Amaç: Bu araştımanın amacı, 8 haftalık fiziksel etkinlik programının 8-11 yaş arası çocuklarda motor beceriler üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Yöntem: Araştırmaya 19 çocuk (11 erkek, 8 kız) gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Katılımcılara, programın öncesinde ve sonrasında vücut ağırlığı, boy uzunluğu, aktif sıçrama yüksekliği, Illinois çeviklik, otur-uzan esneklik, flamingo denge, 5, 10, 20 ve 30m sprint (S5m, S10m, S20m ve S30m) testleri uygulanmıştır. Fiziksel etkinlik programı, temel motor becerilere yönelik egzersizler, düşük yoğunluklu aktiviteler, anaerobik çalışmalar, dinamik ısınma, denge ve koordinasyon egzersizleri, algı ve reaksiyon çalışmaları içermektedir. Bulgular: Program sonrasında boy uzunluğu (p< 0,001, %Δ= 0,49, d= 0,078), vücut kütle indeksi (VKİ, p = 0,006, %Δ = -1,93, d= -0,129), aktif sıçrama yüksekliği (p< 0,001, %Δ= 5,02, d= 0,195), Illinois çeviklik testi (p< 0,001, %Δ= -5,07, d= -0,502), otur-uzan esneklik testi (p< 0,001, %Δ= 5,21, d= 0,227), flamingo denge testi (p< 0,001, %Δ= -18,61, d= -0,461), S5m (p< 0,001, %Δ= -2,05; d= -0,273), S10m (p< 0,001, %Δ= -1,18, d= -0,193), S20m (p= 0,005, %Δ= -0,63, d= -0,083) ve S30m (p= 0,011, %Δ= -0,74, d= -0,104) değerleri ile program öncesi değerler arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklar olduğunu göstermiştir Sonuç: Belirlenen süre boyunca yapılandırılmış fiziksel etkinlik programına katılımın 8-11 yaş arası çocukların sıçrama yüksekliği, çeviklik, esneklik, denge ve sprint becerilerini geliştirmede etkili olduğu bulunmuştur.

This study was conducted to analyse the correlation between elite skiers’ body fat percentage (BFP) and their jump and sprint performance. From among different disciplines of snow sports (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, and biathlon), a total of 40 (male) elite athletes with a mean age of 18.55±2.86 year, a mean height of 172.1±6.05 cm, and a mean body weight of 65.73±10.79 kg were included in this study, and their anthropometric (height, body weight, body mass index, and BFP) and performance (10-30 meters sprint and vertical/horizontal jump) measurements were taken. In order to determine the suitability of the data for normal distribution, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient test was used to analyse the correlations between variables upon assuming normal distribution by using the Shapiro-Wilk test. As a result, negative correlations were found between 10-30 m sprint and horizontal jump performances and the disciplines of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon. Further negative correlations were found between vertical jump and 30 m sprint in snowboard branch, while positive correlations were present between 10-30 m sprint and BFP in the disciplines of cross-country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon. However, there was also a strong negative correlation between horizontal jump and BFP in the discipline of ski jumping. It can be suggested that high BFP negatively affects the sprint and jump abilities of the athletes since the skiers’ jump performance appears to decrease with the increased BFP, and likewise, their jump performance increases with the decreased BFP.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between respiratory functions and body compositions of elite athletes in alpine disciplines and cross-country skiing through their comparison. The study included 32 male athletes (age: 18.3±2 year, height: 172.1±6.05 cm, body weight: 65.73±10.79 kg, and body mass index (BMI): 22.91±2.80 kg/m2) within the scope of alpine disciplines and cross-country skiing. The heights of the athletes were measured with a stadiometer (Holtain, UK) with an accuracy of ±1mm. The weights of the athletes and BMI values were measured using a Tanita brand (BC, 418 Tanita, Japan) body composition analyzer with a precision of 100 grams. The respiratory function and respiratory muscle strength of the athletes were evaluated using a digital spirometer (Pony FX Cosmed, Italy). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to determine the relationships between respiratory functions and anthropometric structures of the groups. The results indicated that cross-country skiing athletes had higher averages in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEF, MIP, MVV, and MEP parameters compared to alpine discipline athletes, with only the MIP value being higher in alpine discipline athletes. The results revealed positive correlations between age and FVC (0.563), FEV1 (0.521), PEF (0.679), and MVV (0.511) in cross-country skiing athletes. Negative correlations were found between body weight and FEV1/FVC (r=0.578), FEV1/FVC (r=0.545), height and MVV (r=0.541), and body mass index and FEV1/FVC (r=0.541), FEV1/FVC (r=0.676) in cross-country skiing and alpine discipline athletes, respectively (p 0.05). In order to achieve maximum performance, it is very important to identify and keep under control the factors affecting respiratory functions. The current study demonstrated that the characteristics of the sport have an impact on physiological changes in the respiratory system and also affect body compositions and respiratory functions.

