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Background: Older adults are prone to falls, and identifying fallers and non-fallers from a set of fall-related variables is essential while establishing effective preventive programs. Aims: This study aimed to analyze if a set of parameters (i.e., strength, functional status, dynamic balance, gait, and obesity-related anthropometric measures) differ between older adults able and unable to recover from an induced trip. Objective: To analyze predictors among older adults able and unable to identify fallers and nonfallers. Methods: Thirty healthy old adults were tripped once during the mid-swing phase of the gait. The trip outcome was used as a criterion to assign participants to a recovery (REC; n=21; 71.2±5.7 years; 70.9±12.8 kg; 1.60±0.09 m) or a non-recovery group (NREC; n=9; 69.4±6.8 years; 85.7±11.8 kg; 1.59±0.08 m). The spatiotemporal gait parameters, functional mobility, dynamic balance, and isokinetic muscular function were measured. Results: The NREC presented larger BMI (33.6±2.7 vs. 27.5±3.4 kg.m-2; p Conclusions: The results showed that it is possible to identify fall risk components based on several fall-related parameters using a laboratory-induced trip as the outcome variable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between body adiposity and physical fitness with performance in the Supine-to-Stand test (STS-test) in sedentary adolescents. Methods: Sixty-two adolescents, of both sexes, between 10 and 16 years old, participated in the study. Body mass (BM), height, waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), right and left handgrip strength (HGS-right, HGS-left), abdominal resistance (ABDO), flexibility (FLEX), and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) were measured. Body mass index (BMI), z-score BMI (BMI-z), tri-ponderal mass index (TMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. The STS-test was applied to evaluate the STS-MC by the movement patterns in the execution of the test. The STS-time in seconds (s) was categorized into terciles: fast (FG < 2.0 s), intermediate (IG = 2.0-2.6 s) and slow (SG > 2.6 s). One-way ANOVA, Chi-square, Spearman’s correlation coefficient as well as non-parametric tests were used, with significance p 0.05. Results: The SG presented higher BMI, BMI-z, TMI, WHtR, FM, %FM, as well as lower averages for %FFM, HGS-right, HGS-left, FLEX, ABDO, VO2peak, VO2peak relative to BM (VO2peakBM) in relation to GF. The BMI, BMI-z, TMI, WC, WHtR and FM showed moderate and direct correlations with STS-time and inverse with STS-MC (p < 0.01). HGS-right, HGS-left, ABDO, and VO2peakBM showed moderate and an inverse correlation with STS-time (p < 0.05). The VO2peakBM was moderate and with direct correlations to STS-MC (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It is concluded that excess fat and low physical fitness hamper STS-test performance. Therefore, the STS-test can be used for screening students to assess MC.

Background: The ability to produce force is critical to several daily activities. Strategies to reduce delayed onsent muscle soreness (DOMS) and restore force-generating properties that occur in response to training and impair physical performance have been proposed. Acupuncture has been proposed to accelerate recovery and optimize muscle functioning. It was to determine the effects of acupuncture on DOMS and on the muscle force production capacity. Methods: Thirty physically active volunteers (26.3 ± 3.1 years old, 1.70 ± 0.08 m, 66.5 ± 12.6 kg) were allocated in a control (CG; n = 10), placebo (PG; n = 10), and acupuncture (AG; n = 10) groups. The groups were subjected to an exercise protocol to induce DOMS and were assessed for muscle force, threshold, and rate of perceived pain and activation of the biceps brachialis muscle before (PRE) and 20 minutes after (POST) a single acupuncture session using a mixed model analysis. Results: The threshold and rate of perceived pain were reduced in the AG (P 0.05). Muscle activation also showed larger changes in the AG in comparison with the other groups (P 0.05). Conclusions: Acupuncture may reduce discomfort and improve muscle activation but was not effective to promote force improvement and/or restore the force-generating properties. It may be speculated that muscle disruption may have played a role and did not allow participants to restore their muscular performance. Rebec Number; RBR-8bh5k7 (www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8bh5k7); Clinical Trial Registry (UTN No.: U1111-1234-9553).

