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Trumpalaikio volavimo poveikis skirtingo fizinio aktyvumo moterų nugaros raumenų kontraktilinėms savybėms
No full text Background. Foam rolling, a form of myofascial release, is widely used in sport, physical therapy, and ftness toaddress muscle tightness, improve performance, and enhance recovery. Tensiomyography (TMG) provides valuableinsights into muscle properties in active and sedentary women.Aim. To evaluate the acute effect of foam rolling on the contractile properties of the back muscles as measured byTMG and to compare the responses between active and sedentary women.Methods. Sixteen healthy women (22.00 ± 0.55 years), eight active and eight sedentary, participated in this study.Participants performed a single 15-minute foam rolling session targeting erector spinae and trapezius muscles. Musclecontractile properties: maximal radial displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc), were assessed using TMG beforeand immediately after intervention.Results. In sedentary women, Tc decreased in the left upper (p = 0.03) and lower trapezius (p = 0.01), while Dm improved in the lower left trapezius (p = 0.003) and right erector spinae (p = 0.03). In active women, Tc decreased in theright upper trapezius (p = 0.03) and the right erector spinae (p = 0.01), with improvements in Dm in the left upper (p =0.001), left lower (p = 0.03), and right lower trapezius (p = 0.04). Between groups, Tc reduction in the right erectorspinae was greater in active women (p = 0.08).Conclusions. Foam rolling improved contraction time and reduced stiffness of the back muscles in both groups; however, mechanical improvements were superior in active women.Keywords: back muscles; contractile properties; foam rolling; tensiomyography; TMG Tyrimo pagrindimas. Volavimas, kaip miofascialinio atpalaidavimo metodas, plačiai naudojamas tiek sporte, tiek reabilitacijoje, siekiant sumažinti raumenų įtampą, pagerinti sportinius rezultatus ir paskatinti greitesnį atsigavimą. Tensiomiografijos (TMG) metodas leidžia objektyviai įvertinti raumenų savybes, atskleidžiant reikšmingus skirtumus tarp skirtingo fizinio aktyvumo moterų.
Tikslas. Nustatyti trumpalaikio volavimo poveikį skirtingo fizinio aktyvumo moterų nugaros raumenų kontraktilinėms savybėms.
Metodai. Tyrime dalyvavo 16 moterų (22,00 ± 0,55 metai), aštuonios fiziškai aktyvios ir aštuonios nesportuojančios. Jos atliko 15 minučių nugaros raumenų (nugaros tiesiamųjų ir trapecinio) volavimą. Prieš ir po volavimo tensiomiografu buvo vertinama raumenų kontraktilinės savybės: didžiausia susitraukimo amplitudė (Dm) ir susitraukimo laikas (Tc).
Rezultatai. Nesportuojančių moterų Tc sumažėjo kairėje kylančiojoje (p = 0,03) ir nusileidžiančiojoje trapecinio raumens dalyse (p = 0,01), o Dm pagerėjo kairėje nusileidžiančiojoje trapecinio raumens dalyje (p = 0,003) ir dešiniajame nugaros tiesiamajame raumenyje (p = 0,03). Fiziškai aktyvių moterų Tc sumažėjo dešinėje kylančiojoje trapecinio raumens dalyje (p = 0,03) ir dešiniajame nugaros tiesiamajame raumenyje (p = 0,01), o Dm padidėjo kairėje kylančiojoje (p = 0,001), kairėje nusileidžiančiojoje (p = 0,03) ir dešinėje nusileidžiančiojoje trapecinio raumens dalyje (p = 0,04). Tc sumažėjimas dešiniajame nugaros tiesiamajame raumenyje buvo didesnis fiziškai aktyvioms moterims (p = 0,08).
Išvados. Volavimas pagerino nugaros raumenų susitraukimo laiką ir sumažino standumą abiejose grupėse, tačiau pagerėjimas buvo didesnis fiziškai aktyvioms moterims.
