Journal of Applied Sports Sciences

3-11

Authors: Albena Alexandrova, Radoslav Penov, Lubomir Petrov, Dilyana Zaykova

Successful performance in the Kumite discipline of Karate-do requires well developed aerobic and anaerobic cell-systems for supplying energy. Therefore, more and more often over the recent years, the preparation of martial arts athletes has included intensive interval training sessions following the Tabata method. The objective of this survey was to create a highly-intensive Tabata-based circuit training that is suitable for the functional preparation of Karate competitors and for defining the physiological and the biochemical characteristics of the training load through measuring the heart rate and the concentration of lactate in the peripheral blood. A group of six Karate practitioners, all Kumite competitors, took part in the survey. They performed tree times 10 exercises with Karate-technique elements following the classical Tabata scheme of 20 seconds work with a maximum number of repetitions and 10 seconds of break. The results proved that; 1) The heart rate increased after each circuit and exceeded 180 bpm, and in the break time it went down to 120-140 bpm; 2) The lactate concentration in the blood rose progressively after the first two circuits, and after finishing the last circle an overall decrease was registered regarding this indicator (9.3 ± 3.32 vs 13.4 ± 2.39 vs 11.8 ±1.63 mmol/L, respectively). In conclusion, the intensity of the latter circuit training model is very high because the levels of blood lactate after performing each circuit of the training were higher than the respective concentrations after Kumite competition matches at the same heart rates.

21-34

Authors: Radoslav Penov, Milen Chalakov

This article presents the development of an experimental methodology that aims to improve the speed of the front-hand punch in karate. The rationale behind developing this methodology is that the speed of the front-hand punch in karate is one of the most important criteria for the successful defeat of the opponent. In addition, the front-hand punch is one of the most commonly used punches during matches. The objective that we set was to study the effect of the application of the methodology we developed for the purpose of improving the speed of the front-hand punch (Kizami Tsuki) in karate. To accomplish this study, we used a computerized video system to register and analyze the speed of karate punches performed by the participants in the experiment. The results regarding the speed of the straight-hand punch were measured in the same way in order to provide identical conditions. Input data was processed by means of applied software for kinematic analysis. To prove the credibility of the registered data, we used statistical analysis methodology. We hope that by presenting our methodology in this article, more coaches will begin to use modern tools and methods in order to improve the quality of training in karate.

43-58

Authors: Vladimir Angelov

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using difficult conditions in the balance training program through virtual reality glasses and glasses simulating alcohol consumption. According to the hypotheses of the study, the application of the balance training program with applying additional difficulty on the vestibular apparatus through technical means will lead to a greater training effect. The object of the study was the balance stability. The research was done among twenty-six Bulgarian students from the National Sports Academy. A pedagogical experiment was conducted to prove the hypothesis of the study. The testing session included two balance exercises. The collected data from the study were statistically processed with the variance analysis and t-criterion of Student. The results of the research were statistically significant and showed a greater increase in the parameters of the experimental group (FE: 33,3℅; P=100℅; SE: 14,3℅; P=99,9℅) than in those of the control group (FE: 14,7℅; P=99,9℅; SE: 8,3℅; P=99,9℅). The analysis of the results justified the hypothesis of the research. The study found out that the usage of the balance training program that applies additional difficulty on the vestibular apparatus through virtual reality glasses and glasses simulating alcohol use leads to a better balance stability.

73-80

Authors: Antoaneta Dimitrova, Kristin Grigorova-Petrova, Daniela Lubenova, Milena Nikolova

Chronic spinal disc disease has a large socioeconomic impact on the health care system. A lot of researchers confirm that physiotherapy (PT) is an effective choice of treatment for many patients. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the combined effect of physiotherapy and balneotherapy thetreatment of lumbar disc disease and to compare the results with those obtained only after physiotherapy. Twenty patients with lumbar disc disease in the chronic period, divided into two groups – experimental and control were studied. The experimental group did exercises in a thermal mineral pool and underwent a general PT program for ten days, while the control group had only general PT program for ten days. The general PT program was the same for both groups. Before and after the treatment the Schober test and the static part of the Kraus-Weber test were conducted. We revealed significant positive changes in the lumbar flexibility, endurance and strength of the back muscles, mm. glutei, abdominal muscles and the hip flexors among the patients from the experimental group, objectified by the increased time to perform the static test positions of Kraus-Weber Test and Schober test. We recommend our program with PT and balneotherapy as appropriate when dealing with patients with chronic lumbar spine disease in balneological resorts and SPA hotels.

3-13

Authors: Ognyan Miladinov, Vladimir Velin

Abstract The drop jump is a frequently used and widely examined training exercise aimed at the development of one of the most important qualities in sports with speed-strength character – the explosive power. The common options for execution of this exercise suppose the general development of the explosive power of the lower limbs without taking into consideration the kinematics and dynamics related to a certain kind of sport or sports discipline. The main aim of the research is to reveal reliable interdependencies of kinematic and dynamic parameters of movements between the drop jump on an inclined platform and the take-off from the board in the long jump and the triple jump. The research is aimed at modeling the parameters of execution of this exercise so that it can meet the kinematics and dynamics of the take-off in the horizontal athletics jumps. We examined some kinematic and dynamic parameters of movements in the drop jump on an inclined platform with different angle of inclination and made a comparison with the same parameters in the take-off in the competitive events long jump and triple jump. We determined significant differences and conformities between the researched parameters. On the base of the conclusions made we designed a piece of training equipment so that this exercise can be implemented in practice.