Several studies have reported the association between cognition and gait; however, most are limited to investigating gait in just one speed, usually the self-selected one, and commonly, only the general score of cognitive tests is used.Investigate the relationship between the spatiotemporal gait parameters at different speeds (self-selected and fast walking speeds) and cognitive status in older adults.Cross-sectional study. Two hundred and ninety-five older adults (70.9 ± 7.2 years; 82.3% women) were evaluated according to cognitive status (Mini-Mental State Examination, MMSE) and spatiotemporal gait parameters.Data analysis indicates that the spatiotemporal gait parameters (stride length, step time, and single support time) were able to predict cognitive status, assessed by the MMSE general score and its subdomain (temporal and spatial orientation) at both walking speeds.The spatiotemporal gait parameters were associated with cognitive status, assessed by the MMSE (general score and temporal and spatial orientation), regardless of the walking conditions. The model's variance was significant and with a large effect size. Stride length and step time were identified as the variables with the best explanatory factors. Therefore, it is concluded that greater cognitive performance is associated with longer stride lengths and faster step times.

The study aimed to compare the effect of performing the same or different exercises for a muscle group on resistance training (RT) sessions on muscle hypertrophy at different sites along muscle length. Twenty-two detrained men (23.3±4.1 years) were randomly allocated to the following groups: a group that performed the same exercises in all training sessions (N-VAR=11) or one that varied the exercises for the same muscle groups (VAR=11). All were submitted to 3 weekly sessions for nine weeks. Muscle thickness was assessed at the proximal, middle, and distal sites of the lateral and anterior thigh, elbow flexors, and extensors by B-mode ultrasound. The VAR group significantly increased all the sites analyzed (P0.05). Our results suggest that to perform different resistance exercises can induce hypertrophy of all sites assessed in detrained young men.

Aim This study aimed to determine the association of handgrip strength with isometric and isokinetic strength (hip, knee and ankle extensor/flexor muscles), and functional capacity in older women. Methods The handgrip strength and lower limb strength of 199 older women (60-86 years) were measured using JAMAR and BIODEX dynamometers, respectively. Time Up and Go, Five-times-sit-to-stand and 6m-walk functional tests were evaluated. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationship between variables. Regression analysis was applied to identify if HS was able to predict TUG performance. The effect of age was analyzed by splitting the participants in a group of older women (OLD; from 60 to 70 years old) and very old women (from 71 to 86 years old). Results The HS and isometric/isokinetic strength correlations were negligible/low and, in most cases, were non-significant. The correlation between handgrip strength and functional tests also ranged predominantly from negligible (r=0.0 to 0.3) to low (r=0.3 to 0.5), irrespective of the group age. The handgrip strength was not able to explain the variance of the TUG performance. Conclusion Generalizing handgrip strength as a practical and straightforward measure to determine lower limbs and overall strength, and functional capacity in older women must be viewed with caution. Handgrip strength and standard strength measures of the lower limbs and functional tests present a negligible/low correlation.

The volleyball spike represents one of the more sophisticated attack actions, and the study of its kinematics has been the aim of several studies. This systematic review summarized and critically a...

Background: Military personnel has a large prevalence of back, especially those involved in patrolling routines as they are required to wear heavy protective equipment. Patrolling includes long periods sustaining the protective equipment is sustained in a sitting either on or in a motor vehicle (motorcycle or car). Thus, understanding spinal loading of Military Police Officers (MPO) after patrolling by car (CAR; n=14), motorcycle (MOT; n=14), and administrative (ADM; n=14) routines is relevant to establish preventive strategies. Design: The torque of the trunk and working and anthropometric characteristics were assessed to explain and spinal loading using stature variation measures. Precise stature measures were performed before and after a 6h journey (LOSS) and 20min after a resting posture (RECOV). The isometric peak torque of the trunk extensor (PTE.BM-1) and flexor (PTF.BM-1) muscles were measured before the working journey. Results: The LOSS was similar between CAR and MOT (4.8 and 5.8mm, respectively) after 6h of patrolling. The ADM presented the lowest LOSS (2.8mm; p0.05). Vibration may explain the greater spinal loading involved in CAR and MOT in comparison to the ADM. A GLM analysis revealed that only BMI was the only explanatory factor for stature loss. No independent variables explained RECOV. The ability of the trunk muscles to produce force did not influence LOSS or RECOV between groups. Conclusions: MPOs involved in CAR or MOT patrolling may require greater post-work periods and strategies designed to reduce the weight of the protective apparatus to dissipate spinal loading. The external load used in patrolling is a relevant spinal loading factor.

