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Background: The anatomical assessment of the arrangement of facial soft tissues has important applications in different fields from orthodontics to plastic surgery. One of the issues concerns the relationship between facial soft tissue thickness and skeletal class. Literature mainly deals with adult populations, whereas very few studies have been focused on children. Objective: This study aims at investigating the relationship between midline facial soft tissue thickness and skeletal classes in Italian pre-treatment orthodontic child patients. Methods: Lateral cephalometric X-ray films were obtained from 220 healthy Caucasoid children (91 males and 129 females), aged between 6 and 18 years (Class I: 41 males and 70 females; Class II: 18 males and 25 females; Class III: 32 males and 34 females). All the films were digitized and 14 soft tissue thicknesses were measured on the midface; in addition, the skeletal class was assessed according to the corrected ANB angle (ANBc). Differences in facial soft tissue thickness according to sex and skeletal class were assessed through two-way ANOVA test (p Results: Statistically significant differences according to sex were found for labrale superius, stomion and labrale inferius, with thicker soft tissues in males than in females (p Conclusion: The limited number of investigations, as well as the differences in protocols, renders the comparison of results from different studies difficult, suggesting further investigations to enlighten this complex and debated anatomical issue.

Background: Rowing movements can be simulated using specialized ergometers; the method can be used both for training and indoor assessment of body movements within controlled conditions. Purpose: To perform a three-dimensional quantitative analysis of body movements during ergometer rowing, and to examine if there is a relationship between anthropometry and rowing kinematics. Study Design: Descriptive Laboratory Study Methods: Body movements were recorded in 18 high-level oarsmen during ergometer rowing at 28 strokes/min. The three-dimensional movements of 21 body landmarks (left and right ankle, knee, greater trochanter, hip, shoulder, elbow, wrist, tragus; spinous process of C7, T2, T12, L2, L4) were detected by an optoelectronic instrument. Using dedicated softwarethe range of motion of the posterior angles of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine segments relative to the horizontal axis; the angles between greater trochanter- knee- ankle and between knee-ankle and the ground; head rotation and tilt; leg and upper limb symmetry, were computed. Results: The head and neck were approximately in line with the horizontal at catch, and extended at finish, with limited horizontal and frontal plane inclinations. Thoracic spine extension during the stroke was on average 68°. Lumbar spine range of motion was on average 59°, and it was smaller in weightier oarsmen. Upper limbs were symmetric, and a complete, symmetric extension of the lower limbs was made. At catch the legs were nearly perpendicular to the ground. Conclusions: The method allowed the measurement of the kinematic characteristics of the body during ergometer rowing. The measurements agreed with conventional technical teaching. Clinical Relevance: Data collected on high-level rowers can provide a set of standard quantitative execution parameters that can be used by coaches as a benchmark for the assessment of technical movements in all rowers.

Purpose: Several studies analyzed muscle activity after pre-fatigue due to co-contraction, but the effects of antagonist contraction on agonist muscle performance are still incompletely known. The purpose is to determine if a previous workout of an antagonist muscle can affect muscular fatigue appearance during the subsequent agonist muscle performance. Methods: Surface EMG was used to estimate biceps brachii muscle fatigue during isometric contraction executed after previous contractions of the antagonist muscle. Eight expert male body-builders performed five series of isometric contractions (30 s) alternatively according to the agonist and antagonist protocols. Results: Within each repetition, for both biceps brachii muscles and experimental protocols, data showed a progressive fatigue, but no continuous quantitative decreasing trend of the median frequency of the spectrum along the five repetitions. Contraction time explained 1-91% (r 2 values) of the reduction of mean activation frequency along the 30 s (agonistic protocol); 0.7-92% for antagonistic protocol. The decrement in median frequency was only partially time- related. A repeated measures Anova found significant differences between subjects (p

Background: The active range of motion of human cervical spine naturally changes during lifetime; sport practice may also modify cervical range of motion. Purpose: To investigate the effect of rugby league practice and age on active cervical range of motion. Study Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: Active cervical range of motion was quantified in 34 Rugby League players and 70 healthy control men (adolescents, 15-16 years; young adults, 19-25 years; adults, 31-45 years) using an optoelectronic motion analyser. Principal plane movements (flexion-extension, axial rotation, lateral bending) and concomitant out-of-plane motions were computed, and compared by factorial analyses of variance. Results: Aging significantly reduced active cervical flexion-extension (from adolescence to adult age: about 15° in control participants, 21° in rugby players) and lateral bending (from adolescence to adult age: about 6° in control participants, 17° in rugby players). A trend in motion reduction was observed for axial rotation. Significant reductions were found for concomitant movements in other planes. Rugby league practice significantly modified active cervical lateral bending: during adolescence and young adulthood it had a beneficial effect, increasing the range of motion of 8-11°, but after the third decade of life the effect reversed. Some differences were observed also for concomitant out-of-plane movements. Conclusions: Both aging and rugby practice significantly modified active cervical range of motion. Clinical Relevance: The non-invasive assessment of active cervical movements may identify the players with altered neck mobility, and who may potentially be at larger risk for damages. They might benefit from specific cervical muscle training.