We tested the hypotheses that the individual strength properties depend on the applied test and the variable extracted, rather than on the muscle group tested. Flexor and extensor muscles acting in the knee and elbow joint were tested in 58 participants. The standard strength test (SST; based on sustained maximum contraction) and alternating consecutive maximum contractions (ACMC; alternating contractions of antagonistic muscles) performed under static conditions were separately applied to provide the maximum force (F) and the rate of force development (RFD) of each tested muscle. The principal component analysis applied on all 16 variables revealed 3 factors that explained 85.5% of the total variance. Contrary to our hypotheses, the individual factors were loaded with the variables recorded from individual muscles, rather than with either the particular variables or tests. The present findings suggest that recording both F and RFD in routine strength testing procedures could be redundant since they may assess the same strength property of the tested muscle. In addition, ACMC may be a feasible alternative to SST since it could assess the same strength properties from two antagonist muscles through a single trial, while being based on relatively low and transient forces.

*Fakultet za fi zičku kulturu, Beograd.

Aerobic fitness, endurance, and cardiovascular endurance are synonyms for work capacity, which itself is an important prerequisite for the health and life of every man. The purpose of this research was to identify the trend of aerobic fitness of students in the last 15 years. The Survey method, which implies nonexperimental crossectional research, was used. The instrument is UKK 2km, walking test. The total sample consisted of 605 subjects (389 males, 216 females), students of Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, aged 18-28 years. They were divided into three groups, according to when they were tested, the first group was tested in the period 1997-2000 (N = 299), the other was tested from 2001-2004 (N = 200), the third was tested in 2012 (N = 106). Analysis of the results showed a decreasing trend in fitness index of male students with 104.1 to 77.3, and of the female students from 96.4 to 84.8. T-tests confirmed differences in fitness index, at the level of p<0.05 for both sexes. The maximum oxygen consumption among male students declined from 51.3 to 40.3 ml/kg/min, and among female students from 37.5 to 33.7 ml/kg/min. The results indicate toward decreasing trend in students' aerobic fitness in both sexes, but the trend is less pronounced in female students. Students of both sexes have fitness index values below the standard norms of the Swedish population. According to the criteria of Cooper oxygen consumption students have moved from the "Excellent" to the "Very good" category. The general trend of decreasing aerobic fitness of the population can be seen in the sport and physical education students, as a consequence of lifestyle in which there is not enough adequate physical activity.

Background: Physical activity (PA) surveillance, policy, and research efforts need to be periodically appraised to gain insight into national and global capacities for PA promotion. The aim of this paper was to assess the status and trends in PA surveillance, policy, and research in 164 countries. Methods: We used data from the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) 2015 and 2020 surveys. Comprehensive searches were performed for each country to determine the level of development of their PA surveillance, policy, and research, and the findings were verified by the GoPA! Country Contacts. Trends were analyzed based on the data available for both survey years. Results: The global 5-year progress in all 3 indicators was modest, with most countries either improving or staying at the same level. PA surveillance, policy, and research improved or remained at a high level in 48.1%, 40.6%, and 42.1% of the countries, respectively. PA surveillance, policy, and research scores decreased or remained at a low level in 8.3%, 15.8%, and 28.6% of the countries, respectively. The highest capacity for PA promotion was found in Europe, the lowest in Africa and low- and lower-middle-income countries. Although a large percentage of the world’s population benefit from at least some PA policy, surveillance, and research efforts in their countries, 49.6 million people are without PA surveillance, 629.4 million people are without PA policy, and 108.7 million live in countries without any PA research output. A total of 6.3 billion people or 88.2% of the world’s population live in countries where PA promotion capacity should be significantly improved. Conclusion: Despite PA is essential for health, there are large inequalities between countries and world regions in their capacity to promote PA. Coordinated efforts are needed to reduce the inequalities and improve the global capacity for PA promotion.

No abstract

Physical activity, health and quality of life are closely interconnected. The human body was designed to move and therefore needs regular physical activity in order to function optimally and avoid illness. The aim of this research was to explore the differences in body composition and motor abilities after applying additional fitness program during 8 consecutive weeks and appropriate diet regime in overweight children of school age. A total of 12 boys were enrolled into the study. They were overweight basketball players with average body mass index 26.6 ± 4.2 and age 11.4 ± 0.5. Body composition was tested by bioelectrical impedance, while basic motor tests were used for physical abilities (Cooper test, strength tests and bent over test). All measures were done before and after 8 weeks of fitness program. Additional program of training and diet regime influenced statistically significant differences in all measured anthropometric parameters (body height, body weight, body mass index, amount of fat, amount of muscles, p < 0.05), except in basal metabolic rate. After two months of training, subjects also showed statistically significant improvement in all tested motor abilities (p<0.05).

Las agendas de la sociedad contemporánea están llenas de actividades por las cuales, a través de la actividad física y los ejercicios, se trabaja en mejorar la calidad de vida del individuo, la familia, la comunidad y la sociedad en total. En muchos documentos de los cuerpos y organizaciones profesionales, científicas o políticas, así como también en los documentos aprobados en nivel de Estados individuales, la salud pública y las actividades con el fin de promover estilos de vida saludables y dar posibilidad a todos los ciudadanos de practicar en las actividades deportivas, se convirtieron en una de las prioridades de la agenda de desarrollo en este milenio. Tanto en los documentos e iniciativas nacionales, como también en los internacionales, la recreación deportiva, con la actividad individual de los ciudadanos, están en la esencia del esfuerzo profesional y la actividad política y con el objetivo común que es llegar, a través de ejercicio físico en masa, al beneficio de salud de importancia para el individuo y la sociedad en total. El objeto del presente trabajo se refiere a los documentos y la práctica de valorar y organizar el deporte recreativo a partir del año 2006-plena independencia estatal de la República de Serbia. El objetivo del trabajo es observar lo hecho y posicionar la actividad física de los ciudadanos en las próximas agendas del desarrollo social.

A sedentary lifestyle is characterized by the development of automation and lack of movement that causes various ailments and diseases and thus negatively affects the health of people. This study aimed to determine the effects of recreational swimming on the psychosomatic status of middle-aged women. The subjective assessment of psychosomatic status (SPPSS) scale was used in the study to assess ailments (disorders) of certain body parts and organic systems before and after the experimental treatment. The results of the research show that there were statistically significant changes in all tested variables, and the largest changes were in the variables: back pain (Z = -5,169, p 0.001) and leg pain (Z = -4,941, p 0.001), while the smallest changes were in variables indigestion (Z = -3,983, p 0.001).