Katja Tomazin

• PhD
• Professor (Assistant) at University of Ljubljana

Background: Submotor-threshold electrical stimulation (subES) can enhance motoneuron excitability, presenting a potential strategy for improving exercise efficiency in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of superimposed subES of the tibial nerve during voluntary isometric contraction on ank...

This study aimed to investigate the correlations between different foot arch types and balance performance. Forty-four Faculty of sport students completed the single-leg body sway balance test and single-leg landing tests using force plates, and single-leg foot-type tests using a pedobarometry platform with both the left and right legs. Spearman co...

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether subthreshold electrical stimulation (PES) of the tibial nerve during isometric ankle plantar flexion affects the torque production, as well as the amplitude and median frequency (MF) of the electromyogram (EMG) of the soleus muscle in healthy adults and adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). A pilot...

Purpose Longitudinal studies of multicomponent exercise programs have produced encouraging results suggesting that sustained physical activity (PA) has a significant impact on the fall prevention and frailty in elderly. Promoting lifelong PA for elderly requires a community-based approach and effective collaboration between the health and sports pr...

Purpose The vAdBeCeDa® program is a novel multicomponent exercise program for the prevention of falls and frailty in community-dwelling older adults by improving strength, stability, balance, flexibility and walking speed through targeted exercises. The aim of the study was to investigate how vAdBeCeDa® affects postural performance under non-visual...

Correctly determining the frequency, intensity and duration of balance tasks (BT) is crucial for effective balance training. While the frequency and BT duration are well defined, understanding BT intensity remains limited. Higher BT intensity demands greater attentional capacity for postural control. To assess the role of attention in postural cont...

Pupillometry has been used in the studies of postural control to assess cognitive load during dual tasks, but its response to increased balance task intensity has not been investigated. Furthermore, it is unknown whether side-specific changes in pupil diameter occur with more demanding balance tasks providing additional insights into postural contr...

Correctly determining the frequency, intensity and duration of balance tasks (BT) is crucial for effective balance training. While the frequency and BT duration are well defined, understanding BT intensity remains limited. Higher BT intensity demands greater attentional capacity for postural control. To assess the role of attention in postural cont...

Introducing the new Vadbeceda exercise program - the first evidence-based program of its kind, designed in collaboration with experts in the fields of public health, rehabilitation and sports. It is intended for the elderly who want to maintain their vitality and improve their quality of life. Check it out: https://podprimostarejse.si/telesna-dejav...

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is chronic, autoimmune disease expressed with demyelination of neurons of central nervous system (1), resulting in muscular weakness, spasticity and impaired voluntary muscle activation (2). Strength and aerobic training have beneficial effects for managing the symptoms (3), but people with MS often struggle to...

Purpose Falls and frailty in the older adults are a considerable public health and socioeconomic problem. Physical activity has an important role in delaying degenerative ageing processes and preserving the neuromuscular system’s plasticity. Multicomponent exercise programmes could improve strength (stability), balance, mobility (flexibility) and w...

Purpose The most commonly proposed intervention for fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults is a multicomponent exercise programme. This is a structured form of exercise that improves muscle performance, balance, proprioception, coordination, mobility, and gait. It usually includes balance and functional exercises versus control. Althoug...

The intensity of balance exercise is not fully determined yet. Some previous studies developed few exertion and stability scales but they were not clinically tested yet. PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study is to determine whether reaction time can be a measure of relative intensity of balance exercise. METHODS: A total of 20 volunteers, randoml...

Voluntary drive of the exercising muscle is usually assessed with the interpolated twitch technique (ITT), using paired supramaximal electrical stimuli. The aim of this study was to directly compare voluntary activation (VA) of the quadriceps muscle (QM) measured with the ITT, using paired and triple electrical stimuli during maximal voluntary isom...

Purpose: Previous research has shown that maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) significantly influences performance in trail-running races up to 120 km but not beyond. Similarly, the influence of running economy on performance in ultratrail remains unclear. The aim of our study was, therefore, to determine the physiological predictors of performance in...

The aim of the study was to test whether ascending to a moderate real altitude affects motoneuron pool excitability at rest, as expressed by a change in the H-reflex amplitude, and also to elucidate whether a possible alteration in the motoneuron pool excitability could be reflected in the execution of lower-body concentric explosive (squat jump; S...

