Current issue
Volume 18, Issue 2, 2026
Online ISSN: 2406-1379
ISSN: 1821-3480
Volume 18 , Issue 2, (2026)
Published: 16.06.2026.
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Contents
27.04.2025.
Original scientific paper
The impact of exercise habits on quality of life among emergency medicine physicians: A cross-sectional study
Physician quality of life is a critical factor influencing overall health, wellness, occupational stress, and burnout. Exercise has been demonstrated to enhance quality of life through multiple mechanisms, positively impacting physical, psychological, and social health domains. The objective of this study was to examine the exercise habits of emergency medicine physicians and their association with quality of life. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional design was employed to study 103 attending emergency medicine physicians. Participants completed an online questionnaire comprising the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) survey to assess physical activity levels and quality of life, respectively. There was no significant difference between compliance with moderate and vigorous physical activity and quality of life across domains. However, strength training compliance was statistically significant (p = 0.041) and correlated with improved physical health and quality of life scores. Quality of life among this cohort was slightly elevated in the physical health domain but lower in psychological, social, and environmental health domains compared to population averages. Furthermore, age and the number of hours worked per week were not statistically different in any quality of life domains. Exercise compliance among emergency physicians showed no statistically significant impact on quality of life, except for strength training, which was found to significantly enhance the physical health domain of quality of life.
Gregory Gibbons, Aaron Aslakson, Bridget Melton, Helen Bland
22.06.2025.
Original scientific paper
Influence of sociodemographic variables on patient and practitioner knowledge of non-pharmacological management options for Parkinson's disease
Patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) experience motor and non-motor symptoms that decrease their quality of life. The non-pharmacological management of PD is imperative to improve the quality of life for patients with the disease. Non-pharmacological management options such as exercise, medical, and surgical interventions can improve function and independence in patients with PD. Many non-pharmacological management options target specific symptoms commonly associated with PD. The Knowledge Attitude Practice (KAP) model was adapted to develop a questionnaire that assesses patient and practitioner knowledge of non-pharmacological management options for PD. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions. To assess the relationship between sociodemographic variables and patient and practitioner knowledge of non-pharmacological management options likelihood-ratio chi-squared, Spearman's correlation, simple logistic regression, and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed on the collected data. Six hundred and forty-one participants completed the questionnaire. For patients (n = 492) and practitioners (n = 149), the most widely known non-pharmacological management option was regular exercise, and the least-known was subthalamotomy. Compared to patients, practitioners were more likely to have knowledge of most non-pharmacological management options (OR 1.73 - 7.36). Higher education level (OR 3.10 - 10.96), younger age (OR 0.09 - 0.32), geographical location (North America OR 0.05 - 0.49, Europe OR 2.24), employment status (OR 4.81 - 12.02), and sex (OR 0.59) had a significant relationship with patient and practitioner knowledge of non-pharmacological management options. Practitioners were more likely to have knowledge of most non-pharmacological management options for PD compared to patients. Several sociodemographic variables impacted one's ability to identify non-pharmacological management options in both populations. Increasing patient and practitioner knowledge of non-pharmacological management options could improve the care and quality of life of patients with PD.
Paula Abola, Benjamin Wolden, Mitchell Wolden
02.05.2025.
Original scientific paper
Interdependence of neck pain prevalence with neck disability and sleep quality among Nigerian seamstresses
Seamstresses, due to the nature of their profession, often face ergonomic challenges stemming from prolonged sitting, repetitive motions, and the adoption of awkward postures. These factors could affect sleep quality and contribute to an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders, including but not limited to, carpal tunnel syndrome, neck and back pain, and shoulder strain. It seems necessary, therefore, to evaluate the association of neck pain prevalence with neck disability and sleep quality among Nigerian seamstresses. 169 participants of ages 18 and above with varying levels of experience were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. The measure employed has 4 sections containing socio-demographics, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, the Sleep Quality aspect of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index and Neck Disability Index. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, and percentages were used to summarize the data and provide an overview of the respondents’ prevalence of neck pain. Pearson’s Chi square was used to test the association of neck pain prevalence with sleep quality and neck disability at 0.05 alpha level. The lifetime and 12-month prevalence of neck pain were 83.4% and 73.4% respectively. 39 (23.1%) reported good sleep quality. About 45.6% of the respondents’ reported no neck disability. There is no statistically significant relationship between neck disability and the prevalence of neck pain (X2 = 6.416, p = 0.601). However, a significant relationship was observed between the prevalence of neck pain and sleep quality (X2= 4.411, p = 0.036). Seamstresses have a high prevalence of neck pain due to long hours of static positions. Poor sleep quality was also associated with neck pain. Nonetheless, there was no significant relationship between neck disability and pain prevalence, although, sleep quality, pain intensity, and neck disability are interconnected in the present study.
Jehurat Abdulahi, Adebisi Hammed, Nicholas Oghumu, David Akintayo, Solomon Ogbouma, Martins Okhawere, Imuwahen Mbarie, Ayobami Fasuba, Kayode Oke
16.08.2025.
