2025-12-21
SADİ ÖN, İbrahim CAN, Serdar BAYRAKDAROĞLU, Mehmet Onur SEVER, Gürkan DİKER, Hüseyin ÖZKAMÇI, Raif ZİLELİ, Mehmet SÖYLER, Özlem Özge YILMAZ, Tolga POLAT, Beste TACAL ASLAN, Korkut ULUCAN
The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between ACTN3 rs1815739, IL-6 rs1800795, and PPARA rs4253778 gene polymorphisms and anaerobic test parameters among volleyball players. A total of 22 volleyball players voluntarily participated in the study. DNA isolation from buccal epithelial cell samples were performed using a PureLink DNA isolation kit, following the manufacturer's instructions. The genotyping of ACTN3 rs1815739, IL-6 rs1800795, and PPARA rs4253778 gene polymorphisms were determined using the real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Statistical analysis of the test results was performed using the SPSS 23 software package. Homogeneity of variance was assessed with the Levene test, and normal distribution was evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The One-Way ANOVA test was applied for the analysis of all parameters, and significance was set at p < 0.05. When the data were evaluated, no statistically significant differences were observed between PPARA rs4253778 and ACTN3 rs1815739 gene polymorphisms and anaerobic performance parameters (p>0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed between the IL-6 rs1800795 gene polymorphism and anaerobic performance parameters of back strength (p> 0.05). In conclusion, in volleyball, PPARA rs4253778 and ACTN3 rs1815739 gene polymorphisms did not cause differentiation in anaerobic performance parameters. However, IL-6 gene polymorphism caused differentiation only in the back strength parameter. Additionally, the good performance of athletes with different prevalent level of genotypes in the studied performance criteria does not fully reveal which performance outcomes are influenced by the gene or genotype distributions. It is understood that further studies are needed to better determine the gene-performance relationship.
2025-12-20
Dejan Kernc, Vojko Strojnik, Petra Prevc
A positive relationship between intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and activation of m. transversus abdominis (TrA) is well established, enabling the non-invasive prediction of IAP from an EMG TrA signal. Since lateral abdominal force (LAF) may also be related to IAP, a new sensor device for measuring LAF was developed to assess IAP. Sixteen subjects performed two progressive isometric shoulder flexions to their maximum to induce IAP. The LAF and surface EMG of the TrA muscle were measured. Lateral abdominal force was analyzed for reliability and validity regarding the EMG TrA signal. For each individual, correlation coefficients between the EMG TrA and lateral abdominal force sensor (LAFS) signals were significant and ranged from 0.886 to 0.994. In all cases, the EMG TrA signal made a significant contribution (p < 0.001) when predicting the LAFS signal, while the linear prediction of the LAFS signal yielded a small error of estimation. The interclass correlation confirmed consistency between two repetitions. Results provide that the LAFS might estimate IAP in a simple and non-invasive way. The new device also has the potential to detect the start of the increase in IAP before the action, a principle important for lumbar spine protection
2025-12-20
Beyza DÖNMEZ, Sefa Haktan HATIK, İlker Can BÜYÜKKIRLI, Emine Büşra AYDIN
Recent evidence suggests that spinal manipulation can acutely improve mobility and lower-limb performance. This study compared the acute effects of lumbar and sacroiliac chiropractic manipulation on flexibility nd jump performance. Forty-five healthy male participants were randomly assigned to three groups: a Lumbar Manipulation Group (LMG; n = 15), a Sacroiliac Manipulation Group (SMG; n = 15), and a Control Group (n = 15). Flexibility was assessed using the V-Sit and Reach test, while performance was evaluated with vertical and horizontal jump tests. Lumbar manipulation was applied to the dysfunctional lumbar segment in the LMG, and sacroiliac joint manipulation was applied to the dysfunctional sacroiliac region in the SMG. No intervention was performed in the control group. Both manipulation techniques resulted in significant acute improvements in mobility and jump performance compared with the control group (p < 0.05), with the greatest improvement observed in vertical jump height (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found between the LMG and SMG. Spinal manipulation to the lumbar and sacroiliac regions appears to produce acute improvements in mobility and lower-limb power. These findings suggest that spinal manipulation may serve as a short-term performance-enhancing intervention.
