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This study aimed at investigating the effects of foam roller applications on joint mobility and performance in young swimmers. Thirty swimmers participated in the study. 17 males and 13 females. While the control group continued with the regular swimming training and dynamic warm-up exercises, the experimental group incorporated myofascial release techniques into their routine. The eight-week study was conducted for four days a week for two hours each day. The study used pre- and post-test measurement methods. The SPSS package program was used to analyze the obtained data. The results showed that the swimming athletes who used the myofascial release technique with a dynamic warm-up significantly improved their maximal performance levels and flexibility values in all four styles compared to the group that only used the traditional dynamic warm-ups.

Background Kinesio taping (KT) is commonly used to support muscle function, enhance performance, and reduce fatigue in both athletic and clinical settings. Understanding its effects on agonist and antagonist muscle groups during resistance exercises is essential for optimizing training and rehabilitation strategies. This study aimed to investigate the effects of kinesiotaping (KT) applied to the biceps brachii on the activation and fatigue of the biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles during bicipital curl exercise. Methods A total of 40 participants (10 female athletes, 10 male athletes, 10 sedentary females, and 10 sedentary males), aged 18–24 years, were included in the study. The participants performed isotonic muscle activation and isometric fatigue protocols targeting the BB (agonist) and TB (antagonist) muscles during the bicipital curl movement following KT application. Surface EMG signals were collected via wireless Ag/AgCl electrodes and a Noraxon system. Results A statistically significant difference was observed in the pre- and posttest values of the BB muscle during the bicep curl exercise ( p  < 0.05). Additionally, analysis of median frequency (MF) values revealed no overall pre–post differences. However, a significant posttest between-group difference was observed in the BB muscle, with athletes showing lower MF values than sedentary participants, indicating relatively greater fatigue in athletes. Conclusions The 48-hour application of Kinesio tape led to increased electrical activation of the agonist muscle (BB), and sedentary individuals demonstrated higher MF values compared to athletes, indicating relatively lower fatigue levels after taping. These findings suggest that short-term KT may alter neuromuscular function by modulating muscle activation and fatigue patterns. Furthermore, the results highlight the differential impact of KT depending on training status, suggesting that while KT may facilitate performance in trained individuals, it could accelerate fatigue in untrained individuals. Future research should explore optimal taping duration, tension, and placement strategies to tailor KT interventions for specific functional goals.

Neuromuscular fatigue tests have been used in previous studies to organize post-match training programs and to minimize injuries. The aim of this study is to describe the neuromuscular fatigue that occurs after a football match and to examine the relationship between internal and external load values in the match and fatigue parameters obtained at different time intervals. Twenty male U19 academy league soccer players (age: 19; height: 181.3 ± 4.3; weight: 73.4 ± 6.7) participated in the study. The countermovement jump (CMJ) test was applied to the players 24 h before, as well as 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after a football match. During the CMJ tests, the maximum velocity of each player during the jump was recorded by using the GymAware linear position transducer. The CMJ maximum velocity values 24 h before and 24 h after the match, as well as the CMJ height values (Cohen’s d: 1.210; p < 0.001), were statistically different from the values recorded 24 h before and 24 and 48 h after the match (Cohen’s d: 1.578; p < 0.001; Cohen’s d: 0,922; p < 0.009). The correlation values were not statistically significant. The results suggest, CMJ height and CMJ maximum velocity values, which determine neuromuscular fatigue after a football match, can be used by practitioners to display post-match neuromuscular fatigue measurements.

This study aimed to investigate whether hand and finger exercises had an effect on shooting accuracy and if they did, determine the shot grouping of these exercises and analyze its relationship with shooting statistic data. In this study, to obtain the findings of the investigation, a model with a pretest and a posttest was implemented on an experimental and a control group. A total of forty teenage girls in the 15-18 age group having no shooting experience before participated in the study. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group regularly participated in hand and finger exercises for a total of 10 weeks, 3 days a week, 1 hour a day. Within the scope of the investigation, to determine the shooting accuracy of subjects, the SCATT Shooting Training System was utilized. In order to evaluate the data obtained from the sample group, a package program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used. The level of significance was considered to be 0.05 in statistical analysis. The investigation showed that there was a significant variance (p< 0.01) between hand and finger exercises and shooting score, diametrical dispersion, mean length of aiming trace, and stability of aiming in pretestposttest measurements of the experimental group. Outcomes of our study have indicated that hand and finger exercises have a positive effect on shooting accuracy. In this study administered on subjects with no shooting experience before, we speculate that hand and finger exercises affect performance to such an extent that they will enhance shooting performance when combined with technical and mental training, and we recommend that shooters should specifically include hand and finger exercises in their training program.

