The proportion of elderly and sarcopenia cases is expected to increase in the coming decades. Early diagnosis of sarcopenia using muscle strength as a criterion is important to prevent adverse health effects. The repetitive chair stand test is an effective tool for assessing muscle strength. Poor test performance may indicate an individual with potential sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the ability to perform the five-repetition chair stand test on the prevalence of sarcopenia in residents of western Slovenian nursing homes. 83 candidates (age 83.8±7.6 years, 69% of whom were women) we included in the study. The prevalence of sarcopenia was determined according to European Working Group for Sarcopenia guidelines and the five-repetition chair stand test was used to assess physical performance. Relative risk with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to assess the difference in risk for sarcopenia between the complete rises and the incomplete rises group. 37% of participants were diagnosed as sarcopenic, of whom approximately half were unable to complete the 5-chair stand test. The risk of sarcopenia was twice as high in participants who were unable to complete the test (RR = 2.05 (CI 1.21-3.49); p=0.0077). The inability to complete the repeated chair stand test in older adults from nursing homes significantly increases the risk of sarcopenia. Therefore, this test could be useful in identifying individuals at high risk.

Previous studies indicate that there is a large influence of the starting reaction time (RT) on sprint performance, but also that some recent changes in athletic rules may affect this correlation. This study aimed to examine the relationship between RT and results in: men’s (M60mH) and women’s (W60mH) disciplines 60 m over hurdles, 60 m hurdles in the heptathlon (H), 60 m hurdles in the pentathlon (P) at the recently held World Indoor Championship 2022 (WIC). The aim was also to determine whether there are differences in RT between M60mH and W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and between H and P. The study included 170 competitors who competed at the WIC. Pearson’s linear correlation coefficient (r) was used for correlation analysis, and the t-test for independent samples was used to examine differences between groups. A statistically significant correlation (r=0.23, N=72, p=0.05) was found between the results and RT in W60mH when observing the entire sample of participants (r2 = 5.29). Considering that in H (r=0.42, N=10, p=0.23, r2=0.18) and P (r=0.54, N=12, p=0.07, r2=0.29), a much higher correlation was obtained between results and RT than in competitors in the 60 m hurdles event, we believe that this is a consequence of different athletic rules that refer to a false start. There are no significant differences between RT for M60mH and W60mH, M60mH and H, W60mH, and P, and between H and P. Coaches should pay attention to developing all parts of the sprint race, including the reaction time.

The aim of this study was to show the influence of linear speed on the ability to change the direction of movement. Nineteen football players (16.90±2.28 years old) from the Serbian Super League participated in the research. Tests were performed to estimate speed: the linear speed at 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, and flying start at 10 m, and the 505 test for dominant and non-dominant leg, as well as CODS deficit, were applied to assess the ability to change direction. Using regression analysis, it was shown that linear speed has no statistically significant effect on the ability to change direction with elite female football players (P<0.05). In interpreting the results, several factors should be taken into account and the complexity of the linear speed relationship and the ability to change direction should be understood. The findings we gained from this research could influence the modification of training cycles, primarily strength, movement mechanics, and later more specific training episodes of football players.

This transversal study aimed to examine the contribution of predictor variables of the construct of health status (objective and subjective assessment of health) to the variability of the criteria satisfaction with life, emotional dimensions (positive affect, negative affect), and emotional factor of distress (depression, anxiety, and stress) in junior handball players. The pertinent sample consisted of 132 junior handball players in – Serbian First League. The average age of participants was 18.25 ± 0.90 years of age. The following measuring instruments were used: 1) the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – DASS-21, 2) De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale – DJGLS, 3) the Satisfaction with Life Scale‒ SWLS, and 4) The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – PANAS showed satisfactory internal consistency. The conducted multiple regression analysis explained 51% of the proportion variance of the dependent variable satisfaction with life, positive and/or negative affectivity, and cognitive aspect of distress, where the only statistically significant negative predictors were loneliness and subjective assessment of health status. At the same time, when it comes to the assessment of loneliness in adolescents, these independent variables achieved significant interaction with the subjective assessment of health. This would mean that handball players, who subjectively assess their health as bad, and feel lonelier. On the other hand, the regression model did not confirm the role of the predictor variable objective assessment of health status and loneliness. This regression study has contributed to the existing literature and empirical data on the significance of the rarely explored relations between the constructs of health and well-being in the adolescent sports population. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for future research were also discussed.

Adequate development, testing, continuous motor competence monitoring and physical fitness are very important factors in the development of children aged 7 to 10. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the motor competence of the children engaged in organized physical activities in sports clubs and the children who were not included in any kind of organized physical activity. The study included 119 children, 57 children engaged in organized activities in sports clubs (age: 8.44 ± 0.78; height: 133.17 ± 7.21; weight: 31.96 ± 7.73 BMI: 17.9 ± 3.38) and 62 children who had no additional organized physical activity (age: 8.43 ± 0.84; height: 134.85 ± 7.60; Weight: 34.44 ± 9.20 BMI: 18.7 ± 3.68). Motor competence was assessed by the Kiphard-Schilling body coordination test (KTK). After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI effects, we found small to medium significant mean differences (p<0.05, d [95%CI]) between the groups in hopping for height tests (d=0.78 [0.41, 1.16]), jumping sideways (d=0.79 [0.42, 1.17]), moving sideways (d=0.68 [0.32, 1.06]), and walking backward (d=0.44 [0.07, 0.81]). The results have shown that the children who were engaged in organized physical activities in sports clubs have a higher level of motor competence than their peers who were not included in the organized system in sports clubs. The authors strongly suggest that teachers, educators, coaches, and parents should encourage and include children in organized systems of physical activity, i.e., training processes in sports clubs.