Aims: To compare the effects of 2 and 5 min of passive static stretching (SS) on stiffness and blood flow in the rectus femoris in adolescent athletes using shear wave elastography (SWE) and superb microvascular imaging (SMI).Material and methods: This prospective study included 20 male athletes with median age of 14.5 (12.5–16.5) years. The subjects were divided into two groups based on the SS duration as follows: 2 min (n=10) and 5 min (n=10). At rest and after 2 and 5 min of SS, stiffness and blood flow values were compared in the rectus femoris for each group. Inter-operator reliability was also analysed.Results: There was no significant difference between resting and 2 min of SS in terms of stiffness. The stiffness values decreased significantly from resting to 5 min of SS. The blood flow increased significantly from resting to 2 and 5 min of SS. Inter-operator reliability was moderate to perfect for SWE and SMI measurements (ICC: 0.52–0.83).Conclusions: SWE and SMI can be used to acquire reliable quantitative data about muscle stiffness and blood flow in adolescents. While stiffness parameters significantly decreased from resting after only 5 min, blood flow significantly increased both after 2 and 5 min. For physical rehabilitation protocols, 5 min of SS may be chosen to reduce stiffness. For competitions, 2 min of SS may be sufficient for warm-up exercise because it increases the blood flow optimally. Five min of SS may be preferred for the cool-down exercise to enhance recovery.

Aims: Athletic performance in basketball comprises the contributions of anaerobic and aerobic performance. The aim was to investigate the effects of passive muscle stiffness, using shear wave elastography (SWE), as well as muscle thickness, and body mass index (BMI), on both aerobic and anaerobic performances in adolescent female basketball players.Material and methods: Anaerobic and aerobic (VO2max) performance was assessed using the vertical jump and shuttle run tests, respectively, in 24 volunteer adolescent female basketball players. Passive muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris (RF), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) and soleus muscles were measured by SWE, and the thickness of each muscle was assessed by gray scale ultrasound. The BMI of each participant was also calculated. The relationship between vertical jump and VO2max values, and those of muscle stiffness, thickness, and BMI were investigated via Pearson’s correlation and multivariate linear regression analysis.Results: No significant correlation was observed between muscle stiffness and VO2max or vertical jump (p>0.05). There was significant negative correlation between GL thickness and VO2max (p=0.026), and soleus thickness and VO2max (p=0.046). There was also a significant negative correlation between BMI and VO2max (p=0.001). Conclusions: This preliminary work can be a reference for future research. Although our article indicates that passive muscle stiffness measured by SWE is not directly related to athletic performance, future comprehensive studies should be performed in order to illuminate the complex nature of muscles. The  maintenance of lower muscle thickness and optimal BMI may be associated with better aerobic performance.

We aimed to analyze the allelic distribution of solute carrier family-6 member-4 promoter region in Turkish athletes. Recent studies showed the association of lesser expressing "S" allele with anxiety. Genotype percentages for LL, LS and SS genotypes were found as 46, 35 and 19, respectively. 38% of the males had LL, %38 had LS and 24% had SS genotypes. Percentages of LL, LS and SS genotypes were 54, 31 and 15 in females, respectively. 15 (58%) male and 18 (69%) females had L, 11 (42%) male and 8 (31%) females had S alleles. Variations in the association of the SLC6A4 alleles with neuropsychiatric disorders according to different nationalities have been reported. This is the first report showing that LL genotype and L allele in Turkish athletes was more frequent than SS genotype and S allele.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between anticipation time, reaction time and balance characteristics in school children at the age of 10-12 years.11 males and 12 females, 23 students in total, studying at Istanbul Sancaktepe Ibn-i Sina Elementary School, whose average age was 11.06 years, average height was 142.78 cm and average weight was 37.6 kg, voluntarily participated in the study. Height, body weight, anticipation time, reaction time, static balance and dynamic balance measurements were obtained from the subjects within the scope of the study. The descriptive statistics and the relationship between balance, anticipation time and reaction time parameters were investigated by using multiple correlations. The level of significance taken into account was (p<0.05). In conclusion, the significant relationships were found between auditory reaction time and 5 mph anticipation time and static and dynamic balance (p<0.05), between 3 mph anticipation time and auditory reaction time and choice reaction time (p<0.05), between choice reaction time and simple reaction time and auditory reaction time (p<0.05). These perceptual motor skills could affect each other. It is suggested that physical education teachers should teach children to improve their anticipation time, balance and reaction time ability during the physical education lesson. They could place PE programs some special drills to improve these abilities.

This research aimed to investigate the variation in FMS scores of women performing Pilates exercises 2 days per week, and women performing 1 day of Pilates and 1 day of step aerobic exercise per week after 8 weeks. The research included 60 sedentary female volunteers aged from 35-50 years (age range: 30.4-54.2 years, mean: 41.2 ± 6.37). Subjects in the research were tested for basic movement patterns, stabilization and mobilization. The study was planned to last 8 weeks, with 2 training sessions per week. At the end of 8 weeks, FMS tests were repeated. Statistical analyses used the SPSS program. P values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The total score in the group with 2 days Pilates per week increased from 13.08 to 17,85, while the scores for the group with 1 day Pilates and 1 day aerobic exercise rose from 13 from 15 (p<0.05). The control group had pre-test measurement of 13.25 and post-test measurement of 13.19, with no significant change observed (p>0.05). While there was no difference between the groups for preliminary FMS results, there were significant differences between the final FMS results (pre-test p: 0.92, post-test p: 0.015). In conclusion, 2 days of Pilates exercise preserved and developed functional movement, stability and mobility and reduced the risk of injury. Though one day Pilates and one day aerobic exercise improved FMS scores, it did not reduce the risk of injury.