Introduction: The introduction of multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has revolutionized prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, enhancing the localization of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) and guiding targeted biopsies. However, significant disparities in the execution, interpretation, and reporting of prostate MRI examinations across centers necessitate greater standardization and accuracy. This study compares the diagnostic efficacy of mpMRI from academic and nonacademic centers in detecting csPCa and identifies factors associated with csPCa detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: While pedaling, cyclists rest their pelvis on the saddle, generating pressures on it. The pressures generated on the saddle are influenced by several factors. This study aimed to evaluate whether the flexibility of hamstring and lower back muscles could be considered a predictor of pressures in the anterior region (PAR) on the saddle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPracticing physical activities or sports that involve frequent jumping and landing can strain the muscles and joints of the lower limbs, especially in those who do not have adequate physical preparation. The objective of this study was to (a) determine the correlation between ankle range of motion (ROM) and landing stability following jumps; (b) assess the association between the jump height in a counter-movement jump (CMJ) test and ankle ROM; and (c) examine the connection between stabilometry during specific jumps movements present in many sports and in ankle stabilization. Sixty-two healthy amateur volleyball players participated in the study (age: thirty-seven females and twenty-five males; age (years): 16.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The movement of the barbell has been detected as success factor for the snatch and the clean and jerk events. As the barbell's movement has been shown to be related to the athlete's body movement, we hypothesized that the latter could be a success factor also for the back squat (BS) event. Hence, this study aimed to investigate postural control during the execution of the BS at different load intensities in powerlifters and weightlifters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is an inherited neuropathy that affects the sensory and motor nerves. It can be considered the most common neuromuscular disease, with a prevalence of 1/2500.
Methods: Considering the absence of a specific medical treatment and the benefits shown by physical activity in this population, a systematic review was completed using several search engines (Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science) to analyze the use, effectiveness, and safety of a training program performed in telecoaching (TC).
Background: Prismatic adaptation (PA) is a visuomotor technique using prismatic glasses that are capable of moving the visual field and to affect the excitability of certain brain areas. The aim of this pilot study was to explore potential acute effects of PA on penalty kick accuracy and postural control in youth soccer players.
Methods: In this randomized crossover study, seven young male soccer players performed three PA sessions (rightward PA, r-PA; leftward PA, l-PA; sham PA, s-PA) with a washout period of 1-week between them.
Background: The numerous restrictive measures implemented during the recent COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the levels of physical activity (PA) carried out by elderly people and telecoaching (TC) could be a training method to maintain the recommended levels of PA. In fact, TC uses information and digital communications technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access training services remotely. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature to verify the application, efficacy, and safety of TC training programs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Quarantine was one of the strategies adopted by governments against the spread of COVID-19. This restriction has caused an increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA), with a consequent negative impact on lifestyle both in healthy people and in those who need constant practice of PA to combat diseases, such as patients suffering from neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). Hence, this study aimed to compare PA levels among patients with NMD during and after quarantine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Few studies have investigated the effects of adopting a specific and prolonged posture on cyclists. This study aimed to evaluate the upright spine in a sample of recreational cyclists and compare it with a sample of non-cyclists, though still athletes, through a 3D scanning method.
Methods: Forty-eight participants were enrolled in this observational study.
Cells have evolved their communication methods to sense their microenvironments and send biological signals. In addition to communication using ligands and receptors, cells use diverse channels including gap junctions to communicate with their immediate neighbors. Current approaches, however, cannot effectively capture the influence of various microenvironments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the past 50 years, socioeconomic development has brought a reduction in birth rates, an increase in life expectancy and consequently in the elderly population. For this reason, there has been an increasing focus on physical and mental health of the elderly, promoting the concept of healthy aging. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between perceived physical and mental health of older adults and a variety of determinants, such as demographic factors, physical functional fitness, physical activity level, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and anthropometric indices, through a structural equation modeling (SEM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Low back pain is the most frequently reported musculoskeletal disorder and represents one of the highest patient burdens in healthcare. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Pilates exercise on pain intensity and functional disability caused by low back pain (LBP).
Materials And Methods: A Systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted.
Pillitteri, G, Clemente, FM, Petrucci, M, Rossi, A, Bellafiore, M, Bianco, A, Palma, A, and Battaglia, G. Toward a new conceptual approach to "intensity" in soccer player's monitoring: A narrative review. J Strength Cond Res 37(9): 1896-1911, 2023-In the last decade, monitoring physiological and match-related demands in soccer has become an increasingly common practice in sports sciences.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Manual dexterity is the ability to manipulate objects using the hands and fingers for a specific task. Although manual dexterity is widely investigated in the general and special population at all ages, numerous aspects still remain to be explored in children. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of the training effect of the execution of the Grooved Pegboard test (GPT) and to measure the performance of the GPT in dual-task (DT), i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Wheelchair fencing (WF) is a very practiced sport within the Paralympic world. A careful analysis of the characteristics and data of a WF athlete can be useful for coaches and movement experts to better plan a training program. The objective of the study was to evaluate physical fitness assessment methods adopted in WF and to propose a standard operating procedures (SOP).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe contact point of the pelvis with the saddle of the bicycle could generate abnormal pressure, which could lead to injuries to the perineum in cyclists. The aim of this review was to summarize in a narrative way the current literature on the saddle pressures and to present the factors that influence saddle pressures in order to prevent injury risk in road and off-road cyclists of both genders. We searched the PubMed database to identify English-language sources, using the following terms: "saddle pressures", "pressure mapping", "saddle design" AND "cycling".
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