Işık Bayraktar

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the participation of female athletes ranked in the all-time Top 100 list in the Women's 20 km walk event in their first international competition and their personal best times. Method: The research group consists of the top 100 athletes in the all-time list for the women's 20 km walk event. The athletes' date of birth, nationality, personal best (PB), PB competition date, WA points corresponding to the PB, and competition year information based on their first competition registration were obtained from the official World Athletics (WA) website (WA, 2024). The data was analized Pearson's correlation statistics were used to determine the relationships between the variables. Results: It was observed that athletes on the Top 100 race walking list had an average age of 26, the competition performance range was around 4 minutes, and athletes reached their PB performances on average 8 years after their first international competition registration. When examining the distribution of athletes in the Top 100 list by nationality, Russian athletes ranked first with 37%, while China ranked second with 25 athletes. In other words, Russian and Chinese athletes together accounted for 62% of the Top 100 list. A Statistically significant and strong correlation was obtained between the ages of athletes in the Top 100 list and the time it took them to enter the Top 100 list (r=0.80). In other words, as athletes' ages increase, the time it takes them to enter the Top 100 list also increases. Russian and Chinese nationality, who dominate the research group, are analyzed, it is understood that older athletes demonstrate their PB performances in competitions later in the year. Conclusion: Knowing the age at which elite athletes reach their peak performance is important for the healthy implementation of long-term athlete development programs. In long distance events like Race walking ıt is essential to have very long and consistent training periods until the best results.

Purpose: Recent research suggests a link between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the mTOR signaling pathway, a key regulator of protein synthesis and muscle growth. However, it remains unclear whether BDNF influences muscle growth and power performance. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between the expression of BDNF and MTOR genes in human skeletal muscle and examine the association between genetically predicted higher expression of the BDNF gene and muscle fiber size, lean mass, power performance, and power athlete status. Methods: The study involved 456,382 subjects, including 285 athletes, 112 physically active individuals with muscle fiber composition data, 291 sedentary individuals with gene expression data, 5451 controls, and 450,243 UK Biobank participants. The muscle fiber composition was evaluated using immunohistochemistry, while gene expression analysis was performed using RNA sequencing. BDNF genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR or microarrays. Results: We found that BDNF gene expression was positively associated with MTOR gene expression in the vastus lateralis (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, genetically predicted higher BDNF expression (i.e., carriage of the C allele of the rs6265 (Val66Met) BDNF polymorphism) was positively associated with the cross-sectional area of fast-twitch muscle fibers in athletes (p = 0.0069), appendicular lean mass (p = 2.6 × 10⁻⁷), personal best scores of power athletes (p = 0.029), and power athlete status (p = 0.0056). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a positive correlation between BDNF and MTOR gene expression in human skeletal muscle, with genetically predicted higher BDNF expression associated with greater muscle fiber size, lean mass, enhanced power performance, and power athlete status.

Aim: Anthropometric abilities in basketball stand out as a significant factor affecting athletic performance. Players with superior anthropometric characteristics can both demonstrate more effective individual performance in leagues and tournaments and contribute significantly to team success. Normative data is needed to develop an accurate training program for the team and athlete to effectively achieve their set goals. In this context, the aim is to guide clubs and coaches in selecting athletes by classifying basketball athletes and to contribute to studies in the literature. Method: A total of 265 male athletes aged between 17 and 19, competing in the Basketball Youth League (BGL), Turkish Basketball League U-18 (TBL U-18), Turkish Basketball Second League U-18 (TB2L U-18), and Turkish Regional Basketball League U-18 (TBBL U-18) across Türkiye, participated in the study. The athletes were measured for height body height, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index, arm span, standing reach, lower extremity length, sitting height, and hand span. After the measurements were obtained, the athletes were categorized and examined according to their positions. The mean, standard deviation, and percentage values for the variables were calculated, and comparative evaluations were conducted. Results: The average age of the participating basketball players was determined as 17.91±0.78, and the athletes were distributed evenly across five different positions. Normative values for height, body weight, body fat percentage, body mass index, arm span, standing reach, lower extremity length, sitting height, and hand span are presented in the tables. Skewness and kurtosis coefficients indicated that all variables exhibited characteristics close to a normal distribution. The findings provide descriptive reference values for young basketball players. Conclusion: This study revealed the normative values of the anthropometric characteristics of young male basketball players aged 17-19 and found that these values varied across positions. The findings may guide clubs and coaches in selecting athletes and developing training programs. It is also believed that they can contribute to the literature and form the basis for future studies.

