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Featured Application: Knowing kinematics and muscular recruitment in ski mountaineering gestures could be useful in providing evidence-based recommendations for training, injury prevention, and performance enhancement in this sport. Ski mountaineering (Skimo) combines mountain climbing and skiing, with ascents on skis or by carrying them, followed by ski descents. Despite its popularity, the literature lacks integrated biomechanical analyses during indoor training, limiting evidence-based recommendations for training, injury prevention, and performance improvement in this sport. This study analyzed four Skimo athletes during uphill walking and running on a 9° inclined treadmill at 7 km/h and 8 km/h. Kinematics was assessed by an optoelectronic system, and surface electromyography recorded the muscular activity of twelve bilateral muscles (Erector Spinae, Rectus Abdominis, Rectus Femoris, Biceps Femoris, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Lateralis). Rectus Femoris and Biceps Femoris co-activation supported knee stability during the load support phase, especially while running. Running at 8 km/h was the most demanding condition, with increased knee flexion throughout the task cycle. Switching from 7 to 8 km/h reduced the maximum extension and increased the maximum flexion of both hip and knee and required the Gastrocnemius' recruitment in the swing phase. Regardless of task and speed, Rectus Abdominis and Erector Spinae played a key role in stabilizing the trunk. This study provided a biomechanical characterization of two motor gestures typical in Skimo, highlighting how task typology and velocity could influence kinematics and muscle activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutual interactions between the diaphragm and lung transplantation (LTx) are known to exist. Before LTx, many factors can exert notable impact on the diaphragmatic function, such as the underlying respiratory disease, the comorbidities, and the chronic treatments of the patient. In the post-LTx setting, even the surgical procedure itself can cause a stressful trauma to the diaphragm, potentially leading to morphological and functional alterations. Conversely, the diaphragm can significantly influence various aspects of the LTx process, ranging from graft-to-chest cavity size matching to the long-term postoperative respiratory performance of the recipient. Despite this, there are still no standard criteria for evaluating, defining, and managing diaphragmatic dysfunction in the context of LTx to date. This deficiency hampers the accurate assessment of those factors which affect the diaphragm and its reciprocal influence on LTx outcomes. The objective of this narrative review is to delve into the complex role the diaphragm plays in the different stages of LTx and into the modifications of this muscle following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achondroplasia is a rare genetic disease, yet the most common form of dwarfism, characterized by limb shortening and disproportionate short stature along with musculoskeletal changes, such as postural deviations. Although postural changes in the spine in children with achondroplasia have been well investigated, little is known about the association of achondroplasia with spinal movements/mobility. Methods: This preliminary study aims to explore the association of achondroplasia with spinal mobility in children with achondroplasia compared to age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Spinal posture and mobility were assessed using a radiation-free back scan, the Idiag M360 (Idiag, Fehraltorf, Switzerland). Between-group differences were determined using a two-way analysis of variance. Results: Children with achondroplasia had smaller thoracic lateral flexion [difference between groups (Δ) = 20.4°, 95% CI 0.1°–40.6°, p = 0.04], lumbar flexion (Δ = 17.4°, 95% CI 5.5°–29.4°, p = 0.006), lumbar extension (Δ = 14.2°, 95% CI 5.7°–22.8°, p = 0.002) and lumbar lateral flexion (Δ = 19.6°, 95% CI 10.7°–28.4°, p < 0.001) than age- and sex-matched healthy individuals, except for thoracic extension (Δ = 16.5°, 95% CI 4.4°–28.7°, p = 0.009) which was greater in children with achondroplasia. No differences were observed in global spinal postures between the two groups. Conclusions: Spinal mobility appears to be more influenced by achondroplasia than global spinal postures in childhood. These results also highlight the importance of considering the musculoskeletal assessment of segmental spinal postures and rehabilitative interventions aimed at promoting spinal flexibility in children with achondroplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]