Postural disorders occur not just among school children but also among preschoolers, the
fact which coincides with critical periods of growth and development that are characteristic for
the occurrence of the mentioned disorders. They can be located on all the segments along the spinal column, torso and lower limbs. Good body posture is of great importance for healthy growing
of the youngest while poor postural status harmfully influences locomotor system, circulation, as
well as respiratory and digestive system. Inadequate position while sitting, standing and walking
(as the result of muscular disbalance) causes pain in cervical, thoracic and lumbar part of the spinal column, which later influences the overall quality of life. Surveys and numerous researches of
the locomotor system are all aimed at finding the most adequate system of preventive and corrective activities with an emphasis on timely diagnostic of changes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of antagonist maximum voluntary
isometric contraction on the torque and the rate of torque development of the agonist muscles in
ankle joint in trained and untrained women at 0° angle joint. Twelve untrained and twelve trained
women handball player participated in the study. An isokinetic dynamometer CYBEX Norm was
used for the evaluation of torque. Initially the Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (MVIC)
both for plantar(PF) and dorsi flexors(DF) was evaluated. Afterwards the subjects performed 3
maximal isometric contractions of plantar flexor for 1 second, with 1 minute break between trials.
After 10 minutes complete rest, 3 consecutive maximal dorsiflexion contractions and immediately
after that three maximal PF contraction were performed for the evaluation of the reversal effect
DF on PF. The following parameters were evaluated before and after DF contraction:Plantar
flexion MVIC, Maximal Rate of Torque Development (MRTD), time of MRTD and the RTD
for the period 0–30, 0–50, 0–100 and 0–200 ms after the torque onset. The statistical analysis
showed that the reversal effect was presented only for the trained group for the MRTD and RTD
0–30. These results demonstrated that the existence of the reversal effect of the antagonists is not
appeared always in untrained groups and especially for the joint angle it is affected by the training
background only for selective parameters of muscle contraction. 

Hypokinesia is characterized by high expansion and indicates the necessity of physical
activity promotion. The aim of the study was to point out the positive effect of physical activity,
by examining the impact of recreational physical activity on women’s mental and physical health
and quality of life. The study included 87 healthy women, 30 in aerobics group, 30 in yoga group
and 27 in a group of physically inactive women aged 20–26 years. The level of physical activity,
health and psychological status and quality of life in women were measured by anonymous
questionnaire. The results were correlated between the three groups of participants and between
active and inactive women. Recreational physical activity proved to be a good way to improve
overall health and quality of life. Exercise reduces tension, stress, nervousness and irritability,
improves the mood and sleep quality.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the body structure and physical
fitness of Finnish (n=26), Hungarian (n=42) and American (n=55) adolescents (N=123). Height,
weight, skinfolds, body fat percentages, circumferences and widths were recorded to define the
somatotypological characteristics and growth type of subjects. To define adolescents’ healthrelated fitness the Eurofit Fitness Test Battery was used. Differences between the ethnic groups in
terms of body composition and motoric performance were analyzed with ANOVA. The prevalence
of overweight was 9.3 % among Hungarians, 23.07% among Finns and 38.2 % among Americans.
PLX is lower (F=10.941, P=0.002) in the Hungarian group compared to the Finnish adolescents.
Finnish adolescents have higher VO2max in both sexes (34.98±4.08; 41.03±4.06 ml/kg/min)
despite the fact that they have higher body fat than Hungarians. Comparison between the different
ethnic groups suggests that adolescents need higher amount and intensity of training to achieve the
proper physical activity level.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the anthropometric parameters and cardiopulmonary functions of young handball players in different playing positions. 15 male handball players from first division (mean age: 16.06±0.63 yrs) participated in our research who were divided by their playing positions. First anthropometric parameters, body composition and pulmonary functions in rest were measured. Then physiological changes of the players were tested with Bruce protocol. We found that wings differed the most in morphological characteristics from other players. We did not find significant differences in pulmonary functions among positions. The highest values of Tidal volume in the vita maxima test were found in pivots (2.82±0.15 l) which is significantly higher than Tidal volume of goalkeepers (p=0.006). The highest mean value of maximal oxygen uptake was recorded (73.93±9.41 ml/kg/min) in wings. Altogether in our study important differences were seen in physique and in performance also among young handball players. 

