Does fatigue affect the kinematics of endurance running? / ¿Afecta la fatiga a la cinemática de la carrera de resistencia?

The purpose of this study was to determine the foot strike pattern (FSP), inversion (INV) and spatial-temporal variables in a large sample of recreational runners during a long-distance competition, according to sex and changes in the classification race. A total of 368 men and 67 women, who participated in the XVII International Half Marathon of Cordoba (Spain) were analysed. It was recorded at km 5 and km 15, where high-speed camcorder and 2D-photogrammetric techniques were used to measure FSP, INV, contact time (CT) and flight time (FT). The group that worsened their classification at km 15 increase RFS prevalence and INV asymmetry. A Pearson analysis indicates that variation of the classification in the race between the marks km 5 and km 15 is related with CT (r=0.429, p<0.001) and FT (r=-0.360, p<0.001). RFS prevalence and spatial-temporal parameters showed different patterns depending on whether the runners improved or worsened their ranking. (AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el patrón de pisada, inversión y variables espaciotemporales para una amplia muestra de corredores amateurs, durante una carrera de larga distancia, según sexo y posición de clasificación. Se analizaron 368 hombres y 67 mujeres, que participaron en la XVII Media Maratón Internacional de Córdoba (España). Se registró el km 5 y km 15, utilizando técnicas de fotogrametría 2D de alta velocidad para medir la pisada, la inversión, el tiempo de contacto (TC) y el tiempo de vuelo (TV). El grupo que empeoró su clasificación en el km 15 aumentó la prevalencia de FSP y la asimetría del INV. Un análisis de Pearson indica que la variación de la clasificación en la carrera está relacionada con TC (r=0,429, p<0,001) y TV (r=-0,360, p<0,001). La prevalencia de retropié y los parámetros espaciotemporales mostraron diferentes patrones dependiendo de si los corredores mejoraron o empeoraron su clasificación. (AU)

Asimetría entre los miembros superiores en jóvenes padelistas de competición / Upper Limbs Asymmetries in Young Competitive Paddle-Tennis Players

Existe escasa literatura sobre las asimetrías en el pádel, un deporte de naturaleza asimétrica. Para estudiar el desarrollo de asimetrías en este deporte se evaluó, con bioimpedancia, la masa magra de ambos miembros superiores de 96 jugadores de pádel jóvenes y de 76 esquiadores (grupo control) y se calculó el índice de simetría. Los jugadores de pádel tuvieron una asimetría entre ambos miembros superiores mayor que los esquiadores, cuando se consideró toda la muestra (7.2 ± 5 % vs. 1.4 ± 3.2 %; p < 0.001), en jugadores con un estado de madurez negativo (5,7 ± 3,2 % vs. 1,5 ± 3,8 %; p < 0,001) y en aquellos con un estado de madurez positivo (8,3 ± 5,8 % vs. 1,3 ± 2,4 %; p < 0,001). Este estudio revela que el pádel genera asimetrías de masa magra en los miembros superiores, incluso antes de la edad de crecimiento pico. (AU)

There is little literature on asymmetries in paddle tennis, a sport of an asymmetrical nature. To study the development of upper limb asymmetries, 96 young paddle players and 76 skiers (control group) were evaluated via bioimpedance. The lean mass symmetry index was then compared, considering the sport (paddle tennis players and skiers) and the maturity offset (positive or negative). Paddle-tennis players had a systematically greater upper limbs asymmetry than skiers (7.2 ± 5 % vs. 1.4 ± 3.2 %; p < 0.001). This also occurs when comparing only the subsamples with a negative maturity offset (5.7 ± 3.2 % vs. 1.5 ± 3.8 %; p < 0.001) or with a positive maturity offset (8.3 ± 5.8 % vs. 1.3 ± 2.4 %; p < 0.001). The study reveals that paddle tennis generates asymmetries of lean mass in upper limbs, even before growth spurt. (AU)

Acute effects of high-intensity intermittent training on kinematics and foot strike patterns in endurance runners.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate running kinematic characteristics and foot strike patterns (FSP) during early and late stages of actual and common high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT): 5 × 2000 m with 120-s recovery between runs. Thirteen healthy, elite, highly trained male endurance runners participated in this study. They each had a personal record in the half-marathon of 70 ± 2.24 min, and each had a minimum experience of 4 years of training and competition. Heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were monitored during HIIT. High levels of exhaustion were reached by the athletes during HIIT (HRpeak: 174.30 bpm; RPE: 17.23). There was a significant increase of HRpeak and RPE during HIIT; nevertheless, time for each run remained unchanged. A within-protocol paired t-test (first vs. last run) revealed no significant changes (P ≥ 0.05) in kinematics variables and FSP variables during HIIT. There were no substantial changes on kinematics and FSP characteristics in endurance runners after fatigue induced by a HIIT. Only the minimum ankle alignment showed a significant change. The author suggests that these results might be due to both the high athletic level of participants and their experience in HIIT.

