Effects of maturity status on the rate of torque development in young male soccer players.

Background: The rate of torque development (RTD) has been associated with sports performance and can be improved during the biological maturation process of young soccer players. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of maturity status on the knee extensors' RTD of soccer players after appropriate normalization.

Methods: Twenty-seven young male soccer players aged 13-18 years old were allocated into two groups: pubescent (PUB, n = 11) and postpubescent (POSP, n = 16).

Self-Massage Acute Effects on Pressure Pain Threshold, Muscular Electrical Activity, and Muscle Force Production: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Furlan, MR, Machado, E, Petter, GdN, Barbosa, IM, Geremia, JM, and Glänzel, MH. Self-massage acute effects on pressure pain threshold, muscular electrical activity, and muscle force production: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 38(3): 620-635, 2024-Self-massage (SM) is often used in physiotherapy and sports training programs.

Energetic responses of head-out water immersion at different temperatures during post-exercise recovery and its consequence on anaerobic mechanical power.

Purpose: While exercise recovery may be beneficial from a physiological point of view, it may be detrimental to subsequent anaerobic performance. To investigate the energetic responses of water immersion at different temperatures during post-exercise recovery and its consequences on subsequent anaerobic performance, a randomized and controlled crossover experimental design was performed with 21 trained cyclists.

Method: Participants were assigned to receive three passive recovery strategies during 10 min after a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT): control (CON: non-immersed condition), cold water immersion (CWI: 20 ℃), and hot water immersion (HWI: 40 ℃).

Microbiome modulation, microbiome protein metabolism index, and growth performance of broilers supplemented with a precision biotic.

The objectives of the present studies were to evaluate: 1) the in vivo impact of the supplementation with a precision biotic (PB) on the growth performance and microbiome modulation of broiler chickens; 2) the role of PB on the modulation of functional pathways of the microbiome collected from animals with low and high body weight gain, and 3) to develop a Microbiome Protein Metabolism Index (MPMI) derived from gut metagenomic data to link microbial protein metabolism with performance. The in vivo work consisted of 2 experiments with 2 treatments: Control vs. PB at 1.

Microbiome modulation by a precision biotic in broilers chickens: a commercial study validation.

Precision biotics (PBs) are chemically synthesized complex glycans that modulate specific microbiome metabolic functions. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of PB on the growth performance, and cecal microbiome modulation of broiler chickens raised under commercial conditions. A total of 190,000-day-old Ross 308 straight-run broilers were randomly assigned to 2 dietary treatments.

The Influence of Hip and Knee Joint Angles on Quadriceps Muscle-Tendon Unit Properties during Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction.

Determining how the quadriceps femoris musculotendinous unit functions, according to hip and knee joint angles, may help with clinical decisions when prescribing knee extension exercises. We aimed to determine the effect of hip and knee joint angles on structure and neuromuscular functioning of all constituents of the quadriceps femoris and patellar tendon properties. Twenty young males were evaluated in four positions: seated and supine in both 20° and 60° of knee flexion (SIT20, SIT60, SUP20, and SUP60).

Eccentric, but not concentric muscle contraction induce inflammation and impairs fibrinolysis in healthy young men.

Different types of muscle contraction can cause different damage to the musculature and differences in inflammatory responses. Acute increases in circulatory inflammation markers can influence the crosstalk between coagulation and fibrinolysis processes, increasing the risk of thrombus formation and detrimental cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of concentric and eccentric exercise on hemostasis markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), and the relationship between these variables.

Distal overactivation of gastrocnemius medialis in persistent plantarflexion weakness following Achilles tendon repair.

Structural alterations of the triceps surae and Achilles tendon (AT) can promote plantarflexion weakness one-year following an AT repair, influencing the activation strategies of the Gastrocnemius Medialis (GM) muscle. However, this is yet to be demonstrated. We aimed to determine whether patients with plantar flexion weakness one-year after AT repair show altered GM spatial activation.

Evaluation of a Novel Precision Biotic on Enterohepatic Health Markers and Growth Performance of Broiler Chickens under Enteric Challenge.

This study evaluated the supplementation of a precision biotic (PB) on the enterohepatic health markers and growth performance of broiler chickens undergoing an enteric challenge. In the first study, three treatments were used: Unchallenged Control (UC); Challenged Control (CC; dietary challenge and 10× dose of coccidia vaccine); and a challenged group supplemented with PB (1.3 kg/ton).

Foam Rolling Acute Effects on Myofascial Tissue Stiffness and Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Glänzel, MH, Rodrigues, DR, Petter, GN, Pozzobon, D, Vaz, MA, and Geremia, JM. Foam rolling acute effects on myofascial tissue stiffness and muscle strength: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 37(4): 951-968, 2023-Foam rolling (FR) is widely used in rehabilitation and physical training.

