Authors:Xinmin Zhao, Kai Nan, Tongtong Xing Pages: 134 - 143 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. In the context of increasing stress and declining health among female college students, there is an urgent need for effective methods to enhance their physical and mental well-being. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of Baduanjin exercise on the physical fitness and mental health of female college students. Materials and methods. Sixty female college students at University were randomly selected from 150 volunteers to participate in this study. They were equally divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 students in each. All 60 participants completed the experiment. The study's protocol was conducted in accordance with ethical standards and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in the study. The experimental group received a 16-week intervention of traditional Baduanjin exercise, while the control group engaged in other unfixed sports activities synchronously. Results. After the experiment, the average weight of the experimental group decreased significantly from 52.41±6.35 kg to 50.06±5.46 kg (P<0.01). Body mass index, waist circumference, and other indicators also showed significant improvements. The step test index in the experimental group increased from 45.09±4.45 to 50.72±4.46, which was significantly different from the baseline (P<0.01). Improvements were noted in vital capacity, grip strength, and sit-up performance, all showing significant differences from baseline measures (P<0.01). The standing long jump and 800 m running performances in the experimental group showed significant improvement compared to pre-experiment measurements (P<0.05). Additionally, all mental health indicators in the experimental group demonstrated a downward trend, with significant differences in 10 indicators such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, and depression (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, there was a significant inter-group difference in motor skills and physical fitness between the experimental and control groups in the 800 m run (230.78±30.61 vs. 231.32±32.15) and standing long jump (1.81±0.33 vs. 1.78±0.42) after the intervention (P<0.05). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in mental excitement and participation in the experimental group before and after the Baduanjin exercise as assessed by Baduanjin’s Self-Perception Inventory (P<0.01). Conclusions. This study demonstrates that a 16-week program of traditional Baduanjin exercise significantly improves both physical and mental health parameters among female college students. These findings suggest that Baduanjin exercise can be an effective intervention for enhancing physical fitness and alleviating psychological distress in this population. The results underscore the potential of integrating traditional physical activities into health promotion strategies for young adults in educational settings. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0301 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
Authors:Paweł Adam Piepiora Pages: 144 - 151 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. Personality traits significantly influence athletic performance and the development of athletes. However, these traits vary at different levels of sport. This knowledge gap makes it difficult to effectively tailor training and support programs. Thus, the purpose of this article is to identify differences in the expression of personality traits among professional athletes, competitive athletes, and amateur athletes. Material and Methods. The respondents (N=83) were sport seniors from Poland, aged 23 years, studying at the Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences. They were classified into three groups: 1) n=23 professional athletes; 2) n=30 competitive athletes; and 3) n=30 amateur athletes. The Big Five model was used, and the NEO-FFI personality questionnaire was administered. Analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0, with a statistical significance level set at α = 0.05. Results. Differences in neuroticism intensity among athletes from different sport levels were noted. Professional athletes showed the lowest level of neuroticism. However, no differences were observed in the intensity of individual personality traits among athletes by gender. Furthermore, correlations were noted between sport level and athletes’ personality traits: neuroticism (strong and negative), extraversion (weak and positive), and conscientiousness (weak and positive). Conclusions. Findings underscore the importance of considering personality traits when developing tailored training and support programs for athletes. The absence of gender differences in personality traits suggests that such programs can be designed without gender-specific adjustments. The identified correlations between sport level and personality traits provide valuable insights for coaches and sport psychologists to better understand and support athletes' psychological profiles. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0302 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
Authors:Era Deva, Milaim Berisha Pages: 152 - 157 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. Vertical jump performance is crucial for athletes in many sports. However, the optimal techniques for maximizing jump height and efficiency for both students and professional soccer players require more effective solutions. This study aimed to investigate the influence of various vertical jump techniques, focusing on arm swing and elastic force utilization, and to evaluate the extent of the impact that each modification has on biomechanical characteristics and performance outcomes. Materials and methods. Ten first-grade Sport Science students and ten professional soccer players from F.C. Malisevo participated in the study. The participants performed a series of jumps, including the Countermovement Jump (CMJ), Squat Jump (SJ), and Abalakov jump (ABL), while being recorded on an iPhone 13 Pro at 240 frames per second. Data analysis was conducted using the My Jump 3 app and SPSS 26 software. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA were employed for comparative analysis. The Independent Samples T-test was used to compare differences in jump performance between the groups. Results. Significant differences in jump performance and force production were observed between SP and PES, with professional athletes demonstrating superior neuromuscular capabilities and better utilization of elastic energy. However, within each group, no significant differences were found between the different jump techniques, suggesting that arm swing and elastic force contribute similarly to overall jump height. Arm swing contributed 11.0% to jump performance in PES and 12.0% in SP, while the influence of elastic force stored in tendons during the eccentric phase was 7.0% in PES and 6.0% in SP. Conclusions. Specialized training significantly enhances jump performance, as evidenced by differences in CMJ, SJ, and ABL between SP and PES. Arm swing and elastic force utilization play crucial roles in vertical jumping, with professional athletes potentially leveraging arm mechanics more effectively. The study validates the reliability of the My Jump 3 app for measuring jump performance across diverse athletic backgrounds. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0303 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
