Volume 26 (2019): Edition 2 (June 2019)

Introduction. Dance and rhythmic gymnastics are high leap demanding sports. Leaps are fundamental human movements that require complex motor coordination of both the upper and lower body extremities. The aim of this study was to compare the kinetics parameters of two types of landing after performing front split leaps.

Material and methods. Fifteen high-level acrobatic gymnasts with a mean age of 22 ± 2.76 years and mean training experience of 12.27 ± 2.34 years participated in the study. Examinations of kinetics parameters of the movements analysed were carried out using the Vicon system and Kistler plates. Gymnasts completed front split leaps with balanced landing (arabesque position) and moving landing (continued movement).

Results. Values of vertical ground reaction force and values of muscle torque in the hip joint were statistically significant higher (p < 0.001) for balanced landing. The value of leg stiffness was also significantly (p < 0.001) higher for balanced landing (5.69 ± 2.45 kN/m) compared to moving landing (1.89 ± 0.43 kN/m). For balanced landing, the sequence of maximal peaks of torques from the highest to the lowest values were found in the hip (5.81 ± 1.06 Nm/kg), ankle (3.56 ± 0.71 Nm/kg), and knee (2.01 ± 0.75 Nm/kg) joints. For the split leap with moving landing, the most loaded joints, in descending order, were the ankle (3.50 ± 0.42 Nm/kg), hip (3.39 ± 0.78 Nm/kg), and knee (2.21 ± 0.57 Nm/kg) joints.

Conclusions. The findings of the study can help to improve the methodology of training the technique and protect gymnasts and dancers against unnecessary injuries.

Introduction. The aim of the study is to analyse existing tests for assessing agility in combat sports and martial arts, as well as to develop new tests and to test their effectiveness.

Material and methods. The study involved 16 athletes at various competitive levels specialising in hand-to-hand combat. It used the following methods: review of specialised literature along with policy and normative documents, an expert survey, testing, instrumental methods of assessing psychophysical capabilities, a pedagogical experiment, and methods of mathematical statistics.

Results. The article clearly delineates the concepts of “agility” and “coordination”. It was found that most of the exercise tests recommended for assessing agility actually only evaluate coordination, without taking into account unexpected and unpredictable situations, which are the key components of agility. While some tests allow for the assessment of agility, they are based on motor actions which are non-specific for combat sports. Moreover, the use of computer-based techniques for studying the visual-motor reaction has proven to be ineffective for assessing agility in sports.

Conclusions. The article proposed three variants of specialised tests for assessing agility in motor actions specific for hand-to-hand combat. According to the results of all the three tests, the programme proposed for the development of agility and coordination caused a significant improvement in the level of agility in six months.

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a short-term, three-week intensive neuromuscular training programme on the postural stability of professional soccer players and to establish whether lower-limb dominance affects one-leg stability.

Material and methods. The experimental group consisted of 16 professional male soccer players, and the control group included 20 professional soccer players who did not undergo any additional training. The experimental group was provided with three-stage progressive training twice a day over a three-week period during the preparatory period and then trained twice per week in-season for a period of 5 months. The experimental subjects were evaluated with the use of a stabilographic platform before the programme, 3 weeks into the programme, and finally after 5 months from its commencement. Total centre of pressure (COP) sway path was measured during one leg stance for the dominant and non-dominant leg with eyes open and closed.

Results. After three weeks of training, the experimental group showed a significantly shorter COP path for the measurements taken with both open (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.28) and closed eyes (p < 0.05; η2 = 0.09) compared to the initial results. It was found that the training effects were sustained five months into the training programme for the tests with eyes open (p < 0.001) and eyes closed (p < 0.05). The control group, however, showed no such improvement during that time. No differences were found between the limbs in either of the groups.

Conclusions. Neuromuscular training can be effective for postural control improvement in professional male soccer players within a short period of time. Leg dominance does not affect one-leg stability.

Introduction. The paper aims to identify and systematise basic psychological factors which can influence athletes’ training and competitive activity.

Material and methods. In order to achieve the aim of the study, we carried out an expert survey and analysed its results statistically. The survey, whose concordance coefficient was 0.78, was completed by 12 experts in the field (sports scientists and highly qualified athletes).

Results. The study of the scientific and methodological literature about psychological correction taking into account the practice of athletes’ training made it possible to formulate and systematise a number of key psychological factors (volitional, strategic, perceptive-aimed, anticipatory, managerial, psychophysiological, intellectual, introspective, and motivational) that affect the mental state and training process of athletes. The content and forms of the manifestation of psychological factors during competitive activity are examined, and their interrelations are studied. Integral indicators of psychological factors which influence competitive activity in Olympic sports are determined, and their priority of importance is examined.

Conclusions. According to the experts’ opinions, among the integral indicators of the psychological factors influencing athletes’ activity, the leading ones are motivational, volitional, and psychophysiological factors. The results of the expert survey concerning the psychological factors influencing Olympic sports (game, cyclic, and complex coordination sports as well as martial arts) are analysed.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate sex differences in anthropometric indicators, body composition, physical fitness, and physiological parameters in young women and men performing extremely strenuous exercise during the 3-Minute Burpee Test (3-MBT). Post-exercise recovery during a 6-minute break was determined in the tested subjects.

Material and methods. Ninety-six university students volunteered to take part in this study (45 women aged 20.05 ± 1.81 years and 51 men aged 20.20 ± 2.71 years). Endurance-strength abilities were determined during the 3-MBT motor fitness test, and body composition was determined with an InBody720 analyser. Data were analysed using a Mann-Whitney U test, with statistical significance accepted at p ≤ 0.05.

Results. The anthropometric indicators, body composition parameters, physical fitness levels (47.22 cycles/3 min), and physiological parameters measured during the 3-MBT were significantly higher in men (VO2avg – 41.57 mL/kg/min, VO2max – 49.67 mL/kg/min, EPOCavg – 11.02mL/kg, and EPOCpeak – 27.84mL/kg) than in women. Women were characterised by significantly higher (p < 0.05) body fat mass (BFM = 18.80 kg) and percent body fat (PBF 28.26%) than men.

Conclusions. Male subjects were characterised by higher values of anthropometric indicators, body composition parameters (excluding body fat), motor fitness levels, and physiological parameters than women, and endurance-strength abilities were 23.75% higher, on average, in men than women.

Introduction. There are many factors which determine the attractiveness of a region for tourists. However, such assessments are, relatively rarely, a result of the analysis of the presence and condition of regional tourist brands and their perception among visitors. The analysis and assessment of the condition of a brand can be carried out using the BAV (Brand Asset Valuator). This is an extremely interesting and useful tool which explains the dynamics of behaviour of brands on the market and diagnoses their “health”, supporting the process of their long-term management.

Materials and methods. On the basis of the results of a pilot study, an attempt is made to measure the tourist attractiveness of the Podkarpackie region through the assessment of regional tourist brands and their features which are important from the point of view of the inhabitants of the region. The BAV model was used to analyse 32 tourist products. The applied research methods include the Mann-Whitney test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and the chi-square independence test.

Results. The mapped data analysis based on the BAV model showed that 16 out of 32 products assessed were located in the leadership quadrant. The majority of the remaining products were in the development or decline phases.

Conclusions. The presence of branded tourist products and their number have an impact on the tourist attractiveness of the region. The following aspects of the region were considered the most attractive: nature (natural surroundings, natural values, and ecological aspects), heritage (historical heritage and monuments and presentation of important past events), and tourism (tourism and recreation offerings).