Introduction This study aims to examine can sport protect children against loneliness and, if yes, whether this relationship depends on gender and/or sports-related variables. Methods The sample includes 762 10-year-old children (414 boys). The total score of The Children's Loneliness Scale is a dependent variable in the study, while sports participation (sports active—individual or team sports, or non-active) and level/duration of sports participation are independent variables. Results Obtained results indicate that the degree of loneliness differs depending on gender and whether the children are in sports activities or not. Unlike the level of sports participation, the duration of sports participation is relevant to the loneliness degree in both boys and girls. Discussion This research results could represent the right direction for educators and/or parents in their endeavor to preserve and develop school-age children's mental health.

Introduction: Spleen acts as blood reservoir both in animals and human beings. Spleen contracts during the exercise and so augment the systemic circulation and helps body to maintain longer on high intensity exercise. Reviewing all available literature, the human spleen shows a decrease in volume, in range from 8% to 56%, depending on the work intensity. Aim: To evaluate the percentage of the decrease in splenic volume after the treadmill exercise at specific workloads: aerobic threshold intensity, anaerobic threshold intensity, submaximal intensity and maximal intensity. Methods: This prospective study with repeated measurements included 16 healthy subjects, divided in two groups. First group consisted of 8 elite long-distance runners and second group of 8 recreational runners. First testing consisted of treadmill ergospirometry test. This data was crucial for the second testing where subjects were exercising on treadmill at specific workloads. Four specific workloads were determined: treadmill exercise at aerobic threshold intensity (1st workload), anaerobic threshold intensity (2nd workload), submaximal intensity (3rd workload) and maximal intensity (4th workload). Workloads were controlled by the speed of treadmill, for each subject individually regarding the ergospirometry test. Ultrasound measurement of spleen was done before and after each workload. Results: Elite long-distance runners showed greater spleen contraction than recreational runners after four workloads. Spleen contraction was the biggest after the 3rd workload in elite long-distance runners. Smallest contraction was in group of recreational runners after the 1st workload. Statistically significant difference was not found between the groups, regarding the splenic volume after exercise at four specific workloads (p>0.05). Conclusion: Elite long-distance runners had greater decrease in splenic volume than recreational runners, after exercise at four specific workloads, without significant difference. Greatest decrease happened in elite long-distance runners, after exercise at submaximal intensity - 49% decrease in splenic volume.

Exercise training markedly improves walking ability in patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication. However, the effectiveness of these programs is poorly described when co-administered along with conventional pharmacological therapy. PURPOSE: To compare responses in selected hemodynamic outcomes among patient suffering from peripheral artery diseases of lower limbs assigned to medication therapy (MT), and medication therapy and prescribed exercise (MTPE). METHODS: Sixty-four male patients participated in this study, with participants separated into MT group (n=33) and MTPE group (n=31). Exercise program included 3-5 sessions per week lasting for 30 to 50 min, during 4-month period. The claudication distance and peak systolic velocity (PSV) were measured for both groups at beginning and at the end of the study. RESULTS: At follow up, both PSV and claudication distance improved in MT and MTPE as compared to the baseline (p < 0.05), with the degree of improvement or claudication distance was higher in MTPE group (97.5 vs 61.72%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Prescribed exercise program improved clinician-reported outcomes in men with peripheral artery disease when co-administered with pharmacological therapy.

Aims: Determine health effects of programmed physical activities on blood fats in peripheral arterial disease of lower limbs or in examinees on medication therapy and examinees performing programmed physical activities along with the medication therapy. Methods: Overall research has been carried out at the Clinic for Vascular Disease CCUS. Before involvement into the study, examinees had to meet the inclusion criteria. Research was carried out as randomized controlled trial including 100 patients with arterial disease of lower limbs, who meet inclusion criteria: control group (CG, n=50) and test group (TG, n=50). Total level of cholesterol was used for effects assessment of 28 weeks of applied programmed activity in patients. Results: Values of total cholesterol (tCh) and triglycerides before and after treatment in patients of CG and TG showed statistically significant change of its mean values. Significant decrease were marked in tCh and triglycerides levels in TG compared to CG. Conclusion: Adequate programmed physical activities in patients with peripheral vascular disease appeared as very successful in treated patients. Results indicate statistically significant decrease of the cholesterol and triglycerides after the treatment. Physical activity used in the treatment made partial regression of arterial diseases and saved patients for undergoing to surgery. Lower level of total cholesterol represents a ten year period prevention of initial stage in progress of arterial diseases.

