Functional assessment of respiratory muscles and lung capacity of CrossFit athletes.

CrossFit is a high-intensity training related to physical fitness and respiratory capacity that can promote changes in lung function. This cross-sectional study was aimed at evaluating respiratory muscle strength, electromyographic (EMG) activity, and lung capacity in CrossFit athletes. Thirty subjects aged between 25 and 35 years were divided into groups: CrossFit athletes (n=15) and sedentary individuals without comorbidities (n=15). Respiratory muscle strength was evaluated using maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, lung capacity, and EMG of the sternocleidomastoid, serratus anterior, external intercostal, and diaphragm muscles at respiratory rest, maximal inspiration and expiration, and respiratory cycle. Data were tabulated and subjected to statistical analyses (t-test and Spearman test, P<0.05). Respiratory muscle strength on EMG of the sternocleidomastoid, serratus, external intercostal, and diaphragm muscles at the respiratory cycle and maximal forced inspiration and expiration were higher in the CrossFit athletes group than in the sedentary group without comorbidities. CrossFit athlete group showed significantly strong positive correlation between maximal inspiratory and expiratory muscle strengths (Spearman rho= 0.903, P=0.000), with increasing muscle strength during inspiration favoring an increase in strength during expiration. The forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) also showed a significantly high positive correlation (Spearman rho=0.912, P=0.000) in the CrossFit athletes group, showing that higher FVC favors higher FEV1. The results of this study suggest that improved fitness is based on increased respiratory muscle strength on EMG in CrossFit athletes.

Being Physically Active Leads to Better Recovery Prognosis for People Diagnosed with COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The regular practice of physical activity helps in the prevention and control of several non-communicable diseases. However, evidence on the role of physical activity in mitigating worsening clinical outcomes in people with COVID-19 is still unclear. The aim of this study was to verify whether different levels of physical activity provide protection for clinical outcomes caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 509 adults (43.8 ± 15.71 years; 61.1% female) with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 residing in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were interviewed by telephone to determine the severity of the infection and the physical activity performed. Binary logistic regression was used to indicate the odds ratio (OR) of active people reporting less harmful clinical outcomes from COVID-19. Active people had a lower chance of hospitalization, fewer hospitalization days, less respiratory difficulty and needed less oxygen support. The results suggest that active people, compared to sedentary people, have a lower frequency of hospitalization, length of stay, breathing difficulty and need for oxygen support. These results corroborate the importance of public policies to promote the practice of physical activity, in order to mitigate the severity of the clinical outcomes of COVID-19.

Bite Force, Thickness, and Thermographic Patterns of Masticatory Muscles Post-Hemorrhagic Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Stroke is a neurological deficit of cerebrovascular origin, considered a 21st-century epidemic that causes functional changes in the human body. This study aimed to evaluate the stomatognathic system of patients after hemorrhagic stroke through the bite force, thickness, and skin temperature in the region of the masseter and temporalis muscles. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four subjects were divided into groups: post-hemorrhagic stroke; with right side of the affected body (n = 12) and without the neurological disorder (n = 12). Maximum molar bite force was verified using a digital dynamometer. Muscle thickness was measured using ultrasound images obtained at rest and during maximal voluntary contraction of the masseter and temporalis muscles. Thermographic camera was used to record the thermographic patterns of the masseter and temporalis muscles. Data were subjected to Student's t-test (P < .05). RESULTS: The maximum molar bite force showed significant differences in the right (P = .04) and left (P = .03) sides, with a reduction in force in the post-hemorrhagic stroke group on the affected and unaffected sides. There was a significant difference (P < .05) in the thickness of the left temporal muscle at mandibular rest (P = .01) between groups. The post-hemorrhagic stroke group clinically presented greater muscle thickness in almost 100% of the muscles evaluated in both clinical conditions. There were no significant differences in skin temperature in the masseter and temporal muscles between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest functional changes in the stomatognathic system of subjects after a hemorrhagic stroke, especially concerning molar bite force and masticatory muscle thickness in the temporal muscle (unaffected side).

