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The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between strength of ankle plantar and dorsal flexors and range of motion (RoM), and body sway variables during single-leg quiet stance, in highly trained athletes. The participants for this study were young athletes from 9 disciplines (n = 655). Center of pressure (CoP) velocity, amplitude, and frequency were measured during single-leg quiet stance. Moreover, athletes were measured for passive ankle plantar flexion (PF) and dorsal flexion (DF) RoM, and for rate of torque development (RTD) in the 0-50 (RTD50) and 0-200 ms time windows (RTD200). Ankle strength and RoM could not predict CoP velocity total, anterior-posterior (AP), and medial-lateral (ML) (p > 0.05). However, PF RTD50 and PF RoM and PF RoM positively influenced CoP amplitude in ML direction (p < 0.001, R 2  = 0.10). Moreover, CoP frequency in ML direction significantly increased with lower PF RTD50 , DF RTD50 , DF RTD200 , PF RoM , and DF RoM (p < 0.05). We have demonstrated that ankle strength and RoM were related to single-leg quiet stance postural balance in trained athletes. The ankle RoM showed the greatest influence on CoP variables in ML directions.

Functional movement is an important part of developing athletes' but also untrained individuals' performance. Its monitoring also proved useful in identifying functional limitations and asymmetries, and also in determining the intervention effects. The quasi-experimental pre-test post-test study investigated the effects of core stability training program on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score in untrained students after six weeks. The intervention (INT) and control (CG) groups included 73 and 65 male students, respectively. Functional movement patterns were evaluated using the FMS including seven components scores representing seven basic functional patterns. Both groups significantly improved almost all FMS components scores, but the INT increased the mean performance of the hurdle step (partial ŋ 2 × 100 = 4%, p = 0.02), in-line lunge (partial ŋ 2 × 100 = 3%, p = 0.05), rotatory stability (partial ŋ 2 × 100 = 4%, p = 0.02) and total FMS (partial ŋ 2 × 100 = 3%, p = 0.04) significantly more than the CG. This justifies that core strengthening can improve FMS in untrained individuals even with the short duration programs.

There is a strong need for a new, probably cheaper, smaller, and more portable isometric dynamometer. With this aim, we investigated the concurrent validity and reliability of a low-cost portable dynamometer to measure the isometric strength of the lower limb. Seventeen young participants (age 16.47 ± 0.51 years) were randomly assessed on three different days for knee flexion and extension isometric forces with two different devices: a commonly used isokinetic dynamometer (ISOC) and a portable isometric dynamometer prototype (ISOM). No significant differences were observed between the ISOC and the ISOM (all comparisons p > 0.05). Test-retest comparison showed the ISOM to have high reliability (ICC 0.879-0.990). This study showed that measurements with the ISOM could be performed without systematic bias and with high reliability. The ISOM is a device that is able to assess knee isometric strength with excellent concurrent validity and reliability.

Background: Soccer as a sport has a very high injury rate and low back pain (LBP) is considered to be the most common overuse injury typically occurring in the back and spine in elite soccer players., Objective: This study aimed to investigate differences in knee muscle strength and muscle imbalances in soccer players according to lower back pain., Methods: One hundred and thirty-six male professional soccer players (20.49 ± 3.73 years, 76.57 ± 8.24 kg, 182.63 ± 6.73 cm) volunteered for the study. The isokinetic dynamometer PrimaDOC (EASYTECH, Italy) was used to assess the hamstring and quadriceps strength at the selected speeds of 60∘/s, whereas the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) was used as a health status measure to assess physical disability caused by low back pain., Results: A univariate analysis of variance has shown that there is a statistically significant difference among the groups divided into Absolute peak torque right knee flexors, Absolute peak torque left knee flexors, Ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps strength right leg, and Ratio between hamstrings and quadriceps strength left leg based on the RDQ scores. On the other hand, no other significant differences among the groups were found in other parametersCONCLUSION: The current study indicates that knee muscle strength variables, resulting from an isokinetic testing, have the potential to discriminate between soccer players with and without a history of low back pain. However, low back pain is a multidimensional phenomenon and knee muscle strength or imbalance alone cannot be expected to explain low back pain.

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in physical performance after a 6-week skill-based conditioning training program in male competitive volleyball players. Sixteen male volleyball players (mean ± SD: age 22.3 ± 3.7 years, body height 190.7 ± 4.2 cm, and body mass 78.4 ± 4.5 kg) participated in this study. The players were tested for sprinting (5- and 10-m sprint), agility, and jumping performance (the vertical-jump test, the spike-jump test, and the standing broad jump [SBJ]). Compared with pretraining, there was a significant improvement in the 5- and 10-m speed. There were no significant differences between pretraining and posttraining for lower-body muscular power (vertical-jump height, spike-jump height, and SBJ) and agility. Based on our results, it could be concluded that a preseason skill-based conditioning program does not offer a sufficient stimulus for volleyball players. Therefore, a general conditioning and hypertrophy training along with specific volleyball conditioning is necessary in the preseason period for the development of the lower-body strength, agility and speed performance in volleyball players.