2025-07-20
Merve Nur Yasar, Murat Cilli, Dogus Bakici, Ayse Nur Ay Gul, Berkan Kalk, Fahri Safa Cinarli
Fatigue is a critical determinant of sports performance, often impairing athletic precision and efficiency. This study investigated the effects of upper extremity fatigue on shooting accuracy, kinematics, and muscle activity in adolescent basketball players. Twelve participants (age: 15 ± 1.1 yrs; sports experience: 6 ± 2.7 yrs) performed free throws under pre- and post-fatigue conditions. Fatigue was induced through a structured protocol utilizing a graphical user interface to monitor exertion levels. Shooting accuracy was qualitatively assessed based on predefined shot outcome categories. Kinematic variables, joint angles, joint angular velocities, and ball trajectory parameters were analyzed alongside muscle activation of key upper extremity muscles. Post-fatigue analysis revealed a significant decrease in elbow angular velocity (−5.08%, p = 0.041, effect size = 0.59), indicating impaired joint coordination. Additionally, palmaris longus muscle activation declined (−4.68%, p = 0.028, effect size = 0.63), suggesting reduced wrist stability and grip control. Furthermore, shooting accuracy deteriorated, with a significant increase in the frequency of 'Airball' (p < 0.05) and 'Short or uncontrolled shot did not score' (p < 0.05) outcomes. However, no significant differences were observed in the 'Balanced and controlled shot, but did not score ' and 'Successful shot' categories. These findings highlight the negative impact of fatigue on neuromuscular control and biomechanics, underscoring the importance of fatigue management strategies in basketball training to maintain shooting efficiency.
2025-07-20
Srboljub Žunić, Ana Orlić, Ana Vesković, Aleksandar Nedeljković, Saša Đurić
Achieving competitive success in sports often requires navigating high-stress, anxiety-inducing situations. While motor abilities are fundamental for athletic performance, psychological factors such as anxiety also significantly impact competitive outcomes. This study explores the mediating role of competitive state anxiety components (cognitive and somatic) in the relationship between motor abilities and success on the entrance exam for the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, a high-stakes, anxiety-provoking event. We hypothesized that motor abilities would be positively correlated with performance, with cognitive and somatic anxiety mediating this relationship. The sample consisted of 100 candidates (59 males) who underwent a five-week preparation program and completed a range of motor ability tests, as well as the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2. Results revealed a moderate negative correlation between competitive anxiety and performance, with cognitive anxiety partially mediating the relationship between motor abilities and success, while somatic anxiety showed no significant mediating effect. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychological mechanisms linking motor skills and performance in competitive environments. We suggest that psychological interventions focusing on reducing cognitive anxiety may improve performance in high-pressure situations, emphasizing the importance of mental preparation in sports. Further research is necessary to explore these effects in real-world competitive contexts and investigate additional factors, such as athletes' perception of anxiety as facilitative or debilitative.
2025-07-20
Radenko Arsenijević, Bogdan Trikoš, Filip Kojić, Lazar Toskić, Veroljub Stanković, Nikola Aksović, Bojan Bjelica, Saša Bubanj, Tatiana Dobrescu
Objectives: Study aimed to investigate interdependent effects of rest periods duration, breathing techniques, and training volume, on the set Rating of Perceived Exertion in elite-level karate athletes. Equipment and methods: Nine elite-level athletes (males = 6) participated in this study. We organized six training sessions, each consisting of 200 gyaku-zuki strikes divided into five sets with 40 repetitions per set, with varying rest and breathing techniques (kime, kiai, and without exhalation). The sessions included both short (30 seconds) and long (90 seconds) rest periods, and the training volume was analyzed separately for each of the five sets. Internal load measures were collected from participants during the between-set pauses. Results: The three-way within subject ANOVA have showed the that shorter rest (p = 0.013, η2 = 0.561) and a higher number of sets (p = 0.000, η2 = 0.861) lead to higher subjective responses compared to longer rest and fewer sets. Contrary, the subfactors of breathing techniques did not show significant effects (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides insights into the advantages of rest period duration and training volume on subjective load during kumite-karate training sessions for elite-level karate athletes, suggesting that incorporating these factors could be a beneficial approach in designing kumite-karate training.
2025-07-20
Anže Spreizer, Vojko Vučković, Tanja Kajtna
This study evaluated the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) interventions in changing psychological flexibility processes in young physically active adults aged 20 to 25 years (N = 30). It also examined the moderating role of personality traits, measured with the Big Five Questionnaire (BFQ). Participants self-selected into either an experimental group, which completed eight weekly ACT-based interventions, or a passive control group. All participants completed the BFQ and the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory (MPFI) at baseline. The MPFI was administered again after 10 weeks, while personality was assessed only at baseline. The study showed that at baseline, psychological flexibility processes differed between the groups, with the experimental group reporting lower flexibility. After 10 weeks, no significant differences remained. The ACT interventions were associated with a reduction in inflexibility processes in the experimental group, while the control group also showed a decrease in flexibility processes. Within the experimental group, the personality trait of dominance negatively predicted changes in most psychological flexibility processes. While previous research supports the effectiveness of ACT interventions for mental health, this study expands current understanding by focusing on a physically active young adult sample and assessing both flexibility and inflexibility processes. Personality traits, particularly dominance, may moderate ACT intervention outcomes.
