Postural Evaluation in Sports and Sedentary Subjects by Rasterstereographic Back Shape Analysis

Postural Balance in Boys With Intellectual Disabilities Who Participate in Soccer Training

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the postural balance in children with intellectual disabilities who participate in soccer training compared with their sedentary peers.

METHOD

Two groups of boys with intellectual disabilities aged 8-10 years participated in this study: a soccer group (n = 12) and a sedentary group (n = 12). Postural balance was assessed using a force platform under 4 different conditions: open eyes, and closed eyes, on firm and foam surfaces. The Timed Up and Go Test, 10-m Walking Test, and Four-Square Step Test were also conducted.

RESULTS

The soccer group had significantly lower (P < .05) center of pressure values compared with the sedentary group, on both firm and foam surfaces, but only under the open eyes condition. They were significantly faster (P < .05) in the Timed Up and Go Test, 10-m Walking Test, and Four-Square Step Test compared with their sedentary peers. However, there were no significant differences between the 2 groups on the sit-to-stand and turn-to-sit phases of the Timed Up and Go Test.

CONCLUSION

Soccer participation may have a positive effect on postural balance in boys with intellectual disabilities. These findings may have implications for the development of exercise programs to improve postural balance and reduce the risk of falls in this population.

Postural Analysis Using Rasterstereography and Inertial Measurement Units in Volleyball Players: Different Roles as Indicators of Injury Predisposition

Background and Objectives: Acute and chronic injuries are frequent in volleyball. Biomechanics of sport-specific tasks can influence the risk of injury, which is also related to specific court positions. We investigated posture at raster-stereography, balance, and dynamic tasks using inertial motion units to find differences between roles, which can be predictive of a higher risk of injury. Materials and Methods: We cross-sectionally evaluated amateur volleyball athletes. Participants were divided into roles as outside hitters, setters, middle blockers, and opposite hitters. We excluded the "libero" position from our analysis. Results: Sixteen players were included in the analysis. A statistically significant difference was found in left lower limb stiffness among the outside hitter and setter groups. Conclusions: Differences in stiffness might be related to the different training and the different abilities among the two groups. Raster-stereography is extending its indications and should be implemented for non-invasive postural analysis. The use of inertial motion units provides objective measurements of variables that could go unrecognized within a clinical evaluation; its use should be considered in injury preventive programs.

The influence of curricular physical activities on the values of body balance indices in university students

The investigation analyzes the effect of specific motor structures on the indicators of the static and dynamic balance of the students of Dunărea de Jos University in Galați (99 boys aged = 20.29 years, body weight = 84.17 kg, height = 180.08 cm, respectively 96 girls aged = 20.09 years, mass bodyweight = 60.88 kg, height = 164.73 cm. The members of the tested group have no concerns related to performance sports or physical activities as a lifestyle. The application of the experi-mental program was made during the 28 weeks of the academic year 2018-2019, with 3 distinct moments: T1 / initial at the beginning of the 1st semester, T2 / intermediate before the winter break, T3 / final at the end of the academic year. The battery of tests included 7 tests: One leg standing test with eyes closed (sec), Stork test (sec), Flamingo test (number of attempts), Bass test (points), Functional reach test (cm), Walk and turn field sobriety test (errors) and Fukuda test (degrees). The results of the Anova parametric test with repeated measurements revealed statis-tically significant values of F associated with critical thresholds (p <0.05), and the values of Parti-al eta squared (Ƞ2p) indicate strong influences of the proposed program on test performance in most cases, both at the level of the whole group and also for each gender. It should be noted that the performance improvements are greater in the first part of the study (differences between ini-tial and intermediate tests, with p <0.05), compared to those in semester 2 (differences between intermediate and final tests), which can be explained by the adaptation to the planned and ap-plied stimuli, so modifying or changing their dosage is necessary in order to have a better chan-ce of improving the results. Significant differences are confirmed for most tests of both genders (p <0.05), with exceptions being the Walk and turn field sobriety test for boys (at the level of the difference between intermediate and final testing) and the Fukuda test for both genders (for dif-ferences between initial and intermediate testing). However, the results should be viewed with caution, the low level of physical training and sedentary behavior of most students providing the premises for such progress, even with a single weekly physical activity. Keywords: students, balance, postural stability, physical exercise, progress, motor skills

