Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case-control study.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life of individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS. Materials and methods: A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 individuals without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded. Results: Of the participants, 27.79% (N = 30) were men and 73.21% (N = 82) were women. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group. Conclusion: Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life, as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.

Influence of quality of life related to perceived foot health between in a rural an urban population: A case-control research.

Foot problems are very common in the community. Studies indicate that between 18% and 63% of people have foot pain or stiffness and that foot problems have a large impact on people's functional decline and a significant detrimental impact on measures of quality of life related to health. The general objective of this research was to compare foot health in people from the rural population compared to people from the urban population and its relationship with quality of life. A case-control descriptive study was developed with a sample of 304 patients, 152 patients from the rural population and 152 patients from the urban population. Quality of life was measured through the SF-36 Health Questionnaire in its Spanish version. The rural population group had a mean age of 46.67 ± 13.69 and the urban population group 49.02 ± 18.29. Regarding the score of the lowest levels of quality of life related to foot problems, the rural population group compared to the urban population group showed: for body pain (52.21 ± 30.71 vs. 67.80 ± 25.28, p < 0.001); and for mental health (69.58 ± 18.98 vs. 64.60 ± 14.88, p < 0.006). Differences between groups were analysed using Student's t-test for independent samples, which showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). This research offers evidence that the rural population presents better levels of mental health and lower levels of bodily pain in the domains of the SF-36 Health Questionnaire comparing with the urban population.

Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Two Portable Powermeters (Power2Max vs. PowerTap) to Measure Different Types of Efforts in Cycling.

The purpose was to assess the concurrent validity and reliability of two portable powermeters (PowerTap vs. Power2Max) in different types of cycling efforts. Ten cyclists performed two submaximal, one incremental maximal and two supramaximal sprint tests on an ergometer, while pedaling power and cadence were registered by both powermeters and a cadence sensor (GarminGSC10). During the submaximal and incremental maximal tests, significant correlations were found for power and cadence data (r = 0.992-0.997 and 0.996-0.998, respectively, p < 0.001), with a slight power underestimation by PowerTap (0.7-1.8%, p < 0.01) and a high reliability of both powermeters (p < 0.001) for measurement of power (ICC = 0.926 and 0.936, respectively) and cadence (ICC = 0.969 and 0.970, respectively). However, during the supramaximal sprint test, their agreement to measure power and cadence was weak (r = 0.850 and -0.253, p < 0.05) due to the low reliability of the cadence measurements (ICC between 0.496 and 0.736, and 0.574 and 0.664, respectively; p < 0.05) in contrast to the high reliability of the cadence sensor (ICC = 0.987-0.994). In conclusion, both powermeters are valid and reliable for measuring power and cadence during continuous cycling efforts (~100-450 W), but questionable during sprint efforts (>500 W), where they are affected by the gear ratio used (PowerTap) and by their low accuracy in cadence recording (PowerTap and Power2Max).

Efecto de la edad relativa en la élite del balonmano femenino español y su relación con aspectos antropométricos, de rendimiento y velocidad de lanzamiento / Efeito relativo da idade na élite do andebol feminino espanhol e sua relação com aspectos antropométricos, desempenho e velocidade de arremesso / Relative age effect in Spanish elite of female handball and its relationship with anthropometry, physical performance and throwing speed

El efecto de la edad relativa(RAE)es un aspecto de relevancia en el deporte en general y en balonmano en particular. Ha sido objeto de gran cantidad de estudios centrados mayoritariamente en deporte masculino. Los estudios sobre RAEen balonmano femenino, no son tan numerosos, y no aclaran el efecto de la misma en esta modalidad deportiva. Por ello, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la existencia deRAEen jugadoras de élite de balonmano, así como valorar dicho efecto en función de variables antropométricas, de condición física y técnico tácticas (velocidad de lanzamiento). Han sido evaluadas 136 jugadoras de balonmano de los ocho primeros equipos de división de honor. Se ha encontrado un RAE(con la prueba de chi-cuadrado) en las jugadoras de balonmano, sustentado por aquellas que formaron parte de los equipos nacionales. No se apreció RAEen las variables antropométricas, ni en las velocidades de lanzamiento con y sin interacción. La lateralidad y el Squat Jump, presentaron RAE. El RAEes importante para llegar a la selección, pero para jugar en la máxima categoría el efecto de la edad relativa no es tan importante. Son necesarios más estudios sobre el RAEen el balonmano femenino. (AU)

Relative age effect(RAE)is an aspect of relevance in sport in general and in handball in particular. It has been the subject of a great number of studies focused largely on men's sport. RAE studies in female handball are not so numerous, and do not clarify the effect of female handball on this sport. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the effect of RAEon élite handball players, as well as to assess this effect based on anthropometric variables, physical fitness and technical and tactical skills (throwing speed). 136 handball players from the first eight honour division teams have been assessed. RAE has been found (with chi-square test) in the handball players supported by those included in national teams. No RAEwere found on anthropometric variables, nor on throwing speed with and without interaction. Laterality and Squat Juam presented RAE. RAEis important to reach the national team, but to play in the highest category the effect of relative age seems to lose weight Further studies on the effect of RAEon women's handball are needed. (AU)

