Journal of Applied Sports Sciences

3-9

Authors: Musa Lewis Mathunjwa, Sam Mugandani, Abidemi Kappo, Svetoslav Ivanov & Trayana Djarova-Daniels

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess and compare motor abilities in young and adult male South African Taekwondo athletes. To date, knowledge of the motor ability demands of this combat sport is in its infancy. Methodology: Participants were profiled as junior (n = 25, 15.5 ± 2.6 years, 163.0 ± 13.4 cm, 53.3 ± 10.7kg) and senior (n = 20, 23.5±2.5 years, 166.8 ± 7.9cm, 68.6±7.9kg) males from a local Taekwondo (WTF) club in South Africa. Flexibility (sit-and reach), abdominal strength and endurance (60-second sit-ups and 2 minutes push ups), explosive leg power (vertical jump), agility (T-test), aerobic power (20 m bleep test) converted to maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) were measured. Data were analysed with t-test for independent samples and Z-score individual radar plot statistics for each athlete. Results: There was no significant difference in agility between juniors (10.9 ±0.4s) and seniors (12.6 ± 1.2s) (p>0.05). The seniors showed significant (p<0.05) higher values in sit ups (53.1 ± 6.1 vs 48.9 ±13.8), push-ups (76.6 ± 17.1 vs 25.6 ±10.6), sit & reach (54.6 ±5.8 vs 40.1± 7.5 repetitions), horizontal jump (2.6 ± 1.1 vs 1.9 ±0.3), and VO2max (52.5 ± 2.8 vs 42.2 ±6.6) than in juniors. More extensive research is required before extending existing knowledge from this study in order to permit specialized conditioning with junior athletes leading to improved motor ability at an early stage of Taekwondo training, resulting into better combat performances. Conclusions: The results showed that the performance of senior male Taekwondo athletes is higher than the juniors’.

19-30

Authors: Mariana Borukova

Knowing the age and gender characteristics of children is a prerequisite for the sports pedagogue to manage the different stages of the multi-annual sports training. The complex development of motor skills raises the question of the assessment and control of the specific functional training of the athletes. Permanent control over the level of development of basic motor skills allows coaches to determine the main directions for optimization of the educational and training process and to work more effectively for the development of specific technical and tactical skills of adolescent basketball players. Undoubtedly, one of the main factors of gaming efficiency is the ability of the athletes to materialize their motor potential in rational technical and tactical actions. To the greatest extent, the contribution of each of the indicators studied to the sports performance of an individual or group depends on 3-4 key factors. The disclosure of the factor structure of physical development and the specific work capacity of 14-15-year-old basketball players is of high information value for the optimization of the training process. In the present study, the five identified factors have the largest contribution to the basketball achievement for this age group.

42-49

Authors: Diana Dimitrova, Galina Vanlyan

Introduction: There is still conflicting information about the prevalence of EDs with female athletes. The results for different countries and subpopulations of athletes also show large variations due to various reasons including intercultural differences, eating habits and behaviors. Purpose: The aim of this first for Bulgaria study was to examine the prevalence of eating disorder attitudes and behaviors among Bulgarian female athletes and to estimate how eating disorders vary across the nature of the sport and level of proficiency. Methods: A total of 363 female athletes, aged between 12-25 years participated in the study. All participants completed an anonymous paper-based EDE-Q and provided information about their age, sports experience, participation in competitions and competitive level. The subjects were divided into groups according to the type of sport (aesthetic and non-aesthetic) and level of participation (non-competitive, low and high competitive level). Results: There were no differences between the athletes in the subgroups with respect to any of the EDE-Q subscales. On the basis of pre-established cutoff score of 4 on EDE-Q scales and the presence of pathological eating behavior we found the same prevalence rate of eating disorder with female athletes in both aesthetic sports (33.3%) and non-aesthetic sports (31.8%). Although the tendency of increasing the incidents with DE was observed, the statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the three groups with respect to the level of participation. Conclusion: This study found a relatively high prevalence of abnormal eating patterns with Bulgarian female athletes, as measured by EDE-Q. Eating disorder behavior is a prerequisite for increased risk of mental eating disorders and serious health problems.

