Injury epidemiology in the first Croatian basketball league

The aim of this study was to provide a retrospective overview of injuries during one basketball season and to analyse injury rates and potential risks among professional male and female basketball players in the First Croatian National league. A hundred and forty-two (89 males and 53 females) of 223 basketball players (64%) sustained an injury during the previous season. Body height, total game exposure and total on-court time per game (p<.05) were the identified risk factors for females, while the number of training hours per week was found to be a risk factor for males (p<.05). The highest proportion of injured players was found among centers for men (74%) and forwards (70%) for women. Forty-three percent of injuries were moderately serious, 31% were minor, and 20% serious injuries. Majority (80%) of all injuries were to the lower extremities and men sustained fewer lower extremity injuries compared to women (IRR=0.88 95% CI=0.6 to 1.3). Ankles were the most prevalent injury site for both men and women followed by the knee. Men sustained significantly fewer knee injuries compared to female athletes (IRR=0.44 95% CI=0.17 to 1.11). The most common injury type was ligament injuries (31%), followed by muscle tears/strains (20%). Game incidence injury rate for males was significantly lower than for females (IRR=0.55, p=0.01 [95% CI=0.34-0.89]). Those athletes who, on average, played more than 20 minutes in games were almost twice more exposed to an injury (OR=2.09, 95%CI=1.17,3.72). This is the first descriptive epidemiological study estimating rates and risks of injuries among the Croatian professional basketball players

Relationship between knee extensor muscle strength and movement performance: the effect of load and body size

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of external loading on the relationship between leg muscle strength and vertical jump performance. Sixty-six physically active men performed maximal countermovement jumps (CMJ) under five loading conditions: body weight (BW), negative loads (85% BW and 70% BW) and positive loads (115% BW and 130% BW), on a force plate. CMJ was followed by the measurement of subjects’ maximal concentric knee extension torque at 60ºs-1 by an isokinetic dynamometer. The relationship between knee extensor strength and jumping performance with various loads was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficients and partial correlation coefficients after controlling for body mass. Knee extensor muscle strength correlated significantly (r=.78-.79; all p<.01) with peak power output during CMJ under all loading conditions. Considerably lower correlation coefficients (r=.18-.43; p=.01-.15) were observed between knee extensor strength and CMJ height under all loading conditions, which tended to be higher after the effect of body mass had been removed (r=.37-.51; all p<.01). These results contradict the general belief that an increase in external load is associated with the increased role of leg muscle strength in maximizing power output and jump height. Furthermore, the results suggest that relative strength is a better predictor of jumping performance than absolute strength, independently of external loads used

