Hip adduction and abduction strength in different test positions and their relationship to previous groin injuries in women footballers.

Hip strength has been shown to influence the incidence of injury in women's football. The first objective of our study was to examine the differences in isometric strength of the adductors and abductors between two test positions (0° vs. 45° hip angle). Our second objective was to verify the sensitivity of the two test positions in discriminating between women footballers with and without a history of groin pain in the last twelve months. One hundred and one elite players from the Slovenian women's football league were tested. The isometric strength of the adductors, abductors, and the ratio between hip abductor and adductor strength in two different test positions were assessed. We found statistically significant differences (p < 0.05; effect size range 0.12-0.13) between the two test positions in hip adduction, abduction strength, and abductor/adductor strength ratio. The ROC analysis showed that only the abductor/adductor strength ratio at the 0° hip angle position can differentiate between players with and without a history of groin pain, with an optimal cut-off point of ≤ 1.01 (p < 0.05; AUC = 0.734). The results should help practitioners plan hip strength training for returning to sport or preventing groin pain among women football players.

Evaluation of an Early Individualized Integrated Rehabilitation Program versus Standard Rehabilitation Program for Smoking Cessation in 115 Smokers Among 467 Female Breast Cancer Patients 2019-2021 in Slovenia.

BACKGROUND Cigarette smoking affects cancer risk and cardiovascular risk. Smoking cessation is very beneficial for health. This study aimed to evaluate an early individualized integrated rehabilitation program and standard rehabilitation program for smoking cessation in breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective study included 467 breast cancer patients (29-65 (mean 52) years of age) treated at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana from 2019 to 2021 and were followed longer than 1 year. The control group and intervention group included 282 and 185 patients, respectively. Three questionnaires were completed by patients before and 1 year after the beginning of oncological treatment. The intervention group received interventions according to the patient's needs, while the control group underwent standard rehabilitation. The data obtained from the survey were analyzed using the chi-square test and analysis of variance. RESULTS In total, 115 patients were tobacco smokers before the beginning of cancer treatment. There were no differences between the intervention and control group in the prevalence of smoking before the treatment. Before the cancer treatment, smoking was present in the intervention group in 22% and in control group in 27% (P=0.27). One year after the beginning of cancer treatment, smoking was present in the intervention group in only 10% of cases, while it was present in control group in 20% of cases. Smoking was significantly less common in the intervention group than in the control group (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation was more common after early integrated rehabilitation than after standard rehabilitation.

(Low) Energy Availability and Its Association with Injury Occurrence in Competitive Dance: Cross-Sectional Analysis in Female Dancers.

Background and objectives: The risk of low energy availability is related to various health problems in sports. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify a possible association between various dance factors, anthropometrics/body build, and energy availability with injury occurrence in contemporary dancers. Materials and Methods: The participants were 50 female competitive dancers (19.8 ± 4.1 years of age). The independent variables included age, dance factors (amount of training and competitions per week-exposure time, experience in dance), anthropometrics/body composition (body height, mass, BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), and fat-free mass (FFM)), and energy availability score (EAS; evaluated by accelerometer-based measurement of energy expenditure and Dance Energy Availability Questionnaires). The dependent variables were the occurrence of (i) soft-tissue injuries and (ii) bone injuries. The measurements were obtained by experienced technicians during the pre-competition period for each specific dance discipline. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were calculated to identify the associations between independent variables and injury prevalence. Results: The results showed that EAS (OR = 0.81, 95% CI:0.65-0.91), age (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.1-2.46), higher BF% (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04-1.46) and BMI (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.05-2.47) were correlated with soft-tissue injuries. Dancers who suffered from bone injuries reported higher exposure time (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.37) and had lower values of FFM (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56-0.98). Multivariate regression analyses evidenced a higher likelihood of soft-tissue injuries in older dancers (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.21-2.95) and the ones who had lower EAS (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.95) while the exposure time was associated with a higher likelihood of bone injuries (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05-1.39). Conclusions: In order to decrease the injury prevalence among dancers, special attention should be paid to maintaining adequate nutrition that will provide optimal available energy for the demands of training and performing. Additionally, the control of training volume should be considered in order to reduce traumatic bone injuries.