63-67

Authors: Sam Mugandani, Trayana Djarova-Daniels

Exercise is known to cause considerable changes in leucocyte counts and functions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of exercise on leukocyte counts in athletes of different sporting codes during the competition time of the season. Forty-two university athletes voluntarily participated in the study, rugby players, male soccer players, female soccer players and female netball players. Blood samples were collected and analysis for whole blood count was done in Lancet laboratory, Richards Bay, RSA. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test for treatment independent samples. It is noteworthy to point out the higher levels of leucocytes in the netball players than in female soccer players (6.8 ± 1.24 X 109/L and 6.11 ± 1.28 X 109/L respectively). The lymphocyte levels were also higher in the netball players than in female soccer players (2.60 ± 0.58 X109/L and 2.16 ± 0.49 X109/L respectively). There were also higher levels of leucocytes in the male soccer players compared to the male rugby players (6.26 ± 1.97X109/L and 5.46 ± 0.99 X109/L respectively). The lymphocyte levels were higher in the soccer players than in the rugby players (2.17 ± 0.36 X109/L and 1.85 ± 0.32 X109/L respectively), but the differences were not significant at p< 0.05. The changes in leucocytes could be a result (among other things) of the removal of dead cells related to exercise stress and trauma. It was expected, considering the levels of physical contact, that the leucocyte counts and the lymphocytes in particular were going to be higher among female netball players and male soccer players. The athletes’ results for the measured blood parameters were within the health norms. These findings could be related to the less intensive training protocols and lower levels of physical contact and stress in players from the students teams compared to the professional players.

76-81

Authors: Lachezar Stefanov, Ivan K.Ivanov, Daniela Aleksieva

Cycling is a sport that integrates man‘s physical condition and the technical parameters of the cycle. The position of the body in relation to the cycle is particularly important for obtaining results of this physical activity. Together with the other factors determining the right upright posture saddle height is also important. We studied the relationship between the Monark 618-E cycle ergometer saddle height and mechanical effectiveness when pedalling. For this purpose, we chose the Wingate cycle ergometer anaerobic test. We studied 8 men volunteers, aged between 19 to 25 years, all of them students at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski” in Sofia, with major - cycling coach. The research demonstrates that the lower height of the saddle compared to the one recommended in the “Heel” method, leads to lower mechanical effectiveness of pedalling in terms of W/kg body weight. This affects both the maximal and the average power of pedalling, with statistical significance of 99% determined by Mann-Whitney non-parametric test. Relative to the literature discussed, the study presents new evidence of the height of the cycle saddle for mechanical pedaling effectiveness.

3-12

Authors: Michail Michailov, Stanislava Lambreva, Diana Deneva, Hristo Andonov

The muscles that exert most during sport climbing are the finger flexors followed by elbow flexors (EF). nevertheless, climbers’ EF strength and endurance have not been tested in an isolated manner and EF endurance has not been assessed at different relative intensities. purpose: to determine the importance of EF maximal strength and endurance in sports climbing. methods: nine male sports climbers and a control group of seven male sports students performed an EF maximal strength (ms) test and four EF endurance tests representing isometric muscle contractions at 90%, 70%, 50% and 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). results: sports climbers sustained longer than the controls at 70 % (39±11 versus 28±7 s; p=0.044, ^η2=0.259) and 50% MVC (57±10 versus 48±6 s; p=0.050, ^η2 =0.248). the highest effect size was estimated for the force-time integral related to body mass at 70% MVC (107±27 versus 75±18 n.s/kg; p=0.018, ^η2 = 0.338). the two groups did not differ in ms (313±52 versus 338±55 n; p=0.372) or ms related to body mass (4.6±0.6 versus 4.2±0.8 n/ kg; p=0.623). climbing ability significantly correlated only with ms related to body mass. the relationship between ms related to body mass and on sight ability was strong (r=0.806, p=0.016). conclusion: EF strength and endurance appear to be key performance factors in sports climbing. sports climbing demands a high level of EF endurance during muscle contractions of high intensity. an excessive increase of EF endurance would not necessary lead to a significant improvement in climbing ability. however, higher climbing ability demands increased EF maximal strength.

21-30

Authors: Lubomir Petrov, Albena Alexandrova, Evtim Lefterov

Contemporary sport induces a serious physical and mental stress in athletes. This could result in lowering of their sports performance. Thus, the evaluation of stress in athletes is an important milestone in their preparation. Establishing levels of stress would allow targeted work by coaches and sports specialists to increase the resistance of competitors to stress. In this regard, the use of non-invasive methods for stress testing is essential. Recently, the use of saliva as a biological research material becomes of increasing interest. The aim of this study was to establish the potential of alpha amylase activity, protein and potassium concentrations in saliva to reflect adequately the degree of stress in athletes. Eleven boxers, participants in the National Championship, took part in the study. Saliva was collected by salivetes three times: 1) one week before the competition, 2) before the draw of lot, and 3) before the first bout. The salivary alpha amylase activity (sAA), protein and potassium concentrations were detected with commercially available kits. The sAA, protein and K+ concentrations rose significantly in stress conditions. The individual values of sAA showed large differences that could be explained by the poly-allelic expression of sAA whose activity depends on the number of alleles (2 to 14) with each individual. All tested indices could serve as indicators for evaluation of stress level in athletes as a high correlation between the protein and K+ and sAA values was found. In order to evaluate the changes in sAA and to compare the individual results between athletes we suggested the sAA to be presented in relative units. The activities, measured in calm conditions long time before a competition could be assumed as a baseline and the coefficient of increase in sAA in a stressful condition could be accepted as a “stress coefficient”.