Review scientific paper
A systematic review entrepreneurial competence of sports students for entrepreneurship after graduation
Recently, entrepreneurship has become increasingly attractive to sports and physical education students. As a result, many students recognize entrepreneurship as an opportunity for career development and the achievement of professional goals. This study examines the entrepreneurial preparedness of sports and physical education students, revealing significant gaps in essential business skills despite high entrepreneurial interest. The findings highlight the need for enhanced educational programs to better equip graduates for successful entrepreneurial endeavors. Based on previous research, to analyze the readiness and understanding of entrepreneurship among students, assess their entrepreneurial capabilities, and evaluate their level of competence in running their own business. The following academic databases were used for literature search: Scopus (158 sources) and Web of Science (104 sources). A total of 262 references were found. After removing duplicates, 234 references remained. The following inclusion criteria were applied: 1. Articles published since 2010; 2. Studies written in English; 3. Research focused on the topic of entrepreneurship in sports and student entrepreneurship. The results of this study indicate that entrepreneurship in sports faces significant challenges, including limited employment opportunities and a lack of essential entrepreneurial skills among students. These challenges hinder the development of successful entrepreneurial initiatives in the sports sector, as students often lack adequate training in the areas of starting and managing a business. Moreover, the job market in sports offers relatively few employment opportunities, further complicating students' ability to find jobs or start their own entrepreneurial projects in this specialized field.
Marko Ubović
07.09.2025.
Original scientific paper
User satisfaction through improvements of the sports information system in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina
This study examines user satisfaction with the upgraded eSavezi sports information system of the Provincial Secretariat for Sports and Youth, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (APV). The 2024–2025 upgrade introduced advanced search, multi-format data export, faster processing, expanded cloud storage, a universal cost management module, standardized financial planning, program consolidation, and centralized document upload. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 5–20, 2025, with 257 provincial sports association administrators (~12% coverage). Data were collected via an online five-point Likert scale questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics.Results indicate high satisfaction with all features, particularly data export, storage capacity, and administrator support. All eight hypotheses were confirmed, demonstrating the system’s contribution to operational efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation in sports administration.
Dragan Veličković
28.07.2025.
Review scientific paper
Service quality in football: A systematic review
This systematic review analyses the existing research on service quality in football academies, focusing on its impact on user satisfaction and loyalty. Several factors can influence user satisfaction in football academies. Some of them are: academy infrastructure, quality of training, expert and professional staff, location and environment of the academy, status and reputation of the academy, levels of competition, as well as prospects in terms of career progression and career management in youth football. All of these factors contribute to better service and directly influence the increase in user satisfaction and loyalty, i.e., future members of the academy. For this reason, it is necessary to analyse the existing research on this topic to understand the measurement of service quality and the impact it has on the value and satisfaction of athletes. This systematic review aims to investigate service quality and to analyze the current state and factors that influence quality in the management of football academies. For this research, the electronic databases Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to find relevant articles on this topic. The following inclusion criteria were applied during the search: only topics related to service quality, scientific papers covering the field of management, papers written in English, papers published from 2009 to the present, and full-text papers available. The results of the selected studies for this research showed that service quality is a key factor in achieving a high level of user loyalty towards a football academy.
Rade Milić
12.07.2025.
Original scientific paper
Effect of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on recovery from fatiguing exercise
This study investigates the potential benefits of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) therapy for recovery following a fatiguing exercise protocol in recreational athletes. Despite growing interest in PEMF therapy for athletic recovery, few studies have evaluated its effects across a wide range of performance and recovery measures, particularly among recreationally active individuals. This study is the first-ever investigation to examine the effects of PEMF therapy on recovery from fatiguing exercise across multiple performance outcomes, including maximal strength, power, vertical jump height, and muscle soreness, in a sample of recreationally active college-aged individuals. Thirty participants (mean age: 23.7 ± 3.7 years; 19 males, 11 females) were randomly assigned to one of three recovery conditions: PEMF therapy (n=10), placebo (n=10), or control (n=10). The fatigue protocol used in this study was the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT1), designed to induce neuromuscular fatigue. Recovery was assessed through quantitative measures of performance (peak power, peak cadence, vertical jump, and isometric strength) and qualitative measures of muscle soreness. No statistically significant differences were observed between the recovery groups in terms of performance outcomes. However, PEMF therapy did show trends toward improved recovery, particularly in peak power at 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-exercise, and was the only group to show consistent reductions in muscle soreness. These findings underscore the need for further research in this area and suggest that PEMF therapy may offer marginal recovery benefits, particularly for perceived recovery and power restoration. This study addresses a crucial gap in the scientific literature by providing empirical evidence on the efficacy of PEMF therapy for recreational athletes, suggesting potential applications in non-elite athletic populations, though further research is required to confirm its mechanisms and long-term effects.
