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 World Health Organization recommends infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Various factors can affect the maintenance of lactation. Increased physical activity and stress are thought to negatively affect breastfeeding success. The aim of this case study was to examine the effect of high serum creatine-kinase (CK) values and the success of breastfeeding after sports competition. It is assumed that continuous aerobic exercise is a stress for the body that can have a negative impact on lactation and extended breastfeeding. Methods. The level of acute muscle damage (AC) was measured before and after the competition in order to confirm continuous exposure to aerobic exercise. Results. After the competition, elevated serum creatine-kinase levels were noted. Prolactin and TSH values remained within optimal values. Conclusion. Several months of preparation for the competition had an impact on increasing acute muscle damage (AC) after the competition. No negative effect of continuous aerobic exercise on breastfeeding success was observed in this case study.

A good understanding of potential differences in motor coordination and weight status in children from rural and urban areas may advance targeted measures implemented by experts in the field of sports and physical education. This research study is focused on investigating differences in the total motor coordination score and weight status in 70 children aged (7 to 8) living in different residential areas within the territory of the city of Šabac, Republic of Serbia (35 urban and 35 rural areas). The Körperkoordinations Test für Kinder battery of tests was used for the assessment of the overall motor coordination. By application of t-test for independent samples, the obtained results indicate that there are statistically significant differences in the majority of the applied motor tests (walking backward, p=0.000; hop for height on one leg, p=0.033; side jumps, p=0.002), as well as in the total motor coordination scores (p=0.000) in favor of the children from rural environments. The weight status of children indicates no statistically significant differences between the two groups (p=0.376).

CrossFit is recognized as one of the fastest-growing high-intensity functional training modes in the world. The study aimed to compare the effects of the CrossFit training program and traditional gym training on anthropometric measurements in healthy, active men. The study sample consisted of 50 participants who were divided into two groups, 22 participants who practiced the CrossFit training program (CFT group; 28.64±2.04 years; body height 181.74±6.96 cm; body mass: 72.75±5.53 kg), and 28 participants who applied traditional gym training (GT group; 26.89±2.99 years; body height: 184.52±7.80 cm; body mass: 74.86±8.48 kg). A total of ten anthropometric measurements (Body height, Body mass, BMI, Subscapular, Abdominal and Triceps skinfolds, Chest, Forearm, Upper arm, and Thigh circumferences) were monitored before and after twelve weeks. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the normality of distribution. The multivariate analysis covariance (MANCOVA) and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. The results of this study indicated that there were statistically significant differences between groups in the Circumference of the upper arm (p=0.02), Thigh circumference (p=0.00), Chest circumference (p=0.03), and Subscapular skinfold (p=0.00). The findings of this study demonstrated that healthy, active males who participated in the 12-week CrossFit training program improved their anthropometric measurements more than those who trained in the traditional gym training.

In individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a chronic neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement and functionality, therapy-based physical activity (PA) that includes repetitive, quick motions benefits physical and cognitive functioning and can positively impact the disease course. Furthermore, the benefits of therapeutic PA participation may extend beyond physiological outcomes by positively influencing social and psychological well-being, thus increasing the overall quality of life (QoL). The current research examined a regional healthcare system-supported group therapeutic boxing/PA program for PD using a biopsychosocial lens to synthesize the holistic benefits of long-term program participation. Researchers conducted semi-structured focus group interviews with program participants (n = 18) and their caregivers (n = 7) to explore the perceived benefits of a combination boxing/PA program that included 30 minutes of boxing and 30 minutes of an alternate rotating PA 1-3 times per week. Results indicated a positive impact on participants’ and caregivers’ QoL by increasing socialization and empowerment and improving/maintaining physical function. These results demonstrate the importance of using a biopsychosocial approach in program design and evaluation of PA-based PD interventions. In addition to addressing PD-specific physical needs, PA programs should be constructed to include supportive social atmospheres and consider non-physical needs and overall QoL outcomes of patients and caregivers.

Postural irregularities, i.e., deviations from normal posture, are a growing problem today. Physical inactivity in preschool children can lead to some physiological changes, which, if not remedied timely, tend to more seriously impair health in later stages of life. Muscle activity caused by biomechanical adaptation to certain body positions in a sedentary regime in children can form muscle asymmetries. The study aimed to determine the effects of corrective gymnastics on the postural status of the spine in the frontal plane in preschool children. The total sample of children (n=133; AGE: 6.2±0.6) was divided into three sub-samples: experimental group E1 – 45 (25.57%), experimental group with additional exercises E2 – 45 (25.57%) and control group C-43 (48.86%). This is a longitudinal-type study that involved the application of a ten-week corrective gymnastics intervention on children aged 5 to 7 from Subotica, who participated in the formation of the sample. Based on the analysis of the results of the multivariate analysis of variance it can be concluded that there are no statistically significant differences (P=0.17) between the subjects from the experimental groups and the control group in the variables used for assessment of the spinal column in the frontal plane, and it is necessary to extend the treatment time in preschool children when corrective gymnastics is applied to changes in postural status when it is observed in the frontal plane.

