The Effects of an Eight-Week Swimming Program on Body Composition and Assessment of Dietary Intake in Post-COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 infection and its consequences (long-term COVID-19 syndrome) have implications for weight loss, body composition, and diet quality. In the context of the "PostCovSwim" project, which is part of a broader international study, the impact of an eight-week swimming program on post-COVID-19 patients' nutritional status (i.e., body composition and dietary intake) was evaluated. Body composition and dietary intake were assessed by medically approved and calibrated bioelectrical impedance (Tanita 780 S MA) and food frequency questionnaires. At the baseline, most participants were classified as overweight based on their body mass index (BMI). However, their body fat percentage (BF%) classification indicated normal weight, although females were near obesity thresholds. Furthermore, at the baseline, according to the BMI classification, 62% of females and 61% of males were female, whereas according to the BF% for obesity classification, 44% of females and 43% of males were considered overweight or obese. Surprisingly, despite the eight-week program, there were no significant changes in body composition. Additionally, the assessment of dietary intake, which remained consistent throughout the study, revealed dietary imbalances characterized by an unhealthy low-carbohydrate, high-fat dietary pattern. This dietary pattern entailed excessive consumption of ultraprocessed foods; reduced carbohydrate intake (39% E vs. 37% E); increased total fat intake (46% E vs. 47% E); increased saturated fatty acids (14% E vs. 13% E); increased cholesterol (412 mg/d vs. 425 mg/d); increased free sugars (7% E vs. 7% E); and inadequate intake of fibre (24 g/d vs. 20 g/d), polyunsaturated fatty acids (6.6% E vs. 7.7% E), vitamin B12 (in females: 3.1 µg/d), vitamin C (86 mg/d vs. 66 mg/d), vitamin D (2 µg/d vs. 3.2 µg/d), folate (in males: 258 µg/d), calcium (777 mg/d vs. 743 mg/d), and selenium (in males: 66 µg/d). After an eight-week swimming program following COVID-19, no significant changes were observed in the subjects' body composition. Their dietary intake was found to not align with the dietary recommendations. These findings underscore the urgency of implementing comprehensive dietary and lifestyle interventions for post-COVID-19 patients to optimize their recovery and overall well-being. Physical activity, like a swimming program, may positively affect various aspects of human well-being.

Isokinetic Knee Muscle Strength Parameters and Anthropometric Indices in Athletes with and without Hyperextended Knees.

Background and Objectives: Hypermobility has been linked to decreased knee performance, including isokinetic and isometric knee strength. This study aimed to determine whether athletes with and without knee hyperextension have different hamstring-to-quadriceps strength (H/Q) ratios and to investigate the associations between knee hyperextension indices and H/Q ratios and anthropometric characteristics. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 47 healthy male athletes without knee injuries aged 23.48 ± 3.54 years. The variables included the degree of knee hypermobility, isokinetic parameters of the leg musculature, and anthropometric indices. Differences between athletes with and without hyperextension were calculated using an independent sample t-test, effect sizes, and discriminant analysis, while associations between the variables were checked by Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Results: Athletes with hyperextended knees had shorter legs (t value = -2.23, p = 0.03, moderate ES) and shins (t = -2.64, p = 0.01, moderate ES) and a lower H/Q ratio at an angular velocity of 60°/s (t = -2.11, p = 0.04, moderate ES) than those in the nonhyperextended group did; these differences were supported by discriminant analysis (Wilks' L = 0.60, p = 0.01). An increase in the H/Q ratio at an angular velocity of 60°/s was associated with the degree of knee hypermobility (R = -0.29, p = 0.04). Conclusions: This research showed that athletes with knee hypermobility have weaker hamstring strength and thus a lower H/Q strength ratio at lower angular velocities. These findings suggest that targeted strength training programs for leg (i.e., hamstrings) muscles should help individuals with knee hypermobility.

