Journal of Physical Education & Health

PREFERRED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AMONG POLISH TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES

2024-07-22T22:12:36+02:00

Physical activity is one of the most important activities in human life. Regardless of age or gender, we all
experience it. From walking, cleaning the house, biking and other activities of daily living to playing competitive
sports. Our mental state improves as various hormones are released during physical activity, reducing feelings
of pain and improving mood. The purpose of the study was to survey track and field athletes to find out which
sports were most popular among them. 210 athletes (119 women and 91 men) participated in the survey. The
respondents answered questions about a variety of physical activities. One question asked them to choose between
summer and winter sports. Next, respondents were asked to select their preferred team sport. Subsequent
questions were divided into several sections, allowing for more freedom of expression. Respondents also gave
their opinion on their favorite combat sports. The last question, unlike the others, was completely open-ended.
The athletes were asked to list sports or different types of physical activities they would do if they were not
training in track and field. The results in this case are very surprising, especially because of the number of sports
mentioned. Thanks to the survey, we have a broader view of the interests of young people and athletes in different
types of sports. The carefully summarized answers also showed the extent to which sports are popular not only
in terms of playing them, but also in terms of watching them. The number of sports mentioned in the last question
allows us to see that young people are familiar with and interested in many sports.

El BODY COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS OF BARRANQUILLA FÚTBOL CLUB FUTSAL PLAYERS

2023-02-15T10:47:49+01:00

Introduction. Futsal is a sport characterized by a combination of high volumes of medium- and low- intensity exercise, played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A somatotype is a taxonomy used to describe a person’s physical form. Unlike in individual sports, in team sports it is very difficult to identify the player’s ideal morphotype, thus the functional and physical characteristics of team players can be better described and quantified using a science called kinanthropometry. Objective. The study aimed at determining the body composition and physical fitness of futsal players from the Barranquilla Fútbol Club in Colombia. Materials and methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study of body composition and physical fitness of futsal players was carried out. The measurements included players’ age, body weight, body height, BMI, and somatotype; 5-component body composition fractionation (adipose, muscular, bone, residual, skin tissue); and physical fitness tests: endurance, strength, and maximum oxygen uptake (V02max). An Excel database and SPSS ver. 25 software package were used for statistical analysis. The normality test revealed that the variables were distributed in a normal way, which permitted the use of the Pearson correlation coefficient in the bivariate analysis. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results. The study involved a total of fourteen Barranquilla F.C. professional male futsal players aged 23.67 ± 3.5 years, with mean body weight of 71.7 ± 10.9 cm and body height of 173.6 ± 6.4. Their mean body composition (adipose mass, BMI) was within the normal range, according to the WHO guidelines. The measurements of mean muscle mass (40.97 ± 5.2 kg) and abdominal skin folds (23.0 ± 17.0 mm) revealed a high percentage of subscapular and medial thigh fat (13.57 ± 8.2 mm) and the presence of endomorphic (3.3 ± 1.8), mesomorphic 4.5 ± 1.5, and ectomorphic (2.6 ± 1.4) somatotypes, i.e. a combined meso-endomorphic somatotype, not ideal for futsal players. Conclusion. It is advisable to assess futsal players’ body composition applying kinanthropometry instead of BMI as a body weight screening index.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY COMPOSITION AND BALANCE ABILITIES AT THE AGE OF 4–⁠⁠5 YEARS

2024-07-31T09:01:33+02:00

This paper presents results of selected body composition parameters of balance abilities in preschool children. The purpose of the research was to examine the relationship of balance abilities and body composition indicators in 4–⁠5 year old children. In total 28 children (18 girls, 10 boys) with a mean decimal age of 4.95 ±0.73 years participated in the research. In order to obtain the body composition parameters, direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) was used. To obtain balance abilities and to determine vestibular analyser levels, the Biodex Balance System SD (Biodex Medical Systems, Inc.) was employed. All of the obtained measurement results were compared with each other and evaluated using statistical methods. A correlation between body composition parameters and balance abilities was not found, although a statistically significant relationship between the level of balance ability and age was confirmed (r = 0.316, p ≤ 0.1). In the observed group, statistically significant differences between 4- and 5-year-old children were discovered in body composition p < 0.01. There were strong correlations with age and body composition at a significance level p < 0.01. Boys and girls aged between 4–⁠5 years do not differ significantly in body composition characteristics.