Nikolaos Zaras

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a dynamic warm-up either with weighted vests (WVs) or with resistance bands (RBs) may enhance the physical fitness and combat ability of kumite karate athletes. Nine male athletes (age range from 16 to 30 years), participated in this study. Athletes followed three different warm-up programs in a randomized order: (a) with their body mass only (C), (b) with a WV of 10% load of their body mass and (c) with a wearable RB of 10% tension of their body mass. Following the warm-up, athletes performed the following tests: countermovement jump (CMJ), standing long jump (LJ), punch and kick reaction time, bench press throws, T-Half test and the kick frequency test. CMJ remained unaltered following the WV and RB warm-up compared to the C. Standing long jump increased significantly following the RB warm-up compared to the C (2.2 ± 1.7%, p = 0.011). Punch reaction time was significantly shortened following the RB warm-up compared to C (−7.3 ± 5.9%, p = 0.019). No changes were observed for kick reaction time, bench press throws or the T-Half test. The kick decrement index, measured from the kick frequency test, was significantly decreased following the RB warm-up compared to the C (33.1 ± 20.2%, p = 0.011). These results suggest that an RB warm-up may significantly enhance the physical fitness and combat ability in kumite karate athletes.

Introduction: In youth soccer, for examining injury prevention and exercise performance, most of the interventional studies concerning corrective postural asymmetries have applied general intervention programs, ignoring the specific individual corrective needs of each youth player separately. The aim, therefore, of the present study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks of an individualized corrective exercise intervention program on musculoskeletal asymmetries in young soccer players. Materials and Methods: Eighty young male soccer players (age: 14.4 ± 1.2 years; body height: 166.3 ± 9.6 cm; body mass: 59.1 ± 11.5 kg) participated in the current laboratory-based study. A battery of postural and musculoskeletal asymmetry evaluations were initially performed. After the completion of the initial assessment, each player was provided with an individual musculoskeletal asymmetry corrective exercise intervention program which lasted for 8-weeks, with the aim of restoring muscular asymmetries. Following the application of the intervention program, a re-evaluation of their musculoskeletal asymmetries was performed. Results: There was a significant improvement in the primary angle of trunk rotation (r = −0.56, p < 0.001), hamstring flexibility (right: r = −0.55, p < 0.001; left: r = −0.48, p < 0.001), hip external rotation (right: r = −0.46, p < 0.001; left: r = −0.26, p = 0.020), hip internal rotation (right: r = −0.26, p = 0.021; left: r = −0.35, p = 0.002), the opened-eyes Stork Test (right: r = −0.33, p = 0.003: left: r = −0.33, p = 0.003), the closed-eyes Stork Test (right: r = −0.39, p < 0.001; left: r = −0.43, p < 0.001), the Thomas test [right: (χ2(3) = 52.281, p = 0.001, γ^ = −0.751; left: (χ2(3) = 45.832, p = 0.001, γ^ = −0.696)] and of ankle prone passive dorsiflexion (flexed knees) (χ2(2) = 13.019, p = 0.005, V = 0.285). Conclusions: An 8-week individual corrective intervention exercise program may improve postural and musculoskeletal asymmetry status in young male soccer players.