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Gheorghe Moceanu (1835-1909) was the first teacher of gymnastics, fencing and peasants' dances from Romania. Our paper is intended to be an homage to his memory, at the fulfillment of 105 years since he died. Besides some important date about his biography and achievements in the field of physical education, there are presented the appreciations of some of his contemporaries: Nicolae Iorga, Cella Delavrancea and Onoriu Cheţianu. Another aim of our paper is to present a rare book, elaborated by him and entitled "The History, Anatomy and Hygiene of Gymnastics, Following the Most Significant Authors, with the Principal Figures and Explanations about Bathes and School of Swimming". The book was published several times, the forth one being published in 1881, in Bucharest. Moceanu mentioned in the introduction on this book that he elaborated it translating the chapters about the history, anatomy, physiology and hygiene of gymnastics from a book written by Junot and Senglet, adding some figures and explanations from a study of Moritz Kloss about bathes and swimming school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. It is known that at present in the volleyball game there is no perfect balance between the moments of attack and defense, the latter having a significant role in victory. The more frequent the sequence of the two, the more the game becomes attractive and spectacular. Attacking moments must be completed by a winning point; their failure can cause disruption in the team's mechanism, with further significant consequences, especially when they occur repeatedly. Aims. We believe that by using specially designed methods, based on attention training, we could improve the percentage of successful attacking shots; by alternating forceful attacking moves with placed ones, a state of uncertainty will be created in the defending team's game and the possession of the ball will be altered. Methods. The research study was conducted with two women's volleyball teams, similar in value, playing in the North series of the A2 Republican championship: the experimental group 1 (n=12), which followed an attention training program aimed at improving the efficiency of a placed attacking shot (CSU LPS Oradea), and the control group 2 (n=12), which followed a traditional training program (CNE CSS Baia Mare). To improve attention training we used a number of ten exercises that are part of a complex technical and tactical training. To quantify the results we used SPSS 17.0, mixed ANOVA, Student test for independent and paired samples, and, for assessing placed attacking shots, the so-called composite index. Results. The data regarding the evolution of the placed attacking shot that was subject to this analysis show the improvement of the value of this method of attack as a trend for the experimental group (Lap 1=.069) and (Lap 2=.067), which means that our intervention favors improvements in placed attacking shots, as compared with the control group whose evolution was in the normal range for this game action, and followed the traditional training method. Conclusions. If the index of significance of the difference of averages between the two evaluation moments for Lap 1 and Lap 2 are in the trending level just for the experimental group, a continuation of this study through a longer term approach of this attention method or through a restructuring of the exercise included in the intervention program should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A growing number of studies show physical training benefits in atherosclerosis and peripheral artery disease (PAD). The increase of these benefits can be achieved by combining exercise with physical therapy, whose effectiveness in the recovery of PAD has also been demonstrated over time. Aims. This study aims to investigate the effect of physical-kinetic therapy on the recovery of atherosclerosis and PAD patients with and without signs of intermittent claudication. Methods. A total of 68 consecutive patients diagnosed with PAD by determining the ankle-brachial index were randomized into two groups, one active and one control, in a ratio of 1:1. Group A (active) benefited from treatment facilities (baths with carbonated mineral water at a temperature of 34°C with a progressively increased duration from 15 to 25 minutes, mofette with a progressively increased duration from 10 to 20 minutes) and physical therapy, consisting of interval walking, postural Burger gymnastics, Master scale, ergonomic bicycle, semiflexion of the knees. Intensity of exercise was limited by pain in those with claudication and in those without claudication it was quantified by using the self evaluation Borg scale or by evaluating the intensity of exercise by pulse meter, a device that allows monitoring of heart rate during exercise and thus the intensity of exercise performed. Group B (control) was treated with physical therapy, consisting of carbonated mineral water baths of 34°C, 15 to 25 minutes, and mofette 10-20 minutes. Treatment duration was 18 days in both groups. Results. Of a total of 68 patients, 65 completed the study (33 in the active group and 32 in the control group). At the end of treatment, in both groups there was a significant improvement in the distance walked for 6 minutes (p≤0.05) and no statistically significant increase in the ankle-arm index was found. In group A we found a significant increase in the short duration functional parameters (4-meter walking speed in a normal and quick rhythm and the standing up test), while in group B these parameters were not significantly increased. There was also a significant increase in the distance walked for 6 minutes and in the short duration functional parameters in group A compared to group B. Conclusions. Carbon dioxide therapy significantly increased walking ability as measured by the 6 minute walking test. Physical training provided additional benefits in terms of ability to walk and also significantly improved strength and endurance in the legs, measured by short duration physical performance tests. Neither exercise, nor carbon dioxide therapy significantly increased the ankle-arm index value after 18 days of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Knowledge