The aim of this study was twofold: it (i) analyzed the weekly variations of sleep quality and training intensity of youth soccer players and (ii) analyzed the relationships between sleep quality and training intensity. This study followed an observational design. Twenty men youth players (age: 18.81 ± 0.41 years) were monitored daily over two weeks for sleep quality and training intensity. Sleep quality was measured daily using the 15-item consensus sleep diary. The training intensity was measured daily using the CR-10 Borg’s scale as a measure of rate of perceived exertion (RPE); a heart rate (HR) sensor was used to measure minimum, average and peak; a global positioning system (GPS) was used for measuring the total distance covered and distances covered at different speed thresholds. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the weekly variations of sleep quality and training intensity. The Pearson correlation test was executed to analyze the relationships between sleep quality and training intensity. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant within-week variations in sleep duration (hours) (p = 0.043), quality of sleep (p = 0.035), RPE (p = 0.007), session-RPE (p = 0.011), HRminimum (p = 0.027), HRpeak (p = 0.005), total distance (p < 0.001), pace (p < 0.002), distance covered at 3.00–6.99 km/h (p < 0.001), distance covered at 7.00–10.99 km/h (p < 0.001), distance covered at 11.00–14.99 km/h (p < 0.001), distance covered at 15.00–18.99 km/h (p < 0.001) and distance covered at >19.00 km/h (p < 0.001). Significant small correlations were found between sleep duration before training and session-RPE (r = 0.252), total distance (r = 0.205), distance covered at 3.00–6.99 km/h (r = 0.209) and distance covered at 7.00–10.99 km/h (r = 0.265). Significant small correlations were found between session-RPE and sleep duration after (r = 0.233), total distance and quality of sleep after (r = 0.198), distance at 3.00–6.99 km/h and quality of sleep after training (r = 0.220), distance covered at >19.00 km/h and quality of sleep after training (r = 0.286), session duration and rested feeling after training (r = 0.227), total distance and rested feeling after training (r = 0.202), distance covered at 11.00–14.99 km/h and rested feeling after training (r = 0.222) and distance covered at >19.00 km/h and rested feeling after training (r = 0.214). In conclusion, sleep duration was longer in the training sessions during the middle of the week; the training intensity was also greater (485.8 ± 56.8 A.U.). Moreover, sleep outcomes after training were slightly correlated with both physiological and locomotor demands.

The aim of this study was to examine the development of anaerobic (maximum strength), aerobic (endurance), and heart rate numbers with the six-week Tabata Training Model applied to mountain biking athletes between the ages 14-18. A total 20 mountain bike athletes with a mean age of 15.45 ± 1.15 years participated in the study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. The Traditional Training Group (CG) consisted of nine people and they applied the traditional training program for six weeks. The Tabata Training Group (TTG) consisted of 10 participants, and they, unlike CG, performed Tabata Interval Training on three days of the Traditional Training Program. CG did interval, rest, tempo, and endurance training for six weeks. The pre-test and post-test results showed that, aerobic power values increased by 10,7% in TTG; and 5,6% in CG, and mean power values increased by 8,6% in TTG; and 5,5% in CG. VO2max values while increased by 5,3% in TTG, it increased by 3,9% in CG, mean pulse values decreased by 0,7% in TTG and 2,8% in CG. As a result, it was seen that the Tabata Interval Model, which includes Tabata Interval Trainings applied for six weeks to high trained mountain bikers, increased the performance. In light of these results, it can be said that the Tabata Training Model is an effective training model that can be used to improve performance in high-level mountain bikers. Namen te študije je bil preučiti razvoj anaerobne in aerobne vzdržljivosti ter srčne frekvence s šesttedenskim vadbenim modelom tabata, ki so ga uporabljali gorski kolesarji, stari od 14 do 18 let. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 20 gorskih kolesarjev, povprečno starih 15,45 ± 1,15 let, ki so bili naključno razdeljeni v dve skupini. Skupino s tradicionalno vadbo (CG) je sestavljalo devet kolesarjev, ki so šest tednov uporabljali tradicionalni program vadbe. Skupino, ki je izvajala vadbo tabate (TTG), je sestavljalo deset kolesarjev, ki so za razliko od skupine CG tri dni tradicionalnega programa vadbe izvajali intervalno vadbo, imenovano tabata. Skupina CG je šest tednov izvajala intervalno vadbo, počitek, tempo in vzdržljivostno vadbo. Rezultati pred začetkom študije in po njej so pokazali, da so se vrednosti aerobne moči v skupini TTG povečale za 10,7 %, v skupini CG pa za 5,6 %, vrednosti povprečne moči pa za 8,6 % v skupini TTG in za 5,5 % v skupini CG. Vrednosti VO2max so se pri TTG povečale za 5,3 %, pri CG pa za 3,9 %, srednje vrednosti srčne frekvence pa so se pri TTG zmanjšale za 0,7 %, pri CG pa za 2,8 %. Ugotovljeno je bilo, da intervalna model vadbe, ki vključuje tabata intervalne treninge po štetih tednih izvajanja pri gorskih kolesarjih poveča zmogljivost bolj kot tradicionalna vadba. Glede na te rezultate lahko rečemo, da je vadbe tabate učinkovit model, ki se lahko uporablja za izboljšanje zmogljivosti pri vrhunskih gorskih kolesarjih.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos de las aplicaciones del rodillo de espuma en la movilidad articular y el rendimiento en jóvenes nadadores. En el estudio participaron treinta nadadores: diecisiete hombres y trece mujeres. El grupo de control continuó con su entrenamiento habitual de natación y ejercicios de calentamiento dinámico, mientras que el grupo experimental incluyó técnicas de liberación miofascial en su rutina. El estudio, que duró ocho semanas, se llevó a cabo cuatro días a la semana durante dos horas cada día. Se utilizó un método de medición antes y después de la prueba. Los datos obtenidos se analizaron con el programa SPSS. Los resultados mostraron que los nadadores que utilizaron técnicas de liberación miofascial junto con calentamientos dinámicos mejoraron significativamente sus niveles máximos de rendimiento y sus puntuaciones de flexibilidad en los cuatro estilos, en comparación con el grupo que solo realizó calentamientos dinámicos tradicionales.