Evaluation Method of Public Physical Training Quality Based on Global Topology Optimization Deep Learning Model

In the quality evaluation of public sports training, the selected indicators are not comprehensive, resulting in some errors in the results of quality evaluation. Therefore, this paper designs a public sports training quality evaluation method based on the deep learning model of global topology optimization. Determine the basic principles of public sports training quality evaluation, determine the human coordinate points of public sports training by determining the basic section and basic axis of human training, and extract the data of public sports training quality evaluation. On this basis, quantify the public sports training quality evaluation index, construct the evaluation matrix, calculate the weight of the evaluation index, and determine the importance of the public sports training quality evaluation index. Preprocess the public sports training quality evaluation index set, search the optimal fitness value in the global topology optimization depth learning model, introduce the global topology optimization depth learning model, input the evaluation index and output the evaluation quality results, and realize the quality evaluation of public sports training. The experimental results show that the evaluation method in this paper can improve the accuracy of the evaluation results and is feasible.

Musculoskeletal pain related to surfing practice: Which role for sports rehabilitation strategies? A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Surf practice contributes to overuse injuries and musculoskeletal pain. Relationship between the type of surfing practiced and the onset of pain is not fully understood as well as the potential role of rehabilitation in preventing it.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate musculoskeletal pain and to deepen whether the age and the anatomical region involved influenced the pain appearance in relation to four surfing disciplines.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out. An online survey was addressed to a group of Italian surfers (practicing surf, kitesurf, windsurf and stand up paddle since at least 1 year), collecting demographic data, discipline practiced, location of musculoskeletal pain.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-six surfers were involved in the study. Spine and upper limbs pain was more frequent compared to lower limbs one in the surf (p< 0.001) and in the windsurf groups (p= 0.007). In the kitesurf group a greater prevalence of pain was observed in spine and lower limbs compared to upper limbs (p= 0.017). Low back pain is the most represented among the spine pain subgroups (p< 0.001). Pain was lower in younger athletes (p= 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Understanding risk factors and biomechanics of musculoskeletal pain is essential to realize prevention training strategies. Rehabilitation in sinergy with specific training allows pain-free activity, optimizing its overall health benefits.

The Association of Gender and Body Mass Index on the Values of Static and Dynamic Balance of University Students (A Cross-Sectional Design Study)

The balance of the body conditions the quality and efficiency of the movements in daily and sports activities, its impairment generating problems in the manifestation of motor skills for all age groups. The aim of this study is to analyze how the gender and BMI values of university students influence the results of the static and dynamic balance tests applied. The investigated group consists of 195 undergraduate students, from various specializations of the Dunărea de Jos University in Galați (99 males and 96 females, ages = 20.16 ± 1.98, BMI = 24.15 ± 5.68). The independent variables gender and BMI levels (underweight, normal weight and overweight/obese) were defined. The participants were evaluated in May 2019 using a series of 7 tests: one leg standing test with eyes closed, stork test, flamingo test, Bass test, functional reach test, walk and turn field sobriety test and Fukuda test. The results provided using multivariate analysis (MANOVA) indicate balanced performance for the gender variable, but with significantly better values for women in the one leg standing test, flamingo test and functional reach test (F values are associated with thresholds p < 0.05). Men obtain slightly better, but statistically insignificant (p > 0.05), performances on the stork test, Bass test and Fukuda test. The BMI step comparison confirms the difficulties of the overweight group in assessing balance, with the lowest scores in maintaining static positions and the most errors in dynamic balance tests, with significant differences from normal and underweight in most tests (p < 0.05). An interesting aspect is the slightly superior performance of the underweight compared to the normal weight group, for the one leg standing test, flamingo test and walk and turn field sobriety test. The analysis of Spearman correlation coefficients indicates a number of significant associations between elevated BMI values and decreased performance on balance tests.

