Volume 22 (2015): Issue 1 (March 2015)

Introduction. The efficient collection and analysis of information from both the central and the peripheral field of vision may affect human coordination motor abilities. An analysis of the literature on the subject suggests that coordination motor abilities interact with one another, and it is only their combined effect that allows athletes to achieve technical mastery. The main aim of the study was to assess specific coordination motor abilities and to determine how visual perception and reaction time correlate with time-movement anticipation in elite female basketball players.

Material and methods. The study participants comprised 17 female basketball players from the Polish National Team aged 18.1 ± 0.8 years. The study involved three ability tests from the Vienna Test System: the Reaction Test (RT, S1), the Peripheral Perception test (PP), and the Time/Movement Anticipation test (ZBA, S2).

Results. The analysis of the results obtained proves that the best-developed ability in participants is reaction time, while the other abilities show average development. Study participants were able to develop their response abilities to such high levels by means of practice. A correlation coefficient was found between motor time and tracking deviation (r=0.56), and between time anticipation and the number of correct responses to stimuli appearing in the left (r=0.92) and right (r=0.88) field of vision. Athletes who achieved better results in time anticipation omitted fewer visual stimuli (r=0.7) in the peripheral field of vision. Statistically significant correlations were observed between movement anticipation and reaction time to stimuli in the central field of vision (r=0.58).

Conclusions. Perception abilities have a significant effect on time anticipation. The range of one's field of vision does not determine the reaction time to a visual stimulus. Perception efficiency and divided attention, in conjunction with time and movement anticipation, create a complex of specific psychomotor abilities that is indispensable for achieving success in team sports.

Introduction. Martial arts and combat sports are practical sports that are being practised by an increasing number of women. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the ability of female judo, taekwondo and karate competitors to fall safely and their susceptibility to injuries during falls.

Material and methods. A total of 120 persons participated in the research. The study group consisted of 45 female judo, taekwondo (WTF) and karate Shotokan competitors; in the control group there were 75 persons who did not practise sport professionally. The research tools included the Test of Susceptibility to Injury during Falls (TSIDF) developed by Kalina and a questionnaire designed by the authors.

Results. The female martial arts competitors had considerably lower TSIDF results (p<0.001), which means that they made fewer errors when performing motor tasks. The mean result of the TSIDF was 2.48 for the study group and 6.08 for the control one. Significant differences (p<0.001) were found between the groups for all types of errors and all of the motor tasks.

Conclusions. Women practising combat sports and martial arts made significantly fewer errors in the Test of Susceptibility to Injuries During Falls, which can be seen as evidence for the practical usefulness of the training they are undergoing.

Introduction. In sports success depends on how well the players are prepared for the match in terms of their technical, tactical and motor skills, as well as their mental attitude. The training process is focused on improving the players' capabilities and eliminating their errors. The aim of the study was to describe the errors made in handball matches taking into account their timing and quantity.

Material and methods. The material consisted of recordings of 50 matches of men's handball held in the EHF Champions League in 2012-2013. The study included 8 teams that took part in the tournament. The following matches were analysed for each team: 4 matches in the knockout stage (2 played at home and 2 away) and 4 in the group stage (2 at home and 2 away). The errors were determined based on EHF regulations.

Results. A difference was found between the errors committed in matches at home and away in the knockout stage. The most errors (35) in this stage of the tournament were made between the 25th and 30th minute, and the fewest (18) between the 30th and 35th minute, in both cases in matches played at home. In the group stage the most errors (36) were made between the 40th and 45th minute away, and the fewest (15) between the 10th and 15th minute at home. In the knockout stage the four teams made a total of 632 errors, including 71 errors made by the winner of the tournament, who committed the smallest number of errors. The smallest number of errors (53) in the group stage were made by HC Metalurg Skopje.

