Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

Background/Objectives: This case study involved a 24-year-old male with an arteriovenous malformation localized in the long head of the right biceps femoris muscle, with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The aim was to assess the effects of a five-week kinesiological protocol, which included global postural re-education and strengthening exercises focused on knee stabilization. Methods: The effectiveness of the therapeutic intervention was evaluated using Gait Analysis, clinical examination, and the SF-36 questionnaire to assess the patient's quality of life. Results: The study revealed significant postural improvements, including the restoration of the spine's physiological curves, with kyphosis angles measuring 44.7° in indifferent orthostasis and 41.7° in self-corrected standing; and lumbar lordosis measuring 32.8° in indifferent orthostasis and 41.9° in self-corrected standing. Additionally, there was a restoration of the correct knee, hip, and ankle angles, along with a shift in the principal axis of the center of pressure from 7.6° pre-intervention to 12.9° post-intervention. The patient's perception of physical efficiency also improved, increasing from 60% to 75% over the treatment period. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the kinesiological treatment was confirmed by the improvement in gait stability and overall strengthening. The patient's active involvement in the treatment process enhanced his confidence in its success, ensuring adherence to the protocols.

Background/objectives: Circadian rhythm (CR) influences various physiological functions, including physical and cognitive performance, which fluctuate throughout the day. The present study aimed to investigate the combined and separate effects of CR and physical fatigue on cognitive and physical performance.

Methods: A sample of 18 amateur athletes was subjected to a series of tests at three different times of the day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Fatigue was induced following an isokinetic concentric exercise combined with a 20 min treadmill run, followed by assessments of selected physical and cognitive tasks.

Results: A repeated measure ANOVA did not reveal an interaction between CR and fatigue in cognitive performance (p > 0.05). However, a significant main effect of fatigue was observed in visual reaction time (VisRT) across all three timepoints. Moreover, peak torque (PT) and the peak torque fatigue index (PTFI) showed significant differences between the three times of the day, peaking in the evening.

Conclusions: Although we found no interaction between CR and the physical fatigue state on selected cognitive parameters at the three times of the day, a separate effect of fatigue on cognitive performance was identified. Additionally, physical parameters exhibited peak values occurring in the evening hours. Future research should further explore underlying mechanisms that potentially influence cognitive performance at different times of the day.

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 500 million people worldwide. Several measures have been taken to reduce the spread of the virus and the saturation of intensive care units: among them, a lockdown (LD) was declared in Italy on 9 March 2020. As a result, gyms, public parks, sports fields, outdoor play areas, schools, and multiple commercial activities have been closed. The consequences of physical inactivity can be dramatic in adult patients with congenital heart disease (ACHD), in which the benefit of regular exercise is well known. In this study, we investigated the effects of reduced physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic on ACHD's exercise capacity.

Materials and methods: Patients who performed exercise or cardiopulmonary exercise tests from October 2019 to February 2020 and one year after lockdown with the same protocol were retrospectively enrolled in our database.

Inclusion criteria: ACHD patients aged ≥ 18 years old under regular follow-up.

Exclusion criteria: significant clinical and/or therapeutic changes between the two tests; significant illness occurred between the two tests, including COVID-19 infection; interruption of one of the tests for reasons other than muscle exhaustion.

Results: Thirty-eight patients (55.6% males) met the inclusion criteria. Before the lockdown, 17 patients (group A) were engaged in regular physical activity (RPA), and 20 patients (group B) had a sedentary lifestyle. After LD, in group A, (a) the weekly amount of physical activity reduced with statistical significance from 115 ± 46 min/week to 91 ± 64 min/week (-21%, p = 0.03); (b) the BMI did not change; (c) the duration of exercise test and VO2 max at cardiopulmonary exercise test showed a significant reduction after the LD. In group B, BMI and exercise parameters did not show any difference.

Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the habits of ACHD patients, significantly reducing their possibility to exercise. Our data analyzed in this extraordinary situation again demonstrated that physical inactivity in ACHD worsens functional capacity, as highlighted by VO2 max. Regular exercise should be encouraged in ACHD patients to preserve functional capacity.