Coordination as complex motor ability in preschool age represents a base for development of other abilities and thus point out their relationships with overall motor development of a child. The goal of this research is to analyze the relationship of coordination with motor abilities and anthropometric characteristics of preschool girls. In a sample of 197 girls aged from 4 – 6 years, seven tests of motor skills were applied and five anthropometric measures. Using standard multiple regression, a statistically significant correlation between motor abilities/anthropometric characteristics and coordination of preschool girls was identified. The system of motor and anthropometric variables as a whole explains 41% of variance of the depended variable. Among the variables of the predictor system, the best predictors of girls’ performance on coordination test, were the following variables: hand tapping, standing broad jump and abdominal skinfold. The results suggest that the preschool girls’ motor skills are related in a specific way and that coordination has a large impact on other motor skills. 

This study presents the results of the analysis of the effects of body composition on the
manifestation of static strength in girls of lower elementary school age. The sample consisted
of 63 girls aged seven. All the girls were from Subotica and attend elementary schools. Height
was measured by the use of Martin’s anthropometer, weight was measured by the use of InBody
230. The measures of body composition (body fat, total body water and skeletal muscle mass)
were assessed by InBody 230, a device which functions on the base of bioelectrical impedance.
The static strength of arms and shoulder area was assessed by „Bent-arm hang” test. The results
pointed to the statistically significant effects of the body composition on the manifestation of static
strength in girls of lower elementary school age. 

Each woman has different characteristics of menstrual cycle. The main problem is the
determination of period in which the measuring would be carried out, so that the results could be
directly linked to a certain hormone or phase of the menstrual cycle. Generally it could be said
that menstrual cycle does not influence muscle contractility and maximum oxygen consumption,
lactate level, heart rate, breathing volume, hemoglobin levels. Therefore, women who compete in
anaerobic and aerobic sports do not have to adjust competition schedules to their menstrual cycle.
On the other hand the increase of body temperature in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle,
possible cardiovascular strain in this phase, influence of progesterone on the respiratory center,
the rise of breathing frequency and volume can have negative influence on long-term intensive
sport activities. For this sort of activity female athletes are recommended to adjust their
competition schedule to menstrual cycle.

The research problem was to analyze manifestation of sprinting speed and to compare the results
obtained in prepubertal children in relation to gender. The aim of this study was to analyze the
basic motor ability related to velocity in children before puberty. The study was conducted on the
sample of 71 subjects who were divided into two subgroups: 37 boys and 34 girls, aged 9 years
+/- 6 months. Three tests were applied for measurement of sprinting speed: time running 10
meters, high start time running 20 meters, high and start time running 20 meters flying start. The
results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between subjects with respect
to gender, in all three tests applied to estimate sprint speed at the level of p <0.05. On this basis, it
was concluded that prepubertal period of half of the respondents in the prepubertal period, as a
criterion, does not constitute a basis for a statistically significant difference in the exercise of
sprint speed.

Six motor tests were applied on a sample of 48 children (33 boys and 15 girls) 5 and 6 years of
age (± 6 months), who attended sports school twice a week, in duration of one hour. The primary
objective of this study was to determine differences in motor skills of preschool children. Results
of multivariate multi-factor analysis of variance (MANOVA) show no statistically significant
differences in the overall system of analyzed motor variables in relation to gender and age
regarding the studied sample of children. Analysis of individual motor skills, using the procedure
of univariate multi-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), revealed no statistically significant
differences in relation to gender and age factors. With respect to the age factor, a statistically
significant difference was obtained for variables: 20 meters dash, obstacle course backwards and
standing broad jump, in favor of the 6-year old children. With respect to the gender factor, a
statistically significant difference existed only for the variable seated straddle stretch in favor of
girls.