OBJECTIVE: To examine concussion experiences and knowledge among top-level youth karate athletes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected data during the 12th World Karate Championships for cadets, juniors and under-21 athletes (held in Konya, Turkey, 2022). All 1414 registered athletes from 95 countries were invited to complete a 16-item paper-based questionnaire assessing demographic data, concussion history and concussion knowledge prior to the competing at the tournament. χ2 and Fisher's exact tests were used to analyse differences by sex, age group and continental karate federation. RESULTS: A total of 654 athletes (46.3% response rate), including 286 (43.7%) females and 368 (56.3%) males, participated in the study, with 29.9% reporting one or more concussions during participation in karate training or competition. Older age groups (under 21 years) reported significantly higher concussion rates than younger athletes (56.9% vs 31.1% juniors and 24.7% cadets; p<0.001). Concussion knowledge revealed considerable gaps, with only 24.5% of athletes correctly identifying a concussion and 68.9% believing loss of consciousness was required for a concussion diagnosis. Misconceptions varied significantly across geographical regions, with Asian and African athletes demonstrating the greatest need for targeted education. Female athletes demonstrated better concussion reporting attitudes than males (60.4% vs 48.9%, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the prevalence of concussions and significant knowledge gaps among top-level youth karate athletes, emphasising the need for tailored educational interventions to improve concussion recognition and management within the karate community.

• MeSH
• Martial Arts * injuries   MeSH
• Brain Concussion * epidemiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Cross-Sectional Studies MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Athletes * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletic Injuries * epidemiology   MeSH
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Low energy availability (LEA) causes pathophysiology of the female athlete's body affecting the bone and reproductive health and was observed to have a high prevalence in recreational female athletes previously. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between low energy availability in females questionnaire (LEAF-Q), bone mineral density (BMD), and postural stability in recreational athletes. METHODS: Recreational female athletes (n = 24, age: 23.71 ± 2.94, Tier I) completed LEAF-Q, postural stability measurement during quiet stance (Zebris platform FDM; GmbH) and their BMD was measured using DXA (Hologic QDR Horizon A). Non-parametric statistical tests were used to analyse the relationships between LEAF-Q, BMD, and postural stability and to compare differences between participants divided by the LEAF-Q score and its subscales. RESULTS: Risk of LEA was observed in 50% of recreational athletes participating in this study. Up to 46% of participants perceived menstrual bleeding changes related to training and 37.50% experienced menstrual dysfunction. Body composition and body weight fluctuations were observed to affect postural stability and BMD. With the risk score for LEA, the BMD and postural stability were not negatively affected in recreational athletes. However, the high number of recreational athletes in the risk score for LEA and menstrual dysfunctions highlights the need for public health programs aimed to increase awareness of LEA and its health consequences and for open communication about the menstrual cycle. Future longitudinal studies observing LEA, BMD, menstrual function, postural stability, and their interrelationship in female athletes are needed to increase the knowledge of this topic.

• MeSH
• Absorptiometry, Photon MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Bone Density * physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Postural Balance physiology   MeSH
• Surveys and Questionnaires MeSH
• Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport epidemiology   MeSH
• Body Composition physiology   MeSH
• Athletes * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletic Injuries physiopathology   epidemiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

The somatic parameters and body composition are important indicators of physical fitness and general health not only non-athletes, but of athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the somatic characteristics and body composition in 15 Czech sub-elite female handball players (age 21.5 ± 1.8 years, body height 170.5 ± 6.6 cm, body weight 64.7 ± 10.2 kg, BMI 22.2 ± 2.9 kg m−2). Body composition was measured by a multifrequency bioimpedance method Tanita MC-980 (Tanita Europe BV). The monitored parameters were the following: fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), muscle mass (MM), bone mass (BM), total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), extracellular water (ECW) and segmental analysis of muscle distribution. In our female group, we recorded the mean value of FM = 21.5 ± 5.4% (14.3 ± 5.7 kg), FFM = 50.4 ± 5.9 kg, muscle mass = 47.9 ± 5.6 kg, bone mass = 2.6 ± 0.3 kg, TBW = 56.2 ± 3.2% (36.2 ± 4.8 kg), ICW = 22.6 ± 3.5 kg, ECW = 13.6 ± 1.3 kg. Monitoring of muscle distribution in the extremities showed a significant difference in upper extremities (p < 0.05, ES < 0.2) and in lower extremities (p < 0.05, ES < 0.2). Our results confirm on previous data about the presence of anthropometric differences and body composition differences between individual players in handball team.