doubled by a clear understanding of the main factors involved in the psychomotor phenomenon (in this case strength and balance), as well as of the relationships established between those factors in relation to the subjects' chronological age. Aims. Our experiment envisages an analysis of the relationship between motor proficiency age and chronological age of primary school students, based on the information provided by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test - Second Edition (BOT-2) applied for the first time in Romania. Methods. Forty subjects were selected to participate in this research experiment (20 boys and 20 girls), 1st up to 4th grade students, coming from urban and rural environments alike. The subjects' evaluation took place from March 20, 2010 until June 4, 2010 and consisted of 14 items of strength and balance subtests provided by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test. In terms of computer software and specific tools for statistical analysis of the obtained data, the following instruments were used: BOT-2 ASSISTTM, Scoring and Reporting System (integrated software of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test), MINITAB 15.1 of MINITAB Inc. and MICROSOFT EXCEL 2003. Results. The tests revealed that with regard to balance, medium motor proficiency age (11 years and 5 months) was higher by 2 years and 2 months than the medium chronological age of the tested subjects (9 years and 3 months), the check of the statistical hypothesis performed by dependent t-test revealed a statistically significant difference of means (p=0,005 is smaller than 0,05). Regarding the strength subtest, the medium motor proficiency age (9 years and 10 months) is higher by 7 months than the chronological age (9 years and 3 months), and in this case the check of the statistical hypothesis performed through the same test, revealed a statistically insignificant difference of means (p=0,178 is higher than 0,05). Conclusions. The analysis of the results obtained on the tested subjects allows us to confirm the research hypothesis regarding the balance subtest and to accept the null hypothesis for the strength factor. We can conclude as well that the use of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test sed for the first time in Romania, within an experimental research, represents, besides an original approach, a major opportunity for obtaining valuable data regarding several psychomotor characteristics of primary school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In exercise, the immune system is influenced by the factors involved in natural immunity (molecules, cells and monocytemacrophages complex) and in adaptive immunity (molecules and cells). Immune reactivity in exercise is manifested by beneficial effects in the following situations: in young people as compared with old people, in HIV-infected patients, in patients with certain types of cancer, in chronic fatigue syndrome, in spaceflight, and by adverse effects of immunological dysfunction and immunosuppression in long-term exercise, in strenuous exercise, in exercise without food intake, in overtraining, in lack of sleep, in mental stress, in malnutrition. Hormesis theory argues that biological systems respond favorably to low stressors and unfavorable to high stressors. The effects of exercise are in accordance with the biological principle of hormesis. Hormesis plays an important role in the producing of major benefits derived from physical activity. Regular exercise with an intensity and duration from low to moderate, has a wide range of favorable biological responses and upregulates the immune system. Physical inactivity or strenuous exercise down-regulate the immune system and increase the risk of infection. The beneficial effects of regular exercise are partly based on the reactive oxygen species involved in induction of antioxidants, while excessive exercise and overtraining lead to oxidative stress production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The concept of psychic and psychomotor preparation cannot be limited only to the moral and volitional factors because they implicate in a certain way also the intellectual and attitudinal factors, all these factors representing manifestations of the human psychic. So, the psychic preparation, through its psychomotor component can be considered a component of the entire educational and training process of the student. Aims. The research aimed to monitor and determine a methodological system of actions, with specific methods of the volleyball game and its implementation in didactic sport activities with students and not only in order to develop psychomotor skills with instruments specific to volleyball, but also for dynamic balance development. Materials and methods. The research was conducted in two groups of subjects. The experimental group included 44 first year students at the Faculty of Medicine. The control group consisted of 51 first year students at the Faculty of Medicine. Research took place from 01 October 2009-31 January 2011. For the experimental groups, the development of the didactic activities was characterized by the introduction of the training and technical procedures specific to volleyball. In the control group, for the development of dynamic balance only other sports were used with the exclusion of volleyball. Results. As a consequence of the experimental intervention, the dynamic balance skills in the experimental group increased progressively in comparison with the performed pre-testing phase at the beginning of the 1st semester of the university year 2009/2010. Conclusions. According to this study we can conclude that the development of the dynamic balance in students can be achieved more efficiently, by playing volleyball. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. This study analyzes swimming as a master sport practiced by former swimmers as a continuity of their competition activity but also by new swimmers who discovered this sport as a leisure practice. Aims. To find the main reasons for the practice of master swimming and to find the place of masters swimming as a competition sport or as a leisure sport. Methods. A questionnaire was used applied to the active swimmers from the Master Swimming Club Timişoara. Results. Master swimming is a leisure sport for the members of the local club considering it benefits their health. From 35 persons questioned, 15 were former swimmers and 60% of them continue to compete occasionally in master sports. Conclusions. Even if the competition is the most important characteristic of master sports, it seems it is less important than the fact it improves health for the master swimmers in Timişoara. Their motto is: "Swimming for adults- sport and health". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Elderly people in institutions are subjected to the occurrence of psychogenic iatrogenic disorders often due to communication errors with the medical staff. These lead to mistrust and the appearance of new physical disorders that affect physical activities. Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical activity, the prevalence of depression and the anti-iatrogenic and antidepressive effect of physical activity of elderly people in state nursing homes. Methods. We included in the study 86 elderly people from a state nursing home in Alba-Iulia in May-June 2008. They were 39 women and 57 men, aged between 61 and 92 years. The elderly people had been in the nursing home between 7 and 10 years. They were divided in two groups: the first group: 40 men with an average age of 75.4±7.5 years; the second group: 36 women, average age 73.2±5.2 years. The following tests were performed: physical activity index (IAF), based on the Dumitriu questionnaire; depression index (ID) based on the Geriatric Depression Scale (SGD), adapted from Sheikh and Yesavage. Results. Body mass index revealed normal values for the majority of the patients in both groups. The Body Mass Index show increased values for the low fitness category males and reasonable fitness category females. The correlation between Body Mass Index and Physical Activity Index is inversely proportional. The correlation between depression scores and Physical Activity Index is inversely proportional. Conclusions. For the elderly people in state nursing homes, aged 70 or older we observed an acceptable physical activity. Physical activity for those aged over 70 years, with regard to the intensity and duration demonstrates anti-iatrogenic, antidepressive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Osteoporosis is a common disease with a great socio-economic impact and impairment of the quality of life. Aims. Monitoring the quality of life in patients with primary osteoporosis after undertaking an isokinetic training for the lower limbs. Methods. The study took place during April 2009-March 2010 in the Rehabilitation Clinic, Cluj-Napoca and consisted of a group of 30 patients with primary osteoporosis. The patients were evaluated in terms of quality of life during the first and the 12th day of treatment using the QUALEFFO-41 questionnaire. A standardized isokinetic training for the lower limbs was applied for all the patients on a daily basis. Results. Following the isokinetic training, significant results were obtained in all the 7 fields of the questionnaire (p<0.05). Conclusions. Limits of the methodology are the requirement of expensive equipment and the poor accessibility for those in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The authors present the relationship between specific means and parameters of effort in performance weightlifters' training. Ensuring an optimum relationship of technical, physical training means and effort parameters during training sessions have proved to lead to better performances achieved in competition. This approach entailed the organization of a study within the Weightlifting Olympic Team. Goals. The scientific argument is the presentation of the specific means used in performance weightlifters' training in the competitive period which, by providing an optimum relationship of technical and physical training and effort parameters during workouts, contribute to the increase of athletic performances in competition. Methods. The study was conducted throughout a mezzo-cycle of competitive training (2.03.09-12.04.09) formed of 6 micro-cycles, applied to a group of 6 senior athletes, 20 to 24 years old. We monitored athletes' evolution in the competitive period, during workouts and contest. Statistical processing was performed with Word and "KyPlot" programs. Results. The study emphasizes the relation of specific means and effort parameters in the pre-competitive mezzo-cycle of performance weightlifting. The review of training specific means shared in a competitive mezzo-cycle revealed a gradual decrease of reps number in each training micro-cycle. In terms of training means shareed within the competitive mezzo-cycle, an average of 43.4% at technical training and 56.6%, at physical training was evidenced. The review of performances achieved in competition by the subjects of the study in the European Championships for Se-niors - Bucharest highlighted the participation of 6 senior athletes, whose best performances were the 2nd place at snatch lift, 4th place at clean and jerk and 5th place total lifts, won by the athlete MN, 69 kg class. Conclusions. Effort intensity throughout a competitive training micro-cycle emphasizes the variability of parameters in terms of loads volume during workouts and the intensity of training means application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. It is necessary to maintain the physical condition through exercise, which develop mechanisms of adaptation to current and future stress, mechanisms that are favourable for the mental condition, as well as specific mechanisms for increasing the physical condition. Aims. Biochemical causes of oxidative stress were studied pre- and post training on urinary and salivary indicators in athletes. Methods. Research was conducted on one batch of players with a mean average age of 19.44 ± 0.38 years and weight 67.70 ± 4.64 kg, during the competition. Biochemical oxidative stress was studied on balance indicators of the oxidant/antioxidant in salivate and urine, pre- and post training. Results. In 21 pre-training (T1 initial) versus pre-training values from day 1 (T0 initial), significant decreases in MDA and a significant decreases in HD were found in urine; significant increases in MDA