Introduction: Sports requiring sprinting, jumping, and kicking tasks frequently lead to hamstring strain injuries (HSI). One of the structural risk factors of HSI is the increased passive stiffness of the hamstrings. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury history is associated with a 70% increase in the incidence of HSI, according to a recent meta-analysis. The same report recommended that future research should concentrate on the relationships between the HSI risk factors. Hence, the present study aimed to retrospectively compare changes in the passive stiffness of the hamstrings in athletes with and without ACL reconstruction history. Methods: Using ultrasound-based shear-wave elastography, the mid-belly passive muscle stiffness values of the biceps femoris long head, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles were assessed and compared amongst athletes with and without a history of ACL reconstruction. Results: There were no significant differences in the biceps femoris long head (injured leg (IL): 26.19 ± 5.28 KPa, uninjured contralateral (UL): 26.16 ± 7.41 KPa, control legs (CL): 27.64 ± 5.58 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 1; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL: p = 1), semimembranosus (IL: 24.35 ± 5.58 KPa, UL: 24.65 ± 8.35 KPa, CL: 22.83 ± 5.67 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 1; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL, p = 1), or semitendinosus (IL: 22.45 ± 7 KPa, UL: 25.52 ± 7 KPa, CL: 22.54 ± 4.4 KPa; IL vs. UL: p = 0.487; IL vs. CL: p = 1; UL vs. CL, p = 0.291) muscle stiffness values between groups. Conclusions: The passive mid-muscle belly stiffness values of the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles did not significantly differ between previously injured and uninjured athletes; therefore, further assessment for other muscle regions of hamstrings may be necessary. To collect more comprehensive data related to the structural changes that may occur following ACL reconstructions in athletes, a future study should examine the passive stiffness of wider muscle regions from origin to insertion.

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine the findings of the intraoral examinations of the 12-16 years old novice (control) and elite athletes across the winter sports branches, which were alpine discipline skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, ski jumping, and ice hockey. Besides, the study aimed to determine the intra- and inter-group relationships by comparing the athletes salivary stress biomarker levels at precompetition, during-match, and post-competition stages. Methods: Ninety-one athletes (71 elite, 20 novice) participated in our study. Oral health status of the athletes were evaluated. In addition, cortisol levels in the saliva samples obtained at pre-competition (rested before the competition), during-match (just before the start), and post-competition (competition ending moment) stages were measured. The data were analyzed statistically with a significance level of 0.05. Results: Ice hockey athletes were the most affected by untreated dental caries (27.3%). No signs of dental trauma caused by sports activities were found in the winter sports branches. Basic erosive wear examination scores of the ice hockey athletes were similar to the ski jumping athletes and lower than other groups (P=.034). The mean cortisol values between sports branches were listed as: biathlon > snowboarding > alpine skiing > ice hockey > ski jumping (P < .001). Test results of the winter sports athletes’ saliva samples revealed that their salivary stress levels might vary in accordance with the sports branches, and there was a negative relationship between the levels of salivary stress biomarkers in competitions and oral health. Conclusion: In winter sports activities, measures for improving oral health should be disseminated. Cite this article as: Sevindik Aktaş B, Şengül F, Kıyıcı F. Evaluation of oral and dental health results and competition stress levels of adolescent athletes in diferent winter sports branches. Eurasian J Med. 2024;56(2):114-120.