Učinci različitih modaliteta treninga na koštanu masu: pregled istraživanja

It is evident that there are a large number of studies dealing with the problem of osteoporosis due to the exponential growth of fracture occurrence in elderly population. The risk for fracture is closely related to the natural loss of bone mass in women and men as a result of aging. Due to obvious demographic changes in age, i.e. an overall process of population aging, the number of fractures is higher than expected which indicates that bone quality is deteriorating from one generation to the next. In order to prevent the deterioration it is necessary to come up with appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic methods. Apart from standard methods comprising of calcium and vitamin D supplementation which don’t have a great effect on bone, one of the best non-pharmacological methods for lifelong improvement of bone mass is physical exercise, or participation in quality training, as evidenced by number of studies. Of course, practical work and scientific research indicate that not all exercise modalities are equally efficient in improving bone mass, i.e. there are modalities that can significantly affect the bone quality and there are those that don’t have a notable influence on the same. Therefore, it is necessary to determine most efficient physical exercise modalities for in improving bone mass quality in different age groups through inspection of previous studies. The importance of physical activity in enhancing bone quality, i.e. increasing bone mass and strength is evidenced by number of studies showing positive effects of sport and various types of training on above mentioned properties. This is supported by results of studies which indicate that training is potentially superior to supplementation of essential minerals for metabolism and bone mass. Regarding type of training, or type of physical activity with the highest potential for increasing bone mass, there are two activities that stand out – performing with great loadings and jump exercises, that is, strength training and plyometric training. Another type of training focused on increasing bone mass that stands out lately is vibration training, but compared to other two which are more appropriate for young population, due to its simplicity and safety it is appropriate for elderly population. Aerobic training significantly effects cardiovascular health and shows certain indications for improving or at least maintaining bone mass. Therefore, if we want to maintain optimal bone mass throughout life it is recommended to participate in systematic sports training from early childhood and to regularly involve oneself in physical activities, especially those creating greater ground reaction forces and with external loading larger than those of everyday life, on a regular basis over longer periods of time. It is a challenging task to give valid conclusion about optimal loading parameters for specific types of training due to inconsistency in methodological approaches and, often, controversial findings. Hence, future research should focus on: a) determining optimal loading parameters for specific types of training and age groups with a uniform methodology; b) topological effects of specific exercises, especially in strength and jump trainings; c) determining effects of agility training as a potential protocol for developing bone mass in young population; and d) determining residual effects of training focused on gaining bone mass, that is, the effects of detraining.U današnje vrijeme brojna se istraživanja bave problemom osteoporoze zbog eksponencijalnog rasta broja prijeloma u starijoj populaciji. Rizik od fraktura usko je povezan s prirodnim gubitkom koštane mase u žena i muškaraca koji nastaje kao posljedica starenja. Zbog očitih demografskih promjena, odnosno cjelokupnog porasta starenja stanovništva, broj prijeloma je viši od očekivanog, što ukazuje na to da se kvaliteta kostiju pogoršava iz jedne generacije u drugu. Da bi se spriječilo propadanje kostiju, potrebno je pronaći odgovarajuće profilaktičke i terapijske postupke. Osim standardnih metoda suplementacije kalcijem i vitaminom D, a čiji učinak na očuvanje koštane mase nije velik, jedna od najboljih ne-farmakoloških metoda za cjeloživotno poboljšanje koštane mase jest tjelovježba, odnosno sudjelovanje u kvalitetno osmišljenom treningu, o čemu svjedoče i brojna istraživanja. Međutim, iskustvo i znanstvena istraživanja upućuju na to da nisu svi modaliteti vježbanja jednako učinkoviti u povećanju koštane mase, odnosno postoje modaliteti koji mogu znatno utjecati na kvalitetu kostiju, a ima i onih koji na nju neće znatnije utjecati. Dakle, pregledom dosadašnjih istraživanja željelo se otkriti koji su modaliteti tjelovježbe najučinkovitiji za poboljšanje kvalitete koštane mase u različitim dobnim skupinama. O važnosti tjelesne aktivnosti za poboljšanje kvalitete kostiju, odnosno povećanje koštane mase i jakosti svjedoče brojni istraživački radovi koji pokazuju pozitivne učinke sporta i raznih vrsta treninga na navedena svojstva. Tome u prilog idu i rezultati istraživanja koji ukazuju na to da je trening potencijalno bolja metoda od suplementacije esencijalnim mineralima za metabolizam kostiju i održanje koštanu masu. Što se vrste treninga tiče ili vrste fizičke aktivnosti s najvećim potencijalom za povećanje koštane mase, postoje dva tipa aktivnosti koje se ističu: izvođenje vježbi velikim opterećenjem i vježbe skokova, odnosno vježbe jakosti i pliometrijski trening. Treći tip treninga usmjeren na povećanje koštane mase, koji se ističe u zadnje vrijeme, jest vibracijski trening, ali u odnosu na prethodna dva tipa treninga, koji su prikladniji za mlađu populaciju, vibracijski je trening zbog svoje jednostavnosti i sigurnosti puno prikladniji za stariju populacije. Aerobni trening znatno utječe na zdravlje kardiovaskularnoga sustava te pokazuje određene indikacije za poboljšanje ili barem održavanje koštane mase. Stoga, želi li se zadržati optimalna koštana masa tijekom života, preporuča se sudjelovanje u sustavnom sportskom treningu od ranog djetinjstva i redovito bavljenje tjelesnim aktivnostima, osobito onima koje karakteriziraju veće sile reakcije podloge te primjena vanjskih opterećenja većih od onih u svakodnevnim aktivnostima, i to tijekom dužeg razdoblja. Zbog nedosljednosti u metodološkim pristupima i često kontroverznim rezultatima dosadašnjih istraživanja, pronalaženje kvalitetnih spoznaja o optimalnim parametrima pojedinih vrsta treninga s ciljem unapređenja koštane mase predstavlja velik izazov. Stoga bi se buduća istraživanja trebala usmjeriti na: a) određivanje optimalnih parametara za određene vrste treninga i dobne skupine jedinstvenim metodološkim pristupom; b) utvrđivanje topoloških učinaka određenih vježbi, pogotovo vježbi jakosti i skokova; c) utvrđivanje učinaka treninga agilnosti kao potencijalnog protokola za razvoj koštane mase mlađih dobnih skupina i d) određivanje rezidualnih učinaka treninga na koštanu masu, tj. utvrđivanje učinaka detreniranosti

