The study aimed to investigate differences in anthropometry, body composition (BC), and somatotype in young football players of the same chronological age according to the maturity stage. Overall, 64 elite players (age: 14.28 ± 0.46 years) were evaluated for standing and sitting body height, girth measures, and BC using the bioelectric impedance scale and skinfold thickness. In total, two-thirds (73.44%, n = 47) of football players were classified as on-time maturers, 12.50% (n = 8) were early maturing, and 14.06% (n = 9) were late maturing. Standing and sitting height, leg length, fat-free mass, and muscle mass were significantly different (p < 0.001) across maturity groups. A significant decrease (p < 0.05) with maturity progression was seen for subscapular and suprailiac skinfolds along with a girth increase at all sites (p < 0.05). Early maturers were balanced ectomorphs, while on-time and late maturers featured mesomorph–ectomorph characteristics. The obtained results suggested that mature players have better BC presented as a lower fat percentage along with higher muscle mass, advantages in circumferences, and longitudinal dimensions of the body with highlighted mesomorph features. Maturity can have a substantial influence on body measures, thereby affecting sport-specific performance. Early maturers can use their anthropometric advantages and compensate for a lack of talent, consequently preventing even participation of physically undeveloped players in training. A better understanding of maturity, BC, and somatotypes can help in the selection of young talented players.

Listening to music has been found to influence postural balance in both healthy participants and certain patients, whereas no study investigates such effects among healthy middle-aged women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of music on postural balance in middle-aged women. Twenty-six healthy women aged between 50 and 55 years participated in this study. A stabilometric platform was used to assess their postural balance by recording the mean center of pressure velocity (VmCOP) in the eyes-opened (OE) and -closed (EC) conditions on both firm and foam surfaces. Our results showed that listening to an excerpt of Mozart’s Jupiter significantly decreased the VmCOP values in two sensory conditions (firm surface/EO: (p < 0.01; 95% CI: 0.27 to 2.22); foam surface/EC: (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.48 to 2.44)), but not in the other two conditions (firm surface/EC and foam surface/EO). We concluded that listening to Mozart’s symphony improved postural performance in middle-aged women, even in challenged postural conditions. These enhancements could offer great potential for everyday functioning.

Flatfoot is considered a structural condition that can occur in either one foot (unilaterally) or both feet (bilaterally), manifested by the collapse of the medial plantar arch of the foot, rearfoot pronation, and forefoot abduction. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of flatfoot on postural alignment of the primary school students regarding early detection and prevention of postural deviation. Using a pre-test design, foot posture was assessed using Foot Posture Index-6 and postural alignment using Global Postural System 400. The study's findings showed that there are statistically significant correlations between flatfoot and postural alignment. Specifically, significant correlations were found both: between the left flatfoot and the frontal alignment of the pelvis on the left side (r = -.504, p < .014) and between the midfoot and the frontal alignment of the ipsilateral pelvis (r = -.754, p < .001). In addition, strong correlations were identified between the alignment of the pelvic girdle on the side of the pronated and hyperpronated foot and the shoulder girdle in the frontal plane (r = .617, p < .002; r = .600, p < .002). The findings of the study underscore the relevance of early detection and implementation of intervention strategies in school, considering the impact of flatfoot on primary school students' posture.