• Keywords
• házená,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Athletes * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Body Constitution * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

This article deals with the issue of Relative Age Effect (RAE), which enables the exploration of differences and links between the expected and observed distribution of birth date of athletes based on their date of birth. It is expected that into the elite choice are chosen athletes, who were born in the beginning of the year. Therefore, athletes born in last months of year are disadvantaged. In this article, RAE was tes-ted by the means of chi-squared test in Goodness-of-fit test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Afterwards, Cramer’s V was used for more accurate estimation of a potency of the association between expected and observed distribution. By the usage of methods previously mentioned it was found out that in selected sport clubs, the results of RAE are not statistically confirmed, however, different connections, which cannot be left unnoticed, were observed. In the conclusion, there is stated that even though it is not obvious on the fleeting glance, the junior category in more influenced by RAE than the senior category. This fact is as such affected also by the nature of shotgun shooting, it emphasizes overall physical condition and physique rather than separate physical and age details of a shooter.

• Keywords
• střelba,
• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Athletes * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Firearms MeSH
• Age Factors * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

Cílem výzkumu bylo charakterizovat tělesnou stavbu mužů (dobrovolných hasičů), kteří se věnují požárnímu sportu, změřit sílu svalstva a zjistit časový rozsah pohybových volnočasových aktivit, které celkovou fyzickou zdatnost podporují. Dílčím cílem bylo porovnání somatických charakteristik našeho souboru s výsledky mužů-cvičenců spartakiády v roce 1985. Zkoumaný soubor tvořilo 36 mužů ve věku 25-38 let. Standardní metodikou oboru byly měřeny rozměry, ze kterých byly vypočítány komponenty somatotypu, které a další tělesné rozměry. Dotazníkovým šetřením byla zjišťována obvyklá doba trvání cílené fyzické námahy. V souladu s výzkumy současné populace různého věku ukázalo posouzení somatotypu dobrovolných hasičů oproti somatotypu populace měřené v roce 1985 výrazně nižší hodnoty mezomorfie (horší svalově-kosterní rozvoj) u našeho souboru. Statistické vyhodnocení dat dotazníkového šetření a naměřených charakteristik ukázalo přímo úměrnou, statisticky významnou korelaci mezi dobou trvání cílené fyzické námahy a hodnotou mezomorfní komponenty somatotypu.

We assessed somatotype of volunteer firefighters. The assessment of the somatotype in 36 males aged of 25-38 years compared with the data from 1985 showed significantly lower values of mesomorphy (worse musculoskeletal status) in our file. The statistically significant correlation of the duration of physical activity and the mesomorphy value was confirmed.

• MeSH
• Anthropometry * MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Firefighters * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Thorax anatomy & histology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Hand Strength MeSH
• Somatotypes MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Statistics as Topic MeSH
• Body Constitution MeSH
• Body Weights and Measures statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Observational Study MeSH

Tato práce se zabývá analýzou věkové struktury házenkářských družstev, která se umístila na prvních třech místech na olympijských hrách, mistrovství světa a mistrovství Evropy v letech 1970 - 2016. Procento dohledaných dat narození hráčů bylo u OH 100 %, u MS 92,6 % a u ME 99,4 %. Celkem se jednalo o 1 866 sportovců. Z toho bylo 532 házenkářů účastnících se OH v letech 1972 - 2016, dále 792 házenkářů účastnících se MS v letech 1970 - 2015 a 542 házenkářů účastnících se ME v letech 1994 - 2016. Zjištěná data ukázala, že se průměrný věk jedinců na OH (27,72), MS (27,77) a ME (28,18) téměř shoduje. Průměrný věk vrcholné výkonnosti ze všech tří turnajů (OH, MS, ME) je 27,88 ± 4,01 let.