Basic Physical Conditioning in Athlete’s Health Protection

Zdravstveni rizik u treningu i vrhunskom sportu najčešće se odnosi na akutne ozljede. Akutne ozljede su ozljede nastale uslijed jednokratnih i jasno defi niranih rizičnih situacija, a rastu proporcionalno s ukupnim vremenom provedenim na treningu. Raspon težine akutnih ozljeda kreće se od blagih, kao što su iščašenja i istegnuća pa do onih ozbiljnih za koje je potrebna i hospitalizacija. Rizik od akutnih ozljeda varira ovisno o sportu - od gotovo sigurnih sportova izdržljivosti pa do ekstremno rizičnih disciplina poput motociklizma. Broj ozljeda u sportskim igrama leži negdje između te dvije krajnosti. Prije započinjanja mjera ili programa prevencije sportskih ozljeda treba precizno utvrditi problem: pojavu ozljeda i njihov broj, vremenski trend, težinu ozljeda i njihove posljedice. Drugi je korak utvrđivanje etiologije, faktora rizika i mehanizama ozljeđivanja. Treći je korak prevencije sportskih ozljeda uvođenje preventivnih mjera ili trenažnog programa. Tri su se strategije prevencije ozljeda pokazale uspješnima: 1) korištenje opreme koja smanjuje rizik od ozljeđivanja, 2) primjena (i promjena) pravila igre i 3) programi vježbanja usmjereni na smanjenje učestalosti ozljeda i rizika od ozljeđivanja. Tu spadaju i programi opće kondicijske (fi zičke) pripreme kojima je ujedno i cilj prevencija sportskih ozljeda. To su sadržaji usmjereni na razvoj jakosti, snage, ravnoteže, fl eksibilnosti, brzine i agilnosti, kao i konstantna edukacija trenera i sportaša o mehanizmima ozljeđivanja uz inzistiranje na pravilnoj, poželjnoj tehnici izvođenja vježbi. S obzirom na to da se programima kondicijske pripreme uvelike može utjecati na smanjenje učestalosti ozljeda i faktora rizika (osobito akutnih), cilj je ovog rada predstaviti dosadašnje spoznaje o implementaciji i učincima programa kondicijskog treninga usmjerenih upravo na smanjenje učestalosti akutnih ozljeda i utjecaj na faktore rizika od ozljeđivanja. Pregledom do sada objavljene literature na engleskom jeziku odabrano je 60 radova i to 38 vezanih uz učinke programa vježbanja na smanjenje učestalosti ozljeđivanja i 22 uz faktore rizika od ozljeđivanja. Uspješnost programa kondicijske (fizičke) pripreme u prevenciji ozljeda odnosno zaštiti zdravlja sportaša jasno je vidljivo iz određenih istraživanja u čak 87 % manjoj učestalosti ozljeda kod onih koji su provodili preventivni trenažni program, u odnosu na one koji nisu. Na temelju pregleda i analize rezultata istraživanja s ciljem prevencije ozljeda kod sportaša se može preporučiti višestrano kondicijski usmjeren preventivni trening koji se sastoji se od pliometrijskih podražaja, vježbi primarne jakosti, vježbi ravnoteže, vježbi s opterećenjem, vježbe za razvoj brzine i agilnosti, te učenje tehnika promjene smjera i doskoka. Osim poboljšanja u motoričkim sposobnostima (jakost, skočnost, brzina, dinamička ravnoteža, nestanak mišićnog disbalansa), uz primjenu takvih programa unapređuje se i više biomehaničkih faktora povezanih sa smanjenjem rizika od ozljeđivanja, a smanjuje se i učestalost ozljeda.There is probably no level of physical activity where benefi ts are maximal and risks are absent. Although sport has a positive long term effect on health, health risks during sport are not negligible. The risk of acute injury seems to vary enormously across various sports; most of endurance sports are safe compared to extremely high-risk disciplines, such as some forms of motor sports. Injury rates in popular team games, such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, and ice hockey, lie between these extremities. An important goal is to maximise the health benefi ts of sports, minimise direct and indirect costs associated with injuries, and develop and adopt injury prevention strategies. Before initiating a measure or programme for preventing sports injuries, the extent of the problem must be defined. Then, the mechanisms and factors involved need to be identifi ed. Finally, measures likely to reduce the risk of injury should be introduced and their effect monitored. Effective sports injury prevention requires successful implementation of effi cient interventions. Approaches that have been shown to be successful include: 1) using equipment designed to reduce injury risk, 2) adopting the rules of play, and 3) specifi c exercise programmes developed to reduce injury risk. The third category of prevention approaches covers multilateral physical conditioning programmes. These programmes include exercises that develop strength and power, balance, fl exibility, agility and speed, as well as appropriate movement technique. The purpose of this paper was to review the existing literature on injury prevention training programmes. Sixty papers were selected and analysed: 38 on injury risk reduction and 22 on modifying risk factors through physical conditioning. The success of injury prevention training programmes is visible through the 87 %-reduction of injury rates in some of the analysed studies. Based on the reviewed papers on injury prevention programmes in athletes, complex neuromuscular training (plyometric, strength, balance, speed, and agility exercises, as well as cutting and jumping technique learning) can be recommended. This kind of a programme has a positive effect on different athlete’s abilities, modifi es neuromuscular and biomechanical risk factors, and reduces injury rates in different sports

