Postural evaluation and risk of musculoskeletal injuries in professional male rugby players: a proof-of-principle study.

BACKGROUND: Rugby is the most played contact sport in the world and is characterized by muscle-tendon structures injuries due to trauma. Posture in ideal balance allows the maximum effectiveness of a gesture in absence of pain, and an adequate posture might have a role in trauma related sport prevention. Aim of this proof-of-principle study was to investigate if sports activity might cause postural changes in National League rugby players and whether it correlates with an increased risk of injuries. METHODS: Male rugby players from a National League were included in the study. The athletes underwent a postural questionnaire, an analysis of plantar support (3D-PodoScanalyzer; Diasu by Sani Corporate, Rome, Italy) and a postural-evaluation (Formetric4D; DIERS International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany). The tests were performed at T0 (on-season), T1 (off-season) and T2 (preseason). RESULTS: Twenty-six male rugby players, mean aged 22.5 years old, were included. The analysis of plantar support showed statistically significant variability in 6 values: left Arch Index (P=0.004), right Staheli Index (P=0.042), midfoot symmetry (P=0.030), isthmus symmetry (P=0.048), arch length symmetry (P=0.027), height of the left plantar arch (P=0.009). The postural evaluation showed statistically significant variability in only two values: rotation of the pelvis (P=0.013) and kyphotic angle (P=0.050). CONCLUSIONS: The data of our study show, during the intense phases of the championship, a prevalence of injuries to the left lower limb and an increase in the cavity of the ipsilateral foot. The study also shows that the training conducted by the athletes examined improves the values of the pelvic rotation and the kyphotic angle.

Rehabilitative Good Practices in the Treatment of Sarcopenia: A Narrative Review.

ABSTRACT: To date, rehabilitative good practices that analyze all aspects of the rehabilitation management of the patient with sarcopenia are absent in the literature. The purpose of this article is to carry out research and evaluation of the evidence, good practice, and recommendations in the literature relating to the rehabilitative treatment of disabilities associated with sarcopenia. Bibliographic research was conducted on Medline, PEDro, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar. All articles published in the last 10 yrs were analyzed. The results of this research generated three guidelines, eight meta-analyses, five systematic reviews, a Cochrane review, 17 reviews, and seven consensus conferences. From the analysis of the literature, it seems that most of the works agree in affirming that exercise and diet supplementation are the cornerstones of rehabilitation treatment of patients with sarcopenia. The practice of an adequate lifestyle received numerous high-grade recommendations in the included guidelines. Based on the data obtained, the rehabilitation management of the patient with sarcopenia must be personalized and must include exercise and nutritional supplementation. These factors are important in increasing the autonomy of the elderly essential for safe walking without neglecting stretching exercises that are important for flexibility and balance and coordination exercises.