The aim of research was to analysis development and age structure of male and female participants at the Olympic Games (OG) and World Championships (WC) from 2003 until 2016. The total number of analyzed WC participants in men's artistic gymnastics (MAG) was 2678 and the women's artistic gymnastics (WAG) was 1981; while at the OG in MAG 391 and in WAG 389. In the last 15 years, there has been identified linear and second-order polynomial-regression increase in the age structure of participants in MAG and WAG in the largest world competitions. In analyzed period of time, MAG and WAG age of gymnasts increased. The male gymnasts from 2003 to 2016 are on average older for 2.3 years and female gymnasts for 3.3 years. In the upcoming period, we do expect (with apparatus specialization) that age will rise.

After Vault Qualifications (in C-I competition), the top eight scores, maximum two gymnasts from one national team, qualify for Vault Finals. During the Vault Finals, these top female vaulters need to perform two different vaults. The aim of this study was to determine: 1)trends of the Difficulty Scores (DS), Execution Scores (ES) and Total Scores (TS) of the first vault and the second vault; 2) differences between differently ranked gymnasts (Medal Winners vs Non-Medal Winners) on all major competitions held from 2008 to 2016. An increase in results of all scores, from initial competition (OG2008) to final competition (OG2016), confirms the progress in quality and complexity of the female vaults. Numerically higher values of all scores have been demonstrated for Medal Winners compared to Non-Medal Winners, but only some of them have been determined to be significant. The ES has been determined as the score that makes the difference among differently ranked gymnasts.

Relative age effect (RAE) is a worldwide phenomenon described as consequences of age variations between individuals competing in the same cohort. RAE is based on systems that use January 1 as a cut-off date, probably used to attempt to minimize developmental differences between ages and to ensure a more equitable competition. Previously, in artistic gymnastics, a majority of studies on RAE was conducted in gymnasts of national levels. This study analysed RAE both among and between elite female (NF=1268) and male gymnasts (NM=1186) who participated at all Olympic Games held from 1964 to 2016. By using χ2 test, significant difference were found: 1) within frequencies of total sample of male gymnasts born in a certain month (p<0.001); 2) within frequencies of groups of male gymnasts apparatus finalists born in a certain month (p<0.005); 3) within frequencies of groups of male apparatus finalists born in a certain quarter of the year (p<0.005); 4) within frequencies of groups of male apparatus finalists born in a certain half of the year (p<0.005). As far as female gymnasts are concerned, significant differences have not been found within frequencies of any female group born in a certain month, quarter or halves of the year. Regarding differences between genders, no significant differences have been obtained between frequencies of male and female gymnasts born in certain month, quarter and halves of the year. Despite certain differences among and between genders, the general conclusion was that RAE is not present in elite gymnasts of both genders.

The main goal of a gymnast’s career is participation in the Olympic Games (OG) at least once. Survey results determined a significant difference between genders in the number of gymnasts who competed in only one OG (277 males and 408 females); also, between those who consecutively participated in two OG (104 males and 70 females), three OG (28 males and 11 females), and four OG (six males and zero females). There were no gender differences found in the number of those who consecutively participated in five OG (one male and one female) and six OG (zero males and one female). For both genders, for consecutive participants of three and more OG longevity of high-quality performance, seen through their rank in different finals, was presented showing how it is not endangered with their above average age. The obtained results should be the encouragement for the coaches to plan quality training for more than one Olympic cycle during which the constant increase in the quality of the performance, for both genders, can and should be expected.

The study was conducted using the long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the aim of this research is to determine the level of physical activity and differences among students, of the University of Tuzla, in relation to gender. The study was conducted on a sample of 813 students (321 male and 492 female) 1st cycle of studies at the University of Tuzla. The results of present study showed that average level of total physical activity for male students was 6013.493 MET-minutes/week, while female students showed average level of total physical activity was 4619.381 MET-minutes/week. We conclude that the total data indicates that in this group of students the physical activity level is sufficient and that there is a lower physical activity among females than males. Also there is a need to continuously take measures for promoting the sports at Universities with the aim of raising the health status of students to a higher level.

The aim of this research was to determine the effects of experimental short-term program of intensive training of alpine skiing techniques (experimental program) on morphological characteristics (body composition) of students. The sample is divided into an experimental group (31 males, age 21.4 ± 1 and body height 180.7 ± 6.3cm) beginners who were on skis for the first time and control group (34 males, age 20.6 ± .8 and body height 180.3 ± 6.8 cm). The following body parameters were measured at the beginning and end of the experimental program: body weight, body mass index, fat percent, total weight (in kg) of fat in the body, total weight (in kg) of body mass without body fat, total weight (in kg) of water in the body. To determine the effects of an experimental program on some morphological characteristics of students a univariate covariance analysis was applied. Results of ANCOVA show statistically significant effects of the applied experimental program in variable total weight (in kg) of water in the body p = .018 where the variable showed higher values for the experimental group compared to the control group.

Background Women’s Artistic Gymnastics (WAG) competitions are determined by the rules of the Code of Points (CoP) which experience changes in each new Olympic Games (OG). One of the WAG CoP rules states that in the Vault Finals, gymnasts need to perform two different vaults. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of the vault performances and the differences between them during Vault Finals at all major competitions held from 2008 to 2016. Numerically higher values of Difficulty Scores, Execution Scores and Final Scores of the first vault compared to the scores of the second vault have been determined at all the analysed competitions. Results The differences between the scores during different competitions have been determined as significant, but they have not been determined as significant between the scores achieved at the OG held in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Significant differences between the Difficulty Scores of the first and the second vaults have been determined at the World Championships (WC) 2010 and OG2012; and within Final Scores of the first and the second vaults at WC2009, WC2010, OG2012 and WC2015. Conclusions It was concluded that female Vault Finalists performed two structurally different vaults of similar Difficulty Value equally well.

