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Abstract: The Maasai are known for their unique customs, including dancing, singing, and jumping. The tribe’s traditional jumping rituals, performed by young warriors called ‘Morani,’ demonstrate their strength and skill through repetitive hops, often lasting several hours. These jumps are comparable to the countermovement jumps (CMJ) of elite Western athletes. This study compared different types of jumps (CMJ), squat jump (SJ) and repetitive hops) among three groups: (a) Maasai (n = 30), (b) Slovenian high-jump athletes and sprinters (n = 20), and (c) non-athletes in Slovenia (n = 20). Participants were male, aged 16–35. The My Jump 2 app was used to measure jump height. Results showed that during CMJ, the Maasai averaged 38.1 cm ± 7.3 cm; athletes 52.46 cm ± 9.07 cm; non-athletes 33.72 cm ± 7.22 cm. In the SJ, the Maasai averaged 35.87 cm ± 6.59 cm; athletes 49.74 cm ± 7.3 cm; non-athletes 32.57 cm ± 6.21 cm. For repetitive hops, the Maasai averaged 36.2 cm ± 7.75 cm; athletes 35.93 cm ± 5.98 cm; non-athletes 20.98 cm ± 7.07 cm. Athletes showed higher jump heights in CMJ and SJ compared to the Maasai (p < 0.001, d = 1.28; p < 0.001, d = 2.00) and non-athletes (p < 0.001, d = 2.29; p < 0.001, d = 2.53). However, in repetitive hops, the Maasai performed similarly to athletes (p = 0.991, d = 0.04), while non-athletes had significantly lower results (p < 0.001, d = 2.05). These findings suggest that the Maasai’s cultural practices enhance musculoskeletal adaptation from an early age, emphasizing that proficiency is greatest in regularly practiced tasks, such as repetitive jumps and hops.
Keywords: Maasai, athletes, jumps
Published in RUP: 01.03.2026; Views: 224; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: Cognitive impairment significantly affects physical function in dementia patients, but variations across dementia types and levels of cognitive decline remain unclear. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 874 patients (80.75 ± 8.00 years; 60.4% female) with different dementia types and cognitive impairment levels. Six physical function tests were admisterd: the De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI), 6-minute walking test (6MTW), 10-meter walking test (10MWT), hand grip strength (HGS), 30-second chair stand (30sSTS), and the timed “Up & Go” test (TUG). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The Mild Cognitive Imapirment (MCI) group outperformed Alzheimer's Dementia (AD) and Vascular Dementia (VaD) on DEMMI, 30sSTS and HGS (p < 0.001, η² = 0.012 to 0.052). Differences in the 6MWT were significant in ANOVA but disappeared after adjusting for sex and age (p = 0.066). Severe cognitive impairment was linked to significantly lower physical performance across all measures (p < 0.001, η² = 0.037 to 0.064). Physical function profiles vary by dementia type and cognitive decline level, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address specific physical challenges.
Keywords: dementia, cognitive decline, physical function
Published in RUP: 22.02.2026; Views: 163; Downloads: 3
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Keywords: mediani živec, strižna elastografija, togost živca, nevrodinamika, manualna terapija, magistrske naloge
Published in RUP: 06.02.2026; Views: 384; Downloads: 30
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Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that often leads to subtle motor impairments even in early stages. Traditional clinical assessments may fail to detect these early deficits. Jump and hop tasks, requiring complex neuromuscular coordination, have emerged as promising functional assessments in neurological populations. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the use of jump- and hop-based assessments to evaluate motor performance in people with MS (pwMS). A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus was conducted in April 2025. Studies were included if they involved pwMS, used jump or hop tasks, and reported performance, kinetic, or kinematic outcomes. Nine studies met inclusion criteria. Countermovement jumps (CMJ) were most frequently used and consistently detected motor deficits in pwMS, including reduced flight time, jump height, and power output. Single-leg CMJ tests identified asymmetries correlated with disability scores. Bipedal hops revealed impaired coordination and anticipatory control. One study assessed motor fatigability through repetitive jumping, while another evaluated the patient experience of sensor-based jump testing. Jump and hop assessments provide potentially sensitive, non-invasive tools for detecting early motor impairments in MS. They offer potential for improving clinical monitoring and guiding individualized rehabilitation strategies.
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, balance, jumps
Published in RUP: 07.01.2026; Views: 266; Downloads: 2
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Keywords: vadba za krepitev stopala, medprstni pripomoček, hallux valgus, obseg giba, posturalna stabilnost, magistrske naloge
Published in RUP: 02.01.2026; Views: 291; Downloads: 18
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