Isometric Trunk Strength Assessment of Athletes: Effects of Sex, Sport, and Low Back Pain History.

CONTEXT: The importance of isometric trunk strength (ITS) among sport science professionals is higher than its actual reported effect size on either performance or low back pain (LBP) occurrence. OBJECTIVE: To provide normative values of ITS and strength ratios, and to evaluate the effect of sex, sports discipline, and LBP status. DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred and sixty-seven elite athletes (186 females) with and without a history of LBP from different sports. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Participants underwent ITS testing for trunk flexors, extensors, and lateral flexors. Normalized maximal strength (in newton meter per kilogram) and strength ratios were calculated. Differences between sex, LBP, and sport disciplines were assessed with 3-way analysis of variance (sex × LBP status × 7 sport categories) and partial eta-squared (ηp2) effect size. The predictive validity of ITS for LBP was checked with receiver operating characteristics (area under the curve). RESULTS: The authors found significant differences in extensor and flexor ITS in favor of male athletes (medium ηp2, P < .05), while sex differences in lateral flexion ITS had a low size effect (P < .05). A low size effect was also observed for the differences in strength ratios extensors/flexors (mean 1.47; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-1.50) and left flexors/right flexors (mean 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.01) among sexes. The sport discipline-related differences generally had a low size effect. No significant differences in ITS were found between LBP and LBP-free athletes. Only 50% to 58% of athletes (area under the curve, 0.501-0.582) were correctly classified as LBP or LBP-free using different ITS and strength ratio variables. CONCLUSIONS: ITS and strength ratios have low predictive validity for LBP history but may discriminate between sex and sport disciplines. Our data are a useful reference point for meaningful individual results interpretation when athletes are evaluated during training or rehabilitation.

Relationship between force-velocity-power profiles and inter-limb asymmetries obtained during unilateral vertical jumping and singe-joint isokinetic tasks.

We explored the associations between force-velocity-power (FVP) profiles and inter-limb asymmetries in FVP profiles obtained during unilateral jumping and single-leg isokinetic knee extension and flexion tasks. Thirty (13 senior and 17 junior) basketball players performed unilateral jumps with different levels of unloading (0-40% body mass) and isokinetic knee extension and flexion at different angular velocities (60-300°/s) with each leg. Senior and junior basketball players exhibited similar jump performance, normalized knee extensor and flexor strength, and relatively similar jumping and isokinetic FVP profiles. No significant associations between unilateral jump and isokinetic knee extension and flexion FVP parameters were found (all r ≤ 0.26; p > 0.05). Inter-limb asymmetries had no or very weak associations with unilateral jump height (-0.2 < r < 0.2; all p > 0.1); also, inter-limb asymmetries in jump and isokinetic FVP parameters were generally weakly associated (median r < 0.1). Finally, unilateral jump height was weakly-to-moderately associated with isokinetic F0, jumping Pmax, and normalized knee extension isokinetic peak torque at 60°/s and 240°/s (r = 0.35-0.57). These results suggest that the generalizability of the FVP profile of isolated muscle groups to complex ballistic tasks is weak.

The Relationship Between Army Physical Fitness and Functional Capacities in Infantry Members of the Slovenian Armed Forces.