Training during the COVID-19 lockdown : knowledge, beliefs, and practices of 12,526 athletes from 142 countries and six continents

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to explore the training-related knowledge, beliefs, and practices of athletes and the influence of lockdowns in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS Athletes (n = 12,526, comprising 13% world class, 21% international, 36% national, 24% state, and 6% recreational) completed an online survey that was available from 17 May to 5 July 2020 and explored their training behaviors (training knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and practices), including specific questions on their training intensity, frequency, and session duration before and during lockdown (March–June 2020). RESULTS Overall, 85% of athletes wanted to “maintain training,” and 79% disagreed with the statement that it is “okay to not train during lockdown,” with a greater prevalence for both in higher-level athletes. In total, 60% of athletes considered “coaching by correspondence (remote coaching)” to be sufficient (highest amongst world-class athletes). During lockdown, < 40% were able to maintain sport-specific training (e.g., long endurance [39%], interval training [35%], weightlifting [33%], most (83%) training for “general fitness and health maintenance” during lockdown. Athletes trained alone (80%) and focused on bodyweight (65%) and cardiovascular (59%) exercise/training during lockdown. Compared with before lockdown, most athletes reported reduced training frequency (from between five and seven sessions per week to four or fewer), shorter training sessions (from ≥ 60 to < 60 min), and lower sport-specific intensity (~ 38% reduction), irrespective of athlete classification. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19-related lockdowns saw marked reductions in athletic training specificity, intensity, frequency, and duration, with notable within-sample differences (by athlete classification). Higher classification athletes had the strongest desire to “maintain” training and the greatest opposition to “not training” during lockdowns. These higher classification athletes retained training specificity to a greater degree than others, probably because of preferential access to limited training resources. More higher classification athletes considered “coaching by correspondence” as sufficient than did lower classification athletes. These lockdown-mediated changes in training were not conducive to maintenance or progression of athletes’ physical capacities and were also likely detrimental to athletes’ mental health. These data can be used by policy makers, athletes, and their multidisciplinary teams to modulate their practice, with a degree of individualization, in the current and continued pandemic-related scenario. Furthermore, the data may drive training-related educational resources for athletes and their multidisciplinary teams. Such upskilling would provide athletes with evidence to inform their training modifications in response to germane situations (e.g., COVID related, injury, and illness).A specific funding was provided by the National Sports Institute of Malaysia for this study.The National Sports Institute of Malaysia.https://www.springer.com/journal/40279am2023Sports Medicin

Accuracy of the 20-m shuttle run test for individualizing exercise intensity of high-intensity interval training