The improvement of motor qualities and skills represents the main concern of the Physical Education lesson. In the present paper we present a general motor exercise training routine, designed as an alternative to the traditional approach of the PE lessons. The routine was divided into three components, namely a cross fit exercise routine, an aerobics routine and an acrosport routine. This routine was implemented in the 5th grade syllabus. The test group was represented by 207 pupils, out of which 114 girls (55.07%) and 93 boys (44.93%). Most participants came from rural areas (66.18%) and 33.82% came from urban areas. The routine was implemented during the first semester of the current school year (2017-2018) in one of the two compulsory lessons. The topics from the traditional PE lesson were replaced by the proposed routines and used alternatively. The assessment consisted of 4 tests from the national assessment system. The results showed significant progress obtained in the final tests for all the 4 trials used (p < 0,001).

This study aimed to investigate whether hand and finger exercises had an effect on shooting accuracy and if they did, determine the shot grouping of these exercises and analyze its relationship with shooting statistic data. In this study, to obtain the findings of the investigation, a model with a pretest and a posttest was implemented on an experimental and a control group. A total of forty teenage girls in the 15-18 age group having no shooting experience before participated in the study. Participants were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group regularly participated in hand and finger exercises for a total of 10 weeks, 3 days a week, 1 hour a day. Within the scope of the investigation, to determine the shooting accuracy of subjects, the SCATT Shooting Training System was utilized. In order to evaluate the data obtained from the sample group, a package program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used. The level of significance was considered to be 0.05 in statistical analysis. The investigation showed that there was a significant variance (p<0.01) between hand and finger exercises and shooting score, diametrical dispersion, mean length of aiming trace, and stability of aiming in pretestposttest measurements of the experimental group. Outcomes of our study have indicated that hand and finger exercises have a positive effect on shooting accuracy. In this study administered on subjects with no shooting experience before, we speculate that hand and finger exercises affect performance to such an extent that they will enhance shooting performance when combined with technical and mental training, and we recommend that shooters should specifically include hand and finger exercises in their training program.

Background: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children remains a diagnostic challenge due to heterogeneous etiologies. This study investigated the etiological distribution, long-term outcomes of undefined cases, and laboratory predictors that differentiate infectious from non-infectious etiologies. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 87 children (1 month–18 years) hospitalized with fever > 38.3 °C for ≥7 days with no detectable source (2018–2024). Patients were categorized into five groups: infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic, miscellaneous, and undefined. Comparisons between these groups were performed in terms of age, laboratory values, and duration of fever using the Kruskal–Wallis test and one-way ANOVA. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data were compared. ROC analysis and binary logistic regression identified predictors of non-infectious etiologies. Results: Infectious diseases (42.5%) and inflammatory disorders (19.5%) were the most common causes, while 17.2% of cases remained undefined. The median age was 60 months. Rash (31%) and fatigue (27.5%) were the most common complaints on admission. The undefined group showed complete spontaneous resolution during a median 63-month follow-up, with no recurrence or new diagnoses, except for one patient. Miscellaneous etiologies accounted for 14.9% of cases, and more than half of these were newly diagnosed primary immunodeficiencies. C-reactive protein and ferritin levels were significantly higher in the inflammatory disease group compared to the groups with unknown and infectious etiologies. In the binary logistic regression analysis, longer fever duration combined with elevated ferritin level was a combined predictor of non-infectious causes (AUC = 0.718). Conclusions: Infectious and inflammatory conditions predominate in pediatric FUO, yet a subset of cases resolve spontaneously and follow a benign course. The combination of fever duration and ferritin count may aid early differentiation of non-infectious etiologies, supporting more focused diagnostic approaches. Given the notable proportion of primary immune deficiencies, especially in populations with high consanguinity, early immunologic screening should be incorporated into FUO evaluation protocols.