The aim of the presented work is to describe the different trends in race walkers training and the biological adaptation of the body to the applied stresses, and to characterize the other phenomena accompanying this sport. The article is equally concerned with the scientific premises as well as the practical training indications. For a deeper characterization of the discussed problems, the biological considerations that underpin the selection of people to practice race walking are broadly described. It has been shown that diagnostic test that reveal the overall exercise potential of the body are useful tools in this area, and its specific development is related to the use of balanced training in which the most difficult part is to strive for optimal mastery of the sport walking technique. It was also suggested, that physiological, biomechanical and dietary determinants, which are assessed in scientific laboratories would be helpful for trainers and race walkers in achieving championship in race walking. The general nature of race walking was supplemented with a description of the social phenomena associated with this sport competition. The conclusions drawn in this article indicate the importance of mastering the technique of walking, the predisposition to practicing this sport, the importance of a coach in achieving high sports results, and the opportunity of health benefits mainly through the practice of recreational walking.
Soccer is one of the most widely played and complex sports in the world, where players need technical, tactical, and physical skills to succeed. Technical and tactical skills in soccer are highly dependent on the player's physical capacity. The selection, development and professional guidance of young players is a priority for many top soccer clubs in order to maintain their sporting and financial status. The aim of the present study was to determine hematological profile of youth national soccer teams and to compare the values of fifteen hematological parameters between 3 Serbian youth national teams (under 14, 15 and 16 years old), as well as between soccer players and nonathletes. 80 young soccer players and 30 non-athletes participated in the study. 15 hematologic parameters (WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, PLT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, PDW, LYM%, MON%, GRAN%, LYM, MON, GRAN) were measured. In order to determine the significance of differences between the groups on a multivariate level a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was administered, and to test the differences between the groups on an univariate level a univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. It was concluded that there is no significant difference in all the variables (WBC, Ly, Mo, Gr, PLT, HGB, HCT, etc), except RBC, probably due to age, androgen affection on erythropoesis, field positoning and diet. From a practical point of view, the clinician has to take into account not only age, but also training status of individuals when evaluating their blood tests.
This paper presents an empirical approach to the changes in motor skills of children who trained sports swimming at the initial stage of school education in an annual training cycle. The research included 94 boys aged 7 (1st grade of elementary school); 57 of them belonged to the Swimmers group and 37 belonged to the Control group. All boys attended elementary schools in Szczecin, Poland. Motor skills were assessed with 8 tests of the EUROFIT Test Battery. The study resulted in the following conclusions: I. Dynamics of changes in terms of overall balance, static strength, functional strength (between Examination I and II) was greater in the Swimmers group. II. In terms of upper limb movement, agility, explosive strength, torso strength, and agility run, differences between results of both examinations were similar in the Swimmers and Control groups. III. Progressive changes in motor skill of subjects were a positive phenomenon in the physical development of children. Thus, swimming trainings significantly impacted dynamics of positive changes in motor skills of boys at the early stage of school education. IV. Regular participation in sports classes (including swimming classes) had positive impact on motor skill development of children, which is of utmost importance at that age.
The aim of this research study is to summarize the notion of preference and selection, which are considered to be the key element of sports training, whatever the discipline. This review provides a theoretical study on the subject. The introduction section deals with the abovementioned terminology, whereas the main paragraph predominantly discusses the process of preference and selection in swimming. Pre-school period (6-7 years of age) is the most significant for swimming selection. Such selection should be led by adequately qualified trainers with long-standing experience in professional training of young swimmers. Young swimming candidates should be characterized by higher-level motor skills, which in turn affect the time/efficiency of acquiring new swimming techniques and sport level. In selection process, it is advised/important to utilize tests which predominantly determine the level of specific motor skills such as: speed, strength, agility, motor coordination, suppleness, and so-called 'water feeling'. The above mentioned motor skills play an important role in sport training and sport performance. During selection process, sports team trainers should pay special attention to child's body posture and its length parameters, specifically body's height, length of upper and lower extremities, length of hands and feet, width parameters of the shoulders and chest. First Grade school swimming classes enrollment is also a crucial factor in identifying sport talents. The selection process should be transparent, have clear health, somatic, as well as motoric requirements, which then affect the pace and effectiveness of acquiring swimming skills and sport level.
Body size and build influence performance in many sports, especially in those belonging to the group of female aesthetic sports (rhythmic gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, and figure skating). These sports pose high specific demands upon the functional, energy, motor and psychological capacities of athletes, but also upon the size, body build and composition of the performers, particularly of the top-level female athletes. The study of the top athletes (rhythmic gymnasts, in this case) may provide valuable information on the morphological requirements for achieving success in this sport. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to analyze the somatotype of 40 Serbian top-level rhythmic gymnasts, aged 13.04±2.79, and to form the five age group categories. The anthropometric variables included body height, body mass, the selected diameters, girths and skinfolds, and the Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype. All of the anthropometric data were collected according to International Biological Programme, and then processed in the Somatotype 1.2. The applied analysis of variance indicated an increase in endomorphic component with age. The obtained results show that the balanced ectomorph is a dominant somatotype, being similar for all of the athletes that took part in the research (3.54-3.24-4.5). These results are in line with the ones obtained in previous studies.
