The EMMETT technique, developed in Australia, is a manual therapy method gaining recognition for its non-invasive approach and reported effectiveness. This study aims to determine the impact of the EMMETT technique on iliotibial band (ITB) flexibility in young male football athletes. A total of 43 athletes (age 17.21 ± 1.99 years) were randomly assigned to either a control group (n=22) or an experimental group (n=21). The experimental group received the EMMETT technique, while the control group remained in a side-lying position for one minute. ITB flexibility was measured using the EasyAngle® goniometer through the Ober test before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant increase in ITB flexibility in the experimental group compared to the control group. Despite the positive findings, the study has limitations, including a small sample size, focus on a specific demographic (young male football players), and short-term assessment. Future research should include larger, more diverse populations and long-term follow-up to validate these results and explore the broader applications of the EMMETT technique. This study supports the potential of the EMMETT technique as an effective manual therapy for improving ITB flexibility.

We are delighted to invite you to the 3rd International Scientific Conference “Novelties in Sport Science.” This event serves as a premier platform for researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts to exchange ideas and explore the latest advancements in sports science.

The conference showcases a diverse range of topics, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of this field. From the role of probiotics in athletic performance to the ethical contrasts between martial arts and Western sports, the proceedings highlight a balance between tradition and innovation. Cutting-edge tools like the "Ski Easy" methodology and transformative findings in injury prevention and active aging underscore the impact of science on physical activity and health.

This year, special attention is given to sustainability and inclusivity. Presentations on sustainable sports tourism in Vojvodina and environmentally responsible sports practices emphasize the alignment of sports science with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Other contributions delve into the intersection of education and technology, exploring topics such as teaching English to sports professionals and using wearable devices to enhance cardiovascular health.

The global contributions at this conference reflect a shared mission to foster collaboration and innovation. From improving injury recovery to engaging youth through cognitively enriched activities and advancing talent identification tools, these studies demonstrate the power of sports science to enhance quality of life across diverse populations.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the authors, reviewers, and organizing committee for their invaluable efforts. Let this event inspire meaningful dialogue, foster international partnerships, and drive new advancements in our field.

Together, we continue to push the boundaries of sports science, ensuring its relevance in an ever-changing world.

Patrik Drid and Damjan Jakšić

This systematic review aims to analyze the validity (invasive and noninvasive protocols) of aerobic endurance evaluation methods established in the late 20th century and their practical application in creating training series in different sports events. The PRISMA system was used for systematic review. It was identified that high number of studies support the concept of the evaluation of aerobic endurance, i.e., aerobic threshold (AnT), in terms of its significance for the determination of training series and training intensity aimed at aerobic endurance improvement. During the protocol of testing and construction of the lactate curve (La – work capacity), the method based on sampling and measurement of lactate concentration in blood is given priority as a more valid instrument for AnT determination than the method based on ventilatory parameters and heart frequency. Authors note that the parameters based on which AnT is determined are expressed in different units of measure (m/min, km/h, ml/kg/min) so that AnT, as such, does not only represent the measure of aerobic endurance but also the measure of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and mechanical efficiency. The results of the study indicate that terms related to AnT should be removed from official use. More precisely, researchers and coaches focus on a method related to the interpretation of the lactate curve (at a certain %VO2max) to determine whether there has been an improvement (or not) in aerobic endurance based on its displacement (to the right or to the left).

Handball is a globally popular and physically demanding sport that requires high-intensity intermittent activities, with a particular emphasis on frequent ball throwing or shooting. The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify the risk factors for shoulder injuries in professional male handball players. The secondary aim is to propose preventive measures for reducing shoulder injuries in professional or elite handball players. This study followed the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant studies. Only 8 studies met the eligibility requirements and were incorporated into the review. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) was assessed for the methodological quality of studies. Seven of the total eight studies were considered moderate quality, however, only one study was considered low quality. Based on this review findings, the following risk factors for shoulder injury are prominent among professional and elite male handball players. The primary factors for eventual shoulder injury are shoulder muscle imbalances, range of motion (ROM) discrepancies, glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), and scapular dyskinesis. Also, in one study authors specified player position as a potential risk factor.

