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Objectives: The aim of this study was to reveal the normal morphometric values of Achilles tendon using ultrasound (US) imaging in subjects of different gender, age groups, smoking status, and physical exercise habits. Methods:A total of 342 Achilles tendons were examined in the 171 volunteers (69 females, 102 males) with different age, gender, weight, height, smoking and physical exercise habits. Achilles tendon width, length, thickness, cross-sectional area and length were measured using a commercial ultrasound machine with a 9-15 mHz linear-array transducer. Results:The average width, thickness, cross-sectional area and length of the Achilles tendon in male subjects were significantly higher than females. Tendon width, thickness, cross-sectional area and length showed no significant difference between the right and left side. With the exception of the left Achilles tendon thickness, measurements taken for non-smoking subjects were larger than smokers. Achilles tendon measurements of subjects engaged in sportive activities were significantly larger than those with sedentary lifestyle Weight and body mass index were the only anthropometric measurements in correlation with Achilles tendon size. Conclusion:Achilles tendon size varies with age, gender, physical activity and smoking habits. The measurements presented in this study give normal variations of the tendon's morphologic characteristics, which will be of use in clinical diagnosis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effect of different stretching protocols on flexibility, Yo-Yo IR-1 and repeated sprint performance. The sample group of this study consists of 15 male who were doing regular exercise at least 3 years. This group performed 5 different stretching protocols on non-consecutive days. Stretching protocols were determined as follows: light jogging for only 5 minutes (NS), light jogging and static strectching (SS), light jogging and dynamic stretching (DS), light jogging and static + dynamic stretching (SDS), light jogging and dynamic + static stretching (DSS). Altough participants did not have a statistically significant effect on flexibility performance (p> 0.05), the best flexibility value was SS. Repeated sprint performance (best) values of different stretching protocols did not have statistically significant effect on repeated sprint performance (moderate, worst, decline, post fatigue index) values (p> 0.05). Repeated sprint performance was found to have a statistically significant effect on Borg values and HR mean values (p <0.05). It was found that Yo-Yo IR-1 has a statistically significant effect on BORG values, Yo-Yo IR-1 performance HR (pre) values, Yo-Yo IR-1 performance HR (middle) values and Yo-Yo IR-1 performance lactate values (p<0.05). According to the findings obtained as a result of the research; it has been observed that different stretching protocols have different effects in terms of repeated sprint, flexibility and Yo-Yo IR-1 performance parameters. Overall, these results suggest that flexibility performance may be improve after static stretching exercise.

It is known that there is a strong correlation between agility performance and match performance in terms of soccer players. Moreover, it is expressed that the agility and the linear sprint have different performance skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between linear sprint and change of direction performance scores and to determine the most appropriate agility test for soccer players. 16 male soccer players (age: 21.93±3.62 years, height: 175.06±3.06 cm, body mass: 69.51±7.40 kg, body mass index: 22.67±2.16 kg/m 2 , body fat ratio: 7.52±2.64 %) participated in linear sprint and agility tests. All participants completed a test battery involving linear sprinting (10, 20, 30 m), agility tests (T test, 505, Pro-agility, illinois). The 10, 20, and 30 m sprint performance were positively correlated with performance on the illinois agility test (p<0.05). Furthermore, the 20 m sprint performance were positively significant correlated (r=.571, p=.042) with performance on pro-agility test. Lastly, the 10, 20, and 30m sprint performance were positively correlated (r=.329, p=.272; r=.370, p=.214; r=.338, p=.259 respectively) with performance on T test but this correlation levels were not significance. Given these meaningless relationships, it may state that the one of the most appropriate agility tests is T test for soccer players. This study provides support for the use of T test as an agility performance test in soccer players.

BACKGROUND: Some recovery strategies are needed to reduce or eliminate the effect of negative symptoms caused by exercise. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different types of recovery after single-bout strength exercises on biomarkers of muscle damage, cytokine release and lactate elimination. METHODS: Following familiarization, 10 male volunteers performed four randomized recovery protocols (passive or active recovery with or without compression garments) following a single bout of resistance exercise (squat and deadlift exercises). The blood creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), interleukine-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alfa (TNF-α) values were measured before and after exercise, and after 24, 48, 72 hours. RESULTS: The CK analysis showed that all protocols significantly increased (p< 0.05) CK activity compared to the pre and 24 h post time points. Interestingly, protocol 3 and 4 significantly decreased (p< 0.05) CK activity compared 24 and 72 h post-exercise. LDH, IL-6, and TNF values did not show significant difference (p> 0.05) at the time points tested. CONCLUSIONS: Active recovery is an effective method for reducing the severity and duration of muscle damage and for accelerating the clearance of blood lactate (BLa) following a single bout of strength training. There is no added benefit of using compression garments.