The purpose of this study is to examine and further understand the effects of post activation potentiation on Achilles tendon (AT) thickness, elasticity and stiffness among basketball players. Basketball is one of the world’s most popular and widely viewed sports. One of the main factors which athletes depend on during their performance is elastic energy coming straight from the AT. Contractile activity increases the muscular force and is known in science as post activation potentiation (PAP). Twelve basketball players (aged 21.3 ± 2.1 years) from the first Polish league took part in this study. The PAP session consisted of single repetitions of the squat with loads corresponding to 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and 100% of 1 repetition maximum (RM). The measurement method for AT thickness was ultrasonography and for the elasticity and stiffness was myotonometry. The measurements were taken before and immediately after PAP training session. Obtained results: AT stiffness increased significantly from the baseline post exercise, while AT thickness and elasticity decreased after the physical effort. The exercise in PAP caused significant changes in stiffness, elasticity and thickness of the AT.

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of Heat-Compression-Therapy with Game Ready equipment (GR-HCT) on biomechanical properties at different treatment times. Reducing the duration of stimulation through HCT can help optimize recovery processes in sports. Methods: Twenty male MMA fighters (26.5 ± 4.5 years, BMI 24.75 ± 3.0, training experience: 10.3 ± 5.0 years) performed two experimental sessions: (a) 5 min heat-compression therapy (HCT) stimulation (GR-HCT-5); and (b) 10 min heat-compression therapy (GR-HCT-10). All registered parameters, tissue perfusion (PU), tissue temperature (°C), muscle tone (T-Hz) stiffness (S—N/m), elasticity (E—arb), pressure pain threshold (PPT—N/cm) and isometric muscle strength (Fmax—kgf), were measured at rest (r—2 min before GR-HCT stimulation) and 1 min after GR-HCT (p-post) for the flexor carpi radialis muscle (MFCR) and the brachioradialis muscle (MBR). Results: The Friedman’s test for MBR revealed significant differences between GR-HCT5min vs. GR-HCT10min for PU (p < 0.0001), S (p = 0.008), and for MBR and MFCR for °C (p < 0.0001). The pairwise comparisons for PU, S, and °C showed significant differences between rest vs. post values for 5 min as well as between rest vs. post values for 10 min. Further, there was a significant interaction effect (5 min-10 min × Rest-Post p < 0.0001) for PU for MFCR. The post hoc comparison for the interaction effect showed significantly higher PU for post- compared to premeasurement in 5 min PU and 10 min PU (p < 0.001). Further, there was a significant main effect of condition for Fmax both for MFCR and MBR (5 min vs. 10 min p < 0.001); The post hoc comparison for the main effect of condition showed a significantly higher Fmax for post- compared to premeasurement in 5 min and 10 min (p < 0.001). Further, there was a significant main effect of condition for pressure pain threshold [N/cm] both for MFCR and MBR and for T for MBR time of measurement rest vs. post (p < 0.001; p = 0.006; p < 0.001, respectively). The post hoc comparison for the interaction effect showed a significantly lower PPT for post vs. rest in 5 min (p < 0.001 only for MFCR) and in 10 min (p < 0.001). The delta values for PU (post-rest) and ΔTemp °C showed significant differences between the 5 min and 10 min conditions (MFCR; p < 0.0001); (MBR p < 0.001) and (MFCR p < 0.0001); (MBR p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our results show that GR-HCT significantly affects recovery of muscle biomechanical parameters, pain threshold, strength, tissue perfusion, and temperature. Our findings show that a 5 min effect can be sufficient when compared to a 10 min one which is a clue for designing effective recovery protocols.