Reikšminiai žodžiai: nugaros raumenys; kontraktilinės savybės; volavimas; tensiomiografija; TM
Kineziterapijos vandenyje įtaka penkių mėnesių kūdikių motorinei raidai: tėvų žinios, lūkesčiai ir patirtys
No full textBackground. Early motor development is one of the most critical and intensive stages in a human’s life, significantly influenced by parents’ age, education, and knowledge.
Aim. To assess parents’ knowledge of infant developmental milestones, their expectations and experiences with aquatic physiotherapy, and the effect of aquatic physiotherapy on the rolling function of five-month-old infants.
Methods. An anonymous 18-question survey was used to assess the knowledge and expectations of parents (n = 65) regarding infant development, the benefits and perceived need for aquatic physiotherapy. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale was used to evaluate the motor skills of infants (n = 33).
Results. Parents with higher education, older age, or more children had more knowledge about infant motor development compared to younger, less-educated parents or those with fewer children. The older the parents, the more they emphasised the importance of motor development and the more likely they were to choose aquatic physiotherapy for their infants. Parents of older infants more often observed improved muscle tone and trunk control, while those with higher education more frequently noticed better social development in their child. The rolling-to-prone function of five-month-old infants who participated in aquatic physiotherapy was rated better compared to those who did not attend such sessions.
Conclusions. Older parental age, higher education level, and a larger number of children in the family are statistically significantly associated with better parental knowledge about infant motor development. Compared to younger parents, older parents more often emphasise the importance of motor development and are more likely to choose aquatic physiotherapy to support it. Parents with higher education more frequently observe positive changes in their infant’s social development. Parents of older infants are more likely to report improvements in muscle tone and trunk control following aquatic physiotherapy sessions. Aquatic physiotherapy is associated with improved rolling function in infants.
Keywords: infants; motor development; aquatic physiotherapy; parental knowledge Tyrimo pagrindimas. Ankstyvoji motorinė raida yra vienas svarbiausių ir intensyviausių žmogaus gyvenimo etapų,kuriam didelę įtaką daro tėvų amžius, išsilavinimas ir žinios.Tikslas. Įvertinti tėvų žinias apie kūdikių raidos etapus, kineziterapijos vandenyje lūkesčius ir patirtis bei kineziterapijos vandenyje poveikį penkių mėnesių amžiaus kūdikių vertimosi funkcijai.Metodai. Naudota anketinė anoniminė 18-kos klausimų apklausa, siekiant išsiaiškinti tėvų (n = 65) žinias ir lūkesčiusapie kūdikių raidą, kineziterapijos vandenyje naudą ir poreikį. Kūdikių (n = 33) motoriniams įgūdžiams įvertinti naudota Albertos kūdikių motorinės raidos skalė.Rezultatai. Kuo aukštesnio išsilavinimo, vyresni ar daugiau vaikų turintys tėvai, tuo jų žinios apie kūdikių motorinęraidą didesnės, lyginant su jaunesniais, žemesnį išsilavinimą ar mažiau vaikų turinčiais tėvais. Kuo vyresni tėvai, tuojiems svarbesnis motorinės raidos lavinimas, lankant kūdikių kineziterapijos vandenyje procedūras. Kuo vyresniskūdikis, tuo labiau tėvai pastebi pagerėjusį raumenų tonusą, liemens kontrolę. Kuo aukštesnis tėvų išsilavinimas, tuolabiau pastebima geresnė kūdikio socializacija. Penkių mėnesių kūdikių, lankiusių kineziterapijos vandenyje procedū-ras, vertimosi ant pilvo funkcija buvo vertinama geriau, lyginant su šių procedūrų nelankiusiais.Išvados. Vyresnis tėvų amžius, aukštesnis išsilavinimas ir didesnis vaikų skaičius šeimoje yra statistiškai reikšmingaisusijęs su geresnėmis tėvų žiniomis apie kūdikių motorinę raidą. Vyresni tėvai dažniau atkreipia dėmesį į motorinėsraidos svarbą ir renkasi kineziterapiją vandenyje, siekdami skatinti motorinį vystymąsi, lyginant su jaunesniais tėvais.Tėvai, turintys aukštesnį išsilavinimą, dažniau pastebi pozityvius socialinės kūdikio raidos pokyčius. Vyresnio am-žiaus kūdikių tėvai dažniau nurodo pagerėjusį kūdikių raumenų tonusą bei geresnę liemens kontrolę po kineziterapijosvandenyje procedūrų. Kineziterapija vandenyje siejama su geresne kūdikių vertimosi funkcija.Reikšminiai žodžiai: kūdikiai; motorinė raida; kineziterapija vandenyje; tėvų žinios 
