Isokinetic performance of knee extensor and flexor musculature in adolescent female handball players / Valoración isocinética de la musculatura extensora y flexora de la rodilla de jugadoras de balonmano adolescentes

Background: Handball is a sport that requires an extensive variety of movements and has led to an increased incidence of ankle and knee injuries. Specifically, to knee joint, detection and reduction in muscular deficits can help prevent injuries and improve muscular performance. Isokinetic dynamometer is a highly effective and trustworthy assessment tool for such detections. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze muscular performance, and the differences between dominant and non-dominant limb of the knee extensors and flexors in adolescent handball athletes. Method: Data of isokinetic evaluation of knee muscles of 19 female handball players was obtained from a database and analyzed. The isokinetic dynamometer was used in a concentric-concentric mode for the knee extensors and flexors at angular velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s and 240°/s. Results: Mean values of peak torque or the flexor/extensor ratio were not statistically significant in the comparison between the limbs at any of the angular velocities. Furthermore, the flexor/extensor ratio values were between 50% and 80% that are described as normal in the literature of knee joint. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that lower-limb dominance does not interfere in the muscular concentric isokinetic performance of the knee extensor and flexor muscles in adolescent handball athletes. Consequently, it can be suggested that handball athletes present lower risk of knee injuries when compared to sports that lead to some type of muscular asymmetries

Introducción: El balonmano es un deporte que requiere una gran variedad de movimientos; en consecuencia, se ha demostrado que aumenta la incidencia de lesiones en el tobillo y la rodilla. Específicamente, para la articulación de la rodilla, la identificación y reducción de los déficits musculares pueden ayudar a prevenir lesiones y mejorar el rendimiento muscular. El dinamómetro isocinético es un método de evaluación de alta efectividad y confiabilidad para este tipo de identificación. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el rendimiento muscular y las diferencias entre los miembros dominantes y no dominantes de los extensores y flexores de la rodilla de jugadores de balonmano adolescentes. Métodos: Se obtuvieron datos sobre la evaluación isocinética de los músculos de la rodilla de 19 jugadores de balonmano femenino. El dinamómetro isocinético se utilizó en modo concéntrico-concéntrico para los músculos extensores y flexores de la rodilla en las velocidades angulares de 60°/s, 120°/s, 180°/s y 240°/s. Resultados: Tanto los valores medios del pico de torque como la relación flexores/extensores no fueron estadísticamente significativos entre los miembros en ninguna de las velocidades angulares. Además, la relación flexores/extensores estaban entre el 50 y el 80% que se describen como normales en la literatura para la articulación de la rodilla. Conclusiones: Este estudio demostró que el dominio de los miembros inferiores no interfiere con el desempeño concéntrico isocinético de los músculos extensores y flexores de la rodilla en adolescentes practicantes de balonmano. En consecuencia, se puede sugerir que los atletas de balonmano tienen un menor riesgo de padecer lesiones de rodilla en comparación con los practicantes de otros deportes que causan algún tipo de desequilibrio muscular

Isokinetic performance of ankle evertor and invertor muscles in adolescent female volleyball athletes

This study aimed to analyze the muscular performance of evertor and invertor ankle muscles of adolescent volleyball athletes. Methods: The information provided by database concerning the isokinetic evaluation of ankle muscles from 20 female volleyball players between the ages of 14-17 years old were analyzed. The isokinetic dynamometer was used in a concentric-concentric mode for the ankle evertor and invertor muscles at angular velocities of 60°/s, and 180°/s. Results: Seven athletes had suffered ankle sprains (6 affected the non-dominant limb and all were lateral ankle sprain) in the one year prior to the isokinetic evaluation. The isokinetic results demonstrated that the mean peak torque values for eversion of the non-dominant limb were significantly lower in comparison to the dominant limb at 60°/s. Moreover, although no difference was observed in the average values of the evertor/invertor ratio between the limbs, the ratios were below the values suggested by the literature. Conclusion: We believe that although the athletes reported no ankle injury and no pain in the previous assessment month, the isokinetic results of the non-dominant limb seemed to be directly related to previous ankle sprains injuries in inversion of this limb. The athletes had similar results to those of subjects clinically diagnosed with ankle joint instabilities despite their being active in sports at the moment of the assessment.(AU)

Treatment of the Aged Patients at a Large Cardiac Rehabilitation Center in the Southern Brazil and Some Aspects of Their Dropout from the Therapeutic Programs.