Relação do desequilíbrio postural com incapacidade cervical em pessoas com deficiência visual / Relationship between postural imbalance and cervical disability in visually impaired individuals / Relación del desequilibrio postural e incapacidad cervical de personas con discapacidad visual

Objetivo: Identificar a relação entre o desequilíbrio postural e a incapacidade cervical em pessoas com deficiência visual. Métodos: Estudo transversal retrospectivo, realizado na Associação dos Deficientes Visuais de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil, no período entre janeiro de 2014 e dezembro de 2014, com 26 participantes, de ambos os sexos, com idade média de 31,92 anos, apresentando deficiências visuais total ou parcial. Realizou-se a avaliação postural por meio da biofotogrametria associada ao Neck Desability Index (NDI), que identifica incapacidade cervical. Para avaliar a significância estatística de 5%, realizou-se o teste de independência de Chi-quadrado. Resultados: Na vista anterior, houve inclinação cervical à esquerda em 2,82cm. Na vista posterior, houve elevação de ombro esquerdo em relação ao direito em 9,15cm. Nas vistas laterais direita e esquerda, encontraram-se flexoextensão cervical de 2,44cm da cabeça em relação à coluna cervival e hipercifose torácica de 0,67cm. Encontrou-se diferença do alinhamento escapular do lado direito em relação ao esquerdo em 5,08cm. O NDI evidenciou 33,3% com incapacidade mínima devido à dor, enquanto 66,7% não apresentam incapacidade. Conclusão: Encontraram-se alterações posturais compensatórias adotadas pelos deficientes visuais analisados na tentativa de ajustar o centro de gravidade. No entanto, essas alterações posturais não coincidem com incapacidade cervical e dor.

Objective: To identify the relationship between postural imbalance and cervical disability in visually impaired individuals. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Association for the Visually Impaired in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, in the period from January 2014 to December 2014, with 26 participants of both sexes, with an average age of 31.92 years, featuring complete or partial visual impairments. The postural assessment was performed by means of photogrammetry associated with the Neck Disability Index (NDI), which identifies cervical disability. To assess the statistical significance of 5%, the Chi-square test of independence was applied. Results: In the front view, there was a 2.82cm cervical inclination to the left. In the rear view, there was left shoulder elevation of 9.15cm in relation to the right one. In the right and left views, a 2.44cm cervical flexion-extension of the head against the cervical and thoracic hyperkyphosis of 0.67cm were found. There was a difference in the scapular alignment of the right side to the left in 5.08cm. The NDI showed 33.3% of the individuals with mild disability due to pain, while 66.7% had no disability. Conclusion: The study found compensatory postural changes adopted by the visually impaired in an attempt to adjust the center of gravity. However, these postural changes do not coincide with cervical disability and pain.

Objetivo: Identificar la relación entre el desequilibrio postural y la incapacidad cervical de personas con discapacidad visual. Métodos: Estudio transversal retrospectivo realizado en la Asociación de Discapacitados Visuales de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil en el período entre enero y diciembre de 2014 con 26 participantes de ambos los sexos con edad media de 31,92 años com discapacidades visuales total o parcial. Se realizó una evaluación de la postura a través de la biofotogrametria asociada al Neck Desability Index (NDI) que identifica la incapacidad cervical. Se realizó la prueba de independencia de Chi-cuadrado para evaluar la significación estadística del 5%. Resultados: En la vista anterior se encontró la inclinación cervical para la izquierda de 2,82cm. En la vista posterior hubo elevación del hombro izquierdo sobre el derecho de 9,15cm. En las vistas laterales derecha e izquierda, se encontraron la flexión-extensión cervical de 2,44cm de la cabeza sobre la columna cervival e hipercifosis torácica de 0,67cm. Se encontró diferencia en la alineación de la escapula del lado derecho sobre el izquierdo de 5,08cm. El NDI evidenció el 33,3% con incapacidad mínima por el dolor mientras el 66,7% no presentan incapacidad. Conclusión: Se encontraron alteraciones posturales compensatorias adoptadas por los discapacitados visuales analizados con la tentativa de ajuste del centro de gravedad. Sin embargo, esas alteraciones posturales no coinciden con la incapacidad cervical y el dolor.