The Kinetics of Cell-Free DNA in Response to External and Internal Factors
Get PDFBackground and objectives: To assess the inflammatory response or muscle damage after exercise, researchers commonly use numerous physiological markers such as creatine kinase (CK), interleukins, and a reduction in muscle function (Souglis et al., 2015; Kamandulis et al., 2021). However, the sensitivity of most of these markers is inadequate for detecting various physiological events such as fatigue, overtraining, muscle damage, adaptation, acute or delayed inflammation. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) stands as a potential biomarker for assessing exercise load and ensuring training regimes are appropriately tailored to an athlete’s capacity. By monitoring cfDNA, practitioners can identify individuals at risk of overtraining and implement interventions to prevent chronic fatigue and address recovery needs. cfDNA in sports science is in its infancy, yet its short half-life and high sensitivity make it an attractive biomarker (Fatouros et al., 2006; Tug et al., 2017). The general aim of the dissertation was to determine the impact of different internal and external instances, such as 3-week sprint interval training (SIT), increased rectal temperature, and muscle-damaging exercise, on cfDNA kinetics.
Methods: Three studies were conducted. Study 1 included nine sessions (three sessions per week over three weeks) of 4–6 cycling bouts (Wingate tests) lasting for 30 s, with 4 min recovery intervals between bouts. In Study 2, each participant completed exertional heating (cycling at 60% V̇O2max until rectal temperature (Tre) reached 39°C) and exogenous heating (lower-body immersion in hot water until Tre reached 39°C) in a randomised cross-over design. There were three groups in Study 3, where each group performed a different number of drop jumps (DJ) (50, 25, 10) at intervals of one every 20 s. All measurements were performed as follows:
Study 1 (subjects: young healthy men (n = 10), elderly healthy men (n = 9): Blood samples for cfDNA and lactate were taken, and neuromuscular testing was done after the first and last session. Measurements were done before, post-exercise, post 1 h, and post 24 h.
Study 2 (subjects: young healthy men (n = 12): Every increase in Tre of 0.5°C up to 39°C and down to 37.5°C, parameters were documented, including subjective sensation, cardiovascular status, Tre, and blood samples were collected.
Study 3 (subjects: young healthy men (DJ-50 group = 14, DJ-25 group = 7, DJ-10 group = 4): Measurements (blood samples, neuromuscular testing, assessment of muscle pain) were done starting from 15 min pre-exercise until several time points to 96 h post-exercise.
Results: In Study 1, only young participants exhibited a significant increase in V̇O2max after three weeks of SIT (p = 0.0039). The plasma cfDNA concentration increased significantly (p < 0.001) during exercise in each group. There was a significant decrease between the pre-exercise cfDNA values of the 1st compared with the 9th SIT session in the old group (p = 0.043).
In Study 2, the time until a certain Tre was similar between the modalities (no significant interaction effect was detected (F(6, 120.93) = 1.194, p = 0.314). The increase in cfDNA concentration was greater in response to exertional heating than to exogenous heating (Tre × heating modality, F(6, 135.95) = 7.51, p < 0.001). In both heating modalities, cfDNA level increased steadily until Tre reached 39°C (Tre effect, p < 0.01). Norepinephrine response differed between heating methods (heating modality effect, p < 0.001) and was larger during exertional heating.
