Background: In soccer, the capacity for acceleration and high-speed tasks extends beyond linear sprints to encompass a broad spectrum of multidirectional movements, including curvilinear sprints. We aimed to correlate mandatory speed-related capabilities with curve sprint (CS) performance in male professional soccer players.
Methods: Twenty-one players (age 25.9 ± 5.4 years) performed the jump squat with 30% and 60% of body mass (JS30% and JS60%, respectively), countermovement (CMJ) and squat jumps (SJ), 10 m and 20 m linear sprint, 17 m CS, 20 m with change-of-direction (COD), and 20 m resisted sprints with 20% and 65% of body mass (RS20% and RS65%, respectively). The Pearson product-moment test and Spearman correlation test were performed.
Results: Strong correlations were observed between 10 m (r = 0.662; p = 0.001) and 20 m (r = 0.677; p < 0.001) linear sprint times with CS times. Regarding the COD speed, moderate correlations with RS20% times (r = 0.508; p = 0.019) and very strong correlations with RS65% times (r = 0.750; p < 0.001) were observed. Moderate relationships were observed for CMJ with 20 m linear sprint times (r = - 0.467; p = 0.033) and CS times (r = - 0.471; p = 0.031), as well as for SJ and CS times (r = - 0.437; p = 0.047).
Conclusions: This information offers insights for enhancing test sensitivity and tailoring training prescriptions in professional soccer, once correlation was found between groups of tasks with vertical predominance (i.e., vertical jump, curved and linear sprints) and horizontal predominance (i.e., COD and resisted sprints).
Background: Upper Extremity Impairments (UEIs) in type 2 DM(Diabetes Mellitus) usually occur after other complications of DM have occurred and can lead to disability and severely impact the quality of life. This study aimed to identify the UEIs by self-reported questionnaire and clinical findings and to investigate whether self-reported impairments conform to clinical findings and whether any vital questions about UEIs can be identified to screen the UEIs quickly in type 2 DM comprehensive assessment.
Methods: 91 medically diagnosed type 2 DM subjects were enlisted at a tertiary care hospital per the inclusion and exclusion criteria to participate in the study. Participants were asked to fill out a self-reported questionnaire regarding UEIs, following which a clinical examination of the upper extremity was performed to identify the UEIs.
Results: 85% of the participants self-reported UEIs. Self-reported shoulder pain was reported by n = 34 (37.3%), stiffness by n = 21(23.1%), and hand weakness by n = 24 (26.4%). Clinical examination of shoulder and hand revealed impairments such as hands against the back in n = 30(33%), lift-off sign in 22(24.1%), decreased finger extension in 11(12.1%), and thenar strength in 9(9.9%). Self-reported shoulder pain and hand stiffness were associated with clinically examined decreased shoulder mobility and rotator cuff (RC) tests (p < 0.05). Grip strength, thenar strength, and Phalen's sign decreased significantly with self-reported hand weakness (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Self-reported shoulder pain and stiffness, hand stiffness, and weakness should be used to identify patients with UEIs needing comprehensive assessment and treatment. Significantly self-reported hand impairments can also be an indication to screen shoulder pathologies.
Background: Athletes need to enhance their foot function to improve their performance and prevent injuries and disability. Although foot function is believed to be improved by stabilizing the body on an unstable surface (e.g., a sandy beach), there have been no relevant studies to our knowledge. Here, we identified the differences in foot and balance functions between beach volleyball and volleyball players and investigated the effects of sandy surface training.
Methods: We included six male beach volleyball players (BVB group) and six male volleyball players (VB group). The following six parameters were measured and compared between the groups: foot morphology, plantar surface perception, isometric ankle muscle strength, toe grip strength, static balance, and dynamic balance.
Results: The BVB group had significantly higher values in sensation perception, isometric ankle dorsiflexion muscle strength, and toe grip strength in the standing posture, with significant intrinsic foot muscle dominance, compared to the VB group.
Conclusion: Playing barefoot increases the amount of tactile information received from the surface of the sole, which may lead to enhanced sensory perception by the foot. In addition, owing to the unstable sandy surface, the intrinsic muscles of the foot and lower leg may strengthen to maintain balance; therefore, training on a sandy surface may lead to improved foot and balance functions.
Background: Several studies have shown that people with whiplash-associated disorder (WAD) may experience diverse symptoms, and social, activity and participation limitations. However, the symptom profile of WAD is still unclear. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to identify the symptoms, impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions of people with WAD to construct a symptom profile.