Exploring Factors Associated with Physical Activity in the Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively influenced individuals' physical activity levels (PALs) and particularly the PAL of the elderly. However, few studies have examined the correlates of PALs in this population during the pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate the residence-specific correlates of PALs in elderly people from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 211 persons older than 65 years (101 females), of whom 111 were community-dwelling residents, and 110 were nursing home residents (71.11 ± 3.11 and 72.22 ± 4.01 years of age, respectively; t-test = 0.91, p < 0.05). The variables included health status, residential status sociodemographic factors, anthropometrics (body mass, height, and body mass index), and PAL. PAL was evaluated using a translated version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and was validated in this study. PASE showed good test-retest reliability (51% of the common variance) and validity (57% of the common variance, with the step count measured using pedometers). Apart from participants' health status and age, PAL was positively correlated with (i) community-dwelling residence (OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.60-2.23), and (ii) a lower BMI (OR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.71-0.98). The pre-pandemic physical activity was positively correlated with the PAL of the nursing home residents (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.02-1.45). A higher education level was positively correlated with the PAL of community-dwelling residents (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.04-1.66). This study evidenced the residence-specific correlates of PALs, and enabled the identification of specific groups that are at risk of having low PALs during the pandemic. Future studies examining this problem during a non-pandemic period are warranted.

Evaluation of Physical Literacy in 9- to 11-Year-Old Children: Reliability and Validity of Two Measurement Tools in Three Southeastern European Countries.

The awareness of the importance of physical literacy (PL) is globally increasing; however, knowledge of the applicability of PL measurement tools in southeastern Europe is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of translated versions of the CAPL-2 and PLAYself questionnaires in 9- to 11-year-old elementary school children from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The participants were 303 children (141 girls; all 9 to 11 years of age) from Croatia (n = 71), Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 162), and Montenegro (n = 70), enrolled in regular elementary school. The participants were tested throughout a test-retest procedure using two PL evaluation tools, i.e., the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (shorter version, CAPL-2) and the Physical Literacy Assessment of Youth (PLAYself) questionnaires. With an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.70-0.80 for specific questionnaire subscales and 0.84 for the total score, PLAYself was found to be reliable. With Kappa values of 0.11-0.23 and a percentage of absolute agreement of less than 62%, CAPL-2 appeared to be less reliable. Factors related to sport participation were significantly positively associated with the PLAYself score, indicating its proper validity. In conclusion, we suggest the usage of the PLAYself questionnaire in further studies examining PL in children of a similar age in the region. Future studies in other age groups and languages are also warranted.

Effectiveness of Physical-Literacy-Based Online Education on Indices of Physical Fitness in High-School Adolescents: Intervention Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period.

There is a global consensus that physical literacy (PL) is an important determinant of physical fitness (PF), but studies have rarely examined the effects of PL-based interventions on PF. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of specific online video-based PL intervention on PF indices in high-school students from Croatia. Participants were 423 high-school adolescents (295 girls, 128 boys; 14-to-18 years of age), divided into an intervention group (n = 230) and a control group (n = 193). The intervention lasted 12 weeks. Educational video materials were disseminated to the intervention group by the closed social network during the pandemic period. Variables included height, mass, BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and power, strength, and flexibility indices. Pre- to post-testing design was applied, with two-way analysis of variance for repeated measurement (Time × Group). Applied intervention induced positive effects in CRF (the intervention group improved their capacities, while no changes occurred in the control group) and BMI (the intervention group retained their BMI levels at the pre-testing level, while BMI of the control group slightly increased over the course of the study), with better effectiveness in girls than in boys. No effects were evidenced for other variables. The positive effects of applied educational intervention on BMI and CRF are encouraging knowing that both indices are related to health status.

