The ample attendance of adults in dancing associations in order to learn Greek traditional dancing has rendered it necessary to investigate the reasons that lead them to participate in such activities. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the demographic characteristics constitute differentiation factors of the attendance motives in Greek traditional dancing classes. Adapted on the Greek population the Participation Motivation Questionnaire by Gill, Gross, and Huddleston (1983) was used for the data collection. In the study 454 individuals of over 30 years of age who were taught Greek dancing in dancing associations took part. A frequency analysis, OneñWay Anova and Man Whitney U test was used for the data statistical process. From the results it seems that the demographic characteristics of the sample partly differentiate the factors of the attendance. More specifically, age and years of attendance do not in the least influence the motives of attendance (p<.05) while sex, educational level, place of residence and previous dancing experience partly influence the attendance motives (p<.05).

The aim of the study was to compare the cardio-respiratory responses of adult women, which participated in aerobics exercising and traditional dancing programs. A total of 30 women, aged 45±9,82 yrs, were participated in the study and divided in four groups according to their involvement in the intervention programs. The cardio respiratory endurance of the participants was evaluated by the use of 20m shuttle-run multistage fitness test (Tokmakidis,1992) and the heart rate was recorded by the use of a portable heart rate tester (Polar Electron Sport tester 810). The analysis of the data showed that there were no statistically significant differences concerning the type of exercise (p>.05), but there were statistically significant differences between initial and final measurements both in Greek traditional dancing and in aerobics program for both experimental groups (p<.05). The above results shows that the participation in Greek traditional dancing programs causes cardio respiratory responses similar to an aerobics program and it can be used as an alternative type of exercise.

Culture as industry is an indisputable fact which has expanded due to developmental requirements and trends of capitalism, as well as high technological contents which unavoidably tend to extend their productive and distributive forms to all areas of the society. Technological order is an evil destiny which negates the traditional concept of culture, and ìwhich will resurrect in the form of industryî. Criticism of culture industry assumes criticism of one way of production of social life. Culture loses its actual emancipation power since the system uses it for its own aims and includes it into its own circle; it gets submerged but comes to surface again as a regenerated industry. Thus the way of production enters the stage of constitution and regulation of the structure as a whole.

The paper deals with the relation between motor giftedness and a sense of coherence (a specific attitude towards the world and resistance to the surrounding stress) which has been tested on a sample of 275 10-year-old boys. Potentialy motor gifted boys have been identified by means of a battery of 11 motor tasks. The sense of coherence has been assessed by means of Margalit scale of child orientation. By using a T-test for small independent samples it has been confirmed that there is a statistically significant difference between the variable of coherence of motor gifted boys and the control group of boys (p = 0.003). The results support the thesis that motor giftedness of pupils should be examined in multiple ways, including other aspects of development. 

A group of adolescents with postural distortion in the sagittal plane were used as a sample group to study the relations between anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities. The total sample included 202 students (79 boys and 123 girls). Their posture was evaluated using the somatoscopic method by Napoleon Wolanski. Anthropometric characteristics (11) and motor abilities (12) were brought into correlation with the aim of determining causal links of the postural disorders affecting the sagittal plane. The results show considerable individual differences in anthropometric characteristics and the level of motor abilities in both genders. Generally speaking, we may conclude that the respondents with the postural distortion in the sagittal plane have either a similar body-build or poorly developed certain motor abilities.

The purpose of the research was to study 680 children - 370 boys and 310 girls of to 5-7 year age, they were examined concerning their motor skill. It was found that physical advancement of children reaches, or more exactly exceeds the home references by 50 percent. Their physical advancement is a good base for the physical performances. Evaluated the motor skill of children it was found that in this age interval the girls are better in balancing compared to the boys. The growth rate of girls is also higher than that of the boys. These results are interpreted as characteristics of motion development at the end of the small child age. Uniform development rate was observed in running with evasion and in the two tests elaborated by our group, the boomerang running and the obstacle course. Reliability and validity of both tests were qualified excellent expect for one case. They are both recommended for practical use.