Methods: The data search was performed using PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Full-text quantitative and qualitative studies reporting symptoms, impairments, activity and participation limitations, or environmental factors affecting them in people with WAD were included. The extracted data was synthesised using Joanna Briggs Institute's convergent integrated approach. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist was chosen to evaluate the quality of the studies.
Results: Fifty-three studies involving 102 943 people with WAD met the inclusion criteria. Three key themes were identified to describe the symptom profile: 1) the prevalence of symptoms, impairments or limitations; 2) the severity of symptoms and the effect of symptoms on functioning, activity and participation; and 3) the effects of environmental factors on the symptom profile. Two-thirds of the symptoms, impairments and limitations identified from the studies related to problems in body functions, and one-third to difficulties executing activities or participating in life situations.
Discussion: The literature describes a wide variety of symptoms in people with WAD. However, it does not adequately describe how these symptoms affect a patient's function, activity, or levels of participation. Considering the symptom profile after whiplash injury to be primarily neck-related may be misdirected.
Objective: To perform the translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities (PASIPD) for the Brazilian Portuguese in a sample of people with lower limb amputation.
Methods: This is a methodological study with cross-sectional design. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the scale were initially carried out in accordance with international guidelines. After its psychometric properties were evaluated, in addition to the presence of floor and ceiling effect, the standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change.
Results: The Brazilian version of PASIPD presented face and content validity and correlated significantly with International Physical Activity Questionnaire (rs: 0.71/p = 0.001). The degree of inter-examiner agreement ranged from 0.29 to 0.75, and the intra-examiner from 0.13 to 0.72. The inter-examiner was 0.71, and the intra-examiner was 0.78. The internal consistency measure (Cronbach's α) was 0.75. No floor or ceiling effect were observed. The standard error of measurement was 0.36 and the minimal detectable change was 1.66.
Conclusions: The Brazilian version of PASIPD is valid, reliable and has internal consistency among its items, and can be used by researchers and health professionals to evaluate the physical activity of Brazilians with lower limb amputation.
Introduction: A single session of exercises-inducing motor unit recruitment has been reported to immediately improve static and dynamic postural balance in different populations. It remains unclear whether such an effect occurs in patients with piriformis muscle syndrome (PMS). Thus, this study aimed to explore the immediate effect of hip exercises-inducing motor unit recruitment on postural balance in these patients.
Methods: In this pre-post-repeated measure study design, twelve patients with PMS were enrolled. These patients participated in a single session of hip exercises-inducing motor unit recruitment, consisting of two exercises, bilateral bridging to target hip extensors and side lying clams to target hip abductors and external rotators. Static (stabilometric platform) and dynamic (timed up and go test (TUGT) and Functional reach test (FRT)) postural balance, and pain were evaluated before and immediately after the intervention protocol.
Results: Patients with PMS had significant (p < 0.001) lower centre of pressure velocity and symmetry index values during the unipedal posture (eyes closed) in post-compared to pre-session. However, no significant effects of hip exercises-inducing motor unit recruitment were found on static bipedal and dynamic postural balance or pain in these patients.
Conclusion: A single session of hip exercises-inducing motor unit recruitment immediately improved static postural balance (unipedal posture with eyes closed) in patients with PMS. Given that this protocol is simple and easy to implement, it is recommended that patients with PMS consider incorporating these exercises into their daily physical activity.
Background: Some cognitive functions can be affected by a stroke as it causes sensory, perceptual, and visual deficits, contributing to a loss of body awareness and changes in one's body image and leading to a decrease in the quality of life (QoL). This systematic review aims to identify and systematize scientific evidence of body-oriented intervention (BOI) effects in adult and elderly patients after a stroke on cognitive function, body awareness, and QoL.
Methods: The research was carried out in: Pubmed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Web of Science, Psycinfo, Scopus, Portal Regional da BVS, and PEDro. To assess the methodological quality of the studies, the PEDro scale was used, and best evidence synthesis (BES) was performed on the data.
Results: The study included 11 high-quality randomized controlled trials involving 590 participants. The trials investigated BOIs' effects, focusing on creative arts and mind-body and evaluating cognitive functions, body awareness, and QoL. BOIs were evidenced to induce positive effects, limited to strong ones, on several cognitive outcomes and QoL indicators, with more benefits than, or similar amounts of benefits to, other therapies.
Conclusions: BOIs have been shown to be a valid therapy in stroke recovery as there is limited to strong evidence that they improve several cognitive functions and QoL, with similar benefits to or more benefits than other therapies. In the future, it is important to study the outcomes that were not explored by the included studies or that have hardly been investigated, such as those related to body awareness.