This qualitative review of systematic reviews consolidates current knowledge on stress fractures among endurance athletes and sprinters, including epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment strategies. A search across PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, limiting results to articles published within the last year, yielded 90 relevant articles. Initial search results were narrowed down to 56 articles following abstract screening, with an additional article obtained through direct author correspondence. Stress fractures, a subset of bone stress injuries, result from persistent mechanical pressure surpassing bone regeneration capacity. They predominantly affect lower extremities, notably the tibia and metatarsals in endurance runners, and the toe phalanx in sprinters. Various risk factors contribute to stress fracture susceptibility, including gender, nutritional deficiencies, biomechanical factors, and psychological aspects like perfectionism and fear of failure. Diagnosis involves detailed patient history, clinical examination, and imaging modalities such as MRI, which remains the gold standard. Treatment emphasizes rest, gradual return to activity, and addressing underlying risk factors. Surgical intervention is reserved for high-risk fractures or cases of non-union. Preventive measures encompass nutritional optimization, biomechanical assessment, appropriate footwear, and psychological support. Notably, strategies targeting the Female Athlete Triad and ensuring adequate energy availability are crucial in both endurance and sprinting athletes. While more research directly comparing distance runners to sprinters is warranted, along with more sprinting-related research in general, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of stress fractures in endurance athletes and sprinters, aiding clinicians in diagnosis, management, and prevention strategies to optimize athlete health and performance.

The frequency and nature of sports injuries depend primarily on the specific sport that an individual play. In this article we review systematic reviews to identify and highlight the most prevalent injuries in basketball, football, volleyball, ice hockey, rugby, and handball. We collected data on the prevalence rates of the most common injuries across these sports, revealing that the most common injuries are lateral ankle sprains, concussions, hamstring strains, quadriceps strains, and various internal knee derangements. Notably, the majority of these injuries affect the lower extremities, which are under the most stress during athletic activities. We also provide insights into preventive measures for the three most common injuries. This compilation of data from different sports will prove valuable to kinesiologists, coaches, and sports professionals, helping them to develop comprehensive training programs aimed at preventing injury and improving overall athletic performance.

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.

Different types of aerobic exercise can cause different disorders of homeostasis. This cross-over experiment aimed to determine the muscle fatigue and the antioxidative protection of female basketball players following a load caused by three different aerobic-type exercises (low-intensity continuous, high-intensity continuous, and high-intensity interval training). Twelve female basketball players (age 17.7±4.3 years; weight 67.3±9.8 kg; height 178.0±7.4 cm) voluntarily participated in the study. A wash-out period of 7 days between single sessions of different training was provided. Venous blood was drawn right before and immediately after each exercise session. The parameters that were analyzed are markers of muscle damage and enzymes of antioxidant protection. As a marker of muscle damage, myoglobin (F=2.884; p=0.065) and lactates (F=5.254; p=0.008) have higher values and statistically significant differences between training types. Creatinine shows higher values after each training session (F=4.053; p=0.022). Results of enzyme activity for oxidative protection show statistically significant differences between groups for catalase (F=5.811; p=0.005) with different types of training intervention. At the beginning of the preparatory period, parameters of acute muscle damage values are high. During the season, in response to different types of training, those parameters decrease in response to the body's adaptation to exercise-induced stress. Training leads to maintenance of physiological balance in the body and oxidative stress is not a necessary phenomenon of high aerobic training load. The inclusion of antioxidant protection enzymes decreases as the body adapts to a certain type of exercise.

The aim of the study was to determine the type and localization of sports injuries in people with disabilities who play sports professionally or recreationally and to examine whether there was a difference in sports injuries between these two categories of para-athletes. The research sample consisted of 30 men with an average age of 40.96 years. The sample had two subsamples. The first group consisted of 13 respondents who participated in para-sports professionally. The second group comprised of 17 respondents who take part in para-sports recreationally. The respondents trained individual and team para-sports (parashooting, parataekwondo, paraswimming, paracycling, para-athletics, para-table tennis, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball). A questionnaire was created to gather overall demographic data, and a part of the Musculoskeletal Discomfort Form was used to localize musculoskeletal complaints. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency, the Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were applied. The results showed that 76.6% of all para-athletes have suffered at least one injury, with most injuries occurring during training (63.3%). Shoulder trauma and soft tissue injuries were the most common. Both subsamples reported that they had experienced the most problems in the form of pain, discomfort and numbness in the neck and lower back. As far as people with disabilities are concerned, participation in para-sports carries inseparable and associated risks. Therefore, the data achieved in this study can be used in order to understand the risk factors leading to injury which are specific to para-athletes (disability-sport) and to develop injury prevention programs.

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.