and a significant decreases in HD were found in saliva. On day 21 post-training (T1 final) versus post-training values from day 1 (T0 final), significant decreases in MDA and a significant decreases of HD were found in urine; significant increases of MDA and significant decreases in HD were found in saliva. A weak correlation between indicators of oxidants/antioxidants balance within the times T0 and T1 was generally evidenced. Conclusions. Pre-training day 21 shows a significant decrease in urinary MDA and a significant increase in saliva, while a significant decrease in urinary and salivary HD were compared to pre-training values from day 1. Physical training is a physical neuromuscular and oxidative urinary eustress factor and salivary oxidative biochemical distress factor. Changes in oxidative stress, studied non-invasively in the urine and saliva in athletes, recommends these fluids for exploring the biochemistry of stress in training and monitoring effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lumbar spine pathology is a public health issue for the general population owing to the huge number of affected persons and to its medical and social consequences. Still, there are few studies conducted on top athletes with this problem reported in the international literature. We also noticed a lack of set principles for the low back pain syndrome standard treatment in this special category of patients. Sport related traumas are difficult to be classified. Most of these lesions determine local inflammatory tissular response, but some of the intimate tissular damage has a degenerative response. The physician in charge with dea-ling with sports trauma, diagnostic and treatment, has to be familiar with the acute and chronic evolution of lumbosacral spine trauma and with the normal biological capacity of healing in sportsmen. We will separate macrotrauma and microtrauma as a modern approach to this type of pathology. Therefore a modern macrotrauma classification for athletes is presented taking into account the trauma appearance and the morphological lesions. We offer the most used terms in the literature and we consider of great importance the knowledge of these terms in order to establish a valid algorithm for an accurate diagnosis and a specific treatment protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. We added to the training of 12-14 year old football players some athletic methods with the intention of raising the level of general and special physical preparation of juniors and in turn leading to a better assimilation of the technique and structure of running, which are so necessary for football players and, especially for the development of the speed, expressed both in objective indexes specific to athletics (time, distance), and in the game of football. Aims. To establish the specific physical preparation of young football players as well as to measure the efficiency of using athletic methodology during football players' trainings. Methods. This study was initiated two years ago and its subjects are the 22 players of the FC Bihor C junior team. The research methods used were observation, tests and experiments. The tests comprised development in the speed of racing 30 and 50 cm distances and also in the speed distance of 4 x 10m which is specific to football. Results. With regard to the speed in the 30 and 50 m distances, a considerable improvement of the time (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) between the initial and the final testing was obtained. We observed the same progress with the speed that is specific to football (4 x 10 m). Conclusions. The team that used during their training some athletic methods adapted for use in football made considerable progress in all three distances. The correct assimilation of the running technique can contribute to the increasing of the quality of the training process, determining the improvement of physical preparation and providing the foundation for perfecting technical and tactic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The battery of control tests should cover, from the information point of view, the events' main factors (not only the motor ones) and it should be interpreted in a compensative way. To be relevant, the tests have to be correlated with the sports event. Aims. We aimed at verifying to what extent the control tests and norms that evaluate the discus, hammer, javelin and shot put throwers' strength, as stated by the Romanian Athletic Federation, correspond to the throwing events and if these events are relevant or useless for an efficient management of the training and competition levels. Methods. We extracted from the coaches' and the athletes' notebooks, as well as from the centralized data of the Romanian Athletic Federation, the top competition results and the control tests measuring the strength over a 3-year period (2004-2007), for the best Romanian male and female discus, hammer, javelin and shot put throwers, in different stages of the centralized training. We took into account the control tests made three weeks before the major competition. The results were graphically and analytically processed, by using statistical functions (the measurands' correlation, regression labeling). Results. Javelin throw: the snatch weightlifting test is significant for the predictive model; the up-and-down weightlifting test is not conclusive for the predictive model. Shot put: the up-and-down weightlifting test is conclusive. The closer the result to one's own record or even better, the greater the chance to get a good result in the competition to come; the prone pushing event shows that this control test is significantly correlated to the competition result and that it could be considered in the predictive calculation of the result in the following competition. Hammer throw: the correlation between the snatch weightlifting control test and the result in the proximal contest is significant at a 95% reliability threshold. A result demonstrating the significant increase in the snatch event provides a relatively great probability of getting a good result in the competition. Discus throw: the snatch weightlifting control test is adequate to the prediction, any significant increase providing better chances to get a good result in the proximal competition; the up-and-down event is not possible to be taken into consideration for a predictive model, but only for a model to diagnose the general physical training level. Conclusions. The significant tests are: snatch - for the javelin throw; ups-and-downs and prone pushing - for the shot put; snatch - for the discus throw; rowed pulls and snatch - for the hammer throw. The events with a very reduced power of prognosticating the competition results immediately after their application are: pushed at the neck - for the shot put; put on the chest, back kips, pushed ups-and-downs - for the hammer throw; ups-and-downs, prone pushing - for the discus throw. A series of events are correlated among them: snatch to put on the chest and back kips and backward shot put; ups-and-downs to shot put. