usually presented with elbow pain and mechanical symptoms. The mainstay for the diagnosis of elbow OCD is MRI. The treatment of elbow OCD lesions should be conservative in cases of stable lesions, while various types of surgical treatment are suggested in unstable lesions, depending mainly on the size and localization of the lesion. The awareness of medical practitioners and the timely diagnosis of OCD lesions in OHAs are key to favorable outcomes.