ABSTRACT: Simenko, J, Kovcan, B, Pori, P, Vodicar, J, Vodicar, M, and Hadzic, V. The Relationship between army physical fitness and functional capacities in infantry members of the Slovenian Armed Forces. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3506-3512, 2021-The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between traditional army physical fitness test (APFT) and a novel functional testing battery that included countermovement jump (CMJ) testing, stork balANce test, pUll-ups, single leg hAmstring bridge test, and loaded prone pLank test-MANUAL battery. The secondary purpose was to explore additional baseline fitness aspects traditionally not covered by APFT. This cross-sectional study involved 181 Slovenian Armed Forces (SAF) infantry members (age 31.4 ± 6.1 years) that were tested using both the regular annual APFT and the MANUAL battery (testing was conducted 2 weeks apart). At the significance level of p ≤ 0.05, significant but weak associations between the MANUAL testing battery and APFT battery (0.2 ≤ r < 0.5; p ≤ 0.05) were observed. The MANUAL battery has highlighted possible hamstring (less than 20 repetitions on a single leg bridge test in 26% of SAF infantry members) and posterior shoulder pull-up muscle weakness (mean score 5 ± 4 pull-ups). Functional predictors from the MANUAL explained only 33.6% of the APFT score (R2 = 0.336). Significant predictors of APFT score were single leg hamstring left (p = 0.048), loaded plank (p = 0.049), number of pull-ups (p < 0.001), CMJ (p = 0.01), and loaded CMJ (p = 0.026). The findings suggest that higher APFT marks are associated with better performance on the MANUAL tests and indicate the problem of hamstring and pull-up muscle weakness. The general recommendation is that the physical condition military programs should include more exercises to strengthen those muscle groups.

Can Injuries Be Predicted by Functional Movement Screen in Adolescents? The Application of Machine Learning.

ABSTRACT: Karuc, J, Misigoj-Durakovic, M, Sarlija, M, Markovic, G, Hadzic, V, Trost-Bobic, T, and Soric, M. Can injuries be predicted by functional movement screen in adolescents? The application of machine learning. J Strength Cond Res 35(4): 910-919, 2021-This study used machine learning (ML) to predict injuries among adolescents by functional movement testing. This research is a part of the CRO-PALS study conducted in a representative sample of adolescents and analyses for this study are based on nonathletic (n = 364) and athletic (n = 192) subgroups of the cohort (16-17 years). Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), body fatness, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), training hours per week, Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and socioeconomic status were assessed at baseline. A year later, data on injury occurrence were collected. The optimal cut-point of the total FMS score for predicting injury was calculated using receiver operating characteristic curve. These predictors were included in ML analyses with calculated metrics: area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]). Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses with associated criterium of total FMS score >12 showed AUC of 0.54 (95% CI: 0.48-0.59) and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.47-0.63), for the nonathletic and athletic youth, respectively. However, in the nonathletic subgroup, ML showed that the Naïve Bayes exhibited highest AUC (0.58), whereas in the athletic group, logistic regression was demonstrated as the model with the best predictive accuracy (AUC: 0.62). In both subgroups, with given predictors: sex, age, BMI, body fat percentage, MVPA, training hours per week, socioeconomic status, and total FMS score, ML can give a more accurate prediction then FMS alone. Results indicate that nonathletic boys who have lower-body fat could be more prone to suffer from injury incidence, whereas among athletic subjects, boys who spend more time training are at a higher risk of being injured. Conclusively, total FMS cut-off scores for each subgroup did not successfully discriminate those who suffered from those who did not suffer from injury, and, therefore, our research does not support FMS as an injury prediction tool.

Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Expression in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer and its Impact on Overall Survival.

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) expression has been addressed as a potential prognostic marker in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in various studies; however, the associations between IGF1R expression and prognosis of advanced NSCLC patients is still controversial. The aim of our observational, cohort study was to evaluate the expression of IGF1R in advanced NSCLC and its prognostic role. A subgroup analysis was performed to address the influence of pre-existing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status on IGF1R expression and overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: IGF1R expression was evaluated in 167 consecutive advanced NSCLC patients (stage IIIB and IV), diagnosed and treated at one university institution, between 2005 and 2010. All patients received at least one line of standard cytotoxic therapy and 18 of them had pre-existing T2DM. IGF1R expression was determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, with score ≥ 1+ considered as positive. Information on baseline characteristics, as well as patients' follow-up data, were obtained from the hospital registry. Associations of IGF1R expression with clinical characteristics and overall survival were compared. RESULTS: IGF1R expression was positive in 79.6% of patients, significantly more often in squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to non-squamous-cell (NSCC) histology (88.7% vs. 74.3%; P = 0.03). IGF1R positivity did not correlate with T2DM status or with other clinical features (sex, smoking status, performance status). Median OS was similar between IGF1R positive and IGF1R negative group (10.2 vs. 8.5 months, P = 0.168) and between patients with or without T2DM (8.7 vs. 9.8 months, P = 0.575). Neither IGF1R expression nor T2DM were significant predictors of OS. CONCLUSIONS: IGF1R or T2DM status were not significantly prognostic in described above collective of advanced NSCLC treated with at least one line of chemotherapy. In addition, no association between T2DM status and IGF1R expression was found. Further studies on IGF1R expression and its prognostic as well as therapeutic consequences in a larger collective of advanced NSCLC patients, with or without T2DM, are needed.