In Study 3, plasma CK activity increased after DJ exercise (time effect: p < 0.001) in the DJ-50 and DJ-25 groups. cfDNA values increased acutely after 50 DJs (p < 0.01) and normalised 90 min post-exercise (p > 0.05). A significant increase in the cfDNA concentration was also noticed after 6 h (p < 0.01), 12 h (p < 0.01), 48 h (p < 0.05), and 72 h (p < 0.01) in the DJ-50 group. There was a significant increase in cfDNA values immediately post-exercise in the DJ-25 group (p = 0.012).
Conclusions: The present findings advance the understanding of cfDNA as a biomarker in sports medicine, particularly concerning its responsiveness to different exercise modalities and its potential applications in monitoring physiological stress and adaptation. In Study 1, along with a diminished amount of cfDNA in the elderly, the results report that three weeks of SIT is too short for inducing adaptation in this group. There are, however, signs of an anti-inflammatory response that occurs in the elderly, but future studies are needed to determine these insights. Results from Study 2 suggest that incremental Tre elevation via exogenous heating gradually increases plasma cfDNA concentration in young healthy men. However, cfDNA release appears to be greater following exertional heating than exogenous heating, even at similar Tre and subjective sensation. Study 3 shows that exercise without an accumulation of metabolites can lead to distinct time-course changes in cfDNA levels. Additionally, cfDNA levels respond to muscle-damaging exercise without an accumulation of metabolites in a dose-dependent manner. Considering that blood markers such as CK appear elevated in the blood only after several hours or days after a single bout of muscle-damaging exercise, cfDNA may provide advantages over CK as a marker of inflammation responding to acute and secondary inflammatory processes in healthy subjects
A Comparative Analysis of Lower Limb Muscle Activation and Co-Contraction Patterns During Gait in Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
No full textBackground. Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition that disrupts functional activities like walking and stair climbing due to anterior knee pain. While muscle weakness has traditionally been emphasised, growing evidence suggests that impaired neuromuscular coordination may also play a critical role in PFPS-related gait dysfunction.
Aim. This study aimed to compare lower-limb muscle activation patterns and co-contraction behaviour during gait between individuals with PFPS and healthy controls, focusing on both timing and intensity of activation across key knee and ankle muscle groups.
Methods. Fifteen PFPS patients and fifteen age- and activity-matched healthy controls walked at a self-selected pace while surface electromyography (EMG) data were recorded from eight lower-extremity muscles. EMG signals were processed to extract normalised peak activation timing, magnitude, and co-contraction indices (CCI) for knee and ankle joints. Between-group comparisons were conducted using independent t-tests and Pearson correlation analyses.
Results. The PFPS group exhibited significantly earlier (VL: 13% vs. 100%; RF: 4% vs. 98% of stance, both p < 0.05) and greater peak activation (VL: 0.202 vs. 0.112; RF: 0.109 vs. 0.062, both p < 0.05) in the quadriceps. They also showed delayed hamstring (ST: 100% vs. 3% of stance, p < 0.05) activation and increased medial gastrocnemius amplitude (GM: 0.282 vs. 0.161, p < 0.05). Despite these timing shifts, average CCI values did not differ significantly between groups. However, flexor–extensor activation synchrony was notably higher in PFPS (r ≈ 0.82) compared with controls (r ≈ 0.39).
Conclusions. Individuals with PFPS demonstrate altered neuromuscular control during gait, including phase-shifted activation of knee muscles and modified ankle muscle recruitment. These changes may elevate joint stress and contribute to persistent pain. Rehabilitation programmes should emphasise not only muscle strengthening but also retraining of activation timing and coordination to promote more efficient and pain-free gait patterns.
