Contemporary top-division soccer is characterized by high-intensity activity throughout the entire match, which also requires high levels of a wide range of the players’ functional and motor abilities. Furthermore, motor and functional requirements vary in relation to the players’ position on the pitch. In view of the above, the objective of this study was to determine any differences in body composition and specific motor abilities in relation to position. Twenty elite female soccer players (age: 20.90 ± 3.70 years; height: 166.95 ± 5.83 cm; weight: 58.97 ± 7.50 kg; training experience: 9.50 ± 4.11 years) were recruited for the purpose of this study. Based on their position within the team, the players were divided into three groups: defenders (N-7), midfielders (N-6), and forwards (N-7). The instruments used included the InBody770 (for body composition assessment), Optojump and Polar for the assessment of specific motor abilities. The results obtained indicate a strong link between the parameters body composition and specific motor abilities; however, the level of significance varies, as do the variables concerning specific motor abilities and body composition in relation to the players’ position on the pitch. In accordance with these results, coaches and others working in the soccer industry should be apprised of the necessity of a tailored approach when it comes to planning the development of specific motor abilities, as well of with the importance of balanced body composition as prerequisites for achieving top results.

This overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis aimed to summarize the effects of resistance training (RT) on physical fitness of people with Down syndrom (DS). A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus, up until January 30th, 2024. The search included key terms like resistance training, strength training, weight training, intellectual disability, and Down syndrome. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration assessment tool. Eighteen articles were reviewed, with nine included in the meta-analysis. The results demonstrated that RT interventions positively impacted physical fitness in individuals with DS, with significant improvements in both upper and lower limb strength and cardiorespiratory endurance, as indicated by VO_2peak (p = 0.000). Eleven studies were classified as high quality with low risk of bias, four had some methodological concerns, and three non-randomized studies exhibited a high risk of bias. RT interventions appear to significantly enhance physical fitness, including muscle strength, functional abilities, cardiorespiratory fitness, and balance, among individuals with DS, regardless of variations in training methods or program designs.

The research aimed to investigate whether alterations in the measurement protocol, accounting for dehydration, resulted in variations in body composition parameters among participants with different weekly training frequencies. The sample consited of ninety healthy participants categorized into three subgroups; the first group (n=28, body height 172.13±9.12 cm, body weight 67.05±11.38 kg) included students with low levels of weekly PA, the second group (n=35, body height 172.93±7.76 cm, body weight 67.53±9.06 kg) consisted of students whith medium level of PA, and the third group (n=27, body height 175.87±9.27 cm, body weight 71.14±11.58 kg) comprised students with high weekly training frequencies. Using the body composition analyzer, InBody770, various morphological characteristics were measured, including Body Height (BH), Body Weight (BW), Body Mass Index (BMI), Percent Body Fat (PBF%), Body Fat Mass (BFMkg), Fat Free Mass (FFM), Total Body Water (TBW), Intracellular Water (ICW), Extracellular Water (ECW), Proteins (PROT), Minerals (MNRL), Soft Lean Mass (SLM), Skeletal Muscle Mass (SMM), Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), Visceral Fat Level (VFL), Visceral Fat Area (VFA), and Obesity Degree (OD). It can be detected that there is generally no significant difference between the initial and final measurements within the variables describing body composition. Additionally, when analyzing the effect size on the overall sample, it was found to be insignificant in almost all variables, except for the following parameters: Body Fat Mass (ES=.28); Body Mass Index (ES=.21); Percent Body Fat (ES=.21); Visceral Fat Level (ES=.24); Visceral Fat Area (ES=.26); Obesity Degree (ES=.22). The results of this study, following the water intake treatment, revealed a notable overall difference in body composition parameters. However, upon closer examination by group, it becomes evident that a statistically significant difference is particularly pronounced in individuals with a high exercise frequency (Group III), indicating their body's efficient capacity for rapid water absorption into various body composition parameters. These findings underscore the critical importance of adhering to the prescribed protocol when diagnosing body composition using the InBody 770 device, particularly among highly trained individuals..

