Electromyographic comparison of the barbell deadlift using constant versus variable resistance in healthy, trained men.

Variable, external resistance is proposed to increasingly augment the muscular stress throughout a dynamic movement. However, it is uncertain how different levels of variable resistance affect the activation in the deadlift. The aim of the study was to compare the electromyographic activity of the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, vastus lateralis and erector spinae muscles during the barbell deadlift with free weights (FW) alone, with two (FW-2EB), and four elastic bands (FW-4EB) to deload some of the constant external resistance.

Genital tract infections associated with the intrauterine contraceptive device can be reduced by inserting the threads into the uterine cavity.

Objective: To study the influence of the position of the threads of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) on the development of genital tract infection.

Design: A multicentre randomized controlled trial.

Subjects: Women requesting an IUCD.

Calcium and magnesium status in pregnant women. A comparison between treatment with calcium and vitamin C in pregnant women with leg cramps.

60 pregnant women underwent a double blind trial with calcium or ascorbic acid (1 g twice daily) as treatment for leg cramps. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups with respect to clinical improvement. In 14 out of 60 patients the symptoms were totally abolished and in another 27 patients the symptoms were significantly decreased by the treatment (irrespective of drug used).

A solution to the problem of "missing" IUD threads.

A disposable, plastic, sterile instrument, RetrievetteR, for the retrieval of 'missing' threads of intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUD) at routine gynecological investigations was developed and tested in 80 patients. In 64 instances, the threads were found and easily drawn out through the cervical canal. In the remaining 16 cases, where the threads were not found, this was due to already expelled IUD in 6, too short threads in 5, inverted IUD in one, IUD which had partly perforated the uterine wall in one, unknown factors in 2 cases where the women chose to keep a correctly placed IUD in spite of missing threads and, finally, in only one case due to method failure.