RELATIVE AGE EFFECT AMONG YOUNG CROATIAN TAEKWONDO COMPETITORS

Aim of this research was to identify and analyse relative age effect (RAE) on sample composed of young Croatian taekwondo competitors. In order with aim of research, for medal winners (n1=72) and other competitors (n2=187) who competed at Croatian taekwondo cadet championship 2015, date of birth, weight category and sport success were extracted. By conducting of Chi-square test on all competitors (n=259) it is proven there is non-significant difference (χ2=12.28; p=0.34) between expected and observed frequencies according to month of birth. Furthermore, significant difference between observed and expected frequencies according to year of birth of medal winners (χ2=45.31; p<0.01) is confirmed. Results of this research are pointing on presence of RAE which could lead to mistakes in selection of young athletes. Authors are suggesting to minimize allowed age range for competition, or to separate competitors in more age categories, which would enable more equal competitions and reduce effect of age on sport success.

SOCIO ECOLOGICAL PROFILES OF PARTICIPANTS IN SPORTS ACTIVITY IN POLAND RANDOM TREE BASED ANALYSIS

While the benefits of sports activity are well-documented, people remain reluctant to engage in it in selected developed countries (including Middle and Eastern Europe). A comparison of empirical results indicates that the reasons behind such behaviour are heterogenous and complex. As implied by the socio-ecological framework, different spheres of life and the interactions between them matter. By using the results of a study on Polish society conducted in 2015, Social Diagnosis, and a random forest model, we show the key demographic, socio-economic characteristics and interactions between them in explaining the difference between engaging in sports activity and not doing so. In particular, we identify three crucial variables: age, participation of other adults in the same household in sports activity, and proclivity for restaurants, bars, pubs.

SHOULDER INJURIES IN WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PLAYERS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Sport of the disabled has been becoming more and more popular for several years, and wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular disciplines among the disabled. However, playing sports is connected with the possibility of injuries and pain in people training a given discipline. The aim of this study is to determine the occurrence of injuries and to identify most commonly injuries in athletes practicing basketball in wheelchairs. A literature review was conducted in Embase and Medline PubMed databases. Basic search terms are: shoulder injury OR shoulder pain OR upper limb disease OR upper limb disorders OR upper limb pain AND basketball OR basketball player OR wheelchair sport OR wheelchair user OR wheelchair athlete OR wheelchair basketball OR disabled sport OR disabled persons.Results: 511 non-duplicate results were found. At the stage of the analysis of titles and abstracts, 483 were rejected and 28 were qualified for the analysis of full texts. The review included 2 that met all the criteria. The topic is not discussed in large numbers in the literature and requires further research specifically focused on the prevention of shoulder injury as well as assessment of the risk of damage to individual elements that make up the shoulder joint and surrounding structures.

STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH RISKS REGARDING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PEER PRESSURE

Given that adolescents and young people spend most of their time in the educational system, advancements in neurodevelopmental research emphasize the important and complex role of peers’ influence on adolescents’ behaviour, suggesting that supportive programmes led by peers have a strong potential benefit (King, & Fazel, 2019). In many cases peers are the most important source of social support, and are therefore an important target group to investigate the factors of risk, signs of poor mental health and ways to assess their health behaviour and awareness of the care which should be taken regarding their mental health, as well as the resources and prevention models. The wish is to study whether there are differences regarding the mental behaviour in certain characteristics of susceptibility to peer pressure as a risk for the mental health of students of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and students of the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb, Division of Petrinja (N=440). The set hypothesis states that there is a statistically significant difference among students of the faculty in Pula and those in Petrinja in their assessment of certain features of peer pressure susceptibility as a possible risk for mental health. The results obtained at the x2-test showed a statistically significant difference between certain peer pressure features among students regarding their study environment linked to hanging out with peers who consume drugs and being tempted to try them, getting involved in risky behaviours if their peers ask them to, and betting or gambling because their friends also do that. The results indicate that in smaller communities social control and conformity in the students’ behaviour is more present due to their wish to fit in a peer group as well as possible, suggesting the need for strengthening the positive health behaviour of young people during their whole education in order to secure a healthy and productive adult population.