Vertical jump performance of professional male and female volleyball players: effects of playing position and competition level.

Vertical jump (VJ) performance is an important element for successful volleyball practice. The aims of the study were (a) to explore the overall VJ performance of elite volleyball players of both sexes, (b) to explore the differences in VJ performance among different competition levels and different playing positions, and (c) to evaluate the sex-related differences in the role of the arm swing and 3-step approach with arm swing on the jump height. We assessed the VJ capacity in 253 volleyball players (113 males and 140 females) from Slovenian first and second Volleyball Division. The height of squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump, block jump, and attack jump was tested using an Optojump system. We observed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in VJ height between different levels of play that were most pronounced in the SJ. Position-related differences in VJ performance were observed in male players between receivers and setters (p ≤ 0.05), whereas in females, VJ performance across different playing positions seems equal. Finally, we found that male players significantly better use the arm swing during VJ than females (p ≤ 0.05), whereas the use of eccentric part of the jump and approach before the spike to improve VJ performance seem to be equally mastered activity in both sexes. These results could assist coaches in the development of jumping performance in volleyball players. Furthermore, presented normative data for jump heights of elite male and female volleyball players could be useful in selection and profiling of young volleyball players.

Eight-week exercise intervention improves shoulder pain and body posture of wheelchair athletes with spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair athletes, as a group of elite athletes who participate in high-level sports activities, are constantly exposed to musculoskeletal injuries and disorders due to their frequent use of wheelchairs and overworked upper limbs. In this study, we investigated the effect of elastic band exercises on the extent of athletes' forward head angle, kyphosis, rounded shoulder, and pain scores. METHODS: Twenty-six male and female wheelchair athletes with spinal cord injuries (age: 27.11±6.67), active in table tennis, basketball and pétanque, were selected and randomly divided into either a control or training group. The Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) questionnaire was used to investigate the level of shoulder pain. A sagittal view photogrammetry method was used to measure the forward head angle and round shoulder angle, and a flexible ruler was used to measure the thoracic kyphosis angle. For our statistical analysis, a covariance test (ANCOVA) and independent and dependent T tests were used. RESULTS: After eight weeks of training, there was a significant decrease in the angle of the forward head tilt, kyphosis, round shoulder, and pain questionnaire scores in the training group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the forward head angle, rounded shoulder and kyphosis angle, and pain scores show the desirable effect of resistance training with an elastic band. Therefore, this exercise program is recommended for wheelchair athletes with spinal cord injuries.

The association between unilateral and bilateral performance-related measures in elite female soccer players: a multifaceted investigation.