S M Nazmuz Sakib
18.07.2025.
Review scientific paper
The impact of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophy
Female reproductive hormones such as progesterone and estrogen play an important role in the body as they orchestrate functions of numerous cells including skeletal muscle cells. Onset of menses marks the beginning of reproductive life, whereas menopause marks its cessation. We distinguish three phases of the 28-day menstrual cycle namely follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases. The follicular phase is characterised by marked increases in estrogen, which triggers ovulation. During this phase, estrogen peaks, whereas progesterone levels are low. Following ovulation, the luteal phase commences marked by high progesterone levels and reduced estrogen. Indeed, these periodic fluctuations in reproductive hormones may affect rates of muscle protein synthesis and hence hinder sought adaptations such as skeletal muscle hypertrophy in female athletes. With the introduction of hormonal contraceptives, female athletes were able to have ameliorate the negative effects of the menstrual cycle by reducing menstrual cramping and bleeding. Hormonal contraceptives are constituted of a single or multiple synthetic hormones namely estrogen and progestin. Nevertheless, the impact of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophy remains elusive. In this review, we aim to present the potential implications of hormonal contraceptives on skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
Nevena Markov, Matevž Arčon
15.06.2024.
Review scientific paper
Musculoskeletal injuries in bodybuilders: A brief review with an emphasis on injury mechanisms
In this article we reviewed the literature on injuries and their mechanisms in bodybuilders. Bodybuilding is a weightlifting sport where the main goal is to increase muscle mass while maitaining body symmetry. From a biomechanical point of view, it is important to analyse technical performance of exercises to improve sports technique. Compound exercises based on the development of muscle hypertrophy must be included. The training is different before and during season, in pre-season it is based on reduction of body fat to a low level and a high volume of aerobic exercise. Adequate nutrition, use of supplements and banned substances are widespread in the sport. In that case athletes should be very careful for banned substances in accordance with WADA Code. The most commonly performed exercises where injuries happen are the squat, deadlift and benchpress. The majority of injuries (60 %) are acute, with 93 % shoulder joint injuries, 85 % lower back injuries and 80 % knee injuries. The incidence of injuries is low compared to other sports, between 0.24/1000 hours of training or 0.12 injuries per lifter per year. The most common type of injury is muscle strain, followed by tendinitis and cartilage wear. So it is therefore important to identify risk factors to allow the development of appropriate prevention programs. Muscle ruptures are common with high eccentric loads, with pectoralis major tendon being the most vulnerable to be injured. Than followed by a rupture of biceps femoris during the deadlift exercise, during sudden flexion of the hip joint while the knee is extended. Eccentric contraction and rupture also occurs in the quadriceps muscle, which lifters try to avoid by performing low-bar squat. Uncontrolled abdominal pressure during high-weight exercises causes discus hernias, which lifter can prevent by breathing correctly and using strong muscle stabilizers. The most well-known injury of all is elbow burzitis or »Bodybuilders elbow« due to repetitive flexion and extension movements of elbow joint. To prevent this injuries we have to include preventive measures such as medical check-ups, education of athletes, ensuring safety in competitions, appropriate training and load distribution, treating the body as a whole and regular equipment check-ups.
Valentina Franca, Jana Harcet
15.06.2024.
Professional paper
Effect of low-dose radiotherapy in rotator cuff calcific tendinitis: A case report
Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) is an acute or chronic painful condition due to the presence of calcific deposits inside or around the tendons of the rotator cuff. Effective treatment of RCCT is crucial for restoring shoulder function, alleviating pain, and enhancing the patient’s quality of life. The treatment of RCCT is mainly divided into surgical and non-surgical treatment. Conservative treatment has been regarded as the first-line therapy, but the effectiveness of these treatments is still not well-established. When conservative treatment fails, invasive treatment, either minimally invasive or surgical, is usually indicated. Nowadays, low-dose radiotherapy has been used for the treatment of various benign conditions, including calcific tendinitis. We presented a 56-year-old female patient with intense pain and limited mobility of her left shoulder. X-rays and ultrasound of the left shoulder showed a massive oval calcification along the greater part of the m. supraspinatus measuring 41x8mm. The patient was first treated with diclopram, peranton gel, and rest. After that, it was decided to try low-dose radiotherapy. It was performed on the Vitalbeam radiotherapy platform with a conformal technique in doses of Gy 8 and 10 fractions. After the last fraction, the pain gradually disappeared and mobility was regained. The ultrasonography control 2 months after the last session showed the total disappearance of the calcification. The use of low-dose radiotherapy for benign conditions is a topic of ongoing debate in the medical community. In this case, low-dose radiotherapy proved to be an adequate method of choice without accompanying side effects, resulting in complete healing and improvement of quality of life.
Nataša Milenović, Sonja Lukač, Silvija Lučić, Vedrana Karan Rakić, Daniel Slavić, Đurđa Cvjetković Nikoletić, Damir Lukač