The present study examined the effects of aerobic training alone or combined with chokeberry juice on membrane lipid status and activities of antioxidant enzymes in non-athlete women. Participants were randomly assigned into the training group performing aerobic training three times per week; the chokeberry-training group followed the same training regime and additionally consumed 100 ml of chokeberry juice per day and the control group neither trained nor consumed the juice. Blood samples were collected at baseline and the end of the eight-week-long intervention. Membrane fatty acids’ composition was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured by spectrophotometry. As a result, the n-3 fatty acids’ content was significantly higher in the chokeberry-training (median (interquartile range) of 5.96 (1.65) %) compared with the control group (5.12 (0.87) %), while saturated fatty acids’ content was lower in the chokeberry-training (40.14±1.19 %) than in the training group (42.59±2.29 %). We detected significantly higher activity of superoxide dismutase in the training (2224 (2170) U/gHb) compared with the chokeberry-training (1252 (734) U/gHb) and control group (1397 (475) U/gHb). Our study indicates that supplementation with chokeberry juice may induce favorable changes in cell fatty acid composition and antioxidant response in women performing aerobic training.

The paper presents the results of field research on the population of dancers – members of the hip-hop community who are “contestants” in battles. The field research was carried out in April 2022 on a sample of dancers aged 17 to 40 (N = 31). The research results indicate that the hip-hop community in Serbia is small, but that such battles in specific forms contribute to the community’s maintenance and expansion. Battles also play a significant role in the progression and expression of dancers as individuals. Dancers consider hip-hop to be not only an art form but much more, hip-hop is synonymous with a lifestyle and a “way of looking at the world” for dancers. Although the research was carried out on a small sample, it represents the author’s pioneering contribution to a deeper understanding of the hip-hop community in Serbian society. It also indicates the need to carry out compatible research in the future.

Due to the chronic nature of the disease, type II Diabetes mellitus (DM2) can affect the quality of life and perception of health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of life, perception of health, and level of physical activity in type II diabetics in December 2021. A descriptive, analytical cross-sectional design study, which included 116 volunteers with DM2 through an online survey where sociodemographic data, quality of life according to the EuroQoL-5D, health perception according to a visual analog scale, and level of physical activity according to the international IPAQ questionnaire. The study was approved by the Scientific and Ethics Committee of the Paraguayan Association of Graduates in Nutrition (code number 128/2021). The average age was 51.9 years, 63.8 were female, 79.3% resided in Asunción and the Metropolitan Area, and 39.5% had a secondary education level. 94% continued treatment, hypertension being the most frequent comorbidity. The quality of life showed 38% with moderate depression and/or anxiety. The quality-of-life index was 0,62±0.12 and the perception of health was 65.3±17.6. The predominant level of physical activity was low (45%). When comparing the quality-of-life index and the perception of health according to the level of physical activity, it was found that these variables showed better scores in those who perform moderate to high physical activity. The level of physical activity is a determinant of health-related quality of life, the greater the intensity of physical activity, the better the quality and perception of health indices in diabetics patients.

Female swimmers participate in intensive swimming training during their menstrual periods, and they may appreciate additional understanding and flexibility regarding their training volume/intensity. Male coaches often view menstruation contemptuously as an unfortunate state that “is not a disease,” and high-performance female swimmers perceive coaching methods differently. Our study aimed to examine menstrual status and perceived coaching and training methodology. In a cross-sectional study, members of the Slovenian women’s national swim team (n = 14, age: 16.6 ± 3.1 years, body mass index: 20.1 ± 1.9 kg/m2) competing at international and national levels were included. The menstrual status (i.e., regularity, duration, perceived pain before and during menstruation, bleeding) and the opinion of these female swimmers regarding training during their menstrual periods were assessed via our in-depth questionnaire, and the athletes responded to additional questions pertaining to the motivation of swimming, coaching strategy and training methods via a questionnaire. All swimmers included in our study had experienced their first menstrual period, and the majority (85%) reported moderate or heavy menstrual bleeding. Most swimmers (93%) reported that their swimming training was “undisturbed” during their menstrual period; however, 64% of swimmers requested a reduction in training frequency or at least the usual training volume/intensity. In terms of the motivation for swimming, 74% of swimmers reported that they like swimming and like spending time with their friends. In terms of coaching and training methods, the swimmers reported polarized responses, probably because most of them are members of two major swimming clubs with different coaching styles. To conclude, when executed correctly, a similar kind of systematic screening method (i.e., anonymously and perhaps by experienced psychologists) may serve as a valuable tool to further modify training methods at a high-performance level. Moreover, unpleasant issues related to menstrual periods from the athlete’s perspective (i.e., pain, bleeding, malaise, discomfort, inability to achieve maximum effort) should not be ignored, left for swimmers to handle alone, or taken for granted. Male coaches need to seek to understand the impact of menstruation and work with athletes to maximize training.