Ana Kašček Bučinel’s research while affiliated with University of Ljubljana and other places

Glasba ima lahko pomemben vpliv na motivacijo otrok pri izvajanju gibalnih nalog. Številne raziskave kažejo, da glasba spodbuja pozitivne odzive v možganih, povečuje energijo in lahko služi kot motivacijsko orodje. Ta študija se osredotoča na preučevanje, ali lahko glasbo uporabimo kot sredstvo za motivacijo otrok in s tem izboljšamo rezultate gibalnih nalog. Ugotavljali smo, ali tempo glasbe vpliva na test hitrosti dotikanja plošče z roko, ki ga učenci izvajajo v sklopu športnovzgojnega kartona v šoli. V raziskavi je sodelovalo 51 učenk, starih 11 in 12 let. Test so izvajale ob poslušanju glasbe s počasnim tempom (100 ud./min.) in ob poslušanju glasbe s hitrim tempom (190 ud./min.). Kot smo predvidevali, so bile učenke pri hitrem tempu hitrejše in s tem imele boljše rezultate v primerjavi s testom, izvedenim pri počasnem tempu. Raziskavo smo nadaljevali tako, da smo ugotavljali, ali bodo učenke, ki so glasbenice ali plesalke, imele boljše rezultate v primerjavi z ostalimi učenkami, pri čemer pa se je izkazalo, da to predvidevanje ne drži. Razlik med rezultati merjenk, ki se ukvarjajo s plesom ali glasbo, in merjenk, ki se ne ukvarjajo, nismo dokazali.

The aim of the study was to determine if body symmetry influences establishing stand balance after drop jump. Thirty-two healthy sports students participated in this study, with an average age 19.8 ± 1.4 years, height of 182.9 ± 6.8 cm and weight of 79.1 ± 8.1 kg. Morphological characteristics were assessed by measuring the differences between the left and right side of forearm girth, upper arm girth, calf girth, thigh girth, long shoulder height, lean mass of legs and lean mass of arms. The standing balance result was calculated based on factor scores obtained from nine measurements taken for 30 seconds after jumping from a 25 cm height platform. These measurements included three for normal stand, three for blind stand, and three for deaf stand. The data was collected using a pressure insoles system and by measuring the difference in ground reaction force between the left and right leg. Regression analysis revealed that 27% of the differences in leg load could be explained by differences in morphological characteristics between the left and right side. Two significant predictors were identified: the difference in long shoulder height (explaining 16% of the variance) and the differences in arm lean mass (explaining 11% of the variance). Both variables showed a negative relationship with the factor jump standing. It was observed that imbalances in body symmetry could increase the long-term risk of acute or chronic injuries.

The aim of the study was to determine whether maintaining the standing balance position is influenced by athlete’s symmetric morphological characteristics. Thirty-two healthy sports students participated in this study (age 19.8±1.4 years, body height 182.9±6.8 cm, body weight 79.1±8.1 kg). Morphological characteristics are represented with differences between the left and the right body side of: forearm girth, upper arm girth, calf girth, thigh girth, long shoulder height, lean mass of legs and lean mass of arms. The standing balance result was calculated as a result of factor scores for 9 measurements of 30 seconds (3 measurements of normal standing, 3 measurements of blind standing, and 3 measurements of deaf standing) collected from the pressure insoles system and the difference in ground reaction force between the left and the right leg. Results show that the asymmetric leg load in maintaining standing balance depends on the side differences in the thigh girth and upper arm girth. The greater difference in the thigh girth in favour of the left side resulted in bigger ground reaction force on the right leg compared to the left leg and the greater difference in the upper arm girth in favour of the left side resulted in bigger ground reaction force on the left leg. To avoid one side overload, it is essential for all sports activities to be performed bilaterally.