This research aimed to examine the hydration knowledge level, attitudes and behaviors of athletes in different sport events. A total of 553 athletes, 123 (22.2%) females and 430 (77.8%) males, were included in the research conducted with the screening model. The data was obtained by using the "Personal Information Form" and the "Hydration Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior Survey". T-test for independent groups and one-way analysis of variance were used in the analysis of data. When the research findings were examined, it was determined that there were statistically significant differences in athletes' attitudes and behavior according to gender, attitude according to sport type, knowledge and behavior according to age groups, knowledge, attitude and behavior according to sports age, and knowledge and behavior according to their educational status. As a result, it was determined that the athletes' general knowledge scores were at a high level, while their attitude and behavior scores were at a medium level.

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene rs4680 polymorphism, primarily linked to psychological traits, has been limitedly studied in the key athletic abilities including endurance, speed, and power. Thus, the current investigation sought to explore any possible connections between the rs4680 polymorphism in the COMT gene and competitive performance among Turkish high-level track & field athletes. As a part of an ongoing project, this study engaged 60 elite athletes, categorized into two distinct groups based on their specialty (31 sprint/power athletes and 29 endurance athletes). To provide a comparative baseline, a control group consisting of twenty sedentary individuals aged between 18 and 35 was also incorporated. The assessment of participants' performance levels is conducted using the methodology established by the International Association of Track & Field Federations (IAAF), which is based on personal bests (PBs). Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used in the research to analyze genomic DNA that was taken out of participant blood samples. The distribution of the COMT gene rs4680 polymorphism in terms of genotypes (AA, GA, and GG) did not change significantly between the athlete and the control group or within the athletic groups, according to the research (p>0.05). In a similar vein, the research did not discover any connections of note between athletes' PBs in the sprint/power or endurance categories and the rs4680 polymorphism. Based on these findings, the research concludes that there is no meaningful relationship between the COMT gene's rs4680 polymorphism and the competitive performance of the Turkish high-level track and field athletes under investigation.

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between VO2max and FTP in female road cyclists with strength (right/left-hand grip, back, leg), flexibility, and anthropometric variables. Descriptive statistics are presented as median and interquartile range. The median values of the participants were as follows: height 158.5 cm, body weight 54.9 kg, body fat percentage 19.6%, and body muscle mass 41.5 kg. The participants’ leg strength was measured at 70 kg, while their back strength was found to be 50 kg. Their right-hand grip strength was 29.1 kg, and their left-hand grip strength was 29.6 kg. The participant's flexibility was measured at 32 cm. Their VO2max was found to be 58.2 ml/kg/min, with a VO2max pulse of 189 beats/min and a VO2max workload of 262 watts. During the FTP test, the participant's mean pulse rate was 181 beats/min, mean cadence was 83 rpm, mean workload was 184 watts, normalized power was 185 watts, and relative power was 3.1 watts/kg. The study found a moderate positive correlation between VO2max and back strength and a strong negative correlation with flexibility. Additionally, a strong positive relationship was observed between VO2max workload value and body muscle mass, as well as right- and left-hand grip strength. No relationship was found between VO2max HR, AnT VO2, AnT HR, and AnT workload. Furthermore, the study found a moderate positive correlation between FTP value and body muscle mass and a very strong positive correlation with calendar age. The study also found significant correlations between mean FTP cadence and body muscle mass, as well as between mean FTP workload and body muscle mass. Additionally, a very strong positive correlation was observed between mean FTP workload and calendar age. Finally, a strong negative correlation was found between FTP relative strength and flexibility. The study concluded that as the strength of the back muscles in the group increased, so did their VO2max and FTP values, along with an increase in body muscle mass. The results suggest that back strength and body muscle mass are important variables for the participants in the study.