Background: Dependence in self-care activities among older women has been previously evaluated through performance-based tests. However, these tests have presented inability to accurately distinguish between dependent and independent older adults in performing activities of daily living. Aim: To examine the validity, reliability, and diagnostic accuracy of rating of perceived exertion (RPE) to identify dependence in performing self-care activities in older women. Methods: Thirty-five older women performed two different constant-load tasks (walking on treadmill at 4 km/h for five minutes and arm curls with two kg for one minute), reporting RPE at the end, in four sessions. Performance-based tests (30-second chair stand and 6-minute walk) were also evaluated. Katz Index and Lawton and Brody questionnaires were applied to evaluate the dependence level in performing basic and instrumental activities of daily living. Results: RPE was greater on the first session (RPE 14 ± 2) than second session (RPE 13 ± 2), while it was similar through other sessions, with high values of intraclass coefficient correlation (0.96–0.99). Basic activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living presented high correlations with RPE measures (0.75–0.82), whereas performance-based tests presented moderate correlations (0.47–0.59). RPE responses explained the most variance in identifying dependence in self-care activities and presented high diagnostic accuracy to differentiate dependent from independent older women. So the hypotheses had been confirmed that RPE responses in constant-load exercise are better predictors of dependence in self-care activities than performance-based tests. Conclusions: RPE of constant-load physical tasks was valid, reliable, and accurate in identifying dependence in performing self-care activities in older women; therefore, it is possible to use the perceived exertion to identify dependence in performing activities of daily living in older women. © 2018, © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Objective: This study was designed to analyze the effects of an exergames training program on gait parameters while holding a cellphone conversation at self-selected walking speed (SSWS) and fast w...

This study described the kinematic variables of disabled swimmers’ performance and correlated them with their functional classification. Twenty-one impaired swimmers (S5–S10) performed 50-m maximum front-crawl swimming while being recorded by four underwater cameras. Swimming velocity, stroke rate, stroke length, intracycle velocity variation, stroke dimensions, hand velocity, and coordination index were analyzed. Kendall rank was used to correlate stroke parameters and functional classification with p p p > .05). Thus, some objective kinematic variables of the impaired swimmers help to support current classification. Improving hand velocity seems to be a crucial point to be improved among disabled swimmers.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two exercise intensities on exergame training program in muscle strength, functional capacity and perceptual parameters in pre-frail older women. Thirty-four women (69.5 ± 5.4 years) were randomly assigned to either moderate- (MG: 11-13 perceived exertion) or vigorous-exercise intensity group (VG: 14-16 perceived exertion). Muscle strength and functional capacity were evaluated before and after 3 months of training. The affective responses were measured once a week and perceived benefit was evaluated after training period. The MG improved the average power at 60°/s from pre- to post-training (p 0.002) on the knee extensor (pre = 100.0 ± 15.9 W; post = 115.2 ± 22.6 W), flexor (pre = 22.3 ± 6.1 W; post = 29.1 ± 7.9 W) and plantiflexor muscles (pre = 11.4 ± 5.9 W; post = 21.2 ± 4.2 W). MG presented greater average power at post-training than VG for knee extensor (20%) and flexor muscles (23%) (p 0.039). There was main time effect of peak torque at 180°/s for knee extensor (pre = 74.15 ± 14.28 N·m/kg; post = 81.31 ± 18.4 N·m/kg), flexor (pre = 43.01 ± 12.43 N·m/kg; post = 48.3 ± 9.11 N·m/kg) and plantiflexor muscles (pre = 29.2 ± 13.76 N·m/kg; post = 36.87 ± 9.7 N·m/kg) as well as average power (pre = 41.15 ± 15.67 W; post = 48.42 ± 11.8 W) and work (pre = 99.92 ± 38.53 J; post = 117.03 ± 25.56 J) on the knee flexor muscles (p 0.046). MG improved timed up and go performance from pre- to post-training (pre = 10.0 ± 0.32 s; post = 8.1 ± 1.6 s, p = 0.001), whereas both groups improved 10 m-walk performance (pre = 1.33 ± 0.25 s, post = 1.5 ± 0.24 s; p = 0.003). Positive affect (2.64 ± 0.02) and pleasure (15.8 ± 0.6) for MG were greater than VG at post-training (2.36 ± 0.03; p 0.001; 14.4 ± 0.5; p 0.03). Therefore, regardless of the exercise intensity, exergame training improved muscle strength and functional capacity in pre-frail older women. However, positive affect and pleasure were reported only when older women practiced exergame with moderate exercise intensity.