21-29

Authors: Borislava Petrova

In this study, we:(a) developed allometric exponents for scaling Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) power data that are effective in controlling body mass(BM) influence; and (b) established a normative WAnT data set for young soccer players. Forty-six players completed a standard WAnT. Allometric exponents and percentile ranking for peak power (PP), average power (AP) and power output for 30 s (W 30 s) were established. Allometric exponents “b” for PP, AP and W (30 s) scaled for BM were 0.72,0.78 and 0.85 respectively using braking force 75 g.kg-1, markedly higher from the theoretical suggested of b=0.67. The study shows the possibilities of applying the allometric scaling in the coaches practice. If these exponents in allometric scaling of young soccer players are used, WAnT power values will provide coaches with valid means for comparing power production between individuals without the confounding influence of BM.

37-44

Authors: Petar Peev, Marin Gadev

Focus of this research is the relationship between the motor abilities. The interest in this topic is dictated from the fact that there isn’t enough information about it in elite female football. For the purpose of the research we made tests to define the level of development of the motor abilities of 68 elite female football players. We also made a descriptive statistics and correlation analysis and we received the following results: descriptive statistics shows that the researched indicators are highly homogeneous (in range of V% =2,67 to 5,05); the correlation between accelerative abilities and maximal sprinting abilities is moderate and positive (r= 0,634); the correlation between power abilities with explosive character and other researched abilities is moderate and negative (r= -0,430, r= -0,494, r= -0,455); the speed endurance abilities have moderate to strong and positive correlation with the accelerative and maximal sprinting abilities (r= 0,600, r= 0,809). Conclusions: 1) Improving the power abilities with explosive character creates beneficial conditions in development of the other motor abilities; 2) Improving of the speed abilities is a major component of the conditioning in female soccer; 3) The most important factor for improving the speed endurance is creating a “speed reserve”.

53-63

Authors: Tatiana Iancheva, Galina Domuschieva – Rogleva, Milena Kuleva

The activities performed by people who go on military missions or on Antarctic expeditions to Livingston Island often arise various questions and interpretations. On the one hand, they suppose a tendency toward risky acts; on the other hand, they require discipline and balance in one’s behavior. The aim of our study was to examine the peculiarities of the need of security and the need of sensation seeking as basic personal variables of participants in military missions in Afghanistan and Bulgarian Antarctic expeditions and to examine their relation to the coping strategies applied. The research was done among 141 individuals (107 participants in Bulgarian military contingent which took part in an international NATO mission in Afghanistan in 2017 and 34 participants in two Bulgarian Antarctic expedition on Livingston Island in 2014/2015 and 2016/2017. All the individuals researched were divided into groups according to their age, gender and rank. We used: 1) Need of security assessment test (A. Velichkov, M. Radoslavova, S. Vassileva, V. Todorov, 1998). 2) Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced Scale – COPE – 1 (Carver, et al, 1989), adapted for Bulgarian conditions (M. Georgiev et al, 2003) and 3) Research methods of psychic instability and sensation seeking, adapted by A. Velichkov and M. Radoslavova (2005). It is based on M. Zuckerman’s methods (1979, 1994). The researched participants in military missions and the explorers from Antarctic expeditions showed significant differences along the indexes between the two groups. The participants in military mission have lower values along all scales of the need of sensation seeking in comparison with the established norms for the Bulgarian sample and higher values of the need of security. The results of the participants in the Antarctic expeditions are particularly interesting. Regardless of their pronounced inclination to adventurous experiences and risky behavior, to hasty and impulsive actions, when subjected to tension, uncertainty and stress they revert to cognitive engaged coping strategies, which suppose active coping, planning, mobilization and a sense of control over the situation. The established regularities are a valuable reference point both for the selection of the participants in military missions and expeditions and for the insurance of their safety.

70-87

Authors: Gerrit Jan Breukelman, Cornelia Johanna Du Preez, Trayana Djarova-Daniels, Albertus Kotze Basson

Diabetes is a worldwide health problem and is prevalent in both developed and developing countries. Type 2 diabetes is characterized as being insulin resistant with inadequate insulin response to maintain a normal concentration of glucose in the blood. It is estimated that Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90–95% of all diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can be described as a chronic and progressive disease, caused by a combination of resistance to insulin action and impaired insulin secretion, where obesity and overweight, due to excess body fat with fat distributed in the upper body are the main complications of insulin resistance. With the dramatic increase in obesity, low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diets have become increasingly popular. Diets limiting the amount of carbohydrate intake have been called low-carbohydrate or very-low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat, Banting and ketogenic diets, and are characterized by 50g or less carbohydrates per day. High fat low carbohydrate diets have been found to be different from the traditional diets of most cultures. Recent studies however show that there are potential benefits associated with reducing carbohydrates and increasing fat intake. Low-carbohydrate diets have become very popular for weight loss. Although they may improve some metabolic markers, particularly in Type 2 diabetes mellitus, they seemingly have an effect on body weight, glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors as well. Research shows that by reducing aerobic exercise capacity; poor glycemic control, increase in cardiovascular risk and elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) are common with Type 2 diabetics. Aerobic exercise capacity and glycemic control in Type 2 diabetes can be improved by being physically active. Regular physical activity along with diet therapy provides health benefits and has been found to be essential for primary and secondary prevention of most metabolic disorders.