This paper presents an empirical approach to the changes in motor skills of children who train sports swimming at the initial stage of school education in an annual training cycle. Swimming belongs to the disciplines in which training starts at the age of 6-7. The proper selection of candidates to train certain disciplines is a complex process as they should be chosen from a large population of children, both girls and boys, having specific somatic and motor characteristics which, developed in the long-term, will enable them to achieve sports mastery. The aim of the research was to define which changes in motor skills occur in girls who train sports Aim: swimming in an annual training cycle. The Subject group consisted of 85 girls aged 7 who attended four elementary schools in Szczecin, Poland. 36 of them belonged to the Swimmers group and they were all members of the Municipal Swimming Club (MKP) in Szczecin. The Control group consisted of 49 girls who attended the same elementary schools. All subjects took part in two examinations (carried out in the school year 2009/2010. Physical ability tests were conducted in gyms. Motor skills were assessed with EUROFIT Test Battery which is the most reliable and accurate tool according to scientific research. The research revealed changes in both groups (Sw, C) in terms of all eight tests. Examination II proved statistically significant improvement of results in both groups (Sw, C) in comparison to Examination I. Changes between Examination I and Examination II results were most visible in the Swimmers groups in terms of balance, agility, static strength, functional strength and agility run. Changes between Examination I and Examination II were similar in both groups (Sw, C) in terms of speed of limb movement, explosive strength and torso strength. Progressive changes in motor skill of subjects are a positive phenomenon in the physical development of a child. Swimming training resulted significantly in positive changes in terms of motor skills of subject who were at the initial stage of swimming trainings, compared to their non-training peers. Participation in organized, regular sports classes results in the development of motor (physical) skills of children.
Karate tournaments consist of two equally important karate disciplines: the kumite and kata competitions. Due to being based both on the distinctive selection of movement techniques and their kinematic and kinetic patterns, we hypothesized that the elite kumite and kata competitors could differ regarding their anthropometric and physical performance profiles. Thirty-one senior male karate competitors of the national karate team (kumite n = 19; kata n = 12) participated in this study. The tests applied included both the assessment of anthropometric (body height, mass and body mass index) and the following physical performance measurements: the adductor and hamstring flexibility (sideward leg splits test), speed and acceleration (20-m sprint test with 10-m acceleration time), explosive power (countermovement and standing triple jump), agility ("T"- test) and aerobic endurance (20-m multistage shuttle run test). The kumite competitors revealed a larger body size through body height (p = 0.01) and mass (p = 0.03), while the differences in body composition were non-significant. The kumite competitors also demonstrated higher acceleration (p = 0.03) and explosive power (standing triple jump; p = 0.03). A 6-7° higher flexibility of the kata competitors remained somewhat below the level of significance (p = 0.09). The findings could be interpreted by the distinctive differences in the movement techniques. Specifically, a higher explosive power could be beneficial for kumite, while both a smaller stature and higher flexibility (particularly of the lower extremity) could be important for the exceptionally low postures of the kata competitors. Although further elucidation is apparently needed, the obtained finding could be of importance for both the early selection and training of karate competitors.
The prognostic relevance of disseminated nodal tumor cells has been demonstrated by several groups. However, their biological behaviour still remains unclear.The aim of the study. Analyse the phenotypic characteristics of disseminated tumor cells in lymph nodes.Material and methods. We established an immuno-enzymatic immuno-gold double-staining technique to simultaneously identify an epithelial antigen as well as the co-expression of plakoglobin, HLA class-I, ICAM-I and Ki-67 on isolated tumor cells. Epithelial cells were marked by the monoclonal antibody Ber-EP4. These results were compared with the corresponding primary tumors.Results. Loss of HLA class-I expression on Ber-EP4+ cells was observed in 33.3% of the patients. ICAM-I neo-expression was detected in 46%, whereas 54% of the cases were ICAM-1 negative. Plakoglobin was expressed in 16% while Ki-67 was detectable only in 5% of the patients. Comparison with the corresponding primary tumors revealed phenotypic alterations of the disseminated cells. In 20% of the cases HLA class-I down-regulation was found, while in 38% plakoglobin was not detectable. In contrast to the primary tumors with a proliferation index of 39%, the nodal Ber-EP4+ cells appeared to be Ki-67 negative in 95% of the patients.Conclusions. Our phenotypic analysis demonstrates that Ber-EP4+ cells in lymph nodes not only display characteristics typical of malignant cells but also phenotypic alterations, in comparison with primary tumors. This is indicative of a selective process which might result in adapted metastatic phenotypes.
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