Study aim was to analyze the difference in motor abilities for assessing coordination in rhythm and frequency of movement, between those girls whose only physical activity is clasess of physical and health education at school and those which are for two or more years involved with aesthetic activities, ie. sports such as dances, rhythmic gymnastics and majorette dance. The participants in this research were 62 girls, from 8-10 years of age, out of which 31 girls engaged with aesthetic activities and 31 of them are girls who are not involved in any sports except regular classes of physical and health education. Using Independent Samples T-Test we see that the examinees differ on a statistically significant level in most variables for assessment coordination in rhythm and frequency of movement, and that all values in used variables for girls engaged with aesthetic activities are higher than the values in girls who are not engaged in aesthetic activities, for which it can be said that the results are in favor of girls engaged in aesthetic activities.

Background: Physical inactivity and intensive sports activity have been found to be associated with LBP. The aim of this study is the presents the data about the prevalence of LBP in young adults and its associations with vitality, physical activity and emotions. We also studied the impact of low back pain on daily activity. The study sample presented (n=323) students from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the chronological age of 21.06 ± 1.93 years. The current study assessed the level of LBP amongst students of Faculty of Sport with the level of physical activity in last six months. Methods: We used the questionnaire, which included the Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS) for the evaluation of levels of chronic pain. With a Short Health Survey (SF-36) we tried to measure the health status. Results: A total of (n=323) of all students had pain intensity at some point in last six months. All students reported (n=236, 73.0%) prevalence of LBP. In this study body mass index, level of physical activity were not significant independent predictors of intensity and disability scores. Conclusion: 3/4 of all respondents said to have had any episode LBP. The results of our study can be used by officials in the area of prevention to support efforts to improve health of the student population and to reduce the LBP risk.

BACKGROUND Gymnastics requires a high level of flexibility, conditioning and complete body recruitment that is infrequently matched by other sports. Artistic gymnastics has a relatively high incidence of injuries, which are generally of minor or medium severity. With all its complexity, it poses a unique diagnostic and treatment challenge to medical practitioners. The present study examined athletes' perception of the causes of injury and of the possible ways to reduce their incidence. METHODS The research involved 63 quality athletes, of whom 20 were in men's artistic gymnastics, 21 in women's artistic gymnastics, and 22 in rhythmic gymnastics. We used the self-assessment method. Factors inducing injury were grouped into three different categories: training, the athlete himself, and the environment. We used the χ2 test to test the association between a risk factor and injuries. The association between injuries and risk factors was also tested using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Overall, an incidence of 184 injuries was found, of which 67 (36.4%) were acute and 117 (63.5%) were chronic injuries. According to binary logistic regression analyses, psychological factors significantly associated with the prevalence of acute and chronic injury in both sexes for all disciplines were: a poor technique, improper methods of teaching, and an inadequate load. In our study, higher rates of acute and chronic injury were observed among male gymnasts, who reported their occurrence during training by overload, and among female gymnasts, who reported a poor technique, improper methods of teaching, and an inadequate load as main causes of their occurrence. CONCLUSIONS Improving the communication between athletes and coaches, taking the opinion of an athlete into account, and the athlete's active involvement in preparation of the program include the most crucial points for reducing the incidence of injuries.

The OG and WC represent the crown of each athlete’s career, so it is the same with gymnasts. The aims of this study it was investigate the historical analysis of the chronological age trend of all participants of men’s artistic gymnastics who have won medals in the period between 1896 and 2016 has been made. The examinees were gymnasts who had won medals at the following competitions: Olympic Games (OG) from 1896 to 2016 (n=1177) and World Championships (WC) from 1903 to 2015 (n=1651). The oldest gymnasts are on the Rings with an average age on (OG: M = 26.48, SD = 3.85) and (WC: M = 40.23, SD = 3.50) years old, and the youngest in the same are contestants (OG: Floor = 23.09, SD = 3.88) and (WC: M = 7.86 SD = 4.02). The results of independent t test were significant difference between OG and WC on Pommel horse (PH), Rings (RI), Paralell bars (PB), All-around individual (AAI) first place and Paralell bars (PB) first place. Changes in the General Rules and Code of Points by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique after 1997 years the trend is a significant change only on WC but not on OG. Since artistic gymnastics becomes each Olympic cycle over more demanding in terms of complexity and difficulty value of the elements, it is expected fact that gymnasts need more time to acquire stability, experience and safety when performing such complex exercises in future.

The aim of this study is to determine the differences between the medallists and non-medallists in male and female artistic gymnastics at the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2016. Basic procedures: Data concerning the athletes were obtained from the “Official documents of the International Olympic Committee” which include the athlete’s date of birth and date of competing. The total number of analysed OG participants in men’s artistic gymnastics amounted to n = 419 and the women’s artistic gymnastics was n = 417. Main findings: With men the t test for small independent samples has determined statistically significant differences between medallists and other competitors in 2000 and 2012. Among women no significant statistical differences have been found in all the mentioned variables. Conclusions: The differences between male medallists and non-medallists are manifested through the age of the competitors: 2.57 years in 2000 and 3.57 years in 2012. Compared to other OG a higher level of homogeneity and smaller age difference is noticeable. In difference to men, women had no similar differences within a period of 20 years. In artistic gymnastics in the last couple of years there is a recurring trend of a late specialisation because with each new scoring Code of Points the conditions demanded from the competitors become harder.