Keywords: patellofemoral pain syndrome; gait; electromyography; muscle activation; co-contractio
Factors Affecting Body Composition: Study on Athletes After ACL Injury
No full textBackground. Following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, many athletes experience decreased physical activity and altered body composition.
Aim. This study aims to determine the factors that affect body composition after athletes experience ACL injuries.
Methods. This cross-sectional study examined factors influencing body composition in 18 athletes from State University of Jakarta (UNJ) recovering from ACL injuries. The gender percentage was 61.11% males and 38.89% females, and the age range was 20–27 years. Data on current age, sex, age of injury, and surgical treatment were collected via questionnaire. Height was measured with a stadiometer, and weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition parameters (body fat percentage, muscle mass, water content, protein, and bone density) were assessed using biological impedance analysis (BIA). Bivariate analyses (Pearson Product-Moment Correlation) identified significant associations between body composition and demographic or clinical variables.
Results. Results showed that sex significantly influenced body fat (p = 0.008), muscle mass (p = 0.000), body water (p = 0.018), and bone density (p = 0.000). Age correlated with body fat (p = 0.037), protein (p = 0.002), and bone density (p = 0.010). BMI was linked to fat percentage (p = 0.025) and water content (p = 0.012). Body weight strongly associated with muscle mass (p = 0.000) and borderline with bone density (p = 0.050). Age of injury, intervention type, and height showed no consistent effects.
Conclusions. The study concluded that body composition after ACL injury was influenced mainly by current age, sex, body weight, and BMI, while age of injury, intervention type, and height had minimal impact.
Keywords: factors; body composition; athletes; ACL injur
Glasgow Coma Scale as a Correlate of Fall Risk Measured by the Morse Fall Scale in the Emergency Department
No full textBackground. Patient falls in the emergency department (ED) represent a serious adverse event. Although the Morse Fall Scale is commonly used for fall risk assessment, its integration with objective neurological measures, such as the Glasgow Coma Scale, in ED settings remains limited.
Aim. To investigate the correlation between Glasgow Coma Scale scores and Morse Fall Scale scores in adult ED patients.
Methods. A cross-sectional analytical observational study was conducted using medical records of 72 adult patients in the ED. Glasgow Coma Scale scores and Morse Fall Scale scores were extracted from initial nursing assessments. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to evaluate associations, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results. A strong negative correlation was observed between Glasgow Coma Scale scores and Morse Fall Scale scores (r = –0.714, p < 0.001), indicating that lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores were associated with higher Morse Fall Scale scores. The median Glasgow Coma Scale score was 14 (range: 3–15), and the median Morse Fall Scale score was 40 (range: 0–85).
Conclusions. Glasgow Coma Scale scores are significantly correlated with fall risk as assessed by the Morse Fall Scale in ED patients. Incorporating the Glasgow Coma Scale into existing fall risk assessment protocols may enhance the identification of patients at higher risk of falls and provide additional clinical guidance for preventive interventions.
Keywords: emergency nursing; fall prediction; Glasgow Coma Scale; Morse Fall Scale; patient safet
AI Chatbots in Sport Psychology: A Paradigm Shift or a Complementary Tool?
Get PDFThe integration of AI chatbots represents a potential paradigm shift in the field of sport and exercise psychology. This perspective article addressed the potential roles, benefits, challenges, and limitations of AI chatbots in applied sport psychology. To illustrate potential integration, a hypothetical case representing chatbot-assisted pre-competition anxiety management was presented. The study highlights AI chatbots’ potential to enhance accessibility, cost-effectiveness, personalized support, and long-term monitoring. However, their implementation requires a critical examination of ethical, professional, technical, and user-related factors. Based on the current knowledge, they should be regarded as complementary rather than a replacement for human experts. In conclusion, AI chatbots show potential as supportive tools in applied sport psychology. Further research is necessary to assess their short- and long-term impacts and to establish evidence-based guidelines for their integration.
