Search

Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) is a relevant indicator of adolescent health influenced by sport participation, body size, and maturation. However, limited data are available from techniques accessible to field professionals.PurposeTo provide reference data of regional and total-body SMM and fat-free mass (FFM) derived from anthropometry among groups of age, sex, and sport participation in healthy Caucasian children and adolescents.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional dataset of 1,438 participants aged 8-18 years were analyzed for this study. Regional and total-body SMM and FFM were estimated from anthropometric variables. Sport participation was obtained byad hocquestionnaires and maturity offset was calculated using predictive equations. General linear model of mixed factors was used to analyze the variance of FFM or SMM across groups and confounders. Ln-ln regression analysis was applied to describe the scaling relationship between SMM and height.ResultsPositive interactions were found between sex, sport participation, and age for regional muscle variables (PPPPDiscussionThe novel contribution of this analysis includes regional indicators of SMM and the relevance of sport participation on SMM accrual in post-pubertal boys. Also, confirms that muscle growth rate varies across sex and phases of puberty, which arises a plausible sexual phenotype/dysmorphism of regional SMM influenced by sport participation.

Objectives To cross-culturally adapt and validate a Spanish version of the Exercise-Induced Leg Pain questionnaire. Design Clinical measurement study. Participants The validity and reliability of the adapted version were assessed in four groups of 40 patients with exercise-induced leg pain, 40 physically active healthy individuals (control group), 40 athletes with other leg conditions and 40 athletes, military personnel and candidates with no history of injury (risk group). Main measure Exercise-Induced Leg Pain questionnaire. Reference measures Spanish version of the Short-Form 36 and Schepsis postsurgical classification scale. Results In patients with exercise-induced leg pain, the mean age was 24.9 (± 6.7) years and the mean score of the questionnaire was 62.8 (± 10.9). The standard error of measurement and minimum detectable change threshold were 1.67 and 4.63 points, respectively. Excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.942) and test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.995) were found. The exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a one-factor solution explained 66.84% of the variance. For construct validity, 87.5% of the previously stated hypotheses were fulfilled between the total score of the questionnaire and Short-Form 36 dimensions. Concurrent validity, assessed by the Schepsis scale, was almost perfect (r = 0.92, p < 0.001). The predictive validity of the questionnaire was demonstrated using the receiving operating curve (area of 0.992; 95% CI: 0.983–1, p < 0.001). Conclusion The Spanish version of the Exercise-Induced Leg Pain questionnaire resulted in a reliable and valid instrument to assess patients with exercise-induced leg pain.

Master athletes are considered as a model of healthy aging because they can limit the age-related decline of physiological abilities compared to sedentary individuals. The main objective of this study is to analyze age-related changes and annual training on body composition (BC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) parameters. The participants in this retrospective cross-sectional study were 176 male cyclists, aged 40–60 years. BC was evaluated through anthropometric measurements and CRF was determined by an incremental cycle ergometer test to exhaustion. A comparative study between age groups was carried out through a one-way ANOVA test and the associations between the variables were assessed by Spearman’s correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis to estimate the performance. Training was generally associated with a decrease in both body weight and body fat (p < 0.05). A decrease in resting heart rate was observed as a vagal effect of kilometers cycled per year (p < 0.05). Kilometers cycled per year were associated with an increase in peak power output, which was larger in the master 40 group (p < 0.05) with a non-significant upward in VO2max (p > 0.05). In the performance prediction model, the included variables explained 52% of the variance. In summary, the changes induced by age were minimal in BC and negligible in CRF, whereas HR decreased with age. Training load was generally associated with a decrease in body weight, BMI and body fat percentage that was particularly notable in the abdominal skin folds. A decrease in HRrest was observed as a vagal effect due to kilometers cycled per year, and age did not seem to have a significant effect. The annual cycling kilometers were associated with to high PPO that is greater in the M40 group and a non-significant upward trend in VO2max.

Background and Objectives: To determine the most commonly used patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in exercise-induced leg pain (EILP) and to identify specific PROMs for EILP in order to evaluate their psychometric properties and methodological quality. Materials and Methods: A strategic search was performed in different databases to identify and extract the characteristics of studies based on the use of PROMs in patients with EILP. Specific PROMs were evaluated according to the Terwee et al. and COSMIN criteria. Results: Fifty-six studies were included in the review. The Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Score (MTSSS), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) and Exercise-Induced Leg Pain Questionnaire (EILP-Q) were identified as specific PROMs for EILP. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was the most widely used instrument in the assessment of EILP. The methodological quality assessment showed six positive values for the LEFS, four for the MTSSS and three for the EILP-Q for the eight psychometric properties analyzed according to the COSMIN criteria. The evaluation of the nine psychometric properties according to Terwee showed five positive values for the LEFS and MTSSS, and three for the EILP-Q. Conclusions: The overall methodological quality of the PROMs used was low. The VAS was the most widely used instrument in the assessment of EILP, and the LEFS was the highest quality PROM available for EILP, followed by the MTSSS and EILP-Q, respectively. Castillo-Domínguez A, García-Romero JC, Alvero-Cruz JR, Ponce-García T, Benítez-Porres J, Páez-Moguer J. Systematic Review of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Patients with Exercise-Induced Leg Pain. Medicina. 2022; 58(7):841. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58070841

The goal of this study was to describe the integrated spinal assessment of the sagittal morphotype in rowers to determine whether the intense practice of rowing causes a modification of the sagittal curvatures of the spine, its relationship with the rowing technique, and training background. The second goal was to analyse how the dorsal and lumbar curves behave in the three phases of the rowing gesture, and to determine which phases can be detrimental to the correct development of the spine during growth. We analysed the spine curvatures in the sagittal plane of 29 females and 82 males, which were measured with an inclinometer in standing, slump sitting, maximal trunk flexion and during rowing performance. The average value of thoracic kyphosis in the rowers was 30° (mean, 30 + 8.27°). Thoracic hyperkyphosis was found in only two rowers (1.8%). Lumbar lordosis was within normal range in 84.1% of the males (mean, 27 + 9.57°) and 75.9% of female rowers (mean, 33°). Functional thoracic hyperkyphosis was observed in 57.4% of the males and 17.1% of the females. Functional lumbar hyperkyphosis was observed in 28 of the 69 males (40.5%) and five of 22 females (17.2%). Rowing seems to provide adequate spine alignment in the sagittal plane on standing. The integrated spinal assessment of the sagittal morphotype showed that half or our rowers presented with functional thoracic hyperkyphosis, and 43.2% presented with functional lumbar hyperkyphosis. Spine behaviour during the rowing technique shows that the thoracic kyphosis (98.2%) and lumbar spine (91%) perform within normative ranges and could explain the adequate positioning of the spine in the sagittal plane on standing. Years of rowing training tend to reduce thoracic kyphosis in males.