Background Numerous studies have proven the significant positive impact of the regular physical activity on general health conditions and quality of life of people with intellectual disability. In practice, various adapted sports activities are used. The current study deals with the effects of the soccer programme. Aim The purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of adapted soccer on the motor learning and some psychosocial characteristics in adolescents with Down syndrome. Methods Twenty-five participants were recruited and randomised into two groups (exercise and control). Adolescents placed in the exercise group carried out a special soccer programme twice a week during 16 weeks, while adolescents placed in the control group continued with their usual daily regime. Specific motor coordination, level of aggression, attention disorders, level of anxiety and depression, and social problems were measured before and after the training period. Mixed ANOVA were used to evaluate the effects of the experimental treatment. ResultsThe exercise group had significant improvements (P < 0.05) in one of three motor variables (only in the easiest task) and in all psychosocial variables. There are no one significant change in the control group. The adapted soccer programme influenced more seriously on psychosocial characteristics than on motor learning of adolescent with DS. Conclusions The results suggest that adapted soccer training can decrease aggression, anxiety and depression levels, and improve attention, social behaviour and simple motor skills in adolescents with Down syndrome.

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Intraoperative application of the corticosteroid injection during the surgical decompression results in faster regaining of conduction speed of the median nerve.

The aim of our research was to evaluate the changes in levels of cytokines and redox state parameters in blood and isolated heart of rats subjected to different swimming protocols. Rats were divided into 3 groups: 1) controls, 2) moderately trained rats that during all 12 weeks swam 1 h/day, 5 days/week, and 3) overtrained rats that in 10th week swam twice, 11th week 3 times, and in 12th week 4 times a day for 1 h. After sacrificing, blood from jugular vein was collected, and the heart excised and perfused on a Langendorff apparatus. Samples of the coronary effluent were collected during coronary autoregulation. Levels of superoxide anion radical (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were measured in plasma and coronary effluent, while reduced glutathione (GSH), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in erythrocytes. Venous blood was also used for interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) determination. Moderate training protocol induced the decrease of TBARS in plasma, while both training protocols induced the decrease of O2- and H2O2 in coronary effluent. There was no significant difference in levels of cytokines between groups. The results of study add evidence about beneficial effects of moderate-intensity training on blood and cardiac redox state of rats, and furthermore, shows that exercising frequently, if the intensity stays within moderate range, may not have detrimental effects.

A B S T R A C T The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of the two new rules tested at the inaugural U23 Men