O efeito da idade relativa(RAE)é um aspecto de relevância no desporto em geral e no andebol em particular. Tem sido objeto de elevado número de estudos centrados em grande parte no andebol masculino. Os estudos sobre RAEno andebol feminino, não são tão numerosos, e não clarejam o efeito da mesma nesta modalidade esportiva. Por isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a existência do RAEem jogadoras de élite de andebol, assim como valorar este efeito em função das variáveis antropométricas, de condição física e técnico-táticas (velocidade de remate). Foram avaliadas 136 jogadoras de andebol das oito primeiras equipas da divisão de honra. Encontrou-se um RAE(foi usado o teste qui-quadrado) nas jogadoras de andebol sustentado pelas que participam nas seleções nacionais. Não se encontrou RAEnas variáveis antropométricas, nem na velocidade de remate com e sem interação. A lateralidade e o Squat Juam apresentaram RAE. O RAEé importante para chegar às seleções, mas para jogar na categoria máxima o RAEparece perder significado. São necessários mais estudos sobre o RAEno andebol feminino. (AU)

Skateboarding Injuries in Spain: A Web-Based Survey Approach.

BACKGROUND: The inclusion of skateboarding in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games reinforces this activity as a sport. As the number of skateboarders around the world and the difficulty of skateboarding maneuvers continue to increase, the number of skateboarding injuries may also rise. Thus, there is a need for more comprehensive investigations into the practice habits and injuries of skateboarders. PURPOSE: To describe the sports habits and skateboarding injuries of a sample of skateboarders in Spain. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive epidemiology study. METHODS: A web-based survey was shared among skateboarders in Spain. The survey collected data related to sports habits, skateboarding practice habits, and injury history. Comparisons between subgroups of sex, age, and experience were also conducted. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 197 participants (89.3% male) with a mean age of 24.4 ± 7.1 years and a mean experience of 9.7 ± 7.2 years. Most respondents (87.8%) reported not participating in any type of skateboarding-specific physical training program. Only 27.4% took part in skateboarding competitions, with a larger number of respondents younger than 18 years participating in competitive events. The mean number of sessions per week was 3.3 ± 1.7, and the mean length of sessions was 3.3 ± 1.5 hours. The majority of participants (87.8%) reported having suffered injuries (n = 323) as a result of skateboarding, mainly affecting the lower limbs (69.7%). The most common injury type was a ligament sprain (39.6%), especially of the ankle (39.3%). This injury was also reported as the most likely to recur (70.1%). A large number of injuries (54.2%) were considered severe (ie, >21 days to recover). Most injuries occurred while skateboarding gaps or stairs, including any type of a jump that involved a difference in height between the take-off and landing surfaces (25.7%). Female participants accounted for a larger number of ligament sprains than expected, and experienced skateboarders were more likely to suffer more severe injuries and head/trunk injuries. CONCLUSION: Respondents to this survey were mainly young male adults who practiced skateboarding recreationally. Respondents of different sexes, ages, and experiences demonstrated different habits and injury patterns. The greater number of severe injuries highlights the need for injury surveillance in skateboarding to inform better prevention and rehabilitation practices.

A 47-Year Comparison of Lower Body Muscular Power in Spanish Boys: A Short Report.

Much of the evidence examining temporal trends in fitness among youth has found a decrease in measures of muscular strength and muscular power over recent decades. The aim of this study was to examine trends in lower body muscular power in Spanish boys over 47 years. In 1969 140 boys (10-11 years; body mass index = 19.24, SD = 2.91 kg/m2) and in 2016, 113 boys (10-11 years; body mass index = 19.20, SD = 3.15 kg/m2) were recruited. Lower body power was assessed using the vertical jump (VJ) and standing long jump (SLJ) tests. Significant differences and a large effect size were shown between groups in the SLJ (p = 0.001; d = 0.94) and the VJ (p = 0.001; d = 0.66). SLJ data in 1969 were higher (1.52 m, SD = 0.19) when compared to the 2016 data (1.34 m, SD = 0.18). The VJ performance of the 1969 sample was also higher (25.95 cm; SD = 6.58) than the 2016 sample (21.56 cm; SD = 4.72). SLJ and VJ performance of the 2016 group decreased 11.8% and 16.9%, respectively. There were no significant differences between groups in body mass index. The results indicate a secular decline in lower body muscular power in 10-11-year-old Spanish boys with no significant changes in body mass index over the 47-year study period.

Quadriceps tendon autograft and platelet rich plasma injection to treat chronic Achilles tears-a minimum two-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The possibility of using a bone-tendon quadriceps tendon graft and platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection to enhance healing capability, to solve the defect created by stump retraction in chronic Achilles tendon ruptures was studied in a series of 8 patients. METHODS: A series of 8 patients studied prospectively and followed for more than 24 months is presented. Results were evaluated using the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and evaluating pain, level of activity, footwear restrictions, and satisfaction. Statistical analysis was done by the sign test for matched pairs and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Alpha error was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Preoperatively, patients showed an average AOFAS score of 77.25 (range, 67-88). After surgery, AOFAS score showed a marked improvement in all the cases, with an average of 95.6 (range, 87-100). Improvement in AOFAS score results was statistically significant, both for sign test for matched pairs (P=0.008) and for Wilcoxon signed-rank test (P=0.012). All of the patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure, and would undergo it again. CONCLUSIONS: Autologous quadriceps tendon graft (in bone-tendon configuration) has proved as a simple technique that offers good results to patients with tissue defects in the Achilles tendon.