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine which functional tests are able to predict falls in nursing home residents (NHR) and community-dwelling (CDW) older adults grouped by age...

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a serious problem in Military Police Officers (MPO), which accounts for up to 45% of the sick leave rates. It has been assumed that the strength and the endurance of trunk flexor and extensor muscles are CLPB key factors, but it is not known whether these attributes are related to pain intensity. It was aimed to determine whether the strength and endurance of trunk flexor and extensor muscles differ in MPO with no pain (CON, n = 24), moderate (MOD, n = 42), and severe (SEV, n = 37) nonspecific chronic low back pain (CLBP). Methods: The peak torque and endurance test of trunk flexor (PTF.BM&minus, 1) and extensor (PTE.BM&minus, 1) muscles were compared. A multiple regression analysis was used to identify pain intensity predictors in all groups (PAIN) and according to pain intensity (MOD and SEV). Results: The PTF.BM&minus, 1 was negatively related to pain and was a significant predictor, irrespective of pain intensity (PAIN). Conclusion: When pain intensity was considered the PTF.BM&minus, 1 and PTE.BM&minus, 1 explained the pain in the MOD, while the PTE.BM&minus, 1 and service time explained pain intensity in the SEV. Endurance of the flexor and extensor muscles was not related to pain intensity. These results indicated that training protocols must emphasize specific strengthening routines.

Introduction: It is believed that functional capacity and fall history are factors capable of influencing the gait parameters of older adults. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify whether gait parameters of community-dwelling older adults differ according to their functional capacity and fall history when walking at self-selected walking speed (SSWS) and fast walking speed (FWS) using principal component analysis (PCA). Methods: Two hundred ninety-five participants (82.3% women and 17.7% men) were allocated in four groups according to their fall history and functional capacity: non-fallers with higher functional capacity (NFHFC, n = 94; 69.3 ± 5.5 years), non-fallers with lower functional capacity (NFLFC, n = 114; 72.0 ± 8.1 years), fallers with higher functional capacity (FHFC, n = 29; 70.0 ± 6.0 years), and fallers with lower functional capacity (FLFC, n = 58; 72.5 ± 8.2 years). Fall history, anthropometric data, functional capacity by short physical performance battery and mobility by Timed Up and Go (TUG), and spatiotemporal gait parameters were evaluated. Results: Data analysis indicated that FLFC presented the lowest scores, especially in the Five Times Sit-to-Stand Test and TUG. The PCA showed that the first principal component (PC1) explained the most substantial amount of the data variability in both walking speeds (SSWS and FWS), predominantly including temporal parameters. PC2 composed by spatial outcomes (stride and step length and walking speed) showed the highest effect size. PC1 and PC2 were able to differentiate functional status, regardless of fall history. Conclusions: Functional capacity showed great importance when analyzing gait parameters at different walking speeds (SSWS and FWS), regardless of fall history. Older adults with high functional capacity demonstrate better performance during gait. Besides, spatiotemporal parameters are the main factors explaining gait variability, both in SSWS and FWS.

Nunes, JP, Costa, BDV, Kassiano, W, Kunevaliki, G, Castro-e-Souza, P, Rodacki, ALF, Fortes, LS, and Cyrino, ES. Different foot positioning during calf training to induce portion-specific gastrocnemius muscle hypertrophy. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2347-2351, 2020-The aim of this study was to compare the changes in gastrocnemius muscle thickness (MT) between conditions such as which foot was pointed outward (FPO), foot was pointed inward (FPI), or foot was pointed forward (FPF). Twenty-two young men (23 ± 4 years) were selected and performed a whole-body resistance training program 3 times per week for 9 weeks, with differences in the exercise specific for calves. The calf-raise exercise was performed unilaterally, in a pin-loaded seated horizontal leg-press machine, in 3 sets of 20-25 repetitions for training weeks 1-3 and 4 sets for weeks 4-9. Each subject's leg was randomly assigned for 1 of the 3 groups according to the foot position: FPO, FPI, and FPF. Measurements with a B-mode ultrasound were performed to assess changes in MT of medial and lateral gastrocnemius heads. After the training period, there were observed increases in MT of both medial (FPO = 8.4%, FPI = 3.8%, and FPF = 5.8%) and lateral (FPO = 5.5%, FPI = 9.1%, and FPF = 6.4%) gastrocnemius heads, and significant differences for magnitude of the gains were observed between FPO and FPI conditions (p < 0.05). Positioning FPO potentiated the increases in MT of the medial gastrocnemius head, whereas FPI provided greater gains for the lateral gastrocnemius head. Our results suggest that head-specific muscle hypertrophy may be obtained selectively for gastrocnemius after 9 weeks of calf training in young male adults.