Authors:Stanislaw Nowak, Ihor Zanevskyy Pages: 158 - 167 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. Nowadays western culture promotes appearance-wise the ideal of a slim body. The purpose of the research was to study body composition of female medicine students and compare these results with their self-evaluation on the problem. Material and Methods. Ninety-nine Casimir Pulaski Radom University in Radom females students (22.0±2.1 years old) who studied at a medicine faculty have been involved in the research. The study was conducted in accordance with the basic bioethical norms of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association on Ethical Principles for Conducting Scientific and Medical Research. Written informed consent was obtained from each study participant. The study was approved in advance by Ethical Committee of the Casimir Pulaski Radom University in Radom. The studies included survey research: The International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) - Short Form, The 5-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Questionnaire of self-evaluation of appearance, body mass and height. According to the Three Sigma Rule border values, research samples were selected regarding compacted values of corresponding parameters. Pearson correlation has been used with a purpose to study an interaction between anthropometric parameters of subjects. Two pair t-test for arithmetic means was applied to compare mean values of the anthropometric parameters of the subjects. Factor analysis has been used with a purpose to study body building of students. Calculations were done using Data Analysis from MS Excel Offices and computer package Statistica. Results. Shapiro – Wilk method was used to determine normality of distribution of quantity parameters studied in the research (p>0.4). Because Gauss distribution was noticed, parametric statistics were applied in mathematics elaboration of anthropometric parameters. According to the Method of Principal components, the Factor analysis has been done. A number of variables were reduced to twenty-three (11 – 33). Three Eigenvalues appeared greater than one (17.4; 3.3; 1.1). Number of factors extracted equals 3. Corresponding part of variation forms 94.7% of the total. The rest of variation (5.3%) presents other factors. The main factor (the first one) forms more than three quarters of variation – 75.7%. Conclusions. Accuracy of estimation of a body height among female subjects was determined as a difference between results of subject’s answer and results of measurement. Two groups of subjects have been formed: 58 subjects presented their knowledge of values of body height and 38 subjects – estimated their own hypothetic values. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0304 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
Authors:Satinder Singh, Baljinder Singh Bal Pages: 168 - 174 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. The motivational aspect of athletes' commitment to training is an important indicator of their sports performance. However, there is insufficient understanding of the subtle dynamics that determine this commitment. The purpose of the study is to explore how athletes' motivation relates to their training duration across different sports. It also aims to identify the impact of intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation on training hours and to predict athletes' training commitment. Material and Methods. In the study, 60 college students participated. Data collection utilized the Sport Motivation Scale, which assesses three dimensions of motivation: intrinsic, extrinsic, and amotivation. Physical training hours were meticulously recorded by the instructor. A maximum of 14 hours of training was provided per week as part of a training module lasting one complete month. Players who were absent due to illness were excluded from the study. Results. A significant positive correlation was found between intrinsic motivation (r = 0.93) and extrinsic motivation (r = 0.919) with training duration per week (p < 0.01). Additionally, a significant negative correlation was observed between amotivation and training duration per week (r = -0.873, p < 0.01). Motivation accounted for 84.4% of the variance in predicting physical activity training duration. Furthermore, motivation demonstrated a significant positive relationship (β = 0.921) with physical activity training duration. Conclusions. The current research provides evidence that both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are crucial for engaging athletes in physical training and activity. Furthermore, amotivation serves as a deterrent to good performance in sports. To foster continuous improvement, coaches and instructors must intervene by providing athletes with positive feedback and maintaining their interest in the game through a variety of sports skills. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0305 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
Authors:George Mocanu, Carmen Parvu, Gabriel Murariu, Dan Szabo Pages: 175 - 187 Abstract: Background and Study Aim. Explosive power is an important element of fitness levels, with fast muscle contractions being required in most physical activities. Study implements and verifies the effects of ballistic exercises with medicine balls of various weights on upper body explosive strength for non-sporting university students. Material and Methods. The study involved 184 male and 143 female undergraduate students, all 21 years old. These students had no medical contraindications to participating in the activities required by the physical education program. The development of upper body explosive strength was conducted using ballistic exercises, specifically various types of medicine ball throws, over one academic year. The evaluation comprised six tests: Overhand Ball Throw, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-forward, Overhead Medicine Ball Throw-backward, Medicine Ball Chest Throw, Shot Put - Track and Field, and 30 s Plyometric Push-Ups. These tests were scheduled at three different times during the academic year: October, December, and May. Results. The results of the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measurements indicate F values associated with statistically significant thresholds (p < 0.05). In contrast, partial eta squared (η²p) values demonstrate a stronger effect of ballistic exercise application for the male group. Significant improvements in results were observed for both genders from one test to another. The differences were notably larger between the test conducted before the winter holiday (December) and the test at the end of the second semester (May) compared to those between the test at the beginning of the academic year (October) and the one before the winter holiday (December). This pattern indicates a clear improvement in muscle strength in the second semester (January-May). The only test where high percentages of men, and especially women, encountered problems was the 30-second Plyometric Push-Ups. In the final tests, 10% of males and 40% of females scored zero. Conclusions. Ballistic exercises based on various medicine ball throws prove to be an attractive and effective solution to improve upper body muscle strength for non-sporting university students. The application of these exercises can significantly enhance physical education programs by providing clear benefits in terms of strength development. This is particularly evident in environments aimed at general student populations rather than athletes. Furthermore, while the exercises are broadly beneficial, they may require modifications to address the challenges some students face. PubDate: 2024-06-30 DOI: 10.15561/20755279.2024.0306 Issue No:Vol. 28, No. 3 (2024)
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