DIFFERENCES IN MAXIMUM OXYGEN CONSUMPTION OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN THE TEAM

The aim of this research is to determine the differences between the aerobic functional abilities of football players from different positions in the team, which should serve as a starting point in planning and monitoring the training process of football players. VO2max, as a basic parameter of functional abilities, was obtained by applying a laboratory progressive test on the treadmill. The sample of respondents was composed of 57 respondents (GOD = 22.47 ± 3.78SD), football players of clubs competing in the first and second leagues of Serbia from the area of Vojvodina, of which 8 goalkeepers, 16 defensive, 17 midfielders and 16 attackers. To test the functional capabilities (oxygen consumption - VOmax), we used a test of progressive continuous load on the treadmill with increasing load per minute through a "breath-by-breath" gas analyzer (Quark PFT ErgoCPET, Cosmed, Italy), which gave data on ventilation and spiroergometric parameters of the subjects by different positions in the team. Anthropometric measures of body weight- (TM) and body height- (TV) were applied to test the morphological characteristics of the subjects. SPSS 20.0 software package was used for data processing. In order to determine the statistically significant differences of the measured variables between football players by positions, a one-factor anova of different groups, the level of statistical significance (p <0.05) was used. The obtained results of maximum oxygen consumption indicated that there is a statistically significant difference in aerobic abilities between goalkeepers and players in other positions, and they are certainly a consequence of the physiological requirements placed before them and the different training process. The highest mean value of VO2 max had midfielders (53.3 ± 1.9 ml / kg / min), followed by attackers (52.9 ± 4.4 ml / kg / min), defensive players (51.8 ± 3, 3 ml / kg / min) while the lowest values were recorded in the goalkeeper (50.5 ± 1.8 ml / kg / min). There is a logical conclusion that the need for running midfielders is the greatest, and the goalkeeper the least, and that the results are the result of training processes and different requirements for individual positions in the team.

A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAMSTRING SHORTENING, BODY POSTURE AND BODY MASS INDEX IN BOYS UNDERTAKING FOOTBALL TRAINING

Adequate length and tension of postural muscles are necessary to maintain proper body posture and enable basic movement patterns to be correctly carried out. These muscles include the hamstrings. Research results show that these are often characterised by reduced elasticity and excessive passive stiffness. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between hamstring shortening, body posture and excessive body weight in physically active boys. The study involved 69 boys aged from 6 to 19 years who regularly took part in football training (at least three times a week) for at least 12 months. Body height (calibrated anthropometer), body weight (electronic balance TANITA), torso positioning in three planes (ultrasonic system ZEBIS Pointer) and the flexibility of the hamstrings (goniometer) were analysed. Descriptive statistics, cardinality tables, the Kruskal-Wallis test and an effect size were used in statistical analysis. The reduction of hamstring elasticity in both legs was diagnosed in 50.72 % and in one leg in 13.05 % of the boys studied, while 24.65 % were overweight and 4.35 % were obese. No significant differences in the torso position were found in the groups distinguished by hamstring flexibility. However, subjects with hamstring shortening tended to have increased pelvic torsion, increased angular kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, have greater asymmetry of the right and left pelvis and shoulders, and increased scoliotic deformities. A significant correlation was found between hamstring flexibility, body weight and body mass index (BMI). Common hamstring shortening in boys taking part in football training does not significantly affect body posture but significantly correlates with body weight and BMI. Stretching exercises and soft tissue mobilisation techniques should be included in the football training of young players.

DYNAMICS OF CHANGES IN SELECTED PARAMETERS OF FOOT ARCHING IN CHILDREN BETWEEN 5 AND 9 YEARS OLD

The foot is an important element of the locomotor apparatus and performs a number of functions in our body. Abnormalities in its shape can affect everyday functioning. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the proper development of the feet in children. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of changes in selected parameters of foot development in younger children of school age. The study involved 70 children. The observations were conducted twice in the same children, aged 5 and 9 years. Their feet were examined using a podoscope. Clarke's method was used to assess the longitudinal arch of the feet, and the Wejsflog length-width index for assessing the transverse arch. In addition, parameters such as the length and width of the foot, the position of the big toe, the little toe and the back of the heel were analysed. Longer and wider feet were characteristic of boys. As the children became older, the longitudinal arch of the feet fell, while only girls showed a slight improvement in the lateral arch of the foot. There was a high rate of flat feet. The children examined, who were aged 5 and 9 years, had a correctly positioned toe and heel, while there was varus of the little toe. The length-width dimensions of the feet changed significantly over time. Girls and boys differed significantly in the values of the Clarke's angle defining the longitudinal arch of the feet, while no significant differences in the lateral arch of the feet were noted. With age, there was no change in the position of the toe, toe and heel.