Research highlights the benefits of regular traditional multicomponent training in older adults. The potential effect of exergames on perceptive-cognitive and physical function in prefrail older adults is still little explored. The study aimed to compare the effects of two physical exercise training programs (exergaming vs. traditional multicomponent) on perceptive-cognitive and physical functions of prefrail older adults. This study was a randomized controlled trial having 66 prefrail older adults assigned to two groups (exergame group [EG]

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of multicomponent and strength training programs on dynamic balance, functional capacity, and gait ability in older women. Methods. Thirty individuals (67 ± 4.3 years; 30.6 ± 3.9 kg/m2) were trained for 12 weeks (3 times per week), following multicomponent (MG: exercises focusing on agility, balance, muscle strength, and aerobic) and strength programs (SG: lower limbs strength exercise). Results. Peak torque of hip flexors (p=0.020) and extensors (p=0.009) and knee flexors (p=0.001) of SG was greater than that of MG at posttraining. In addition, both groups increased peak torque of knee extensors (p=0.002) and plantar extensors with higher effect size for SG (d = −0.41 and −0.48), whereas MG presented higher effect size for plantar flexors muscles (d = −0.55). Only the SG improved the rate of torque development of knee extensors (29%; p=0.002), and this variable was also greater to SG than MG at posttraining (106%). The SG and MG improved dynamic balance although SG presented higher effect size (d = 0.61). Both groups improved the performance on 30 s sit to stand test (p=0.010) with higher effect size for MG (d = −0.54). Only the MG improved the stride length (4%; p=0.011) and gait speed (10%; p=0.024). In addition, the groups improved toe clearance (p=0.035) and heel contact (p=0.010) with higher effect sizes for MG (d = −0.066 and 1.07). Conclusion. Strength training should be considered to increase muscle function and dynamic balance in older women, whereas multicomponent training should be considered to increase functional capacity and gait ability in this population.

Copyright: © 2020 Santos et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Although swimming is recognized as a symmetrical sport, equivalence between each body side cannot be insured. Swimmers with physical and motor impairment may present asymmetries that are even more pronounced. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the symmetry of temporal coordination in the front crawl stroke phases and their dimensional characteristics among swimmers of different levels of skill and disabled swimmers. Forty-one swimmers (28 men and 13 women, 18,8 ± 3,3 years, divided 21 of them into groups of high and low level of skill and 20 in disabled swimmers group) performed a 50m maximum of front-crawl test while they were recorded by six synchronized cameras (four underwater and two above water) for analysis of the stroke phases, stroke dimensions (anteroposterior, mediolateral and vertical amplitude), index of coordination and hand speed. The symmetry index was calculated by the difference between the right and the left strokes. Comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test and multivariate comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney test, with p

Aim This study aimed to determine the association of handgrip strength with isometric and isokinetic strength (hip, knee and ankle extensor/flexor muscles), and functional capacity in older women. Methods The handgrip strength and lower limb strength of 199 older women (60–86 years) were measured using JAMAR and BIODEX dynamometers, respectively. Time Up and Go, Five-times-sit-to-stand and 6m-walk functional tests were evaluated. Pearson correlations were used to determine the relationship between variables. Regression analysis was applied to identify if HS was able to predict TUG performance. The effect of age was analyzed by splitting the participants in a group of older women (OLD; from 60 to 70 years old) and very old women (from 71 to 86 years old). Results The HS and isometric/isokinetic strength correlations were negligible/low and, in most cases, were non-significant. The correlation between handgrip strength and functional tests also ranged predominantly from negligible (r=0.0 to 0.3) to low (r=0.3 to 0.5), irrespective of the group age. The handgrip strength was not able to explain the variance of the TUG performance. Conclusion Generalizing handgrip strength as a practical and straightforward measure to determine lower limbs and overall strength, and functional capacity in older women must be viewed with caution. Handgrip strength and standard strength measures of the lower limbs and functional tests present a negligible/low correlation.

