Field hockey is one of the most popular sport in the world, characterized by its asymmetric and unilateral nature because players are required to adopt a semi-crouched position, contributing inherently to an inbuilt asymmetry. This narrative review discusses the current understanding and existing knowledge of the asymmetries in field hockey players and suggests future recommendations to reduce the asymmetries. The relevant studies were identified by searching three databases (Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed) Results indicate that field hockey is an asymmetric sport dominated by one side of the body and distinguished by highly strict rules and regulations. The game increases morpho-functional asymmetries and produces side-to-side diversification, asymmetrical training patterns and movements in field hockey lead to muscular and postural adaptation asymmetries in players. In light of these findings, future research should focus on constructing a specific exercise training program to reduce asymmetries, optimise athletic performance, and minimize injuries in field hockey players.

Relationship of bioelectrical properties of human body and vertical jump performance is still unexplored, especially in non-athletic population. The aim of this study is to evaluate association of bioelectrical impedance results with mean force and power of the lower limbs in non-athletic young adults, and to evaluate differences between sexes in both bioelectrical impedance results and vertical jump performance. The cross-sectional study included 75 healthy non-athletic college students (40 women and 35 men aged 19-24 years). Whole-body bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed for phase angle and body composition. Force and power of lower limbs were assessed by vertical jump test. There is difference between sexes in both body composition and vertical jump performance. Along to higher content of muscles (47.5% vs 40.5%) and lower content of fat in the body (19.25% vs 28.19%), men also had higher mean force (3691.75 N vs 2351.44 N) and explosive power of the lower limbs (5627.19 W vs 2752.21 W) compared to women. Leg force and power are in correlation with body composition and with phase angle obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Difference between sexes in force and power of the legs persists even after adjustment for body composition.

This study aimed to explore the factors influencing outcomes in men's UEFA Championship matches. The sample comprised 201 UEFA Championship games, and the primary objective was to identify key components significantly associated with success in the UEFA Champions League through logistic regression analysis. The game outcome was treated as the dependent variable in a Binary Logistic Regression (Forward: LR Method). Logistic regression, a statistical technique assessing the relationship between variables, employed predictor variables as covariates, with calculations of β, standard error β, and Wald’s χ2. Model evaluation involved the likelihood ratio test, Cox & Snell (R2), and Nagelkerke (R2) tests, while the fit of the models to the data was assessed using the Hosmer & Lemeshow test. The analysis revealed six variables linked to winning matches. The study highlights a significant correlation between crucial variables and success in UEFA Champions League matches. Players and coaches can gain valuable insights into essential elements contributing to victory in this prestigious championship.

Background: The aim of our pilot study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of individual balance telerehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: In this pilot study 20 individuals with MS with balance impairment were included (10 in experimental, 10 in control group). The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of individual telerehabilitation (with direct synchronous contact between the physiotherapist and the patient). The control group received conventional outpatient physiotherapy. The standardized tests of balance and functional mobility were assessed at baseline and after intervention. Results: Comparing the two groups, the experimental group achieved statistically significant improvement in balance: the BBS test (p=0.002), TUG (p=0.048), functional test standing on one limb (p=0.01), and subjectively perceived balance with the ABC Scale questionnaire (p=0.041). The substantive significance (Cohen's d) when comparing the two groups reached a large effect size in the BBS (d=0.83) and standing on one limb (d=1.06) and in the MSWS-12 (d=0.78) and ABC Scale questionnaire (d=0.78). Conclusion: Telerehabilitation interventions represent an increasing trend and our data suggest that individually delivered online telerehabilitation can be effective in the treatment of balance and functional mobility disorders in MS.

Vertical drop jump consists two landings of which the first one is the most frequently analysed one. Aim of this paper was to compare kinetic patterns between first and second landings and dominant and non-dominant leg between landings by analysing force-time curves and their variability across landings. 44 top level female handball players (N = 25) and volleyball players (N = 19) of average age 24 ± 4 y, height 181.1 ± 7.8 cm and weight 72.4 ± 8.0 kg agreed to participate in this study. Each subject completed 4 successful drop jumps from an initial height of 30 cm on two parallel ground reaction force platforms. Force-time curve analysis revealed significant differences (p < .05) in certain parts of the cycle between the two landings for each leg. Moreover, significant differences (p < .05) were found between dominant and non-dominant leg solely in the second landing. Second landings were shown to be significantly more variable (p < .001) than the first ones. Results of the current study confirm previous findings of different neuromuscular pathways used in two landings thus indicating a possible increased risk of ACL injury which highlights the importance of second landing analysis in drop vertical jump.

