Ratko Stankovic

University of Niš | NIS · Department of Physical Education and Sports

Plyometric movement improves athletes' muscular performance and is used in the plyometric training method as an unavoidable principle of explosive power and speed development training. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of plyometric programs on biomechanical parameters, including any differences between them. The study focused on th...

This study compared the effects of acute caffeine supplementation (3 mg/kg) administered in the morning and evening on performance-related variables in basketball players. Eleven, national-level, adolescent male basketball players underwent field-based fitness testing on four occasions: morning (10:00) with caffeine ingestion (AMCAFF), morning (10:...

The aim of the research was to contribute to better understanding of the correlation between postural disorders and muscle power in primary school children. The sample of respondents consisted of 1,120 children, aged 7 to 12 years (549 boys and 571 girls) from the territory of the municipality of Knjaževac. In the assessment of the spinal column st...

The aim of this study is to determine the state of postural disorders in the sagittal and frontal planes of the spinal column, as well as any gender differences in first-year elementary school students. The participant sample comprised 138 school children, 73 male and 56 female participants, all from the territory of the municipality of Knjaževac,...

By determining the prevalence of postural disorders among eighth grade school students it is possible to indicate the state of these disorders at the end of the elementary school level of education, and compare it to the results obtained by applying corrective treatments on high school students. Thus, the aim of the research was to determine the pr...

Background: Conditioning in the form of football small-sided games (SSG) is being increasingly utilized as a health promoting and performance-enhancing activity. Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the physiological responses and activity demands encountered during 3-a-side, 4-a-side, and 5-a-side football SSG in recreatio...

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of team size on acute physiological, perceptual, and activity demands of recreational handball to provide a better understanding for the potential prescription of recreational handball to achieve health benefits. Active, male college students (N=22) completed 3-, 4-, and 5-a-side handball game formats...

The aim of the research was to determine the influence of sprint performance and explosive strength on ball throwing velocity in Goalball. The sample of participants consisted of 12 nationally and internationally ranked Goalball players, with an average age of (25.17±8.03). To evaluate sprint performance, the 5 and 10 meter sprint tests were used....

The primary aim of this study was to determine kinematic parameters of jump shot in elite male basketball players, by analyzing the release time for shooting, the angle of entry, and ball spin and. The secondary aim of this study was to examine possible differences in these kinematic parameters among the players associated with their playing positi...

The primary aim of this study was to determine the kinematic parameters of the jump shot in elite male basketball players, by analyzing the release time for shooting, the angle of entry, and ball spin. The secondary aim of this study was to examine possible differences in these kinematic parameters among the players associated with their playing po...

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the internal and external load imposed on players during 1-a-side, 2-a-side, and 3-a-side recreational basketball small-sided games (SSG). Twelve recreationally active, male college students were monitored across 10 min of 1-a-side, 2-a-side and 3-a-side basketball SSG. Internal load variables i...

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of acute caffeine supplementation on anaerobic performance in professional, female basketball players. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, experimental design was used in a randomized, counterbalanced manner. In separate sessions, 10 professional basketball players ingested caffeine (3 mg/kg body ma...

Purpose: To examine the effect of caffeine supplementation on dribbling speed in elite female and male basketball players. Methods: A double-blind, counterbalanced, randomized, crossover design was utilized. Elite basketball players (n = 21; female, n = 10; male, n = 11; age = 18.3 ± 3.3 yr) completed placebo (3 mg·kg-1 of body mass of dextrose)...

ABSTRACT Activities in which athletes must move their body across a feld with a quick burst of energy require a high relative peak power and anaerobic capacity. Some of the procedures that have been used in previous studies to estimate anaerobic power and/or capacity are the maximal accumulated oxygen defcit (MAOD), Wingate test (WAnT), jump tests,...

The object of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the postural status of the spinal column in relation to the nutritional status of children in the adolescent period. The participant sample comprised 42 students aged between 16 and 17 years, students of the "9 maj" High School in Niš, Serbia. The "Spinal Mouse" was used fo...

Objectives The objectives of the research were to establish body composition profile in female rhythmic gymnasts of different age categories so as to test and/or determine the possibility of predicting success in Rhythmic Gymnastics performance on the basis of gymnasts’ body composition parameters. Materials and methods Eighty-four elite and sub-e...

The aim of this research was to define the optimal kinematic parameters of performance of the Clear hip circle to handstand on uneven bars (KOVT). The optimal kinematic model defined in this case study represents an example of the successful performance of the Clear hip circle to handstand on the uneven bars. The exercise was performed at the 39 th...

The aim of this research was to determine the postural status of first league female basketball players. The sample of participants consisted of 12 elite senior basketball players who had been involved in a training program for more than eight years. To evaluate the postural status of the spinal column in the frontal and sagittal plane, as well as...

Strength training and other modes of physical activity may be beneficial in osteoporosis prevention by maximizing bone mineral accrual in childhood and adolescence. This study focuses on the impact of the nine-month long program of resistant exercises with different level of external loads (low, middle and high) on the lower limbs explosive strengt...

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the specific training program on the kinematic parameters of made jump shots in basketball. Participants were 31 basketball players, aged 15.32±0.65. All participants trained according to a specific training program for 10 weeks. Data obtained at the initial and final measurements were process...

Vertical jump is one of the most common ways to evaluate the explosive power of lower extremities in athletes. For the development of explosive power, plyometric exercises are mostly used as a form of training. Participants were handball players (N=13), volleyball players (N=13) and basketball players (N=13) from city of Nis. They all competed in t...

