Stefan Mijalković

The aim of this study was to review and critically examine the existing evidence on the effects of supplementary Kids’ Athletics programs on the motor abilities of younger school-aged children. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Web of Science for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Studies were screened according to predefined inclusion criteria, and methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final synthesis, comprising a total of 613 participants of both sexes aged 6 to 12 years. The included studies varied considerably in design, sample size, intervention duration and frequency, program content, and outcome measures. Most studies reported improvements in motor abilities such as speed, agility, coordination, explosive power, flexibility, and aerobic endurance following participation in Kids’ Athletics programs. However, the magnitude and consistency of these effects differed across motor domains, and evidence was limited for certain abilities due to the small number of available studies. Given the substantial heterogeneity among interventions and methodological limitations of the included studies, the overall findings should be interpreted with caution. While supplementary Kids’ Athletics programs appear to have the potential to support motor development in young school-age children, further high-quality, methodologically consistent studies are needed to strengthen confidence in these conclusions.

Background and purpose Physical activity has been shown to produce numerous beneficial effects, including improved cardiovascular function, reduced body fat percentage, increased muscular strength, enhanced endurance, and greater flexibility. Accordingly, physical activity is considered a crucial factor in enhancing the quality of life in older adults. The aim of this study was to analyze literature that investigates the effects of resistance training on fitness parameters in older adults. Material and methods A systematic search was conducted using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Research Gate, focusing on studies published between 2015 and December 31, 2024. Keywords used included: elderly, physical fitness, strength training, health outcomes. The inclusion criteria comprised original scientific studies, tested at least one measure of fitness parameters and involving older adult participants and experimental interventions with resistance training. A total of 17 studies met the criteria and were analyzed in detail. Results The findings indicate that resistance training regardless of intensity level (low, moderate, or high) has a consistently positive effect on muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular function, body composition, balance, and overall functional mobility in older individuals. Training modalities included the use of weights, bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and unstable surfaces. The frequency of interventions ranged from 8 weeks to 2.3 years, with training frequency mostly between two and three sessions per week. Studies combining resistance training with balance training or aerobic exercises demonstrated additional benefits. Conclusions The reviewed evidence suggests that resistance training is an effective and safe strategy for improving the physical fitness and health of older adults, potentially reducing the risk of falls and chronic diseases. It is recommended that resistance training be incorporated into regular physical activity routines, ideally alongside aerobic and flexibility exercises, to maximize overall health outcomes in the aging population.

Background/Objectives: Motor coordination is the essential ability that influences children’s overall physical development and their ability to engage in various activities. The development of motor skills and coordination continues for several years, as it is a gradual process that extends beyond the early stages of walking. The study aimed to describe the differences in genders and physical activity levels using the Body Coordination Test for Children (KTK) test battery to assess motor coordination in kindergarten children. Methods: The sample consisted of 814 participants, including both sexes (aged 5.57 ± 0.49 years). Participants were divided into two groups according to their involvement in physical activity (OPA) or physical inactivity (NO OPA). OPA had to have a minimum of 2 days per week of additional organized training/lessons with at least 60 min. Results: The results show significant gender differences in walking backwards; girls outperformed boys with a statistically significant mean difference of −3.11 (p = 0.01; 95% CI: −4.57 to −1.64). Similarly, for total motor quotient (MQ), girls scored higher than boys, with a significant mean difference of −4.92 (p = 0.01; 95% CI: −7.85 to −1.99). The results revealed that the OPA group consistently outperformed the NO OPA group across all subtests, with significant differences in Total MQ (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our study results indicated that physically active children demonstrated better motor coordination in comparison to their inactive peers. This suggests that regular physical activity positively influences motor coordination development in children.

Uvod: Visoko intenzivni intervalni trening (HIIT) je sve popularnija metoda u tretmanu gojaznosti zbog svoje efikasnosti u smanjenju telesne mase i poboljšanju kardiometaboličkog zdravlja. Cilj rada: Ova studija ima za cilj da kroz pregled relevantne literature istraži efekte HIIT treninga na smanjenje gojaznosti. Metode: Korišćeni su radovi objavljeni između 2000. i 2021. godine, prikupljeni iz elektronskih baza podataka kao što su PubMed, Scindex i Google Scholar. Rezultati: Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da HIIT trening, koji se sastoji od perioda intenzivnog vežbanja sa pauzama za odmor, ima pozitivan uticaj na smanjenje telesne mase, smanjenje procenta telesne masti, kao i na povećanje aerobne sposobnosti. HIIT je posebno efikasan jer omogućava postizanje rezultata uz kraće trajanje vežbanja u poređenju sa tradicionalnim aerobnim treninzima umerenog intenziteta. Takođe, studije su pokazale da HIIT može poboljšati osetljivost na insulin, povećati VO2max i poboljšati metabolizam, čak i kod populacija sa većim indeksom telesne mase. HIIT trening se može primenjivati u različitim okruženjima, uključujući zatvorene prostore, poput teretana, kao i na otvorenim površinama. Ovaj oblik vežbanja može biti efikasan kod osoba različitih uzrasta, uključujući decu, adolescente i odrasle, što ga čini univerzalnim pristupom u borbi protiv gojaznosti. Zaključak: Na osnovu pregleda literature, može se zaključiti da je HIIT trening efikasan alat za smanjenje gojaznosti i poboljšanje opšteg zdravstvenog stanja kod gojaznih osoba.