This work deals with the analysis of the age structure of handball teams, which ranked in the first three places at the Olympic Games, the World Championship and the European Championship in the years 1970 - 2016. The percentage of players' birth data was 100 % in the Olympic Games, 92.6 % in the World Championship and 99.4 % in the European Championship. Altogether there were 1,866 athletes. Of these, there were 532 handball players participating in the Olympic Games in 1972 - 2016, 792 handball players participating in the World Championship in 1970 - 2015 and 542 handball players participating in the European Championship in 1994 - 2016. The findings showed that the average age of individuals at the Olympic Games (27.72), the World Championship (27.77) and European Championship (28.18) almost coincided. The average age of all three tournaments were 27.88 ± 4.01 years.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Physical Fitness MeSH
• Team Sports * MeSH
• Age Factors * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Observational Study MeSH

Studie se zúčastnilo padesát probandů (26 dívek a 24 chlapců) ve věku 16,6 ± 1,4 let, s průměrnou hmotností 57,9 ± 9,2 kg a tělesnou výškou 171,5 ± 8,5 cm. Čtyřicet probandů se zúčastnilo desetidenního tréninkového kempu v nadmořské výšce 1040 metrů nad mořem. Cílem bylo ověřit vliv kempu na jejich funkční, biochemické parametry a úroveň jejich trénovanosti. Deset probandů tvořilo kontrolní skupinu, která absolvovala trénink v místě bydliště v nadmořské výšce 400 m n. m. U nich nedošlo k významné změně žádných sledovaných hodnot. U intervenční skupiny došlo po kempu k významnému snížení hodnot srdeční frekvence o 4,05 %. Trénink v 1000 m n. m. nevyžaduje dlouhou aklimatizaci. Po návratu došlo k významnému zvýšení hodnot VO2max o 4,02 %, tepového kyslíku o 3,62 % a relativního výkonu při VO2 max o 3,15 %. Hodnoty Wingate testu nevýznamně narostly o 1,31–3,27 %. Hodnoty úrovně aerobního prahu byly významně zlepšeny o 4,45 %, u anaerobního prahu byl významný progres o 3,98 %. Krevní parametry byly nevýznamně navýšeny o 1,10–1,25 %. Efekt kempu není plně srovnatelný s pobytem ve vyšší nadmořské výšce, přesto by mohl být jeho vhodnou alternativou pro vytrvalostní sportovce, zejména pro mladé. Pobyt ve vyšší nad mořské výšce plně nenahradí, ale výkonnostní efekt je prokazatelný.

The study examined fifty subjects (26 girls and 24 boys), at the age of 16.6±1.4, with the averageweight of 57.9±9.2 kg and the height of 171.5±8,5 cm. Forty probands participated in a ten-day training camp at the altitude of 1,040 ma.s.l. The objective of the present paper is to verify the effect of a training camp on selected functional, biochemical parameters and level of their performance. The control group comprised ten runners, who underwent training in the altitude of 400 m a.s.l.. No significant changes of values incurred in members of the control group. At a intervention group, heart rate values significantly decreased by 4.05 %. Long acclimatization is not necessary to be able to train at altitude 1000 m. After return VO2max values significantly increased by 4.02%, pulse oxygen by 3.62% and relative work rate at the moment VO2max by 3.15 %. The parameter of Wingate test was insignificantly increased by 1.31–3,27. The level of aerobic threshold significantly improved by 4.45%, anaerobic threshold significantly progressed by 3.98%. Blood parametres no significantly rose by 1.10–1.25%. Even though the values determined fail to accomplish the effect of a training at higher altitudes, the training described in the present paper might be a suitable alternative for endurance sportsmen, especially for young athletes. Training cannot fully substitute training at higher altitude, performance effect is self-evident.