The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the reliability, usefulness, and factorial validity of change-of-direction speed (CODS) tests in adolescent basketball players and (2) evaluate positional differences in test performances. Elite, adolescent male basketball players (n = 53; 17.3 ± 1.0 years) completed 6 CODS tests: “Lane Arrow Closeou...

Given that a volleyball game requires a certain level of individual anthropological characteristics of young volleyball players to successfully act on situational conditions, and that interdisciplinary approach in the science study is the principal methodological orientation, subject of study in the field of sports is the anthropological status. Th...

The vertical jump is used in order to estimate the explosive strength of the lower extremities. The literature generally recommends a two-foot vertical jump in order to identify talent, to assess an athlete's readiness to participate in a certain training process. The aim of the current study was to compare the variables of the demonstrated explosi...

The aim of this study was to examine the positional differences in jumping performance of female junior volleyball players. Fifty-six female volleyball players (n=56, average age=16.28±1.32) participated in this study. The players were categorized as middle blockers (n = 13), opposite hitters (n = 16), outside hitters (n = 15) and setters (n = 12)....

The aim of this study is to determine the differences in kinematic parameters between the 2011 Serbian Cup Final female senior javelin throwers (N=10, age 18,3, height 170,5cm, weight 73,5kg), and the 2011 World Championships senior javelin throwers (N=3, age 27,6, height 176,3cm, weight 75,3kg). Statistical analyses were performed by using Statist...

In recent years there have been a number of researchers studying the techniques of shot put parameters and factors that are crucial for achieving top results, as well as those necessary for optimal performance. The aim of this study was to determine differences in the parameters of release of top Serbian athletes. The throwing technique was taken a...

The purpose of this study was to determine the changes in physical performance after a 6-week skill-based conditioning training program in male competitive volleyball players. Sixteen male volleyball players (mean ± SD: age 22.3 ± 3.7 years, body height 190.7 ± 4.2 cm, and body mass 78.4 ± 4.5 kg) participated in this study. The players were tested...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of additional resistance training on cardiorespiratory endurance in young (15.8 ± 0.8 yrs) male basketball players. Experimental group subjects (n=23) trained twice per week for 12 weeks using a variety of general free-weight and machine exercises designed for strength acquisition, beside o...

The ability to perform an explosive movement is of a great interest for athlete's performance and success in sport. Developing qualities such as strength, power and rate of force development appear to be of greater importance than training at the actual movement velocity of a task. Aim: The aim of actual research was to determine difference in the...

It is well-known that physical activity has an anabolic effect on the bone tissue. To examine the influence of the take-off lower limb to the bone density we studied a group of prepubertal boys and girls at the initial phase of their peak bone mass acquisition. A sample consisted of 60 subjects ie., 32 soccer players (boys, 10.7±0.5 years old) and...

Introduction: The rhythmic gymnastics (RG) is a high leap demanding sport (Hutchinson et al., 1998). Leaps are fundamental human movements that require complex motor coordination of both upper and lower body segment. To make it all more interesting and complex, RG leaps performance is almost always followed by a requisite manipulation (the ball, th...

Risk factors are important aspects in the treatment of patients with lower bone mineral density (BMD).The objective of this study was to estimate the association between risk factors and BMD status of subjects.Forty subjects - athletes of first sub-sample, were recruited from a football club “Železničar” in Niš, while forty subjects - non-athletes...

In this paper we propose the time-dependent Hamiltonian form of human biomechanics, as a sequel to our previous work in time-dependent Lagrangian biomechanics [1]. Starting with the Covariant Force Law, we first develop autonomous Hamiltonian biomechanics. Then we extend it using a powerful geometrical machinery consisting of fibre bundles and jet...

The introduction of retinoids for the treatment of acne vulgaris in the 1970′s was revolutionary in dermatology. For the first time, dermatologists had effective comedolytic medication that could attenuate multiple aspects of acne pathogenesis, resulting in superior clinical and cosmetic outcomes. The quest for more stable molecules able to produce...

Resistance training (also known as strength training) is the practice of using free weights, weight machines and elastic bands, or body weight to build muscles, to develop muscle strength, power and muscular endurance. The participation of youths in an organized resistance training program has not always been encouraged, but the positive results of...

Strength training, or resistance training, is a form of physical conditioning used to increase the ability to resist force. Since muscular strength is required for success in many sports, it is logical to assume that stronger and more powerful young athletes will achieve better results. The aim of the study was to examine the effects of strength tr...

Ovim radom analizirane su osnovne sposobnosti koje pripadaju području brzine (brzina reakcije, brzina pojedinačnog pokreta i frekvencija pokreta) i oblici brzine od kojih posebno startna brzina i brzinska izdržljivost. Pored standardnih metoda za razvoj brzine kretanja autor posebno ističe metod promenljivog rada (ubrzanja i progresije) kao najadek...

Introduction: The only valid and objective way of assessing muscle strength is measurement with a dynamometer. From the biomechanical aspect, explosive strength is required in athletic sport disciplines like long jumping, high jumping and throwing. Particularly, in technical gestures like take off and landing in vertical jumping. The device "Myotes...

Objective of this research represents detailed reveal of sports walking technique, demonstrated on treadmill at different angles of belt inclination, on the part of subject who overwhelmed the walking technique through the course on Faculty of sports and physical education in Niš and isn't actively involved in training process, as well as subject w...

In study which included the sample of 240 subjects of high school population, both sexes, the frequency of illnesses was examined. The sample was divided in two sub-samples of 120 high school students actively engaged in sport activities, and 120 non-athletes, respectively. The frequency of illnesses among the participants was determined using a qu...