[Present trends in sports medicine]

Knowledge on the response and adaptation of the human organism to motor activity in dependence on age and sex is presented. In organizing substitute motor activities for the population, two lines have to be differentiated, i.e. programs of exercises for the maintenance of health and training for increasing physical fitness. Recent methods of functional diagnosis of aerobic and anaerobic abilities in the laboratory and in sports premises are described. Echocardiographic examination presents a contribution as it enables to study dynamically the adaptation of the heart to different motor activities. The authors formulate their standpoint concerning selection of locomotively talented youth as well as some specific health problems of top performance sports (immunological resistance, doping).