Movement imagery may have a favourable influence on subsequent movement performance. As a result of creating a multi-modal movement image in the mind, there are activated specific brain centres that are identical for both movement planning and actual movement action. The objective of our experiment was to find out whether a single ideomotor intervention can influence the accurate execution of a known movement skill. The research sample consisted of adult female handball players who participate in the highest Czech handball competition. We tested the movement skill in a modified 7-metre shot/throw test developed by us. The research sample was randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. The testing involved a pretest and a posttest. It was repeated two times over the period of 2 months. The players assigned to the experimental group had significantly better performance in the posttest of both measurements in the modified test.

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the association between the five-factor personality model (FFM), physical fitness, and physical activity (PA), and the effect of firefighting skills training on physical condition in firefighter recruits. Methods: Data on 58 newly-recruited firefighters from the CELSPAC–FIREexpo human biomonitoring study were used. The sampling protocol was structured in the entry phase testing on the 5th week of training, and final testing on the 10th week of training. During the testing, participants filled out the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory, and underwent analysis of body composition using Dual energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA), a physical work capacity test (PWC 170), a muscular strength test (one repetition maximum bench press (1RM BP) and squat (1RM S)) and the measurement of body weight and height to calculate body mass index (BMI). Associations between study parameters were determined using the Spearman correlation. Results: Extraversion (E) was positively associated with time spent in vigorous physical activity (VPA) and Openness to Experience (O) was negatively associated with time spent sitting. Openness to Experience was also positively associated with BMI and lean mass differences between entry and output measurements. Furthermore, 1 RM S significantly increased during the training program. Conclusion: The observed association between personality from FFM and PA levels in the present study was lower than in the general population reported by other studies. The positive association between E and VPA suggests that using FFM and the relationship between personality and physical fitness as one of the criteria for the selection of suitable recruits may be beneficial.

The aural and visual environment in which people exercise is described as being significant to their affective responses to exercise and possibly their degree of adherence. Research investigating the use of music and video during moderate-intensity exercise is needed because they are inexpensive, simple to adopt, and can reflect activity adherence and reduce dropout rates. This study examined the acute effects on psychophysiological variables and the time for exhaustion on a cycle ergometer during a moderate-intensity workout of listening to music, watching nature videos, or doing both. Thirty physically active young male adults (19.46 ± 0.87 years, 62.94 ± 11.86 kg; 169.23 ± 7.21 cm; 21.9 ± 3.14 kg/m2) exercised moderately to exhaustion or until 20 minutes in four different conditions: three experimental conditions (music only, video only, and music and video) and one control condition (no music and visually sterile). The results showed that the mean and standard deviation of changes in time to exhaustion and RPE during the second and fourth minutes of exercise differed. Finally, the major purpose of this study was to investigate how people responded to different audiovisual stimuli while exercising on a bike ergometer. The stimuli consisted of music, video, and music-video. These findings are still being debated in the research and may be attributable to the type of exercise, intensity of the exercise, and preference for audiovisual support. As a result, understanding the customer's and/or athlete's choice for these aspects is critical for achieving better results during training sessions, particularly in the moderate-intensity domain.

The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of contextual perception in sports on performance in reaction agility to a specific and non-specific stimulus on a sample of handball players. The object of the research was eleven players of the junior handball team playing in the top league (age: 16.73 years; decimal age 16.46 years). Visual signaling and video projection. and a modified Y-test of reaction agility were used. In this study. two goals were set: a) to compare the performance level in the Y agility test with respect to a simple non-specific and a complex specific visual stimulus in the form of filmed scenes of the opponent's attacking actions. which simulated real situations in performance handball; b) find out the possible relationship between performance in the agility test and reaction time. decision-making competence. anxiety and overload and involvement in decision-making and performance with regard to the nature of the stimulus. A questionnaire (CETD) was implemented in the sample to assess the decision-making style of athletes in a specific area.

A bone mineral density (BMD) test can provide a snapshot of bone health. The test identifies osteoporosis, determines the risk of fracture (broken bones), and measures the response to osteoporosis treatment. The study attempted to determine the effects of three different rest periods (30, 60, 120 sec.) as a variable factor in strength training on selected indicators of total bone density. The experiment involved four groups of five participants: three experimental groups and one control group. The study’s participants were characterized as athletic in ability, with strength sufficient training experience of more than 3 years and technical knowledge; the participants were male, aged 18-35 years (n = 20). To evaluate the effect of rest pauses in strength training on bone density, the states before and after the experiment were compared in individuals, the experimental groups and the control group. For analysis we use the BMD index (g /cm2), T-score, and Z-score. In the group which applied the 30-second rest period, the mean BMD increase was 0.0046 g/cm2 with a standard deviation of 0.0079 g/cm2, in the 60-second group it was -0.0260 g/cm2 with a standard deviation of 0.0412 g/cm2, and in the 120-second group it was 0.0082 g/cm2 with a standard deviation of 0.0168 g/cm2. At a statistical significance level of 5%, no significant difference in bone density was found between the groups for different rest pauses, but the factual significance of the relationship of strength training as a possible prevention of osteoporosis and solving problems of the musculoskeletal system.