Slackline training and postural control in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Exercise can reduce the negative effects of aging on postural control. The slackline training could potentially be an activity to improve postural control in older adults. However, the effects of slackline on postural control in older adults are not clear.

Evaluation of a Precision Biotic on the Growth Performance, Welfare Indicators, Ammonia Output, and Litter Quality of Broiler Chickens.

A dietary glycan-based precision biotic (Glycan PB) was evaluated on the performance, welfare indicators, and litter characteristics of broiler chickens. In Trial 1, the main effects of Glycan PB dose (0, 250 and 500 g/metric ton (MT)) and xylanase supplementation (0 or 100 g/MT) were tested, as was their interaction. In Trial 2, pens located inside a commercial house were used to test the effect of Glycan PB supplementation (500 g/MT) versus a control diet.

Triceps Surae Muscle-Tendon Properties as Determinants of the Metabolic Cost in Trained Long-Distance Runners.

This study aimed to determine whether triceps surae's muscle architecture and Achilles tendon parameters are related to running metabolic cost (C) in trained long-distance runners. Seventeen trained male recreational long-distance runners (mean age = 34 years) participated in this study. C was measured during submaximal steady-state running (5 min) at 12 and 16 km h on a treadmill.

Moderate intensity cycling is better than running on recovery of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

Objective: To compare the effects of moderate intensity running and cycling on markers of exercise-induced muscle damage in men.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Laboratory.

The Effect of Quadriceps Muscle Length on Maximum Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Evoked Contraction, Muscle Architecture, and Tendon-Aponeurosis Stiffness.

Unlabelled: Muscle-tendon unit length plays a crucial role in quadriceps femoris muscle (QF) physiological adaptation, but the influence of hip and knee angles during QF neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is poorly investigated. We investigated the effect of muscle length on maximum electrically induced contraction (MEIC) and current efficiency. We secondarily assessed the architecture of all QF constituents and their tendon-aponeurosis complex (TAC) displacement to calculate a stiffness index.

A novel microbiome metabolic modulator improves the growth performance of broiler chickens in multiple trials and modulates targeted energy and amino acid metabolic pathways in the cecal metagenome.

A meta-analysis of 19 floor-pen trials (579 replicate pen observations) in diverse geographies, basal diets, seasons, and medication programs was carried out to evaluate the effects of 2 precision glycan microbiome metabolic modulators (MMM1 and MMM2) on the performance of broiler chickens. In each trial, negative-control (NC) diets were compared with either MMM1 (14 trials) or MMM2 (8 trials), supplemented at an intended dose of 500 g/MT from hatch to 31 to 42 d. A dose response of MMM2 was evaluated in 8 trials at doses of 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 g/MT, not all present in each trial.

Corrigendum: Triceps Surae Muscle Architecture Adaptations to Eccentric Training.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.

Quadriceps muscle properties in rheumatoid arthritis: insights about muscle morphology, activation and functional capacity.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory and chronic autoimmune disease that leads to muscle mass loss and functional capacity impairment, potentiated by physical inactivity. Despite evidences demonstrate neuromuscular impairments in RA patients, aging effects may have masked the results of similar previous studies. The aim of study was to verify (i) the effects of RA on functional capacity and muscle properties in middle-aged patients and (ii) the association between age, clinical characteristics, quadriceps muscle properties and functional capacity.

Triceps Surae Muscle Architecture Adaptations to Eccentric Training.

Background: Eccentric exercises have been used in physical training, injury prevention, and rehabilitation programs. The systematic use of eccentric training promotes specific morphological adaptations on skeletal muscles. However, synergistic muscles, such as the triceps surae components, might display different structural adaptations due to differences in architecture, function, and load sharing.

Effect of corporal suspension and pendulum exercises on neuromuscular properties and functionality in patients with medullar thoracic injury.

Background: Traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is one of the most devastating injuries that has a physical impact on patients. The CHORDATA® method involves suspension and pendulous exercises and has been clinically used to treat patients with TSCI. Although empirically used to treat neurological patients, there is no scientific evidence of the efficacy of this method.

PVCP-based anthropomorphic breast phantoms containing structures similar to lactiferous ducts for ultrasound imaging: A comparison with human breasts.

The purpose of this work was to obtain an anthropomorphic phantom with acoustic properties similar to those of breast tissue, possessing lactiferous duct-like structures, which would be a first for this type of phantom. Breast lesions usually grow in glandular tissues or lactiferous ducts. Shape variations in these structures are detectable by using ultrasound imaging.

Effects of high loading by eccentric triceps surae training on Achilles tendon properties in humans.

Purpose: To document the magnitude and time course of human Achilles tendon adaptations (i.e. changes in tendon morphological and mechanical properties) during a 12-week high-load plantar flexion training program.