Vladimir Mrdaković

Walking at speeds close to the preferred transition speed as an approach to obesity treatment.

INTRODUCTION Increasing energy expenditure through certain exercise is an important component of effective interventions to enhance initial weight loss and prevent weight regain. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a 16-week weight loss exercise programme on morpho-functional changes in female adults and to examine the programme effects on two subpopulations with different levels of obesity. METHODS Fifty-six middle-aged women were divided into 2 groups according to their body mass index (BMI): 25-29.9 kg/m2--overweight (OW) and > or =30 kg/m2--obese (OB). The exercise protocol included a walking technique based on hip rotation at horizontal plane at speeds close to the preferred transition speed (PTS). At the initiation of the study and after 16 weeks of the programme, anthropometric, morphological and cardiovascular parameters of all subjects were assessed. The main effects of Group (OW and OB) and Time and the interaction effect of Group by Time were tested by time repeated measures general linear model (mixed between-within subjects ANOVA). RESULTS Mean weight loss during the programme was 10.3 kg and 20.1 kg in OW and OB, respectively. The average fat mass (FM) loss was 9.4 kg in OW and 16.9 kg in OB. The mixed ANOVA revealed a significant group by time interaction effects for waist circumference, body weight, body water, fat free mass, FM, %FM and BMI (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The applied exercise protocol has proved as beneficial in the treatment of obesity, since it resulted in a significant weight loss and body composition changes. The reduction in body weight was achieved mainly on account of the loss of fat mass.

Optimum Drop Height for Maximizing Power Output in Drop Jump: The Effect of Maximal Muscle Strength

Abstract Matic, MS, Pazin, NR, Mrdakovic, VD, Jankovic, NN, Ilic, DB, and Stefanovic, DLJ. Optimum drop height for maximizing power output in drop jump: The effect of maximal muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2015—The main purpose of this study was to explore the cause-and-effect relation of maximal muscle strength (MS max ) on the optimum drop height (DH opt ) that maximizes power output in drop jump. In total, 30 physically active male students participated in this study, whereas the 16 subjects were selected according to their resistance strength training background (i.e., level of MS max ) and allocated into 2 equal subgroups: strong (n = 8) and weak (n = 8). The main testing session consisted of drop jumps performed from 8 different drop heights (i.e., from 0.12 to 0.82 m). The individual DH opt was determined based on the maximal value power output across applied ranges of drop heights. The tested relationships between DH opt and MS max were moderate (r = 0.39–0.50, p ⩽ 0.05). In addition, the stronger individuals, on average, showed maximal values of power output on the higher drop height compared with the weaker individuals (0.62 vs. 0.32 m). Finally, significant differences in the individual DH opt between groups were detected (p < 0.01). The present findings suggest that drop height should be adjusted based on a subjects neuromuscular capacity to produce MS max . Hence, from the perspective of strength and conditioning practitioners, MS max should be considered as an important factor that could affect the DH opt , and therefore should be used for its adjustment in terms of optimizing athletes testing, training, or rehabilitation intervention.