GAP ANALYSIS BETWEEN CURRENT AND DESIRED SITUATION OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE MANAGEMENT OF AMBUSH MARKETING RISKS IN MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS

The purpose of this study was to analyze the gap between the current and optimal status of ambush marketing risk management in major sporting events. The research method was descriptive-causal comparative. The statistical population was all people who had the experience of leading sports caravans and being a member of the executive board for holding major sporting events. From them 160 people (by available-random method) were selected as a sample. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of factors affecting the management of risks arising from ambush marketing, which was set in two parts: the current situation and the desired situation. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by professors and sports experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was obtained through Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.86. Frequency table, frequency percentage, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data at the level of descriptive statistics. Due to the normality of data distribution, correlated t-test was used to compare the current situation of marketing management in ambush with the expected limit and paired t-test was used to analyze the gap between the current and desired status in a significant way (α = 0.05). The results showed that among the factors related to the management of marketing risks lurking in sporting events, cultural factors, spectator factors, rule factors, sport event management factors and media factors were lower than expected (average) and factors related to sports marketing, factors related to sporting events and factors related to sporting event sponsors were higher than expected. Analysis of the gap between the current and optimal status of ambush marketing risk management showed that in terms of professors, elites and organizers of sporting events, the situation of all aspects of ambush marketing risk management in sporting events is relatively weak.

VISUAL BIOFEEDBACK BALANCE CONTROL TRAINING VS. KINESIOLOGY TAPING IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM SCIATICA

Low Back Pain (LBP) is commonly classified as civilization disease. Many authors assume that about 80% of the population over forty have at least one major episode of pain in the lumbar area. Many of those patients demonstrate lumbosacral radicular symptoms. Sciatica usually develop as a result of a disc-root conflict and can disturb patients posture and balance. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the visual biofeedback balance control training in patients suffering from sciatica on posture and balance. This was a randomized clinical study with control group, single-blind. Sixty suffering from sciatica patients (54% females) in the age between 20 and 83 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In the experimental group (VBF) in addition to comprehensive rehabilitation, visual feedback balance training was used. In the control group (KT) except comprehensive rehabilitation the kinesiology taping was applied within the lumbar region. For outcome measure center of foot pressure deflection, execution time, Bohannon's standing one-leg test, distribution of limb loads, Functional Ambulatory Category, Timed Up and Go, lumbar spine mobility, Laségue symptom, neurological symptom examination and the Visual Analog Scale has been used. In results: visual feedback balance control training using the balance platform had a statistically significant impact on execution time, standing on one leg, spine mobility, gait, coordination and pain. Dynamic kinesiotaping had a statistically significant effect on COP sway, balance, gait, coordination and pain. Feedback balance control training was more beneficial than dynamic kinesiotaping, although not statistically significant. In the VBF group no statistically significant effects on COP sway and distribution of limb loads has been observed. No effects of gender, side of sciatica (left/right) nor BMI has been observed. Statistically significant effect of visual feedback balance control training was observed in both groups in the age below 55. No side effects have been noticed.

EVALUATING THE BODY RESPONSE TO A 15-MINUTE WORKOUT PROPOSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GYM TRAINING DURING LOCKDOWN CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The aim of the work was to study the body reaction to high intensity interval training. The study included 92 women aged 18 to -35. People who have been engaged in organised, regular physical activity (at least twice a week) were qualified to Group 1. Group 2 were physically inactive persons. All subjects performed interval training in the Tabata formula - two 4-minute sequences. The exercise carried out in the first part is elevating the legs from the “plank” position, in the second part, the hands were elevated from the same position. The pulse rate, the Borg Scale and the VAS pain rate scale (24, 48, 72 and 96 h after exercise) were used to assess the exercise intensity. The respondents from both groups performed the training at a similar intensity: the average heart rate after workout was 131 beats per minute. The highest pain of all muscle groups (when added together) was recorded 24 hours after training. The highest pain intensity during the four days after the training concerned the back and abdominal muscles in Group 1 and the muscles of the abdomen, back and arms (front and back). The intensity of abdominal and arm muscle pain (front) was significantly higher in Group 2. The proposed 15-minute workout planned in the form of Tabata evoked similar cardiovascular reactions in both groups and a similar subjective evaluation of intensity. Individuals who were physically active before the introduction of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic had less pain in the muscular system after the applied training.