Mediating Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Associations between Physical Activity and Physical Fitness; Cross-Sectional Study among High School Adolescents.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the imposed social distancing measures caused negative changes in physical activity levels (PALs) and physical fitness (PF) among adolescents, but the potential mediating effect of the pandemic on the association between PAL and PF is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate gender-specific associations between objectively measured PAL and indices of PF among high school adolescents during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were 150 adolescents (101 females) aged 14-18 years; their anthropometrics were evaluated, and they were tested on PF (cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF; beep test), power (broad jump), flexibility (sit-and-reach test), and abdominal strength (sit-ups)) and PAL (using a pedometer for 7 days) during the pandemic period. A T-test was calculated to determine differences between genders. Associations between variables were evaluated using Pearson correlations. Additionally, multivariate taxonomic classification was used to sort participants into homogenous groups (clusters) according to their PF, and then analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to differentiate them according to PAL. For the total sample, PAL was correlated with CRF only (R = 0.25, p < 0.05), while gender-stratified correlations showed that PAL was significantly associated with CRF among girls only (R = 0.29, p < 0.05), which was additionally confirmed with multivariate cluster analysis and subsequent ANOVA. No association between PAL and PF was found for boys. The relatively low association between PAL and PF is most likely related to the mediating effect of the change in life circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic, and limited applicability of pedometers in evaluating high-intensity PAL. Further studies in other age groups and environments are warranted.

What Determines the Competitive Success of Young Croatian Wrestlers: Anthropometric Indices, Generic or Specific Fitness Performance?

Identifying factors influencing wrestling performance is important for determining which capacities should be developed the most. This research aimed to investigate whether anthropometric indices, generic fitness, and specific fitness performance determine the competitive success of young wrestlers. This research included 49 Croatian Greco-Roman male wrestlers aged 17.75 ± 1.51 years. Variables included training and competing experience, anthropometric indices, generic fitness (countermovement jump and handgrip strength), and specific wrestling fitness test (SWFT). Wrestlers were separated into medallists and non-medallists (i.e., wrestlers who won a medal at the previous National Championship and wrestlers who did not win a medal, respectively). The t-test for independent samples was used to determine the differences between the two categories in all variables. Moreover, discriminant analysis was performed to identify differences in a multivariate manner. Medallists and non-medallists did not differ in anthropometric indices and wrestling experience. Medallists had better results in the countermovement jump (t = 2.55, p < 0.01), handgrip strength (t = 2.77, p < 0.01), and SWFT performance (t = 2.29, p < 0.05) than non-medallists. The discriminant analysis confirmed that performance categories differed in generic and specific fitness tests (Wilks' Lambda = 0.73, p < 0.05). It could be suggested that coaches should develop both the generic and specific fitness of their wrestlers to become more successful at competitions.

Analyzing the Relationship between Participation in Sports and Harmful Alcohol Drinking in Early Adolescence: Two-Year Prospective Analysis.

Alcohol drinking is an important health-related problem and one of the major risk factors for a wide array of non-communicable diseases, while there is a lack of studies investigating environment-specific associations between sports participation and alcohol drinking in adolescence. This study prospectively investigated the relationship between sports factors (i.e., participation in sports and competitive achievement), with the prevalence of harmful alcohol drinking (HD), and HD initiation in 14-to-16 years old adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 641, 337 females, 43% living in rural community). Participants were tested over 4-time points divided by approximately 6 months, from the beginning of high school to the end of the second grade. Variables included gender, factors related to sport participation, a community of residence (urban or rural), and outcome: alcohol consumption was assessed by the AUDIT questionnaire. Results evidenced that the prevalence of HD increased over the study period from 6 to 19%, with no significant differences between urban and rural youth. Logistic regression for HD as criterion evidenced adolescents who participated in sports and then quit as being at particular risk for drinking alcohol at the study baseline. Sports factors were not correlated with HD initiation in the period between 14 and 16 years of age. It seems that the problem of alcohol drinking should be preventively targeted in all youth, irrespective of living environment. Although sports participation was not evidenced as being a factor of influence on HD initiation, results highlight the necessity of developing targeted preventive campaigns against alcohol drinking for adolescents who quit sports.

Forearm muscle oxygenation and blood volume parameters during sustained contraction performance in youth sport climbers.