By determining the prevalence of postural disorders among eighth grade school students it is possible to indicate the state of these disorders at the end of the elementary school level of education, and compare it to the results obtained by applying corrective treatments on high school students. Thus, the aim of the research was to determine the prevalence of postural disorders among eighth grade school children. The research was carried out on a sample of 101 eighth grade students of both genders, aged 14. The photometry method was used to determine the presence of any postural disorders. The research results indicated that a proportionally statistically significant large number of participants with postural disorders were identified. Of the total number of participants, 60.4% had postural disorders, the most prevalent of which was flat back (22.8%), kypho-lordosis, (20.8%), lordosis (9.9%) and kyphosis (6.9%). Analyzed in terms of gender, the percentage of the girls with postural disorders is statistically significantly greater than that of the boys. Due to the large number of children with postural disorders, the recommendation is that the evaluation of the postural status of students should take place not only at the elementary school age, but also at the high school age. In addition, evaluation alone is insufficient, and exercise programs to correct postural disorders are required as well.

The foundation for the improvement of the quality of each player are their basic skills, but success in wheelchair basketball is considered to mainly depends on the level of specific motor skills which represent the end result of work done during a specific training process.The paper aims to outline the used tests for the evaluation of specific motor skills of wheelchair basketball players in papers published between 2008 and 2022. To compile the existing studies the following databases were searched:PubMed, SCIndeks, PEDro, J-GATE, SCIndes, DOAJ and Google Scholar.Research published in the period from 2008 to 2022 was analyzed. The analysis of the compiled studies to evaluate the specific motor skills of wheelchair basketball players resulted in a recommendation for the use of several tests such as the: 20m sprint with ball test, Pickup the ball test, the Lay-up test, the Pass for accuracy test, andthe Free-throw shooting test. Based on the results achieved on these tests, it is possible to perform a selection and monitor the progress of the players, as well as the impact of the applied specific training process on the development of motor skills on which success in wheelchair basketball depends.

Numerous studies highlight the beneficial effects of physical activity on children's and adolescents' health in all areas, and it is commonly known that regular sports participation enhances motor skills and has a major impact on physical development and posture. However, asymmetric physical exercises, unique to a certain sport, such as rhythmic gymnastics (RG), can cause aberrant curvatures of the spine, particularly during times of rapid growth and development. The main research objective is to determine the type and prevalence of postural disorders of the spine in sagittal and frontal plane in 48 young female rhythmic gymnasts (RGs), aged 6 to 18, as well as to examine the differences between 25 juvenile and 23 adolescent RGs. Their baseline characteristics (age, body height and mass, and body mass index) were established, as well as their spine curvature status (kyphosis, lordosis, and thoracic and lumbar scoliosis, in °) by means of the SpinalMouse® device. The data were analyzed (descriptive statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ANOVA, Chi-square test) using SPSS 21.0. Research results showed that large percentage of RGs had postural disorders in the sagittal (64.6%), and also in the frontal plane (77.1%), noting that postural disorders are more prevalent in juvenile RGs (72% and 76% in the sagittal and the frontal plane, respectively), and flat back is a common spinal posture disorder in RGs. When comparing the sizes of the spinal column curvatures of juvenile and adolescent RGs, statistically significant differences exist only when it comes to kyphosis (p=0.037), and that "in favor" of the older subsample. Such results (presence of lordotic, scoliotic and minor presence of kyphotic posture) are not surprising if we take into account the technical and tactical requirements of RG which belongs to a group of asymmetric sports-RGs have stronger extensors than trunk flexors which leads to absence of kyphotic and an increase of lordotic posture; also, RG is a sport of asymmetric spine loading because of unilateral hip flexibility in various conditions, which explains the large prevalence of scoliotic posture among RGs.