The aim of the study was to investigate the accuracy of the 20 m shuttle run test (20mSRT) for the prescription of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and to examine the appropriate intensity, prescribed by the 20mSRT end-test speed, for the execution of HIIT. Twenty physical education students (age: 22.4 ± 0.8 years, body height: 175.7 ± 8.9 cm, body weight: 73.8 ± 13.4 kg) participated in the study. On two separate occasions the participants were first tested with a maximal incremental exercise test and the 20mSRT. On another two occasions they were required to perform a 10-minute HIIT session comprised of 15-s runs interspersed with 15-s passive recovery. The intensities of the HIIT sessions were either 100% (T100%) or 110% (T110%) of the end-test speed reached in the 20mSRT. Mean oxygen uptake (VO2) (84.4 ± 5.5% vs 77.8 ± 6.9% of VO2max), mean heart rate (HR) (93 ± 2.8% vs 87.6 ± 4.6% of HRmax), blood lactate concentration (12.6 ± 2.1 vs 5.4 ± 2.6 mmol/l), and ratings of perceived exertion (9.5 ± 0.5 vs 6.7 ± 1) were all significantly (p<.01) higher during T110% vs T100%. The percentage of the total exercise time spent ≥ 90% VO2max (37.6 ± 25.3 vs 18.6 ± 18.0%, p<.05) and ≥ 90% HRmax (73.9 ± 17.7% vs 37.5 ± 33.3, p<.001) were also significantly higher during T110%. The mean VO2 and HR coefficient of variation during T110% were 6.5 and 3%, respectively. The cardiorespiratory, metabolic, and perceptual responses to T110% were reflective of the responses typical for HIIT, while T100% induced insufficient physiological stress to enable optimal cardiorespiratory adaptation. Therefore, the intensity of 110% 20mSRT is preferable for inducing the appropriate acute physiological responses and the 20mSRT can be used to accurately prescribe HIIT

4th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Science and profession - challenge for the future : proceedings book