The aim of the presents study is to make a comparison between heart rates measured at real altitude and at the simulated altitude (in hypoxic chamber), before and after the process of acclimatization. Six students (two women and four men) of Faculty of sport in Ljubljana participated in the study. They undergone eighteen day long acclimatization process on 2100 - 5642 m. Heart rates were measured in rest and during the step test before and after the acclimatization, at two locations: high altitude simulation chamber in Ljubljana and real altitude in Elbrus, Kavkaz, both at 2100 m. The results showed that heart rates were not significantly different between real altitude and simulated altitude. Acclimatization process caused a decrease of heart rates in both cases. From that we can conclude that it would be possible to train in hypoxic chamber and therefore shorten the acclimatization time in real very high mountains. Heart rate could be used as an objective parameter of the quality of the acclimatization. This should be proven in the future by research on bigger sample.

The influence of intensive Judo training on serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA was studied in 24 Judo fighters. Subjects were assigned to an exercise training group (EXE; n=12) and non-exercise control group (Con; n=12). Subjects in EXE group participated in exercise sessions 4 days a week for 8 wk. Serum samples were collected before, immediately and 1wk after study period. The IgG levels were significantly increased immediately after exercise training (p=0.001) in EXE compared to Con. However, IgM and IgA concentrations showed significant decrease immediately after exercise in EXE (p=0.001). The concentrations of all immunoglobulins had returned to baseline by 1wk of recovery. In conclusion the increased IgG levels are possibly due to isotype switching or a secondary antibody responses that could be considered as enhancement in immune system function. However, chronic suppression of immuniglobulins IgM and IgA may be mediated by hormonal changes associated with exhausting exercise.

The objective of the study was to examine long summer vacation (LSV) effect on physical activity (PA) in 68 children from three Slovenian cities. PA was assessed over five consecutive days using accelerometer in 6- to 8-year-old children (N = 68; 35 girls and 33 boys, mean age 7.0 ± 0.8 years). PA was assessed on two occasions, before and after LSV and showed clear Gaussian distribution model. PA dropped after LSV for boys (9.6%, P = 0.004) and girls (9%, P = 0.014). Furthermore, PA intensity changed significantly after LSV. In boys inactivity increased after LSV from 69% to 72.2% (P = 0.009) and in girls from 71.7% to 74.2% (P = 0.031), while light PA decreased from 26.9% to 24% (P = 0.005) in boys and from 24.6% to 22.5% (P = 0.035) in girls. In 27% of boys and in just 13% of girls the amount of physical activity in June also determined the amount of physical activity in September. Furthermore, we found a significant drop in physical activity only in boys (P = 0.002) and girls (P < 0.001) with higher initial (June 2007) values. In conclusion we could state that there is a clear negative effect of long summer vacation on physical activity habits and needs further investigations for clear explanation. 

The chronic effects of physical activity on cognitive functions are scarcely documented. The aim of this experiment was to give inligth on the influence of single bouts of exercise at different intensities on the amplitude and latency of P300 component of cognitive potentials in the offense team of American football players. The subject sample consisted of 11 male athletes – members of the American football team “Dukes” Novi Sad, all engaged in the offense team. The control group was formed of 10 age matched students of the University of Novi Sad who were not engaged in any organized physical activity. In the present study the participants were engaged in single bouts of exercise on a cycle ergometer at different intensities. In American football players the amplitude of P300 wave after exercise intensity achieved at 75% HRmax (Fz 15.34±3.99 mV; Cz 19.00±6.26 mV) was statistically higher (p<0.05) than the amlitude at rest (Fz 11.08±4.65 mV; Cz 13.00±5.16 mV) and after exercise at 60% HRmax (Fz 11.87±4.39 mV; Cz 13.43±3.13 mV). There was a significant decrease in amplitude after exercise at 90% HRmax (Fz 11.96±4.48 mV; Cz 13.82±7.10 mV) to the levels of baseline values obtained at rest. In the control group the amplitude of P300 wave after exercise intensity achieved at 60% (Fz 11.02±4.99 mV; Cz 13.98±2.31 mV) and 75% HRmax (Fz 11.58±3.97 mV; Cz 14.64±1.94 mV) were statisticaly higher (p<0.05) than the amplitude of P300 at rest (Fz 7.99±2.95 mV; Cz 11.56±1.81 mV) and after 90% of maximal puls (Fz 8.76±3.05 mV; Cz 12.63±3.31 mV). There were no differences (p>0.05) between the amplitudes after 60% and 75% of HRmax, as well as between the values obtained at rest and after 90% of HRmax. Short duration exercise corresponding to 75% HRmax facilitated cognitive processing in the CNS in athletes, showing that strenuous exertion on the field improves cognitive capabilities in American football players.