Variability of gait, bilateral coordination, and asymmetry in women with fibromyalgia.

PURPOSE: To analyze how fibromyalgia affected the variability, asymmetry, and bilateral coordination of gait walking at comfortable and fast speeds. METHODS: 65 fibromyalgia (FM) patients and 50 healthy women were analyzed. Gait analysis was performed using an instrumented walkway (GAITRite system). Average walking speed, coefficient of variation (CV) of stride length, swing time, and step width data were obtained and bilateral coordination and gait asymmetry were analyzed. RESULTS: FM patients presented significantly lower speeds than the healthy group. FM patients obtained significantly higher values of CV_StrideLength (p=0.04; p<0.001), CV_SwingTime (p<0.001; p<0.001), CV_StepWidth (p=0.004; p<0.001), phase coordination index (p=0.01; p=0.03), and p_CV (p<0.001; p=0.001) than the control group, walking at comfortable or fast speeds. Gait asymmetry only showed significant differences in the fast condition. CONCLUSION: FM patients walked more slowly and presented a greater variability of gait and worse bilateral coordination than healthy subjects. Gait asymmetry only showed differences in the fast condition. The variability and the bilateral coordination were particularly affected by FM in women. Therefore, variability and bilateral coordination of gait could be analyzed to complement the gait evaluation of FM patients.

The effect of school trolley load on spatiotemporal gait parameters of children.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated spatiotemporal gait parameters in children when they were carrying school trolleys of different weights. METHODS: We assessed four conditions: without trolley, 10%, 15% and 20% of the subject's body weight. Fourteen students from a primary school (aged 11.43±0.51 years) participated in this study. Velocity, cadence, stride length, stance phase, swing phase, single support phase and double support phase were analysed using an electronic walkway. RESULTS: Compared with normal walking, the three load conditions produced significant decreases in swing phase (p<0.001) and single support phase (p<0.001) and significant increases in cadence (p=0.019), stance phase (p<0.001) and double support phase (p<0.001). No statistically-significant differences were found between the three load conditions. CONCLUSION: Compared with normal walking, walking while carrying a trolley produced significant changes in most of the spatiotemporal gait parameters measured, perhaps due to the load-mediated changes in stability and balance. The spatiotemporal gait parameters were similar between the load conditions, indicating that the amount of load did not affect gait.

Influence of shod/unshod condition and running speed on foot-strike patterns, inversion/eversion, and vertical foot rotation in endurance runners.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of barefoot running on foot-strike patterns, eversion-inversion, running speed and vertical foot rotation in endurance runners. Eighty healthy recreational runners (age = 34.11 ± 12.95 years old, body mass index = 22.56 ± 2.65 kg · m(-2)) performed trials in shod/unshod running conditions on a treadmill at comfortable and competitive self-selected speeds. Data were collected by systematic observation of lateral and back recordings at 240 Hz. McNemar's test indicated significant differences between shod/unshod conditions and foot strike at comfortable and competitive speeds (P < 0.001). Speed was related to vertical foot rotation type for shod (P < 0.01) and unshod conditions (P < 0.05). Significant differences were found between shod/unshod conditions in foot rotation at comfortable running speeds (P < 0.001) and competitive running speeds (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in inversion or eversion (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the results suggest that running kinematics, in terms of foot-strike patterns and vertical foot rotation, differ between shod/unshod conditions, while the inversion or eversion degree remains unchanged.

[Body composition related with health in veteran athletes]. / Composición corporal relacionada con la salud en atletas veteranos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the corporal composition of veteran athletes of resistance and his relation with the health and quality of life. METHODOLOGY: It is a question of a descriptive and transverse study with a sample of 91 males (44.1 ± 6.9 years) and 16 women (41.4 ± 5.5 years) healthy medical instructors of career of resistance. For the analysis of the corporal composition there has been used an eight-electrode impedance meter (Inbody 720). The health and quality of life was analyzed by means of the scale SF-36, Spanish version. There were registered the values of athletic practice as for number of weekly meetings and duration of the session. RESULTS: The IMC, the abdominal fat and the percentage of fat place in healthy values, for below even of the normative values. Significant differences do not exist in any parameter of the corporal composition in relation with the number of weekly meetings of athletic practice. A negative correlation exists between the percentage of fat and the social function of the scale SF-36. The health and quality of life perceived of the veteran athletes presents superior values to the Spanish modals normative. CONCLUSION: The practice of four weekly meetings of 60 minutes of career of resistance allows to keep healthy parameters of composition corporal in spite of the age.