In the year 2005, when the University of Zagreb is celebrating the 336th anniversary of its establishment and the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb its 46th anniversary, the International Scientifi c Conference on Kinesiology is being organized for the fourth time. Thus, the proclaimed intention of the organizer, the Faculty of Kinesiology, to make the Conference a traditional forum for kinesiologists to exchange fi ndings, ideas, experiences and theories has become a reality. You will probably agree with us that, despite all the conveniences the modern communication technology has provided, a vivid dialogue, established in personal contacts of people who share similar vocational interests, is always a unique event and experience. We hope that the debates on how to foster excellence and joy in sport and exercise and on how to promote PE as an underpinning activity for sport, competitive and recreational alike, and life-long active life-styles, as well as discussions on numerous issues regarding human movement, health, exercise and business will bring fruitful results in form of new ideas and research projects. The ever-growing body of kinesiology or sport science knowledge is continuously transformed into higher education curricula which allow graduates and masters of science to become well-educated professionals who have insights into the recent advances in kinesiology. In Croatia a highly specialized education and training of sport and PE professionals has a hundred-and-ten-year-old tradition. Based on that long tradition, the Faculty of Kinesiology has prepared two new university study curricula, adjusted to the Bologna Declaration and the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and has obtained the accreditation to organize them commencing in academic year 2005/06. The new university graduate and postgraduate doctoral study programmes will enable a higher level of knowledge of students and will promote a higher two-way mobility of both students and scholars. The curricula have assimilated the orientation of the members of the Faculty of Kinesiology that the mission of higher education institutions is viable only in the symbiosis of educational (professional training) and elite fundamental, developmental and applied research work in the fi elds of general and applied kinesiology and in the cognate and adjacent, mainly anthropological, scientifi c branches. The motto of this year’s Conference is “Science and Profession – Challenge for the Future”. It suggests that the focus of attention is directed towards the inevitable connectedness between everyday practical issues and professions related to physical exercise and sport, on the one hand, and kinesiological research activities, theories, insights, fi ndings and inferences on the other. The assembly of kinesiologists from 25 countries has gathered to discuss diverse biological, medical, biomechanical, psychological, sociological, cultural and economic aspects of a variety of kinesiological issues presented in 226 papers written by 300 authors. Besides the contributing authors, much credit for the Conference scientifi c programme goes to the esteemed invited lecturers, both the plenary and the session introductory speakers, and chairpersons of particular thematic sessions, and the members of the Scientifi c Programme Committee. Thematically and methodologically related contributions have been divided into eleven thematic sections (APA and Sport for the Disabled; Biology and Medicine of Sport and Exercise; Biomechanics; Management of Sport; Physical Conditioning; Physical Education; Research Methodology; Sociology, History and Philosophy of Sport; Sport for All, Fitness and Health-related Activities; Sport Psychology; and Top-level Sport), which, in turn, represent recognizable groups of issues currently prevailing in the scientifi c research dealing with human movement, sport and exercise activities. Our special thanks go to the reviewers (62) who altruistically engaged their knowledge, effort, experience and time in making the conference papers consistent and good enough to enable creative clarifi cation and communication of ideas. Although time restrictions made it impossible to afford indepth reviews, the authors were requested to undertake revisions whenever it was possible in order to minimize the rejections. The selection and classifi cation process was performed according to the quality criteria that primarily regarded novelty and the amount of information, and quality of structure and presentation. Due to the formal quality and lack of consistency of quite a number of papers, the original idea of reproducing them Science and Profession - Challenge for the Future VII as submitted proved hardly tenable. Therefore, a certain amount of copy-editing has been performed, though restricted to a minimum and simply in order to achieve a reasonable degree of formal consistency. This has been a demanding and complex process, performed under serious time pressure. We do apologise for any mistakes or inconveniences this might have caused. The Proceedings Book is a reminder of the research fi ndings accomplished in the fi eld of kinesiology, or sport sciences, or kinetics, or kinanthropology throughout the past three years. The presented papers are a basis and a probable starting point for new ones since they cover a wide range of anthropological (understood in the widest sense), methodological and didactic investigations in the areas of physical education, competitive sport, physical recreation, and physical rehabilitation. The organizer, the Faculty of Kinesiology tried to make the 4th Conference on Kinesiology comparable to the quality level of many conferences worldwide. The Dean of the Faculty and the presidents of the Organizing and Scientifi c Committee wish to express their deep gratitude to all the invited speakers, contributors (authors), members of the Scientifi c Committee, reviewers, members of the Organizing Committee, members of the Proceedings Book Editorial Board, and, particularly, to all the Conference Offi ce executives who made the 4th Conference and the Proceedings Book possible. Our acknowledgments go to the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts and to its president a Fellow of the Croatian Academy Milan Moguš, PhD, for their traditional patronage of the Conference. Their support is of great value to the Faculty because it is a signifi cant recognition of the work done in the domain of kinesiology. Recognition of the Conference has been also granted by the co-organizer, the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia. We are convinced that the 4th Conference on Kinesiology will affi rm all the effort exerted so far in the kinesiology and will open new challenges for the future and better cooperation between scientists and the professionals. To all the Conference participants we wish a productive and benefi cial time and contacts. It is our hope that new research ideas and projects will emerge from it. We will welcome the forthcoming results at our next conferences. To those who were not able to actively participate in the Conference work this year, we offer these Proceedings as an invitation for cooperation of competent partners and for joining us at the 5th Conference on Kinesiology in three years time