Conclusions. The number of errors made did not have a direct influence on a team's position in the tournament, but the winner made the least errors in the knockout stage. The differences between the numbers of errors made in the knockout stage may indicate that the players were more comfortable when playing at home. The support of fans may be one of the factors which contribute to the fact that players commit fewer errors in this stage of the tournament. The rise in the number of errors made towards the end of the match, on the other hand, is most likely due to an increased level of physical and emotional fatigue, particularly considering the risk of being eliminated from the tournament.

Introduction. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of combined swimming and dry-land resistance training on swimming force, swimming performance and strength in non-swimmers.

Material and methods. Thirty male non-swimmers took part in the research. They were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: experimental (n=17) and control (n=13). The experimental group took part in combined swimming and dry-land resistance training. The control group took part in swimming training only. The swimming and dry-land resistance training programme lasted twelve weeks (48 training sessions of swimming and 36 sessions of dry-land resistance training). Average training volume and intensity were the same for all swimmers throughout the study protocol. The training programme included dominant aerobic work in front crawl.

Results. Dry-land resistance training applied in the experimental group significantly improved the upper body strength. In spite of the theory that dry-land strength training is probably not specific enough to improve the sprint swim performance, the experimental group tended to demonstrate greater improvement in sprint performance. The imitation of the underwater phase of shoulder work during front crawl provided by the ergometer can be a useful training method in non-swimmers.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to assess selected psychological, physiological and technical factors related to ski hiking in order to offer some recommendations for ski hikers and ski hike organisers.

Material and methods. The hike lasted 8 hours and the hikers covered a distance of 24 kilometres. The ski hikers' emotional state was assessed three times: before the ski hike, 1 hour after the hike and 16 hours after the hike. Their skiing technique was evaluated during the first part of the hike and at the end of the hike. The heart rate of the skiers was recorded over the course of the hike. The data were then processed and analysed statistically.

Results. When comparing the data collected for the selected factors during the ski hike, some significant correlations were found. A significant correlation was observed between the level of fear experienced before the ski hike and cycle length for the diagonal stride (r=−0.791, p<0.05), which meant that the hikers with poorer ski technique felt more afraid before the hike. However, these hikers also showed lower levels of sadness 16 hours after the hike (r=0.804, p<0.05). A significant negative correlation (r=−0.849, p<0.05) was found when comparing the average heart rate frequency and the level of anger experienced after the hike, that is the hikers who had a lower heart rate were angrier after the hike. The results helped to develop some important recommendations for ski hikers and ski hike organisers.

Introduction. One of the reasons for the lower quality of life of ageing patients has to do with the chronic pain they experience due to disorders of the locomotor and nervous systems. These disorders include osteoarthritis, and in particular degenerative-deforming changes in the spine, which increase the patients’ tendency to fall and to suffer increasingly severe consequences as a result. Financial resources, both in Poland and in many other countries, are mainly allocated to treating patients, and it seems that measures which would help prevent falls are not being taken to a sufficient extent, bearing in mind how important fall prevention is for dealing with old age-related health issues. According to the latest medical expertise, falls can be effectively prevented if multi-disciplinary prevention programmes are implemented. These programmes consist of specially designed and varied exercises using machines and other equipment which help improve joint mobility and restore balance control. The aim to the study was to determine what impact exercises using a mini trampoline had on the functional capacity of a group of middle-aged subjects who participated in the study.

Material and methods. The study was conducted at the KRUS “GRANIT” Farmers’ Rehabilitation Centre in Szklarska Poręba on a group of 80 persons aged 45-55 years (67% of them were women and 33% were men), who completed a mini trampoline exercise programme as part of a 21-day rehabilitation course. Before the subjects started the programme and after they completed it, basic somatic measurements were taken, tests were conducted in order to diagnose the subjects’ functional capacity and the subjective level of pain experienced by the subjects was measured using a pain rating scale (VAS).

Results. It was found that the regular mini trampoline exercises had had an impact on the functional capacity of the subjects and the training had significantly reduced pain in the lumbar region of the spine.