• MeSH
• Running * physiology   MeSH
• Blood Chemical Analysis statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Altitude * MeSH
• Spirometry statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletic Performance physiology   statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Oxygen Consumption physiology   MeSH
• Heart Rate physiology   MeSH
• Physical Education and Training methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH

Badminton je zástupcem sportů střídavé intenzity s rychlou reakcí a důrazem na dlouhodobé soustředění pozornosti. Zvýšená prestiž tohoto sportu v poslední době, s sebou nese zvyšující se nároky na motorické schopnosti hráčů jako rychlost, obratnost, síla, koordinace a vytrvalost již v útlém věku. Cílem této studie je zjistit rozdíly mezi skupinami hráčů badmintonu různého věku a pohlaví u vybraných motorických testů. Výzkumu se zúčastnilo 30 mladých badmintonistů (15 dívek a 15 chlapců) z Olomouce a Opavy z věkových kategorií U13, U15 a U17. Výsledky ukázaly, že testovaná skupina má nadprůměrné výsledky koordinačních testů (hod tenisovým míčkem, skok přes švihadlo), průměrné či dostatečné na flexibilitu, průměrné v testování síly a dobré v testování rychlosti. Z výsledků vyplývá doporučení věnovat se v tréninku zvláště rychlosti a flexibilitě, kde nebyly výsledky špatné, ale vzhledem k nárokům, které klade tento sport, je třeba, aby byly na výborné úrovni. Závěrem jen upozornit, že stejně jako u jiných sportů i u badmintonu platí, že je třeba pracovat na všeobecné připravenosti sportovce.

Badminton is a representative of sports of alternating intensity with fast response and emphasis on longterm focus. The increased prestige of this sport has led to an increasing demand for players' motor skills, such as speed, dexterity, strength, coordination, and persistence in an early age. The aim of this study is to find out differences between groups of badminton players in different age and gender in selected motor tests. 30 young players participated in this research (15 girls and 15 boys) from Olomouc and Opava from the age groups U13, U15 and U17. The results have showed that the test group had above-average results of coordination tests, average or sufficient for flexibility, average strength testing and good speed testing. The results suggest that training should be focused particularly on speed and flexibility, where the results are not bad, but due to the demands made by this sport, they need to beat high level. In conclusion, it is necessary to work on general athlete‘s skills.

• Keywords
• motorické testy,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Motor Skills classification   MeSH
• Racquet Sports * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Athletic Performance * statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH

CrossFit je všestranně orientovaný tréninkový program zaměřený na rozvoj celkové kondiční připrave-nosti. K získání titulu „Fittest on Earth“ musí účastníci projít tříkolovým eliminačním systémem (CrossFit Open, Regions, Games). Cílem studie je analýza vývoje počtu účastníků v letech 2011–2017 mužů (n = 1 012 297) a žen (n = 702 011) v prvním eliminačním kole a posouzení vhodnosti počtu postupových míst v jednotlivých regionech. Výzkumná data získaná z veřejně dostupných zdrojů prokázala vzrůsta-jící lineární vývojový trend počtu účastníků (R2 = 0,98–0,99), počet mužů byl v celém období vyšší oproti počtu žen. V kategorii Individual Men (IM) byl v regionu Evropa v roce 2017 zaznamenán nejvyšší počet účastníků (n = 40 716; tj. 0,006 % z obyvatel regionu), nejmenší počet účastníků byl v roce 2017 zjištěn v regionu Západní Kanada (n = 3 678, tj. 0,028 % z obyvatel regionu). V kategorii Individual Women (IW) byl v regionu Evropa v roce 2017 zaznamenán nejvyšší počet účastnic (n = 21 742, tj. 0,003 % z obyvatel regionu), nejmenší počet účastnic byl zjištěn v regionu Západní Kanada (n = 3 596, tj. 0,027 % z obyva-tel regionu). Nedostatek dobré shody počtu postupových míst byl v kategorii IM zjištěn v letech 2016 a 2017, v kategorii IW byla zjištěna dobrá shoda v celém sledovaném období 2011–2017. Test poměru šancí prokázal, že v roce 2017 měli účastníci ze Západní Kanady 12,22krát větší šanci na postup než účastníci z Latinské Ameriky, zatímco účastnice ze stejných regionů měly 7,03krát větší šanci na po-stup. S ohledem na zjištěné výsledky lze pro kategorii IM doporučit úpravu počtu postupových míst a rozdělení regionu Evropa.

