On the basis of recently published experimental results of Abramowitch et al. (2004), dealing
with viscoelastic properties of sham operated and healing MCL, we show that the fractional Zener
model of viscoelastic body seems to be very tractable tool for rheological description of different
states of biological tissues. In this paper medial collateral ligament of the knee will be described
by means of the method of Dankuc et al. 2010, who examined middle ear structures and ramp-and
hold stress relaxation experiments. Two different states of MCL were described by four different
constants representing modulus of elasticity, the order of fractional derivative and two relaxation
constants. Predictions of the model are in good agreement with the experimental results.

The aim of the study was to give more informations about jumping abilities of young
female gymnasts. We examine age-related differences in some variables of counter-movement
jump (CMJ) and counter-movement jump with arm swing (CMJA), between two age categories
of young female gymnasts (n=47) and also reliability of testing vertical jump in gymnasts. The
study was conducted on an international competition. Our research has shown that age-related
differences were observed only in height of the jumps, but not in power output of both jumps and
displacement of depth of body’s center of gravity. Jumping capabilities are crucial in gymnastics
in all levels of competitions and in all categories of gymnasts. Testing and periodical monitoring
of young athletes’ abilities are important for defining the training programmes adapted to the
needs of gymnastics and the age of the gymnasts.

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.

In static apnea discipline diver holds the breath in standstill condition. Diving
reflex represents a reaction of the body to apnea dive with responses of effectors:
bradycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction, splenic contractions. Physiological significance
of these body changes implies reduction of oxygen consumption. The main objective of
this research is to examine characteristics of connection between heart rate changes (HR)
and changes in oxygen saturation in blood (SaO2) during apnea. A group of 15 breath
hold divers was examined. Tests were conducted during static apnea, heart rate (HR) was
measured as well as oxygen saturation in blood (SaO2). The changes in HR and SaO2
during apnea demonstrated statistically significant correlation. Higher HR values in apnea
indicate higher mental tonus during apnea which is followed by higher muscle tonus. The
consequence is a greater consumption of O2 and lower values of SaO2min. There is
statistically significant correlation between intensity of diving reflex activation and
oxygen conserving (less reduction of SaO2).

Measurement of spinal range of motion is frequently used objective approach in
assessment of patients with low back pain, also because of the ease of use. Although
emphasized, stretching of hip flexors and extensors is often performed inappropriately. We
hypothesized that subjects with reduced hip mobility will probably compensate with pronounced
spine mobility and that a significant negative correlation exist between these two entities. Fifty
one healthy adults (age 43.7 ± 15.1 years) that are regularly involved in moderate physical
activity (agility and endurance) participated in this study. Range of motion was measured by
means of goniometry and adjusted Schober method that were previously shown to be reliable
methods for spine and hip mobility assessment. The correlation between spine movements in
different anatomical planes and correlation between spine and hip mobility was calculated. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between pairs of flexibility variables. Contrary
to our expectations, analysis revealed absence of the correlation between the flexion of the trunk
and flexion of the hip. However, moderate correlations were found between flexibility parameters
related to trunk movements in different direction. Ranges of motion of the hip and of the trunk
give complementary information and cannot be predicted from one another. Therefore, mobility
of both joints/regions should be evaluated in order to get insightful information about movement
function of the lumbo-pelvic region either in the context of low back pain or sports performance.

The aim of this study was to compare the somatotype of youth Croatian female volleyball
players (mean age 14.05 years) in terms of playing performance. All players evaluated were
classified into a less successful group (N=53) and a group of more successful players (N=61). The somatotype means of the whole sample were 4.41 ñ 2.79 ñ 3.68±1.02 ñ 1.04 ñ 1.29, of less
successful players 4.69 ñ 2.94 ñ 3.40 ± 0.95 ñ 0.96 ñ 1.21, and of more successful players 4.17 ñ
2.69 ñ 3.87 ± 1.03 ñ 1.07 ñ 1.30. Based on a Category Chart, 7 somatotype categories were
obtained. A significantly higher proportion of balanced ectomorph somatotype category was
established in more successful players, and a significantly higher proportion of ectomorphic- endomorph somatotype category was found in less successful players.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate, the effectiveness of a balance
training program in male professional handball players. Thirty professional handball players
were randomly divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group (N=15), additional to the training program, followed an intervention balance program for 12 weeks. All
subjects performed a static balance test (deviations from the horizontal plane). The results
revealed that the 12-week balance training program improved (p<0.01) all balance performance
indicators in the experimental group. Thus, a balance training program can increase balance
ability of handball players, and could used as a prevent tool for lower limbs muscular skeletal
injuries.

The results of the Hungarian and the Serbian male handball national teams are similar on
the international level; in the same time, the Hungarian club teams have more success in club
competitions. However, general supposition is that the Serbian handball players are more
successful and more acknowledged across the top European handball leagues. This is confirmed
by numerous Serbian internationals that play at high level in Hungary and other European
countries. We suppose that results of the youth national teams have considerable influence in
later success rate. In this article we were searching for the influential factors behind the success
of one Serbian youth team. Since there were no considerable differences in physical performance
and anthropometric parameters (the Hungarian players were even taller), we assumed the main
differences were in their relation and attitudes to coach and to training. In our study we support
this explanation with an analysis of the attitudes to the head coach, work and physical training. Our samples were selected from one Serbian (Crvenka) and one Hungarian (KomlÛ) youth team. For attitudes assessment a standardized PASSES scale was used (Hagger et al., 2007). The
results show that the Serbian youth players have better relations with their head coach and have
better stance for work and training, which might be an explanation for their better success.