Reliability of cervical vertebral maturation compared to hand-wrist for skeletal maturation assessment in growing subjects: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Radiographic methods to assess skeletal maturity (SM) have a key role in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) management, allowing to predict risk of spinal curve progression. Cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) has been recently introduced as an alternative tool to assess skeletal maturity; however, its clinical role is still debated.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to investigate the reliability of CVM in the SM assessment of growing subjects, comparing it to hand wrist maturation (HVM).

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched from inception until 31st December 2020 to identify observational studies presenting: growing subjects as participants; CVM methods as intervention; HVM methods as comparator; reliability for SM assessment as outcome. A 10-item quality tool has been used to assess study quality.

RESULTS

Out of 205 papers, 12 papers were included in the data synthesis. We classified 10 studies (83.3%) as medium-quality studies and 2 studies (16.7%) as high-quality studies. Eight studies reported a significant correlation between CVM Baccetti and different HWM methods.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these findings suggested that CVM might be considered as reliable SM assessment method compared to HWM in growing subjects. However, further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Spinal Orthoses Prescription for Vertebral Fragility Fractures by Italian Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Physicians: The SPIN-VER Survey

Vertebral fragility fractures (VFFs) are the most common type of osteoporotic fractures, related to pain and disability. In this scenario, physical and rehabilitative medicine (PRM) physicians prescribe a patient-tailored rehabilitation plan, including spinal orthoses. However, there is a high heterogeneity in the clinical indications of spinal orthoses. Thus, the aim of this survey was to investigate common clinical practice in terms of the prescription of spinal orthoses. This nationwide cross-sectional survey recruited Italian PRM physicians commonly involved in the management of patients with VFFs. One hundred twenty-six PRM physicians completed the survey. The results showed that most PRM physicians prescribe spinal orthoses in outpatients suffering from VFFs (n = 106; 83.9%). The most prescribed spinal orthosis for acute VFF patients was the three-point rigid orthosis (n = 64; 50.8%), followed by the semirigid thoraco-lumbar orthosis (n: 20; 15.9%). However, most PRM physicians prescribed dynamic orthoses in outpatients with chronic VFFs (n = 66; 52.4%). Albeit that a correct management of VFFs is mandatory to improve pain and reduce disability, our findings highlighted uncertainty in the type of spinal orthosis prescription in both the acute and chronic VFF phase. Therefore, high-quality research trials are warranted to provide clear recommendations for the correct clinical management of VFF.

Musculoskeletal Pain in Gymnasts: A Retrospective Analysis on a Cohort of Professional Athletes

Gymnastics athletes are exposed to a high risk of injury, but also of developing musculoskeletal pain. These data are still little investigated in the available scientific literature. An online survey was distributed to 79 professional athletes who practiced artistic and rhythmic gymnastics. The survey collected demographic and anthropometric data, information about the sport practice, the training sessions, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain gymnastics-related, and lifestyle habits. Musculoskeletal pain had a high prevalence, involving 65 of 79 athletes (82.3%). A significant correlation was found between musculoskeletal pain and the duration of sports practice, both for general pain (p = 0.041) and for specific districts: right wrist pain (p = 0.031), left wrist pain (p = 0.028), right shoulder (p = 0.039), left hip (p = 0.031), right thigh (p = 0.031), and left knee (p = 0.005). Another statistical association was found between right wrist pain and BMI (p = 0.001), and hip pain and BMI (p = 0.030). Hours spent in a sitting position were also correlated with the incidence of pain (p = 0.045). Wrist pain and right shoulder pain had a statistically significant association with the age of the athletes (right wrist pain: p = 0.038; left wrist pain: p = 0.004; right shoulder pain: p = 0.035). The more the gymnasts practice this sport, the more likely they are to develop musculoskeletal pain. Increased age and a higher BMI, as well as daily prolonged sitting position, seem to be potential risk factors for the onset of musculoskeletal pain. Future studies could plan training strategies aimed at preventing musculoskeletal pain associated with gymnastics, in order to promote its further spread.