The aim of this study is to investigate university students’ attitudes who are called as Generation Z, on digital game playing. In this study, 109 female and 106 male students with a total of 215 students who are attending to various departments of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, took place voluntarily. In the research, Digital Game Playing Attitude Scale (DGPBS) which was developed by Demir and Bozkurt (2019), was used. The data of the research was analysed using IBM SPSS 25 packaged software. To statistically analyse the data obtained from the participants, independent sample T-Test and one-way analysis of variance test are used. It is observed that there is a statically significant difference, according to the gender variable, by means of behavioural sub-dimension in students’ digital plays. It is detected that there is a statically significant difference, in terms of students’ cognitive sub-dimension digital plays causing from faculty difference. It is detected that there is a significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of any sub-dimension causing from class variable. It is observed that there is significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of cognitive sub-dimension according to the educational level variable of the mother. It is detected that there is significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of cognitive sub-dimension according to the digital play times. As a result of the research students’ digital play attitudes are affected accordingly to gender, faculty, class, digital play time and mother’s educational level.

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Uzun Vadeli Sporcu Gelişimi modelinin, özel gereksinimi olan bireylerin spora katılımı ve spordaki gelişimi ile ilgili paradigmasını tanıtmaktır. Uzun Vadeli Sporcu Gelişim Modeli bireylerin kronolojik yaşlarına göre değil gelişimsel yaşlarına göre belirlenmiş yedi aşamalı bir modeldir. Bu aşamalar özel gereksinimi olan bireyler dahil bütün sporcuların spora başlamalarını, sürdürmelerini, uzmanlaşmalarını ve ömür boyu fiziksel aktiviteyi benimsemelerini içermektedir. Ayrıca modelin amaçları doğrultusunda belirlenmiş on temel anahtar üzerinden gelişimsel süreç tarif edilmiştir. Bahsi geçen modeli tanıtmak amacıyla konuya kaynaklık eden literatür derlenmiştir. Başta antrenörler olmak üzere tüm spor paydaşlarının, özel gereksinimi olan bireylerin spordaki gelişimleri hakkında bilgi ve beceri gelişimlerini destekleyecek kaynaklara yer verilmiştir. Bu sayede hem toplum sağlığını koruyan kapsayıcı bir spor ortamı oluşturmak hem de elit parasporcular yetiştirilmesine katkıda bulunmak hedeflenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, LTAD modeli, özel gereksinimi olan sporcuların sporla ilişkisini ve performansını geliştirmek için önemli bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Doğru bir şekilde uygulandığında, bu model özel gereksinimi olan sporcuların spor aktivitelerine katılımlarını artırabilir, performanslarını optimize edebilir ve onlara uzun vadeli spor yapma alışkanlığı kazandırabilmektedir.

The aim of this study is to review the existing literature on the musculoskeletal system symptoms associated with digital gaming. Literature related to the subject was searched in Web of Knowledge, PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, Proquest, Google Scholar, and Sport Discuss databases. Articles published from 2010 to 2022 were scanned using keywords describing digital gaming-related postural disturbances, and musculoskeletal system exposure (pain, muscle activity). The articles were independently scanned by three authors, the relevant data were extracted, and the methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated. A total of 1252 articles were scanned for eligibility. Eleven articles are included in the study. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies were not included in our study. A wide range of prevalence rates of musculoskeletal complaints in different body regions has been reported, with the highest prevalence commonly found in neck complaints. This review has only found some evidence showing that a neck flexion posture as well as the frequency of digital gaming are associated with musculoskeletal disorders and pain, postural disorders among users of digital devices. The findings were presented and discussed in relation to the effects of digital games on posture and the musculoskeletal system. There is limited evidence that digital gaming and its various aspects (occupancy and properties) are associated with musculoskeletal system symptoms and exposures. Therefore, it is considered that evidence-based guidelines should be presented by experts for the wise use of digital games.

Bu araştırma üniversite öğrencilerinde dijital oyun süresinin beden kompozisyonu, günlük adım sayısı, beslenme ve uyku alışkanlıkları üzerine etkisinin incelenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada hem nitel verilerin hem de nicel verilerin birlikte kullanıldığı karma yöntemler araştırması modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmaya katılan bireylerin ortalamaları yaş 22,56 yıl, boy 1,73 m, vücut ağırlığı 65,61 kg, Beden Kütle İndeksi (BKI) 21,74 kg/m2 ve günlük adım sayıları 7233 olarak belirlenmiştir. Günlük dijital oyun süresi arttıkça BKI değerinde artış ve günlük adım sayısında azalış olduğu tablo 1’de görülmektedir. Günlük dijital oyun süresi ile BKI arasında pozitif yönlü ilişki (p