The aim of this study was to investigate neuromuscular adaptations in elite judo athletes after three weeks of power-oriented strength training at terrestrial altitude (2320 m). Nineteen men were assigned to altitude training (AL) (22.1 ± 2.3 years) and sea level training (SL) (22.6 ± 4.1 years). Neuromuscular assessment consisted of: (1) maximal i...

The ability to efficiently control balance is important for maintaining an independent life and performing daily activities. It also contributes to efficient walking and reducing the risk of falls. Maintaining balance is achieved by activity of interconnected systems: muscular, sensory, skeletal and central controlling mechanisms. The complexity of...

The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a widely used test for the indirect measurement of cardiorespiratory fitness in various cancer populations. Although the 6MWT is a simple test, there are no normative values for breast cancer survivors (BCS) or comparisons of results with healthy counterparts. A systematic review with a meta-analysis was carried o...

This study determined the influence of creeping exercise on the strength and endurance of the upper body. A total of 32 young football players were divided into an experimental (EXP) and a control group (CON). The EXP group included 17 boys (11.6±0.6years), while the CON group included 15 boys (10.5±1.1years). Upper body strength and endurance were...

Background: Blood flow-restricted resistance training (BFR-RT) has been proven to be safe and efficacious in healthy older adults, but not in cardiovascular disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and training induced effects of BFR-RT on hemostatic and hemodynamic responses in patients with coronary artery disease...

Tomazin, K, Strojnik, V, Feriche, B, Garcia Ramos, A, Štrumbelj, B, and Stirn, I. Neuromuscular adaptations in elite swimmers during concurrent strength and endurance training at low and moderate altitudes. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-This study evaluated neuromuscular adaptations in elite swimmers during concurrent strength and endura...

Alpine skis with wider waist widths have recently become more popular. With such skis, the contact point of the ground reaction force during ski turns is displaced more medially from beneath the sole of the outer ski, which may present an increased risk of injury. The aim of this study was to investigate knee joint kinetics, kinematics, and lower l...

The aim of the study was to identify reliability of ankle motion sense and active repositioning using a custom-built device, and to determine whether there were (significant) differences for each respective kinaesthetic test between young and older adults. In total, 17 younger and 15 older adults volunteered to participate in this study. Each parti...

Few, if any, studies have reported the effects of intensity of balance exercise for balance training and rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to find a relative measure of intensity of balance exercise. On this basis, we analysed ankle muscle activation in the sagittal plane with increasing difficulty for a one leg stance on a T-board....

Resistance training may be associated with unfavorable cardiovascular responses (such as hemodynamic alterations, anginal symptoms or ventricular arrhythmias). In healthy adults, blood flow-restricted (BFR) resistance training improves muscle strength and hypertrophy improvements at lower loads with minimal systemic cardiovascular adverse responses...

Background: Being aware of ankle movement and motor control has a critical role in maintaining balance during functional activities such as standing, walking, and running. Since the somatosensory system declines with aging, this is even more important for older adults. Research question: How do different exercise modalities (static stretching, o...

Proper ankle motor control is critical for balance in the human body during functional activities such as standing, walking, and running. Different exercise modalities are often performed during the same training session where earlier activities may influence later ones. The purpose of the current study was to determine the acute effects of differe...

Individual data of the error scores for force sense test. (XLSX)

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a power-oriented resistance training (RT) intervention at moderate altitude on neuromuscular function. Twenty elite judokas were mobilized to participate in the study and divided in the control (C - sea level, n=11) and experimental (A – altitude 2320 m, n=9) group. Both groups executed a physical...

The purpose of this study was to determine differences between two different difficulties of balance task (BT) and their acute influence on H-wave. The research included 13 voluntary participants. Each of them performed BT of two different difficulties in random order. BT was performed on balance board with motion in sagittal plane. We measured acu...

The purpose of study was to determine whether a resistance training on fitness machines could increase muscle strength and improve balance in already active seniors. Fifteen persons older than 65 years (65±4,6 let, 160,45±8 cm, 68,74±11 kg) volunteered in the study. They were participated in different supervised exercise programs at least twice per...