The aging is accompanied by a gradual decline in balance and increases risk of falls. Pilates has been used for balance training. e purpose of this research was to systematize studies regarding the effects of Pilates exercise interventions on static and dynamic balance of elderly people. A survey was conducted in three indexed databases: Medline/Pubmed, Scopus and Science Direct, using the descriptors “balance” or “equilibrium” with the term “Pilates”. Fifteen articles were selected and used in this systematic review. Based on the results, we observed that the practice of Pilates with a minimum frequency of two sessions per week for an hour lasting for a period of at least five weeks or three times per week for 12 sessions or more showed improvement on static and dynamic balance of elderly.

Purpose. Intracyclic velocity variation is an important kinematic parameter to evaluate swimming performance. It can be estimated by a fixed point at the swimmer’s hip. The aim of the study was to determine the reproducibility and repeatability of active light markers to measure intracyclic velocity variation in swimming. Methods. Reproducibility and repeatability were tested by image measurement, by five manual digitizing processes and five sessions of automatic tracking of a LED marker set in a swimmer’s hip. The procedures were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient, and the agreement between the methods was evaluated with Bland-Altman plots. The reproducibility was excellent in both procedures. Results. The repeatability of manual digitalization ranged between satisfactory to excellent, while the repeatability of automatic tracking was excellent. In addition, the Bland-Altman plots displayed a good agreement between manual and automatic measurements. The automatic tracking was 27% faster than manual digitization. Conclusions. Active markers are promising to evaluate the intracyclic velocity variation of swimmers, with a faster response than the common manual processing.

Objective: It is not known if the intensity in which exergames are performed can change gait parameters at different walking speeds. This study was designed to determine if a training program based...

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as forças de reação do solo (FRS) em individuos jovens e idosos sob a influência do sobrepeso simulado em diferentes velocidades de marcha. Método: 30 participantes, 15 jovens jovens (JOV; 22,0±3,7 anos) e 15 idosos (IDS; 69,8±6,4 anos) caminharam em uma passarela com e sem carga adicional. A simulação do sobrepeso se deu através da adição de carga em um colete de cargas variáveis até alcançar o índice de massa corporal (IMC) de sobrepeso (JOV 25kg/m²; IDS 27kg/m). Os dados foram coletados através de uma plataforma de força (AMTI, OR6-7-2000). Resultados: A média de carga adicionada foi de 13,2±4,0 kg para JOV e 11,7±3,4 para IDS; O nível de significância foi de p≥0,05. Ao normalizar os dados pelo peso, IDS obtiveram menores picos de FRS em relação aos JOV em ambas as velocidades. Porém, o IDS foi maior que o JOV apenas no segundo pico da força vertical (Fz2) em velocidade rápida. Conclusões: O sobrepeso simulado de forma direta pode não ser capaz de promover mudanças significativas nas quantidades de descarga do peso corporal que pudesse influenciar nas FRS. Os resultados encontrados apontam para uma relação positiva das alteralções na FRS e o envelhecimento.

© 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. Introduction: This study evaluated three-dimensional kinematic parameters of the front crawl stroke in physically impaired swimmers across a range of functional classification levels. Facts and Results: Eight highly-trained competitive swimmers (5 male and 3 female) from IPC classes S5 to S9 performed 50 m maximal front crawl trials while being video-taped by six cameras (four under- and two above water). The most distal point of the right upper limb was manually digitised at 50 Hz to allow three-dimensional reconstruction of the limb's trajectory through the water. Conclusion: The stroke presented large inter-swimmer variability, reflecting individual characteristics and severity of the impairment. The swimmers who combined shallow and narrow stroke movements produced a shorter trajectory. This study provides swimmers and coaches with an overview of the kinematic characteristics of a range of physically impaired swimmers.

Tripping during walking is known to be the predominant cause of falls in elderly and prosthetic limb users. To standardise measurements and analysis of trips, it is critical to summarise the methods used in laboratory-controlled trials. The aim of this study was to reach a clearer standardisation measurement and analysis of trips during elderly and prosthetic gait through a systematic review. Studies that assessed elderly and prosthetic tripping gait characteristics were included in this review. The search resulted in an initial yield of 2493 unique articles after duplicates were removed (PubMed, Scopus and Science Direct). Title analysis resulted in 1697 articles excluded and 659 articles were assessed for further eligibility on the basis of the abstract. 174 articles were excluded based on a full-text appraisal. The final yield was 21 unique articles that met all the inclusion criteria. The findings revealed a number of inconsistencies among the studies, namely ambiguity in relation to gait speed, differences in overground and treadmill locomotion. Subsequently, different experimental setups such as trip inducement strategies may influence the collected data, and thus have implications for study outcomes. A gold standard should be set to have better standardised results, thus creating a more robust and holistic approach towards the rehabilitation of prosthetic gait and in the elderly.