7th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward : proceedings

It is our pleasure to greet you on behalf of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. Quite a number of significant anniversaries in this year are related to sport, physical education and kinesiology in Croatia. The most important anniversary is the 55th birthday of the College of Physical Culture/Faculty of Physical Culture/Faculty of Kinesiology establishment in 1959. However, the tradition of physical education teachers’ education in Croatia is much longer than that. Namely, in 1874, the Croatian Falcon (Hrvatski sokol) was founded and in 1894, first course for gymnastic teachers was organised as the first higher education course in the field of kinesiology in Croatia. Along with these important anniversaries, this year we are marking the 17th birthday of our Conference on kinesiology, dear Reader, and you are one of the most important reasons why is this so. From the first Conference in Dubrovnik in 1997 up nowadays, many changes in our science have occurred as well as in the practice of physical exercise and sports along with innumerable changes in political and social dimensions of modern life. However, we are deeply convinced that one thing has remained unchanged; that is the passion for investigation and knowledge acquisition, the need for new discoveries and love for kinesiology as the main field of our research. Also, we are assured that our ideas about the conference as a meeting point of distinguished scientists, leading researchers in different fields of our science and young investigators have become reality. We expect discussions and exchange of ideas that should result, as they have before, in new research ideas, insights, and research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which would be further advances in kinesiology and in cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The Conference will work under the motto “Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward” in usual plenary and parallel sessions addressing ten comprehensive kinesiological topics: adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing; adapted physical activity and kinesitherapy; biology and medicine of sport and exercise; biomechanics and motor control; physical education; kinesiological (sports) recreation; kinesiology of top-level sport; management of sport; kinesiology and social sciences (sociology, psychology, history, philosophy) and kinesiology in physical conditioning. Certain areas will be addressed at the Conference for the first time, like adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing. All the papers that have got positive reviews, performed by at least two respectable referees, are published in these proceedings. The best papers, so recognized by the peer reviewers, will be published in the journal Kinesiology supplement. Two significant satellite symposiums are going to be held during this year Conference under the titles: University Sport and Health Kinesiology. Both symposia are aiming at provoking experts from these areas to find solutions and answers to recent problems in these specific fields From the very beginning, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has been giving its high patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of different areas in science. We are proud to have partners and cooperating institutions like Beijing Sports University (China), Faculty of Sport Studies Masaryk University, Brno (the Czech Republic), Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska (Slovenia) and Lithuanian Sports University. Also, our conference is supported by a number of important organisations in the field of kinesiology such as: the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP), and International Network of Sport and Health Sciences (INSHS). This year the assembly of kinesiologists from 32 countries will discuss diverse aspects of a variety of kinesiological issues presented in 220 papers and abstracts written by 514 authors. The Proceedings and Abstract Book is a reminder of the research findings accomplished in the field of kinesiology, or sport sciences, or kinetics, or kinanthropology throughout the past three years. The presented papers are a basis and a probable starting point for future findings and inferences since they cover a wide range of anthropological (understood in the widest sense), methodological and didactic investigations in the areas of physical education, competitive sport, kinesiological recreation, and kinesitherapy. We wish to express exceptional gratitude to all the authors of papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organising and Programme Committee, Section Editors and technical support staff for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in quality of the 7th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Looking forward to meeting you again at the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2017. Organising Committe

7th International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology: Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward : proceedings

It is our pleasure to greet you on behalf of the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Zagreb. Quite a number of significant anniversaries in this year are related to sport, physical education and kinesiology in Croatia. The most important anniversary is the 55th birthday of the College of Physical Culture/Faculty of Physical Culture/Faculty of Kinesiology establishment in 1959. However, the tradition of physical education teachers’ education in Croatia is much longer than that. Namely, in 1874, the Croatian Falcon (Hrvatski sokol) was founded and in 1894, first course for gymnastic teachers was organised as the first higher education course in the field of kinesiology in Croatia. Along with these important anniversaries, this year we are marking the 17th birthday of our Conference on kinesiology, dear Reader, and you are one of the most important reasons why is this so. From the first Conference in Dubrovnik in 1997 up nowadays, many changes in our science have occurred as well as in the practice of physical exercise and sports along with innumerable changes in political and social dimensions of modern life. However, we are deeply convinced that one thing has remained unchanged; that is the passion for investigation and knowledge acquisition, the need for new discoveries and love for kinesiology as the main field of our research. Also, we are assured that our ideas about the conference as a meeting point of distinguished scientists, leading researchers in different fields of our science and young investigators have become reality. We expect discussions and exchange of ideas that should result, as they have before, in new research ideas, insights, and research teams and projects the eventual outcome of which would be further advances in kinesiology and in cognate and adjacent scientific areas. The Conference will work under the motto “Fundamental and applied kinesiology - steps forward” in usual plenary and parallel sessions addressing ten comprehensive kinesiological topics: adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing; adapted physical activity and kinesitherapy; biology and medicine of sport and exercise; biomechanics and motor control; physical education; kinesiological (sports) recreation; kinesiology of top-level sport; management of sport; kinesiology and social sciences (sociology, psychology, history, philosophy) and kinesiology in physical conditioning. Certain areas will be addressed at the Conference for the first time, like adaptation of human organism to disuse and ageing. All the papers that have got positive reviews, performed by at least two respectable referees, are published in these proceedings. The best papers, so recognized by the peer reviewers, will be published in the journal Kinesiology supplement. Two significant satellite symposiums are going to be held during this year Conference under the titles: University Sport and Health Kinesiology. Both symposia are aiming at provoking experts from these areas to find solutions and answers to recent problems in these specific fields From the very beginning, the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Fine Arts has been giving its high patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of different areas in science. We are proud to have partners and cooperating institutions like Beijing Sports University (China), Faculty of Sport Studies Masaryk University, Brno (the Czech Republic), Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska (Slovenia) and Lithuanian Sports University. Also, our conference is supported by a number of important organisations in the field of kinesiology such as: the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education (AIESEP), International Federation of Physical Education (FIEP), and International Network of Sport and Health Sciences (INSHS). This year the assembly of kinesiologists from 32 countries will discuss diverse aspects of a variety of kinesiological issues presented in 220 papers and abstracts written by 514 authors. The Proceedings and Abstract Book is a reminder of the research findings accomplished in the field of kinesiology, or sport sciences, or kinetics, or kinanthropology throughout the past three years. The presented papers are a basis and a probable starting point for future findings and inferences since they cover a wide range of anthropological (understood in the widest sense), methodological and didactic investigations in the areas of physical education, competitive sport, kinesiological recreation, and kinesitherapy. We wish to express exceptional gratitude to all the authors of papers, reviewers, conference participants, members of the Organising and Programme Committee, Section Editors and technical support staff for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in quality of the 7th Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. Looking forward to meeting you again at the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2017. Organising Committe