BACKGROUND: Forearm muscle strength and endurance are essential determinants of sports climbing success. This study aimed to investigate whether delayed rates of muscle oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin correlate to sustained contraction performance of youth climbers. METHODS: Twelve recreational and competitive youth sport climbers (six females, six males) participated in the study. Variables included finger flexors muscle maximal voluntary contraction, sustained contraction test (SCT), muscle oxygen dynamics (SmO2), and blood volume (tHb) parameters. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the correlation between physiological and performance variables. RESULTS: SCT had a significant positive relationship to SmO2 delayed rate (r=0.728, P=0.007), and a significant negative relationship to tHb delayed rate (r=-0.690, P=0.013). SmO2 delayed rate and tHb delayed rate also had a significant negative correlation (r=-0.760, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, it can be suggested that delayed rates of SmO2 and tHb could be used in determining and predicting sustainable finger flexors performance in youth climbers. However, future studies investigating delayed rates of SmO2 and tHb in climbers of different ability levels are warranted to investigate this issue in more detail.

Motivation Profile of Youth Greco-Roman Wrestlers; Differences According to Performance Quality.

Athletes have to possess high motivation levels to perform each training session and competition at the highest level. Thus, the motivation of the wrestler is essential to reach the highest performance quality. The research included 47 Greco-Roman wrestlers aged 17.71 ± 1.62 years. Variables included anthropometric indices, sports motivation assessed by the revised Sport Motivation Scale (SMS-II), and competitive success (medal winners and non-winners at the National Championship). The Cronbach's alpha coefficients checked the internal consistency of the SMS-II. Differences between performance quality were determined by Cohen's d effect sizes, and MANOVA for motivation and anthropometric variables/body build variables. In the total sample, wrestlers had high levels of intrinsic motivation (5.97 ± 0.90), integrated (5.99 ± 0.83), and identified (6.08 ± 0.82) regulation, while they had low amotivation (2.53 ± 0.98) and external regulation (3.26 ± 1.24). Successful wrestlers had significantly higher intrinsic motivation than less successful wrestlers (Cohen's d = 0.76, moderate effect size). Results evidenced that wrestlers have high self-determined motivation, which is vital for maximal performance and persisting in sports. Future research should investigate wrestlers from other age groups to ultimately determine the sport motivation profile of wrestlers and enable their optimal sports development.

Physical literacy in Europe: The current state of implementation in research, practice, and policy.

Background/objective: The holistic concept of physical literacy (PL) embraces different person-centered qualities (physical, cognitive, affective/psychological) necessary to lead physically active lifestyles. PL has recently gained increasing attention globally and Europe is no exception. However, scientific endeavors summarizing the current state of PL in Europe are lacking. Therefore, the goal of this study was to comprehensively assess and compare the implementation of PL in research, policy, and practice across the continent. Methods: We assembled a panel of experts representing 25 European countries. Employing a complementary mixed-methods design, the experts first prepared reviews about the current state of PL in their countries (categories: research, practice/policy). The reviews underwent comparative document analysis, ensuring a transnational four-eyes principle. For re-validation purposes, the representatives completed a quantitative survey with questions reflecting the inductive themes from the document analysis. Results: The document analysis resulted in ten disjunct themes (related to "concept", "research", "practice/policy", "future/prospect") and yielded a heterogenous PL situation in Europe. The implementation state was strongly linked to conceptual discussions (e.g., existence of competing approaches), linguistic issues (e.g., translations), and country-specific traditions. Despite growing scholarly attention, PL hesitantly permeates practice and policy in most countries. Nevertheless, the experts largely anticipate increasing popularity of PL for the future. Conclusion: Despite the heterogeneous situation across Europe, the analysis has uncovered similarities among the countries, such as the presence of established yet not identical concepts. Research should intensify academic activities (conceptual-linguistic elaborations, empirical work) before PL may gain further access into practical and political spheres in the long term.

