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This study aimed to analyze the effects of a strength training injury-prevention program (STIPP) on injuries associated with weakness of the gluteal muscles in professional handball players. Twenty-seven professional Spanish male handball players from the same club, who competed at the Spanish Second National League level, participated in this study. The investigation was conducted over 2 consecutive seasons (2017-2018 and 2018-2019). The first season served as the control season (n = 21), and the second season served as the experimental season (n = 20). The STIPP was conducted 2 times per week, for 32 weeks, during the in-season period. There were no significant improvements in the injury incidence, pattern, or type for the experimental season group compared with the control season group (injury rate ratio [IRR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-2.58; p = 0.17). However, there was a meaningful reduction in the number and burden of lumbar injuries after the STIPP (IRR = 55.83; 95% CI: 0.11-89.01; p = 0.001). In addition, burden values (number of absence days/1000 hours exposure) in all injury pathologies were lower during the experimental season compared with the control season. The STIPP focused on the gluteal muscles could be effective in reducing the number and burden of lumbar injuries in professional handball players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To determine if adding dry needling to a four-week exercise program has an additional benefit compared with adding sham dry needling to the same exercise program in subjects with chronic low back pain. Design Randomized clinical trial. Setting Physiotherapy and Pain Clinic of Alcala University. Subjects Forty-six patients with chronic low back pain. Methods Subjects were randomized to two groups: the dry needling group (N = 23) or sham dry needling group (N = 23). Both groups received a four-week exercise program and before the exercise started a session of dry needling or sham dry needling. Pain (visual analog scale), disability (Roland-Morris Questionnaire), and fear avoidance beliefs (Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire) were assessed at baseline, after treatment, and at three-month follow-up. Pressure pain thresholds (algometer) were measured at baseline, after the dry needling or the sham dry needling, and after treatment. Results Both groups showed significant improvements for all variables. In the between-group comparison, the dry needling group improved significantly in pain at three-month follow-up and pressure pain thresholds at the end of treatment for all measures, and at three-month follow-up there was no improvement in gluteus medium. Conclusions In chronic low back patients, adding dry needling to a four-week exercise program has an additional benefit in pain and sensitivity compared with adding sham dry needling to the same exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of exercise on the core musculature have not been investigated in prepubescents. The main purpose of the present study was to determine the volume and degree of asymmetry ofrectus abdominis, obliquesandtransversus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, gluteusandparavertebralismuscles in prepubescent tennis players and in untrained boys. The muscle volume was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 7 male prepubescent tennis players and 10 untrained controls (mean age 11.0 ± 0.8 years, Tanner 1–2). After accounting for height and body weight as covariates, the tennis players had 14–34% greater volume than the controls in all the muscles analysed (P < 0.05) except inparavertebralis, dominantquadratus lumborumand non-dominantgluteus, which had similar volumes in both groups (P = NS). Compared to controls, the tennis players displayed a greater degree of asymmetry inquadratus lumborumandrectus abdominis(3% vs. 15%,P < 0.01 and 8% vs. 17%,P = 0.06, respectively). The level of asymmetry ofobliquesandtransversus abdominis, iliopsoas, gluteus andparavertebralismuscles was similar in both groups (P = NS). In conclusion, tennis playing at prepubertal ages induces a selective hypertrophy of the core musculature and exaggerates the degree of asymmetry ofquadratus lumborumandrectus abdominiscompared to untrained boys. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]