AIM: This paper aims to assess the dropout rate in different age groups through the example of the large cardiac rehabilitation centre affiliated with the Institute of Sports Medicine, University of Caxias do Sul. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A historic cohort study comprising the following groups: Non-Old < 65 (n = 141); Young-Old 65-74 (n = 128); and Middle-Old 75-84 years old (n = 57). The exercise program lasted 48 sessions and dropout was defined as attendance of 50% of sessions or less. Logistic binominal regression was performed to assess the risk of dropout. For all analyses, a two-tailed P value of < 0.05 was used. RESULTS: The total dropout rate was 38.6%. The Young-Old and Middle-Old groups showed lower dropouts compared to Non-Old patients (p = 0.01). Young-Old has 96% less risk for dropout compared to Non-Old group (adjusted odds ratios = 1.96 [1.16-3.29]). Furthermore, patients underwent the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft showed a lower rate of dropout (p = 0.001). The absence of CABG involved three times more risk of dropout (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Non-Old and the Middle-Old patients showed higher dropout rates compared to Young-Old. To ensure the best possible rehabilitation and to improve patients´ participation in CR, these programs should be adjusted to the needs of patients in terms of their age.

A fototerapia com diodo emissor de luz (LEDT) aplicada pré-exercício inibe a peroxidação lipídica em atletas após exercício de alta intensidade: um estudo preliminar / Litght emitting diode therapy (LEDT) applied pre-exercise inhibits lipid peroxidation in athletes after high-intensity exercise. a preliminary study

Estresse oxidativo é o termo geralmente utilizado para descrever os danos causados pelo desequilíbrio entre pró-oxidantes e antioxidantes no organismo. O aumento no consumo de O2 induzido pelo exercício físico está associado ao aumento das espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) sendo estas indutoras do estresse oxidativo. Embora as evidências indiquem um provável efeito inibitório da fototerapia com diodos emissores de luz (LEDT) sobre a produção das EROs, não existem estudos observando tal efeito em atletas. Este estudo preliminar destina-se a verificar os efeitos da aplicação de LEDT previamente ao exercício de alta intensidade sobre a peroxidação lipídica, mensurada através dos níveis sanguíneos de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Todos os seis atletas de voleibol do sexo masculino foram submetidos às duas situações: aplicação de LEDT efetiva e aplicação de LEDT placebo. O desempenho no protocolo de exercício adotado não revelou diferença (p > 0,05) entre as duas situações nas variáveis potência pico, potência média e índice de fadiga. Os resultados relacionados com a peroxidação lipídica foram: na situação LEDT efetiva, não foi possível observar diferença estatisticamente significante (p > 0,05) entre os níveis pré e pós-exercício (6,98 ± 0,81 e 7,02 ± 0,47nmol/mL); na situação LEDT (LBP) placebo, houve diferença estatisticamente significante (p = 0,05) entre os valores pré e pós-exercício (7,09 ± 1,28 e 8,43 ± 0,71nmol/mL). Tais resultados demonstram que a aplicação efetiva de LEDT parece ser eficaz no controle da peroxidação lipídica em atletas submetidos a exercício intenso.

Oxidative stress is the term generally used to describe the damage caused by imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants in the organism. The increase in the O2 consumption induced by physical exercise is associated with the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) being these species inducers of oxidative stress. Although the evidence indicates a probable inhibitory effect of the light emitting diode therapy (LEDT) on the production of ROS, there are no studies observing this effect in humans. This preliminary study has the aim to verify the effects of LEDT applied before high-intensity exercise on lipid peroxidation, measured through blood levels of reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS). Six male volleyball athletes were submitted to two situations: active LEDT and placebo LEDT. Performance in the exercise protocol showed no difference (p> 0.05) between the two situations in peak power, average power and fatigue index. The results related to lipid peroxidation were: at active LEDT situation, it was not possible to observe statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between pre and post exercise levels (6.98 ± 0.81 and 7.02 ± 0.47 nmol/mL); at placebo LEDT situation, statistically significant difference (p=0.05) was observed between pre and post exercise levels (7.09 ± 1.28 and 8.43 ± 0.71 nmol/mL). These results show that active LEDT seems to be effective in controlling lipid peroxidation in athletes submitted to intense exercise.