CrossFit is an all-round training program focused on the development of overall fitness. To win the title “Fittest on Earth”, the participants must pass a 3-round elimination system (CrossFit Open, Regions, Games). The objective of the study is to analyze the development of participants' numbers in 2011–2017, men (n = 1 012 297) and women (n = 702 011), in 1st elimination round and to assess the appropriateness of the number of qualifying places in particular regions. The research data from public sources show a growing linear evolutionary trend in the number of participants (R2 = 0.98–0.99); the number of men was higher than the number of women through the whole period. In the category Individual Men (IM), the highest number of participants (n = 40 716; i.e. 0.006 % of the region population) was registered in the region Europe in 2017; the lowest number of participants (n = 3 678, i.e. 0.028 % of the region popu-lation) was found in West Canada in 2017. In the category Individual Women (IW), the highest number of participants (n = 21 742, i.e. 0.003 % of the region population) was registered in Europe in 2017; the lowest number of participants (n = 3 596, i.e. 0.027 %) was found in West Canada in 2017. The lack of good correspondence in the numbers of qualifying places was found in the IM category in 2016 and 2017; in the IW category, a good correspondence was found in the whole observed period 2011–2017. The odds ratio test has shown that in 2017, males from West Canada had 12.22 times bigger chance for qualifying than males from Latin America while females from the same regions had 7.03 times bigger chance for qualifying. In view of the results, it is possible to recommend an adjustment of the number of qualifying places and the division of the region Europe.

• Keywords
• crossfit,
• MeSH
• Exercise MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Physical Functional Performance * MeSH
• Physical Fitness MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Evaluation Study MeSH

Background: Over the past thirty years, there has been dramatic increase in incidence of Achilles tendon rupture in the athletic population. The purpose of this study was to compare the lower extremity mechanics of Achilles tendon ruptured runners with healthy controls. Methods: The participants with a past history of an Achilles tendon repair (n = 11) and healthy control (n = 11) subgroups were matched on sex, age, type of regular physical activity, mass, height, footfall pattern and lateral dominancy. Running kinetics and kinematics of the ankle, knee and hip were recorded using a high-speed motion capture system interfaced with a force platform. Achilles tendon length was measured using ultrasonography. Main outcome measures were lower extremity joint angles and moments during stance phase of running and Achilles tendon lengths. Results: Athletes from Achilles tendon group had an affected gastro-soleus complex. Athletes with history of Achilles tendon rupture had reduced ankle range of motion during second half of the stance phase of running (Δ7.6°), an overextended knee during initial contact (Δ5.2°) and increased affected knee range of motion (Δ4.4°) during the first half of stance phase on their affected limb compared to the healthy control group. There was a 22% increase in the maximal hip joint moment on contralateral side of the Achilles tendon group compared to the healthy controls. Conclusion: These results suggest a compensation mechanism, relatively extended knee at initial ground contact against the deficit in the muscle-tendon complex of the triceps surae. Overextension during sporting activities may place the knee at risk for further injury. Avoidance of AT lengthening and plantarflexion strength deficit after surgery and during rehabilitation might help to manage AT rupture since these factors may be responsible for altered running kinematics.

• MeSH
• Achilles Tendon diagnostic imaging   injuries   physiopathology   MeSH
• Running physiology   MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena physiology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Ankle Joint physiology   MeSH
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Knee Joint physiology   MeSH
• Muscle, Skeletal physiopathology   MeSH
• Hip Joint physiology   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Tendon Injuries complications   epidemiology   rehabilitation   MeSH
• Range of Motion, Articular physiology   MeSH
• Rupture physiopathology   surgery   MeSH
• Athletes statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Ultrasonography MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH