Vibration effect on ball score test in international vs. national level table tennis

In table tennis, motor skills are crucial for discriminating player level. However, there is a dearth of studies exploring the impact of a vibrational stimulus on performance. Thirty-four male players (age 25 72 years; body mass index, BMI 23.4\ub11.2 kg\ub7m-2) participated in the study. Seventeen played at international level (IL), while the remaining 17 played at national level (NL). The participants underwent a ball-handling test, the ball score, before (PRE) and after (POST) a vibrational stimulus. Intra-class correlation (ICC) for the ball score result showed good reliability (ICC 0.87 for IL and 0.80 for NL). Repeated measures ANOVA showed differences between groups for ball score (p=0.000) and a significant group 7 time interaction (p=0.004). Better performances were observed for the IL group than for the NL group, significantly only for POST. Vibration produced positive and negative effects in IL and NL groups, respectively

Judo ukemis: a tool for protecting the health and quality of life of children. Safe fall-safe school

Postprint (author's final draft

Smith Machine exercise: the key points

During the past two decades, sports scientists, coaches, therapeutic specialists, and other professionals are using the Smith Machine exercise (SME) to improve lower limb muscle strength. By overviewing the literature, the position of the bar, load, training volume (repetitions and sets), recovery (resting time), power, muscular work, and one repetition maximum (1-RM) are characteristics describing the SME and presented as variables on which the resistance training (RT) program periodization is focused. Therefore, the aim of the present brief review is to clarify this crucial point and to simplify the SME approach for the strength and condition trainers as well as for all other scientist involved in sports or therapeutic work. This brief review offers an insight into several recommendations on the key points, firmly based on relevant literature

Effectiveness of yoga combined with back school program on anxiety, kinesiophobia and pain in people with non-specific chronic low back pain: a prospective randomized trial

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of Yoga combined with Back school program intervention compared to Yoga program only in order to evaluate anxiety, kinesiophobia, back pain disability and quality of life in people affected by non-specific chronic low back pain. Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 70 participants (age 37.97 +/- 5.54 years) with non-specific chronic low back pain were randomized to undergone experimental Yoga combined with Back school group (35 subjects; Intervention) or Hatha Yoga program group (35 subjects, Control) respectively. The intervention consisted of Yoga exercise sessions with Back school meetings, two times per week for 8 weeks. We investigate the effectiveness of these interventions through some psychological factors: anxiety (Hamilton anxiety scale HAM-A), kinesiophobia (Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia TSK), back pain disability (Roland Morris Disabilities RMQ), and quality of life (36 Item Short Form Survey SF-36). Results: We found significant decrease in mean scores of all psychological variables (Anxiety F-2,F-68=53.504, p<0.001; Kinesiophobia F-2,F-68=52.244, p<0.001; Disability F-2,F-68=128.343, p<0.001) and increase in health-related quality of life sub-scales (Bodily pain F-1,F-34=20.907, p<0.001; General mental health F-1,F-34=7.319, p=0.011; General health per-ceptions F-1,F-34=7.879, p=0.008) in Intervention group. Both groups were significantly different in all psychological variables and three sub-scales relate to the quality life (Physical functioning, Bodily pain, and General health perceptions) at the end of 8 and 12 training interventions weeks. Conclusions: This study demonstrated effectiveness of Yoga combined with Back school intervention in people affected by nCLBP with lowering Anxiety, Kinesiophobia and Disability together with improving the quality of life

Reviewing the relationship between physiology of breathing and physical activity in anxiety disorders

The possible influence of the quality of breathing on physical activity remains the subject of numerous scientific studies in different fields, including not only the most basic physiological and biological concepts but also the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience. The literature about the relationship between breathing and psychophysiological factors is continuously growing, and several studies have investigated the influence of breathing techniques on human beings. This review aims to give a literature overview of the respiratory function impact on psychopathology, taking into account anxiety disorders, physical activity, and the relationship between them. Literature investigating different topics involving the influence of breathing on anxiety disorders, the influence of breathing on physical activity and related anxiety disorders showed an association between them even if this relationship is not well clarified. Regular physical activity could become even a primary or preferential treatment. Relaxation techniques, as well as motor visualization, mindfulness, and even oral appliances, could help people improve their general condition with the improvement of the control of their psychophysical performance. Further literature with different physical activities and experiences regarding psychodynamic treatments could assume a new scenario

Monitoring Internal Training Intensity Correlated with Neuromuscular and Well-Being Status in Croatian Professional Soccer Players during Five Weeks of the Pre-Season Training Phase

This study aimed to investigate the changes in internal training intensity, well-being, and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and to determine their relationship across five weeks of the pre-season training phase in professional soccer players. A total of 22 professional male soccer players (age = 21.7 ± 4 years, body height = 185.9 ± 6.3 cm, body weight = 79 ± 6.3 kg, BMI = 22.8 ± 1.4 kg·m−2; VO2max = 52.9 ± 3.2) from the Croatian Second League voluntary participated in this study. The players spent 2230 ± 117 min in 32 technical/tactical and strength/conditioning training sessions, mostly at the low intensity zone (61%), and played 8 friendly matches at a high intensity (>90%). A one-way repeated measure of analysis ANOVA revealed a significant difference between weeks in CMJ performance (F(1,22) = 11.8, p < 0.001), with CMJ height in weeks 4 and 5 being likely to very likely higher than that noted in week 1. Moreover, significant differences between weeks were found in all internal training intensity measures (average [F(1,22) = 74.8, p < 0.001] and accumulated weekly internal training intensity [F(1,22) = 55.4, p < 0.001], training monotony [F(1,22) = 23.9, p < 0.001], and training strain [F(1,22) = 34.5, p < 0.001]). Likewise, differences were observed for wellness status categories (fatigue [F(1,22) = 4.3, p = 0.003], sleep [F(1,22) = 7.1, p < 0.001], DOMS [F(1,22) = 5.7, p < 0.001], stress [F(1,22) = 15.6, p < 0.001]), mood [F(1,22) = 12.7, p < 0.001], and overall well-being status score (F(1,22) = 13.2, p < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed large negative correlations between average weekly internal training intensity and fatigue (r = −0.63, p = 0.002), DOMS (r = −0.61, p = 0.003), and WBI (r = −0.53, p = 0.011). Additionally, fatigue was significantly associated (large negative correlation) with accumulated weekly internal training intensity (r = −0.51, p = 0.014) and training strain (r = −0.61, p = 0.003). Small, but non-significant, correlations were found between CMJ performance and wellness status measures. These findings highlight the utility and simplicity of monitoring tools to improve athletes’ performance