A comparison of acute effects between Kinesio tape and electrical muscle elongation in hamstring extensibility.

BACKGROUND: To improve hamstring extensibility some methods have been analyzed and compared for determining their acute and chronic effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immediate effect of electrical muscle elongation (EME) versus Kinesio tape (KT) in hamstring muscle extensibility. METHODS: One hundred and twenty adult amateur athletes with hamstring shortness (straight leg raise test angle <80◦) were randomly assigned to a group: group 1 (EME session of 4 KHz interferential current, bipolar technique and AMF = 100 Hz, n = 40), group 2 (KT, n = 40) or group 3 (control group, no intervention, n = 40). Hamstring extensibility was assessed before and after the intervention through the active knee extension test. Results: Significant improvements were found in both EME and KT groups whereas no changes were detected in the control group. However, no significant differences between both techniques were detected. The EME group showed large effect size (d = 0.843) while the KT group reached medium effect size (d = 0.431). CONCLUSIONS: Both electrical muscle elongation and Kinesio tape are effective techniques in the short-term in amateur athletes with decreased hamstring extensibility. The higher increase of hamstring extensibility, with a better clinical effect was achieved with the application of electrical muscle elongation. However, no significant differences were found when comparing the effectiveness of both techniques.

A comparison of the thoracic spine in the sagittal plane between elite cyclists and non-athlete subjects.

AIM: to evaluate and compare the angular disposition of the thoracic spine (at different postures) in elite cyclists and a group of individuals who do not exercise in a systematic manner. METHODS: Sixty elite cyclists and sixty-eight sedentary individuals (control group), mean age: 21.91 (2.86) years participated in this study. Thoracic spine was measure with a Spinal Mouse® while relaxed standing, lying prone and sitting on the bicycle in three handlebar positions (upper, middle and lower handlebar). RESULTS: The mean (SEM) thoracic kyphosis while standing was 48.17 (8.05°) and 42.68 (8.02°) in cyclists and control group, respectively (p< 0.001). The thoracic curve adopted in lying prone was 34.69 (8.28°) in cyclists and 30.96 (7.24°) in control group (p< 0.05). On the bicycle, cyclists showed lower thoracic kyphosis with respect to control group (p> 0.05). The thoracic spine was adopted more neutral in the posture sitting on bicycle than in relaxed standing, in both groups analyzed. CONCLUSION: The posture adopted in cycling is not the only result of the higher thoracic curvature in cyclists when standing. It is necessary to include spinal postural awareness in the training plan and thoracic muscle resistance exercises that favour more aligned postures while standing.

Effects of frequency of static stretching on straight-leg raise in elementary school children.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of different frequencies of a stretching exercise program on lower extremity range of motion (ROM) in prepubertal schoolchildren. METHODS: A total of 62 children were divided into 3 groups (experimental groups: A, B; control group: C). Experimental group A performed hamstring stretches for 5 min during the Physical Education classes over a full school term (9 months), 2 sessions per week (31 weeks, 62 sessions of Physical Education). Experimental group B performed hamstring stretches for 5 min during the Physical Education classes and during a specific extracurricular physical activity, over a full school term (9 months), 4 sessions per week (31 weeks, 62 sessions of Physical Education and 62 sessions of after-school physical activities). Control group followed the standard class program of Physical Education classes. Hamstring flexibility was measured using the straight leg raise test before and after the program. RESULTS: No significant differences were revealed in ROM before and after the Physical Education classes for the control group. However, significant improvements in ROM were shown in the two experimental groups (P<0.001). Four days per week produced a greater rate of gains in ROM (16.9 degrees) than 2 days per week (9.3 degrees). For all groups, the initial and the final ROM between the right and left sides were similar. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that a full school term (9 months) incorporating static stretching as part of the Physical Education classes and the extracurricular physical activities significantly increases the ROM of the hamstrings in prepubertal schoolchildren. The study also suggests that the increase of the frequency of stretching is effective for increasing ROM.

Papel del profesor de educación física ante las desalineaciones de la columna vertebral / Role of physical education teachers with regard to spinal misalignments

No disponible

Ejercicios físicos desaconsejados para la columna vertebral y alternativas para su corrección / Unhealthy physical exercises for the vertebral spine and alternatives for correction

En los últimos años, la investigación en el campo de las actividades, físico-deportivas está revelando la presencia de diversos ejercicios que pueden producir repercusiones a medio o largo plazo en diversas estructuras orgánicas y que son practicados de forma regular y sistemática.Dentro de las estructuras corporales más propensas a sufrir alteraciones por la práctica de ciertos ejercicios físicos nos encontramos la columna vertebral.En este trabajo analizamos diversos ejercicios físicos practicados frecuentemente en el ámbito físico-deportivo que son considerados desaconsejados por las posibles alteraciones generadas en el raquis. Planteamos los posibles efectos perjudiciales, así como diversas alternativas para su corrección (AU)