Background: The relationship between motor coordination and physical fitness in preschool children is of significant interest due to its implications for overall health and development. This study aims to investigate the correlation between gross motor coordination, as assessed by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK), and health-related physical fitness components. Methods: A cross-sectional study, involving 139 preschool-aged children, was conducted. Physical fitness was assessed using the PREFIT fitness test battery, which includes measures of flexibility, muscular strength, speed/agility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Motor coordination was evaluated using the KTK test, comprising four subtests. Results: Pearson correlation analysis revealed weak to strong positive and negative correlations between motor coordination and various physical fitness measures, including flexibility (r = 0.402; p = 0.01), muscular strength (r = 0.178; r = 0.487; r = 0.601; p < 0.05), speed/agility (r = −0.742; p = 0.01), and endurance (r = 0.539; p = 0.01). Additionally, hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated significant influence of motor coordination on physical fitness, explaining a notable percentage of the variance across different fitness components (3.2–55%). Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of motor coordination in shaping physical fitness levels in preschool children. Promoting motor coordination skills early in childhood may have long-term benefits for overall health and fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Musculoskeletal fitness (MF) is a multidimensional construct that combines muscle strength, endurance, and power to allow for the performance of tasks against one's own body weight or an external resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of school-based programs on promoting MF in children aged 6 to 10. PubMed and Web of Science databases were used as searching tools. A total of 16 studies were included in a systematic review with primary school-based program interventions measuring at least one variable related to musculoskeletal fitness. Parameters for measuring explosive power, especially standing broad jump (SBJ), have a large potential for development throughout school-based programs. Long-lasting interventions did not necessarily improve MF; however, there were shorter interventions that caused the improvement in a larger number of parameters. Our findings imply that increased physical activity during a school week, together with improved lesson content, is crucial for MF development in this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess intra- and inter-visit reliability of a novel EasyForce dynamometer for assessment of maximal strength in knee extension and flexion, and hip abduction and adduction tasks. Young healthy participants (n = 50; 25 males, 25 females; age: 23.4 ± 2.1 years) were measured for maximal joint torque with EasyForce dynamometer and rigid isometric dynamometers with external fixation, in two-sessions (5–10 days apart). The intra-visit reliability was high (ICC) = 0.84–0.95 knee; 0.90–0.94 hip), with absolute reliability sometimes exceeding the acceptable threshold (CV = 6.9–10.6% knee; 7.8–11.8% hip). Inter-visit reliability was excellent for all tasks (ICC = 0.95–0.97 knee; 0.95–0.96 hip). Although the EasyForce values were different compared to rigid dynamometers, the correlations between the devices were high (r = 0.64–0.75 knee; 0.70–0.75 hip). In conclusion, the EasyForce dynamometer provides reliable means of assessing knee (extension and flexion) and hip (abduction and adduction) muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the effects of 6 months daily physical activity on physical fitness in preschool children. A total of 72 children (36 boys) and 92 children (47 boys) composed the experimental (EG) and control group (CG), respectively. We used the PREFIT battery access physical fitness. In EG, participants had 45 minutes of organized physical activity 5 days per week. The CG continued their usual routine with 30 minutes of structured physical activity two times per week. The EG improved the mean performance of grip strength (η p 2 =0.08) and sit-ups in the 30s ( p 2 =0.16) to a significantly greater extent as compared to the CG. In boys, the improvements of mean performance of handgrip strength (η p 2 =0.13), 4x10m shuttle run η p 2 =0.09), standing long jump (η p 2 =0.05), sit-ups in 30s (η p 2 =0.17) were significantly greater in EG than in the CG. However, girls in EG only had significant improvements in the sit-ups in the 30 s test compared to CG (η p 2 =0.14). Overall, our study shows that after 6 months of daily exercise programme, preschool children improved muscular strength compared to those peers allocated in the control group. No significant differences between groups were found in the remaining fitness components analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine differences in physical activity level and functional fitness between young elderly (60-69 years) and old elderly (70-80 years) people with the hypothesis that an age-related decline would be found. Methods: A total of 1288 participants' level of physical activity was evaluated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 594 were male (mean ± standard deviation: body height 175.62 ± 9.78 cm; body weight 82.26 ± 31.33 kg) and 694 female (mean ± standard deviation: body height 165.17 ± 23.12 cm; body weight 69.74 ± 12.44 kg). Functional fitness was also estimated using the Senior Fitness Test: back scratch, chair sit and reach, 8-foot up and go, chair stand up for 30 seconds, arm curl, and 2-minute step test. Results: Significant differences (P <0.05) were found for all Senior Fitness tests between young elderly (60-69 years) and old elderly (70-80) men. Similar results were found for the women, except no significant differences were found for the chair sit and reach and the 2-minute step test. From the viewpoint of energy consumption estimated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, moderate physical activity is dominant. In addition, with aging, among men and women older than 60 years, the value of the Metabolic Equivalent of Task in total physical activity significantly reduces (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study found that the reduction in physical activity level and functional fitness was equal for both men and women and was due to the aging process. These differences between young and old elderly people were due to the reduction of muscle strength in both upper and lower limbs and changes in body-fat percentage, flexibility, agility, and endurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]