Supplements are products widely used among athletes to improve sports performance and reduce fatigue symptoms. The aim of the study was to determine the differences of the use of dietary supplements among students of the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš (by year of study and gender), as well as the differences between the frequency and duration of physical activity with the use of dietary supplements. The survey was conducted on a sample of 201 students of both genders, all four years of undergraduate studies, aged 19 to 23. The respondents completed questionnaire containing questions related to dietary supplementation, physical activity and the existence of fatigue symptoms. Survey results show that 40.8% of respondents use supplements. Male students used dietary supplementation more often than female . Students most commonly take vitamins (68.3%), proteins and amino acids (15.1%) whereas 5.6% of them use minerals. The results have shown that with the increase of the year of study, the number of students taking supplements decreases significantly. Also, the analysis of the results by gender showed that male students were more likely to take amino acid supplements. No differences were found between the duration and frequency of physical activity and the use of supplements. It could be concluded that with the increase of the year of study, we note positive changes in students' attitudes to the use of supplements, which could be explained by the acquisition of knowledge in the field of sports nutrition and supplementation through the curriculum contents of the study program.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of lower limbs morphology on the result in race walking. The sample of participants for this study was selected from the student population of Pirot's elementary school "Vuk Karadžić". The study included 15 male participants aged 13-14, who practiced race walking in the "Pirot" athletics club. The following variables were used to assess the morphological characteristics of the lower limbs: leg length, diameter of the knee joint, thigh circumference, calf circumference and thickness of the skinfold on the calf. On the other hand, the criterion variable was the 400 m race walking performance. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the influence of the morphology of the lower limbs on the result in race walking. The results of the study indicated that based on an observation of the modality as a whole, this study found no statistically significant influence of lower limbs morphology on the result in race walking. Nevertheless, by considering particular variables, it can be claimed that the diameter of the knee joint and the thickness of the skinfold on the calf have been shown to have a statistically significant influence on the result in 400 m race walking. Exploring the intricacies of lower limb structure in race walking can provide valuable insights for training and coaching. This understanding has the potential to improve coaching methods and enhance overall performance in this distinctive sport.

The aim of this study was to determine the 800 meters running success differences of school-aged female athletes according to maturity stage. The study’s sample of respondents consisted of 26 school-aged female athletes who were selected for middle-distance running. The mean chronological age of the respondents was 12.67 ± 1.03 years. The respondents were divided into two groups according to biological maturity: Mid Peak Height Velocity (n = 13; mean chronological age 11.81 ± 0.57 years) and Post Peak Height Velocity (n = 13; mean chronological age 13.54 ± 0.52 years). Based on the results of the Student's T test of independent samples, it could be concluded that there was statistically significant difference in the 800 meters running success of female athletes according to biological maturity. It could be stated that respondents in the Post Peak Height Velocity group were more effective in this middle-distance running athletic discipline than respondents in the Mid Peak Height Velocity group. More specifically, female athletes with earlier stages of maturation dominated middle-distance running. Furthermore, because biological maturity causes differences in physical performance, maturity status should be the foundation of physical performance assessment. These findings can also be applied to the more successful selection of athletes. Trainers should avoid the potential risks associated with investing in athletes who dominate physical performance tests simply because they have matured earlier biologically.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of research that investigates coordination abilities in basic individual sports, such as athletics, gymnastics, climbing, and swimming. The relevant sports that have a process of identifying very young talents are precisely these basic individual sports. The following electronic databases were used: Web of Science and PubMed. A total of 16 studies met the criteria for participation in this study. Since only a few studies have been done on this topic, this review included studies for the last 30 years. The sample of respondents in the included studies consisted of both males and females, and the total number was 642. The study findings indicate that coordination is a crucial motor ability with a significant impact on athletic success in youth. The level of coordination abilities increases with sports experience, so the development of coordination should be one of the priorities in the training process of gymnasts, athletes, sports climbers and swimmers in younger sportsman ages.

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the school-based exercise programs for promoting cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese children aged 6 to 10. Electronic databases (Web of Science and PubMed) were used as searching tools for collecting adequate studies published in the past 20 years. A total of 13 studies met the criteria for inclusion in this review, with a total of 2810 participants, both male and female. According to the results of this systematic review, overweight and obese children aged 6 to 10 who underwent certain interventions had their CRF improved. Furthermore, evidence suggested that interventions carried out during a longer period of time suggested led to greater improvement of cardiorespiratory fitness than a shorter one, but the level of cardiorespiratory fitness gradually decreases after the intervention.