46-57

Authors: Tatiana Iancheva, Milena Kuleva

A number of scientific studies in the field of sports psychology are aimed at revealing the reasons, factors and conditions, which lead to success. The other side of the problem - how we cope with success - remains underestimated. The effect of the subjective experience of success can lead to different behavior effects - from mobilization and psychic upsurge to self-reassurance, disorganization, and loss of activity. The consequences of success make the researchers examine their connection with different coping strategies. The aim of the present study is to examine how success is defined, how its determinants and consequences are interpreted, and what their connection with the applied coping strategies is. The research was done among 115 athletes, practicing different kinds of sport, divided into groups depending on their gender, age, and qualification. We used: 1) Specially developed scale for surveying the attitude to success; 2) Coping Orientation s to Problems Experienced scale - COPE -1 (Carver, et al., 1989),adapted for Bulgarian conditions and optimized for sports practice (Georgiev at al., 2003). Athletes define success mainly as confidence and assertiveness. Mobilization and belief in one’s abilities is dominant. The most important factors for success are good preparation and input efforts. There are some negative consequences with some of the athletes - remissness, insufficient efforts, enhanced emotional reactions. The leading ones are cognitively engaged coping strategies. There are significant differences depending on age, gender, and qualification. The dependences between the researched indexes were given. The obtained results and established regularities direct the attention to possibilities of control and regulation of the negative consequences in the process of preparation with appropriate purposeful, scientifically proven influences, part of which are the coping strategies.

63-77

Authors: Mariana Albert, Evald Albert

The motivation for conducting the present research is the creation of kinesitherapeutic algorithms adapted to visually impaired student so that they can achieve greater autonomy and activity in motor skills during sports classes. The aim of the study is to develop a kinesitherapeutic program to improve the physical fitness of students with visual impairments during their sports classes. Tasks: To explore the peculiarities of the students’ adaptation to regular physical workload; To analyze the students’ social behavior and attitude within and outside the group; To optimize the methods of teaching sport. The research was done among 105 people (male and female) with major Vision impaired Masseurs. The Kinesitherapeutic Program included five successive stages: 1. Improving coordination 2. Training proper breathing. 3. Investigating and practicing Chi gon exercise. 4. Learning and applying yoga exercises. 5. Filling in a questionnaire. The survey shows that 82.86% of students believe the kinesitherapeutic program improves their autonomy and locomotion activity, increases their motor skills and physical fitness. The kinesitherapeutic program is applicable to pupils as well as students with visual disturbances with different majors. For the first time, sports classes combine Chi gong and yoga exercises with static-strength workouts and balance exercises to increase physical activity as well as to prevent and treat clinical conditions associated with visual disturbances.

84-89

Authors: Nikolay Izov, Ivan Maznev, Milena Nikolova, Dance Vasileva

Aim: This research aims to evaluate the effect of swimming and physiotherapy in a complex treatment of patients with nephrolithiasis treated under sanatorium conditions. Materials and methods: Twenty patients with nephrolithiasis who can swim, were surveyed and all of them were included in the experimental group (EG n=20). They performed swimming and physical therapy. Mean age of EG was 44.1 years. Swimming was not applied to another twenty-eight patients with the same disease, because they cannot swim. They were included in the control group (CG n=28). Mean age of CG was 49.5 years. For the purpose of the research changes in: body weight, vital capacity, abdominal muscle strength and elimination of the concretions visualized by ultrasound imaging were assessed. During their 15-day sanatorium stay, all patients performed daily physiotherapy for half an hour, tourist hikes and in addition patients of EG swam twice daily for 15 min. Results: The results revealed that the applied physiotherapy and swimming significantly improved the monitored indicators. Targeted physical exercises were effective for increasing the effect of balneological treatment, leading to clearly expressed positive changes among patients with nephrolithiasis. Conclusion: The study revealed that the rehabilitation program consisting of therapeutic exercises and swimming benefited the patients of the experimental group.