8th international scientific conference on kinesiology: 20th anniversary : proceedings

We are exceptionally happy that we can greet you once more on this occasion. The Faculty of Kinesiology, as a proud member of the University of Zagreb and a higher education institution that is 57 years old, is organizing The International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology for the 8th time. Identically as three years ago, this is a good opportunity to remember some important anniversaries. First of all, this year we celebrate 160 years since Nicolas Dally published his work in 1857 under the title “Kinesiology – Science of Movement in Relation to Education, Hygiene and Therapy”. This was the first book that introduced Kinesiology as a science of movement. The second important anniversary is 20 years since the establishment of our Conference. In 1997 the first International Scientific Conference on Kinesiology was held in Dubrovnik. Until today a great number of leading experts in the field of contemporary kinesiology were keynote lectures and presenters of the most important scientific breakthroughs in the field. Once again, the Conference will be a great opportunity for broadening of scientific insights into this miraculous, beautiful phenomenon of physical activity and its effects – its perfection when performed by sport artists, as seen at the XXXI Olympic Games, its joyfulness when happy children enjoy being competent to be in motion, or when we see eager people who enjoy life and nature because they have enough energy and they are healthy thanks to an active lifestyle. We are especially proud of the 17th place on the medal list thanks to the ten Olympic medals won by Croatian athletes. All fundamental and applied fields of our science will be discussed within 10 tentative sessions and 3 Satellite symposiums. The ultimate purpose of papers or abstracts published in this Proceedings book is to know and understand human beings and to apply the findings in everyday practice of education, sports, health promotion, recreation, sports management and kinesitherapy. The Proceedings Book contains 249 contributions, which were submitted by the submission deadline, written by 557 authors from 30 countries from all over the world. We expect a number of graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students from Croatia and abroad for whom the Conference School of Kinesiology for Postgraduate and Doctoral Students will be organised during the Conference. From the very beginning the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts has given its highly respected patronage to the Conference, thus underpinning the recognition of kinesiology in the structure of sciences. Special thanks go to our partner institutions: Beijing Sports University, China and the Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, to our collaboration institutions: the Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences, Lithuania, the Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. We wish to express much gratitude to all the authors, reviewers, participants, members of the Organisation and Program Committee, Section Editors, technical support staff, and sponsors for their contributions, time and effort inbuilt in the quality of the 8th International Conference on Kinesiology and its Proceedings. We wish success in the conference work to all the participants and a pleasant time in Opatija. Convinced that the Conference will give the expected impetus to further cooperation between scholars and institutions, we are looking forward in advance to meeting you again at the 9th International Conference on Kinesiology in 2020. Organising Committe