Lower back pain in young climbers: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Objective: The popularity of sport climbing has been growing since its inclusion in the Olympic Games program, which led to more people practicing it on recreational, amateur, and professional levels. Strenuous climbing training sessions and competitions might lead to frequent and serious musculoskeletal injuries and complaints among competitive climbers. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and to explore the influence of various risk factors on LBP in adolescent climbers. Methods: The sample included 180 competitive climbers (46.6% males) aged 13-19 years competing in under-16 (48.3%) or under-20 categories. Data collection was carried out using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS). Results: A total of 74.4% of the entire sample of participants (male = 75%; female = 74%) reported lower back complaints throughout the past twelve months, and only 15.5% during the last seven days. A major part of complaints was classified as low intensity-low disability (Grade I, 62.8%; male = 72.6%; female = 54.2%). Under-20 competitors reported a small but significantly higher percentage of almost all NMQ measures compared to under-16 athletes. Conclusions: This study found a relatively high prevalence of LBP, although complaints were of limited severity and did not affect climbers' regular training practice. Moreover, climbers did not differ in LBP prevalence according to sex, while climbers from the older age group reported higher complaints and seeking medical attention than younger climbers. Future studies should prospectively monitor the influence of climbing on LBP in youth climbers.

Association between Physical Fitness, Physical Activity Level and Sense of Coherence in Swedish Adolescents; An Analysis of Age and Sex Differences.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between physical fitness, physical activity, and sense of coherence (SOC) in Swedish adolescents (n = 2028 males, n = 1287 females) aged 14 to 18 using a cross-sectional design. METHODS: Using the Swedish Physical power Mental harmony and Social capacity (FMS) student profile, participants performed physical tests measuring their cardiovascular ability (CV) and muscular strength. Questionnaires were used to measure physical activity levels (PA), the participation in organized physical training, sedentary behavior (SB), screen time, and SOC value. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the association between SOC and independent variables. RESULTS: The regression analyses explained a small, shared variance between SOC and the independent variables in boys (4.3%) and girls (3.3%). SB showed a positive association with SOC both in girls (ß = 0.114, p = 0.002) and boys (ß = 0.109, p = 0.013). Abdominal strength was positively associated, while VO2max was inversely associated, with SOC (ß = 0.113, p = 0.022; ß = -0.109, p = 0.026, respectively) in boys. Girls had poorer fitness than boys did across all age groups except at age 18. PA levels decreased from age 14 to 18 in girls and boys, but without differences between sexes. Abdominal strength decreased from age 14 to 18 in girls and boys. In general, girls had lower SOC than boys across all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Poor sedentary behavior was significantly associated with weaker SOC for both genders, indicating overall physical activity as the most important factor for stronger SOC. However, emotional support in vulnerable environments may have a bigger impact than physical activity or sedentary behavior on the SOC value for adolescents.

Decline in Running Performance in Highest-Level Soccer: Analysis of the UEFA Champions League Matches.

It is widely recognized that there is a decline in match running performance (MRP) towards the end of matches. To clarify whether it is primarily a consequence of fatigue, pacing or situational influences, this study aimed to examine MRP across 15-min match periods for players on different playing positions. Players' MRP (n = 244) were examined from the UEFA Champions League matches (n = 20) using a semiautomatic optical tracking system. Linear mixed models for repeated measures were adjusted to analyze MRP over the six 15-min match periods while controlling the influence of situational factors. No effects of match outcome, match location, team, and opponent quality on total distance (TD) and high-intensity running (HIR) for players in all playing positions were found (F = 0.03−2.75; all p > 0.05). Significant differences in TD (F = 17.57−53.01; η2 = 0.39−0.52, all large effect sizes) and HIR (F = 3.67−7.64; η2 = 0.05−0.19, small to medium effect sizes) among six 15-minute match periods were found for players in all playing positions. In addition, players in all playing positions covered less TD (d = 1.41−2.15, large to very large effect sizes) and HIR (d = 0.16−0.6, trivial to medium effect sizes) in the last compared to the first 15-min match period. No differences in TD and HIR between the last two match periods in the second half were observed. This study confirmed that soccer players reduce MRP towards the end of matches, and suggest that the decline of MPR in highest-level soccer may be a consequence of pacing strategies.