The purpose of study was to determine whether a resistance training on fitness machines could increase muscle strength and improve balance in already active seniors. Fifteen persons older than 65 years (65±4,6 years, 160,45±8 cm, 68,74±11 kg) volunteered in the study. They were participated in different supervised exercise programs at least twice p...

Purpose: The aim of the study was to compare neuromuscular fatigue induced by repeated sprint running vs cycling. Methods: Eleven active male participants performed two repeated maximal sprint protocol (5×6 s, 24-s rest periods, 4 sets, 3-min between sets), one in running (treadmill) and one in cycling (cycle ergometer). Neuromuscular function,...

This study evaluated the influence of an altitude training (AT) camp on swimming start time and loaded squat jump performance. To accomplish this goal, 13 international swimmers (8 women, 5 men) were allocated to both the control (Sea Level Training, SLT) and experimental conditions (AT, 2320 m above sea level) that were separated by a one year per...

This study aimed to examine the correlation of different dry land strength and power tests with swimming start performance. Twenty international level female swimmers (age 15.3 ± 1.6 years, FINA point score 709.6 ± 71.1) performed the track freestyle start. Additionally, dry land tests were conducted: a) squat (SJ) and countermovement jumps (CMJ),...

Purpose: Compare alterations in running mechanics during maximal treadmill sprints of different distances. Methods: Eleven physically active males performed short (100-m), medium (200-m) and long (400-m) running sprints on an instrumented treadmill. Continuous measurement of running kinetics/kinematics and spring-mass characteristics were record...

Full paper published in European Journal of Sport Science: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281260528_Relationship_between_different_push-off_variables_and_start_performance_in_experienced_swimmers

ABSTRACT The decline in explosive strength and its functional significance in old age have been well established using open (OKC) and closed (CKC) kinetic chain exercises, but not simultaneously for both exercises. The purpose of the study was to compare the age-related decline in the ability to rapidly produce force (impulse in the first 200 ms) i...

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behaviour with fatigue induced by 5-hour hilly running (5HHR). Running mechanics were measured pre- and post-5HHR at 10, 12 and 14 km · h(-1) on an instrumented treadmill in eight ultramarathon runners, and sampled at 1000 Hz for 10 consecutive steps. Con...

This study aimed to examine the effects of a 5-h hilly run on ankle plantar (PF) and dorsal flexor (DF) force and fatigability. It was hypothesised that DF fatigue/fatigability would be greater than PF fatigue/fatigability. Eight male trail long distance runners (42.5 ± 5.9 years) were tested for ankle PF and DF maximal voluntary isokinetic contrac...

The aims of the present study were to assess the ability of explosive concentric contractions to induce high-frequency fatigue, and to determine what effects the number of repetitions and number of sets have upon peripheral fatigue. Nine male students performed two protocols (6 sets, 5 min and 1 week rest between sets and protocols, respectively) w...

We investigated the changes in the technical ability of force application/orientation against the ground vs. the physical capability of total force production after a multiple-set repeated sprints series. Twelve male physical education students familiar with sprint running performed four sets of five 6-s sprints (24s of passive rest between sprints...

We investigated the changes in constant velocity spring-mass behavior after high intensity sprint fatigue in order to better interpret the results recently reported after ultra-long distance (ULD) exercises. Our hypothesis was that after repeated sprints (RS), subjects may likely experience losses of force such as after ULD, but the necessity to mo...

The aim of this study was to compare the aetiology of neuromuscular fatigue following maximal sprints of different distances. It was hypothesized that increasing the distance would modify the type of peripheral and induce central fatigue. 11 subjects performed 100-, 200- and 400-m sprints on a motorized instrumented treadmill. Neuromuscular functio...

We investigated the changes in the technical ability of force application/orientation against the ground vs. the physical capability of total force production after a multiple-set repeated sprints series. Twelve male physical education students familiar with sprint running performed four sets of five 6-s sprints (24 s of passive rest between sprint...

Δ changes, Cohen's d and % Confidence Intervals for Na+, K+, Ca2+ and blood glucose. (DOCX)

Changes from baseline in potentiated twitch contraction time, potentiated twitch half-relaxation time and potentiation of knee extensors (KE) and plantar flexors (PF). (DOCX)

Δ changes, Cohen's d and % Confidence Intervals for markers of muscle damage and inflammation. (DOCX)

We investigated the physiological consequences of one of the most extreme exercises realized by humans in race conditions: a 166-km mountain ultra-marathon (MUM) with 9500 m of positive and negative elevation change. For this purpose, (i) the fatigue induced by the MUM and (ii) the recovery processes over two weeks were assessed. Evaluation of neur...

Changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behavior due to fatigue induced by a mountain ultra-marathon race (MUM, 166km, total positive and negative elevation of 9500m) were studied in 18 ultra-marathon runners. Mechanical measurements were undertaken pre- and 3h post-MUM at 12km h(-1) on a 7m long pressure walkway: contact (t(c)), aerial (t(a))...

The purpose of this study was to find out if surface EMG signal enables a differentiation between high- and low-frequency peripheral fatigue that was caused with two different sports activities. Ten students (age, 24.2 ± 3.39 years; weight, 79.32 ± 12.95 kg) performed consecutive hops for 60 s (to induce high-frequency fatigue) and cycling at maxim...

We investigate the influence that inguinal fat has on maximal quadriceps response to femoral nerve magnetic stimulation. Vastus lateralis M-wave amplitude and quadriceps twitch peak torque were measured (i) in lean and overweight subjects and (ii) when slices of pig fat ranging from 2 to 18 mm in thickness were placed between the coil and the nerve...

The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of two coils used for femoral nerve magnetic stimulation and to compare them with electrical stimulation in inducing maximal response of the quadriceps. The mechanical and electromyographic (EMG) responses were dependent on the coil used. The 45-mm double coil showed greater efficiency to elicit a...

The study was designed to examine the gender-related differences in maximum mechanical power output in various short-burst activities during growth. The subject sample consisted of four subgroups: 9 boys (14.11 +/- 0.6 yr), 9 boys (10.67 +/- 0.71 yr), 7 girls (14.29 +/- 0.49 yr), 7 girls (10.57 +/- 0.54 yr). We measured peak power (PP), mean power...

The aim of the study was to find whether voluntary induced high- and low-frequency peripheral fatigue exhibit specific alteration in surface EMG signal (SEMG) during evoked and maximum voluntary contractions. Ten male students of physical education performed 60 s long stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) exercise with maximal intensity and 30 s long conc...

The aim of the study was to examine the presence of high-frequency fatigue (HFF) after simulated alpine slalom skiing race. Eight male alpine skiers (18.4 ± 1.2 y.a., 182.3 ± 3.5 cm, 80.5 ± 3.4 kg) completed the study. Their average FIS points in slalom were 30.1 ± 5.4. After the special skiing warm up, the following initial tests were performed: b...

The aim of the study was to establish the characteristics and generators of the development of maximal running speed in young male and female athletes, aged between 7 and 14, in terms of their morphological measures, stride frequency, stride length and foot contact time. The sample included 312 boys and girls aged between 7 and 14 attending an athl...

The purpose of the study was to identify those morphological characteristics and biomotor parameters that differentiate between trained female sprinters in terms of 100-m sprint results. Morphological characteristics were established with a set of 21 variables measured with the International Biological Programme (IBP) procedure. Biodynamic paramete...

Prispevek obravnava zaznavanje razredne klime pri urah športne vzgoje pri učiteljih in učencih/dijakih. V raziskavo je bilo vključenih 1152 učencev/dijakov iz petega in sedmega razreda osnovne šole in prvega ter tretjega letnika gimnazije. Sodelovalo je 89 učiteljev športne vzgoje obeh spolov, iz osnovnih in srednjih šol. Uporabili smo vprašalnik R...

Prispevek predstavlja del rezultatov obsežnejše študije med slovenskimi učenci/dijaki in njihovimi učitelji športne vzgoje o odnosu do ur športne vzgoje. Predstavljeni so rezultati o zaznavanju razredne klime pri učencih/dijakih. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 1.152 učencev/dijakov petih in sedmih razredov osnovne šole ter prvih in tretjih letnikov gimn...

The purpose of the research was to find the most important kinematic and kinetic parameters of the set position and starting action and their correlation with the start acceleration. The subject sample comprised of thirteen male sprinters and eleven female sprinters. A 2D kinematic analysis video system (APAS) was used to register the kinematic sta...