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate a) the associations between bilateral performance utilizing countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), speed and unilateral CMJ, isokinetic peak torque in knee extension and flexion with angular velocities of 60°/s and 180°/s and tensiomyography (TMG) parameters; b) whether the asymmetries derived from unilateral tests are associated with bilateral CMJ, SJ and speed in elite female soccer players. Methods: Thirty-five elite female soccer players (average age: 20 ± 5 years) completed CMJ, SJ, speed, isokinetic muscle strength and TMG tests. Results: Compared to the non-dominant leg, the dominant leg demonstrated greater peak torque output in both knee flexion (7.4%) and knee extension (5.6%) isokinetic tasks, as well as m. vastus medialis contraction time (7.6%), and soccer-specific agility test (4.1%). Conversely, the hamstring to quadriceps peak torque ratio at 180°/s (8.5%) was significantly greater in the non-dominant leg. The associations between CMJ, SJ and speed performance were positive and ranged from weak (r = 0.350) to high (r = 0.710). For speed and TMG-derived variables, correlations were negative and ranged from weak (r = -0.345, p = 0.042, for vastus medialis contraction time) to moderate (r = -0.530, p = 0.001, for biceps femoris contraction time). Furthermore, both bilateral CMJ and SJ negatively correlated with TMG-derived variables, ranging from weak (r = -0.350, p = 0.039, for vastus lateralis contraction time) to moderate (r = -0.537, p = 0.003, for rectus femoris contraction time). Conclusion: The overall significant, albeit inconsistent, correlations between the diverse performance scores obtained highlight the necessity for a multifaceted and thorough diagnostic strategy in female soccer players.

Effects of Oral Iron Supplementation on Blood Iron Status in Athletes: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency in athletes is initially treated with a nutritional intervention. If negative iron balance persists, oral iron supplementation (OIS) can be used. Despite the recent proposal for a refinement of treatment strategies for iron-deficient athletes, there is no general consensus regarding the actual efficiency, dosage, or optimal regimen of OIS. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate to what extent OIS affects blood iron parameters and physical performance in healthy adult athletes. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane were searched from inception to 2 November 2022. Articles were eligible if they satisfied the following criteria: recruited subjects were healthy, adult and physically active individuals, who used exclusively OIS, irrespective of sex and sports discipline. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: simultaneous supplementation with iron and any other micronutrient(s), intravenous iron supplementation or recent exposure to altitude acclimatisation. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed with the PEDro scale, the completeness of intervention reporting with the TIDieR scale, while the GRADE scale was used for quality of evidence synthesis. The present study was prospectively registered in PROSPERO online registry (ID: CRD42022330230). RESULTS: From 638 articles identified through the search, 13 studies (n = 449) were included in the quantitative synthesis. When compared to the control group, the results demonstrated that OIS increases serum ferritin (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.27, 95% CI 0.44-2.10, p = 0.006), whereas blood haemoglobin (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI - 0.29 to 2.93, p = 0.099), serum transferrin receptor concentration (SMD = - 0.74, 95% CI - 1.89 to 0.41, p = 0.133), and transferrin saturation (SMD = 0.69, 95% CI - 0.84 to 2.22, p = 0.330) remained unaltered. Following OIS, a trend of small positive effect on VO2max (SMD = 0.49, 95% CI - 0.09 to 1.07, p = 0.086) was observed in young healthy athletes. The quality of evidence for all outcomes ranged from moderate to low. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in serum ferritin concentration after OIS was evident in subjects with initial pre-supplementation serum ferritin concentration ≤ 12 µg/l, while only minimal, if any effect, was observed in subjects with higher pre-supplementation serum ferritin concentration. The doses of OIS, that induced a beneficial effect on hematological parameters differed from 16 to 100 mg of elementary iron daily, over the period between 6 and 8 weeks. Shorter supplementation protocols have been shown to be ineffective.

Bilateral concentric and eccentric isokinetic strength evaluation of quadriceps and hamstrings in basketball players.

The aim of the study was to investigate the existence of bilateral asymmetry in healthy basketball players of different age, as evidence suggest that it may be an age related phenomenon which develops over the years of training. Fifty healthy basketball players (26 males and 24 females) participated in the study. The quadriceps (Q) and the hamstring (H) were tested concentrically and eccentrically at 60 degrees/s. The main outcome measure was body weight normalized peak torque (PT/BW). We have also calculated different strength ratios as well as the bilateral strength differences. The main findings indicate that (1) bilateral strength asymmetry is noticeable in senior basketball players relating predominantly to the Q (2) some gender related strength differences were mainly associated with the concentric strength of Q and H (3) when corrected for weight and height, age related strength differences were relatively small and observed only with respect to H strength in males (4) superiority of eccentric over concentric strength values of Q and H was more pronounced in females than in males. Strength asymmetry in senior basketball players may be more attributable to the better neuromuscular control during vertical jumping than to the strength itself as there were no age related differences between cadets and senior players.