Background This study aimed to determine the effects of an aquatic training program on functional capacity, perceptual aspects, and quality of life (QoL) performed by older adults with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and moderate/high risk of falls. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 120 older adults assigned to aquatic exercises (AG; n = 60; 70.62 ± 6.04 years) and a control group (CG; n = 60; 71.86 ± 6.95 years). The risk of falls, perceptual aspects (fall risk awareness and pain), functional capacity (lower and upper body strength, lower and upper body flexibility, functional mobility, and balance) and QoL were assessed at baseline and after the experimental protocol. The AG performed 16 weeks of aquatic exercises (twice per week, 45 min.session−1) with lower and upper body strength, stretching, and balance exercises. Exercise intensity was controlled using the rate of perceived exertion (12–16 on the Borg scale [6–20 points]) and heart rate (progressing from 40% to 60% of the heart-rate reserve). Results The training program improved the lower (mean difference [95% CI]: 2.7 [2.0 to 3.3]) and upper body strength (3.5 [2.6 to 4.5]), lower (4.6 [3.4 to 5.8]) and upper body flexibility (6.5 [4.3 to 8.6]), functional mobility (−2.5 [−2.9 to −1.9]), and balance (11.2 [10.6 to 11.9]); reduced pain perception (−3.2 [−3.7 to −2.8]); increased the fall risk awareness (9.5 [8.8 to 10.1]) and QoL perception (5.6 to 22.6 [4.6 to 25.1]). Conclusions The water-based program may be used as a preventive approach for the older adults with MSDs and at risk of falling to improve physical and usual perceptual aspects (QoL and pain) and fall risk awareness.

The strength balance of the shoulder rotator between pairs of homologous muscles and between agonist and antagonist muscles is mainly important in activities involving overload of the upper body. The aim of the study was to compare the bilateral balance and ratio of shoulder rotator muscles between strength training practitioners with non-practitioners. Ten adults who trained to strengthen for their upper limbs (STR) and ten untrained performed maximal isokinetic torque of internal and external rotators of shoulder in 90° protocol with a speed of 60° and 180°/s. The concentric torque peak and ratio between the internal and external rotators of the shoulder were evaluated. Factorial Anova was performed to weave the comparisons with significance level 0.05. The torque of internal rotators was higher for the group STR, while the external rotators did not differ between the two groups. In addition, ratios were higher between STR at a speed of 180°/s. No bilateral difference was observed in the application of torque in either group. Emphasis on the external rotator is required for groups design to train muscle strength, as their ability to generate internal torques is larger than that required to produce external torques and, therefore, more prone to muscle imbalance.

Santos, KB, Bento, PCB, Pereira, G, and Rodacki, ALF. The relationship between propulsive force in tethered swimming and 200-m front crawl performance. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2500-2507, 2016-The aims of this study were to determine whether propulsive force (peak force, mean force, impulse, and rate of force development) and stroke rate change during 2 minutes of front crawl tethered swimming and to correlate them with the stroke rate and swimming velocity in 200-m front crawl swimming. Twenty-one swimmers (21.6 ± 4.8 years, 1.78 ± 0.06 m, 71.7 ± 8.1 kg), with 200-m front crawl swimming performance equivalent to 78% of the world record (140.4 ± 10.1 seconds), were assessed during 2 minutes of maximal front crawl tethered swimming (propulsive forces and stroke rate) and 200-m front crawl swimming (stroke rate and clean velocity). Propulsive forces decreased between the beginning and the middle instants (∼20%; p ≤ 0.05) but remained stable between the middle and the end instants (∼6%; p > 0.05). The peak force was positively correlated with the clean velocity in the 200-m front crawl swimming (mean r = 0.61; p < 0.02). The stroke rates of the tethered swimming and 200-m front crawl swimming were positively correlated (r = 45; p≤ 0.01) at the middle instant. Therefore, the propulsive force and stroke rate changed throughout the 2 minutes of tethered swimming, and the peak force is the best propulsive force variable tested that correlated with 200-m front crawl swimming performance.