Sports injuries were prevalent across various sports and resulted in temporary or permanent limitations in an athlete’s competitive performance. This research aimed to compile and analyze studies on sports injuries among basketball, handball, and volleyball players, with a particular focus on their frequency, nature, and variations based on gender and player position. A systematic search was conducted using digital databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, ERIC, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect, covering the period from 2015 to 2025. The search strategy involved relevant keywords and their combinations related to injuries and athletes, selecting studies that explored injury types, locations, and preventive measures. The findings indicated that lower limb injuries were the most prevalent in all three sports. Basketball players frequently experienced knee and ankle injuries, and handball players were prone to knee injuries, while volleyball players most commonly sustained knee and foot injuries. Additionally, specific risk factors contributing to these injuries were identified. Preventive interventions, such as neuromuscular training and plyometric exercises, were found to effectively reduce injury rates across these sports. The majority of studies suggested that female athletes had a higher injury incidence compared to their male counterparts. This may be attributed to several factors, including hormonal differences (such as the effect of estrogen on ligament laxity), anatomical factors (e.g., a larger Q-angle in women), and differences in training practices that could predispose female athletes to higher injury rates. Furthermore, regardless of the sport, injuries occurred more frequently during competition and tended to increase with the physical demands of the game.

(1) Introduction: This research was conducted with the aim of assessing whether an alternative physical education (PE) program could effectively substitute for the traditional PE curriculum and aid in accomplishing the essential goals and objectives of PE among younger elementary school children. (2) Materials and Methods: This longitudinal 6-month study included third-grade elementary school children of both genders, who were healthy, lived in urban areas, and were involved in an alternative PE program, as well as the regular PE classes. The sample of participants comprised 214 students, with 105 participants in the experimental group and 109 participants in the control group, who underwent pre- and post-intervention measurements. For the purposes of this study, 11 variables were applied to assess the parameters of growth and development, motor abilities, and physical and health education. MANCOVA and ANCOVA methods were used to determine the effects resulting from the alternative and regular PE programs, and differences between the groups, respectively. The data are reported as the mean and standard deviations, and were analyzed using the statistical package SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). (3) Results: Based on the research results obtained for motor abilities and physical and health education, it was concluded that both the alternative and regular PE programs had positive effects in achieving the goals and objectives of PE, but without statistical significance at the multivariate and univariate levels. The differences between the two groups were found to be negligible (effect size, ES < 0.2). (4) Discussion: Sports and PE have distinct objectives and approaches. While sports emphasize competition and winning, PE aims to impart fundamental skills and knowledge, prioritizing inclusivity among younger students. Success in PE is measured by the number of students meeting these goals, potentially affecting both talented and struggling learners. (5) Conclusions: The results obtained from the conducted research indicate that both the alternative PE program and the regular PE program influence changes in motor abilities and physical and health education to a limited extent. The alternative PE program proposed in this study, with its modifications to the structure of existing, regular PE program, can fully replace the latter in schools that do not meet the required spatial and material standards.

Caffeine is a compound found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of plants such as coffee and guarana. The aim of the systematic review was to determine the influence of caffeine on cardiorespiratory functions and physical performance. The method was the collection of relevant literature in the period from 2011-2022, and their analysis. The results clearly show the benefit and positive influence of caffeine on both investigated areas. The recommended consumption of caffeine should be higher than 75mg in order to expect positive changes and effects. Also, doses above 600mg should not be exceeded due to side effects, especially on the heart. It is necessary to consume caffeine for at least 45 minutes before the planned activity to ensure complete absorption. Caffeine is a very powerful supplement, it is only necessary to take care of the method and amount of dosage.

The aim of the research was to determine whether regular physical education classes in combination with additional training in sports gymnastics lead to statistically significant changes in morphological characteristics, motor and functional abilities. The sample of participants consisted of 65 male fifth-grade students aged 11 years (± 0.5 years). In addition to regular classes, the students additionally, once a week for a duration of 60 minutes, applied training in sports gymnastics, for a duration of 12 weeks. Statistically significant changes at the level of statistical significance of (p<0.05) occurred in the following variables: body height, body mass, hand tapping, standing long jump, trunk lifting, polygon backwards, standing long jump. For variables: forearm circumference, deep bend various, stand up with a pull-up and running for 3 minutes, there were also differences compared to the initial measurement, however, they are not at a statistically significant level. Therefore, it can be concluded that the teaching of physical education in combination with gymnastics training has a positive effect on the motor abilities and morphological characteristics of the students, while there were no statistically significant transformations in functional ability. The authors of the study are aware of the need to carefully limit their own conclusions considering the age and level of competition, as well as the absence of a control group of participants.

The research was aimed at determining the predictive values of morphological characteristics in the competitive selection of young karatekas. The research included a total of 79 karatekas, aged 11 to 13 (± 0.5 years) of which 37 were competitors in kumite, 23 in kata, and 19 participants who competed in both disciplines. It was expected that certain differences between the examined groups of karatekas in morphological characteristics would appear, which was confirmed by the obtained results. The hypothesis that participants of different competitive orientations will differ significantly in the results of morphological characteristics has been partially confirmed. However, the tendencies of some differences registered in the oldest age of the participants, as well as the analysis of some researches conducted on the population of elite karate players, indicate the importance of forecasting definite morphological characteristics for success in a specific competitive discipline (kata or kumite).

Artistic gymnastics is one of the most physically demanding sports, characterized by a high incidence of both acute and chronic injuries. Although previous research has primarily focused on biomechanical and training-related factors, the multifactorial etiology of injuries—including molecular and genetic aspects—remains insufficiently explored. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the causes, mechanisms, and prevention of injuries in artistic gymnastics, with particular emphasis on biomechanical, molecular, and genetic determinants of injury risk and athletic performance. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database (Registration No: CRD420251167521). Electronic databases (PubMed, KoBSON, and Google Scholar) were searched for studies published between 2015 and 2025 using the keywords “gymnastics injuries,” “overuse injuries,” “injury prevention,” “biomechanics,” “IL-6,” “TNF-α,” and “miRNA biomarkers.” Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed based on injury incidence, localization, mechanisms, and molecular and genetic associations. The majority of injuries were localized in the joints of both upper and lower extremities, particularly during puberty and at higher competitive levels. Repetitive loading, improper technique, and insufficient recovery were identified as the main etiological factors. Molecular biomarkers such as IL-6, TNF-α, and miRNAs (miR-155, miR-146a) were found to play key roles in inflammatory responses, while genetic polymorphisms including ACTN3 R577X, ESR1 rs2234693, and CYP19A1 rs936306 were associated with flexibility, explosive strength, and susceptibility to injury. Injury prevention in artistic gymnastics requires a personalized and multidisciplinary approach that integrates biomechanical, clinical, molecular, and genetic data. Incorporating molecular and genetic profiling into training and rehabilitation programs may enhance early detection of overuse conditions and optimize both health and performance outcomes in gymnasts.