2025-07-20
Jure Andolsek, Rok Čater
Elite athletes experience substantial psychological and physical stress that can undermine motivation and engagement in daily training and competition. Drawing on the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) model, this study examines how daily work stress affects sport engagement in elite athletes, focusing on the mediating role of attentional focus and the moderating role of REM sleep. Nineteen professional female handball players from Slovenia participated in a 60-day experience sampling study during the competitive season. Participants completed daily mobile surveys assessing stress, focus, and engagement, and wore validated Oura rings to track nightly REM sleep. In total, 1,020 daily observations were collected and analyzed using multilevel modeling. The results indicate that higher levels of perceived stress were associated with lower sport engagement the following day. This negative relationship was positively mediated by attentional focus: although stress tended to impair concentration, individuals who maintained higher attentional focus remained more engaged. Importantly, REM sleep moderated this relationship such that the negative impact of stress on engagement was slightly attenuated following nights with more REM sleep. The study extends JD-R theory by identifying REM sleep as a physiological buffer against stress. Practically, the results support interventions targeting stress management, attentional control, and sleep quantity to maintain athlete engagement. The study demonstrates the value of combining self-reports with objective sleep tracking to understand within-athlete fluctuations in well-being and performance.
2025-05-11
Ivan Perasović, Antonela Karmen Ivišić, Dario Vrdoljak, Nikola Foretić, Vladimir Pavlinović, Mia Perić, Zoran Nikolovski
Sports competitions are defined as highly stressful environments, especially for the athletes. Apart from psychological, stressors perceived are connected with physical exertion and physiological response. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the dynamics of Cortisol (C), alpha-amylase (AA) and testosterone (T) biomarkers during official OW competition. Furthermore, to evaluate the difference between OW disciplines and the competition stress impact on athletes' nervous and endocrine systems. Lastly, the study aimed to determine the differences according to gender. The sample of participants in this study was 44 weightlifters (17 females). Their mean chronological age was 26.91 ± 7.57 years, body mass of 83.70 ± 23.01 kg, body height of 174.55 ± 11.92 cm, and training experience of 6.62 ± 6.95 years. In this study, saliva samples were collected during an official weightlifting competition and the activity of C, AA and T concentrations were determined from saliva samples. The results showed that males have higher levels of T in pre-competition (males, 169.23 ± 52.37; females, 82.93 ± 23.46), post-snatch (males, 193.78 ± 56.77; females, 105.79 ± 36.18) and post-clean and jerk measurement (males, 177.63 ± 54.63; females, 107.00 ± 36.26). However, the percentage of changes shows that females have a higher increase of T through the competition (pre-competition to post-snatch, 27.56%; pre-competition to post-clean and jerk 29.02%) compared to males (pre-competition to post-snatch, 14.51%; pre-competition to post-clean and jerk 4.96%). Conclusively, Olympic weightlifting elicits both endocrine and nervous system activity through measured biomarkers. Furthermore, the snatch is observed as more stressful than clean and jerk, for both genders. Also, Females have a greater percentage of increase in T values with lower absolute levels. Hence, knowing the impact of OW on athletes' stress different stress coping techniques.
2025-03-31
Yzan Saavedra, Sveinn Þorgeirsson, Ólafur Sigurgeirsson, Jose M. Saavedra
The objectives of the present study were: (i) to compare handball game-related statistics by match result (winning and losing teams) based on category [Under 18 (U18) and Under 16 (U16) years old] and sex (males and females), and (ii) to determine whether there are differences in handball game-related statistics based on category (U18 and U16) and sex (males and females). One thousand eight hundred seventy-three matches were analysed, (1034 male, 839 female) from the categories (U18 and U16) played in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 Icelandic League for both sexes were analysed. The dependent variables in the study are match outcome (winning/losing teams), category (U18 and U16), and sex (male and female), while the independent variables are the game-related statistics: goals, saves, two-minute exclusions, yellow and red cards. Basic statistical descriptors (mean and standard deviation) were calculated for each game-related statistic by match outcome (winning and losing teams) and by category and sex. Since normality was not met for any of the analyzed variables, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was applied. The number of goals and saves differentiated winning and losing teams, both for the overall sample and based on category and sex; clear differences were observed based on category; males achieved a higher number of goals and saves than females, while also displaying greater extralegal aggression (2-minute exclusions, yellow cards, and red cards).