Ice-climbers frequently use the squeezing of rubber rings for increasing their isometric strength-endurance in the forearm muscles. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether such training influences oxygenation and endurance of forearm muscles at higher as well as lower testing intensities. Fourteen healthy young ice-climbers were divided and randomized into two groups. Group A performed a specific ice-climbing test, an ice-axe-grasping (axe weight 750 g) until fatigue. Group B performed 150 N isometric hand-squeezing of dynamometer until fatigue. Both groups performed similar training of squeezing a rubber ring at 30% of Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) for 6 weeks. The forearm oxygenation was assessed by relative saturation of oxygen (RSO(2)), total hemoglobin concentration (RTOTHb), the concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin (ROXYHb) and concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin (RDEOXYHb). The results revealed that muscle strength-endurance training increased performance of forearm muscles during 150 N contraction with an accompanied increase in oxygenation of the exercising muscles. In contrast, the same training did not influence the performance of forearm muscles during ice-axe-grasping in spite of increased oxygenation. Muscle oxygenation during intense isometric contraction is low in spite of an increase observed in training. This may be due to oxygenation levels that were below the limit where oxygenation may influence the duration of the contraction. Increased oxygenation may have occurred due to an increased blood flow and perfusion through superficial muscles or layers may not have contributed to the generation of the force of the contraction, as would be the case in deeper muscle layers.

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) with a different number of concentric jumps in a set on the sledge (10 vs. 20 jumps in the first (S10) and the second protocol (S20), respectively). Isometric twitch torque, torque during low-frequency (20 Hz) and high-frequency (100 Hz) electrical stimulation of the vastus lateralis were measured (before protocols and 30 s after sets). Peak twitch torque increased, while contraction and half-relaxation times shortened during the S10 protocol (P B0.05). The increase in peak twitch torque was accompanied by non-significant reductions in contraction time and half-relaxation time in the S20 protocol. High-and lowfrequency torques did not change significantly in either protocol. The high-to low-frequency torque ratio increased significantly (P B0.05) after the fourth set in the S10 protocol. Post-activation potentiation was the main reason for enhanced contractile response after both protocols. There were no alterations in high-frequency torque or reductions in the high-to low-frequency torque ratio, even with increased sets and repetitions. Explosive concentric contractions showed no potential to induce high-frequency fatigue, when separated with long periods of rest.

(1) Speed endurance training (inducing a high blood lactate concentration) delays excitation–contraction coupling impairment, thus providing more space for high-frequency fatigue to occur in the early stage of maximal concentric actions. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the maintenance type of speed endurance training may shift peripheral fatigue from low-frequency to high-frequency fatigue after the 15 s long Wingate test. (2) Six students of physical education performed the corresponding training for six weeks. Before and after this period, they were tested for low- and high-frequency fatigue after the 15 s long Wingate test; additionally, their blood lactate concentrations, maximal cycling power, work, fatigue index, and muscle twitch responses were also tested. (3) The training increased the maximal cycling power and work (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) with minor changes in the mean fatigue index and blood lactate concentration (both p > 0.05). Low-frequency dominant fatigue before the training showed a trend toward high-frequency dominant fatigue after the training (p > 0.05). (4) The results showed that the 15 s Wingate test failed to induce significant high-frequency fatigue. Even though it displayed a substantial fatigue index, the changes in favor of high-frequency fatigue were too small to be relevant.

A sports result takes on its meaning only when the public reacts to it after attending a sporting event. In order to determine and compare attitudes toward attending such events, students from two different cultural backgrounds were invited to participate in the study: 156 students from the Faculty of Sport in Ljubljana and 82 students from the Pedagogical faculty, Department of Physical Education and Sports in Bihać. They were asked to complete a questionnaire containing 25 variables on the motives for attending sporting events. The respondents rated the importance of the motives with scores from 1 to 5 (1—not the reason at all; 2—not the reason; 3—occasionally true for me; 4—true for me; 5—absolutely true). The obtained results were ranked and compared between the students of different faculties and between genders. The results showed that Bosnian and Slovenian students differed in 11 out of 25 motives. Statistically significant gender differences were found for only two out of 25 motives. Differences between Bosnian and Slovenian students were also found in the ranking of the importance of the motives as well as in their evaluation. The results show that cultural, national, and mentality differences between the two groups are reflected in the motives for following sporting events.