Abstract Drid, P, Casals, C, Mekic, A, Radjo, I, Stojanovic, M, and Ostojic, SM. Fitness and anthropometric profiles of international vs. national judo medalists in half-heavyweight category. J Strength Cond Res 29(8): 2115–2121, 2015—The aim of the study was to determine the anthropometric and fitness profiles of European half-heavyweight judokas by success in competition. For this purpose, we compared 5 international medalists (elite) with 5 national medalists (subelite). All male judokas won at least 1 medal in the half-heavyweight category during the previous 2 years. The testing in this cross-sectional study was performed during 4 days. All subjects underwent anthropometric assessment with body mass, height, skinfold, and limb circumference measures, and the body fat percentage was estimated by manual bioimpedance. The physical fitness evaluation consisted in peak torques for thigh and shoulder muscles, handgrip strength, high and long jumps, medicine ball throw, pull-ups, deadlift, bench press, deep squat, V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, Max Power, and Tokui Waza tests. The statistical analysis by the Student's t test showed significant differences for forearm and upper-arm circumferences, peak torques, pull-ups, bench press, deadlift, deep squat, V[Combining Dot Above]O2max, Max Power, and Tokui Waza tests. Our results showed that elite judokas have a superior fitness profile than subelite athletes from the half-heavyweight category. Moreover, elite judokas seem to have a higher arm muscle mass than subelite athletes but a similar body fat percentage. This study could be of interest for judo coaches with athletes competing in the half-heavyweight category, as some tests that discriminate by judo success for this specific weight category are described. Few studies analyze anthropometric and fitness profiles in half-heavyweight male judokas, so additionally our results can be used as a reference for coaches, athletes, and scientists.

Goal: The goal of the article is to examine level of hemodynamic improvement in the peripheral artery diseases of lower limbs among patients on medication therapy and patients included in programmed physical activities simultaneously with the medication therapy. Material and methods: Prospective-retrospective study includes 100 patients of the Clinic for Vascular Disease, Clinical Center of Sarjevo University (CCUS). It has been found out that the majority of patients in both groups were males. Average age of patients in control group was 48.60±3.82. Average value of claudication distance for patients in control group was 277 m, while the value for patients in test group was 270 m. Results: At the end of research the analysis of average PSV values proved significant difference in relation to examined groups (p<0.05). Average PSV value statistically significantly decreased in both groups after the treatment. According to the obtained results it was determined that the claudication distance of control group was statistically considerably smaller in comparison to the average claudication distance in the test group. Conclusion: It was established that the chance for the patients to have claudication distance within reference values is 2.57 times higher in the test group in comparison with the patients in the control group after the treatment.

The aim of this study is to present the comparison between throwing techniques efficiency index performed from the same and opposite grip for senior male and female during Bosnia and Herzegovina senior State championships. The study is based on the notation analysis of 280 grip configurations of male along with the equal number of throwing techniques and 166 grip configurations of female judoka along with the equal number of throwing techniques. Regarding the results of Chi-square test (13.2; p < .001) along with Yates’s Correction (12.5; p < .001) the difference in the frequencies of the same and opposite grip has been confirmed. Male dominate in regards to the same side grip, while female dominate in regards to the opposite side grip. The most efficient throwing technique for male considering the same side grip is Ippon seoi nage (0.68), while for the female that is Harai goshi (0.73). The technique which has the highest efficiency index in male regarding the opposite side grip is Uchi mata (0.66), and with the female likewise Uchi mata (1.21). The information gathered from this research can be of use to the coaches and contestants, so that they can take a new approach in training their gripping technique.