Specificity of the Associations between Indices of Cardiovascular Health with Health Literacy and Physical Literacy; A Cross-Sectional Study in Older Adolescents.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular health status (CVHS) is an important determinant of health, while it is theorized that health literacy (HL) and physical literacy (PL) could be directly related to CVHS. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender-specific associations between PL and HL and indices of CVHS in adolescence. Materials and Methods: The participants were 247 adolescents (177 females) from Split-Dalmatia county in Croatia who were tested on HL, PL, and CVHS (physical activity level (PAL) and lipid profile). The lipid profile included total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins. Gender-stratified multivariate cluster analysis (K-means clustering) was used to group participants into three homogenous groups on the basis of their HL and PL, while differences between clusters in CVHS were evidenced by analysis of the variance and consecutive post-hoc tests. Results: The lipid profile was better in girls with higher HL scores. Additionally, clusters consisting of participants with a better PL were characterized by higher PAL. We have found no evidence that HL is associated with PAL, while PL was not associated with the lipid profile. Conclusions: HL was specifically associated with direct indicators of health status (lipid profile) in girls, while PL was associated with PAL as a particular behavioral health indicator in both genders. The study highlights the necessity of including education of HL and PL in schools.

Prevalence of rapid weight loss in Olympic style wrestlers.

Background: The methodology applied for rapid weight loss (RWL) among elite wrestlers is quite unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of sources of influence and methods used for RWL and to determine the differences between wrestling styles. Methods: A total of 229 wrestlers who competed at the World Championship held in Belgrade, Serbia, participated in this research. All respondents completed a questionnaire designed to evaluate RWL patterns in combat athletes. Participants were classified according to wrestling style: Greco-Roman, freestyle, and women wrestling. Results: Sixty-nine percent of wrestlers had previously lost weight to compete. Most respondents start losing weight approximately seven days before a competition. Athletes reported that they commonly reduced 3.84 ± 2.82 kg to reach the target weight. The wrestling coach represents the most influential person in terms of RWL strategies, while nutritionists and physicians have the least impact on the weight-cutting process. Regarding the methods applied, differences between all the three styles were found in the following variables: training in a heated room, restricting fluid ingestion, training in plastic suits, gradual dieting, increased exercise, diet pills, and sauna. The most frequently used techniques were increased exercise, gradual dieting, training in a heated room, and sauna for all competitors. Diet pills, diuretics, laxatives, and vomiting were the least implemented methods. Conclusions: The obtained results suggest that most wrestlers practice RWL despite the harmful health effects. The education of wrestling coaches is necessary in order to control and decrease the negative impact of RWL.

Are Health Literacy and Physical Literacy Independent Concepts? A Gender-Stratified Analysis in Medical School Students from Croatia.

Health literacy (HL) and physical literacy (PL) are concepts responsible for achieving and maintaining positive health behaviors. This study aimed to investigate gender-specific associations: (i) between PL and HL; and (ii) among HL, PL, and body composition. We observed 253 students attending health-area high schools from southern Croatia (181 girls; 16.9 ± 1.4 years). HL was assessed by the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire, PL by the PLAYself questionnaire, and body composition by bioimpedance analysis. The t-test was used to assess the differences between genders, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to establish the associations between variables. The results showed a similar level of HL (t-test = 0.2; p = 0.83) and PL (t-test = 0.01; p = 0.99) in boys and girls. Significant but small correlations were identified between HL and PL only in the girls (<10% of common variance). The body composition indices were significantly correlated with PL only in the boys (15−20% of common variance). Our research highlights the necessity of the independent evaluation of HL and PL in adolescence. Further studies evaluating other indices of health status in relation to PL and HL are warranted.

Adolescents with Higher Cognitive and Affective Domains of Physical Literacy Possess Better Physical Fitness: The Importance of Developing the Concept of Physical Literacy in High Schools.