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity represents an important component of a healthy lifestyle, which contributes to the enhancement of the quality of life and to one's personal well being. This paper represents a review of the scientific literature regarding physical activity and health, taking into account the advantages of physical activity, the risks of a sedentary lifestyle and the factors which impede an active lifestyle. In the second part some recommendations are presented regarding the modification of the school curriculum with the purpose of developing healthy attitudes towards physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern industrialized society, technology, pollution and daily stress are continuous challenges for the 21st century and for modern medicine in its search for finding new prophylactic methods to increase human resistance against these aggressive factors and prevent contemporary pathologies. Desk-related work, physical activity restraint and an unhealthy diet are causes for obesity and for the so-called "deconditioning syndrome" or "hypokinetic syndrome", with long-term dysfunctions on affected young-active adults. Scientific studies have proven the importance of sustained physical activity in the maintenance of physiological parameters at normal values. This paper presents the advantages, objectives and methods of kinetoprofilaxy during active balneary treatment with certain peculiarities linked to the age and the functional level for each individual. Kinetoprophylaxy seen as a physical and sport activity, supervised, sustained and correctly monitored is an important therapeutic agent for the deconditioning syndrome, promoting well-being and the prevention of life-related diseases as well as increasing active periods in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex sense of balance achieves a complex function, which combines the sensorial reception with the cortical organization and the effector programme. The reverse is that any deterioration of the body balance has negative effects on all co-ordination even determining psychical disorders, an inability to correctly plan the postural conditions, etc. In these conditions we consider that hydrokinesitherapy is the best solution of treatment in the less severe balance disorders and the postural control, originating from the idea that water instability makes the task of stabilizing the body on the mobile surface of the water more difficult, which in time provides the improvement of the labyrinthine function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CoQ10 known as ubiquinone is present in all body cells and is indispensable for life. Its structure is like E vitamin but the antioxidant effect is powerful. Aims. We followed the influence of Co Q10 supplementation on oxidant/antioxidant balance in athletes. Methods. Two groups of soccer players were in the research: Group I control group (n=10) athletes and group II (n=10) who were supplemented with 30 mg of CoQ10 daily. The oxidant/antioxidant balance was determined pre- and post- training from the urine and saliva. The indicators for the research were malondialdehide MDA and hydrogen donors HD. Results. The comparative analyses of the post effort O/AO balance demonstrated significant increases of hydrogen donors in the urine for group II compared to group I. Significative increases occurred for MDA and DH in saliva for group II. Conclusions. CoQ10 supplementation modifies the O/AO balance more in saliva increasing the antioxidant defence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. CoQ10 is a vitamin-like compound with a role in the mithochondrial transport chain and also is an antioxidant. Aims. We followed the influence of Co Q10 supplement on the aerobic and anaerobic exercise capacity in athletes. Methods. The research compared two groups of soccer players (n=10) 19 to 20 years old. Group I was the control group and athletes from group II were suplemented with 30 mg of CoQ10 daily. The indicators for the research were the aerobic capacity and anaerobic exercise capacities. Results. The maximum O2 intake increased in both groups; CoQ10 supplement has no significant effects over the maximal consumption of O2. The maximum aerobic power increased in both groups, and were significantly higher after supplementation. The maximum anaerobic power increased in both groups but the supplementation did not have significant effects. Conclusions. CoQ10 suplementation increases maximum aerobic power in young trained soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the game of basketball shooting goals is the technical component through which the purpose of the game, scoring points, is accomplished. Taking into account its importance, shooting is studied from the point of view of many scientific disciplines. Starting from the premise that the ball trajectory after shooting is identical to the movement of a projectile launched obliquely, the paper aims to develop a mathematical model of shooting, taking into account the launching angle, speed, flight, and the drop angle of the ball in the basket. In this approach an abstraction of the influence of air resistance on the ball was made. The mathematical model described can be used to study the dynamics parameters of shooting with the aim of deepening knowledge and improving the mechanism of the implementation of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]