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.

This study compared self reported physical activity (PA) (MET min/week) with
pedometer determined PA (steps/day). Participants in this study were 300 adults, (25 - 56 years
of age). PA was assessed with the IPAQ long form and the number of steps was assessed with
the Yamax model SW-200. Participants wore the pedometer for 7 consecutive days. Data
(categorical score) was analyzed using cross-tabs analysis. Two-way ANOVA (gender 2 x level
of PA 3) was performed on the number of steps/day. Significant main effect was reported only
for the factor ìlevel of PAî with adults in the moderate and the high activity group performing
more steps/day than adults in the low PA group. Adults in Greece performed less steps/day than
the international recommendations PA suggest even though the majority of them were assigned
by IPAQ long form at the moderate and very high PA groups.

The risks of developing diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease could be reduced by increasing the number of individuals receiving adequate levels of physical activity (PA). Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that about 30% of Americans do not engage in any PA and about 40% engage in some levels of PA, but still not meeting the recommended levels defined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Studies have shown that the greatest declines in PA occur during the transitions from high school to college and beyond. Thus, it is important to identify students at young age that are at health risk due to lack of PA, so that specific steps could be taken toward helping these individuals develop a healthier lifestyle. We used data on 100 college students to develop a preliminary computer program (using a backpropagation multilayer neural network approach) to automatically identify individuals at risk of being not sufficiently physically active. Besides various types of demographic variables, data included information on the association between studentsí self-reported levels of PA and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) constructs (e.g., self- efficacy, self-regulation, social support, expectations), as predictors of participation in PA. The results of this study indicated that the backpropagation multilayer neural network identified and classified individuals at risk of being not sufficiently physically active into right categories (atrisk individuals or not at-risk individuals) 77% of the time. Collecting additional data points that contain more at-risk individuals will improve the neural network's prediction of at-risk individuals.

Skeletal muscle is extremely adaptable to various stresses which can be placed upon it. In spite of importance of skeletal muscles, little is known about genetic factors which demonstrate high influence to muscle size, function, strength and adaptation to various environmental factors. Because endurance performance is a multifactorial trait, the list of candidate genes which could account for human variation in related phenotypes is extensive. One of the first characterized and most frequently studied genetic variant is a polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme I gene. The ACTN3 gene is the first structural skeletal muscle gene with a relation between its genotype and elite sprinterí performance. Nevertheless, current genetic testing cannot provide an extra advantage over existing testing methods in determining sports selection in young athletes. The main challenge still remains to identify other, complex polygenetic variants and their interactions with environmental factors which could provide benefit in the sports selection and existing talent identification.

Development of inclusive education model in Serbia, evident during last decade, is in accordance with national strategic documents and corresponding international legislative. Special role in inclusive education development belongs to intradepartmental commissions, established to implement inclusive politics at local level. In paper, the normative framework for intradepartmental commissions work is analyzed, as well as first experiences from Vojvodinaís intradepartmental commissions. According to data submitted by commissionsí coordinators from 30 local communities, the greatest challenge in commissionsí work is implementation of suggested individual plan of support. Problems with implementation could be referred to additional educational support, including physical education as well. In inclusive physical education perspective, the commissioní opinion is invaluable, because it contains a complete insight into childís needs for additional support. Identification of barriers child and its family is faced with, as well as supports they have in educational domain, presents the first step in inclusive teaching planning. Data obtained show that within children referred to commissions boys, primary school children and mentally disturbed individuals, represent a majority.

The Outdoor activities course is an important and very specific segment of study programs which prepare future teachers of physical education and recreation, instructors and similar professional profiles. With the purpose of creating a new concept of course or improve the existing one according to the attitude college students have to the Outdoor activities course, students of the Faculty and Sport and Physical Education were surveyed. The sample consisted of 191 college students of both gender who attended the Outdoor activities courses during the academic years 2000/2001, 2001/2002, 2002/2003. The sample was evaluated by the Likert scale and the following aspects were included: attitude towards the conditions of course delivery, content, organisation and implementation of the lessons of skiing and camping. Majority of students expressed the affirmative attitudes towards skiing and camping. The obtained results were used in a new conceptualisation of the Outdoor activities course.