Is pilates better than other exercises at increasing muscle strength? A systematic review.

Unlabelled: Our objective was to verify the effectiveness of Pilates method compared against other exercise modalities for muscle strength increase, balance and flexibility.

Method: Databases used and its respective results were: CENTRAL (n = 456), CINAHL (n = 291), EMBASE (n = 313), PEDro (n = 176), PUBMED (n = 236), SCIELO (n = 98), SPORTDiscus (n = 197) e Web of Science (n = 150). It included randomized controlled studies using Pilates and others exercise modalities that measured muscle strength.

Long-Term Effects of a Kinematic Bikefitting Method on Pain, Comfort, and Fatigue: A Prospective Cohort Study.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the long-term riders' subjective responses to a standardized bikefitting method on their bicycles. Eighty-six amateur mountain bikers had their riding posture and bicycle components ergonomically adjusted through a 3D kinematic bikefitting method. Validated subjective scales (Feeling, OMNI, and Numerical Rating Pain Scale) were used to assess their overall riding comfort and fatigue along with localized pain for six body parts.

Validity and reliability of a smartphone-based assessment for anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments during predictable perturbations.

Background: Postural adjustments involve displacements of the center of mass (COM), controlled by the central nervous system (CNS), to maintain equilibrium whilst standing. Postural adjustments can be anticipatory (APAs) or compensatory (CPAs), and are triggered to counteract predictable perturbations.

Research Question: Is the new smartphone application, Momentum, a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of body balance, by measuring APAs and CPAs using accelerometer readings?

Methods: 20 young adults were exposed to external predictable perturbations induced at the shoulder level, whilst standing.

Validity and Reliability of Smartphone App for Evaluating Postural Adjustments during Step Initiation.

The evaluation of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) requires high-cost and complex handling systems, only available at research laboratories. New alternative methods are being developed in this field, on the other hand, to solve this issue and allow applicability in clinic, sport and hospital environments. The objective of this study was to validate an app for mobile devices to measure the APAs during gait initiation by comparing the signals obtained from cell phones using the Momentum app with measurements made by a kinematic system.

Association between Concentric and Eccentric Isokinetic Torque and Unilateral Countermovement Jump Variables in Professional Soccer Players.

Isokinetic tests have been highly valuable to athletic analysis, but their cost and technical operation turn them inaccessible. The purpose of this study was to verify the correlation between unilateral countermovement jump variables and isokinetic data. Thirty-two male professional soccer players were subjected to the isokinetic testing of both knee extensors and flexors in concentric and eccentric muscle contractions.

Strength Level of Professional Elite Soccer Players after the COVID-19 Lockdown Period: A Retrospective Double-Arm Cohort Study.

Background: It is well known that periods of inactivity generate a loss of muscle strength, a fundamental component of sports performance in soccer. However, little information is available on the decrease in strength levels in professional soccer players after the quarantine lockdown that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To compare the isokinetic peak torque profiles of professional soccer players from different teams before and after the quarantine period generated by COVID-19.

Reproducibility of dynamometers in handrail format in evaluating handgrip strength and traction in young and older adults.

Background: The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to assess the reproducibility of two dynamometers in handrail format to measure handgrip strength and traction force in the young and older adults; (2) to compare the handgrip strength and traction of these two populations.

Approach: Twenty-four volunteers (12 older adults and 12 young adults) performed a functional effort related to handgrip strength and traction force during stair climbing. The participants were evaluated two times (separated by one week) using a coupled dynamometer that quantifies the muscular effort in grip and traction simultaneously to simulate stair climbing in bus service.

Electromyographic activity of the masseter muscle in individuals with group function and canine guidance.

There is no general consensus in restorative dentistry about which lateral guidance should be established. Some studies have shown that canine guidance decreases the tension of masticatory muscles. Others have reported that group function might achieve a better physiologic distribution of occlusal forces.

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on torque and performance in recreational distance runners: A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is used by athletes to improve muscle performance. However, evidence on the use of NMES in long distance runners is scarce. As such, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of NMES on the muscle torque and sports performance of long-distance recreational runners.

Discomfort, pain and fatigue levels of 160 cyclists after a kinematic bike-fitting method: an experimental study.

Objective: To analyse rider's subjective responses after a standardised bicycle ergonomic adjustment method.

Methods: Experimental study of 160 healthy, amateur mountain bikers analysed previously and 30 days after a bike-fitting session. The main outcome measures were subjective comfort level (Feeling Scale, FEEL), fatigue (OMINI Scale) and pain (Visual Analogue Scale, VAS).

Postural Adjustments and Kinematic Index Finger Features in Frail Older Adults under Different Equilibrium Constraints.

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) are significantly affected by age and may represent restrictions on functional independence. Previous studies in young adults have already highlighted that changing postural stability (i.e.

Validation of a 3D Camera System for Cycling Analysis.

Background: Kinematic analysis aimed toward scientific investigation or professional purposes is commonly unaffordable and complex to use.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to verify concurrent validation between a cycling-specific 3D camera and the gold-standard 3D general camera systems.

Methods: Overall, 11 healthy amateur male triathletes were filmed riding their bicycles with Vicon 3D cameras and the Retul 3D cameras for bike fitting analysis simultaneously.

Strength development according with age and position: a 10-year study of 570 soccer players.