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to characterize macro- and micro-morphological properties of the supraspinatus tendon (SST) in para swimmers during the chronic stage of rotator cuff tendinopathy, integrating ultrasound assessments of tendon thickness, peak spatial frequency radius (PSFR) for collagen organization, acromiohumeral distance (AHD), and occupation ratio to evaluate subacromial impingement risk. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 43 elite para swimmers (aged 18–30 years, S7–S10 classes with lower extremity impairments) from Para Swimming Team Poland were divided into rotator cuff tendinopathy (RC; n = 22) and asymptomatic control (CON; n = 21) groups. Measurements on the dominant shoulder utilized B-mode ultrasound (Alpinion X-CUBE 90) to assess SST thickness at 5, 10, and 15 mm proximal to the greater tuberosity, PSFR via MATLAB-analyzed spatial frequency spectra, AHD, and occupation ratio. Two-way and one-way ANOVAs assessed group and measurement effects (p < 0.05); Pearson correlations examined the relationships between thickness and PSFR. Results: Para swimmers with tendinopathy exhibited greater SST thickness across sites (p < 0.001, η² = 0.63), higher PSFR at all intervals (p ≤ 0.009, η² = 0.53) peaking at 10 mm, wider AHD (p = 0.002, η² = 0.21), and lower occupation ratio (p < 0.001, η² = 0.44) versus controls. Strong positive correlations linked thickness and PSFR proximally (r = 0.75–0.79, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Chronic tendinopathy in para swimmers manifests as thickened SST with collagen disarray, altered subacromial space, and impingement risk, distinguishing pathological from healthy tendons. Integrated ultrasound metrics aid diagnosis and inform interventions for overhead athletes with locomotor disorders.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between age, experience, anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and the quality of technical performance in karate practitioners. We conducted an observational cross-sectional study with 53 federated karate athletes, aged 5 to 55, affiliated with the Youth Karate Association Portugal. The participants were divided into age and experience groups to assess differences in anthropometric measures (body mass, height, BMI) and physical fitness (strength, power, flexibility). The technical performance of four specific karate techniques – kizami, gyaku zuki, mawashi geri, and ura mawashi geri – was evaluated using a custom-designed technical evaluation system. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses, including one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests, revealed significant differences in physical fitness and technical performance across age groups and years of experience (p < 0.05). Younger practitioners demonstrated lower performance in strength, power, and technical execution, with those over 19 exhibiting the highest levels. Specifically, significant differences were observed in body mass (F = 57.866, p < 0.001, η² = 0.780), IMTP (F = 25.229, p < 0.001, η² = 0.660), CMJ (F = 7.279, p < 0.001, η² = 0.308), and grip strength (F = 40.513, p < 0.001, η² = 0.713). Significant correlations were found between physical fitness measures (e.g., strength, power) and the quality of technical execution (p < 0.05), highlighting the dependency of technical proficiency on physical attributes such as muscle strength and explosive power. Spearman's Rho test identified significant moderate to large correlations between years of experience and technical execution quality in kizami (rho = 0.388, p = 0.004), gyaku (rho = 0.436, p = 0.001), mawashi geri (rho = 0.603, p < 0.001), and ura mawashi geri (rho = 0.477, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that experience is critical in improving karate performance, with experienced athletes demonstrating superior technical skills and physical fitness compared to beginners. This study underscores the importance of incorporating both physical conditioning and skill-specific training to optimize performance in karate and provides insights for coaches to tailor training programs according to an athlete’s age and experience level. Future research should explore the long-term effects of training on the development of both physical and technical capacities in martial arts.

Introduction. Swimming is an athletic discipline that largely involves the upper limbs. Due to the driving and propulsive function, there is a heavy involvement of almost all muscles of the arm. Painful shoulder syndrome (PSS) is considered to be one of the main causes of interference with an effective and correct movement of the underwater stroke, which is a fundamental element of functionality in this discipline. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether PSS affects upper limb function in competitive swimmers. Material and methods. Thirty-two swimmers aged 17–24 years with at least 2nd sport class participated in the study. The swimmers were divided into two groups: group I – the experimental group, with subjects reporting pain in the shoulder area, and group II – the control group (sub-jects without pain in the shoulder area). Isokinetic tests at 60°/s, 180°/s, and 300°/s, hand grip strength tests, and upper limb power measurements on a swim er-gometer were performed. The standard visual analogue pain scale (VAS) was used to assess the severity of pain. Results. There were significant relationships between hand grip and pulling force. Hand grip also strongly correlated with peak torque in all considered limb movements. The other examined parameters did not show statistical significance. Conclusions. Despite the significant results of the study component, there was no significant in-fluence of painful shoulder syndrome on performance levels.