The last three decades have witnessed a tremendous increase in female sports participation at all levels. However, increased sports participation of female athletes has also increased the incidence of sport-related injuries, which can be either acute trauma or overuse injuries. Overuse injuries may be defined as an imbalance caused by overly intensive training and inadequate recovery, which subsequently leads to a breakdown in tissue reparative mechanisms. This article will review the most frequent overuse injuries in female athletes in the context of anatomical, physiological, and psychological differences between genders.

It is well documented that whole body-vibration training has effects on muscle strength and flexibility, blood circulation, decreases pain perception and strengthens bone and tendon. Although whole body-vibration has benefits in athletes’ flexibility, we are not sure what its actual effects are in artistic gymnastics (since they already have stunning flexibility). Hence, the aim of this study was to analyse the studies on whole-body vibration in artistic gymnastics and to present the effects on flexibility. The search and analysis were carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The databases search (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, EBSCOhost and Science Direct) yielded 18,057 potential studies. By the given inclusion criteria (studies from 2005 to 2022; full-text published in English; the study included male and female gymnasts as samples, and that participants were tested for evaluation of flexibility by whole-body vibration method), a total of 9 full-text studies were included, with a total of 210 participants, both male and female. As far as the measured flexibility tests conducted, front split, sit and reach and bridge were evaluated, while obtained results were 9.1–39.1%, 2.79–6.7%, 6.43–7.45%, respectively. All studies have conducted same vibration frequency (30 Hz) with same amplitude of displacements (2 mm), except for the one study who did not show the information of implemented amplitude. After analysing the obtained results, it can be concluded that the usage of whole-body vibration platform shows flexibility improvements in artistic gymnasts, both male and female. In addition, a combination of whole-body vibration and traditional static stretching may enhance the flexibility in artistic gymnasts. However, these results should be taken with caution. Since this review did not reveal the optimal vibrational protocol, it is necessary to invest time during the implementation of various vibrational experimental protocols, so future research is required.

Spinal metastatic disease is a rather common occurrence and definitely warrants attention and treatment due to the high likelihood of leaving cancer patients severely disabled in their final months of life. Recent developments in the...

Background/Objectives: Sarcopenia is a growing public health challenge in older adults, being associated with functional decline, frailty, and increased mortality. The SARC-F questionnaire is a widely recommended screening tool for sarcopenia; however, no validated Croatian version has been available so far. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the Croatian version of the SARC-F questionnaire for older adults. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 153 participants aged ≥ 65 years from Zagreb and Bjelovar were enrolled between March and September 2025. Psychometric evaluation included internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), item–total correlations, and split-half reliability. Convergent validity was assessed via correlations with handgrip strength (HGS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and timed up-and-go (TUG) tests. Known groups and construct validity were also examined. Results: The Croatian SARC-F showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.70–0.82), with item–total correlations ranging from 0.34 (falls) to 0.80 (stairs) and excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.86). Strong correlations were found with SPPB (ρ = −0.50; p < 0.001), TUG (ρ = 0.50; p < 0.001), and handgrip strength (ρ = −0.42; p < 0.001), supporting convergent validity. An exploratory factor analysis indicated a unidimensional structure explaining 43% of the variance. Conclusions: The Croatian version of SARC-F is a reliable, valid, and clinically feasible tool for identifying older adults who are at risk of sarcopenia. The results support its use in national screening and cross-cultural research across Europe.