Background/aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the isokinetic peak torque profiles from the quadriceps and hamstrings muscles during concentric and eccentric contractions in elite Brazilian soccer players across different field positions and age categories. Our hypothesis was that soccer players from different field positions are subjected to different ageing-related effects on their isokinetic peak torque.

Methods: This is a retrospective study based on professional elite-level soccer players between the years 2009 and 2019.

What is the traditional method of resistance training: a systematic review.

Introduction: Many resistance studies state that they used the traditional method of resistance training in the intervention. However, there is a wide difference on the characteristics of the training protocols used even though they are labeled as "the traditional method." There is no clear definition and characteristics for the traditional method of resistance training.

Concentric and eccentric isokinetic hamstring injury risk among 582 professional elite soccer players: a 10-years retrospective cohort study.

Background/aim: Different authors have tried to correlate the peak isokinetic torque values with the incidence of soccer match injuries. However, due to the wide variety of assessment testing protocols, such an inference becomes difficult. This study aimed to verify the capacity of an isokinetic test to establish injury risk reference values for hamstring strain injuries.

Low-Back Pain and Knee Position-Related Differences on Postural Control Measures During a One-Legged Stance in Athletes.

Context: Chronic low-back pain (CLBP) may be associated with changes in postural balance in athletes as poor postural control during sports practice.

Objective: To compare the postural control of athletes with and without CLBP during 2 one-legged stance tasks and identify the center of pressure (COP) cutoff values to determine the main differences. Designed: A cross-sectional study.

Using Augmented Reality with Older Adults in the Community to Select Design Features for an Age-Friendly Park: A Pilot Study.

Sedentary behavior is prevalent in older adults. Older adults often underutilize public parks for exercising because the parks do not support their needs and preferences. Engaging older adults on the redesign of parks may help promote active lifestyles.

Pattern of respiratory muscle activity during exercise tests in children born prematurely.

Introduction: Preterm children display only slightly lower exercise capacity than term children do during their development, despite their previous cardiopulmonary impairments. This raises doubts about the role of the respiratory muscles' influence on exercise capacity. This study aimed to compare respiratory muscle activity in preterm and term children using an exercise test.

Diagnostic Validity of an Isokinetic Testing to Identify Partial Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries.

Objective: To assess the diagnostic validity of an isokinetic testing to detect partial injuries on the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

Design: Prospective diagnostic study.

Settings: Orthopedic clinic, physiotherapy clinic, orthopedic hospital, and diagnostic/image clinic.

How many balance task trials are needed to accurately assess postural control measures in older women?

Unlabelled: Taking the average of different trials is recommended for better balance assessment, but few studies have really proven this point under different balance conditions.

Objective: To assess the effects of averaging trials of five different balance tasks on postural control measures in older women.

Methods: A total of 90 older women (means: Age: 68 years; Weight: 67 kg; Height: 1.

The walking cane length influences the postural sway of community-dwelling older women.

Background: Mobility-related problems in older people may be relieved by the use of walking canes. However, the influence of the cane length on the postural stability of cane users has not been explored.

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the influence of a single-point cane with different lengths on the postural sway of regular cane users, older women during two stance positions, with feet parallel and semi-tandem stance.

Age- and low back pain-related differences in trunk muscle activation during one-legged stance balance task.

Background: Postural control declines with age and can be affected by low back pain. Poor balance has been reported in people with chronic low back pain (CLBP), which in turn could be explained by the changes in trunk muscle activation.

Research Question: Are there differences between younger and older adults with and without chronic low back pain (CLBP) on trunk muscle activity during one-legged stance task?

Methods: Twenty (20) with, and 20 subjects without nonspecific CLBP participated in the study.

Lumbar stabilisation exercises versus back endurance-resistance exercise training in athletes with chronic low back pain: protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is an important disorder in athletes that may negatively affect their performance in competitions. The literature usually recommends physiotherapy based on exercises for back pain management in athletes. Recent evidence suggests that interventions based on lumbar muscle stabilisation exercises (LMSE) and back endurance-resistance exercises (BERE) may improve back pain and function performance.

Effect of Osteopathic Visceral Manipulation on Pain, Cervical Range of Motion, and Upper Trapezius Muscle Activity in Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain and Functional Dyspepsia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.

Previous studies have reported that visceral disturbances can lead to increased musculoskeletal tension and pain in structures innervated from the corresponding spinal level through viscerosomatic reflexes. We designed a pilot randomised placebo-controlled study using placebo visceral manipulation as the control to evaluate the effect of osteopathic visceral manipulation (OVM) of the stomach and liver on pain, cervical mobility, and electromyographic activity of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle in individuals with nonspecific neck pain (NS-NP) and functional dyspepsia. Twenty-eight NS-NP patients were randomly assigned into two groups: treated with OVM (OVMG; = 14) and treated with placebo visceral manipulation (PVMG; = 14).

One-legged stance sway of older adults with and without falls.

Postural instability is a common problem among older people, and it is associated with mobility impairments, activity limitation and fear of falling. The evaluation of postural control can contribute to the early detection of balance deficits and help health professionals to manage this problem to prevent falls in older adults. The aim of this study was to identify center of pressure cut-offs to differentiate between older adults with and without falls in the past 12 months.