The aim of this study is to determine the difference in performance between winners defeated wrestlers in the Greco-Roman style. Data were collected and analyzed from 946 techniques in parterre and standing positions and the same number achieved technical points of the 2010 European Championships for cadets in the Greco-Roman style. To determine the difference between winners and defeated cadets we used the Wilcoxon’s test at the level of statistical significance of p ≤ 0.05. Results of the Wilcoxon’s test showed the existence of differences between winners and defeated cadets in the overall number of performed technical actions in parterre and standing positions (p < .001); performed actions of winners and defeated wrestlers in standing position (p < .001), except in variables Shoulder throw (p = .291) and sagging bodylock (p = .285); performed technical actions by winners and defeated wrestlers in position (p < .005). The total technical points achieved in standing position and parterre position between winners and defeated wrestlers (p < .001); in achieved technical points of winners and defeated wrestlers in the standing position (p < .001), except in 5 points (p = .564) and parterre position (p < .001) except in 5 points (p = .083). This research can help coaches and athletes in the cadets category to raise their performance on the higher level of wrestling.

Goals: The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the organization and coordination of multidisciplinary team consisted of health and kinesiology professionals at the correction of posture among girls in the period of the second phase of intense growth and development. Material and methods: Testing was conducted on a sample of 70 girls, aged 11.9±2.3 years, in which by the expert evaluation is recorded weakness of individual muscle groups, but also of the whole musculature. For the assessment of posture we applied the method of Napoleon Wolanski. Used are 9 variables that included the observed region of the body and an overall assessment of posture. The subjects were included in the program of kinesiology treatment with duration of 28 weeks. For all the parameters have been applied statistical procedures at univariate and multivariate level. Results: Data on subjects were obtained by measuring the same variables at two time points, i.e. before and after the application of kinesiology treatments. Analyses of differences arithmetic mean and mean values were done with the t-test for paired samples. In order to determine global quantitative differences of tested variables tested discriminant analysis was applied. The results showed that the models which complement the experience and practical application of expert health professionals and kinesiology knowledge is a very effective tool for improving posture of girls in the second phase of intensive growth and development. In this way can be prevented health problems that might arise later in life.

Objective: To evaluate bilateral quadriceps and hamstrings strength, at two different ranges of motion (RoM): 30 ◦ (SRoM) and 90 ◦ (FRoM), using different angular velocities. Background: Recent studies have indicated that short RoM isokinetic testing of knee muscles yielded strength findings that were compatible with those derived from a much larger RoM. However, findings were based on a single adjusted velocity in each of the RoMs. Method: Sixteen healthy male students volunteered to participate in this study. Two testing sessions, a week apart, were performed. In the first session testing started with a RoM of 90 ◦ (FRoM, 0 ◦ - full extension) and angular velocities of 60 and 180 ◦ /s. Measurements related to concentric (quadriceps and hamstring) and eccentric (quadriceps only) contractions. In the second part of the test, the RoM was adjusted to 30 ◦ (SRoM, 30-60 ◦ knee flexion) with velocities of 30 and 60 ◦ /s, respectively. The order of RoM testing was reversed in the second session. All tests were conducted bilaterally. Results: Both FRoM- and SRoM-based scores have shown good reproducibility based on the Bland Altman plots and low values of standard error of measurement and coefficient of variance of standard deviation. No statistically significant differences were noted between the FRoM and SRoM-based strength scores. The results suggest that range of motion used in isokinetic testing alone or in combination with other factors, namely side tested and isokinetic velocity, does not significantly influences changes in peak torque values for both quadriceps and hamstrings. Conclusion: This study suggests that SRoM isokinetic testing provides an effective alternative to the commonly applied range.