Background/Objectives: Falls pose a significant health risk for older adults, often due to balance disorders and decreased mobility. Methods: The ability to perform sit-to-stand transfers, which involve squatting, is crucial for daily independence. Incorporating squats into exercise routines can enhance lower body strength, reduce fall risk, and improve overall quality of life. Results: While the back squat is beneficial, proper form is essential to avoid biomechanical errors, like lumbar hyperlordosis and knee valgus. Conclusions: Health and fitness professionals, such as physical therapists and/or clinical exercise physiologists, should carefully guide older adults in performing the back squat, addressing any functional deficits, and ensuring proper technique to minimize the risk of injury and maximize the benefits.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop and validate the short version of The Joint Assessment of Equilibrium and Neuromotor Status Scale (JAEN scale) for use in women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) to make the balance disorder measurement process more efficient. Methods: A cross-sectional observational validation study was conducted. Fifty-six women with FMS and forty-four healthy controls were included. Certain items from the original tool were selected with the aim of (1) improving internal consistency by reducing item redundancy and (2) obtaining a diagnostic capacity with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) greater than 0.70 for discriminating FMS patients and fallers. The internal consistency, factorial validity, concurrent validity and diagnostic capacity of the new tool were analyzed. Results: Factorial analysis showed a two-factor structure that explained 72% of the variance. Cronbach alpha coefficients of 0.904 were obtained for the total score of the JAEN-10 items. Concurrent validity analysis showed strong correlations of the JAEN-10 with other instruments that measured quality of life, postural balance or disability related to dizziness. The score of the JAEN-10 items showed an AUC of 0.858 with a sensitivity of 64.29 and a specificity of 95.45 for discriminating between FMS and healthy controls, and an AUC of 0.835 with a sensitivity of 90.48 and a specificity of 67.24 for discriminating between fallers and non-fallers. Conclusions: The 10-item JAEN scale is a valid instrument for discriminating between subjects with or without FMS and between fallers and non-fallers. Its psychometric properties are good and are similar to those of the original 20-item scale. Moreover, it is quicker to complete, which may be relevant for subjects with a tendency to experience fatigue.

Background: Despite the well-documented benefits of exercise and sports participation, young athletes are particularly vulnerable to musculoskeletal injuries. This is especially true during periods of rapid growth, sports specialisation, and high training loads. While injuries are an inevitable aspect of sports participation, the risk can be minimised by promoting the development of strong, resilient tissues through proper nutrition and injury prevention strategies. Moreover, targeted nutrition strategies can accelerate recovery and rehabilitation, allowing for a quicker return to sports participation. Methods: This narrative review synthesises scientific evidence with practical insights to offer comprehensive dietary recommendations aimed at strengthening tissues and supporting the healing process during recovery and rehabilitation. The selection of all sources cited and synthesised in this narrative review were agreed upon by contributing author consensus, experts in sports nutrition (R.A., H.V., B.D.) and exercise and sports medicine (M.H.). Results: Key topics include factors that contribute to injury susceptibility, general dietary recommendations for growth and development, sports nutrition guidelines, and nutrition considerations during injury and rehabilitation. This review also addresses external factors that may lead to suboptimal nutrition, such as food literacy and eating disorders. Conclusions: By highlighting these factors, this article aims to equip coaches, nutritionists, dietitians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, parents/guardians, sporting organisations, and schools with essential knowledge to implement effective nutritional strategies for injury prevention, recovery, and rehabilitation, ultimately enhancing long-term health and athletic performance.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of a 20-week resistance training program on force-velocity (F-V) parameters using an isokinetic two-point method and comparing one-repetition maximum (1-RM) methods in novice lifters. Methods: Previously untrained individuals completed a supervised, three-session weekly resistance training program involving concentric, eccentric, and isometric phases, repeated every 2 to 4 weeks. Isokinetic dynamometry measured the strength of elbow flexors/extensors at 60°/s and 150°/s, and knee flexors/extensors at 60°/s and 240°/s at Baseline, 3 months, and 5 months. F-V parameters, including maximal theoretical force (F0) and the F-V slope, were calculated. Participants also performed 1-RM tests for the upper and lower limbs. Repeated measures ANOVA with effect size (η² > 0.14 as large) was used to analyze changes in F-V parameters and repeated measures correlation was used to test their association with 1-RM outcomes. Results: Eighteen male participants (22.0 ± 3.4 years) were analyzed. F0 significantly increased for all muscle groups (η² = 0.423 to 0.883) except elbow flexors. F-V slope significantly decreased (steeper) for knee extensors and flexors (η² = 0.348 to 0.695). Knee extensors showed greater F0 gains and steeper F-V slopes than flexors (η² = 0.398 to 0.686). F0 gains were associated with 1-RM changes (r = 0.38 to 0.83), while F-V slope changes correlated only with lower limb 1-RM (r = -0.37 to -0.68). Conclusions: The 20-week resistance training program significantly increased F0 and shifted the F-V profile towards a more "force-oriented" state in knee muscles. These changes correlated with improved 1-RM performance. Future studies should include longer follow-ups and control groups.

