Annales Kinesiologiae

Editorial

Matej Plevnik — 2024-03-28

Conference report – the 28th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science

Katarina Puš — 2024-03-28

12th International Scientific and Professional Conference “A Child in Motion.”

Kaja Teraž — 2024-03-28

A growing issue of overuse injuries in young athletes

Teodor Trojner — 2024-03-28

Over the past two decades, participation in professional sports among children and adolescents has surged despite the rising inactivity and obesity rates. Approximately 60 million young individuals in the USA are involved in organized sports. This increase has led to a concerning rise in overuse syndromes, which is becoming a primary concern in sports medicine.

Our review aims to examine common overuse syndromes in youth athletes and assess risk factors, pathophysiology, and preventive measures. Early sports specialization, societal pressures, and competitive demands lead to repetitive strain injuries. The young musculoskeletal system, though adaptable, is prone to injuries from intense training and insufficient recovery.

Prevention advocates against early sports specialization and promotes adequate rest. Diversifying sports, limiting training hours, and a robust support system are recommended to counteract the mental effects of intense specialization.

In summary, a holistic approach is needed to address overuse syndromes, emphasizing diversification, education, and a balanced approach to sports.

Enhancing balance in Parkinson's disease patients

Ana Ponebšek — 2024-03-28

Various physiotherapeutic methods and approaches play a significant role in the treatment of patients with Parkinson’s disease, including the use of enriched environments. Virtual reality (VR) as a type of enriched environment has the potential to create multiple sensory experiences and feedback, influencing various aspects of the patient’s information processing and response. The suitability for home use and the considerable impact on motivation highlight its advantages over alternative approaches. The objective of this review is to investigate the impact of VR-based exercise on balance outcomes among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The inclusion criteria consisted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effects of exercise in a VR environment on individuals’ static and dynamic balance outcomes. In order to gather relevant studies, we conducted a comprehensive search across three databases. From a dataset of 625 records, we conducted a comprehensive full-text screening based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. This process resulted in the inclusion of 14 RCTs in our review. The emerging evidence regarding exercising in a VR environment does not definitively prove its superiority over standard exercise routines. However, studies have demonstrated that both the experimental and control groups showed comparable improvements in enhancing static and dynamic balance among individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The comparable improvements in balance observed between the experimental and control groups signify the potential effectiveness of VR-based exercises. This underscores the encouragement for further development in this technology, particularly focusing on fully immersive VR environments, which may yield superior effects in enhancing balance among individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Foot posture index and hip joint rotation mobility in handball and soccer players

Tjaž Brezovar — 2024-03-28

Purpose: To assess the foot posture and hip joint mobility of elite handball and soccer players and to investigate possible correlations between these measurements.

Methods: We compared the differences in means of Foot Posture Index (FPI), passive hip internal (IR), and external (ER) rotation range of motion (ROM) between three groups of male subjects (17 handball players, 17 soccer players, and 16 non-athletes). The Kruskal-Walli’s test and post-hoc pairwise comparison with the Mann-Whitney U test were used to determine the differences between the group means, and associations between variables were analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient.

Results: No significant differences in the mean FPI were found between the soccer players (1.3 ± 2.9), handball players (0.7 ± 2.1), and the control group (1.7 ± 2.5) (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was found between the groups in the hip ER ROM. In contrast, a significantly lower (p < 0.05) hip IR ROM was observed in the soccer players (30.6° ± 5.3°) compared to the handball players (41.0° ± 8.1°) and the control group (41.1° ± 6.4°). A weak positive correlation was only observed between the FPI and hip IR ROM in the soccer players (ρ: 0.36, p = 0.035).

Conclusions: Handball and soccer players show a tendency toward less pronated feet compared to non-athletes, but the differences are not significant and the mean FPI values are still within the range of normal foot posture. The range of hip IR seems to be reduced in soccer players and weakly, but significantly and positively associated with the FPI value, which needs to be further investigated in future studies.

The influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly

Doroteja Rančić — 2024-03-28

Purpose: The aim of this review was to determine the influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly through a review of previous research.

Methods: The search was performed on the Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The first search identified 1112 articles. In the initial assessment carried out in accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 15 articles were found suitable and were included in the study, while 1097 studies were excluded. The search was limited to articles published in period of 2002–2022.

Results: After the applied exercise programs and evaluation at the final measurements, the mean values of systolic blood pressure, on the total sample, were 131 mmHg, while the values of diastolic blood pressure were 77 mmHg, which indicates that physical activity (regardless of whether swimming, walking, yoga, resistance training, high interval training, Tai Chi) have a positive effect on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly.

Conclusion: All studies, except one, showed a positive influence of physical activity on the arterial blood pressure of elderly people. In this regard, it can be concluded that physical activity, regardless of the type of activity, has a positive effect on the arterial blood pressure of the elderly, in the form of a reduction in blood pressure values.

Effects of graded exercise therapy and medical care on chronic fatigue syndrome

Tamara Zličić — 2024-03-28

Purpose: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a complex condition with debilitating symptoms that significantly impact individuals, particularly those in the working population. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with additional methods such as Graded Exercise Self-help (GES), Adaptive Pacing Therapy (APT), and Specialist Medical Care (SMC), in managing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) among the working population.

Methods: A systematic analysis of five randomized controlled trials conducted between 2013 and 2023, encompassing GET, CBT, APT, SMC, and GES was performed using PubMed.

Results: The selected studies consistently demonstrate that GET positively impacts physical functioning and reduces fatigue levels in working individuals with CFS. Additionally, CBT proves valuable, emphasizing the importance of addressing the mental aspects of CFS in occupational contexts.

Conclusion: This review underscores the need for further research, advocating for direct assessment methods like biomarkers to enhance our understanding of CFS and improve treatment outcomes. These insights are crucial for healthcare practitioners, researchers, and policymakers navigating the complexities of CFS within the workplace. Emphasizing the integration of psychological interventions with physical therapies is essential for a comprehensive approach to managing CFS among the working population.