Physical literacy (PL) is thought to facilitate engagement in physical activity, which could lead to better physical fitness (PF). The aim of this study was to examine the reliability of the Croatian version of two frequently applied PL questionnaires that evaluate knowledge and understanding, perceived competence, environment, and value for literacy, numeracy, and PL and validity regarding correlation with objectively evaluated PF in adolescents. Five hundred forty-four high school students (403 females, 141 males) from Croatia were tested on PF (standing long jump, sit-ups for 30 s, sit-and-reach test, multilevel endurance test) and two PL questionnaires. The reliability of the Croatian version of the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy knowledge and understanding (CAPL-2-KU) and PLAYself was good (α = 0.71−0.81 for PLAYself subscales, κ = 0.39−0.69 for CAPL-2-KU). Genders differed in the self-description dimension of PLAYself, with higher results in boys (Z = 3.72, p < 0.001). CAPL-2-KU and PLAYself total score were associated with PF in boys and girls, with PLAYself having stronger associations with PF. This research supports the idea of PL as an essential determinant for the development of PF, highlighting the necessity of the development of cognitive and affective domains of PL in physical education throughout a specifically tailored pedagogical process.

Psychological Distress in Elite Sambo and Recreational Athletes.

Background: Previous studies suggest that engagement in any type of physical activity can be protective against mental health issues, whereas elite-level athletes can endure various mental health challenges. The aim of this study was to determine variations in the prevalence of psychological distress among elite sambo athletes and their recreational counterparts. Methods: A sample consisting of 245 athletes (127 males and 118 females) was chosen. Out of the total sample, 105 were elite-level athletes while 140 were recreational athletes. Participants were accessed via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 to determine their stress in various domains at a given time. Results: Data indicated that all tested differences between elite sambo athletes and recreational athletes were statistically significant; recreational athletes had a higher score on the depression scale, anxiety and stress, and a general distress score than sambo athletes. Although there are no gender differences in psychological distress in the total sample of athletes, elite sambo athletes achieve significantly lower scores in all tested variants than recreational ones. Women who engage in recreational activities have stood out as a vulnerable subsample in psychological stress. Conclusion: Future epidemiological and interventional studies should explore optimal strategies to identify mental health needs based on specific sport activity, especially in terms of gender. There is a need to place special emphasis on psychological distress in the context of combat sports.

Out-of-School Sports Participation Is Positively Associated with Physical Literacy, but What about Physical Education? A Cross-Sectional Gender-Stratified Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic among High-School Adolescents.

Physical literacy (PL) is one of the main concepts related to lifelong physical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF), but there is a lack of information on factors that might be associated with PL in adolescents from southeastern Europe. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between PF, participation and achievement in physical education (PE), out-of-school participation in sports, and PL in high school adolescents from Croatia. Participants were 298 high school students aged 14−18 years (191 females). Variables included school age, PE grade, sports participation, anthropometric indices, four PF tests, and PL (evidenced by CAPL-2-knowledge and understanding questionnaire (CAPL-2-KU) and PLAYself questionnaire). Gender-stratified analyses of differences were conducted using the t-test for independent samples or the Mann-Whitney test. Associations between variables were calculated with Pearson's product moment correlation or Spearman's rank order correlation. PF was positively correlated CAPL-2-KU in both genders. PE grade was significantly associated with PLAYself score (Pearson's correlation = 0.36 and 0.38, p < 0.001 for boys and girls, respectively) but not with the CAPL-2-KU score. School age was not correlated with PL among boys, but there was a significant but negligible correlation between CAPL-2-KU and school age in girls (<2% of the common variance). Adolescents involved in sports had better PL and PF compared with adolescents not involved in sports. In conclusion, participation in out-of-school sports offers a good base for developing PL. Although this study took part over the COVID-19 pandemic period when the regular PE curriculum was significantly altered, the poor associations between school age and PL could lead to the assumption that the current PE curriculum does not allow for improvement of PL in later high school age, which warrants further investigation.