Injuries among Slovenian physical education teachers: a cross-sectional study.

A cross-sectional study was carried out to examine the frequency and types of serious injuries in physical educators throughout their professional career, in relation to their gender, age and teaching level, certain factors causing the injuries and the consequences of those injuries on their working ability. The subjects (n = 468) answered a self-administered questionnaire. In men, one group's higher frequency of injuries was 1.8 (95% CI [1.26, 2.57]) times higher than in women. Every year in age increased the odds for moving into a group with a higher frequency of injuries by 7.6% (95% CI [1.06, 1.10]). The most common injuries for both genders were lower limb injuries. The most common cause of injury was the teacher's own mistake. Over 60% of teachers had to modify their teaching after an injury. It is necessary to further explore preventive strategies to reduce injuries in these workers.

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour following combined aerobic and resistance training in coronary artery disease patients: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Effective training modalities and potential determinants to induce favourable changes in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) remains elusive in patients with coronary artery disease. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the effects of high-load resistance training and low-load RT combined with aerobic training in comparison to aerobic training alone on PA and SB, and whether baseline level of SB modifies PA outcomes in coronary artery disease patients. METHODS: We randomised 79 patients to aerobic training, low-load resistance training and aerobic training or high-load resistance training and aerobic training. PA and SB were measured using triaxial accelerometer at baseline and post-training for 8 days. RESULTS: There was no difference between training modalities in post-training PA and SB. When stratified by baseline SB, the very sedentary patients improved SB (-52 min/day, p = 0.001) and light intensity PA (+27 min/day, p = 0.009) following intervention. The improvement in PA was greater in the very sedentary patients (SB: +27%, p = 0.002; light intensity PA: +24%, p = 0.004) and in sedentary patients (SB: +24%, p = 0.009) compared to the very active patients. CONCLUSIONS: Post-training improvement in PA and SB was determined by baseline SB, while the addition of low-load or high-load resistance training provided no further benefits in coronary artery disease patients. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04638764.

Injuries of Primary School Children during Sports Activities.

Introduction: The purpose of the research was to analyse the injuries of primary school children in the framework of organised sports activities at school and in clubs or associations, and in leisure time without professional guidance. Methods: We surveyed 631 participants, of which there were 282 boys and 349 girls from eight Slovenian primary schools. Frequencies were calculated and a Chi-square test was performed. Results: In physical education (PE) at school, 32% of the participants were injured in one school year, and there were no statistically significant differences in the number of injuries according to sex (p=0.18) and age (p=0.12). Most injuries were recorded in the lower extremities (50%), in the form of wounds. The participants were injured less often in PE at school than in a club or association, and more often than in their leisure time. The participants were absent from PE classes for longer after an injury in a club or association than in PE, while no significant differences in absences after injury were found. At school, the participants were most often injured in ball games, boys in football (43%) and girls in volleyball (19%). In activities in a club or association, we recorded the most injuries in boys in martial arts (18%) and dance for girls (19%). In their leisure time, boys suffered the most injuries from football (26%) and cycling, while girls suffered the most from running and rollerblading. Conclusion: In the last ten years, the number of injuries in PE has increased in Slovenia. Based on the obtained results, we propose measures to reduce injuries and thus encourage more sports activities among children and adolescents, while ensuring their safety.

