Aim and purpose : It has been widely accepted in the athletic community that altitude training can increase performance at sea level, therefore this study aims to analyze the influence of altitude training on the manifestation of muscle strength in the lower limbs and aerobic endurance in students participating at in-depth training course in a branch of sports- skiing, on the “living high-training high” model. Material : This study included 9 students from the Physical Education and Sports Faculty of Timisoara, who took the in-depth training course in a branch of sports- skiing, taking part in the program and activities specific to this course, as well as in the training carried out at altitude. Method : The batch was evaluated in two moments (T0 and T1), using the following assessment tests: Yo -Yo, Roman seat in isometry, high jump evaluated via the OPTOJUMP device, long jump test. The data was processed in Excel (v2205) and the statistical processing was performed using the Student T-test. It was considered that the results are statistically significant for values of p <0.05. Results : The progress recorded was quantified by normalizing the absolute values and was expresse d as a percentage as follows: Yo-Yo= -1% ± 0.08 STD; RS= + 168% ± 1.26STD; HJ-Squat Jump= -4% ± 0.16STD; HJ- countermovement jump= -2% ± 0.14STD; HJ- countermovement jump-free arms = + 2% ± 0.14STD; LJ= + 6% ± 0.04STD; LJ SLJ R= + 9% ± 0.08STD; LJ SLJ L= + 10% ± 0.08STD. Conclusions : From the evaluations performed at sea level, at T0 and T1, a noticeable improvement in the muscular strength of the lower limbs has resulted via the following tests: the Roman seat in isometry, long jump with bilateral support, long jump with unilateral support on either the left or right side; registering a significant statistical (p). However, there was no significant improvement noticed on the rest of the tests.

Background/Objectives: Spine mobility is essential for overall health and daily functioning. Accurate assessment of spinal mobility is necessary for diagnosing and managing orthopedic, neurological, and rheumatological disorders, particularly in patients experiencing lower back and thoracic pain. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of traditional clinical tests in comparison to the innovative photogrammetric 3D posture assessment for evaluating spinal mobility. Methods: A total of 20 patients from a medical clinic underwent tests to measure lumbar and thoracic spine mobility, including flexion, lateral incline, and axial rotation, using both conventional and 3D posture assessment methods. Results: We found strong correlations between investigated methods, which recommends photogrammetry as a reliable and effective tool for assessing posture in clinical practice. Furthermore, 3D posture assessment offers a faster approach (clinical evaluation: 2:59 ± 0.22 min vs. photogrammetry: 1:03 ± 0.01 min) and a more practical method for assessing spinal mobility, thereby enhancing the patient experience and providing clinicians with objective data for treatment planning. Conclusions: The study highlights the value of modern technologies in clinical assessment and therapeutic intervention, encouraging therapists to integrate photogrammetric methods into their daily practice to improve patient outcomes.

Background and Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) scanning is increasingly utilized in medical practice, from orthotics to surgical planning. However, traditional hand measurement techniques remain inconsistent and prone to human error and are often time-consuming. This research evaluates the practicality of a commercial 3D scanning method by comparing the accuracy of scans conducted by two user groups. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated the following two groups: an experimental group (n = 45) and a control group (n = 42). A total of 261 hand scans were captured using the Structure Sensor Pro 3D scanner for iPad (Structure, Boulder, CO, USA). The scans were then evaluated using Meshmixer software (version 3.5.474), analyzing key parameters, such as surface area, volume, number of vertices, and triangles, etc. Furthermore, a digital literacy test and a user experience survey were conducted to support a more comprehensive evaluation of participant performance within the study. Results: The experimental group outperformed the control group on all measured parameters, including surface area, volume, vertices, triangle, and gap count, with large effect sizes observed. User experience data revealed that participants in the experimental group rated the 3D scanner significantly higher across all dimensions, particularly in ease of use, excitement, supportiveness, and practicality. Conclusions: A short 15 min training session can promote scan reliability, demonstrating that even minimal instruction improves users’ proficiency in 3D scanning, fundamental for supporting clinical accuracy in diagnosis, surgical planning, and personalized device manufacturing