Keywords: technology integration, mental health, human-AI interaction, large language models, conversational agent
Dose-response of Muscle Damaging Exercise on Cell-free DNA
Get PDFBackground: It has been observed that severe muscle damage induced by drop jumps has a significant effect on cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration. We hypothesized that a reduced volume of drop jumps would indicate a dose-dependent release of cfDNA.
Methods: Seven participants (aged 21 ± 1.5 years) performed 25, and 4 participants (aged 22 ± 1.8 years) performed 10, intermittent drop jumps (DJs) at 20 s intervals (DJ-25 and DJ-10 groups). We measured cfDNA, creatine kinase (CK), lactate concentrations and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) before and at several time points up to 96 h after exercise.
Results: There was a significant increase in plasma cfDNA levels immediately post-exercise in the DJ-25 group (p = 0.012). CK levels increased at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post-exercise (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 003, accordingly) in the DJ-25 group. In the DJ-25 group only, DOMS values were increased at 12, 24 and 48 h post-exercise (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: cfDNA is responsive to muscle-damaging exercise in a dose-dependent manner, as only 25 DJs resulted in an immediate increase in cfDNA concentrations after exercise, while 10 DJs were insufficient to elicit any change.
Keywords: biomarker; eccentric exercise; muscle damag
The Role of Sport Psychology Services for Elite Sports Athletes The Case of Azerbaijan
Get PDFThis research paper explores the role of sport psychology services for athletes in Azerbaijan, and examines the factors shaping the current state of psychological support within the country’s sports industry. The study investigates the limited adoption of these services, highlighting key challenges such as the scarcity of skilled sports psychologists, a lack of awareness regarding the benefits of psychological support, and the social stigma associated with athletes seeking such assistance. These factors collectively hinder the development and effectiveness of sports psychology services in Azerbaijan. By addressing these issues, the research offers valuable insights for sports federations and organizations, aiming to promote the successful implementation of psychological support systems and enhance athletes’ performance and well-being. The findings highlight the importance of expanding access to qualified professionals, fostering awareness about the value of psychological support, and challenging societal norms that discourage athletes from seeking help. The paper concludes by advocating a comprehensive framework to integrate sports psychology services into Azerbaijan’s sports industry, thereby contributing to the overall development and success of its athletes.
Keywords: sport psychology, psychological support services, elite athletes, social stigma, Azerbaija
Pulmonary Oxygen Uptake Kinetics Assessment in Basketball-Trained Boys During Early Adolescence
Get PDFBackground: Dynamic change of the pulmonary oxygen uptake is one of the core parameters determining the bodies’ adaptability to the varying physical load. It is equally important in both everyday life and sports. Regardless of the importance, this physiological mechanism is understudied, especially in younger population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine oxygen uptake kinetics at the onset and offset of exercise in terms of basketball training and maturity level in adolescent boys.
Methods: Our subjects were 28 basketball-trained (BT) and 22 actively untrained (UT) boys (average age: 11.83 ± 0.43 years). Subjects performed 6-minute-long constant speed walking tests on a treadmill and a static recovery afterwards with a 1-year interval between the sessions to determine oxygen uptake, heart rate, and muscle oxygenation time constants and other parameters. Maturity level was determined by the maturity offset.
Results: Basketball-trained group showed faster oxygen uptake kinetics (1st session: 13.10 ± 2.68 s and 15.02 ± 2.96 s in basketballers and control-group boys, respectively; 2nd session: 12.02 ± 2.86 s and 14.07 ± 4.18 s) during both testing sessions, while heart rate kinetics were faster in basketballers only during the 1st session (28.15 ± 10.59 s compared to 37.18 ± 15.23 s). Maturity level in both groups correlated with some of the kinetics parameters during the 2nd session.
Conclusion: Young basketballers possess a faster on-transient oxygen uptake kinetics compared to their untrained peers because of the improved oxygen delivery and utilisation. A possible maturational threshold regarding pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics in adolescents should be investigated in the future.
Keywords: team sports, physical fitness, time constant, aerobic kinetic