Insulin resistance, lipids and body composition in patients with coronary artery disease after combined aerobic training and resistance training: a randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The effect of resistance training (RT) in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on insulin resistance remains elusive. We examined whether the addition of high-load (HL) or low loads (LL) RT has any effect on the levels of insulin resistance and lipids versus aerobic training (AT) alone in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Seventy-nine CAD patients were randomised to HL-RT [70-80% of one repetition maximum (1-RM)] and AT, LL-RT (35-40% of 1-RM) and AT or AT (50-80% of maximal power output), and 59 patients [75% males, 15% diabetics, age: 61 (8) years, left ventricular ejection fraction: 53 (9) %] completed the study. Plasma levels of glucose, insulin, blood lipids [total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] cholesterol and body composition were measured at baseline and post-training (36 training sessions). RESULTS: Training intervention had only time effect on lean mass (p = 0.002), total and LDL cholesterol levels (both p < 0.001), and no effects on levels of glucose and insulin resistance (homeostatic assessment 2-insulin resistance). Total and LDL cholesterols levels decreased following AT [mean difference (95% confidence interval); total cholesterol: - 0.4 mmol/l (- 0.7 mmol/l, - 0.1 mmol/l), p = 0.013; LDL: - 0.4 mmol/l (- 0.7 mmol/l, - 0.1 mmol/l), p = 0.006] and HL-RT [total cholesterol: - 0.5 mmol/l (- 0.8 mmol/l, - 0.2 mmol/l), p = 0.002; LDL: - 0.5 mol/l (- 0.7 mmol/l, - 0.2 mmol/l), p = 0.002]. No associations were observed between post-training change in body composition and post-training change in blood biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: RT when combined with AT had no additional effect beyond AT alone on fasting glucose metabolism, blood lipids and body composition in patients with CAD. Trial registration number NCT04638764.

The influence of lifestyle interventions and overweight on infertility: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of lifestyle intervention (LSI) on diagnosed infertility in overweight and obese women. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. A literature search was performed on the following databases from September 2022 to December 2022: PubMed, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus. The inclusion criteria were the following: women between 18 and 45 years of age, BMI over 25.0 kg/m2, diagnosed with infertility, a weight loss intervention, and control group part of RCTs. In total, 15 studies were identified and included. The meta-analysis shows a beneficial effect of LSI on reducing weight, waist circumference, and BMI and increasing infertility. A significantly beneficial effect of lifestyle intervention on weight reduction was observed for participants who initially had a higher BMI, while a non-significant effect was observed for individuals with a BMI above 35 kg/m2. The meta-analysis showed a beneficial effect of lifestyle intervention on ovulation incidence and sex hormone-binding globulin. The lifestyle intervention group had 11.23 times more ovulatory incidence than the control group, which in turn increased the ability to conceive. As robust evidence for the effect of lifestyle interventions on infertility in obese and overweight women was found, it is advised to integrate similar interventions into future infertility treatment processes.

Vertical jumping tests in volleyball: reliability, validity, and playing-position specifics.

Vertical jumping is known to be important in volleyball, and jumping performance tests are frequently studied for their reliability and validity. However, most studies concerning jumping in volleyball have dealt with standard rather than sport-specific jumping procedures and tests. The aims of this study, therefore, were (a) to determine the reliability and factorial validity of 2 volleyball-specific jumping tests, the block jump (BJ) test and the attack jump (AJ) test, relative to 2 frequently used and systematically validated jumping tests, the countermovement jump test and the squat jump test and (b) to establish volleyball position-specific differences in the jumping tests and simple anthropometric indices (body height [BH], body weight, and body mass index [BMI]). The BJ was performed from a defensive volleyball position, with the hands positioned in front of the chest. During an AJ, the players used a 2- to 3-step approach and performed a drop jump with an arm swing followed by a quick vertical jump. A total of 95 high-level volleyball players (all men) participated in this study. The reliability of the jumping tests ranged from 0.97 to 0.99 for Cronbach's alpha coefficients, from 0.93 to 0.97 for interitem correlation coefficients and from 2.1 to 2.8 for coefficients of variation. The highest reliability was found for the specific jumping tests. The factor analysis extracted one significant component, and all of the tests were highly intercorrelated. The analysis of variance with post hoc analysis showed significant differences between 5 playing positions in some of the jumping tests. In general, receivers had a greater jumping capacity, followed by libero players. The differences in jumping capacities should be emphasized vis-a-vis differences in the anthropometric measures of players, where middle hitters had higher BH and body weight, followed by opposite hitters and receivers, with no differences in the BMI between positions.