Background/Objectives: Global warming and the rise in the average temperature in recent years have increased the risk of heat stroke and also deteriorated performance among athletes. Kendo, a traditional Japanese martial art and also a competitive sport, is reported to have high incidents of heat stroke and related mortality. However, there is no heat management guideline for this specific sport to date and research on its heat management practices and risk factors for heat stroke are limited. The present study conducted a scoping review on studies focused on heat stress and the heat management practices of Kendo players. Methods: A literature search was conducted using five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Ichu-shi Web, CiNii, and Google Scholar) and also manually from the references of searched articles. Results: Overall, the studies that have investigated the heat stress of Kendo players are scarce and outdated. Of the 15 references that met screening criteria, 11 studies were conducted in a field setting. The vast majority were conducted on male university students and there was a lack of research on females and on different age groups. Common measures of heat management practices used in previous studies were weight changes before and after training (n = 14), body temperature (n = 9), and heart rate (n = 8). Only a few studies used multiple measures to determine heat stress. Conclusions: Considering the continuation of global warming and the increasing risk of heat stroke, further investigation on heat stress, its association with health and performance, and current heat management practices in Kendo players are warranted.

Background/Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the differences in physical fitness according to the level of physical activity (PA) during physical education classes in 10-year-old school children. Methods: The research included 315 primary school children (age 10 ± 1.3 years), divided into three groups by level of PA: low, moderate and high. A Eurofit test battery was used to evaluate the physical fitness of children. Physical activity (volume (number of steps) and intensity) was measured using a Coach Gear pedometer and a Suunto Memory Belt heart rate monitor. Results: Presented results indicate that there are significant differences between groups of children of both genders in relation to the level of PA. Group of boys with low PA showed lower values in sit and reach (p = 0.01), standing long jump (p = 0.02), bent arm hang (p = 0.04) and polygon backwards (p = 0.01) compared to the remaining two groups. Girls with low physical activity showed significant differences in sit and reach (p = 0.01) and bent arm hang (p = 0.01) compared to the other two groups, while in hand tapping, the high PA group showed better results compared to the other two groups (p = 0.03). Conclusions: The results reported in this research support the significant effects of PA level on physical fitness in school children. Less active children generally showed poorer physical fitness in both genders.

Background: Unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) is characterized by slow progression and enlargement of the condyle, accompanied by elongation of the mandibular body, resulting in facial asymmetry, occlusal disharmony, and joint dysfunction. This condition can be defined as "active" or "inactive": the active form is characterized by continuous growth and dynamic histologic changes, whereas the inactive form indicates that the growth process has stabilized. Since there are few microscopic studies on the inactive form, this study aims to investigate the histological features and expression of key proteins and bone markers in patients diagnosed with inactive UCH. Methods: A total of 15 biopsies from patients aged 28 to 36 years were examined by light microscopy and immunofluorescence for collagen I and II, metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9), receptor activator of nuclear factor- kappa B (RANK), and osteocalcin. Results: Our findings indicate that during inactive UCH, the ongoing process is not entirely stopped, with moderate expression of collagen, metalloproteinases, RANK, and osteocalcin, although no cartilage islands are detectable. Conclusions: The present study shows that even if these features are moderate when compared to active UCH and without cartilage islands, inactive UCH could be characterized by borderline features that could represent an important trigger-point to possible reactivation, or they could represent a long slow progression that is not "self-limited".